My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

"Your Majesty, do not panic."

Lü Kai stepped forward and offered words of comfort in a deep voice:

"We haven't yet ascertained their identities, so they might not be Han soldiers pursuing us. Perhaps we should come with me to the South Gate tower first, and then we can make a decision after we've assessed the situation."

Meng Quan took a few deep breaths, suppressing his panic, mounted his horse, and led his personal guards to the South Gate.

Upon reaching the top of the city wall, he leaned on the battlements and looked out. Sure enough, he saw a troop of people galloping along the official road.

When the group of men had come within thirty paces, the panic in Meng Quan's eyes was instantly replaced by ecstatic joy.

He pointed at the leader and shouted excitedly:

"It's the third brother, and the leader is Meng Ze!"

"Quickly, let Third Brother into the city!"

Meng Quan shouted excitedly to the soldiers guarding the city beside him, his previous fear completely gone.

Meng Ze!

After suffering a major defeat at Nanli City at the hands of the Han army, he led his remaining troops to retreat to Ming City, where he was restless every night.

The city's garrison numbered less than seven thousand, and most of them were wounded and exhausted soldiers. The Han army outside the city was eyeing the city covetously, and the Ming city was already in grave danger.

Meng Quanzhi's lack of troops was a fatal weakness, so he had previously sent his second brother Meng Que and third brother Meng Ze to recruit soldiers from various tribes.

However, Meng Que's mission to the western tribes took more than a month and he only brought back more than three thousand old and weak people.

Meng Ze's sudden appearance at this moment was undoubtedly a ray of hope in a desperate situation.

Meng Quan leaned on the battlements and gazed into the distance, while the generals behind him also turned their heads to look.

If the third brother can summon five or six thousand soldiers, Mingcheng will still have a chance to hold out.

With high expectations, Meng Quan shouted:
"Open the city gates quickly and let my third brother into the city!"

The heavy city gate slowly opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and a dark figure on horseback flew in like an arrow, rushing straight to the foot of the city wall.

Before long, Meng Ze, covered in dust, strode up the stairs and immediately knelt on one knee upon seeing Meng Quan:

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Compared to his usual arrogance, the third brother was much more respectful today.

Meng Quan stepped forward and helped him up, and couldn't help but sigh:
"Third brother, I never thought we'd meet again. It's been a long time."

"Why is my brother in Mingcheng?"

Meng Ze looked up, completely puzzled:
"Shouldn't Brother Wang be stationed in Nanli City?"

Meng Quan's throat tightened, and he let out a long sigh:
“Our army is no match for the Han army. Even the rattan armor troops failed to hold the city. I have no choice but to abandon Nanli City and lead my troops to Ming City to temporarily avoid their advance.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Ze's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly pressed for an answer:
"Brother Wang, I heard on the way that you had recruited the rattan armor army. This army is invulnerable to swords and spears, and can be called invincible. How could they possibly be defeated?"

Meng Quan closed his eyes, his face full of bitterness, and slowly recounted the poisonous scheme devised by Xiao He, the Grand Marshal of the Han army.

Then, he sighed helplessly:
"Although the rattan armor army was strong, Xiao He saw through its weakness. He ordered Wei Yan to devise a plan, using Ma Dai as bait to lure the enemy deep into the territory, and then using the wind to launch a fire attack. The rattan armor was ignited as soon as it came into contact with fire, and all of them perished in the sea of ​​fire, with no one surviving."

Meng Ze was horrified, his body trembled slightly, and he said in disbelief:
"Brother Wang, I've heard that Xiao He is known as a military genius. Could it be that the rumors are true, and he really was able to defeat the rattan armor army?"

Meng Quan sighed again, saying helplessly:
"Xiao He's military prowess far surpasses our imagination; it is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people."

The generals around him nodded in agreement, their faces showing fear as they recalled the devastation of the fire attack that day.

