Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3938. The End.

Chapter 3939: Qingzhou soldiers defect and disrupt Cao Cao's camp; Huang Hansheng scales the city walls and captures Zixiao; Xu Zhongkang slays Gu Elai; Fei Ziyuan discusses reincarnation from a high platform.

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Under the artillery barrage from the Flying Cavalry, Cao Cao and Cao Ren were unable to formulate an effective counterattack strategy.

Cao Ren once organized the remaining ballistae and archers within the pass, intending to launch a long-range attack on the cavalry heavy infantry below the pass who were pushing siege ladders and building forward positions.

The order had just been given, personnel were being mobilized, and the cold glint of crossbows had just appeared behind several battlements—

"Whoosh—Bang!"

Almost as soon as Cao Cao or Cao Ren appeared on the city wall, the heart-stopping sound of cannonballs whistling through the air would follow!

One, two...

Several shells rained down on the crenellations and parapets of the Sishui Pass!
Of course, the accuracy of artillery follow-up fire is not something to be expected, but the suppressive force it provides is extremely deadly!
A death storm of shattered bricks and stones instantly swept through the pre-set firing positions, killing or wounding the crossbowmen who had just taken their positions. Ballistae were also hit by falling stones, and their wooden frames cracked.

Those who were lucky enough to escape injury were terrified by this sudden call to death, and scrambled back behind the wall. No matter how the officers kicked and shouted at them, they were unable to mount an effective counterattack in the short term.

Even Cao Cao and Cao Ren had to take temporary shelter when the artillery was firing.

But this disrupted their command.

This was not a chance shot, but rather a result of the observation posts of the cavalry below the city walls!
These observation posts, like falcons roaming over Sishui Pass, kept a close watch on any signs on the walls. Once they detected an organized defensive force gathering, they would immediately send a signal to the artillery positions...

The artillery of the Flying Cavalry could obviously not hit every shot, but this suppression tactic completely deprived Cao Cao's army of any possibility of carrying out any orderly and sustained long-range counterattack.

Cao Cao and Cao Ren, in particular, were like two highly valuable targets, and if they were exposed to relatively fixed command positions for an extended period of time, they would be at great risk of being subjected to artillery fire.

Cao Cao noticed the problem in time and stopped showing himself, instead hiding on the horse path inside the city wall.

The horse path inside the city wall was relatively safe, but the view was severely obstructed, and the only way to understand the situation of each battle section was by having messengers run around.

The transmission of commands suddenly became slow and uncertain.

When a certain fortified pass on the front line needed reinforcements, the news reached Cao Cao, who made a decision and passed the order down. By the time the reinforcements arrived, the fortified pass had often already fallen, and the cavalry's grappling hooks had even been laid.

Another gap appears, and when the mobilized troops arrive, the chaos in the command chain may cause congestion or misunderstandings with the original garrison, giving the enemy an opportunity to exploit the situation.

This is the fatal flaw of the pyramid-structured military management framework under the old military system in Shandong Central Plains...

When the core brain at the top is unable to receive information and issue commands smoothly due to external pressure, the entire massive body falls into sluggishness, chaos, or even partial paralysis. Mid- and lower-ranking military officers and platoon leaders, accustomed to following clear instructions in combat, become bewildered when faced with intermittent, delayed, or even contradictory commands from above.

Should we hold our ground or take the initiative to support our neighbors?

Should we concentrate our forces to counterattack the enemy forces that have stormed the city, or prioritize plugging the other breach?
Lacking the authority to make arbitrary decisions and sufficient information, they often chose the most conservative, yet most fatal, approach...

Stay where you are!

"Prime Minister! A small detachment of enemy troops has scaled the heights near guard tower number three on the western section. Captain Wang is fighting fiercely and requests that a crossbowman be dispatched to suppress any further attacks!"

A messenger, his face covered in blood, stumbled over.

"Prime Minister! At the eastern corner, the enemy's rams are crashing against the wall. The sound is strange; the wall foundation may be loose! We need rolling logs, stones, and oil!"

Another messenger rushed in almost simultaneously.

Cao Cao's temples throbbed. Resources were limited, and elite troops were even scarcer; robbing Peter to pay Paul had become the norm. He made a quick decision: "Send the reserve crossbowmen to reinforce the western section of the city wall!"

"Yes!" The order was given, and he turned to leave.

"Wait!" But before the messenger had left, Cao Cao suddenly remembered that the reserve crossbowmen had reported earlier that they had run out of crossbow bolts and requested that more bolts be sent. Now that the bolts hadn't arrived, what were the crossbowmen, who only had the crossbows left, going there to do?
Are you going to fight hand-to-hand with a crossbow?
The military academy officer in charge of transporting the crossbow bolts was also frustrated. They had sent too many earlier, and the soldiers guarding the city complained that the transport team was taking up space and blocking the way. Now that they were short of crossbow bolts, they were in a hurry to send more, as if these transport soldiers had some kind of supernatural ability, able to airdrop bolts on the spot with just a word...

But in that brief moment of delay, new bad news arrived!
"Report! The western outpost... has fallen! Captain Wang has been killed in action! The enemy is widening the breach!"

Cao Cao was so angry that he punched the brick wall next to him, bleeding profusely but not noticing.

It's not that his command was wrong, but that the delay in command transmission was too high!

The battlefield is ever-changing. The soldiers and officers on the front lines had no contingency plans or prior drills. Everything was brought to Cao Cao's attention. By the time Cao Cao had weighed the situation and issued his orders, the situation at the front had already changed dramatically!
Cao Cao could clearly sense that the defensive system on the wall had been completely transformed into countless separate battle zones!
Each area is an isolated point that has been separated by some invisible force!

Under the barrage of artillery fire, Cao Cao couldn't do much. He had just pulled back one isolated point when he lost contact with another...

His orders were like pebbles thrown into a mud pit, creating weak and slow ripples that could not keep up with the changing battle lines or salvage the collapsing situation.
When the cavalry infantry successfully anchored several sturdy ladders firmly to the dilapidated fortifications, which had been repeatedly ravaged by artillery fire, the terrifying artillery barrage finally ceased completely to avoid friendly fire...

The artillery fire stopped, but Cao Cao's original defensive lines were already in disarray.

Left with no other choice, Cao Cao and Cao Ren, their eyes almost red with rage, personally led their last core forces—the soldiers from Qiao and Pei, and the elite troops of the central army—to act as firefighters and liaison teams!
Wherever a breach was torn open, wherever the defending troops retreated, they charged towards it.

Cao Cao wielded a spear, and Cao Ren brandished a sword; they led the charge, fighting fiercely and bloodily.

Of course, Cao Cao had Dian Wei by his side...

Their individual bravery and unwavering will to die were on full display at this moment...

By repeatedly pushing the armored cavalrymen who had just climbed the city wall back down, Cao Cao's army seemed to have temporarily stabilized the crumbling defense line.

But this is undoubtedly a case of drinking poison to quench thirst!
The attack by the Flying Cavalry was planned, layered, and multi-faceted!
However, Cao Cao's forces were ultimately limited. While Cao Cao and Cao Ren were desperately trying to plug the leaks in the western sector, another elite cavalry force might have found a weak point in the eastern sector...

Just as Cao Cao's army had barely managed to repel one wave of climbers and caught their breath, new siege ladders were erected, and even more cavalry soldiers surged forward like a tide...

A decline in physical strength and endurance leads to a decline in combat effectiveness!

These last elite troops of Cao Cao's army were exhausted and forced to react passively. They quickly suffered casualties under the attack of the Flying Cavalry, and the number of casualties continued to increase!
Cao Cao's armor was stained with blood, whether his own or that of his enemies, and his breathing was heavy and labored, like a bellows...

The soldiers and guards around him were all exhausted, while in the distance, more cavalry units, like a black torrent, calmly approached...

The tide is gone.

These four words were practically engraved in Cao Cao's mind!
The collapse of the command system, the disintegration of morale, and the comprehensive disadvantage in terms of troop strength and tactics converged at this moment into an irreversible torrent of defeat, about to completely engulf him and his era...

The deterioration of the situation was like an avalanche; once it began, it was unstoppable.

On the walls, the once dense banners of Cao Cao's army were now scattered and in disarray, having changed hands repeatedly in many places. As a result, the corpses in these areas were piled up one after another, and the flowing blood soaked through the bricks and soil. Then, under the severe winter cold, it quickly formed a crimson jelly-like substance. If you were not careful, you could slip and fall on the spot.

