Chapter 74 Devil's Sweats

Fire, there is fire everywhere.

The north gate of Taixifeng soon turned into a sea of fire. The oil tank bombs falling from the sky further spread the fire to the city. The crossbow cannon hidden under the city wall was the first to suffer. The flowing sea of fire first swept the gunners in, and then ignited the phalanx mobile artillery vehicles. The main parts of these crossbow cannons are made of wood. In order to be waterproof, they are also coated with oil, and they burn quickly as soon as they are ignited.

The Sassanids cried and howled, pushed each other to seize the road and fled. Some people subconsciously fell to the ground and rolled, but as soon as they fell down, they regretted it. The ground was full of flowing oil, and the burning was even more fiercely, but they never had a chance to correct their mistakes. The companions behind swarmed, and countless feet trampled them down. On the ground, they struggled hard and tripped more people. They screamed and howled in the fire. The strong burning smell was mixed with the choking smell of oil, which made people sick.

The gate of the city became a veritable purgatory, and countless Sassanian soldiers suffered in purgatory.

Aldahir ran fast and was carried by the pragroom guard. He escaped from the fire in one breath along the wall leading to the palace. He looked at the crazy dancing flames in front of him and the thick smoke covering the sky, and his heart sank to the bottom. He can estimate that not only the crossbow cannons at the decorated gate were too late to transfer, but also the two soldiers in the urn city, and they had no way to escape. This fire burned at least five or six thousand people, and the whole north gate would be burned into ruins.

The only thing that reassured Aldahir was that there was such a big fire. Even if the city was in chaos, it was impossible to resist, but the Han people could only watch outside. Even if the fire was extinguished, the hot ground could not stand on. At least for a day, the Han people could not enter Thailand from here. Xifeng.

Sasanians are not ignorant of fire attack. They are very familiar with the sticky grease produced in these deserts. They call it the devil's sweat beads. They not only use this oil as medicine and paving the way, but also divide it into two categories. White oil is used for lighting. This kind of soot is relatively small, while black because the black smoke is too big. It is usually not used at home, but it is often used when defending the city. Ardahir prepared a large amount of this grease to get wet when the other party attacked the city with a ladder and burn the enemies who climbed the city. This kind of grease is very strong. Once stained, it is difficult to remove it. It is very lethal.

However, Aldahir did not expect that the other party would also use this oil as an offensive weapon. He even created the name to pack this oil in a clay pot, launch it as a stone of a crossbow cannon, and then ignite it remotely with a rocket. Aldahir has always been proud of his strong wall, which makes the other party not have enough gun stones to use, but he did not expect that the other party had come up with such a vicious idea, which caused more lethality than the gun stone.

A cannon stone kills up to three or four people, while a can of oil is enough to burn ten people. As long as it is stained with a fire, it will be peeled. The countless soldiers in front of them screaming in pain is a clear proof.

Did Ahura really abandon me? The other party not only solved the problem of insufficient gun stones, but also invented such a vicious weapon with the devil's sweat beads? How do they know the usefulness of these oils? The Romans must have told them.

Aldahir was furious, shouted, spit out a mouthful of blood, and fainted to the ground.

The Romans and the Guishuang people were also stunned. Sun Fengwei gave them most of the few cannon stones, enough for them to launch for two days. He left 40 crossbow cannons himself, but only a few cannon stones. If all 40 crossbow cannons were dispatched, his cannon stones would only be enough for two hours at most. At first, both Quintus and Bo Diao thought that Sun Shao was just a false shot, and they would soon enter a strong attack after a short period of shelling, so their task was mainly to contain the other party, not to go to the city. Out of this speculation, they used all their strength at the beginning to let the gunners fire as fast as possible to attract the attention of the city.

They never expected that Sun Feng would hide such a hand. This fire burned very suddenly and fiercely. Not only was Aldahir unprepared, but also Quintus and Botuo were also unprepared. Looking at the black smoke covering the whole sky, almost everyone was thinking that the great Han people were the virtue of fire, and the country of Yue was the fire in the fire. Sure enough, he is the proud son favored by the god of light. The fire attack is divine and can't be prevented. It turns out that fire can not only be used to burn people who climb the city when defending the city, but also can also be used to burn the gate when attacking the city. It can also be fired as a gun stone to attack the enemy from a long distance, and it is more lethal.

Kuntus hesitated a little and immediately sent someone to Sun Feng's generals to ask for an oil bomb, which they also wanted to use to attack the city wall. Unexpectedly, Sun Feng refused. He said that the fire attack was just to warn Aldahir and prove to him that my grandson was the protector of Ahura, not to burn down the whole city of Taixi. As an ancient city with a long history, Taixi has been the capital of Parthia and Sassan. It has a history of more than 400 years. How can I bear to burn down this famous city? What's more, there are more than 100,000 people in the city. These people are the people of Ahura. I once promised Ahura how to treat them well and turn back on their guard and push them all into the purgatory of death.

