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

Located in the southernmost part of Liaodong, Tashi County is close to the sea, which is equivalent to Dalian in later times.

Of all the troops stationed in Liaodong, those here were the most relaxed, especially when Zhang Liao launched a major offensive. The iron cavalry and golden spears of northern Liaodong were already shrouded in Zhang Liao's formidable reputation.

Zhang Liao deliberately avoided Xiangping and continuously chipped away at Gongsun Kang's forces from the periphery, winning battle after battle and advancing with unstoppable momentum.

Yan Rou and Chen Gong each led their troops in a rapid advance, achieving victory after victory and receiving frequent reports of triumph.

In contrast, Tashi County, located at the southernmost part of the county, is as peaceful as a paradise.

The defenders strolled lazily along the city wall, their postures slouching and their armor askew, as if the heavy equipment had become a burden.

As evening approached, the guards became increasingly lazy and complacent, showing no vigilance whatsoever, and mechanically going through the motions of their patrol duties.

Some soldiers leaned against the city wall, yawning, their weapons hanging idly to the side. The occasional conversations that could be heard were weak and listless, lacking any fighting spirit or tension that soldiers should have.

The guards at the city gate were even more lax, standing crookedly and only glancing at passersby briefly before paying no further attention.

Some people even secretly hid in a corner and took a nap, completely unaware of the potential danger.

The entire garrison was undisciplined, lacked training, and moved slowly.

They seemed to have long forgotten their heavy responsibility of guarding the Ta clan, as if war would never break out here.

Several soldiers were discussing the battle to the north.

"Have you heard? That Zhang Liao is no ordinary man. In the Battle of White Wolf Mountain, he killed Tadun of the Wuhuan in battle. Now he's causing quite a stir in the north."

"That's right. Just a few days ago, we even conscripted some people to go north to provide support."

"Who do you think will win this battle?"

"That's hard to say. After all, Zhang Liao represents the imperial court. Even if Zhang Liao can't win, wouldn't the imperial court continue to send troops?"

"Who cares? Even if Zhang Liao wins and leads his troops to attack, why should we continue to fight? We can just surrender then."

"I've heard that many people have died in the north. Zhang Liao is very fierce; many of our people have been killed by the Han army."

"Haha, it's so much more peaceful and carefree here. We're right by the sea all day, and we can even take half a day off to sleep."

"That's true. Our leader spends all his time in women's beds and doesn't show his face for days at a time."

As evening falls, the sun gradually sets, like a weary traveler slowly heading towards a place of rest.

The horizon was painted with a magnificent tapestry of orange-red and deep purple, and the afterglow, like a thin veil, gently sprinkled over the port of Tashi County.

Fishing boats returned one after another in the golden light, their bows cutting through the calm sea and leaving white streaks in their wake.

The fishing nets on the gunwale were still dripping with water droplets, shimmering in the setting sun.

The fishermen's shouts rose and fell, their faces showing the weariness of their work, yet also the joy of their harvest.

A gentle sea breeze carries the salty scent of the ocean and the fresh aroma of fish and shrimp.

The shore gradually became lively, with women and children craning their necks, waiting for their loved ones to return.

As the boats docked, fishermen jumped ashore, carrying their catch of fish and shrimp ashore. Laughter and shouts mingled together, filling the port, which was about to be shrouded in night, with vitality and warmth.

At this time of year, the garrison soldiers are at their most relaxed. Most of them are locals, and they greet the returning fishermen familiarly, even making plans to have a drink together after the change of guard.

As the fishermen gradually left the shore, the once bustling scene returned to calm. The garrison changed shifts, and some went home. Every day, the same thing happened, just like you and I are relieved when we get off work at five or six in the afternoon.

As night fell, the guards, with nothing to do, some even squinted and started snoring.

Everyone thought that enemy attacks could happen anywhere, but not here.

Night had fallen, and the entire Tashi County was shrouded in tranquil darkness. The cold moon hung high, its faint light spilling onto the calm sea.

Suddenly, many dark figures appeared on the shore, approaching silently like ghosts. The torches at the bow of the boat flickered in the night wind, illuminating resolute and stern faces.

Gan Ning stood proudly on the foremost warship, his eyes fixed intently on the coastline ahead, with Taishi Ci standing beside him.

With Gan Ning's command, the warships shot towards the shore like arrows released from a bow.

The Jinfan Army landed with overwhelming force, like tigers descending a mountain. They were dressed in light clothing and moved with agility and speed.

