Chapter 216: Chapter 216

Next, besides overseeing during the day, Pei Shu’er carefully studied ancient war essentials like the catapult.

From her previous observations, the Dazi’s catapults were quite old-fashioned, requiring a lot of manpower and were easily damaged.

However, she found in a book a type of catapult that required no manpower and had significant attack power.

It was just that this type of catapult only had a simple diagram, with no other details.

Liu Xu saw Pei Shu’er frowning and thought she was worried about the city wall, so she used a silver needle to test the teapot, and when the needle didn’t turn black, she poured her a bowl of water.

After this series of events, everyone was very strict about using water checks, with raw water, boiled water, and tea all being tested with a silver needle.

"Shu’er, don’t rush. I see the city wall is being built slowly, but there will come a day when it’s finished."

Pei Shu’er smiled, "I know, mother."

She didn’t want to tell Liu Xu about her research on catapults, fearing it would only make Liu Xu worry.

Besides, if others heard about it, it would probably cause more trouble.

Just as Pei Shu’er was studying, the Dazi launched another Vanguard Army attack on the Gulan Military Camp.

The guards at Gulan Military Camp were slaughtered, and all the soldiers who left the city were killed.

Some of the Dazi even reached the city wall but were finally shot down by Tang Zan’s men.

Tang Zan glanced in Pei Shu’er’s direction and, seeing the danger she was in, his face changed involuntarily.

A little distance outside the city wall were the Dazi’s 20 catapults, currently hurling stones at the new wall.

Each stone weighed about 45 pounds, and this catapult was only medium-sized; otherwise, the stones would be even heavier.

Some convicts were already injured by the stones, and Pei Shu’er and the others were constantly dodging.

Pei Shu’er hadn’t expected such a fierce attack. Now, with the bastion on the city wall far from everyone, Pei Shu’er could only run along the path.

The convicts, already exhausted from the hard labor of building the wall and now having to dodge stones while running away, found it extremely difficult.

Moreover, the stones were flying quite fast.

Surrounding her were people from the Deserted Mountain, and Pei Shu’er felt nothing for the convicts being hit. As for accountability, it was unlikely to fall on her shoulders.

After all, she was just a supervisor.

When a stone came hurling at the people of the Deserted Mountain, Pei Shu’er instructed, "Deserted Mountain people, run ten steps forward and stop; everyone else, stay put."

Thanks to Pei Shu’er’s command, a stone landed on the path, cracking several green bricks.

But no one was injured.

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Before they could catch their breath, Pei Shu’er immediately said, "Back three steps."

Another large stone crashed down, landing exactly where they had been standing.

Others looked displeased; if they kept dodging, when would they reach the finished bastion?

At this moment, Tang Zan arrived with his troops, extending his hand to Pei Shu’er.

Then Tang Zan ordered his men to rescue the other people from the Deserted Mountain.

Seeing Tang Zan suddenly appear, Pei Shu’er let out a long breath and couldn’t help but smile.

The stones were coming so densely, all aimed at them, and Pei Shu’er was now struggling to cope.

At this critical moment, Tang Zan was still thinking of her, and Pei Shu’er felt a bit touched.

Pei Shu’er placed her hand on Tang Zan’s hand, a delicate white hand resting in a rough large hand.

Tang Zan held Pei Shu’er’s hand, and for the first time, Pei Shu’er’s anxious heart was finally at ease.

Tang Zan pulled Pei Shu’er into his arms.

Holding her somewhat cold hand, his voice was soft and magnetic, with a gentle emotion in his eyes.

"Pei Shu’er, I’m here. You can leave it to me now."

Pei Shu’er smiled and wanted to say she wasn’t afraid.

But it was her first time facing the impact of war directly. The Dazi hadn’t concentrated their fire on the new wall before, so it hadn’t been so scary.

And she couldn’t afford to panic. She was the leader of the Deserted Mountain; if she panicked, her people would have no backbone.

Now someone told her he was there, she didn’t need to keep pretending to be an iron wall, she could momentarily let down her guard and catch her breath. Official source is novel★fire.net

Tang Zan carried Pei Shu’er on his back, his not-so-nimble legs running towards the bastion.

Weaving and dodging, he avoided one stone after another, and the soldiers following Tang Zan, appearing to be his troops, also perfectly avoided the stones.

As for the convicts from other territories, they weren’t as lucky as those from the Deserted Mountain. They could only rely on fate to dodge the stones.

Pei Shu’er rested her head on Tang Zan’s broad back, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, feeling secure for the first time.

So what if he’s the major villain?

At this moment, beside her was only Tang Zan.

Tang Zan’s movement paused, and he smiled as he quickened his pace towards the bastion.

The bastion was built very sturdily. When the Dazi’s stones hit it, there wasn’t any damage.

Others also gradually arrived, all taking cover in the bastion.

The catapults aimed at the bastion, attacking for a while but to no avail.

Some soldiers on the city wall seized the opportunity to run into the bastion, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

It was also at this time that everyone realized the benefits of the new city wall.

As for the Dazi who climbed the new city wall, they were shot down by Tang Zan’s orders.

The soldiers in the earthen city walls were almost powerless against the brave Dazi.

They looked at the standing wall not far away with some envy.

Not even a piece of stone had fallen from it, while the earthen city wall of the Gulan Military Camp was riddled with holes and no longer fit for habitation.

The soldiers felt uneasy and very frightened, fearing this war would wipe them out.

Especially Commander Qian, who, even hiding behind the shelter, was hit by a catapult and nearly lost his life.

At this moment, he was truly afraid.

The Dazi seemed serious this time.

And this catapult, which they hadn’t used before.

Now that they had it, its destructive power was immense.

Looking again at the convicts on the city wall, they were the least damaged.

They were supposed to be the weakest fighters, and it was the fiercest concentration of catapult fire.

Yet, because of this city wall, they survived.

After this battle, the soldiers were seriously injured, and Commander Qian lay in the wounded soldier camp for a long time.

The commanders were waiting for Pei Shu’er to petition again, then they could agree with the situation.

But Pei Shu’er made no move, working as before without speeding up due to the dangerous situation.

She was not in a hurry, but others were.

They immediately petitioned together, suggesting drawing some soldiers from each camp to work.

But their shifts should be longer, and the working time shorter.

Because they still had battles to fight.