Zhang Liao and the eight hundred Dragon Cavalry were in a frenzy.
Wave after wave of Jiangdong soldiers fell before him.
They charged straight ahead, their eyes seeing only enemies.
The Jiangdong warriors, known for their fearlessness in the face of strong adversaries, swarmed forward batch after batch, unmindful of death, charging towards Zhang Liao, intent on cutting off his path and protecting the central military tent.
*Screech…*
The crescent moon halberd’s light was dazzling, brutally carving arcs through the night sky!
Blood and severed limbs flew around Zhang Liao.
He had slain several Jiangdong generals with his halberd and, with Gao Shun, Qu Yi, and others, penetrated deep into the enemy's central army, their commander's tent now within sight.
"Zhang Wen Yuan of the Dragon Cavalry Camp is here! Surrender and die!"
Suddenly, a mighty general from Jiangdong, clad in armor and wielding a battle halberd, charged at Zhang Liao, carrying a fierce gust of wind.
"Hmph…"
Zhang Liao's blood surged, and he let out a long cry.
Streams of power flowed into his arms, and the crescent moon halberd swept out horizontally once more, bombarding forth with the force of collapsing heavens and earth.
With a *boom*…
The two battle halberds hummed in mid-air. The moment they collided, brilliant sparks ignited the solid, dark night… The crescent moon halberd, forged from fine steel, directly shattered the opposing battle halberd, breaking into hundreds of fragments… along with the general who had dared to meet the challenge, who was thrown to the ground.
*Neighhh…*
Zhang Liao's warhorse reared up on its hind legs.
It neighed towards the sky, as if it too possessed an arrogant, world-dominating demeanor… looking down upon the enemy warhorses before it, then carried Zhang Liao onward towards the enemy commander's tent.
Little did Zhang Liao know, the formidable Jiangdong general he had just defeated was Taishi Ci.
The successor to "Li Yan," the foremost halberdier under heaven. Who would have thought he would be no match for Zhang Liao?
This was not due to a lack of strength, but an overwhelming disparity in equipment!
Even less did Zhang Liao know that, on his charge, he had successively defeated Ling Tong, Han Dang, Cheng Pu, Lu Meng, Chen Wu, Song Qian, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang…
Of the twelve Tiger Ministers of Jiangdong, Zhang Liao had defeated half of them single-handedly!
…
Over there…
Complete bewilderment reigned!
Sun Quan, at this moment, wore an expression like "a fruit of bewilderment hanging from a bewildered tree, with you and me beneath the bewildered tree." His entire demeanor radiated utter astonishment.
The reverberating echo in his ears was Zhang Liao's declaration – "Zhang Wen Yuan of the Dragon Cavalry Camp is here! Surrender and die!"
The Dragon Cavalry Camp…
Heh, the Dragon Cavalry Camp…
He had a premonition that his Sun family, across three generations, would never overcome the obstacle of the Dragon Cavalry Camp.
But… eight hundred men conquering ten thousand? And doing so by raiding the camp from between his and Lu Xun's positions… this was truly too audacious!
Then… the question arose:
Where was Lu Xun?
With the camp being raided, shouldn't he be sending troops to support?
Before he could ponder further…
*Da da da…*
The urgent sound of hooves outside the commander's tent grew ever louder, and Sun Quan's heart leaped into his throat!
His instinct was to flee, to escape the scene… but then he remembered, when paths cross, the brave win. The battlefield is about momentum; with spirit in the chest, one naturally becomes unstoppable, like a rainbow!
Conversely, if that spirit wanes, even an army of a hundred thousand would be a defeated force!
"Steady… steady!"
Sun Quan muttered, though these words seemed more like an attempt to bolster his own courage.
– *RUMBLE!*
As the great banner outside the Jiangdong commander's tent was cut down, tens of thousands of Jiangdong soldiers scattered in disarray. After countless generals were defeated, who would willingly wait for death?
Is living not good enough…
Moreover, after the defeat at Chibi, the battle fervor within this army had long since vanished. Ten thousand men, truly chased and hacked at by eight hundred, were in utter disarray, like stray dogs.
In just two incense sticks' time…
The "Capture the Commander" operation concluded with resounding success!
…
…
*Thud thud…*
At this moment, Zhang Liao dismounted. He had expected a fierce battle, but he hadn't anticipated that, in such a short time, most of the Jiangdong soldiers would choose to flee. The surrounding area was left with only this solitary commander's tent.
Lifting the tent flap…
A middle-aged man with blue eyes and a purple beard stood there, several soldiers of the Dragon Cavalry Camp pointing their halberds at him.
Zhang Liao stood firm, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at him.
One of the Dragon Cavalry soldiers said, "General, this man has blue eyes and a purple beard… we surmise he is Sun Zhongmou of Jiangdong!"
Zhang Liao smiled, looking at Sun Quan with a grin… Indeed, with such distinctive features, it was impossible for him to escape disguised as a common soldier after a defeat.
"A son should be like Sun Zhongmou; ten thousand at Ruxu to offer heads! Heh heh… General Sun, I didn't expect to meet under such circumstances."
