Chapter 50: Gallant Knight Wears a Sword at Night

  Five miles away from the fort, a number of people gathered together, wanting to break this silence.

  The sky is vast and cloudless.

  A bright moon hangs in the sky.

  With the help of the full moon's moonlight, these people were able to gather here without lighting fires. Even so, some people with "night blindness" still had to rely on the guidance of other companions to complete their mission.

  The leader was a burly man, slightly shorter than eight feet tall. Although he looked young, the scar on his face fully revealed his ferocity.

  "Zhong Tai, tonight's matter is all up to you."

  A lean middle-aged man with a crippled leg said to the young leader.

  "Uncle, rest assured. These 'moth bandits', who knows where they came from, actually dare to come and touch our whiskers. They don't even ask around, what outstanding figures does Mount Tai have!"

  "Zhong Tai, don't be too careless. These bandits have some tactics in their advances and retreats, they are not ordinary mobs. Moreover, the leader is extremely ferocious, seemingly with the strength of 'thousand-man-break'. If it weren't for this person's ferocity, the fortress wouldn't have been breached so easily by the bandits!"

  The young leader smiled and said:

  "That 'Tai Ping Dao' number one master's martial arts, I'm not unaware of. Xuan Gao brothers two months ago, didn't they have a fight with Cao Jiao? Cao Jiao's martial arts are only slightly inferior to Guan Hai."

  "Although Xuan Hao brothers were slightly inferior, but in this way, Xuan Hao brothers were only one step lower than Guan Hai. However, the Xuan Hao brothers were only 19 years old and had room for improvement in their martial arts. As for Guan Hai, he was at the peak of his martial arts skills and could only go downhill from there."

  "The number one master of Tai Ping Dao, martial arts are just like this, what other warriors can be stronger than him?"

  A middle-aged man with a lame leg was overjoyed to hear the other person mention his son. However, in an instant, his mood sank again:

  "This poor kid, it's all my fault! If I hadn't been framed and thrown into prison, he wouldn't have been wanted by the authorities. Otherwise, with his martial arts skills, when Captain Bao came to Mount Tai to recruit soldiers last time, this poor kid could have easily become a squad leader or even a battalion commander."

  The young leader slightly pursed his lips and said:

  "Bao Xin, that guy, is also a high-ranking young master with a noble family background. Last time he recruited soldiers, I went to take a look and thought that if he was willing to give me the position of commander, I would bring my hundred or so brothers under my command to join him."

  "As a result, I saw a young man with the surname Yu, who wielded a long spear with one hand. Even under Hou Cheng's command, he could hold out for ten rounds. Unfortunately, such a good fellow was demoted by Bao Xin due to his uncle's business dealings and didn't even get a promotion to squad leader, only becoming a lowly wu chang (a minor military officer). Seeing Bao Xin's attitude, I lost the desire to join the army."

  A middle-aged man with a lame leg didn't say anything out loud, but was secretly muttering to himself:

  In those days, I was a prominent figure in Hua County, a man of great prestige. You're just a country bumpkin, how can you compare with me?

  Of course, these words were just thought in his heart. On the surface, the lame middle-aged man hurriedly exhorted:

  "Although you are excellent in martial arts, comparable to that Gan Hui, but war is cruel and dangerous, it's better to be careful..."

  "I understand. I only have one life, and I'll be careful. Uncle, the people who should arrive have mostly arrived. Where is that tunnel? Do you need to take us there personally?"

  "Then just follow me!"

  A middle-aged man with a lame leg, who was once a dominant figure, walked with a limp, but his speed was not slower than that of an ordinary person. He came to the front of a hunter's hut with a young leader and a group of sturdy followers, pointed to the location of the stove in front of the house, and said:

  "The genuine entrance is right here."

  The young leader had people dig up the stove, but after digging twice, a piece of iron plate was indeed found. When the iron plate was lifted, a dark tunnel appeared before everyone's eyes.

  "The road is narrow and difficult to pass, cannot accommodate too many people."

