The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

The night in Fu is quiet, but the night in Xuchang is not like that.

In the vast city of Xuchang, the noise of people was deafening, and the sounds of barking and screaming could not be stopped.

Emperor Li Xie stood atop the palace, overlooking the city of Xuchang. He sighed inwardly and murmured, "Shouyi. If only you could help me! I wouldn't have had to take such a risk. Don't disappoint me, Yuan Gonglu!"

Located east of Xuchang City, not far from the imperial palace, Fang Yue was still locked in a fierce battle with Xu Huang, while Yang Feng, sensing impending doom, had already fled.

Fang Yue and Xu Huang fought for dozens of rounds, but both were exhausted by the end, and the battle among the surrounding chariots also came to an end.

"Good!" Fang Yue laughed loudly, looking at his opponent with admiration. After a long while, he said apologetically, "If we had met elsewhere, I would have certainly given you a chance to prove yourselves superior. Unfortunately, I have an important mission today. I apologize." Taking a deep breath, he shouted, "Gentlemen, fight to the death! Do not fail the trust placed in you by Commander Gou! Kill them!"

"Drink! The Imperial Guards are pampered and consider themselves the emperor's personal guards. How could they be a match for Cao's soldiers? Although it was three thousand against two thousand, Fang Yue's side only paid the price of a hundred or so chariot soldiers dying in battle to take down the two thousand Imperial Guards."

Only three hundred Imperial Guards were killed, yet the remaining three thousand Cao soldiers were forced to surrender. The Imperial Guards were supposed to be the emperor's personal guards, gathering the elite of the land. However, since Emperor Heng, the quality of the Imperial Guards had steadily declined, and they were no longer worthy of their name. It was difficult to call them "elite." With only three hundred of the two thousand Imperial Guards killed, the rest of them lost their will to fight. Could such soldiers accomplish great things?

Fang Yue shooed away the chariots of his men who came to his aid, pointed his spear at Xu Huang, and said sincerely, "General Xu, I respect you as a hero and have no intention of taking your life. Look around you!"

Xu Huang looked around. He saw Cao Cao's soldiers all around him, while the Imperial Guards had already dropped their weapons and surrendered. A deep sigh escaped his lips. He murmured, "Is this the end for me, Xu Gongming? So be it!" Taking a deep breath, Xu Huang forced himself to focus. He gripped his double axes tightly with his trembling hands, but how could he possibly lift such heavy weapons now? His hand trembled, and one of the giant axes slipped from his grasp and fell.

With a sigh, Xu Huang threw down his other giant axe, raised his head, and said in a deep voice, "General, please give me a quick death!" "Good!" Fang Yue's eyes held deep admiration. He rode up to Xu Huang and thrust his spear towards his face. "Alas," he sighed, "a man lives in this world, yet dies before achieving military merit. What a pity!" Xu Huang calmly watched Fang Yue charge towards him, gazing at the gleaming spear tip, sighed softly, and slowly closed his eyes. He awaited the fatal blow.

Why is it coming to my heart? Xu Huang clearly felt the spear tip touching his body. If he exerted that force again, he would... "Ugh?"

Xu Huang, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes, staring in astonishment at his chest. He saw the tip of the spear piercing his chest, but it only damaged his clothes, not his flesh. Xu Huang looked at Fang Yue, bewildered. Fang Yue smiled slightly and said, "Such a hero, it's a great pity to die like this. Now that you've died once, it should be enough to repay Yang Feng's kindness in promoting you! Personally, I truly don't want to take the general's life, but for public reasons, I have no choice but to capture the general. Please forgive me!" Xu Huang looked deeply at Fang Yue for a long time. He dismounted and offered his hands for Cao Cao's soldiers to tie him up.

Fang Yue greatly admired Xu Huang's upright character. She smiled and said, "Afterwards, I will do my best to exonerate the general! Men! Tie him up!"

Ignoring the fact that he was bound with thick hemp ropes by Cao's soldiers, Xu Huang said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your kindness, General!"

Whether it succeeds or fails, I will thank the general!

