I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1143 The Fall of Antioch

Furthermore, Su Yao did not linger in Jerusalem. His brief stay in this small city had a far greater symbolic than military significance.

He did not interfere too much with Guan Yu's military deployments, but focused on shaping and proclaiming the image of the "Messiah".

For example, he made a public appearance in front of the Roman temple (the site of the former Jewish Temple), receiving the most solemn respect and offerings from the Jewish community accompanying the army, and reiterated his commitment to support their return to their homeland and the rebuilding of their paradise under the Han Dynasty order.

At the same time, Su Yao solemnly declared that he would support not only the Jews, but all Western nations for independence and autonomy, and help them break the shackles of the Romans.

Su Yao's declaration in Jerusalem was like a meteor falling into the Mediterranean Sea, quickly stirring up a tsunami.

The Jewish rabbis accompanying the army immediately copied the "Declaration of Liberation" in Hebrew and Greek, and it was quickly spread throughout Syria, Egypt and even Asia Minor by Jewish caravans and messengers.

Within just a few days, the news that "the Eastern Emperor will end Roman tyranny and return the homeland of all peoples" stirred up the hearts of peoples who had been oppressed by Rome for a century.

The Arameans of Syria, the Coptics of Egypt, and the Assyrian remnants of Asia Minor secretly contacted the Han army, either providing intelligence or preparing for uprisings. Rome's foundation of rule in the East had become a crumbling, precarious structure.

An outbreak could happen in the blink of an eye.

The biggest reason they didn't take action was the lingering power of the Romans' invincible legions.

Countless eyes are fixed on the land of Syria, and countless peoples are closely watching the war here.

Whether the Han Chinese in the East, and that self-important emperor, could truly defeat the Romans was the key to whether they would rise up in rebellion.

All eyes were on Antioch, the capital of Syria, a colossal city hailed as the "Queen of the East." There, a decisive battle that would determine the fate of the East was about to erupt.

Beneath the walls of Antioch, spears and halberds stood like a forest, red flags fluttered, and the Han Chinese and Armenian allied forces had completely surrounded the Syrian capital.

Cao Cao reined in his horse and stood before the battle lines, surrounded by generals such as Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, gazing at the majestic Roman city before him. The city walls were high and thick, with numerous towers, and the dense ranks of defenders and the gleaming crossbows could be vaguely seen atop them.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from behind. Xiahou Yuan dismounted, his armor still stained with undried blood: "Mengde, good news!"

"General Guan Yu defeated Damascus, General Zhang Fei defeated Tyre, and General Gao Shun defeated Issus. Apart from sea routes, Antioch has no possibility of receiving any external aid."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao paused slightly, stroking his beard. Then, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he pointed his whip at the Roman eagle banner atop Antioch:

"Excellent! Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and General Gao have all achieved great feats. How can our central army lag behind? Antioch is already trapped like a turtle in a jar. It is time for us to break through the city!"

"Issue my order: the entire army shall rest for one day, and at dawn tomorrow, we will launch a full-scale attack on the city!"

"Yes, sir!" the generals responded in unison, their voices echoing across the wilderness.

Before dawn the next day, deafening drums and horns resounded outside Antioch. In the Han army ranks, the improved catapults and tiger-squat cannons were already set up, their dark muzzles aimed at the city walls; Armenian soldiers, wielding scimitars, stood in formation beside the siege ladders, their eyes filled with the flames of revenge; further away, thousands of auxiliary soldiers from various ethnic groups pushed carts filled with sacks of earth, preparing to fill the moat—many of them had ancestors who had lived in Antioch but were driven out by the Romans, and today was the day to reclaim their dignity.

On the walls of Antioch, Roman Governor Barsus stared grimly at the overwhelming enemy ranks outside the city. Crimson banners surged like a sea of ​​blood, and the metal armor gleamed chillingly in the rising sun. Further away, several strangely shaped siege engines were already in position, their dark cannons pointed directly at the city walls. "Governor! The east gate is under attack! The Han army is setting up those devilish fire-breathing machines!" a centurion rushed in, his armor covered in soot.