Zhang Liao comfortably sat down on a stool before Sun Quan.
Heh heh…
Sun Quan laughed, but his laughter was filled with bitterness.
Defeated, he was truly defeated!
No matter what, the Lu family army had not come to support;
No matter what… the attack by the enemy's Dragon Cavalry was incredibly ferocious, and they had found the weak points of this encampment.
Why hadn't the Lu family army discovered them?
How could they have reached the central military tent directly…
Their target was clear, their movements unified…
These questions were no longer important in hindsight. Defeated, they were utterly defeated.
"Are you Zhang Wen Yuan?"
Sun Quan asked calmly, looking at Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao nodded, "General Zhang Liao of the Dragon Cavalry Camp, under the Marquis of Nan Du!"
Sun Quan continued, "I have lost this battle, and I accept defeat wholeheartedly. But there is one thing I do not understand, and I ask General Zhang to enlighten me."
"Speak!"
"Eight hundred men raiding my camp of ten thousand, though I, Sun Quan, did not anticipate it, I had actually stationed numerous scouts in the east, west, and north. Only in the south, due to its connection with the Lu family army's camp, was our defense lax. How did General Zhang choose this location to attack so silently?"
Sun Quan's eyes opened. This question greatly interested him…
Perhaps, this was his final act of defiance.
However…
"This…?" Zhang Liao smiled faintly. "General Sun, why ask the obvious? I believe, with the situation as it is, General Sun must have already found the answer, no?"
"Is it the Lu family army?" Sun Quan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hahahaha…" Zhang Liao laughed and waved his hand. "Brothers, burn this encampment and escort General Sun to Chibi for the Marquis of Nan Du to decide his fate!"
"Understood!" the Dragon Cavalry soldiers responded.
Zhang Liao narrowed his eyes. This battle, where eight hundred cavalry captured the enemy commander within a ten-thousand-man camp, heh, it was perhaps even more illustrious than his past victory at White Wolf Mountain where he annihilated Tadun!
Having said this, Zhang Liao suddenly recalled something.
He still had an old friend.
In the Lu family army's camp not far away, based on his understanding of that fellow, he was likely waiting for him within the camp.
…
…
The city of Xuchang, a light rain was falling.
It was already late into the night, yet the Prefect of Xuchang, Man Chong, could not sleep. He stood by the window, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the drizzling rain.
He muttered, "What did the Empress mean by that?"
Just moments ago, he had received a message from Han Zhang Palace, sent by Empress Fu Shou.
– "Xuchang has been rather restless lately. Miss Zhao Ji, the sister of the Marquis of Nan Du, is compiling the 'Continuation of the Book of Han' here, and Madam Xiahou Yuan is recuperating in Yangshan. Be extremely vigilant, and under no circumstances should an incident like the previous palace fire occur again!"
This sentence resurfaced in his mind…
Ordinarily, as the Prefect of Xuchang, responsible for the city's security, it was perfectly reasonable for the Empress to offer such a reminder.
However, in reality.
This matter was somewhat peculiar, because the palace guard was not his responsibility; it was the responsibility of the Commandant of Guards, Ma Teng…
This meant that the mention of "palace fire" was particularly significant.
*Smack*…
Man Chong's brow furrowed deeply…
"Someone?"
"Lord Prefect…" several guards entered the room.
"Where is the Empress now?"
"In Han Zhang Palace! She has not left."
"And the Commandant of Guards, Ma?" Man Chong asked shrewdly…
"It seems he is at the Ma residence… recently, in addition to guarding the capital, Commandant Ma has been preparing dowry for his daughter… Intelligence of the great victory at Chibi has already arrived, and it is likely that the marriage between Miss Ma Yunlu and the Marquis of Nan Du will soon be on the agenda."
"Dowry? The Ma residence?" Man Chong shrewdly analyzed the connections…
Wait a moment…
He had a keen sense of something amiss.
"Did Commandant Ma go out today?"
"He hasn't gone out today, but in recent days, apart from going to the palace, he has been visiting a pottery workshop every day, seemingly… selecting and purchasing porcelain for his daughter's wedding!"
*Huff…*
Upon hearing this, Man Chong instinctively felt a sense of urgency.
The Empress's words were too peculiar. It was better to be suspicious than to be negligent.
"Gather twenty men, and follow me to this pottery workshop!"
Man Chong immediately gave the order…
And strode purposefully towards the door.
But as he went, he discovered the pottery workshop in disarray…
The person in charge had been killed with a sword… and not a single apprentice had survived… As for Commandant Ma Teng?
There was no sign of him anywhere!
"This is bad…"
"This is bad!"
Two exclamations of "This is bad!" in quick succession, Man Chong's brow knitted instantly.
– The wind signals a coming storm!
– "Pursue them! Follow the bloodstains… pursue!"
Man Chong shouted orders.
At once, the entire city of Xuchang was plunged into chaos!
…
…
Outside Xuchang, at Mount Rang.
A man in black, holding the "Zhongxing Sword," moved with the wind, facing… a group of Xiliang guards. His sword was drawn… a flash of sword shadows, and in a moment, the ground was strewn with corpses.
