Chapter 96: Right and Wrong (9)

A city wall separated two worlds. Those outside the wall fought desperately to get in, while those inside fought to keep them out. To achieve their own goals and survive, both sides resorted to any means necessary. Dozens of pots of boiling oil were poured down from the walls using scaling ladders, instantly suppressing the fierce attacks of the Arabs. Zhang Yanji was overjoyed and quickly ordered, “Hurry, drop the nail slammers!”

Nail slammers were highly effective for defending the city. Their large surface area could reinforce defenses against arrows, stones, and rolling logs, leaving no escape for the enemy. The soldiers of the Tianwei Army on the walls already admired General Zhang deeply. If they had previously dismissed Zhang Yanji’s background, now they held this young general in high regard.

Zhang Yanji had earned the respect of all his soldiers through his brave actions in fighting the enemy trapped between the walls.

A few soldiers of the Tianwei Army worked hard to turn the iron wheels, which emitted a grating noise. “One, two—drop them!” At the leader’s command, the nail slammers were hurled down via ropes, turning the few surviving Arab soldiers on the ladders into bloody messes. Though the Arabs had iron wills, they were still made of flesh and blood—how could they withstand such attacks?

Cries of pain echoed throughout the area, but the Tang soldiers on the walls of Gulan North City showed not a hint of pity. Mechanically, they collected the nail slammers covered in flesh and hurled them back up again with full force.

After several such exchanges, even the most fearless Arabs dared not climb the walls under such assault. They had previously braved arrows and rolling logs because they still had a chance of survival—they were fighting to live. But now, facing those monstrous weapons, no one wanted to live any longer.

“Don’t stop! Throw rolling logs at them—turn those barbarians at the city corners into pulp!” Zhang Yanji ordered through gritted teeth as the Arab warriors carrying battering rams drew closer to the city gates.

Although enough sandbags and stones had been piled up at the gates, they might not withstand several attacks. They had to buy time—waiting for reinforcements from other gates!

“Hey, don’t waste the rolling logs. They’re precious! Let the brothers shoot arrows at them first. We can throw the logs once those barbarians get close.” Dou Qing was heartbroken by Zhang Yanji’s reckless spending and quickly stepped forward to persuade him.

Zhang Yanji scratched his head and said, “Alright, shoot the feather arrows first. Hmm, don’t scatter them. Aim before shooting, aim before shooting!”
The veteran soldiers on the city walls weren’t affected by General Zhang’s frequently changing orders. They put down the rolling logs, drew feather arrows from their quivers, and aimed carefully at the approaching soldiers of the Abbasid army.
Archery was a mandatory training exercise in the Tang army. Whether it was the border troops or the imperial guards, they were required to practice daily to maintain a high level of skill. Even the most ordinary soldiers were expected to be able to draw a two-stone hard bow and hit two out of four targets from a hundred paces away. Although they were shooting at straw men, which were essentially immobile targets, years of practice had improved their accuracy. Facing the slow-moving Abbasid soldiers carrying battering rams up close, they were quite confident.
One after another, sharp arrows sliced through the air with a buzzing sound, heading straight for the faces of the Abbasid warriors. Since the soldiers on the city walls had been aiming for a long time, the arrows they shot were both powerful and precise. After a round of shooting, many of the Abbasid soldiers were killed or wounded. Those carrying battering rams thought they had already stepped into Julan City, only to stumble at this critical point. The survivors dropped their battering rams and drew their wooden shields to protect their vital faces.
“Good, give them a thorough lesson. Let’s see if they still dare to be arrogant!”
Zhang Yanji waved his fists repeatedly to vent his anger. He had suffered enough from the Abbasid people during the siege, and now he had a chance to retaliate—how could he not be happy? He only wished those foolish Abbasid brutes would rush in all at once, so his men wouldn’t have to aim!
Zhang Yanji suddenly felt extremely relieved. He looked at the full moon in the night sky and let out a long sigh。……
“Huh? Where’s Brother Kuo?”
Not seeing Li Kuo on the city walls for a long time, Zhang Yanji grew puzzled. He tapped Dou Qing’s arm and asked.
“Well, the commander… the commander…”
Dou Qing, who had usually been so bold, suddenly became shy, stammering and refusing to say everything.
“Hey! Just tell me directly. Where did Brother Kuo go?”
Anxious, Zhang Yanji’s forehead broke out in sweat as he kept pressing questions.
“But the commander won’t let me say.”
Dou Qing also seemed troubled, lowering his head and sighing. “He’s afraid it will distract you. He said that keeping the city walls defended is the best support you can give him.”

“Stop trying to fool me! I know Brother Kuo well—unless it’s an extremely urgent situation, he would never leave me behind to go alone. You’re putting him in danger! Tell me where Brother Kuo is now! If anything happens to him, I’ll kill you on the spot!”
A fierce glare flashed from Zhang Yanji’s eyes as he stared intently at Dou Qing.
Dou Qing had never seen Zhang Yanji lose his composure like this. He instinctively stepped back and murmured, “Before you climbed to the city wall, Gao Shuai sent someone to say that there were unusual activities in the western city led by Li Huaizhong. He ordered the commander to take his elite troops there immediately! The commander waited until you woke up to take over defense before he set off for the western city in peace of mind!”
“I get it, I get it!”
Zhang Yanji seemed to suddenly realize something and slapped his forehead several times angrily. “I’m such an idiot! I couldn’t even see this obvious thing.”
Zhang Yanji turned around abruptly and headed toward the horse path at the corner of the city wall, running while saying, “Brother Dou, I’m leaving this to you. No one must be allowed to climb the city wall until I return!”
When he reached the horse path, Zhang Yanji stopped suddenly and said, “If I haven’t returned by midnight, don’t wait for me!”
Without saying another word, Zhang Yanji rushed down the city wall along the horse path.
“Gallop! Gallop!”
The young man leaped onto his horse and whipped it fiercely with his riding crop.
A long night lay ahead with no chance of sleep. If battle was inevitable, then they would fight together! They were comrades, brothers who had shared life and death. Neither of them would abandon the other.
To live together, to die together—that is what brothers are.