“Who dares to obstruct?” Liu Pan raised the golden token high, strode to the city walls, and cut the ropes of the drawbridge.
Ah.
As the city gates opened, the drawbridge crashed down onto the river surface, bouncing and kicking up dust.
“Cai Mao, you can’t escape—”
Before the drawbridge had even settled, Zhao Yun, unable to contain his impatience, had already switched horses and was waiting, urging his horse onto the drawbridge and charging into the city.
Quick, follow!” Liu Qi hurriedly instructed Huang Zhong to follow and protect.
At this moment, Zhao Yun was in full rampage mode, with three hundred elite soldiers following him. Cai Mao was doomed this time.
Following Zhao Yun into the city, Liu Pan had already secured the west gate. Realizing that Liu Bei had been killed, he sighed, “The Lord has been in a deep slumber, nearly missing a crucial moment.”
“Just in time!” Liu Qi ordered Wang Wei to guard the city, while Wen Pin led troops to persuade the defenders inside the city to surrender, heading towards the government office with Liu Pan.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yun had already taken the lead and headed straight for the north gate, glaring at Cai Mao who was running wildly on the city walls. He shouted, “Treasonous scoundrel, surrender yourself!”
Cai Mao was terrified, seeing Zhao Yun’s fast approach. He abandoned his helmet and armor, running frantically while shouting for soldiers to intercept him.
The commander of the north gate was none other than Cai Xun. Seeing Zhao Yun chasing after him alone, he became furious, exclaiming, “You think you can kill my brother alone? You’re too audacious!”
Immediately, he led his soldiers down from the city, mounted his horse with a sword in hand, and met Zhao Yun head-on, sneering, “You’re quite audaciou—…
Ah.
Before he could finish his sentence, his sword was still hanging mid-air when Zhao Yun swiftly thrust his spear, a blur of movement that pierced through his chest.
With a flick of his wrist, Zhao Yun tossed Cai Xun’s body high into the air, his silver spear dancing like a spirit snake, and in an instant, all the soldiers at the street corner collapsed.
“Release the arrows, quickly!” Zhang Yun shouted hoarsely, commanding the defenders to stop Zhao Yun from climbing the city walls, while assisting Cai Mao to flee towards the east gate.
Zhao Yun urged his horse through the streets, sweeping aside any soldiers who tried to intercept him with a horizontal sweep of his spear, bodies flying like leaves in the autumn wind.
Just as he reached the intersection of the east street, Cai He, who was guarding the east gate and leading troops to reinforce, saw Zhao Yun approaching. He quickly directed his soldiers to block the street and released a barrage of arrows to stop him.
Suddenly, a hail of arrows filled the street, trapping Zhao Yun within. He deflected the arrows with his spear, but his steed couldn’t withstand the assault and fell to the ground, struck by arrows.
Zhao Yun remained calm and fearless, leaping off his horse, wielding his spear as he continued to charge forward. Seeing this, Cai He was greatly alarmed and commanded his soldiers to form a defensive formation to block the alleyway.
“Hahaha, good, kill him quickly!” Zhang Yun, observing from the city walls, laughed menacingly, “I see you alone… ah—”
Before he could finish his sentence, an arrow flew from below, hitting him right between the eyebrows. He fell backward, screaming in agony.
Cai Mao, noticing the archer with white whiskers approaching, who was none other than Huang Zhong, understood his exceptional archery skills. He panicked, fled in disarray, and ordered the soldiers to open the city gates while taking cover in the city tower.
By this time, Zhao Yun had already charged to the front of the formation. With a thunderous shout, his gleaming silver spear swept across like an enraged dragon.
With a loud bang, several shields in front shattered, soldiers screamed and fell, some even flew backward.
“Block him, quickly block him!” Cai He, who was commanding, paled in shock.
As reinforcements arrived from behind, Cai He turned his horse and fled through the east gate along with Cai Mao who was descending from the city.
By the time Huang Zhong arrived, Zhao Yun had dispersed the intercepting soldiers, seized a horse, and together they led the troops in pursuit out of the city.
The road through the east gate led straight to Xian mountain. Both sides chased each other relentlessly, Zhao Yun glaring at Cai Mao with fiery red eyes. If it weren’t for his white dragon horse, he would have caught up long ago and slain him.
Huang Zhong drew his bow on horseback, shooting down several soldiers in succession. This action prompted Zhao Yun to hang his spear on the horse’s back and take down his longbow to shoot arrows as well.
