Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3817 Ye Zhuan
In the darkest hour before dawn, all was silent, and even the scattered lights on the north wall of Ye City seemed to have dimmed due to exhaustion.

However, beneath this deathly silence, a destructive force is gathering strength underground.

Suddenly, a series of extremely muffled, seemingly deep, thunderous roars erupted from the ground in the southeast corner of the North City!

That wasn't thunder, yet it surpassed even the divine thunder from the heavens!
The sound came from beneath his feet, accompanied by the violent trembling and groaning of the earth!

Immediately afterwards, a huge column of fire and smoke, mixed with mud, bricks and firelight, leaped up like a dragon breaking free from its restraints, rushing into the dawn sky, seemingly vying with the sunrise on the horizon!
Rumble—!!!

The continuous explosions blended together into a roar that sounded like a giant dragon!

After the loud bang, there was a deathly silence.

In the Han Dynasty, a time free from noise and light pollution, this immense and destructive force nearly deafened everyone around!
The sound of bricks and stones falling from the city wall and rammed earth collapsing was actually quite loud, but after the earth-shattering sounds, there was a silent scene, playing frame by frame in front of everyone in a stuttering manner.

Although the power of gunpowder cannot be compared with that of later explosives, its large quantity, coupled with the fact that the dried-up underground channels were natural sealed spaces, meant that all the explosive force was absorbed by the surrounding area!

In the hollowed-out underground, Pang Tong threw all the gunpowder into the pit at once, and the twenty cartloads of gunpowder now turned into this earth-shattering roar!
The cavalry's engineers dug a tunnel along the culvert, leading to the area beneath the city wall. They then excavated a huge powder chamber directly beneath the wall, filled it with all the gunpowder, and sealed it securely with earth and stones. This explosive technique was known to the cavalry as "Hidden Dragon"...

After numerous secret experiments in Beiqu, this method of blasting allowed the enormous explosive energy to have nowhere to be released within the confined space, ultimately impacting upwards and in all directions in an instant, directly destroying the foundation of the city wall and forming a huge blast funnel phenomenon. The city wall above the deep hole would collapse under its own gravity due to the loss of support, creating a gap that the army could pass through!
Now, a violent force erupted, and the foundation of the northern city wall collapsed and caved in like rotten wood split by a giant axe!
The solid rammed earth layer cracked inch by inch, bricks flew everywhere, and a section of the city wall, more than ten feet long, was turned into a huge pile of ruins amidst the earth-shattering roar and the billowing smoke and dust, revealing a gap large enough for two or three riders to ride side by side!

that's enough!
Countless people seemed to be shouting at that moment, yet they couldn't hear what they or those around them were shouting at all...

Only after the buzzing faded away could one slowly make out what was being shouted.

"The city has fallen!"

"Charge in!"

The cavalry, which had been gathering strength outside the city for a long time, surged in like a tide!

Zhao Yun, clad in silver armor and a white robe, his gleaming silver spear pointed straight at the breach!

On the other side, Zhang Liao led his elite black-armored cavalry, surging like a steel torrent, the sound of their hooves instantly becoming a thunderous roar that swept everything away!

Inside the city, the soldiers of Cao Cao's army screamed in terror and despair!
Many of Cao's soldiers, stunned by the explosion, were still unable to get up from the ground. Even those who did stand up stared blankly at the huge gap that had appeared out of nowhere!

It wasn't until the cavalry began charging up the ruins of the city wall and advancing on horseback that they suddenly realized what was happening...

Some soldiers loyal to Cao Cao were also trying to resist near the breach. These elite troops of Cao Cao's army, with nowhere to retreat, instinctively formed ranks at the officers' shouts, attempting to block the deadly passage with their own flesh and blood.

Swords and spears clashed, arrows whistled, and a fierce melee erupted at the breach in an instant.

However, Zhao Yun's spear was as swift as a dragon, invincible in its path, while Zhang Liao's spear was heavy and fierce, slaying generals and seizing flags. The elite cavalry were like wedges driven firmly into the city, constantly widening the breach.

Spread your wings!

"Seize the city walls!"

"Lift the thousand-pound gate!"

Different orders, same intention.

After opening a breach, the immediate priority is to seize the city gate passage and allow more cavalry soldiers to enter the city!

Many more of Cao Cao's soldiers, after days of hunger, exhaustion, infighting, and utter disillusionment with their superiors, saw their will to fight crumble instantly in the face of this incomprehensible divine punishment and the surging enemy army.

"We surrender! We surrender!"

"Stop killing us! We surrender!"

Just as once a breach is made in a dam, the flood becomes unstoppable.

Upon witnessing the unstoppable advance of the Flying Cavalry and the despairing breach in the city wall, the organized units of Cao Cao's army dropped their weapons and knelt to surrender.

