Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Gao Zhe, clad in silver armor and with a long sword at his waist, stood atop the high platform. Sunlight shone on his young face, highlighting his resolute features. Below the platform, five thousand elite soldiers stood ready for battle, their armor gleaming, their spears and halberds forming a forest.

Gao Niu, a veteran who had fought alongside Gao Yao for half his life, patted Gao Zhe on the shoulder: "Second Young Master, this battle is of great importance. You must not be greedy for merit and act rashly."

"Uncle, rest assured," Gao Zhe said with bright eyes, "Mr. Zhang has already made up his plan, and I will follow it."

With the bugle call sounding, the army set off. Amidst the rising dust, five thousand elite soldiers headed west, behind them the hopes of the imperial court and the nation; ahead lay the beacon fires of war on the frontier of Longxi.

Fifty li outside Didao City in Longxi Prefecture, there was a large camp of the Qiang people.

King Wumuhan of Qiang stood on high ground, overlooking the endless camps. Fifty thousand Qiang soldiers, like a pack of wolves on the grassland, were grinding their teeth and sucking blood, waiting for the moment to tear through the Longxi defense line.

"The Chu army and the Southern Border army are fighting each other, this is a golden opportunity!" Wumuhan's voice boomed. "If we conquer Longxi, our tribe can hold the strategic pass of Guanzhong, advance into the Central Plains, or retreat to defend the Hehuang region!"

Deputy General Zaxi stepped forward: "Your Majesty, a scout reports that the Southern Border Army has sent reinforcements to Longxi, led by Gao Yao's second son, Gao Zhe."

Umuhan laughed loudly: "A mere child, not worth mentioning! Order all camps to attack the city at dawn tomorrow!"

The atmosphere in Didao City was heavy.

Wang Chuan, the garrison commander of Longxi, was over fifty years old, his temples already graying, yet his back remained as straight as a pine tree. He stood on the city tower, gazing at the firelight of the Qiang camp in the distance, his brows deeply furrowed.

"General, when will the reinforcements arrive?" Lieutenant General Li Xian asked anxiously.

Wang Chuan said in a deep voice, "According to the schedule, it will take at least four days. And the Qiang army will attack the city tomorrow."

"Four days..." Li Xian's face turned pale. "The city's garrison is only eight thousand strong. Although they have enough food and arrows, how can they withstand the continuous attacks of fifty thousand Qiang soldiers?"

Just as Wang Chuan was about to reply, he suddenly saw billowing dust in the distance. A fast horse came galloping towards them, and the messenger on horseback held up the banner of the Han army.

"Report! Young Master Gao Zhe has led five thousand elite troops and is now thirty miles outside the city!"

The defenders on the city wall immediately perked up. A glint flashed in Wang Chuan's eyes: "Open the city gates! Welcome the reinforcements!"

As dusk fell, Gao Zhe's army entered Didao City. The people lined the streets to welcome them, their eyes filled with anticipation. These people of the frontier had long been accustomed to the ravages of war, yet they had never given up their yearning for peace.

In the governor's mansion, Gao Zhe removed his armor and discussed military matters with Wang Chuan, Gao Niu, and military advisor Zhang Liang.

"Master Zhang Liang has ordered that we should only defend and not attack for the first three days. The Qiang army is powerful, so we need to blunt their momentum and wait until they are exhausted before launching a counterattack."

Gao Zhe nodded: "I have memorized Mr. Zhang's ten strategies for defending the city. General Wang, how is the city's defense?"

Wang Chuan reported in detail: "The walls of Didao are three zhang high and two zhang thick. They have been reinforced many times and are extremely sturdy. The city has enough food and fodder for three months, 100,000 arrows, and plenty of rolling logs and stones. There are also 300 barrels of oil and 50 crossbow carts."

Gao Niu added: "Our army is far better equipped than the Qiang soldiers. The Qiang people mostly wear leather armor and their weapons are simple; our army is all wearing iron armor, and our spears and halberds are all made of fine steel. In terms of bows and crossbows, our army has strong bows and crossbows with a range of up to two hundred paces, while the Qiang bows are only one hundred and fifty paces."

Gao Zhe walked to the city defense map and tapped his finger lightly: "Mr. Zhang predicted that the Qiang army would mainly attack the east and north gates. The terrain outside the east gate is open, which is convenient for the army to deploy; the north gate has a slightly lower city wall, which is easy to attack but difficult to defend."

