Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 253 The Mighty Guards, Betrayal and Abandonment

Pan Jun then left.

The Han army pursued relentlessly.

After several battles in one night, the Wu army was terrified.

Pan Jun no longer dared to launch any more layered attacks.

Even he himself was forced by the situation to abandon the pass and leave, leaving Deng Xuanzhi and thousands of soldiers trapped in Yanyu Pass, waiting to die.

How could he dare to gamble that someone else might sell him out of "circumstances"?

Even Pan Jun, the Grand General of the Vanguard who was in charge of supervising the army, abandoned his troops and fled. How could the other Wu soldiers be expected to guard the pass and cover the rear?

Wu Jun was unable to mount any effective resistance.

By the next morning, the Han army had broken through two more passes and, following the mountain path, pursued the Wu army to the depths of a dense forest seven or eight miles northwest of Wu County.

The stench of blood mingled with the musty smell of decaying leaves, and the mist of blood mixed with the damp mountain fog, permeating the primeval forests of the Daba Mountains in the early morning.

After a day and night of stalemate, fierce fighting, and pursuit, the Han soldiers were exhausted, hungry, and cold.

Fu Qian personally led a small elite force in pursuit.

About a mile behind him, some soldiers, unable to bear the hunger, cold, and exhaustion any longer, lit a fire on the mountain path, cooked a meal, and rested.

More and more campfires were lit, and the smoke grew thicker, finally allowing the Han soldiers a moment to catch their breath.

Ahead, Fu Qian, his face covered with a bronze lion mask, stood with a long spear on the muddy mountain path that had been ravaged by the fleeing Wu soldiers.

Through the bronze surface, those bloodshot eyes showed no sign of fatigue, only the excitement of a hawk or hound sensing its prey.

His chest heaved violently. He had long since abandoned the heavy bowl-necked armor and was now wearing a two-piece suit of armor that was much lighter and more convenient for him.

No one could possibly chase someone down for an entire night while wearing heavy armor weighing over 100 jin (approximately 50 catties).

"What happened? Where are they?!" Fu Qian glanced at the mountain mist behind him; the soldiers who should have followed him were nowhere to be seen.

Before long, a captain from the rear guard led more than ten personal guards to Fu Qian's side, looking utterly helpless:
"Commander Fu, it's just too cold, too hungry, too tired and exhausted. The soldiers can't hold on any longer. Now... start a fire and cook a meal in the back!"

Fu Qian frowned.

The captain hesitated for a long time, then finally mustered his courage and said:
"General, after a night of pursuit, the soldiers are exhausted and cannot continue. Moreover, we are about to reach Wu County. If we continue the pursuit, we may encounter an ambush. It would be better to stop here, rest for a while, and then withdraw the army!"

After a night of pursuit, the Han army achieved considerable success.

Although they failed to kill Wu's general, they captured armor, weapons, bows and arrows, provisions and wealth along the way, which piled up like mountains. They also beheaded and captured thousands of others.

Having killed the enemy, avenged their grievances, and acquired spoils, coupled with exhaustion and fatigue, it was perfectly normal for the soldiers to have thoughts of retreating.

Although Fu Qian knew this, he still glared at the captain in front of him, and in the end, without saying a word, he silently turned around and went back.

Upon reaching Houjun, the aroma of firewood smoke and baked flatbread permeated the dense forests and mountains.

Many soldiers lay down right next to the campfire and fell asleep, snoring loudly.

"Get up!" Fu Qian's voice was hoarse and powerful as he kicked a Sima who was snoring against a tree.

Having fought a bloody battle all day and beheaded four more people last night, Sima Yi was so frightened by Fu Qian's outburst that he jumped up and was wide awake.

Fu Qian suddenly raised his hand, pointing towards Wu County:

"Wu's troops abandoned the pass and fled in disarray, which is a golden opportunity!"
"We've survived several days of bloody and arduous fighting!"

"Now is the perfect time to hunt down the remaining enemies. We can endure a moment of fatigue in exchange for a lifetime of wealth and honor. How can we possibly stop?!"