An old military officer from Qingzhou, who had followed Cao Cao for many years, with a face covered in soot and tattered armor, led several of his personal guards, who were also covered in blood, to Cao Cao, who was leaning on a long spear and breathing heavily.

Cao Cao's martial prowess was relatively good, at least much stronger than that guy who was a complete weakling. But now Cao Cao was panting heavily, his muscles ached all over, and he could barely lift his arms...

He is old.

He is too tired.

"Prime Minister!"

The old military officer knelt down on one knee with a thud, his voice hoarse, choked with sobs and desperate pleas, "We can't hold out like this any longer! Brothers... our brothers are almost wiped out! Retreat! Leave some seed, retreat to Shandong, use the natural defenses of the river to gather the defeated troops, and unite with loyalists from all directions. Perhaps there's still a chance to rise again! Prime Minister! This Sishui Pass... we can't hold it!"

The old military academy was the core elite of Cao Cao's directly subordinate Central Protectorate Army, and was the elite force that survived the battles fought across the north and south.

The old military academy's words also represent the most basic desire for survival among many middle and lower-ranking officers and soldiers in the remaining elite troops!
They believed in Chancellor Cao, and they still believe in him to this day.

In their view, the prime minister is the pillar of the nation. As long as the prime minister is still alive, retreating to Shandong and relying on the vast land and complex people there that has not yet been completely conquered, they can always find a chance to catch their breath, just like Cao Cao made a comeback after Zhang Miao's rebellion and the loss of Yanzhou.

This mindset is not surprising...

In the narrative of the old system in Shandong and the Central Plains, the emperor was chosen by God and ordained by Heaven, so those nobles were also chosen by God and ordained by Heaven...

Therefore, since it is a divinely chosen destiny, it is natural that it can receive miracles again!
But Cao Cao himself knew that there were no miracles, no divine mandate...

Cao Cao slowly turned his head and looked at his old subordinate who had followed him in battle for many years.

The old military academy's face was etched with anxiety, exhaustion, and a glimmer of hope for a new lease on life.

Cao Cao's lips twitched, and he found that he could neither laugh nor say anything...

withdraw?
Where to retreat?
The seemingly vast land of Shandong and the Central Plains was no longer a foundation that Cao Mengde could rely on!
How many of the local strongholds, county officials, and even the gentry who once relied on him would still genuinely support this defeated general under the overwhelming power of the Flying Cavalry?

I'm afraid that no sooner had he escaped from Sishui Pass than some 'loyal and righteous man' would take his head to Fei Qian to claim credit and reward him!
The fate of Yuan Shao's sons serves as a vivid lesson.

The head of a defeated lord or a fugitive is the best bargaining chip for surrender in any era!
But can these chilling political calculations be explained to the old military academy officer in front of him?
Do not!
I can't tell!
Even if they did speak out, the veteran military academy graduate might not understand this political reality, which is more brutal than swords and spears...

Moreover, Cao Cao still harbored some lingering regrets!
It wasn't a gunpowder trap, of course...

After visiting the General of the Flying Cavalry and personally meeting General Fei Qian, Cao Cao completely lost faith in gunpowder traps.

During his meeting with Fei Qian, Cao Cao was completely led by the nose by Fei Qian!
Cao Cao realized that Fei Qian had no intention of accepting his surrender!

So only one path remains...

Cao Cao knew Fei Qian all too well.

Fei Qian's pursuit was not simple killing, but the reconstruction of order and the change of the times.

Therefore, Cao Cao knew that when a warlord of the old era stubbornly resists to the end and ultimately dies on the battlefield, his threat disappears with his death. On the contrary, he may gain a certain degree of respect from his opponents because of his bravery and indomitable spirit on the battlefield. The necessity of purging and slaughtering his family and descendants would also decrease accordingly.

A bandit who flees in disarray but continues to incite resistance will certainly become an object that the new dynasty must eradicate completely!

Conversely, dying here might be a way to secure a sliver of hope for the Cao and Xiahou bloodlines...

On the other hand, hatred and bloodshed can still be exploited.

Cao Cao looked at the corpses lying haphazardly on the wall.

Some were ordinary soldiers of Cao Cao's army, but a large portion were Shandong gentry sons, local strongmen, and militiamen dressed in various mismatched clothes...

These men died under the artillery fire and swords of the Flying Cavalry, at the Sishui Pass, which Cao Cao had defended so fiercely!
When Cao Cao dies, where will the hatred of these powerful clans and gentry be directed?

Even if they temporarily submit due to the strength of the Flying Cavalry, how could the deceased's relatives and friends possibly forget the hatred and pain?
This hatred may not be enough to overthrow the powerful, but it is enough to form a hidden and persistent undercurrent of hostility!
Perhaps in the future, it could provide some shelter for the Cao and Xiahou clan members who managed to escape or go into hiding...

Just like when the powerful Qin state was under its rule, someone secretly took in the descendants of the Chu state...

If Cao Cao were to lead the escape now, the fact that he sent these aristocratic youths to the battlefield would blur the focus of hatred!
Then the last bit of value that Cao might have had in secretly being taken care of would also be completely lost!

Therefore, we cannot withdraw.

We must hold this position to the death, and we must ensure that more people, especially these "reinforcements" from Shandong, die on this fortified wall!
With their blood, they irrigated a patch of soil where perhaps a glimmer of hope could grow for the Cao family's possible future...

These thoughts flashed through Cao Cao's mind like lightning.

Cao Cao looked at the old military officer, his eyes weary and indifferent. "We cannot retreat!"

Cao Cao's attitude was firm, leaving no room for negotiation: "Return to your positions and oversee the battle! Anyone who retreats will be executed! Anyone who is cowardly will be executed! Even if only one man remains, he will be nailed to this spot!"

"Prime Minister!"

The old military academy officer looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and bewilderment.

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to persuade him further, but seeing Cao Cao's cold eyes, all his words choked in his throat.

Cao Cao's gaze told him that this was not a discussion, but an unquestionable order, a notice to die.

The veteran military officer had followed Cao Cao for many years and knew what that look meant...

Understand, then execute!

Even if you don't understand, you must still do it!

There's no why, it's just a matter of necessity!

The old military officer's facial muscles twitched violently a few times, finally culminating in a sigh that was almost a sob. He stopped looking at Cao Cao, turned to his personal guards, and forced out the order through clenched teeth: "Go! Supervise the battle! The Prime Minister has ordered! Even if we fight to the last man, we will die here!"

Watching the old military academy's staggering yet resolute figure disappear around the smoke-filled corner, Cao Cao slowly closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, his gaze devoid of any warmth.

Cao Cao tightened his grip on the cold spear, then flicked away the half-congealed blood from it, as if trying to shake off the complex calculations about family, hatred, and what would happen after his death, and refocus all his attention on the blood-soaked breach in the city wall ahead...

That was the place where Cao Mengde, the last hero of this era, was destined to meet his end!

He wanted to bury himself, along with as many enemies and his own people as possible, here!
He wanted to use this most tragic ending to draw the final bloody symbol of his ambition, his struggle, and his era!
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Smoke, blood, the sour stench of ruptured intestines, and the acrid smell of burning flesh mingled together to form the pheromones of death within Sishui Pass, affecting everyone inside and outside the pass.

The old military officer from Qingzhou, carrying a blood-stained ring-pommel sword, walked numbly along an inner passage filled with debris and corpses, carrying out Cao Cao's cold, stern command to "fight to the last man."

His ears were filled with the sounds of fierce fighting and the groans of the dying coming from the wall not far ahead...

The short, agonizing screams of the supervising team as they executed deserters also lingered in the air…

Every step felt like treading on a gradually solidifying despair.

Every step felt like walking into the abyss of death.

No refunds allowed!

Those who retreat will die!

On the other side of the old military academy, a member of the Cao family's military academy was screaming incessantly.

The voice of that Cao family military academy officer seemed unusually sharp, piercing the old military academy's eardrums and causing a ringing sound.

The old military academy officer came to supervise the ordinary soldiers of Cao Cao's army, while the Cao family's military academy officer came to supervise him...

This is the military system of Shandong Central Plains.

Suddenly, the old military academy's gaze sharpened!
He saw a familiar figure...

That was his fellow townsman.

A once-heroic man, capable of single-handedly taking down a calf and renowned for his bravery in the Yellow Turban Army of Qingzhou, now had a deathly pale face, covered in blood and dust. His left arm was severed at the elbow, the stump haphazardly bound with torn rags, the dark red bloodstains already soaking through and still seeping out, pulling down in dark red threads.

