I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

Under the blazing sun, in the city of Runan, a group of people were gathered in the courtyard of a mansion, occasionally shouting "Good!" "Good!"

In the center of the courtyard, where everyone's attention was focused, two black iron towers were wielding weapons and engaging in combat.

Zhou Cang gripped Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot spear with both hands, while Zhang Fei also held a weapon in both hands. The sword was four feet long, with a spine more than an inch thick, a handle four inches long, and a heavy iron ball about three inches in diameter cast at the end of the handle.

Zhou Cang was panting heavily, sweat dripping from his eyelids, almost blurring his vision. Just as he was about to raise his hand to wipe the sweat, the living Yama opposite him rushed forward with a tiger-like stride, wielding his broadsword and slashing down with a whooshing sound.

Zhou Cang hurriedly swung his spear, using his waist to forcefully raise it upwards to block—"Clang!"

Zhang Fei's slash sent Zhou Cang crashing down to his knees.

Zhou Cang gritted his teeth and tried to use both hands to parry the broadsword, but Zhang Fei used one hand to press down firmly on the back of the blade, making it impossible for him to exert any force.

What on earth did this guy eat to grow up like this?!

With the blade about to pierce his brow, Zhou Cang cried out, "Third General! I've been defeated! I've been defeated!"

"Hahahaha!" Zhang Fei laughed loudly as he saw Zhou Cang admit defeat, sheathing his sword.

Zhou Cang slowly stood up, his shoulders aching terribly, and threw the spear to Pei Yuanshao beside him.

Zhang Fei toyed with the strangely shaped knife in his hand, repeatedly muttering, "What a fine knife! What a fine weapon!"

"This sword is quite similar to the horse-slaying sword, I never expected it to be so handy!" Zhang Fei said as he handed the sword to Zhou Cang.

"Third General, this sword is called the Mo Dao." Zhou Cang took the sword and started talking while wiping it.

This sword was certainly handy. In later generations, during a duel at Xiangji Temple in the Tang Dynasty, the sword's divine power spread throughout the world.

Zhou Cang had specifically learned the moves of this sword in a martial arts school in his previous life.

However, this Mo Dao in my hand is a bit different. If the blade is not thickened, the handle is not thickened, and it weighs seventy or eighty pounds, how can it be worthy of the original owner's good physique?

"Oh? Mo Dao... Excellent! Excellent!" Zhang Fei nodded, turned around to go back to his residence to rest, when he suddenly saw a person and a horse galloping towards him from behind the crowd.

"Yide! Yide!" the newcomer shouted, and the crowd quickly made way for him.

Upon closer inspection, Zhou Cang realized it was Mr. Sun Qian, who had gone to Hebei a few days earlier to search for the Imperial Uncle.

Zhang Fei hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Sun Qian dismounted and grabbed Zhang Fei, pulling him into the mansion: "Quick, quick, let's go to the hall to discuss matters!"

"Disaster!" Sun Qian said as he walked toward the map by the screen.

"This is Yangwu, where Yuan Shao's army has camped for dozens of miles," Sun Qian pointed to a location on the map.

"I discovered a few days ago that the Lord is in this place!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei excitedly stepped forward and asked, "Sir, have you seen my elder brother?"

Sun Qian shook his head: "When I went to request an audience, my lord had already been imprisoned by Yuan Shao!"

Everyone was shocked.

"Yuan Shao, you scoundrel, how dare you do this!" Zhang Fei gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with anger, and snatched the spear from Pei Yuanshao.

"I'm going to save my brother right now!" he shouted, and started to walk out.

"Yide! No!" Sun Qian grabbed Zhang Fei's sleeve.

"Generals, please let the gentleman finish speaking!" Sensing that Zhang Fei was getting angry, Zhou Cang rushed forward to stop him.

"Oh dear!" Zhang Fei was so angry at the two men for blocking him that he grabbed his spear and slammed it hard on the ground, quickly creating several large holes in the floor.

"Yuan Shao has fallen for Cao Cao's treacherous scheme!" Sun Qian continued.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Liu Pi asked in surprise.

"Although I have never met my lord, I saw Xianhe in Yuan Shao's army."

"Oh? What did Mr. Jian Yong say?" Zhang Fei calmed down a bit.

"The traitor Cao Cao made Guan Yu the commander of the Guandu camp and spread rumors that Yuan Shao's losses were all due to our lord. Fortunately, Xianhe, Chen Zhen and Feng Ji and others persuaded him in every way, and Yuan Shao finally stopped and did not harm our lord's life."

"What?! I knew it was that heartless man!" Zhang Fei had just calmed down when he heard that it was related to his second brother. He glared at his brother, clenched his fists, and his hair stood on end in anger.

"Guan Yu must not have known this, and he has also fallen into a trap. I once tried to find Guan Yu under the pretext of being an old friend, but I was unable to even enter Cao Cao's camp. Guan Yu has probably already been isolated from both inside and outside the camp," Sun Qian said with a sigh.

"This..." Zhou Cang was already sweating profusely upon hearing this.

He was still foolishly waiting for Guan Yu to come to Runan to quell the rebellion, but little did he know that the plot had already changed, and even his lord was in danger.

I even feel a little regretful; if I had just stayed put on Woniu Mountain earlier, perhaps things wouldn't have gotten so complicated...

"Big brother...big brother!" Zhang Fei cried out as he pounded on the pillar.

The hall was deathly silent.