"Hold on a little longer, and follow me to the outskirts of Wuxian County in one fell swoop!"
Even if there is an ambush, we must break through it!

Upon hearing this, the military commander roused himself and, without further hesitation, roared at his men:

"stand up!"

"Arise, all of you!"

"Keep chasing!"

"Endure the fatigue for a moment!"

"To exchange half a lifetime of wealth and status!"

"His Majesty will never mistreat his brothers!"

Around the campfire.

After resting for a while, the soldiers, whose bodies had warmed up and whose fatigue had lessened, finally extinguished the campfire and stuffed the half-cooked flatbreads into their pockets.

Someone leaned on his spear and got up.

He stumbled slightly but was caught by his companion.

Fu Qian frowned upon seeing this, first tearing off the blood-stained copper mask, then scanning the weary faces with his gaze, and finally shouting:
"Those who can still wield weapons and fight, come with me!"
"Those who wish to rest temporarily shall remain here to guard the surrendered prisoners and protect the baggage!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Upon hearing Fu Qian's words, the soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.

The military commander who had been kicked by Fu Qian immediately donned his armor, drew his sword, and followed without hesitation, the armor plates clanging loudly.

Upon seeing this, his own troops immediately sprang into action.

Someone silently tore off strips of cloth and wrapped them even tighter around the blistered hands and knife handle.

Someone picked up a water bag left on the ground, took a few big gulps, and then poured the rest over their head. After shivering, they felt much more refreshed.

Gradually, one, two, ten... a hundred, more and more soldiers donned their armor and carried their weapons, silently joining the marching ranks.

The soldiers, who had originally intended to rest some more, saw that their comrades were all rushing towards battle merits, so they hurriedly struggled to get up and dragged their leaden legs to catch up, not wanting to fall behind.

Fu Qian ignored the rear guard and personally led several hundred elite soldiers who were still able to move quickly into the dense forest to the east.

The mountain road became increasingly rugged.

Ancient trees reach for the sky, blocking out the sun.

The vines, like giant pythons and green snakes, coiled and hung down.

The thorns, brambles, and tribulus that covered the mountain path constantly tore and pierced the Han soldiers' armor and flesh, leaving bloody marks on their bodies.

In the humid air, bloodthirsty leeches, attracted by the strong smell of sweat and blood, silently fell from the ancient tree vines and attached themselves to the Han soldiers.

Nobody had time to care.

Only occasionally would someone slap it in frustration, leaving a bloody mark.

They chased after him for about three or four miles.

A faint sound suddenly came from ahead.

Fu Qian's spirits lifted, and he quickened his pace.

After he led his men through a dense forest of ancient trees, the view suddenly opened up before them!
On a relatively flat and wide mountain road, there was a dense, dark mass of fleeing Wu soldiers!
"Wu Gou, prepare to die!"

Fu Qian roared like thunder, and before all the soldiers behind him could catch up, he charged forward like a tiger descending a mountain, brandishing his spear!

This loud roar terrified the Wu soldiers who were paralyzed in front of him, causing them to panic and lose their minds.

At this point, the Wu army was in a much worse state than the Han army.

After a day of fierce fighting, they suffered repeated defeats.

After a night of rout and disorganization, it was impossible to tell who was under their command or whose orders they should obey.

Otherwise, why would they linger here and refuse to retreat?

Many people, exhausted, collapsed by the roadside, only to be trampled by those who came after them.

Xianyu Dan, who was in charge of controlling Yingchoujian, fled to this place. His troops were all wiped out and their fate was unknown. At this moment, he was surrounded by his personal guards and was trying to push aside the defeated soldiers blocking the road in front of him, attempting to clear a path.

A loud shout suddenly came from behind.

"Wu Gou, where do you think you're going?!"

Xianyu Dan suddenly turned around.

Upon seeing the gluttonous beast bearing the character "Fu" sweeping towards him with its banner, he knew it was Fu Qian, that fiend, who had caught up with him, and all color drained from his face.
"Stop him! Stop him!"

