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

As the shouts subsided, Deng Ai and Wei Yan took the lead and charged forward. Wherever they went, Liao soldiers fell to the ground in droves, their heads mercilessly reaped.

With unwavering gazes and a clear objective, the two men pierced through the chaotic ranks of the Liao army, heading straight for Song Qi in order to dismantle the Liao army's command core.

Song Qi's expression grew increasingly grave, and he inwardly cried out in alarm.

Fortunately, in front of him, a dense array of Liao soldiers had already formed a human wall, protecting him like an impenetrable barrier.

Even though the Han army's heavily armored cavalry had a strong impact, they failed to break through the human wall after several charges and were blocked outside.

Deng Ai and Wei Yan reined in their horses and looked at the motionless Liao army wall before them, their expressions turning somber.

The two then discussed the matter in hushed tones for a moment, after which Deng Ai once again gave a loud order:
"Heavy cavalry, temporarily hold the line, rest for a moment, adjust to a triangular formation, concentrate your offensive power, and break through the Liao army's wall of defense!"

"This time, we must break through the enemy lines and take Song Qi directly!"

"rush!"

Deng Ai gripped his weapon tightly and shouted loudly.

His heavily armored cavalry responded in unison, their shouts echoing through the streets. They raised their weapons, calmed their restless horses, and quickly adjusted their formation.

The triangular formation was sharp and imposing.

Song Qi, who was on the city wall, saw all of this and felt a sense of crisis. He immediately ordered the Liao soldiers in the rear to be quickly moved to the front to further strengthen the human wall.

In an instant, more Liao soldiers surged forward, forming a dense array in front of the formation, completely blocking the way with almost no gaps.

With everything ready, Deng Ai and Wei Yan exchanged a glance, simultaneously cracked their whips, and shouted:
"rush!"

The heavily armored cavalry, arranged in a triangular formation, charged towards the Liao army's wall of soldiers with all their might.

Even so, the cavalry had only charged a short distance when they were firmly blocked by the thick wall of Liao soldiers, making it impossible for them to move an inch. Several attempts to break through the wall failed.

Seeing this, Deng Ai and Wei Yan's expressions darkened.

The two men knew that if they couldn't break through this human wall, they would not only fail to kill Song Qi, but also miss the opportunity to fight. If the Liao army gathered outside the city, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After a moment of contemplation, Deng Ai reined in his horse, dismounted, and walked toward where Ma Su was, wanting to discuss a new way to break the deadlock.

"Sir, this is urgent, what should we do?"

Deng Ai frowned, his eyes fixed on Ma Su, hoping to get a solution from him.

Ma Su stood with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, remaining silent throughout.

...

The atmosphere in the council hall on the fourth floor of Da Liao Fang was already extremely tense.

"Report!"

A hurried report broke the silence, and the wealthy merchants sitting in the hall immediately stiffened, their composure vanishing instantly as their eyes turned to the Han soldiers at the door.

"explain."

Xiao He, sitting in the main seat, had a calm expression.

The soldier, still breathing heavily, reported in rapid succession:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, the Liao army outside the north and south city gates has dispersed and is rushing to reinforce the breached gates at full speed!"

"Currently, at the North Gate, our army and the Liao army are engaged in fierce fighting."

"The south gate was blocked by a human wall built by the Liao army. Our army attacked several times, but failed to wipe out the entire army."

The moment the words were spoken, the wealthy businessmen in the hall erupted in uproar.

"It's over! It's over!"

"It's all over now!"

"Yes, if all the Liao troops outside the city enter, attacking from both inside and outside, we will have no chance of winning and will be unable to fight at all!"

"What are we going to do? Are we going to die here today?"

Panic spread, and the wealthy businessmen were filled with despair.

"Quiet!"

Just then, Chen Li suddenly stood up and shouted, instantly silencing all the noise.

"Stop arguing!"

"Panic leads to chaos, and chaos leads to defeat! The most important thing right now is to listen to the Grand Marshal's decision, not to throw ourselves into disarray here!"

Chen Li's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking up the panicked crowd.

Everyone fell silent instantly, their gazes turning unanimously to Xiao He, who sat in the main seat.

Xiao He lowered his eyes in deep thought, his mind racing as he considered how to respond.

The hall fell silent once again.

After a moment, Xiao He raised his eyes and gave the order:

"Immediately issue orders to have the private army rush to the east and west city gates, and make sure to close the gates securely and defend them to the death!"

"Then, we will devote all our manpower and resources to preventing the Liao soldiers from entering the city. Even if we fight to the last man, we will not let them advance an inch!"

"Here!"

The generals accepted the order.

Xiao He sighed softly, saying helplessly:

"As for the north and south gates, the disparity in troop strength is too great, and the manpower in the city is really scarce. We have no more soldiers to send, so we can only rely on the fate of the soldiers at the front."

