I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 697: The Zhang family struggles to the death, Su Yao strikes with lightning speed (5K chapters)

Afternoon, Zhangjiawu Fort.

"What did you say?!"

"He, he actually refused to surrender?"

"You're also going to raze my Zhangjiabao to the ground?!"

Zhang Yan was hiding in the meeting room of the fortress. When he heard the news brought back by his confidants, his face instantly turned as pale as paper and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He never expected that the hateful Champion Marquis would be so resolute and not give him even a glimmer of room for negotiation.

I've already admitted my mistake and surrendered, but you still have to kill me?!
There was despair in Zhang Yan's eyes. He glanced around the meeting room, trying to find a glimmer of comfort or hope from his confidants who also had terrified expressions on their faces.

However, the only response he got was dead silence and a look of despair.

The confidant who brought the news lowered his head deeply and didn't even dare to look into Zhang Yan's eyes.

"No, it's impossible!"

Zhang Yan paced back and forth in the castle, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes flashing with unwillingness and anger.

"How dare he do that? How dare he do that!"

"Doesn't the Su guy still want to ask for help from Dong?"

"How can you have so much leisure to deal with me?"

"If he kills them all like this, isn't he afraid that I will fight him to the death?!"

Zhang Yan's roar echoed in the conference room, but the only response he got was deathly silence.

His confidants all hung their heads, not daring to breathe, for fear of angering the head of the family who was already on the verge of madness.

Zhang Yan’s anger and unwillingness are understandable.

He thought that with his many years of management and influence in Hongnong County, even if he offended Champion Marquis Su Yao, the other party would be afraid and would not dare to attack him easily.

After all, the aristocratic families in Hongnong County are intertwined and have complicated relationships, and any move can affect the entire body.

If Su Yao really wanted to take action against him, it would inevitably cause backlash and unrest among other families, and might even lead to greater turmoil.

The reason he fled out of the city this time was that he wanted to sit back and watch the situation in the city develop and let the Champion Marquis suffer a severe defeat.

However, he could never have imagined that this young champion marquis would attack with such swiftness and iron-fist, slaughtering those noble families in Hongnong City with heads rolling and blood flowing like a river.

When Zhang Yan's informant in the city reported that his brother-in-law Zhao Dai's entire family was executed, and other disciples of aristocratic families were also interrogated and beheaded one by one, and some even had their property confiscated and their families exterminated, he could hardly believe his ears.

Madman, simply madman!
Aristocratic families, especially local aristocratic families, are the foundation of local governance.

That champion marquis actually dared to overturn the table for him.

Such determination and madness almost scared Zhang Yan to death.

He is a superior person with a family, a house and land.

I just want to gain some benefits, not gamble my life with a madman.

So, on the day he received the letter, Zhang Yan sent his most trusted confidant to admit defeat and surrender.

However, the result was Su Yao's cold and ruthless rejection.

What on earth had I done wrong? Must my family be confiscated and my entire clan be exterminated?!

"How about we escape at night?"

"Didn't he say we'd be attacking the city tomorrow?"

There was the trembling speech of the confidant.

They knew very well that the army of the Champion Marquis was unstoppable.

Although Zhangjiabao was quite strong and had a large number of people.

However, relying on these servants and maids who had barely received adequate training to resist Su Yao's well-trained elite army was like trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm, which would be a dead end.

However, Zhang Yan shook his head violently and rejected the proposal to escape:
"Escape? Where do you want to escape to?"

"The road down the mountain has been blocked by the Su's army. If we break out rashly, we will die!"

"Even if a few people managed to sneak out during the chaos at night, how many people can survive until the next morning in this icy and snowy season?"

"Then, then are we just going to sit there and wait to die?"

The cronies were in despair.

The leaders of the Zhang family in the meeting hall of Zhangjiabao also showed expressions of despair.

Some people even looked at Zhang Yan with some resentment in their eyes.

At this moment, they forgot Zhang Yan's past achievements in mergers and acquisitions, expanding the Zhang family's power, and treating them to wine and meat. Now there was only resentment in their eyes.

