Chapter 62: The True and False Sun Jian
"Huangfu the old man has been killed, Huangfu the old man has been killed!" The news spread quickly throughout the city. Zhang Fei held up Huangfu Song's head, excited and a bit arrogant, and ran wildly around the city, shouting and cheering. Xu Feng stood on the rooftop, looking at Zhang Fei galloping through the crowd with some satisfaction, nodding his head in approval. "Huangfu Song, you little scoundrel, your life was really tough, several battles and I couldn't get your dog's head, today I finally got my wish, and relieved my hatred."
"Pass on the order to sweep away the remaining rebels in the city, not a single one is to be left alive. Kill Sun Jian and Sun Wentai, regardless of whether they are dead or alive." Xu Feng ordered the messenger soldier beside him.
The orderly hastily went down to pass on the order, one told ten, ten told a hundred, and soon, almost everyone in the city was shouting "Eliminate the remnants, execute Sun Wentai."
"Master, you go first. The North Gate is guarded by Tian Wei, we can't get out." Zu Mao used his strength to block Tian Wei's twin halberds and shouted back at Sun Jian.
"Haha, you can't even protect yourself, yet you're worried about others? You're seeking death." Dian Wei sneered coldly and exerted force with his wrist. His right iron pike, Tai Shan, pressed down on Zu Mao's Tian Ling Gai, while his left iron pike swept horizontally across Zu Mao's waist. Zu Mao was already in a miserable state, having been smashed several times by Dian Wei during the intense battle. If not for rescuing Sun Jian, he would have fled long ago. Only a fool would engage in a death struggle with Dian Wei; unless he wanted to die young. Even so, at this moment, Zu Mao was only barely holding on, gritting his teeth and struggling to persevere. After all, Dian Wei's bravery and ferocity were not something he could withstand.
"With a loud crash, Zong Mao was knocked off his horse by Dian Wei and fell to the ground. The warhorse let out a pained whinny as its ribs were crushed by Dian Wei's blow, causing its entire back to collapse. The horse lay on the ground, struggling to breathe, its eyes filled with pain. Dian Wei gazed at the suffering animal, his eyes flashing with a hint of pity. He sighed and raised his iron spear once more, striking the final blow to end the horse's misery."
"My lord, come with me quickly." Huang Gai, covered in blood, rushed to Sun Jian's side, hastily pulled him up and fled towards the south gate.
"Zu Mao, we can't stay and fight, let's retreat quickly!" Sun Jian shouted as he ran, turning around to wave at Zu Mao with a worried expression.
"Haha, none of you can escape." Seeing Zu Mao struggling to get up, panting heavily, his hands trembling non-stop, barely standing still, Dian Wei sneered and walked towards Zu Mao step by step with the iron spear.
"I won't die here until I see Master leave safely." Zu Mao hurriedly ran to the south gate, swaying his body as he went.
"If I kill you now, I will definitely be ridiculed by others." Although the opponent had turned his back on him, Dian Wei still couldn't bring himself to strike.
"Give chase, the order of Commander Guo is to annihilate Sun Wentai. These small fish and shrimp can be put aside for now." Seeing that not many government soldiers survived, Dianwei hastily ordered the pursuit and killing of Sun Jian. After a bloody battle, the Tiger Guard suffered minimal casualties, with only over a hundred men lost, making it one of their least costly battles. Everyone responded in unison, rushing to the south gate in pursuit.
Sun Jian, under the cover of Huang Gai and Han Dang, rushed through the crowd and fled to the south gate. However, wherever Sun Jian ran, the Yellow Turbans would chase after him with a relentless attitude. Moreover, whenever Sun Jian was discovered, the Yellow Turbans would immediately shout loudly "Sun Jian is here! Come quickly and kill him!"
Sun Jian and others fled in disarray, hiding and dodging, "Sir, it's not good, your helmet is too eye-catching, just take it off." Because Sun Jian's helmet was called the Flying Dragon Blazing Crown, even on a dark night without stars, it still shone brightly, dazzling to behold. Therefore, it was easy to be discovered by others. Huang Gai discovered this problem and hastily reminded Sun Jian.
"Alright, alright." Sun Jian nodded and hastily removed his helmet, only to have it snatched away by Zu Mao, who had been wounded in the pursuit. "My lord, you head for the south gate, I'll hold off the pursuing troops."
"Zu Mao, you..." Sun Jian was moved and didn't know how to persuade him.
"Master, you are our Jiangdong's hope, you must get out of here alive. Zu Mao is mortally wounded and his life is almost gone. I hope Master will fulfill Zu Mao's wish and let him die with a smile on his face. If there's an opportunity in the next life, Zu Mao would still like to follow Master and serve him with all his might." After finishing speaking, he put on the Flying Dragon Blazing Flame Crown, led over a war horse, mounted it, and brought a team of people running in the opposite direction of Sun Jian and others.
"Sun Jian is here! Come quickly, kill Sun Jian, kill Sun Wentai!" Someone saw Zu Mao wearing the Flying Dragon Blazing Crown and hastily shouted loudly.
"Alas... Zu Mao." Sun Jian pounded his chest and stamped his feet, looking self-reproachful. Huang Gai hastily advised, "Milord, this is not a place to linger. You can't let Zu Mao down. Let's hurry up and escape!"
Nanmen, Pei Yuanshao held a wolf-toothed club, waiting in array, but hearing the continuous shouting and killing sounds from within the city, Pei Yuanshao became somewhat anxious and itchy. Others were all going up to kill the enemy, while his side had no battle to fight. After waiting for several periods of time, not even a fly came into contact with him, leaving Pei Yuanshao very disappointed.
When he heard that Huangfu Song was killed by Zhang Fei, Pei Yuanshao envied him very much. In this battle, Zhang Fei won the first place and showed off his skills. After a while, he also heard the news that Sun Jian would be executed. Pei Yuanshao rubbed his hands hard, clenched his fists, touched his chest which still hurt slightly, gritted his teeth and said, "Sun Jian, this revenge will not be repaid, Pei Yuanshao is a useless man."
"Follow me." Pei Yuanshao waited a little longer, but he couldn't sit still any longer. He waved his hand and led the 500 soldiers to enter and kill Sun Jian.
Even if someone advised against it, they couldn't stop the flames of revenge burning in Pei Yuanshao's heart. Originally a Tiger Guard, he had been promoted to a small commander by Xu Feng for his meritorious service in battle. This time, he was entrusted with an important task, leading men to guard the south gate and not allowing any mistakes. However, this young man, eager for revenge, actually led his men into the city to find Sun Jian.
As soon as they entered the city, someone shouted loudly, "Sun Jian is here! Come and kill him!" Pei Yuanshao was overjoyed when he heard this and thought to himself, "How about that? As soon as we enter the city, we discover Sun Jian's trail. Heaven is indeed kind to me. It seems I can avenge my humiliation today." Without suspecting anything, Pei Yuanshao hastily led his men in pursuit.
Unexpectedly, Huang Gai and Han Dang led a group of soldiers, escorting Sun Jian, and arrived at the south gate just after Pei Yuan Shao had left.
Unexpectedly, it was discovered that the south gate was undermanned. At first, Sun Jian thought there might be an ambush and did not dare to approach easily. Suddenly, he heard the gate soldiers shouting: "Pei Yuanshao's commander is chasing and killing Sun Jian. If someone launches a surprise attack at this time and seizes the city gate, what should we do?"
"My lord, it's truly heaven helping me! I didn't expect Pei Yuanshao to leave with his men. We can take advantage of the opportunity to escape the city." Huang Gai excitedly stroked his short beard under his chin and laughed with excitement.
