Rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 260

In Shangdang City, everything is in good order. Although the streets are not as lively as usual, there are no random people. From time to time, patrols composed of soldiers and civilians shuttle around.

Hao Zhao ordered people to post the bulletins, and at the same time conveyed orders in the army, and selected the dead to report to the city. Right now, he is trapped in the Shangdang, waiting to die. Only by going out to ask for help can he have a chance of survival.

When the news came out, there was an uproar in the city. Most of the people in Shangdang City were local people. Of course they didn't want to lose their homes.

There are also some people who were robbed by bandits from other places and fled here. They just settled down and suffered from bandits again, so they came to sign up one after another.

In just one day, more than a thousand people signed up. Seeing these bright-eyed young people, Hao Zhao couldn't help but feel a rush of enthusiasm. He put aside the short-term helplessness, and at this moment he just wanted to live and die with Shangdang. .

When everyone saw Hao Zhao, they were filled with righteous indignation, and they stepped forward one after another, clamoring to go out of the city to kill the enemy, but they didn't show any fear at all.

Zhang Shi was moved when he saw it, and sighed: "It is said that Yan and Zhao have many generous people. Isn't this the case in Bingzhou? Bo Dao is very popular!"

Hao Zhao looked stern, bowed his hands and cupped his fists and said, "I am very pleased that you can protect Shangdang regardless of life and death. I would like to thank you heroes."

Zhang Shi also led a group of Shangdang officials, and went forward to salute everyone deeply. These warriors who dare to face life and death deserve everyone's respect.

Young and full of vigor, they were all excited when they saw the salutes from the officials and generals, and all of them clenched their fists, wishing to rush out of the city immediately.

Hao Zhao signaled everyone to be quiet, and said in a deep voice, "For those who have no martial arts skills and are the only child at home, please stand on the right side."

Amidst the uproar, the crowd was in turmoil, and more than half of them stood on the right side. They were not all only children, but most of them did not know martial arts.

Some people were unwilling and shouted: "Does it count as shooting arrows when hunting?"

Hao Zhao nodded and said: "Those who are good at shooting will defend the city."

Then he turned to face the remaining people and said, "The good rider stands on the left."

Most of the people in the city come from poor backgrounds, not to mention riding a horse, many people have never even touched a horse, and a mount is a luxury for them, let alone good at riding.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, only less than 100 people stood on the left side, some of them had flickering eyes, some were guilty, some of them just knew how to ride a horse, and some even only rode once.

Someone in the crowd asked loudly: "I can ride a donkey, does that count?"

Hao Zhao frowned slightly, and said coldly, "It doesn't count!"

The man's face turned red, and amidst the low-pitched laughter, he retreated embarrassingly behind the crowd.

"You all come with me!" Hao Zhao looked at the remaining dozens of people with a stern look on his face and walked to the training ground first.

Those people followed, seeing Hao Zhao approaching a row of stone locks, looked around, and selected a hundred-jin stone lock, which was the centurion's selection criteria.

Hao Zhao said coldly: "Those who can lift the stone lock will be assigned armor and war horses."

"Captain Hao, isn't this too strict?"

"Just kidding? Who can lift this?"

……

Those young people suddenly showed displeasure. This is not a selection of dead soldiers. It is obviously to embarrass them on purpose. When they applied for the recruitment, they brought the whole family and even the elders of the street. Isn't it embarrassing?
Hao Zhao didn't speak, but stepped forward, raised the stone lock with one hand, turned it around before slowly putting it down, and the field was suddenly quiet.

I saw Hao Zhao saying in a deep voice: "The purpose of selecting dead soldiers is to seek help and rescue people, and to put them to death to survive, not to let you die!"

Everyone was silent, and finally one person stood up and strode forward: "Let me do it!"

He spat out and rubbed his palms, grabbed the stone lock with both hands, shouted loudly, but he only lifted the stone lock up, but he couldn't lift it up to his waist, and finally had no choice but to put it down.

Then everyone came forward one after another, but there were very few who could lift the stone lock. There were barely a few of them. on the ground.

Only thirty or so people have the strength of a hundred catties. In the horse farm behind, they were asked to ride horses for training. They each chose their own weapons and knocked down the scarecrow. Several people fell off their horses in an instant.

Hao Zhao watched quietly with his hands behind his back. Every time someone fell off his horse, his eyes flashed. It seemed impossible to send dead soldiers out of the city. If less than 20 people left the city, they would be killed immediately. The bandit army was drowned.

A real elite soldier is trained through iron and blood fighting. Even if these people have some skills, they may not be able to beat a veteran in a life-and-death fight. The number is too small, and they will only die if they go out of the city.

Zhang Shi frowned, shook his head and sighed: "It's really easy to get a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a general!"

Hao Zhao said lightly: "Incorporate them into the army, and help the uncle defend the city first!"

Zhang Shi shook his head lightly, and the last glimmer of hope was also shattered. It was difficult to kill him, so he could only stick to it and wait for help. However, this Shangdang is far away in the mountains, and there are black mountain bandits' lairs everywhere. Who would send troops to rescue him? ?

dong dong dong-

At this moment, drums suddenly sounded from the top of the city. This was an early warning order for the enemy to attack the city.

Hao Zhao glared and said in a deep voice: "Follow me!"

Zhang Shi called the recruits to rush to the top of the city together, only to see that the Black Mountain Army below the city was forming a square formation, preparing shields, bows and arrows, and the former army was constantly approaching the city.

Hao Zhao frowned, but calmly ordered: "Arm!"

The soldiers under him have already been well-trained, and each summoned troops to guard their own defense lines. The archers were ready to go at the battlements, and the rolling stones and trees were also continuously moved to the top of the city.

Zhang Shi glanced at the Black Mountain army swarming like ants outside the city, Nian Xu pondered for a moment, and suddenly said pleasantly: "Bo Dao, maybe we are saved, the reinforcements are here!"

Hao Zhao's eyes lit up, and he asked, "How did you see it?"

Zhang Shiyan said: "The thieves have besieged the city for nearly ten days and there has been no movement. Obviously they don't want to waste their troops and want to trap us to death, but at this moment they are suddenly eager to attack. There must be reinforcements entering Shangdang. The thieves can't continue the siege. Break through the city as soon as possible to resist the reinforcements."

"Well—it makes sense!" Hao Zhao pondered, "In this way, Liu Zhengli has pacified Taiyuan and sent troops to Shangdang."

"It's very likely to be soldiers from Taiyuan!" Zhang Shi nodded and said, "If we stick to it for another two days, maybe we can see reinforcements appearing outside the city."

"Hao Duwei, the east gate... quickly go to the east gate to have a look—"

Just when Hao Zhao was about to command his soldiers to defend against the bandits' attack, suddenly a soldier hurried over, pointing to the east and speaking incoherently.

"What's the matter?" Hao Zhao's face changed slightly. He was at the south gate at this time, thinking that the east gate was breached by bandits, so he hurried over.

"Come on, good job!"

"Come on—"

Halfway through the run, I saw that the defenders at the east gate were all holding up their weapons, waving their fists and shouting loudly. The drummer was beating the drum vigorously, and the veins in his neck were popping up.

Looking along the battlements, one could see a white shadow passing through the black bandit army, like a fast boat riding the wind and waves, approaching directly below the city.

(End of this chapter)