Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 162 Such a scene is a rare sight.

"kill!"

Black clouds are threatening to destroy the city.

Below the city gate, as far as the eye can see, there are countless Turks.

They roared hysterically and charged towards Huizhou City.

The person at the front held his shield high to block the incoming crossbow bolts.

Most of the arrows raining down were blocked, but some slipped through the gaps and hit some unlucky souls.

Even as they watched those around them fall, they did not stop.

As they increased their speed, they got closer and closer to the city.

Two hundred steps, one hundred and fifty steps, one hundred steps...

"Alright, let's go up there, hurry up!"

One of the chiefs was overjoyed and dazed. In the distance, he saw his tribe's flag at the forefront.

"The Tang people have fewer and fewer crossbows; it seems they haven't prepared many." Another tribal general clapped his hands, grinning to reveal a set of yellow teeth.

Jieli nodded slightly, and the solemnity on his face finally dissipated when the first siege ladder was placed on the city wall.

"Tell my sons, whoever opens the city gate first, I will bestow upon him the title of Shi Boluo!"

Shiboluo means "brave and strong" in Turkic, similar to the later Baturu of the Jurchen people.

However, in the Turkic people, this was not just an honor, but also a very high official position.

The Turkic generals were all itching to make a move.

"dash forward!"

At Jieli's command, those generals who wanted to seize the position of Shiboluo immediately shouted and charged forward on horseback.

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight people left.

Upon seeing this, Jieli laughed loudly, brandishing his riding whip and pointing ahead: "These are the warriors of my Turks!"

But as soon as he turned his head, his smile vanished, and his eyes turned somewhat unfriendly: "Mohetutel, what are you still doing here?"

The Turk he was talking about was three or four people away from him, but Jieli recognized him at a glance.

Moheduotler's original name was Qibige.

The Qibi tribe he led was not originally part of the Turkic Khaganate. Decades ago, they migrated from the Tanhan Mountains and submitted to the Turkic Khaganate.

However, in recent years, Qibi Ge has maintained a distant relationship with his own camp, often using the guise of nomadism to approach the Tang Dynasty and trade with the Han people.

This time, when they asked them to come, Qibi Ge declined several times, saying that he was too old to ride a horse.

Otherwise, despite Jieli's repeated threats, the Qibi tribe wouldn't have sent a single person.

Even so, they only deployed 500 people this time.

"Please forgive me, Khan. My father is old and cannot fight as bravely as you."

Just as Qibi Ge was in a dilemma, a boy suddenly appeared beside him and apologized to him in a childish voice.

Upon hearing this, Qibi Ge continued his words.

"Of course, our Qibi tribe did not contribute this time, and we will not take any of the looted items. When we return, we will present a large number of cattle and sheep to His Majesty the Khan to celebrate our victory."

His words improved Jieli's expression considerably. He nodded in satisfaction and pointed at the boy with his riding whip, asking him a question.

"What's your name?"

"Your Majesty the Khan, I am Qibi Heli." He bowed respectfully to Jieli, his head lowered, appearing extremely respectful.

Jieli didn't take the name to heart.

He was just a boy of eight or nine years old. He asked the question simply because he thought what the person said sounded nice.

"Charge! Charge!"

Just then, someone shouted.

Jieli's attention immediately shifted to Huizhou City.

Several Turkic soldiers had already scaled the battlements, but unfortunately, they were slashed down by spears as soon as they reached the top.

But Jieli was not angry; instead, his smile widened.

Because more and more people rushed up.

"Push forward! Everyone push forward!"

Jieli knew that only by pressing forward in one fell swoop could he exhaust the Tang army in the city, so that they could open the city gates of Huizhou and let the cavalry rush in.

However, Jieli was unaware of this.

Right now, right behind their army formation.

A cavalry force was rapidly approaching them.

"Quickly! Men, the Turks' baggage train is just ahead, charge!"

Su Dingfang shouted excitedly. At this moment, he could clearly see the Turkic banner even without binoculars.

The Turks guarding the supplies didn't even have time to react.

Hearing the sound of horses' hooves, they simply raised their heads in confusion.

Just then, a whooshing sound was heard as hundreds of crossbow bolts pierced their chests with the wind.

Su Dingfang led his men into the rear of the Turks, holding a sword in one hand and a spear in the other, his legs gripping the horse's flanks tightly.

"kill!"

He beheaded a Turk who was coming towards him with a single stroke.

The surrounding Turks were immediately alarmed, but before they could react, Liang Jianfang led his men to launch a surprise attack.

at the same time.

Upon seeing this, a scout who had been lying in wait nearby immediately fired a signal arrow into the air.

A cavalry unit that had been lying in ambush several miles away quickly mounted their horses and charged out of the woods.

On the city wall.

Hiding behind the battlements and holding binoculars, Wen He saw this scene and couldn't help but shout, "Good!"

"Whoosh!"

