binnovel Chapter 219: The Third Siege of Chang'an
Chapter 219: The Third Siege of Chang'an
Despite the initial failure of the siege, the coalition's resolve to capture the city remained unwavering. The warlords gathered with solemn expressions, carefully analyzing the current situation. They were acutely aware that Ma Chao had remained absent from the attack, and even veteran generals like the renowned Xu Rong and the exceptionally resourceful Li Ru of the Western Liang army were nowhere to be seen. While the enemy's defenses had appeared formidable during the initial siege, a closer examination revealed a lack of organization and a lack of sophistication.
Before planning their second siege, the coalition army painstakingly devised a detailed strategy. They decided to first use powerful catapults to hurl heavy boulders at the city walls, attempting to disrupt the enemy's defensive arrangements. Then, they would send in well-trained echelons of elite infantry, armed with sturdy shields, who would advance steadily towards the walls under the impenetrable cover of archers behind them.
The attack horn suddenly blew, and catapults roared with a deafening roar. Huge boulders flew like meteors toward the walls of Chang'an. In an instant, the enemy camp was thrown into chaos. Then, the brave generals of each army, acting as the fresh force of the charge, rushed to the front without hesitation.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou, their eyes wide open, their hair standing on end in rage, roared at the top of their lungs as they charged towards the city gate. Their fearless aura inspired the soldiers behind them, instantly boosting their morale. Zhang Fei, wielding his Zhangba Snake Spear, was like a black whirlwind, unstoppable. Wherever he went, the enemy trembled in fear and fled in panic. Guan Yu, wielding his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, stood majestically, like a god of war, his murderous intent condensing the air around him.
Led by these brave generals, the allied soldiers bravely advanced, fearing their own safety. They quickly erected ladders and climbed upwards with lightning speed, their movements swift and resolute.
On the city wall, Dong Huang's eyes were bloodshot, his face distorted and grim. He knew full well that he shouldered the heavy responsibility of defending Chang'an, and that this was a battle for his own survival. Dong Huang was filled with grief and indignation over the death of his uncle Dong Zhuo, as well as hatred for the allied forces before him. He brandished his sword wildly, roaring in anger, "Soldiers, follow me in this fight to the death! Only by defending Chang'an can we protect our wealth and honor. As long as the city survives, we will live; if the city falls, we will perish!" His voice was hoarse, yet it shone with a desperate determination.
Dong Huang personally directed his soldiers to unleash rolling stones and battering rams. Under his command, the scalding golden liquid was mercilessly poured upon the allied forces. Though a tinge of pity lingered as his own soldiers continued to fall, he chose a ruthless and resolute stance to defend the city. "Keep going! Don't stop!" his roar was nearly hoarse.
Under Dong Huang's almost frenzied command, the soldiers, inspired by his spirit, bravely resisted the coalition's attack. Ultimately, Dong Huang managed to hold the city by forcing his soldiers to risk their lives. Corpses piled high on the city walls and below, blood flowed like a river, and the air was filled with a sickening, bloody odor. This battle was brutal, and the coalition forces were forced to retreat once again, leaving behind a bloody and tragic scene.
After two fierce, brutal, and horrifying battles to defend the city, Dong Huang's troops suffered severe depletion. The battlefield was thick with smoke, the blood of the soldiers dyed the ground red, and broken weapons and shattered armor were everywhere. In this extremely difficult situation, Dong Huang, with his ruthless and reckless behavior, forced innocent civilians to join the defense of the city. He sent soldiers to break into the homes of the people, violently dragging out the elderly, the weak, women, and children, and then beating them with whips and threatening them with swords, forcing them to climb the city walls and defend the city for him. The people's faces were filled with fear and helplessness, but they had no choice but to obey his orders. The whole scene was heartbreaking and infuriating.
After the failures of the previous two sieges, the coalition forces were fully prepared this time and carefully planned a series of ingenious strategies.
