Chapter 758
Chapter 758
Several lookouts were on top of a vantage point outside Nanpi. These lookouts looked focused but they were actually slacking off. After all, they had just defeated their most formidable enemy, Yuan Shao. The North had been pacified and there were no enemies. They were simply waiting for their next order.
“Old Wu. Do you want to stay in the North or return to Xudou?” One lookout asked his companion.
“Do you even have to ask? Of course, I’d rather return to Xudou! The North has already been pacified. There will no longer be anymore fights here! If you want to make a fortune, you will have to go back to Xudou! The Yangzhou Army is still there!” Another lookout interrupted.
“Wang Er. Just because you want to go back does not mean Old Wu wants to! You are so obsessed with being rich, don’t end up dying on the battlefield without getting the chance to spend it!” One person sneered.
“How can you such things!”
“This is how I speak! What of it? You have already fought for so many years! Haven’t you had enough?”
“I am talking to Old Wu! What is your problem?”
“Then you can go and ask Old Wu where he wants to go!”
Old Wu just laughed without replying. If he had to choose, he would prefer to stay in the North. While the North is still in ruins, it was at least peaceful. He honestly had enough fighting. War meant death. Others may think of soldiers as just numbers but the soldiers themselves would not. After all, it may one day be their turn to die.
However, Old Wu was a smart man. He knew that he would offend someone regardless of his answer. That is why he chose turn away and say nothing. Let them fight amongst themselves while he stays out of it.
Seeing this, the two arguing with each other also smile bitterly and remained silent as well.
“Wait. What is that over there?” Old Wu pointed at the sky as he asked the other lookouts. His eyesight was already beginning to fail.
“That? Is it someone’s house on fire?” The soldiers could not help but laugh seeing as it came from Nanpi City. They were all bored so seeing a fire was exciting.
“A fire?” Shouldn’t the smoke from the fire scatter and drift about? Why is this one going straight to the sky? On top of that, the smoke did not look right.
“Its a beacon smoke!” Old Wu shouted. He had seen this before.
“Old Wu. Stop joking. That is Nanpi City where the Prime Minister is staying. How can there be a beacon smoke here?” This smoke is a signal that the enemy was approaching and a request for reinforcements. Cao Cao have hundreds of thousands in his army. Who would dare to attack Nanpi City? Everyone thought that this was fake.
“No! This is real! It is the beacon smoke!” Old Wu shouted to the others before descending angrily to make his report. Unfortunately, the others inside did not believe him as well.
Cao Cao’s entire army was like this. A beacon smoke rising from Nanpi City? The person who reported this must still be asleep. Even if there were wise men, they were ignored. As a result, no one came to Cao Cao’s rescue despite his large army.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao was in the Yuan residence in Nanpi when he received reports that they were being attacked. At first, he thought it was a joke but Cheng Yu reported that the smoke signals were real and the sounds of fighting could be heard.
“Who on earth could fight their way here?” Cao Cao wanted to know who his enemies were. Remnants of the Yuan Army? Zhang Yan’s rebels? They may have the strength but not enough to slip in so quietly.
“I do not know.” Cheng Yu shook his head. He had already dispatched people to go and investigate.
“Kill! Kill the villain Cao Cao to bring peace to the land!” The White Horses were getting closer and Cao Cao’s expression became even darker.
The assailants have already reached the Yuan residence. This was at the center of Nanpi City so the fact that they reached here proved their strength.
“Who are these people!”
Soon, the someone answered Cao Cao’s question. “Reporting to the Prime Minister! These are the Liaodong Cavalry! The Liaodong Cavalry have entered Nanpi City!”
“The Liaodong Cavalry?” Cao Cao’s eyes widened. Gongsun Du’s men? “Is this Gongsun Du’s plans?” Cao Cao asked as he turned to Cheng Yu. Didn’t He Ping’s letter say that Liaodong was fighting against Yangzhou? Didn’t Zhou Hai already get killed by Yang Zhou? Why are they here now? Was this all part of Gongsun Du’s schemes? Didn’t Gongsun Kang already kill him?
“General! This is the Yuan residence!” One soldier informed Zhao Yun.
“Oh?” Zhao Yun admired the large building.
“The villain Cao Cao is inside!” The locals of Nanpi said.
“Good. Storm the place and kill Cao Cao!” Zhao Yun’s eyes burned. If Cao Cao is killed, the entire Cao Army would collapse. No one would be able to stand in his Lord’s way. Then the world would be at peace.
“Where are the reinforcements?” Cao Cao roared. The enemy have already entered his residence and yet there is no sign of the large army outside Nanpi coming to their rescue. How could Cao Cao not be furious? If he learned that his officers all mistook the beacon smoke for a regular fire, he would be even more furious.
“Prime Minister. We have to escape now.” Cheng Yu said to Cao Cao.
“Escape? Where do we go?” Cao Cao shook his head. They could still use the Yuan residence as a fortification to hold off the enemy. But if they ran out, they would not be able to outrun the cavalry.
“Close all the gates! Every servant and guards are to take up weapons and hold the line!” Cao Cao roared hysterically.
“Understood!” Cao Cao only have about a hundred guards within the residence. Together with the other servants, the number around three hundred. They were all placed under Xu Zhu’s command. The White Horses attacked the Yuan residence only to be repelled again and again by Xu Zhu.
Zhao Yun frowned. “General. This Yuan residence is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Give me some time and I will definitely capture this Yuan residence.” One soldier reported.
“No. We are running out of time. I will personally lead the attack!” Zhao Yun replied. He then quickly led his own guards into the residence.
“Kill!” No enemy could withstand Zhao Yun’s might and they quickly entered. Just as Zhao Yun was about to push deeper, a sword suddenly swept towards him from behind. Zhao Yun was alarmed and quickly turned around to block with his spear.
“Hmph! What a pity!” Xu Zhu, who attacked Zhao Yun said with regret as he glared. He meant to kill Zhao Yun with this ambush but Zhao Yun’s reflexes saved him. Though Xu Zhu felt regret, he was also excited.
“Are you Zhou Hai?” Xu Zhu asked.
“Zhou Hai?” Zhao Yun was confused for a while before remembering that the Liaodong Cavalry’s commander was called Zhou Hai and nodded. “Indeed I am.”
“Good! Remember that today I, Xu Zhu Xu Zhongkang will be the one to kill you!” Xu Zhu shouted. The ground quaked as his large body charged forward.
Xu Zhu was surprisingly agile despite his large size. His thundering advance was intended to disrupt Zhao Yun’s rhythm and seize the advantage.
“Just try it!” Zhao Yun was not arrogant but he still despised being looked down on. He lifted another spear from the ground with his foot and grabbed it. “Bring it on!”
The spear and blade instantly clashed.