The sun had set, and the vast land seed to be bathed in a layer of crimson clouds, with the blood of the fallen staining the earth.
As the battle raged on, Lu Bu engaged Cao Ren at the southern gate.
Lu Bu’s Sky Piercer Halberd, now tainted with demonic flas, swung down with the force of a thousand pounds. How could Cao Ren possibly withstand such overwhelming strength?
After a few rounds, Cao Ren’s arms were almost numb, and his tiger’s mouth (the web between the thumb and index finger) was split open from the sheer power.
"If this continues, I won’t last more than ten rounds before Lu Bu kills !" Cao Ren thought to himself, panicking. In a desperate attempt, he launched a fierce offensive, his spear raining down like a storm of pear blossoms.
Lu Bu rely scoffed coldly at the sight, "You are too weak! I don’t even bother to kill you!"
With that, Lu Bu slashed downward, his halberd enveloped in deep purple demonic flas, its terrifying aura seeming to engulf Cao Ren.
In a state of panic, Cao Ren fled for his life, but Lu Bu was swift, quickly drawing his divine bow from his back and firing an arrow.
The arrow shot through the air like thunder, and though Cao Ren barely dodged a fatal hit, his right arm was pierced by the arrow. His arm imdiately went limp, and the spear in his hand fell to the ground as he lost all strength to hold it.
But Cao Ren dared not stop. He fled in a frenzy, knowing that his life was already a blessing to preserve. However, he understood deep down that he would never be able to fight again in the future.
He glanced helplessly at his now-useless right arm.
On the city wall, Lu Bu stood with indifference, watching Cao Ren flee. He then turned his gaze toward the demoralized Cao army, whose morale had plumted after their general’s defeat.
“Kill them!!” Lu Bu roared in a low, nacing voice before leaping into the enemy ranks like a fierce tiger. His Sky Piercer Halberd slashed and hacked, killing anyone it touched.
The Cao army was utterly defeated, scattering like insects.
With the southern gate’s main force routed, the remaining three gates’ Cao soldiers no longer dared to linger and retreated like locusts.
Inside Cao Cao’s central camp, the atmosphere was tense.
Cao Cao sat with a dark expression, staring down at his generals.
Cao Ren, his face pale, attempted to salute with his left hand and said, "My lord, this defeat is my fault alone. I am at your disposal for punishnt."
Seeing this, Cao Cao hurriedly stood from his seat, helping Cao Ren up and expressing his concern. "You are injured now, focus on your recovery!" He imdiately ordered the dics to tend to Cao Ren’s wounds.
"My lord, I suspect that Guo Jia inside the city has once again seen through our plans..." Xun Yu sighed softly.
He was more adept at consolidating power and maintaining the welfare of the people, but when it ca to military strategy, Guo Jia was superior.
Thus, every plan Xun Yu devised seed to be anticipated by Guo Jia.
This sense of helplessness gnawed at Xun Yu, making him feel bitter.
Cao Cao waved his hand dismissively and spoke in a deep voice, "If we cannot retake Yanzhou through clever tactics, then we will take it by slow and steady ans."
"Send out my orders: have the soldiers construct siege equipnt and prepare for a siege. We will... encircle the city and strike when the enemy attempts to rescue them."
Cao Cao’s voice grew colder as he spoke.
Xun Yu imdiately understood his lord’s intentions. Cao Cao planned to surround Dongjun, cutting off all communication between the city and other towns.
Once Dongjun beca an isolated city, and its provisions ran out, the morale of its defenders would plumt, creating the perfect opportunity for a full-scale assault by Cao’s forces.
It was an open strategy, but one that would take ti.
After all, Dongjun’s food stores were enough to sustain Lu Bu’s army for more than a year.
Now, they could only wait it out.
However, Xun Yu’s thoughts turned to their sole remaining refuge, Zhencheng, and a cold shiver ran through him.
He bowed and said, "My lord, we must not neglect Zhencheng. We should send a general to defend it—it is our army’s last retreat."
"You’re right, Wen Ruo. Zixiao will return to Zhencheng to oversee its defense and recover from his wounds."
Cao Cao imdiately agreed.
Though Cao Ren had lost the use of his right arm, his mind was still sharp. Cao Cao trusted him completely to command the army and defend Zhencheng.
...
Three days later.
Cao Ren led his eight thousand soldiers to the gates of Zhencheng.
However, the city was eerily silent, as though sothing had gone terribly wrong.
A sense of dread rose in Cao Ren’s heart, and he imdiately ordered his scouts to investigate.
A cavalryman rode to the edge of Zhencheng’s range and shouted loudly, "Brothers on the wall, open the gates! General Cao has returned!!"
But in the soldier’s eyes, the figures guarding the city were unfamiliar, and their armor was foreign.
Suddenly, a handso general clad in a white dragon armor, wielding a Dragon Lance of shining silver, appeared atop the city wall and replied indifferently:
"Tell your general that this city now belongs to us, the Dragon Marquis. If he wishes to keep his life, he should surrender as soon as possible."
"Who are you!?" The cavalryman, shocked beyond belief, instinctively asked.
The dashing general on the wall shouted back loudly, "Tell your general, I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan!"
The na Zhao Zilong sent a wave of terror through the hearts of Cao Ren’s soldiers. This fad warrior, known for his unmatched bravery and skill, was not soone to be trifled with.
Cao Ren, though injured, clenched his left fist in frustration as he realized that Zhencheng had already fallen. The defeat at Dongjun, his personal injury, and now the loss of Zhencheng had turned this campaign into a nightmare.
Without Zhencheng, Cao’s forces would have no place to retreat.
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