He gripped a broken spear tightly in his right hand, supporting his body. His eyes were unfocused, and he made intermittent, indistinct sounds, perhaps groaning or cursing, as he moved through the fleeing soldiers...

"Er Gouzi!" The old military officer rushed forward, pushing aside the other routed soldiers, and stood before his fellow villager. "You, you..."

The man with the missing arm, upon hearing the old military academy's voice, seemed to regain some of his senses. His unfocused gaze sharpened, and he stared at the old academy's face. After a moment, he recognized him, 'Old...old brother...'

His voice was terribly hoarse as he struggled as if trying to hug the old military academy officer, but it seemed to have aggravated his severed arm, causing him to convulse in pain and cold sweat to pour down his forehead.

"Don't move! Don't move!"

The old military officer wanted to check his wound, but unexpectedly, his fellow villager dropped the broken spear and grabbed the old military officer's collar tightly.

"Dead! They're all dead...all dead!"

His fellow villager's eyes were bloodshot, filled with boundless terror. "Up there...up there is no place for humans! That's the underworld! The cavalry...they're not human! They're iron-clad ghosts! Our men charged up, three or five of them couldn't take one down! We tried to cut them with swords, but their armor was too thick! We couldn't cut them at all! We shot arrows, but their shields were too dense! Clang, clang, clang, it was all useless! And then, and that rumbling...something just came crashing down...arms and legs flying everywhere...my arm, it was just grazed by that thing, just once, just once...and it's gone! I looked for my hand, but I couldn't find it! Gone, gone!"

The fellow villager stammered, his voice distorted with fear and pain, "We can't hold on! We really can't hold on! The Prime Minister wants us dead, but I don't want to die like this! Brother, for the sake of us being from the same village, spare my life... or... or just give me a quick death! Stab me to death! Give me a whole corpse!! At least a whole corpse!!"

The fellow villager almost screamed at the last moment, tears mixed with blood streaming down his face.

The old military officer froze, the hilt of his ring-pommel sword creaking under his grip.

Seeing his fellow villager's miserable state and hearing his heart-wrenching accusations, the old military officer felt as if a stone had been stuffed into his chest, choking him so much that he couldn't even breathe.

Let him go?
Military law is as firm as a mountain, the Prime Minister issues strict orders, and behind him is the supervising team.

There are also military academies that supervise the battle!

Give him a quick death?

These are fellow villagers who grew up playing together naked since childhood; they're closer than brothers!
They were brothers who had surrendered to Cao Cao together back then, and who had even drunkenly boasted that they would return home in glory together in the future!

Just as the old military academy was torn between his conscience and his decision, the supervising officer of the command team arrived...

Seeing the increasing number of fleeing soldiers surging towards them, and the fact that the old military officer hadn't driven them back, Cao's military officers became very dissatisfied and started hitting and cursing them.

"Go back! All of you, get the hell back! You worthless bastards!"

Cao, a military academy officer, cursed, then saw the old military academy officer and the old military academy officer from the same hometown who had lost an arm.

"What are you doing! The Prime Minister has ordered! Anyone who retreats will be executed! Anyone who is cowardly in battle will be executed!!" The sharp voice of Cao's military officer rang out. He strode forward, glancing with disgust at the man's tragic state—the man with the missing arm. Instead of showing any sympathy, he became even more enraged. "You piece of trash! You scoundrel! You're playing dead just because you lost an arm? Trying to escape?! The Prime Minister has ordered that anyone who retreats will die!!"

With a swift movement, Cao's military officer drew his sword, the tip pointing directly at his old, one-armed fellow officer from his hometown. "Since you don't want to defend the city, I'll grant your wish! I'll send you on your way!"

As he spoke, Cao's military officer was about to swing his sword and strike.

"Wait!" Almost instinctively, the old military officer took a step to the side, stretched out his strong hand, and grabbed Cao's military officer's wrist holding the knife!
The old military academy's hand, like an iron clamp, forcefully stopped Cao Jun's military academy's movements...

Cao's military academy struggled, but could not break free.

He struggled again, but still couldn't break free. Cao's military officer's face flushed red, a surge of anger instantly clouding his judgment. He screamed, "Let go! You old scoundrel! What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to rebel?! This is the Prime Minister's order! You dare disobey? Do you know who I am? I'm from the Cao clan of Qiaopei! You, a mere bandit from Qingzhou, dare to stop me? Believe me or not, I'll treat you and your entire family as traitors and exterminate your nine generations!!"

"Nine generations of relatives?" The old military officer was still hesitant, but when he heard these two words, a long-suppressed resentment and madness were ignited!
The old military officer not only didn't let go, but gripped even tighter, moving closer to Cao's military officer, whose face was flushed red. Staring at the distorted young face, he suddenly let out a low, hoarse laugh, like the cry of a night owl.

"Heh...ha, hahaha...nine generations?!"

The old military officer laughed loudly, but tears streamed down his face, clinging to the wrinkles around his eyes. "Military officer, you're right! I'm just an old soldier, a bandit from Qingzhou, my life worthless!"

The old military officer's voice suddenly rose, like the roar of a wounded beast, "But let me tell you! My entire clan is wiped out! My parents starved to death on the road to escape famine! My brothers and sisters were scattered during the Yellow Turban Rebellion! My wife and children... they've all been killed by some mutineers long ago! Nine clans?! Huh?! I'm a bachelor now, my entire clan wiped out! What nine clans?! I don't have nine clans anymore!!"

Cao's military academy was stunned by the despair and madness in the old academy's eyes. He was speechless for a moment, and his face showed fear.

But in the next moment, the anger of being taken advantage of by these bumpkins overwhelmed the Cao family's military academy's rationality...

The Cao family is a noble surname, and its members are chosen by the heavens. How could anyone tolerate being publicly spat upon by a filthy, lowly old rogue from Qingzhou? If other members of the Cao and Xiahou families knew that they had been publicly manipulated like chicks by a lowly peasant, and had been scolded without doing anything, how would they face anyone in the future? What would become of their dignity?!
The Cao Clan Military Academy was like a fish thrown ashore, suddenly finding itself detached from its comfortable environment. The pressure of the battlefield, the fear of survival, the anxiety about the future, and the shame of being held captive by the old military academy all mingled together…

Like a naughty child caught by their parents playing on their phone or iPad before the end of the semester, or like a modern woman who has given birth to four children but none of them have her husband's DNA, instead of feeling ashamed, she screams hysterically...

"Kill him! Kill him!!"

If the person who discovered the problem is killed, then the problem will cease to exist, and no one will mention it again.

The old military academy officer no longer looked at the screaming Cao family military academy officer, but instead turned his gaze to his fellow villager who was lying on the ground, barely breathing and looking at him with complicated eyes, and then to the other fleeing soldiers...

Besides his fellow townsmen, there were other familiar faces from the old military academy...

The Cao family's military academy continued its shrill shouts, piercing the old academy's eardrums with a buzzing sound, and then something seemed to crack open...

Loyalty, discipline, and military discipline—at this moment, they cracked, bled, shattered, and were then consumed by rage, turning to ashes!
"Fuck your military orders! Fuck your Cao family!"

The old military officer roared and snatched the knife from Cao's hand, then swung it upwards with a fierce motion!
A flash of light!
Before Cao's military academy student could even react, he felt a chill in his waist, followed by unimaginable excruciating pain, and his strength was rapidly draining away...

He opened his mouth, trying to shout, but only a spurt of bloody foam came out. Then the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he fell to the ground like a piece of rotten wood. He twitched twice and then fell silent.

The old military officer looked at the fallen Cao family military officer, panting heavily, but inexplicably felt that the stone that had been stuck in his chest had disappeared!

This strike severed not only the life of Cao's military academy officer, but also the old officer's ties to the past...

The strong smell of blood was even more pungent, but breathing was much easier!

The old military officer looked up at his fellow villager, then at the other fleeing soldiers. "What the hell are you all standing there for?! Follow me, open the east gate! We...we're leaving this hellhole!"

……

……

For any big event, the unexpected is never absent.

The battle was at a stalemate, with the balance of power constantly shifting amidst extreme bloodshed. The final, devastating blow to Cao Cao's army came not from outsiders, but from one of the very foundations upon which Cao Cao had built his empire!

A rebellion broke out among the Qingzhou soldiers!
This Qingzhou army was originally deployed by Cao Cao within the pass as a reserve force and also as a supervisory force to monitor other new recruits. It was assumed that the loyalty of these Qingzhou soldiers was beyond question, but unexpectedly, this time, these Qingzhou soldiers turned their weapons on the nearby supervisory force and other Cao army units, and attempted to capture the east gate of Sishui Pass to open an escape route!

