novelSusiti Chapter 1: The Seleucid Dynasty Falls After the Conquest of Antioch!
Chapter 1: The Seleucid Dynasty Falls After the Conquest of Antioch!
In March of 208 BC, when spring was in full bloom.
On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, along the Oronte River, stands a magnificent Greek-style city: Antioch (present-day Antakya, Türkiye).
This place was not only the capital of the Seleucid Empire, but also a hub for exchanges between the East and the West, with a population of 500,000.
The Seleucid dynasty, which inherited most of the Macedonian Empire's Asian territories, was under the rule of Antiochus III.
Through military expansion and diplomatic strategies, the empire continuously recovered lost territories and even launched expeditions to the Indus River Valley, giving the once-declining empire a renewed appearance of prosperity.
However, the sudden appearance of an Eastern army five years ago plunged this vast empire into disintegration once again.
"Fierce! Fierce!"
Outside Antioch, banners obscured the sky, and countless figures, clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood solemnly.
A handsome young man dressed in black armor rode on horseback, quietly gazing at the majestic city before him.
"Da da da! Da da da!"
The mounted riders galloped in from afar, their voices ringing out, "Report!"
"I report to Your Majesty that General Han Xin has defeated 50,000 troops of Antigonus."
"General Chen Qingzhi captured Damascus."
"it is good."
A glint of light flashed in Ying Xuan's eyes, and he said coldly, "With Han Xin and Chen Qingzhi in charge of the north and south."
"The Antigonid and Ptolemaic dynasties' attempt to take advantage of the chaos is nothing but wishful thinking."
"Now it's not up to Antiochus III to decide."
"Your Majesty."
Standing seven feet tall and with a slender build, Fa Zheng solemnly declared, "The barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue."
"Previously, our army was wary of Antioch's high walls and thick fortifications."
"To the north lies the Scipios fortress, and the Oronte River flows through it, providing ample water resources."
"Now, the Scipios fortress has been destroyed."
"Antiochus III's 50,000 Seleucid guards were stretched thin."
"I believe there is no need for further discussion. With our entire army of 100,000, we will surely destroy Seleucus."
"This humble general secondes it!"
A group of generals stepped forward, their eyes gleaming with fire.
For five years, they have fought for more than 1000 days and nights on this foreign land.
The Seleucid Empire was the most powerful kingdom west of the Qin Dynasty, occupying the fertile and rich Mesopotamian region and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
The glory of ancient Babylon still lingers over this land; only by destroying Seleucus can they truly establish themselves.
"Zilong".
Ying Xuan turned his gaze to a tall, handsome, and imposing silver-armored general in the crowd.
"Your Majesty."
Zhao Yun immediately stepped forward, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"I hereby appoint you as the vanguard, leading three thousand loyal white-horse riders to cover the retreat."
"only!!!"
Zhao Yun accepted the order and turned to make the arrangements.
Immediately afterwards, Ying Xuan continued to issue orders: "Shi Wansui, you lead 30,000 infantrymen to be the first to scale the walls."
"only."
Standing nine feet tall, the brave and valiant Shi Wansui stepped forward and responded.
“Wuwu!”
The melodious sound of horns resounded in all directions, awakening the silent Qin army.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The ground trembled continuously, and under the sunlight, the three thousand White Horse Cavalry resembled a silver ocean.
Zhao Yun, who was at the forefront, held a Dragon Gallant Silver Spear and rode a Jade Lion that shone through the night.
The Seleucid guards on the walls of Antioch stared intently ahead, their dazzling silver armor making it impossible for them to discern the enemy's location.
Three thousand white-horse warriors galloped in and dispersed a hundred paces away from Antioch.
Figures on horseback drew their bows and nocked arrows, aiming at the city wall to launch them.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Thousands of arrows shot out, covering the area like a storm.
The sharp arrowheads reflected a chilling glint in the sunlight, and the sound of arrows piercing the air rose and fell.
"ah?!"
"Pfft!"
Arrows rained down on the city walls, blood splattered, and cries of agony and agony filled the air.
Under Zhao Yun's command, three thousand elite White Horse Cavalrymen patrolled around the city, launching volleys of arrows back and forth, giving the enemy no chance to react.
Faced with such an offensive, the Seleucid Empire's most elite royal guards couldn't even lift their heads.
"Knock knock knock!"
The deep, thunderous sound of war drums resounded across the land as 30,000 Qin infantrymen advanced, escorting dozens of siege ladder carts, with a battering ram in the very center.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
At the same time, hundreds of catapults that had been waiting began their attack.
One after another, polished large stones traced parabolic arcs through the sky before crashing heavily onto the city wall.
"Bang!!!"
The shields in the hands of the Seleucid guards were instantly smashed to pieces by the boulder weighing over a hundred pounds, and the guards were crushed into a bloody pulp.
Despair and pain enveloped the city walls, and the stench of blood quickly spread.
The White Horse Cavalry's volleys and catapults worked together flawlessly, allowing 30,000 Qin infantrymen to easily approach the city walls.
"Thump thump!"
Each of the lightly armed soldiers, clad in leather armor, gripped a sword in their right hand and used their left to climb, their movements as agile and swift as monkeys.
At this moment, the battering ram had appeared under the city gate. Shi Wansui picked up the battering ram and rammed it into the city gate.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The deafening roar echoed in all directions, and the tightly closed city gates teetered on the brink of collapse under the impact.
The Seleucid guards never expected to have such a ruthless opponent, who managed to force open the city gate with a battering ram.
Squeak! Squeak!
The two iron-clad city gates were pushed to the sides by Qin infantry.
The capital of the Seleucid Empire was like a beautiful woman stripped naked and exposed to the Qin army.
"Stop them."
The Seleucid Imperial Guard rushed towards the city gate, attempting to close the breach again.
Unfortunately, it was all too late.
"Can it be blocked?"
Shi Wansui narrowed his eyes, an invisible sense of oppression spreading out. Holding a long saber, he was the first to charge into the enemy formation.
The blades flashed, heads fell to the ground, and wherever they passed, there were only severed limbs and broken arms, and blood stained the city gate passageway red.
"kill!"
A vast swarm of Qin infantry surged out from behind him, invading the city like a tidal wave.
When the Seleucid guards saw the Qin army, covered in blood and with ferocious faces, they were terrified and dared not fight them.
The battlefield situation was one-sided, with the Qin army in black armor overwhelming the Seleucid guards in red armor.
It was less a fight and more a massacre.
The sunlight on the horizon shines on the walls of Antioch, where a crimson banner with a black bird flutters in the wind, displaying its majestic grandeur.
The name Qin is so powerful that it overshadows the world, and this foreign land thousands of miles away is no exception.
"Ding! The Seleucid Empire has been destroyed. You have randomly obtained an SSS-level civil official card: Zhang Juzheng!"
"Randomly obtained SS-level general card: Di Qing!"
"Randomly obtained SS-level Craftsman Card: Pu Yuan!"
"........."
Hearing the continuous mechanical notifications in his mind, Ying Xuan's lips curled into a slight smile. The Seleucid Dynasty had perished.
PS: In the Qin Dynasty, one zhang was equal to 2.31 meters, and one chi was equal to 23.1 centimeters.