Quentus was speechless. He also remembered the voice from the sky when the miracle happened last night. Ahura did want Sun Feng to be kind to his people, otherwise he would abandon Sun Feng like abandoning Aldahir. Although he felt that Sun Feng was suspected of hiding selfishness, he saw these with his own eyes, and it was not easy to force Sun Feng to take them out and share them.

Besides, if he had such a sharp weapon, he would probably find some excuses to keep it for his own use.

After burning the north gate into a sea of fire, Sun Feng ordered to stop the attack and sent people to stand on the top of the siege car and shout to the city, hoping that Ardahir would see the situation clearly and not resist stubbornly, so as to bring unnecessary sacrifices to the people and soldiers in the city.

The shouting man stood on the siege car. He no longer had to be as embarrassed as Cao Zhi just now. The walls within the attack range of the crossbow cannon were already on fire. There was no need to worry that someone would shoot arrows or shoot crossbows in the fire.

Cao Zhi and Li Yan boarded the siege car with their guards and enjoyed their results at close range. Because Cao Zhi found the large-scale gathering of the enemy in time, replaced the gun stone, and gave the garrison a head-on attack, bringing the war into a favorable situation in advance. Although he hasn't reached the city yet, Cao Zhi has already made his first contribution. He is in a very good mood now. Even if he smells the stench, he feels very happy. The only regret is that this kind of black oil burned too much smoke. It fell from the air and soon dyed his snow-white cot into flowers. Even the bright light armor rewarded by his father Cao Yan was stained with a lot of black oil, which was not in line with his image of his romantic talent and Confucian general.

"Zi Jian, don't you want to recite poems in this situation?" Li Yan shouted through three siege vehicles. Encouraged by the huge victory, seeing that Taixi's lockdown was at his fingertips, he, who had always been old-fashioned, couldn't help but joke with Cao Zhi.

"Hahahaha..." Cao Zhi looked up to the sky and laughed: "Brother Zhengfang, I only have murderous spirit now, and there is no poetry. I'm waiting for Prince Sun's order to go first. Brother Zhengfang, don't argue with me at that time.

"Mave poetry, I won't argue with you. I'm not allowed to go to the city. Li Yan stroked his beard and laughed and said, "Zijian, you have made a contribution. Don't fight for this second achievement?"

"That won't work." Cao Zhi waved his hand, "How can you have a good time if you don't kill the head of the city yourself?"

"In that case, let's not be polite. Let's do our own business." Li Yan laughed loudly and said, "I'm afraid that Ardahir will be timid by the fire and open the door to surrender. At that time, we won't have to fight."

"No." Cao Zhi said confidently, "That old dog is a character and will not surrender so easily. I think Prince Sun is a little whimsical.

Li Yan smiled and didn't answer his words. Cao Zijian was indeed a madman who criticized Sun Feng in front of so many soldiers. Although these soldiers are either from the State of Wei or the State of Shu, and none of them are from the State of Yue, Sun Feng is the main general after all, and he has just burned Aldahir with a fire. It is likely to take the solid Taixi Fengcheng in a short period of time. With this alone, he is enough for all the generals to worship. How can countless young heroes criticize him for being whimsical at this time?

There is a dead silence at the head of the city. The Sasanids on the walls on both sides of the gate looked at the tower that had burned into ashes and were silent. The city stopped attacking, and they also stopped fighting back. They just looked at the changed tower, and most people remembered the miracles they saw last night.

Ahura has appeared, and the Han people are really the fire in the fire. He stopped attacking now, not because he did not have the ability to continue to attack, but to fulfill his promise to Ahura. He should be kind to Ahura's people.

Taixi Fengcheng fell into a strange silence, and everyone was waiting for Ardahir's reply.

The palace is in a mess.

Ardahir lay on the golden couch, with his teeth closed, and there was no reaction to the surrounding chaos. Except that his chest was still undulating, he was no different from the dead. It was like this on the first day of a war that had been prepared for several months, which surprised everyone and messed up. The sudden fall of Aldahir pushed this chaos to the brink of collapse.

Aquila, the high priest, knelt in front of the altar in the palace with more than a dozen priests, reciting prayers over and over again, with an indescribable panic in the rapid chanting.

Several sons of Aldahir and more than a dozen cronies were surrounded by the brocade couch with different faces. More than a dozen women looked at Aldahir motionless in the distance and shed tears. Aldahir has always been an undefeated god of war in their minds. They never thought that Aldahir would become like this one day. A fierce battle had just begun, and when the two sides were still warming up, they actually suffered such a big loss. They had just made a duel with both sides, and they had not moved their bodies here. Well, they were beaten with a muffled stick by the other party, and their morale plummeted, and these people's confidence in Aldahir was also shaken.

Did Ahura really abandon the Sassanid family?

Many generals are thinking about this problem. Although they dare not say it in front of the Ardahir family, the wandering in their eyes revealed this idea and exchanged eyes with each other from time to time.

