Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 656 The Battle of Attack and Defense
Snowflakes fluttered in the sky above the border, the thunderous war drums shook the accumulated snow off, boiling oil gurgled on the city wall, and the molten gold beside it emitted a scalding, foul odor.

Before putting on his helmet, Xiao Chenzi took one last look at the area protected by the four city walls. He had to admit that he had protected the people here very well.

"The whole army is ready!"

The attacking army at the front had already begun its charge to be the first to scale the walls. The crossbows and catapults pounded against the city walls with a muffled buzzing sound. If it weren't for the new cement technology, the rammed earth walls probably wouldn't have held for long.

"Fire arrows!"

When the enemy approached within firing range, the defenders on the crenellations and arrow towers immediately began unleashing a barrage of arrows at the most densely packed areas, creating a visually striking volley of arrows.
"Pour the molten gold!" Half a burned face peered out from the crenellations of the city wall as scalding sewage mixed with asphalt poured down from the Longkou Canal.

The soldiers below, who were climbing the ladder, screamed and fell to the ground. Many people were already lying at their feet, some still struggling. But in this situation, there was no need to treat them. Even if they were taken back, they would only waste military resources and damage morale, and would serve no other purpose.

However, the enemy's suppression soon followed, with a rain of arrows ten times stronger than those on the city walls. A large number of soldiers on the walls fell instantly. The shield bearers provided cover, but they obviously neglected the attackers. However, none of them expected that this was part of Xiao Chenzi's plan.

Dozens of siege ladders were erected on the city wall, and the people below began to climb up as if their lives depended on it. The people below used shields to build an impenetrable shield wall. Xiao Chenzi was stationed on the city tower. He could hear the thud of arrows hitting the door frame outside. At this moment, he calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Put on the explosives."

At the command, the defenders immediately lit the fuse with a tinderbox and then threw the bundle of explosives tied together over the high wall.

He was waiting for this moment, waiting for the attackers to gather at the foot of the city.

Explosives exploded one after another, the shockwaves overturned the shield bearers, and the soldiers who climbed the wall were also blown to pieces like hailstones, and in no time the ground was covered with corpses.

At that moment, the bugle call to retreat sounded from behind, and Xiao Chenzi's anxious heart calmed down a little.

This is the seventh day of the siege. Both sides are already in dire straits. Although Yang Ying's side has suffered heavy losses, they can't withstand the overwhelming numbers. On the other hand, Xiao Chenzi's side is losing more and more men, and they are being worn down every day. Even if the ratio of casualties is twenty to one, this kind of attrition is not a solution.

Moreover, the enemy has more people and can use a war of attrition to wear them down day and night, but the defenders cannot do that. Xiao Chenzi has not slept for three days. The enemy's relentless attacks, which occur every three hours, are indeed a brilliant move. This way, they can reduce their own losses and wear down the defenders like a hawk.

Each disturbance by several thousand people caused the city's garrison immense suffering. Just a few days ago, they were full of confidence, but in the past few days, Xiao Chenzi could clearly feel an atmosphere of despair spreading through the army.

But he didn't have any better options; all he could do was keep a close watch, but he himself didn't know how long he could hold out.

About half of the people in the city left, but half of them refused to leave, including his own wife and children. His wife even organized the women who remained in the city to do laundry and cook for the soldiers guarding the city.

Most of those who remained were the families of the soldiers, so they absolutely could not lose this battle. Even if they could not see what the future held, they had to hold on until the end, and even if they could hold on for one more day, it would be one more day of life.

During this time, many people asked Xiao Chenzi why he insisted on this. It was obvious that they had the support of the Turks, were well-equipped, and were well-prepared. They did not look like a defeated army at all.

Such a small checkpoint, even if abandoned, would not be criticized, but none of them could understand why General Ye insisted on dragging tens of thousands of people to their deaths.

Xiao Chenzi did not answer these questions, because they wouldn't understand even if he did. But he knew in his heart that as long as he let these people pass through the pass, the entire granary of China would fall into the hands of others, and their lifeline would be in someone else's hands. If it were normal, it would be fine, but once natural disasters or man-made calamities came, the entire Central Plains would surely be devastated.

If things go wrong, there could be another period of chaos and upheaval.

Xiao Chenzi cannot bear this responsibility. His best fate is to die here, to stink here, or even to be chopped to pieces here!

"Take turns resting, quick, don't delay!"

