My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

As dawn broke, the bugle calls of the rebel army resounded across the plains.

At the foot of the East Gate, dozens of siege ladders were densely packed on the city wall, and the rebel soldiers roared as they climbed, like ants clinging to the wall.

Arrows rained down overhead, yet they continued to advance relentlessly. As one fell, another was immediately taken over, stepping over the corpses of their fallen comrades to climb higher.

Seeing that the siege ladder had been erected at the top of the battlements, Zhang Yi roared at the captain beside him, "Hot oil! Pour hot oil!"

The soldiers immediately lifted the boiling oil pots and poured it down the city wall.

Hot oil splattered onto the climbing rebels, sizzling and hissing, and the stench of charred flesh filled the air, their cries of agony instantly piercing the morning mist.

The bodies of the rebels piled up below the city walls, and the trenches were quickly stained red with blood, forming a thin red stream that seeped into the frozen, cracked soil.

A ladder was doused with hot oil, and the soldiers on it screamed as they let go and fell, crashing onto the heads of those below.

Another ladder caught fire, flames licking at the wooden poles, billowing thick smoke.

The rebels' offensive stalled for a moment, but soon more men rushed up carrying new ladders.

Dust filled the air on the northern battlefield.

Commandant Zhao reined in his horse at the rear of the formation and looked at the rebel army of about two thousand men blocking his way. His face darkened.

Yuchi Gong stood on horseback at the front of the formation, while the hundred-strong Forging Army formed a tight square, their heavy swords raised and their thick shields lined up, gleaming with the cold luster of iron in the morning light.

"Forging Army!" Yuchi Gong shouted, raising his spear.

"Here!" a hundred people roared in unison.

"Follow me and charge!"

Yuchi Gong took the lead, his long spear piercing through the first rebel soldier who charged forward like lightning. With a flick of his arm, he sent the man flying, smashing down a group of enemy soldiers.

The Forging Army followed closely behind, their hundred-man square formation like a heavy iron hammer, crashing into the enemy ranks.

Heavy swords were swung in unison, their cold light gleaming.

The wooden poles, spears, and farm tools in the hands of the rebels broke instantly when they encountered the heavy iron shields and sharp swords.

A soldier, a blacksmith by trade, used his left hand to block the wooden swords swung by the rebels, while his right hand brought down a heavy hammer, shattering the enemy's shield on the spot and breaking his arm with a single blow. He roared, "Dare to block us? You're asking for death!"

Another soldier wielding a forged iron hammer swung it down on the rebels' wooden spears, breaking them in two. The hammer continued its momentum, striking the enemy squarely in the chest, the sound of ribs shattering clearly audible.

The forging soldier swung his heavy sword down, cleaving the man and his weapon in two, splattering blood everywhere.

The hundred-man formation, like an iron plow tilling a field, forcefully tore a bloody path through the rebel army's resistance.

The rebel soldiers scattered and fled, and no one dared to stand in their way.

Yuchi Gong was covered in blood, his long spear thrusting left and right, leaving corpses strewn in his wake.

Seeing that the battle formation was in chaos, three of Dou Jiande's generals took turns riding out to try to stop Yuchi Gong.

The first general, wielding a long spear, thrust it straight at Yuchi Gong's heart.

Yuchi Gong dodged to the side, then thrust his long spear back, precisely piercing the man's throat. With a twist of his wrist, he knocked the man off his horse.

Blood splattered, covering Yuchi Gong's face.

Seeing this, the second general swung his sword and slashed at the horse's leg, trying to force Yuchi Gong to dismount.

Yuchi Gong squeezed his horse's flanks with both legs, and the warhorse leaped up, jumping over the blade.

He drew his iron whip from his waist, flipped over, and lashed it down, striking the second general squarely in the head. His brains splattered, and he died on the spot.

Upon seeing his two companions die tragically, the third general turned ashen-faced with fright and turned his horse to flee.

Yuchi Gong spurred his horse to give chase, thrusting his long spear through the man's chest and pinning him to the ground.

The creature screamed and struggled twice, then lay still.

Yuchi Gong drew his spear, and a jet of blood gushed out. He shook the blood off the spear shaft, his gaze sweeping over the collapsing enemy ranks without a ripple, as if killing three generals was nothing more than crushing a few ants.

The rebel soldiers scattered and fled, and no one dared to stop them.

Dou Jiande saw this from a distance and frowned.

The arrival of reinforcements caught him off guard, and the loss of three generals caused him great distress.

