Chapter 67: Shooting and Killing Zhang Liang

  The Chinese military headquarters.

  Two tables were placed at the top, and Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi sat on either side.

  Dozens of officers above the rank of lieutenant colonel stood on both sides, each with a solemn expression and eyes fixed straight ahead.

  Since the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Han army had been winning battle after battle and was unstoppable. Many officers in the army were proud and arrogant. Now that they have encountered a real tough battle, they suffered a defeat in attacking the city and all the officers are dejected and disheartened, feeling somewhat discouraged.

  Lu Zhi looked around at the various generals and asked: "Now that the rebel army has 150,000 troops firmly defending the city and refusing to come out, do any of you have a good strategy for breaking into the city?"

  What good strategy can all these generals and officials offer? Each one's eyes are rolling wildly, yet no one has a plan to present.

  Huangfu Song thought for a moment and said: "Why don't we use the strategy of 'digging up the son' to defeat him?"

  Lu Zhi sighed and said, "Yi Zhen doesn't know this, but earlier our army used the tunnel troops to attack the city. Unexpectedly, we were discovered by the rebel army, who sealed off the entrance of the tunnel with giant rocks and large fires, causing us to lose countless soldiers."

  "I thought I could give it a try."

  A certain colonel under Lu Zhi's command hastily said, "Although the rebels last time saw through our tunneling army, it was just luck. The main reason was that our army happened to dig the tunnels outside Zhang Jiao's old bandit camp. I think the rebels don't know military strategy and won't expect us to use the same trick twice after the failure of the tunneling army attacking the city, and since it has been more than a month since the failure of the tunneling army attacking the city, the rebels should be slack in their defense. If the tunneling army can succeed, that's good. Even if we fail, our army won't suffer any losses."

  Huang Fu said: "Now breaking the city is no good strategy, this method can also be tried."

  Lu Zhi smiled and said: "In that case, would you like Yizhen to take care of it?"

  Huang Fu said: "That is what I wish for, where is Wu Qiong?"

  Commander of the Long Water Garrison Wu Qiong hastily stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute: "Your subordinate is present."

  Huang Fu said: "Lead the troops of our division, dig a tunnel into the city, and capture it in one battle, quelling the rebellion."

  Wu Qiong said: "I will follow orders."

  The troops dispersed immediately and launched another attack on the city the next day, covering the digging of tunnels by Xun Yu's army.

  The next day at dawn, in order to confuse and distract the rebel army's attention within the city, Lu Zhi led his troops in a full-scale assault on the city.

  In the midst of the thunderous drumbeats, two thousand infantrymen swiftly arrived at the foot of the city wall, braving the hail of arrows and rolling stones. They quickly set up the cloud ladders against the top of the wall, holding their shields as they rapidly climbed upwards. From time to time, soldiers who were hit by arrows or crushed by logs would cry out in agony as they fell off the ladders, or the ladders would be overturned by the Yellow Turban rebels on the city walls.

  The spark of life bursts forth at this moment.

  The soldiers sacrificed their lives and forgot about death, climbing up the ladders one after another, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Yellow Turban rebels on the city wall.

  Time and time again they charged up to the city walls, only to be driven back down each time.

  Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi were expressionless, and the other generals also remained unmoved, ignoring the fragility of life.

  Fierce attack for three days and five fruits, on the fourth day, in order to reduce casualties, the Han army used a fake attack strategy to harass the rebels inside Guangzong City without stopping. Every day, two camps of rebel soldiers took turns to go up to the battlefield, making fake attacks on the city day and night.

  On the eighth day, it was Zhou Jian's two battalions' turn to emerge from their formation and harass the enemy.

  More than 3,000 soldiers were divided into ten teams, taking turns launching fake attacks on the city head of Guangzong from the west and south gates.

  Zhou Jian rode his horse to the foot of the city wall, took a glance, then picked up the five-stone strong bow and placed an arrow with wolf-toothed feathers on the string.

  In an instant, the five-stone horn bow was drawn open, full like a crescent moon.

  On the city wall, Zhang Liang wore armor and was personally directing soldiers to kill the enemy.

  Suddenly, a sharp and clear twang of the bowstring sounded in his ear, amidst the earth-shaking cries of "Kill!" it was so loud that he immediately heard a distant thunder-like roar, "General, be careful."

  Zhang Liang had not yet reacted when he felt a flash of light in front of his eyes, followed by severe pain in his throat and all the strength in his body disappearing like flowing water.

  "Ah, General!"

  Before losing consciousness completely, Zhang Liang vaguely heard the sound of his personal bodyguards wailing in terror.

  Zhou Jian's eyes were icy cold, and after shooting Zhang Liang to death, he immediately took out another wolf-toothed arrow and searched for his next target.

  In front of the Han army formation.

  A small school strategist rode forward on horseback and excitedly said: "General, Zhou Jian General shot and killed the rebel leader Zhang Liang."

  "What...this...good, very good."

  Lu Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then struck his thigh and exclaimed loudly: "Killing is good! I didn't expect Zhou Jian's martial arts to be so exquisite. Zhang Liang is the younger brother of Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turban rebels. Now that he has been shot dead by Zhou Jian, it will surely greatly dampen the morale of the rebel army. We can take advantage of this momentum to break into the city."

  The officers immediately lifted their spirits and became excited one by one.

  The merit is in front of our eyes, and we can't even bother to envy or resent Zhou Jian. One by one, they are clenching their fists and rubbing their palms, waiting to kill the enemy and establish their merits.

  Huangfu Song said: "The bandit leader Zhang Liang is dead, the bandits' morale will be greatly dampened. This is exactly the opportunity to attack and capture the city in one move."

