Chapter 278: The Eve of the Decisive Battle
The wind and thunderclouds move, and the tide of the four seas surges. Where many people in the world are staring, Zhao Guolong City has reached the most critical moment.
Yan Hu, the general of the Wei State, can really be called a tiger general. The setback in the early siege not only did not frustrate his spirit, but inspired his determination to win. The power of 80,000 Wei warriors was exerted to the extreme in his hands. In the past three or four days, the Wei army has been attacking from several directions day and night, and the intensity of the battle of Longcheng is no less than that of any large-scale war.
If it were to be replaced elsewhere, there was no doubt that these most elite Wei warriors of the Wei State would be able to capture any fortified city. However, the dragon city in front of them, after so much effort and loss, they still couldn't enter.
If you count it, it has been nearly seven or eight days since the Wei army came to the city. Although the king of Wei did not send someone to urge. However, if the capture of Dragon City is delayed, the army will be completely exposed to the enemy's territory, and it will eventually bring unpredictable dangers after a long time. As a general, Yan Hu understands these factors very well. Therefore, the urgency in his heart to win is increasing day by day.
The whole Wei army knew the general's mind very well. And that's exactly what everyone desperately wants to win. The King of Wei sent envoys several times to reward the three armies, and this has been expressed very clearly. Any warrior who has made a meritorious contribution in this immortal feat will be given a special award. Increasing the rank and entering the knighthood, glory and wealth, all in one fell swoop!
However, the Wei army, which had such a dream, still found it difficult to set foot in the city. Not to mention breaking through the gates and entering the city!
The determination of the Zhao people to defend this royal city greatly exceeded their expectations. Whether it was Yan Hu or the soldiers under his command, they would never have believed that someone could defend a city for such a long time unharmed under the siege of nearly ten times the number of troops. But now, whether they believe it or not, the majestic Dragon City still stands there, like an insurmountable obstacle, firmly blocking the footsteps of the Wei people and the ambition of the King of Wei!
General Yan Hu, who stood on the high ground outside the city every day to watch the battle in person, wiped the sword in his hand again and again. It's been wiped brightly. However, attempts to use it to kill people have never been realized.
This sword was given by the King of Wei. Yan Hu used it to command the front military, and he could cut it first and then play it, and he had great power. King Wei's original intention was naturally to allow him to use this to deter the whole army, and to fight more bravely and not fall behind.
However, Yan Hu would not use it to kill his own people. He polished this sword for the purpose of preparing it to kill the enemy. More precisely, it was to kill the Zhao royal family in the city.
What few people in the world know is that the general Yan Hu had a deep friendship with Nangong, the prince of Wei, who had died. If there is no accident in Nangong, when he ascends the throne in the future, Yan Hu will definitely become the first tiger minister in the royal court. However, Nangong died early, at the Luohe ferry in Zhongzhou, and with his death, everything became unknown.
Few of the other sons of King Wei can become great talents, and Yan Hu has no deep friendship with them. If any of them ascended to the throne of Wei in the future, as the person trusted by the previous prince, Yan Hu would probably be difficult to be reused.
It is precisely for this reason that Yan Hu is more eager than anyone else to establish the world's achievements. Leading heavy troops to attack Zhao State and capture Dragon City with unprecedented momentum is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The battle of Dragon City is not only related to the fate and future of himself and his family. Moreover, he can take this opportunity to avenge Nangong He in order to repay the friendship between the two in the past.
After another continuous day and night of attack, the Wei army, which had been ordered to withdraw and take turns to rest, walked not far away tiredly. Yan Hu, who was standing under the banner, frowned and looked at the strong city wall. He really couldn't guess what the people at the head of the city were guarding the royal city. If the sword and arrow fight for one life, to the current point, there are not many people left to defend the city. However, despite Wei Wushu's desperate efforts, why is it still difficult to get to the city?
Regardless of whether Yan Hucheng admits it or not, after a few days of fierce fighting, the Wei army has suffered more than 10,000 casualties. Under the siege of the city gates in three directions, the bones were already piled up. That's how brutal war is. Before the whole war ended, there were many corpses of comrades and soldiers, and it was too late to clean them up. Perhaps, if they were killed in battle one moment ago, someone else would immediately step on their blood and charge forward. If there is no complete victory on the battlefield, then their death will be worthless.
