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

Cao Cao's atrocities in Hanoi, including the massacre of the Sima clan and other aristocratic families, aroused fear and disgust among the scholars of Jingzhou. The majority of the more than 100,000 scholars and commoners who fled north were affected by this.

Kuai Qi's refusal to surrender in Fangling was also for this reason. Moreover, Kuai Qi was Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law, so he dared not gamble on Cao Cao's attitude.

Therefore, no matter how Xiahou Yuan and Yu Jin threatened or tempted him, Kuai Qi held the city to the death, and the people inside the city were united in their hatred of the enemy and refused to surrender.

Xiahou Yuan was also well aware of the strategic value of Fangling, and after failing to win him over through coercion and enticement, he launched a fierce attack regardless of the losses.

"General Meng, if you can capture this city, I will personally recommend you for credit."

Xiahou Yuan did not immediately send his elite troops into battle, but instead ordered Meng Da, a surrendered general from Dongzhou who had originally served under Liu Zhang, to lead his troops forward first.

After Liu Zhang surrendered, the civil and military officials of Dongzhou also sided with Cao Cao. Among them, the generals of Dongzhou, led by Meng Da, were most eager to make merit, while the scholars of Dongzhou, led by Fa Zheng, stayed in Chengdu to assist Jia Xu in governing the country.

Meng Da was a man who was dissatisfied with the status quo. He was frustrated under Liu Zhang's command and suddenly encountered Cao Cao, who was in urgent need of retaking Xuchang. Naturally, his ambition was stirred up.

After receiving Xiahou Yuan's military order, Meng Da was unwilling to miss this opportunity and personally donned armor to lead the Dongzhou troops in a fierce attack on the city.

Although the people and officials in the city shared a common hatred with Kuai Qi, Kuai Qi was ultimately not good at military command, and within a few days, Fangling City was on the verge of collapse.

"It's urgent! Lord Prefect, leave the city immediately! We'll cover your retreat!" an urgent voice rang out.

The officers on either side wanted Kuai Qi to abandon the city and flee, but Kuai Qi sternly rebuked them: "The people and soldiers in the city risked their lives to help me. If I abandon the city and flee, wouldn't that make the entire city's people suffer for me? Anyone who dares to advise me to abandon the city again will be executed on the spot!"

Although Kuai Qi's talent was far inferior to that of his elders Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang, he still possessed the pride of a renowned scholar and would rather die in battle than betray his principles and disgrace his reputation.

Under Kuai Qi's reprimands, his lieutenants could only fight to the death to protect him.

By the afternoon, the guards at the south gate had been killed and scattered, and the city gate had been breached. Kuai Qi could only gather the remaining troops and retreat into the city to fight in the alleys.

"I've heard that Kuai Qi is Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law. If we can capture him alive, we can definitely use him to blackmail Zhuge Liang. The greater my contribution, the more Cao Cao will value me in the future!"

Seeing the city gates open, Meng Da licked his somewhat dry lips. He led his troops into the city while issuing a ruthless order to capture Kuai Qi alive.

soon.

Kuai Qi was blocked at the North Gate and could only hold the high ground of the North Gate city wall, confronting Meng Da.

"I am Meng Da, the son of the former governor of Liangzhou and a native of Fufeng, under Cao Cao's command. I am also the Prefect of Kuai. A wise man knows when to yield. If you surrender, you and your soldiers can live." Meng Da was confident in his abilities and did not want too many of his own men to die. Seeing that Kuai Qi had been driven to the brink of defeat, he abandoned a direct attack and resorted to psychological tactics.

Although Kuai Qi was panting heavily from exhaustion, he refused to bow his head to Meng Da and shouted angrily, "How can the son of the eunuch faction understand the integrity of the Kuai family!"

Meng Da's expression immediately changed drastically.

Meng Da's biological father, Meng Tuo, became the governor of Liangzhou by bribing Zhang Rang, and was considered a member of the eunuch faction.

Originally, he only wanted to show off his background in front of Kuai Qi, but he did not expect that Kuai Qi was so knowledgeable that he deduced from the little information that "Meng Da, the former governor of Liangzhou and a native of Fufeng" that Meng Da's biological father was Meng Tuo, who bribed Zhang Rang.

Meng Da has really messed up.

