Chapter 464: A Fatal Breach!

After the probing attack, Han Sanhe was immediately well aware of the identity of the newcomer!

The battlefield then saw the participants replaced by different men. The troops were swapped, changing all the strategies and tactics that were being deployed on the battlefield.

Even though they were all elites, equally capable and skill, they retained their own characteristics and individual flair.

The new relief troop's singular combat ability was actually higher than the eastern troop and they had excellent teamwork as well. Despite the fact that the western troop suffered from casualties that amounted to two thousand men, Dongxuan had lost more than five thousand militants; it was two and a half times worse than the losses the defenders suffered.

Only Yutang's elites could display such combat ability and discipline. The northern troops under Tie Zheng were still fighting while the situation in the south was also hectic. It was only natural that the west side would come.

Only the western troops among Yutang's military team possessed the exceptional ability to fight as a cohesive unit, due to the yearlong battle against Ziyou's military, that was said to have the top military strength in the continent. There were only a few talents who were equipped with such a strong ability to command in the western troop.

The western line needed Wang Yunzhu to always be there, so the leader of this battle had to be Wang Yunzhu's top general, Sun Zihu!

The grandson had finally come.

Han Sanhe was the top general of the continent, able to guess the relief troop's origins swiftly, and even able to identify the commanding officer. As soon as he caught on, he drew back his attacks.

After half the time taken to make tea, a large flag was raised.

"Sun Zihu! Why would you travel for hundreds and thousands of miles to seek your own death? What are you waiting for? Why are you not surrendering?"

Sun Zihu's rage mounted as he heard those words. He shot an arrow as a reply, piercing the flag and bringing it down. Yet, it was this action that had confirmed the other party's guess.

In the following three days, the tension mounted greatly. The atmosphere gradually drained the western elites, although they were used to fighting a tough war.

This was not war at all. This was a bunch of lunatics playing games with human lives!

The advantage they possessed as a result of their individual combat power and teamwork, as well as their war strategies, could be of use. Still, the chances to execute these skills were incredibly limited.

Yutang was determined to protect their homeland, a trait which led to their fearlessness. It was a bravery that also stemmed from the crisis of subjugation and extinction. However, why was Dongxuan, as an invader, so overwhelmingly aggressive? Such audacity was indeed befitting of their title as the continent's top military nation!

The tidal wave-like enemy was orderly throughout their maneuvers, regardless of whether it was a forward attack or fort attack. Even as they watched their comrades fall from the city wall like rain droplets, they remained stoic and followed their orders with textbook accuracy.

No matter how great the price their comrades paid, they continued to charge fearlessly into the fray.

Sun Zihu gazed into the distance and saw a row of five hundred military men, standing with gleaming lights in their hands in front of the enemy base. Anyone who did not advance would be beheaded! Despite the slim chance of survival in the attack, drawing back meant definite death; Dongxuan soldiers who understood this naturally knew how to choose. There would still be a chance of survival even if it was slim, a hope to survive which was many times better than a certain death.

However, within the close proximity of doing battle with the Dongxuan military and experiencing Han Sanhe's stern command of his army, all Sun Zihu felt was chills.

This was the reason he was the best in the continent, the reason why he was the God of War of his time. His strategies and tactics, his aura and intimidation, everything was showcased perfectly in this battle.

The stern enforcement, the strict discipline, the elite troops, the unceasing attacks, thrown in with the generals and soldiers who fought as if they were crazed... these factors caused the combat power that hummed in the air to escalate exponentially.

What Marshal Fu Baoguo had faced earlier was this exact form of tough play, and he had never been on the losing end yet. The Fortress of Resilience had never been captured. He was indeed the top militant of Yutang's younger generation, one to whom Marshal Wang conceded defeat. His reputation was well earned.

"How many brothers have we lost?"

This was what Sun Zihu had to ask with an ominous face every day after the battle ended. He did not want to ask it nor did he wanted to hear the answer. He dared not listen to it, but he had to ask, and he had to listen.

However, every time he heard the number of casualties, Sun Zihu's heart quivered in his chest.

He had brought a hundred and fifty thousand western militant elites from the east defense line. They had only fought for four days, but already one-third of them were gone!

"We have lost fifty thousand brothers, just like that!"

Sun Zihu felt his heart bleed upon confirming the numbers.

"General Sun!" Fu Baoguo walked over with military grimness.

"Marshal Fu!" Sun Zihu stood up to salute him.

"General Sun, I would first like to thank the western relief troops - it's your hard work, effort, and sacrifice that we have been blessed with during these past four days. This marshal would never have expected to gain so much time. Thank you!" Fu Baoguo was filled with gratitude.

"No, no. We are also Yutang's citizens, soldiers of the military; this is what we should do. It's only a matter of course! Sun Zihu can't shoulder Marshal Fu's thanks," said Sun Zihu.

