Vol 9 Chapter 171 (1/2)

Chapter 171

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 171: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE SIEGE OF XINYE (20)

Li Dian POV

“Jia!”

I heaved and huffed as I swung my reins over and over, sending my horse in a frenzied gallop. Lu Xiang’s head bobbed up and down and landed against my shoulder as I held onto her while I tried to catch up to Cao Ren. As I looked ahead, I saw that the gates were closed.

Kuh! They sealed off our retreat!

When I looked at the walls and the tower, I saw that the drums were still there but the men were now wielding bows and shooting our troops instead.

“Don’t falter, s.h.i.+eld warriors! Just 1 more wave!” Cao Ren yelled. The anxiousness and panic in her tone was obvious. It would indeed be fatal if we were unable to get out of the city soon.

Kuh! I raised my spear and deflected the oncoming arrows, feeling that the current situation was truly laughable. Right now, it seemed like we were trying to break down the gate and charge into the city but in reality, the situation was the exact opposite.

“Lord Cao Ren!” I yelled as I neared and she looked back at me with a frown. It was clear that she was really troubled.

“We’re late.” I said I got closer and saluted her while holding on to Lu Xiang.

“No, it’s fine as long as you’re alright.’ Cao Ren said as she deflected more arrows.

“What’s the current status?”

“Not good. Zhao Yun’s troops charged in from the outside just now and we suffered more losses.”

“Where are their troops now?” I asked, looking about but not finding Zhao Yun’s troops.

“They immediately disengaged after charging. Their numbers were not many to begin with so it was likely just a distraction. After the charge, they closed the gates and we are still unable to open them.”

“Are there no levers on the gates?!” Cao Ren yelled out.

“None at all. This is a pulley-operated gate and the switch is at the tower!”

Pulleys… I looked about and saw that there were thick chains that were connected to the tower and were wrapped around the handles of the gates which were impossible to destroy with swords.

After all the battles, we had lost a significant number of our s.h.i.+eld warriors. If this situation continues, we will not make it out alive. Maybe we should go to a different gate– No, that will not be possible. The south side is filled with enemies who will likely move to seal all the other gates once they have cleared out the remnants of our troops before coming here at top speed.

“Incoming!” Cao Ren yelled and when I looked up, I saw another cascade of arrows and raised my spear to deflect them.

“Command the troops! Tell those at the front to open the gates as soon as possible! We aren’t safe here, if we don’t make it out, we are doomed!”

“I am doing that right now!” Cao Ren frowned as she replied with frustration. This is probably the first time Cao Ren is in such dire straits in a battle.

Wu… Ah!

An arrow pierced my thighs. I broke off half of it with 1 hand and just that bit of motion was enough to make it hurt badly enough that my entire leg began to tremble. It was a good thing that i was on horseback now. If I were on foot, I would have collapsed to the ground by now.

“Have the troops sent to the tower not made it to the switch yet?!” Cao Ren yelled.

“Not yet! They’re being hampered by Zhao Yun’s troops!”

Kuh… Must I go…

— Wu! Just as I was about to turn my horse, the pain in my thighs forced me to stop moving.

“Lord Li Dian, don’t push you

rself!” Cao Ren yelled when she was what I was trying to do, “The route to the tower is narrow! It will only be more dangerous if we send more men!”

I looked ahead again and saw a row of men pus.h.i.+ng against the gates but it did not budge. Looks like it has been reinforced huh? No, if this goes on, we will not make it out.

Is there any other… Is there any other way…

…

Wait, we are trying to break the gates right?

“Incoming!” A soldier yelled and I snapped out of my daze to look up but the arrows were already nearing.

“Wu!!” I raised my spear and swung it about as I steered my horse towards an area where the arrows were spa.r.s.e. Even that bit of motion was enough to make my thigh hurt enough that I was sweating buckets.

But now is not the time to indulge in my pain. I looked about but did not fine what I was looking for.

“Cao Ren!” I yelled out as she looked at me, “Where are our siege weapons?”