Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

"We also observed that Wei Yan's soldiers did not seem to be many, and the number and density of patrols on the city walls did not seem to be that of tens of thousands of troops."

"Wei Yan! How dare you to play tricks on me like this!"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Dun was furious, feeling a surge of humiliation at being fooled.

The thought that he had been frightened by such a crude trick and had even burned down an empty city that might have contained real grain made him even more furious.

"Good! Very good! Since you only have those few remnants of your army and still dare to stay in the Five Cities, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Xiahou Dun's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his killing intent boiling.

"Pass down the order: the entire army shall rest and have a hearty battle meal! Tonight at midnight, follow me in a night raid on the five cities!"
This time, we must cut off Wei Yan's head and utterly crush that city!

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high, making it the perfect opportunity for murder and arson.

Xiahou Dun led five thousand elite cavalry, men gagged and horses hoofed, and under the cover of night, silently infiltrated the city once again.

On the city wall, only a few torches flickered in the night wind, their dim light illuminating only a small area at their feet.

The soldiers on night watch, carrying their weapons, leaned against the battlements, seemingly exhausted from days of running around and fighting fires, and their vigilance appeared low.

Xiahou Dun was secretly delighted. It seemed the rumors were true; Wei Yan's forces were indeed insufficient and his defenses were lax!

He immediately issued the order to attack the city. The elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, like ghosts in the night, swiftly erected lightweight siege ladders and climbed upwards with practiced and quiet movements.

Xiahou Dun was still in the lead, his agility allowing him to scale the city wall as swiftly as a cat.

It wasn't until his figure appeared at the top of the battlements that a scavenger who had been dozing nearby was suddenly awakened. Just as he was about to shout, Xiahou Dun killed him with a single blow.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Cao Cao's army has stormed the city!"

The piercing alarm finally broke through the night sky, but it seemed too late! More and more Tiger and Leopard Cavalry followed Xiahou Dun and successfully scaled the city walls, engaging in fierce battle with the hastily assembled defenders, plunging the city walls into chaos.

"Where is Wei Yan? Get out here and face your death!"

Xiahou Dun brandished his long sword, slashing down several Han soldiers who blocked his path, his one eye searching in the darkness for the figure he hated to the core.

"Xiahou scoundrel! Your grandfather Wei Yan is here!"

A thunderous roar erupted as Wei Yan, wielding a long sword, charged up from below the city wall's ramparts, his blade flashing like a bolt of lightning as he slashed straight at Xiahou Dun!

"Well done!"

Xiahou Dun roared and raised his sword to meet the attack!

"clang!"

The two longswords clashed violently, sending sparks flying! The two fierce generals instantly engaged in battle, their blades flashing and their energy surging, forcing the surrounding soldiers to retreat and dare not approach.

The battle was extremely fierce. Xiahou Dun was highly skilled in martial arts and incredibly brave; Wei Yan was also known for his bravery and refused to give an inch.

The two fought their way from the city wall to the barbican, and then from the barbican back to the main city wall, leaving a trail of destruction wherever they went.

However, as time passed and the fierce battle lasted for more than an hour, Xiahou Dun's heart, which was filled with anger, gradually calmed down, and a feeling that something was wrong grew stronger and stronger.

According to intelligence, Wei Yan should only have 2,500 men under his command. After the losses from the previous siege and firefighting, his number of combat-ready soldiers is probably even smaller.

But now, after so long of fighting, he clearly sensed that the Han army's resistance... did not seem to be decreasing!
On the contrary, the more they fought, the more numerous and tenacious they became!
Fierce battles broke out everywhere on the city walls and streets. Han soldiers surged forward like a tide, cooperating perfectly and with high morale, showing no signs of being short of troops!
There were indeed many corpses of soldiers from both sides lying on the ground, but the Han army's formation and offensive showed no signs of collapsing!
"No...this is absolutely wrong!"

Xiahou Dun abruptly parried Wei Yan's blade, then glanced around the battlefield, his heart sinking deeper and deeper.

A chilling, terrifying thought slithered into his mind like a venomous snake—

Wei Yan's reinforcements... have probably really arrived!

Everything before, including spreading rumors, burning the wooden dummy, and even this seemingly "lax" defense, was all a trap to lure the enemy in! I... fell for it!

The chilling thought of "falling into a trap" that had gripped Xiahou Dun's mind was like a bucket of ice water poured over him, causing his originally fierce aura to falter and his swordsmanship to freeze slightly. On the battlefield, victory or defeat often hinges on a mere instant!

Wei Yan, who was engaged in fierce battle with him, was no ordinary man. He immediately seized this fleeting opportunity!