When the news arrived, Cao Cao's legs went weak, and he almost tumbled off the horse track and down the city wall!

Cao Cao could hardly believe his ears!

These are soldiers from Qingzhou!

These are his earliest followers, who helped him establish himself in Yanzhou, defeat the two Yuan brothers, and pacify the Central Plains!
Ignoring the perilous situation before him, Cao Cao, under the desperate cover of Dian Wei and his personal guards, practically tumbled down the inner horse path and raced toward the area where the rebellion had occurred.

Cao Cao had to suppress this rebellion, but he also wanted to get to the bottom of things...

When Cao Cao arrived at the street where the fighting had broken out, the situation was almost out of control!
Dozens of Qingzhou soldiers, along with some routed soldiers, were engaged in fierce fighting with the troops loyal to Cao Cao who were defending the east gate.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, these defeated soldiers, most of whom were wounded, did not have much fighting power, and the East Gate did not completely fall into the hands of the rebellious Qingzhou soldiers.

Upon seeing Cao Cao appear surrounded by his personal guards, the Qingzhou soldiers stirred, but did not retreat.

"It's you?!"

Cao Cao saw the old military officer and was enraged. "Why?! Even you would betray me?!"

The old military officer stepped forward from the crowd, not charging at Cao Cao with his sword drawn, but instead slamming his blade into the ground. "Lord Cao! Prime Minister Cao! Look at us! Look at these brothers who are still alive!"

The old military officer stretched out his hand, pointing to the equally scarred Qingzhou soldiers behind him—once elite troops, now routed soldiers. "Back then in Yanzhou, in Xuzhou, at Guandu… how many of us died? Seven out of ten villages were wiped out! Which survivor doesn't have three or five scars on their body? Which one doesn't dream of their dead comrades crying out for justice?!"

The old military officer's chest heaved violently as he roared, "What did you say when you recruited us?! You said you'd treat our families well, that you'd give us a good life! And what happened?! Have our families ever had a good life?! We brothers are risking our lives for Cao Cao, while our families toil year-round in the military farms, barely having enough to eat! Tax collectors harass us, clerks make things difficult for us, we can only suffer when we're sick, and when we die, we're just wrapped in straw mats! What kind of treatment is this?!"

"We've never said these things, never explained them, but that doesn't mean we don't understand!" The old military officer pointed at Cao Cao, venting years of pent-up resentment. "You told us to wait a little longer, to endure a little longer! We waited, we endured, and what was the result?!"

"You say you'll reward merit regardless of birth, that meritorious Qingzhou youths can become officials and generals! But look! Look around you, look at those captains, colonels, and generals! How many of them are from Qingzhou?! Is it that we can't fight? Or that we won't fight to the death?!" The old officer suddenly pulled out his sword from the ground, pointed it at a young Cao family officer beside Cao Cao, and snarled, "Come! Lord Cao! Is that fellow surnamed Cao?! Let him come here! Let him fight me one-on-one! Life or death! Let's see if your Cao family's sword is sharper, or if this old Qingzhou soldier's life is tougher!"

The young military academy officer's face turned pale for a moment, then flushed red, but he gritted his teeth and dared not utter a sound.

Tears welled in the old military officer's eyes. "You say we fight to pacify the land and bring peace to the people! Lord Cao! Put your hand on your heart and tell me! My eldest brother died in Xuzhou, my third brother died at Guandu, and of my sixteen brothers from my village, only I and two other cripples remain, still breathing! The blood we shed, the corpses of the people of Qingzhou, piled up higher than this Sishui Pass! But is the land at peace? Are the people at peace? Or... is your Cao family's land at peace, your Cao family's foundation at peace, while we, and our families, are still considered lowly bastards by your Cao family sons! Deserving to die!"

Cao Cao opened his mouth, his throat bobbing, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

Explanation?

promise?

refute?

Before these scarred veterans, whose eyes held only anger and despair, any words seemed pale and powerless, and any explanation seemed like a hypocritical embellishment.

Unfair treatment, no hope of promotion, the ultimate disillusionment with the meaning of war...

Every question is based on bloody facts.

The glory of the old Han Dynasty belonged to the ruling class and had nothing to do with the common people who were covered in mud and dust.

The happiness of the old Han dynasty belonged to the gentry and local elites; the common people could only put on a forced smile when petty officials broke into their homes at night.

Did Cao Cao not know these problems?

He knew it, but Cao Cao's regime was unable to resolve this inherent contradiction!
Cao Cao was unable to truly provide these soldiers from humble backgrounds with a fair path to advancement!

Even though Cao Cao loudly proclaimed his call for talented individuals, how many of them actually received promotions and climbed the ranks?

Cao Cao was also unable to truly provide these ordinary people with a stable life!

Even though Cao Cao repeatedly ordered the reduction of taxes and protection of people's livelihood, he still could not stop those old and corrupt local officials from sucking blood from the people!

Cao Cao's wars are increasingly difficult to frame as "restoring the Han Dynasty" or "saving the people"...

The statue of Cao Cao, which he had meticulously decorated, is now being exposed in more and more places!

These exposed areas are exactly the same as those of the old Han Dynasty—rotten and decadent—yet they are forcibly covered with brocade adorned with gold and silver, forbidding the people from getting close to look, touching, or even mentioning them!
This statue has long since deviated from Cao Cao's original ideals...

Previously, Cao Cao could pretend not to know.

But now...

He saw the last glimmer of hope in the eyes of those Qingzhou soldiers extinguished...

He also saw the wavering in the eyes of the other soldiers around him, a sense of shared sorrow for the fallen...

That's right, Cao Cao has been betrayed yet again.

But what is the root cause of this betrayal?
Did the Qingzhou soldiers betray Cao Cao, or did Cao Cao betray the Qingzhou soldiers?

Did ideals betray reality, or did reality betray ideals?

……

……

Cao Cao led his personal guards to rush into the city to suppress the sudden uprising of the Qingzhou soldiers.

Cao Cao's move, though made out of necessity, was like removing a cornerstone from a shaky, precarious tower.

Under normal circumstances, Cao Cao's departure would not have been a problem. However, in the current critical situation, the defense of Sishui Pass was already on the verge of collapse. With Cao Cao's departure, a fatal vacuum and stagnation instantly appeared in the command core of Cao Cao's army.

Some of the defending Cao army soldiers witnessed the Prime Minister leaving with his personal guards and mistakenly thought that Cao Cao was preparing to flee, which dealt another heavy blow to their morale. Their will to resist and their efficiency in coordination almost visibly slid to the brink of collapse.

All of this was noticed by a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes below the city!
Huang Zhong was a good hunter!
A good hunter has enough patience.

Therefore, in the first stage, Huang Zhong neither sought credit nor relaxed.

He and his men, including the swordsmen, calmly observed the entire defensive line of the pass, as if examining the flow of energy in Cao Cao's defenses, or perhaps searching for the tracks of some wild beast.

This may seem mysterious, but it is actually Huang Zhong's hunter's instinct.

In his early years in the mountains, he had no access to modern positioning instruments or infrared observation equipment. He relied solely on his naked eyes. In order to provide enough food for himself, and especially for his sickly children, Huang Zhong had to improve his hunting success rate.

In the eyes of some keyboard warriors, primitive hunting seems to only require carrying a bow, a long spear, and a hunting knife up the mountain to easily hunt a lot of prey, but the reality is not like that.

If you don't know how to detect the aura and sense the traces of ferocious beasts, you might not only fail to hunt any small animals, but instead end up handing your head to the mountain tiger...

Huang Zhong developed his almost instinctive intuition through years of dealing with cunning and dangerous beasts!
This is the ability to instantly capture a prey's vulnerability!

As soon as Cao Cao left with Dian Wei and his personal guards, Huang Zhong immediately noticed that the morale of Cao Cao's army on the city wall suddenly weakened!
After all, Cao Cao was the core of Cao Cao's army!
Cao Cao's unusual movements, in the eyes of some of his soldiers who were unaware of the situation, led them to believe that Cao Cao was about to flee, and their resolve was inevitably shaken...

"Now is the time!" Huang Zhong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his hair and beard bristling in the smoke of battle, and he raised his arm and shouted, "My men! Follow me to break through the pass! The first to reach the top will be richly rewarded!!"

Huang Zhong led his personal guards, swordsmen, like tigers released from their cages, straight towards the walls of Sishui Pass!

