After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 818 - 808: Assault on the City

Just as the thought flashed by, another loud "bang"! The ground shook and the palace trembled twice. Liu Yuan felt uneasy and hurriedly held onto the eunuch’s hand to rise, stumbling outward.

The Imperial Palace of Pingyang City stood slightly high, and one could look out to the city gate from the palace doors. At this moment, the direction of the city gate was ablaze.

Before he could speak, another loud noise accompanied by huge plumes of smoke and flame suddenly rose up. Liu Yuan asked with trembling lips, "What, what is that?"

At this time, Chen Wu, Xie Shi, and Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and others were all staring with wide eyes at the huge iron balls exploding up and down at the Pingyang City gate. Each blast made their hearts tremble.

For them, it was even scarier for the troops.

The soldiers’ hearts surged with emotions, staring at Fu Tinghan with a mix of admiration and awe.

Only Zhao Erlang was hovering around Fu Tinghan, excitedly walking to another trebuchet to watch him teach soldiers how to calibrate the machine and then step aside.

Seeing the torch in the soldier’s hand, Zhao Erlang was eager, "Brother-in-law, let me light this one up."

Fu Tinghan thought about it and nodded, "Then you light it." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The iron cans were specially made by Qiu Wu’s craftsmen to transport the gunpowder, and outside the iron can, there was an additional wooden barrel.

In recent days, Fu Tinghan opened the iron cans and modified the gunpowder inside, reattached the fuse. To prevent the fuse from prematurely contacting the gunpowder and to ensure it wouldn’t extinguish during the toss, he added bamboo tubing outside.

Yesterday, they tested the time required to throw the equivalent weight to calculate the needed fuse to ensure the gunpowder exploded within three seconds of landing.

Zhao Erlang, unlike the nearby soldiers who were tense, grabbed the torch and ignited the fuse right after Fu Tinghan ordered the fire.

The fuse sparked and crackled, and the soldier beside immediately cut the rope, causing the trebuchet to catapult powerfully, sending the iron ball whizzing toward Pingyang City. This time, the iron ball was even more accurate, slamming right on top of the city gate, falling down and exploding before hitting the ground.

After the dust settled, a large hole was blasted in the city gate, and the Xiongnu soldiers lurking inside wailed.

Seeing this, Chen Wu and others shuddered, turning to look at Fu Tinghan, who lowered his brows and continued to adjust another trebuchet’s angle.

When he noticed their gaze, he turned and nodded kindly, saying, "Just one last, I’ll try my best to blast open the gate for you."

Chen Wu and others forced smiles, nodding while trembling.

Fu Tinghan did as he said, and this time, again accurately aimed at the city gate. After a loud bang, a large part of Pingyang City’s gate was blown open, terrifying the people above and below the city wall.

Zhao Hanzhang pointed her spear, loudly declaring, "Soldiers, Heaven blesses our Great Jin, follow me to restore order, charge—"

The soldiers immediately regained their spirits, shouting, "Charge—"

Zhao Hanzhang led the charge, and the soldiers immediately followed. Fu Tinghan stood in place, watching thousands of soldiers run past him, charging straight out. He turned to the soldiers controlling the trebuchet, "Load stones, adjust height, target the city wall."

"Yes!"

The soldiers quickly moved stones, tied ropes, and threw...

Once Zhao Hanzhang charged into the city, Fu Tinghan and his team stopped to avoid injuries from falling stones.

A supporting rear army stood behind Fu Tinghan, motionless.

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, as strategists, stood still as they listened to the thunderous battle cries from Pingyang City. Soon, someone charged onto the city wall, prompting them to finally move their stiff bodies and quickly retrieve their thousand-mile eyes.

They saw Zhao Erlang, with a spear in one hand, pick off an enemy, holding a knife with the other, cutting down the flag on the city wall. His retinue quickly brought over a flag, which they unfurled and planted.

The "Zhao" flag unfurled in the wind, fluttering fiercely on the city gate.

Excitedly, Ji Yuan said to Fu Tinghan, "We have taken the Pingyang City wall, First Young Master."

Ming Yu glanced at him but was quick to follow, "In this battle, Minister Fu should take the first credit."

Ji Yuan was indeed different, he used to call him Mr. Fu or Minister Fu, now he’s calling him First Young Master?

Seeing the Zhao Family Army smoothly charge into Pingyang City with minimal losses, Fu Tinghan managed a smile, recognizing that using gunpowder had both pros and cons. Now, it seemed fewer people would die.

Exhaling, he nodded to Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, "Please take troops to the North City Gate and East City Gate to guard against the Liu Royal Family’s escape."

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu took on serious expressions, promptly agreeing.

Ji Yuan gauged, "Do not guard too strictly, give some leeway. Outside the imperial family, let those who wish to flee, flee."

Fu Tinghan nodded, affirming, "Don’t pursue a cornered enemy."

Ji Yuan chuckled, agreeing, and seeing Ming Yu watching him, tugged him away, each leading a large army.

However, before leaving, Ji Yuan specially called over Shi Hongtu and Lu Daxuan, instructing, "Protect First Young Master well."

The two guards nodded earnestly, with utmost solemnity.

Ming Yu was pulled a long way out before freeing his hand, saying softly, "Mr. Ji certainly knows how to adapt to circumstances."

"Adapt to circumstances? I’ve always respected Mr. Fu," Ji Yuan replied solemnly, "He is a secondary lord."

"Really?" Ming Yu said, "I’ve always thought Mr. Ji regarded Second General as the secondary lord."

Ji Yuan ignored his comment, looked around and asked, "Are you heading to the North City Gate or the East City Gate?"

Ming Yu replied, "East."

Ji Yuan pursed his lips, not being modest, as the distance to the North City Gate was quite far, and parts were still controlled by the Xiongnu, the Zhao Family Army couldn’t completely encircle the Xiongnu army outside Pingyang City.

But Ji Yuan still headed there.

Zhao Hanzhang still wanted to use the Xiongnu imperial family members to exchange for Zhao Zhongyu, so they couldn’t escape.

Many soldiers knew Zhao Hanzhang intended to use the Xiongnu imperial family members as bargaining chips, so upon charging into the city, they rushed toward the Imperial Palace with all their might.

The Xiongnu army within Pingyang City was intimidated by their momentum, along with the pressure from earlier explosive charges, causing them to lag behind against the fierce Qihu Army and Zhao Family Army.

Especially since the Qihu Army excelled in city combat, Chen Wu took the lead, his Qihu Army clearing a street within fifteen minutes, heading straight for the Imperial Palace.

Zhao Erlang was still planting the flag on the city wall when Xie Shi charged inside and, frustrated with his lack of action, commanded him, "Second Son, bring your men to the Imperial Palace, even the Inspector has gone!"

Zhao Hanzhang preferred clearing enemies before proceeding, so she was a step behind Chen Wu. By the time she reached the Imperial Palace, Chen Wu was already clashing with the imperial guard, and Xiongnu officials, palace maids, eunuchs, and others were chaotically fleeing.

Seeing the scene, Zhao Hanzhang called Zhao Erlang to attack from the left flank while she assisted from the right flank, "Everyone, disregarding status, surrendering without arms will be spared!"