Chapter 27: The Qi of Sun Jian Spits Blood

  Sun Jian's large camp had just finished setting up its three thousand cavalrymen when a small squad leader rushed in.

  "General, something has gone terribly wrong."

  The little school god was shocked, rushed to Sun Jian's account, and before he could pay his respects, he hastily shouted: "The end will just catch a few soldiers, thinking it is the Xiliang rebel spy, who knows after asking, only to know that it is the defender of Jie County."

  Sun Jian's eyebrows rose, and he asked in a deep voice: "What happened?"

  Xiao Xiaodao: "According to the several city guards of Qiao County, last night the Western Liang army launched a surprise attack under cover of darkness and has already breached Qiao County."

  "What?"

  Sun Jian's face suddenly changed, and he stood up with a swoop, saying loudly: "How is it possible? Qiao County has 3,000 troops, and the Western Liang army does not have siege engines or heavy equipment. How can they break into Qiao County? Can't they fly in from the sky?"

  Xiao Xiao wiped away cold sweat and said: "Uh, it's true what the general said, the Xiliang rebels really flew into the city."

  Sun Jian was stunned on the spot, he had just told a joke, and it actually came true?

  Xiao Xiao said, "The end will has already inquired about it in detail. It is said that last night at around three watches, more than 100 Western Liang soldiers flew from the sky to the head of Jie County Castle, and the defending army was caught off guard, losing the city gate in one move, which led to the loss of the city."

  Sun Jian took a deep breath, and sternly said: "This is utter nonsense! The Western Liang army isn't composed of birds that can fly into the city from the sky. How could this be possible? Are you military officers deceiving each other?"

  "General, I swear on my honor that every word I've spoken is true, and not a single word is false."

  "Uh!"

  Sun Jian was thoroughly stunned and really didn't dare to believe it.

  The Western Liang army could fly from the sky onto the city wall, which was simply too absurd.

  Such an absurd and unbelievable thing, Sun Jian found it hard to believe no matter what.

  "General, General?"

  Xiao Xiao saw Sun Jian stunned, waited for half a day without seeing any movement, and hurriedly called out in a low voice twice.

  Sun Jian came back to his senses and shouted loudly: "Quickly assemble the troops, follow this general to Jie County to see what's going on."

  "Roger."

  The little school boy hastily obeyed and ran out quickly with big strides.

  Tiger Trap Pass, temporary residence of the Prime Minister.

  Dong Zhuo's face was filled with worry, as the rebel army from Guandong had been attacking the city of Guanzhong fiercely, and the Tiger Trap Pass was on the verge of collapse. The rebel army's strong attack on the heavily fortified city had resulted in heavy casualties, but the 100,000-strong Western Liang army defending the pass were also taking turns to fight, with no end in sight.

  Fortunately, Xu Rong led 20,000 troops to arrive at Shiguan, and finally blocked the 30,000 troops of Liu Yan in Western Shu.

  Only thirty thousand Sichuan troops were holed up in their camp and refused to come out, and Xu Rong found it difficult to break through for the time being.

  Dong Zhuo has been worried for days, unable to eat or sleep well.

  He rubbed his eyebrows and asked Li Ru beside him, "Wen You, has there been any news from Hu Zhi's army?"

  "Your Excellency, General Hu Zhi has penetrated deep into the Central Plains, and it is not convenient to transmit military information due to the heavy siege. Since the capture of Wan City, there has been no news coming in. However, as I expected, General Hu Zhi's 8,000 elite iron cavalry should have already entered Yu Province."

  Dong Zhuo nodded, "I also think so, otherwise, would there be any reason not to pass on the message?"

  Li Ru said, "General Hu Zhi is capable of conquest and skilled in battle. He is one of the main generals under our lord's command. Previously, he used the strategy of 'borrowing a tiger to leave the mountain' to break through An City. The various lords of Guandong must have already received news of this, and I reckon that before long, they will retreat."

  Dong Zhuo also had some confidence in Hu Zhi, and he slightly let out a breath of relief, saying: "This is good, this is good!"

  As soon as the words fell, suddenly Xiaoxiao rushed in hastily and said loudly: "Master, General Fan Chou has an urgent military situation to report."

  Dong Zhuo's spirit was suddenly lifted, and he said loudly: "Speak."

  The little school loudly said: "Just now, our army captured a fine work of the Guandong rebel army. General Fan Chou ordered me to report to Master Gong that the Guandong rebel army has sent Jiangdong's fierce tiger Sun Jian to lead 3,000 cavalry and 15,000 infantrymen to kill Yu Province."

