Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 196 The one who beheaded Ma Zhong was Guan's son.
Han River.

Xunkou.

This place is more than 100 li from the west city, and it would still take the navy two days to sail upstream.

The 5,000-strong navy led by Pan Zhang, Ma Zhong, and Ding Feng, who rushed from Xiangyang to reinforce Xicheng, has been working almost day and night for the past few days.

Six or seven thousand boat trackers worked in shifts day and night. Even late at night or in the early morning, soldiers would light fires and direct more than two thousand boat trackers to pull the boats hard on the shore.

Occasionally, boatmen would fall into the water because they couldn't see the road clearly, but even so, no one thought of using ropes to tie them up one by one or anything else.

Even so, it still took Pan Zhang nine days to get here from Xiangyang.

Nine days and six hundred li is not considered slow.

He couldn't help but wonder how Sima Yi managed to travel from Wancheng, a thousand miles away, to Shangyong in just eight days.
There's definitely some exaggeration in that.

As dawn broke, Pan Zhang was asleep when someone suddenly knocked on the cabin door.

The knocking on the door was rather urgent, and Pan Zhang suddenly opened his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Pan Zhang asked warily as he pushed open the door.

"The General Who Pacifies the North and the Right General have come as messengers!" the guard announced.

Upon hearing this, Pan Zhang frowned and paused, then pushed aside his guards and walked toward the deck.

"What's the matter that's so urgent?" Pan Zhang asked upon seeing Bu Zhi's military officer.

"Greetings, General Pingbei!" The officer first greeted Pan Zhang, then continued:
"Zhao Zilong and Gao Boyi led the Han army to Sun Gong's camp yesterday!"

"They seem intent on breaking the alliance and fighting against my Wu army!"
We urgently need your assistance!
"besides……"

Before the envoy could finish speaking, Pan Zhang interrupted him:

"What nonsense!"
"Don't I want to rush to their aid immediately?!"

"My fleet only rests for two hours a day, and that's how we've managed to get here. We can't go any faster!"
"Hmph, I refuse to believe it! Deng Zhi of Shu Town has not yet reported back, how dare the Shu bandits cause trouble?!"

"If that's the case, then I'll show the Shu traitors that the blade that once beheaded Guan Yu can now behead Deng Zhi but not!"

Seeing Pan Zhang's reaction, the envoy continued speaking, which he had not finished:

"The Right General instructed you to keep a close watch on Deng Zhi and not let him escape!"

“How could he escape on my ship?!” Pan Zhang scoffed disdainfully.

"Don't worry, I've placed him under house arrest on Ma Zhong's warship. If he dares to escape, I'll kill him!"

After speaking, he pondered for two breaths and then said:
"However, since Bu Zishan said that the Shu bandits are already planning to break the alliance and fight, then order Ma Zhong to tie that guy up."

With that, Pan Zhang ordered the fleet to stop.

The sound of gongs and horns echoed through the valley.

The fleet slowly came to a stop.

However, before Pan Zhang could give the order, a person suddenly rushed over from the shore.

"It's terrible, General Pingbei!" Ma Zhong's subordinate shouted breathlessly at Pan Zhang's dragon-headed warship.

"Deng Zhi just broke through the window and jumped into the water to escape!"

"What?!" Pan Zhang gripped the gunwale, his face turning pale with shock and anger.

The messenger sent by Bu Zhi was also startled, looking at Pan Zhang in disbelief. After a moment, disregarding rank and status, he angrily rebuked him:
"General Pingbei!"
What did you just say?!

"How could we let Deng Zhi escape?!"

"Where is Ma Zhong? What is he good for?!" Pan Zhang ignored Bu Zhi's messenger and shouted angrily at Ma Zhong's subordinates.

Ma Zhong's subordinate replied, "The General Who Subdues Bandits has already led his men to pursue them!"

Upon hearing this, Pan Zhang felt slightly relieved.

At least Ma Zhong discovered Deng Zhi's escape.

"Have you seen him go anywhere?!" Pan Zhang immediately asked.

"They've gone to the upper reaches of the Xun River valley!" Ma Zhong's subordinate replied nervously.

“The upper reaches of the Xun River?” Pan Zhang paused slightly.

"When did this happen?"

“A quarter of an hour ago!” Ma Zhong’s subordinate replied.

Upon hearing this, Pan Zhang's brows furrowed deeply:
"A quarter of an hour ago?"

Because the mountain road along the Han River was too narrow, the procession of more than 10,000 people was nearly ten miles apart, and the beginning and end could not see each other.

Ding Feng led the way.

Pan Zhang coordinated the operation.

Ma Zhongze was responsible for covering the rear.

Pan Zhang disembarked and went to the north bank: "How many men did Ma Zhong take in the pursuit?"

