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

Overwhelmed by Xu Shu's resolute demeanor, Liu Yan and the other soldiers who had intended to leave the watchtower forcibly calmed down and returned to their respective posts.

"Strategist, Cao Cao doesn't have many troops around him either. Should we raise the flag?" Liu Yan asked.

"No, the enemy's formation is not yet in disarray, we cannot act rashly." Xu Shu held his sword in one hand while watching the battle situation below Wancheng.

Meanwhile, the soldiers in the Gualijin camp at their feet, under the command of their officers, had already organized a counterattack against Zhang Liao's troops who were advancing by water.

Zhang Fei's troops, originally intended as a reserve force, were forced to abandon their cavalry advantage due to the immense pressure from Yu Jin and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in front of the Gualijin camp, attempting to prevent Yu Jin's troops from charging into Gualijin.

The situation on the battlefield gradually developed in a direction favorable to Cao Cao's army.

Liu Yan didn't understand why Xu Shu hadn't sent Zhao Yun's surprise attack at this time. Perhaps launching an attack now could reverse the decline on the main battlefield and achieve the goal of launching a surprise attack on Yu Jin's troops from the rear and protecting Gualijin.

Xu Shu wanted far more than just to secure a draw with a small force; he wanted to win!

Even if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you can't play your trump card prematurely and miss the opportunity.

While Gualijin was being attacked from both ends by Cao's army, Cao Hong's elite personal guards, leading Cao Cao, had already broken through Zhou Cang's flank on the main battlefield of Wancheng and were about to encounter Liu Bei's forces.

"Don't harm my lord!" Zhou Cang roared and lunged at Cao Hong.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

Zhou Cang has never forgotten the hatred of the people of the ancient city, and he will avenge it today!

Cao Hong, who was originally charging towards Liu Bei, saw Zhou Cang and, without saying a word, spurred his horse and charged over.

With his broadsword raised high, Cao Hong, taking advantage of the momentum of his horse, slashed down at Zhou Cang.

Although Zhou Cang fought on foot, he did not dodge at all. Just as Cao Hong's warhorse was about to charge, he raised his hand and used his sword to deflect the large sword.

In the instant the blade crossed paths, a sudden burst of power from his waist sent the longsword sweeping backward—

"Snap!" Two crisp sounds rang out as the hind legs of Cao Hong's warhorse were severed!

Caught off guard, the warhorse tumbled straight into the formation, and Cao Hong was thrown to the ground, his mouth full of blood, before he quickly got up.

Looking up, Zhou Cang didn't rush forward. Instead, he looked fierce and slowly approached, dragging his knife with one hand.

"Pah!" Cao Hong spat out a bloody tooth that had been knocked out by his warhorse, and gripped his broadsword tightly as he walked toward Zhou Cang.

Zhou Cang dragged his sword and walked faster and faster. When he was ten steps away from Cao Hong, he suddenly accelerated and raised his hand to slash the sword diagonally at Cao Hong.

Cao Hong quickly swung his sword downwards, trying to press down on the long-handled sword.

Little did anyone know that Zhou Cang's move was just a feint. As soon as the weapons clashed, he immediately used his strength to swing the Mo Dao in a half-circle and bring it crashing down from the air.

Cao Hong intended to seize the opportunity to thrust his blade straight at Zhou Cang's chest, but Zhou Cang moved too quickly, forcing him to parry again.

"Crack!" Zhou Cang chopped off the hilt of Cao Hong's broadsword.

Zhou Cang remained remarkably calm, quickly sheathing his sword and turning around to prepare for his next attack.

Cao Hong threw away the half-broken broadsword in his hand and drew the sword from his waist, ready for a desperate fight!

Zhou Cang gave Cao Hong no chance at all, slashing, chopping, and thrusting with three consecutive blows!

The sword clashed with the long-handled broadsword, but Cao Hong was unable to block it at all and had to retreat several steps!

After three moves, Cao Hong's arms went numb and his tiger's mouth split open!

Cao Hong gritted his teeth and stared intently at Zhou Cang. Just as Zhou Cang swung his sword again, Cao Hong dodged to the side, then charged forward on horseback to get close to Zhou Cang and swung his sword straight at Zhou Cang's waist!

Zhou Cang's strike missed, and seeing Cao Hong closing in, he used his elbow to strike the hilt of his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and quickly pressed down with his backhand, barely blocking Cao Hong's sword!