Everyone knew that Xiao He's words were true; all the capable men in the city had already been sent to various places. At this moment, they could only pray in secret that the soldiers at the north and south city gates could hold their positions.

Dust swirled on the official road not far from the east gate of Fangcheng.

Huang Zhong led the Han army guarding Huyang City, rushing towards Fangcheng without stopping.

At this moment, the outline of the distant housing city is clearly visible.

Huang Zhong reined in his horse and pointed into the distance:
"Soldiers, look, Fangcheng is right in front of us!"

"Keep moving forward! As long as we get there, we can lift the siege of Fangcheng!"

"Once the war is won, the Grand Marshal will surely reward you according to your merits and will not treat you unfairly!"

Encouraged by Huang Zhong's words, the exhausted Han soldiers gritted their teeth and quickened their pace.

No one complained, and no one backed down.

Just as the group was about to reach the outskirts of Fangcheng, Huang Zhong suddenly reined in his horse, stopped, and looked back at the group.

The accompanying generals and soldiers were all taken aback and stopped in their tracks, their faces full of confusion. They didn't understand why the general had suddenly ordered them to stop when they were about to reach their destination.

Huang Zhong looked around and said loudly:
"Everyone, rest here for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, conserve your energy, and then enter the city at full speed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Han soldiers, as if granted a pardon, could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.

Huang Zhong and his cavalrymen dismounted, allowing their warhorses, which had been traveling for a long time, to rest and relieve their fatigue.

A deputy general stepped forward, his face full of doubt, and asked in a low voice:

"General Huang, the battle for Fangcheng is critical. We can already see the city. Why not seize this opportunity to quickly enter the city instead of resting here?" Huang Zhong pointed to the soldiers lying on the ground:
"Look at the soldiers, how exhausted they are! How can they fight again?"

Looking in the direction Huang Zhong pointed, one could see countless soldiers lying on the ground, utterly exhausted.

"We have been traveling day and night for several days without a moment's rest, and the soldiers are exhausted."

Huang Zhong slowly said:

"If we rashly enter the city now, our soldiers will not even have the strength to hold their weapons when facing the powerful Liao army. Even if they arrive, they will be powerless to fight and will only die in vain. It will be a loss."

He paused, then continued:

"It would be better to let everyone rest for a while, recover some energy, and recharge before entering the city. Only then can we exert our maximum fighting strength and truly lift the siege of Fangcheng."

After listening to Huang Zhong's words, the deputy general praised him highly:
"General's insight is profound; I am no match for it."

Other generals followed suit and took the opportunity to rest.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passes in the blink of an eye. Huang Zhong stood up and shouted loudly:

"Soldiers, assemble!"

"We will enter the city immediately, rush to the aid of Fangcheng, and drive back the Liao army!"

Upon hearing the command, the Han soldiers stood up one after another. Although they were still exhausted, their fighting spirit had been rekindled...

Inside the city.

Now, the west gate of Fangcheng has fallen. Although the Han soldiers fought hard, they could not withstand the Liao army's offensive and had no choice but to give up, allowing the Liao soldiers to rush into the city like a tide.

The Liao army entered the city, burning, killing, and looting along the streets, making the situation increasingly critical.

Fortunately, there is always a way out. Apart from the west gate, the three city gates in the east, south, and north remained firmly in the hands of the Han army.

The Liao army launched several fierce attacks, but the Han soldiers defending the city fought hard to keep them outside the city gates, making it impossible for them to advance an inch.

However, everyone knew that the Liao army had an absolute advantage in troop strength, and densely packed soldiers were pouring into the city gate. If the stalemate lasted long, the Han army's defenses would surely break.

Sooner or later, the Liao army will break through the city gates and completely occupy Fangcheng.

At this critical moment, Wei Yan had already finished dealing with the battle at the North Gate. Without a moment's rest, he immediately led a team of elite troops to reinforce the East Gate.

At this time, the battle at the East Gate had reached a stalemate.

With its numerical advantage, the Liao army is pressing forward step by step, slowly expanding its battle line, and the Han army's defensive line is being squeezed narrower and narrower.

On the open ground of the East Gate, Song Qi and Deng Ai were locked in a fierce battle.

Both were top-tier fighters, unleashing their full power, each move deadly, yet they remained evenly matched.

In this stalemate, both men were watching each other's every move, neither able to spare the time to support other areas.

Not far away, Su Pi looked extremely anxious, and his movements became more hasty.

It turned out that on his way to the East Gate, the scout had already informed him of Zhang Liao's killing of Li Li.

Upon learning of his comrade's tragic death, Su Pi was extremely anxious and wished he could immediately end the battle and go to avenge him.

But Guan Suo deliberately refused to give him that opportunity.

