https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-502-Beneath-the-Walls-of-Wucheng/13041724/
Chapter 503: The Arrival of the Yellow Turban Army
Chapter 503: The Arrival of the Yellow Turban Army
2017-09-25
Lu Hai Kong, his body covered in bloodstains, looked back at the cavalry behind him, now numbering less than a thousand. A hint of satisfaction flashed in Ding Yuan's eyes.
'So, Lu Hai Kong, you've come to this, huh? You think you're capable? Why are you groveling like this?'
Of course, he wouldn't say these words aloud. After all, Lu Zhi was standing right beside him, waiting for him to confirm Lu Hai Kong's identity.
"Elder Lu, this person is undoubtedly Lu Hai Kong."
Ding Yuan really wanted to shake his head, but he knew that Lu Zhi wasn't someone he could deceive. Moreover, he didn't need to deal with Lu Hai Kong in this manner.
Immediately, Ding Yuan spoke in a low voice, "However, it's strange that he's coming here now. Lu Hai Kong's group had six thousand men when they left Bing Prefecture, and now there are less than a thousand. This means he must have experienced a major battle. You know the strength of the Yellow Turbans. Do you really think he could lead a mere six thousand men, travel a thousand miles, and finally arrive at Wucheng County in just over ten days?"
"Furthermore, the Yellow Turban Legion during the day seemed a bit odd. You wouldn't imagine that they would attack the Yellow Turban Headquarters and force the Yellow Turban Army to retreat, would you? There might be a trick here. After all, Lu Hai Kong's background..."
Ding Yuan's words abruptly stopped, but the meaning was clear.
Ding Yuan's voice was loud enough for Lu Hai Kong, who was below the city wall, to hear. Upon hearing this, Lu Hai Kong narrowed his eyes, about to say something, but just then, a group of Yellow Turbans slowly surrounded him from behind.
Zhang Liang was no ordinary mediocre general. Lu Hai Kong's actions during the day had already caught his attention, so he had made preparations early on. When Lu Hai Kong's group approached the side gate, they were already noticed by Zhang Liang's men.
Zhang Liang immediately sprang into action, leading a large army to surround them. However, to guard against any tricks, he left the tired troops and a significant number of soldiers at the main camp to protect the supplies, bringing only around thirty thousand soldiers.
Still, for a cavalry force of about a thousand, thirty thousand soldiers were more than enough.
At this moment, if Lu Zhi were to open the gate and let Lu Hai Kong in, Zhang Liang would take the opportunity to charge in. If Lu Zhi refused to let Lu Hai Kong's group in, Zhang Liang would take advantage of the situation and annihilate Lu Hai Kong's cavalry, further demoralizing the soldiers within Wucheng County.
However, based on Zhang Liang's understanding of Lu Zhi, he probably wouldn't have a chance to break through.
Seeing the army surrounding them, Lu Hai Kong's face changed: "The Yellow Turban Army is here! Quickly open the city gate and let us in!"
"Let you in? Who knows what you're up to?" Ding Yuan replied coldly.
At this moment, seeing this scene, Lu Zhi, who had been hesitating about opening the gate, made up his mind.
"Lu Hai Kong, you see it too. At this moment, it's indeed inappropriate to open the gate."
"Teacher, the Yellow Turban Army is still some distance away. There's enough time for them to enter." Liu Bei, who had climbed up at some point, interjected.
Lu Zhi was a bit taken aback by Liu Bei's words. Liu Bei usually wouldn't contradict him like this, so it was somewhat unexpected.
Still, Lu Zhi shook his head firmly.
"Lu Hai Kong, Wucheng County is the last stronghold in Jizhou. I've already lost Ye City, and I can't afford to lose Wucheng. So, I can't open this gate no matter what. You should take advantage of the Yellow Turban Army's absence and leave. With your cavalry's speed, they shouldn't be able to catch up."