If Zhang Yan hadn't been so stubborn and insisted on provoking Su Yao, how could the Zhang family have ended up in such a state?

This is the Yi tribe!

It's over, it's over.

"No! We still have a chance!"

Zhang Yan roared with red eyes:

"We can't just sit there and wait for death!"

"You've heard it. That arrogant bastard wants to kill all of us. We must make him pay the price."

"The only way now is to fight to the death and survive!"

"This"

Faced with Zhang Yan's roar, everyone looked at each other, obviously not having much confidence.

Logically speaking, who among those who can sit in this hall is not a smart person from the Zhang family?

They all knew that the Champion Hou was famous and victorious in every battle. How could they, who were only good at village fights, be able to compete with him?
Farmers are farmers. Without adequate training, they will not be a match for those elite soldiers even if they wear armor.

What's more, they had no reinforcements and were trapped in an isolated city. Once Su Yao sealed Zhangjiabao, all they could do was wait for death.

"Don't panic!"

At the last moment, Zhang Yan, knowing that he had no way out, calmed down.

He took a deep breath and said slowly:

"It's not like we have no chance of winning."

"Just when I came back a few days ago, I sent a fast horse to Tongguan to ask for help from the court just in case."

"General Duan and his men promised to keep an eye on the battle situation here."

"It is the coldest time of the year now. That Su is coming over the mountain. We just need to hold out for ten days or half a month, and use up some of our strength. When the mountain is covered with snow, he will run out of food and grass and will have to retreat."

"By then, the imperial court's troops from Tongguan will also rush over. Under the two-pronged attack, the Su guy will surely die!"

"really?"

When Zhang Yan's confidants heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in their eyes.

"Master, are you telling the truth? Will General Duan really come to rescue us?"

Zhang Yan's eyes flickered and he gritted his teeth and said:
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"

"But for ten days or half a month, I'm afraid we servants and farmers won't be able to bear it."

An elderly Zhang family elder said worriedly.

"We have to defend it even if we can't. We have no way to escape!"

Zhang Yan clenched his fist and said:
"Besides, we are not going to duel with his knights in the wild. With the protection of our ancestors, Zhangjiabao, let alone ten days or half a month, as long as everyone works together, it won't be difficult to hold out until the spring when the food and grass are exhausted?!"

"Not to mention, our Zhang family also has a group of brave warriors who are willing to risk their lives."

"We feed those people with good food and drink all day long. Now that the master is in trouble, it's time for them to come out and work!"

"The Patriarch is right. We still have hope!"

"Work together, as long as we hold on we can turn the tables!"

"My Zhang family has seen many storms and waves, and we have always gotten through them safely. This time will definitely be the same!"

After hearing Zhang Yan's words, his close associates in the conference room started to make a commotion.

The Zhangjiabao, which was blessed by their ancestors, and the loyal warriors it had recruited became their last hope.

It’s not that they think their ancestors will appear, but Zhangjiawu Fort does have a special terrain that has protected them from countless hardships.

This fortress is fundamentally different from the manors of other top families in Hongnong County that were built at transportation hubs and along rivers.

It was not built on a plain, but in a valley west of Hongnong and south of Shan County.

Its northern side is backed by the famous local mountain Gaoyang, and its southern side is located in a basin surrounded by mountains. It is the foundation of the Zhang family.

The special terrain here can be regarded as a natural separatist area. With this place as the core, the Zhang family has, after nearly a hundred years of efforts, annexed 80% of the land in the basin.

As a result, the Zhang family became a powerful family in the local area, catching up with the Yang and Liu families. People from outside the region who wanted to interfere with the power of the Zhang family had to pay a price far beyond that of ordinary people.

This strategic terrain, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack, has always been the pride of the Zhang family.

It can be said that in this valley basin, the Zhang family is the local tyrant who has the final say.

Ordinary people would just take a look at the terrain here and give up the idea of ​​provoking his family.

However, this madman named Su attacked regardless of the consequences, especially when deep winter was approaching.

Zhang Yan and others who were desperate grabbed it as if they had found a life-saving straw.

