The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 94 Zhang Xiu Entrusts His Careers to Zou Shi

After much deliberation, Zhang Xiu glanced at his aunt, Zou Shi, and felt a pang of uncertainty.

Was I really wrong?

Should I not have opposed Yuan Tan in the first place?

However, the other party played a trick on me, not only failing to provide any of the promised assistance.

He wasted his time rushing in and risking his life for Cao Cao.

Now that we're at our wits' end, if I don't stay behind, relying on those two bastards Liu Xun and Zhang Xun, I doubt either of us will be able to escape.

Thinking of this, he finally sighed and said:

"General Liu, you go first; I will stay here to cover your retreat!"

"General Xiu," Liu Xun replied without hesitation, "the journey is fraught with peril, and I don't know when we'll meet again. Is there... anything you wish to tell me?"

He originally wanted to ask if you had any last words, but considering that it might be somewhat ominous, he changed his mind.

"This humble general has no other request. I only hope that General Liu... will take good care of my family. My aunt is seriously ill and cannot withstand any more travel."

Zhang Xiu's eyes were filled with sorrow. His uncle had entrusted his aunt to his care. If he didn't take good care of her, how could he face his uncle in the afterlife?

Thinking of Zhang Xiu's aunt, Zou Shi, Liu Xun felt a strong urge to get closer to her.

She was a stunning beauty, and Zhang Xiu usually protected her very well, so he never had a chance to get close to her.

Now that Zhang Xiu has taken the initiative to bring it up, that would be perfect.

He nodded emphatically:

"General Xiu, rest assured! Your aunt is my elder, Liu Xun's elder! As long as I have a breath left, I will ensure her safety! Is there anything else you wish to instruct me to do?"

Zhang Xiu thought for a moment and said, "I do have another request."

"Brother Zhang, please speak freely, I will gladly die for you!"

Liu Xun's mouth was practically drooling, but he still patted his chest and assured him.

"You said it yourself!"

"certainly!"

"Then you stay behind to cover my retreat..."

"I'll f*** you...!"

……

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.

Liu Xun selected three thousand elite soldiers to escort the carriage carrying Zou Shi and disappeared around the bend in the mountain road heading north.

Zhang Xiu kept looking in that direction until the fog completely swallowed their figures.

"General," the captain of the personal guards stepped forward, his voice hoarse, "can we... really hold out?"

Zhang Xiu did not answer.

He turned around and looked towards the south of the city.

Smoke and dust are rising on the horizon.

When Yuan Tan reined in his horse and stood on a high slope in the southern suburbs of Liyang, the sun was already near its zenith.

Gan Ning stood to the side, holding his spear, his face full of impatience.

"My lord, let's attack the city. This small city can be taken in half a day."

Yuan Tan remained silent.

He squinted at the city wall.

Although Liyang City is small, it has all the necessary facilities, and the remaining people are determined to fight to the death. If we launch a direct attack, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses.

"It's Zhang Xiu." Guo Jia glanced at the figure on the city wall and said softly, "He actually didn't leave."

"Idiot," Yuan Tan muttered under his breath. "Stay here to die? Just to give Liu Xun a few more hours to escape?"

Jia Xu slowly spoke up from the side: "Zhang Xiu is a man who values ​​gratitude and righteousness more than life and death. He stayed behind probably because he truly wants to preserve his reputation for loyalty and righteousness by dying."

"Loyal?" Yuan Tan scoffed. "If he truly valued loyalty, he wouldn't have opposed me. The aid I gave him is already on its way; it's his own fault for losing so quickly."

Yuan Tan had already learned from Jia Xu the reason why Zhang Xiu was opposing him, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

But it doesn't matter. Zhang Xiu is just a reckless brute. Having Jia Xu is better than having ten Zhang Xius.

He turned his horse around:

"Junyi, take five hundred light cavalry and keep watch on the city gate. Just make sure he doesn't come out and cause trouble. Xingba and Zilong, follow me around the city to the north. Liu Xun can't run fast without cavalry. I want to see his head before sunset today."

"And this city..."

Zhang He hesitated.

"Leave it to air." Yuan Tan pointed his whip at Liyang. "We'll come back to collect Liu Xun's body after we've killed him."

The thunderous hooves of the horses, the ten thousand-strong army truly ignored Liyang, splitting into two groups and roaring past the city from the east and west sides.

Soldiers on the city wall fired arrows, but most of the sparse arrows landed in empty air, not even hitting the target.

Zhang Xiu stood atop the city wall, watching the Qingzhou army surge away from the city like a flood.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of humiliation.

Yuan Tan didn't even bother to attack the city, just like a tiger passing by a rabbit's burrow, he didn't even bother to look down at it.

"General..."

The guard's voice trembled slightly.

