novelAbuy Chapter 76 Sun Ce: You idiot! Guan Yu: You rat!
Chapter 76 Sun Ce: You idiot! Guan Yu: You rat!
Cheng Pu frowned: "Kid, get out of the way!"
He Chong did not move aside, but instead spurred his horse forward two steps.
He was only sixteen years old, but he showed no fear in front of a veteran like Cheng Pu.
Han Dang and his men tried to ride around them.
He Chong, however, brandished his long sword and blocked their path.
Huang Gai realized that the young man was trying to stall for time, so he raised his halberd and thrust it.
He Chong dodged to the side and slashed horizontally with his long sword, actually forcing Huang Gai to rein in his horse and retreat.
Seeing this, Cheng Pu said in a deep voice, "Attack together, don't get entangled with him."
The twelve riders charged out simultaneously.
He Chong didn't force the issue, and instead turned his horse and rode away.
But he didn't run far, always keeping a distance of a dozen paces, occasionally turning back to shoot an arrow or slash with his sword.
He fought and retreated simultaneously, neither engaging in a direct confrontation nor letting the enemy pass.
Cheng Pu and the others chased for half a mile and found that the young man was a skilled horseman. Although his archery and swordsmanship were not top-notch, they were flexible and unpredictable, and they could not subdue him for a while.
"Stop chasing, take a detour!" Cheng Pu and the others dispersed and took different paths along the mountain road.
Seeing this, He Chong didn't stop the others, but focused on Cheng Pu and shot an arrow straight at Cheng Pu's mount.
Cheng Pu was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he couldn't do anything about it for the time being.
Liu Yao led over a thousand soldiers from the direction of Qu'a.
Upon hearing that Sun Ce only had a dozen or so riders, he immediately mustered his troops to come and surround him.
On the other side of the mountain pass, Sun Ce and Taishi Ci had already fought for another fifty rounds.
Their battle robes were torn by tree branches, and their armor plates were scattered all over the ground.
Sun Ce's spear missed its mark, and Taishi Ci seized the opportunity to pounce.
The two men tumbled off their horses at the same time and wrestled on the ground.
The two grabbed each other by the collar and hair, but neither could gain the upper hand.
Sun Ce shouted, "Let go!"
Taishi Ci sneered, "You release it first!"
As the two were locked in a fierce struggle, shouts of battle erupted from both ends of the mountain path.
Liu Yao's more than a thousand troops surged in from the south, while Cheng Pu and twelve other riders charged in from the north.
Sun Ce shoved Taishi Ci aside, turned around and picked up the spear.
Taishi Ci also picked up his spear, and the two mounted their horses.
Liu Yao led his army forward, while Cheng Pu and others protected Sun Ce, and the two armies clashed in a fierce battle.
Liu Yao's soldiers were too weak and were forced to retreat by Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang, which blocked Taishi Ci's path.
Sun Ce also charged forward with his spear, and Liu Yao's vanguard immediately collapsed.
The two sides fought as they retreated, battling all the way to the foot of Shenting Ridge.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Dark clouds rolled in, and a torrential downpour began.
Liu Yao's soldiers were drenched in the rain and could not open their eyes, so Sun Ce and his men took the opportunity to retreat back to their camp.
When Taishi Ci returned to the camp, he was soaked to the bone, his battle robe was tattered, and his hair was disheveled.
Liu Yao glanced at him, offering no words of comfort, but instead blaming him: "Why didn't you report Sun Ce's appearance sooner? Otherwise, with our army surrounding him, he wouldn't have been able to escape today!"
Taishi Ci was taken aback upon hearing this, but did not offer any explanation.
"Go down and change your clothes, then go scout the enemy's situation," Liu Yao said, waving his hand.
Taishi Ci clasped his hands and withdrew.
Stepping outside the tent, it was still raining, but much less.
He Chong actually stood in the rain, leaning against the camp fence, waiting for him.
Taishi Ci approached He Chong, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you very much for today."
"You flatter me, General," He Chong returned the salute and then replied.
After a moment of silence, He Chong suddenly asked, "The military commander is so brave and skilled, yet Lord Liu refuses to give him an important position..."
Although the words were not explicitly stated, Taishi Ci understood the meaning.
Taishi Ci sighed and said with a wry smile, "I originally thought that Prefect Liu, with his title of 'Dragon Among Men,' would surely be a wise ruler. But..."
"You know how famous people are when they comment on something..." He Chong smiled as well, and the two fell silent again.
After a moment, Taishi Ci asked, "What are your plans?"
