Gunpowder kegs and stones were hurled alternately, killing a large number of enemies. Eventually, their supply ran out, and they had to rely entirely on the remaining stones.
The defenders of Luzhou unleashed a barrage of crossbow bolts, felling hundreds.
The vanguard of the rebel forces, clad in heavy armor and tasked with breaking through, advanced under a hail of arrows and stones, finally reaching the breach.
Gongsun Dingjun immediately ordered the archers to retreat while firing, then switched to spearmen and swordsmen to cooperate with the heavy-armored shield-bearers at the front to engage the enemy in close combat.
Liang Xiao continuously nocked and fired arrows, targeting enemy leaders, catapult operators, and archers. When his Dragon Fang Arrows ran out, he had to switch to similar Wind Feather Arrows.
His understanding of the Luzhou defenders was limited, as was Zhuo Zifang's. They served more as spiritual icons to boost morale; such a siege battle had to be left to Gongsun Dingjun for now.
Because the breach was too wide, each line of soldiers the Luzhou defenders could deploy required over two hundred men.
The rebel alliance, driven by the desire to plunder Luzhou and spurred by the supervising troops behind them, launched a desperate assault.
The Luzhou defenders held firm like an impregnable fortress for a time, their various units cooperating seamlessly as they fiercely slaughtered the attackers.
In contrast, the rebel alliance, a coalition of multiple armies, could not immediately organize a more effective assault and struggled even to remove the abatis at the breach.
However, Liang Xiao showed no signs of relief; his expression grew increasingly grim.
The defenders were clearly outnumbered, and the enemy was not a ragtag mob. If this attrition continued, even if they repelled this wave of attack, the losses would be catastrophic.
Without the city walls, the engagement resembled open warfare. Fortunately, the surviving sections of the walls on either side still served as barriers, reducing the area of contact, allowing the Luzhou defenders to hold their own for the time being.
As night began to fall, the battlefield at the breach became a meat grinder, ferociously claiming the lives of soldiers on both sides.
Even the heavily armored shield-bearers, fully equipped, could not withstand the pressure of the tide-like enemy advance and finally saw dozens fall.
The rebel side fared even worse. Excluding the thousands killed by explosions and falling stones, their direct combat losses were five times that of the defenders.
The young lord in the brocade robe, his face ashen, roared, "They have no more sorcery to use! The rear ranks, advance immediately! Those who retreat will be executed!"
Duan Hong warned, "The enemy is likely already sending for reinforcements. If we cannot take Luzhou within two days and repair the city walls, once reinforcements arrive, we won't be able to hold it even if we capture the city!"
The young lord in brocade robes agreed and immediately ordered, "Intensify the assault! Double all promised rewards!"
Although the front ranks were primarily composed of followers of the Back-to-Spring Cult, there were also some from the Sun Moon Army and White Ox Mountain bandits, ensuring fairness among the factions.
Such a staggering casualty ratio was a blow to the pride of the Sun Moon Army generals who had previously rampaged across the southwest.
As the military order spread, the rebel alliance's offensive became even fiercer.
The rebel rear forces gradually advanced, determined to conquer Luzhou that day!
The defenders within the city were seasoned veterans, but due to their numerical disadvantage and the loss of the high walls, more and more of their front-line troops were falling.
The collapse of the city walls had been so sudden that Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang had no time to implement various strategies. The Luzhou defenders could only engage in a direct fight.
Zhuo Zifang whispered to Liang Xiao, who was nocking an arrow, "Liang Xiao, at most three more hours, and we might not be able to hold. You should quickly take Xiao Xun and the others and flee Luzhou!"
Liang Xiao glanced at the sky, his face grave. "Judging by the time, he should be here. Tell the soldiers to hold on!"
Liang Xiao knew well that the enemy's pent-up rage had erupted, their momentum fierce. Holding on for three hours was already an extraordinary feat.
They had been fighting for less than half an hour, and the Luzhou defenders had already lost over a thousand men, while their combined efforts with crossbows had killed over five thousand rebels!
However, as more Luzhou defenders fell, they would eventually be depleted, while the enemy still had enough soldiers to sustain the same scale of close combat.
Both sides were forced into a war of attrition at the breach.
An hour had passed since the enemy's attack began.
Night descended, and the clouds parted, revealing a moonlit scene of endless slaughter.
Due to heavy losses in the front lines, the Luzhou defenders' ability to hold their ground weakened, with cumulative casualties exceeding two thousand five hundred!
Liang Xiao observed the enemy's rear from the high platform and noticed their disorganization. He then put away his Sunset Bow.
