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

Zhang Liao was taken aback, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

He never expected Xianyu Cheng to be so shameless. It was clearly the other party who turned around and launched a sneak attack first, but now that he had nowhere to run, he turned around and accused him of a sneak attack.

After a moment of shock, a surge of rage welled up inside him.

Zhang Liao suddenly raised his heavy sword and shouted angrily:

"Shameless scoundrel! You launched a sneak attack first, and now you dare to turn around and accuse me? Today I will kill you to avenge Zhuge Dan!"

Before he finished speaking, the heavy sword, with the force of cutting through the air, was slowly raised above his head, about to strike down and take Xianyu Cheng's life.

Xianyu Cheng was stunned by the chilling killing intent and shivered violently.

Zhang Liao was really going to kill him!

His stubbornness and unwillingness crumbled instantly; at this moment, Xianyu Cheng was truly intimidated.

The loyalty and righteousness he had previously spoken of, and the dignity of being a Liao general, all became worthless in the face of the threat of death.

Only one thought remained in his mind:
I must live, even if it means losing everything, to preserve this life.

"General Zhang, I am willing to surrender to the Han Dynasty. Please, give me a way to live!"

Xianyu Cheng slammed his knees to the ground, gripping Zhang Liao's boots tightly with both hands, his head pressed to the ground, a gesture of humbly begging.

The murderous coldness that had been lingering in Zhang Liao's eyes vanished almost instantly, leaving only disdain.

Having fought on the battlefield for many years, he respected his opponents the most for their unwavering loyalty, even enemy generals. If they fought to the death, they deserved his respect.

But this Xianyu Cheng, who was stubbornly resisting on the city wall just a moment ago, has now abandoned his armor and begged for mercy, throwing away even the slightest bit of integrity in order to survive.

Zhang Liao would never give such a coward a second glance.

"Our great Han soldiers are all of iron will and loyalty; we will never spare a coward like you!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Liao had already raised his long axe.

Xianyu Cheng looked up and caught a glimpse of it, his soul nearly leaving his body. He scrambled backward, screaming wildly:
"General Zhang, please have mercy! I am willing to serve the Han Dynasty like a dog or a horse!"

Zhang Liao's eyes did not waver at all; with a flick of his wrist, he brought his long sword down in a furious slash.

With a crisp "crack," blood spurted out, and Xianyu Cheng's head rolled to the ground, his eyes wide open, still filled with lingering fear.

Zhang Liao kept his eyes straight ahead, stepping on Xianyu Cheng's corpse, and slashed at the Liao army surrounding him with his long sword, his killing intent palpable.

On the city wall, Gongsun Huang was still desperately directing the remaining troops to hold on. Behind the battlements, corpses lay strewn everywhere, and the arrows had long been exhausted. The Liao soldiers were becoming increasingly powerless to resist.

Just then, a guard scrambled to his feet and cried out:

"Second Young Master, General Xianyu Cheng has been killed by the Han general Zhang Liao. The defending troops have fled, and the city gates are about to fall!"

Gongsun Huang felt a chill run down his spine, and the fighting spirit he had just been holding onto vanished instantly.

He watched the Liao army retreating steadily below the city, and then caught a glimpse of the Han army surging in from the east gate. His heart sank.

Dongguan City ultimately could not be defended.

"I can't die here!"

Gongsun Huang gritted his teeth, his previous fighting spirit receding like the tide, leaving only the instinct to survive.

He turned sharply and roared at the remaining soldiers behind him:

"Retreat! Abandon the city and break out through the east gate!"

Having said that, he disregarded the panic of his soldiers, mounted his horse, turned it around, and galloped down the city wall toward the west gate.

The east gate opened in response, and Gongsun Huang led his elite guards out first. He was certain that the main force of the Han army was engaged in a fierce battle at the east gate, and the defenses at the west gate would be lax, so this route would definitely be able to break through.

But just as they rushed out of the east gate, less than a hundred paces away, a troop of Han soldiers suddenly emerged from the dense forest beside the road, lined up in front of them, and blocked their way.

