Nine months pregnant, the baby in Zhi Ning’s belly was finally ripe for delivery.
Her belly was large and pointed, and everyone who saw it said it was a boy.
This made Zhi Ning both excited and disappointed. The Zhi Clan, especially her father Zhi Lan’s line, was extremely thin. Now with the addition of a male child, it boosted morale somewhat.
But this boy’s special identity destined that he could not participate in politics. So she had always wanted to give birth to a daughter, to concentrate wholeheartedly on studying art.
Her belly was truly enormous, but she still insisted on walking with her belly every day, for the health of the child and herself.
Strangely enough, originally Zhi Ning’s health was somewhat weak, but after pregnancy she made an effort to eat and drink, made an effort to exercise, rather than as before frequently lying horizontally on the couch reading books for half a day. Her body actually gradually became healthy, or rather, to use another word to describe it, actually became strong.
After pregnancy, her face became round and full, and her body besides her belly also became plump.
Her originally delicate and peerless face actually appeared radiant and glowing.
Pregnant women are normally fragile, most in need of a lover’s care. But after Zhi Ning became pregnant, she no longer had a lover.
She ate alone, exercised alone, spoke alone with her baby, appearing very strong.
And now with her stomach hurting and her thighs wet, she knew it was time to give birth.
Immediately, she put down her paintbrush and shouted, “Quickly come, I am about to give birth.”
Instantly, four or five matrons, more than a dozen maidservants, and two female medical cultivators rushed in quickly.
Immediately after, Prince Ji Min also rushed in with a nervous expression.
“Get out…” Zhi Ning pointed at him and roared loudly.
Instantly, Prince Ji Min seemed to directly crash into an invisible wall, his head shrinking back, and he retreated out in a dejected manner.
Then, Princess Zhi Ning was carried into the room, the room door closed, and then the doors of the entire house also closed.
Over this past half year, Zhi Ning’s temper had become increasingly fierce, her speaking voice growing louder and louder.
Having lost her brother Zhi Li’s favour, and with the child’s father destined unable to accompany her side, only she alone could protect the future child.
So, she had no choice but to become fierce.
And Prince Ji Min was the direct victim, shouted at every day, frequently scolded like a grandson, almost developing psychological trauma.
He truly could not understand why the previously gentle and cold Zhi Ning had now become so fierce, like a shrew.
Using Earth figures to describe it, Zhi Ning directly transformed from Lin Daiyu into a lioness of Hedong.
But even more incomprehensible was that Zhi Ning was such a shrew, and moreover with her big belly, yet Ji Min’s love for her in his heart grew even more intense.
If his previous love still carried the ignorance and greenness of youth. Now Prince Ji Min’s love for her had become mature and firm, even carrying a sense of responsibility.
He wanted to protect this woman, he wanted to care for this woman.
“Ah…” Just at this moment, a painful cry came from inside the room, full of energy, piercing straight through the roof.
Prince Ji Min’s legs trembled, nearly falling onto his bottom on the ground.
Because this shout was truly too loud.
But immediately after, one after another heartrending scream came from inside, making Prince Ji Min’s legs go weak, his body gradually turning cold.
Because Zhi Ning’s cries were becoming increasingly miserable, and increasingly weak.
He thought of a terrifying word, difficult labour!
…
“Husband, what is it?” Naier asked softly.
Sauron’s mood was somewhat uneasy, but he completely did not show it, yet was still discovered by Yan Naier.
Naier loved him too much, so even the slightest change in his emotions, she could perceive.
“For some reason, my heartbeat is somewhat accelerated, and there is also some uneasiness and apprehension.” Sauron said.
“Is it because of the war situation?” Naier asked.
Sauron shook his head and said, “I do not know.”
Then, he took a deep breath, concentrated his mental power, using the Well Moon illusion realm to make himself calm down.
Normally at this time, he could easily make his heart as still as an ancient well, but for some reason today he simply could not calm down.
Then he simply did not try to calm down, looking to the left, then looking to the right.
As the western gateway of Tianshui City, the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line was originally only a medium sized castle, because the west was the kingdom’s Baiyun County, previously not requiring true defence.
After Sauron recaptured Tianshui City, the Nu Lang Kingdom’s Zhi Li forces became the greatest enemy, and Duke Zhiwei’s Southeast Province became an enemy right before their eyes.
So Sauron invested a massive amount of gold coins, a massive amount of materials to construct the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.
Mobilising two hundred thousand manpower, several hundred thousand gold coins, to build this four li long defence line, spanning between two mountain ranges, completely blocking the entrance into Tianshui City.
This four li long city wall was fully thirteen metres high, twenty three metres thick, with a medium sized castle every li.
It could completely be said to be impregnable, like a gigantic beast crouching in the valley.
Not only this, within this four li long defence line, more than one hundred super giant trebuchets were also installed, capable of throwing four to five hundred metres at the furthest.
