Chapter 26: Borrowing a Sword to Seize the City (Part 2)

  It's night.

  Chenliu Prefecture City, Council Chamber.

  The soft moonlight shines on the desk, the dim lamp reflects some yellowed paper, and a hint of melancholy emerges.

  Zhang Yan looked at the letter on the desk, and his heart calmed down, but he couldn't help but smile coldly: "As expected, Yangyi County's defender Wei Xun has just come to report that he didn't see any troops passing by, and also said that the military advisor had already given strict orders for Wei Xun to hold back and not move. It seems that the defeated army from the other day was a decoy of the enemy... Haha!"

  At the same time, Liu Xuan took a look at that letter and was still worried, but he didn't know what was behind this worry.

  Liu Yue had no particular talent, but he was a notoriously cautious person. Regarding the mysterious army of the day before yesterday, he seemed to have sensed something and couldn't help but frown at Zhang Mai, saying: "Sir, this group of soldiers is indeed the two thousand infantrymen that Zhao Xiang sent out previously, so how did they become rebels now?"

  He coldly sized up Liu Yue for a moment, and Zhang Mai suddenly became impatient and said: "Didn't you suspect that the army had deceit before? Why are you bringing this up again now?"

  Sighing, Liu Yue said: "Sir, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I think it's strange that someone can make this group of soldiers surrender in such a short time and even pass through Yangyi County to reach Chenliu directly. Don't you find it strange, sir?"

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Mao fell silent for a moment before nodding his head and saying with doubt: "What you said is indeed true. If it weren't for your reminder that day, Chenliu would have been captured by the bandit, I don't know who else in Yan Province could have such bravery and strategy at this time, it's really hard for me to understand."

  "Could it be... Xiahou Dun, General Xiahou?"

  "I don't think so..." He shook his head, and Zhang Liao continued: "According to the reports from the front line, Xun Yu has sent Xiahou Dun to arrive at each city, to comfort the governors of various counties and cities. At this moment, it is absolutely impossible for him to appear here..."

  "It seems Xun Yu has already made preparations..."

  Just as Liu Xuan was saying this, a urgent report came from outside the door.

  "Report! General Hou Cheng, under the orders of General Lü Bu, has arrived at Chenliu!"

  Suddenly startled, Zhang Mai was at a loss, and immediately exclaimed in surprise: "At this time... what is this person doing here?"

  At this moment, Liu Yue hesitated and said: "Could it be because of what happened the other day?"

  It suddenly dawned on him, and Zhang Chao finally reacted, smiling: "Hehe, it's indeed the case, General Lü Bu might be worried that Chenliu would lose, so he sent someone to garrison Chenliu..."

  Zhang Mao came before Hou Jun and asked: "How many soldiers did General Hou bring?"

  "Can't see clearly, but judging from the footsteps, there are about several thousand people..."

  Satisfied, he nodded and Zhang Yan asked again: "But most of them are cavalry?"

  "Yes, although the sky is dark, I can still vaguely make out that there are many war horses!"

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Mao suddenly put his mind at ease and confirmed that there was no mistake. He nodded to Liu Yue, seeing that the other party had no objection, and immediately said to the scout:

  "Open the city gate at once! I will personally go out of the city to welcome him!"

  *

  At this moment, outside Chenliu City.

  In a previous battle, Cao Xin ordered Zhou Yu and Dian Wei to count the casualties on the battlefield. His own army had only seven casualties, while the enemy was completely annihilated.

  Apart from those shot dead by wooden guns and lost in traps, as well as those trampled to death in a frenzy, the remaining war horses were captured, nearly two thousand of them. The most war horses died on the knife mountain trap.

  Although it's a pity, Cao Xin had no choice but to resort to this tactic. After all, it was already difficult for the 2,000 soldiers to achieve such a great victory.

  Moreover, there were over two thousand horses that remained unscathed.

  At this moment, Hou Cheng was sitting on a batch of war horses. Although his face seemed very calm, if it were in broad daylight, one would definitely find that Hou Cheng's face was completely pale, and even the armor was soaked with a lot of sweat.

  Zhou Ding and Dian Wei, the two giants, stood on either side of Hou Cheng, glaring at each other with ferocity, as if they would cut each other down on the spot if one of them said a wrong word...

  At this time, Cao Xin had already changed the military uniforms of these two thousand people into clothes of Pingzhou Iron Riders. Each rode a fine horse captured from the enemy, which was many times better than their previous war horses. Although they were still the "defeated army" that appeared in Chenliu a few days ago, at this moment, they had become a victorious army.

  Each cavalryman was majestic and imposing, exuding an aura of murder lurking in every corner of the dark night.

  In the blink of an eye, a figure suddenly appeared on the city wall, but it was a slightly serious middle-aged man. At this time, he looked at the large army below the city and asked loudly:

  "But what about the men and horses under General Wen's command?"

  Cao Xin heard this and let out a cold, dry cough.

  At this moment, Hou Cheng, who was at the forefront of the cavalry, suddenly looked up at the person on the city wall and shouted loudly: "Could it be Liu Xuan? Lord Liu?"

  "Right on!"

  "I have come under the orders of my lord and master to assist Your Excellency in wiping out the bandits. Lord Liu, please quickly open the city gates!"

  Duan Xiaolong nodded repeatedly, and Liu Yue on the city wall immediately saw that it was Hou Ben himself, and he put his heart at ease, but before he could speak.

  The gate slowly opened with a low rumble.

  Along with the loud laughter of a middle-aged man, at the moment when the city gate opened, a chubby middle-aged man suddenly had a smile all over his face and opened the city gate.

  The moment the city gate opened, contrary to Hou Cheng's tense face, Cao Xin and others were suddenly overjoyed, staring at the city gate with eager eyes.

  At this time, the middle-aged man, Zhang Miao, immediately rode out of the city, laughing loudly: "The general has come from afar, how tiresome, haha..."

  The troops moved forward quietly, Cao Xin wearing a personal guard uniform, followed the team carefully towards the direction of the city gate.

  "Haha, don't be deceived, General... I had already seen through those thieves' plot a few days ago. This time, that thief has long left Chenliu!"

  Fifty steps.

  "The general has had a hard journey, I have prepared wine and food with my life, to welcome the general and wash away the dust..."

  Thirty Steps

  "General, why is your face somewhat pale, have you contracted some illness?"

  Ten steps...

  Suddenly, Cao Xin and others were less than ten steps away from the city gate, but at this moment a loud shout was heard.

  "Kill!!!"

  "What!?" Suddenly reacting, Zhang Miao was near Hou Cheng at the time, only to see two knives behind Hou Cheng's back threatening his waist. However, it was already too late for a reaction now.

  "Kill! Kill! Kill!!"

  The black iron giant sword suddenly danced towards the sky, Cao Xin led the charge on horseback, and the cavalry behind him instantly became like fierce beasts in the mountains, rushing towards the city gate at high speed.

  "My life is at an end!"

  Zhang Miao's heart suddenly flashed a thread of despair, but he saw a black bladeless big knife coming towards him, and Sheng Shi hastily shouted.

  But it's all too late now, everything is in Cao Xin's hands.

  "Hmmph..."

  The black iron sword heavily smashed onto the latter's skull, a burst of nausea suddenly gushed out, but it was just as the opponent's voice had fallen. Zhang Mai instantly died on the spot...

  "Charge!!!"

  The big gate is wide open.

  Under the accompaniment of a dead silent night, two thousand horses and men rushed in instantly.

  Suddenly, cries of "Kill!" erupted from all sides...

  *

  P.S: Looking for recommendations, looking for collections!

  ;