The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 232 Pang Tong's boastful act backfires, defeating Zhong Yao with a series of schemes (4 updates)
"Reporting to the Commandant of the Capital Region, we have captured the bandit general Deng Sheng."

Fu Gan escorted the defeated Deng Sheng to the city wall and reported back to Zhong Yao; shortly afterward, Zhang Ji also threw Xia Zhao's head in front of Deng Sheng.

Looking at Xia Zhao's head, which remained open in death, Deng Sheng's face turned even paler.

Zhong Yao stared coldly at Deng Sheng, his tone unpleasant yet undeniably authoritative: "I will ask, you answer, and perhaps I can spare your life!"

Deng Sheng hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy: "This sinful general is willing to serve the general."

A hint of disdain flashed in Zhong Yao's eyes as he asked, "Tell me the truth about the military intelligence you know that is related to this invasion of Hedong. If you hesitate, you will lose your life."

Deng Sheng kowtowed repeatedly, saying whatever came to mind, as if afraid that if he spoke too slowly he would be beheaded by Zhong Yao.

Zhong Yao listened quietly, sometimes frowning, sometimes surprised, and sometimes delighted.
Upon hearing Deng Sheng claim that all the officers and soldiers in the army who were dissatisfied with Liu Bei had been transferred out, Zhong Yao's expression changed drastically. He asked in a deep voice, "You just said that the four thousand soldiers you brought are all officers and soldiers who have grievances against Liu Bei and their subordinates?"

Deng Sheng nodded repeatedly: "That's right. We thought that as long as we could capture Pishi and make a contribution, we could welcome Governor Gao to Pishi and stand on equal footing with Liu Bei."

Zhong Yao looked up at Zhang Ji and Fu Gan, only to see that their expressions had also become unnatural.

"Take him away and interrogate him carefully." Zhong Yao ordered his adjutant, who was skilled in interrogation, to question Deng Sheng, while keeping Zhang Ji and Fu Gan behind: "What do you think?"

Zhang Ji and Fu Gan exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Use someone else to do the dirty work!"

"I underestimated Liu Bei." Zhong Yao was no longer pleased with the victory over Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng's four thousand vanguards; only worry remained. "Liu Bei forcibly seized military power from Gao Gan and others, and there is much discontent in the army. If he forces a war against us, chaos will ensue before the battle even begins. By deliberately appointing Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng as vanguards and granting them the power to freely choose their officers, he intends to use us to eliminate dissidents. Four thousand soldiers have been used as pawns! What a ruthless tactic!"

Zhang Ji replied, "Now that Xia Zhao has been killed and Deng Sheng captured, many of the four thousand vanguard soldiers have been routed. Liu Bei will surely send troops back to stabilize morale."

Fu Gan suddenly realized: "Our army is busy cleaning up the battlefield outside the city. If Liu Bei sends an elite cavalry force to launch a surprise attack at this time..."

Zhong Yao's expression also changed drastically, and he hurriedly ordered the two men to go out of the city to meet the troops.

However, it's too late!

Not long after Zhang Ji and Fu Gangan led their troops out of the city, five cavalry units came charging in from different directions.

Guan Yu, like a dragon emerging from the water, charged straight for the center; Zhang Fei roared like thunder, Huang Zhong drew his bow like the moon, and led his troops to flank the enemy; Yan Liang and Wen Chou advanced side by side, launching a combined attack!

Although Zhong Yao saw through Pang Tong's scheme, unfortunately, Zhong Yao saw it too late!
The situation on the battlefield outside the city reversed in an instant.

Zhong Yao's soldiers were busy collecting spoils of war, binding prisoners, and gathering the wounded when they were suddenly met with the arrival of five hordes of killers.
Caught off guard, they were thrown into complete disarray.

Guan Yu, with his red face and green blade, moved as one with his horse, tearing a gap in his path like a hot knife through butter; Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot spear swept and thrust, as if entering an empty field, specifically targeting the panicked and assembled soldiers, scattering them in disarray; Huang Zhong, on the other hand, reined in his horse on a high slope a little further away, calmly directing his archers. As the bowstrings twanged, Zhong Yao's officers, who tried to light smoke signals or raise command flags, were killed one after another, adding to the chaos.

