6: Taking down the city wall

Over the next two days, Gu Chang trained even more desperately, while also trying to find ways to enhance his defensive capabilities.

He understood that to survive until the siege battle ended, the most crucial thing was not how many enemies he killed, but preserving his life during the assault.

With his current individual combat ability, he should be able to defeat ordinary people in a one-on-one situation, but facing a siege or chaotic battle was another matter entirely.

"Cloth armor, bamboo armor, heart-protecting mirror—these alone are not enough; I must protect my chest and back..."

Unfortunately, there were not many Materials he could use in the military camp, and as for better armor, he could not even dream of it. For ordinary soldiers, getting a broken saber or a long spear, plus a set of tattered cloth armor, was already considered a blessing from above.

After multiple attempts, Gu Chang decided to use some wood Materials to reinforce his chest and back, so that even if he was hit, he could withstand a few more blows.

Just like that, three days passed in a blink of an eye, and the day of the siege arrived.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Rumble!"

The war drums sounded, and the army stood in formation. Everything was as usual; Gu Chang and his Auxiliary Army were still treated as cannon fodder and pushed to the very front.

"Charge! No retreating!"

"Those who retreat shall be executed!"

"All of you, charge!"

"The General has ordered! The first to scale the wall will be rewarded with a thousand gold and promoted three ranks!"

"..."

The fierce and evil supervisors waved their war sabers, directing the Auxiliary Army to charge towards the city wall.

Any soldier who showed fear would immediately be targeted by them and mercilessly cut down with a saber, serving as a deterrent to other soldiers.

Under these circumstances, even the most cowardly soldiers could only grit their teeth and charge forward. However, it was clear that the first wave of people was merely going to their deaths and exhausting the arrows.

Fortunately, Gu Chang was not assigned to the first wave; otherwise, he would never have survived to reach the city wall previously.

But it was quickly their turn to enter the fray.

"All of you, go! No one can retreat!"

"Kill! Archers!"

"Raise your shields!"

"Get the scaling ladders ready!"

"..."

After a portion of the arrows on the city wall had been exhausted, the real siege battle finally began. Zhou Qing realized this time that, in addition to their Auxiliary Army serving as cannon fodder, there was actually a true elite force poised and ready to strike!

"So that's how it is!"

Seeing this situation, Gu Chang immediately understood the army's plan and where his chance of survival lay!

However, there was no time for him to think now. Driven by the supervisor, he, along with the other soldiers around him, raised their thick wooden shields and carried scaling ladders, charging towards the city wall.

"Thump thump thump!"

The sound of dense arrows striking the thick wooden shields was like hail hitting a car roof. Arrows constantly fell all around and at their feet, and every now and then, someone would fall after being hit by an arrow.

"If you want to live, follow me!"

"Hold your shields tight! Don't be afraid!"

"As long as we get onto the city wall, occupy a small space, and hold it, we can survive!"

"Remember, never be afraid! As long as you are fiercer and more ruthless than others, they will be afraid of you!"

"..."

Gu Chang shouted loudly to the child soldiers and old soldiers beside him as he advanced.

These words were not the first time Gu Chang had said them to them. In the evenings, Gu Chang would not only encourage them but also have them learn to make their own wooden armor.

Gu Chang was well aware of the dangers of siege warfare. If he were to ascend the city wall alone, without others assisting him, it was highly likely he would die again!

For this reason, the best way was to bring along his "acquaintances" beside him. Even if they could only shield him a couple of times, it would increase his chances of survival.

"Mmm!"

The three child soldiers' faces were pale, and their bodies trembled with fear, but they still gritted their teeth and agreed.

The old soldier, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed, holding his wooden shield and following silently behind the group.

"Quick! Quickly! Go up!"

"Climb up!"

"Ah!"

"Help! Help me!"

"Swish swish swish!"

"Sizzle!"

Soon, the scaling ladders were propped against the city wall. Some held the ladders, others climbed up, and every now and then, a scaling ladder would be pushed off the city wall, or a soldier climbing the ladder would be hit by boiling oil, stones, or liquid excrement.

"It's your turn! Go quickly!"

"You all follow too!"

Upon hearing the order, Gu Chang immediately climbed onto the scaling ladder, while also speaking to the others in his squad.

"Bang! Clang!"

He had only climbed halfway when the shield in his hand was struck by a large stone, causing the shield to twist. He immediately fell off the scaling ladder.

"Bang! Crack!"

"Swish swish swish!"

Immediately after, Gu Chang felt his body shake, and many of his bones seemed to break. Then, several arrows directly pierced into his body, and he gradually lost his life amidst an indescribable pain.

[Died in training, fell to his death!]

[This Reincarnation evaluation: Grade D-]

[This Reincarnation reward: None]

A moment later, Gu Chang's consciousness returned. The Six Paths of Reincarnation before him remained, but this time, the evaluation of his Reincarnation also appeared.

"Dead? I... I'm dead just like that?"

"Damn it! I didn't even take one down with me before I died!"