He lightly wiped the blood from his sword, as if… unwilling to let the foul blood stain the brilliance of the "Zhongxing Sword."
Finally, the sword was held upright… pointing directly at Ma Teng, also known as Ma Shoucheng, before him.
"Who are you, and by whose orders do you act?"
"Do you know that I am the Commandant of Guards of the Great Han, one of the Nine Ministers? You assassinate a court minister of the Nine Ministers… that is a capital offense!"
At dawn, Commandant Ma Teng was covered in blood…
He had a visible sword wound on his left arm, making it impossible to lift; his right arm weakly held a ceremonial saber… but… facing the man in black before him, he was clearly… disheartened.
He had already exchanged blows. The opponent was… very strong…
So strong that he, Ma Teng, felt that even three of him combined might not be a match for this assailant.
"Heh heh…"
The man in black spoke, "If the King of Wei wants you dead by midnight, how can I let you live until dawn?"
Saying this…
The man in black no longer hesitated. He swung his sword horizontally… and once again attacked Ma Teng.
One sword danced, creating patches of autumn wind. Silver light flashed, agile as a flying dragon, yet also like a serpent, slithering across the ground. The sword intent was vast, as if this strike contained the resolve with which the late emperor had bestowed upon him the "Zhongxing Sword!"
"Hmph…"
Ma Teng coldly snorted, "My daughter is about to marry the Marquis of Nan Du. If the King of Wei were to kill me, why would he allude to this marriage? What is your motive in falsely accusing the King of Wei?"
As he spoke, Ma Teng brandished his saber, clashing with the man in black's sword.
"Heh heh…" the man in black offered no reply.
Perhaps, in his opinion, the dead could not speak.
Ma Teng's martial arts were not weak…
This could be glimpsed somewhat from his son, Ma Chao!
With short-handled weapons, Ma Teng was a master.
In the Battle of Weinan, Ma Chao was alienated by Cao Cao, causing him to suspect Han Sui of plotting against him. Thus, he struck first, bursting into the tent where Han Sui and his five generals were secretly plotting. Ma Chao's first sword strike was aimed at Han Sui, who used his left hand to block, only to have it severed by Ma Chao's sword. Then, Ma Chao, alone with his sword, was besieged by Han Sui's five generals. Ma Chao fought one against five, wielding his precious sword.
The historical records describe the sword's brilliance, blood splattering, Ma Wan being cut down, Liang Xing being chopped down, and the remaining three generals escaping separately!
From this, it can be seen that Ma Chao's swordsmanship was first-class.
Ma Teng also had a unique understanding of swordsmanship…
But despite his understanding, he simply could not parry the man in black's sword moves.
Falling back…
And falling back again…
Ma Teng was almost forced into a corner.
With a *swoosh*, the sword tip pressed against his throat. Ma Teng could only raise his hand to block… and with this block, his entire arm was pierced by the sword.
Ah…
With a heart-wrenching cry.
The man in black withdrew the Zhongxing Sword. Then, using the momentum of the returning sword…
Ma Teng staggered back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Unexpectedly, behind him was a steep cliff. His foot slipped, and with a sharp "Ah…", Ma Teng tumbled over the cliff.
"Fell off the cliff?"
The man in black removed his mask, revealing the astonished expression of a middle-aged wandering swordsman. Besides Wang Yue, who else could it be?
At this moment, he looked incredulously at the bottom of the cliff.
After a long while, Wang Yue sighed, "Such a tall cliff. Falling from here, how could anyone survive?"
After a moment of contemplation, Wang Yue murmured again, "If alive, I must see him; if dead, I must see the body!"
This matter was of great consequence, and not the slightest carelessness could be tolerated.
Unexpectedly, at this moment…
"Ahead, there is the sound of fighting ahead…"
Through the bushes, Wang Yue heard the sound.
Wang Yue had pursued Ma Teng from Xuchang all the way to Mount Rang. He hadn't expected… that someone else would be chasing so quickly.
"The Prefect of Xuchang?" Wang Yue frowned slightly…
He could not expose himself, nor could he reveal his identity. Reluctantly, he glanced at the cliff once more.
"Forget it then…"
With a final word, he quickly hid himself in the nearby bushes, disappearing from sight in moments!
Wang Yue, the foremost swordsman of the Three Kingdoms!
Throughout the entire Han dynasty, no one could withstand three of his swords!
Nor could anyone escape from his sword.
Ma Teng of Xiliang, though his body was not found, after falling from such a cliff… how could he possibly be alive?
Half an hour later…
The cliff area was already surrounded by soldiers.
"Lord Prefect, the sound of fighting came from here just now."
"Lord Prefect, there are bloodstains on the ground…"
"Lord Prefect, there are bloodstains here too!"
The last sentence was uttered by a soldier standing at the edge of the cliff, who looked down into the abyss in bewilderment.
He meant to convey… that all signs indicated… someone had fallen off the cliff.
But how could the Prefect of Xuchang not see such clues!
"Commandant Ma…"
Man Chong mumbled softly… then raised his voice, "Continue searching, search…"
…
…