The Battle of Yingtao County had been going on for more than an hour.
The rolling stones on the city walls were almost used up, and the archers were shooting arrows non-stop, their arms aching and swelling, gradually feeling unable to continue.
The situation at the other city gates was also not optimistic.
Soldier just reported that a General attacking the West Gate was exceptionally valiant, leading the charge and climbing the city ladder. That person's movements were agile, nimble as a swallow, not only dodging the arrow rain but also avoiding the rolling stones, nearly succeeding in ascending the city.
In the end, Soldier had to pour fire oil, forcing that person to retreat.
But from the several-zhang-high city wall, that person leaped down and was completely unharmed!
Dong Zhao heard this and couldn't help but feel secretly startled, immediately dispatching another three hundred archers to the West Gate.
The most critical situation, however, was at the East Gate. The bandit army attacking the East Gate numbered over twenty thousand, and they possessed siege equipment such as cloud ladders and battering rams. Dong Zhao couldn't help but feel deeply worried.
"Report! Reporting, my Lord, the East Gate is in urgent danger! The battering ram has reached the city wall, County Commandant Jiang requests Lord to quickly send reinforcements!"
"Order the remaining four hundred Soldier to all support the East Gate. Even if you have to fight to the last Soldier, you must hold it!"
"Understood!"
Soldier hurried away.
Dong Zhao looked at the stalemated battle below the city, clenching his fists tightly.
Could it be that today he really couldn't hold on?
Alas, this useful body, which had yet to find a wise Lord, was it to be buried with this decaying Han Dynasty court today?
Dong Zhao felt a deep sense of unwillingness in his heart.
He entered officialdom through the Xiaolian system, serving as the County Magistrate of Yingtao County, governing the people of one area. But when it came to the Han Dynasty court, he was filled with disappointment.
An Emperor openly selling official positions and titles was unprecedented throughout history. Every official appointed was corrupt and greedy, preying on the common people.
They exploited the people under their rule to the extreme, creating various pretexts. Yet, they turned a blind eye to rebellion and treason, allowing the Yellow Heaven Holy Sect to gradually grow stronger... All these things, and many more.
How could such a court, such an officialdom, be worthy of his loyalty?
However, could those rebels below the city be any better? How could he, a Scholar, stoop to serving bandits?
Forget it, even for the sake of the people in the entire city, if the city falls today, there is only death!
How vast is the world, when will a hero emerge to save the common people from suffering?
He feared that he would not live to see it in this lifetime...
Just at this moment, in the distance, another cloud of dust rose!
Dong Zhao was slightly startled. He strained his eyes to look into the distance and saw amidst the rolling dust and sand, a troop of elite cavalry seemed to appear.
In an instant, that troop of elite cavalry had galloped closer. On their banner was a large character, "Zhang"!
Dong Zhao's face immediately turned ashen.
It's over, the bandit army has reinforcements. Today I am truly doomed!
Unexpectedly, the next second, the two Generals leading that troop of elite cavalry charged into the enemy formation, their spears flying wildly, opening a gap in an instant!
Dong Zhao couldn't help but feel slightly taken aback.
The Soldier beside him, however, said excitedly, "Lord! Reinforcements, reinforcements have arrived!"
Reinforcements?!
Reinforcements have really arrived?
Dong Zhao seemed unable to believe his eyes.
Gongyu did mention in his letter that the Magistrate of Guangping would send troops to support, but he hadn't paid attention, as he had long seen clearly what kind of people the County Magistrates of neighboring counties were.
Before the battle, he said there would be reinforcements, but it was only to stabilize the morale of the army.
He hadn't expected that reinforcements would actually arrive.
Right, Gongyu seemed to have said that the Magistrate of Guangping was called Zhang Chen, Zhang Zifan?
Dong Zhao's eyes immediately lit up.
"Soldiers, the reinforcements have arrived! Continue shooting arrows, don't let the bandit army ascend the city!"
For a time, the morale of the Soldier and people on the city walls was greatly boosted.
Zhang Niujiao heard the sounds of killing from behind him and immediately felt uneasy. Turning around, he saw that a troop of elite cavalry had appeared behind him at some point. Looking at their numbers, there were no less than five thousand.