As long as they take advantage of Zhangjiabao's terrain and city defense advantages and hold on, they will be able to turn things around.

And those martial arts heroes that the Zhang family has been keeping will finally have a real chance to be put to use.

In Zhangjiabao, the wind was cold and the sky was getting dark.

Following Zhang Yan's mobilization, the Zhang family, knowing that they had no way to retreat, quickly took action and prepared for the upcoming siege.

Zhang Yan himself personally directed the movement of residence to the top of the city wall, and at the same time made detailed division of labor for all personnel in the fortress.

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Each of the Zhang family's soldiers and strong farmers was given a weapon and stood on the top of the city wall, ready for battle.

The Zhang family's retainers and servants were organized to carry out auxiliary work, including transporting supplies, building fortifications, and making city defense equipment.

As for those retained death warriors, Zhang Yan had high hopes for them. They were organized into elite teams, ready to launch surprise attacks and counterattacks against the enemy at critical moments.

"Raise an army for a thousand days and use it for a moment!"

Zhang Yan's eldest son, Zhang Wei, was standing in the courtyard of the fortress and mobilizing his soldiers:
"My Zhang family has provided for you all for many years. Now is the time for you to demonstrate your loyalty!"

Zhang Wei held a long sword in his hand, his eyes sharp as torches as he scanned the group of nearly a thousand assassins in front of him.

These assassins were all desperate criminals that Zhang Yan had collected from all over the place over the years. Some of them were wanted for murder and robbery, and some had joined the Zhang family because they were desperate. Each of them had unique skills and was ruthless.

On weekdays, they are the minions of the Zhang family in annexing land. For those ignorant old farmers, the existence of these death warriors is often enough to scare them away and make them dare not resist.

However, if it is used for this purpose alone, it obviously does not require a scale of nearly a thousand people.

As the situation became increasingly turbulent, the Zhang family began to make their own plans. They took the opportunity to recruit loyal soldiers in an attempt to seize more territory and power.

However, before their ambitions could really be implemented, they met Su Yao.

And these carefully trained warriors will also face a real test.

Everyone looked at Zhang Wei with a serious expression and listened to his speech:

"I know that some of you may have doubts in your hearts, thinking that we are facing the champion who has won every battle, and this battle is likely to be dangerous."

"But I want to tell you that we are not without a chance of winning!"

"Each of you is an elite member of my Zhang family, a warrior who can defeat ten enemies with one."

"As long as we take advantage of our defense and hold on, the imperial army will come to rescue us within ten days or half a month."

"When the time comes, we will attack from both sides, and the traitor Su Yao will surely die!"

Zhang Wei waved the sword in his hand and said excitedly:

"Once we defeat that villain, my Zhang family will be the only one in power in Hongnong City."

"At that time, as people of merit, you will be able to choose wealth, land, and women at will."

"As long as you are loyal, my Zhang family will never treat you unfairly!"

Zhang Wei's words were like a raging fire, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the death warriors.

There was a gleam of greed and desire in their eyes, as if they had already seen the wonderful life after victory.

"For the Zhang family!"

"For glory and wealth!"

"kill!"

The assassins let out deafening roars and raised their weapons, ready for the upcoming battle.

Zhang Wei nodded with satisfaction. He knew that these death warriors had been fully mobilized and they would become the sharpest blade of Zhangjiabao.

With these people, plus the clan members who are fighting a desperate battle in the city, I think even if the Champion Marquis is very brave, he will not be able to do anything to them.

Just like that, after Su Yao rejected their surrender, the entire city of Zhangjiabao was mobilized and entered an unprecedented state of tension.

Everyone clenched their weapons and hammers tightly, cheered and encouraged each other with all their might, and vowed to fight to the end, which made the ignorant champion Hou's head broken and bleeding.

In order to prevent those tribesmen who had never seen blood from panicking during tomorrow's battle, Zhang Yan even specially transferred hundreds of jars of fine wine from the warehouse to drive away the cold and give the soldiers courage.

