Chapter 162: Ge Congzhou, Tang Army Besieges the City
Deng Tianwang ranks third among the Five Tiger Generals of the Great Qi Dynasty and is also the twelfth hero of the Late Tang Dynasty.

Deng Tianwang was from Caozhou Prefecture, Shandong Province, and was a fellow villager of Huang Chao. However, Deng Tianwang and Huang Chao did not know each other in their early years. He met and swore brotherhood with Huang Chao when he followed Meng Juehai to become a bandit. After the uprising, he served as the chief of grain escort. Deng Tianwang also had unique skills. He learned the authentic Overlord Spear from a famous teacher named Diao. Although he ran away before learning it all, he still earned the name of Iron Spear General with the iron spear in his hand, and his means were extraordinary.

Furthermore, Deng Tianwang was also a shrewd man. After Meng Juehai was killed by Li Cunxiao, he proposed to Ge Congzhou that he pretend to be Li Cunxiao and attack Li Siyuan's camp at night, saying that Li Cunxiao had rebelled and used the hand of King Jin to get rid of him. This plan was indeed vicious and almost killed Li Cunxiao. Therefore, Li Cunxiao was very angry with Deng Tianwang. After a round of fighting, he captured him alive and had him beheaded. However, such a famous hero as Deng Tianwang actually burst into tears, saying that his mother had no one to take care of her in her old age and it was a pity that he could not learn all the martial arts. Li Cunxiao was not a bully, and he was a filial son. Seeing that Deng Tianwang was really pitiful, he let him go.

Later, while serving his mother at home, Deng Tianwang learned the Overlord Spear. After his mother passed away, Deng Tianwang joined Cao Shun, the Marquis of Caozhou, and became a fierce general. It was also unlucky for Deng Tianwang. When Zhu Wen forced the five marquises to besiege Li Keyong, the Prince of Jin, he faced Li Cunxiao again. It must be said that Deng Tianwang was really powerful at this time. He wielded the Overlord Spear with great power and fought Li Cunxiao for several rounds. It was a pity that Deng Tianwang was not as strong as Li Cunxiao and was captured alive again. This time, Deng Tianwang was not so lucky and was directly ordered to be beheaded by Li Cunxiao.

Ge Congzhou is the leader of the Five Tigers of the Great Qi Dynasty and the tenth hero of the Tang Dynasty. Compared with the other four, Ge Congzhou is also wise and strategic, and is a famous general with both wisdom and courage.

Ge Congzhou was not born in the grass, his father Ge Jianguan was the Minister of War. However, the court was in power with corrupt officials, Ge Jianguan was persecuted for his integrity and was executed. Ge Congzhou was not a simple person. In Shandong, he was known as "a Shandong Ge, don't mess with it when there is nothing to do". Hearing that his father was beheaded, he went to rob the execution ground with a tiger-headed silver spear. However, there were many soldiers and horses in the execution ground, and fortunately Huang Chao took action, so Ge ​​Congzhou was able to escape. Since then, Ge Congzhou and Huang Chao became sworn brothers, and the two of them did the business of selling private salt together for a long time.

When Huang Chao started the uprising, Ge Congzhou was also one of the earliest followers. Because Ge Congzhou was proficient in the art of war, when the troops were gathered in Taihang Mountain, he was the general of the uprising army, and he repeatedly commanded the army to capture cities. After the establishment of the Great Qi, Ge Congzhou also served as the general of the army, and he also set up the Eight Horses and Nine Bulls Formation and the Long Snake Formation to intercept Li Cunxiao, but unfortunately he failed to stop the invincible Li Cunxiao.

After the fall of the Qi Dynasty, Ge Congzhou led his men to join Zhu Wen, hoping to use his power to avenge Huang Chao. When Zhu Wen was in charge, Ge Congzhou was also highly valued. His most outstanding achievement was to use a trick to force the Five Towns to revolt and besiege Taiyuan. Later, during the Battle of Baoji Mountain, Ge Congzhou followed Wang Yanzhang to fight against the Tang army, and was killed by him during the battle with Gao Xingzhou.