Gan Ning, long saber in hand, leaped ashore first, his roar echoing through the night: "Kill!"

The soldiers followed closely behind, their battle cries shattering the night's tranquility. They advanced with unstoppable momentum, sweeping past like a whirlwind.

The garrison in Tashi County was jolted awake from their sleep and hastily picked up their weapons to resist, but they proved utterly ineffective against the Jinfan Army's fierce offensive.

The Jin Fan Army was in high spirits and unstoppable. Led by Gan Ning, they quickly broke through defenses, seized city gates, and advanced into the county town. Swords clashed and blood stained the ground beneath their feet.

The entire Tashi County was plunged into chaos and fear, while the Jinfan Army's surprise attack continued like a merciless storm, destroying all forces in its path.

Gan Ning's eyes were wide open, his veins bulging, and he was brave and fierce, like a mad tiger. The long sword in his hand gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and every swing brought a storm of blood and gore.

Gan Ning roared and howled, and wherever he went, the enemy trembled with fear.

The brothers of the Jinfan Army followed closely behind Gan Ning, each one seemingly possessed by a war god. They brandished their steel swords, their eyes filled with determination and fearlessness.

Amidst the clashing of blades and splattering of blood, their figures appeared like a horde of deadly ghosts in the night.

These soldiers worked in perfect unison, their steps firm, each charge as powerful as a thunderbolt. Their momentum seemed to overwhelm everything, making the enemy's resistance appear utterly futile.

Strong, terrifyingly strong!
The Jinfan Army, like a raging torrent, instantly overwhelmed the enemy's defenses, shattering the will to resist of the Tashi garrison.

These garrison commanders have never seen such a strong army before. They are simply a group of reckless devils, they are too strong!
Gan Ning and his Jinfan Army, with unstoppable momentum, unleashed a bloody storm on this land.

The local magistrate hadn't even gotten out of bed when Gan Ning rushed in and beheaded him with a large sword.

After capturing the Ta clan, Gan Ning swiftly marched north, and within two days, he had successively captured Pingguo and Wen County. When the battle report reached Xiangping, Gongsun Kang was nearly paralyzed with fear. Gongsun Kang exclaimed, "This... what are we going to do? Zhang Liao is to the north, and Gan Ning is to the south. Liaodong is in grave danger!"

The entire Liaodong region comprises no more than eighteen counties. Zhang Liao has already pacified seven or eight of them, and Gan Ning has captured three.

Soon, Gan Ning and Zhang Liao joined forces, and the four great generals Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, Yan Rou, and Zhang Liao united as one.

Gan Ning, who had a short temper, immediately said, "Should we surround Xiangping now and launch a fierce attack to try to take Liaodong as soon as possible, so that we can report back to His Majesty?"

Zhang Liao, on the other hand, was more cautious. He shook his head and said, "Xingba, your navy performed very well this time, catching Gongsun Kang off guard. Now Gongsun Kang will definitely fight a siege. As far as I know, he still has 50,000 to 60,000 troops. Xiangping is also a fortified city. A rash attack is not the best strategy. I plan to continue to besiege the city and attack its reinforcements. As long as I cut off Xiangping from the surrounding area, Xiangping will become an isolated island. No matter how many troops he has, it will be of no use."

"This...method is not bad, but if this continues, it will take a long time, and we don't know how much time it will take."

Gan Ning scratched his head and brandished the broadsword in his hand. "Wen Yuan, to be honest, when His Majesty established the navy, he told me that it was mainly to deal with Sun Quan of Jiangdong."

Zhang Liao nodded. "Well then, you can leave now. Anyway, even if you leave, Gongsun Kang will still think you're here. It's a bit of a waste for the navy to be on land. You should take them to Jiangdong as soon as possible."

Gan Ning hesitated for a moment, but Chen Gong persuaded him, "General Gan, you can leave with peace of mind. Gongsun Kang is no match for us. At most, we will hold out for a few more months, and Liaodong will surely submit to the imperial court in full."

Chen Gong was not speaking carelessly. On the one hand, Gongsun Kang only had Xiangping left to hold on, and the other surrounding cities were not a threat. On the other hand, the Han army was united and in high spirits, and Zhang Liao was a military commander with both literary and military talents.

Gan Ning thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Alright, it's settled then. Here's what I'll do: I'll leave Taishi Ci to you and give you a few thousand more troops."

