In ancient times, in the years when soldiers were intertwined, the attack and defense of the city were the most cruel. The attackers may have more troops and more food and have an absolute numerical advantage, while the defenders rely on the geographical advantages of the city walls to block the attackers' footsteps. The geographical advantage gives the defender the confidence to hold on, but it makes the attacker pay more costs. The huge ** between the attack and the defense is a hostile mood, and the victorious side slaughters wantonly, while the defenders would rather die than give in. This vicious circle deepens the tragedy and expands the surface.
In ancient times, the lack of technology and productivity made it difficult for the besieging side to achieve their wishes. Sieges are often prolonged, with supplies not being replenished and civilians and soldiers starving or disease. In Chinese history, countless battles such as the Battle of Yanshan and the Battle of Shule City were like this. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Bai Qi led the Qin army to besiege Yancheng in Chu and fell into a long-term tug-of-war. Bai Qi incarnated as an engineer, and with the help of the geographical advantage, he built a dam to store water, and when the water became a potential, he flooded Yancheng and millions of corpses. This battle weakened the strength of the Chu State and opened the door for the Qin State to attack the south.
The Battle of Handan is another example. In 260 BC, the Qin army attacked Handan, the capital of Zhao State, and besieged it continuously, but it was difficult to break through the city defenses. The cavalry in the hinterland of Zhao constantly harassed the rear of the Qin army, putting the Qin army in a difficult situation. The war lasted for two years, thousands of **, and in the end, the Wei army came to the aid of Zhao, which led to the withdrawal of the Qin army. Although the battle was difficult to decide, the defenders successfully held the city due to the geographical advantage.
Qingshi left the Battle of Zhongli, one of the most brutal battles between the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The Northern Wei Dynasty declined in combat power and launched an offensive against the Southern Liang, focusing on its core area. However, the Southern Liang army used the terrain to block the Northern Wei, and the Southern Jiyun brought supplies, and the Southern Liang army continued to resist, causing heavy losses to the Northern Wei. In the end, more than 100,000 soldiers of the Northern Wei army were miserable, and the war ended.
The Battle of Yongle City witnessed a fierce battle between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Western Xia. The Northern Song army attacked Western Xia, and Yongle City became an important battlefield. The Western Xia army cut off the supplies of the defenders, leaving them in a besieged predicament. The two sides were miserable, and the Northern Song Dynasty finally lost nearly 200,000 soldiers and had to reconcile with the Western Xia, resulting in the early advantage being in vain.
As for the siege of Kaifeng, it witnessed the fall of the Jin Dynasty. The last position of the Jin Dynasty was besieged by the Mongols on all fronts, and there were fierce battles inside and outside the city. The Jin Dynasty finally had to surrender, and there were millions of people in the city, with a history of blood and tears.