Chapter 5156 A complete defeat

The Tang army's artillery shells fell one by one, and each of them extended to the south, chasing after Yezide and others. The only way to escape the range of the artillery was to leave the city quickly. However, there were too many troops gathered inside the South Gate, and there was no way out of the city. As the explosions got closer and closer, everyone became restless.

Auf rode forward and realized at a glance that it was too late to get everyone out of the city before the shells landed. He made a prompt decision, drew his scimitar, and shouted, "Everyone, listen up! Move to the east and west and get out of the city gate!"

The crowd was in an uproar.

We are not fools, who doesn’t understand the meaning of this order?
Let the Marshal and several generals leave the city first and escape from the range of Tang army's artillery!

And these people will inevitably be bombed...

The crowd began to move, but very slowly.

The Caliph's direct troops must naturally obey orders, but there are also troops from other tribes here!

Someone shouted, "General, please give the order to open the city gates quickly. Let's get out of the city first, and then the road will be cleared for you to follow!"

"That's right. Why should we suffer the bombing here while the Marshal escapes alone?"

"Open the door! Open the door!"

As a small number of people started to make noise, more people began to make noise.

Auf looked back and saw bombardments coming in like a flood. The sea of fire was extending towards the south gate little by little. If he delayed any further, it would fall on his head.

He was furious, gritted his teeth, and raised his scimitar: "Guards, listen up, clear the road immediately. Anyone who blocks our way will be killed without mercy!"

Behind him, Yezid's guards, wearing chain mail and holding swords and shields, rushed forward in neat steps. Many soldiers who had not yet reacted were chopped down by the swords and fell to the ground, screaming in agony.

The soldiers were completely panicked. Who could have thought that Auf would order a killing just because of a disagreement?
Many people quickly retreated to the east and west sides.

However, with tens of thousands of people gathered together, one next to the other, it is impossible for anyone to retreat if they want to. There are people and horses all around them, front, back, left and right. If others don't move, then no one can move!
The guards charged into the crowd, like a giant chisel, carving out a path of blood and flesh.

"Oh no! The shells are coming!"

The guards were killing people, and the shells were getting closer and closer, finally igniting the soldiers' anger.

"After being beaten back step by step by the Tang people and suffering a heavy defeat, you want to escape by stepping on our dead bodies?"

"Ofu, you are a traitor, you have put the Marshal in a cruel and violent situation!"

"Open the door! Open the door!"

"Do you expect the traitor Auf to order the door to be opened? We will open it ourselves!"

Soon, the soldiers guarding the gate were knocked to the ground, and countless soldiers fled screaming in fear.

However, the city gate was only slightly wide, and could accommodate a very limited number of people walking side by side. So many soldiers in the city all crowded forward, and not only could they not pass through the city gate, but they were blocked in the gate arch, with no way to advance or retreat.

Some people even climbed on top of others, hoping to climb out of the city through the gap above...

Auf was stunned. The stampede occurred in just a moment. Countless people were crowded at the city gate, completely blocking the way out of the city.

boom!
The shells landed behind them, sparks flew everywhere, and houses were set on fire.

Ye Qide only felt his hands and feet go numb and he was at a loss.

Maslama thought quickly: "Let's go to the city!"

Auf also reacted and quickly called back the guards who were still trying to cut a passage, then rushed to the side of the city gate and climbed up the tower along the horse path. There were dozens of ropes for defending the city in the tower, and they were all tied down to the bottom of the city.

Auf pushed Yezid to the arrow stack and urged him, "General, get down from the city quickly!"

Ye Qide looked back and was immediately terrified and his eyes were bloodshot!
The entire city was engulfed in a sea of fire. The Tang army's artillery shells continued to extend southward, engulfing the city gate in a sea of fire. Countless soldiers were struggling and howling in the sea of fire. More people tried to climb the city wall to escape the sea of fire. The guards blocked the exit of the horse path to prevent the chaotic soldiers from climbing the city wall, buying more time for Yezid and others to evacuate. Otherwise, once chaos broke out, no one could escape.

Yezide climbed down the city wall along the rope and put his feet on the ground. Even though he could still hear the roar of artillery shells exploding in the city, he let out a long sigh of relief, knowing he was temporarily safe.

Afterwards, Auf, Maslama and others, as well as their guards and personal soldiers, also left the city.

Yezid calmed down and saw the defeated soldiers pouring out of the city gate not far away. He quickly ordered: "Go quickly to reorganize the troops and assemble them for defense!"

Auf and Maslama quickly sent guards and personal soldiers forward, ordering the troops who had escaped from the city to gather on the spot and not to flee in all directions.

After escaping from the fiery inferno, these soldiers gradually calmed down and slowly assembled in compliance with orders.

Not far away, three "rebel armies" were fighting hard in the encirclement. They heard the rumbling of artillery fire and the shouting of people and horses in the city, but did not know what was happening. When they saw the city gates wide open, smoke and fire everywhere, and the Arab soldiers who had thrown away their helmets and armor swarmed out, and even ropes were lowered from the city wall for people to climb down, they knew that either the Tang army had entered the city from the north gate, or the Tang army's artillery had begun to bombard the entire city.

