My name is Huang Tian, ​​what the hell is this "Heaven is dead" nonsense?

Chapter 34 Wanton
Luoyang is six li from east to west and nine li from north to south. It is several zhang high and stands majestically, giving the soldiers guarding the city a strong sense of security.

It can be said that if the defending side has sufficient morale and food, it can hold out until the enemy is desperate.

However, throughout history, including later generations, whenever the capital was besieged, the morale of the defending side was extremely low.

This is easy to understand. Although the imperial capital was built to be sturdy and tall, it was never built in this way for the purpose of defending the city. If it really came down to defending the imperial capital, it would mean that the dynasty was on the verge of collapse.

The same is true for Luoyang today.

Despite having the advantage in troop strength and the support of the city, with ample food and armor, the Han army defending the city was demoralized and viewed the Yellow Turban army outside as ferocious tigers, trembling with fear.

"Cheer up, everyone!"

At the Great Xia Gate, Sun Jian was on patrol of the city wall when he saw many soldiers hanging their heads listlessly in a daze. He couldn't help but reprimand them.

The soldiers, startled by his rebuke, shuddered, inwardly cursing: 'I'm the one guarding the city, exposed to the cold wind! You generals are just going through the motions, and you dare to reprimand me?! We should let those bandits storm the city and skin you alive!'

A garrison commander complained, “Commander Sun, the Moth Bandits haven’t attacked the city for days, and they haven’t even made any siege equipment. They’ve been busy digging. We don’t need to be careful. They can’t just fly up to the city wall, can they? If you ask me, we should be careful that the city gates aren’t secretly opened and that the Moth Bandits aren’t allowed into the city.”

If they don't launch a surprise attack, the only option is to coordinate an attack from within and without.

Sun Jian knew the garrison commander was right, but he still kept a straight face and said, "You don't need to worry about the city gate. Just guard the city walls and keep an eye on the enemy's movements."

The village chief nodded helplessly. Suddenly, a loud and intense drumbeat came from afar.

"That direction... is the Moth Bandit camp!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically. Sun Jian quickly leaned against the wall and looked towards the Yellow Turban army camp. He saw a large, orderly crowd of people in earthen yellow robes pouring out of the open camp. Some were carrying spears and ring-pommel swords, while others were wearing leather armor and holding swords and shields. It took quite a while just for them to leave the camp and form ranks.

"Are the Moth Bandits about to launch a major attack on the city?"

Sun Jian was puzzled. How could they attack a city without siege equipment? Did they really have to fly up to the city wall?
He waved his hand and decisively said, "Beat the drums and blow the horns to send a message! Warn all the troops in the city that the Moth Bandits are about to attack!"

Although he couldn't figure out what the Yellow Turban Army wanted to do, Sun Jian still immediately issued a warning.

Upon hearing the deafening drumbeats coming from outside the city and atop the city walls, the city immediately erupted in excitement.

The moth thieves are finally going to attack the city!

The huge weight that has been on my mind for days is about to be lifted!
If the defending forces can hold off the first wave of attacks, then the morale of the army and the people of Luoyang can gradually stabilize. If they collapse in the first wave, then there is no point in saying anything else.

General He Jin and Grand Commandant Deng Sheng, along with their personal guards, quickly arrived at the Great Xia Gate. Sun Jian bowed in greeting, but He Jin ignored him and went straight to the parapet to look outside the city. He saw tens of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers standing solemnly in formation on a flat open ground, with spears and halberds like a forest, military flags fluttering, and warhorses neighing, creating a scene of grim determination.

After helping Sun Jian up, Deng Sheng walked to the edge of the city wall to observe. Looking at the Yellow Turban army, which was in well-organized formation and fully armored, he frowned deeply: "The Yellow Turban rebels have indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Although they cannot compare to the elite troops of the Five Schools, they are still quite elite."

He Jin disliked Deng Sheng, but this was the time when everyone was united in defending Luoyang, so he couldn't afford to cause trouble. He replied, "The Moth Bandits have repeatedly defeated Huangfu and Lu, seizing the weapons of tens of thousands of troops. They are also conducting large-scale military training in Jizhou. It's not surprising that they are elite troops. It would be strange if they attacked the city with pitchforks and hoes." His words were full of dissatisfaction with Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi.

If the two of them hadn't suffered consecutive defeats, would the Moth Bandits have had such good weapons?

Deng Sheng, however, was quite understanding of Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi. Instead of echoing He Jin, he asked doubtfully, "What use is it for the Moth Bandits to just form ranks? They don't even have ladders or battering rams to attack the city."

He Jin was also puzzled and was about to say something when a commotion came from behind him. His face instantly turned cold, and he turned around to scold, but when he saw that familiar pale face, he was so frightened that he trembled.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" He Jin stammered.

The newcomer was Liu Hong, dressed in a dark black robe with a jade pendant at his waist, exuding an air of nobility. Behind him was a group of eunuchs, including Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and other eunuchs, all of whom wore bitter expressions and looked unwilling.

Deng Sheng was also shocked, not expecting Liu Hong to come out of the palace and onto the city wall. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Moth Rebels are about to attack the city. This place is dangerous. Please leave immediately."

Liu Hong shook his head and said, "No rush. Wait until the Moth Thieves start shooting arrows and swarming me before you go down."

The main reason he came to the city wall was that he was feeling panicked and uncertain, and he couldn't stay in the palace. Another reason was that he wanted to see with his own eyes what the band of rebels who had driven him and the Han Empire to the brink of despair were really like.

"They look like just ordinary soldiers..."

He glanced at the Yellow Turban army arrayed outside the city and gave his assessment in a low voice.

As the ruler of the land, Liu Hong had a very high standard. Although the Yellow Turban soldiers were much stronger than ordinary county and state soldiers, he could only give them an "ordinary" evaluation in his mind.

As he surveyed the scene, more and more important officials and generals gathered on the city wall: Zhang Wen, Yuan Wei, Liu Yan, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao...

Some of them didn't really want to come up. For example, Yuan Shao was planning his escape route to Dongyang Gate, but the emperor personally went up the city tower to "boost morale," so they had no choice but to come along to show their loyalty and lack of disloyalty.

After all, no one knows whether Luoyang can be defended. If it is, deserting now will definitely make Liu Hong hold him accountable...

Surrounded by his ministers, Liu Hong suddenly felt a sense of security. A thought struck him, and he feigned disdain, pointing down at the city walls and saying, "The Moth Bandits haven't even built siege ladders or grappling hooks, yet they dare to dream of taking the city. It's utterly laughable!"

The courtiers joined in the laughter, and the soldiers guarding the city felt their anxiety ease and their morale was restored when they saw these important figures laughing so freely.

Seeing that his actions had been effective, Liu Hong pressed his advantage, saying, "Give the order that everyone who defends the city today will be rewarded with a thousand coins and two bolts of cloth!"

The order was given, and cheers erupted from the city walls, greatly boosting morale. Liu Hong was smug, thinking, 'I am indeed exceptionally gifted; even before joining the army, I knew how to govern and command troops!'

However, before he could enjoy his triumph for long, cries of fear rang out one after another. Liu Hong was secretly displeased and was about to see what was causing the soldiers to panic when he approached the parapet and saw a sight that shocked him.

Below the city, tens of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers knelt on the ground, chanting "Yellow Heaven Holy Venerable" with fervor. At the same time, a young man dressed in a cloud-patterned Taoist robe slowly walked out from among the army. He walked to the earthen platform, and with a gentle wave of his sleeve, a few wisps of cloud carried him slowly up the earthen platform, which was more than three zhang high.

(End of this chapter)