Coincidentally, these four generals all had old grudges with Flying Tiger General Li Cunxiao. Ge Congzhou and Zhang Guiba were both defeated by Li Cunxiao, which could be said to be a miserable defeat. Deng Tianwang and Meng Juehai were even more heavyweights, and they died directly at the hands of Li Cunxiao. Deng Tianwang was defeated by Li Cunxiao twice. The first time, Li Cunxiao felt sorry for him and let him go. The second time he captured him, he killed him directly. Meng Juehai was captured alive by Li Cunxiao in one round and was crushed to death by Li Cunxiao.

The palace gate slowly opened, and a uniformed messenger walked in. He had an ugly face and bloodshot eyes. He held a parchment scroll, which was densely packed with important information about the war outside.

The interior of the palace was dim and solemn, with candlelight flickering faintly, illuminating the way ahead of the messenger. He walked carefully through the hall, crossed the corridor, and headed straight for the main hall.

The messenger walked to the throne, knelt on the ground, and handed the parchment scroll respectfully to Huang Chao.

He said in a low and solemn voice: "Your Majesty, a powerful enemy is invading."

Huang Chao slowly opened his eyes upon hearing this, and the messenger immediately lowered his head. Huang Chao gave him the feeling of a ferocious and violent dragon.

Huang Chao took the parchment scroll and scanned the contents. His brows slightly furrowed, and his expression became more solemn. After thinking for a moment, he raised his head and looked at the messenger firmly.

"Tell the entire army to defend the city to the death. Anyone who dares to retreat even a step will be killed!"

Huang Chao's tone was cold and grim, revealing a fierce murderous intent and suppressing his violent anger.

The messenger stood up and left the hall as if he had been pardoned.

Several generals hurriedly asked: "Your Majesty, who is it that is so bold as to offend the might of the Great Qi!"

Huang Chao spoke coldly and answered several people's questions:

"They are from the Hall of Heroes, the running dogs of the Imperial Spirit Envoy!"

"Haha, what's there to be afraid of, Your Majesty? Watch us as we chop down these lackeys of the Imperial Spirit Envoy!"

King Deng looked arrogant and conceited, not taking the Hall of Heroes seriously at all.

"Let's go and see who these people from the Hall of Heroes are!"

Huang Chao grinned and sneered, his tone full of mockery, and he did not take the Hall of Heroes seriously at all. After all, in their eyes, the Hall of Heroes had already declined long ago, and now it was nothing more than a paper tiger in name only.

Several people walked out of the palace and headed towards the city tower.

Outside the city, the Tang army was lined up in neat square formations. The soldiers were wearing armor and holding sharp blades and spears. They were distributed around the city, forming a solid encirclement that surrounded the city. The flags were flying, the drums were beating, and the momentum was magnificent.

The Tang army surrounded Heze City tightly, and siege equipment was everywhere. Huge siege vehicles and ladders were pushed under the city walls, and the Tang soldiers were preparing to climb and attack. Catapults and crossbow carts were placed outside the city, pointing at the city walls, ready to launch devastating attacks.

Li Ye, Yang Luoqi and Sun Zhantian stood at the forefront of the army. Xue Rengui, dressed in a white robe, also stood proudly beside Li Ye.

"Li Ye, do you still have this ability?"

The Tang Dynasty Iron Cavalry summoned by Li Ye really shocked Sun Zhantian. Even the Eastern Wu warriors in his body were amazed at the terrifying power of this tiger and wolf army, the Iron Cavalry. Even compared with Cao Wei's absolutely elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, they were not inferior at all, and were even better.

"I'm still quite capable! Do you want to try?"

Li Ye teased Sun Zhantian with a half-smile.

(End of this chapter)