Lin Tian was getting close to their city gates, a situation no Zhao general wanted to see.
Especially these Zhao soldiers, who had heard of Lin Tian's past exploits and legends.
If they allowed Lin Tian to get this close again, they would truly be fools.
Thus, a massive barrage of attacks was launched at Lin Tian.
At a rough estimate, at least half the soldiers were targeting him.
This assault posed a grave danger to Lin Tian.
Simultaneously, it brought unprecedented relief to the soldiers assaulting the city.
Previously, during their sieges, there had been a continuous flow of troops to attack and impede their advance.
This resistance had caused them endless trouble.
But now, the situation was entirely different.
Everyone's attention was focused on Lin Tian, leaving few to bother with them.
Furthermore, with an army of two hundred thousand, they couldn't possibly manage everyone's attention.
Consequently, these troops charged towards Handan City with almost no obstruction.
While not as swift as Lin Tian, who had already reached the city gates, they were now within a hundred *zhang* of Handan City.
This distance was an extremely advantageous position for their attack.
"Archers, prepare to fire!"
"Fire, assault the city!"
These soldiers from Qin had never been this close to Handan City before, and they were all filled with excitement.
Countless arrows rained down upon Handan City.
A large number of Zhao soldiers fell beneath the volleys.
At this moment, the Zhao army truly descended into chaos.
"We can't hold them! Our forces are breaking! Not only can we not stop Qin's Lin Tian, but we can't even halt the advance of Qin's main army!"
"There are too many of them! Their numbers are overwhelming; we simply cannot withstand such a force!"
"It's over! If we can't hold them, we are finished!"
Previously, their focus had been solely on Lin Tian, attempting to intercept him.
In doing so, they had neglected the other armies of Qin.
But now, not only had they failed to stop Lin Tian, but they had also allowed Qin's other forces to approach. This was an absolutely terrifying development for them.
Many regretted their earlier actions, feeling they should not have focused solely on Lin Tian.
Otherwise, they would not have found themselves in this predicament.
However, their regrets were clearly too late. Faced with this situation, they had no choice but to press on, even if it meant facing overwhelming odds.
"Even if you can't hold, you must hold for me! Our Zhao cannot fall! They cannot be allowed to approach our city!"
"Soldiers, kill! Block the Qin army's advance and protect our Zhao!"
"Our families are behind us; we cannot lose! We have only one path: to hold the line!"
At this moment, the Zhao generals roared at the top of their lungs, hoping to bolster their soldiers' morale.
Yet, despite their loud pronouncements, not a single one offered specific defensive strategies. They relied solely on brute force to defend the city.
This method of defense was entirely different from how Li Mu had led the army in previous defenses.
Lacking order, many found themselves unable to cope with the situation, torn between different threats.
As a result, their defenses against Lin Tian had also significantly weakened.
In the next moment, Lin Tian approached Handan City's gate and, with a sword strike from the air, slammed it heavily onto the gate.
"Boom!!"
A violent roar echoed in everyone's ears.
Although Handan City's gate was far sturdier than those of other cities, its strength could not withstand Lin Tian's single strike.
Lin Tian's sword carried his full, immense power.
As the sword swung, it felt as though heaven and earth themselves were yielding before it.
Upon striking Handan City's gate, it not only shattered the gate but also caused the Zhao soldiers on the city walls to feel their feet tremble.
It was as if the entire city had been shaken by Lin Tian.
Zhao soldiers positioned behind Handan City's gate were crushed en masse.
A feeling of dread spread through everyone's hearts.
"Bad news! The city gate has fallen! Qin's Lin Tian has broken through!!"
This announcement struck everyone like a bolt from the blue.
Many instinctively wanted to retreat.
Lin Tian alone had breached their city gate, and previously, he had a record of fighting ten thousand men alone.
Who dared to stand against such an unparalleled, ferocious general?
Not to mention, behind Lin Tian was an army of two hundred thousand.
The soldiers' instinctive retreat was the truest reflection of their inner fear.
However, the Zhao generals still hoped their soldiers could hold the city and stop Lin Tian.
"Quick, hold them! Hold back Lin Tian's assault!"
"Do not let Qin's Lin Tian enter the city! Stop him, you must stop him!"
"You must stop Qin's Lin Tian, or he will head straight for our royal palace, and then our King will be in danger!"
These generals continuously ordered their soldiers to intercept Lin Tian and kept emphasizing the importance of doing so.
But few responded to their words.
While some soldiers charged towards Lin Tian, attempting to halt his advance,
a greater number retreated to the rear, unwilling to move forward.
Seeing this, Lin Tian seemed to understand their thoughts.
Therefore, he shouted to these soldiers:
"Handan City's gate is breached! Those who lay down their arms will be spared; those who resist will die!"
This proclamation further weakened the force trying to stop Lin Tian from reaching the Zhao King's palace.
Soon, Wang Wu and others caught up, matching Lin Tian's pace.
"General, wait for us! We are here!"
"You've come at the perfect time! Join me, and together we will storm the Zhao King's palace!"
"Yes!"
Wang Wu and the others were familiar with such events, having previously fought with Lin Tian in the Han King's palace.
Therefore, upon hearing Lin Tian's words, they became exhilarated.
Storming the Zhao King's palace and capturing the Zhao King would be far more thrilling than capturing the Han King.
Even Zhang Han could not help but tremble with excitement.
When the Zhao generals heard that Lin Tian truly intended to attack the Zhao King's palace, they naturally wanted to stop him.
However, Qin's two hundred thousand troops were already pressing forward. Even if they harbored the will to prevent Lin Tian and his men from reaching the Zhao King's palace, they lacked the ability.
They could only watch helplessly as Lin Tian led his army directly towards their Zhao King's palace.
For them, this was a moment of utter despair.
"Quick, quickly report to the King! The Qin army has broken through! Tell the King to flee!"
The only thing they could do now was to ensure the Zhao King could escape and survive.
...