This general, who had once followed Lü Meng in conquering Jingnan, had his armor askew and his helmet missing; his face showed only the panic of someone fleeing for their life.

Xianyu Dan's dozens of personal guards were loyal and brave. With a shout, they turned around and formed a battle formation, their spears thrusting out in an attempt to block Fu Qian.

Fu Qian took the lead and, without dodging, swung his spear in a wide arc to sweep across!

The spear tip whistled as it slammed heavily into the several spear shafts that were thrusting at him.

"—Clang!"

A crisp sound.

A tremendous force came.

The guns in the hands of the Wu men slipped from their grasp!

Two of Wu's soldiers suffered severe cuts to their hands and fell backward with screams.

Fu Qian stepped forward, his spear thrusting forward before it was fully charged, then changed from a sweeping motion to a thrusting motion, striking a military officer who was trying to raise his spear to attack in the waist and abdomen with extreme precision!

All of a sudden.

A bloodcurdling scream.

Internal organs leaked out.

Blood splattered all over the ground.

The remaining guards were so terrified by the fierce and unparalleled thunderous strike that their hearts trembled and their movements faltered.

Fu Qian had been waiting for this brief opening. He abandoned his spear, drew his precious sword from his waist, and charged into the Wu crowd. His sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, instantly cleaving down two more men.

At this time, Fu Qian's personal guards also arrived.

In just a few exchanges, most of Xianyu Dan's personal guards fell, and the rest fled in panic.

Fu Qian glanced around and immediately identified the generals present. He then led his troops directly towards Xianyu Dan, who was trying to escape from behind the crowd.

"You loser, where do you think you're going?!"

Xianyu Dan didn't even turn her head back.

Only when he heard the sounds of battle approaching did he realize something was wrong. He had just drawn his sword when Fu Qian had already killed his personal guards and charged forward again with his spear.

"die!"

Fu Qian fired a powerful shot.

The spear tip, swift as lightning, pierced straight into Xianyu Dan's back, which was no longer covered by armor, intending to penetrate his heart from behind.

Xianyu Dan was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield. At the critical moment of life and death, he managed to sidestep and parry with his sword.

"Clang!" Swords and spears clashed, sparks flying.

Xianyu Dan grunted, feeling a tremendous force coming from the hilt of the sword. His entire arm went numb and weak instantly, and the sword almost slipped from his hand.

Fu Qian, seizing the opportunity, pressed his advantage and, taking advantage of the opponent's unsteady stance, thrust his spear forward again!

"Thud!" Fu Qian's spear finally pierced precisely through the neck of Wu general Xianyu Dan.

The man died instantly.

Fu Qian then drew his precious sword from his waist and slashed fiercely, sending a large, fine head flying into the air, its face still frozen in shock and disbelief.

Fu Qian spat on the severed head on the ground, grabbed its disheveled hair, lifted it up, leaped onto a nearby boulder, and then held the head high, letting out a long, piercing roar:

"Your commander is dead; those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Those who surrender will not be killed!" the Han soldiers roared.

The sound echoed through the valley.

The remaining Wu troops were fleeing in panic.

Witnessing their general being beheaded in an instant, their last remaining will to resist completely collapsed, and they all threw down their weapons and knelt on the ground.

Upon hearing the commotion and seeing the scene, the Han soldiers who were pursuing from behind shouted and charged forward, slaughtering the fleeing Wu soldiers.

At such a time, even for Fu Qian, stopping the soldiers' desire to kill the Wu people in an instant would be an extremely difficult task.

About fifteen minutes later, Fu Qian issued a strict order to all the armies, and the Han soldiers finally stopped their killing of the Wu people.

Next came the task of confiscating weapons and taking care of prisoners.

Fu Qian stood on the rock, catching his breath, and casually tossed Xianyu Dan's head to the commander of the personal guard: "The credit for beheading the general belongs to you."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze had already turned further east, towards Wu County.

The relentless pursuit throughout the night was all for Pan Jun.

But in the end, they still couldn't find any trace of this guy.

...