Zhang Xiu roared:

"What are you yelling about? Keep an eye on those cavalrymen, we're charging out later!"

When Liu Xun heard the sound of horses' hooves behind him, he urged the coachman to speed up.

The mountain road was rugged, and the carriage carrying Zou was jolted violently, with its wheels frequently getting stuck in the cracks between rocks.

"Faster! Faster!"

"My lord, the horse is about to give up..." Before the coachman could finish speaking, an arrow flew past his ear and embedded itself in the carriage frame.

Liu Xun suddenly turned around.

At the bend in the mountain road, the vanguard of the Qingzhou cavalry appeared, led by a general in white robes and wielding a silver spear—it was Zhao Yun.

"Abandon the vehicle! Ride away on horseback!" Liu Xun roared.

The guards scrambled to untie the horses pulling the cart.

In the chaos, the carriage overturned, and Zou fell out of the carriage, curling up in the dry grass by the roadside and coughing.

She no longer had the strength to struggle.

A young bodyguard tried to help, but Liu Xun lashed him across the face with a whip.

"Woman or your life?! Let's go!"

He was a little disappointed, but he was about to lose his life, so why should he care about his lower body?

Liu Xun didn't even glance at Zou Shi again, and spurred his horse to gallop away.

Zhang Xun gritted his teeth and followed, and the three thousand remaining soldiers scattered like birds and beasts, each fleeing into the mountains and forests.

Zhao Yun led his cavalry past like a whirlwind.

He didn't chase after the stragglers; his gaze was fixed on Liu Xun.

After pursuing for three miles, they came to a narrow valley. Liu Xun was secretly pleased; this terrain made it difficult for cavalry to maneuver, perhaps allowing them to...

Joy froze on his face.

At the other end of the valley, a cloud of dust rose.

Another army arrived, numbering no less than two thousand, their armor gleaming, and their banner bearing a large "Zhang" character.

"Reinforcements! It's Marquis Wen's reinforcements!"

Zhang Xun was overjoyed.

Liu Xun almost burst into tears.

He recognized him; the leading general was tall and imposing, clad in green robes and bronze armor—it was none other than Lü Bu's top general.

Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan!

"Prefect Liu, don't panic! Zhang Liao is here!"

The two armies clashed in the valley.

The Qingzhou cavalry were charging fiercely, but Zhang Liao's Bingzhou wolf cavalry were also among the most elite in the land.

In an instant, shouts of men and neighing of horses filled the air, along with the clanging of metal.

Zhao Yun's silver spear moved like a dragon, slaying several riders in succession, and heading straight for Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao brandished his sword to meet the attack, and their swords clashed, sparks flying.

The two fought for more than ten rounds, and were evenly matched.

"General Zilong! The enemy is prepared; we must not linger in battle!"

The sound of retreating troops came from behind.

Guo Jia, seeing the changing battlefield situation, hastily ordered a retreat.

Zhao Yun feinted with his spear, then turned his horse and rode away.

The Qingzhou cavalry retreated like a tide, well-trained and without the slightest disorder.

Zhang Liao did not pursue, but reined in his horse before the enemy lines, his brow furrowed. His orders were to rescue Lujiang, but the scene before him... Lujiang had already changed hands, and the people he was supposed to save had become stray dogs.

"General Zhang! General Zhang, save me!"

Liu Xun scrambled off his horse, almost lunging at Zhang Liao's horse.

"That wicked Yuan Tan seized my territory, slaughtered my followers, and even intends to exterminate them all! Please, General, do justice for me!"

Zhang Liao looked down at the so-called "Prefect of Lujiang" who was weeping and wailing, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

However, now that our lord has just acquired the Imperial Seal, he needs to recruit forces from all sides. Although Liu Xun is useless, he was once a senior minister of Yuan Shu, so taking him in is of great political significance.

"Prefect Liu, please rise." Zhang Liao said calmly, "This place is not suitable for a long stay. Please follow my army to Liyang first, and then we can discuss this further."

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll follow your orders, General!" Liu Xun hurriedly got up, then suddenly remembered something and looked around. "My... my subordinates' families..."

"In the chaos of battle, it's difficult to find him," Zhang Liao interrupted him. "Saving your life is the most important thing."

Liu Xun dared not say anything more.

He mounted his horse and glanced back at the road he had come from.

The mountains and forests there were quiet, with only startled birds circling in the sky.

The Zou family... what a pity.

He licked his lips. Although the woman was seriously ill, she still retained some of her beauty. But compared to life, what did a woman matter?

The army slowly retreated north.

Zhang Liao remained at the rear, wary of the Qingzhou army potentially launching a counterattack.

But he didn't know that Yuan Tan had no interest in this defeated army at that moment.