Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 122 Cao Cao Returns to the Army, First Executing Guo Gong

When Cao Yan brought Xu Shu to the main hall, Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia, and others were already there.

Cao Yan sat down in the main seat, where Zhuge Liang had been waiting for quite some time.

"Yuanzhi, please sit next to Kongming," Cao Yan said, pointing to the empty seat beside Zhuge Liang.

"Yes," Xu Shu replied, cupping his hands in greeting.

He then bowed to Zhuge Liang before kneeling down.

The threads of fate quietly intertwined, and Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang, these two close friends in history, met again at this moment.

This time it wasn't in Nanyang, but in Juancheng.

After Cao Yan arrived, everyone had already gathered.

Xi Zhicai presented the intelligence he had just received to Cao Yan.

Cao Yan unfolded the secret letter and carefully read through it.

After a moment, he raised his eyes and looked around at everyone, saying loudly, "Our army's expedition to Xuzhou this time is not primarily about conquering cities and seizing territory. The main purpose is to establish our army's prestige in Xuzhou and let the people of Xuzhou see Tao Qian's evil face."

Now, Tao Qian and Zuo Rong's secret dealings have been exposed!
More than 50,000 people from Xuzhou safely entered Taishan County!
I believe that even more people will come to Yanzhou in the future.

Our strategic objectives have been achieved!

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall showed signs of excitement.

Cao Yan paused briefly before continuing, "My elder brother is on his way back to reinforce the area. The next step is to rescue Shanyang, launch a surprise attack on Jiyin and Chenliu, and complete our ultimate goal of trapping them like dogs in a jar!"

Xu Shu was dumbfounded.

He had previously thought that it was already quite an achievement for the Cao brothers to be able to drive Lü Bu away.

Unexpectedly, their goal was to annihilate Lü Bu and Zhang Miao!
What a grand vision!

What a huge appetite!
Xu Shu's eyes shone brightly as he stared intently at Cao Yan's retreating figure, secretly admiring him.

Suddenly, Zhuge Liang stepped closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Well, my brother-in-law has quite an appetite, doesn't he?"

"Brother-in-law?" Xu Shu was slightly taken aback. After realizing what he meant, he cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "May I ask your honorable name, young brother?"

"I am Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming. It is an honor to meet you."

"Xu...Xu Shu, courtesy name Yuanzhi, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Cao Yan turned to Xun Yu and said, "Wenruo, we still need you to oversee the defense of Juancheng."

Xun Yu asked in confusion, "Aren't you here? Why do you need me to oversee things?"

Nonsense! Could I possibly say that your "Talent of a King's Advisor" can increase the attack and defense of your soldiers by 20% and the attack and defense of your city by 20% during defensive battles, and make your morale never collapse?
"I need to command the battle on the front lines, so you'll be the only one left to hold down the fort in the city." Cao Yan casually made up an excuse and passed the position of city garrison commander to him.

Xun Yu remained silent, but Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and the others were not surprised at all.

Xu Shu, curious, asked Zhuge Liang in a low voice, "What is the meaning behind Cao Zhonglang's move?"

Zhuge Liang replied with only one word: "Lazy!"

"..." Xun Yu sighed and nodded to accept the position of city garrison commander.

Guo Jia then continued, "Our lord has returned to his camp as planned, but we do not know whether Changyi can hold out until our lord's army arrives."

Xi Zhicai stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "There are more than 10,000 garrison troops in Changyi City. Although most of them are garrison soldiers and surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers, their combat strength is not high. However, Guo Gong's soldiers are also lacking in training."

With the Wang family's connections and capabilities, they should be able to hold out for a while.

“I fear there may be unforeseen changes within the city!” A shadow crossed Guo Jia’s eyes as he said, “Now that many powerful clans and gentry in Yanzhou have rebelled, it’s hard to guarantee that there aren’t any traitors within Changyi City.”

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Cao Yan concluded by saying, "In any case, we must prepare our own countermeasures."

Meanwhile, in Juancheng, the city's defenses were further reinforced, and more scouts were dispatched to gather intelligence on the movements of Lü Bu and Zhang Miao.

As for Changyi, we can only hope that the Wang family can hold out.

……

at the same time,

In Changyi City of Shanyang County, a fierce battle of attack and defense is raging.

Guo Gong led an army of 50,000 and besieged Changyi City completely.

On the city wall, Wang Kai, clad in armor and holding a long sword, gazed at the densely packed enemy troops below, his heart heavy.

Prior to this, he had never been on the battlefield, let alone commanded a large army.

He just liked to read military books and storybooks in his spare time, but unexpectedly, Wang Qian placed high hopes on him and put him in full command of the garrison to defend the city.

Fortunately, due to his interest, he repeatedly studied and summarized Cao Yan's battle example of defending against the Black Mountain Army in Dongwuyang, which enabled him to learn from it today and defend Changyi relatively steadily.

In the past half month,
Guo Gong's 50,000-strong army has suffered nearly 10,000 casualties, and the city's garrison is down to less than 7,000.

Wang Kai has already begun mobilizing the people to dismantle doors and beams in preparation for any eventuality.

"Dang Dang Dang!!"

Suddenly, the alarm sounded again, and Guo Gong began his attack on the city once more!

Wang Kai strode to the parapet and stared intently at the Yuzhou army approaching in the distance, which looked like ants.

When the enemy was fifty paces away, Wang Kai shouted, "Fire the arrows!"

The soldiers on the city wall drew their bows and arrows and fired at the enemy troops below.

Arrows rained down like locusts, and Guo Gong's soldiers stopped and raised their shields to defend themselves, but many were still hit by arrows and fell to the ground.

After two volleys of arrows, the arrows ran out, and the archers on the city walls ceased firing.

