The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

"As the most powerful official in Yijing besides Gongsun Zan, Guan Jing was very worried."

Regardless of how much Guan Jing disliked Tian Kai, who was the Prefectural Governor, now that Tian Kai was dead, the grudges between Guan Jing and him naturally faded away.

Moreover, Guan Jing felt a slight envy for Tian Heng. At least Tian Kai no longer had to worry about anything. As for himself, he had no choice but to continue guarding this mess.

"My lord, alas!" Guan Jing sighed. Looking at the Cao soldiers who had already climbed the city wall in the distance, Guan Jing felt an immense sense of oppression in his heart. Even at such a critical moment, why didn't his lord come out?

If only our lord could fight alongside the soldiers, the outcome of today's battle would still be uncertain. Unfortunately, "Screw!" came the sound of another ladder slamming against the city wall. Guan Jing gritted his teeth, grabbed a bucket of oil beside him, and poured it over the wall. He then took a torch from the campfire and lit the oil.

Facing Jiang Zhe's ladder, Guan Jing could only burn it with kerosene, but there wasn't much kerosene left... "Soldiers, think of the people in the city. Think of your wives, children, and elderly parents. If Cao Cao's army breaches the city, what will become of us? We have nowhere to retreat!" Guan Jing roared as he gripped a long sword. As a scholar, he fought the enemy with the same fierce resolve as ordinary soldiers, which was truly admirable.

By then, many of Cao's soldiers had already stormed the city walls. Li Dian and Yue Jin led the charge, each wielding a long sword, and charged towards Gongsun Zan's soldiers.

The archers defending the walls of Yijing are now caught in a pincer movement, fighting off Cao Cao's troops who have breached the walls while simultaneously firing arrows to stop Cao Cao from continuing his assault on the walls. Their predicament is truly dire.

It must be said that Guan Jing was quite capable. Under his leadership, the archers guarding the city wall inflicted great damage on Cao Cao's troops. Guan Jing's repeated encouragement and leading by example boosted the morale of his soldiers.

Just as Guan Jing had thought, if Gongsun Zan were at the city wall now, the outcome of today's battle would be uncertain. Unfortunately, even at the most critical moment, Gongsun Zan still hadn't emerged. Just then, Cao Cao and Jiang Zhe, leading several thousand Feng soldiers, arrived at the foot of Yijing City, traversing the frozen Yi River. Seeing the chaotic battle, Cao Cao shouted, "That old scoundrel Gongsun is inhuman! Even I, Cao Mengde, have led my troops here to punish the wicked; the rest are irrelevant. Lay down your weapons and surrender, and I will spare your lives!"

Guan Jing, who was on the city wall, naturally heard Cao Cao's shout and yelled, "Cao Mengde, your words are laughable! My lord Gongsun has long resided in Youzhou. Guarding the far north is a great achievement. He is a meritorious official of the Han Dynasty. Not only have you coerced the emperor, but you have also harmed your meritorious colleagues. Your crimes are unforgivable!"

"Stubborn fool!" Cao Cao sneered. Pointing to Guan Jing atop the city wall, he said, "This man has long aided the traitor Gongsun in his rebellion; he is utterly wicked. Whoever takes his life will be richly rewarded! As for the rest of you, if you lay down your arms and surrender, I, Cao Mengde, have already promised to spare your lives!"

Gongsun Zan's soldiers, who had initially fought Cao Cao's army with a death wish, inspired by Guan Jing, were now wavering after hearing Cao Cao's words. Indeed, if there were a way to survive, who would choose to seek death?

Guan Jing suddenly noticed that the enemy's offensive had stalled. Many soldiers looked at each other with hesitation, and Guan Jing angrily said, "Are you still believing Cao Mengde's words? Don't wait until the city falls and it's too late to regret it!"

Cao Cao, noticing Gongsun Zan's hesitation, exclaimed with delight, "I, Cao Mengde, hereby swear to Heaven that after the city falls, I will only punish the wicked old traitor Gongsun and one of his accomplices in the tyranny; all others will be spared. The people in the city will also be left untouched. If I break this oath, may the gods and ghosts be angered, and may Heaven and Earth condemn me!"

