Chapter 1088

Chapter 1088: Expedition to the West (End)

As a bridgehead for the Eastern invasion of the Qin, Gujin Pass not only stationed an elite legion but also housed a large number of craftsmen, miscellaneous workers, and slaves to serve the army.

Therefore, this fortress was built with many houses, forming a city-like layout.

However, today, this newly established fortress was facing a catastrophic disaster.

Cannonballs whistled down from the sky, creating tremendously violent explosions. Houses were destroyed and collapsed, countless soldiers and civilians were struck by flying shrapnel or trapped under the rubble.

Even more frightening was the fire ignited by the explosions that consumed the stored materials and fodder within Gujin Pass, quickly leading to a widespread blaze and resulting in more casualties.

At this time, both ordinary people and martial artists were running around in panic, their screams and cries for help blending together, creating a scene like a hell on earth.

The people within the fortress were enduring unprecedented suffering and torment, and the Qin Army guarding the walls was not faring any better.

After several rounds of bombardment, the artillerymen of the expeditionary force adjusted their firing parameters.

They became more accurate.

Their first targets were not the Qin Army, but rather the cannons deployed on the city walls, which they aimed to take out one by one.

Taking advantage of their significant range advantage, these gunners could confidently display their skills.

Explosive shells burst on the city walls, and although the firing rate was not high, each shell contained terrifying destructive power, easily destroying the Qin Army’s artillery as well as heavy crossbows and other weapons.

Many Qin soldiers suffered the collateral damage, either killed or wounded by the blasts.

This shelling lasted for over half an hour before it was temporarily halted because the cannon barrels had overheated, and continuing would risk barrel explosions.

But at this time, Wang Chen made his move again.

He stored the Divine Artillery into the Cangqing Ring and took it out again, instantly returning it to normal temperature.

Although this action inevitably consumed some energy from the ring, it ensured a sustained output of firepower, leaving the Qin soldiers inside Gujin Pass no time to breathe before suffering another blow.

The artillery positioned on the walls had been largely destroyed without any impact, and the casualties among the troops increased, forcing the Qin Army, holed up inside Gujin Pass, to finally reach their breaking point.

The heavy iron gate creaked open slowly, and team after team of cavalrymen poured out with the fastest speed, charging towards the heavy artillery high platforms where Wang Chen stood.

They had no choice but to fight with all their might!

However, Wang Chen was well-prepared, having already arranged defensive formations in front of the high platform.

Leading tens of thousands of cavalry, they could both ride long distances and dismount to fight on foot, each armed with flintlock rifles and fully equipped.

Moreover, dozens of field artillery pieces were also part of the formation.

As the Qin cavalry charged forward, the field artillery pieces fired solid cannonballs first, plowing bloody trails through their ranks.

The second volley was loaded with grape shot, or shotgun shells.

With dozens of cannons firing simultaneously, hundreds and thousands of Qin cavalry fell as if cut down by a scythe, collapsing in unison.

The horrific casualties were almost unbearable to witness!

Driven into a corner, the Qin cavalry fought valiantly; the enormous losses did not break their spirit but instead ignited a desperate battle intent, as they waved their swords and continued to charge.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, a whirlwind swept across the battlefield, and blood mist erupted from countless Qin riders, who cried out in agony as they fell to the ground.

This was the devastating impact of the flintgun marksmen.

The front row of soldiers finished their volley and stepped back, making way for those behind to continue firing. Warriors wielding flintlock rifles alternated seamlessly, cutting down the advancing enemies before they could breach the formation.

Only a handful of Qin cavalry managed to push forward, loosing feathered arrows toward their foes, but their sporadic attacks were feeble and ineffective.

These were clearly the Strongest among the Qin Army—elite warriors who swiftly discarded their bows, dismounted, and employed nimble movement techniques to close the distance to the expeditionary force’s formation, hoping to turn the tide of battle through sheer skill.

Yet, these experts were met with a hail of concentrated fire, and many were riddled with arrows, falling like porcupines.

A few Qin warriors of extraordinary cultivation level managed to break through to the front lines, poised to unleash carnage with their blades. But just as they prepared to strike, several fifth-level martial sect masters, lying in wait within the expeditionary force, surged forward to intercept them.

Hundreds of fourth-level martial generals joined the fray, lending their support!

Though the Qin Army boasted its own fifth-level martial sect masters, they were no match for the expeditionary force, which had the advantage of preparation and overwhelming numbers. Soon, the Qin elites were encircled and slaughtered.

The invading Qin Army was utterly annihilated!

The battle was brief, but the Qin Army left thousands of corpses strewn before the expeditionary force’s lines.

Their defeat was total.

This outcome shattered the last vestiges of hope among the Qin soldiers within Gujin Pass. They abandoned any thought of retaliation, enduring the relentless bombardment of heavy artillery without venturing out of their hidden chamber.

They sealed the iron gate and withdrew from the walls, retreating deep into the fortress and refusing to show themselves.

Seeing this, Wang Chen ordered the artillery barrage to cease.

He recalled the Divine Artillery and advanced with the expeditionary force.

With the enemy’s artillery destroyed, the army reformed its attacking formation just a mile from the city walls.

Wang Chen unleashed the Divine Artillery once more, directing its fury at the iron gate of Gujin Pass.

“Blast it open!”

The Divine Artillery roared again, hurling solid cannonballs at the gate.

The gate of Gujin Pass, crafted from fine iron and ironwood, was a third-level structure weighing tens of thousands of pounds—nearly impregnable under normal circumstances.

But under the relentless assault of the Divine Artillery, it twisted and buckled, soon showing severe damage.

As the gate teetered on the brink of collapse, Wang Chen signaled for the bombardment to stop.

Gripping the Seven Ultimate Great Sword, he surged forward with the speed of an arrow loosed from a bow.

In an instant, Wang Chen brought his sword down in a devastating strike upon the battered gate.

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed as the massive iron gate shattered like a camel crushed by the final straw, bursting into fragments.

The Qin soldiers guarding the gate were caught off guard, and many were struck down by the flying debris.

“Charge!”

Wang Chen was the first to breach the fortress.

Behind him, tens of thousands of elite cavalry from Great Zhou surged forward, an unstoppable tide of destruction!

As the army poured into Gujin Pass, the Qin Army’s fate was sealed.

Though many Qin soldiers fought valiantly in the ensuing street battles, their efforts were futile against the relentless onslaught of gunfire and blades.

The fighting raged from dawn until deep into the night.

When the dust settled, it was tallied that 53,000 Qin soldiers had perished at Gujin Pass, alongside over 70,000 auxiliary troops, miscellaneous workers, and slaves. Barely a fraction of a percent survived the carnage.