Dapeng's Time Travel Life

The night at the border was as black as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve, with only a few campfires flickering in the darkness, like faint stars in the night sky. Zhang Peng paced back and forth in his tent, each step heavy and slow, as if trying to leave a deep mark on the ground beneath his feet. A new crisis loomed over him like a dark cloud overhead, pressing down so heavily that he could barely breathe.

"General, take a rest. We need to continue preparing for battle tomorrow." Li Ming's voice came from behind, filled with fatigue and concern.

Zhang Peng stopped and rubbed his temples. "Li Ming, do you think we can really stop this attack? The threat of the new weapons is too great. Are we adequately prepared?"

Li Ming was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "General, we have come this far side by side, experiencing so many hardships and dangers. Every time we have survived a desperate situation, we have managed to escape. As long as we work together, we will surely be able to defeat the enemy again!"

Zhang Peng looked at Li Ming, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He nodded slightly, regaining his composure: "You're right, we can't afford to lose our composure. Continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, and report back immediately if there's any news about the new weapon."

However, as the days passed, the scouts sent out disappeared without a trace. The atmosphere at the border grew increasingly oppressive, and anxiety gradually crept onto the faces of the soldiers amidst their tense preparations for battle.

"General, there's still no news from the scouts, could it be..." Li Ming hesitated, then stopped.

Zhang Peng's face darkened: "No, they are all experienced soldiers. They must have encountered some obstacles. Let's wait and see."

Just as everyone was filled with anxiety, a wounded soldier stumbled into the tent: "General, I...I'm back..."

Zhang Peng quickly helped him up: "Are you a reconnaissance soldier? What happened?"

The soldier, panting heavily, said with difficulty, "General, the foreign forces are too cunning. They set up many traps, and many of our brothers... I barely managed to escape back. However, I found out some information about new weapons."

Zhang Peng's heart tightened: "Quickly, tell me, what kind of weapon is it?"

"It's a giant catapult, they call it the 'City-Breaking Giant Crossbow.' It has an extremely long range and immense power, capable of launching huge stone projectiles, enough to destroy our city walls. Moreover, they are also researching a special type of ammunition with astonishing explosive power."

A hush fell over the tent; everyone was speechless with shock at the news. Zhang Peng's expression turned extremely grave. He knew all too well that the emergence of this weapon would completely alter the course of the battlefield.

"General, what should we do?" Li Ming asked anxiously.

After a long period of contemplation, Zhang Peng slowly said, "Although the giant catapults are extremely powerful, they are poorly maneuverable and have high terrain requirements. We can take advantage of this to set up obstacles along the enemy's possible attack routes and destroy their catapults. As for special ammunition, we need to develop defensive countermeasures as soon as possible."

Therefore, Zhang Peng immediately summoned the artisans and strategists in the army to discuss defensive strategies. They studied day and night, trying various materials and methods, and finally developed a special protective device. This device consisted of multiple layers of thick wooden boards and wet cotton quilts, filled with sand and gravel, which could effectively reduce the impact of stone projectiles and explosions.

Meanwhile, Zhang Peng led his soldiers to intensify the deployment of traps in the valleys and forests surrounding the border. They felled trees, made tripwires, dug trenches, and set up deer antlers, transforming the entire border into a formidable defensive fortress.

However, just as everything was ready, another problem arose for Zhang Peng. Food reserves were insufficient, and if the war dragged on, the soldiers would face the danger of running out of food.

"General, all the grain and fodder in the vicinity has been collected, but it's still not enough. If we ask the imperial court for help, it might be too late," the official in charge of grain and fodder said anxiously.

Zhang Peng gazed into the distance, inwardly groaning. At this critical moment, the shortage of supplies was undoubtedly adding insult to injury. But he did not give up; instead, he decided to once again seek help from the various tribes.

Zhang Peng personally visited the various tribes and explained the situation to the chiefs. The chiefs were moved by his sincerity and determination, and they all expressed their willingness to lend a helping hand, providing food and supplies.

With the support of the various tribes, the food supply problem was finally solved. Looking at the mountains of grain, Zhang Peng was filled with emotion. He knew that this war was not only a battle for him and his soldiers, but a battle for the life and death of the entire border region. Now, everything was ready, and they would face the coming storm with unwavering faith and the most tenacious fighting spirit.