The South City Gate of Xuchang.
Armored soldiers stood in formation atop the gate, the large banner bearing the character "Cao" unfurling in the wind, exuding an air of readiness.
Xun Yu had arrived earlier, inspecting the city defenses.
Beside him stood several generals of no great renown…
Beneath the solemn military appearance, however, lay the three thousand veteran and infirm soldiers garrisoning Xuchang!
At this moment, Xun Yu was truly the sole reliance, the only hope for Xuchang!
*Huu…*
With a long sigh, Xun Yu's expression was grim. Half an hour ago, he had heard that the vanguard of the rebel army had reached Rang Mountain. Calculating the time, they should be arriving at the South City Gate any moment now.
The current situation reminded him of the past… Cao Cao's invasion of Xuzhou, Lü Bu's surprise attack on Yanzhou, and the ten thousand elite troops led by the Governor of Yuzhou, Guo Gong, to attack.
At that time, it was he, Xun Yu, who was defending Juancheng for Cao Cao!
Xun Yu vividly remembered…
At that time, Juancheng was also defended by only three thousand soldiers. The Governor of Yuzhou, Guo Gong, proposed a meeting with Xun Yu as a probing tactic. All his generals advised him, "You are the governor of a prefecture; going would be perilous, it cannot be done!" Yet, Xun Yu overruled their objections, went to the meeting alone, and with just three thousand men, projected the aura of ten thousand!
This led Guo Gong to believe Juancheng was well-prepared, and he immediately withdrew.
It could be said that.
It was precisely because of this incident that Cao Cao's trust in Xun Yu reached a completely new level.
However, this time…
Liu Bei was no Guo Gong, and… Liu Bei's deployment this time had perfectly timed its arrival, truly opportune!
"Lord Xun, look…"
On the city wall, the deputy general beside Xun Yu was named Zhao Rong, courtesy name Zhichang, from Hanyang Commandery, Liang Province. Formerly, he was listed among the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden alongside Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Chunyu Qiong. He had joined Cao Cao very early, but his abilities were limited, and he was always assigned to city defense.
The eloquent speaker Mi Heng had once said, "Xun only has good looks, Zhichang can be made to oversee the kitchen and invite guests!"
This meant that Xun Yu was merely good-looking, and Zhao Rong's capabilities were only fit for managing the kitchen…
Unexpectedly, at this moment… the safety of all of Xuchang, all hope, was concentrated on this "good-looking" scholar and this "kitchen manager" warrior.
Zhao Rong's reminder…
Xun Yu gazed into the distance and saw, amidst flying sand and rolling stones, a cavalry force of several thousand charging towards them. A general, entirely clad in black, was particularly conspicuous.
Xun Yu knew that this was likely Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide!
Upon seeing this, Xun Yu's expression grew even more solemn.
"Why do they all look like Yellow Turban rebels?" Zhao Rong asked doubtfully. "And the one leading the charge, could it be… Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide, who could fight Lu Bu at Hulao Pass?"
Two questions in a row, both hitting the mark.
Xun Yu sighed, "Indeed, it is likely Zhang Yide… As for those dressed as Yellow Turban rebels, they are likely the rebels stationed in the mountains of Runan. In the past… we never considered them a threat, but now, because of Liu Bei, these rebels have become a major threat!"
Xun Yu's tone carried a hint of unwillingness.
The presence of Yellow Turban rebels in Runan was no secret within Cao's army.
However… Cao army's strategic direction was either towards Yangzhou, occupied by Yuan Shu, or the northern territories held by Yuan Shao. Either way, they cleverly bypassed the Runan region!
It was because these Yellow Turban rebels were too weak, not worth their attention…
It was also due to this oversight that the current unfavorable situation arose.
"Lord Xun? Then… shall we…"
Before Zhao Rong could finish speaking.
Xun Yu's eyes narrowed, and he uttered eight words: "Hold the city, await reinforcements!"
As soon as he finished speaking…
— "Report… Lord Xun, it's bad… it's bad!"
A young soldier quickly ascended the city wall and reported immediately.
Seeing his hurried expression, Xun Yu dared not delay and hurried to meet him…
"What has happened?"
"This…" The soldier stammered, seemingly waiting a few moments intentionally, before speaking… "The South City Gate… the South City Gate…"
Mentioning the South City Gate, Xun Yu's heart leaped into his throat. He quickly took another step closer.
Who would have thought…
The soldier suddenly drew a knife from his hand and thrust it directly at Xun Yu's heart.
Fast…
Too fast.
Xun Yu didn't react, but Zhao Rong saw the soldier raise his hand and instinctively pushed Xun Yu aside. Even so, the knife landed squarely on Xun Yu’s body.
