The Zhao Jun were prepared for a gate breach and had their defenses ready. Waves of Qin Army soldiers were cut down by a hail of arrows, and a large pile of corpses quickly accumulated before the city walls.
Seeing the immense casualties, the well-prepared Zhao Jun defense line, and their layered reinforcements, Zhao Feng's heart grew heavy, even though he had anticipated it.
After cutting down several Zhao Jun soldiers, Zhao Feng saw the archers frantically firing from the rear. He knew he had to plunge into the Zhao Jun ranks to crush them. "Follow me and charge!" he roared, raising his sword. "Smash through the Zhao Jun formation!"
With that, he began his assault anew.
"We swear to follow the General to the death!"
"Kill!"
Countless Sharp Warriors roared from behind Zhao Feng. Under the leadership of their respective Wanjiang, Capital Commandants, and Junhou, they followed Zhao Feng's figure, charging madly. This time, Zhao Feng did not use any Martial Techniques. Instead, he swung the Dragon Spring wildly, unleashing waves of Sword Qi that tore gaps in the Zhao Jun formation. At the same time, besides releasing Sword Qi, the blade of the Dragon Spring Sword itself easily penetrated armor and killed his enemies. Their blood splattered all over him, shrouding him in red.
Although the Zhao Jun resisted fiercely and their defense was strong, they had run into Zhao Feng, a man who was a match for ten thousand. If not for my concern that using my full power might cause some unexpected change, I would unleash my Martial Techniques without regard for the cost. The Zhao Jun defense would shatter like a phantom. But under the watchful eyes of so many, I cannot. The Destiny of the Qin Dynasty is overwhelmingly strong; I cannot contend with it alone. Historically, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was obsessed with his search for longevity. The power I possess would seem like that of gods or demons to others, and using it fully would certainly attract his attention. Faced with such absolute power, with the temptation of longevity, I don't believe Emperor Qin Shi Huang could resist making a move against me. For now, my path is to leverage the Qin war machine to grow stronger while lying low and waiting for the End of Qin. That is when my true future will begin.
"Follow the General! Kill!"
Zhao Feng's Sharp Warriors roared, following him closely into the charge. To them, Zhao Feng was their soul. Even as their fellow Pao Ze fell one by one, their assault never wavered. Only by continuing to attack and kill, by exterminating the entire enemy force, could they find the greatest redemption for their fallen Pao Ze.
Under Zhao Feng's lead, the scene from Wu'an City was replicated. The Zhao Jun formation was forcibly shattered, and Zhao Feng broke through directly to the enemy archers. Without a front line to protect them, the archers were like lambs to the slaughter. The charge and the killing continued.
As the Zhao Jun's defensive formation was pushed further and further apart, the Qin Army secured a larger foothold inside the city, and more of their soldiers poured in. Facing such a ferocious Qin Army, many Zhao Jun soldiers lost the will to fight and began to retreat. But this time was different from the battle at Wu'an City. Every Zhao Jun Army Marquis Camp was assigned a Supervisory Army. When they saw the defeated soldiers scattering, the Supervisory Army immediately took action.
"The Shangjiangjun has given the order!"
"Behead any who retreat!"
"A military order is like a mountain!"
"It cannot be defied!"
Watching the retreating soldiers, the Supervisory Army showed no mercy, swinging their blades. Perhaps they were cruel, but they were also forced. The lives of their entire clans were in the hands of the King of Zhao. If they failed to enforce the order and tried to flee themselves, their clans would be exterminated. Under the threat of the Supervisory Army, many of the routed Zhao Jun soldiers could only grit their teeth and charge back into the fray.
"Focus on one point! Outflank and kill the enemy!" Zhao Feng shouted to Tu Sui as he fought. "Clear as much ground as possible inside the city to let our Pao Ze reinforcements in! Once the area at the base of the walls is clear, seize the gate-tower and use it as our foothold!"
"This general obeys!" Tu Sui roared in reply.
Immediately, Tu Sui relayed the orders. The army split up in an orderly fashion, acting on Zhao Feng's commands.
「Meanwhile, in the rear army outside the city.」
"Shangjiangjun," a Personal Guard Commander reported respectfully. "The Zhao Jun are attacking our forces from the east of Handan. General Wang Ben has already led fifty thousand Sharp Warriors to engage them. The enemy harassment force numbers over thirty thousand. They are all Zhao Cavalry, armed with long spears and carrying bows at their waists, famed for their nomadic-style mounted archery."
"Tell Wang Ben to resist with all his might! He must not allow the Zhao Cavalry to disrupt our main army!" Wang Jian ordered at once.
"This subordinate will relay the order immediately," the Personal Guard Commander said, immediately departing.
After giving his instructions, Wang Jian gazed at Handan City, still engulfed in a bloody battle.
"General Yang!" Wang Jian called out loudly.
"Shangjiangjun, your orders?" Yang Duanhe responded immediately.
"Advance the archers! I want as many of our Qin arrows as possible to land in the center of Handan City! Use their suppressing fire to cover the city-storming Sharp Warriors!" Wang Jian's voice was grave. "Furthermore, urge the foot soldiers under your command to follow closely behind Zhao Feng's Sharp Warriors. The moment all of his men are inside the city, you are to order a full-scale assault."
"This general obeys!" Yang Duanhe immediately spurred his horse forward to carry out the command.
I hope we can breach Handan before the Great King arrives, Wang Jian sighed inwardly. In this kind of siege, beyond sitting here and commanding, he could only throw his soldiers' lives at the walls. There was no other way. After all, Handan City was a formidable fortress, a key junction connecting to the other cities in the Zhao state's rear. Bypassing it was impossible; a direct, forceful assault was the only option.
「Inside Longtai Palace.」
Though it was far away, the sound of battle, the roars and cries of the Qin and Zhao soldiers, carried on the wind all the way to the royal palace of the Zhao state. Even though he had made preparations, and even with the trustworthy Pang Xuan in command, Zhao Yan was still gripped by anxiety.