The officers tried to suppress the situation, but were pushed away and even attacked by more soldiers who were trying to survive.

They risked their lives for the Cao family, only to be met with suspicion, deprivation, and deception. When their last shred of loyalty was shattered by the explosion, surrender became their most instinctive choice.

The northern city has fallen, but even more broken is the already riddled human heart.

……

……

The deafening explosion still seemed to ring in his ears, and the violent tremor beneath his feet caused Cao Pi to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.

The terrified screams of the surrounding guards...

A deafening roar of collapsing walls and crumbling rocks echoed from afar…

The shouts of battle surged in like a tidal wave...

These chaotic and terrifying sounds intertwined, like a heavy hammer, smashing Cao Pi into a daze and shattering the last shred of hope in his heart!
The city wall of Ye City's north city, known as an impregnable wall, the very wall on which he relied to maintain his dignity, was reduced to dust before his very eyes in such an inconceivable way!

A chilling despair instantly gripped Cao Pi's heart, followed by an uncontrollable rage that nearly consumed him!
This can't be his fault!
Whose could it be?
Cao Pi suddenly drew his sword from his waist, the tip of the sword flashing wildly in the air as his arm trembled. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Chen Qun, whose face was also pale but whose body was still trying his best to stand straight.

"Chen Changwen!!!"

Cao Pi's voice, hoarse and almost cracking, was filled with complex emotions that defied description: "This is your foolproof plan?! This is the brilliant method you assured me of?! This is your well-reasoned, authoritative strategy for repelling the enemy?! Where are the city walls now?! The enemy has entered the city! It's you! It's you, you pedantic scholar from Yingchuan, who, with your empty talk, has ruined the country, causing the Cao family's foundation to collapse and plunging us into this desperate situation! I will first execute you, this traitor who has ruined the country!"

Cao Pi, sword in hand, approached Chen Qun step by step, his killing intent rising as if it were tangible. The surrounding courtiers and guards prostrated themselves on the ground, none daring to offer any advice in the face of Cao Pi's overwhelming rage...

Otherwise, Chen Qun might not have died; it would have been Chen Qun who died.

Facing the sword tip that could pierce his chest at any moment, Chen Qun's face showed an unusual calm.

Chen Qun's face was still pale, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes after he knew that the situation was hopeless and had completely surrendered his fate, even with a touch of the pathos of a martyr.

Chen Qun did not look at the trembling sword in Cao Pi's hand. Instead, he slowly straightened his dusty and slightly disheveled official robe, adjusted his cap, and bowed to Cao Pi, saying, "Your subject, Chen Qun, is of limited talent and learning, misjudged the enemy, and acted inappropriately, resulting in this defeat and implicating the Crown Prince. My sins are grave, and even death cannot atone for them."

Chen Qun did not refuse. "If Your Highness bestows this sword upon me, I will offer my neck for execution without complaint. To die at a time when the nation is on the verge of collapse, thus avoiding the ancestral temples being tarnished, would be...a release for me."

Chen Qun's calm acceptance of death was like a bucket of cold water mixed with ice, slightly extinguishing Cao Pi's out-of-control rage.

Cao Pi stared intently at Chen Qun, his chest heaving violently, his knuckles turning white from gripping the sword so tightly.

Kill Chen Qun?
Kill this strategist who is still the only one who can remain calm and might be able to come up with a solution?

and then?
Was he to face the besieged cavalry alone again?

Is Cao Zihuan really going to act like a madman, indiscriminately hacking and slashing in despair before either committing suicide or becoming a prisoner?
With a clang, Cao Pi slammed his sword to the ground, letting out a defeated and pained roar, "What's the use of killing you! What's the use of killing you?! Now the blade is at my throat, what can I do?! Do I really... do I really have to wag my tail and beg for mercy from that traitor Fei?!"

Cao Pi's voice was filled with resentment, fear, and hysteria at the end of his rope.

run away?

With the elite cavalry rampaging outside the city, where could he possibly escape to?

surrender?

From then on, his life and death were in the hands of others, his wealth and glory vanished, and he even suffered humiliation. Cao Pi would rather die than accept this!
The only remaining option seems to be to retreat to the last remaining Prime Minister's residence, but how long can they hold out?
Chen Qun slowly straightened up, looking at Cao Pi's face contorted with extreme struggle, his heart also churning. "The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important," Mencius's teaching flashed through his mind, but was immediately drowned out by other, louder voices.

Do not!
This is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary measures must be taken!
To preserve the last vestiges of the Cao family's strength, and to repay the Prime Minister's kindness, a small sacrifice is necessary...

