With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Liu Xun's shouts were deafening, his eyes burning with a frenzied fighting spirit; even if it meant death, he would not retreat.

Lei Bu shrank back, speechless. This was Liu Xun's first time leading troops alone and his first time on the battlefield.

However, his determination and fighting spirit earned him the heartfelt respect of every soldier in Xichuan.

The Jiangdong soldiers charged forward like a raging tide, but Liu Xun's eyes remained resolute, showing no sign of retreat. Every swing of his spear carried a do-or-die determination.

"Fight to the death!" Liu Xun shouted hoarsely, his voice full of power.

His body remained standing, like an unshakeable mountain.

Encouraged by this, the Xichuan soldiers followed Liu Xun and charged madly at the Jiangdong soldiers.

Their roars and battle cries intertwined, creating a tragic war song.

Both sides were full of fighting spirit, neither side would give way, and the battle continued.

Every minute, every second, people are falling.

As the fighting continued, Zhou Yu gradually lost his joy.

puff!
In the midst of the melee, Dong Xi seized an opportunity and thrust his spear into Liu Xun's chest. Liu Xun roared and, ignoring his own pain, drew his long sword from his waist with his left hand and slashed fiercely at Dong Xi.

Dong Xi hadn't expected Liu Xun to be so crazy.

Even though he had already stabbed him, he was still able to retaliate.

The longsword slashed down furiously, landing heavily on Dong Xi's neck. Even after Dong Xi's head flew far away, he still couldn't believe it was real.

Blood kept flowing, and Liu Xun's body swayed slightly. Zhang Ren rushed over quickly, and seeing how badly he was injured, Zhang Ren felt heartache and shed tears.

"Young Master..." Zhang Ren shouted loudly.

Liu Xun's gaze was resolute, and he shouted loudly, "Chengdu is right behind us! We will never surrender Luocheng to Zhou Yu, not even if it means death!"

In this situation, Zhang Ren had no idea what to say. He could only grit his teeth, hold back his tears, and fight alongside Liu Xun.

Zhou Tai led his men and rushed over. It was the first time he had encountered such a tough opponent, and a sense of respect arose in Zhou Tai's heart.

Even as an enemy, Liu Xun's performance earned Zhou Tai's respect.

The fierce battle was not going to end well, and the situation had reached a stalemate. Zhou Yu was also starting to lose his composure.

Such an opponent was terrifying, and Zhou Yu was worried about his own situation.

If the losses are too great, what's the point of taking Luocheng?

Zhou Yu hesitated for a long time, but in the end he had no choice but to lead his men into the battle, hoping to end it as soon as possible.

After Zhou Yu entered the city, Liu Bei hurriedly turned around and questioned Pang Tong, "Shiyuan, why have you been advising me to hold back my troops?"

Pang Tong advised, "My lord, I am trying to help you. Zhou Yu has no chance to take Xichuan, but it is not the same for you. Now the Jiangdong troops and the Xiliang troops are not giving way to each other. Even if Zhou Yu takes Luocheng, it will only benefit us."

"Shiyuan, what makes you say that? When did I ever say I wanted to seize Xichuan?"

Liu Bei was furious, and Guan Yu was almost unable to contain his anger.

Pang Tong remained calm and composed. "My lord, Cao Cao has framed you and forced you into a corner. Even if you are willing to serve the court, your reputation and your career are already ruined."

Pang Tong's words struck Liu Bei's weak spot.

"The truth behind the deaths of Liu Biao and his son is no longer important. The news has already spread throughout the land and is known to all. Even the emperor is powerless to do anything about it. After the pacification of Jiangdong, will you receive any rewards? Will the emperor promote you?"

Pang Tong shook his head vigorously, "That's definitely not true!"

"Your reputation has been completely ruined by Cao Cao and can never be made up for."

Throughout his life, Liu Bei valued his reputation above all else; his reputation for benevolence and righteousness was the foundation upon which he stood firm in the chaotic world.

Zhang Fei was also very angry. He was angry at Cao Cao and felt wronged on behalf of his elder brother.

Guan Yu glanced at Pang Tong, then at Liu Bei, and silently took out a brocade pouch from his robes.

Upon seeing this, Pang Tong was taken aback and stared wide-eyed at Guan Yu. Liu Bei and Zhang Fei also noticed the brocade pouch in Guan Yu's hand.

Guan Yu said, "This was sent by His Majesty."

Pang Tong was immediately taken aback. Had His Majesty already seen through his thoughts?
There was a letter inside the brocade pouch, or rather, just a slip of paper.

When Guan Yu opened it, his gaze swept over it, and his heart felt as if it had been stabbed. The muscles on his face twitched in pain.

After reading it, he slowly handed the note to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu with surprise, and Guan Yu's expression made Liu Bei realize that this note was not simple.