Aquila, who had finished praying, looked at these eyes and was anxious. Those who could come to the palace were Ardahir's trusted generals. Although they had doubts, they would not betray Ardahir immediately, because everything they were given by Ardahir. Even if they turned to Sun Feng, they might not be able to get it. More benefits. In the face of interests, even if the faith is shaken, it will not collapse immediately. But what about the others? Driven by faith, will they surrender and welcome Ahura's favorite new king to Taixifeng?

As a high priest, Aquila's truth about religious belief is far more transparent than that of ordinary people. What is a miracle? As a high priest, he talked to the gods countless times in a trance, but all the miracles shown in front of the people were all directed by him. Of course, he didn't believe Ahura's will for the miracle last night, but he couldn't say it, and no one believed it. If people think that they had been talking before, the result would be worse.

The only way now is to insist that it is not Ahura, but Ahura's enemy Aliman. Anyway, no one knows what is the difference between Ahura and Aliman.

"Gentlemen, Aliman, through the hands of our enemies, burned our city with evil fire and burned our people to death. Ahura was very angry. He has issued a divine decree to perform miracles to punish Aliman and those demons from the East. You go back and get ready first. I will use the elixir Ahuraa has just given to wake up his favorite king of Sassan, and he will lead you to defeat Aliman and his slaves.

Everyone looked at each other and took a step back, but did not leave. The general of the imperial guard bowed and saluted: "Great high priest, we dare not disobey Ahura's will, but we also care about the body of the king of Sassanid. Please allow us to see him wake up, so that we can bring the good news to the panicked soldiers."

Aquila thought for a moment, nodded, and didn't say much. He walked to Aldahir, put his left hand flat, and his right hand stood up on his chest, pinched a flame-like fingerprints, recited a few scriptures softly, and then stroked a few words with his left hand on Aldahir's chest and sang loudly: "Ahula's favorite. King, wake up quickly, follow the teachings of Ahura, and defeat Aliman and his shameful slaves. Get up, save your people, save Taixifeng, save Sassan--"

With the last long tone, Aldahir on the bed suddenly moved, suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, "Great Ahura, I will definitely listen to your call without any hesitation--"

Everyone was stunned, and then looked at each other happily. The depression on their faces was swept away, and the sunshine returned to their hearts again. They rushed over and looked at Ardahir, who had just woken up. Ardahir's face magically returned to his usual ruddyness, and his eyes were bright. He sat up, separated from his people around him, knelt down in front of Aquila, and kissed his shoes: "I will follow your instructions, defeat Aliman and the hateful oriental devil, defend Taisiphon, defend my people, defend Sasan, even if you sacrifice my life, you won't hesitate.

"My king, listen to the teachings of Ahura, and you will be victorious. Listen to the teachings of Ahura, and you will have eternal life. Fight with your courage and loyalty. You will be invincible. No one can block your blade and horseshoe..."

The generals knel down one after another and recited the scriptures of praise for Ahura loudly. There was a masculine chanting sound in the palace, and the haze just now was swept away. The concubines who fled in the distance cried with joy, closed their eyes one after another, and then recited. After reciting the scriptures, the generals kissed Aldahir's hands one by one, and then respectfully retreated. They then informed the whole city of the process of Aldahir's magical awakening, telling all the soldiers and people that Ahura did not give up Aldahir. He had just rescued the unconscious Aldahir with his divine power and wanted to lead them to victory.

The dull atmosphere of Taixi finally regained a little confidence.

Ardahir breathed a sigh of relief and sat powerlessly on the broad throne, with his eyebrows locked, and looked at Aquila opposite: "Is there any other way?"

"I have sent people to arrange it in the city, and some miracles will appear soon, but..." Aquila smiled bitterly: "I still can't think of any illusion that can show miracles in such a high air. I'm afraid the effect will not be ideal."

"Do as much as you can." Aldahir waved his hand: "The Han people are too cunning. They not only surpass us in creating miracles, but also beyond our ability in siege technology. Although I have prepared a lot of devil's sweat and prepared tricks to prepare against fire attack, but..." He sighed with a sigh of emgrily: "I didn't expect such a simple one. The method, in vain let them take the lead, killed and injured so many soldiers, and burned the gate by them.

"The enemy is cunning. We must be more cunning than them to win this victory." Aquila comforted, "What are you going to do next?"

"I still have a lot of crossbow cannons. We can do what he can do." Aldahir held his forehead with one hand and looked at the void in front of the seat sadly: "I'm just thinking about how to make this victory bigger, more like Ahura's will, not just imitating our enemies."

Aquila frowned and thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Why don't you use the ambush outside the city to burn their camp?" As long as their storage is burned, our chances of winning will be greater. It would be great if they could destroy their oil tanks.

Aldahir turned his eyes, pondered for a long time, and nodded slowly: "Yes, this is indeed a good way, and we can do it better."

(to be continued)