Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 67: Chapter 21: Breach the City!

The clash at Peony Peak was raging, and at this moment, before the gates of Pyongyang City, the Great General Cannons and stone-throwing fire arrows burst forth in a dazzling display.

The muzzle-loading Flang Cannons, with their short front ends, long barrels, and thick walls reinforced by seven or eight iron hoops, unleashed a fierce barrage alongside the mighty Red-clothed Cannons, which were fixed to the ground with iron clamps in various unique styles of General Cannons.

Dense black smoke billowed, and the orange flames spread along the walls of the city. Explosions deafened the ears as countless arrows and iron bullets hit the walls, blood splattering continuously and staining the merlons red.

The Ming Army’s firearms were of various designs – Three-eyed Firearms, Clamp-target Guns, Crutch Guns, and more – but these weapons were far less powerful and accurate compared to the swift and fierce firepower of the Japanese pirates manning the iron guns atop the city towers. Only the Bird Guns had a range and power that were somewhat satisfactory. Li Rusong only watched for a moment before ordering the flag to be waved.

Within the square formation of Ming soldiers, all wearing black helmets with red tassels, carts wheeled forward, each carrying something resembling a barred crate. As the wicks, which burned fiercely, were inserted into the muzzles, the flames beneath them sparked hundreds of fiery arrows that shot out from the crates in eager succession.

Hundred Ferocious Tigers Rushing Arrows!

Flame combat vehicles charged at the front, while dozens of pointed wooden ‘siege donkeys’ bearing Ming soldiers rushed to the gates below. Tall siege ladders were placed against the walls still warm from the flames. Ming soldiers, their heads wrapped in netted scarves and clad in fish scale armor, ascended the ladders bearing rattan shields and short swords in their mouths. Pots of boiling oil and rocks rained down like dumplings. Every now and then, soldiers would tumble down from the battlements.

Banners stirred amidst the frenzy, cries of battle boiled over, earth and pebbles flew, dust covered the fields, and the world was bathed in a murky red.

…

Goto Kagi kept retreating, blood seeping from his chest. Li Yan wielded his iron spear, splattering the guts and viscera of two Japanese pirates trying to stop him. Amid the flying blood and organs, a glint of cold light, like a vengeful spirit claiming lives, lunged at Goto.

Enraged, Goto bellowed and countered with his Naginata. The clash sounded like a muffled hammer blow to the heart, even sparking in the process.

The furious and tireless exchanges between the two men were hard to follow. The force of their blows sent a terrified Japanese pirate, who failed to dodge in time, crashing to the ground as Li Yan’s whirling spearhead burst his head open.

If Goto’s Naginata were an unstoppable raging bull, then Li Yan’s long spear was a barbed iron whip, a predatory python. With a strict and dignified presence, his Ring Dragon Spear in hand resembled the authoritative might of heaven itself; Marquis Huan’s Eight Spears turned into a fierce and sinister storm, elusive and violent, licking Goto Kagi’s flesh, tracing bloody flower after bloody flower on his body.

“Chalang~”

The Naginata and long spear scraped past each other, their edges sparking as they met.

The plates of the great armor cracked and flew off. The blood-drenched spearhead pierced through Goto’s neck armor, taking a large chunk of flesh from his neck. In that moment, a wild, bloodthirsty gleam flashed across the wounded Goto Kagi’s vision.

“Clang.”

The spear was completely severed by the Naginata, leaving a smooth, burr-free cross-section as the once dragon-like spearhead suddenly wilted and fell to the ground.

“Die!”

Goto Kagi roared as he raised the Naginata. That moment, the joy of slaughter seemed to warm all his wounds.

In the back of his mind, he thought he heard the sound of shattering glass.

At least a dozen blood arrows burst forth from his body, gently falling onto the broken half of the long spear lying on the ground.

Goto, like a blood-filled gourd with an expression of disbelief on his face, collapsed to the ground with a thud.

“Blood Dip has reached the lethal point. Burst of damage. Bonus damage 201%, Hook Star status is ineffective for 21 hours.”

“Target dead.”

“Your Yan Fu event progress has increased.”

“Your purchasing privilege rating has significantly improved!”

Li Yan felt a darkness before his eyes as he struggled to his feet, picked up a Wakizashi, maneuvered through the enemy throngs with a ‘battle in all directions’, and made his way to the side of the Ming soldiers with his Ring Dragon Sword in hand.

Wu Weizhong’s fish scale armor was splattered with blood. The slightly grey-haired commander watched as Li Yan killed Goto Kagi, his eyes brightening as he shouted, “Good lad!”

“The general is dead~ The general is dead~”

A mournful cry came from somewhere, signaling the collapse of the frontline, which started from a small corner and threatened to spread rapidly.

The Japanese pirate who had cried out was beheaded, and Goto Kagi’s lieutenant, with bloodshot eyes, bellowed.

“General Goto’s orders! Retreat to the earth fort! General Goto’s orders! Retreat to the earth fort!”