Huang Zhong took the lead, holding a shield to protect his head and face in one hand and a sword in the other. He climbed the creaking ladder with great speed! Huang Zhong was like a monkey climbing a steep cliff in the mountains and forests, as agile as a monkey and as swift as a leopard. He used his shield to deflect the scattered arrows and was close to the top of the wall in a few leaps!

Behind the crenellations, several Cao army spearmen frantically tried to push the ladder away from the wall, but their morale was low and their efforts were uneven, so they couldn't move it for a while.
Huang Zhong seized an opening, let out a roar, and leaped up like a roc, directly clearing the last few steps. He used his shield to deflect the spear tips that Cao Cao's soldiers were thrusting at him in a chaotic manner, and landed heavily on the walkway of the Sishui Pass city wall!

Huang Zhong stepped onto the rampart and roared, wielding his sword to slaughter Cao Cao's soldiers along the ramparts in a few swift moves, clearing a small platform for his attack and providing cover for his swordsmen to follow up.

"You old scoundrel, stop your arrogance!"

A roar exploded like thunder.

Cao Ren noticed that Huang Zhong had climbed the city wall and knew that the situation was critical, so he rushed over to plug the leaks!
Upon arriving at the scene, Cao Ren instinctively knew that in order to plug this defensive loophole and stop the Flying Cavalry from widening the breach, he had to defeat Huang Zhong!

If Huang Zhong's offensive cannot be contained, then Cao Cao's army will surely collapse on all fronts!

Without a second thought, Cao Ren raised his steel halberd, parted the chaotic army, and charged straight at Huang Zhong!
Facing Cao Ren's furious, swift thrust, Huang Zhong neither dodged nor evaded; instead, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. He exhaled, and the heavy ring-pommel sword in his hand, which had been with him for many years, swept upwards in a blood-red arc, precisely striking the forked tip of Cao Ren's halberd!

"clang--!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing erupted between the two, sparks flying everywhere!

This attack disrupted Cao Ren's original plan!

Cao Ren originally intended to take advantage of the special properties of the halberd, thinking that most of the military officers would try to block with their shields when he thrust at them, but in doing so, they would fall into Cao Ren's trap!
The halberd can not only stab, but also hook, pull, chop, and slice!

If Huang Zhong were to use his shield to block like a typical military officer, Cao Ren could change tactics and use his halberd to hook the edge of Huang Zhong's shield. Even if he couldn't pull Huang Zhong's shield out of his hand, he could still disrupt Huang Zhong's balance and gain the upper hand in the battle!

But now, it is Cao Ren himself who has lost the initiative!

Because Cao Ren had prepared a change of tactics in advance, he did not use enough force in his thrust. When Huang Zhong countered with such a powerful and imposing strike, his arms were immediately numb, and his swift thrust was momentarily halted!
Huang Zhong, however, used the force of the recoil to swing his blade in a circular motion. With a slight shift in his footing, he cut into the inner circle of Cao Ren's spear stance, his blade slicing across Cao Ren's waist and ribs!

Cao Ren was also a seasoned general. He remained calm in the face of danger, lowered his waist and sat on his horse. Before he could retract his halberd, he used the iron ferrule at the end of his spear to smash into Huang Zhong, while simultaneously dodging to the side.

"Bang!"

The blades clashed, and the two men each took a half step back, but in the next moment they were locked in a fierce struggle!
It seemed like they were evenly matched, but in reality, Cao Ren had lost the advantage of his long-handled weapon and was forced into close combat with Huang Zhong!
Cao Ren attempted to regroup and rebuild his forces.

Seeing that Huang Zhong was old, he intended to rely on his physical advantage to wear him down, create an opening, and then defeat Huang Zhong...

However, Huang Zhong's physical strength and endurance far exceeded Cao Ren's expectations!

As an experienced hunter, Huang Zhong knew how to allocate every bit of energy most effectively when fighting wild beasts.

Huang Zhong did not deliberately try to outmaneuver Cao Ren with brute force, but instead maintained a steady defensive posture and launched swift and decisive counterattacks, firmly controlling the rhythm of the battle.

Huang Zhong's swordsmanship may seem simple, consisting of just a few slashes, thrusts, and parries, but it is actually the result of countless hours of practice. Every strike is designed to force the enemy to defend, either parrying just as Cao Ren's halberd is about to strike or thrusting at the moment Cao Ren takes a breath and moves...

The blade flashed around Huang Zhong, impenetrable even to water. Occasionally, a sudden thrust of the blade would strike like a venomous snake, forcing Cao Ren to retreat, retreat again and again...

The two engaged in a fierce battle, maneuvering and fighting on the narrow passageway of the city wall.

Beneath his feet lay corpses, pools of blood, and scattered weapons.

All around were soldiers from both sides still fighting to the death, with shouts, screams, and the clash of weapons filling the air.

Within this area of ​​several feet, it seemed as if an independent space had been formed, with only the flashing of swords and halberds.

Cao Ren grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He was confident in his strength and skill, his spear technique honed by a master and honed through countless battles, yet he felt constrained and helpless against Huang Zhong. His opponent's power was as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, each clash sending his blood surging; his opponent's experience was as cunning as a fox, always able to anticipate his moves; and even more terrifying was the hunter's patience and focus, as if all his struggles were being calculated by the opponent…

After more than thirty rounds of fierce fighting, it was Cao Ren himself who was the first to run out of stamina and endurance!

Unbeknownst to him, Cao Ren's breathing became heavy, and sweat poured down his forehead. Although his halberd technique had not yet fallen apart, his momentum had been dampened.

Huang Zhong created an opening, and Cao Ren's halberd thrust missed, the force applied too much, and the recovery was slightly slow...

A fierce glint flashed in Huang Zhong's eyes, and his breath was like thunder. The ring-pommel sword, which was originally intended to block, suddenly accelerated and changed direction, switching from defense to offense. The sword went against the current along the shaft of the halberd, aiming to cut off Cao Ren's ten fingers that were holding the halberd!

This strike was both swift and dangerous, a hunter's signature technique for dealing with wild beasts—

Cripple their claws and teeth!

Cao Ren was shocked. If he didn't let go, he would lose all five fingers. He had no choice but to quickly release his grip and retreat!
The steel halberd clattered as it flew from my hand, struck the edge of the battlement, and bounced to the ground...

Having lost his weapon, Cao Ren was terrified, but his fierce spirit remained. He hurriedly tried to pick up the other weapons on the ground, but Huang Zhong would not give Cao Ren the chance.

Huang Zhong's blade flashed like a bolt of lightning and was already at Cao Ren's neck!

The cold blade pressed against his skin, sending chills down Cao Ren's spine and causing all his movements to freeze instinctively!

The next moment, Cao Ren was determined to exchange his life for injury. Ignoring the sword in his neck, he grabbed a spear and stabbed it at Huang Zhong!

Huang Zhong was prepared and knew that the ferocious beast would surely fight back when it was about to die, so he used a shield bash to knock Cao Ren to the ground!
"Tie him up!"

Huang Zhong's voice boomed like a bell, drowning out the surrounding noise.

Several valiant swordsmen who had followed Huang Zhong up the city wall immediately swarmed forward and bound Cao Ren tightly with ropes.

With their commander captured, the remaining will of resistance of Cao Cao's army on this section of the city wall finally collapsed completely.

General Cao has been captured!

Cao's army cried out in alarm and howled in pain as they scattered and fled.

Huang Zhong stood with his sword in hand, his beard and hair bristling, looking like a god of war. He pointed his sword forward, and the swordsmen roared and charged fiercely towards the flanks and the interior of the pass, further expanding the breakthrough.

The banner of the Flying Cavalry was finally firmly planted on the city wall of Sishui Pass, and under Huang Zhong's leadership, it swept into the interior of the pass!

……

……

"Zixiao has been captured?!"

When this devastating news reached Cao Cao's ears, he felt a wave of dizziness and almost lost his balance.

"Evil Lai! Follow me! Save Zixiao!"

Cao Cao roared hoarsely, no longer caring about anything else. He drew his sword and charged against the retreating crowd, madly rushing towards the section of the city wall that Huang Zhong had broken through.

Smoke filled the air, and corpses littered the ground.

When Cao Cao and Dian Wei broke through layers of obstacles and arrived at the area on the city wall that was already mostly occupied by the Flying Cavalry, they saw Cao Ren being bound and taken to the rear. Meanwhile, the three Flying Cavalry generals, Huang Zhong, Huang Cheng, and Jiang Jiong, had already climbed the city wall and formed a triangular formation, firmly guarding the breakthrough point and constantly squeezing the remaining Cao army's space forward.

"Give me back my filial piety!"

