The two sides clashed fiercely, and both suffered devastating casualties.
But faced with the Han Army's seemingly endless onslaught, the defenders' morale sank day by day, and holding their positions grew increasingly difficult.
No matter how many rewards Yuan Shao bestowed, he could hardly rouse them.
In contrast.
Although the Han Army had also suffered considerable casualties, its spirits remained high. No one doubted that they could take Lecheng County.
As the Son of Heaven, Liu Xie personally visited the wounded soldiers' camp every day, dressing their wounds and offering them comfort. He ate and slept alongside the officers and men to bolster morale.
Such conduct undoubtedly moved the soldiers deeply and lifted their spirits all the more.
And so it continued until the tenth day.
The Han Army's Central Army Camp.
After living in the military camp for some time, Liu Xie had grown somewhat thinner. He looked less gentle and more hardened by blood and battle, and even his eyes had become sharper and brighter.
Leafing through the casualty roll Guo Jia had submitted, he could not help shaking his head with a sigh. "So many casualties. These sons of our Great Han..."
This battle had been far too brutal. Yuan Shao's tenacity had far exceeded his expectations, but that did nothing to diminish his resolve to take Lecheng County.
On the contrary, every additional name on that casualty roll only deepened his desire to kill Yuan Shao.
"Your Majesty."
Hearing this, Guo Jia offered reassurance. "Although our casualties are considerable, we have held every advantage throughout these ten consecutive days of siege. Yuan Shao is already a spent bolt at the end of its flight. He cannot hold on much longer!"
"I suggest letting the troops rest tomorrow to recover their strength, then launching an all-out assault