Instantly, blood gushed out!
"Ugh… you… why? Why?" Xun Yu, clutching his wound, questioned the soldier before him in disbelief. He had always been kind to others; he had no enemies!
*Hahaha…*
To his surprise, the soldier laughed maniacally. "Xun Wenruo, you who have read the teachings of the sages since childhood, who received Confucian education, and who is called a model for scholars, the pure stream among pure streams! Have you cast aside Confucius's teachings of 'loyalty to the ruler' and Sage Dong's 'divine right of kings'? You are aiding Cao Cao, which is like helping a tiger do evil! Assassinating you is acting on behalf of heaven!"
With these words, Xun Yu, who was extremely insightful, understood everything.
This stab was… it was inflicted by the Han court!
Neutrality… was this the attitude and stance of neutrality? The Han court wouldn't let him off either?
Speaking of which…
In fact, the Han court might not have truly intended to harm Xun Yu.
But now, Xun Yu was the reliance of Xuchang. If anything were to happen to him, their chances of breaching the city and escorting the Emperor would undoubtedly be higher.
"Seize him…"
Zhao Rong shouted, and the guards on either side rushed forward…
Who would have thought that this soldier would show no fear.
"Hahaha…"
"Hahahahaha…"
"I was born a Han, and I die a Han minister!"
He laughed and leaped directly from the several-zhang-high city wall.
This was the deterrence of the words "Emperor." Even if… these words now held little real power, at any time, this name would still carry its nominal weight, deeply engraved in the experiential world of noble families, clans, and scholars.
In the eyes of many, opposing the Emperor meant being a rebel; aiding the Emperor, even in death, could lead to eternal fame in historical records!
"Ah…"
The scream cut off abruptly. In an instant, the soldier who jumped from the city had splattered into a pulp!
"This…"
Zhao Rong was startled. He quickly turned to help Xun Yu up. "Lord Xun? How are you? How…"
"Quick… hurry to the medical office and call someone, call the divine doctor Zhongjing!"
"No… quickly… tell the soldiers, all of them, to go to the South City Gate!" Xun Yu said, clutching his wound.
Evidently… because of Zhao Rong's push, he had avoided the vital spots. Although he had lost a lot of blood, it was not fatal…
Similarly, how wise was Xun Yu?
From this assassination attempt, he could already see… the entire operation of the Han court and Liu Bei!
The assassination was the first step, but definitely not the last!
Just then.
A voice shouted from the city wall.
— "Who opened the South City Gate?"
— "Don't… don't know!"
— "Don't know who it was, but a group of people arrived and took over the defense of the South City Gate…"
— "Ah… there's a spy… Ah…"
Instantly, screams and sounds of fighting erupted from the South City Gate.
Visibly, the drawbridge of the South City Gate had been lowered.
These sounds, these scenes… were like poisonous needles piercing Xun Yu's heart without restraint.
"This is bad, this is bad…"
Just as he thought this, Xun Yu felt a sharp pain from his chest, followed by… intense pain, and he fainted.
At this critical juncture, at this moment when a heavy gloom shrouded Xuchang, Xun Yu actually fainted!
However…
"Eh? What is that…"
Zhao Rong discovered with surprise that at the very front of the thousands of rebel soldiers, there was a squadron of Dragon Cavalry… only about twenty people, and… and two women!
At this moment, they were very close to the city.
Zhao Rong immediately recognized one of them. Wasn't that… wasn't that Cao Mu, the most beloved eldest daughter of Situ Cao?
How… how was she here!
Suddenly, the sweat on Zhao Rong's forehead grew larger and thicker!
…
…
*Dada da…*
*Dada da…*
The sound of horse hooves echoed beneath Xuchang's South City Gate.
"The rebel army is about to pursue us, what should we do? What should we do?" Cao Mu cried out urgently… "Kongming, do something!"
Zhuge Jun, however, seemed to be angry.
Earlier, Cao Mu had chosen to ride the horse of a handsome Dragon Cavalryman instead of his, which made him very unhappy.
"Hmph, why don't you ask? What about the handsome knight behind you?" Zhuge Jun replied, then huffily turned his face away.
At once, Cao Mu was stunned, she couldn't help but laugh and cry. "This, this is the time, what are you thinking about?"
Zhuge Jun felt uncomfortable. He deliberately did not turn his head, expressing his stubbornness.
People are like this; often… they become more popular when they stop acting like a sycophant.
However.
When he looked up and saw the South City Gate drawbridge lowered and the portal wide open, Zhuge Jun was dumbfounded.
It was obvious that these drawbridges were not meant to welcome them?
