Chapter 303: The Outer City Is Lost, the Situation Is Hopeless

In the Liao army tent.

Many soldiers were confused.

Marshal, when did you contact General Zhou?

"Marshal, who is General Zhou?"

A Liao general asked.

Yelu Renxian told the whole story.

General Zhou originally joined the King of Yan. Afterwards, the case of the two kings broke out. Wei Yuan personally investigated the case, and countless people involved in the case of the two kings were killed and injured.

General Zhou was originally the deputy commander of an army, but because of this incident, he was demoted to the position of the captain of the city gate. He had no hope of promotion and was suppressed.

When he learned that Yelu Renxian was about to attack Bianjing, he simply took a risk and sent his personal guards to contact Yelu Renxian.

Because the original Imperial City Department's strict investigation of Zhou's treason had come to an end, Yan Da sent all the Imperial City Department personnel to closely monitor the movements of various enemy forces.

Therefore, when General Zhou contacted Yelu Renxian, no one noticed.

The next day.

Yelu Renxian still ordered the whole army to attack the city as usual.

After many days of fighting, many parts of the Bianjing city wall had been damaged.

Both sides paid a heavy price.

In this battle, the Zhou army soldiers lost confidence, but Han Zhang believed that the Liao army had already shown signs of defeat.

Whenever the enemy attacked the city, Han Zhang would always wear armor and climb to the top of the city.

When the drums and horns sounded, Han Zhang knew that the enemy had started to attack the city again.

While actively preparing for the battle, the voices of some generals were heard beside him,

"Mr. Han, how long will this battle last?"

"The enemy army is endless. If this continues, the soldiers will lose their will to defend the city."

"."

Hearing this, Han Zhang frowned, "The enemy army is attacking the city so fiercely, they must be determined to take Bianjing."

"There are officials and regents in the city, which is the foundation of our Great Zhou. No matter what, we must grit our teeth and hold on."

"Besides, after a few days of siege, the casualties of the Liao army far exceed ours. Why are you lazy?"

After these words came out, the generals fell silent.

The elite divisions that can fight have been sent out.

How many of the remaining imperial guards have actually been on the battlefield?

Moreover, they all know that this place is Bianjing. After several days of hard defense, there is still no sign of reinforcements.

How can the determination of the whole army not be shaken?

Han Zhang glanced at everyone one by one, and felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.

No wonder Wei Yuan insisted on military reform.

It would be strange if such an army could win a battle.

"Generals, we have no way out. We can only defend Bianjing to the death!"

At this point, Han Zhang changed the subject and said loudly:

"Fight for your majesty and the regent!"

As soon as the voice fell, one or two soldiers took the lead, and then more and more soldiers raised their arms and shouted,

"Fight for your majesty and the regent!"

"For your majesty"

"."

The sound of horns, drums, shouts and shouts of fighting and killing became more and more dense.

Soon, the war was about to break out.

On the city wall, the soldiers guarding the city were ready for battle. They held their weapons tightly and looked vigilantly at the enemy troops outside the city.

The Liao army flags fluttered, and the Liao army soldiers pushed the siege vehicles, constantly shouting the word "kill" in the Liao language, and rushed to the city gate at all costs.

Arrows flew towards the city wall like raindrops, and the huge stones fired by the catapults smashed big pits on the walls of Bianjing. Immediately, the two sides launched a fierce offensive and defensive battle.

The archers on the side defending the city stood on the battlements and kept shooting arrows at the siege army. The rain of arrows was like locusts, causing considerable casualties to the enemy.

The siege army used shields to resist the rain of arrows, step by step, steadily approaching the city wall.

At the city gate, the soldiers defending the city attacked the siege vehicles with huge stones and hot oil, trying to stop their advance.

The siege vehicles kept hitting the city gate, and the city gate was shaking under the huge impact force.

At this time, black clouds pressed down and covered the entire Bianjing.

Most of the people in the city heard the fighting at the city gate.

This was the most fierce siege battle of the Liao army in a few days.

The sound of various killings seemed to shock the entire Bianjing.

Nowadays, there are no pedestrians in every street and corner of the capital, even near the most prosperous Imperial Street.

The officials stayed in various government offices. Once the court issued any order, they would frantically operate the various agencies of the government offices and do their best to help the soldiers defend the city.

The military heroes closed the door of the mansion, and the mansion was already filled with a solemn atmosphere.

If the Liao army really broke into the city and killed them, then they would stop the Liao army from entering the mansion at all costs.

They are military heroes, and they have been deeply favored by the emperor for generations. For them, there is only one way to be loyal to the country.