Nodding, Fang Yue said in a deep voice, "Tie them all up, leave five hundred men to lock them up in Xuchang prison! The rest, I'll handle them!"

"promise!.

Leaving aside the fact that Fang Yue left 500 men to imprison the listless guards while he led the remaining Cao soldiers towards the source of the fire, let's talk about the Situ Mansion, the third most iconic building in Xuchang. The rebels, especially the powerful families, would naturally not let this place go.

The powerful families of Xuchang finally launched a counterattack, gathering their servants and retainers, numbering in the hundreds or dozens. They rushed out of their mansions, brandishing broadswords, and in a short time, they had assembled a force of several thousand.

Although this team was far inferior in quality to Cao Cao's regular army, even the battle-hardened Cao Cao soldiers suffered losses when they launched surprise attacks or caused minor disturbances.

Just now, Gou Huo followed Cheng Yu's advice and sent someone to inform Fang Yue. Gou Huo then divided his remaining troops into four teams and ordered them to kill any rebels they encountered!

However, this dispersed the troops. Many of Cao Cao's soldiers were attacked by the aristocratic families. Although Cao Cao's soldiers could fight off several aristocratic soldiers, the aristocratic families simply outnumbered them all. Eventually, even the main street of the governor's mansion was filled with servants and retainers led by these aristocratic families. Even Gou Huo, at this moment, couldn't care less about benevolence—oh, he didn't need to be benevolent to these guys because it was already obvious—had already brutally stabbed a servant of an aristocratic family to death. Gou Huo angrily said, "You are courting death!" Then he turned to Cheng Yu, who was fighting, and shouted, "Where is Xian Zhang? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

Cheng Yu killed the traitors in front of him, turned around and said in a sinister voice, "How could I not understand the current situation, given his lack of talent and strategy? He hasn't arrived yet. Hmph! Clearly, he intends to use a 'cut off the enemy' strategy!" Gou Huo was stunned, his expression seemingly showing some reluctance. Looking at the fallen soldiers beside him, he said angrily. "Good! Let's see how those traitors end up," Cheng Yu smiled coldly, and fought alongside Gou Huo. Even as civil officials, how could they be compared to servants who did manual labor year-round? The sage said, a gentleman has six arts; besides the essential rites and music, the next skill is archery, which is martial arts.

However, it wasn't just the servants in aristocratic families who rebelled. Before anyone could react, Gou Huo was slashed on the back, startled and in pain, letting out a soft groan.

"Wenruo!" Cheng Yu's expression changed drastically. He supported Gou Huo and shouted, "Gentlemen! We must leave the Situ residence!"

Over a hundred guards were desperately protecting Gou Huo and Cheng Yu. In a journey of only five or six hundred li, half of those guards had been lost?!

From afar, Cheng Yu could see the incessant slaughter in front of Situ Jiang's residence, but what surprised him was that a mere dozen or so soldiers were able to hold off an encirclement of hundreds... the Trapped Camp! A name suddenly popped into his mind, and Cheng Yu murmured it to himself before shouting, "Gentlemen, come and lend us a hand!" Chen Dan, the deputy commander of the Trapped Camp, who was holding out at Situ Jiang's residence, narrowed his eyes. He suddenly saw several soldiers dressed as Yu Cao soldiers escorting two scholars in a carriage, followed by a group of rebels. He roared, "Shen Yu, Ma Ji, you two come with me! The rest of you, hold this place to the death!"

"Yes, sir!" came the reply. Two burly men with similar imposing appearances followed Chen Dan and fought their way out. As soon as the three of them left, the soldiers of the Trapped Camp filled the gap.

"Ah!" Chen Dan shouted, wielding a heavy spear as if it were a club. Those hit by the spear were sent flying and fell to the ground with cries of agony, screaming incessantly. They were then trampled into a bloody pulp by the frenzied rebels around him.

It is truly remarkable that a mere three people could fight their way out of the clutches of many powerful families and reach Cheng Yu and his group!

Before Chen Dan could ask any questions, Cheng Yu spoke first, "I am Cheng Zhongde, and this is Gou Wenruo. The rebel forces are overwhelming, and our planned troops have not yet arrived. Therefore, we have come to Lord Jiang's residence for refuge!"

