My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

“Shi Zai is a kind-hearted man.”

Gan Ning glanced sideways at Deng Ai beside him.

Deng Ai's gaze fell on the outline of Huyang City not far away, and he said in a steady tone:
"If the Grand Marshal orders a strong attack, this is the perfect opportunity for the enemy to relax their guard. However, since he has instructed us to use fire, he wants to minimize our casualties. In my opinion, it would be better to wait until the water supply strategy takes effect before taking action."

Gan Ning nodded slightly and smiled:
“That’s absolutely right. There’s no need to rush. In my judgment, the enemy troops inside the city will notice the water supply has been cut off within two days.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Ai's lips curled up, his gaze sharp as an eagle, and he sneered:

"Then we'll see."

...

It was almost noon in the blink of an eye.

On the walls of Huyang, the wind swept dust from the battlements as several Liao generals leaned against the wall and whispered among themselves, their expressions full of doubt.

"It's very strange. A whole morning has passed, and we haven't seen a single Han soldier. Could it be that they have already withdrawn?"

One of the generals leaned forward and looked out over the open fields outside the city, his tone full of confusion.

"absurd!"

Another general immediately refuted this, his brow furrowed:
"The Han army has mobilized a large force to besiege the city, how could they retreat so easily? They must be up to some trick again."

"But this deathly silence is really abnormal, and it's hard not to be suspicious."

The general, still feeling uneasy, kept rambling on.

"Stop letting your mind wander!"

The man waved impatiently to the side, leaned against the city wall, and closed his eyes to rest.

"Do you intend to venture out of the city to seek battle? It's best to rest for a while while things are peaceful."

The deputy generals, each with their own thoughts, paced anxiously, some even closing their eyes for a short rest, all unable to conceal their unease.

"Shut up, everyone."

A deep shout suddenly rang out, and Meng Quan walked over slowly, his expression dignified.

"The entire army must remain vigilant, each fulfilling their duties without the slightest distraction. The Han army's silence must have a reason, and we must not let our guard down."

All the generals composed themselves, bowed their heads, and agreed.

Before long, it was noon, the sun was at its zenith, and waves of heat swept over us.

A lieutenant walked to Meng Quansheng's side, his tone tinged with worry, and said:
"General, you should go to the camp and have some food. You haven't had a drop of water all day. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

Meng Quan raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice:

"Don't worry about me. Go and eat first, then come back immediately to relieve me. Don't be late."

"Here!"

The lieutenant had no choice but to obey.

Subsequently, apart from the soldiers who remained to keep watch, the rest of the soldiers guarding the city went down to their camps.

Upon arriving at the camp, the deputy general immediately ordered the Liao army to assemble, but the scene before him was disheartening.

The soldiers were in a loose formation, all looking sleepy and tired, completely lacking their former elite spirit.

Only after repeated urging and reprimands from the officers did they manage to finally complete the formation.

Since the city's defenses were not yet fully repaired, the officers had to redistribute tasks.

Some people stayed at the camp to await orders, while the rest returned to the city wall immediately after the meal to continue repairing it.

Upon hearing this order, the soldiers all looked dejected, but dared not disobey. They could only drag their heavy steps to get food, their hearts full of complaints.

It wasn't until 1:45 PM that the soldiers reluctantly returned to the city wall. Following orders, they each performed their duties, slowly picking up tools and leisurely repairing the wall. Their movements were sluggish and lacked any enthusiasm.

Meng Quan stood atop the battlements, his gaze fixed on the Han army camp several miles away. The camp was completely silent, without the slightest movement.

His brows furrowed, and his doubts grew stronger.

Something unusual must be going on. The Han army's silence for half a day was not without reason; they must be plotting something.

Just as he was pondering this, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar, and a soldier came running up in a panic, shouting:
"General, this is bad!"

Meng Quan turned around, his expression turning serious:
"What's the panic? What's so urgent?"

The soldier, leaning against the city wall, gasped for breath and said in a trembling voice:

"General, the city's water supply... has been cut off. All the wells are dry, and even the reservoirs are empty!"

"what?!"

Meng Quan felt as if struck by lightning; everything went black before his eyes, and he swayed.

"General!"

The adjutant beside him reacted quickly and stepped forward to support him.

Meng Quan regained his composure, swayed as he straightened up, a look of misery flashing across his face, before he let out a bitter laugh:

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is... No wonder the Han army surrounded us but didn't attack, so quiet, hahaha... It seems our defeat is inevitable."

"Why do you say that, General?"

The lieutenant was completely puzzled and did not understand what he meant.

"I have been racking my brains for days about why the Han army surrounded the enemy without attacking, but now I finally understand."

Meng Quan's eyes dimmed, and his tone was sorrowful:
"They're not planning a full-scale attack; they've clearly cut off our water supply in secret!"

"what!"

The lieutenant suddenly realized what was happening, his face turning deathly pale. He urgently pressed for an answer:
"General, things have come to this, what should we do?"

Meng Quan gazed out of the city, a bitter smile on his face, his eyes vacant, utterly helpless.

