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

He remained within a few feet of Gu Rubing, keeping the area tightly guarded. Any arrows aimed at Gu Rubing would be accurately deflected by the tip of his spear.

Gu Rubing himself was not idle either.

He had a rib injury that made strenuous exercise inconvenient, but he was not without the ability to fight back.

He picked up a long sword dropped by a Xiongnu man, leaned against the defensive line formed by Guan Yu and Zhao Yun, and calmly parried and slashed at the occasional attacks that slipped through his fingers, his sharp eyes observing the battlefield.

The courtroom instantly transformed into a bloody slaughterhouse. Although the Xiongnu ambush troops were numerous and fiercely brave, they were no match for Guan Yu and Zhao Yun, two unparalleled killing gods. Amidst the flashing blades and spears, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and screams of agony filled the air.

The Xiongnu attempted to fire a barrage of arrows, but the narrow space and the ghostly movements and precise parries of Guan Yu and Zhao Yun caused most of the arrows to miss or accidentally injure their own men.

The battle was intense but brief.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the shouts of killing and the sounds of clashing weapons inside and outside the court gradually subsided.

The once crowded courtroom and courtyard were now filled with corpses, numbering at least several hundred, piled one on top of the other, the blood almost forming streams, the heavy stench of blood nauseating. Broken weapons and shattered armor were scattered all over the ground.

In the arena, those still standing, besides Guan Yu holding a blood-stained scimitar and breathing slightly rapid, Zhao Yun with his silver spear pointed diagonally and whose white robes were still relatively untouched by dust, and Gu Rubing standing with his sword in hand, his face even paler from exertion—

Only the general who led the way, Huyan Zhuo, remained.

He was leaning against a pillar in the courtroom, his face ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably. The scimitar in his hand was already dulled, and his leather armor was torn in many places, stained with blood that was either his own or someone else's.

He looked at the corpses of his kin scattered on the ground, at the three figures standing like demons, and especially when he saw Gu Rubing's cold gaze slowly turn towards him, boundless fear completely overwhelmed him.

"Clang."

He could no longer hold the scimitar in his hand; it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground, but he forced himself to stay upright and watched Gu Rubing walk towards him step by step with a look of fear and despair.

Gu Rubing walked very slowly, each step landing on the pool of blood with a soft thud.

He approached Huyan Zhuo and looked down at the Xiongnu general who had been arrogant before but was now trembling like a leaf.

Hu Yanzhuo looked at Gu Rubing's outstretched hand, thinking that the other party was going to grab him, and closed his eyes in fright, letting out a hoarse moan.

However, Gu Rubing's hand did not land on him, but instead went over his shoulder and pointed to the open gate of the county government office.

Hu Yanzhuo looked blankly in the direction Gu Rubing pointed.

On the street outside the county government office, behind the doors and windows of some dilapidated houses, several terrified, emaciated faces could be vaguely seen. These were the Han Chinese from Liucheng who had been fortunate enough not to be slaughtered or captured by the Xiongnu.

They hid in the shadows, trembling as they watched the scene inside the county government office, their eyes filled with fear, bewilderment, and a faint, incredulous hope.

Further down the street corner, there appeared to be several disheveled female corpses carelessly discarded.

"Look at them."

Gu Rubing's voice was frighteningly calm, yet it struck Hu Yanzhuo's heart like a heavy hammer.

“Look at this city. Look at what you’ve done.”

Hu Yanzhuo's lips trembled as he tried to explain, to say that this was war, to say that this was the rule of the grasslands, but looking into Gu Rubing's eyes that seemed to freeze his soul, he couldn't say anything.

"You went south not to survive, but to plunder, to kill, and to satisfy your bestial desires."

Gu Rubing spoke each word clearly and deliberately, his voice low, yet each word was like a knife.

"You hang the heads of my people on the city walls, rape my sisters in their homes, and slaughter the old and weak like cutting grass. Now, you can't win, you're scared, and you want to buy your lives with stolen goods?"

He slowly shook his head, the killing intent in his eyes solidifying into a tangible form.

"It's too late. Some debts can't be repaid with things. Some blood must be paid for with blood."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Rubing raised the long knife he had picked up from the ground.

Hu Yanzhuo's pupils contracted sharply, and he let out a desperate howl that sounded inhuman. He subconsciously reached for the knife on the ground, but his hand froze halfway through. In the end, he could only close his eyes in despair.

The sword flashed.

"Pfft."

A head wearing a helmet, its face filled with horror and resentment, shot into the sky, blood spurting several feet high from its neck cavity. The headless corpse swayed and collapsed to the ground.

Gu Rubing casually tossed aside his blood-stained longsword, not even glancing at the corpse on the ground, and said in a deep voice to Guan Yu and Zhao Yun.