Because… armored soldiers were fighting at the city gate behind the drawbridge.
At this point, even a fool could tell that something significant had happened here.
Gu Lin</span> "This is bad…"
Zhuge Jun thought to himself.
He turned to look at Cao Mu…
Cao Mu retorted, "What? Aren't you still angry with me?"
Zhuge Jun sighed helplessly, "What time is it now? Who has the time to be angry?"
"I can't tell… you silent type also gets…"
Before the word "jealous" could escape his lips, Zhuge Jun's voice was already heard. "You two first escort the two girls into the city through the West City Gate, and the rest… turn your horses around!"
Huh? Turn their horses around, Cao Mu was stunned. Behind them… were over a thousand rebel soldiers?
And… Zhuge Jun was going to lead the eighteen Dragon Cavalry to meet the enemy?
Before Cao Mu could ask…
Zhuge Jun's voice sounded again.
"What are you still standing there for? Don't you see the rebellion at the South City Gate?"
At this, the eighteen Dragon Cavalrymen reined in their horses. Prompted by Zhuge Jun, they realized that something big was about to happen!
"I, 'Zhuge Kongming'… am the last disciple of Commander Lu. Believe me this once!"
Zhuge Jun's voice continued.
However…
When the seven words "Last disciple of Commander Lu" were spoken, the eighteen Dragon Cavalrymen regarded his words as divine pronouncements.
In such a situation, they could only obey him.
"Young Master Zhuge… what should we do?" a Dragon Cavalryman asked.
"Follow me…" Zhuge Jun immediately flicked his horsewhip, leading the eighteen riders to turn their horses around and head towards the direction of the rebel soldiers.
Stop them…
They had to stop these rebel soldiers, otherwise, once they entered the city… who knew what they would do?
The families of all civil and military officials in Cao's camp were in Xuchang!
The wife of Situ Cao, the family of Master Lu…
And Master Cai… Master Cai was also here. If… if something happened to her, how… how would he account for it to Master Lu?
Zhuge Jun was not a martial man, in fact… his combat power was similar to Lu Yu's, not exceeding 5!
But facing such a situation, his gaze was incredibly resolute!
"Giddy up…"
— "Kongming…"
Cao Mu cried out, for the first time, she discovered… this "Kongming" before her possessed such manliness, just like… just like Lu Yu.
For the first time, her heart felt a flutter of emotion because of Kongming, the same flutter she only felt when meeting Lu Yu…
However…
Isn't this like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?
"What exactly are you trying to do…"
"Heh heh…"
Zhuge Jun didn't even have time to answer Cao Mu. He bit his lip, and in just a moment, he disappeared from Cao Mu's sight.
"You… you…"
Cao Mu was still shouting, even reaching out to grab Zhuge Jun, and even… wanting her horse to turn around.
Who would have thought…
The Dragon Cavalrymen behind her stopped her.
"Miss Mu has a special status, she is extremely important to Commander Lu and the Dragon Cavalry. We cannot afford any mistakes. Miss Mu should return to Xuchang city first!"
This…
Cao Mu knew that the importance mentioned by this cavalryman referred to the "Forge."
As the person in charge of the forge…
She was too important to Lu Yu and the Dragon Cavalry.
But… "Kongming" he…
"Giddy up…"
"Dada da… dada da…"
The warhorse neighed, followed by the sound of "dada" horse hooves. The Dragon Cavalrymen dared not enter Xuchang from the South Gate and galloped towards the East City Gate.
As for Xiahou Juan, although she remained silent… her heart was greatly shaken, especially when she witnessed the backs of Zhuge Jun and the eighteen Dragon Cavalrymen as they departed.
She didn't understand, what kind of sentiment could make these people go "like moths to a flame," like "mantises trying to stop a chariot" without hesitation!
…
…
Jizhou, Ye City, inside the prison, torches flickered, and groans filled the air.
A jailer hurried in, holding wine in his hand. He walked to Tian Feng's cell, gestured for his subordinate to open the door, and then approached Tian Feng, saying, "Bei Jia, you are truly a prophet!"
Tian Feng was still reading, reading bamboo slips… reading ancient texts.
Upon hearing this, he looked up. "What is it? Tell me…"
The jailer poured a bowl of wine for Tian Feng before speaking loudly.
"Bei Jia, you said that Yin Lin is cunning and resourceful, with no miscalculations, and good at psychological warfare… If the Lord goes south to attack Cao, he will surely be seen through and will fail without a doubt!"
"As expected… urgent reports have arrived saying that the Lord suffered a great defeat at Guandu, with sixty thousand troops destroyed. It is heard that fewer than a thousand escaped back to Liyang, north of the Yellow River. Prefect Shen has already taken troops from Ye City to reinforce him."
