Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

Maicheng, a small town in the Chu region, is situated at the confluence of the Ju and Zhang rivers, with a low and flat terrain. The rammed earth city wall is less than three li long, and the main road is a stone-paved road that can only accommodate a single rut.

The city originally had two thousand permanent residents, but now more than four thousand have gathered there. Minor disputes frequently arise, and quarrels break out one after another. Wang Fu had no choice but to send troops to patrol and maintain order, which made the city even more tense and anxious.

"My younger brother, who's a soldier, told me that General Guan was ambushed outside Maicheng, his head snapped off and presented to Lord Wu! General Guan died with his eyes wide open, and his vengeful spirit is still haunting Lü Meng, demanding his life!"

"Nonsense! General Guan was captured alive by Cao Cao, yet he was showered with gold, silver, beautiful women, and fine silks, and lavished with banquets for three days and five. Even if Sun Quan had a thousand times the courage of a bear, he wouldn't dare kill General Guan, unless he were a pig-brain!"

The common people whispered amongst themselves, and gradually the debate intensified. Someone raised their index finger to their lips, glancing away timidly.

A patrol of soldiers, wearing black turbans and coarse hemp clothing, with ring-pommel blades at their waists, strode past with stern, righteous expressions on their faces.

The leader had a lean face and a calm gaze. Just his upright posture exuded the air of someone in a superior position.

"Those who spread rumors and incite unrest will be sentenced to hard labor!"

Zhao Lei had followed Guan Yu for many years, and his bearing was more or less imposing. Born into a poor family in Nanyang, he was well-versed in classical studies but encountered a chaotic era, eventually ending up in Jingzhou during the Jian'an period. Because of his skill in calculation and bookkeeping, he was appreciated by Guan Yu and retained to serve under him.

During the Northern Expedition, as the grain supervisor, he oversaw the water and land transport in Jingxiang, constantly coordinating efforts day and night. He also frequently dealt with corvée laborers and understood the nature of the local people. Those who dared to gather crowds in the tense atmosphere of war were mostly unruly people; arresting them all would not have resulted in any mistakes.

The people were terrified and dispersed, not daring to say a word.

A gaunt old man, his bones digging into his skin, hunched over, staggered and clung to Zhao Lei's clothes, two large tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

"My old grandson is starving to death! I beg you, please return the grain to the starving people!"

Zhao Lei was moved and, after inquiring further, learned that the old man was a refugee who had entered the city earlier; the grain they had obtained while cleaning up the battlefield had all been confiscated.

He helped the old man up, saying, "The fighting outside the city is intense. I was careless and forgot to distribute the porridge. The government will arrange it immediately! I'm so sorry, fellow villager."

The old man knelt down, trembling, kowtowed, and expressed his deepest gratitude.

Zhao Lei dared not delay and personally went to organize the construction of the reed mat porridge shed. Ten large pots were lined up on the makeshift stove, steaming and gradually simmering into a thick, fragrant rice porridge.

The people queuing up had dry, straw-like hair and held up their rough, cracked hands, trembling as they walked.

Zhao Lei instructed his trusted aides to distribute the porridge, then continued his inspection tour. Half an hour later, he returned wearily to the dilapidated county government office.

Zhou Cang squatted in the hall, wiping a precious sword with a tattered burlap sack, his iron helmet lying casually to one side, panting heavily.

"If my lord doesn't return soon, I'll lead my men out and wreak havoc on that Wu traitor!"

Wang Fu abruptly rose from the long table, holding a bamboo scroll in his hands, and rebuked:

"Enough, General Zhou, isn't the city chaotic enough already?"

Zhou Cang picked up the conversation and gave a cold laugh:

"What's the point of guarding the dilapidated Maicheng if our lord is gone? I can smash the city gates down with a single punch!"

Zhao Lei took two steps forward, frowning as he said:

"Who said the Lord is gone? Zhou Cang, don't spread rumors! I was wondering why the rumors in the city were getting worse; it turns out you're the culprit!"

Zhou Cang stood up, the blade in his hand gleaming so brightly it reflected a person's image.

"It's only two miles; Red Hare can cover that in two hooves, yet you haven't returned all night. How could I not be worried!"

