Dazhou took advantage of these few days to speed up repairs on the outer city, but the time was too short. When the enemy came back, only half of the project was completed.
It couldn't be completed anyway, so Ji Jia simply ordered trenches to be dug out of the original barbican city and more kerosene tanks were installed.
The siege battle started again. After a day of hard fighting, both the offensive and defensive sides made gains.
The front city wall changed hands several times. After the Qin army climbed onto the city wall, it was difficult to move forward. The city bricks were dyed red, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.
Ji Jie in the pavilion patted Ji Xueling's sweating hands and said, "Da Zhou has not broken his muscles or bones. According to my estimate, the number of casualties these days should not exceed 3,000, and there are at least 16,000 more."
With seven thousand troops, as long as you have the confidence to hold on, it will be difficult for the Qin army to succeed!"
The death toll of the Qin army was approaching five thousand, and even more were injured.
To the east of the royal city, hundreds of tunnels are being worked on in full swing. They belong to the Zhaocheng garrison. Ji Jie wants to dig a tunnel here directly to the royal city, so that if the city is breached, the soldiers and civilians in the city can be transferred.
Of course, this was all being done in secret. If the emperor and those ministers who were afraid of death knew about this escape route, they would immediately order the city to be abandoned.
The continuous siege every day consumes a lot of money on both sides. The royal city has been poor for many years, there are gaps in the arrows, and the rolling logs and stones have long been used up. They can only send people to the city late at night to collect them for use the next day.
After these things have been used several times, they can no longer be used.
Meng Ao was keenly aware of this. The next siege became louder with thunder and less rain. The shields in the hands of the soldiers were all replaced by wooden ones. Every charge was done with style. As soon as they rushed to the city, they took the shields with them.
The feather arrows on it began to retreat.
Ji Jia was dumbfounded. He had to shoot arrows. Then the Qin army would definitely turn the fake siege into reality. What would happen then? Shoot arrows. There are not many in the first place. This way, there are several opportunities to pick them up.
All gone.
Sima Jing gave a thumbs up and flattered him: "General Meng has a good plan. Without arrows, the defender of the city is like a tiger with its teeth pulled out!"
Meng Ao waved his hand and said: "Inform you of the spies stationed in the royal city and ask them to spread rumors that the Qin army will break through the city in the near future. When the city is broken, no chickens or dogs will be left!"
"Okay!" Sima Jing readily agreed.
In the middle of the night, the yawning Zhou army discovered a group of Qin soldiers rushing toward the city gate, and quickly beat the war drums. The sleeping soldiers hurriedly put on their armor, picked up their weapons, and climbed up the wall to defend themselves. Everyone's nerves became tense.
But the Qin army circled in front of the city gate and returned the same way without even firing an arrow!
The Qin army's camp was lit with flames, making it look like a night battle. In fact, the soldiers were all fast asleep, and they just lit a few more fires.
Ji Jia didn't know what the plan was, so he ordered the defenders to keep their eyes open to prepare for the enemy's sneak attack.
For several days, Zhou Jun was exhausted. Many of them had obvious dark circles under their eyes, their faces were full of fatigue, and they were seriously sleep deprived.
On the other hand, the Qin army was all red-faced and full of fighting spirit, and they still worked so hard when attacking the city.
Finally, the last feather arrow in Zhou Jun's hand was shot out, and the soldiers smashed it down with bricks. These bricks came from private houses in the city, and the Chinese people who had their houses demolished had to sleep on the road.
Rumors spread everywhere. Ji Zhang led the palace guards to arrest many people who spread rumors and killed dozens of them, but they could not stop the spread of rumors.
The spies not only spread rumors, but also secretly set fires in the dead of night. The residences of several ministers were also burned down. People in the city were panicked. The voices of the peace talks and surrender factions overshadowed the main war faction.
King Nan of Zhou Dynasty was in panic all day long. If Prince Ji Jia had not insisted, he would have probably sent a surrender letter and led his ministers out of the city to surrender.
Ji Jie had to admit that this usually dandy prince was a bit bloody, at least much better than his father.
The tunnel was successfully dug into the royal city. Ji Jie led two strong men, Xiong Ba and Xiong Ben, into the royal city and went straight to the palace.
"General Zhaowen, why is it you?" The palace guard recognized him and asked in surprise: "How did you get here?"
"Quickly tell me, I want to meet the emperor!" Ji Jie had no time to fight with a little guard.
"yes!"
Upon hearing Ji Jie's request for an audience, King Zhou Nan was overjoyed at first. He was saved! However, he quickly regained his composure and wondered what Ji Jie was here for. Was there some conspiracy?
King Nan of Zhou was suspicious by nature, so he cleared his throat and said expressionlessly: "Please!"
After performing the courtesy of a monarch and his ministers, Ji Jie stood up without waiting for the emperor to say anything. This made King Zhou Nan very embarrassed. This was in front of all the ministers.
"What are you here for?" King Zhou Nan asked coldly.
Damn it! What kind of attitude do you have? I'm too lazy to care about you. I came here to help you so kindly, but you still don't appreciate it. If it weren't for Xue Ling, who would care about your life or death and who would be your grandson!
"Come to the rescue!" Ji Jie's answer was only three words.
"Haha, I, Lord Zhaowen, you are really good at joking!" King Nan of Zhou said boldly: "I have 20,000 soldiers, and two sons, Jia'er and Zhang'er, who are good at fighting. Do you want you to save me?"
At this time, a soldier with two arrows stuck in his back rushed in and gasped: "It's bad, the Qin army is attacking from the front, it's fierce, the city wall is crumbling, and it may collapse at any time!"
"What?" King Zhou Nan jumped up regardless of his image. He was bragging a second ago, which was like his own typewriter face.
After the soldier who reported the news knelt down and said those words, he threw himself to the ground and never stood up again.
King Zhou Nan's attitude made a 180-degree turn, with a smile on his face: "Good nephew, do you have a way to protect the king's city?"
Ji Jie really couldn't stand his attitude and said angrily: "Even if the gods come, they can't protect the royal city!"
"Then you just..."
"What I just meant is that I can save the lives of the emperor and everyone else!" Ji Jie looked at King Zhou Nan sideways and said, "I don't have the ability to save the royal city. Of course, you have two sons who are good at fighting, so you don't need my help.
,right!"
King Zhou Nan blushed. After all, life is more important than face. He laughed twice and said: "My nephew is really good at joking. How can Jia'er and Zhang'er compare with you! You can't just die without saving me."
,Uncle please!”
After speaking, he made a gesture towards the ministers, and all the ministers quickly echoed: "Please help General Zhaowen!"
Ji Jie shrugged and said, "No problem! But you have to cooperate with me, and the Qin army cannot attack today no matter what. As long as you can hold on until dark, I guarantee that you can escape from here before dawn!"
King Nan of Zhou ordered Ji Jia, who was supervising the battle, to defend to the death.
Fortunately, God helped. It rained heavily and the siege equipment could not move forward in the mud. The Qin army had to temporarily retreat.
I really don’t know whether King Zhou Nan is lucky or Ji Jie is lucky.