At Li Xun's suggestion, Zheng Hun led the Qingzhou rebels to change course to the northwest, intending to rely on the mountains and forests to resist the attacks of the White Horse Cavalry.

However, this greatly lengthened the originally interconnected column and significantly reduced the marching speed.

Zhu Jun's Yueqi Battalion caught up from behind, and together with Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry, they split into smaller groups and harassed the rebel army continuously.

This caused the rebel army to be constantly harassed, and they could only march thirty li a day.

December 8th.

At this point, a month had passed since the rebels launched their uprising.

Under the organization of the Royal Merchant Guild, the vanguard of the Royal Transport Team has already arrived in Chenliu and Zhao County with a large amount of grain, fodder and equipment.

Wang Yue and Yang Qiu distributed the armor, weapons, and crossbows that had been transported to the 40,000 able-bodied men stationed in Zhao County.

After more than twenty days of training and instruction from Wang Yue, coupled with several battles against the rebel army in Wei Commandery, these young men had barely qualified to form an army.

Following Liu Hong's secret edict, Wang Yue officially incorporated these 40,000 able-bodied men into the Han army, naming them the Jizhou Army. Together with 5,000 Imperial Guards, they set off for Wei Commandery.

The 20,000 able-bodied men from Luoyang stationed in Hanoi were renamed Luo Army and went to Zhao County to join Yang Qiu and Wang Yue.

Huangfu Gui also led his 15,000 Northern Army soldiers and 2,000 Imperial Guard vanguard soldiers toward Jiyin, intending to first eliminate the rebel army besieging Xun Shuang and Xu Rong in Jiyin.

Hejian, Gaoyang County.

At this moment, on the city walls of Gaoyang, countless people from within the city were also continuously transporting bricks, stones, logs, and other defensive materials along the city wall passages.

Ten thousand soldiers from Youzhou, clad in black armor, and ten thousand able-bodied men from Hejian were stationed at the four city gates.

Liu Kui's 200,000 troops had already completely surrounded Gaoyang.

On the southern city wall, Zhang Rang looked at the rows of rebel camps outside the city, a hint of tension appearing on his face.

Seeing this, Chen Xing, the military commander of Youzhou, stepped forward and said with a smile, "Attendant Zhang, do not worry. Even though the rebel army is numerous and powerful, they are just a rabble and do not have any large siege equipment. It will not be so easy for them to take Gaoyang!"

Zhang Rang nodded: "That's good!"

Just as the two were talking, drums sounded loudly in the rebel camp.

Before long, Liu Kui dispatched 80,000 troops to surround the four gates of Gaoyang, while the remaining 120,000 troops held the rear, indicating that he was preparing to take Gaoyang in one fell swoop.

As the rebel army, carrying ladders, slowly approached, the Youzhou army and the young men from Hejian on the city wall, under the command of their officers, began to make various preparations in an orderly manner.

Chen Xing looked at Zhang Rang and said in a deep voice, "Attendant Zhang, swords have no eyes. Just in case, why don't you return to the city first?"

Although Zhang Rang was afraid, he still shook his head firmly: "We are His Majesty's men, representing His Majesty's dignity. We must not back down easily!"

Seeing that Zhang Rang, a mere eunuch, possessed such courage, Chen Xing couldn't help but nod in approval.

"Don't worry, Zhang Changshi. We soldiers of Youzhou are best at defending cities. Not to mention this rabble, even a well-equipped regular army would not be able to break through our defenses so easily!"

"Then I'll leave it to Commander Chen!"

Hearing Chen Xing's words, Zhang Rang nodded in relief, straightened his back, stood under the banner, and calmly looked at the rebel army that was approaching the city wall.

"kill!!"

As the first wave of rebels approached, the fierce siege officially began.

Countless arrows, logs, and bricks rained down on the rebels who were approaching the city walls, like a torrential downpour.

The rebel soldiers were shot dead or wounded before they could even set up the siege ladders. Blood splattered everywhere and cries of agony echoed from the city walls.

"Go! Keep going!!"

The rear guard, armed with long swords, drove the second wave of rebel soldiers toward the city wall.

However, the second wave of rebel soldiers was defeated once again in a short time.

Subsequently, under the ruthless drive of the supervisory team, the rebel soldiers gritted their teeth and braced themselves, surging wave after wave towards the city wall.

After leaving behind tens of thousands of corpses, the seventh wave of rebel soldiers finally erected ladders and began their arduous climb up the city walls.

At this point, the arrows, bricks, stones, and logs on the city walls had run out, and they could no longer effectively stop the rebels from scaling the walls.

"Brothers, follow me and kill them!!"

Seeing a rebel soldier climb onto the city wall, Chen Xing immediately drew his long sword and cut him down with a single stroke.

"kill!!"

The soldiers of Youzhou Army also held long spears and guarded the various city walls. Whenever a rebel soldier showed up, they would rush up and stab him off the city wall.

"The sons of Hejian, we swear to never retreat!!"

The young men from Hejian, following behind the soldiers of Youzhou, also wielded long swords and continuously attacked and killed any who managed to escape by jumping onto the city walls.

The fierce siege lasted from afternoon until dusk. Thanks to the valiant defense of the Youzhou army and the able-bodied men of Hejian, not a single rebel soldier was able to stand atop the city wall.

Seeing that the vanguard of the attacking force had suffered heavy casualties and low morale, Liu Kui was furious, but he had no choice but to sound the retreat.

As the rebel army retreated like a tide, Zhang Rang, who had been standing under the banner, breathed a sigh of relief, but his legs went weak, and he slumped against the flagpole on the city wall.

Zhang Rang's face and clothes were stained with blood, and his long sword was dripping with blood. Judging from his appearance, he had killed many rebel soldiers.

Chen Xing approached and said, "Attendant Zhang, the enemy has retreated. You should return to the city and rest!"

Zhang Rang shook his head: "No, to prevent a night attack by the enemy, we should first settle the matters concerning the defense of the city!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!