Despite Wang Bing's thorough preparations, the fighting on the city walls remained brutal.
These Jin iron cavalrymen were heavily armored, and more importantly, nearly all of them were strong and robust. Even with two Song soldiers working together to take down one iron cavalryman, the battle was still fiercely contested.
"Dong—"
"Dong—"
"Dong—"
Amidst the deafening roar of the war drums, soldiers on both sides transformed into bloodthirsty beasts.
Whether young or old, everyone's face was contorted with ferocity.
This narrow city wall quickly became a battlefield of carnage.
Seeing the iron cavalrymen charging onto the wall, the Jin command troops below immediately began to furiously drive the surrendered soldiers to attack.
Arrows rained down from the city walls, and rolling logs and stones were hurled down as if they were free.
Listening to the shouts of battle from the city walls, Zhang Xiaochun, clad in military uniform, sat expressionlessly on the grand parade ground.
Opposite him stood the remaining thousand elite soldiers of the Shengjie Army, along with three thousand newly conscripted militiamen.
Some among these men had learned some martial arts, and some had learned archery. However, the vast majority of them had, until not long ago, only held hoes in their hands.
"Father, can these men do it?"
Looking at the brutal scene on the city walls, Zhang Ji's face was filled with anguish.
The course of the battle had far exceeded the expectations of Zhang Xiaochun and Wang Bing. Although they had greatly overestimated the fighting prowess of these Jin soldiers, they now realized they had underestimated their opponents.
"Soldiers!"
Watching the warning flags on the city wall flutter, Zhang Xiaochun, in his military attire, finally stood up.
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Do you see that section of the city wall? Outside that wall are the Jin. Now, the Jin iron cavalrymen have already reached the wall. Your comrades are fighting in a bloodbath. Perhaps you will ask why I still have you standing here!"
The west wind howled, and Zhang Xiaochun's face was filled with bitterness.
"Taiyuan is besieged. Until the imperial reinforcements arrive, we can only rely on ourselves. If we cannot hold this section of the wall, the wealth we have accumulated for a lifetime will be brutally seized by the Jin. Our wives and daughters will be left to their torment, and we ourselves will be driven like pigs and dogs by the Jin. Now, tell me, do you want to live like pigs and dogs, with your wives and daughters tormented by the Jin and your family fortunes plundered, or do you want to act like men and charge out with me for a bloody fight!"
As Zhang Xiaochun spoke, everyone's eyes instantly turned red.
"Your subordinate is willing to fight with you, my lord!"
"Willing to fight with you, my lord!"
"Willing to fight with you, my lord!"
Unsure who started it, the four thousand soldiers then shouted in unison.
A thick fighting spirit surged towards the heavens!
"Very good! I know you are all valiant men. However, I only need eight hundred men, eight hundred true death warriors! Follow me and charge, until every last Jin soldier on the wall has his head chopped off and thrown from the ramparts!"
As Zhang Xiaochun spoke, he suddenly drew his sword and pointed its tip diagonally towards the sky.
"Willing to die with you, my lord!"
As soon as Zhang Xiaochun finished speaking, a familiar face suddenly appeared before him.
Seeing the determined look on Zhang Ruhui's face and the sword he held, Zhang Xiaochun's pupils clearly constricted.
"Willing to die with you, my lord!"
"Willing to die with you, my lord!"
"Willing to die with you, my lord!"
With Zhang Ruhui leading the way, the four thousand soldiers once again shouted in unison.
"Those with parents at home, step forward!"
After giving Zhang Ruhui a deep look, Zhang Xiaochun coldly shouted again.
Following his command, hundreds of soldiers stepped out of the ranks.
"Those with wives and children at home, step forward!"
"Those who are the sole heir at home, step forward!"
"Those with wives but no children, step forward!"
"If father and son are both in the army, the son steps forward!"
"If brothers are both in the army, the younger brother steps forward!"
With his series of commands, soon, only a few hundred men remained in the center of the formation.
"Hahaha, gentlemen, this battle is one of no return. But rest assured, as long as you do not retreat, I, Zhang Xiaochun, will not take a single step back! If I fall amidst the chaos, you shall advance or retreat according to the flag on the wall! Drink this toast to our departure, and let us charge to our hearts' content!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
With the sound of wine bowls shattering, Zhang Xiaochun, clad in his military uniform, mounted a dark red steed and slowly walked towards the city gate.
"Father!"
Seeing this scene, Zhang Ji knelt on the ground.
Only at this moment did he realize that perhaps scholars were truly useless in this world.
"If I do not return, you shall guard the city in my stead. All matters within the city shall be fully handled by Wang Bing!"
Hearing his son's voice, Zhang Xiaochun, seated on his horse, trembled, but ultimately did not turn back.
"Young master, I have a brocade pouch here. If I do not return, please trouble yourself to give it to General Wang for me and tell him it is a gift from an old acquaintance from Mingzhou!"
After handing a brocade pouch to Zhang Ji, Zhang Ruhui, without hesitation, joined the ranks behind Zhang Xiaochun.
"You, a Taoist priest, should be chanting scriptures and performing rituals. Why are you here in my army as a death warrior? You are truly an interesting fellow!"
When they finally reached the city gate, Zhang Xiaochun turned his head, a hint of strangeness in his voice, and asked.
"Aren't you the same, my lord? The esteemed Commissioner of Pacification for Hedong, instead of sitting solemnly in your yamen, you lead death warriors out of the city to fight to the death. This does not seem like the behavior of a scholar!"
Zhang Ruhui spoke as he tightened the ribbons on his armor.
"I admit, I underestimated you before. If I return alive this time, I shall invite you with great ceremony!"
"Whether you return or not, I do not know. But I certainly will return. I have no intention of dying here!"
After cupping his hands towards Zhang Xiaochun, Zhang Ruhui said earnestly again.
"Someone once told my fortune. The fortune teller said I would live to be seventy years old. You should be more careful of yourself!"
With a gentle smile, Zhang Ruhui waved his right hand again.
With a creaking sound that grated on the ears, the north gate of Taiyuan City was opened once more.
"Brothers, killing one is breaking even, killing two is a profit! Charge!"
With a loud shout, Zhang Xiaochun, taking the lead, brandished his sword and charged forward.
Seeing their Hedong Commissioner of Pacification fight so bravely, the soldiers behind him were filled with fighting spirit. The eight hundred death warriors, like tigers released from their cages, charged directly into the Jin ranks.