In ancient times, when reputation and credibility were highly valued, a person's reputation was of paramount importance, even more so than their life. If someone made a solemn vow but failed to keep it, they would not only disappoint the world but also alienate their own subordinates.

Now Cao Mengde swore an oath to Heaven, in front of more than ten thousand people. How heavy is this oath?

"Clang! Clang!" It was unclear who first threw down their weapon, but the sounds of weapons being discarded echoed continuously from the city walls, lingering for a long time. No matter how furious Guan Jing was, shouting and cursing, he could not stop the current situation.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Jiang Zhe, who was beside Cao Cao, seemed to have seen something strange.

"Upholding righteousness?" Cao Cao glanced at Jiang Zhe with suspicion. He hesitated before saying, "Could it be that what I said was inappropriate?"

"No!" Jiang Zhe shook his head, pointing at Yi Jing and saying, "Mengde, look there!"

Cao Cao was completely bewildered. He stared intently in the direction Jiang Zhe had indicated for a long time, then asked with a strange expression, "What did Shouyi want me to look at?"

"Can't see it?" Jiang Zhe glanced at Cao Cao in confusion, then turned to look at Yijing City. He saw a beam of yellow light shoot into the sky and then disappear into the surroundings. Could it be...?

"Gongsun Zan's luck has run out!" Jiang Zhe sighed and said in a deep voice. If it weren't for him, Gongsun Zan would probably still have some time left to live. Unfortunately, Cao Cao also nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a great commotion in the city and faintly heard shouts of "Fire!"

"What's going on?" Cao Cao frowned slightly.

"Mengde, there's no need to worry!" Jiang Zhe glanced deeply at Yi Jing and said calmly, "Gongsun Xiaozan's life ends at this moment!"

"Huh?" Cao Cao looked shocked.

Just as Jiang Zhe said, an hour ago, Gongsun Zan received news that Cao Cao's troops had crossed the ice of the Yi River and arrived at the foot of the walls of Yijing. He was so shocked that he dropped his wine cup, looking completely incredulous.

Gongsun Zan, having long resided in Yijing, Youzhou, was certainly familiar with the Yi River. He had initially been watching with amusement as Cao Cao's army suffered a setback, but upon hearing this report, how could he not be astonished? "Jiang Shouyi truly possesses the wisdom of gods and demons!" Gongsun Zan exclaimed in surprise, having already received the report earlier. Under the orders of his strategist Jiang Zhe, Cao Cao's soldiers were throwing branches, clods of earth, and other debris into the Yi River every half hour for three or four days. However, Gongsun Zan racked his brains but couldn't figure out what Jiang Zhe was doing.

Could these miscellaneous items really make the ice on the Yi River solid and strong? Gongsun Zan found it utterly ridiculous; he wanted to see how Jiang Zhe would get Cao Cao's troops across the river!

"And Jiang Zhe succeeded," he said, "right under Gongsun Zan's nose, he made Cao Cao's soldiers cross the river on the ice that Gongsun Zan thought was impassable."

Gongsun Zan, who originally wanted to see Jiang Zhe make a fool of himself, is now filled with disheartening disillusionment. No matter what, nothing can defeat Jiang Zhe.

"Escape now would be futile!" Gongsun Zan murmured, then sighed deeply. He glanced sideways at his wives and concubines and shouted, "We will all drink this cup together!"

Gongsun Zan's wives and concubines naturally dared not disobey; they all held their cups tremblingly, looking at Gongsun Zan with fear.

After downing the wine in his cup in one gulp, Gongsun Zan looked at his wives and concubines and shouted, "What are you still hesitating for? Drink!"

Seeing Gongsun Zan's anger, his wives and concubines hurriedly drank their wine.

"Sigh!" Gongsun Zan sighed, stood up, slowly walked to the window, and suddenly opened it. A gust of cold wind swept into the room, and the women shivered.

Gongsun Zan's principal wife, Lady Liu, said, "My lord, it's very dangerous outside."