Looking down, there was only one sentence written on it.

"Liu Bei, do you still deserve my trust?"

Liu Bei was struck dumb, as if he had been subjected to a soul-searching trial.

"Liu Bei, do you still deserve my trust?"

Although these words were only a few words long, they were like a sharp knife, mercilessly piercing Liu Bei's heart.

This shows that the emperor not only foresaw everything, but also had accumulated too much dissatisfaction with Liu Bei, to the point of almost exploding.

Pang Tong didn't know what was written on it, so he took the initiative to come closer.

After seeing it clearly, Pang Tong rolled his eyes a few times and then advised, "My lord, His Majesty no longer trusts you. Since that's the case, why not go all the way and take over Xichuan, raise your own army, and establish your own rule? From now on, you won't have to be at the mercy of others anymore."

"Take over Xichuan? Or establish an independent military?"

Liu Bei suppressed his anger, "Shiyuan, how could you say such a thing?"

Pang Tong said, "Zhou Yu and Liu Xun have already suffered heavy losses in this battle. Even if Zhou Yu wins, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. If Liu Xun wins, it will not affect the final result. We can take them by surprise, kill Liu Zhang, and take over Xichuan."

"So you...you had this planned from the very beginning."

Liu Bei pointed at Pang Tong, trembling with rage.

Pang Tong was quite frank, "That's right, Zhou Yu has been using our lord all along. Little does he know that we are also using him. Liu Zhang doesn't know that our lord wants to seize Xichuan. We can take advantage of his unpreparedness, kill him, and seize Xichuan. It will be as easy as turning one's hand for our lord."

Pang Tong looked at Luo Cheng, "As the saying goes, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Zhou Yu would never have imagined that everything he did was to pave the way for us. However, Zhou Yu's ability to go this far has already exceeded my expectations." *Whoosh!*
As soon as Pang Tong finished speaking, he suddenly saw a flash of cold light before his eyes, and a gleaming broadsword was already pressed against his chest.

"General Guan, what... what is this?" Pang Tong was stunned.

Zhou Yu had actually left some soldiers outside the city. They were a little far away, so they couldn't hear what Liu Bei was saying, but Guan Yu's sudden raising of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade still caught their attention.

Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei and said, "Brother, I don't care what Pang Tong said today. I only have one question for you: how will you answer His Majesty?"

Liu Bei was caught in a painful struggle, and Pang Tong once again advised him: "My lord, I am doing all this for you. Xichuan is right before our eyes, and a great opportunity is at hand!"

Pang Tong's plan was actually quite simple: Zhou Yu wanted to attack Xichuan, so let him attack. In the end, it would definitely be a situation where both sides were severely injured. At that time, Liu Bei would then make his move.

If Zhou Yu is defeated, kill Zhou Yu, and then use your position as one of our own to suddenly kill Liu Zhang and take his place.

What if Zhou Yu wins?
Pang Tong believed that this situation would never occur.

"My lord, Zhou Yu and Liu Xun are now both severely injured. All you need to do is take Zhou Yu's head and present it to Liu Zhang, then kill Liu Zhang, and the great cause will be accomplished. My lord, please think it over."

Guan Yu stared intently at Liu Bei, who dared not meet Guan Yu's gaze.

Guan Yu was utterly loyal to the Han Dynasty and the emperor, his eyes unwavering and his gaze resolute.

Liu Bei slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. He shook his head at Pang Tong, "Shiyuan, indeed, all your plans are for my benefit, but I, Liu Bei, have already made a mistake once. If I take another wrong step, I will be doomed!"

Immediately, Liu Bei waved his hand at Guan Yu and said, "Yun Chang, spare his life and hand him over to His Majesty for disposal later."

Guan Yu nodded with satisfaction. Whether or not Pang Tong was killed was not important; what mattered was that Liu Bei had made the right decision.

If Liu Bei chose to betray the court and the emperor at this moment, Guan Yu really didn't know what to do. But one thing was certain: Guan Yu would definitely kill Pang Tong first.

"Uncle, what's wrong with you all?"

A minor leader from Jiangdong named Ma Zhong curiously approached. He had just asked a question when Guan Yu suddenly turned around, slashed out with his sword in a fit of rage, and in a flash of cold light, Ma Zhong's head flew off.

Ma Zhong died under Guan Yu's blade without even realizing it.

After killing Ma Zhong, Guan Yu spurred his horse, brandished his sword, and charged straight at the Jiangdong soldiers outside the city.

Guan Yu seemed to be venting his frustration at this moment! He had been holding it in for far too long.

Liu Bei did not stop him; at this moment, he had to decisively make his position clear.

"Yide!"

Zhang Fei quickly replied, "Yes!"