His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he let out a thunderous roar.

"Xiahou, you fool, are you tired of living if you get distracted at this time?!"

Before he finished speaking, the longsword in his hand suddenly accelerated, and the originally wide and sweeping moves suddenly changed into a tricky and ruthless diagonal slash. The blade tore through the air with a piercing whistle, aiming straight for the right rib exposed by Xiahou Dun's parry!

Xiahou Dun was shocked and hurriedly parried with his sword, but it was already too late!

"Tsk-!"

The sharp tip of the blade sliced ​​through the tough armor, sending sparks flying, before finally tearing through the armor plates and leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound on his ribs! Blood gushed out instantly, staining his battle robes crimson!

"Ugh!"

Xiahou Dun groaned, the intense pain causing him to stagger back several steps, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Wei Yan, having gained the upper hand, did not immediately pursue the enemy. Instead, he stood with his sword in hand, a triumphant smile on his face, his voice booming as if he wanted everyone on the battlefield to hear him.

"Xiahou Yuanrang! Do you think your grandfather only has so few men that you can do whatever you want with him?"
"Let me tell you the truth, the tens of thousands of reinforcements sent by my lord have already arrived! Everything before was merely bait to lure you, you fool, into a trap! Today, these five cities will be your burial ground!"

These words were like a thunderclap in Xiahou Dun's ears, completely confirming his worst suspicions!

Ignoring the excruciating pain in his ribs, he had only one thought in his mind—escape!
We must break through immediately! Otherwise, our five thousand elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry will be wiped out today!
"Retreat! All troops, listen to my command! Converge with me! Break out! Retreat!"

Xiahou Dun mustered all his strength, roared angrily, and brandished his long sword, forcing back two Han soldiers who tried to rush forward.

However, it was too late to leave at that moment!

Now that Wei Yan had revealed his trump card, he held nothing back.

He swung his long sword forward and gave a stern order.

"All troops, attack! Encircle them! Don't let a single one escape!"

"kill--!"

At his command, the five cities seemed to come alive instantly! The Han army, which had previously been merely holding their ground, now surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, pouring out from both sides of the city walls, from the city streets and alleys, and even from pre-arranged ambushes in the darkness outside the city! Under the firelight, countless figures could be seen, swords and spears like a forest, their numbers easily exceeding tens of thousands! In an instant, they formed a tight encirclement of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry trapped inside the city!
Even though the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry were the elite of the land, they were powerless to turn the tide when they were outnumbered, their commander was injured, their morale was low, and they were completely surrounded.

The battle turned into a one-sided massacre and encirclement. Under the command of Wei Yan and the reinforcements, the Han soldiers cooperated seamlessly, pressing forward step by step and constantly shrinking the living space of Cao Cao's army.

Xiahou Dun's eyes were bloodshot as he watched his personal guards and elite cavalrymen, who had followed him for many years, fall one by one, his heart breaking.

He led his last hundred or so loyal guards, like a beast trapped in a desperate situation, charging and fighting fiercely in one direction. Relying on his personal bravery and the valiant efforts of his men, he actually managed to tear a bloody gap in the Han army's encirclement!
"Come on!"

Xiahou Dun was covered in blood, and the wound under his ribs was bleeding profusely, but he didn't care. Under the protection of his personal guards, he rushed out of the five cities in a disheveled state and plunged into the dark night without looking back. As for the remaining thousands of Tiger and Leopard Cavalry on the city walls and in the streets, he could only watch helplessly as they were completely overwhelmed by the surging Han army... In the end, less than a hundred riders managed to escape with him.

Watching Xiahou Dun disappear into the darkness with only a few dozen riders, Wei Yan did not order a pursuit.

He knew the principle of not pursuing a desperate enemy, and after this battle, Xiahou Dun was severely weakened and would have no chance of posing a threat to the supply lines in the short term.

"Clean up the battlefield, tally the casualties and spoils! Fortify the city defenses, and be on guard against Cao Cao's main force attack!"

Wei Yan issued a series of orders, and a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart. The rear was finally safe for the time being.

Several days later, at Cao Cao's camp.

When Xiahou Dun led his less than a hundred defeated soldiers back to the camp like stray dogs, the entire Cao army was shaken.

Xiahou Dun was covered in wounds and bloodstains, his face was ashen, and he had lost all of his former imposing presence.

Inside the central command tent, Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun, who was kneeling on the ground and dared not raise his head, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

His knuckles turned white from gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly, and his chest heaved violently, clearly as he struggled to suppress his overwhelming rage.

"Five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry! My five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!"

