Dapeng's Time Travel Life

Chapter 26: Undercurrents of Crisis and Strategies to Break the Stalemate

The moonlight, like water, gently spilled over the border camps, casting a veil of tranquility over this war-torn land. However, Zhang Peng had no heart to appreciate the peaceful night. He sat in his tent, his brow furrowed, repeatedly studying the military report in his hands. Although they had successfully repelled the enemy last time, the border situation remained grim. The enemy, after their defeat, had not gone far, but had instead amassed troops near the border, watching with predatory eyes, ready to invade again at any moment.

"General, get some rest. We need to discuss the war tomorrow," Li Ming said with concern as he entered the tent and looked at Zhang Peng's tired face.

Zhang Peng raised his head and rubbed his temples: "With the enemy pressing in, how can I sleep peacefully? Look at this military report, the enemy has been frequently mobilizing troops recently, and they are probably planning a new offensive."

Li Ming took the military report, read it carefully, and his expression became serious: "The general is absolutely right. We must come up with a solution as soon as possible."

As the two were talking, a soldier rushed in, looking panicked: "General, something terrible has happened! According to our spies, the enemy has somehow obtained a new type of gunpowder with tremendous power, and they plan to use it to attack the city again."

Zhang Peng and Li Ming exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and worry. This new type of gunpowder was undoubtedly a huge threat; if they couldn't respond in time, the border would be in imminent danger.

"When will the enemy attack the city?" Zhang Peng asked anxiously.

"The spies haven't gotten any definite information yet, but it's speculated that it will happen in the next few days," the soldier replied.

Zhang Peng stood up and paced back and forth, his mind racing. The new gunpowder was incredibly powerful; traditional defenses would likely be insufficient. He had to devise a completely new strategy to defeat the enemy.

"General, should we ask the imperial court for help?" Li Ming suggested.

Zhang Peng shook his head: "Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. By the time the imperial reinforcements arrive, the border will probably have already fallen. We can only rely on ourselves."

Just then, Zhang Peng suddenly remembered an old friend. This person was a folk genius, proficient in various mechanisms and gunpowder techniques. Perhaps he could come up with a way to deal with the new type of gunpowder.

“Li Ming, immediately send someone to find a remarkable man named Chen Feng. He lives in a small mountain village on the outskirts of the capital. No matter what, you must invite him here,” Zhang Peng said.

Li Ming accepted the order and left. Zhang Peng continued to ponder a strategy to defeat the enemy. He knew that time was of the essence, and every minute and every second was extremely precious.

Over the next few days, Zhang Peng strengthened border defenses while awaiting Chen Feng's arrival. He ordered his soldiers to add numerous defensive fortifications to the city walls, such as thickening the walls and setting up chevaux-de-frise. At the same time, he also organized a suicide squad, preparing to launch a surprise attack at a crucial moment.

Finally, on the evening of the third day, Li Ming returned with Chen Feng. Zhang Peng immediately went to greet them.

"Brother Chen, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Zhang Peng said.

Chen Feng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "General Zhang, you are too kind. I heard that the border war is tense, so I came with General Li to see if I could help."

Zhang Peng told Chen Feng about the enemy's possession of a new type of gunpowder. After listening, Chen Feng pondered for a moment and said, "Although the new gunpowder is extremely powerful, it is not invincible. I have researched a special defensive device that might be able to withstand attacks from the new gunpowder."

Zhang Peng's eyes lit up: "Brother Chen, tell me quickly, what kind of defensive device is it?"

Chen Feng took out a blueprint from his pocket and spread it on the table: "This is a shield made of special materials with an internal mechanism that can disperse the impact of gunpowder. If enough of these shields are placed on the city walls, it might be possible to withstand the enemy's attack."

Zhang Peng carefully examined the blueprints, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart. "Brother Chen, this plan is brilliant! But how long will it take to make these shields?"

Chen Feng thought for a moment: "If all the materials are available, it can be completed within three days."

Zhang Peng nodded: "Okay, I'll send someone to prepare the materials right away. Brother Chen, I'm entrusting everything to you."

For the next three days, Chen Feng led the craftsmen to work day and night to produce defensive shields. Zhang Peng personally supervised the work to ensure that all defensive measures were carried out in an orderly manner.

Finally, by the evening of the third day, all the defensive shields were completed. Zhang Peng immediately ordered them to be deployed on the city walls.

Meanwhile, a spy brought news that the enemy would attack the city the next morning. Upon receiving this information, Zhang Peng immediately summoned his generals to make pre-battle preparations.

"The enemy will attack the city tomorrow, and we must hold the walls. Brother Chen's defensive shield is crucial to us, so everyone must make good use of it. At the same time, the suicide squad should be ready to strike at any time and look for opportunities to sabotage the enemy's gunpowder," Zhang Peng said.

The generals readily accepted the order, their eyes filled with determination. They knew that this battle concerned the survival of the border and the safety of the nation, and they had to give it their all.

Night fell, and the border was silent. Zhang Peng stood on the city wall, gazing at the enemy camp in the distance, silently praying. He knew that tomorrow would be a fierce battle, and he and his soldiers would face an unprecedented challenge.