As Ma Zhong's subordinates saw the enraged General Pingbei approaching, they were immediately filled with fear and stammered:

"Reporting to General Pingbei, my general, General Tao Kou, has led over a hundred men to pursue them!"

After speaking, the man avoided Pan Zhang's gaze.

This General Pingbei was extravagant and greedy. He set up military markets at his garrison locations to trade with Wu soldiers. He was also capricious and would often rob and kill Wu soldiers to obtain their property.

The Supreme Emperor of Wu, mindful of his merits, did not pursue the matter further.

It can be said that he was extremely favored, and no one dared to offend him.

The subordinate of Ma Zhong who came to deliver the message was quite wealthy, and coupled with the fact that his superior Ma Zhong had failed to properly supervise Deng Zhi, he was now afraid that he would be beheaded by Pan Zhang.

Just as he was filled with anxiety and fear, Pan Zhang kicked him hard in the knee, causing him to fall to the ground.

"If Deng Zhi escapes into the mountains, how will Ma Zhong and his hundred-odd men find him?!"

"Go back and bring another five hundred men..."

"Fine, I'll go myself!" Pan Zhang said, then jumped onto a small boat and drifted downstream.

……

……

Xun water.

It flows from northwest to southeast and merges into the Han River.

Ma Zhong led more than a hundred people and ran wildly northwest along the river.

Because the road was overgrown with vegetation, Deng Zhi was never seen, but he escaped by jumping into the water, getting completely soaked.

Following the footprints, watermarks, and trampled vegetation left by Deng Zhi, Ma Zhong and the others managed to keep up with the trail.

After chasing for seven or eight miles, they were really tired.

Ma Zhong spat and rested for a moment, wondering how Deng Zhi, who was fifty years old, could still have so much energy.

After pausing for several breaths, Ma Zhong led his men to continue the pursuit, but after chasing for less than half a mile, Deng Zhi's whereabouts suddenly disappeared.

Ma Zhong dispersed his men and searched around for a while, but no one found any trace of them.

"General, I'm here!"

On the banks of the Xun River, the commander of the personal guard who had fought alongside Ma Zhong in the north and south and had beheaded Guan Yu and Guan Ping pointed to the north bank of the Xun River and shouted.

Ma Zhong rushed over quickly.

Looking intently towards the north bank of the Xun River, I indeed spotted Deng Zhi, who had disappeared. He was swimming across the river at a fast pace, demonstrating impressive swimming skills.

He had just suspected that Deng Zhi might be diving north, but after looking up and down the Xun River for a long time without seeing anyone surface, he gave up.

Looking back now, it turns out that the person was actually diving.

Because bows and crossbows were precious and easily damaged in water, even if they were brought across, they would be of no use. Ma Zhong and the others abandoned their bows and crossbows and floated north across the river.

After landing, they followed Deng Zhi's trail for more than a mile to the northwest.

"General, he can't run anymore!" Commander Ma Zhong shouted, pointing ahead.

"How could I not see!" Ma Zhong spat on the grass beside him, his chest heaving violently.

Running and swimming for nearly ten miles was quite strenuous even for someone in his prime, let alone Deng Zhi, who was over fifty.

Seeing Deng Zhi's hunched back, she remained motionless in place.

Ma Zhong drew his sword and led his men to approach slowly.

After walking about twenty steps, they saw Deng Zhi, who had been hunched over and panting, suddenly straighten up and raise his crossbow a moment later.

Seeing Deng Zhi's crossbow bolts pointed at him, Ma Zhong showed no fear whatsoever, instead letting out a sneer:
"His Majesty has decreed that if you flee, it will indicate that Shu intends to break the alliance and wage war. Your head will be beheaded and sent to Xiangyang. Do you have any last words?!"

Ma Zhong is talking nonsense.

With Cao Wei at the forefront, if Han and Wu were to go to war, Wu would be fighting on two fronts.

Even if the alliance between Han and Wu breaks down, Sun Quan would not do something so reckless again.

Once the battle of Xicheng is lost and Deng Zhi dies, Bu Zhi, Liu Zan, Sun Gong, and the others will definitely not be spared if they are captured.

Deng Zhi knew that Ma Zhong was talking nonsense, but he still held the crossbow high, aiming it at Ma Zhong's chest.

All the generals and officers of the Han army knew that Deng Zhi was good at crossbows. In order to reward Deng Zhi, the late emperor specially ordered the Shangfang Bureau to make a large yellow crossbow with a capacity of six stones for Deng Zhi.

Deng Zhi never parted with this crossbow, and even when he went to see Sun Quan this time, he still brought it with him.

