Traveling back in time to Liu Feng, starting with rescuing soldier Guan Yu.

That night. The Shu Han army camp south of Rangcheng.

Liu Feng, shirtless, sat in front of a pot of boiling water, while two medical officers carefully removed the arrowheads from his body and wrapped the wound with gauze that had been boiled in hot water.

The crossbows used by the Youzhou cavalry were all hard bows from the north, and their power was truly extraordinary. Even though Liu Feng was wearing excellent heavy armor, a few arrowheads still pierced his flesh. Fortunately, Tian Yu still had martial virtue and did not order his soldiers to quench the arrowheads with "golden water". Otherwise, since there were no antibiotics in this era, Liu Feng would probably have died from infection.

Having traveled through time, Liu Feng naturally taught the camp's medical officers some basic aseptic principles, such as using surgically boiled gauze for sterilization and keeping the area around the wound clean and dry. However, the effectiveness of these principles remains to be seen.

Just as Liu Feng was grimacing in pain, Kou Zun lifted the tent flap and entered. He first inquired about Liu Feng's injuries, asking, "Brother, how are your injuries?"

Seeing Liu Feng wave his hand to indicate that he was alright, Kou Zun handed the bamboo slip to Liu Feng again and said, "Brother, our army won a great victory in this battle and captured a lot of spoils. We captured nearly four thousand Cao army soldiers, including more than nine hundred Youzhou cavalry and other cavalry, more than one thousand shi of grain and supplies, and countless other armor, weapons, bows and crossbows."

Liu Feng took the bamboo slip, glanced at it, and handed it back to Kou Zun, then asked, "What are our casualties?"

"Nearly five hundred infantrymen were killed or wounded, and more than seventy of the eight hundred heavy cavalrymen were killed or wounded, with more than one hundred and sixty seriously wounded. The remaining heavy cavalry also suffered many losses."

Kou Zun's initial excitement over the spoils subsided somewhat, and he continued, "Most of them died from the crossbows and arrows of Tian Yu's troops."

"How are Tian Yu and his cavalry doing?"

"As per my brother's orders, the other camp will be temporarily settled. I have ordered men to keep a close watch on the surrounding area, and there has been no unusual activity in the camp," Kou Zun added calmly.

The physician finally removed all the arrowheads from Liu Feng's body. He stood up, stretched his limbs, and laughed, "Zirong is always so meticulous, but it makes him seem too narrow-minded. I knew that Tian Guorang was a sincere gentleman. Since he was willing to surrender, his heart must be as hard as stone. How could he surrender again and then rebel? Zirong is overthinking it."

"Our army is in dire need of manpower right now. Why not hand over all the surrendered soldiers from Cao Cao's camp to Tian Yu as a sign of our army's magnanimity?"

Liu Feng patted Kou Zun, who looked hesitant, and laughed, "Zirong, I'll teach you another lesson today: 'Use people without suspicion, and don't use those you suspect.' Tian Yu was frustrated in Cao Cao's camp and surrendered because Cao Cao suspected him. We must do the opposite to make him completely loyal."

Kou Zun cupped his hands and said, "Brother, you have a broad mind. I have learned a lot today." But he couldn't help but wonder when his brother had learned such cunning ways of winning people over.

Liu Feng smiled slightly and then asked, "Zirong, how is things in Rang County?"

"Shi Zai (Deng Ai's courtesy name) has already led his men outside the city to shout and blow horns, and occasionally bombard the city walls of Rang County with catapults, creating the impression that our army is launching a major attack on the city, but without actually attacking it. This psychological warfare tactic has been used all night, but there has been no movement from the defending troops inside the city!"

Kou Zun shook his head. Ever since Deng Ai joined the army, he had been coming up with all sorts of cunning ideas. This kind of feint, which was like "thunder without rain," was also the result of discussions between Liu Feng and Deng Ai.

"Don't rush. Let the arrow fly for a while..."

Liu Feng was clearly in a great mood, and said something that left Kou Zun completely baffled. After he finished speaking, he burst into laughter.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out outside the tent.

Liu Feng and Kou Zun walked out of their tents at the same time, and sure enough, they saw Deng Ai leap off his horse, point in the direction of Rangcheng, and say, "The city...the city is on fire! And...the sounds of swords and shouts of battle can be heard."

"The plan has worked, and there's been a disturbance in the city." After saying this, Liu Feng turned and went back to his tent. When he came out again, he was fully armored. "Order the entire army to form ranks and not to attack the city."

"Why not take this opportunity to attack the city?" Kou Zun asked curiously.

"The city gates will open on their own; there's no need to waste our military strength." Liu Feng mounted his horse and gestured towards Rangcheng with his chin. "Send the order down: the entire army must rise up and light more torches so the defenders on the city walls can see more clearly."

In the daytime battle, Cao Cao's reinforcements suffered a crushing defeat. Commander Tian Yu surrendered, while Deputy Commander Yin Shu was killed in battle by Liu Feng. All the grain and supplies were reduced to ashes!

The defenders of Rang County had seen everything clearly from the city tower. At night, Deng Ai used a feint to repeatedly torment Cao Cao's fragile nerves. The morale of the defenders of Rang County had already plummeted to rock bottom, and they could no longer be suppressed.

This was exactly the effect Liu Feng wanted.

He sat firmly on his horse, calmly fastening his crimson battle robe. Behind him stood a dense, dark array of soldiers, and before him, the raging fire of Rangcheng burned ever brighter.

The fire burned for most of the hour. The sounds of fighting within the city went from scattered to dense, then gradually thinned out. Finally, a fierce clang of metal on metal exploded near the south gate. After another half hour, the south gate of Rangcheng slowly opened with a muffled sound.