On the day of the siege, the sky was gloomy, as if foreshadowing the ferocity of the battle. The allied forces were divided into four groups, their banners blazing, their armor gleaming, and their momentum unstoppable. From the east, south, and north of Chang'an, the three armies launched a massive assault. The cries of battle were deafening, and ladders, catapults, and siege engines were deployed in unison, creating a momentum of unwavering determination.
The brave generals of the eastern assault force led the charge. They launched a barrage of catapults, launching wave after wave of assaults against the city walls. Huge rocks hurled themselves against the walls, crumbling the masonry and sending clouds of dust billowing. Immediately afterwards, soldiers, armed with ladders and shields, quickly charged the walls. After drawing the attention of the defenders, they waited for the enemy's forces to be diverted there and suddenly turned their attack on the city gates. Dozens of strong men, carrying a massive log and shouting in unison, pounded the gates with all their might. Each impact was accompanied by an earth-shaking tremor, and the gates teetered under the relentless onslaught.
The allied forces to the south mobilized numerous catapults, hurling fire pots into the city walls. These pots fell like meteors, instantly igniting numerous fires, sending billowing smoke and flames soaring into the sky. The civilians panicked, their cries and cries for help mingling, and the defenders were thrown into utter chaos. Seizing this opportunity, the allied archers unleashed a deluge of arrows, a dense rain of arrows bearing down on the city walls like a dark cloud, stinging the defenders one after another.
The northern army erected ladders, and groups of courageous warriors bravely climbed them, fearless of death. Shouting passionate war songs, they quickly scaled the city walls. A fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued with the defenders, with swords flashing and blood splattering, and shouts of killing resounding through the air.
On the west side, the coalition forces deliberately left a gap, seemingly due to lack of manpower, but in fact it was a tactic of surrounding the city from three sides and leaving one side missing. This caused the defenders on the city to hesitate and become confused in their deployment, creating more favorable conditions for the attack from the other three sides.
Atop the towering city walls, Dong Huang was consumed with anxiety, like an ant on a hot pan, frantically directing the defenders. His once resonant voice was now hoarse and nearly inaudible, his eyes bloodshot like spiderwebs, his eye sockets sunken, his face gaunt and haggard. However, the allied assault was too fierce, their tactics complex and varied, leaving him overwhelmed. Each wave was like a surging tide, rising higher and higher. The allied forces employed a wide variety of offensive tactics, sometimes frontal assaults, sometimes flank attacks, sometimes fire attacks, sometimes hurling catapults. As the seconds ticked by, the fierce and brutal battle dragged on, and the defenders gradually lost their strength. The soldiers' strength and morale were rapidly depleted, and the casualties continued to mount. The devastating losses were horrifying.
However, Dong Huang's eyes widened, his face flushed, veins bulged, and he shouted hysterically: "I will not admit defeat! I will never admit defeat! Hold on!" He waved his sword, trying to continue organizing resistance.
But by this time, the city had already been breached, and defeat was inevitable. Dong Huang's personal guards knew that further resistance would only lead to death. Ignoring Dong Huang's resistance, they dragged him along, desperately shouting, "General, as long as there are green mountains, there will be no fear of running out of firewood! Move on!"
Dong Huang struggled desperately, his limbs flailing wildly as if he were using all his strength to break free from his restraints. He roared at the top of his lungs, "Let me go! I will live and die with Chang'an!" His furious roar was filled with despair and unwillingness. His face was contorted with rage, veins bulging from his forehead like hideous earthworms. His eyes were wide open, threatening to burst from their sockets, their gaze blazing with fury. But his loyal guards held him tightly, their arms like iron clamps, holding Dong Huang in place, his struggles futile. The guards dared not disobey Dong Huang's wishes, yet they knew the fall of the city was inevitable and staying would only lead to death. They dragged him out of the city. Their expressions were tense, their steps hurried and chaotic, kicking up a trail of dust, leaving behind a scene of apocalyptic battle.
Inside the city, flames shot up into the sky, smoke filled the air, and shouts and cries of killing intertwined. The coalition forces poured into the city like a tide, announcing the end of this fierce siege and the beginning of a new situation.