Cao Cao's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he drew his sword to charge, but Dian Wei beat him to it.

"My lord, step back! I'll come!"

Dian Wei's voice was like muffled thunder as he blocked Cao Cao's path.

Dian Wei was exceptionally tall and imposing. With two iron halberds in his hands, his eyes were wide open in anger, and his whole body was surging with murderous aura. He truly looked like a fierce and evil god who had stepped out of ancient legends.

Before Cao Cao could say anything more, Dian Wei roared and strode forward like a giant chariot!

Seeing Dian Wei's fierce approach, Huang Zhong was not afraid at all. Instead, his fighting spirit soared, and he swung his sword to meet him.

Huang Cheng and Jiang Jiong knew that Dian Wei was Cao Cao's top general, so they dared not be negligent. They worked together with Huang Zhong, one on the left and one on the right, and used all three weapons to try to stop the ferocious beast.

However, Dian Wei's bravery exceeded the three men's expectations...

Dian Wei seemed to know nothing of defense. He wielded his two eighty-pound iron halberds like two black whirlwinds, carrying a savage force that could destroy cities and fortresses. He used offense as defense and fought against the three men head-on!

A series of deafening clangs rang out as Dian Wei forcefully pushed aside Huang Zhong's sword, Huang Cheng's spear, and Jiang Jiong's gun with a sweeping attack that was completely devoid of any fancy moves and relied solely on overwhelming brute force!

As the iron halberd was swung, it was as if a gale was rising, forcing the surrounding soldiers to keep their eyes closed!
Huang Zhong's hand went numb; he was secretly astonished, "What incredible strength!"

Huang Zhong changed his swordsmanship, no longer engaging in direct combat, but instead using exquisite moves to entangle and attack Dian Wei's weaker points such as his joints and ribs.

Huang Cheng and Jiang Jiong quickly adjusted their tactics, using their numerical advantage to harass and harass Dian Wei, attempting to wear him down and find an opening.

The three's strategy was correct, but unfortunately, their teamwork was not good enough.

Before the great battle, who could have imagined that the three of them would join forces to fight Dian Wei, and then practiced beforehand?
Moreover, the three of them already have their own fighting habits, which are deeply ingrained physical instincts developed over many years. Even if they train together temporarily before the battle, how much can they change or improve their teamwork?

As a result, the three of them fought Dian Wei together, but for a time they were unable to defeat him!

Seeing that Dian Wei had engaged the three men, Cao Cao took out the Heaven-Slaying Sword to rescue Cao Ren!
Huang Zhong's swordsmen hurriedly stepped forward to block Cao Cao while trying to carry Cao Ren off the city wall...

Although the swordsman was quite skilled, he was still at a disadvantage against Cao Cao's sharp Heaven-Slaying Sword.

Huang Zhong was getting anxious, but dared not easily break free. He sensed that Dian Wei was like a ferocious beast, and if he carelessly exposed his back to this beast, it wouldn't just be a matter of his anus being in danger!
Huang Zhong and two others surrounded and fought Dian Wei. In the ensuing battle, Dian Wei, who only had two large iron halberds, inevitably couldn't always defend himself properly and began to suffer some injuries...

But Dian Wei seemed completely unaware!
Or rather, Dian Wei simply didn't care!
Dian Wei's eyes were filled with nothing but slaughter and his obsession with protecting his lord. When faced with attacks from Huang Zhong and the other two, Dian Wei would sometimes deliberately risk injury to save his life, or use unimaginable strength to forcefully break through their attacks!

Jiang Jiong thrust his spear forward, but Dian Wei neither dodged nor evaded, instead using his shoulder armor to block the attack. At the same time, he swept his halberd back, forcing Jiang Jiong to retreat in a sorry state!

Blood seeped from the cracks in Dian Wei's shoulder armor, but he seemed oblivious.

Huang Cheng thrust his spear at Huang Cheng's calf, but Huang Cheng took a step forward and used his greaves to block the spear tip. His other halberd was about to smash down on Huang Cheng's head like Mount Tai. If Huang Zhong hadn't blocked it with his sword in time, Huang Cheng's brains would have been splattered!
"This man is insane! We cannot defeat him by force!"

Huang Cheng, whose combat skills were relatively lower than the other two, had just narrowly escaped death and was terrified, his heart pounding and cold sweat pouring down his face.

Jiang Jiong was also panting, and the webs between his hands were throbbing with pain.

Dian Wei fought with increasing ferocity, sustaining several more wounds—sword cuts, spear stabs—his armor stained crimson with blood. Yet, his momentum only intensified, his roars echoing as he wielded his twin halberds with even more ferocity. It was as if the wounds had not weakened him, but rather ignited a more terrifying ferocity within him. He pressed forward relentlessly, single-handedly forcing the combined forces of Huang Zhong and his two companions to retreat, with signs of a potential counterattack emerging!
"Dian Wei! Cease your arrogance! Xu Zhongkang is here!"

A roar like a tiger's howl drowned out all the noise on the battlefield!
Upon hearing this, Dian Wei put away his iron halberd, took a step back, and turned to look.

On the city wall, a figure as tall as an iron tower had appeared, standing proudly!

Xu Chu, clad in heavy, gleaming armor, wielded a massive iron shield like a giant oar in his left hand and a broad-bladed longsword in his right, charging straight at Dian Wei like a steel monster!

The heavy armor and the massive iron shield that Xu Chu wielded caused not only blood and limbs to splatter everywhere with every step he took, but also the entire Sishui Pass city wall to tremble slightly!
Xu Chu joined the battle without saying a word. He raised his giant shield and, with a loud 'boom,' directly blocked Dian Wei's path!
"This scoundrel! Hand him over to me!" Xu Chu roared from behind his mask, "Go and capture this traitor Cao!"

It wasn't that Xu Chu was arrogant, but in such a special situation of fighting among masters, one plus one might not be greater than two, or even equal to two.

For example, if Dian Wei were to trade his life for his own and insist on killing Huang Cheng, would Xu Chu save him or not?

Just like Huang Zhong's actions before, Xu Chu could only try to save him, but after saving him, he not only lost a good opportunity to attack, but he might also be counterattacked by Dian Wei!
Faced with such absolute power, any flaw is fatal...

Therefore, it would be better to deal with Dian Wei by himself, so that there would be no hindrance.

On the other hand, Xu Chu deliberately reminded the three of his mistakes, while Cao Cao, on the other side, also tried to prevent them from thinking that he was trying to steal credit or take advantage of Dian Wei after they had exhausted his strength...

Compared to the formidable Dian Wei, Cao Cao's side was naturally a lucrative target.

Sure enough, Huang Zhong and his two companions exchanged a brief glance, then vacated the battlefield and rushed towards Cao Cao's side.

"Where are you going?!"

Dian Wei was not about to let the three leave so easily, and swept out his iron halberd in an attempt to intercept them.

Xu Chu stepped forward, raised his shield and shield, and blocked Dian Wei's iron halberd that was sweeping towards Huang Zhong and the other two!

Dian Wei's brow furrowed, and he immediately changed his move, hooking his iron halberd around the edge of Xu Chu's shield. "Let go!"

That's right. Dian Wei knew he couldn't stop Huang Zhong and the other two, so he pretended to intercept them, but in reality he was trying to break Xu Chu's shield as quickly as possible and kill Xu Chu, his most dangerous opponent!

Unfortunately, Dian Wei's plan failed...

Dian Wei felt as if he wasn't pulling a shield wrapped in iron, but rather dragging a heavy boulder!

It's impossible to pull it!

The next moment, Xu Chu's broadsword had already slashed down in front of Dian Wei!
"clang!!!"

It was as if two bronze bells had collided, and an unprecedentedly loud sound reverberated through the air!

Visible ripples of sound seemed to spread through the air, sweeping across the entire Sishui Pass!
"roar!!"

Dian Wei roared and swung his other halberd down!

Xu Chu shrank back slightly, his shield pointing upwards.

*Thump!*

Sparks flew from the shield, leaving a deep dent!

Xu Chu merely swayed, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot, not retreating even half a step!

Dian Wei involuntarily took a half step back, his arm going numb!
For the first time, a hint of surprise and seriousness flashed in Dian Wei's crimson eyes...

He could sense that the opponent before him was no less powerful than himself!

"Heh! Nothing special!" Xu Chu's massive shield protected most of his body, his broadsword protruding from the side of the shield, its tip pointing at Dian Wei. "You scoundrel! Perhaps you haven't eaten enough?!"

Xu Chu mocked, but his feet were firmly planted in a defensive and counter-attack stance.

