"Traitors, you are trying to kidnap the prince and trick him into opening the city gates. Such a despicable and shameless act is infuriating to both heaven and man!"
Zhang Zhongfang pointed his halberd at the city wall, his hair and beard fluttering, his aura as imposing as a rainbow. "The King of Han is the current crown prince, he has the protection of heaven, how can you villains harm him?"
"If you want to kill him, then go ahead! His Highness sacrificed his life for his country and maintained his royal dignity."
"I, Zhang Zhongfang, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians of Xijing swear to live and die with the city!"
"As long as the city survives, the people will live. If the city falls, the people will die! If you want to set foot in Xijing, you must step over the corpses of me, Zhang Zhongfang, and all the defenders!"
These words were powerful, full of tragedy and determination.
He cleverly avoided the direct choice of whether to open the city gate or not, and forcibly shifted the focus of the conflict from "whether to save the King of Han" to "whether to defend the city" and "whether to be loyal to justice."
At the same time, he deliberately emphasized the "hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians" to create the illusion of a desperate battle and unity, in an attempt to intimidate Yang Yan.
Sure enough, the defenders on the city wall were infected by Zhang Zhongfang's bravery, and their fear was slightly reduced, replaced by a feeling of grief and anger.
The officers shouted:
"I swear to live and die with the general!"
"Kill the traitor and repay the country's kindness!"
Although the voices were a little uneven, they managed to stabilize themselves a little.
Yang Yan frowned. He had not expected Zhang Zhongfang to be so tough, as if he didn't care about the life or death of the King of Han.
He quickly calculated in his mind: Is Zhang Zhongfang just bluffing, or is he really going all out?
If the King of Han was really killed, it would certainly undermine the prestige of the court, but his special force would completely lose its greatest bargaining chip. The chances of attacking Xijing by force would be slim, and it would inevitably lead to retaliation from the court.
His goal was to capture the city, not simply to kill a prince!
Otherwise, there would be no need to rescue the King of Han before Niu Desheng put him in the pot.
"Good! What a loyal minister and good general!"
Yang Yan laughed in anger, his voice cold, "Zhang Zhongfang, since you don't care about the King of Han's life, don't blame me for being ruthless! Come! First, cut off the King of Han's left ear and give it to General Zhang to drink with!"
"Yes, sir!"
An elite rebel soldier, as fierce as a wolf and a tiger, drew out a dagger with a fierce smile, walked towards the fat and white King of Han, grabbed his ear, and gestured where to strike.
"No! No! General Zhang, save me! Save me!"
Yin Xuan was terrified and let out heart-wrenching screams. He struggled desperately, and a yellow liquid flowed out of his crotch, wetting a large area of his pants.
I didn’t expect that I was almost boiled in Bailuyuan, and now my ears were cut off. I’m so unlucky!
Rather than having his entire family killed, he would rather be traded with the King of Qin!
There was an uproar on the city wall of Xijing. The defenders looked at each other with disdain and were also worried.
If they really cut off the King of Han's ears, Your Majesty will definitely punish them.
At this critical moment!
"Wait a minute!"
Zhang Zhongfang suddenly shouted, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible sneer, "Yang Yan! You simply want to enter the city! Why kill the prince and add to your sins? I... I can open the city gates!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in and outside the city was shocked!
Yang Yan's eyes flashed, and he waved his hand to stop the man who was about to cut off his ear with a knife. A smug smile appeared on his lips: "Oh? General Zhang, have you finally figured it out? He who knows the current situation is a hero! Open the city gate quickly, and I will protect the King of Han!"
"but!"
Zhang Zhongfang changed the subject, his tone firm, "The city gate can only be opened a crack! Only five people can pass through at a time! You must let His Royal Highness the Prince of Han into the city first! Once His Royal Highness enters the gate, you and the others can enter in batches! Otherwise, we will all perish together. I will immediately order a volley of arrows to be fired, and everyone will perish together!"
This was a risky strategy that Zhang Zhongfang came up with in a split second!
Taking advantage of the other side's urgent desire to break the city, he used "releasing people into the city" as bait in exchange for the safety of the King of Han.
Opening only one gap and letting them in batches is the way to limit the number of elite rebels that can rush in instantly and buy time for an ambush in the city.
The last sentence "die together" is a naked threat, indicating that he is not surrendering, but is forced to make a bottom-line deal.
Yang Yan's eyes flickered as he quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Zhang Zhongfang's conditions were extremely harsh and the risks were enormous.
But with the King of Han in hand, the other party seemed to be really afraid to act rashly.
Only open a crack and enter in batches!
As long as the King of Han is still under his control, the first batch of elite troops will be able to quickly control the area near the city gate, and subsequent troops will be able to pour in quickly!
He has absolute confidence in the combat effectiveness of his three thousand elite soldiers!
"Good! General Zhang, speak quickly!"
Yang Yan said loudly, "As you say! Let the King of Han go! Remember, if he dares to play tricks, I will be the first to skin him alive!"
He signaled his men to push Yinxuan, who was limp as mud and almost being dragged, forward.
"Open the city gate! Lower the drawbridge!"
Zhang Zhongfang gave the order in a deep voice, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.
He gripped his sword tightly, his palms sweaty.
Success or failure depends on this one move!
The heavy capstan made a harsh creaking sound, and under the nervous gaze of the defenders, the huge city gate slowly opened to a gap that was only wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side.
The drawbridge also came down with a loud bang, resting on the moat.
"Walk!"
Yang Yan sent out a trusted general, along with four of his strongest soldiers, to escort the dazed Yin Xuan onto the suspension bridge, heading towards the gap that symbolized hope and a trap.
On the city wall, Zhang Zhongfang stared at the people who were getting closer and closer, especially Yinxuan's distraught face.
Beside him, several sharpshooters had quietly drawn their bows and arrows, aiming at the rebel leader who was escorting Yin Xuan.
More ambushes were hidden in the soldier caves and behind the parapets on both sides of the city gate corridor, with their swords drawn, arrows strung, and their breath held in concentration.
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