At the same time that Fu Qian beheaded Xianyu Dan.

On another narrow and rugged mountain road.

Another chase is also coming to an end.

General Zhao Guang of the Dragon Cavalry was so bloodied that his sleeves were soaked with the blood of the Wu people.

His white robe was now completely stained with blood and mud, obscuring its original color.

Last night, he led more than two hundred Longxianglang soldiers and more than one thousand Guanzhong soldiers under the command of these two hundred Longxianglang soldiers to hold off a defeated Wu army of about three thousand men.

As for the thousand soldiers under his command, they were the first and only batch of Yingyang Inner Palace soldiers to participate in external warfare as a whole after Liu Shan established the system of palace soldiers.

At the time of the expedition, the soldiers of the Nine Prefectures were still in Chang'an harvesting autumn crops, repairing canals, and training. Those soldiers who were unable to participate in the war against Wu were filled with envy.

Logically speaking, the troops from Guanzhong should not have been forced to travel such a long distance to fight along the Yangtze River.

Because they were self-sufficient in military supplies and responsible for their own profits and losses, the losses from marching thousands of miles were simply too great for them.

If they fail in this battle, they will go bankrupt right after they have just settled down in Chang'an.

To compensate them and appear fair, the imperial court, while conscripting them, also provided provisions for these thousand-plus soldiers in this battle.

After all, many of these thousand-plus soldiers will be awarded merits and promoted after this battle.

These "nobles" who received meritorious service, land ownership, and various special privileges would serve as "bait" to motivate the soldiers' fighting spirit.

They will set an example and encourage the soldiers in Chang'an to hone their killing skills and train their flag and drum formations more diligently.

They hoped to kill enemies and gain merit in the future, thus becoming "nobles" like the first wave of soldiers.

Right now, the first batch of Eagle Banner soldiers, on whom Liu Shan placed high hopes, are proving their worth through their actions.

The Wu army in front of them was unusual.

Though defeated, remain calm.

The retreat was still somewhat methodical.

The flag was not completely fallen.

At this moment, we are fighting and retreating simultaneously.

The mountain roads were narrow, making it difficult for the army to deploy.

This is the stage where elite small units can shine.

"Wei Qi! Take your men and go around to the left side of the mountains to intercept their central army!" General Zhao Guang, the commander of the Longxiang Army, had a clear and melodious voice. Although it was his first time leading an army to defeat the enemy, he commanded with composure.

"Understood!" Wei Xing's younger brother, Wei Qi, replied in a booming voice.

He carried a crossbow on his waist, a shield in one hand and a cleaver with several nicks in the other, and led a hundred soldiers into the dense forest.

"You little bastards, come with me!"

The soldiers of Yingyang Prefecture already had military achievements, were highly skilled in martial arts, and were brave and fierce. After several months of training and practice, their cooperation with each other could be considered tacit.

Even in such complex terrain, they moved with ease, their marching speed several times faster than the Wu army retreating along the mountainside.

Wu Jun's central army was surrounded by several generals.

It was Xu Zhong, a member of the Wu Kingdom's royal family and General Yijun, who had previously been in charge of controlling Tiger Leap Gorge, and Sun Gui, who was also a member of the royal family.

Xu Zhong quickly spotted the Han army flanking him, and his expression changed:
"Quick! Speed ​​up!"

"The vanguard clears the obstacles!"

But it was too late.

The mountain path was narrow, and there were many Wu soldiers.

No matter what you do, it's very slow.

Wei Qi led his troops like tigers and wolves descending from the sky, suddenly bursting out from the dense forest on the hillside and crashing into the front of the Wu army's marching column!
"Fighting with fewer troops, charge into battle!"

"Forty percent captured or killed, a successful capture!"

"Brothers, follow me to kill the traitors!"

With a series of angry roars, Wei Qi swiftly closed in on a Wu soldier who was caught off guard.

The other party was tall, strong, and sturdy.

He instinctively thrust his spear forward.

Wei Qi was not as tall or strong as him, yet he was not afraid at all.

The wooden shield precisely blocked and pressed down.