Meng Ze gasped, remaining silent for a long time. The shock on his face hadn't faded, and he pressed on, asking again:
"Even if the rattan armor army is defeated, Nanli City has strong defenses and ample food supplies. Why would we abandon the city? That is our clan's capital!"

"If it weren't for a last resort, why would I, your brother, be willing to abandon the capital?"

Meng Quan shook his head with a wry smile:

"Xiao He pursued the victory and led his army to the outskirts of Ming City. Nanli City was isolated and without support; it would surely perish if it were to defend it."

"After much discussion, we have decided to retreat to Mingcheng to temporarily avoid their attack."

Meng Ze suddenly let out a cold laugh, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:
"Brother, do not panic. Although the rattan armor army is gone, I have brought you an even more invincible legion, enough to defeat the Han!"

Meng Quan was stunned, and the generals around him were also astonished. Everyone knew how powerful the rattan armor army was, but there was still a weakness to be found. Could there be an even more invincible army in the southern barbarian lands?

The crowd looked at each other, finding it hard to believe.

"Third brother, which army are you referring to?"

Meng Quan asked with a mixture of belief and doubt.

"That legion is just outside the city."

Meng Ze turned around and pointed towards the depths of the jungle outside the city.

Everyone hurriedly looked in the direction he pointed, and even Lü Kai, who had been standing silently, curiously peeked out.

A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, making the leaves whisper, but nothing seemed amiss.

In an instant, the ground suddenly trembled slightly, and soon it became more and more violent, with the city tower making a "creaking" sound.

Upon closer inspection, everyone saw that "moving mountains" were slowly emerging from the jungle, advancing majestically towards Ming City.

At the same time, the faint roar of beasts could be heard, making people's eardrums vibrate.

Everyone was stunned, their faces showing horror.

"What...what's going on?"

Meng Quan was in a state of great confusion.

Meng Ze held his brother's trembling hand and comforted him:

"Brother, don't panic, it's the elephant cavalry!"

"These are elephant cavalry from the far west of the southwest. No one can stop them from breaking through enemy lines and camps. No matter how strong Xiao He's Han army is, they cannot withstand this thunderous power!"

Elephant troops!

Upon hearing this, everyone on the city wall was instantly invigorated, and the dejection they had felt due to the annihilation of the rattan armor army vanished.

The crowd jostled to the edge of the city wall, gazing intently once more into the depths of the jungle.

This time they saw it clearly.

The moving behemoths were not mountains, but rather enormous elephants.

Elephant troops!

Meng Quan's pupils contracted sharply, and then an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy rose on his face.

He had long heard that a mysterious elephant corps was hidden deep in the dense forest a hundred miles to the southeast.

This legion rode elephants, and its barbarian soldiers were brave and invincible.

However, the cave master, Gu Han, was violent and arrogant, and always acted alone. He didn't even respect Gu Han, the king of the Southern Barbarians. Meng Quan sent envoys to recruit him several times, but they were all turned away.

He never expected that his third brother would actually be able to summon this elite army.

"Third brother, you're really capable!"

Meng Quan grabbed Meng Ze's shoulder and patted him excitedly.

Generals Meng Que and others also came forward, their faces full of joy, as the gloom that had previously shrouded their hearts finally dissipated.

Only the strategist Lü Kai had never heard of the elephant cavalry before. He looked blankly into the jungle, his eyes full of doubt.

In an instant, a series of muffled footsteps approached from afar, and the ground trembled slightly.

Lu Kai gasped.

One by one, elephants emerged from the jungle in neat rows and slowly came to the foot of Ming City, their massive bodies filling everyone's view.

Each elephant is two zhang tall, comparable to a city wall. Its thick hide is a natural and sturdy defense, and now it is covered with thick iron armor, making it even more indestructible.

On the back of each elephant was a simple wooden building, where six barbarian soldiers dressed in animal skins sat, some wielding sharp spears, others drawing powerful bows, their faces painted with ferocious paint, exuding a fierce aura.

Three hundred elephants, a mighty and imposing force, swept towards Ming City like a moving city, their roar shaking the heavens. (End of Chapter)