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When the Crossbowmen protected by the Defensive Formation of the Zhao Army unleashed their power, the large fire in the camp began to blaze fiercely. The Qin Army, with many soldiers falling from their horses due to arrows, did not cease their assault; instead, they focused their attention on the Zhao Crossbowmen hiding behind the fortifications while continuing to shoot arrows. At this moment, the precision of their attacks quickly widened the gap in casualties, yet no one seemed to care. As long as they could still move, there were only three actions left.
Load the bolt! Aim! Fire!
The pressure exerted by the Zhao Army on their opponents primarily stemmed from the protection of their cover and the density of the cavalry opposite them, which effectively stalled the fierce offensive of the Qin Army for a time. However, once the charging Qin Army adjusted their tactics, this advantage was quickly diminished. The craftsmanship of the Qin Army's crossbows was superior, and their accuracy far exceeded that of the Zhao Crossbows. As the distance between both sides closed, an absolute suppression gradually formed against the Zhao Army's Crossbowmen behind their cover.
There was indeed a gap in long-range weaponry, which was an undeniable fact. After Commander Wang He of the Qin Army equipped frontline combat units with a new batch of New-Style Crossbows allocated from within the country, they immediately showcased their prowess in actual combat. This new weapon had many advantages over older crossbows, and it is worth taking a moment to explain.
The New-Style Crossbow made it easier for users to load and fire bolts; for this reason, cavalry units even eliminated stirrups from their horses. After firing, archers could directly hang the crossbow down with their right hand and secure it with their foot, allowing them to easily attach the Bowstring with one hand while preparing to load a bolt with their left hand.
The New-Style Crossbow featured more precise distance markings; as long as archers accurately estimated the target distance, they could aim according to the scale on the Sight Block. Wind direction was certainly a factor that required training, but this was not difficult for archers who had dealt with bows and arrows for years. After all, shooting arrows also required calculating wind direction, which is similar to using a crossbow.
Another advantage regarding arrows used with crossbows contributed significantly to shooting accuracy. Through the joint efforts of Master Craftsman Wang Jian and his successor Lu Chu, many flat arrowheads used by equipped troops were replaced with Triangular Arrowheads. Although not yet widespread throughout the army, frontline main forces had already been outfitted. Especially for those units entering the Shangdang Region, they were all equipped with advanced Triangular Arrows.
This overview of Qin Army weaponry shows that it is on a higher level compared to that of the Zhao Army. At this time, although the Zhao Army also had a large number of crossbows in service, their range and accuracy were inferior to that of the older crossbows recently issued to the Qin Army. The long-range projectile weapons they used were still primarily bows and arrows, which limited their effective range. Additionally, many of these weapons had become outdated due to lack of upgrades.
The five hundred Crossbowmen led by Zhao Zhi had requested replacements for a small batch of crossbows before departing, ensuring that all five hundred soldiers had usable weapons. In cases of unintentional damage, Crossbowmen could only engage in combat using swords. The supplied bolts still featured old-style flat heads, which were particularly affected by wind during long-range shooting. The disparity compared to arrows used by the Qin Army was even greater.
The Triangular Arrowheads produced by Qin were crafted with three equal-length edges; this precise manufacturing ensured exceptional accuracy during long-range shooting. The influence of wind on arrowheads during flight was minimal.
Of course, no matter how advanced weapons are, they are ultimately operated by people; thus, soldiers' courage and unwavering belief in victory also determine the outcome of battles. Both sides' soldiers displayed an indomitable spirit of sacrifice, writing a tragic yet magnificent chapter with their lives. The introduction regarding weaponry here is merely factual.
The Qin Army's offensive was exceptionally fierce, causing what was initially thought to be a defensible position for several days for Zhao Army to suddenly feel overwhelming pressure. As casualties among soldiers increased exponentially, nearly all three thousand troops under Zhao Zhi suffered heavy losses. When Zhao Zhi's subordinates found him, they discovered that he had been shot dead while leaning against his chariot. A sharp arrow had pierced through the floor of the chariot and killed Zhao Zhi hiding behind it.
As the news of the general's death spread, the soldiers, having lost their restraint, did not choose to flee. Instead, they brandished their weapons and roared as they charged out of the camp for one final assault.
When the brutal hilltop ambush came to an end, the Qin Army discovered that General Zhao Zhi and his three thousand troops had all perished without a single survivor. Following orders, the Qin Army then crossed the defensive camp and plunged deep into Zhao Army territory. Before leaving, they hastily buried Zhao Zhi and planted his sword at the grave to show respect for the fallen general.
Not long after this Qin Army cavalry had departed, the Zhao Army cavalry unit responsible for encircling them arrived. Upon seeing the brutal fighting within the camp, they exchanged glances in shock. The Qin Army had acted too quickly! They had expected this defensive camp to hold out for at least two more days!
The battle maps of the Zhao Army were all similar, likely produced by the same mapping department. When the commanders of both forces saw the blood-stained maps, they pulled out their own maps to compare with the current terrain. Where was the damn mountain!? There was a bare hill nearby that could only be seen if one crouched down! This cursed map had cost three thousand brothers their lives!
When the soldiers found Zhao Zhi's body, both commanders sighed deeply. They had worked alongside General Zhao Zhi for over a decade; although he was a relative of King Zhao's family, he never acted superior. He treated everyone like brothers, just as he had moments ago. Now he was gone just like that. Who should they blame!? Was it because the Qin Army was better than them!? Or those damned... sigh! None of that mattered now! His body would turn into heroic tears that would flow into a river and be lost forever!
"General Gu! The Qin Army that successfully broke through has long since vanished; how should we proceed?"
General Gu looked down at the fallen General Zhao Zhi, clenched his fists tightly until his teeth ground together. After examining the map for a moment, he said, "General Wu! Analyzing the situation here, it seems this Qin Army is in a hurry. It appears they have a specific objective, which allows us to infer their direction!"
"Oh!?" General Wu unfolded his own map to take a look and nodded in agreement. "Indeed! It is well known that the Qin Army measures merit by counting heads. Our brothers who fell in this camp are intact; it seems their mission is urgent! I think we are close!"
General Gu nodded and glanced at the still-burning rear of the camp. To ensure both men were aligned on their inference regarding the Qin Army's destination, he suggested they each write down a name. The combat strength of the Qin Army was overwhelming; it would be best for both forces to unite. This way, they could synchronize their pursuit route and avenge General Zhao Zhi and their fallen brothers.
As both hands came together and opened simultaneously to reveal matching names, both generals felt a sense of relief. Since their visions aligned, what were they waiting for? They mounted their horses and focused on the dirt road ahead.
"General! Shall we pursue!?"
General Gu turned to see General Wu jumping onto his warhorse and laughed loudly: "A true man born between heaven and earth can streak across the sky like a meteor without regret! Let’s chase!"
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