With swift footsteps, he leaped forward!

Wu Bing's spear was pinned down, and he was about to pull it back.

Wei Qi's massive iron cleaver was already swinging down with fierce force, accompanied by a fierce wind!

"puff!"

The blade cleaved into the Wu man's collarbone.

The tall, burly Wu soldier's eyes suddenly bulged out, and he collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound.

The whole process was lightning fast; a single glance could determine life or death!

Wei Qi didn't even glance at them, and added another Wu army commander who was trying to form a battle formation.

Seeing Wei Qi's ferocity, the squad leader was already intimidated and turned to flee.

Wei Qi caught up in three steps at a time, and with another incredibly precise and powerful strike, slashed at the back of the fleeing soldier's calf!
Amid screams, the team leader collapsed to the ground.

Wei Qi stepped on his right hand, which was holding the knife, and swung the knife down with his other hand.

Blood spurted out immediately.

"That was exhilarating!" A soldier laughed wildly and swung his sword, severing the wooden shield and arm of a Wu soldier's swordsman.

"Form ranks!" On the other side, Long Xianglang, who was in charge of commanding the garrison, shouted loudly.

Upon receiving the order, more than ten soldiers quickly gathered.

Four swordsmen and shieldmen were in front, six spearmen were in the center, two crossbowmen followed closely behind, and two rattan shield bearers protected the flanks and rear.

A small battle formation was formed instantly.

Like a rock, it was firmly wedged in the narrow mountain path, easily blocking, stabbing, and shooting the Wu soldiers who tried to rush towards them.

Wu Jun was already in retreat and his morale was low, so he was no match for the fierce attack of the group of menacing men in front of him.

Before ten rounds were over, the thirty or forty Wu soldiers who charged into this small battle formation were terrified by the well-coordinated and individually highly skilled Fu soldiers. In the end, they scattered and fled like ants swarming together when doused with hot water.

"Disperse the formation and pursue!" Ryūjōrō sensed an opportunity and gave the order.

Some people fled.

Some people resisted.

The few Wu people who tried to resist were quickly wiped out by the garrison soldiers, who used their superior skills and teamwork.

The same battle situation and circumstances, as if copied and pasted, repeatedly occurred on this narrow stretch of battlefield.

Xu Zhong, watching from the center of the army, was terrified. He said to Sun Gui beside him in a trembling voice, "What...what kind of Shu army is this, so fierce and brave? Could it be that Liu Shan's Tiger Warriors are here too?!"

Sun Gui's expression was solemn:

"Judging from their armor and weaponry, and their individual strength... they are probably indeed Liu Shan's elite central army!"

"But... weren't those the Shu army's elite warriors the ones who defeated Pan Jun by the river yesterday? Just how many elite warriors did Liu Shan bring?!"

Xu Zhong gritted his teeth:

"We can't worry about that now!"

"Pursuers are ahead, and a powerful enemy is behind!"

"Retreat immediately! Once the vanguard is completely routed, we will both become prisoners of the Shu people!"

Sun Gui was sweating profusely, whether from exhaustion or fear.

What kind of prisoner?
Could he be the head of the camp?!

He first looked at the vanguard that was already in disarray, then shifted his gaze further west to the main force of the Shu army that was closing in from the main road.

Finally, I made up my mind: "Fine! Let's retreat!"

However, the two gave their orders too late.

Just as Wu Jun was dealing with the increasing chaos caused by the attacking troops from the flank and was trying to adjust his formation, Zhao Guang's main force had already attacked from the front.

"Don't run, you dog!" Zhao Guang, relying on his armor which was almost impervious to swords and spears, took the lead and charged directly into the enemy ranks.

He was tall and strong, possessing three-tenths of his father's heroic bearing, and his superb marksmanship also had three-tenths of his father's skill.

He charged into the chaotic army, his spear flying like pear blossoms, striking, thrusting, parrying, and sweeping. The Wu soldiers blocking his way fell to the ground, and no one could stop him for even a moment.