Without water to drink, morale will surely collapse.

This city, in the end, could not be defended.

...

Three miles outside Huyang City, dust billowed and banners fluttered as the Han army was already arrayed in formation, their armor like a forest, their momentum overwhelming.

The Liao soldiers on the city wall caught a glimpse of this massive formation and their faces turned pale with fear, their bodies trembling slightly.

Today, the Han army's strength is several times greater than it was two days ago.

Suppressing his despair, Meng Quanqiang suddenly drew his sword from his waist and shouted, his voice echoing across the city wall:

"Everyone, be on high alert! Take up your weapons and defend the city walls!"

The Liao soldiers hurriedly dropped their repair tools, grabbed their weapons in a chaotic frenzy, and rushed to the battlements.

Looking at the densely packed Han army below the city, they all looked tense and helpless, their morale already wavering.

Just then, a figure rushed out from the front of the Han army formation and headed straight for the city.

It was Meng Xian, a general of the Han Dynasty, who came again to persuade them to surrender.

"Listen up, Liao soldiers!"

Meng Xian reined in his horse and stood beneath the city walls, his voice booming:
"Today is your last chance to surrender. I hope you will not remain stubborn and resist, which will only increase casualties!"

These words of persuasion to surrender reached the city walls, and the Liao soldiers immediately stirred, whispering among themselves, their expressions hesitant.

"shut up!"

Meng Quan roared, his voice making the eardrums of the surrounding soldiers tremble, his eyes filled with ferocity:
"Our Liao soldiers would rather die than surrender! If you want to fight, then fight! Enough talk!"

Having said that, he drew his bow, aimed at Meng Xian below the city, and released the arrow.

The arrow pierced the air and struck Meng Xian squarely in the shoulder. Meng Xian grunted, turned, glared at the city wall, and shouted angrily:
"In war, envoys are not to be killed. How despicable your actions are!"

After saying this, he endured the excruciating pain, pressed his bleeding shoulder, turned his horse around, and retreated in a sorry state back into the Han army formation.

Seeing Meng Xian retreat after being hit by an arrow, Deng Ai's eyes blazed with fury, his palms clenched into fists, and he immediately gave a stern order:

"Pass down the order: attack the city immediately!"

This offensive, however, is quite different from the previous ones.

The catapults in front of the Han army had already been adjusted, and the baskets were not filled with the boulders used to breach the city, but with tightly sealed wine barrels.

"put!"

With a shout from the messenger, dozens of catapults simultaneously sprang into action, their thick arms booming as they launched barrels of wine one after another.

The wooden barrel sliced ​​through the sky with a whooshing sound as it flew towards Huyang City, landing in the astonished gaze of the Liao soldiers guarding the city.

Barrels of wine were thrown into the city, some crashing against buildings and shattering, others rolling in the streets and alleys, the mellow liquor flowing everywhere.

The Liao soldiers on the city wall looked at each other, unable to figure out the Han army's intentions, and murmurs rose and fell among them.

When the Han army threw out the third round of wine barrels, the rich aroma of wine spread with the wind, drifting up the battlements in wisps.

Meng Quan and his deputies' expressions changed drastically, their hearts skipped a beat, and they instantly understood the crux of the matter.

The city was filled with wine; a single spark could ignite a raging inferno. Moreover, the city's water supply had been cut off, leaving no way to extinguish the fire.

Before they could come up with a countermeasure, the catapults in front of the Han army had already quickly changed their ammunition, and fireballs coated with grease were being loaded into baskets.

At another command, the fireballs flew in an arc into the city, exploding into sparks the moment they hit the ground.

With a deafening roar, a fire dragon suddenly rose up, and flames spread rapidly along the wine, instantly engulfing a large area of ​​houses.

The Liao soldiers panicked and frantically searched for their last water bags, desperately splashing them at the fire. But this little bit of water was nothing but a drop in the ocean against the raging flames and did nothing to help.

The city was filled with cries of agony, flames soared into the sky, and thick smoke billowed, plunging the Liao army into chaos.

Just as Meng Quan was at a loss, a new offensive by the Han army had already begun.

The catapult changed direction and hurled the wine barrels straight at the city wall, splashing the wine onto the bricks and battlements.

Immediately afterwards, the archers drew their bows in unison, and one after another, fire arrows shot through the air, accurately striking the city walls, instantly setting them ablaze.

After three rounds of rockets, the fire had spread across the city walls, and Deng Ai raised his hand to signal a halt.

At this moment, the Liao soldiers guarding Huyang City were attacked from both sides. They had to fight to extinguish the flames while dodging the arrows and boulders thrown by the Han army. They were all in a sorry state and exhausted.

Meng Quan's face was ashen. He suppressed his panic and sternly directed everyone to divide the tasks and put out the fire, doing their best to contain its spread.

After half an hour of desperate firefighting, the fire on the city wall was finally brought under control, but it also exhausted the Liao army's remaining energy and water.

Deng Ai watched the fading firelight on the city wall, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and drew his sword from his waist.