  Lu Zhi shouted: "Pass on my order, mobilize all troops to attack the city and try to capture it before sunset."

  "I will obey your orders."

  The generals and officers all responded in unison and immediately went to inspect their troops.

  Huang Fu Song also hastily ordered his generals to prepare for battle and be ready to kill at any moment, cut off the head of the general and seize the flag.

  Inside Guangzong City, a civilian residence.

  Inside the dilapidated earth house, more than a dozen wounded Yellow Turbans lay on the withered grass, moaning weakly.

  Since Lu Zhi's army besieged Guangzong, several fierce battles have taken place. Although the Yellow Turban rebels were defending a strong city, they lacked necessary military training and sufficient armor equipment, resulting in higher casualties than the Han army.

  Recurring fierce battles resulted in over 10,000 deaths and wounded soldiers numbering several times that of those killed.

  Sand!

  Sand!

  Sand!

  In the dead of night, a faint rustling sound suddenly arose in the quiet little cottage.

  The wounded Yellow Turban bandit had initially paid no attention, but after a while, he discovered that the voice was actually coming from underground.

  "What sound?"

  A Yellow Turban bandit with one leg cut off weakly asked.

  "It's probably a mouse."

  Another wounded Yellow Turban bandit replied casually.

  "Not true."

  The third bandit suddenly seemed to think of something and said: "I've dug tunnels before, this is the sound of digging a tunnel."

  "Digging an earth cellar?"

  Another Yellow Turban bandit suddenly shouted in shock, "Could it be that the Han army is digging tunnels again?"

  More than a dozen Yellow Turbans inside the thatched cottage immediately changed color and shouted, "The Han army is digging tunnels."

  A mournful howl echoed through the dark night, audible from far and near.

  Soon, a group of Yellow Turbans burst in with great fanfare.

  The leader of the Yellow Turban bandits shouted loudly: "What are you yelling about? Where is the Han army digging tunnels?"

  More than ten seriously injured Yellow Turbans could not get up, lying on the ground weakly saying: "It's right here, General, please listen. There is a sound underground. I have dug tunnels before, and this sound is from digging tunnels."

  The Yellow Turban leader listened intently for a while, then suddenly changed color and said: "Indeed, it is the Han army digging tunnels again. Damn it, you guys have made great contributions. If we were really ambushed by the Han army through underground tunnels, it would be a big deal."

  The crowd of Yellow Turbans immediately burst into an uproar and began discussing it heatedly.

  The leader of the Yellow Turbans shouted to his subordinates, "Come on, report to General Tian Gong immediately and tell him that the Han army has dug a tunnel into the city. Quickly gather dry grass, oil and other flammable materials. I want to burn those dog officials to death."

  "Roger."

  The Yellow Turbans immediately shouted in unison and dispersed in all directions.

  Before long, several thousand Yellow Turbans gathered near the earthen house.

  More than a dozen seriously injured Yellow Turbans inside the earth house had been transferred elsewhere. At a glance, countless dry straws, oil cans and giant rocks were piled around the small hut, with thousands of Yellow Turbans waiting in formation, ready to launch a fierce attack as soon as the government army dug open the tunnel.

  The ground began to shake slightly.

  All the Yellow Turban bandits' eyes were fixed on one point, and they were now completely convinced that the government troops' tunnel had already been dug under their feet.

  They waited for another quarter of an hour.

  In the yard outside the earth house, the ground suddenly sank down a large area, revealing a dark hole.

  The leader of the Yellow Turbans' eyes narrowed, and with a wave of his hand, he shouted: "Burn it down for me!"

  In an instant, countless straw and oil cans were thrown into the tunnel entrance, and several rockets shot in, the newly dug tunnel entrance suddenly burst into flames, and then a shrill cry of despair was heard.

  "It's indeed those damned government troops."

  The leader of the Yellow Turbans, Cong Xian, smiled repeatedly and said, "Pile all the hay at the entrance of the tunnel for me, pour all the oil on it, take off your clothes and fan, and blow all the smoke into the tunnel to suffocate those damn government soldiers."

  The Yellow Turban thieves responded with a loud shout, and immediately threw bundles of dry firewood and hay to the entrance of the tunnel, poured oil on them and set them on fire.

  In front of the Han army formation.

  Wu Qiong's face was pitch black, his beard and hair were curled up, and he rushed into Lu Zhi's large tent in a state of disarray, scaring the assembled officers who were waiting for the signal from the tunnel army to launch a night attack on the city.

  Huang Fu's heart was racing and he asked: "Wu Qiong, what's wrong with you?"

  "General, something is terribly wrong!"

  Wu Qiong said with a stern voice: "The tunnel troops led by Mo Jiang were discovered by the Yellow Turban rebels. When Mo Jiang opened up the tunnel, the Yellow Turbans had already been waiting above, gathering flammable materials and pouring oil to set them on fire. Mo Jiang almost got burned to death inside the tunnel and couldn't escape."

  "This..."

  Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi and all the other generals were stunned, their eyes wide with shock, and for a long time no one spoke.

  Half a day passed.

  Huangfu Song said in a low voice, "Although the Pu Zi army suffered a defeat, the bandit leader Zhang Liang was shot and killed by Zhou Jian. The rebel army's morale was severely damaged, and Zhang Jiao had been bedridden for some time. More than 200,000 rebel troops lost their commander, and it is likely that their military heart is already in disarray. Our army can take advantage of the situation to launch a fierce attack and break through the city with force."

  Lu Zhi sighed: "Now it's just like this."

  ;