"storm?"
Upon hearing Sakqi's words, the officer was taken aback.
This was the first time he had ever heard of someone from his own people attacking his own city.
"Indeed, this Lord Ansu City has colluded with rebels and invaders to obstruct our army's advance. His intentions are despicable; we should break down his city and behead him!!"
Sakqi stared coldly at the tightly closed city gate ahead, immediately labeling the Lord of Ansu City as a traitor.
Ansu City is situated between two mountain ranges, one to the east and one to the west, and its city is located at the pass between the two mountain ranges. It is a necessary route to the southern sea. If the army wants to continue its advance, it must take Ansu City no matter what.
Furthermore, news of what happened in Xixiang City had already spread, and his and his army's reputations were certainly ruined. So, he decided to go all the way and directly label the rebellious city as a traitor.
In this way, I can give an explanation to His Majesty and the court.
Upon hearing this, the officer immediately understood and turned to examine the situation on the city wall of Ansu.
After observing for a while, the officer said, "Your Excellency, this city is only about thirteen feet high, and the garrison inside is less than a thousand men."
If we were to launch a direct assault, ten thousand men would suffice, and an hour would be enough!
Sakqi narrowed his eyes: "Good, go tell the soldiers that the first to scale the city will be rewarded with 100 gold coins and granted a rank of nobility. After the city is breached, they may plunder at will!"
"yes!"
The officer excitedly agreed and immediately spurred his horse toward the army formation, where he began to deploy troops and make long ladders.
At the same time, more than 10,000 able-bodied men who had been conscripted from the city also climbed the city walls with their issued bows, arrows, spears, and other weapons.
Looking at the densely packed army outside the city, the young and strong civilians couldn't help but show fear on their faces. Some of the more timid ones even began to tremble all over.
Seeing the state of these young men, Kemolai immediately shouted, "People, those bastards outside the city have been burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities in Xixiang City. More than 60,000 people have died under their butcher's knife. They don't treat people like human beings at all."
Once they enter the city, your parents, wives and daughters, your wealth, and even the lives of your entire family will be in danger!
Only by firmly grasping the weapons in your hands and rising up in resistance can you gain a glimmer of hope!
Hearing Kemolai's words, the young men calmed down considerably. Looking at the menacing soldiers outside the city, they had no doubt about the truth of the city lord's words.
After all, the enemy was preparing to attack the city, and no one thought that after the city was breached, they would still behave themselves and not harm the people in any way.
Seeing this, Kemolai shouted again, "You are all men, it is your duty to protect your parents, wives and daughters. If anyone is afraid, then cut off your manhood and get the hell out of the city!!"
"Don't be afraid!!"
"Our parents, wife, and daughters are all gone. What's the point of us living?"
"We swear to live and die with this city!"
Thinking of their parents, wives, and children inside the city, these young and strong people blushed and responded loudly, while gripping their weapons tightly and keeping a close eye on the soldiers approaching from below the city.
"good!"
Seeing that all the young men and women had a resolute look on their faces, determined to fight to the death, Kemolai nodded in satisfaction.
An official stepped forward and said, "Lord City Lord, the enemy is too numerous, and we lack arrows. Relying solely on the bravery of our able-bodied men, we fear we cannot hold out for long!"
Kemolai said solemnly, "I know I can't hold out for long, but what can we do? We can't just sit here and wait to die, watching them burn, kill, and loot without fighting back, can we?"
"Lord of the city, in my opinion, while we still have the city, we should evacuate the women and children from the city first."
These able-bodied men stayed behind to defend the city, buying time for the women and children. If they were lucky enough to hold out for one night, they might be able to offer a chance for their families inside the city to survive!
"You're right, this is the only way for now!"
Upon hearing his subordinate's suggestion, Kemolai immediately agreed.
Then, Kemolai instructed, "This matter is entrusted to you. Immediately organize the evacuation of the women and children in the city. Tell them that this is an escape, and they only need to take some valuables and food."
"yes!"
The official agreed and then quickly ran down the city wall.
Afterwards, Kemolai told the able-bodied men on the city walls about evacuating the women and children from the city.
Upon hearing that the city lord was preparing to have his family evacuate, the able-bodied men and women strongly supported it.
After all, he took up arms and came to the city walls to protect his family, wife, and daughters from slaughter. If they could evacuate safely, then his efforts to defend the city to the death would not have been in vain.
Then, Kemolai said to the constables beside him, "Immediately take two thousand men to demolish the nearby houses and carry all the stones and beams up to the city!"
There was still some kerosene in the treasury; bring it all up too!
"yes!"
The constable agreed and then called to the crowd, and they ran down to the city walls.
Soon, the south gate of Ansu City opened, and the women and children inside the city, organized by the city officials, ran south with their families.
Because Ansu City is located next to a mountain range, most of the houses in the city are built of stone, so there is an abundance of stones.
Before long, piles of stones the size of human heads were piled up on the city wall.
About half an hour later, as the sun began to set, the Parthian army outside the city produced hundreds of long ladders, and ten thousand infantrymen carried the ladders as they slowly advanced toward the northern city of Ansu.
Because Ansu City is nestled between two mountain ranges, resembling a strategic pass, the numerical advantage of attacking soldiers is greatly limited.
When the attacking soldiers advanced to within 300 paces of the city, there were less than 3,000 soldiers in the front ranks. If the soldiers behind wanted to advance, they could only do so when the soldiers in the front ranks reached the top of the city wall or when all of them were killed.
Seeing the approaching siege soldiers, Kemolai shouted, "Archers, advance!!"
On the city wall, nearly two thousand young men holding bows and arrows immediately stepped forward, nocked their arrows, and aimed them at the soldiers outside the city.
These young men were hunters who frequently went into the mountains to hunt. Although their organization might not be as good as that of regular soldiers, their archery skills were far superior to those of ordinary people.
When the soldiers outside the city came within two hundred paces of the city wall, without Kemolai giving any orders, a barrage of arrows whistled out, taking advantage of the high ground to head straight for the attacking soldiers outside the city.
In an instant, hundreds of soldiers in the front row of the attacking siege let out miserable groans as they fell to the ground, struck by arrows.
"Fire arrows! Counterattack!!"
The officer in charge of the siege immediately shouted.
The Parthian archers immediately drew their bows and aimed at the city walls.
However, the bows and arrows they carried were not much different from those on the city wall.
At a distance of two hundred paces, the able-bodied men on the city wall, taking advantage of their superior position, could inflict damage on the soldiers below, while the arrows shot by the soldiers below wouldn't even reach the city wall before falling down.
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