Power of the Martial Saint

In the territory of Zhuo County, in a place called Wulichuan, Guan Hai led an army of 20,000 to garrison there. The remaining 30,000 troops were stationed at Juyong and Baishui as Qin Longyang had said, lying in ambush.

That night, Guan Hai summoned his subordinates to discuss plans. It turned out that Guan Hai had been restless for three days because there had been no movement from Ji City. Guan Hai could no longer hold back and decided to stage a feint attack on Zhuo County.

The various commanders received their orders and left, including Liao Hua. As soon as Liao Hua reached his own tent, a sharp knife suddenly thrust out from the door curtain and was pressed against his throat.

"General Liao, we've been waiting for you for a long time." The man in front of him, with a skin-deep smile, grabbed Liao Hua and pulled him violently into the tent. After looking around to make sure no one was there, he pulled down the door curtain.

"Ugh!" Inside the tent, Liao Hua's two guards had already been tied up like rice dumplings and thrown in the corner, their eyes wide open and making muffled noises.

"Keep quiet if you don't want to die!" In the tent were three people. A burly man kicked each of the two guards, silencing them.

"Who are you people? Do you know there are 20,000 Yellow Turbans outside!" Liao Hua glared at the man sitting on his bed and whispered angrily.

Qin Longyang, with his back to Liao Hua, chuckled lightly, tucked the military book he was holding into his chest, and turned around to look at Liao Hua with a friendly expression.

"I not only know there are 20,000 Yellow Turbans outside, but I also know there are 30,000 Yellow Turbans at Juyong and Baishui."

With the clear revelation, Liao Hua suddenly realized. He then asked in a lower voice, "Are you someone under Liu Yan?"

"No," the man replied with a negative answer, "I serve myself, but now our goals align with Liu Yan's. We are merely in the same boat."

"If you already know their goals, why risk coming here?" Liao Hua asked in confusion.

"To get the tiger's cubs, one must enter the tiger's den. We came here tonight specifically for you, General Liao." Qin Longyang stood up and approached Liao Hua with a half-smile.

"For me?"

"Let me be direct. Tomorrow we will take the initiative to attack. If you can lead your troops to switch sides, it would be a great help to us."

"You know it's a trap and still come with your troops, aren't you seeking death!"

"That's none of your concern. Since I'm confident, I naturally have a full plan. As for the request I made, I wonder if General is willing to accept?"

Faced with Qin Longyang's olive branch, Liao Hua gritted his teeth and said, "If you give me this opportunity, I will certainly seize it. But after releasing Lady Zhao that day, Guan Hai seems to have grown wary of me. Tonight, he called us to explain that he plans to attack Zhuo County tomorrow. I'm worried…"

"Don't worry. This is a trap." Qin Longyang, with his hands behind his back, looked as if he had seen through the whole situation.

"No matter what orders you receive tomorrow, just follow them. As for the rest, General Liao need not worry."

Liao Hua nodded, "I understand. Thank you, General."

"There's no need to thank me. General should thank yourself for seeing through the situation and choosing to turn to the right side." Qin Longyang patted Liao Hua's shoulder with a commendatory smile.

With his main purpose achieved, Qin Longyang didn't need to stay long. However, Liao Hua was surprised that the three of them brazenly walked out, as if there were no guards around.

"Who exactly is this person…" Liao Hua muttered as he watched their departing figures.

…

The next noon, the Yellow Turbans began to besiege Zhuo County. The county governor, seeing the overwhelming number of Yellow Turbans, hurriedly sent for reinforcements from Ji City.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Yan summoned everyone to discuss countermeasures.

As soon as Qin Longyang entered, he heard Qu Jing sneer, "Didn't General Qin say the Yellow Turbans were just pretending? Now Zhuo County is under siege. If Zhuo County falls, it will open the gates of Ji City. What should we do then?"

"Heh heh." Qin Longyang chuckled lightly, casting a disdainful glance at Qu Jing, but did not retort.

Seeing Qin Longyang maintaining his attitude, Qu Jing's anger flared, his eyes twitching with frustration but unable to do anything about it.

"Lord! If Zhuo County falls, Ji City will be in real danger. I request to lead the troops to crush the enemy, so that those who only talk without action can see what it means to lead troops into battle!"

Qu Jing stepped forward proudly, and Liu Yan's expression darkened, occasionally glancing at Qin Longyang as if seeking his opinion.

Qin Longyang smiled, "General Qu's words are quite right. I am just a young man who knows nothing about military formations. What I said last night was just nonsense. Since General Qu has volunteered, why doesn't Lord Liu fulfill General Qu's request and let him lead the troops?"

"Humph." Qu Jing gave Qin Longyang a scornful look, thinking that he had finally regained some face.

Liu Yan nodded, "Very well, Qu Jing! I order you to lead 20,000 cavalry and infantry immediately to fight the enemy and ensure the defense of Zhuo County!"

"Lord, rest assured. Even if I lose my life, I will never let Zhuo County fall into enemy hands!"

Qu Jing made his boast and left with his fists clenched, not forgetting to sneer at Qin Longyang as he departed.