As he dug deeper into the enemy lines, his gaze quickly settled on Xu Zhong and Sun Gui, who were standing under the banner bearing the characters "Xu" and "Sun".

He immediately slammed his gun into the ground and shouted loudly:
"Don't you dare run away, you dog!"
"I am Zhao Pijiang of Changshan, the General of the Dragon Cavalry of the Great Han Dynasty!"

"Do you dare come and fight me!"

After imitating his father, Zhao Guang blushed slightly.

Fortunately, his face was covered in blood, so no one should be able to tell.

Seeing how valiant General Longxiang was, the soldiers behind him, including the Longxiang General, were even more in high spirits. They roared and surged forward, engaging the Wu army, which was trying to form a battle formation, in fierce combat.

Wei Qi had just cut down a Wu soldier when he looked up and saw a Wu general shouting orders to organize archers to rush forward.

Without thinking, he picked up an unclaimed short halberd from the ground and threw it with all his might!
Caught off guard, the sergeant was pierced through the neck by a short halberd and fell to the ground with a scream.

"Hey!" Wei Qi grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth with bits of meat stuck in them, and then continued to charge forward like a hawk, hound, tiger, and wolf.

However, after running only a few steps, he suddenly stumbled and fell face-first into the mud.

Several Wu-style spears and halberds were waving brightly in front of him.

He was suddenly startled and thought to himself that he was doomed.

However, before he could instinctively roll to the side, the several spears gleaming with silver light in front of him dared not thrust forward, but instead retreated directly.

Wei Qi glanced over and saw that it was his own soldiers who had come forward to protect him.

"Good brother, I wish you ten sons!" Wei Qi laughed heartily, feeling a surge of good luck as he got up from the ground.

Looking down at the ground, they saw that the thick layer of moss was mixed with fresh blood.

He cursed under his breath and steadied himself.

Without hesitation, they charged at the enemy.

The battle quickly turned into a one-sided affair.

The Han army's soldiers were delighted at the prospect of battle, growing more courageous with each fight.

They worked in groups of three or five, covering each other and advancing together to break through the already chaotic Wu army formation.

Despite Wu Jun's desperate resistance, he could not withstand their onslaught.

Xu Zhong and Sun Gui were tightly protected by their personal guards in the center, fighting and retreating, trying to move towards a slightly more open forest slope in the southeast.

However, Zhao Guang's Longxianglang and the government troops launched a relentless attack, relentlessly pursuing them from the front.

Wei Qi, along with his bloodthirsty soldiers, drove in like a wedge from the flank, completely cutting off their retreat.

The Wu army was routed and surrendered in the previous section.

The Wu army in the rear collapsed and fled.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the remaining hundred or so Wu soldiers were compressed into a very small circle by the Han army, leaning against several huge rocks, making a last-ditch effort.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and despair.

The Han soldiers dispersed in unison, forming a semi-circular encirclement.

Swords and shields were in front, and spears were extended.

The archers stood on the perimeter, their cold arrows gleaming with a chilling light, aimed at the circle.

Zhao Guang stepped out from the crowd, his silver armor stained with blood, yet still crisp and clear, making his figure appear even more heroic.

He raised his hand to signal his men to halt their attack, his gaze falling on Xu Zhong and Sun Gui, who were being tightly protected in the center.

"General Xu! General Sun!" Zhao Guang's voice was hoarse from the fighting.

"The tide has turned; the Yanyu and the deep ravines have been breached!"
“Pan Jun abandoned his army and fled in defeat. You are all heroes of Jiangdong. Why make pointless sacrifices and waste the lives of your men?”

"Why not lay down your arms and surrender? Our Emperor of Han is benevolent and will surely not harm you!"

Bu Zhi and Zhuge Jin surrendered.

If two more members of the imperial clan were demoted, wouldn't Sun Quan go completely mad?
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhong abruptly raised his head, his mottled beard trembling violently:

"You brat from the Zhao family! Stop your arrogant talk! I am a member of the royal family of the Great Wu, and I have received great favors from the country. In the Great Wu, there are only generals who would rather die than surrender!"

