Chapter 10

Below the walls of Xinzheng City.

Li Jue led eight thousand cavalry and over ten thousand infantry, their military might formidable and their killing intent overwhelming, as they gathered before the city gates. The remaining ten thousand infantry, led by Guo Si, surrounded the city, sealing it off completely.

This time, Li Jue's army had come with the intention of completely annihilating Zhu Jun's forces. Therefore, they surrounded the entire city, leaving no blind spots. They abandoned the strategy of leaving one side open during a siege, clearly showing that they would not give Zhu Jun's army any chance to escape.

Before the northern gate of Xinzheng City.

Li Jue rode out alone, stopping two hundred paces from the gate. He looked up at Zhu Jun, who was surrounded by his generals on the city wall, and loudly called out.

"Zhu Jun, in the past month, we have clashed three times. Your forces have fled like dogs, retreating from Luoyang all the way to this small city of Xinzheng. Do you still want to avoid battle now?

Today, I will decide the outcome with you. Do you dare to accept the challenge?"

Zhu Jun stood on the city wall, looking down at the imposing Xiliang cavalry below, feeling deeply worried.

Li Jue was not wrong. Zhu Jun had traveled through various counties and commanderies in Sili, raising funds and supplies from wealthy households and powerful figures, and had formed an army of over thirty thousand volunteers.

Initially, the volunteer army had been invincible, capturing city after city, and even reclaiming the ruined city of Luoyang.

They were a righteous army, with a just cause, and with the support of the gentry from various counties, they had achieved victory after victory.

However, since Li Jue's army began their campaign, Zhu Jun's forces had suffered repeated setbacks, losing cities and fortresses, and retreating all the way to the small city of Xinzheng to temporarily avoid Li Jue's military might.

After months of continuous warfare, the troops were exhausted, supplies were scarce, and there was a lack of defensive equipment.

Originally, the volunteer army numbered over thirty thousand, but after several major battles, the casualties were heavy, and only about ten thousand soldiers remained, with low morale.

Moreover, the small city of Xinzheng had walls no more than three zhang (about 10 meters) high and less than one zhang (about 3.3 meters) thick. In recent years, it had suffered from repeated wars and was in a state of disrepair.

With such a small force and a broken city, it was difficult to resist the overwhelming Xiliang army.

"Li Jue, you scoundrel! Dong Zhuo has disrupted the court, using the emperor to command the lords, and his evil deeds are countless. Instead of serving the court and eliminating the traitor, you assist him in his tyranny, willingly becoming his hound. You will not have a good end, and your entire clan will suffer!

Today, I will decide the outcome with you. Even if I die on the battlefield, I will have no regrets!

I am a minister of the Han dynasty in life and a ghost of the Han in death! I will not rest until I eliminate you and your accomplices who harm the country and the people!

Bring me the men, open the city gates, and today we will fight the Xiliang rebels to the death!"

Following Zhu Jun's order, the city of Xinzheng was instantly filled with the sound of hooves and the clamor of troops.

However, Zhu Jun had not lost his reason. Although he shouted to open the city gates, it was a show of strength. The troops gathered inside the city, forming ranks, and would not open the gates until they were fully prepared.

"Zhu Jun is outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, putting on a show of strength. Seeing that he cannot avoid the battle, he will have to come out and fight us. Uncle, when the city gates open, let me lead the Longxiang Camp to charge through the gates. We can conquer this small city of Xinzheng in one battle!"

Li Li patted his horse and walked to Li Jue's side, looking at the trembling defenders on the city wall, and spoke softly.

"Oh?" Li Jue was slightly surprised and pondered for a moment.

Then he turned his horse and returned to the army, saying as he walked, "Li, our forces outnumber Zhu Jun's by several times, and victory is within our grasp. We can completely annihilate his ten thousand troops without resorting to a surprise attack on the city gates. Why take such an unnecessary step?

This would tarnish our reputation and invite ridicule from the heroes of the land."

"Ha ha ha!" Li Li laughed.

"Uncle, in ancient battles, the victor is always the hero, and the loser is the bandit. There are no such principles to follow!