The two men had a tacit understanding, aiming only at the soldiers blocking Cai Mao and releasing arrows in unison. Like a competition, every arrow found its mark, and countless bodies fell along the way.
Hearing the cries of agony, Cai Mao was even more terrified, lying flat on his horse’s back without daring to look back. However, the sound of hooves behind him was diminishing.
Cai He glanced back and trembled, saying, “Brother, they’re gone.”
“Nonsense, I’m still alive… Ah”
In a fit of rage, before Cai Mao could finish his sentence, he suddenly convulsed on his horse, his face contorting. It turned out that an arrow had struck his buttocks.
Looking back, his face turned pale as he saw the guards dispersing to the sides. Only he and his brother remained fleeing for their lives, with two bows aimed at them from behind.
Seeing the archers targeting Cai Mao, Cai He shouted, “Brother, split up! I’ll help draw their attention away from you.”
Without hesitation, he spurred his horse and bolted down a side path.
Simultaneously, Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong released their arrows like shooting stars, heading straight for Cai Mao, who hastily maneuvered his horse to evade them.
Ah.
Sobs filled the air.
Amidst the cries of agony and the neighing of horses, Zhao Yun’s arrow struck Cai Mao’s left rib, while Huang Zhong’s arrow found its mark on the mount’s cheek.
With a thud, the warhorse tumbled to the ground, throwing Cai Mao off.
Dizzy and seeing stars from the fall, Cai Mao scrambled to his feet, only to be met by a dark figure rushing towards him. He hastily pleaded, “Please don’t kill me, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Ah.
A dazzling flash of cold light passed, as Zhao Yun rode by, sword rising and falling swiftly. Cai Mao’s head flew into the air.
The half-bodied corpse knelt in the wilderness, blood spouting like a fountain from the neck, reaching towards the sky as the setting sun cast a brilliant hue like fireworks.
Dismounting, Zhao Yun lifted Cai Mao’s severed head with his spear, knelt facing west, tears streaming down his face, “Lord, I have avenged you!”
The three hundred guards also split up to pursue, all of them Liu Bei’s elite White Feathered Soldiers, their pent-up anger unleashed as they slaughtered Cai Mao’s followers and retainers.
Before long, each held a head, bringing Cai He back alive, who knelt and repeatedly kowtowed in reverence, unable to rise.
Watching the pile of heads before him, Cai He was so frightened that he lost control of his bowels and bladder, fainting on the spot.
Huang Zhong stood by silently, his expression complex.
Initially intending to save Liu Bei and then have him deal with Cai Mao, Liu Qi was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.
After a while, Zhao Yun finally calmed himself, wiping away tears as he stood up, bloodstains marring his cuffs, and blood trickling from the corner of his eye at some point unnoticed.
With a sigh, Huang Zhong stepped forward and pointed at Cai He, saying, “This man is Cai Mao’s brother, Cai He. General, please take action.”
Zhao Yun, with an expressionless face, understood that Huang Zhong’s earlier arrow was meant to aid him. After a pause, he ordered, “Take him back and hand him over to the eldest son for judgment.”
Impressed, Huang Zhong couldn’t help but admire Zhao Yun’s extraordinary composure in the midst of profound grief and anger. What remarkable composure he displayed.
With Cai Mao and his brother defeated, and no worthy opponents left in the city.
Zhao Yun carried Cai Mao’s head and proceeded to transport Liu Bei’s body to the riverbank.
Huang Zhong instructed his men to escort Cai He back to the city on horseback, reflecting on the various changes brought about by Liu Qi during this incident, feeling greatly comforted by Liu Qi’s decisions.
Liu Pan also intended to protect Liu Qi, but Liu Qi had been ill for a long time, with a weak and timid nature. Bullied by the Cai family and unable to resist, seeing no way out and being marginalized by Cai Mao, he became disheartened and resigned from his official position to return to You County.
After Liu Qi’s recent recovery from a serious illness, he urgently summoned Liu Pan to Xiangyang to confront the Cai family. Every deployment was steady and well-considered, seizing every opportunity. If not for Liu Bei’s unexpected escape, everything would have been under control.
Looking at the fainted Cai He on the horse, Huang Zhong stroked his beard and sighed, “Heaven imposes heavy responsibilities on those it will use. With sorrow and toil, it tests their resolution, strains their sinews and bones, and exposes their limitations…”
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