A group of soldiers, covered in blood, carried several severed heads as they walked out of the city gate. Leading them were men in their thirties, their faces smeared with blood, their right arms wrapped in cloth, and they walked with a limp. Behind them, a dark mass of soldiers knelt, all of them city guards, their weapons lying on the ground.

The man walked ten paces in front of Liu Feng's horse, knelt on one knee, and held the severed head high in his hand. "Rangxian City has fallen, and the commander's head is here! We surrender!"

Liu Feng didn't speak immediately, his gaze fixed on the severed head. In the firelight, the unseeing eyes on the head were frozen in terror and resentment. He glanced at it twice, then looked away, his gaze sweeping over the man, over the kneeling surrendered soldiers, and finally landing on the depths of the city gate.

"What is your name?" Liu Feng asked.

"I am Zhao Wu, a captain in the city."

"Zhao Wu," Liu Feng said calmly, "you've got some nerve killing your commander and offering up the city."

Zhao Wu trembled violently, his forehead hitting the ground hard. Liu Feng could see his back shaking, and the general's head he held in his palm swayed slightly, as if silently questioning him.

"I witnessed the Deputy General's decisive victory over Cao Cao's army in broad daylight, and General Tian's surrender with his troops. I knew then that the mandate of heaven lay with the Han. The city's garrison commander, oblivious to the times, attempted to coerce his soldiers into a desperate defense. My brothers and I, however, were unwilling to be buried with the Cao family, therefore..."

That's enough.

Liu Feng dismounted, his boots landing softly, but Zhao Wu stopped abruptly as if he'd been stepped on. All eyes turned to him; Zhao Wu was kneeling on the ground, cold sweat streaming down his temples.

Liu Feng stepped forward, reached out and supported Zhao Wu's shoulder, pulling him up from the ground.

Caught off guard, Zhao Wu staggered before regaining his balance, his eyes filled with confusion and panic.

"You killed Cao Cao's general, but surrendered Han City instead." Liu Feng's tone was calm, possessing a reassuring power. "Why should I blame you?"

Zhao Wu's lips trembled slightly.

"You saved the lives of thousands in the city, saving me a lot of effort." Liu Feng patted his shoulder, withdrew his hand, and said, "You have rendered meritorious service and deserve a reward!"

Zhao Wu didn't dare raise his head, trembling all over, and said, "This humble servant... thanks the general!"

Liu Feng walked past him, turned to the kneeling, surrendered soldiers, and said loudly, "Rise, all of you. You have obeyed the will of Heaven, abandoned darkness for light. As the deputy general and eldest son of the King of Hanzhong, I pardon your crimes on behalf of my father!"

"Thank you, Deputy General! Thank you, King of Hanzhong!" A few scattered words of thanks, tinged with doubt, rang out from all around.

Liu Feng turned around and glanced at the group of officers and soldiers behind him.

"Zirong".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Lead your troops into the city. Establish three rules: Those who plunder during the chaos will be executed. Those who commit adultery will be executed. Those who secretly hoard property from the treasury will be executed."

The word "slay" was uttered three times, his tone as calm as before, and Kou Zun clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

"Deng Ai, Shen Yi."

"exist."

"I will lead my troops to take over the city's defenses. Each of the four gates will be manned by two guards. No one may enter or leave without my written order."

"promise."

Liu Feng's gaze finally fell on Tian Yu and the surrendered soldiers of Cao Cao's camp behind him.

"Uncle Tian," Liu Feng said gently, pointing to the kneeling guards around him, "the surrendered soldiers in the city are also to be dealt with by you, Uncle. Please trouble you to appease the morale of each unit. Those who wish to stay will be incorporated into your troops, and those who wish to leave will be given travel expenses. There will be no forced retention!"

Tian Yu looked at Liu Feng with a complex and indescribable expression in his eyes. When this man had forced him to surrender during the day, his words were sharp as knives, and he was almost a rogue. Who would have thought that as soon as he surrendered, he would be so open and honest with him, and give him the command of an army of nearly four thousand men! Even he, who had been in Cao Cao's camp for nearly ten years, had never received such treatment.

This style of handling affairs and the means of doing things, compared to Xuande's gentle yet firm approach, are clearly a replica of Emperor Gaozu of Han.

Tian Yu clasped his hands in a fist and nodded, saying, "Yes."

When the army entered the city, it was nearly dawn. A line of gray-white appeared on the eastern horizon, mingling with the still-burning firelight in the city, turning Rangcheng into a dark red color.

Liu Feng rode his horse through the city gate. Traces of smoke and fire remained on the walls on both sides of the passageway, and the air was thick with the smell of blood and burnt flesh.

This is the taste of war.

After entering the city, Liu Feng did not go straight to the government office. Instead, he walked around the base of the city wall, with Deng Ai following behind. The sound of their horses' hooves hitting the rammed earth wall was muffled.

Liu Feng examined everything very carefully: the extent of damage to the crenellations, the opening and closing structure of the city gates, the width of the moat, and the layout of the barbican. He touched everything, and even stopped to ask Deng Ai a few questions in some places.

"Shizai, if you were to defend this city, how many soldiers could you hold off with three thousand men?"

After pondering for a moment, Deng Ai said, "If the provisions are plentiful, it can... hold off 20,000... troops."

Liu Feng nodded and asked no further questions. He dismounted and walked to a crenellation. There was a deep knife mark on the edge of the crenellation, which had almost shaved off a corner of the rammed earth.

"Shi Zai ordered his men to build walls and ram the earth day and night, doubling the strength of Rangcheng's defenses. I want to make this place a nail driven into Nanyang County."