"It's necessary!" Chen Qun said urgently, his eyes flashing with a hint of madness, "Your Highness!" "The northern city is indefensible! The only option now is to cut our losses and survive! I urge Your Highness to immediately enter the Prime Minister's residence and, relying on the high walls and steep slopes, make a final stand!"

"At the same time..." Chen Qun took a deep breath, each word sharp and deadly, "Please, Your Highness, order the scorched earth policy! Burn all the granaries in the city, especially the grain and military supplies, absolutely not to supply the enemy! Second... burn the city!"

Cao Pi's pupils suddenly contracted. "Burned...burned the city?! Not just the granaries, but the entire northern city..."

"Exactly!"

Chen Qun's tone was resolute and brooked no argument: "The moment the Flying Cavalry enters the city, they will undoubtedly attempt to seize the city gates and clear the streets. Their elite troops will surely find an opening to slip through alleys and flood into the markets! I have already ordered oil to be prepared at the entrance of the underground canal. As soon as the Prince gives the order, the oil can be poured into the northern city's underground canal. When the granaries catch fire, the Flying Cavalry will surely swarm there to salvage the food and equipment! Then, we can ignite the oil in the underground canal, creating flames both above and below ground. Even if we cannot annihilate all the enemy who have entered the city, we will certainly throw them into disarray, causing heavy casualties and giving our army a chance to hold the Three Terraces! If we can use this to set the entire city ablaze... even if everything is destroyed, it is better than handing over the entire city of Ye to the enemy and emboldening the Fei rebels!"

Chen Qun stared intently into Cao Pi's eyes. "Your Highness! This is a desperate measure for survival!! A few sacrifices at Beicheng, if they can turn the tide of the battle, are worthwhile! Even if we cannot throw the Flying Cavalry into chaos and deliver a decisive blow, we can at least severely damage their arrogance and preserve our army's morale! Please, Your Highness, make a wise decision and give the order!"

As Cao Pi listened to this extremely ruthless plan and saw the despair and madness in Chen Qun's eyes, he vaguely understood that Chen Qun needed his endorsement...

A chill ran from the soles of Cao Pi's feet straight to the top of his head.

Is this the strategist I rely on?
Is this the last struggle of the Cao family?

But what other choice do we have?

To sit and wait for death? Or to surrender and suffer humiliation?
"...Fine!" Cao Pi gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching. The last vestige of hesitation in his eyes was replaced by a desperate ruthlessness. "So be it! Burn the city! Burn it all! What I can't have, that traitor Fei won't get easily either! Go and make the arrangements!"

Cao Pi agreed.

He chose this dead end, which could lead to destruction or a glimmer of hope.

Just as Chen Qun needed Cao Pi to share the blame for burning the city, Cao Pi also needed Chen Qun as the executor. They were two sides of the same coin, a common occurrence in feudal dynasties.

So-called loyalty, righteousness, and benevolence all crumble under the naked desire for survival and the struggle for power.

Under extreme pressure, the distorted humanity of feudal rulers was truly revealed.

……

……

The deafening shouts of battle surged like a tidal wave, engulfing the breach in the northern city wall of Yecheng that had just been blasted open.

Before the smoke and dust had completely cleared, the crimson torrent of the Flying Cavalry had already surged in, splitting into multiple routes and penetrating deep into the city along the main streets to wipe out the remaining enemy and seize key locations.

However, just as the dawn of victory was breaking, a moment when the advance was most likely to cause the various units to scatter and fall into chaos, an unexpected figure, like a moth drawn to a flame, stumbled out of a secluded alley and ran towards a small cavalry squad that was rapidly advancing along the street.

"General! General! Stop! Stop!" The man, dressed in rags and covered in soot, shouted hoarsely and anxiously, waving his hands and desperately trying to stop the troops. He was nearly killed on the spot by the cavalrymen who mistook him for an assassin or some other hostile Cao army soldier.

The cavalry commander leading the group frowned and shouted sternly, "Who's blocking the way?! Get out of the way!"

If it weren't for the fact that this person's hands were empty, his head would probably have already fallen to the ground.

"I am Zhou Zhang, the agricultural officer! I have an urgent military report to report!" Zhou Zhang said, panting heavily, trying to straighten his body and showing off an early agricultural scholar's badge.

This was something he had kept privately, and now it came in handy.

Zhou Zhang shouted, sweat and mud rolling down his forehead, "General! The safety of the entire army is at stake! The culverts! There's oil in the culverts in the north of the city! Chen Qun intends to set the city on fire!"

"Oil?!" The cavalry commander's face changed drastically upon hearing this. "Explain yourself! What oil? What culvert? Where is it?!"

Water and fire are the most merciless of all.