He gave the order, but in reality, no one knew when Yang Ying's next attack would suddenly begin—perhaps during mealtime or in the dead of night. So everyone was racing against time.

Xiao Chenzi also leaned back in his chair for a short rest. In his dream, he vaguely heard the sound of the attack horn. He sat up with a start, but when he listened carefully, there was only silence. In the darkness, there were only the desperate cries of the people who were not yet dead below the city.

No one can hold on like this. Xiao Chenzi rubbed his face hard. At this moment, his deputy stepped forward and said, "General Ye, this is not a solution. Everyone is already on edge."

"What do you suggest we do?"

Xiao Chenzi looked at him and asked, "What's the solution?"

"Why don't I lead a hundred men out of the formation and go to Shanhaiguan to ask for reinforcements?"

"They can come? I've already sent a message by carrier pigeon, but they're still pretending not to see it."

"General, we should make a big show of ourselves along the way. If the Shanhaiguan Army really doesn't come out, I'll head south and call out to whoever I can."

Xiao Chenzi was silent for a moment, then nodded gently.

At midnight, the gate quietly opened a crack, and a squad of about fifty elite cavalrymen slipped away under the cover of darkness. Xiao Chenzi stood on the city wall, watching their figures disappear into the night, a sense of anticipation rising in his heart.

If we can call for reinforcements, no matter when they arrive, as long as it gives people some hope, that would be the best thing ever.

However, things are unpredictable. On the second day, during the siege, before the enemy could even attack, they used catapults to throw heads one by one onto the city wall. Xiao Chenzi looked at the ferocious and painful expressions on those heads and his heart sank.

It seems last night's plan failed. These bastards were probably already prepared, just waiting for them to walk right into their trap.

The siege had now entered its eighth day. Logistics and supplies were still in good condition, but the mental torment was unbearable, and people were starting to break down and commit suicide. However, Xiao Chenzi didn't have a good solution for this; he had already tried everything he could.

The best outcome right now would be for someone to break through and report the situation. If they could encounter the new army, that would be ideal. If not, even if Wang Shichong's troops could provide support, that would be the best outcome.

But he knew it would be very difficult, because this territory was practically an enclave. When Li Jing was still alive, no one dared to act recklessly, but now... the situation was different.

A small, isolated pass, so isolated that even if everyone were to die, it wouldn't be noticed—that's probably the tragedy of chaotic times. The siege continues fiercely today, and fewer and fewer of them can go to the battlefield. Even the women have been forced to climb the walls and take up shields. Although they understand nothing, they know that if the pass falls, their fate will be a thousand times worse than death.

Soon, the twelfth day arrived, and all the raw materials for making gunpowder in the city were used up. After repelling the enemy's attack once again, they had nothing left to stop the enemy.

However, looking down from the city wall at this moment, even though the enemy had lost nearly 50,000 men, it was just a drop in the ocean compared to his more than 200,000 men.

To be honest, it's already very good that we've managed to hold on like this; it's really good. Even if Xiao Chenzi fails now, no one will blame him.

But he was born with a competitive spirit, and he wanted to give it another try.

So he organized another batch of fast horses overnight, attempting to break through the encirclement and lure in reinforcements.

But this time he failed again. The warriors were sent back in pieces, and the enemy even pieced their corpses together into a comical shape, poured water on them, and froze them on wooden boards, as if mocking Xiao Chenzi mercilessly.

However, Xiao Chenzi couldn't laugh at this moment, because less than 30% of his men still had the strength to fight. After repelling the enemy today, he didn't know how to stop them tomorrow.

The corpses inside and outside the pass had piled up like mountains, and Xiao Chenzi was now at his wit's end.

"Wear armor."

Facing the rising sun, a resolute look appeared on Xiao Chenzi's thin face. He asked someone to put armor on him, and then went to the last remaining able-bodied man.

"Gentlemen, who is willing to charge with me? If we can break through, we will have a sliver of hope. If we cannot, Huangya Pass means certain death. Our parents, wives, and children are inside. Are there any brave warriors among us?!"

Without hesitation, the able-bodied young soldiers stepped forward. The cavalry commander, surnamed Huang, took two steps forward and suddenly shouted, "Huangyaguan Cavalry Battalion, all present!"

Xiao Chenzi slightly raised his eyes and glanced at him, then turned back to look at the elderly, weak, women and children not far away, whose eyes were filled with worry. Here he saw his two children and wife, but he didn't say anything. He just took a deep breath and turned to mount his horse: "Mount up!"