He mimicked the stories he had heard, his voice hoarse and mournful, but his hand holding the knife trembled slightly uncontrollably due to exhaustion and fear.

These words were less meant for Zhao Guang and more meant to boost the morale of himself and the remaining soldiers around him.

Bu Zhi, who had once been a powerful figure in Jing and Jiao provinces, surrendered to Shu. As a result, his wife was neglected and exiled to Moling.

Xu, the foster mother of Crown Prince Sun Deng, was brought to Wuchang after Sun Quan became emperor, and there is a possibility that she became the Empress of Wu.

Even if she cannot become empress, when Sun Quan dies and his son Sun Deng succeeds to the throne, Xu will be the rightful Empress Dowager of Wu. It is impossible for someone from the Xu family to surrender to Shu at this time.

Sun Gui's face was even paler than Xu Zhong's.

He looked around, at the terrified and desperate faces of his personal guards, and then at the fierce and murderous Han soldiers on the periphery.

He knew in his heart that if he did not surrender today, he would have no chance of survival.

Zhao Guang once again urged Zhao Guang to surrender.

Xu Zhong took a deep breath, "You brat, no need for further words, just kill me if you must!"

After he finished cursing, he turned his gaze to Sun Gui.

I was just about to say a few bold words to Sun Gui to bolster my courage.

However, Sun Gui's eyes flickered, and he dared not meet his gaze. Instead, he subconsciously looked at the weapons discarded on the ground, and then quickly glanced at the Han army's tight encirclement. His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

Xu Zhong's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition gripped him.

Sure enough, before Zhao Guang could speak again...

Sun Gui seemed to have all his strength drained away.

The sword in his hand fell to the rocks with a clang, the sound particularly jarring in the deathly silent valley.

He said dejectedly:

"Enough...enough...it's come to this, what's the use of dying now...soldiers..."

His voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a murmur, "I am willing to surrender..."

"Sun Gui! How dare you!" Xu Zhong turned his head sharply as if bitten by a venomous snake, staring at Sun Gui with eyes wide with rage.

The despair I felt just moments before was instantly replaced by immense anger and contempt.

"You...you!"

"How could the Sun family produce such a cowardly and greedy wretch like you!"
"You are unworthy to be a member of the Sun clan!"

"Do you deserve the immense favor His Majesty has shown you?!"
You have utterly disgraced the Sun family's ancestors!

Sun Gui's face turned red and white as he was scolded.

She lowered her head in shame, not daring to look at Xu Zhong again, and stammered, "Someone...someone has to...spare their life..."

"Pah!" Xu Zhong was furious and spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm directly onto Sun Gui's face.

"Utterly shameless! I, Xu Zhong, was blind to associate with someone like you!"

Seeing this, Zhao Guang knew that Xu Zhong had made up his mind, and his eyes turned into a cold killing intent.

He said no more, but slowly raised the spear in his hand.

The moment he raised his gun, Wei Qi, a soldier from the garrison, understood and roared, "Crossbow!"

Dozens of crossbowmen from the surrounding area received the order and immediately pulled the triggers.

Several crossbow whistles sounded.

Several Wu soldiers, still wielding weapons, fell to the ground.

"Kill!" The soldiers roared and charged forward.

On the other side, Sun Gui had already knelt down on the ground, his face ashen.

Along with his personal guards who had given up resistance, they all knelt on the ground, trembling.

The fighting quickly subsided.

Xu Zhong's head was handed to Zhao Guang.

The soldiers around the area skillfully cleaned up the battlefield.

Finish off the remaining enemies, seize their armor and weapons, and count their heads.

Those who surrendered, including Sun Gui, were roughly bound by the government troops.

The soldiers looked exhausted from the fierce battle.

But more than anything, it was the excitement and exhilaration of conquering enemy generals and seizing flags, as well as the anticipation and longing to become someone of high standing.

Zhao Guang coldly looked at Sun Gui, who was bound to the ground, then glanced a few more times in the direction of Wu County before finally ordering the army to retreat.

(End of this chapter)