Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 924 The fight between trapped beasts
The next day, at the beginning of the morning, as the thin fog dissipated, the entire city of Bianjing was already trembling from the sound of horses' hooves and footsteps.

The 300,000 Wu troops were divided into four divisions, each occupying a gate. Their dark banners covered the sky and even dimmed the rising sun.

Under the main flag to the south, Su Chen, clad in silver armor and a red robe, stood atop the command platform of the high carriage. Amidst the whistling wind, he raised his telescope with one hand, as if admiring a painting that was about to be completed.

Beneath the walls of Bianjing, the formations stretched out in layers, with swordsmen and axemen at the front, followed by long-handled swordsmen, crossbowmen kneeling and pressing the strings, artillerymen loading their weapons, ladder bearers holding long ladders, and shield bearers raising giant oars. The cold light of the formations blended together, resembling a giant steel dragon about to awaken.

Before the war drums sounded, the killing intent had already solidified into a tangible force, pressing down on the Song Dynasty defenders atop Bianjing, making even their breath feel icy.

"Wu Jun... he can't see any end to him, he's everywhere!" A young Imperial Guard soldier gripped his rifle, his knuckles turning white.

"Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of soldiers. We simply can't hold them off!" A middle-aged soldier exhaled a breath of stale air, his throat dry.

"If it breaks, our Great Song Dynasty will be finished." The low murmurs spread like a plague between the battlements.

They were once proud soldiers under the emperor's nose, accustomed to marching into battle with their banners fluttering. Now, however, their banners were being hunted down by others, and for the first time, they tasted the bitterness of being besieged by an enemy. Their inherent arrogance was instantly shattered into dust.

Su Chen saw the commotion on the city wall from afar and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He knew, of course, that it was impossible to send all 300,000 men to the city wall in one day—the battlefield was only so big, and no matter how many troops there were, they could only be deployed in shifts.

But he insisted on making the most of the situation on the first day, so that the defenders of Bianjing lived in the shadow of "the city will fall in the next moment" from sunrise to sunset.

Fear is the best breaching hammer.

"Send someone to the city walls to persuade them to surrender, using diplomacy first, then force!"

Su Chen's side had seized the initiative, so they planned to first offer surrender to weaken the Song Dynasty's resistance and demoralize its defenders.

In a short while, more than ten scouts with the loudest voices mounted their horses and shouted loudly along the outside of the moat. Their deep voices even drowned out the sound of the wind on the city wall.

"Listen up on the city walls!" The leader reined in his horse, brandishing his spear, his voice like a broken gong. "The Wu army has come here today for two important matters—first, to purge the court of corrupt officials on behalf of His Highness Prince Zhao! Zhao Guangyi murdered his brother to seize the throne, an act against all reason. We have come by divine mandate to seek justice for the founding emperor! Second, the world has been divided for too long; the north and south should unite—this is the inevitable trend! If you are wise enough to recognize the times, quickly open the city gates and surrender to the Great Wu, and you can still save your lives and families!"

"Open the city gates—submit to the Great Wu!"

The 100,000 Wu soldiers in the rear echoed in unison, their swords and shields clashing, creating wave after wave of sound that shook the city bricks, causing dust to fall and even creating ripples on the surface of the moat.

On the south city tower, Han Chongyun stood with his hair and beard bristling, his aged body taut beneath his armor. Beside him, Zhao Yanpu and Li Qi, two newly promoted Imperial Guard generals by Zhao Guangyi, were pale-faced, their palms damp with sweat on the hilts of their swords.

"His Majesty has decreed!" Han Chongyun lowered his voice, hoarse yet resolute, "No response, no wavering. When they tire of shouting below the city, that will be their time to attack. All generals, guard the crenellations, prepare logs, molten metal, and crossbows—today, we either defend Bianjing or shed our blood in the imperial city; there is no third way!"

After the old general finished speaking, he swung his arm sharply, and his personal guards immediately carried bundles of arrows up the battlements. Iron pots were set up, and oil bubbled and boiled. The city walls were deathly silent, with only the whistling wind echoing the distant shouts from outside.