Even though his face was pale from blood loss, he simply nodded slightly.

Upon hearing Cheng Yu's words, Chen Dan felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at the guards around Cheng Yu and saw that they were all fighting desperately, many of whom had been hacked to death by the bandits. It did not seem like they were faking it.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Chen Dan didn't even have time to salute. While fighting the enemy, he said, "Please, my lords. The three of us will cover your retreat!"

"Thank you!" Cheng Yu helped Gou Huo up, and the two of them, escorted by several guards, rushed into Situ Jiang's residence. Chen Dan and the other two fought and retreated, holding the gate of the residence until Gou Huo and Cheng Yu entered Jiang's residence. After turning through the main hall and entering the courtyard, they were surprised to see two or three soldiers with indifferent expressions guarding each key point in the courtyard. "These must be the best of the elite soldiers in the Trapped Camp."

Cheng Yu, looking anxious, walked to a soldier and said urgently, "The gates are in grave danger! You must go and help!"

The soldier glanced at Cheng Yu indifferently, but did not reply.

Cheng Yu, both suspicious and alarmed, urgently shouted, "Didn't you hear what I told you? The bandits at the gate are numerous. You must gather your comrades and go to their aid. If the gate is lost, how will you defend against the horde of rebels?"

To everyone's surprise, the soldier remained indifferent and said in a deep voice, "My orders are to defend this place to the death, and not to leave it even for a moment, unless I die!"

Cheng Yu was stunned and stared at the soldier in astonishment. Gou Huo explained, "The Trapped Camp is different from the Tiger and Leopard Camp. They govern with strict orders. Without a military order, he would not leave this place lightly. The same goes for those soldiers..." As he spoke, Gou Huo pointed to the soldiers guarding the key positions in the courtyard.

Cheng Yu glanced at the indifferent soldiers a few times before he was about to take a step when he suddenly heard a loud shout from the gate of the mansion.

Charge into battle! Charge into battle!

Just as Cheng Yu was still puzzled, the soldier beside him suddenly shouted, "Charge! Charge!" Almost simultaneously, more than ten soldiers of the Charge Battalion in the courtyard all shouted out.

Cheng Yu looked at the soldier's hand gripping the spear tightly, and at his eyes filled with a complex mix of anger, deep pain, and other emotions. Then he looked at the soldier's indifferent face, which was exactly the same as Fang You's. He sighed in his heart and said, "This army is no less than the Tiger and Leopard Camp!"

Meanwhile, in Jiang Zhe's study in the inner courtyard, Cao Ang was staring at Cai Yan with an indignant expression.

"Aunt, the bandits have already reached the gates of the mansion. Let me call Aunt Xiu'er, and then both of you will return to the secret room! Aunt!"

Facing Cao Ang and Chen Dao, who looked anxious, Cai Yan showed no panic and smiled, saying, "When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? Besides, my husband has entrusted all the affairs of the household to you, Aunt Xiu'er, and me. How can I leave? My husband said that this is our home." Cao Ang still did not give up, but just as he was about to speak, a soft laugh came from behind.

"My sister is absolutely right!"

"Sister Xiuer?" Cai Yan was slightly startled and quickly stood up, saying, "Why are you up, Sister? You haven't been feeling well lately, you should rest more. And this," she pointed with a puzzled look at Xiuer's clothes and the short gun in her hand.

Patting Cao Ang and Chen Dao on the head, Xiu'er said with a grin, "With such a big event happening, how can I, your sister, still sleep?"

Behind Xiuer, Mi Zhen looked at Cai Yan with curiosity and asked hesitantly, "Aren't you afraid?" She pointed outside.

Cai Yan smiled slightly and said, "What's the use of fear? It's all in vain! Since I was born a woman of the Jiang family, I will die a soul of the Jiang family." Xiu'er's accusation sounded more like praise.

"Isn't that what my sister thinks too?" Cai Yan smiled as she looked at Xiu'er, and the two women exchanged a smile. The lingering resentment in their hearts vanished instantly.