As they traveled down the Han River, the cries of monkeys echoed incessantly from both banks. Deng Zhi would often shoot monkeys with his crossbow for amusement, and his shots were always accurate, drawing the attention of Zhuge Ke and other Wu people.

However, the crossbow had been soaked in water and its string was loose, so even with Deng Zhi's large yellow crossbow pointed at him, Ma Zhong was not afraid at all and led his men forward.

"Deng Zhi, surrender now!" Ma Zhong's personal guard shouted at Deng Zhi and led several men to protect Ma Zhong.

That's what the royal guards do.

Ma Zhong shoved his men aside and sneered at Deng Zhi, who was about ten paces away:

"Go ahead and shoot if you dare!"

"If I die, you won't live either!"
"If so, then the alliance between Wu and Shu has been broken because of you! Is this your purpose in coming to see the Supreme Ruler of my Great Wu?!"

After he finished speaking, he swaggered forward.

Just as he took a step, Deng Zhi smiled contemptuously, a look of disdain rising in his eyes, and gently pulled the trigger of his crossbow.

Arrows flew.

"—Whoosh!" The sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

At such close range, Ma Zhong had no time to react before he was struck in the chest by an arrow.

He instinctively clutched his chest, his face filled with disbelief.

He couldn't understand why Deng Zhi's crossbow was still usable even after being soaked in water.

"Capture him!" He felt no pain at this moment, and with a roar, he drew his sword and charged towards Deng Zhi, followed by dozens of Wu soldiers.

At the critical moment, a loud shout suddenly erupted from the mountains and forests behind the Wu people.

"--kill!"

"—The dog who slaughtered Wu!"

"—Avenge Guan Yu!"

The shouts of battle rose like thunder, and Ma Zhong and the Wu army, who were rushing forward, stopped in their tracks, looking back in astonishment and fear.

The sky was just before dawn.

Dozens or hundreds of figures, armed with crossbows, rushed towards them, shouting battle cries.

Upon seeing this, Ma Zhong and his hundred-odd Wu soldiers were completely stunned, their expressions filled with fear and dread, unable to comprehend why Han troops had appeared here.

They never got to understand.

The Han soldiers unleashed their crossbow bolts.

Screams echoed throughout the mountains and valleys.

The mountains and forests on both sides of the Xun River startled countless birds into flight.

"Wu dogs, die!" Guan Xing abandoned his crossbow at the last moment and charged ahead of the enemy, sword in hand, eyes red with rage, towards the Wu army.

One cut, one kill.

Each blow sealed the throat, leaving robes soaked in blood.

One by one, the people of Wu fell.

"Which one is Ma Zhong?!" Guan Xing, his face covered in blood, looked like a demon. He grabbed a Wu man and held his knife to his neck.

The man from Wu was so frightened that he dared not utter a word.

With his eyes bloodshot and almost bursting out, Guan Xing gave the Wu man no chance to speak and forcefully slashed with his knife.

After throwing him to the ground, they quickly chased after a Wu man and captured him, shouting, "Where is Ma Zhong?!"

"I...I...have mercy...have mercy..." The man from Wu was so frightened that he lost control of his bladder and bladder, and both excreted and urinated at the same time.

Guan Xing's mind was now completely consumed by revenge. He didn't waste any words with him, slit his throat with a single blow, and continued to kill the remaining Wu people.

Before long, the Wu army, with nowhere to escape, all prostrated themselves on the ground and begged for surrender, tears streaming down their faces.

Only one person was standing.

Guan Xing slowly stepped forward, holding the knife in his hand.

Perhaps due to excessive blood loss, Ma Zhong's face was deathly pale, and he clutched his chest with one hand, while the crossbow bolt shot by Deng Zhi peeked out from between his fingers.

He now understood why Deng Zhi's crossbow could still be used even after being soaked in water.

He glanced deeply at Deng Zhi, who was about ten steps away, then turned to look at the blood-soaked man walking toward him with a knife.

"Who are you?" Ma Zhong glanced at the man, feeling somewhat puzzled, wondering why this person was so insistent on finding Ma Zhong.

When the person, whose face was covered in blood and whose features were completely obscured, walked up to him, he realized that the person's eyes were bulging and were a terrifying scarlet color, whether from blood or something else.

"You...you...who are you?!" When he read the meaning of revenge in those scarlet and terrifying eyes, his previous feigned composure and disdain finally disappeared, replaced by a look of utter terror and fear.

Before he could finish speaking, everything went black.

The blood-red figure lunged at him.

He was tackled and fell backward violently, his throat was being tightly gripped, and he couldn't breathe. He reached out to pull away the large hands that were gripping his throat, but those hands were incredibly strong.