The brothers Yan Liang and Wen Chou each led an army, like two sharp chisels. One on the left, one on the right, they fiercely slashed into the chaotic depths of the enemy ranks. They didn't linger on small, scattered groups; their objective was clear: to strike directly at Zhang Ji and Fu Gan, who were still organizing resistance and trying to stabilize the situation!
"We cannot fight any longer, we must retreat to the city!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhang Ji hurriedly told Fu Gan to retreat.

On the city tower, Zhong Yao gripped the cold arrow slits tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Regret, humiliation, resentment... a complex mix of emotions.

Just a while ago, he was sneering, "Liu Bei is nothing special!", but in the blink of an eye, Liu Bei proved him wrong.

"Fire arrows! Cover everyone's retreat back to the city!" Zhong Yao's voice was hoarse and cracked, almost a shout.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and other generals did not linger and launch a forced attack on the city gates. Instead, they drove Cao Cao's troops back to Pishi City. They then quickly regrouped and stopped their horses beneath the walls of Pishi City.

"Is that Zhong Yao, the Commandant of the Capital Region, atop the city wall?" Guan Yu rode forward, his green robe billowing, his phoenix eyes brimming with arrogance. "General Zuo has sent word. Will you come out of the city to retrieve it yourself, or shall we deliver it to you atop the city wall?"

Arrogant!

Too embarrassing!

Both Zhong Yao and Zhang Jifu were so angry that they clenched their fists.

A subordinate general on the city wall couldn't help but shout, "If you've got the guts, then send yourself up to the city wall!"

The generals on either side also shouted and laughed loudly, trying to counter Guan Yu's arrogance.

Just then, the adjutant who had shouted earlier cried out "Ah!" and fell backward, his eyes wide open as he stared at the arrow embedded in his breastplate.

If the arrow hadn't been wrapped in a layer of silk to reduce its force, the adjutant would have died on the spot.

"I've delivered the letter to the city wall. What are you going to do now?" Huang Zhong put down his bow, laughed loudly, and asked, while the cavalry behind him cheered excitedly!
Zhong Yao and the others on the city wall were all so frightened that they took a step back.

Without the archery skill of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces, who could shoot an arrow wrapped in silk at the general on the city wall from below?

Then I saw a piece of silk that read, “You are no match for me. Retreat from Hedong and I will spare your life.”

Such contemptuous words made Zhong Yao both angry and helpless. He wanted to shout something harsh at the city walls, but he was also afraid of Huang Zhong's sharpshooting skills.

Guan Yu and his generals did not linger under the city walls to await Zhong Yao's reply. A moment later, five plumes of dust billowed away, leaving only a mess on the ground and the stench of blood in the air.

A deathly silence finally returned to the walls of Pishi City, the shadow of defeat looming over the city.

Zhong Yao walked heavily to the battlements, his face ashen and pale. Watching Guan Yu and the others depart, Zhong Yao suppressed his anger and asked those around him, "How many more days until the generals of Guanzhong arrive at Pishi?"

Zhang calculated the time and said, "We should be able to arrive within three days!"

Zhong Yao took a deep breath and ordered in a deep voice: "Pass on my military order: no one is allowed to leave the city for three days."

Although they were very unwilling, Zhang Ji and Fu Gan had no choice but to accept this humiliating military order.

After arranging the city's defenses, Zhong Yao ordered his men to take the heads of Deng Sheng and Xia Zhao and ride back to the county government office in the city. He also ordered his men to bring out Guo Yuan and Hu Chuquan, who were under house arrest.

Upon seeing Deng Sheng kneeling on the ground and Xia Zhao reduced to just a head, Guo Yuan and Hu Chuquan's expressions both changed.

Zhong Yao sat in the main seat, his face cold and stern, and said slyly, "Liu Bei's vanguard has been defeated by me. You two had better tell me honestly what your purpose is in coming to Pi Shi."

Hu Chuquan's heart surged, and he turned to look at Guo Yuan.

Guo Yuan knelt directly before Zhong Yao, weeping, "I really came to the Pi family to escape disaster! That scoundrel Liu Bei seized my military power and then ordered Huchuquan to kill me to silence me. Uncle, please see the truth!"

　Update 4 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)