The flags fluttered in the wind, and the large banner with the character "Xiao" stretched out, dazzling the eye.

"Xiao He!"

Gongsun Huang cried out in a low voice and reined in his horse.

It turned out that Xiao He himself led his troops to ambush and kill them here!

"Could it be that he had already anticipated my breakout from the east gate and deliberately set up an ambush here?"

Gongsun Huang was deeply shocked.

The Liao army guards behind them were even more terrified and stopped in their tracks, their formation thrown into disarray.

The Han army slowly unfolded its formation, its disciplined and imposing presence overwhelming.

Xiao He rode in a four-wheeled carriage, surrounded by his personal guards, and slowly arrived at the front of the formation, his gaze falling on Gongsun Huang.

"Gongsun Huang, do you think you can escape my grasp with such a little trick?"

Xiao He's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced through the noise of the battlefield and clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Come here and surrender. If you are willing to write a proclamation in your own hand, listing your father Gongsun Kang's crimes of treason, I will spare your life."

These words of surrender were like knives, piercing Gongsun Huang's heart.

Insulting him is acceptable, but insulting his father is crossing his bottom line.

"How hateful! Xiao He, how dare you insult my father!"

Gongsun Huang flew into a rage, drew his sword, and roared:
"Liao soldiers, for the sake of the King's dignity, follow me and fight our way out of the encirclement!"

With a roar, Gongsun Huang spurred his horse and charged into Xiao He's formation.

Although the guards behind him were afraid, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and follow, determined to die, as they charged toward the Han army.

"Grand Marshal, this Gongsun Huang is truly overestimating himself."

Behind Xiao He, Chen Dao reined in his horse and stood there, looking at the remnants of the Liao army charging towards him. He let out a cold snort, his tone full of disdain.

Xiao He nodded slightly, his tone icy:
"He's useful if he's alive, so let's capture him."

"promise!"

Chen Dao readily accepted the order, spurred his horse forward, and loudly proclaimed the command:

"Soldiers, form ranks and meet the enemy! We must capture Gongsun Huang alive!"

Seven thousand Han soldiers responded in unison, their voices echoing across the fields, and charged toward the Liao army.

The sound of metal clashing suddenly rang out, and the two armies clashed instantly.

In an instant, blood shot into the air, splattering the land outside Dongguan City red.

Seven hundred Liao soldiers, trapped in a Han army formation ten times their size, were swallowed up like a lone boat by the surging tide of soldiers in an instant.

Gongsun Huang's eyes turned red, and he desperately tried to break through the encirclement with his considerable martial arts skills.

As his silver spear flew, dozens of Han soldiers fell one after another. He was covered in blood, having already cut an opening, and was about to find a glimmer of hope.

Unfortunately, a figure had already set its sights on him.

Chen Dao's eyes were like an eagle's, precisely locking onto Gongsun Huang's trail amidst the chaos of battle. He spurred his horse forward at breakneck speed, his voice like thunder:
"Gongsun Huang, prepare to die!"

Gongsun Huang, having long resided in Liaodong, had never witnessed Chen Dao's formidable reputation. Seeing his opponent come to fight alone, his anger intensified, and he angrily retorted:

"Don't underestimate me, I'll kill you today!"

Having said that, he dragged his spear, spurred his horse, and charged straight up, aiming for Chen's heart.

The two riders crashed together, trampling over the corpses and bloodstains scattered on the ground.

"boom!"

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, spread outwards from the point of their clash. Soldiers engaged in combat nearby were caught off guard and were thrown to the ground.

Gongsun Huang felt a sharp crack in his tiger's mouth, and blood instantly seeped out. His blood and qi surged like waves, his arm went numb, and his body swayed, almost falling off his horse.

Looking at Chen Dao again, he sat upright on his horse, his posture as straight as a mountain, and he did not move an inch.

It was as if that all-out attack was nothing more than a tickle to him.

"Is this Chen Dao's strength?"

Gongsun Huang was deeply shaken, and despair crept over him: "Am I going to die here today?"