It was clear that in front of the unfamiliar Lu Hai Kong and Ding Yuan, Lu Zhi chose to trust Ding Yuan.
Perhaps it was the trust built from several months of fighting side by side, and undoubtedly, it was also due to Lu Hai Kong's identity.
After all, a person who had spent their entire military career rising from the lowest ranks was undoubtedly more credible than Lu Hai Kong, who was a mere mountain bandit.
Below the city walls, upon hearing Lu Zhi's words, Lu HaiKong seemed to pause for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Lu Zhi, standing on the wall, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
This feeling was familiar to Lu HaiKong; he had experienced it in Qiangyin City and again on the day he fled Jiuyuan County.
Lu Zhi and Liu Bei, standing next to Lu Zhi, were perplexed, while Dantai Mingjing's eyes narrowed with interest as he observed Lu HaiKong below.
After a long while, Lu HaiKong finally stopped laughing.
"How should I put it... Hearing the suggestion of retreat from the mouths of the imperial army sent to suppress the rebels, it seems rather laughable and pathetic."
Lu Zhi's face turned red, but he quickly composed himself, thinking that Lu HaiKong was trying to provoke him.
Lu HaiKong paid him no mind and continued, his expression growing serious, "I had my doubts from the start. A county city defended by ten thousand troops, how could it be breached within a few months? If you say it's breached, then it's breached. Now it seems the problem lies with you."
"In your case, I see neither the decisiveness a commander should possess nor the confidence to suppress the rebellion. All I see is a timid, aging man."
Liu Bei, upon hearing this, was about to step forward, but Dantai Mingjing, standing next to him, was quick to act, pulling Liu Bei back.
Ding Yuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but speak up, "Nonsense! Lu HaiKong, it's clear you've sided with the Yellow Turbans and want to deceive us into opening Wucheng's gates!"
"Me? Deceive you into opening Wucheng's gates? That's a joke! Open your eyes and look at this!"
Below the wall, a soldier next to Lu HaiKong raised a human head, and upon seeing it, Lu Zhi's eyes nearly popped out.
Lu HaiKong didn't recognize the head, but he had seen Zhang Bao before. The head in Lu HaiKong's hand was indeed Zhang Bao's.
"I led my six thousand knights on a thousand-mile journey from Bingzhou to come to your aid. If this is considered siding with the Yellow Turbans, then I, Lu HaiKong, have nothing more to say!"
"Nonsense! I killed Zhang Bao and burned Liangqi's granary. If this is considered siding with the Yellow Turbans, then I, Lu HaiKong, can't argue against it!"
Lu Zhi stared at Zhang Bao's head in Lu HaiKong's hand, stunned. At this moment, he realized his mistake, but it was already too late. Behind Lu HaiKong, the Yellow Turban army had already approached. If Lu Zhi opened the gates now, the Yellow Turbans would take advantage and attack.
"Governor Lu, it's my fault, but the current situation doesn't allow me to open the gates. You should quickly break through the siege with your cavalry."
The fall of Ye City had a significant impact on Lu Zhi. If it had happened before, he would have definitely opened the gates. But precisely because he had lost Ye City, he was determined not to lose this last city.
Even though Lu HaiKong held Zhang Bao's head as proof of his innocence, Lu Zhi still couldn't open the gates. If he did, the fall of Wucheng would be imminent.
Hearing Lu Zhi, Lu HaiKong shook his head and ordered his men to put away Zhang Bao's head.
"Sigh, a hero's twilight years... General Lu, you've grown old!"
As Lu HaiKong spoke, he raised his Savage Axe, and the Bloodbath Legion's aura instantly intensified.
"They're merely Yellow Turban rebels. Why should I, Lu HaiKong, be afraid?"
"Bloodbath Legion, charge with me! Let them see what a true Han army is!"
With Lu HaiKong's command, the Bloodthirsty Rampage was unleashed. Nearly a thousand eyes turned red, and the entire legion surged forward...
(End of Chapter)
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