Since the Song army had not responded after shouting for a long time, they were determined to fight to the bitter end. Su Chen did not delay and immediately ordered an attack on the city.

The messengers rushed to the city gates, waving command flags and shouting, "By order of Commander Su, prepare to attack the city!"

"Woo woo woo woo!" The heavy bull horns sounded first, followed by the beating of war drums.

As soon as the drumbeats fell, the 100,000 Wu soldiers surged forward like a raging tide stirred by the wind. The front rank was a shield wall, the rear a forest of spears, and behind them, a supply train pushing various siege weapons. Huge catapults, siege engines, ladders, and battering rams formed long, iron-spine-like dragons, their wheels grinding against the yellow earth with a dull rumble, as if the entire plain were groaning.

"Fire!" Lin Renzhao gave the order, and the first volley of arrows rained down. Longbowmen and crossbowmen from the Divine Machine Battalion fired in succession.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Black arrows blotted out the sky, like a moving dark cloud pressing down on the city wall. The crossbow bolts, as thick as a child's arm, whistled as they pierced the Bianjing city wall, their fletchings still trembling.

Immediately afterwards, the catapult unleashed its power. There was no traditional scene of manpower dragging it; only the winch and steel cable creaked and groaned as the boulder was hurled high into the air, whistling through the air, before crashing down heavily.

"Bang!" Bricks and stones flew everywhere, dust billowed into the sky, and the Uyghur soldiers who had no time to dodge were smashed into mincemeat on the spot, with blood gushing down the battlements.

"Advance!" The second wave of bugle calls sounded.

Wu Jun struck the shields with his sword, producing a series of synchronized "Roar! Roar! Roar!" sounds, like muffled thunder rolling across the plains.

The large wooden shields were raised high, and arrows pierced the shields with a "crackling" sound; but the troops did not stop, instead they ran faster.

"Thud!" People kept falling, their blood soaking the withered grass, but others immediately filled in, their steps never faltering.

Behind the shield wall, ladders had been erected, battering rams had been pushed to the moat, and thick iron spikes were aimed at the city gate.

The Song soldiers on the city wall swarmed out of the hidden troop caves. Most of the arrow emplacements had already collapsed, and they didn't have time to take a closer look before they drew their bows and fired back.

Arrows and stones rained down, accompanied by screams, roars, and the clanging of metal.

"Ah!" Some had their breastbones shattered by boulders, others had crossbow bolts piercing their throats, yet they still struggled to pour the last jug of hot oil. The boiling oil sizzled and crackled as it hit the Wu army's shields, and the smell of burning flesh instantly filled the air.

The scene was extremely tragic, unfolding simultaneously outside all four city gates.

Su Chen stared coldly at the scene. The first time he saw such a battlefield, he was filled with fervor; the second time, he felt only heaviness in his heart; now, his face was ashen. He knew that what he wanted was not just to breach the city, but also to make Zhao Guangyi despair—to make the Bianjing garrison lose the courage to fight again at a single glance.

Half a day later, the siege became a stalemate. Even though the Wu army was numerous and strong, it would still suffer casualties if it charged into the city to fight the Song army. The city could not be breached in a short time, and both sides lost many soldiers.

"Artillery battalion, prepare!" Su Chen ordered calmly, and the flag officer beside him immediately waved the command flag.

This time, Su Chen plans to use his trump card directly.

The third drumbeat quickened, and the red-clad cannons were pushed forward, their dark muzzles aimed at the city walls and gates.

Boom boom boom!
Flames flickered and deafening roars filled the air. The city gate tower swayed in the smoke, scattering splinters of wood, nails, and blood. The Wu army erupted in a deafening roar, surging towards the breach like a tidal wave.

Su Chen narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself, "Zhao Guangyi, watch closely—this is the consequence of your refusal to make peace."

In an instant, Wu Jun gained the upper hand and launched a fierce attack on the riddled city of Bianjing.