  The lame middle-aged man introduced him. He was the lord of the stronghold occupied by the Heavenly Balance Army, and he was naturally very clear about the situation in the stronghold.

  The young leader had long been prepared for this. He beckoned with his hand, pointed to ten sturdy men, each holding a knife and spear, tightened their bodies, and made preparations to go down the cave. Finally, he bowed to a man in his thirties and the middle-aged man with a lame leg, saying:

  "Uncle, big brother, everything outside is up to you!"

  "Be careful..."

  That older brother was indeed older in years, but his ability was far inferior to that of the second brother. He had always been the deputy of the second brother. Although he knew that things had already been decided, he couldn't help but say:

  "Second brother, why don't you let me go instead..."

  The young leader waved his hand and said:

  "If I don't take the lead, who's willing to risk their life? Big brother doesn't need to say more, things outside aren't easy either."

  Looking ahead, four or five people had already crawled down the tunnel. The young leader didn't say another word, waved his hand at the people outside, gripped the double halberds behind him tightly, and stepped into the dark tunnel one step at a time.

  After these brave warriors who had entered the fort through the secret passage all set off, the leader and the lame middle-aged man exchanged a glance, each calling on their own troops to quietly prepare for battle.

  These three to four hundred men, although not many in armor, only over twenty sets, but everyone carried at least two weapons. Some strong leaders wore leather armor, with swords hanging from their waists, crossbows on their backs, and spears in hand, with hook-ornamented shields placed beside them. Such equipment would not be considered shabby even among the northern armies of the Great Han.

  Their plan of attack this time, put simply, was eight words:

  "Attack when the enemy is unprepared, and respond from within and without!"

  The number of troops in Tianping was much larger than these people. However, on the day when Weng Fortress fell, how many people could have thought that those fleeing Weng Fortress would be able to get reinforcements so quickly and launch a counterattack?

  Moreover, these counter-attackers must first overcome the obstacles of the city walls before they can launch a minority attack on the majority!

  Such a bold military plan, at least the guy named "Zhang Kuang" would not dare to do it easily. However, Sun Guan, who claimed to be the "Second Hero of Mount Tai", had the guts to do so.

  After combining with the main castle of Wubao, the secret passage left when building Wubao had a very high possibility of success for this surprise attack plan.

  First, with a small elite force, sneak into the city and quietly eliminate the gate guards. Then, with a large army, make a loud noise and create an intimidating atmosphere, causing the enemy to panic and collapse.

  The entire plan was simple and clear, yet feasible. To be honest, if it weren't for the coincidence, the conditions for this attack wouldn't have been so easily met. And being able to make a decisive decision under the current circumstances, execute an effective strategy, in the eyes of the crippled old man Sun Guan, this illegitimate son actually had the demeanor of "the second hero of Mount Tai".

  Of course, this evaluation is not without reason. The son of a crippled middle-aged man was revered by Sun Quan as the "Number One Hero of Mount Tai".

  Time slowly passed, and the lame middle-aged man, Sun Kan, brother of Sun Guan, led his men, each with a wooden tally in mouth, stealthily approaching to within 400 or 500 paces south of the city gate, ready to rush up and seize the city as soon as flames appeared on the wall.

  A moment has passed.

  Two quarters of an hour have passed.

  There was no fire on the city wall, but the south gate suddenly opened!

  Sun Kang's eyes suddenly widened, his breathing became heavy, and he tried hard to identify the person coming out of the city gate, which one was his own brother Sun Guan.

  The first one, no.

  The second one, no.

  Third one, still not!

  Wait a minute, something's off!!!

  Sun Kang slightly raised his head, wanting to ask the middle-aged man with a lame leg beside him. However, as he glanced over, the middle-aged man beside him had already started backing away at some unknown time!

  Person: Sun Guan

  Sun Guan was one of the bandits in the Taihang Mountains at the end of the Han Dynasty. Every time he went to battle, Sun Guan would always be the first to charge forward, leading the vanguard and breaking through enemy lines. The author believes that this man's bravery is extraordinary.