Chapter 46: Behind the Qin Envoys Lie a Million Elite Soldiers!

Facing the Qin army pressing against the city walls, let alone the Han army facing the sharp edge of Qin's might, even the civilians within the city were filled with despair.

The reputation of Qin as a nation of tigers and wolves was known throughout the world!

In this era, massacres of cities were not unheard of, and this was what the common people feared most. After all, they were in the capital of Han, not Qin; how could they know how the Qin army would treat them?

Hearing that the armies of Zhao and Wei were coming to reinforce them, the Han army, which had previously felt isolated and helpless, regained its morale. Naturally, this ignited a spark of hope!

Zhang Ping walked slowly up to the city ramparts.

Looking at the Qin army in the distance, which was gradually converging into battle formations, his brow furrowed deeply.

"The Qin army... they truly are the world-renowned elite force of tigers and wolves."

"Compared to them, our Great Han army lacks morale, lacks vitality, and lacks sharpness."

"If we did not have these city walls for defense, Great Han would have no way to contend with them."

Watching the momentum the Qin army formed even before launching their attack, Zhang Ping's heart grew even heavier.

Just then!

In front of the Qin army's lines.

A chariot broke away from the formation and galloped toward the capital of Han.

When it was less than dozens of yards from the city walls.

The chariot came to a halt.

"Who is the official in charge upon the city?"

Aboard the chariot, Li Teng stood clad in armor with a sword at his waist, staring at the capital of Han as he shouted.

Zhang Ping stepped forward slowly, his face wearing an expression of calm. "This Prime Minister, Zhang Ping, is here."

"So it is the Prime Minister of Han."

Recognizing him, Li Teng smiled and then said, "I am General Li Teng. By the decree of our Qin King, I lead the Royal Army to destroy the disobedient! Prime Minister Han, things have reached this point; does your state of Han still intend to resist to the bitter end?"

"As long as Han surrenders, everything in the city can be preserved. I can promise that your Han ancestral temples will not be extinguished, the civilians in the city will not face the danger of massacre, and your Han officials will be spared."

Zhang Ping let out a cold sneer. "Heh!"

"A Royal Army?"

"What do you call a 'Royal Army'?"

"Your Qin state raises an unrighteous army and tramples upon our territory without cause. This is an army of injustice, and the world ought to join together to strike it down!" Zhang Ping shouted coldly.

"Our Great Qin raises an unrighteous army?" Li Teng responded with a similar sneer.

"A year ago."

"The King of Han expelled our Great Qin's diplomatic officials stationed in Xinzheng. Our Great Qin's Chancellor, Li Si, personally came to Xinzheng, yet he was also refused an audience by the King of Han and was kicked out of the palace."

"Does Prime Minister Han not know that an envoy represents the very face of a nation?"

"Expelling our Great Qin's ministers and kicking out our Chancellor."

"This is a slap in the face of Great Qin, and a slap in the face of our million elite soldiers!"

"The fact that Great Qin brings its army here today is of your own making!"

"Let me tell you."

"Behind the envoys of Great Qin lies the sharp edge of our million elite soldiers!" Li Teng roared.

Since ancient times.

Raising an army required a legitimate reason; otherwise, it would be considered an unrighteous mobilization, which would inevitably have a significant impact on military morale and the perception of the other states.

The reason Qin moved against Han first.

King Zheng of Qin had, of course, deliberated deeply.

A few years ago, Qin fought against the state of Zhao. In the early stages, they achieved good results and captured many Zhao cities, but later, the King of Zhao mobilized Li Mu, who was stationed in Dai, to reinforce the front, ultimately forcing the Qin army to retreat.

It was precisely after that incident that the King of Han, who had almost entirely submitted to Great Qin, changed his mind and turned to seek refuge with Zhao.

First, he expelled the Qin envoys, and then he treated the envoys—including Li Si, who held the high office of Chancellor—with malice.

Qin moved to attack Han!