Cao Hong was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Cang to turn around and block the sword.

Taking advantage of Cao Hong's momentary lapse in concentration, Zhou Cang twisted his hand and struck Cao Hong's wrist hard with the back of his blade.

With a crisp "crack!", Cao Hong's right hand was broken, and his sword fell to the ground.

Cao Hong retreated two steps, and Zhou Cang raised his longsword, about to strike Cao Hong down and finish him off—

"Whoosh!" Suddenly, a cold arrow pierced the wind and struck Zhou Cang directly in the ribs!

A sharp pain shot straight to Zhou Cang's brain. In that instant, he lost his strength, and the long sword he had raised high fell down, dragging Zhou Cang backward and causing him to stagger.

[Damage taken, Stamina -20, Attributes increased]

A cold voice rang in Zhou Cang's ears, and a long-dormant surge of passion rushed to the top of his head.

Zhou Cang turned his head and saw that in the few breaths it took to be shot by the arrow, Xu Huang, who had fired the arrow from the shadows, had already put away his bow and rushed over. He grabbed the somewhat panicked Cao Hong and pulled him away from Zhou Cang!

"Ah!!!" Zhou Cang roared in fury!

You scoundrel who shot me in the back! Trying to escape?! No way!

Zhou Cang pulled the arrow from his side and, wielding his longsword, charged at the Cao army soldiers who came to provide cover.

Taking advantage of their superior numbers, Cao Jun had four or five infantrymen rush forward with spears and surround Zhou Cang tightly.

With a loud shout, Zhou Cang, taking advantage of the increased martial prowess gained from his recent injury, charged left and right through Cao Cao's army, disrupting their momentum once again.

Cao Cao, watching from afar, saw that Liu Bei, who had personally led the troops into battle, was surrounded and on the verge of defeat. Just as he was feeling pleased, he saw a large wave of Cao Cao's army being drawn away by Zhou Cang alone, and he became somewhat uneasy.

"Whoosh!" Cao Cao drew his sword and shouted to the last wave of soldiers behind him, "All troops, kill! Whoever cuts down Liu Bei's head will be enfeoffed as a marquis of ten thousand households!" After saying that, he kicked his horse and charged towards Liu Bei's direction.

"Now! Beat the drums immediately!" Xu Shu, who was on the watchtower, saw Cao Cao's all-out attack immediately. He could not wait any longer!

"Boom boom boom boom!" Three war drums sounded simultaneously from the watchtower! Xu Shu personally waved the red flag.

Cao Cao had already charged halfway and was determined to take Liu Bei's head when he suddenly heard a huge drumbeat in the distance. He looked up and saw a red flag waving from the direction of the watchtower. He knew something was wrong!

It's too late!

Suddenly, a force of men charged out from the direction of Wuguan Pass, cutting the entire Cao army in half!

The leading general was none other than Zhao Zilong, clad in white robes and wielding a silver spear!

This elite force, which had been holding back for a long time, swept through Cao Cao's unprepared army like a whirlwind, killing more than a hundred men in just a few breaths with their warhorses alone!

Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang's troops had already compressed Zhou Cang's armored soldiers, who had lost half their men, into a tight mass and were slowly whittling them down. But when they heard a sudden, deafening battle cry behind them, the soldiers panicked and fled in disarray, and the situation was suddenly reversed!

Cao Ren's troops on the west side were engaged in a fierce battle with Wen Ping. Upon hearing of the change in the main battlefield, they hurriedly led their troops back to reinforce the area, but were scattered by Zhao Yun's troops who were charging back and forth. Wen Ping and Mi Fang seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

Liu Bei's forces suddenly closed in like a large, rapidly gathering bag, with several sharp arrows piercing straight into Cao Cao's central army!

Under the overwhelming counterattack of Liu Bei's army, Cao Cao's army almost collapsed at the first contact. Xu Huang and Cao Hong, who had just escaped death, closely protected Cao Cao as he retreated north amidst the chaos.

Seeing that victory was assured, Xu Shu breathed a sigh of relief, threw down the red flag, raised his sword, and roared, "Follow me and charge!"

Gualijin was five miles away from the main battlefield. At this time, the front of the camp was extremely tragic, with the corpses of Zhang Fei's and Yu Jin's troops filling the trenches in front of the camp.