Wang Fu felt a headache coming on, and a sense of dread rose within him. He remained silent for a moment, then said solemnly:

"Didn't Liao Yuanjian relay the Lord's orders? If you continue to speculate wildly and disrupt morale, I will not forgive you!"

Zhou Cang's expression paused for a moment, then flashed with a ruthless and reminiscent look:

"Don't mention Liao Yuanjian. To appease the people, he's run out of options and even killed his warhorses. Right now, he's leading his soldiers to feast on meat. You're all doing this for the greater good, so I don't intend to make things difficult for you. Give me a hundred men to charge out and have a good fight."

"I am a remnant of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, gathering followers on Woniu Mountain, making a living by plunder. Your Excellency, you slay Yan Liang and Wen Chou, what unparalleled heroes you are, yet you did not discriminate against my humble origins, taking me in to help the Han Dynasty. This is an act of kindness that has given me a second chance at life, and I will never forget it!"

Wang Fu stood there, stunned, lost in thought. Maicheng was a small and impoverished city, with only about three thousand inhabitants, suffering from hunger and cold, all looking pale and sickly. The defending soldiers numbered only five or six hundred, most of them wounded, enduring great hardship day and night.

The city's food and fodder reserves are insufficient to last even ten days, and the city's survival remains uncertain.

Zhao Lei took a breath: "Zhou Cang, I will report your evil deeds to Lord Jun truthfully! Don't try to deny it later!"

Zhou Cang stood tall and proud: "If you, my lord, return safe and sound, I'll accept it even if it kills me!"

Zhao Lei knew he couldn't win against Zhou Cang's simple-mindedness, so he adopted a "we'll see" attitude, staring at Zhou Cang as if he were a fool.

Liao Hua and Guan Ping would never lie about military intelligence; they wouldn't be so foolish. If Guan Yu didn't appear for two days, the morale of the army would collapse, and there would be no point in hiding it.

Without Guan Yu's benevolence and righteousness, no one could have defended Maicheng. Even Lu Bu, among men, was no match; neither was Xiang Yu, the Conqueror, on horseback.

Zhou Cang cleaned his sword and tightened his helmet. He prepared to gather his personal guards and go out of the city for battle. He sneered, "Today, whoever blocks my way out of the city, I will swear an oath to them!"

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the gate, with a long, impassioned cry accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves, which quickly shook the entire city.

Wang Fu felt a chill run down his spine. Could it be a riot? His thoughts raced, but he quickly cleared them of the jumbled ideas. Listening carefully, he realized it was a celebratory melody.

Zhou Cang's face showed a simple, honest look, and he asked in a deep, muffled voice, "What happened?"

Zhao Lei's empty eyes suddenly lit up: "It must be that Lord Jun has returned to the city."

The three of them rushed out together, and crowds surged forth from all directions from Helu. Zhou Cang rudely pushed through the dense crowd, shouting repeatedly, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way, don't get in the way!"

The people felt resentful and angry, but when they looked at the man with a bushy beard and a booming voice, they suppressed their anger and timidly avoided him.

Zhou Cang was impulsive and straightforward, and didn't care about such things at all. He only stopped when his view suddenly opened up.

Wang Fu, being short, felt uneasy not seeing the main road and his expression lost its solemnity. Scholars, too, couldn't bring themselves to squeeze through the crowd with Zhou Cang.

"May your lord be mighty! May your lord be mighty!" the people shouted hysterically, offering their utmost loyalty.

The buzzing of voices disturbed Wang Fu's peace of mind. He tugged at Zhao Lei's sleeve and asked, "It's so good that you're alright, Lord Zhao. Wenhou, what are they talking about?"

Zhao Lei's eyes were calm, and a smile played on his lips: "Last night, my lord led thirty cavalry in a surprise attack on the Wu camp, beheading Han Dang!"

Han Dang was a veteran general of Eastern Wu, serving under three generations of rulers: Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and Sun Quan. He was known for his loyalty and bravery, and participated in key battles such as the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance and the Battle of Red Cliffs. He rose to the rank of General Zhaowu and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Shicheng. He was an important founder and guardian of the Jiangdong foundation and held a high position.

Wang Fu laughed heartily and blurted out, "Your Excellency first annihilated Jiang Qin, then executed Han Dang, your might shook Jingchu, you are unparalleled in this era! How can that green-eyed fellow sleep soundly?!"