He gripped the reins tightly, his gaze dark: "Let them pass."

Wang Fubao, standing beside him, said anxiously, "General, are we just going to let them into the city like this?"

"Reinforcements have arrived, but the situation is beyond saving; it will only increase casualties." Dou Jiande's gaze was deep. "Pass on my order: the entire army is to surround the enemy but not attack; no one is allowed to get close."

Lieutenant Zhao led 1,500 reinforcements through the blockade and headed straight for the north gate of Liyang.

Upon seeing the banners of the reinforcements, the soldiers defending the city walls cheered in unison, and the drawbridge was slowly lowered.

The procession filed into the city, with the forging troops bringing up the rear.

Yuchi Gong was covered in blood, his armor was stained with bits of flesh and mud, and the red tassel on his long spear was soaked in blood and stuck to the shaft.

He took off his helmet, revealing his iron-black face, and exhaled a long breath.

On the dock battlefield, Liu Heita was directing his soldiers in a fierce attack on the fortified stronghold protecting the grain transport troops.

Inside the fortress, the guards resisted fiercely, relying on the fortifications. Arrows kept shooting out from the firing holes, and the rebel soldiers who rushed to the wall were shot down.

Liu Heita rode his horse to oversee the battle from the rear, his face grim.

Suddenly, a deafening battle cry rang out from the north, accompanied by billowing dust.

A scout rushed in, stumbling and crawling, to report: "General! The government reinforcements have changed course to the north, broken through General Dou's blockade, and are heading straight for the north gate of Liyang!"

Liu Heita's expression changed drastically, and he gritted his teeth.

The dock is no longer worth attacking, and the defending troops are holding on to their fortifications, so it won't be taken anytime soon.

He shouted the order: "Withdraw! Return to reinforce the north!"

Upon hearing this, the rebel soldiers retreated hastily, abandoning their ladders and battering rams.

Upon seeing this, the garrison captain immediately ordered, "Brothers, charge out! Retake the dock!"

After the reinforcements entered the city, Zhang Yi personally went to the north gate to welcome them.

He stepped forward and patted Captain Zhao on the shoulder: "Good! With you here, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive."

Lieutenant Zhao cupped his hands and said, "This humble general dares not take credit. This battle was entirely due to the combined strength of the Forging Army."

Zhang Yi looked at Yuchi Gong, who was covered in blood, with admiration in his eyes.

"Good man!" Zhang Yi nodded. "You're on duty tonight. Take the forging troops and rest to make sure they're in good shape. There are probably more tough battles to come."

Yuchi Gong clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like thunder: "Your subordinate obeys!"

He turned and led the forging soldiers toward the barracks.

A hundred blacksmiths, clad in armor, marched in unison, forming a moving iron wall in the morning light.

Blood was still dripping from their bodies, and the chill from their heavy blades lingered, yet not a single person uttered a sound.

The soldiers guarding the route all turned to look, and some whispered among themselves, "That's the Forging Army? I heard that a hundred of them broke through the enemy's formation of two thousand."

"It was more than two thousand; I heard they even killed three generals. Dou Jiande was so frightened that he dared not send anyone to pursue them."

"If even blacksmiths can fight, what are we afraid of?"

Amidst the murmurs, the figure of the forging soldier disappeared around the corner of the barracks.

In the distance, the rebel army camp.

Gao Shida sat in the tent, his face ashen.

Dou Jiande sat opposite him, holding a bowl of water, drinking it slowly and deliberately.

"Eight thousand men couldn't stop a mere fifteen hundred. What are your elite troops good for?" Gao Shida slammed his fist on the table.

Dou Jiande put down his water bowl and said calmly, "The government reinforcements have an elite force of a hundred men wielding heavy swords and thick shields. Their leader is a fierce general who defeated three of my generals in succession. It's not that my soldiers are incompetent; it's that that elite force is too strong."

"Too strong? How strong?"

"My soldiers can take them down with a single blow," Dou Jiande said, looking at him. "If you don't believe me, brother, go and see for yourself tomorrow."

Gao Shida snorted coldly and said nothing more.

There was a moment of silence in the tent.

"We'll attack again tomorrow." Gao Shida stood up. "If we can't take Liyang, we'll all be finished."

In the distance, on the Yongji Canal, the fleet of ships protecting the grain transport army is assembling.

One after another, the cargo ships sailed out of the dock, lined up on the river, their sails billowing and their bows pointing north.