"Go back and find my uncle, help him suppress the bandits, and get some more experience." He Chong seemed a little down, and even considered going home.
He had heard that Liu Yao, one of the "Two Dragons," was recruiting soldiers in Qu'a, which is why he rushed over to serve him.
As a result, his enthusiasm was completely dampened by Liu Yao's cold water.
Taishi Ci suddenly laughed, patted He Chong on the shoulder, and said:
"How can you be so discouraged by such a small setback? Liu Yuzhou, have you heard?"
"I've heard about it." He Chong nodded and said, "Liu Yuzhou led 100,000 people from Xuzhou south and settled in Danyang County. He cultivated fertile land, exempted them from taxes, developed water conservancy projects, and encouraged them to work for food. He can be considered a benevolent and righteous ruler."
"Liu Yao is a foolish ruler who doesn't listen to advice and makes poor choices in personnel. I have some old acquaintance with Liu Yuzhou, so why don't you come with me to join him?"
"This..." He Chong hesitated for a moment, as he had really lost his sense of mystery about these "big shots" now.
Just as He Chong hesitated, a battle cry suddenly came from outside the camp!
"kill!!!"
"Break through the camp and capture Liu Yao alive!!"
It turns out that Sun Ce did not rest after returning.
He actually led a large army and secretly sneaked out of Liu Yao's camp in the pouring rain!
The rain masked the sound of footsteps.
The soldiers guarding the camp huddled under the shelters to avoid the rain, and no one noticed.
Sun Ce took the lead and drew his sword to cut the ropes of the camp gate.
Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang each led a team, charging into the camp like wolves into a sheepfold!
Liu Yao was burning incense in his tent.
Hearing the shouts of battle,
He rushed out to check.
Chaos had broken out outside the tent, with soldiers scattering and fleeing in all directions.
"My lord, run!"
Before Liu Yao could give the order, he was spurred onto his horse by the swarming personal guards and fled towards Qu'a City.
Fortunately, Taishi Ci and He Chong's horses were right next to the camp.
They picked up their weapons, mounted their horses, and charged towards Sun Ce's army.
The two charged through the chaotic army, killing more than ten people.
But Sun Ce's soldiers grew in number, while Liu Yao's soldiers lost their will to fight and began to collapse.
Taishi Ci looked towards the main camp and saw Liu Yao fleeing, surrounded by his personal guards.
"Pah!!" Taishi Ci couldn't help but spit, then said to He Chong, "Follow me and fight your way out!"
He Chong followed closely behind.
The two fought their way out and disappeared into the rain.
Sun Ce did not pursue, but instead led over a hundred cavalrymen straight to Qu'a!
Liu Yao fled into the city.
Before the city gates could be closed, Sun Ce's vanguard had already arrived.
Sun Ce killed the guards with a few spear thrusts, and the cavalry then swarmed in.
Liu Yao fled through the north gate again without stopping, heading towards Dantu.
Qu'a City thus fell into the hands of Sun Ce.
Sun Ce rode his horse through the streets of Qu'a, rainwater streaming down his armor.
He reined in his horse and burst into laughter: "Liu Yao is nothing but a chicken and a dog, utterly vulnerable!"
Cheng Pule rode up and asked, "Young Master, Liu Yao has escaped. Should we continue the pursuit?"
Sun Ce shook his head and said, "Let's rest for now, then we'll meet up with Gongjin, and wait..."
Before he could finish speaking, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from outside the city.
Sun Ce's expression changed, and he rushed up the city wall in a few steps.
Outside the city,
A large banner with the character "关" (Guan) fluttered in the rain!
Guan Yu's army has already reached the city walls, with the vanguard less than a hundred paces from the city gate!
"Guan Yu?!" Sun Ce was utterly shocked, then gritted his teeth. "How could he be here?"
The city gates had not been cleared, and the corpses piled up on the ground, making it impossible to close them.
Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang immediately led their troops to the city gate to meet the enemy.
Guan Yu, however, showed no fear whatsoever.
With a swing of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade,
He took the lead and charged into the city gate!
Cheng Pu raised his spear to meet Guan Yu.
Guan Yu, having been preparing for a long time, slashed down at Cheng Pu's head with his sword!
"Click!"
"puff!!!"
Cheng Pu's snake-spine spear was actually cut in half with a single strike!
Along with it, his warhorse's head was also severed!
Guan Yu, holding his sword in one hand and supporting his long beard with the other, let out a cold snort:
"You scoundrel, how dare you presume to be my match?!"