As the night deepened, Zhangjiabao was brightly lit and filled with the aroma of wine.

The soldiers sat around the fire, drinking and eating meat, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation.

Their faces were filled with excitement and anticipation, as if they had forgotten the upcoming battle and the uncertain future of life and death.

Zhang Yan stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the revelry soldiers below, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew that most of these soldiers were new recruits who had never seen blood, and the reason they were so excited was that they did not know the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.

These people wishfully believed that they could wait for reinforcements by holding out for ten days or half a month, but in fact Zhang Yan knew very well that he might have become a hopeless abandoned pawn.

He did ask Duan Wei for help.

However, the cowardly General Zhonglang did not respond to his request at all.

Therefore, they can only rely on themselves to stop the crazy champion.

Zhang Yan relied on lies to boost morale, hoping only to demonstrate his strength in the siege.

Zhang Yan believed that as long as he showed his determination to persevere to the end in the battle to defend the city and made that madman realize that if they continued the attack, they would suffer unbearable losses, then he could win a chance of survival.

"Father, please come down and have a few drinks too."

Just as Zhang Yan was squinting his eyes in thought, his son Zhang Wei came up and persuaded him.

But Zhang Yan just shook his head, looked into the distance, and rejected the proposal:
"You guys drink, I'll stay here."

"It is said that Mr. Su is always elusive. Although he said that he would attack the city tomorrow, we must not be careless tonight."

"When you ask everyone to drink, be careful not to drink too much. It would be bad if they missed things."

Zhang Yan's expression was so serious that Zhang Wei, who had drunk a lot of wine, shuddered.

Zhang Wei looked towards the foot of Yangshan Mountain in the north.

Under the moonlight, Su Yao's camp was brightly lit and busy.

Although the distance was still far, he couldn't see clearly what was going on there, but:

"Father, I'm afraid you're worrying too much."

"They just arrived and it took them half a day just to set up camp."

"I think it would be difficult to attack the city tomorrow, let alone tonight?"

It’s not that Zhang Wei underestimated the enemy, but attacking a city was a big deal.

The Zhangjia Fort is fundamentally different from the forts of other aristocratic families. The ambitious Zhang family attached great importance to the military function of this fort from the very beginning. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a small fortress.

This is not a place that can be taken by just a group of fast cavalry.

Therefore, everyone's mentality is relatively relaxed and stable tonight.

Although Zhang Yan knew that his son's statement was inappropriate, he could only shake his head, give him a few words of advice, and let him go.

However, who would have thought that just as the Zhang father and son were talking nonsense, suddenly a red figure like light and lightning flew up to the city wall from below in an instant.

This guy stared at the people on the city wall with their eyes wide open, wondering if he was drunk and seeing some kind of hallucination.
Everyone was stunned, staring at the red-robed figure without reacting for a long while.

But they reacted slowly, while Su Yao reacted very quickly.

The moment he landed, Su Yao took out his long-unused war sickle from his back and started a joyful harvest on the top of the city wall:

"Death to the bastard fish!"

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere and limbs flew everywhere.

The not-so-wide city wall of Zhangjiabao instantly turned into a purgatory.

The Zhang family soldiers standing on the top of the city were frightened out of their wits by the sudden massacre. They screamed and fled in all directions, but there was nowhere to escape.

Zhang Yan and Zhang Wei, father and son, were even more dumbfounded. They never expected that this Champion Marquis would be so crazy that he dared to attack Zhangjiabao alone at night!

In the face of this sudden situation, they did not have time to think about how Su Yao jumped onto the city wall. They just shouted in panic:
"Stop him quickly!"

"Kill him for me!"

Their cries were hasty and powerful, but the responses they received were feeble and powerless.

Su Yao's attack was as fast as lightning. His scythe flashed coldly in the moonlight, harvesting lives quickly.

Zhangjiabao is not a big city after all, and the city wall is not wide, so it is difficult for three people to walk side by side.

In this situation, although the Zhang family soldiers were numerous, they were nothing more than chickens and dogs in front of Su Yao, and they collapsed in an instant.
(End of this chapter)