Also various medium sized trebuchets, several hundred, and countless giant crossbows.
In the underground warehouses behind the defence line, the stored fire oil barrels were absolutely astronomical in number, fully several hundred thousand barrels.
Various types of gunpowder packs, tens of thousands of packs.
Various types of arrows, several million.
In short, Sauron wanted to fight a battle similar to the US military in the Middle East on Earth, using several hundred bullets to kill one enemy.
Alive, using materials to pile the enemy to death!
Four li of city walls, five castles, Yan Yan, Yan Chuoer, Zhiyan, Yan Naier, and A Shi Liren each responsible for one castle.
Sauron, as the battlefield commander, directed from the centre.
However, all along what Sauron excelled at was strategy, specific tactics and battlefield command were not his strengths.
“Ga…”
A griffin beast landed on the roof of the central castle. Sauron mounted it, flapping its wings to fly high, beginning to survey the entire battlefield!
Zhuang Zhixuan as a guard sat behind Sauron to protect.
On the four li of city walls, countless trebuchets, countless giant crossbows, interlocking like teeth.
The soldiers truly on the city walls were not many, only a little more than twenty thousand, and uniformly carrying bows and arrows.
Also more than forty thousand great army were inside the castles, and in the large camps behind the city walls.
Sauron rode the griffin flying in the high sky, surveying back and forth.
And two thousand metres before the defence line, Zhiwei’s one hundred fifty thousand great army had already completed their formation.
Fifteen giant square formations, distributed across several dozen square kilometres of valley flatland.
Several dozen super giant trebuchets, several hundred medium sized trebuchets, more than a thousand giant crossbows.
Countless siege hammers, siege vehicles, countless siege ladders.
Zhiwei’s one hundred fifty thousand great army was also completely armed to the teeth, possessing astronomical numbers of siege materials.
Just the ox carts transporting boulder projectiles numbered several thousand.
Behind the one hundred fifty thousand great army were fully two to three hundred thousand civilian labourers.
This great battle, both sides mobilised only two to three hundred thousand troops, but mobilised fully five hundred thousand civilian labourers.
The military expenditure invested also exceeded five to six hundred thousand gold coins, almost equivalent to the Ranran battle of that year.
Duke Zhiwei narrowed his eyes, looking at the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line several li away, like a gigantic beast.
“They all say Ranran City is the world’s number one vassal, it should have changed long ago.” Zhiwei said, “It is not whose territory is large who is the number one vassal, but who has more money, more troops, who is the number one vassal.”
The crown prince Zhi You beside him was so jealous he gritted his teeth. Currently the richest people in the Nu Lang Kingdom were two, one was Zhi Li, controlling the largest gold house. The other was Sauron, controlling the Chaos Rock salt fields and the Magic Mirror base, two sources of wealth.
Currently Sauron’s monthly income was equivalent to several times the total annual income of other vassals.
If not for the short time, Tianshui City could expand the main city by one fold, and could expand the army by one hundred thousand.
“Father, Gui Xingfu’s army was defeated, so the previous treaties all do not count. After destroying Tianshui City, the Chaos Rock salt fields and Magic Mirror base will belong to us.” Zhi You said, “And after this battle, Father’s merit will shake the heavens, after Zhi Li succeeds to the throne he must certainly enfeoff you as a Prince.”
Zhiwei’s face trembled, and said, “That depends on those below being competitive, destroying Tianshui City before Tu Lingtuo arrives.”
Zhi You said, “Destroy the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line, and you destroy Tianshui City.”
Duke Zhiwei nodded. Sauron had madly gathered all his great army at the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line. Once the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line was broken through, the entire Tianshui City would be like an unoccupied territory.
“Your Grace, the great army has already fully deployed and arrayed!” the deputy commander stepped forward and said.
Duke Zhiwei said, “Great army advance, to five hundred metres from the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.”
“Yes!”
Then, drum sounds rang out.
Countless messengers galloped back and forth transmitting orders and shouting.
“Great army advance, to five hundred metres from the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.”
“Boom boom boom boom…”
One hundred fifty thousand great army, marching in neat steps, began to move.
The rolling of giant trebuchets, the footsteps of one hundred fifty thousand great army, the hoofbeats of countless war horses, gathered together.
The entire ground was trembling, the mountains on both sides slightly shaking.
Within a hundred li radius, all flying birds and running beasts fled without a trace.
Sauron rode the griffin beast, hovering several hundred metres in the high sky, watching the one hundred fifty thousand great army advance.
Like a vast ocean, the one hundred fifty thousand great army spread across several dozen square kilometres of ground, almost concealing the ground’s own colour.
Looking at it, it was a black, pressurising mass.
“Forward, forward, forward…”
“Advance, advance, advance…”
The one hundred fifty thousand great army advanced one thousand metres, one thousand three hundred metres, one thousand five hundred metres!
“Halt!”
“Halt!”