Zhuo Zifang cried out softly, "Liang Xiao! You must retreat from here! Having this old man to hold the line is enough!"
This time, Liang Xiao did not refuse. He simply said gravely, "Lord Zhuo, please be safe. I will be back soon!"
"Don't you dare come back!"
Before Zhuo Zifang could finish, Liang Xiao mounted a fine horse and galloped away, heading straight for his own courtyard.
Jian Qinwan and the other two, who had been anxiously awaiting news, saw Liang Xiao return and asked with strained faces, "Did we win?"
Liang Xiao shook his head, handed the Sunset Bow to Qinxin for safekeeping, and said, "Qinxin, Senior Disciple Brother, as soon as you hear news of defeat on the front lines, you must escort them out of the city immediately. Be wary of enemy ambushes!"
Qinxin and the others understood the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly.
Jian Qinwan suppressed her tears and said, "If it comes to street fighting, we Tianshan swordsmen can handle it..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, and with a silent gesture, took Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian by the hands, leading them towards the stables.
"Amitabha!"
At this moment, Hong Xiu had already changed into armor and stood beside the White Night Flying Shadow, clearly prepared for battle.
The White Night Flying Shadow was now wearing a horse's armor, with a conspicuous iron chest placed beside it.
"Thank you, Master!" Liang Xiao said with a solemn expression, taking a key from his treasure pouch and striding towards the iron chest.
Hong Xiu understood, his face serene. He clasped his hands together and said, "Marquis An Guo, you may set forth. This humble monk can still wield his blade; killing is for the sake of protecting life!"
Hearing this, Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian's eyes reddened as they followed Liang Xiao.
When the iron chest was opened, Jian Qinwan's gaze fell upon its contents, and she felt as if struck by lightning!
Liang Xiao took out a white robe, allowing Yue Lian to help him put it on. He then secured the Heavenly General's Token in his treasure pouch, took out the battle helmet adorned with a ferocious ghost mask.
Jian Qinwan stared blankly at Liang Xiao, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. "You... you must return safely..."
The Martial God of the Great Gan Kingdom, the Heavenly General who saved the common people from hardship...
He was finally revealing himself to her, not in times of peace, but in such a dire crisis...
Liang Xiao gently wiped away Jian Qinwan's tears and comforted her, "Protect Yue Lian, and wait for my triumphant return!"
Jian Qinwan nodded obediently, no longer daring to hinder Liang Xiao. She watched silently as he donned his battle helmet, hefted the Heavenly Dragon Breaking City Halberd, sheathed the Ephemeral Sword at his waist, and mounted his horse.
His battle robe billowed in the wind. The White Night Flying Shadow neighed towards the heavens, its cry like thunder, galloping into the distance.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian exchanged glances and, in tacit understanding, led Hong Xiu back to the courtyard.
"Qinxin, may we go and observe the battle?" Jian Qinwan asked, her voice trembling.
Qinxin was startled. "The arrows and stones do not have eyes. What if..."
"If Young Master dies, we will have no courage to live on alone!" Yue Lian finally choked out, unable to hold back her sobs.
Looking at the three girls weeping, Qinxin sighed and said, "We can ascend the southeast city wall; you can observe the battle from there. If the situation turns unfavorable, we will leave immediately and not cause further trouble for Marquis An Guo. Have faith in Marquis An Guo. He bears a heavy responsibility and will surely protect himself and endure the humiliation!"
Everyone immediately ascended the nearest southeast city tower to watch the battle. Seeing the dense mass of enemy forces to the west, their hearts sank.
The crescent moon in the sky seemed to be tinged with blood.
On the southwest city wall, the Luzhou defenders, after two hours of fierce fighting and killing over twenty thousand enemy soldiers, had also suffered losses exceeding four thousand and began to fall back.
"A sudden earthquake has occurred. Is Heaven intent on destroying our Luzhou?" the soldiers wondered despairingly.
If this continued, they would be completely routed, perhaps even annihilated, within another hour at most!
"Hold the line! We cannot let the enemy enter the city!!"
Gongsun Dingjun roared, sheathed his command sword, raised a spear, mounted his horse, and charged forward, leading by example.
"Luzhou is on the verge of falling! Attack with all your might!!"
The attacking rebels suppressed their fear and attacked even more ferociously, rushing towards the breach one after another!
Just as the Luzhou defenders were beginning to feel overwhelmed, a thunderous neigh of warhorses echoed from afar!
A white silhouette flashed past, weaving through allied troops and bursting out of the city wall. The Heavenly Dragon Breaking City Halberd casually severed several rebels at the waist, astonishing both sides.
A white shadow flies under the moonlit night; the Martial God appears on the battlefield!!