As batches of common people arrived under Liangzhou City, the area beneath the city walls was already teeming with people. Without exception, everyone held farming tools like rakes and hoes. The soldiers from Luoyang stationed on the city walls were caught completely off guard by such a scene and were suddenly alarmed!
"Quick, quickly report to His Majesty, someone is charging up, someone is charging up!"
Before the words even fell, a mud arrow suddenly pierced the chest of a city guard, and the man toppled straight down.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Liangzhou City was originally the old capital of the Qin people. Though their martial spirit had waned over the years, their archery technology remained. In an instant, arrows rained down like water.
As soldiers fell one by one from the city walls, those behind them became increasingly terrified. Suddenly, someone shouted:
"Wind, wind!"
Some elders, who had grown up listening to the stories of the Qin people, now had tears streaming from their cloudy eyes. They urgently cried out, "Wind!"
After countless attacks, the crowd of commoners below grew larger and larger, while the city walls were adorned with dense corpses and mud arrows!
"Ram it, break it open!"
The city gate shook under the impact of the giant logs. Those behind gritted their teeth and pushed with all their might, "Damn it, why aren't they here yet? What are they all doing?"
"If they don't come soon, we'll all die here!"
Amidst various shouts, the gap in the city gate widened. The soldiers on the city walls shouted loudly, "Who are you people? What do you want?"
Naturally, no one from the common people answered, they were all busy working.
"If you don't stop, we will shoot arrows!" the soldiers on the city walls shouted urgently. The common people squinted at the "straw sacks" on the city walls.
"Brother Daniu, what is he shouting?" a woman asked timidly.
"He's saying we'll shoot arrows if we don't leave!" Daniu replied gravely. "Tell the brothers to be careful, don't hurt themselves. We'll wear them down a bit, then start the assault."
"Build a high platform, prepare to act," Daniu ordered hesitantly.
Everyone was skilled at manual labor, unlike the "straw sacks" guarding the city. They all got to work, and soon a high platform was erected.
Daniu scrambled up a few steps. Seeing the city guards drawing their bows and arrows, he quickly ducked down and shouted a few times, "Brothers, watch out for arrows!"
In the chaotic mess, not many people could hear Daniu's instructions, and a stampede occurred.
Before they could even dodge, many people were already pierced by arrows and fell to the ground.
Daniu's heart suddenly clenched. He couldn't say a word, only muttering to himself, "It's all my fault, all my fault!"
"Brother Daniu, now is not the time for guilt!" the woman reminded him softly.
Daniu looked up. Large stones were being moved onto the city walls. Daniu quickly shouted, "Retreat quickly!"
This time, everyone moved swiftly and retreated from the battlefield in no time. The falling stones caused no major casualties.
"Prepare hot oil!"
At the command of the leading centurion, Daniu watched clearly. The two sides seemed to be in a stalemate. After a long while, the centurion defending the city finally received the Emperor's decree.
"By Imperial decree, you are ordered to defend the city well, capture the rebels at all costs, and rewards will be bestowed upon you then!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will surely remember Your Majesty's instructions and bring these traitors to justice!" The centurion quickly unbuttoned his robe, wrapped the imperial decree three layers thick, and stuffed it securely inside his clothes.
"Boss, boss, we're out of hot oil, what should we do? Food is also becoming a problem!" a soldier urgently reminded him.
The centurion pondered for a long time, then made a difficult decision. "At this time, the Emperor cannot suffer hardship. First, send the food. Also, if there are no stones, the common people have houses. We can use logs and boulders!"
"Yes!" the soldier agreed and hurried down. The centurion clenched his fist tightly. "No matter what, I will keep you all here today."
The centurion felt the imperial decree in his embrace. It was still there, and he instantly felt more at ease.
After an unknown amount of time, the city walls were heavily scarred, and the defending soldiers were dwindling. The centurion urgently shouted, "Wait, why don't we talk!"
Although Daniu was simple-minded, he was not stupid. He pretended to stammer, "Talk, how do you want to talk!"
"I am willing to report to His Majesty and agree to all your conditions. Then we can live in peace!"
"How do you guarantee that?" Daniu shouted urgently!
"I, I can swear!" the centurion gasped, "We will definitely not treat you unfairly!"
"Brothers, what do you think!" Daniu shouted to the common people.
"Screw him! If he wants to fight, let him fight! What do you take me for?"
"Today we'll fight him to the death! I want to see who is stronger!"
"..."
Voices like these kept rising. Daniu saw the bodies strewn across the ground and the city gate about to be breached. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Go to hell..."
"You can still reconsider!" The centurion's face was ashen. Hiding behind the city walls, he shouted urgently!