Qin Longyang smiled helplessly and then cupped his fists, "These days, I have been under Lord's care. With the great enemy now at hand, only by defeating them can I repay Lord's kindness. I take my leave!"

Qin Longyang said this and then walked out of the hall, the previous scene merely a provocation. Now everything was ready, only the wind was needed.

As Qin Longyang stepped outside, he suddenly sneered, "Qu Jing, you can't blame me."

…

"Kill!"

Outside Zhuo County, the sounds of battle had already erupted. The Yellow Turbans had surrounded the city from four directions but had not yet attacked. The governor of Zhuo County was terrified, looking at the flood-like enemy troops outside, his speech stumbling.

"Report! My Lord!" A messenger, stumbling, came before the governor and knelt, "Ji City has indeed sent reinforcements to Zhuo County, numbering 20,000. They are expected to arrive tomorrow!"

"Good! Very good!" The governor, scared to the point of tears, said, "Quickly… quickly have Guan Yu lead people up to the city walls to hold them off. We must hold on until the reinforcements arrive!"

"Yes!"

Following the governor's orders, on the city walls stood a lone, tower-like figure holding a crescent blade, silently observing the enemy below. This person was Guan Yu, also known as Guan Yunzhang!

On the other side, not long after Qu Jing left the city, Qin Longyang took his thousand men and left. Ji City was left as a lone fortress.

"Lord, how many troops do you think Qu Jing can bring back alive?" Looking at the gradually disappearing reinforcements, Sun Lang sneered.

Qin Longyang shook his head, "For us, the best outcome is that the entire army is annihilated!"

Having said that, Qin Longyang pointed his whip towards Baishui, "Let's go. At least repay Liu Yan's favor."

…

"Report!" A junior officer ran to Guan Hai and knelt, "Report, General. Ji City indeed sent reinforcements to Zhuo County, with as many as 20,000 troops. It seems they are moving their entire army!"

Indeed, as soon as Qu Jing made a move, the Yellow Turban spies planted in the city immediately reported the situation. Guan Hai was overjoyed.

"Hahaha! It's good that Bo Cai's brains are useful. Now Ji City is an empty city. Immediately inform Huang Shao to move his troops to attack Ji City!"

"Yes!"

All the Yellow Turban generals looked overjoyed, but Liao Hua's brow remained furrowed. Helplessly, Guan Hai insisted on keeping him around to prevent him from leaking information.

"Since it's all a show, let's make it more convincing. He Man! Lead your troops to begin the assault on the city!" Guan Hai issued the order, and He Man stepped forward with a fist salute and left.

"General… General! The Yellow Turbans are attacking!" The guards on the city walls reported to Guan Yu, seeing that the Yellow Turbans had finally moved.

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes, watching the Yellow Turbans surging below without fear. He sneered, "Scattered soldiers and bandits are nothing to fear! All soldiers, protect Zhuo County with your bodies and do not let the bandits step onto the city walls!"

"Willing to fight to the death with the General!" Though the defenders were only 3,000 strong, they were all inspired by Guan Yu's heroism and vowed to live or die with the city.

Soon, the first wave of attacking Yellow Turbans set up ladders against the rain of arrows from the city walls and began to climb.

"Throw down the rolling logs to crush them!" Guan Yu shouted, and the defenders, crouching behind the arrow towers, lifted the logs to smash the enemy.

The Yellow Turbans climbing the ladders could not avoid the blows and were knocked down with their heads smashed, wailing in pain. But unfortunately, the Yellow Turbans had a numerical advantage and the defenders had limited logs. Ultimately, they could not stop the Yellow Turbans from climbing the city walls, and Guan Yu could only lead his men in a protracted battle on the walls.

"That enemy general is quite formidable." He Man, overseeing the battle from below, squinted as he watched Guan Yu fighting fiercely on the walls, his blade slicing through the air in a spray of blood. For a moment, the Yellow Turbans were being pushed back steadily. He Man knew he was no match for him.

"Ugh…" The protracted battle continued until dusk when a prolonged drum signal from the Yellow Turban camp finally brought the bloody struggle to a temporary halt.

He Man let out a long breath, glancing nervously at Guan Yu before turning his horse's head and returning to the army.

"Clang!" Looking at the retreating enemy, Guan Yu thrust his crescent blade into the ground, causing sparks to fly. He then stroked his long beard, as if standing not in Zhuo County but in another time and place. In the battle just fought, he alone had slain over a hundred men, and despite being covered in blood, he had no injuries.

"General, mighty!" The surviving defenders cheered. Although it was a tragic victory, Guan Yu's gallantry deeply impressed both friend and foe.

"General, the defender of Zhuo County seems to be a tough opponent." Back in the camp, He Man reported to Guan Hai.

"Oh?" Guan Hai raised his eyebrows, "I didn't expect such a brave general in a small place like Zhuo County. But it's a pity. No matter how capable he is, tomorrow he will be just one of many skeletons. I will personally cut off his head to show you all these useless fellows."

Looking at Guan Hai's ferocious face, He Man shuddered with fear and could only bitterly smile in agreement. As the evening sun gradually set, the day came to an end. The defenders sighed with relief, but they could not imagine that the Yellow Turbans below were even more eager to see the arrival of reinforcements…