Gao Deyi saw a large flag being raised outside the city, and the chaotic Arab army began to slowly gather towards the flag. He was immediately encouraged: "Brothers, follow me to charge and capture the bandit chieftain!"

"Here!"

The Tang army, which had been exhausted after a long and fierce battle, became excited, reorganized their formation, and followed Gao Deyi to charge towards the big flag.

Seeing this, Helu and Aluhan were unwilling to be left behind, so they led their troops and followed closely.

If we can capture Yezid and present him to the Tang army, it would be a great achievement!
The Arab army also saw through the intentions of the "rebels" and became more and more persistent and fearless, refusing to let them leave easily.

Yezid naturally also noticed the battle situation here. As more and more troops gathered around him, he naturally became more and more confident.

Pointing in the direction of the "rebels", he ordered: "First, annihilate Helu and A Luohan, and then retreat."

Maslama had lost all his energy and only wanted to escape quickly. He advised: "After the Tang army bombed the city, they will definitely move their artillery forward and will soon cover this place. We should evacuate quickly and don't get entangled."

Ao Fu also said: "The current plan is to leave the battlefield as soon as possible. If the Tang army catches up with us, we may not be able to escape!"

Ye Qide shook his head and said, "If we can't annihilate this rebel army, they will chase us and entangle us endlessly, becoming a serious threat! There are still many soldiers in the city at the moment. We must give them a chance to withdraw. Otherwise, how can we turn defeat into victory with such a small number of people?"

Auf and Maslama had no choice. Yezid was the commander-in-chief and they had to obey his orders. Besides, they both thought it made sense...

Immediately, Maslama led the 10,000 troops that had just been assembled and pressed towards the three "rebel forces", trying to encircle and annihilate them.

Gao Deyi saw the enemy's movement from afar and immediately sent someone to convey a message to Helu and A Luohan, ordering them to follow closely behind him. They should not worry about being surrounded by the enemy, but to unite their forces to break through the enemy formation and attack where Yezid was. Even if they could not capture Yezid, they had to hold the enemy here to buy more time for the main force in the city to come to support them.

……

Inside the city.

Cannons roared and the air was filled with smoke.

Xue Rengui, wearing a helmet and armor, sat firmly on his warhorse. Behind him, five thousand light cavalry were ready for battle.

The hot air balloon had risen high, and any movement in the city was being observed. Battle reports were constantly being transmitted to Xue Rengui.

When Xue Rengui received the news that the enemy had abandoned the city and fled, he became excited.

He turned his horse around, looked at the carefully selected 5,000 light cavalry in front of him, and shouted: "The enemy is rampant, insulting our national prestige, invading our territory, and killing our brothers and sisters. How should we deal with them?"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

Five thousand people roared in unison, with such momentum that they suppressed the roar of the artillery for a time.

Xue Rengui raised his arms and shouted: "Whoever violates my majesty will be punished no matter how far away he is!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"The last time the enemy invaded, we defeated them, leaving tens of thousands dead and countless prisoners. But they invaded again in just a short time! This time, I will lead you to overcome all difficulties and pursue the enemy. We vow to destroy their food, dig up their country, and capture Damascus!"

The five thousand light cavalry went completely crazy, raising their muskets and weapons and shouting in response.

No one cared whether a mere 5,000 people could defeat an enemy army of more than 100,000. No one cared that it took thousands of miles to get from Kesan City to Damascus. No one cared whether the logistics could keep up or whether they could cross the desert and mountains. The words "Whoever dares to challenge my majesty will be punished, no matter how far away they are" had already completely boosted the morale of the Tang army.

Why think so much?

Wherever the order goes, even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire, death will not turn back!
Being able to die on the road of pursuing the enemy and enhancing our country's prestige is a worthy death, more important than Mount Tai!
Xue Rengui turned his horse around and raised his musket in his hand: "Everyone, follow me to kill the enemy!"

Five thousand light cavalry followed closely behind, bypassing the west gate of Kesan City like a whirlwind and rushing towards its south gate.

Xue Rengui led the way, and just as he ran through the west gate and around the city wall, he saw countless Arab troops slowly gathering towards a large flag in the south of the city. Some of these soldiers were originally stationed outside the city, while others had just escaped from the city. They were all in low spirits and were in a mess in the fields south of the city.

He raised his musket and fired a shot into the crowded crowd without aiming. Not caring whether he hit the target or not, he put the musket on his back, took out his longbow, drew the bow and put an arrow on it. After shooting the arrow, he turned his horse around, turned a corner in front of the enemy's formation, and galloped north.

The five thousand light cavalry followed exactly the same action as him, firing first a shot, then an arrow, and then whizzed past the enemy's formation.

After running a certain distance, he would load bullets on his horse's back, then approach the enemy, shoot a gun, shoot an arrow, and then move away again...

Every time they approached and attacked, large numbers of the enemy were shot or hit by arrows. Before the Tang army could organize an offensive, they hit the enemy with one strike and quickly fled away.