Unwillingness burned in his heart like wildfire; he gritted his teeth and roared, transforming all his fear into a raging inferno, cursing:
"Chen Dao, I'll take your life!"

With a roar, Gongsun Huang's veins bulged, and his silver spear swept upwards like a storm, each move ruthless and aimed at mutual destruction.

"Impossible."

Chen Dao curled a disdainful sneer at the corner of his mouth, flicked his wrist, and the long sword was unsheathed. As the cold light surged, an endless curtain of swords swept out, completely enveloping the silver spear's attack.

"Cough cough cough!"

The sounds of metal clashing rang out in rapid succession as the two weapons repeatedly collided in mid-air.

Each collision produced dazzling sparks, and the shockwave expanded in layers, sending nearby soldiers flying into the air.

Only five moves!

Just five moves later, a shrill scream pierced the battlefield.

Chen Dao's swordplay suddenly changed, becoming as fast as lightning, and he precisely struck Gongsun Huang's arm where he was holding his spear.

As blood gushed out, an arm flew through the air and landed in the bloody mud not far away.

"Ah~~"

Gongsun Huang let out a heart-wrenching scream, lost his balance, was thrown into the air, and flew heavily backward, crashing to the ground.

Several of his front teeth were broken, and blood was oozing from the corners of his mouth.

"He actually knocked me off my horse!"

Gongsun Huang's eyes were filled with disbelief as he roared:
"How hateful! How hateful!"

He tried to get up, supporting himself with his broken arm.

But before he could even get halfway up, Chen Dao had already spurred his horse close by, bent down and lifted him up like a dead dog.

At this moment, the Han army surged forward from behind and slaughtered all the remaining Liao soldiers.

On a nearby chariot, Xiao He sat quietly watching the battle, appreciating the unequal match between the two sides, his expression completely calm.

A moment later, Chen Dao rode his horse to the front of the carriage and casually threw Gongsun Huang to the ground.

"Gongsun Huang, now that things have come to this, what do you have to say?"

Xiao He leaned down to look at Gongsun Huang, his tone icy and undisguisedly sarcastic.

Gongsun Huang, clutching his bleeding severed arm, glared at Xiao He through gritted teeth:

"Xiao He, I refuse to accept this!"

He struggled to stand up, his inherent pride still supporting the last vestiges of his dignity.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Dao's eyes, and before Xiao He could speak, he slashed out with his longsword once more.

"Crack!"

With a sharp crack, Gongsun Huang's leg snapped off, blood gushing from the wound.

"Ah~~"

Gongsun Huang let out another desperate scream, curled up on the ground, and convulsed in excruciating pain.

Xiao He sneered, "Gongsun Huang, don't you have backbone? Stand up and let this Grand Marshal see you."

"Xiao He, how dare you insult me!"

Gongsun Huang's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth, trying to get up. But both his legs were broken, and no matter how hard he tried, he could only twist his body in vain and could not lift himself up even a fraction.

In the end, he could only collapse to his knees.

"Guards, tear Gongsun Huang apart by chariots!"

Xiao He rose with a flick of his sleeve:

"Dismember his remains and hang them in Dongguan City as a warning to others!"

Gongsun Huang shivered.

His previous pride vanished in the face of the threat of death.

He stared at Xiao He in disbelief; the ruthlessness in the other's eyes was no joke.

Xiao He truly intended to kill him!

The instinct for survival instantly overwhelmed everything. Gongsun Huang forgot the pain of his severed limbs and repeatedly kowtowed, humbly begging for mercy:
"Grand Marshal, spare my life! I am willing to surrender to you and serve you faithfully. Please give me a chance!"

Gongsun Huang was truly scared.

The pride and unyielding spirit that had been held so strong even amidst the pain of severed limbs, the attitude of preferring death to surrender, shattered completely in an instant under the threat of being torn apart by chariots.

He lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, too afraid to even lift his head, only able to humbly beg for mercy.

Upon seeing this, the Han army generals on both sides all showed disdain, their eyes revealing their contempt without any attempt to conceal it.

Such sycophants and cowards, even if they surrender, are not worthy of being part of the Han army.