  Dong Zhuo's face sank instantly, his two thick eyebrows tightly knotted together.

  Li Ru also felt a chill in his heart and said to Dong Zhuo: "My lord, at present, General Hu Zhen is burning, killing and looting in the Central Plains, but the Eastern Lords only sent Sun Jian to lead the army to attack him, without retreating their troops. It seems that they are determined to break through the pass!"

  "Hey!"

  Dong Zhuo slammed his fist heavily on the table, his face extremely gloomy.

  Li Ru thought for a moment and said, "At present, the only vassals in Guandong who have been plundered are Yuan Shu and Kong Rong. Even if we want to retreat, I'm afraid the other vassals will persuade us not to. If General Hu Zhi can attack and capture Qiao County, seize Kong Rong's old nest, and then march north to kill into Yanzhou, then Liu Dai, Governor of Yanzhou, Zhang Miao, Taishou of Chenliu, Bao Xin, Xiang of Jibei, and Yuan Yi, Taishou of Shanyang, will certainly retreat."

  Dong Zhuo thought for a moment, then suddenly understood and his spirit lifted. He nodded repeatedly and said: "Wen You's words are extremely correct. If Hu Zhi can capture Xiao County again, it will be enough to intimidate the Eastern warlords. Zhang Miao, Liu Dai and others will not dare to harbor any lucky thoughts. As soon as they learn that Hu Zhi leads his army north to invade Yan Province, they will surely retreat with their troops. In this way, we can have no worries."

  Li Ru said, "General Hu Zhi will turn Yanzhou upside down and then continue to lead his army north. Taking advantage of the situation, he will cross the Yellow River and attack Jizhou. Then, the Governor of Jizhou, Han Fu, and the Governor of Beihai, Kong Rong, will also retreat with their troops."

  "It would be even better like this."

  Dong Zhuo slapped his thigh and immediately looked worried again, "But can Hu Zhi recognize the danger in it?"

  Li Ruyu thought for a moment, then said: "Your Excellency can dispatch twenty routes of fast horses to search for General Hu Zhen's army separately. As long as one route finds General Hu Zhen, they can convey Your Excellency's orders to the army."

  Dong Zhuo said resolutely: "Good, let's do it this way."

  Zhao County, North Gate.

  Three thousand Youyan cavalrymen arrived at the north gate and lined up in a single row under the city wall.

  Sun Jian raised his head and looked around, seeing people standing densely on the city wall, with banners and flags fluttering in the wind.

  The flag is the flag of Yu State soldiers, but somehow it feels a bit eerie.

  Sun Jian would not have known that Jiao County had been lost, otherwise he would have certainly not known that the city was actually occupied by the Western Liang army.

  "Is this Sun Jian? Where is Governor Xu Jing?"

  Sun Jian urged his horse out of the formation and stopped at a distance of one arrow from the city gate, shouting loudly.

  As soon as the words fell, a 'hiss' sound was heard, and a strong arrow broke through the air and came straight to his face.

  Sun Jian was well-prepared and calmly dodged to the side.

  The banner on the city wall was changed, and a Western Liang army flag was raised, with a rusty " Luo" character as big as a dipper.

  "Sun Jian, a common man, knows something?"

  Sun Jian was perplexed and had never heard of a great general with the surname Luo in the Western Liang army, but he didn't know who it was.

  Suddenly a loud shout like thunder burst forth from the city wall, and it sounded somewhat familiar.

  Sun Jian hastily fixed his eyes on him and saw a young military general in his early twenties standing solemnly under the flagpole.

  "Who are you?"

  Sun Jian did not recognize Luo Zhen and sternly asked him who he was.

  That night at the Ze Water Pass, it was pitch black and he didn't see Luo Zheng's face.

  Just hearing that loud shout a moment ago, it seemed somewhat familiar, but I just couldn't think of what it was.

  Lu Zheng laughed loudly, "Listen well, Sun Jian's subordinate! I am General Lu Zheng!"

  Sun Jian flew into a rage, "How dare you deceive me, I will behead you!"

  Suddenly I remembered where I had heard this voice before - it was on the night when Huang Gai and Han Dang, two generals, were captured.

  Sun Jian suddenly exploded, his hair standing on end in anger, and he loudly shouted: "Good fellow, it was you who harmed Gong Yu and Yi Gong! Ahhh, I'm so angry that I'm about to die! Luo Zheng, you little scoundrel, quickly come out and accept your death!"