Just as his mind went blank due to lack of oxygen and his hands and feet were flailing wildly, the large hands that had been tightly gripping his throat finally released their grip.

He was panting heavily, and the world before him turned red from his bloodshot eyes.

After a few breaths, he recovered slightly.

The face of the man riding on his back did indeed bear some resemblance to Guan Yu, whom he had killed.

"Heh..." He let out a cold laugh.

"I killed Guan Yu, so what?"

"What a pity...what a pity..."

“You didn’t see him and your brother Guan Ping kneeling before me, begging for mercy.”

No sooner had he said this than the hideous face of the person in front of him suddenly drew closer, instantly obscuring his entire vision.

"Ah!" An unbearable pain shot through his face. He hadn't uttered a sound when he was hit by Deng Zhi's crossbow bolt, but now he let out a horrifying scream.

Deng Zhi stood aside, watching coldly.

The soldiers who came with Guan Xing were filled with indignation.

After a long while, Ma Zhong finally ran out of strength to shout.

Guan Xingcai began stabbing Ma Zhong repeatedly until Ma Zhong was completely lifeless. Then he punched Ma Zhong in the face repeatedly, causing his entire forehead to cave in.

After smashing the horse until he was almost out of strength, Guan Xingcai, with tears streaming down his face, finally got up and beheaded Ma Zhong with a single stroke.

……

When Pan Zhang and Bu Zhi arrived, the riverbank was littered with the corpses of Wu soldiers, and there was not a single survivor.

In their shock and confusion, the group of Wu people finally found the only headless body upstream of the Xun River. Judging from the body shape, it was undoubtedly Ma Zhong.

The man's clothes were completely removed, and he had suffered dozens or even hundreds of cuts, leaving him with no intact skin.

Ears, nose, fingers, nails, teeth, flesh.

Scattered around the corpse...

Pan Zhang looked at all this, stunned and then suddenly realized:
"It's the Guan family..."

……

The upper reaches of the Xun River.

The Han army marched northwest.

The source of the Xun River is the Ziwu Valley.

At the end of the Ziwu Valley lies Chang'an.

Deng Zhi asked Guan Xing, "An Guo, what brings you here?"

Guan Xing held Ma Zhong's head in his hand. His anger had subsided, and his expression was filled with more remembrance of his father and brother.

“General Zhen Dong, His Majesty said that if Deng Zhen Dong really enters Xunkou, it means that there will definitely be a war between Han and Wu, so he sent me to kill the Wu dogs.”

It turned out that after arranging things in Guanzhong, Liu Shan, along with generals Zhao Guang, Guan Xing, and Mi Wei, rushed to Hanzhong.

When they reached Xiegu, they encountered Zhao Yun's envoy.

The letter stated that Deng Zhi had gone to Wu to discuss the ownership of Xicheng with Sun Quan.

However, both Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi believed that Sun Quan would most likely not give up easily, and after discussing with Deng Zhi, he would send elite troops to reinforce Xicheng.

Therefore, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi decided to agree on a date. If Deng Zhi failed to return within three days of the agreed date, it would mean that the Wu army was on its way.

The letter also requested the emperor to send someone from Chang'an into the Ziwu Valley, then downstream from the source of the Xun River, to meet Deng Zhi at Xunkou, which is within a few miles of the confluence of the Xun River and the Han River.

Deng Zhi has already told Sun Quan that if Wu does not voluntarily give up Xicheng, then there will inevitably be a war between Han and Wu. Do not say you were not warned.

Deng Zhi had already missed the deadline by six days.

The Han must strike first to gain the upper hand.

……

West of the Han River.

Wu Jun's Northern Camp.

The Han army arrived in a grand procession.

A quarter of an hour ago, Wu Jun had already destroyed the wooden bridge connecting the north and south, and more than a hundred naval vessels had sailed downstream to the battlefield.

In this way, Wu's navy was divided into three parts.

Part of them were positioned on the flank of Wu's northern camp, providing cover for Sun Gong's camp.

Part of it is in the middle of the Han River, the place where Gao Xiang drove away the Wu army yesterday.

The last part was tasked with guarding the southern mouth of the Han River to prevent the Han navy from sailing downstream.

By the time the entire Han army arrived at the battlefield, the Wu army was already in full battle array, waiting for a long time.

Zhao Yun and Gao Xiang did not launch an attack immediately.

Seeing that Wu Jun dared not make a move, the three armies calmly donned their armor and lined up in formation, then rested on the spot for a while.

At this time, although the sun had not yet risen, the sky was already bright.

"Let's start the war," Zhao Yun said to Gao Xiang.

P.S.: The original text was too gory in the eyes of the reviewers, so the administrator in the backend review took the initiative to delete and modify more than 300 words, and even changed the title.

(End of this chapter)