For he knew nothing of the enemy's strength or origins, and many of his officers and men had gotten drunk that night. If he rashly led his troops out to fight now, he would surely suffer a crushing defeat, and might even lose Chang'an City!
There were still forty thousand troops at the Northern Suburbs Military Camp. They had ample time to withdraw into the city through the North City Gate. As long as he had those troops, he still had hope of turning the tables!
"Close the gates! Close the gates-!"
At his words, his Personal Guard immediately shouted down from the city wall.
Soon, the gates slammed shut, leaving the many soldiers from the Southern Suburbs Military Camp who had yet to enter stranded outside.
Many soldiers had only just reached the city after receiving orders to withdraw inside. At the sight of the closed gates, every one of them was terrified.
"Don't close the gates! Don't close the gates!"
"We haven't gotten in yet!"
"Open up! The enemy's almost here!"
"Which son of a bitch closed the gates!"
The soldiers crowded outside, pounding on the gates, for the enemy in the distance had already charged into the Southern Suburbs Military Camp!
"Lay down your weapons and live! Resist and die without mercy!"
Lü Bu charged into the Southern Suburbs Military Camp first, slew several Western Liang Army soldiers who swarmed toward him with a sweep of his halberd, then roared.
At his words, the other Han Army soldiers took up the same cry and engaged the Western Liang Army in fierce combat.
The outcome of this battle held no suspense.
The sudden fire had already thrown the Western Liang Army into chaos. Faced with the Han Army's ferocious assault, they had no time even to mount a