The next day, at Yang Guang's command, the Sui army began its assault.
Some soldiers carried scaling ladders, others pushed siege carts, and still others raised their shields as they advanced toward Liaodong City.
On the battlements of Liaodong City, Piao Chengmin watched the Sui troops swarm forward as thick as locusts and ordered his soldiers to ready rolling logs, stones, bows, arrows, and grappling hooks.
"Loose!" A rain of Goguryeo arrows fell on the Sui troops, but with their shields protecting them, casualties were practically nonexistent.
Before long, the Sui troops reached the foot of the walls and began storming the city.
Logs and stones poured down from the walls, crushing countless Sui soldiers to death.
But many Sui troops also climbed onto the battlements one after another and began fighting the Goguryeo defenders.
Seeing this, Piao Chengmin raised his saber and cut down the Sui soldiers who had reached the battlements, one by one. Only then did he keep the walls from falling.
After spotting Piao Chengmin on the battlements, Cheng Yaojin told his soldiers, "Go bring up my Iron-Backed Bronze-Bodied Treasure Carved Bow and Sky-Piercing Arrows."
Three soldiers went to fetch Cheng Yaojin's bow and arrows. Moments later, two returned carrying the Iron-Backed Bronze-Bodied Treasure Carved Bow, while the third held the Sky-Piercing Arrows in his arms.
Yuwen Chengdu looked at Cheng Yaojin. "Thirteenth Grand Guardian, we're at least four hundred paces from the battlements. Can that bow of yours reach them?"
Cheng Yaojin smiled. "General Tianbao, let's make a wager. If I can reach the battlements and shoot the defending commander dead, how about you serve under my command from now on?"
Hearing this, Yuwen Huaji asked, "And what if you miss, Thirteenth Grand Guardian?"
"Then from this day forward, I'll take orders from you, Prime