Gan Ning was always a man of great spirit. Although Zhang Liao asked him to leave, he absolutely could not just pack up and leave.

After Gan Ning left, Yan Rou asked Zhang Liao, "Wen Yuan, now that we have captured so many cities, should we send troops to garrison them and completely isolate Xiangping?"

Zhang Liao shook his head. "We need to concentrate our forces. Only in this way can we unleash our full power."

Yan Rou was somewhat worried, "But in this way, the cities we gain are easily lost again, and could be captured by Gongsun Kang's men."

Zhang Liao laughed, “This is exactly what I wanted. I was afraid that Gongsun Kang would not divide his troops. As long as he dares to continue to divide his troops and send out a team, we must decisively wipe out one team. In this way, Xiangping will not be a problem for long.”

Zhang Liao's actions even impressed Chen Gong.

Zhang Liao had fewer troops, but he concentrated them together and each time he fought a swift and decisive battle, annihilating or defeating small enemy units, gradually eroding the strength of Liaodong's forces.

This not only caused Gongsun Kang's strength to decline sharply, but also dealt a heavy blow to the morale of Liaodong time and time again.

Once Zhang Liao divided his troops to defend the area, his tens of thousands of men quickly lost their advantage.

…………

Upon hearing that Lu Su had arrived, Sun Quan personally came out of the main hall to greet him. As soon as they met, he took Lu Su's hand and asked anxiously, "Zijing, how is the battle in Xichuan? How is Zhou Yu?"

Sun Quan's expression was somewhat agitated, but he noticed that Lu Su remained silent, and even his hands were cold and trembling.

Sun Quan looked at him more closely and couldn't help but wonder, "Zijing, are you sick? You don't look well."

Turning his head again, Sun Quan saw the servant who was following Lu Su, and the servant was holding a wooden box in his hands.

"What is this?" Sun Quan asked curiously.

Lu Su had thought about it repeatedly in his mind throughout the journey, and even drafted more than a dozen versions. However, when he actually met Sun Quan, his mind went blank and he didn't know what to say.

Sun Quan waved his hand and ordered the servant, "Open it and let me see what's inside."

This servant was no ordinary person; he was Wang Kui, a Dragon Guard who had always followed Liu Xie.

Wang Kui glanced at Lu Su and deliberately coughed, as if to remind him to be mindful of his position.

Wang Kui opened the box in front of Sun Quan.

When Sun Quan saw that it contained Zhou Yu's head, a look of shock and grief appeared on his face.

His eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief and pain.

Sun Quan's lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Sun Quan's face turned pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably. He reached out, wanting to touch Zhou Yu's head, but stopped in mid-air, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing was real.

At this moment, Sun Quan's heart was filled with contradictions and pain.

Zhou Yu was decisive and capable, and Sun Quan admired him greatly. However, Zhou Yu's actions often made Sun Quan feel threatened and dissatisfied. He even considered removing him several times and even had thoughts of killing him.

But at this moment, when Zhou Yu's cold head was placed in front of Sun Quan, Sun Quan felt as if the sky had suddenly collapsed.

Sun Quan suddenly realized that he had lost one of his most capable assistants.

"How could this happen? Zijing, tell me quickly, what exactly is going on?"

Sun Quan went almost mad, spreading his arms and grabbing Lu Su's shoulders, shaking him violently.

Lu Su sighed helplessly, gritted his teeth and mustered his courage to say, "My lord... Lord Wu, Gongjin is dead, killed by Guan Yu, and the Jiangdong troops that entered Sichuan have been almost completely wiped out."

Lu Su initially intended to address him as "Lord" out of habit, but he realized that this form of address was no longer appropriate.

Lu Meng, Yu Fan, and the others were all watching from the sidelines. Everyone had been looking forward to good news from Lu Su, but instead, it was a devastating blow.

"What? This...how is this possible?"

Sun Quan was shocked. All 17,000 men were gone. This... Sun Quan felt like he was dreaming and simply couldn't believe it.

and many more?

Sun Quan seemed to have suddenly grasped something, staring intently at Lu Su. "Zijing, you're acting very strange today. What's wrong with you?"

Seeing Lu Su speechless and unsure how to begin, Wang Kui stepped forward and loudly proclaimed, "Lord Wu, Mr. Lu Su has abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, submitting to the court. He is now appointed Prefect of Nan Commandery!" (End of Chapter)