Of course, Yan Hu's heart was also a little sad. The bravery of the warriors of Wei Wushu in battle, he saw it clearly every time he was behind. However, most of them ended up dying. It seems that under this fortified city, there is no possibility of success at all. Even those who fought bloodily to climb the top of the city, the next moment the scene that fell in his eyes was only heavily chopped down. The warriors who tumbled down the ladder died before they could hit the ground. For several days, only near the main battlefield of the South City Gate, there were already piles of corpses, and it was too late to bury them.
Stepping past the piles of corpses of their former comrades and continuing to fight desperately was initially a form of psychological torture for most Wei troops. But then they have become numb. As long as you line up and charge, the rumbling war drums behind you are the greatest help to destroy all timidity. So, they continued to rush forward, scrambling to climb the blood-stained wall. And then...... Either dead, or seriously injured. This is the fate of warriors, or helplessness!
"How many crossbow arrows are left in the army?"
After observing for a long time, Yan Hu asked in a dull voice. Hearing the general's inquiry, the general standing on the side hurriedly came over to reply.
"General Qiyu! For several days, in order to kill and injure as many defenders as possible, our army used a large number of long-armed crossbows. So the consumption is very much...... The 100,000 crossbow arrows brought with the army have been used up by seven or eight out of ten. General, I'm afraid there isn't much left. ”
Yan Hu felt a little depressed in his heart. Originally, I thought that with a big killing weapon like a long-armed crossbow, it would definitely establish miraculous achievements. But it doesn't seem to have made much difference if so much has been wasted! The long-armed crossbow was indeed extremely sharp, but whenever the head of the city was shrouded in crossbow arrows, the Zhao army defending the city disappeared. And as soon as you stop shooting, they will appear immediately. It seems that the guards of Dragon City must have a special structure, but this secret is unknown to outsiders.
"Fei Yi, Zheng Liancheng, Gou Wuxian...... These old guys of Zhao Guo didn't expect to have such strong command ability at this age! On the day of the siege of Dragon City, the heads of these old men should be cut off first to pay tribute to the soldiers who died in battle!"
Yan Hu gritted his teeth and said these words. Before the Great War, through various channels, the guards within Dragon City had already heard it very clearly. There were no more than 10,000 warriors defending the city. And the people who personally stood at the head of the city to command them were the old guys who had followed Chu Lie for most of their lives. I didn't expect them to exert their residual heat and still play such a big role. This can't help but make people both resentful and admirable.
"General, a few old people, why worry? After several days of fighting, although the defenders in the city barely supported it, it was only the end of the crossbow! Surrounded by my Great Wei army, see how long they can hold out!"
The henchmen were all indignant. They have reorganized and mobilized, and after half a day's rest, the army is ready to start a major offensive this evening. In a sense, tonight could well be the decisive moment.
"The defenders in the city probably don't have much fighting power left. Tonight this city will be broken! However, the cavalry of the Zhao State outside the city was a scourge that could pose a threat after all. Is there really no way for you to lead them into the middle and annihilate them in one fell swoop? ”
Yan Hu already had a great grasp of breaking the city. However, the cavalry, which often came out to surprise from different directions, bothered him a little. Although the Wei army's rear road was very well guarded, it was impossible for the Zhao cavalry to take the opportunity to inflict mass destruction on the besieging army. But they came out of nowhere to kill for a while, which inevitably affected the morale of the army.
"General, we have figured out how to deal with the cavalry. The reason why this cavalry of the Zhao State came out of the city was just to find a way to divert the attention of our army and distract the pressure for the defenders of Dragon City. Under the strict protection of the rear battalion army with long-armed crossbows, it was difficult for them to approach at all most of the time. If there is a decisive battle tonight, when the city is in danger, these cavalry will definitely rush to the rescue at all costs. And when they appear, you can let the rear battalion army let them over, and then form a circle on all sides, shoot them all, and there are less than 10,000 horsemen, let them stick their wings and can't escape!"
Hearing the plans of the generals, Yan Hu's face finally showed a smile. He thinks they have a lot of point. So, the general of Wei State made a decision and immediately conveyed the order to the general of the rear battalion. When the army was attacking the city tonight, if the cavalry of the Zhao State reappeared, they would follow the order, and as long as they entered the siege, let them have no return.
Wei Wushu, who was ready for everything, finally waited until it was dark again. At the scheduled time, the whole army was fed with a feast, and then began the largest siege battle since the Zhao War.
Fight Dragon City at night, fight for life and death. At this last moment, the defenders in the city really did not surprise Yan Hu, and under the casualties of several days in a row, there were not many people who could continue to fight.