Mi Zhen looked at Cai Yan's calm expression, recalling her own panic just now, and pouted. She stood to the side.

"My two aunts," Chen Dao said, clasping his hands in a mature manner, "Even if you two aunts don't want to hide in the dark room, then please allow us two to go out and help those brothers." "Oh dear!"

With a satisfied look, Xiu'er withdrew her hand from Chen Dao's head and said with a strange expression, "You, a second-rate person, can't even beat me. How can you go out and help others? You'd better stay here quietly!"

Cao Ang and Chen Dao both looked bitter at her words, secretly wondering, "Why is Aunt Xiu'er's martial arts so high? And why is Uncle completely ignorant of martial arts?" "Strange, please sit, sister, and please sit too," Cai Yan said, gesturing for Xiu'er and Mi Zhen to sit down. "Since we have nothing to do, why don't I play a tune for you two to judge?"

"What a leisurely life!" Xiu'er smiled at Cai Yan and said softly, "In that case, I'll trouble you, sister!" Mi Zhen, who was beside Xiu'er, did not speak this time, but looked at Cai Yan with complicated eyes.

"Tap tap": Cai Yan's smile faded, her eyes slightly closed, her hands brushing against the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither). Then, a melody that Xiu'er had never heard before slowly began to play... Cao Ang and Chen Dao exchanged a glance and shrugged. They then gave each other a look and quietly withdrew.

Just as Gou Huo was about to enter the inner courtyard, he suddenly grabbed Cheng Yu's sleeve. He hesitated and said, "Zhongde, listen."

"This..." Cheng Yu listened carefully, then chuckled softly, "It seems that both of Shouyi's wives are unharmed, so we don't need to be so anxious." "That's not right!" Gou Huo's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He slowly said, "As men, how can we presume to be near Shouyi's second wife? Let's see what this guy is doing! Wenruo, don't be impatient!" Cheng Yu smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a hint of ruthlessness, "In my opinion, it'll be over soon." So what exactly is Li Ru doing?

Of course, Li Ru wasn't playing around, because he slaughtered an entire street. What was he looking for?

"My lord, we've arrived. This is Wang Hai's residence!"

"Fine!" Li Ru said with a cold smile. "Wang Hai has allied himself with a traitor and plotted rebellion; his crime deserves death! You leave two hundred men behind and exterminate his entire family! Burn down his mansion as well!"

"Yes, sir! I obey!" A minor general drew his broadsword and led over a hundred Cao soldiers, their faces filled with ruthlessness, forward. They smashed open the gates and stormed inside. Soon after, several pitiful screams echoed from within.

With a cold snort, Li Ru took out a list from his robes and said sternly, "Next stop, the Yan family!" He then glanced coldly at the trembling Guo and Fang family heads beside him and said in a chilling tone, "You two family heads, why aren't you leading the way with us?"

"!" Guo Yu didn't even dare to look Li Ru in the eye, and he and Fang Ju led the way. But in his heart, he was secretly delighted. He never expected that their whereabouts had been so well tracked. In that case, they had made the right bet!

Fang Pi and Guo Yu exchanged a glance, recalling the words spoken by that lord when he broke into the secret chamber and looked at them with a cold smile.

"Seeing that you two have not gone astray, I will bestow upon you a share of wealth and honor!" Looking at the countless corpses on the street, Guo Yu and his companion were both fearful and delighted, while Li Ru sneered behind them.

The fire in Xuchang seemed to be out of control, and even a corner of Situ Jiang's residence was engulfed in flames.

Old Wang looked at the slender bamboo burning in the courtyard with a heavy heart, feeling great regret. He listened leisurely to the music coming from the inner courtyard, among which were faint sounds of drums and horns, the melody gradually increasing in speed and alternating... "The lords of the Xuchang Prefectural Government should also fight back, otherwise how can they match this 'Ambush from Ten Sides' melody?"

Just as Old Wang sighed, Yuan Shu's troops entered through the south gate, while the Tiger and Leopard Camp troops entered through the north gate.

The real battle is only just beginning!

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