Three days later!
Outside Quyang City, tens of thousands of Han Army marched majestically towards it, their Dong family banners fluttering in the wind, looking awe-inspiring.
On the war chariot amidst the army, Dong Zhuo wore armor and had a sharp blade at his waist.
His fierce eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the panicked Yellow Turban on the city wall, a look of disdain on his face, and said with a laugh!
“I see these Yellow Turban are nothing special; they were so frightened by the arrival of my great army. It seems attacking Quyang was indeed a brilliant move.”
The Generals beside him nodded repeatedly, and many flattered him!
“General Dong’s divine might covers the world, awe-inspiring and extraordinary. With him personally leading an elite army, the Yellow Turban within the city are all struck with fear.”
“I believe this city will be breached in less than three days.”
Dong Zhuo stroked his beard and laughed heartily upon hearing this!
Looking at the Generals behind him, he was very satisfied, thinking he would have to promote them well and make them his trusted aides when the opportunity arose.
Dong Zhuo drew the precious sword from his waist, an surging aura emanating from him, and commanded loudly!
“The Yellow Turban on the city wall are in disarray upon seeing our army. Attacking the city now will yield twice the result with half the effort.”
“All troops, listen to my command! Launch a fierce assault on Quyang City, breach it in one fell swoop, and kill Zhang Bao. I will then petition the imperial court for rewards for all of you.”
The Generals behind him bowed in acceptance of the order, leading their respective troops to form several formations, completely surrounding Quyang City.
The rumbling of drums and horns sounded, and after a single command.
The vast Han Army pushed their siege engines and charged forward, intending to launch a fierce assault to completely occupy Quyang.
On the city wall, Zhang Bao watched the Han Army launch a direct assault, a cold light flashing in his eyes, his heart filled with murderous intent.
Ever since his third brother was killed, he had come to intensely hate these Han Army.
He coldly ordered the soldiers behind him!
“Loose the arrows!”
The Yellow Turban soldiers on the city wall all drew their bows and nocked arrows, firing fiercely towards the city below.
The whooshing sounds echoed through the sky!
Hundreds of arrows continuously rained down from the sky, piercing into the crowd.
The charging Han Army were instantly struck by arrows in their chests and abdomens, and thudding sounds rang out.
They fell backward directly to the ground, blood flowing freely, and cries of agony continuously sounded.
The Han Army did not stop their charge but continued to rush forward under the command of their Generals.
The arrows from the city wall grew fiercer, continuously shooting down at the Han Army below.
After a period of charging, many Han Army had reached the city wall, placed ladders against it, and began to climb.
Even over a hundred people were pushing battering rams, violently impacting the city gate, making booming sounds.
Zhang Bao held a sharp blade, which gleamed with a brilliant cold light, and shouted loudly at the defending soldiers around him!
“The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise!”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding Yellow Turban soldiers became as if injected with stimulants, filled with fighting spirit.
They also shouted loudly in unison!
“The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise!”
The defending Yellow Turban soldiers showed a fearless will in their eyes, and one after another, they lifted rolling stones and logs, throwing them at the Han Army below the city.
Bodies continuously fell, blood stained the entire land, mixed with painful screams.
The fierce siege battle thus erupted!
As the sun set, a hint of twilight appeared in the distant sky, and the sun gradually sank behind the mountains.
Dong Zhuo, on his war chariot, watched the morale of the Han Army weaken again and again, even becoming soft and powerless now, no longer possessing its former might.
His brows furrowed slightly, his expression changing from his previous composure to solemnity.
He hadn't expected the Yellow Turban Army to resist so fiercely.
Especially that slogan of the rebels, which could instantly boost the morale of the Yellow Turban.
Li Ru, seeing this, naturally knew that it would be impossible to breach Quyang today. Continuing the fight would only result in unnecessary losses of soldiers.
He quickly advised from the side!
“General, these Yellow Turban Army are fighting with increasing ferocity, their morale is high, while our Han Army’s morale is dropping with each battle. It is not advantageous to continue like this.”
“In my opinion, it is better to first sound the gongs for retreat, pull back all the troops, set up camp, rest for a while, discuss strategies, and then make a decision.”
Dong Zhuo felt unwilling upon hearing this.
He had arrived leading a large army, full of imposing might, scaring the Yellow Turban on the city into trembling.
He had initially thought that one battle would scare these Yellow Turban away, but he hadn't expected that after truly engaging, these Yellow Turban would not be afraid, and their morale would be even fiercer than usual.
Seeing the Han Army soldiers continuously falling, blood staining the entire city wall, and bodies strewn about, he could only swallow this bitter pill.
He immediately coldly ordered his personal guards behind him!
“Beat the drums and sound the horns for me, sound the gongs for retreat!”
Soon, the rumbling of drums and horns sounded, and the Han Army still engaged in the siege felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.
Soon, like a tide, they retreated in a vast, surging mass.
Under the command of various Generals, they retreated for dozens of li and began to set up camp.
Zhang Bao, on the city wall, saw this and a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes. Did they really think Quyang City would be so easily breached?
If they dared to attack the city again, he would certainly make these Han Army pay the price.
He immediately ordered the Generals beside him to begin clearing the bodies from the city wall and continue guarding it, in case the Han Army launched a surprise attack.
In the hastily erected military tent, Dong Zhuo sat in the chief seat, his face grim.
The other Generals sat on either side, their heads slightly bowed, looking somewhat dejected.
Today's siege battle had achieved virtually no effect; instead, they had been dealt a heavy blow by the Yellow Turban, suffering severe losses.
Dong Zhuo, seeing the Generals’ dejected morale, naturally knew that this would not do.
After a moment of silence, his expression changed from gloomy to bright, and he laughed heartily!
“No matter, although we did not breach Quyang before us, we have also ascertained the strength of the Yellow Turban Army. They are not the disorganized rabble we thought them to be, and we will certainly not take them lightly in the future.”
“This can be considered good news.”
The Generals nodded upon hearing this, considering it a good consolation, and their morale slowly recovered.
Dong Zhuo looked at Li Ru beside him and immediately inquired!
“Wen You, the Yellow Turban within Quyang City are not weak. A forced assault certainly won't work. Do you have any brilliant plan that can allow our army to quickly breach Quyang City, kill Zhang Bao, and achieve merit?”
Li Ru frowned upon hearing this, knowing that attacking a city was naturally not that simple.
Especially since there were at least tens of thousands of Yellow Turban within the city, their forces no less than the Han Army's.
After thinking for a moment, he couldn't come up with a good plan, so he spoke from the side!
“General, in attacking and capturing a city, one must not be impatient, or it is easy to make mistakes. It must be done step by step.”
“My suggestion is to first besiege Quyang City, cut off its surrounding food supplies, suppress the Yellow Turban Army’s morale, and cause panic among its people.”
“Then send people to win over the Yellow Turban General within the city to act as our inside agent and open the city gates. In this way, Quyang can be breached.”