Tian Feng closed the bamboo slips and looked at the jailer, sighing with emotion, "How I wish my words were wrong, but unfortunately, they have come true!"
The jailer brought the wine bowl to Tian Feng. "I think, in a few days, the Lord will definitely re-employ you!"
*Heh heh…*
Hearing this, Tian Feng let out a "heh heh," he smiled…
"You don't understand my Lord. My Lord is outwardly lenient but inwardly jealous, capricious." Tian Feng sighed repeatedly, "If our army had achieved a great victory against Cao Cao, the Lord, overjoyed, would have surely forgiven me without holding a grudge and would have entrusted me with important tasks again. But now that the Lord has been defeated, he must be enraged. As the saying goes—when successful, no authority is too great; when defeated, one's life is precarious. Alas… my days are numbered."
Having said this, Tian Feng paused, looked up at the sky through the prison window, and sighed, "One prospers together, one perishes together. Not heeding my words and then punishing my heart, alas, alas!"
Shaking his head…
Tian Feng repeatedly shook his head.
The jailer wanted to say something, but at that moment.
*Tap tap tap…*
The sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance of the prison.
Another jailer approached, his expression solemn. Seeing Tian Feng… he frowned tightly, looking unwilling. "Reporting to Bei Jia, the Lord's verbal order is that Tian Feng has insulted the ruler and betrayed the lord, a crime for which there is no absolution. He is ordered to commit suicide."
As he spoke, he held a sword in both hands…
During the Spring and Autumn period, King Fuchai of Wu sent someone to bestow the treasured sword Shulou upon Wu Zixu, saying, "Kill yourself with this precious sword!"
King Goujian of Yue presented the same sword to Wen Zhong, who had offered "Nine Strategies for Attacking Wu," saying, "You taught me the Nine Strategies for Attacking Wu. I used three of them to defeat Wu, and the remaining six are with you. You should test them for me according to the former king." Wen Zhong heard this and committed suicide!
People today do not see the moon of ancient times, but this moon once shone upon ancient people…
The same tragedy was now unfolding for Tian Feng.
"Heh heh…" Tian Feng smiled. "Can you tell me? Was it Xu You? Or Guo Tu who instigated the Lord?"
The jailer lowered his head in silence, not daring to answer.
Xu Yuan in the adjacent cell shouted, "How could it be my uncle? If my uncle had not been dismissed, would Duke Yuan have suffered this defeat at Guandu!"
*Hoo…*
The two jailers both sighed softly, remaining silent. This… this was a tragedy from beginning to end!
"I understand…" Tian Feng stood up. "Jailer, please get me brush and ink; I want to write a farewell letter to the Lord!"
"Yes…" a jailer seemed to have anticipated this and quickly set up the brush and ink!
Tian Feng wrote vigorously… When he finished the last word, he rolled up the bamboo slip and handed it to the jailer, then spoke, "I have a request."
"Bei Jia, please speak freely!"
"Later? Could you allow me to commit suicide under the starlight? I wish to see the celestial phenomena one last time," Tian Feng said.
The jailer cupped his hands, "As you wish!"
Upon saying this, the two jailers led Tian Feng out of the prison. However… Xu Yuan, leaning on the wooden bars, witnessed this scene.
He did not know that the defeat at Guandu was closely related to his uncle. However, he knew that if the once meritorious Tian Feng, who had swept across the four northern prefectures for Yuan Shao, had met such an end, then… what would be the fate of him and his uncle…
*Gulp!*
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva… Xu Yuan's eyes seemed to have fallen into an abyss of eternal damnation, despair… utter despair!
Who would have thought that at this moment.
*Clack…*
A crisp sound came from the ground, followed by… the floor seemed to have loosened slightly.
Then cracks appeared, and on the floor of the prison, countless cracks quickly spread. These cracks continued to widen…
Xu Yuan, startled, covered his mouth, and was too afraid to make a sound.
The noise from the floor was not small, but it did not startle any of the jailers!
This was because…
The Governor of Ye City, Shen Pei, had led troops to reinforce Yuan Shao at Liyang. Ye City had very few troops, and the prison was no different.
Finally…
With a "thump," the ground was dug through. Xu Yuan looked into it in astonishment and saw a familiar person.
"Ma Si?" he exclaimed…
Ma Si was Sima Yi's alias in the Xu Mansion. Not only was he called "Ma Si," but he was also mute and lame.
However…
At this moment, Sima Yi smiled at Xu Yuan.
He said:
— "Young Master Xu, it has been a while."
Uh…
At this, Xu Yuan was completely dumbfounded!
…
…