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The morning sun gently filtered through the clouds, casting a golden hue over the land outside Wan Cheng. In the camp of the Imperial Army, the war drums beat heavily, each thud setting the rhythm for the impending battle. Zhu Jun stood atop a rise, holding a large banner that fluttered in the wind, the character "Zhu" emblazoned upon it like flames. His gaze was piercing as he surveyed his surroundings, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Today marks the time for our decisive battle. If we do not breach this city, we will struggle to restore order. All troops, heed my command and prepare to advance!"
Within and outside the camp, soldiers readied themselves for battle, their armor glinting coldly in the morning light. Two thousand iron-clad cavalry stood in formation, their hooves lightly striking the ground with a muffled sound, reminiscent of suppressed thunder. The cavalrymen were clad in heavy armor, swords at their waists and long spears in hand, their expressions resolute like moving fortresses of steel. They remained silent, yet an invisible pressure emanated from them, commanding respect from the infantry nearby.
Zhu Jun raised his banner high and called out with a voice like thunder, "Mr. Xuan De, general Guan, General Zhang, lead your troops to attack the southwest corner and hold back Han Zhong's main force. I will take two thousand cavalry to strike at the northeast corner and cut off their retreat!"
Liu Bei donned his armor and mounted his horse, raising his long sword high. "Xuan De obeys!" he declared. His gaze swept left and right as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed closely behind him on either side. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade in Guan Yu's hand gleamed coldly as he spoke with a steely tone, "Brother rest assured; we shall break through their lines!" Zhang Fei slammed his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear against his palm and laughed heartily, "Leave that brat Han Zhong to me! Watch how I topple him!"
Liu Bei smiled slightly, his expression firm. "My dear brothers, let us prioritize stability and not underestimate our foes." With that, he spurred his horse forward, followed by thousands of soldiers forming ranks behind him. Banners billowed in the air like clouds blocking out the sun as a chorus of battle cries erupted across the southwestern hills.
At the southwest corner of Wan Cheng, the Yellow Turban Army was already on high alert. Han Zhong personally led his elite troops arrayed outside the city walls, wielding long knives and clad in leather armor as he stood at the center of his formation. Watching as the Imperial Army's banners drew closer, he sneered coldly, "Though they are many, they are ultimately just a rabble! I shall see how they can break through my defenses!"
Before his words could fade away, the formation of the Imperial Army suddenly split apart as Liu Bei charged forward at the forefront, flanked by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. The thunder of their iron hooves echoed as three banners waved in the wind bearing the characters for Liu, Guan, and Zhang—an imposing sight indeed. Liu Bei raised his long sword high and shouted into the valley, "Han Zhong! Surrender now to spare your army from annihilation!"
Han Zhong scoffed coldly and raised his blade in fury. "Shameless traitors! Attack!" With his command given, thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave; swords clashed and battle cries filled the air.
Zhang Fei roared as he led the charge into enemy lines; his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear danced like wind among foes who fell before him. He laughed boisterously while shouting, "Come on! Come on! Let me have my fill of slaughter!" Following closely behind was Guan Yu with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade flashing coldly; each swing claimed lives with deadly precision. Liu Bei commanded from within their ranks as he slashed with his sword, rallying his soldiers to fight bravely onward.
On the battlefield where blades flashed and blood flowed like rivers, Han Zhong felt his forces begin to falter; sweat beaded on his forehead as he gritted his teeth and shouted desperately, "Hold your ground! Defend our lines—do not retreat!"
Meanwhile, at the northeast corner of Wan Cheng, Zhu Jun led two thousand cavalry down from a hillside at full gallop. The thunderous sound of hooves shook the ground as their neighing mixed with clashing armor created a symphony of death. The Yellow Turban Army had just noticed movement at the northeast corner when this iron tide crashed into them, throwing their formation into chaos.
Zhu Jun charged ahead on horseback with a spear aimed directly at Officer of the Yellow Turbans; one thrust sent him tumbling from his mount. Turning back to wave his banner high above him, he shouted loudly, "Brothers! It is time to break through their lines! Let us kill fiercely!"
The iron cavalry surged like a giant wave, crashing through the defenses of the Yellow Turban Army. Soldiers dropped their weapons and fled in panic towards the city. Zhu Jun's gaze was sharp as he surveyed the battlefield, his voice cold as he commanded, "Han Zhong must return to defend the city gates. Relay the order to Xuan De to pursue swiftly and ensure they leave no one alive!"
The remnants of Han Zhong's forces retreated in disarray to Wan Cheng, the gates slamming shut amidst the chaos. On the city walls, Yellow Turban Soldiers leaned against each other, exhausted and panting, sweat mingling with dust on their faces, looking utterly defeated. Inside the city, terrified citizens locked their doors, trembling as they were surrounded by the clamor and cries of fleeing soldiers. Han Zhong ascended the city tower with a grim expression, gazing at the Imperial Army's camp outside, his face growing darker.
