Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 891 Attack Xianyang, attack with all your strength!

It was not until Yi Xiaochuan became Meng Yi that he was officially qualified and had the ability to fight on the battlefield. If an ordinary person wanted to make a name for himself in ancient times, it would be absolutely a nightmare.

As for what kind of articles or poems to write, the ancients were no fools. If you were to become a literary giant without any achievements or background, you would either be considered a liar or used as a tool. How could you possibly succeed so easily?

Some are even more outrageous, like writing a letter to the emperor, who, upon reading it, was delighted and then awarded an official position. Even more outrageous is the idea of ​​writing to the emperor, and even an ordinary person writing to a county magistrate might not even bother to pay attention or even glance at it. If your letter truly reveals political ideas that affect people's livelihoods, the first reaction would definitely not be to discover a talent, but to discover an undercover agent from another country.

In short, people don't put too much faith in things that exceed their expectations, and this was also true in ancient times. Gao Yao knew this truth very well, so he chose the most difficult path, but it was also the path he had no choice but to take.

Li Zhao judged that even if Yi Xiaochuan had some knowledge of black gunpowder, it would be difficult to achieve it in a short period of time.

As the rain subsided, Li Zhao ordered increased patrols, particularly at the base of the city walls. He dispatched engineering teams to dig deep trenches along the inner side of the walls as a precaution against enemy tunnel attacks. He also didn't completely rule out the possibility of black powder, ordering soldiers to prepare large quantities of sand and water jars to extinguish any explosions.

The sound of war drums rolled across the sky like thunder, shaking every inch of land outside Xianyang. The Chu army's flags fluttered in the wind, and tens of thousands of troops lined up at the foot of the city, a solemn and murderous atmosphere permeating the land.

Xiang Yu sat astride his black horse, clad in dark armor, his gaze blazing. He gazed upon the once-mighty Qin capital, his eyes gleaming with a complex light. Xianyang, with its thick walls and extensive fortifications, was not a formidable fortress. But Xiang Yu knew his new weapon might change the rules of warfare.

"Pass the order down! The entire army has rested and regrouped. Change the siege strategy." Xiang Yu's voice was deep and powerful, and the messenger immediately galloped off. "The main force will fully attack the east gate, while the other three gates will be feinted."

The Chu army suddenly became busy. Catapults were pushed to the front line, and ladders and battering rams were deployed. Soldiers adjusted their armor, gripped their weapons, and waited for the order to launch the next attack.

Xiang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts drifting back to his meeting with Yi Xiaochuan a few days earlier. The mysterious alchemist had demonstrated the power of "black powder"—a new weapon capable of generating immense explosive force. Yi Xiaochuan had explained that it was a serendipitous discovery from alchemy, and if harnessed effectively, it could transform the course of battle.

However, Xiang Yu wasn't entirely sure. Could this black powder really be as potent as Yi Xiaochuan claimed? Even if it were, with the quantity they could extract, could it inflict a decisive blow on the fortified city of Xianyang?

"General, the entire army is ready." The deputy general's voice brought Xiang Yu back from his thoughts.

Xiang Yu nodded and waved his hand, ordering: "Beat the drums, attack!"

The war drums began to beat again, more rapidly and fiercely than before. The Chu army surged towards Xianyang like a tide, their cries of battle shaking the earth.

Outside the East Gate, the catapults began their display. Unlike usual, this time they weren't hurling ordinary boulders, but clay pots filled with black powder. After their fuses were lit, these pots were flung into the air, tracing arcs and ultimately landing on the city walls, at the gates, and even within the city itself.

Explosions echoed, black smoke billowed, and flames flew everywhere. The Xianyang defenders were caught off guard by this sudden new weapon. The previously orderly defensive formation was thrown into disarray. Soldiers watched in horror as their comrades were blown to pieces, their flesh and blood scattering everywhere, and several gaps were blown into the battlements of the city walls.

"The Chu army also has magical weapons?" A soldier from the Southern Border Army shouted in horror, almost dropping the bow and arrow in his hand.

On the city wall, defending General Li Zhao frowned. Although he had anticipated the Chu army's potential for retaliation, he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. The deafening explosion, the thick black smoke obstructing vision, and the defenders' morale clearly crippled.

"Calm down! It's just some loud noises! Compared to our army's black powder, it's a far cry!" Li Zhao shouted, trying to calm the troops. "Archers, aim at those catapults! Prepare rolling logs and stones!"

Li Zhao knew in his heart that things were far from as easy as he'd let on. The damage caused by the black powder was truly staggering. The city walls had been shattered to the ground, practically rendering them defenseless. Even more terrifying was the psychological impact on the soldiers—the fear of the unknown often instills even greater despair than the perceived dangers.

The Chu army's offensive surged with increasing ferocity. Under the cover of black powder, the assault troops had already reached the city walls. Ladders were placed on the walls, and the soldiers began to climb. At the city gates, battering rams rhythmically pounded against the iron-clad gates, making a dull, resounding sound.

Xiang Yu watched the battle from afar, his brow furrowed in thought. The gunpowder had indeed produced unexpected results, but it seemed insufficient to capture the city. The catapults had limited accuracy, and many of the pottery jars missed their targets. Furthermore, the supply of gunpowder was limited and would soon be exhausted.

"Send the order, intensify the attack! Once the black powder is used up, it all depends on the bravery of the soldiers!" Xiang Yu ordered.

Li Zhao was able to be appointed to garrison Xianyang at this time, so his ability was naturally not a problem. After the initial shock, he quickly adjusted his defensive strategy.

"All catapults, concentrate your attacks on the Chu army's catapults!" Li Zhao commanded. "Prepare hot water and hot oil to douse the Chu troops climbing the city walls! Reserve troops ascend the walls and fill the gaps!"

The Southern Border Army was, after all, a rigorously trained force, and under the effective command of their generals, they gradually recovered from the initial chaos. While the damage caused by the black powder attack should not be underestimated, Xianyang's walls were strong, its reserves were ample, and it had the capital at its back, providing the capital for a protracted battle.

Crucially, the black powder attack didn't last long. The Chu army's limited reserves quickly ran out. The catapults resumed their volleys of ordinary boulders—still powerful, but no longer possessing the same intimidating effect.

"It seems Xiang Yu's black powder is just so-so." Li Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned again. "But if we give them time to mass-produce it, wouldn't it be easier to capture cities and strongholds in the future?"

Thinking of this, Li Zhao felt a chill in his heart. He had to defend Xianyang, not only for the sake of immediate victory, but also to prevent this terrifying technology from falling into the hands of the Chu army and being used on a large scale.