The people who still stayed in the capital dared to hide at home and did not dare to go out.

Some people's homes near the city gate were hit by the boulders of the catapult.

The room was immediately smashed to pieces by the impact.

At this time, in the Duke of Ying's mansion.

Zhang Guifen was supervising Zhang Fu to finish drinking the soup.

After many days of recuperation, Zhang Fu's health has improved greatly, and the toxins in his body have been cleared.

Now, he can get out of bed and walk normally.

After drinking the medicine, he asked Zhang Guifen and others about the current situation in Bianjing City.

Minglan also stayed here.

She wanted to accompany her mother during this period of time.

But Wei Shuyi insisted on letting her come to the Duke of Ying's mansion.

Helplessly, Minglan had to accompany Zhang Guifen.

"Father, Han Xianggong is working hard to defend the city, so you don't have to worry about it. You should take good care of yourself."

Hearing what Zhang Guifen said.

Zhang Fu, lying on the bed, shook his head slowly and said: "Han Zhang. He is better at governing the country than me, but now he is facing Yelu Renxian, he is not good enough."

Minglan took the opportunity to say: "Hasn't my uncle already rushed over from Jiangnan?"

Zhang Fu sighed: "Fujian and Guangnan are far away from Jiangnan. It is not easy for Yuaner to successfully gather 300,000 troops to go north."

After a pause, Zhang Fu called Zhang Guifen to his side again and said earnestly:

"If Bianjing can't wait for Yuaner's army to arrive, you can take Zhuang Ge'er, Jing Jie'er, and Ming Yatou and others to escape from the capital and go to Jiangnan . "

"With Yuan'er's strength, it is not difficult to defend Jiangnan against the Liao army."

Zhang Guifen was stunned, and after coming to his senses, he said in disbelief: "Is the situation today so serious?"

Zhang Fu sighed: "If your uncle Gu is still alive, it doesn't matter if your father is seriously ill."

"Since Qin Lie led the army, he has been led by Yelu Renxian everywhere."

"This guy never fights a battle without confidence. My father is worried that he must have a perfect plan for attacking Bianjing so fiercely."

Speaking of this, he slowly closed his eyes, waved his hand, and signaled Zhang Guifen and others to leave.

If Bianjing City is broken, everyone has hope to survive, including the regent prince.

But only Zhang Fu has no chance of survival.

If he is alive, Yelu Renxian will not be able to sleep.

Palace City.

Since the Liao army came to attack the city, Prince Zhao Xi has never slept well.

All day he sat in Xuanzheng Hall waiting for the battle report from the city gate.

After about an hour or two, the battle report finally came.

Han Zhang successfully defended Bianjing again.

When he heard the news, Zhao Xi exhaled a breath of turbid air, and his heart was immediately relieved.

The Liao army marched southward, invincible, and the Zhou army was really scared by them.

"It is a blessing for the country to have loyal ministers!"

Zhao Xi murmured.

Han Zhang is already old, and now he is just defending the capital with his heart. If this heart is removed, I am afraid that he will die soon.

——

March 28, the eighth year of Jiayou.

Han Zhang leaned against a city wall to rest for a while.

In the past few days, he has been eating and living with the soldiers defending the city.

Many people don't understand him. He can obviously retire after success, so why is he still holding on?

In fact, what Han Zhang wanted was very simple. Not only the emperor needed civil and military skills, but the prime minister also needed them.

Why is Zhuge Liang remembered by later generations?

Isn't it because Zhuge Liang was not only good at governing the country, but also good at fighting?

In the battle against Xixia, Han Zhang was defeated, and this matter has always been a stain on his political career.

If he can defend Bianjing this time, then his civil and military skills as the prime minister of the Great Zhou will be perfect.

"Prime Minister Han, why don't you go to sleep first? In the past few days, the Liao army has not been able to attack the city. Now it is almost noon, and the Liao army has not made any moves to attack the city. I think it will take a day to rest."

A Zhou general came to him and whispered.

Han Zhang just shook his head and said, "Don't take it lightly."

Hearing this, the Zhou general couldn't say anything and had to retreat.

It was around noon.

Han Zhang, who was feeling sleepy, suddenly woke up from a dream. He stood up and looked out from the battlements. Suddenly, he saw the Liao army gathering troops.

Moreover, the scale was far greater than the previous sieges.

Seeing this, Han Zhang frowned deeply, "So soon, the Liao army is going to launch a general attack?"

General attack?

Hearing these two words, the pupils of the soldiers around him shrank and their expressions were stunned.

Launching a general attack at this time?