Firstly, as retaliation; secondly, to show the world the consequences of making an enemy of Great Qin.

"I, Zhang Ping, would rather die than surrender!"

"If you have the ability, then show it."

Zhang Ping no longer engaged in a war of words with Li Teng. When the King of Han expelled the Qin envoys, Zhang Ping had naturally agreed; he had his own reasons for doing so.

"Since Prime Minister Han seeks his own death."

"This general will no longer persuade you."

Li Teng cast a glance at Zhang Ping and said no more.

With a wave of his hand.

The soldiers driving the chariot immediately turned their horses around and returned to the main Qin army.

After returning to the formation!

Li Teng drew his sword, his gaze cold and piercing as he stared at the capital of Han. Pointing his blade straight ahead, he bellowed, "Great Qin Elite!"

"Feng! Feng! Feng!!!"

The war cries of "Feng" echoed in all directions.

Shaking the very heavens.

The elite soldiers of Qin were historically known as the strongest army of this era.

Their military prestige was overwhelming.

"Archers, stones!"

Li Teng shouted again.

As the command fell.

Dozens of messengers standing behind him quickly spurred their horses toward the battle formations, spreading out.

They were all responsible for relaying military orders.

"By order of the General!"

"Archers, prepare!"

"Catapults, prepare!"

"Kill!"

The dozens of messengers dispersed into the pre-arranged formations, shouting loudly.

When one rider reached the formation commanded by Zhao Feng.

Hearing the orders.

Zhao Feng also lifted his Black Iron bow, his expression solemn.

This was the first true major battle since Zhao Feng had been transferred to the main combat camp.

"War!" Zhao Feng thought to himself, gripping his Black Iron bow tightly.

Behind him, five thousand elite soldiers all held bows and arrows, with quivers on their backs, carrying no long spears or halberds.

His ten-thousand-man battalion was not the vanguard for this battle; his assigned task was to fire arrows toward the capital of Han.

At that moment!

"By order of the Commander!"

"Attack!"

Chen Tao rode up on his warhorse, holding a long spear. With a loud shout, he swung the spear.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

The battle formations advanced toward the capital of Han in an orderly fashion.

It was not just Zhao Feng's battalion, but two other ten-thousand-man battalions as well.

Thirty thousand troops, thirty thousand archers, each quiver filled to the brim with feathered arrows.

Li Teng had ordered them to suppress the enemy with three hundred thousand arrows, but the arrows carried by the thirty thousand archers far exceeded ten per person.

Watching the Qin army advance toward the city.

Zhang Ping immediately shouted loudly, "General Cao, the Qin army is attacking! I don't care what methods you use, you must hold the line! I will personally oversee the battle within the city. Anyone who dares to desert their post shall be executed without mercy!"

"Rest assured, Prime Minister!" Cao Yi responded loudly.

He then drew his sword. "Archers, prepare! Once the Qin army enters range, fire immediately!"

Cao Yi stared at the front of the city, estimating the Qin army's advance.

Thirty thousand Qin archers and over a hundred catapults were advancing.

When the distance closed to sixty yards from the capital of Han.

"Halt!"

All the commanders of the three ten-thousand-man battalions stopped their march.

The elite soldiers of each battalion began to rapidly spread out, completely covering the area in front of the city.

"Fire! Fire quickly!"

Cao Yi shouted immediately.

"General!"

"We have not yet entered our effective range," a deputy general replied hurriedly.

"Rumors have been circulating among the states that Qin's arrows have a longer range. Is it true?" Cao Yi felt a deep sense of unease.

In the next instant.

The thirty thousand Qin archers had completely dispersed and increased their spacing.

"Kill!"

The three Qin commanders shouted in unison.

"Feng! Feng! Feng!"

The war cries rose again.

Thirty thousand Qin elites raised their bows simultaneously.

In the next moment.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

The very air and space above the capital of Han trembled with the thunderous vibration of bowstrings being released!!