Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

Men, women, and children from the city spontaneously came to help carry grain and fodder. Their faces radiated the resilience that comes with weathering many storms, and they chatted casually.

The people of the Han Dynasty, generation after generation, grew silently like wild grass in the cracks of rocks, enduring all the days with the most simple patience, chewing up the suffering bit by bit.

Standing atop the city wall, Zhuge Jin surveyed the surrounding life and said in a deep voice, "Does Your Excellency not consider it too selfish to offer sacrifices to the entire city's inhabitants in order to gain lasting fame?"

The Martial Saint glanced at Zhuge Jin and said, "Everyone in the world can comment on this matter, but this Jiangdong rat has no right to do so."

Zhuge Jin looked up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. He glanced at the busy laborers, then at the craftsmen repairing the city wall, before letting out a long sigh and taking his leave.

The people will inevitably fall into misery.

Qi Ye didn't try to stop him, his eyes unusually calm. Blocking a bridge is a classic tactic used to defeat a stronger enemy force. Now that there's no bridgehead, the same principle applies to the city gate.

One man wielding a halberd can stop ten thousand men from advancing.

Without the strength of the strong, the people will suffer. Qi Ye is just an ordinary player; he cannot possibly protect all his soldiers and civilians.

Below the city walls, grain gradually piled up, filling the air with the fragrance of rice.

The Martial Saint's voice boomed: "All those who have been forced to serve will remain. They will be provided with two meals today."

The people erupted in cheers, their eyes fixed excitedly on the single figure ahead. A seed called hope took deep root in their hearts.

Wang Fu exclaimed excitedly, "We're all enjoying good fortune! Everyone's enjoying good fortune!"

The Martial Saint strode back to the county office and rested for a while with his eyes closed.

Qi Ye tilted his head back and took a sip of water, pondering the next step: how to advance the main storyline.

Guan Ping arrived with his sister, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, General."

Upon hearing the word "general," Qi Ye couldn't help but think of the traditional Chinese father-son relationship.

First came ruler and subject, then enemies. Next came friends, and last came father and son.

The Martial Saint's expression was cold and stern: "Sit wherever you like."

Guan Ping observed her carefully for a few moments, but not wanting his sister to stand any longer, he took the lead and sat down. He knelt with his knees together, his buttocks resting on his heels, sitting upright.

Guan Yinping had changed into simple, plain clothes, her eyes clearly showing extraordinary stubbornness, standing there with a cold and unyielding demeanor:

"I was captured by Wu's army, and I troubled my father to rescue me. I have disgraced your honor, and I am willing to accept the punishment!"

The Martial Saint's voice was cold and clear: "Explain yourself clearly first, what exactly happened?"

Guan Yinping gritted her teeth: "The governor of Nan Commandery, Mi Fang, surrendered the city, and Lü Meng celebrated on the sand dunes. I have decided to assassinate Mi Fang and gather those who yearn for the Han dynasty to defend Jiangling."

Qi Ye saw Guan Yinping's beautiful face, which was filled with righteous indignation. A sense of heroism welled up within him.

Holding the military tally hidden in the sleeves of a mandarin duck, why must a general be a man?

Guan Yinping possessed a beauty that also exuded a heroic spirit, radiating brilliance: "It would be difficult for me to accomplish anything on my own, so I joined forces with Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping from within the city."

Qi Ye was taken aback, not expecting to hear two familiar names. Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Liu Bei's Double-Edged Sword, and Zhang Fei's Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear were all forged from iron ore donated by Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang.

The two are just like NPCs in online games who bring warmth to players.

As Guan Yinping spoke with great emotion, her delicate hand reached for the short sword hanging at her waist:

"Su Shuang asserted that even assassinating Mi Fang would not be enough to defend Jiangling. He had a 30-year friendship with Fu Shiren and decided to contact him first to persuade him to repent. I did not agree, so he secretly contacted Fu Shiren."

"Fu Shiren arrested Su Shuang and tortured him severely, learning of our plan in the process, which he then used to curry favor with Lü Meng. The assassination attempt failed, and Zhang Shiping was killed and his entire clan was exterminated. Fu Shiren felt I had value and has kept me imprisoned ever since."