"Damn the Imperial Army! Zhu Jun clearly wants to exterminate us!" Han Zhong slammed his hand on the railing and turned back, shouting angrily, "Hold the city gates! No matter what, we cannot let them breach our defenses!"
At that moment, the dire shortage of supplies caused hesitation among the surrounding generals. One deputy commander spoke up nervously, "General, the food supplies in the city are running low, and our soldiers cannot continue... If we do not make a decisive move soon, I fear... I fear we may collapse without a fight."
Hearing this, Han Zhong's gaze shifted as he gritted his teeth and said quietly, "Go, send someone out with generous gifts to inform Zhu Jun that if he spares our lives, I am willing to surrender!"
As night fell, Zhu Jun sat in his tent with flickering lanterns casting shadows around him. He remained calm at his desk while a scout knelt before him, having just conveyed Han Zhong's message, holding his breath in anticipation of a response. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei stood silently on either side.
After a long pause, Zhu Jun slowly raised his head, his eyes cold as steel. "Surrender? Han Zhong is already defeated yet still dares to hope for mercy? Hmph! If I were to agree so easily, how could I quell the rebel factions and stabilize the hearts of the people?"
Liu Bei sat calmly beside him; though composed, there was a hint of contemplation in his eyes. He looked at Zhu Jun and spoke softly, "General, Xuan De has a plan that may help you quickly take this city."
Zhu Jun lifted his head with a hint of curiosity in his gaze. "What insight does Mr. Xuan De have?"
Liu Bei nodded slightly, his tone steady yet powerful: "In ancient times, Emperor Gaozu of Han was able to unify the realm not only through military might but also by winning over hearts and minds. Now that Han Zhong seeks surrender, why not consider accepting it?"
Zhu Jun's expression darkened at these words; he did not hide his dissatisfaction. "Mr. Xuan De, this is one time and that is another. In Emperor Gaozu's era, there was chaos throughout the land and people had nowhere to turn; thus it was necessary to persuade them to stabilize their hearts. But now that the court has unified the realm and the Yellow Turban Rebellion must be eradicated completely—if we show mercy to these thieves after they have caused such turmoil, they will take advantage of it and rise again. Wouldn't that only bring more suffering to the people?"
Liu Bei nodded in agreement but did not rush to argue back; instead he spoke softly: "What you say is true; we should not be lenient towards these Yellow Turbans. However, General, there are already tens of thousands of Bandit Army trapped within the city with no way out; they are facing certain death. If they genuinely seek surrender and you refuse them, then they will have only one path left: to fight to the death."
Liu Bei paused for a moment, his gaze deepening. "General, consider this: if these tens of thousands of men fight to the death, they can defend the city. How much more will our army have to pay to capture it?"
Zhu Jun furrowed his brow even deeper and said solemnly, "Mr. Xuan De, do you think I should let Han Zhong off the hook?"
Liu Bei shook his head, his tone becoming steadier. "No, General, I am not suggesting we allow him to surrender; rather, I want him to defeat himself. Right now, our army surrounds them on all sides, leaving them with no way to retreat, so they can only hold their ground. But if we intentionally withdraw from one corner—say, the southeastern corner—and make them believe there is a way to escape, they will surely abandon the city. At that point, General, you can set an ambush outside the city and take advantage of their disarray to annihilate them!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jun's eyes flickered with a glimmer of insight, but he soon showed signs of hesitation. "What if Han Zhong doesn't fall for it and instead holds his ground? Wouldn't that mean we've wasted our siege advantage?"
Liu Bei smiled slightly and replied calmly, "I have observed Han Zhong's temperament during our previous encounters. He is impatient and fears instability among his troops the most. If he discovers we have withdrawn from a corner, he will undoubtedly grow suspicious and worry that if this drags on, his soldiers will become restless. He will seize the opportunity to abandon the city and break out. By then, they will have neither sturdy walls to defend nor a solid formation to fight with. Our army just needs to strike decisively to completely wipe them out."
Guan Yu listened thoughtfully for a moment before speaking up. "What my brother says makes sense; luring the enemy out of the city is indeed the best strategy. The defending army can rely on the advantages of their fortifications to hold firm, but once they abandon the city in flight, they become like stray dogs and cannot muster their morale again."
Zhang Fei then slammed his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear down and laughed loudly. "Brother Xuan De speaks brilliantly! As long as we can get Han Zhong out of there, we can finish him off decisively!"
Zhu Jun remained silent for a moment before finally nodding with newfound resolve in his eyes. "Very well, we shall follow Mr. Xuan De's plan! Tomorrow, issue orders to withdraw from the southeastern corner while our troops must strictly guard the remaining three sides without slackening their efforts. Xuan De, if the Bandit Army indeed comes out of the city, you will lead the charge and must do your utmost to crush them!"
Liu Bei clasped his fists in response. "Xuan De accepts the order and will not fail in this mission!"
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