Yu Jin had already led his troops into the camp, where they engaged in repeated battles with Zhang Fei's forces in the open space between the camp gate and the dock.

The water gate had already been breached by Zhang Liao's troops, and of the original five hundred soldiers who were defending the camp, less than a hundred remained to hold out at the watchtower.

Xu Shu saw from upstairs that the camp gate had been breached and Yu Jin's troops were pouring into the camp in a dark mass. Zhang Liao's troops were also landing one after another downstairs. With the determination to fight to the death, Xu Shu led Liu Yan and others, swords in hand, and charged down the mountain.

The arrows on the two-story arrow platform in the building had long been used up. Except for the soldiers on Xu Shu's floor, all the soldiers on the other floors were fighting Zhang Liao's troops with spears downstairs.

The main battlefield has been won, and even if I die here, I will have no regrets... Moreover, my lord still has Pang Tong in Hefei, so my mission can be considered complete.

As Xu Shu went downstairs, he did his final mental preparation.

Just when the entire Gualijin camp, like Xu Shu, was about to despair, Yu Jin's rear army suddenly fell into chaos—

"Zhang Xiu is here!" A loud shout, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, echoed from outside the camp all the way into the camp!

Wearing a red turban and wielding a tiger-headed golden spear, Zhang Xiu swiftly routed the unsuspecting rear guard of Yu Jin's army.

Xu Shu himself never expected that the last transfer order he wrote with great hesitation at the North City Camp a few days ago would lead to Zhang Xiu's unexpected arrival of a surprise force!

Zhang Xiu, who was originally stationed outside Yancheng to support Chen Dao and Liao Hua and prevent Cao Cao's army from crossing the Ru River, immediately led his troops on a lightly equipped and rapid march through the night after receiving Xu Shu's order. They traveled 300 li day and night without stopping, resting only once along the way, and finally arrived at the battlefield just before the entire army was about to be wiped out at Gualijin.

Yu Jin's rear guard was overwhelmed by Zhang Xiu's charge and fled in disarray toward the Wanluo Avenue.

Upon hearing that their former master Zhang Xiu had arrived, the Xiliang soldiers in the camp were greatly encouraged. Each of them fought like a hundred men and managed to push Yu Jin's troops back outside the camp.

Yu Jin, who was commanding the attacking camp, had no choice but to bring his personal guards to meet Zhang Xiu in battle.

"Zhang Xiu! The Prime Minister has treated you well, why have you betrayed me again!" Yu Jin angrily pointed his gun at Zhang Xiu.

Zhang Xiu glared at Yu Jin and said, "Cao Cao has betrayed me! There's no need for further words!" After saying that, he spurred his horse forward to meet Yu Jin in battle.

Yu Jin parried a few rounds, but was no match for the Northern Spear King and was defeated.

Zhang Xiu's troops seized the opportunity to mop up the defeated soldiers, and charged into the camp over the mountain of corpses to join forces with Zhang Fei, rushing towards Zhang Liao's troops who had already stormed into the watchtower.

Zhang Liao's troops had already divided their forces to attack Zhang Fei's rear army, intending to use Yu Jin's forces to launch a pincer attack from both sides. However, when they suddenly saw Zhang Xiu's reinforcements and Zhang Fei's troops charging towards them together, they panicked and abandoned their watchtowers, fleeing in disarray.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Zhang Liao quickly returned to his ship and, despite the pursuing arrows, escaped Gualijin by water, leaving behind countless people who had fallen into the water.

"Strategist! I am late, please forgive me!" Zhang Xiu went up to the second floor of the watchtower and apologized to Xu Shu, who was covered in blood.

Xu Shu threw down his sword and laughed, "How dare this brat harm me! You two generals, hurry and pursue Cao Cao!"

"Is the strategist alright?!" Zhang Fei asked anxiously as he stepped forward.

Liu Yan, standing to the side, said, "The strategist's swordsmanship is superb; he is not injured!"

"Alright, I'll go after that traitor Cao right now!" Zhang Fei nodded after saying that, and he and Zhang Xiu turned around and went downstairs.

Xu Shu and Liu Yan exchanged a smile and climbed back upstairs.

Cao Cao and his advisors, who were originally covering the rear, fled north along the Wanluo Avenue, their remaining troops dwindling.

Zhao Yun left the fleeing soldiers behind his comrades and pursued Cao Cao relentlessly, closing the distance to less than a hundred paces.