"Let's go to the west gate! Let's escort the army into the city!"

The three of them didn't linger and quickly walked out of the county government office, which had become a scene of carnage.

However, as soon as they arrived on the street in front of the county government office, their steps faltered slightly.

In the surrounding streets and alleys, large numbers of Xiongnu soldiers appeared in shadow! They did not fall into complete chaos and collapse as expected due to the sudden deaths of their leader Luan Di Meng and general Hu Yan Zhuo.

On the contrary, although these people looked frightened, their formation was not completely broken. Under the command and organization of some middle and lower-ranking officers, they were closing in on the county government from all directions, their eyes fierce, clearly not intending to let them leave.

What made Gu Rubing's heart sink even more was that the shouts of battle and the sounds of collisions coming from the western city wall of Liucheng in the distance were still extremely intense, showing no signs of weakening or getting closer!

According to his calculations and prior agreement, the army outside the city would launch a fierce attack after seeing the signal. With the bravery of Huang Zhong and Zhang Fei, and the strength of Chen Dao and Liu Bao, even if the walls of Liucheng were high and thick, they should have made a breakthrough by now, at least allowing some elite troops to break into the city to provide support.

But now, quite some time has passed, and the battle on the other side of the city wall seems to be still at a stalemate. Reinforcements... have been blocked?
Gu Rubing's gaze swept over the Xiongnu soldiers around him, who, though frightened, were still slowly approaching under the officers' shouts, trying to re-encircle the city. Then, recalling the fierce battle sounds outside the city that had yet to break through, a cold thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Fell into a trap!
The "Luan Di Meng" who was pierced through the heart by him and died in court was probably not the real leader of the Xiongnu coalition at all, but at most a scapegoat with a similar appearance to him to deceive him!

The true leader of the alliance, as well as the important leaders of the Wuhuan, Fuyu and other tribes, must be hiding somewhere in the city at this moment, or even watching coldly from not far away!
They used the death of the double to provoke the ambush troops and buy time, but their real goal... might be to use Liucheng's strong defenses to severely weaken Gu Rubing's attacking army outside the city, or even to plot another conspiracy! "Brother, something's wrong."

Guan Yu also noticed something amiss. The Hun soldiers' will to resist and their level of order were unlike those of a leaderless, rout army.

"That dead ghost is probably just a cover."

Zhao Yun brandished his silver spear, stabbing down two Xiongnu captains who were trying to approach, and said in a deep voice.

"My lord, the enemy forces seem to be under unified command, not in disarray. We must rejoin the main force outside the city as soon as possible."

Gu Rubing's mind raced, and he made a decision in an instant.

"Regardless of whether he's telling the truth or not, break through first! Target: Ximen! Yunchang, lead the way, Zilong, cover the rear!"

"it is good!"

Guan Yu let out a low shout, no longer holding back. Even though his injuries had not yet healed, he needed to use swift and decisive methods at this moment.

He took a deep breath, and the remaining qi within his body erupted with a roar. Although it was far less powerful and vast than it had been at its peak, it still carried the awe-inspiring majesty of a martial saint! The scimitar he had seized could not withstand this power and began to hum, with a faint bluish-red light emanating from its blade!

"Anyone who stands in my way will die!"

Guan Yu took a step forward, his curved blade sweeping horizontally! A condensed arc of blade energy roared out, not aimed at any one person, but sweeping across the fan-shaped area in front of him!

The twenty-odd Xiongnu soldiers at the forefront, their shields and leather armor rendered useless against this blade of energy, were as fragile as paper, their weapons and bodies severed in one fell swoop! Limbs and entrails sprayed across the ground, instantly clearing a bloody void!

The power of this strike completely stunned the surrounding Xiongnu soldiers, halting their charge and revealing undisguised fear on their faces.

Guan Yu didn't linger in battle. Taking advantage of the enemy's momentary shock, he protected Gu Rubing and charged towards the direction of the West Gate, which he remembered. Zhao Yun followed closely behind, his silver spear whirling like a wheel, picking off enemies who tried to pounce or fire arrows from the flanks and rear, ensuring a safe retreat.

The three men moved with difficulty through the chaotic streets and the ever-surging Xiongnu soldiers, like a sharp arrow. Gu Rubing's wound on his ribs was torn apart again by the intense running and jolting, but he gritted his teeth, remained silent, and simply followed Guan Yu's steps.

Meanwhile, outside the west gate of Liucheng.

As Gu Rubing had feared, the battle had indeed reached a stalemate. The city walls of Liucheng were high and the moat deep. Although the defenders were alarmed, they remained calm and relied on the terrain and the prepared rolling logs, stones, hot oil, and molten gold to inflict considerable casualties on Gu Rubing's attacking army.

