As the flames burned, ten hot air balloons rose into the sky one after another.

The Han soldiers behind them were also greatly shocked when they saw the hot air balloon rising in front of them, as well as the patterns and words depicted on it. They had never heard of their own troops having such a thing that could go up into the sky.

"Long live!!!"

Soon, the soldiers' shock turned into a thunderous roar of cheers.

Soon, the Kushan soldiers on the walls of the eastern capital also saw the hot air balloons flying over from the Han army.

For the Kushan soldiers, who had always been influenced by religion, these things that flew into the sky were undoubtedly objects belonging to gods and Buddhas.

Many Kushan soldiers were so frightened that their legs went weak and they knelt down on the ground. Even the few who managed to remain calm couldn't help but tremble all over.

The Han soldiers on the hot air balloon were excited, but they also carefully controlled the balloon as it flew towards the sky above the Eastern Capital.

As the hot air balloon flew over the walls of Dongdu, the entire city was in an uproar. In a short time, the Kushan soldiers were thrown into chaos.

At the same time, soldiers on the hot air balloon also picked up leaflets and threw them into the city.

The Kushan soldiers were even more panicked as they watched the leaflets fall like ordinary snowflakes.

For them, who were seeing hot air balloons for the first time, these enormous objects floating in the sky might drop leaflets today and stones tomorrow.

Upon seeing the contents of the leaflet, all the Kushan soldiers couldn't help but believe that the Han army's expedition was indeed an act of divine retribution.

Otherwise, the Han army would not have been able to possess such a divine object.

Inside the palace, the third prince looked at the leaflet in his hand, his face turning pale. Even he couldn't help but begin to doubt whether the Han army had truly received divine or Buddhist assistance.

"No, it's not gods or Buddhas helping the Han army, it's demons! If the Han army enters the city, none of us will survive!"

The third prince tore up the flyer in his hand and started shouting hysterically.

Suppressing his fear, the Third Prince dispatched trusted confidants to quell the unrest within the army, while simultaneously sending men to confiscate leaflets scattered throughout the streets and to spread images of the Han army as demons, attempting to incite resistance among the defending soldiers.

Unfortunately, the third prince's foolish move only increased the fear in people's hearts. If it weren't for strong suppression, the army would have mutinied long ago and opened the city gates.

Three days later, the deadline given by the Han army had passed, and the city of Dongdu was shrouded in gloom. Although the Third Prince had temporarily stabilized the garrison, the psychological trauma caused by the hot air balloon earlier was still too great.

Many soldiers had lost all will to resist, and sat listlessly against the city wall, awaiting the final outcome.

At the same time, Hachi, the leader of the new sect of the Buddhist sect, also sent five thousand disciples that Liu Hong had arranged for him to garrison near the city gate under the pretext of defending the city.

Outside the east gate of Luoyang, in front of the Han army, fifty newly made hot air balloons were lined up in a row. Each wooden frame contained three to five stones the size of a human head.

Just as the Kushan soldiers had guessed, since throwing leaflets didn't work, they decided to throw stones instead.

Although hot air balloons are limited by weather and wind direction, since the Han army had already besieged the city, these hot air balloons could attack from wherever the wind came from.

At noon, as a gust of east wind began to blow, Liu Hong gave the order to ignite the fire.

Soon, hot air balloons took off one after another and drifted towards the Eastern Capital.

Seeing the hot air balloon flying towards them, the Kushan soldiers were once again stunned and stood there helplessly, not knowing how to deal with it.

Soon, the first hot air balloon floated over the city wall, and the soldier on the balloon immediately picked up a stone and threw it at the crowd below.

Seeing the falling rocks overhead, the Kushan soldiers below the hot air balloon also panicked and scattered in all directions.

With a loud "boom," the stone slammed into the city wall, creating a small crater and scattering small stones that stung several Kushan soldiers.

Although the stone did not cause any casualties, the psychological fear it instilled was unbearable for some of the Kushan soldiers.

Immediately afterwards, the Han soldier on the hot air balloon quickly picked up the remaining two stones and threw them down. A Kushan soldier was unable to dodge in time and was hit on the head, dying instantly.

At the same time, hot air balloons also flew over from behind.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Stones fell vertically from the sky.

To the Kushan soldiers, these falling stones were like divine punishment from heaven, leaving them with no way to avoid them.

Run!

In an instant, the Kushan soldiers on the city wall could no longer bear it and frantically ran towards the passage down the city wall.

Unfortunately, their dense clustering together undoubtedly made it easier for the Han soldiers on the hot air balloon to kill them.

The falling stones and the constant screams drove the fleeing Kushan soldiers even more mad.

In the struggle for escape routes, many Kushan soldiers also began to swing their swords at their comrades in front of them.

Seeing the chaos on the city wall, the monk soldiers guarding the city gate also tore off their monk robes, revealing the Han army armor underneath, and then charged towards the guards at the city gate.

These monk soldiers were the most loyal and valiant warriors carefully selected from the army by Liu Hong's side.

Throughout the years they followed Hachi to the Kushan Empire, they have persevered solely through their unwavering loyalty.

Now, after many years, they are finally able to fight as Han soldiers again, and the power they unleash is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Faced with these hot-blooded monk soldiers, the city gate guards were easily defeated after only a few attempts.

Soon, the city gate slowly opened, and a leading monk soldier immediately took out a Han flag from his bosom, tied it to his spear, and waved it vigorously.

"We have lived up to His Majesty's expectations and successfully seized the gate! Comrades, kill!!"

As the monk waved the Han flag, he shouted loudly, and two lines of excited tears slid down his cheeks.

"attack!"

In the center of the army formation, Liu Hong, on the high platform, saw the Han flag at the city gate and immediately drew his imperial sword from his waist, giving the order to attack.

"kill!!"

The soldiers immediately rushed forward.

Although it was called an attack, the Kushan army had already completely collapsed, and all the Han soldiers had to do was enter the city.

Soon, the Han soldiers who stormed into the city clashed with the fleeing Kushan troops inside.

Faced with well-equipped and powerful Han soldiers, these fleeing Kushan soldiers, already terrified, had no courage to fight and either chose to continue their rout or to kneel and surrender.