"Siege team, prepare!"

The Han soldiers, who were already fully prepared, immediately took action. The soldiers carrying ladders were surrounded by their comrades, forming a stable advancing formation.

The soldiers with halberds lowered their halberds in unison, took a bow stance, and prepared to charge.

The archers drew their bows taut, arrows aimed straight at the walls of Huyang City, ready to fire.

"attack!"

Deng Ai brandished his sword, pointing it straight at the enemy city. With a command, the sound echoed through the sky.

In an instant, the Han soldiers charged toward Huyang City.

The catapults behind them started up again, and huge stones were hurled at the city walls one after another, forcing the Liao soldiers to dodge and hide.

Archers unleashed a volley of arrows, raining them down like a dense storm, suppressing the Liao soldiers on the city walls and preventing them from raising their heads.

Under the cover of fire, the Han army advanced with unstoppable momentum, reaching the city walls in an instant.

The Liao army was already demoralized, and the fire further depleted their strength. Faced with the fierce attack of the Han army, they suffered repeated defeats.

Meng Quan's face was dark with anger, and he shouted sternly:
"All men, listen to my command! Archers, fire! Stop the Han army from scaling the city walls!"

The Liao archers hurriedly drew their bows and fired arrows, raining down on the charging Han army. However, most of the arrows were blocked by the Han army's heavy armor and shields, failing to effectively stop the Han army's offensive.

The siege ladders were quickly erected on the city wall, and the Han soldiers climbed up using both hands and feet. The moment they reached the top, they swung their swords at the guards and engaged in a fierce battle with the Liao army.

The sounds of fighting, crying, and clashing weapons echoed throughout the walls of Huyang City.

The Han army's offensive intensified, forcing the Liao army to retreat step by step. More and more Han soldiers gathered on the city walls, while the defending soldiers suffered heavy casualties and their numbers dwindled sharply.

Before long, the Liao army was surrounded by the Han army from both sides and forced to retreat to a corner of the city wall, where there was nowhere left to retreat.

Deng Ai and Gan Ning stood at the front of the battle line. Seeing this situation, they looked at each other and smiled, already understanding the situation.

Huyang City is within our grasp.

"All troops, prepare to enter the city!"

Deng Ai gave the order in a loud voice.

In an instant, the archers and catapults ceased their attack, the infantry lined up and stood ready, and the cavalry reined in their horses and prepared to charge, waiting for the city gates to open.

A moment later, the flags in Huyang City were lowered, and the heavy city gates slowly opened.

"kill!"

At Deng Ai's command, he spurred his horse forward first, followed closely by Gan Ning, and the Han soldiers behind them launched a final charge.
Seeing the Han army surge into the city like a tide, Meng Quan looked at the mess and the corpses of his soldiers, knowing that the defeat was beyond saving, and could only let out a long and sorrowful sigh.

This sigh contained not only resentment and despair, but also the helplessness of knowing that all was lost.

After a long sigh, a resolute look flashed in Meng Quan's eyes. He drew his sword from his waist and slashed fiercely at the charging Han army, determined to fight with his last bit of strength, like a cornered beast.

But his lone courage was no match for the overwhelming Han army; his resistance was nothing but a futile struggle.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the remaining Liao soldiers on the city wall were completely wiped out, their corpses scattered and their weapons in disarray.

The Han army on the city wall took advantage of the situation to change direction and advance deeper into the city along the streets and alleys, clearing out the remaining enemy forces that were still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Deng Ai and Gan Ning rode into the city, their hooves treading on the stone pavement stained with blood and wine, gazing at the ruins before them, broken walls and embers of fire.

The air was filled with the smells of blood, burnt food, and lingering alcohol.

"Men, clean up the battlefield immediately."

Deng Aile reined in his horse and gave the order in a deep voice.

Upon hearing the sound, his soldiers sprang into action and quickly began the cleanup operation.

They patrolled the streets and alleys in shifts, searching for any remaining Liao soldiers. If they found any survivors, they would immediately kill them without saying a word, leaving no future trouble.

With each rise and fall of the blade, the last vestige of resistance in Huyang City was completely severed.

Half an hour later, the clearing operation within the city was completed.

There were no traces of Liao troops left in Huyang City; only Han soldiers remained, moving among the ruins.

Deng Ai looked around and gave the order again:
"Starting today, we will conduct a full cleanup of the battlefield, search for supplies within the city, and inventory food and military equipment. At the same time, we will allocate manpower to repair the city walls and reinforce the city's defenses."

Therefore, the soldiers each performed their duties and immediately devoted themselves to the post-war cleanup.

After everything was initially settled, Deng Ai found Gan Ning:

"Brother Xingba, I trouble you to personally return to Pingchang City and report to the Grand Marshal on the victory in capturing Huyang City."

Gan Ning laughed heartily, clasped his hands in greeting, and replied:

“Alright, I’ll leave this place to Shizai to handle properly. I’ll be on my way now.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately mustered a squad of elite cavalry, mounted his horse, and galloped towards Pingchang City. (End of Chapter)