"Release all arrows!!"
Cao Cao stood atop his war chariot and shouted loudly.
In an instant, his archers drew their bows and released a volley of arrows, with tens of thousands of them flying through the air.
The sky seed to darken for a mont as the arrows soared, cutting through the air like a storm of death. The sound of bowstrings snapping back in unison was almost stress-inducing, followed by the sharp whistle of the arrows as they rained down upon the city walls.
Thud! Thud!
Many of the city’s defending soldiers were struck down by the arrows, their bodies falling lifelessly to the ground. Blood spattered the stone walls, staining them red as more and more defenders succumbed to the relentless assault.
"Raise the shields! Raise the shields! Stop standing there like fools!"
Hou Cheng and several other generals barked out orders loudly, their voices barely audible over the chaos.
Silver shields were hastily raised, creating a shimring wall of defense. Under the sunlight, these shields glead, reflecting the deadly hail of arrows. The soldiers, finally responding to their leaders’ commands, clustered together in formations, bracing for the next attack.
For a mont, the tension was palpable. The soldiers held their breath, their arms straining to keep their shields high, knowing that another wave could co at any second. So of the younger recruits trembled, their legs shaky, but the veterans stood firm, their faces hardened from years of battle.
After a round of arrows, Lu Bu and Guo Jia ascended the city walls.
The two surveyed the scene with asured calm. The chaos below was nothing new to them, though Lu Bu’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the vast army amassed beneath the city.
Lu Bu gazed down at Cao’s army, estimating it to be about seventy to eighty thousand strong, and was instantly taken aback.
Such a force was not to be underestimated, and Lu Bu knew the gravity of the situation. He tightened his grip on his halberd, feeling the weight of the battle to co. His reputation as an unmatched warrior was well-earned, but even he understood the danger of facing an army this large.
"Strategist, it seems this ti Cao Aman is serious," Lu Bu muttered.
Guo Jia nodded and replied, "Of course. With his holand at stake, how could he not be anxious?"
Guo Jia’s tone was calm, even sowhat playful, as though he were discussing a ga rather than a deadly siege. He adjusted his fan, opening it slowly, and took a mont to survey the battlefield, his sharp eyes noticing every detail.
"But the more anxious he becos, the harder it will be for him to take Dongjun. He may even suffer a significant defeat because of it!"
There was a slight smile on Guo Jia’s face as he spoke. His mind was already formulating the next steps, anticipating Cao Cao’s moves before they even happened. He was confident in their defenses and in the strategic advantage they held.
"Strategist, do you have another idea? Tell quickly! I am all ears!"
Lu Bu’s excitent grew. Ever since Guo Jia had joined him as a strategist, every battle had been a victory. The once-reckless Lu Bu had learned to trust Guo Jia’s wisdom and foresight.
Victory after victory had bolstered Lu Bu’s confidence, and now, standing on the precipice of yet another major battle, he felt invincible. His faith in Guo Jia had only deepened with ti.
"General, all you need to do is send a light cavalry scout unit through a narrow path to reach Guan County and seek help from Generals Zhang and Zhao. Success will be within our grasp!" Guo Jia said, waving his feather fan as he spoke.
"Strategist, can you explain in more detail?" Lu Bu scratched his head and asked again.
Guo Jia chuckled softly, casting a quick glance around before leaning closer to Lu Bu and whispering in his ear:
"General, what I an is for Zhao Zilong and Zhang Wenyuan to lead their forces and launch a surprise attack on Zhen City!"
Guo Jia’s eyes glead with cunning as he laid out the plan. The idea of splitting their forces, catching Cao Cao off guard, and delivering a crushing blow from an unexpected direction filled him with a quiet satisfaction.
"Right now, Cao Cao has brought all his main forces here, hoping to quickly capture Dongjun. All we need to do is hold this city while Zhao and Zhang take Zhen City."
Guo Jia continued, "Once Zhen City falls, Cao Cao will have no safe place left in Yanzhou. At that point, we can strike from both sides with Zilong and the others, trapping him in our net. How can Cao ngde possibly escape from our grasp?"
By the end of Guo Jia’s explanation, Lu Bu’s eyes sparkled. He clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Yes! The strategist truly is a rare genius! With you at our side, the world will be ours for the taking!"
Lu Bu’s excitent was infectious, and the nearby soldiers couldn’t help but feel emboldened by their general’s enthusiasm. The thought of outsmarting Cao Cao and securing another victory filled them with renewed confidence.
Guo Jia only smiled gently, waving his fan without uttering another word.
Below the city walls, Cao Cao’s archers had already unleashed three rounds of arrows. Finally, they ceased firing, and under Cao Cao’s command, the infantry began their slow advance.
These were the Qingzhou troops, the elite forces under Cao Cao’s command. They were experts at breaching fortifications, trained in the art of siege warfare. Every step they took was asured, disciplined, and calculated.
At the sa ti, Cao Cao issued additional orders, instructing his soldiers to dig deep trenches, fortify their positions, and build siege towers from which archers could rain down arrows onto the defenders.
Strategists like Cheng Yu busied themselves with overseeing these tasks, ensuring that every aspect of the siege was carried out efficiently.
At this mont, a loud voice rang out.
"My lord, Dun wishes to personally lead five hundred elite soldiers to launch an attack from the south gate, where the enemy’s defenses are weakest!"
It was Xiahou Dun, eager to prove himself, cupping his fists as he requested permission to fight.
Cao Hong, seeing this, also stepped forward and said, "My lord, I too wish to fight!"
Cao Cao furrowed his brow in thought for a mont.
At that mont, Xun Huo stepped forward and said, "My lord, since these generals are eager to attack and you desire a swift victory, why not allow each general to lead a different number of troops to attack various gates?"
"This way, the enemy will not know where our main assault lies."
Xun Huo continued, "However, this plan is best carried out at night. During the day, the enemy can see our numbers from above, making it easy to detect our strategy."
Cao Cao nodded in agreent. "Wenruo’s plan is sound. We will execute this strategy tonight. But for now, we still need to test the strength of the enemy’s defenses."
Dongjun’s city was tall and well-fortified. It would not be easy to breach with ordinary siege equipnt.
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