Having served General Huo Qubing for a long time, Xu Chu has evolved from a pure warrior who only knew how to fight blindly into a more shrewd and calculating general.

Xu Chu knew that Dian Wei was now in a frenzied state, and given his immense strength, if he tried to seize every opportunity, he would inevitably suffer a desperate counterattack from the beast. Therefore, Xu Chu preferred to play a defensive counterattack. After all, Dian Wei had been fighting for a long time and was injured. Although he looked extremely fierce now, his energy would eventually decline. At that time, Xu Chu would have been recuperating and would use his composure to overcome the madness and his resilience to defeat the violence!

As expected, Dian Wei was mocked and enraged. He roared and, without regard for anything else, unleashed a torrent of energy with his twin halberds, sweeping towards Xu Chu!

Whether it's chopping, smashing, sweeping, or thrusting, every strike contains terrifying power capable of shattering mountains and splitting the earth!
Xu Chu remained unmoved, his giant shield either blocking or deflecting, neutralizing most of Dian Wei's attacks!

That broadsword was not used lightly, but every time it was used, it was aimed at the spot that Dian Wei would have to defend!

Clang! Clang! Clang...

The two clashed, the sounds of metal clashing echoing continuously, sparks flying everywhere.

Within a radius of several feet, no one could stand. The surging wind and flying sparks created a picture of violent aesthetics.

Dian Wei was like a tireless prehistoric beast, launching wave after wave of attacks...

Xu Chu, on the other hand, is like an ancient reef, unmoved by the crashing waves...

After more than fifty rounds of fierce fighting, Dian Wei's roars had become hoarse, and the speed and power with which he wielded his twin halberds finally began to wane...

Xu Chu saw this, but still did not launch a full-scale attack!

Even when Dian Wei revealed a weakness, Xu Chu acted as if he didn't see it, simply using his sword and shield to create an invisible cage, trapping Dian Wei firmly inside!
Sure enough, this was just Dian Wei using the same old trick again!

Dian Wei's apparent fatigue was partly genuine, and partly feigned...

With Xu Chu's heavy shield and sturdy armor, unless hit head-on without any resistance or pierced through the armor, Dian Wei could not possibly inflict a fatal injury on Xu Chu!

Dian Wei wanted to trade injuries and lives again, but Xu Chu wouldn't fall for it!
The two fought for another thirty or forty rounds before Dian Wei finally revealed a true weakness...

The ground where the two fought was littered with blood, limbs, and broken, discarded weapons. As top-tier warriors, these debris on the ground would normally have no effect on them. With each step they took, they combined feints and real attacks, constantly changing their strength...

However, this method is extremely physically demanding, requiring a great deal of endurance and energy...

Dian Wei fought alongside Huang Zhong and another two against a monster of equal caliber, Xu Chu. The wounds he had sustained from his previous recklessness ultimately became the straw that broke the camel's back.

Exhaustion of strength caused Dian Wei to step on a broken wooden pole during a change in offense and defense!
The wooden pole slid in the blood plasma!
Although Dian Wei adjusted his center of gravity almost immediately, Xu Chu keenly caught the change in that instant!

After parrying Dian Wei's slightly delayed sweeping attack, Xu Chu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He suddenly thrust his massive shield forward, not with a head-on collision, but with a clever twist, deflecting the force of Dian Wei's left-hand halberd slightly, leaving a small opening in Dian Wei's chest!

"break!"

Xu Chu exhaled like thunder, and his broadsword, which had been primarily used for defense, finally unleashed a devastating attack!
Xu Chu did not choose a more powerful slash, but instead pursued the shortest and fastest movement, concentrating all his strength, and thrusting out from behind the shield like a siege ram, like a poisonous dragon emerging from its cave!

The blade tore through the air, emitting a shrill whistle, aiming straight for Dian Wei's heart!

Dian Wei's right-hand halberd was too late to save him. With a roar, he abandoned his left-hand halberd and pressed down hard with his fan-like left hand, trying to grab the blade that was thrusting at him!
Dian Wei did it!

His five fingers gripped the tip of Xu Chu's sword like iron clamps!

However, the power of Xu Chu's long-planned thrust was terrifying!
Exhausted, Dian Wei managed to grab the blade, but he couldn't completely stop its advance!

*Pfft!*

The blade pierced through the breastplate on Dian Wei's chest and plunged deep into his chest!

Dian Wei trembled violently, the veins on his left hand gripping the blade bulged, and blood gushed from his chest. His eyes, wide like copper bells, stared intently at Xu Chu, who was standing inches away...

Xu Chu's arm muscles bulged, and with another burst of strength, his long sword pierced through Xu Chu's back!

Xu Chu, having landed a successful blow, immediately let go, stepped back, and escaped Dian Wei's attack range. With a flick of his toe, he hooked a battle sword from the ground into his hand, and stared coldly at Dian Wei.

Dian Wei let out a deafening roar, seemingly oblivious to the massive wound in his chest, and still lunged forward with outstretched arms!

Xu Chu retreated again, using his shield to deflect Dian Wei's attack, making his defense impenetrable.

Only then did Dian Wei's imposing figure stiffen abruptly, and the fierce light, madness, and obsession in his eyes quickly extinguished like a candle flickering in the wind...

Dian Wei turned his head with difficulty and looked at Cao Cao, who was being held tightly by Huang Zhong and the other two not far away. Cao Cao's face was full of grief and despair. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, no sound came out...

Immediately, this ancient, ferocious god, who seemed to never fall, collapsed to his knees like a mountain of gold and a pillar of jade, fell forward, and died.

The mighty halberd that had once struck fear into the hearts of countless enemies clattered as it fell from his grasp to his side, stained with its master's blood, as if it had perished alongside him...

A brief silence fell over the battlefield...

"Evil come—!!!"

Cao Cao let out a heart-wrenching wail.

Dian Wei's death not only deprived him of his strongest ally, but also seemed to remove his last pillar of support.

Xu Chu gazed at Dian Wei's corpse, his face showing no joy at having just killed an enemy general, but rather a hint of respect for a true warrior. He did not choose to cut off Dian Wei's head, nor did he allow the other soldiers to do so. Then, together with Huang Zhong and the others, he fixed his gaze on the distraught Cao Cao.

Cao Cao wasn't necessarily more valiant than Dian Wei, capable of withstanding the combined attack of Huang Zhong and his two companions. Rather, Huang Zhong and his men wanted to capture Cao Cao alive, so they didn't go for the kill, instead focusing on eliminating the last of Cao Cao's guards...

Cao Cao stared at Xu Chu and said in a hoarse voice, "Good, good! You... truly deserve to be called a scion of Qiao County!"

Xu Chu replied in a low, booming voice, "Indeed! Where in the world does a hero not emerge?!"

"Good! Good, good, good!" Cao Cao stared intently at Xu Chu for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, slowly raising the Heaven-Slaying Sword and placing it against his own neck. "Enough! Today, I'll simply offer this fine head to my fellow townsman!"

Cao Cao was about to draw his sword and commit suicide!
"My lord!"

Stop him!

The soldiers on both sides shouted almost simultaneously!
But at that moment, an arrow suddenly whistled through the air and knocked the long sword out of Cao Cao's hand!
It turned out that Huang Zhong, who was on the side, noticed Cao Cao's unusual behavior. He took a few steps back, took a bow and arrow from a soldier of the Flying Cavalry, and made his move at this critical moment!
"Protect our lord!"

"Capture that traitor Cao!"

The two sides collided again in the next moment.

However, Cao Cao's small territory was like a small reef in the rising tide; even if it stubbornly stirred up a few waves, it was eventually submerged by the tide...

……

……

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the ruined city walls of Sishui Pass red, and also reflected the devastation of the battlefield.

Within a single day, Sishui Pass changed hands.

The main resistance within the pass has gradually subsided, with only sporadic fighting, or rather, searches, continuing.

Cao Cao and Cao Ren were escorted separately to the pass.

Cao Cao was not bound hand and foot, but his armor and weapons were removed. Under the guard of several elite cavalrymen, he was taken to the high platform where Fei Qian was.

Fei Qian was already waiting there. He was dressed in black armor and wore a dark black and red cloak, his hands behind his back as he gazed at the huge red sun that was about to sink below the horizon in the west.

"Report! The bandit leader has been brought before us!"

Fei Qian slowly turned around and looked down at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao also looked at Fei Qian at the same time.

Eyes facing each other.

Former rivals, seemingly separated by an entire era, have finally been determined at this moment.

There was no arrogance of the victor, nor pleading of the vanquished; between the two was only a heavy, calm that seemed to be solidified by too much blood and time.