Guan Suo's moves were steady, and he kept Su Pi locked in a tight grip. The two exchanged blows, neither able to gain the upper hand in either attack or defense. They could only remain locked in a stalemate, wearing down each other's stamina.

Everyone present knew that the key to this battle lay entirely with Zhang Liao.

Deng Ai and Guan Suo kept glancing at the battlefield out of the corner of their eyes. Seeing that Zhang Liao's offensive was weakening and his moves were gradually revealing flaws, the two became increasingly anxious.

Faced with opponents of similar strength, even though they were extremely anxious, they could not break free and could only continue fighting.

Deng Ai and Guan Suo had only one thought in their minds: to pray that Zhang Liao could grit his teeth and hold on, find a chance to turn the tide, and defend the line.

On the other hand, Song Qi and Su Pi became increasingly excited as they saw Zhang Liao's offensive weakening, a hint of wild joy flashing in their eyes.

Zhang Liao's declining combat strength means that if Song Huan can hold out for just a little longer, he will have a chance to defeat Zhang Liao and turn the tide of the battle.

Therefore, the two men worked even harder, their moves becoming increasingly fierce, tightly restraining Deng Ai and Guan Suo, preventing them from providing any support to Zhang Liao.

Time passed by, second by second.

The battle between Deng Ai and Song Qi, Guan Suo and Su Pi had lasted for dozens of rounds, and no victor had yet emerged.

The only change was that Zhang Liao's offensive was getting weaker and weaker, and he had completely fallen into a disadvantageous position. His breathing was disordered, and his defense was becoming increasingly difficult. He could be caught off guard by Song Huan at any time.

Seeing this, a sharp glint flashed in Song Huan's eyes, and his attacks became even more ferocious, each strike aimed directly at Zhang Liao's vital points.

Zhang Liao used his last bit of strength to defend himself, his moves gradually slowed down, and several wounds appeared on his body. Every time he blocked a move, he had to endure a sharp pain, and he was already at his limit.

Song Huan keenly sensed Zhang Liao's weakness, slowly withdrew his strength, his expression grew increasingly solemn, his gaze locked on Zhang Liao, secretly observing his weaknesses, preparing to seize the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

...

On the other side of the battlefield.

The battle at the north gate was equally fierce.

Wei Yan personally took command, sternly rebuking the Han soldiers as they resisted the mad and frenzied Liao army.

One hundred thousand Liao soldiers, as if they had lost their minds, disregarded their lives and rushed into the city like madmen.

They went forward one after another, and even if one group fell, others would immediately take their place, showing no sign of backing down.

Even more worrying is that the more than 30,000 Liao soldiers who stormed in through the west gate have already crossed the streets and are approaching the three city gates in the east, south, and north.

At this point, they were not far from the city gate. Wei Yan stood on the city tower and could even see the figures of the Liao soldiers behind him.

Fortunately, the Han soldiers did not retreat. The heavily armored cavalry formed a square formation and charged forward with long swords in hand.

Ordinary Han soldiers also relied on the city walls to fight back against the Liao army, building a defensive line with their own flesh and blood.

Meanwhile, the private armies of wealthy merchants hid in the cracks of the city walls and the corners of the streets, drawing their bows and shooting arrows. Taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain, they would fire arrows when the Liao army was not paying attention, accurately reaping the lives of Liao soldiers and relieving the pressure on the Han army.

Even so, it still could not stop the Liao soldiers from advancing.

The Liao soldiers were all ready to die for their cause. Even as their comrades fell one after another, they did not waver and continued to charge forward.

The prolonged and intense fighting gradually took its toll on the Han soldiers, and many of them sustained wounds.

Even so, no one backed down and persevered through gritted teeth.

In contrast, the Liao soldiers remained in high spirits and excited, as if they had inexhaustible strength, and their offensive became even more fierce.

The Han army's heavily armored cavalry continued their rampage, their long swords flashing as they mercilessly reaped the lives of Liao soldiers. Wherever they went, Liao soldiers fell in droves.

However, the weight of the heavy armor was a heavy burden for both the warhorses and the cavalry. After a long period of charging, the warhorses gradually became exhausted, and the cavalrymen were also exhausted. The charging speed of the heavily armored cavalry gradually slowed down, no longer as swift and fierce as at the beginning.

Even so, its deterrent power remained undiminished, and it was still not something that ordinary Liao soldiers could easily withstand.

Faced with heavily armored cavalry, the Liao soldiers could only desperately dodge and dared not confront them head-on.

At the lost west gate, the private army that had been guarding there and was already considering retreating suddenly discovered that a large number of their own private troops were coming to their aid, and their morale was immediately boosted.

The Liao army, which was making steady progress, was caught off guard by this sudden counterattack.

The Liao army was completely dumbfounded. (End of Chapter)