The consumption over half a month was too great, and the number of arrows in the city was already severely insufficient, so they had to be used sparingly.

Seeing this, Guo Gong sneered and ordered, "Surcharge vehicles, get up there! Break down the city gate!"

As he gave the order, several massive siege engines slowly approached the city gate. Wang Kai gripped his longsword tightly, turned to his adjutant beside him, and said, "Pass down the order: defend the city gate to the death! We must not allow the enemy to breach the city!"

Just as the deputy general was about to step down, he suddenly heard shouts coming from below the city, and then ladders were erected on the city wall.

Wang Kai leaned halfway out and looked down, only to see enemy soldiers climbing up the ladder, with archers providing cover behind them.

"Rolling logs and boulders, get ready!! Release!!!" Wang Kai shouted.

Stones and logs rained down in a dense barrage, and many enemy soldiers were hit and fell down the ladders screaming in pain.

But the enemy's offensive did not diminish, and they erected even more siege ladders.

Seeing this, Wang Kai personally picked up a huge rock and smashed it down on the siege ladder. The ladder snapped in two, and the soldiers on it fell with screams.

"Hold on! Hold on for me!!!"

……

The siege continued until evening before Guo Gong reluctantly retreated.

Wang Kai's face was covered in blood, and his helmet was nowhere to be found.

However, seeing the retreating Yuzhou army, Wang Kai breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that at least he had survived another day.

Late at night, the city of Changyi was completely silent.

Wang Kai was in his tent counting the casualties and taking stock of the supplies for defending the city when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the direction of the city gate.

His heart tightened, and he quickly walked out of the house, only to see flames shooting into the sky from the south of the city, with shouts of battle echoing everywhere.

The lieutenant rushed over in a panic, reporting, "City Defender, something terrible has happened! The enemy has breached the city!"

Wang Kai's expression changed drastically, and he grabbed his longsword and rushed out.

Upon arriving at the south side of the city, they found the city gates wide open, and enemy troops poured in like a tidal wave.

By the light of the fire, Wang Kai looked closely and saw several people dressed in brocade robes standing at the city gate. They were members of a small family in Shanyang County.

"You bastard!" Wang Kai roared.

Although the aristocratic families trembled with fear, they immediately retorted with insults, emboldened by the support of the Yuzhou army.
"Wang Kai, what are you so arrogant about! Your Wang family is about to be finished!"

"How many years! How many years have I waited! Finally, the Wang clan of Shanyang has fallen!!"

"Once we break into the Wang family's ancestral home, I'll steal all their gold and sleep with all their women!"

"Hahahahaha!!!"

Wang Kai was so angry that his eyes turned red. He was about to lead his troops forward to cut them to pieces when he was stopped by enemy soldiers.

He wasn't particularly skilled in martial arts to begin with, and after a couple of dashes left and right, he ended up with a wound on his arm.

But Wang Kai did not back down at all. Instead, he roared, "Follow me and kill them! Drive them out of the city!"

Inspired by this, the soldiers around him fought bravely alongside him.

However, the enemy forces were too numerous and poured into the city in a continuous stream.

Wang Kai and his garrison were engaged in a fierce battle, and both of them sustained multiple injuries.

To make matters worse, the Yuzhou army that entered the city successively breached the other three city gates.

Wang Kai felt a chill in his heart, knowing that he was likely to lose his life here today.

But he himself was not afraid of death; he had only one thought in his mind: to live and die with Changyi.

But he felt guilty, feeling that he had let down his uncle, Cao Cao, and Cao Yan: "My lord, my lord, my uncle... I have let down the people of Changyi, I have let down the Wang family..."

Just when Wang Kai and his soldiers were almost in despair, a sudden shout of battle came from outside the city.

The riots spread from outside the city to inside, and the enemy troops began to flee.

Wang Kai looked completely bewildered until the deputy general grabbed his hand and excitedly shouted several times, which brought him back to his senses.
"Reinforcements have arrived! Our reinforcements have arrived!! Lord Cao has returned!!!"

"They're back..." Wang Kai turned his head and glanced at the soldiers, some embracing and weeping, others cheering with joy. A faint smile finally appeared on his lips.
"Our lord is back!!"

"Soldiers, follow me and fight our way out to avenge our humiliation!!"

"Kill, kill, kill!!!"

outside the city,

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Chun led 7,000 cavalrymen, charging ahead towards Guo Gong's army.

The cavalrymen were like a black torrent, unstoppable.

Xiahou Dun brandished his spear and shouted, "Kill! Avenge our brothers in Changyi!"

Xiahou Yuan led another cavalry unit to flank and attack the enemy's defenses.

Cao Chun's cavalrymen flanked the enemy, causing chaos and confusion.

Guo Gong's army was caught off guard by this sudden attack and was thrown into chaos.

But Cao Cao, Yu Jin, Cao Ren, and Cao Ang arrived with more than 30,000 infantrymen.

Cao Cao stood at the front of the formation and shouted, "All troops, attack! Do not let a single person escape!"

Following Cao Cao's orders, Yu Jin, Cao Ren, and Cao Ang each led a force, coordinating with the cavalry of Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Chun, to launch a full-scale siege against Guo Gong's army.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Guo Gong was filled with remorse.

He wanted to lead his troops to break out of the encirclement, but under the heavy encirclement of Cao Cao's army, he had no way to escape.

On the battlefield, shouts of battle and the clash of weapons mingled together.

Guo Gong's soldiers fell one after another, their blood staining the earth red.

In the midst of the melee,
Cao Ren pierced Guo Gong with a single spear thrust!
This governor of Yuzhou, appointed by Li Jue, died on the spot...

(End of this chapter)