Xiao He looked down at him condescendingly and let out a cold snort:
"Gongsun Huang, weren't you just gritting your teeth and refusing to submit, shouting that you'd rather die than surrender? Why are you kneeling now?"

Gongsun Huang's cheeks flushed, and he said with shame:
"I confess my guilt. I am willing to sincerely surrender to the Han Dynasty and help the Grand Marshal to sweep away Liaodong and capture Xiangping!"

"Oh?"

Xiao He softened his tone, feigning belief, and asked in return:
"Are you truly willing to betray your father, Gongsun Yuan, and submit to my Great Han?"

Seeing that Xiao He's tone had softened, Gongsun Huang's heart was filled with hope, and he hurriedly kowtowed:
“Indeed, when my father was determined to rebel, I tried to dissuade him several times to no avail. He had long since turned to the Han Dynasty. Today, I am willing to serve the Han Dynasty, to put righteousness above family ties, and to personally take my father’s head and offer it to him!”

To save his own life, he could make a promise to kill his father without hesitation. Such cold-blooded and shameless behavior even made Chen Dao, who was standing next to him, frown and his contempt deepened.

The pretense on Xiao He's face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling aura. He said in a cold voice:

"Shameless scoundrel, how dare you talk about righteousness? Guards, drag him away and execute the original order of tearing him apart by chariots!"

The tiger warriors on both sides rushed forward, lifted the limp Gongsun Huang, and left.

Gongsun Huang was terrified and struggled to cry out:

"Grand Marshal, spare my life! I truly surrender. I can help you persuade the Liaodong garrison to surrender and recapture Xiangping!"

No matter how much he cried and begged, Xiao He remained unmoved, turning his gaze back to the distant Xiangping direction.

A moment later, Gongsun Huang's final, miserable screams echoed from outside the city, followed by silence.

Before long, Tiger Warrior reported that Gongsun Huang's body had been dismembered and hung above the East Gate as a warning to the remaining troops in Liaodong.

Xiao He climbed to the top of the East Gate and looked at the corpses hanging on the city gate, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Then he raised his hand and raised his whip, the sound echoing throughout the entire army:
"The entire army will rest and reorganize on the spot for three days, replenish its food and weapons, and then march north to take Xiangping!"

The Han soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and their morale soaring.

...

Inside Xiangping City, the Liao Kingdom's palace presented a completely different scene.

Gongsun Kang sat upright on the throne, holding a wine cup in his left hand and lightly tapping the table with his right. Accompanied by elegant music, he admired the graceful dance of the dancers in the palace, his face full of intoxication.

Just a few days ago, the second son, Gongsun Huang, sent back a report of victory from Dongguan, saying that he had devised a clever plan to defeat the main force of the Han army, and even Xiao He was severely injured and forced to retreat outside the pass.

When the news of this victory reached Xiangping, the entire Liao army and people were in an uproar, and the streets and alleys were filled with praise for the Second Prince's bravery.

It should be noted that Xiao He was a military genius of his time. Since he began assisting Liu Bei, he had fought in the south and the north, winning every battle and never suffering a defeat.

No one expected that such a figure would be defeated by the young Gongsun Huang.

The people of Liao were greatly encouraged, and the fear they had felt due to the Han army's advance swept away.

Gongsun Kang was completely relieved, feeling that with such a capable and brave son guarding the border, Xiao He would find it difficult to advance any further, and defending the city would naturally be a piece of cake.

From then on, he abandoned military training and indulged in wine, women, song and dance every day, enjoying the pleasures of being the King of Liao and forgetting all about the border war.

The prince's civil and military officials echoed his sentiments, and the Right Chancellor, Chen Yi, raised his wine cup, bowed deeply to Gongsun Kang, and praised him:
"Your Majesty is truly blessed! The Second Young Master, at such a young age, possesses such martial arts and strategic acumen, managing to severely injure Xiao He. This is indeed a fortune for the Liao Kingdom, and he will surely be able to protect the territory of our Great Liao in the future!" (End of Chapter)