That was my life's work! And you brought me back only a few dozen people?!

Cao Cao's voice was like ice shards rubbing together, carrying a chilling coldness.

"Xiahou Yuanrang! Do you know your crime?!"

"This humble general...this humble general knows his crime! Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Xiahou Dun touched the ground with his head, his voice hoarse and desperate.

He knew that this defeat was so devastating that, according to military law, he would face certain death.

A murderous glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes. He suddenly drew his sword and shouted sharply.

"We have suffered heavy losses, our army has been defeated, and our nation has been disgraced! What use are you now! Guards, take Xiahou Dun out and behead him! Display his head in all the camps as a warning to others!"

"King Wei, please calm your anger!"

Cao Ren was the first to step forward and kneel on one knee.

"Although Yuan Rang was defeated, his bravery is unparalleled in the world! This defeat was due to Wei Yan's cunning and the trap he set, not a fault of his own! I beg King Wei to remember his past merits and spare his life!"

"Yes, King Wei! General Xiahou is a pillar of our army; he must not be killed!"

Generals such as Zhang He and Xu Huang also knelt down to beg for mercy.

Even Xu Chu and Dian Wei, who were usually taciturn and only responsible for protecting Cao Cao's safety, exchanged glances and clasped their hands in a deep voice.

"King Wei, General Xiahou is a hero; it would be a pity to kill him! Let him atone for his crimes by performing meritorious service!"

Looking at the generals kneeling before him, Cao Cao's hand gripping the hilt of his sword trembled slightly. He knew all too well how important Xiahou Dun was, but the losses this time were simply too great!
He remained silent for a long time before finally shoving his sword back into its sheath with a heavy thud.

"He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment! Drag him away and give him eighty strokes of the military rod! Remove him from his vanguard post and observe his future conduct!"

Cao Cao's voice carried weariness and a hint of barely perceptible heartache.

"Thank you, King Wei, for sparing my life!"

Xiahou Dun kowtowed heavily and was helped out of the tent by two soldiers.

After dealing with Xiahou Dun, Cao Cao rubbed his throbbing temples and fell into deep thought. His supply lines had been completely cut off, his surprise attack had failed, and now he had to figure out how to break the stalemate in Xindu.

Just as he was racking his brains for a solution, a figure appeared silently in the shadows of the corner of the tent, like a ghost. It was Tong Fei, who had returned.

"The King of Wei seems to be in trouble."

Tong Fei's voice remained as cold and indifferent as ever.

Cao Cao had grown somewhat accustomed to his elusive nature. He sighed and briefly explained the predicament he was facing.

After listening, Tong Fei said coldly.

"Although Gu Rubing retreated during the last battle of Mianzhu, his foundation remained intact. Compared to what he gave, what King Wei gained was indeed a loss. My Penglai can help King Wei once again."

Cao Cao's heart stirred. Now that he was tied to Penglai, he would naturally be eager to use their strength as much as possible.

"What brilliant plan does the immortal master have?"

"The troops marched on Xindu and breached its city defenses."

Tong Fei's words were concise and to the point.

With Penglai's renewed promise, Cao Cao felt somewhat relieved, regained his spirits, mustered his army, and marched in a mighty force toward the new capital.

However, when Cao Cao led his army to the city of Xindu, before they even set up camp, a strong and familiar pungent smell wafted on the wind – the smell of gunpowder!
Cao Cao looked up and saw rows of dark cannons polished to a gleaming shine on the walls of the new capital. Their thick muzzles, like the pupils of giant beasts, coldly looked down at the city below, exuding a chilling aura of death.

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. When Gu Rubing hastily retreated during the capture of Mianzhu, he did indeed leave behind some gunpowder and several damaged cannons, which were currently being studied intensively in the rear, but this was too late to solve the immediate problem.

Now, facing this imposing artillery barrage, he felt as if he had returned to the terror of being dominated by those earth-shattering explosions.

He even subconsciously turned his head to look at Tong Fei, who was silently standing beside him, with hope in his eyes.

"Immortal Master, could you please use your magic again to set up that fog array? If we can blind the guards on the city wall, these iron lumps will be no threat!"

Tong Fei's gaze swept over the cannons on the city wall, a faint ripple flashing in his cold eyes, but he slowly shook his head, his tone completely flat.

"No. Fellow Daoist Yu Ji is not here."

"Where has Master Yu Ji gone?"

Cao Cao hurriedly pressed for more information.

"Liangzhou".

Tong Fei uttered two words and then said no more.

Cao Cao's heart sank immediately.

Yu Ji went to Liangzhou! (End of Chapter)