"Prime Minister, hurry! I'll stop Zhao Yun!" Xu Huang shouted, reined in his horse, and turned to face Zhao Yun.

Just as the two were fighting, Zhou Cang arrived on horseback.

"Cao Cao is just ahead, Yuanfu, hurry!" Zhao Yun shouted to Zhou Cang while fighting Xu Huang.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cang immediately bypassed the two men and continued charging forward.

Cao Cao was finally approaching Bowang City, still shaken, and was about to take a short rest when he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves rising from not far behind him.

Upon closer inspection, a burly man with a dark face emerged from the dust, wielding a long-handled broadsword and charging straight at him with red eyes.

"Prime Minister, hurry up! Leave the black-faced thief to me!" Cao Hong shouted, lashing his whip across Cao Cao's mount, while taking a steel knife from a soldier.

Left with no other choice, Cao Cao abandoned Cao Hong and led his men to continue their escape.

"Whoa..." Zhou Cang walked closer and saw Cao Hong blocking the road alone. He pulled on the reins and stopped.

"Cao Hong, let's settle the score regarding the ancient city's grudges," Zhou Cang said expressionlessly.

Cao Hong's fractured right hand was immobile, but he held the knife in his left hand and gritted his teeth, saying, "In that case, do you dare to fight me with one hand?"

"What's there to be afraid of?!" Zhou Cang sneered, then put his right hand behind his back, held the knife in his left hand, spurred his horse forward with his legs.

I'll have a fair and square one-on-one fight with you, what are you afraid of?!

As the two horses crossed paths, Zhou Cang's long and heavy Mo Dao was less agile than Cao Hong's short sword. Cao Hong's swords were fast and fierce, leaving Zhou Cang with only the ability to parry hastily.

Zhou Cang then understood why Cao Hong had proposed this seemingly fair condition.

"Clang!" Cao Hong slashed fiercely at Zhou Cang's neck. Zhou Cang raised his sword to block, but Cao Hong suddenly leaned forward, and the sharp blade slowly turned around along the round hilt!

Just as the blade was about to slice into Zhou Cang's body, Zhou Cang raised his foot and kicked Cao Hong's warhorse. Startled, the horse raised its front hooves high, and when it fell, it crashed into Zhou Cang's horse.

Both men were thrown to the ground by their warhorses.

The two returned to foot combat, and Zhou Cang simply threw away his Mo Dao and drew his steel sword from his waist.

During the stalemate, Cao Cao's defeated soldiers and Liu Bei's pursuing troops kept passing by. Seeing the two men's posture as they were about to duel, they all chose to go around them.

"Ouch!" Cao Hong shouted and slashed at Zhou Cang's face with his sword.

Zhou Cang dodged the attack with a quick movement.

Cao Hong missed with his first strike, then swung his sword upwards again, intending to take Zhou Cang's central position.

Zhou Cang stood still, and with a flick of his wrist, he deflected Cao Hong's attack with his knife.

Cao Hong was still not giving up. He once again swung his sword to feign an attack on the middle lane. When Zhou Cang raised his sword to block, he twisted his wrist and slashed at Zhou Cang's lower lane.

Little did he know that his plan had already been seen through. Zhou Cang dodged to the side, raised his steel blade high, and with all his might, slashed downwards—

"Slash!" Cao Hong's hand holding the steel knife was severed.

"Ah!" Cao Hong's scream pierced the sky.

"Today you deserve to die here," Zhou Cang said coldly.

A flash of cold light, and a single slash to the throat.

Blood gushed out, and Cao Hong collapsed straight in front of Zhou Cang, twitching a few times before falling still.

After half a year, the people of the ancient city who had died unjustly did not have to wait too long.

Having avenged his great enemy, Zhou Cang swung his sword fiercely and beheaded Cao Hong.

Just as they were feeling sentimental, "Clatter! Clatter!" A rider, empty-handed and clutching his stomach, sped past Zhou Cang. The two exchanged a glance.

"Xu Huang?" Zhou Cang rubbed his eyes; it was indeed Xu Huang.

What a scoundrel who shoots arrows in the back!

It seems Xu Huang is no match for Zilong and is wounded; we absolutely cannot let him escape!

"Xu Huang, prepare to die!" Zhou Cang hung Cao Hong's head on his horse's head, shouted, mounted his horse, and charged into the dust!