Wu Weizhong snorted coldly, silently cursing their stubborn resistance as the Ji Town Soldiers gathered around the top of Peony Peak. The battle for Peony Peak had lost all suspense.

…

“Light the fuse!”

Pyongyang City’s gates had nearly fallen, including the heavily guarded Seven-Star Gate by Konishi Yukinaga, which was violently blasted open by the Tiger Cask Cannon Camp of the Ming Army!

Rolling gun smoke poured out from the shattered gates as a Bright Red Banner led the way into the city.

Song Yi, without armor and wearing a short-sleeved cotton jacket over his sleeves, carried a red banner of over a yard long on his left shoulder and grasped a gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear that was as thick as a wrist in his right hand. Behind him, hundreds of cavalry streamed into the city.

The charging horses rampaged down the streets of Pyongyang with infantry following close behind to deliver the final blows when abruptly, a Ming cavalryman reined in his horse, his eyes unbelievingly wide.

Several horsemen took notice of the anomaly, one after another, bringing their steeds to a stop.

Through the haze and the intertwining black smoke of the long street, a massive black foot emerged from the mist, revealing itself before everyone’s eyes.

A few Ming soldiers armed with Bird Guns and bows did not hesitate to take aim and fire. Bullets and arrows submerged into the shadowy beast, which shuddered under the impact but then steadied itself.

“Don’t panic, it’s not like we haven’t seen them before.”

A Junior Flag Officer waved his hand dismissively, the first row of bird gunners stepped back, the second row took aim, and the archers set their arrows ablaze with fire before launching another simultaneous volley.

The rockets extinguished upon hitting the monster, the smell of gunpowder and tung oil filling the entire street.

A gust of wind swept away the dense fog and black smoke, revealing the entire street at a glance.

Lying on the stone-paved road littered with corpses, nearly a hundred bloated Evil Ghosts stood or squatted, their expressions dull and vacant.

Small, red, fanged demons knelt over mutilated corpses, gnawing at the flesh, blood dripping down from the corners of their mouths.

In the shadows of narrow alleys, rotting, ragged corpses peered out, eyeing the brightly armored Ming Army in the street.

All varieties of malevolent spirits filled the entire street!

“What kind of monsters are these…”

The Ming junior flag officer’s voice trembled.

The small, fanged demons, their teeth clogged with strands of flesh, hissed and leapt with lightning speed to pounce on a Ming soldier’s face, no one having time to react.

“Bang!”

A burst of blood sprayed out.

Song Yi, expressionless, shook the blood and flesh off his spear, the Great Banner on his shoulder dancing fiercely.

The scene unfolding before his eyes was like purgatory, yet his expression remained unchanged.

“Vanguard Lord…”

The junior flag officer snapped back to his senses.

“Shut up!” Song Yi snapped coldly.

His eyes turned towards the long street, the sunlight reflecting a cold gleam that converged on the tip of his Tiger Head Spear.

“You bunch of useless trash!”

…

“Hidetada, how long do you think those demons can hold off the Ming Army?”

Konishi Yukinaga looked haggard, nearly crushed by the ferocious firepower and bravery of the Ming Army that had dismayed the battle-weary old warlord.

The glimmer of hope for the Land of the Rising Sun mentioned by Lord Hideyoshi, could it really be seized?

“Well, that would probably depend on the resolve of the Ming Army…”

Hidetada, gesticulating with his arms, bending at the waist, hopping and jumping as if exercising, replied to Konishi, “Those demons are suppressed by the karmic energy of our nation, but this time, Great Ming has come prepared, with firearms, cannons, and even commanders. So, the demons in the alleys of Pyongyang City are doomed to be no match for the Ming Army. About a day, they might delay it that long.”

Konishi braced himself to ask another question, “I heard… that the Emperor of Great Ming deeply believes in the Heavenly Master Tao from Dragon Tiger Mountain, and this campaign is even led by his current favourite disciple. If he takes action…”

“If a priest that has control over Demonic Strength takes action, it won’t take more than two hours for the demons inside Pyongyang City to be purged completely.”

“What do we do in that case?”

Konishi looks troubled.

“So….”

Hidetada finally stretched, his warm-up done, grabbing the black katana from the table.

“Consider it a final effort before we run away.”

Hidetada pulls open the wooden door.

“If that guy dares to enter Pyongyang, I’ll chop him down.”

The sunlight struck Hidetada, gilding his face with a layer of gold.

“Old Konishi, I really like your servant Miyako, if I make it back, send her to me!”

…

“Lord Gaogong’s orders! All those without official ranks, return to camp for further orders. Each archery unit receive five hundred talisman arrows to slay the demons. Lord Gaogong’s orders…”

“I will never go to the front line, never in this life.”

Yi Yu’s head shook like a bobblehead. Spittle flew as he spoke with righteous indignation.

“The principle of our Heavenly Master Tao is to save the dying, help the injured, and support the people. And now you ask me to go to the front line to slay demons? Aren’t those demons transformed from the innocent citizens of Joseon? This does not align with our sect’s principles!”