“More importantly, wood is too scarce on the grasslands. What's transported through those few small paths isn't nearly enough to build a sufficient number of trebuchets. If we don't use public knowledge to restrain them and wear down their energy, how could we have the chance to build the trebuchets?”

As Mei Pengfei spoke, he cast his gaze towards the distant encampment.

Unlike the deathly silence of the other camps, that camp was a hive of activity, with countless people constantly assembling the still-unformed trebuchets and siege ladders.

“What I've consumed are mostly the strengths of small tribes. As leaders of the large tribes, you should know what this means. This is just a transaction. You are still subject to some of my conditions, and I will help you take Shimen Pass.”

“These small tribes are the benefits I can secure for you as much as possible. Do you have any objections to this?”

Mei Pengfei's cold-blooded and ruthless behavior made these Huns feel a chill down their spines.

Although they considered themselves to be quite cold-blooded, they were still insignificant compared to Mei Pengfei.

Perhaps because the interests of all parties had reached a consensus, there was no longer any obstruction when Mei Pengfei gave the order.

As the sun slowly rose, the Hunnic attack once again retreated like a tide, leaving behind a ground full of corpses.

The chevaux de frise that had been built earlier were also dilapidated, and the ditches were filled with countless corpses.

At this moment, it would not be an exaggeration to describe the outside of Shimen Pass as a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

As the sun hung high, countless Imperial Guards rushed out again, beginning to repair the damaged mechanisms.

The corpses abandoned by the Huns were also piled up into low walls to hinder the enemy's attack.

Such behavior naturally drew the scorn of countless civil officials.

But before they could open their mouths, they were met with Jiang Chen's exceptionally cold gaze.

“You people are full of morality and ethics, but I haven't seen any of you go to the front lines and fight the enemy?”

As soon as these words came out, the civil officials who were just discussing these behaviors immediately closed their mouths. They could still distinguish the importance between their own lives.

Jiang Chen was already used to their two-faced behavior, and some military officers couldn't help but loudly mock them when they passed by the places where these civil officials temporarily resided.

They could do nothing but curse in secret behind their backs.

Although Jiang Chen was furious at these guys who only knew how to talk, he couldn't do much about them.

Then, as time passed, after several unsuccessful attacks, Mei Pengfei unexpectedly increased the attacking force.

The original stalemate was instantly broken by the sudden increase in manpower.

The originally impregnable city wall became precarious in an instant.

“Your Majesty, do you have any more manpower? Send us as many as possible. We can't hold on anymore.”

After learning that the Huns were about to break through the city wall,

Jiang Chen didn't say a word and transferred another group of people to the city wall to participate in the defense. He himself appeared on the city wall in armor.

But when Jiang Chen arrived at the city wall with reinforcements, the city wall had already been temporarily breached by the Huns.

If it hadn't been for Jiang Chen taking the lead and fighting tenaciously at the forefront, the defense would have been broken through.

However, less than half of the Imperial Guards who fought alongside Jiang Chen remained.

After finally cutting off the siege ladders that the Huns had moved over, Jiang Chen saw the endless stream of Huns still attacking in the dim moonlight.

“Don't hesitate any longer. Whatever it takes, repel the Huns' attack tonight. Otherwise, if we drag it on, Shimen Pass will be broken by the enemy today.”

Therefore, as soon as Jiang Chen gave the order, countless prepared rolling stones were pushed down the city wall, catching the previously high-spirited Huns off guard.

But perhaps because they had just successfully climbed onto the city wall, these Huns not only did not retreat because of this, but were instead inspired by their bloodlust, and rushed up even more fiercely.

“Your Majesty, you should retreat. This place is a chaotic battle. This general is unable to take care of your safety.”

Listening to the constant persuasion of the generals beside him, Jiang Chen chopped down another Hun who had just climbed up.

“The city remains as long as I am here. Either the enemy's offensive is completely wiped out, or I fall here. There is no other possibility that can make me retreat.”

After saying that, Jiang Chen cut off a siege ladder and quickly went to support another place.

Seeing that the emperor was fighting so hard, the original low morale suddenly rose.

But even so, they could only barely form a stalemate with these Huns, and neither side could go any further.

Seeing that the Huns had no intention of stopping their attack, Jiang Chen snatched the bow and arrow from an archer beside him.

“Forget it, if we drag it on, the casualties will only increase. These backup plans will be useless.”

After saying that, an arrow landed next to the oil, and the previously harmless-looking ditches instantly burst into countless flames.

The burning flames of the oil illuminated the sky.

The Hun figures, who could only be barely seen by the moonlight, were now exposed to everyone's eyes.

“They are…”

Looking at the dense crowd of Huns like ants in the sea of fire, many people felt their scalps tingle.

Jiang Chen took this opportunity to force all the last Huns who had climbed onto the city wall back down.

After confirming that there were no more living Huns on the city wall, Jiang Chen stood on the city wall, feeling the heat wave sweeping in from outside the city, and said nothing.

The originally golden armor was now covered in bloodstains, and there were even traces of long knives cutting in many places.

When the morning sun appeared the next day, the brilliance it revealed seemed insignificant in front of the fiercely burning flames.

Looking at the raging fire in front of him, Mei Pengfei, who had been commanding the Huns, revealed a relieved smile.

“This is probably their most critical backup plan. Once this move is used, they can only be slaughtered by us.”

Looking at the sea of fire, Mei Pengfei didn't care at all about the casualties suffered by the Huns.

If someone were to record it, the continuous night raids in just these few days had already buried nearly 100,000 strong men of the Huns.