An hour later, under Xu Rong's arrangement, the Han army's formation was completed.

In contrast, the Goguryeo army was simply arranged in several square formations, leaving no retreat path for the archers and no sufficient space for maneuver between the cavalry and infantry.

"Hmph, although the Goguryeo army has a large number of soldiers, they have encountered an incompetent commander and have become a disorganized mess."

Looking at the disorganized and chaotic formation of the Goguryeo army, Xu Rong couldn't help but sneer.

Gongsun Zan, standing beside Xu Rong, said in a deep voice, "General Xu, more than 90% of the Goguryeo soldiers do not wear full-body armor and will hardly be able to withstand our swords and arrows. In my opinion, our army can take the initiative to advance."

"Bo Gui is right!"

Xu Rong nodded and then waved the command flag in his hand.

"Order the entire army to advance!!"

With a loud shout from Xu Rong, the messenger immediately stepped forward to relay Xu Rong's order to all the troops.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The archers and spearmen, having received their orders, marched in orderly steps and slowly advanced towards the Goguryeo army, with the cavalry on both sides and at the rear also advancing.

Looking at the densely packed Goguryeo soldiers, twice their number, below the city walls, the Han soldiers' eyes gleamed with bloodlust.

In their eyes, those Goguryeo soldiers were nothing more than military achievements, rewards, titles, and a guarantee for their wives and children to live a good life.

The soldiers of the White Horse Camp following behind kept reassuring their "excited" comrades as they marched, because it was not yet time for them to attack.

The Goguryeo soldiers opposite him couldn't help but swallow hard as they watched the Han soldiers slowly approaching.

Many of them had participated in the battles to destroy Han Hui and Woju, and had seen blood, but the Han army's orderly formation, dark iron armor, and weapons gleaming with a cold light made them swallow hard.

In particular, the cold gazes of the Han soldiers instilled a sense of fear in the Goguryeo soldiers.

The general guarding the city carefully observed the approaching Han army. As the Han army drew closer step by step, his heart pounded with each step.

This garrison commander was just an ordinary general; how could he possibly command an army of 80,000 men? His previous confidence was based solely on his numerical advantage.

Seeing the Han army's imposing momentum, the defending general's heart wavered. He felt that he was likely to be in grave danger in this battle. Even if he had sent out 130,000 troops instead of 80,000, he might not be able to defeat the 35,000 Han troops on the other side.

He really wanted to retreat back into the city, but it was too late. If the 80,000 troops turned back, there would be a stampede at the city gate. The Han army would then take the opportunity to attack, and the result would be even more tragic. Perhaps even Sifang City would fall.

Immediately, the defending officer drew his long sword and pointed it at the Han army, shouting loudly: "Warriors, the Han army is arrogant, they think we have no one to rely on and they have invaded our territory. We must not retreat even a step."

"Anyone who kills an enemy will receive a reward of ten taels of gold and a promotion of one rank. Kill!!"

The words of the defending general calmed down the surrounding Goguryeo soldiers considerably.

The defending general then looked at a deputy general beside him and said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: dispatch 10,000 cavalry in two groups to attack the left and right flanks of the Han army, 30,000 infantry to charge straight at the enemy's center, and the rest to advance slowly."

"promise!!"

The deputy general accepted the order and went to relay military commands.

As a horn sounded, the Goguryeo army responsible for the attack left their formation and headed towards the Han army.

Seeing the Goguryeo army mobilize, Xu Rong also waved the command flag in his hand.

"Beat the drums!!"

Behind the army formation, three enormous war drums began to beat, their heavy drumbeats echoing across the vast wilderness, making one's blood boil.

The drumbeats were not urgent, and the slowly advancing army suddenly stopped. The soldiers forming the arrow formation held specially made crossbows, with arrows nocked, and their eyes gleamed as they waited for the enemy to enter their firing range.

The Fire Battalion and Black Fang Cavalry on both sides also took off their crossbows and held them in their left hands, while gripping their spears tightly in their right hands, staring intently at the charging Goguryeo cavalry.

As the Goguryeo soldiers drew ever closer, the drumbeats of the war drums grew increasingly rapid.

At this time, the crossbows in the hands of the Han army had been improved, and their range had reached 300 paces, but their effective killing range was 200 paces. However, that killing power was only effective against enemy troops with armor.

Facing these Goguryeo soldiers who weren't even wearing cloth armor, 250 paces was enough to inflict damage.

However, the bows and arrows used by Goguryeo were crudely made, with a maximum range of only 150 paces. To inflict damage on the armored Han soldiers, they would need to be within 50 paces. In this respect, the Goguryeo soldiers were already at a significant disadvantage.

As the Han army's arrow formation drew ever closer the Goguryeo soldiers, the officers at the front raised their command flags. When the enemy was within 250 paces, the officers waved their flags.

"Three volleys, fire the arrows in sequence!!"

With each angry roar from the officers, the soldiers in the arrow formation pulled the triggers of their crossbows.

A barrage of arrows whistled out, like a dense swarm of locusts, raining down on the attacking Goguryeo soldiers.

The dense and continuous rain of arrows created a huge dark shadow on the ground.

The Goguryeo soldiers charging forward were startled, their eyes wide with terror as they watched the rain of arrows raining down upon them.

In the instant they were distracted, a whistling rain of arrows fell like a death cloud, tearing through their armor and piercing their bodies without any resistance.

Blood spurted out instantly, and countless Goguryeo soldiers screamed as they fell to the ground, forming a blood-stained death zone 250 paces from the Han army's arrow formation.

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