Gong Duxian broke the silence: "Our lord and General Guan are both trapped in the enemy camp. How can we stand by and watch them die? We urge Mr. Sun to make a decision quickly!"

Zhang Fei also stomped his foot, shouting, "Attack Cao Cao or attack Yuan Shao? Please, Mr. Sun, make a decision quickly!"

Everyone looked at Sun Qian and said, "Mr. Sun, please make a decision quickly!"

Sun Qian shook his head, pondered for a long time, then stroked his beard and said, "In my opinion, attacking Cao Cao or Yuan Shao... are both unwise!"

"Hey! Sir, you're really going to drive me crazy!" Zhang Fei glared angrily at Sun Qian. "This is unacceptable, that is unacceptable! Are we supposed to watch our elder brother suffer?"

"No. General Liu, there are many troops in Runan now?" Sun Qian ignored Zhang Fei's anger and turned to look at Liu Pi.

Liu Pi pondered and said, "There are about four thousand infantrymen and less than five hundred cavalrymen."

Sun Qian nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "With four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry, we are outmatched in attacking Cao Cao, and attacking Yuan Shao would be like throwing an egg against a rock. I believe there is only one person who can save our lord."

Zhang Fei said, "Sir, tell me quickly who it is! I'll go and tie him up right now!"

Sun Qian had begun to ignore what Zhang Fei was saying. Zhang Fei's already dark face turned purplish-black, making him look a whole size bigger.

Zhou Cang was also trying hard to think of who Sun Qian was talking about, but he couldn't remember a single name.

Forget it, you really can't force strategy.

"It has to be Liu Biao of Jingzhou."

"Why would he agree to come?" Zhou Cang immediately thought it was unreliable upon hearing the name.

Although Liu Biao possessed nine commanderies in Jingzhou and Xiangyang and had a strong army, he was labeled by Cao Cao as "having a hollow reputation but no real power" early on. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he repeatedly missed every opportunity to become powerful and influential, and ultimately accomplished nothing. After his death, Lady Cai and others gave Jingzhou to Cao Cao.

At this critical juncture, persuading him to send troops to rescue Liu Bei would be an impossible task.

Seeing the expressions on Zhou Cang's and the others' faces, Sun Qian was not annoyed and slowly said, "I do not need him to send troops to help me."

Gong Du and Liu Pi, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Sun Qian lowered his head, slowly walked down the steps, and began to speak in a gentle and detailed manner.

"Xianhe once told me that Yuan Shao had repeatedly invited Liu Biao to send troops, but Liu Biao had not agreed."

"Now that our lord has been imprisoned by Yuan Shao, he simply wants to pin the blame for the defeat on you to vent his personal anger."

"I have long heard of Liu Jingsheng, who is fond of associating with famous scholars, and I have long admired your virtuous reputation."

"If I, as your lord, share the same kinship with you and explain the great cause of restoring the Han dynasty, you will not need to trouble them to send troops to your aid. I only need a letter, under the guise of connecting with you, to promise Yuan Shao that we should raise an army to attack Cao Cao. With this letter, your predicament will surely be resolved!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cang secretly admired him.

As expected, it was Mr. Sun Qian who resolved the Imperial Uncle's crisis through diplomacy, without losing a single soldier, preserving his strength while also doing a favor.

How high would my IQ have to be to be like him...?

Upon hearing this, everyone looked as if they had suddenly realized something, and they all nodded in admiration.

Zhang Fei was still impatient: "In that case, when shall we depart, sir?"

"This matter cannot be delayed, I will set off immediately!" Sun Qian said solemnly.

"Alright, I'm willing to go with you, sir. If that fellow doesn't allow it, don't blame me, Zhang Fei, for throwing a tantrum!" Zhang Fei said with an air of righteous indignation.

"There's no need for Yide to come along; I know what I'm doing," Sun Qian said, waving his hands repeatedly.

"Hmm... whatever."

"Bring wine! To send off our lord!" Zhang Fei shouted, and his servants immediately brought the wine.

During their stay in Runan, the servants got used to the fact that, regardless of their mood, Master Zhang's wine had to be served whenever he called.

Sun Qian took the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp: "Gentlemen, please wait patiently for good news."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Zhou Cang wanted to say something more, but seeing Sun Qian's figure quickly disappear from sight, he swallowed his words back.

Silence returned to the hall. Seeing that Zhou Cang still had a furrowed brow, Pei Yuanshao couldn't help but ask, "Brother, what is troubling you?"

Zhou Cang glanced at Zhang Fei, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

My only worry is you, my lord!

Cao Cao's treacherous scheme almost confirmed the rumor that Guan Yu had surrendered to Cao Cao.

The truth, which was already unclear, is now even more impossible to verify.

While Liu Bei's safety is of utmost importance, Your Majesty is also in a precarious position...

Alas, what can be done?

As dusk approached, Zhang Fei, who had been silent for a long time, sat quietly alone under the eaves.

Even now, he still dreams of the scene when he was defeated and separated from his family in Xuzhou.

This feeling of helplessness, of being unable to do anything, is what torments him the most.

The servants brought candles and lit them one by one. The noise pulled him back to Runan and away from his worries about his uncle's safety.

"Everyone, go back and rest." Zhang Fei waved to the crowd still standing in the hall.

Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts and was about to leave when suddenly there was another burst of hurried footsteps at the door.

A soldier stumbled in, shouting, "General Zhang!—"

"Cao...Cao's army is here again!"