Hot flashes

Half a month after the Battle of Hengshui, with the army rested and replenished with ample supplies of weapons and provisions, Xiao Jue did not delay any longer and personally led his army south, his forces aimed directly at Luancheng.

Unlike Hengshui, Feng Kun, the garrison commander of Luancheng, was a well-known "miser" and "cautious".

The city was well-fortified, with ample provisions, and its soldiers, while not elite, were numerous.

He was determined to hold the city and wait for reinforcements. No matter how Xiao Juejun challenged and provoked him outside the city, he simply kept the city gates closed, hung up the truce sign, and defended the city walls like an iron barrel.

Xiao Jue's army set up camp ten miles outside the city, not in a hurry to launch a full-scale attack. He adopted the previously agreed strategy: surround without attacking, and win hearts and minds.

Thus, Xiao Jue's army camp outside Luancheng was filled with fluttering banners and deafening drills during the day, and ablaze with torches and the sounds of drums and horns at night, making it appear as if it might launch a thunderous attack at any moment, putting constant psychological pressure on the defending troops.

Meanwhile, countless rumors carried by spies, like an invisible poisonous fog, quietly drifted into Luancheng—

"The imperial court has placed all the blame for the failure of the northern expedition on General Feng, and is now discussing reducing his military power!"

"The peace envoy from the Southern Capital has secretly contacted Marquis Xiao, intending to cede several northern prefectures, including Luancheng!"

"General Feng is embezzling military pay for his own personal gain, causing widespread resentment among the troops. Some soldiers are even plotting to surrender the city!"

Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. Feng Kun was initially able to remain calm and strictly ordered the suppression of rumors.

Several days passed, but there was no news of reinforcements, and the imperial decree was ambiguous. Meanwhile, the enemy forces outside the city remained as steady as Mount Tai, showing no signs of anxiety about running out of supplies or being unable to capture the city after a prolonged siege.

He himself began to have doubts, and his eyes were filled with suspicion when he looked at his generals. He became increasingly strict in his control over the army, punishing them at the drop of a hat, which only exacerbated the dissatisfaction and panic within the army.

Zhou Heng followed Xiao Jue to the front-line camp. The atmosphere here was completely different from that after the battle in Hengshui. It had less of the heaviness after the bloodshed and more of the stagnation and oppression before the great battle.

Xiao Jue remained very busy, inspecting the camp daily, observing the movements in Luancheng, and discussing various possibilities with his generals.

That day, Xiao Jue led him to a high mound next to the camp, where they could look out over Luancheng. The city was clearly outlined under the clear spring sky, with high and thick walls, and the figures of patrolling soldiers could be vaguely seen behind the crenellations.

"Feng Kun is quite composed," Xiao Jue said calmly, holding up his monoculars.

Zhou Heng squinted as he looked. Although he didn't understand military affairs, he could sense the city's fortifications. "Should we... launch a full-scale attack?" He recalled the devastation beneath Hengshui City and felt a lingering fear.

"A direct assault is the worst strategy." Xiao Jue put down his binoculars and turned to look at him. "Attacking the city is the worst option; attacking the mind is the best. Feng Kun is outwardly calm but inwardly suspicious, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak. Now the rumors have reached his ears, and suspicion has taken root in his heart. We just need to add fuel to the fire."

"What kind of fire should we add?"

Xiao Jue's lips curled into a cold smile: "His greatest reliance is nothing more than the sturdy city walls and ample supplies."

That night, Xiao Jue's army quietly deployed dozens of improved heavy crossbows and catapults with longer ranges, and under the cover of darkness, advanced to the pre-arranged positions at the edge of Luancheng's archery range.

Meanwhile, hundreds of selected archers with strong arms and excellent archery skills, carrying specially made arrows soaked in oil and wrapped with flammable materials such as sulfur, silently infiltrated the trenches and bunkers further ahead.

In the darkest hour before dawn, Xiao Jue stood on the central command platform, surrounded by generals and messengers. Zhou Heng, allowed to remain in a slightly rearward observation position, felt his heart leap into his throat.

Xiao Jue gently raised his hand.

The next moment, countless sparks suddenly lit up in the darkness, tearing through the silent night sky like a meteor shower flying backwards, with a mournful whistle, all rushing towards Luancheng!