“Halt!”
The first row of square formations stopped, the second row of square formations stopped…
Finally, the one hundred fifty thousand great army all neatly halted, the nearest square formation exactly five hundred metres from the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.
This distance was exactly outside the strike range of all long range weapons.
The great army halted, watching the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line’s reaction!
The Wind Thunder Fortress defence line was silent and still.
Zhiwei’s great army gave another order.
“Giant trebuchets, advance one hundred fifty metres.”
“Giant crossbow positions, advance one hundred fifty metres.”
“Cavalry square formations ready, protect giant trebuchet positions, protect giant crossbow positions.”
“Archer square formations ready, protect giant trebuchet positions, protect giant crossbow positions.”
“Medium scorpion trebuchets ready, protect giant trebuchet positions, protect giant crossbow positions.”
Instantly, the giant trebuchet square formations, giant crossbow square formations, under the protection of thirty thousand cavalry and fifty thousand infantry archers, continued to advance, entering within three hundred fifty metres.
This distance had already reached the range of giant trebuchets and giant crossbows.
Moreover, with several tens of thousands of cavalry and several tens of thousands of archer square formations protecting, even if cavalry from within the defence line wanted to charge out to destroy the trebuchets and giant crossbows it would be impossible, one could say however many charged out would die.
In this kind of decisive battle, both sides would almost not commit any tactical errors.
Regardless of Duke Zhiwei’s talent, under his command were countless generals, countless staff officers, every tactical step would not be wrong.
At this time, both sides’ giant crossbows and super giant trebuchets had all entered each other’s ranges.
Sauron returned to the central castle. At this time five griffin beasts were arranged in neat formation, above riding a Shadow Pavilion expert, and also a five hundred jin large gunpowder pack.
Still an air raid!
Using griffin beasts to drop five hundred jin large gunpowder packs, to destroy the enemy’s giant trebuchet positions and giant crossbow positions.
“Draw crossbows!”
In Zhiwei’s great army, following the giant crossbow square formation commander’s order.
Several thousand giant crossbows suddenly opened. Every giant crossbow required two people to step on with their feet, using mechanical force, to open.
“Creak…” Several thousand giant crossbows opened.
“Draw crossbows!”
Within the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line, several thousand interlocking giant crossbows, distributed on the city walls, in the city tunnels, inside the castles.
Following an order, all giant crossbows also suddenly opened.
“Load arrows!”
Both sides’ giant crossbows, all loaded with several metre long giant arrows.
“Giant trebuchets, press levers, load projectiles!” Several dozen of Zhiwei’s great army’s giant trebuchets began to forcefully press down levers, placing hundred jin stone projectiles onto the throwing pans.
“Super giant trebuchets, press levers, load projectiles!” Sauron’s great army’s one hundred plus super giant trebuchets within the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line pressed down levers, placing four to five hundred jin gunpowder packs onto the throwing pans.
“Fire”
“Fire!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Both sides’ several thousand giant crossbows, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, shot out a rainstorm of giant arrows.
Both sides’ trebuchets, separated by several hundred metres, violently hurled projectiles.
Only, what Zhiwei’s great army projected were hundred jin stone projectiles, while what Sauron’s great army projected were astonishing four to five hundred jin gunpowder packs.
At the same time, at Sauron’s order.
Five griffin beasts flapped their wings to fly high, carrying five hundred jin gunpowder packs, flying towards the enemy’s trebuchet positions, giant crossbow positions.
Both sides’ firepower crossed in the air.
After flying several hundred metres.
Several dozen stone projectiles of Zhiwei’s great army, several thousand giant arrows, fiercely smashed onto the four li long Wind Thunder Fortress defence line.
“Boom boom boom boom boom…”
Emitting heaven shaking loud noises, sparks flying in all directions.
“Ah… ah… ah…”
Miserable cries rang out, blood splattering in all directions.
The soldiers struck were instantly torn apart flesh and blood, but only several dozen people.
After all, giant crossbows at four hundred metres had already lost much of their momentum.
And although giant trebuchets had astonishing power, their accuracy was pitiful, several dozen stone projectiles, most smashed onto the city walls.
Although the momentum was astonishing, this city wall was after all twenty metres thick, not something a mere hundred jin stone projectile could shake, at most only scratching an itch.
Duke Zhiwei’s first round of long range attacks brought Sauron several dozen casualties, and scratched the four metre city wall once.
And Sauron’s long range attack…
More than one hundred giant gunpowder packs fiercely smashed down onto Duke Zhiwei’s trebuchet positions and giant crossbow positions.
“Boom boom boom boom…”
Heaven shaking, earth shattering explosions.
More than one hundred gunpowder packs, each four to five hundred jin, that is forty to fifty thousand jin of gunpowder violently exploding.
Completely the mountains shaking and the earth trembling, the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves!
Zhiwei’s great army, completely their livers and gallbladders torn asunder!