"I swear to kill this traitor!"

The Martial Saint proudly declared, "Being captured is not a disgrace. True men are those who can bend and stretch."

Guan Yinping looked up, finding it absurd. How could her proud father say such a thing?

Guan Yu always taught his sons to uphold loyalty and righteousness, strictly regulating their words and actions. His eldest son, Guan Ping, trained alongside his troops, demonstrating more through his actions than through words; his youngest son, Guan Xing, studied and practiced martial arts, tolerating no arrogance or laziness whatsoever.

He took the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals as his guide, valued virtue and frugality, and forged the character of a military family. The word "character" is a beautiful name, but also a strong constraint.

The Martial Saint calmly replied, "When I was young, I was also a prisoner."

Guan Yinping's bright eyes immediately lit up with realization. Her father's life was filled with glorious military achievements and upright character, making his experience as a prisoner of war all too easy to overlook.

Qi Ye then asked about the situation in Jiangling, and Guan Yinping answered fluently, exactly as Zhuge Jin had said.

It's truly pitiful that Lü Meng's fellow townsman from Runan was beheaded for taking a straw hat from a commoner.

……

Jingzhou, Jiangling.

Liao's mother, dragging her thin body and carrying an empty fish basket, braved the wind and snow to make her way to the thatched hut.

A woman with naturally curly hair stood guard by the neighbor's fence, her eyes filled with heartache: "Old woman, old woman, why are you doing this to yourself?"

The sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out, and a group of soldiers, armed with crossbows, shouted and reprimanded, while the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking filled the air.

The curly-haired woman hurriedly shrank inside the door and bolted it shut. A pair of eyes peered out through the crack in the window.

Liao's mother ignored her and went inside, covering herself with dry grass and coarse hemp to keep warm.

The soldiers knocked loudly on doors one by one, and when they reached Liao's mother's house, the knocking became even more intense.

"We've secured three days' worth of rations. Let's thank Lord Wu and the Grand Commander for their kindness!"

One of his companions saw the empty fish basket and kicked it hard.

"Your son is a general now, and he's still out catching fish in the dead of winter, competing with ordinary people for food. How shameless!"

Liao's mother crossed her arms and curled them up in front of her chest, raising her voice:

"Traitor, get out! I'd rather starve to death or faint inside than eat dog food!"

The officers and soldiers raised a small flag with the character "Wu" on it and waved it provocatively:

"Your son was a Yellow Turban rebel, a traitor, and now he's pretending to be so high and mighty! Guan Yu was like a stray dog, and your son followed him, unable even to be filial. Is he even human?"

Liao's mother grinned: "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to reconcile, with loyalty taking precedence. Unlike that scoundrel Mi, who is disliked by both sides!"

The officers and soldiers roared angrily for a quarter of an hour.

Liao's mother squinted as she rested, her lips trembling slightly from the cold.

After the soldiers finished their tirade, they went to the neighbor's house, where the woman with curly hair lived, and knocked loudly on the door.

"Zhang Li-shi, come out. We have news of your son. He has escaped back to Jiangling. You and your son will soon be reunited."

"Zhang Li-shi, did you hear that?"

The curly-haired woman wept with joy: "That's wonderful, that's wonderful! I'm going to see him!"

The officers shouted, "Don't go anywhere! Stay home, have a good meal, and your son will come back once he's registered. Starting tomorrow, your family will stop receiving rations!"

The curly-haired woman asked in astonishment, "Why?"

The soldiers mocked, "Your son's back, and you still want the government to support his old mother? Did he kill Guan Yu, or did he perform some great feat?"

The curly-haired woman murmured, "It's good that he's back safe and sound, it's good that he's safe and sound."

After a brief commotion, the officers and soldiers spurred their horses and rode away.

Just as the curly-haired woman was about to close the gate, she noticed three pounds of white rice and a broken mat lying in the snow. Not understanding what it meant, she knocked on Liao's mother's door to ask.

Liao's mother said coldly, "Your son has deserted. From now on, our two families are severed! Take the food with you; I won't eat it. Don't let the dogs eat it!"

The curly-haired woman, completely drained of her strength, turned and shakily went home, carrying three pounds of white rice.