In this battle, because we are on the verge of victory, we must minimize the casualties of our troops and strive for a complete victory over Zhu Jun.

If we engage in a full-scale battle with Zhu Jun, even if we ultimately annihilate his ten thousand rebels, we will likely lose at least five thousand to ten thousand of our own troops.

Zhu Jun's troops, fighting to the death, will be formidable, and our casualties will be significant. Such a costly battle should be avoided to preserve our strength.

After all, among the twenty thousand troops on this campaign, eight thousand are your direct subordinates. If the losses are too heavy, it will weaken our power.

After the battle, if General Niu Fu does not replenish our troops and Chancellor Dong does not give us substantial rewards, how will we replenish our forces? Moreover, these troops are seasoned veterans, not new recruits. Please consider this carefully, Uncle."

Li Jue stroked his short black beard, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Then he nodded and said, "Li, you make a good point. As you said, since the capital was moved to Chang'an, Chancellor Dong has been focused on construction and luxury, neglecting military affairs. My troops have not been replenished for over half a year, and the same is true for other generals.

However, three thousand troops from the Longxiang Camp may not be enough, and there will be significant casualties.

Therefore, I will add two thousand infantry to your force, and I will also dispatch generals Li Meng, Wang Fang, Li Zheng, and Fan Yong to assist you in capturing the city and achieving another victory. What do you think?"

"Very well, thank you, Uncle!" Li Li bowed from his horse.

"Ha ha ha! We are family, no need for such formalities!"

Li Jue laughed heartily, his affection and admiration for Li Li evident in his eyes.

...

"Screech, screech!"

With a loud creak, the northern gate of Xinzheng City suddenly opened, and a group of Zhu Jun's cavalry charged out.

"Longxiang Camp, take the northern gate, charge!"

At the moment the gate opened, Li Li shouted, leading the charge straight for the gate.

Behind him, Fan Yong and Li Xian followed closely, no more than ten paces apart.

Generals Li Meng, Wang Fang, and others led their three thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry in a rapid and fierce charge, their momentum like a tiger.

"Damn it! The rebels are breaking their word. Archers, shoot! Kill these treacherous rebel leaders!"

On the city wall, Zhu Jun, clad in black armor and a silver helmet, pointed angrily at the charging Xiliang generals and ordered the archers to fire.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Arrows rained down from above, swift and powerful.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Li Li deflected the arrows with his sword as he charged, dodging left and right, but his speed did not slow.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

After dodging two volleys of arrows, Li Li met the charging Zhu Jun's cavalry head-on, cutting down three enemy riders with his sword.

He then shouted, "Soldiers, in a narrow path, the brave win! Charge into the enemy ranks to avoid the arrows and take the gate, charge!"

Charging into the enemy ranks, Li Li tightened his legs around his horse's flanks, gripping his sword with both hands. His long, five-foot sword swung wildly, cutting down enemy heads and spraying blood.

This was Li Li's first charge in battle after his rebirth.

For many people in peacetime, killing is a terrifying act that requires great courage and ruthlessness.

However, for Li Li, killing was something he had long become accustomed to.

Soldiers tread on countless corpses to advance.

Whether in times of chaos or peace, soldiers who have not truly seen blood or killed are ultimately limited in their achievements.

In his previous life, Li Li had advanced by stepping on the bodies of criminals and terrorists.

After twelve years in the military, he had risen from a common soldier to a colonel, and the number of criminals and terrorists who had died at his hands or in battles he commanded was in the hundreds.

However, this was the first time he had encountered such a large-scale close combat, a direct clash of cold weapons.

This was not his first time wielding a weapon in battle, but it was his first time participating in such a large-scale cavalry charge.

Although Li Li was in the navy in his previous life, he was a marine officer, skilled in various combat techniques and with excellent horsemanship. Even without stirrups, he could charge into battle with his sword.

In a moment, Li Li cut down over ten enemy cavalry and charged into the northern gate, where he met Zhu Jun's infantry in formation.

The city gate was crowded with people, weapons bristling, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and death, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Li Xian and Fan Yong, who had been closely following Li Li, instantly joined him.

The three of them formed a triangular formation, blocking the gate and fighting fiercely.