No sooner had he finished speaking than Erniu spurred his horse to the gate and shouted, "Listen up, you Donghu scum inside! My wicked Grand Commandant is here! Open the gates and surrender immediately, or when we breach the pass, not a single chicken or dog will be spared!"

"The Qin army is coming! Prepare to meet them!!" a Donghu general roared, ordering his soldiers to defend the city to the death.

However, before he could finish speaking, he saw that behind the Qin army outside the city, the Qin army had spread out in formation, their battle flags blotting out the sky, their swords and spears gleaming coldly, and their numbers filled the main road outside the city.

Immediately afterwards, the booming sound of catapults, accompanied by the faint sound of war drums, created a sense of oppression as heavy as mountains, making the soldiers on the city wall tremble with fear.

"You're courting death!" Erniu coldly spoke from below the city walls, drawing his long sword and brandishing it: "Attack the city."

Immediately, the Qin army launched an offensive.

The catapults were frequently activated, bombarding the city walls violently. In the brief, deafening explosions, the Donghu soldiers defending the city cried out in agony, and many were smashed into a bloody mess by the falling stones.

"Fire arrows!" The city guards shouted desperately, but what came in front of them was a barrage of crossbow bolts, wave after wave, leaving no room for escape, and in an instant, many were killed or wounded.

Then, with a loud "boom," the battering ram slammed into the gate, making the hearts of the Donghu people on the city wall pound as if they were about to jump out of their throats.

After only two or three rammings, the sturdy city gate was already creaking and rattling.

Erniu led his men to the top of the city wall, brandishing their broadswords and splattering blood. Some Donghu soldiers, seeing the situation was dire, retreated hastily, until they had nowhere left to go.

Only then did the Donghu people gain a very clear understanding of the Qin army. In terms of both equipment and the individual quality of their soldiers, they were like clay chickens and earthen dogs compared to the Qin army.

The Donghu general stood there dumbfounded, muttering to himself, "A tiger and wolf army... The king is delusional to think he can defend the city... What a joke... What a joke!"

"Whoosh~"

Just then, a stray arrow pierced through his forehead, the light in his eyes vanished, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

In less than half an hour, the gate collapsed with a crash, and the Black Dragon Armored Army swarmed in. The Donghu defenders had no chance to escape before they were routed.

Screams and the clanging of swords echoed through the pass, mingled with the smell of fire, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.

The wicked man rode his horse into the pass, surveyed the surroundings, his eyes filled with coldness: "Quickly eliminate them and continue forward."

The soldiers responded with a resounding roar. After a brief cleanup, the Qin army quickly regrouped and set off again for Xiangping.

.............

The news of the fall of Xuyang Pass reached Xiangping City at top speed. The Donghu King, upon learning of the complete annihilation of his defending troops, was extremely displeased.

The strategist advised in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Qin army is overwhelming. Why don't we retreat first, temporarily avoid their sharp edge, and preserve our strength?"

The King of Donghu slammed his hand heavily on the table: "Withdraw? Having occupied this place and boasted so much among our people, if we retreat without a fight, what face will I have left?!"

His eyes flashed with ruthlessness: "Order the entire army to assemble inside the city and defend Xiangping to the death! If the Qin army comes, make them pay a bloody price!"

The strategist had no choice but to bow and retreat. "He had foreseen everything, except that His Majesty would choose to be tough at a time when he shouldn't be."

As soon as the military order was issued, the Donghu soldiers in the city were quickly assembled at the city walls and key points of the streets and alleys, digging ditches and burying cooking pots, desperately building simple fortifications in preparation for resisting the Qin army.

However, no one was sure if they could really withstand the infamous villain and the Qin army.

......

A bloody battle is about to begin, and fear permeates every street and alley of Xiangping City. A storm is brewing, and a chilling killing intent is simmering in the air.

"The Qin army is here!"

The roars and howls suddenly turned the atmosphere in the city grim. The Yan people in the city showed hope in their eyes, while the Donghu soldiers were busy setting up defenses to prepare for battle.

Outside Xiangping City.

The Black Dragon Armored Army arrived first, their neighing horses echoing the war drums behind them, reverberating across the open plain before the city. Under the sunlight, the gleam of swords and spears gleamed coldly, their murderous aura striking the hearts of the defenders atop the city walls.

On the city wall, the King of Donghu was fully armed, his expression gloomy, while his advisors and several leaders beside him looked unwell.

Since the news of the critical situation at Xuyang Pass and the annihilation of the entire army came, the people of Xiangping were in a state of panic. However, the King of Donghu still chose to defend the city to the death and even issued a military order that "the city stands as long as people live, and the city falls as people die."

"They're here..." The strategist gripped his sleeves tightly, gazing at the dark mass of Qin soldiers outside the city, and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Qin army is larger than we expected. It seems... they've even persuaded many Yan soldiers to surrender."

The King of Donghu coldly snorted: "No matter how many troops they have, now that I have occupied this city, I cannot retreat silently. At worst, I will live and die with Xiangping!"

The strategist sighed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do. He could only wave his hand to signal his men to continue setting up defenses. He knew that if the Donghu king retreated now, his previously boasted reputation would be completely shattered, and morale within the army would be thrown into turmoil. It would be better to fight the Qin army in a real battle.

......

Below the city walls, the wicked man sat astride his horse, behind him stood the Black Dragon Armored Army and 50,000 elite troops, ready for battle. Erniu and Chun Ning stood side by side, their eyes both revealing a sharp killing intent.

"Grand Commandant!" Chun Ning looked up at the city wall and sneered, "Judging from this, it seems the King of Donghu wants to fight us to the death?"

The wicked man's gaze swept across the city wall, and he said indifferently, "If the King of Donghu knew what was good for him, he should have abandoned the city and fled long ago. Since he dares to resist stubbornly, then let him have his way."

Erniu, still choosing to show off his power first, spurred his horse forward and shouted loudly: "Listen up, you Donghu barbarians in Xiangping City! Your Qin grandfathers are here. We're giving you one last chance. If you don't want to die under our swords, surrender the city immediately—otherwise, it will be too late to regret it when the city falls!"

A commotion arose on the city wall. The King of Donghu leaned out and sneered, "You wicked man, you are far too arrogant! Xiangping is already in my hands. I want to see if you and the Qin army are as ruthless as the rumors say!"

"Stubborn!" Erniu shouted, about to retort, but was stopped by the wicked husband who raised his hand.

The wicked man looked around and then ordered in a deep voice: "The central army, form ranks, prepare weapons, beat the drums—attack the city!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the horn sounded, and the Black Dragon Armored Army dispersed as ordered. The catapults were deployed in the rear, and the soldiers advanced forward with their large shields on their heads, forming an impenetrable formation.

The King of Donghu gritted his teeth as he watched this scene, a chill creeping into his heart. With such military strength at hand, choosing to confront the Qin army head-on was unwise, but if he retreated now, he would lose all his prestige, and his fate would be no better!

Rather than losing his throne and his life, he would rather let his men fight the Qin army to the death, the outcome of which was still uncertain.

"Archers, fire! Don't let them get close!" The Donghu king brandished his long sword and gave the order to defend the city.

The defenders on the city walls drew their bows and unleashed a dense rain of arrows, attempting to halt the Qin army's advance. However, the Qin army's shield formation moved in perfect unison, and the arrows merely clanged against the shields, failing to inflict fatal damage.

"Loose the stones—" With a command, the catapult roared to life, and boulders hurtled against the city wall, instantly raising dust and eliciting screams.