"Brother Daniu," the girl's voice rang out again, "Grandma and the others can't hold on. We can't fight this battle anymore!"
Daniu turned to look at the children and elders hiding. His eyes turned red. He could only shout, "Brothers, they are willing to negotiate. Think of your families, the Qin people. Let's discuss!"
Upon hearing this, the anger of most people, stimulated by the blood, subsided considerably. They spat fiercely on the ground and said coldly, "I'll let him run slower, maybe he could have lived like me. Now he's dead here!"
"You're just unlucky. You could have lived with just a little more time, and you died here!"
Weapons were dropped to the ground. The centurion seized the opportunity and shouted, "Let your people leave. To show sincerity, we will come out of the city to negotiate and grant you sufficient rights!"
Daniu nodded heavily. Then he issued orders. A clearing was made at the city gate, and the city gate suddenly opened, emitting the aroma of various foods. Many people couldn't help but lick their lips.
"You haven't eaten anything all day. This is a reward from His Majesty to you." The centurion, with a forced smile, placed a plate of meat in front of Daniu.
Daniu rubbed his hair, his cheeks turning red. "We don't have many conditions. Give us a piece of land, and we'll leave immediately!"
"Easy to say, easy to do," the centurion picked up a piece of beef and gave it to Daniu. "Eat first. His Majesty said, we can agree to any of your conditions."
Daniu happily ate the meat clean. When he looked up again, the centurion had disappeared. Only armored soldiers on tall white horses remained. "Bold rebels, surrender now!"
Daniu struggled to support himself and get up, only to find his body weak. He looked around, and everyone seemed to be in a similar condition. What else could it be? They had fallen into a trap!
"You!" Daniu's eyes widened as he stared at the centurion. He pushed himself up and ran a few steps, but collapsed powerlessly to the ground. "I..."
"Take action! Arrest them all and bring them back for His Majesty to judge. As for the remaining beauties, bring them all back to the military camp. My brothers are very thirsty!" the centurion said word by word, his eyes leering at the women.
The woman instinctively tried to hide behind Daniu, but it was already futile. The centurion yanked her onto his horse, pressing her down tightly on the saddle!
"Brothers, this is our hunting ground. Take whatever you fancy!" the centurion roared, and the crowd immediately went into a frenzy.
Half an hour later, Daniu felt his strength return, but it was too late. They were all tied together with ropes. Every five hundred people were handed over to ordinary soldiers to guard!
"Brothers, it's all my fault that I brought this upon you," Daniu's tears streamed down. "We had a chance to win!"
"Brother Daniu, it's not your fault. We can only blame them for being despicable and shameless, for using such tactics!" several people said indignantly, cursing.
"Warfare is deceitful. It's only your fault for being stupid. However, to be a stepping stone on my path to promotion is also a worthwhile death for you!" the centurion said haughtily. "Take them away!"
The people were driven into the city like cattle and horses. Daniu shook his head, filled with regret. Anyone who walked too slowly was whipped heavily!
"Still thinking of rebelling against His Majesty's rule? Even if you are killed, it's what you deserve!" the centurion cursed a few times. "Especially you, you deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"
Daniu's eyes were filled with tears. He felt as if he had harmed everyone, looking ten years older as he walked shakily a few steps. Suddenly, he saw a soldier let down his guard. He lunged forward and tightened the rope around the soldier's neck!
"Brothers, you run!"
Before anyone could run a few steps, an arrow pierced his chest, and he suddenly fell to the ground!
"I'll fight you to the death!" Daniu shouted. "I'll make you pay with your lives!"
Before he could even make a move, a voice from afar suddenly rang out, "Brothers, we are here?"
The centurion looked into the distance. The people arriving were not ignorant refugees. The gleaming spears were clearly equipment of the Third Legion. Only one person in Liangzhou could mobilize the Third Legion, Ye Feng. Coupled with the conflict in the Golden Palace, the centurion shivered. He had inadvertently stumbled into the power struggle between Emperor Ling and King Chu. Could he still survive?
"You, quickly go and report to His Majesty. King Chu has brought his men and wants to attack Liangzhou City. Hurry!" the centurion commanded tremblingly. He picked up his weapon with shaking hands to face the Third Legion!
"You, you all go quickly, block them for me, or I'll kill you!" the centurion pointed out a few commoners and turned his horse to flee.
Daniu and the others exchanged glances. They grabbed the fleeing men and said coldly, "King Chu, we have captured them. Hurry!"
The centurion seemed to hear the sound of a spear piercing his body and slowly closed his eyes. "Loyal to His Majesty, I have no regrets in death!"