The target is the city's granary area, as well as several important armories and generals' residences!

The specially designed rocket, trailing thick smoke and flames, landed precisely in the designated area.

Almost simultaneously, catapults behind them launched burning oil canisters and boulders, crashing into the city walls and the city itself! Heavy ballistae, with their massive bolts, aimed their bolts at the watchtowers and arrow towers on the city walls!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions, crackling sounds of burning, the roar of collapsing buildings, and the panicked shouts of the defenders... instantly shattered the tranquility of dawn, dragging the entire city of Luancheng into a sea of ​​fire and chaos!

Luancheng was indeed well-stocked with food and supplies and had a complete military. However, precisely because of the large amount of supplies it had stockpiled, once ignited, the fire would spread extremely quickly and be much more difficult to extinguish!

The attack on the general's residence further exacerbated the already panicked command system of the defending troops!

"Fire! Firefighting!"

"The warehouse is on fire!"

"The watchtower has collapsed!"

"General's Mansion! Protect the General!"

Chaos reigned both on and below the city walls. Feng Kun was hastily awakened from his sleep by his personal guards. He rushed into the courtyard, his clothes disheveled, and saw that the firelight illuminated half the sky, thick smoke billowed, and chaotic shouts came from all directions.

His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground, shouting hoarsely, "Defend! Defend! The enemy is attacking the city!"

However, the expected siege army did not appear.

Xiao Juejun only conducted continuous long-range harassment from the perimeter using crossbows and catapults, focusing his attacks on the firefighting teams and officers attempting to stabilize the situation. The flames and plumes of smoke became the best guides.

This meticulously planned "fire attack" lasted for nearly an hour. Flames shot into the sky from many key locations within Luancheng, and thick smoke obscured the sun.

The defending troops were exhausted from fighting the fire. If they tried to put it out, they would be attacked from a distance. If they didn't, their foundation would be destroyed. Their morale collapsed at a visible speed.

As dawn broke, Luancheng was no longer the solemn city it had been the day before. Many sections of the city walls were blackened by smoke, and thick black smoke billowed from within the city, while cries and screams echoed from afar.

Xiao Jue lowered his binoculars and said to the messenger, "Pass on the order to cease ranged attacks. Send the loudest voice to the front lines to issue a command."

Soon, dozens of soldiers with booming voices were pushed to the front of the formation and shouted in unison towards Luancheng. Their voices, carried clearly into the city by the morning breeze, were:

"Feng Kun is incompetent! He has brought ruin to the entire city! The imperial court has abandoned you all!"

"Lord Xiao is benevolent! He only punishes the ringleaders! Those who surrender the city will be spared! Those who aid and abet the tyrant will be punished equally!"

"Brothers of Luancheng! Think of your parents, wives, and children! Why should you be buried with corrupt officials!"

The shouts came again and again, like a dull knife cutting into flesh, slicing through the last taut nerves of the defenders.

The fire inside the city had not yet been extinguished, the chaos had not yet subsided, the commander was suspected to be trapped or had already escaped, while the enemy troops outside the city were eyeing the city covetously, yet they had offered a "way out"...

Finally, as the sun fully rose, a commotion arose on a section of the western city wall of Luancheng. A white flag, trembling, emerged from behind the crenellations, waving weakly.

Then came more white flags. After a fierce argument and the clanging of weapons erupted from within, the west gate slowly and heavily opened.

Luancheng, without experiencing a fierce siege of its city walls, changed hands amidst internal and external troubles and a complete collapse of morale.

Xiao Jue did not immediately send his troops into the city. He first dispatched Zhao Ting with a contingent of elite troops to control key roads, extinguish remaining fires, and stabilize order. At the same time, he continued to issue statements to appease the city, announcing that only Feng Kun and a few of his cronies would be pursued, and that those who had abandoned their weapons would not be killed.

When Xiao Jue led his central army, guided by surrendered generals, into Luancheng, the streets were lined with kneeling soldiers who had abandoned their weapons and terrified civilians.

Although the city was breached, the damage to buildings was mainly concentrated in the granary and armory areas, while the residential buildings remained largely intact, and the number of casualties was far lower than during a direct assault.