  Luo Zheng burst out laughing three times and shook his head.

  Sun Jian's subordinate, Chen Gong, immediately shouted loudly: "Sun Jian, you rebel, come quickly to receive your death!"

  "Hahaha!"

  The soldiers on the city wall burst into loud laughter and cursed loudly.

  Sun Jian was so angry that he almost bit his teeth to pieces, remembering the night when they were ambushed in the dark and Huang Gai and Han Dang were captured and beheaded by the Western Liang army, their heads hung on the city gate for display. His heart was about to bleed with rage, and his anger was about to burn fiercely, shouting: "Luo Zhen, you little boy, if you have the guts, come out of the city and fight a great battle with me, don't hide in the city like a turtle!"

  Luo Zheng burst out laughing, "A martial artist is just a martial artist, competing in strength and bravery, how can it be the work of a great general? What an idiot!"

  The city head burst out laughing again, and the Western Cool Army felt extremely refreshing.

  Sun Jian almost vomited blood in anger and shouted towards the sky, "Luo Zhenxiao, I swear to kill you!"

  Ruo Zhen smiled and said: "Sun Jian, you are just a mediocre man. Stop barking like a mad dog here. At the front of the Hanjin Gate that night, I had planned to capture your generals Huang Gai and Han Dang, but unfortunately for me, you were lucky enough to escape."

  "Pffft!"

  Sun Jian could no longer hold back his anger and a mouthful of old blood spurted out.

  It's really infuriating, I've never been so angry before.

  The city head of Caoxian County was once again shocked by the thunderous applause, and the three thousand Youyan cavalry were stunned.

  The majestic tiger of Jiangdong was actually enraged to the point of vomiting blood, this is truly...

  "Lu Zhēn xiǎo ér, mǒu ráo bù liǎo nǐ."

  Translation: "Luzhen is going to catch the little thief, and you can't escape punishment."

  Sun Jian looked up at the sky and let out a loud roar, his anger was like a stormy sea.

  Even the Western Liang soldiers on the city wall couldn't help but shiver with fear when they heard this.

  How deep must this hatred be to hate like this!

  Lu Zhen let out a cold hum and shook his head, instructing Xu Chu, "Zhong Kang, quickly go out of the city and engage in battle with Sun Jian."

  "Roger."

  Xu Chu responded with a loud "Yes!" and immediately rushed down from the city wall.

  Soon, the suspension bridge crashed onto the bridge pier, and the city gate opened wide.

  Xu Chu led 500 Western Liang cavalrymen out of the city and formed a line at the foot of the city wall.

  "Sun Jian, you mediocre man, come quickly to accept your death."

  Xu Chu let out a loud roar, slapped his horse and wielded his sword, charging straight for Sun Jian.

  "Kill!"

  Sun Jian's anger ignited, and he didn't care about asking the approaching general his name. With a loud roar, he urged his horse to charge forward and kill him.

  Right!

  In the instant when two horses crossed each other, the loud sound of clashing gold and iron pierced through the clouds and cracked the sky.

  Sun Jian's whole body shook, and the wild power surged back, as if he had been struck in the chest by a large hammer. His arms were numb and weak, unable to move, and he was greatly shocked. He secretly wondered when there would be such a fierce general in the Western Liang army.

  This guy's strength is surprisingly not at all inferior to his own.

  The city of Cao County, the Western Liang generals saw Xu Chu so brave and powerful, able to contend with the fierce tiger Sun Jian of Jiangdong, suddenly burst into a deafening cheer again, morale soared to its peak, all soldiers were excited and flushed.

  It is worth noting that Jiangdong's fierce tiger Sun Jian was no ordinary person. In the Western Liang army, except for Lü Bu, no one could fight him alone.

  Even Hua Xiong, a fierce general of Western Liang, was beheaded by Sun Jian at the Battle of Tiger Trap Pass.

  Now Xu Chu can match Sun Jian in strength, how can it not greatly boost the morale of the Western Liang generals?

  The shout had barely faded when Xu Chu reined in his warhorse and turned back to kill.

  Sun Jian remained calm and undaunted, rallied his spirits, urged on his horse, and engaged in a fierce battle with Xu Zhu.

  And the three thousand Youyan cavalry saw that Sun Jian's martial arts were so powerful, and they all cheered like thunder, greatly boosting their morale.