Chapter 747 - 29: The Surprise Attack Succeeds, Gu Clan’s Brilliance

This battle’s difficulty is destined to be unprecedented.

Gu Jin is indeed already old.

Moreover, he is completely different from the past Gu Chen, Gu Ye, and others. Even with the blessing of the "Luoshu Harmonizing Device," his attributes barely reach over eighty points.

Executing such a surprise attack strategy requires unimaginable effort.

Even Gu Yi started to worry.

It is worth mentioning that Gu Yi has always maintained a balanced draw, and he currently does not lack the "Immediate Cure Talisman."

But still, the saying goes —

A person’s energy is always limited.

A person with abilities like Gu Jin, who must achieve tasks beyond the reach of ordinary people, is destined to exert greater effort.

The "Immediate Cure Talisman" can solve his external physical problems.

But the depletion of energy could never be compensated.

His entire state has rapidly declined during this period.

This is a visible deterioration.

Even Gu Yi could not resolve it.

But Gu Jin always maintained his state when facing the soldiers; he seemed to understand the condition of his body, constantly holding his breath to prevent further decline in his condition.

They pushed through thorns and thickets, resisting the barbaric nature with their flesh and blood.

The summer in Yan Mountain, deep in the dense forest, was as hot as a steamer, with mosquitoes rampant and poisonous snakes hiding in the grass.

Occasional mudslides that could swallow lives at any time;

Even on sunny days, the scorching sun baked the rocks scorching hot, and the threat of water scarcity constantly tormented this isolated army.

Supplies were difficult, and dry food was quickly depleted, forcing the soldiers to rely on hunting, foraging for wild fruits to fill their stomachs, and even chewing grass roots.

The number of wounded and sick increased daily, lacking medicine and treatment, high fevers, and the suppressed groans of the injured often resounded at night, with each step forward accompanied by sacrifices and perseverance.

Gu Jin’s figure became increasingly conspicuous among this exhausted troop.

He was no longer the Grand Tutor sitting steadily in Kaifeng, strategizing, but an old soldier sharing hardships with ordinary troops.

His face bore deep lines etched by mountain winds and the scorching sun, his temples already graying, and those once wise and profound eyes now bloodshot, yet still shimmering with an unmistakable determined light.

He refused any special treatment, sharing the coarse food and drinking mountain spring water with the soldiers.

Every time there was a dangerous climb, he led the way;

Every time there was a hazardous road exploration, he personally participated in decision-making.

His extreme physical exhaustion surged like a tide, constantly assaulting his will, but he always stood tall, desperately holding that breath in his chest, keeping him from relaxing for a moment.

It was not an act.

Merely because Gu Jin also understood that only by maintaining such determination could the troop’s morale be completely consolidated.

——After nearly two months of trekking.

At the moment when the dawn appeared, sensing the suddenly fervent atmosphere among the surrounding soldiers, Gu Jin still did not relax an inch.

He did not act impulsively.

Suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart, he ordered the remaining provisions to be brought out.

In this way, together with the soldiers, they made the final supply preparation deep in the mountains.

At this moment, they had no retreat.

——Succeed or die.

The soldiers were like this, and so was Gu Jin!

In the eleventh year of Tongyuan, on the third day of July.

The moonlight was serene.

Accompanied by sudden fierce shouts of battle, flocks of birds in the forest instantly took flight, and the tranquility of the Yan Mountain range was completely shattered at this moment!

"Kill!!!"

"Kill!!!"

"Kill!!!"

The three roars were no longer suppressed low growls but an explosive culmination of nearly two months of hardship, exhaustion, despair, and determination!

Like a thunderclap, it exploded in the quiet night sky of Gubeikou Gate!

Almost simultaneously with the shouts of battle, the five hundred suicide squad led by Cao Bin leaped out like phantoms from the shadow of the cliff on the eastern side of the most precipitous and sparsely guarded section of the fortress!

——This was also part of Gu Jin’s preparation.

Though it was a surprise attack.

Gubeikou Gate was equally a perilous terrain, requiring all sorts of arrangements, not as simple or thoughtless as assaulting a camp.

"Enemy attack——!" A Liao Army sentry who accidentally glanced at the cliff finally noticed the anomaly, his terrified scream was just out before a crossbow arrow pierced through his throat!

But the alarm had already been raised!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The urgent alarm bell instantly rang, shattering the night’s tranquility! The otherwise drowsy Liao Army guards scrambled to grab their weapons and rush to the walls.

However, it was too late!

Almost at the same time, Gu Jin had already led his men into the charge from the front.

His judgment was indeed correct.

Wang Yingchen’s absolute confidence affected not only himself but also his subordinates.

Among them were the current defenders of Gubeikou Gate!

They never imagined that the Song Army would bypass Juyong Pass and attack this place directly.

It was precisely because of this.

Even with Wang Yingchen’s orders of absolute diligence, human nature’s laziness still influenced many people.

Cao Bin was the first to leap onto the city wall, his battle knife swung, immediately beheading two charging Liao soldiers!

The suicide squad members behind him also ascended the wall one after another, quickly securing a foothold and engaging in a brutal melee with the swarming Liao soldiers!

Their mission was not to kill the enemy but to charge towards the city gate at any cost, to open it for the main army!

Below the city, Gu Jin, his hair and beard flowing, pointed his long spear at the fire-illuminated, roar-filled city top: "Soldiers! Once the gate opens, there’s no retreat! For Yan Yun! For the Great Song! Charge with me!"