"You've won." Cao Cao spoke first, his voice hoarse and dry, yet exceptionally clear. He paused, raised his eyes, and still held the last trace of the arrogance of a warlord. "But you... haven't won yet."

Fei Qian smiled faintly and shook his head: "No, Lord Cao, you lost. You were destined to lose. And the one who won wasn't me...it wasn't just me..."

Fei Qian raised his hand, gently tracing the blood-stained mountain pass before him, and the countless cavalry soldiers below clearing the battlefield and tending to the wounded. "We" won! We!"

Cao Cao looked in the direction Fei Qian was pointing and saw the cavalrymen who, though exhausted, remained disciplined and whose eyes held a bright light that he could not fully understand. He paused for a moment, seemingly wanting to refute, but found no way to do so.

Fei Qian raised his head, gazing at the sky, and once again at the enormous, breathtakingly red sunset, and slowly said: "The old cycle has ended... but a new cycle... will begin."

Cao Cao understood Fei Qian's meaning. He suddenly felt extremely exhausted, but a sense of resentment still lingered in his heart. This resentment was not entirely directed at the military defeat, but rather at Cao Cao's own lifelong struggle to repair or even create a new situation within the old framework, only to ultimately fail.

"Throughout my life," Cao Cao's voice was low, as if he were talking to himself, yet also as if he were recounting to Fei Qian, "since the uprising in Chenliu against Dong Zhuo, I have come to understand the perils of the world and the unpredictability of human nature. Yet, I never imagined that betrayal would follow me so closely. First, there were the betrayals of my childhood friends; then the fickle nature of the powerful clans of Yanzhou; and now, the officials of Shandong stand idly by, watching our isolated army besieged, indifferent as if watching a fire burning across the river. Even... even the old soldiers of Qingzhou who once followed me have betrayed me!"

Cao Cao gave a bitter smile, shook his head, swallowed the pain of betrayal, but his meaning was clear...

Cao Cao believed that his defeat was inseparable from the continuous betrayals. He believed that it was not his own fault, but the constant betrayals of others that led him to his current predicament!
Upon hearing this, Fei Qian smiled.

However, Fei Qian's smile was not mockery, but rather a calm born of insight. "Lord Cao," he said, "if one's schemes for personal gain go against the desires of the people, how can one expect them not to betray you? The soldiers of Qingzhou seek a fair path to survival; the noble families of Gunzhou seek to preserve their lineage and ensure their ancestral sacrifices; the generals under your command seek fame, fortune, and security. If you cannot grant these desires, or if your methods inevitably diminish their ambitions, then disloyalty and alienation will only be a matter of time. This is not rebellion, but a choice made by themselves!"

Cao Cao glared at Fei Qian and roared angrily, "Easy to say! Are you the only one not afraid? Are you the only one capable of holding out?! How can there be no one who will betray you? No one who covets this mighty weapon? No one who resents the constraints of these laws?"

Fei Qian met his gaze and said frankly, "Wherever my principles lead, they will be aligned with the great benefit and longevity of the people! Whatever my laws establish will be able to accommodate the voices of the masses, respond to their requests, and speak for them, proclaiming their will! If this is truly achieved, then rebellion will have no chance to arise! Those who rebel against me are severing their own roots!"

"Ha!" Cao Cao scoffed, his voice tinged with a world-weary cynicism and disdain. "Can you hold onto it? Even if you can, can your heirs? Can your grandchildren? As for your wives' families, meritorious officials, and newly rich, who can hold onto it for long? Your children and grandchildren have wives and children too! What then?! When you are as old as I am, your eyesight and hearing failing, needing assistance to turn over in bed, how will you then forbid others from pursuing personal gain and acting against the will of the people? And so it will come! The first to rebel will be none other than you, the one holding onto it today!"

Cao Cao's question was exceptionally pointed; he finally revealed Fei Qian's greatest hidden danger!

Wife, children, and grandchildren!
The ensuing corruption!
This is the most crucial and fragile link in the transmission of any political ideal!
The cycle of generational change and the erosion of human selfishness can never be eradicated!
Fei Qian remained silent.

This time, Fei Qian remained silent for a considerable period of time, his gaze returning to the setting sun, as if pondering an age-old problem.

The wind on the high platform carried a heavy stench of blood and smoke as it howled past.

After a long while, Fei Qian finally withdrew his gaze and looked at Cao Cao again.

The problem raised by Cao Cao remains unavoidable even in later generations.

Corruption is rooted in the interaction between unchecked power and the uncontrollable nature of human nature, so it can only be combated in the long term. There is no one-size-fits-all solution; we must continuously strengthen various means to prevent, treat, and control it.

Just like the "one-two-three-four" system proposed by Fei Qian within the county structure, and the "three provinces and six ministries" allocation to be implemented in the central court, both are essentially about the separation of powers and checks and balances. Under the relatively backward production relations of the Han Dynasty, they are all about establishing a relatively complete legal system and a strict administrative system...

Furthermore, Fei Qian strengthened cultural development at Qinglong Temple, improving the general public's knowledge through the equalization of the four classes of people...

All of this was Fei Qian's goal: to give China another new path to follow!

A brand new "Great Road" brought about by Fei Qian, a time traveler!
Fei Qian's face regained that calm smile. "If that day ever comes... one who betrays the foundation of coexistence with the people and goes against their hopes and wishes will surely be rejected by them! Is this not only natural? Those who betray the people should meet their end! This matter may inevitably occur in the next cycle of life... Fortunately, today's new laws are different from those of the old laws used by those who murdered their rulers and usurped the throne..."

Cao Cao was startled and stared at Fei Qian in astonishment. He understood the cold and grand logic in Fei Qian's words!

Instead of placing hope in the "wisdom" or "unwavering commitment" of a single family or clan, we appeal to a dynamic, underlying operating rule based on a contract of common interests, ultimately decided by the "majority."

These rules may be crude, or even cruel, but they seem...

It broke the simple cycle of "its rise is sudden, its fall is sudden"?

As Cao Cao pondered these words, the mockery, resentment, and anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by a deep, complex expression that mixed understanding and despair.

Cao Cao spent his life dealing with, fighting, compromising with, and controlling various rules and forces in an attempt to establish his own order. But the person in front of him seems to be trying to describe and establish a more fundamental possibility of order that transcends the individual and even the dynasty!
Another silence fell between the two.

Finally, as if shedding all his burdens, Cao Cao straightened his hunched back, his gaze passing over Fei Qian and landing on the last vestiges of the blood-red sunset on the horizon. He spoke slowly, with an almost solemn air, "Since that's the case, then please execute me here!"

Cao Cao slowly said, "At this time, in this place! Amidst the fading light of the Han Dynasty... let the cycle of the past end."

Cao Cao did not beg for mercy, nor did he negotiate terms; he simply made a final request befitting a hero of an old era…

Together with the dynasty they served, or perhaps they were held hostage, they faded away with the setting sun.

To let one's life, everything, simply vanish into the twilight of bygone days...

Fei Qian quietly looked at Cao Cao, at this once powerful and influential figure who had ultimately been betrayed and besieged in a lonely city, now appearing exceptionally lonely and aged in the setting sun.

Fei Qian did not answer immediately.

He simply turned around again, his back to Cao Cao, and looked at the huge red sun that was rapidly sinking below the horizon.

The wind whipped up Fei Qian's black and red cloak, making it flutter loudly, as if endless iron and blood were surging beneath his figure.

Cao Cao, standing silently below the high platform, awaited the final verdict.

In the distance, the sounds of victory celebrations and the busy cleanup of the battlefield could be faintly heard.

Everything is ending, and everything is beginning.

A brand new life is being born amidst the baptism of blood and fire, and from the pain and struggles of the past!
"This is a lucky time, and this is also a bad time. Here is ignorance, here is wisdom. Here is light, here is darkness. Here is unwavering faith, here is utter delusion. Here is the radiant spring, here is the desolate winter of utter despair..."

(The End)
Thank you to all the readers who have persevered this far!
As I typed the words "The End of the Book," I felt a sense of relief mixed with reluctance to part ways. Throughout these nearly ten years of writing, I will forever remember the support and encouragement from my fellow readers! Thank you!

I also want to thank the editors at Qidian who accompanied this book, and the editor who was worn out by the monkey (a nickname for a writer)...

In addition, I will write some side stories, such as those about Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao...

Dear readers, please feel free to suggest any other plot points you'd like to see...

Okay, that's all.

Thank you again!

The monkey kowtowed and prostrated itself on the ground.