Although Kuai Qi was not particularly skilled in military affairs, he was well-informed and knowledgeable from a young age, and had studied extensively the various governors and prefects who had served in different prefectures and counties.

The fact that the governor of Liangzhou was surnamed Meng and from Fufeng would only make ordinary people think, "Meng Da is really something," but for Kuai Qi, it was like being given three keywords to filter his judgment. With just a little thought, he could guess who Meng Da's son was. The words "eunuch faction" also enraged Meng Da.

Meng Da's lack of favor under Liu Zhang was partly due to his being the son of a eunuch faction. Those who despised Zhang Rang would despise Meng Tuo, and those who despised Meng Tuo would despise Meng Da. This was practically a taboo word for Meng Da.

Meng Da's willingness to serve Cao Cao was also partly due to this reason. Meng Da believed that Cao Cao was also a descendant of the eunuch faction, and that the two had something in common. He believed that he could also reach the position that Cao Cao had achieved.

Enraged, Meng Da abandoned any thought of capturing Kuai Qi alive or preserving his military strength, and directly ordered a full-scale attack on the north gate, regardless of life or death.

Just when Kuai Qi was in danger.

Suddenly, a lieutenant on the right pointed to the north gate and shouted, "My lord, look at the flags!"

Upon hearing the sound, Kuai Qi looked up and saw a banner with the character "关" (Guan) flying high outside the North Gate, with a young general with a red face and short beard leading his troops on horseback.

"A banner with the character 'Guan' on it? Could it be that Guan Yu has arrived?" Kuai Qi was also surprised. There were many people with the surname Guan, but only Guan Yu of Wuguan could lead troops to rescue them at this time.

Kuai Qi guessed half right. Although the banner that came had the character "Guan" on it, it was not Guan Yu, but Guan Yu's eldest son, Guan Ping!
After learning military affairs from Guan Yu, Guan Ping quickly grew in skill and was now appointed as the vanguard to reinforce Fangling City.

Seeing the Kuai flag still atop the north gate, Guan Ping raised his voice and shouted, "Where is Prefect Kuai?"

Before Kuai Yue could speak, his subordinate general shouted towards the outside of the city, "Prefect Kuai is trapped in this tower. He begs for your help, General!"

Seeing that the city gate was ajar and hearing the incessant shouts of battle from below the city tower, Guan Ping ordered his elite soldiers to charge in with shields.

The sudden influx of troops startled Meng Da, who was then enraged: "Who dares to obstruct me!"

No one answered Meng Da's question. Guan Ping did not enter the city at this moment, but instead directed his soldiers to help Kuai Qi stabilize the north gate defense line.

As more and more soldiers charged in, Meng Da's troops below the city gradually could not hold out and had to retreat to reorganize their formation. He then sent someone to urgently call for Xiahou Yuan and Yu Jin.

Only after the banner bearing the character "Guan" entered the city did Meng Da belatedly realize what was happening, exclaiming in shock and anger: "The banner bearing the character 'Guan'? How is that possible! How could Guan Yu appear in Fangling City!"

After losing hundreds of his loyal followers and painstakingly capturing Fangling City, Meng Da was about to kill Kuai Qi when he encountered Guan Yu's army, which made him both angry and anxious.

Meng Da was also unaware that the person who came was Guan Yu's son, Guan Ping. If it had been Guan Yu himself, Meng Da wouldn't have had the chance to exclaim in surprise.

It wasn't until he entered the city and saw Meng Da's army regrouping that Guan Ping loudly announced his name, which once again enraged Meng Da.

Meng Da thought it was Guan Yu who had come, but it turned out to be Guan Yu's son. Meng Da, who always boasted of his ability to match Yue Yi, was intimidated by Guan Yu's son. This was a great humiliation for Meng Da!

"Unforgivable!"

Meng Da's anger surged, and he immediately issued an order to attack again, vowing to kill Guan Ping and Kuai Qi on the spot!
Guan Ping was not afraid either. He swung his long sword, and the assassins rushed forward.

Guan Ping, who was fearless and daring, was even secretly amazed that he had encountered Meng Da, an unknown figure, instead of established generals like Xiahou Yuan or Yu Jin.

If Meng Da could hear what Guan Ping was thinking, he would probably be even more frantic. (End of Chapter)