Barsus gritted his teeth: "Send the First Battalion of the 'Straits' Legion to the front! Tell Centurion Claudius that if he lets even one Han Chinese onto the city walls, he'll have to answer to the enemy with his head!"

Before the words were finished, a deafening roar suddenly came from the south of the city, and the entire city wall trembled slightly.

"put!"

At Xiahou Dun's command, the Tiger Crouching Cannons roared first. More than ten cannonballs pierced the morning mist, crashing into the city walls like meteors. The crisp sound of bricks shattering and the screams of the defenders mingled instantly, and several arrow towers burst into flames, billowing black smoke into the sky. Immediately afterward, incendiary bombs launched by catapults exploded inside the city, the deafening roar of collapsing buildings causing the city walls to tremble slightly.

Governor Basus on the city wall was deathly pale. He stared intently at the "devilish weapon" in the Han army's ranks that was constantly spewing flames, and his lips trembled as he gave the order: "Crossbows! Counterattack! Quickly use the crossbows to destroy those machines!"

The Roman ballistae fired rapidly, sending massive, spear-like arrows whistling towards the Han army's positions, but most were blocked by the pre-erected shield formations. The few arrows that pierced the shields only killed a few soldiers, utterly failing to shake the Han army's siege array.

"The time has come!" Cao Ren shouted, drawing his sword. "City assault team, charge!"

The Han soldiers, already prepared, carried siege ladders and surged towards the city walls like a tidal wave, wading across the filled-in moat. Clad in heavy armor and wielding ring-pommel swords, they did not flinch even amidst a dense hail of arrows from the city walls—blessed by the system, these soldiers not only possessed exceptional combat prowess but also an almost religious loyalty to Su Yao, firmly believing that by following His Majesty the Emperor, they could conquer any city.

On the city walls, Roman soldiers fought desperately. They poured boiling oil on the walls, pounded them with boulders, and even threw burning torches at the siege ladders. But the Han soldiers were prepared. They charged forward, their heads covered in wet blankets, inserting their ring-pommel swords into the gaps in the wall to use as leverage to climb. Soon, the first Han soldier reached the top, and with a flash of his blade, he felled two Roman soldiers.

"Kill!" More and more Han soldiers scaled the city walls, their crimson robes gleaming in the morning light. The Roman soldiers' defenses crumbled, and their once-dense formation was quickly breached.

Just then, a commotion arose in the distance. Governor Barsus was overjoyed, thinking that Roman reinforcements had arrived, and quickly peered out, only to be struck dumb—a golden figure riding a griffin was circling above Antioch. Sunlight shone on the gilded armor, making him appear like a god descending.

"It's that devil! He's here!"

"He really can fly!!!"

The Roman soldiers on the city walls were instantly terrified. Many who had been resisting just moments before dropped their weapons and turned to flee. Governor Basus wanted to draw his sword to urge the battle on, but his personal guards held him back tightly: "My lord! Run! We can't possibly stop a demon that can summon even thunder!"

Su Yao hovered above the city wall, piloting his Griffin. His cold gaze swept over the chaotic city walls, and he slightly raised the golden mace in his hand, its tip instantly converging with blinding lightning.

"Those who do not surrender, this is their fate!" Su Yao's voice, carried by the wind, resounded throughout the entire battlefield.

Boom! A thick bolt of lightning struck down, hitting the central tower of the city wall directly. The tower collapsed instantly, sending debris flying and burying all the nearby Roman soldiers.

This attack completely shattered the last Roman resistance. The defenders on the city walls knelt and surrendered, while the soldiers at the city gates opened them to welcome the Han army into the city. Seeing that all was lost, Governor Basus tried to draw his sword to commit suicide, but was captured alive by the Han soldiers who rushed up to him.

Antioch has fallen!

(End of this chapter)