However, Gu Chang found this result truly difficult to accept. This time, he had clearly prepared quite thoroughly and trained exceptionally hard, but the outcome was this, even worse than the first time.

After two consecutive deaths, Gu Chang no longer feared death itself, but thinking about the wasted Reincarnation point and getting nothing in return still made his heart ache.

"Alas, it seems the first Reincarnation made me careless; I didn't even consider unexpected factors. Next time, I must be even more careful and cautious!"

Of course, giving up now was impossible. On the contrary, it was precisely such failures that made him realize more profoundly that the Reincarnation he was undergoing was absolutely a real world, not some play or act.

However, after careful consideration, Gu Chang still did not immediately undertake a third Reincarnation. Instead, he decided to rest for a night and then proceed with the third Reincarnation after recovering his energy tomorrow.

And so, Gu Chang continuously simulated his experiences in the Reincarnation World in his mind, then gradually fell into a dream.

However, he found that even in his dreams, he encountered the Reincarnation World, that tragic, bloody battlefield.

The next day, Gu Chang woke up early. After eating his fill, he continued to practice the Seven Kill Saber Technique.

Due to his experience in the Reincarnation World, his speed in mastering this combat technique was now getting faster and faster, and with his body gradually recovering, his overall strength was steadily improving.

When he was tired, he rested; when he was free, he checked traps and fished. It wasn't until nightfall again that Gu Chang began his third entry into the Reincarnation World.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Quick! Quickly! Everyone keep up!"

This time, he again experienced three days of training, and he was even more fully prepared. His entire mindset also became increasingly steady.

Even with a large number of arrows constantly shooting at him on the battlefield, Gu Chang could respond with an eerie sense of calm.

"Charge!"

"Follow me!"

At the small city wall, in front of the scaling ladder, Gu Chang once again climbed onto the scaling ladder, attempting to ascend the city wall.

"Bang bang bang!"

A large number of arrows rained down on the thick wooden shield in his hand. Suddenly, a pot of scalding hot oil was poured towards him, but fortunately, most of it was blocked by his shield.

Only a small portion of the hot oil splashed onto his body. Most of this hot oil was also blocked by his cloth armor and the wooden armor underneath, so not much landed on Gu Chang's flesh.

"Ah!! Help!"

The only trouble was that a soldier in front, who was holding the line, lost control due to the hot oil and fell directly towards him.

"Bang!"

"Ah! Kill!"

However, at this moment, Gu Chang did not even think, directly pushing him off the scaling ladder. Then, he gritted his teeth and roared furiously, rushing up the scaling ladder in a few swift movements and reaching the top of the city wall!

"Die!!!"

Facing the defenders on the city wall, Gu Chang said nothing, directly swinging his saber to kill them.

At this point, there was no right or wrong, only a desperate struggle for survival!

The military saber in his hand moved with broad, sweeping strokes, the Seven Kill combat technique used instinctively, and the wooden shield in his hand was firmly protected in front of his body.

Perhaps because he knew he would not truly die from this, Gu Chang had now completely thrown caution to the wind. With bloodshot eyes, he furiously hacked at every enemy he saw, covered in blood, and for a moment, he didn't know if it was the enemy's blood or his own.

With him fighting at the very front, the others behind him quickly ascended the city wall and then, as Gu Chang had instructed, protected his flanks.

However, the three child soldiers were ultimately too weak. They dared not retaliate and could only huddle behind their shields.

In contrast, the old soldier, Qian Dazhi, now held his long spear and struck with deadly accuracy, specifically targeting the weak points of enemies attempting to approach, his moves incredibly ruthless.

"Quick, quick, quick! Someone has ascended the city wall!"

"Take the city wall! Reward a thousand gold, promote two ranks!!!"

"Assault Camp, charge!"

At the same time, the general in the rear saw an opportunity and immediately ordered the waiting elite soldiers to attack!

Unlike Gu Chang's weak Auxiliary Army, these elite soldiers were all fully armed, formidable warriors with fierce strength. Several captains were even powerful individuals who had practiced strong martial arts!

They quickly rushed to the base of the scaling ladders, then one by one, they stormed the city wall, taking down section after section of the wall like hungry wolves and tigers!

Gu Chang no longer knew how much time had passed. Under the effects of adrenaline, he seemed to have forgotten the pain. Even though he was completely exhausted, he did not forget to desperately swing his saber.

By this time, one of the three child soldiers beside him had died, two were injured, and the old soldier Qian Dazhi was also severely wounded. Just as he was about to lose his life again, several black-clad elite soldiers suddenly appeared beside him, fighting the enemies in front.

With the addition of these men, Gu Chang's pressure suddenly eased, and he slumped weakly onto the city wall.

The battle continued, but everything seemed unrelated to Gu Chang. Even though the surroundings were filled with corpses, overflowing blood, and smoke, it did not prevent him from sitting on the ground to rest.

Soon, the city wall was taken, the city gates opened, and the army from the rear immediately rushed into the city, completely securing the victory.