The remaining five hundred cavalrymen mounted their horses in unison, followed by fifty light cavalry. Xiao Chenzi's mission was to risk his life to cover for these messengers. As long as the message could be sent out, it would be worth dying for them.

The few hundred cavalrymen seemed to have the momentum of a thousand troops when they left the pass. There was still an army of nearly 200,000 people in front of them, but from the moment they left the pass, they spurred their horses and galloped all the way.

The enemy was also taken aback. They were having breakfast and couldn't believe that the people in this small, dilapidated pass would dare to charge at them.

Yang Ying walked out of the tent and laughed: "What a pity, what a pity. You were a talented general, what a waste."

After saying that, he said with a disdainful look, "Give them a ride."

At that moment, Xiao Chenzi leaned close to the horse's neck and heard three crossbow bolts graze his back and embed themselves in the shield. He heard a heavy thud behind him, and without turning around, he knew that the chestnut horse nicknamed Er Gouzi had been hit by arrows. That horse was the closest to him, and also to his eldest son. Xiao Chenzi said that in the future, he would let his son ride on Er Gouzi's back and become a general.

But this was no time to think about such things; the barricades ahead were faintly visible in the morning mist. He tore off his frozen scarf and wrapped it around the hilt of his sword, letting out a half-groan. The Huangyaguan cavalry immediately split into three groups. Veteran cavalrymen knew that the hoofprint of the lead horse determined the fate of the pack, so he had to be the first to leap over the sharp wooden stakes.

Suddenly, the sound of arrows whistling rang out from the left flank. Commander Huang's white-hoofed horse was thrown off its saddle by the tripwire, and while still in mid-air, it was pierced through by a hook-and-sickle spear. Xiao Chenzi gritted his teeth and didn't slow down, slamming his boot heel hard against the horse's belly. The beast, in pain, lunged forward more than ten feet, its front hooves crushing the breastbone of an enemy soldier holding a crossbow.

The cavalry, like a sharp blade, cut a path through the enemy camp at great speed. When Xiao Chenzi broke out of the enemy camp, he saw that more than twenty messengers had followed them out. He chuckled, steeled his heart, and turned his horse around again.

"charge!"

The second wave of the attack was launched again. In order to cover the messenger's departure, they had to keep the pursuers at a safe distance. Because the horses' stamina was limited, if they could not get the messenger to create distance in a short time, they would still be caught up. This was Huangyaguan's last hope.

The hundreds of cavalrymen regrouped and charged toward the surging tide of pursuers behind them.

Xiao Chenzi was shot in the chest, but fortunately, the breastplate blocked the arrowhead, leaving it stuck in his chest. At that moment, he was completely unaware that his adrenaline had taken over his body. He had only one thought in mind: to kill everyone in sight.

But this was beyond his power. His cavalry was dwindling, and after three rounds of charging, the original cavalry battalion of several hundred men was reduced to only eleven.

Everyone, including him, was wounded. They regrouped in the distance, looked at each other, and now there was no regret on anyone's face, because enough time had passed for the messenger to go far away.

"Brothers, shall we go for it one more time?"

A smile appeared on Xiao Chenzi's face. After speaking, he stretched out his hand and waved it forward. The scarf wrapped around his hand was already stained with someone's blood: "Charge!"

Eleven warhorses charged into the enemy ranks once more, each swing of their sabers taking the lives of several men.

However, their numbers were too small. This time, only Xiao Chenzi charged out. After he charged out, his warhorse finally ran out of strength, staggered and knelt on the ground, never to rise again.

Xiao Chenzi, who had been thrown out, rolled several times on the ground. He was able to stand up again with the support of his saber. A hundred feet in front of him was an endless line of enemies, and a hundred feet behind him was Huangya Pass. His wife, children and civilians stood on the city wall of the pass.

Seeing the densely packed enemy, Xiao Chenzi glanced back at the people on the city wall, waved goodbye to his wife and children, and then picked up his longsword again, assuming an attack stance.

Just then, a sharp, piercing wail suddenly echoed from the sky. Xiao Chenzi froze for a moment, and the enemy soldiers opposite him were even more stunned. Without even thinking, they turned and ran...

He ran faster than if his father had died.

Even Yang Ying wanted to turn and run away immediately after hearing the noise, because he was all too familiar with it...

It was a clear morning outside Handan city...

(End of this chapter)