If it had been any other day, Sun Zihu would never have replied in this manner when he heard Fu Baoguo's words. He would probably have been infuriated, "What do you mean you gained four days of time? What do you mean, that it far exceeds your expectation? Who are you looking down upon?"

Having experienced Han Sanhe's intimidating warfare capability, Sun Zihu dared not issue any further retorts. His lack of confidence to face Han Sanhe was hardly avoidable, even though he was neither timid nor would he give up on the battle. Each time after a battle ended, Sun Zihu felt dazed - have I persevered? Have I defended well against another aggressive attack from the continent's top general?

At this point in time, he knew that Fu Baoguo was sincere; there was no implied meaning but only genuine gratitude, admiration and commendation that came from the bottom of his heart!

"I also know that you're hurting." Fu Baoguo said calmly, "You're hurting for your brothers. I understand your feelings because I am grieving as well. However, we must never forget... this is a battlefield!"

Sun Zihu answered loudly, "Yes, this subordinate understands!"

"No, you do not. At least, not entirely. Do you not know, we have no more time to be hurting!" Fu Baoguo said clearly, "The rise and fall of the empire lie in this war! The fallen brothers will never be lonely because there will be more brothers to accompany them!"

"These brothers who will be keeping them company includes you and me! It even includes all the fighters in the Fortress of Resilience. No one can be exempted!"

Fu Baoguo's eyes were shining. "Before we go to our brothers, we can't throw away the glory of being Yutang's militant. We have to complete our responsibilities, do our part as Yutang's citizens! Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Sun Zihu answered aloud.

He gazed at Fu Baoguo now was like he was looking at Marshal Wang Yunzhu, whom he had respected his entire life.

He could hear it from Fu Baoguo's words. Marshal Fu had never thought of going back alive! He was ready, prepared to bury himself in the Fortress of Resilience.

"The western fighters have taken charge for us for the past four days. I say this is enough!" Fu Baoguo turned to look at his subordinates, "Now, let our western brothers rest! Eastern troop, switch positions!"

...

The reports came three days later.

"Marshal, a part of the fortress walls might not hold out any longer."

Fu Baoguo felt his vision turning dark when he heard the news his janissary had just delivered. His worst fear was finally coming true.

The Fortress of Resilience had always been the paramount bastion in this world.

Its walls were ten feet thick and were made of the toughest mountain rock, with an impregnable steel structure forming its core.

After the previous war, Tie Zheng had deployed the entire army, almost emptying the mountain to fortify the outer layer of the wall facing the east by another twenty feet. After the strenuous work, the wall was eventually taller by ten feet!

This wall, thirty feet thick and built entirely out of stone, was the greatest confidence Fu Baoguo had in guarding the Fortress of Resilience!

In spite of this, this unparalleled fortress that was fortified and stronger than when it was just completed, had been damaged and breached under the maniacal attack of Dongxuan's army.

There was no need for many breaches such as these. As long as there was one, the Fortress of Resilience would be as good as gone!

"Repair it at full speed! It should be repaired the moment it appears!"

Fu Baoguo was adamant when issuing his order.

"Marshal Fu... the breach in the wall can't be repaired." The janissary leader looked disheveled, with a wound on his forehead that was still dripping blood. "The breach was at... the abdomen, the center... it has protruded outward..."

Fu Baoguo trembled when he heard the news.

The center of the wall protruded outward? This was a sign of critical damage!

Now, Han Sanhe only had to send his soldiers to focus their fire on this point. Even if they were to guard it and defend it with all their might, the prolonged pressure would only make the protruding part bulge out even more. The ultimate end to the strain was complete and utter collapse.

If the collapse happened, then their security would be gone - it would be the moment the Fortress of Resilience was truly defeated.

"How bad is this protrusion?" asked Fu Baoguo anxiously.

"Around the size of a palm, give or take some," answered the janissary leader.

Fu Baoguo turned to move towards the spot while Sun Zihu and the rest followed closely behind with grim expressions. They were also generals of the border, thus they understood the severity of such a weakness; they wanted to comprehend the criticality of the situation as well.

Fu Baoguo looked down from the top of the wall.

The janissary leader had spoken truly.

Thirty feet from the top of the wall, two huge rocks bulged inwards. It might not be obvious from the front of the wall, insignificant even, but it was a lethal loophole for the Fortress of Resilience.

A dam hundreds of miles long could succumb to termites, an indomitable fort could collapse from a single weak point; this one point was a point too many. It was a small, yet fatal liability!

With Han Sanhe being as aggressive as he was, and with his military experience as well as his sharp-sightedness, it was unlikely that he would overlook this. In fact, the reason Han Sanhe had attacked so aggressively without a care was that he was also waiting for this very moment!