Just then, an arrow flew over his head and embedded itself in the wooden wall not far behind him.

Wen He was stunned for a while until Zhang Wenxiao took a shield and shielded him behind him.

"Young master, you should go down."

Zhang Wenxiao, with a pained expression, offered his advice.

Wen He and Li Chengqian had already returned, but when they heard on the way that the Turks had stormed the city walls, he immediately felt a pang of anxiety.

He handed Li Chengqian over to a hundred riders, then drew the rider's sword and ran towards the city wall.

He knew there was no point in coming up. But at a time like this, he felt particularly uncomfortable hiding in the back.

When he charged up the city wall, the wave of Turks that had rushed up had already been suppressed.

As the Turkic forces continued to increase, Li Jing ordered all units to strengthen their defenses, and a steady stream of crossbows was sent to the city walls.

From below the city walls, it appeared that the Turks had the upper hand and were poised to capture the walls.

In reality, almost none of the Turks who charged up the wall managed to stand firm. They were either killed by the soldiers lying in ambush or pushed off the wall by spearmen.

Upon seeing him, Zhang Wenxiao quickly pulled him to a safer place.

Seeing that it wasn't her business, Wen He hid here and watched.

Since even Li Jing is here, what does he have to be afraid of?

"If you like it, stay here. Such a scene is a rare sight," Li Jing said leisurely, strolling around.

The surrounding generals couldn't help but laugh.

"Lord Li, have the Turks reinforced their troops?" Wen He pointed outside.

Suddenly, a troop of cavalry charged out from the Turkic army formation; there were quite a few of them.

There are at least several thousand people.

It looks like they're going to charge to the city gate in one go.

"This looks like the Tiger Army; it seems Jieli has really gone all out."

Li Jing also saw this through the telescope, and then he adjusted his gaze to a distance.

"This Su Lie actually didn't destroy the Turks' supplies, but went straight towards Jieli's central army!"

He chuckled softly, and although his tone sounded like he was blaming Su Dingfang, his expression seemed somewhat relieved.

"Good riddance! But the Turks will soon realize what's happening. Grand Commander, shouldn't we make our move too?"

A general asked.

Li Jing pondered for a moment, then raised his hand.

"Order all garrison units to go all out. Send a signal for Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Gong's troops to surround the enemy from the left and right. Order Duan Zhixuan to prepare immediately and lead those bad boys to capture Jieli!"

"promise!"

All the generals clasped their hands in response.

"call out!"

Suddenly, a whistling arrow rang out from the city wall.

The hand grenades that had long been placed on the city wall have finally seen the light of day.

"All units, prepare!"

At a command, the soldiers in the back row each took five grenades.

After the spearmen repelled the charging Turks together.

The archers quickly filled in and began firing vertically down towards the city walls.

This time, it wasn't the sporadic firing from before; thousands of crossbows fired in unison downwards.

Just looking at the number of crossbow bolts flying out made Wen He feel his scalp tingle and his trypophobia was about to kick in.

This wave of attacks was like a barrage of bullets, with countless Turks falling off the city walls.

The Turks below, who hadn't yet reacted, were either crushed to death or riddled with crossbow bolts.

After three consecutive volleys of fire, the corpses piled up beneath Huizhou City, reaching a height of at least ten feet.

Later Turks who arrived could even climb five or six levels of the cloud ladder by stepping on it.

"No! No!"

Jieli suddenly noticed something was wrong, and his eyes widened immediately.

"No, the number of crossbow bolts is wrong. Retreat! Make them all retreat!"

"Report!"

at this time!

Jieli only heard someone shout loudly behind him.

A messenger rode up on horseback.

Those around Jieli quickly made way for the messenger.

"Reporting to the Khan, a Tang cavalry force has suddenly appeared in the rear of our army and is charging towards us!"

"what!"

Only then did Jieli notice the commotion behind their army formation.

He was suddenly startled, realizing he had fallen into a trap.

"Quickly, order the entire army to retreat and have the rear guard surround and attack that Tang army!"

He sent out almost all of his elite troops.

Now all we can rely on is the army formed by various units in the rear.

The Turkic leaders finally panicked.

He immediately went to have his subordinates give the order.

But at this moment!
A cloud of dust suddenly rose up on either side of them.

From a distance, it looked as if a storm was sweeping towards them.

"Khan!"

Almost simultaneously, two scouts came running in from the left and right sides.

They were covered in blood, and many had arrows stuck in their bodies.

"W-what on earth is going on?"

Jieli was completely panicked.

He didn't believe Li Shimin could have foreseen this.

They also found it hard to believe that Li Shimin would send out so many troops at such a critical juncture.

"Don't panic!"

He suddenly shouted, both to comfort himself and to reassure those around him.

"We still have tens of thousands of troops, as long as we..."

"boom!"

Before Jieli could finish speaking, a series of thunderous sounds rang out from under the city of Huizhou.

(End of this chapter)