Zhang Niujiao inwardly cried out in alarm. His side was mostly infantry, and after repeated attacks on the city, they had already suffered losses of over two thousand. How could they resist several thousand elite cavalry?
The path via the North Gate was originally just to disperse the defending forces within the city. As for the main event, it was still at the East Gate, so there was no need to get entangled in a long fight here.
But it had been so long, if the East Gate had been breached, the city wall would not be so quiet. Had something gone wrong?
Zhang Niujiao felt suspicious in his heart, not knowing what had happened at the East Gate. But Bai Rao and Sui Gu had twenty thousand troops, they shouldn't be unable to take down a city gate, right?
Moreover, he had also planted insiders in the city. According to the agreement, as soon as the two sides engaged in battle, the insiders would open the city gates. Why had there been no movement until now?
Zhang Niujiao felt uneasy in his heart, but he knew deeply that he must hold back this cavalry troop now to buy time for Bai Rao and Sui Gu.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Zhang Chen and Zhang He who were coming towards him.
He saw that both were young Generals. Zhang Niujiao was secretly delighted, drew his saber, mounted his horse, and charged towards Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen was in the midst of charging when he suddenly felt a murderous aura. It turned out that Zhang Niujiao had already arrived and swung a saber down at him.
Zhang Chen hurriedly reined in his horse and raised his spear to meet the attack.
With a 'clang', the saber blade struck the spear shaft. Zhang Chen immediately felt a huge force pressing down, like Mount Tai pressing down, his arms were numb and sore from the shock.
This fellow has such Immense Strength!
Zhang Chen couldn't help but be greatly surprised. He quickly activated his Insight Eye and looked at that person.
【Name: Zhang Niujiao】
【Possesses Traits: Da Fang Qu Shuai (Purple), Immense Strength (Purple), Proficient Swordsmanship (Blue), Proficient Horsemanship (Blue)】
Not bad!
This Zhang Niujiao indeed has some skills!
Zhang Niujiao was also surprised at this moment. This young General in front of him could actually block his attack! Moreover, his arms were also numb and sore from the shock at this moment, showing that the opponent's strength was not weaker than his own.
Zhang Niujiao shouted loudly, "Who are you? Why are you attacking my troops!"
Zhang Chen said coldly, "Magistrate of Guangping, Zhang Zifan, specially here to suppress the bandits!"
Hearing this, Zhang Niujiao was greatly surprised, "You are the Magistrate of Guangping, Zhang Chen Zhang Zifan, who defeated Yu Du?"
Zhang Chen shouted, "It is indeed this official. You bandit, why do you not surrender quickly? When will you wait!"
"Good, good, good. I haven't come to find you yet, but you've delivered yourself to my doorstep. You've come at the right time, take this strike from me!" Zhang Niujiao said, and then swung another saber strike.
Zhang Chen raised his spear to meet him and became entangled in a fight with him.
Zhang Chen had the Proficient Spear Technique trait, which was at the same level as Zhang Niujiao's Proficient Swordsmanship. In terms of strength, both had the Immense Strength trait, which was also identical.
Therefore, they exchanged dozens of blows, and it was difficult to distinguish victory.
Zhang Chen saw that it was difficult to determine the winner for a while, so he secretly used Hand of Plunder, wanting to seize the opponent's trait. As long as he plundered the Immense Strength trait, Zhang Niujiao would definitely be defeated by him!
Unexpectedly, the next second, a notification came from his ear.
【Ding! Plunder failed!】
Failed?!
Zhang Chen couldn't help but be surprised. How could it fail?
Although System had said before that plundering traits was not one hundred percent successful, he had never encountered a failure before.
What exactly is going on?
"System? System!" Zhang Chen shouted in his heart.
【Ding! Due to the opponent's strength being equal to the Host's, the Host cannot plunder the opponent's trait!】
System seemed to understand what Zhang Chen was thinking and immediately gave a simple reply.
So that's how it is!
That's right, those people whose traits he had plundered before were indeed weaker than him!