"Heh!" Gongsun Zan laughed sadly and said coldly, "You are not afraid of death, but only of the cold?" He then grabbed the sword hanging on the wall and drew it with a clang. "Husband?" Liu was shocked and frightened, and she and the other women retreated in fear.

Seeing the women's fear, Gongsun Zan roared, "I am your husband! If I die today, how can you not follow me in death?"

After hearing Gongsun Zan's words, his wife, Lady Liu, calmed down and sat upright on the couch, gazing intently at Gongsun Zan. The other women cried out in alarm and tried to run out of the room.

Gongsun Zan caught up in a few steps and killed all the concubines. Then he walked up to Liu Shi with his sword and looked at her indifferently. Liu Shi straightened her clothes and said gently, "I have known my husband since we met at the Battlefield. It has been more than 20 years now. Husband, I will go downstairs and wait for you." Gongsun Zan's tiger eyes were slightly red. He held the sword in his hand and pointed it at Liu Shi, but he still couldn't bring himself to stab her.

Liu smiled slightly. She gently gripped the sword with both hands, then fiercely thrust it into her own abdomen. Gongsun Zan released the sword, suddenly embraced Liu, his eyes filled with sorrow.

A trickle of blood slowly seeped from the corner of Liu's mouth as she stretched her hand toward Gongsun Zan's face, her eyes as gentle as ever.

"I'm sorry!" Gongsun Zan said, holding his wife's hand.

Liu shook her head, then opened her mouth and said with difficulty, "Continue to know..."

Stroking Liu's face, Gongsun Zan said softly, "Don't worry. I've already sent Xu'er out."

Liu nodded, then slowly closed her eyes… “Ah!” Gongsun Zan roared with his eyes tightly shut. He gazed affectionately at Liu in his arms, then carried her to the bed and covered her with a blanket… “Wait for me,” Gongsun Zan murmured, then took a deep breath, abruptly walked to the corner of the room where armor was displayed, drew his battle sword from there, and walked out with a ferocious expression… Half an hour later, Gongsun Zan killed his wife, children, and sisters, a total of more than thirty people. Amidst the terrified gazes of his guards, he slowly walked to his room and called out from inside.

"Bring me kerosene!"

"Yes, sir!" Fearing that Gongsun Zan would make things difficult for them, several guards exchanged glances and hurriedly ran to fetch what Gongsun Zan wanted.

Gongsun Zan glanced at the trembling guards before him, waved his hand, and sighed, saying, "You all, escape!" Then, as if he had aged ten years, he stumbled back into the house, carrying the two buckets of kerosene… The guards looked at each other, hesitant to enter. Unable to bear leaving, they could only stand at the door.

Gazing lovingly at Liu Shi on the bed, Gongsun Zan hesitated before stepping forward to stroke her pale cheek. His eyes softened as if recalling some past events.

After a long while, Gongsun Zan straightened his eyes, stood up, took a deep breath, picked up the two buckets of kerosene, and poured it all over the room.

"You think you, Cao Mengde, can take my head?" Gongsun Zan sneered, slowly taking out a tinderbox from his robes, lighting it with a "crack," and casually tossing it on the ground.

The kerosene on the floor ignited violently upon contact with the fire, and in an instant, a raging inferno engulfed the entire room… Sitting upright on the couch, Gongsun Xiaozan reached out and grasped Liu's cold hand, looking out the window and shouting, “Cao Mengde, you mere descendant of a eunuch, today you've earned the reputation of a worthless brat!”

The shouts were so loud that even the guards outside the house could hear them clearly. Looking at the house where the fire had begun to spread, the guards shouted "My lord!" But there was no sound from inside the house.

They exchanged a glance, and the guards drew their swords from their waists, their eyes turning cold. They were actually plotting something for their own benefit… Meanwhile, outside Yijing City, Jiang Zhe was helping Cao Cao recruit the surrendered soldiers of Gongsun Zan when suddenly a thought struck him. He looked up and seemed to see a shooting star streak across the sky, disappearing in a flash. “Gongsun Zan… has fallen.”

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