He turned to the crowd and said, “Our army should concentrate its forces to guard these two gates. Five hundred men should be left at each of the south and west gates. We should also set up three mobile units, each with a thousand men, to provide support to the gates as needed.”

Wang Chuan nodded approvingly: "Second Young Master's deployment is appropriate. The Qiang army is not good at attacking cities, so they will definitely use human wave tactics to forcefully attack the city walls. Our army should suppress them with bows and crossbows, and then hit them with rolling logs and stones when they get close."

Gao Niu said, "There is another plan. Mr. Zhang instructed that we can send small groups of troops to harass the Qiang camp at night, so that they cannot sleep peacefully. After three days, the Qiang army will be exhausted."

The plan was finalized, and everyone made their preparations. Gao Lin remained alone in the hall, gazing at the flickering candlelight, his heart filled with both excitement and heaviness. This was his first time leading a task independently; victory would bring him unparalleled merit, defeat would mean the loss of Longxi and the peril of Guanzhong.

The darkness before dawn is the deepest. On the walls of Didao, the Han army stood ready for battle.

Gao Zhe, clad in silver armor and with a long sword at his waist, stood atop the east gate tower. The morning breeze ruffled his cloak. Beside him, Gao Niu gripped a long saber, his eyes blazing.

On the distant horizon, the first rays of dawn tore through the darkness. Following them came the deep, thunderous sound of war drums.

The Qiang army has left their camp.

Fifty thousand troops surged forward like a tidal wave, their hoofbeats shaking the heavens and the earth. Leading the charge were three thousand Qiang cavalry, their horses strong and their riders fierce. Behind them, twenty thousand infantrymen carried makeshift siege ladders, shouting as they charged.

Umuhan rode a black warhorse, his scimitar pointing directly at Didao City: "Warriors! After the city falls, treasures and women are yours to take!"

The Qiang army's morale soared, and their charge became even more ferocious.

Gao Zhe calmly ordered: "Prepare the ballistae."

Fifty ballistae were lined up on the city wall, each requiring three operators. These ballistae had a range of up to three hundred paces, and their bolts were as thick as a child's arm, making them incredibly powerful.

"put!"

At a command, fifty massive crossbow bolts roared out, piercing the sky and striking the Qiang army. Instantly, men and horses fell, blood and flesh flew everywhere. One crossbow bolt even pierced through three Qiang soldiers, its momentum undiminished, embedding itself in the ground.

The Qiang army's charge was momentarily halted, but they then surged forward even more frantically.

"Archers, prepare!" Gao Lin ordered again.

Two thousand archers drew their bows and nocked their arrows, the arrowheads gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"Fire upwards!"

Arrows rained down like locusts, blotting out the sky. Although the Qiang army had leather shields for protection, the Han army's arrowheads were all made of fine steel, with extremely strong penetrating power. Many Qiang soldiers were pinned to the ground, shield and all, their screams echoing throughout the land.

Umuhan's eyes widened in fury: "Charge faster! The first to scale the city walls will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and appointed a commander of a thousand!"

Enticed by the generous reward, the Qiang soldiers disregarded casualties and charged to the city walls. Ladders were erected, and the Qiang soldiers climbed upwards like ants.

"Roll logs and stones!" Wang Ben shouted the order from the north gate.

The defenders pushed the prepared logs and stones down the city wall, smashing them onto the heads of the Qiang soldiers who were climbing up. Amid screams, corpses fell from mid-air.

Gao Lin personally drew his bow and fired three arrows in quick succession, each hitting its mark. Three Qiang soldiers who were about to scale the city wall fell to the ground.

The battle raged from dawn until noon, with the Qiang army launching six charges, all of which were repelled. Corpses littered the ground beneath the city walls, and blood flowed like rivers. The Han army, on the other hand, suffered only a little over three hundred casualties.

In the afternoon, the Qiang army suspended its attack. Umuhan summoned his generals for a meeting.

"The Southern Border Army is well-defended and well-equipped; a direct assault would result in too many casualties," said Vice General Zaxi in a deep voice.

Umuhan's face turned ashen: "Are we just going to retreat like this?"

“No,” Zaxi shook his head, “The Southern Army has limited arrows and logs; prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat. Our army can attack in waves, day and night, to deplete their defensive supplies.”

After a moment's thought, Wumuhan said, "Good! Order all units to take turns attacking, day and night!"