Since the siege, the Liao army has suffered heavy casualties.

And the garrison troops in the capital have not lost more than half.

Launching a general attack at this time is not asking for trouble?

"Prime Minister Han, isn't that right? The commander of the Liao army is Yelu Renxian, he can't make such a mistake."

"Whether it's a general attack or not, judging from the situation, it must be the palace."

"The Liao army is really strong. If our army attacks the city at all costs, the morale of the army will be broken in three or five days at most."

"."

Han Zhang immediately ordered, "All troops on alert!"

The next moment, a messenger ran all over the city, shouting,

"All troops on alert!"

"Prime Minister Han has ordered, all troops on alert!"

"."

Not long after.

On the city wall, flags fluttered, and the soldiers of the Great Zhou were ready for battle.

Outside the city, the enemy army surged like a tide, drums shook the sky, and shouts of killing rose and fell.

Catapults kept throwing boulders into the city, and arrows fell like rain.

Han Zhang commanded calmly, and the soldiers built a solid defense line with shields, while the archers on the city kept shooting arrows back.

Rockets shot at the enemy like a fire dragon, setting their tents and siege equipment on fire.

The city gates were closed, the water in the moat was dyed red, and the walls were filled with enemy corpses.

A bloody battle began.

However, while Han Zhang was commanding the defense of the city.

Outside the city, there was a shocking change.

A Zhou general who was responsible for guarding the city gate suddenly opened the city gate while the soldiers were changing guards.

The reason for changing guards during the war was that the soldiers who were holding the city gates needed some time to recover their strength.

Outside the city, the Liao army's siege vehicles had also arrived.

After General Zhou opened the city gate, he suddenly ran out of the city and said loudly:

"Warriors of Daliao, enter the city quickly! Enter the city!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, an arrow shot towards him.

He couldn't escape and died among the arrows.

The rest of the Zhou army wanted to close the city gate, but it was too late.

Just because the Liao army's siege vehicles had passed the city gate.

A large number of Liao troops have also entered the city gate.

Bianjing City is divided into the outer city and the inner city. The outer city is connected to the moat. As for the inner city, it is more like a huge iron cage.

As long as you get in here, you will easily be killed by arrows without any cover.

By the time Han Zhang learned that the outer city had been lost, many of the Zhou army officers had already lost their sense of proportion.

"At all costs, block the Liao army from the inner city!"

Han Zhang personally led a group of soldiers to defend the inner city.

There was a fierce attack by the Liao army outside, and Liao soldiers were constantly pouring into the inner city.

Han Zhang felt increasingly strenuous.

But he knew very well that even if he died here, he must defend the inner city.

Otherwise, the entire Bianjing will be undefendable.

The imperial city and palace city could not stop the Liao army's charge.

"If anyone escapes from battle, kill him!"

Han Zhang kept shouting.

But as we watched, more and more Zhou army soldiers gave up defending the city.

Over there at the Liao army's tent.

Yelvren first saw that the time was ripe and divided his army into two.

One group stormed the inner city, and the other was responsible for covering the outer city, delaying the main defenders of the Zhou army on the top of the outer city.

"Boys, today, my history book of Daliao will record that Bianjing was destroyed!"

"Follow me and charge to kill!"

In order to push the morale of the Liao army to its peak, Yelv Renxian personally led an army to charge.

Above the inner city.

Han Zhang, who was wearing armor, had a gray beard, and had a withered face, felt powerless when he saw the enemy troops constantly ascending the outer city, and even trying to fight towards the inner city.

He knew that the situation was over.

A general came to him and wanted to take him away temporarily.

"Mr. Han, you go first, I will cover your retreat later!"

withdraw?

Han Zhang pulled out the long sword from his waist, and using both hands together, he could barely hold the sword firmly, and gritted his teeth and said:

"Withdraw? Where else can we retreat to at this time?"

"As the Son of Heaven and the Supervisor of the Kingdom, I have only one death!"

At this moment, whether this old guy was doing it for fame or for something else, in short, he seemed taller and taller in the eyes of some generals.

Once upon a time, during Han Zhang's reign, the status of military generals was the lowest in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

There is no general who does not hate Han Zhang.

However, at this time, they suddenly discovered that the hated old man in front of them was not as annoying as they saw.

At the very least, he did not choose to run away from the battlefield like some civil servants.

"Since Mr. Han is not afraid of life and death, I will follow Mr. Han on this journey!"

"kill!"

"."

With Han Zhang's fearlessness.

The soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty who were forced into a desperate situation, at this moment, also burst out their final bloody spirit and morale.