Especially in this city, although many buildings are made of earth and stone, there are also many wooden houses!
The town is a maze of alleyways and houses; if a fire breaks out, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Are you sure about this?! How do you know?!" the cavalry commander asked urgently.

"Absolutely true!" Zhou Zhang exclaimed urgently, speaking rapidly. "The water supply outside the city has dried up, and most of the underground channels have also dried up! I secretly saw Cao Cao's army sending men to pour oil into several underground channels in the middle of the night! If the general doesn't believe me, you can immediately send someone to investigate nearby!"

The situation is critical, and there is no time to hesitate!
Although this cavalry commander belonged to Zhang Liao's unit, he exchanged a glance with the commander of another unit belonging to Zhao Yun's unit, and the two reached a tacit understanding almost instantly!

This is not the time to dwell on subordinate relationships!
"You! You, and you!" Zhang Liao's commander pointed at his men, "Immediately report this to General Zhao, General Zhang, and Military Advisor Pang! Hurry!"

The military commander then looked at the squad leader of Zhao Yun's unit, "Squad leader, you are of high rank, you will temporarily command this area! I will take men to the nearest culvert to investigate immediately!"

Without argument or delay, the order was issued and executed immediately.

The military commander personally led a team of elite troops, under Zhou Zhang's urgent guidance, and rushed towards a culvert entrance that was half-hidden by weeds not far away.

Several cavalrymen used their swords to cut through the obstructing wooden barrier, and a strong, pungent smell, the distinctive odor of kerosene, immediately hit them!

The military commander bent down for a closer look and indeed saw traces of viscous, shiny black liquid remaining at the bottom of the canal!
Although it wasn't much, it really contained kerosene!
"There really is oil!" The military comrade was startled, but then some doubt arose. "But this oil... the quantity seems small..."

Zhou Zhang hurriedly said from the side, "General! These underground channels in the north of the city are interconnected and were originally used for water supply, but now they've all dried up! Cao Cao's army was testing the waters by dumping oil at night! They were observing the flow!"

Zhou Zhang pointed to the three platforms of the Prime Minister's residence atop the north city wall, "Cao Cao's army has altered the city's underground channels! I suspect they've stockpiled a large amount of oil there! They can simply dump it down and it will flow through the entire city via the channels!"

The military commander looked up and gasped in surprise!
The North City is situated on a loess plateau, while the Prime Minister's Mansion's three terraces are built against the mountain, making it even higher than the North City.

Originally, the water channels in the north city were used for both water intake and drainage. However, after Pang Tong cut off the Zhang River's water source, the underground water intake channel was empty. Cao Cao's army also secretly modified the original drainage channel, causing the water intake and drainage to be mixed together. This means that as long as the Prime Minister's Mansion on the high ground pours oil down, it can flow through these drainage and water supply channels throughout the city!
What's your plan?

The military commander asked urgently.

Zhou Zhang immediately replied, "I know several places where underground channels converge! We can use sand to cover and block them, cutting off the oil supply!"

"Alright! Lead the way immediately!" The military commander didn't hesitate, immediately abandoning the original mission and instead going with Zhou Zhang to block the confluence of the underground channels in the north of the city. "Quick! Send a message to the others! We can't let the oil leak down! Find sand! Fill in the confluence of the underground channels!"

But when they reached the confluence of the underground channels, new problems arose.

Where can one find a large amount of sand and soil in such a hurry?

Transported from outside the city?

That's clearly unrealistic.

"Tear that wall down!" a sharp-eyed squad leader shouted, pointing to a section of the market wall that was clearly made of mud and was somewhat dilapidated. "That's sand and soil!"

"Hurry! Hurry!"

"Let's work together! One, two, three, push!!"

Dozens of cavalrymen shouted and exerted their strength in unison.

With a muffled thud, the earthen wall collapsed, kicking up clouds of dust.

Ignoring the coughing and choking, the cavalrymen immediately began to dig with their hands and scoop with their helmets, frantically filling the rammed earth mixed with bricks into the entrance of the culvert.

"Squad Leader Zhao! This is your responsibility!" The military commander coughed as he grabbed Zhou Zhang and asked, "Where else is there an embankment? Quick, cough cough, point me in the right direction!"

The cavalry moved swiftly and in coordination; though hurried, their movements were orderly despite the chaos.

They knew they were racing against death!
Zhou Zhang knew the situation was urgent, so he immediately prepared to turn around and lead the way...

"Get on your horse!" the military commander shouted. "Damn it, how long are we going to walk?!"

"But..." Zhou Zhang hesitated for a moment, "I can't ride a horse..."

"Come here! Let me help you up!" The military commander didn't have time to say much more. "Grab here! Step here! Wrong! Switch feet! Push!"