Xie Yushu watched as the city gate was slowly forced open, and shouted...

"Brothers at the city gate, retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"

At the same time, Lanting and his group rushed towards the city gate. The moment the people behind the city gate withdrew, wine jars were smashed into the gap in the city gate like meteors.

Lanting and Qingfeng both used their internal energy, and the heavy wine jars flew past with a whooshing sound, some even flying over the city gate. When they hit the ground, the wine jars shattered and wine splashed everywhere.

Following closely behind were torches.

The strong liquor ignited instantly.

This cycle repeated more than ten times, and soon the city gate and surrounding areas were engulfed in flames. The enemy troops who had been shouting and charging in were thrown into chaos. With the city gate engulfed in flames, the enemy troops instinctively ran back, colliding with those behind them and further increasing the casualties. The outside was in complete disarray.

The city's defenders seized the opportunity to rush back, close the city gates again, and bolt them shut.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; Tianshui had been held firmly in its defense.

Han Zhongyu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, excitedly picked up Xie Yushu and spun her around.

"You are truly my lucky star! I thought we were all going to watch Tianshui fall, and I would die with regrets."

Everyone else was genuinely relieved.

"I thought the princess brought the wine for us to drink as a farewell toast, but giving it to them was much more enjoyable than drinking it ourselves!"

Xie Yushu spat at Han Zhongyu.

"Don't say such discouraging things!"

Tianshui cannot be lost, and we cannot die! We men are capable of taking on ten men each in skill, and a hundred men each in weaponry. Today, let them witness the might of our Great Qi!

You're right!

Everyone, listen up!

All repeating crossbows must be on the city wall! All repeating crossbows must not stop, all hidden arrows must not stop, all bows and arrows must not stop!

Let these Tatar barbarians see the might of my Great Qi!

This battle must demonstrate the might of our Great Qi!

"yes!"

At Han Zhongyu's command, Lanting led the Han family's men, Qingfeng led the Divine Eagle Guards, and Zhao Hu led the Yuquan Manor's men, all armed and heading up the city wall.

Seeing this, the people at the city gate rushed forward to help move all the arrows from the several large carts onto the city wall.

At the same time, Liu Ji, who was also assisting in the defense of the city, ordered his men to carry the wounded down from the city wall for treatment and to allow the first group to come down and rest.

Then we counted the number of people who were still left.

Two days had passed, and Liu Ji had lost weight and his eyes were bloodshot, showing how hard their lives had been since leaving Tai'an Prefecture.

Before Han Zhongyu could ask, Liu Ji reported.

"My lord, this sudden attack by the Tatars is likely premeditated. Moreover, it's possible that the Tatars are not the only ones who have launched an attack. The messengers sent from Hangu Pass to the eastern and western garrisons to request reinforcements have returned with reports that the garrisons on both sides have also been attacked and are in dire straits."

Since the surprise attack on Hangu Pass, no reinforcements have been able to be sent, which shows how fierce the battle is. We now only have a little over four thousand men left, and we really have no confidence that we can hold out until the imperial reinforcements arrive.

Han Zhongyu was well aware of the situation, but they had no way out and could only say...

"Even if we can't hold it, we have to hold it to the death."

We must hold out for as long as possible. Behind us are the unarmed people of Daqi. If we retreat, they will face the Tatars' swords and spears.

If we persevere for just one more day, things might take a turn for the better!

"Take your men down to rest and recharge. We'll hold the line this round."

"yes!"

Seeing that he was about to leave, Xie Yushu called out to him to stop.

"Wait a minute, how many arrows are left here?"

Liu Ji shook his head

"Your Highness, I really don't know. I'll go and call the Imperial Stud."

"good."

After Liu Ji finished speaking, he sent a soldier to fetch the Grand Master of the Palace, and then led his men to rest.

The chief steward here was a thin man in his thirties named Li Zhi. Upon seeing Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu, he first greeted them and then reported directly.

"Reporting to Lord Han, Princess, there are currently about 150,000 arrows left in the warehouse. If the fighting continues at this rate, we can hold out for about three more days."

Han Zhongyu said

"Next, we will use repeating crossbows, which will greatly increase the number of arrows used. 150,000 arrows will only last for a day and a half."

Even if supplies from Tai'an Prefecture and Jinyang arrive later, they will only last for two or three days.

Two or three days later, they still couldn't hold out until reinforcements arrived.

You must find a way to get another batch of arrows.

"Your Excellency, I have already sent people to make preparations. However, most of the arrows in the warehouse have been transported to Hangu Pass, resulting in heavy losses. It is simply impossible to manufacture so many arrows at once. We do not have enough manpower or materials. I am like a skilled cook without rice to cook!"

Xie Yushu said

"Then let's collect all the straw in the city, tie it into straw curtains or straw figures, put clothes on them, and go to the city wall to catch arrows. We can reuse them directly and last for a while."

Li Zhi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"That's a brilliant idea! Your Highness is truly talented. I admire you. I'll take care of it right away!"

The person who was frowning just a moment ago is now running like crazy, as if they've been injected with adrenaline!

Han Zhongyu and Xuan Yuanche both looked at Xie Yushu with admiration. Xuan Yuanche couldn't help but turn Xie Yushu's head over with both hands to take a closer look.

"How come your brain works so fast? What's inside it? Give me some too!"

Xie Yushu pulled him open

"Of course it's wisdom! Read more books in your spare time, and maybe you'll become just as smart!"

Alright, you've been traveling all day. Go find a place to rest. Your Divine Eagle Guard has already gone up; the city walls don't need another one."

Han Zhongyu also chased him away

"With you here, the morale of the army is already stable. The remaining task is to take good care of yourself, try not to fall ill, and not cause trouble, so that I won't be able to explain to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor when I turn back."

Xuanyuan Che originally didn't want to go back, but after hearing what Han Zhongyu said, he knew that this was not the time for him to act recklessly, so he went back to the government office.

Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu also went up to the city wall.

Originally, people still considered Xie Yushu to be a woman, and respected her only because of her previous contributions and her status as a princess.

Now, after what happened at the city gate, and with the idea of ​​catching arrows with a straw curtain, everyone around her looks at her with new respect and genuine admiration.

Han Zhongyu was extremely proud of this.

Outside the city, the Tatar army, which had originally attacked the city gate, had retreated to a distance of three miles after the chaos.

Ancient city gates were thick and heavy, covered with iron sheets, and the bolts were solid wooden planks thicker than a person. It was extremely difficult to break them open. Now that the city gates were closed again, they were still staying under the gates, which was undoubtedly a suicide mission.

So they didn't go in, and immediately created distance again, preparing to crash into each other again.

However, the gap in the middle was just enough for Xie Yushu and the others to change shifts and load the repeating crossbows.

As soon as Xie Yushu and Han Zhongyu stepped onto the city wall, they attracted Fu Guang's attention. Just as the Tatars were about to make their move, Fu Guang stopped them.

"Wait a minute, Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu are here!"