Liu Bei pointed towards the city gate, "Follow me and charge in to help Liu Xun."

Zhang Fei listened to whatever Liu Bei said; Liu Bei was Zhang Fei's faith.

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Fei roared, grabbing his eighteen-foot spear, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

Chen Dao, Yan Yan, and the others also stood tall and raised their weapons.

Liu Bei didn't even glance at Pang Tong. He drew his twin swords, one male and one female, and shouted, "Generals, follow me and kill!"

Inside the city, soldiers from both sides clashed, swords flashed, and battle cries shook the heavens. The situation instantly became complex and the outcome uncertain.

Zhou Yu was commanding the Jiangdong troops, and Luocheng was about to be captured. The dawn of victory seemed to be within reach. However, at this critical moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Liu Bei and his men suddenly joined the battle like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, which startled Zhou Yu. He frowned, his eyes revealing disbelief and deep worry.

Liu Bei's long-suppressed anger finally erupted at this moment. His eyes widened, his hair stood on end, and the long sword in his hand gleamed with a chilling light.

Although the number of soldiers behind them was not large, the fierce generals Zhang Fei and Guan Yu alone were enough to be worth thousands of troops.

The shouts of battle were deafening. Liu Bei led the charge, fighting bravely against the enemy, and blood splattered wherever he went.

Guan Yu's eyes burned with raging fury, like two blazing flames, as if they wanted to burn everything in front of him to ashes.

He gripped the Green Dragon Crescent Blade tightly, its blade gleaming with a chilling light, the cold luster a stark contrast to the rage in his heart.

With a roar that resounded like thunder, Guan Yu charged forward. His agile figure, like a tiger unleashed from its cage, charged towards the Jiangdong soldiers with unstoppable momentum.

The Green Dragon Crescent Blade was wielded with ferocious force, and blood splattered wherever the blade struck. His moves were sharp and ruthless, each strike carrying immense power, as if he wanted to slaughter all the Jiangdong soldiers before him.

On the battlefield, corpses littered the ground, but Guan Yu's rage continued to burn. Like a god of war, he was fearless and charged forward.

Enraged, Guan Yu caused rivers of blood to flow. First, the Jiangdong soldiers outside the city were scattered and fled by Guan Yu. Then, Guan Yu rushed into the city and began a massacre.

The Jiangdong soldiers fell in droves before Guan Yu, without any suspense whatsoever.

"Liu Bei, you...you actually dared to betray Lord Wu."

The favorable situation was completely lost due to Liu Bei's betrayal. Zhou Yu was so angry that his handsome face was almost distorted.

Liu Bei sneered, "There is only Liu Bei of the Han Dynasty here, not Liu Bei of Jiangdong. I have received great favor from the Emperor, how can I associate with traitors?"

Liu Bei, with a cold expression, brandished his two swords and charged straight at Zhou Yu, while Guan Yu, on the other hand, spurred his horse and brandished his sword, arriving close to Zhou Tai.

Guan Yu, wielding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, stood imposingly, his eyes gleaming with a resolute killing intent. Zhou Tai was also a fierce general; despite numerous wounds from repeated battles, he showed no fear in the face of Guan Yu.

Zhou Tai launched the first attack, roaring as his longsword slashed at Guan Yu like a whirlwind. Guan Yu's eyes remained unchanged as he easily dodged the attack, then swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade with tremendous force, striking back. Zhou Tai parried with his own blade, the clang of metal clashing echoing through the sky, sparks flying everywhere.

In just one moment, Zhou Tai felt an astonishing force. His body swayed twice, and he and his horse took two steps back.

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes flashed, revealing a hint of disdain. He raised his broadsword again, bringing it down with the force of thunder.

The two exchanged blows, their blades clashing. Zhou Tai fought with all his might, his moves fierce and relentless, attempting to find an opening in Guan Yu's defenses. However, Guan Yu remained as steady as a mountain, each move showcasing his superb martial arts skills and extraordinary aura.

As the battle continued, Guan Yu remained calm and composed, his attacks as steady as a mountain, and Zhou Tai's fierce offensive was successively neutralized by Guan Yu. Gradually, Zhou Tai began to tire, and his defenses started to show weaknesses.

Guan Yu seized the opportunity and suddenly exerted his strength, slashing down fiercely with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Zhou Tai fought back with all his might, but ultimately could not withstand Guan Yu's might, and his long sword flew out of his hand.

Taking advantage of the situation, Guan Yu swiftly struck with his blade. Zhou Tai screamed in agony, blood splattered on the spot, and his body crashed to the ground.

Guan Yu coldly surveyed the entire scene, his imposing presence awe-inspiring, and the surrounding enemy troops were all intimidated by his aura. (End of Chapter)