Although Zhang Fei, Chen Dao, Liu Bao, and others were brave, they lacked effective means to breach the city. Their siege ladders were pushed down several times, and their battering rams were not very effective against the iron-clad city gates.

Zhuge Liang, sitting in the makeshift command vehicle at the rear, was still pale, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

He didn't wave his feather fan lightly, but held it tightly, his eyes fixed on the fierce siege ahead. Listening to the constant reports of casualties and the news that the city gates hadn't been breached, his brows furrowed.

"Strategist! Continuing this direct assault will result in too many casualties! And our lord and the others are still inside..."

Zhang Fei, who hurriedly returned from the front lines to request instructions, was covered in sweat and had several bruises on his body.

Zhuge Liang did not answer immediately. He looked up at the towering city walls of Liucheng, then at his own soldiers who were somewhat tired and anxious due to the prolonged siege. His mind raced with calculations.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the west gate of Liucheng, where a section of the city wall seemed to be slightly lower and older than the rest, and the density of the garrison flags was also slightly weaker.

"General Yide, General Chen, General Liu."

Zhuge Liang's voice was hoarse but clear.

"Give the order to adjust the offensive. The feint attack on the east, west, and south gates remains unchanged, and may even be intensified to attract the attention of the defenders. Concentrate all remaining large crossbows, catapults, and the last batch of oil canisters and specially made explosive arrows we brought."

"Move all firepower to that slightly lower section of the city wall north of the west gate! Concentrate your firepower and bombard one point! Regardless of losses, tear a breach in the wall as quickly as possible!"

"in addition."

Zhuge Liang looked at Zhang Fei.

"General Yide, personally select five hundred of your most daring elite soldiers. They shall not wear heavy armor, but only carry short weapons and grappling hooks. When a breach or wavering appears in the city wall, immediately climb up and occupy that section of the wall at any cost, and open the city gate!"

General Huang, you lead all the cavalry to prepare. Once the city gates are breached or the breach is secured, immediately charge in, thrust into the city, and meet our lord!

"understand!"

Zhang Fei, Chen Dao, Huang Zhong, and others were invigorated. Although Zhuge Liang's strategy was still a direct attack, concentrating their forces on one point and having a clear objective and steps was better than blindly attacking haphazardly.

The order was quickly relayed. Gu Rubing's army's offensive suddenly changed. The commotion on the east, west, and south sides intensified, with arrows and stones raining down as if they were free. Meanwhile, the real killing move quietly shifted to the north side of the west gate.

"put!"

At a command, dozens of crossbows and catapults roared in unison! Burning oil canisters, giant arrows strapped with explosives, and heavy stones rained down like meteors, accurately striking the section of the city wall that Zhuge Liang had already marked!
"Boom boom boom!!"

"Bang! Crack—!"

Explosions, impacts, and the sound of walls crumbling echoed incessantly! Under such concentrated saturation fire, the already relatively weak section of the wall began to show obvious cracks, the crenellations collapsed, and the defenders atop them were blown to pieces, screaming as they fell. With just one volley, that section of the wall was on the verge of collapse!
"Now's the time! Brothers, follow me, Old Zhang!"

Seeing an opportunity, Zhang Fei roared and took the lead, carrying a large shield and leading five hundred bare-chested or lightly armored soldiers. Braving the scattered arrows from the city wall, they surged towards the section of the city wall that was on the verge of collapse like a flood breaking through a dam!
The defending troops realized this had become a weak point and frantically mobilized their forces to block it, raining down arrows and logs. Zhang Fei and his men suffered heavy casualties, but the survivors fought bravely, using grappling hooks and even stepping on the corpses of their comrades to desperately climb upwards!
"Boom——!!"

Finally, after enduring countless rounds of bombardment, the section of the city wall, several meters long, collapsed completely with a loud bang, revealing a huge gap!

"The city wall has been breached! Charge in!"

Covered in blood, whether his own or the enemy's, Zhang Fei was the first to leap into the smoke-filled gap. With a sweep of his eighteen-foot spear, he sent several stunned Xiongnu soldiers flying!
"Cavalry, charge!"

Huang Zhong, who had been waiting for a long time, with his hair and beard standing on end, brandished his greatsword and took the lead, leading thousands of well-rested cavalrymen like an iron torrent, surging into Liucheng from the gap and the city gate that had finally been smashed open!

The city gates fell completely, the city walls were breached, and fresh cavalrymen entered the city! The Xiongnu defenders inside the city finally descended into true chaos! Many troops that had been resisting, seeing the ferocious Han cavalry charging in and learning of the "Great Chanyu's" death, could no longer hold out and began to scatter and flee. (End of Chapter)