Three Kingdoms: The Guan Family's Rebellious Son, Long Blessing Jing Xiang

The autumn wind is bleak, a leaf falls to the ground and everything is bleak——

This autumn in Suanzao County is destined to be more desolate and bitter.

"Tap-ta-"

Heavy footsteps were heard, and Gao Rou followed Zhang Liao and slowly climbed to the top of an empty platform.

This high platform was built in the first year of Chuping, which was the year when Dong Zhuo deposed the young emperor and established Prince of Chenliu as emperor. The eighteen princes built the "Dong-fighting Platform" here to fight against Dong!
Today, because no one has cleaned the steps for many years, they are covered with dust and dead leaves.

Zhang Liao and Gao Rou stepped onto the gray stairs step by step with very complicated feelings.

When he climbed onto the high platform, Zhang Liao was in a trance and thought of the situation after the anti-Dong alliance, when etiquette completely collapsed, the Han Dynasty was torn apart, and collapsed overnight.

Today, Zhang Liao seemed to experience the scene when the eighteen princes stood on this high platform. At this moment, he seemed to see the Great Wei... this once prosperous kingdom... was about to fall apart, which was destined to happen.

Zhang Liao couldn't help but shudder.

He had served Dong Zhuo and also served Cao Cao, haha...his experiences inevitably made him more sad and emotional, but when he looked more closely, the high platform was empty, with nothing on it.

The cold night was silent, with only Zhang Liao and Gao Rou standing there, their sleeves fluttering in the wind. They looked down at the circles of Han troops surrounding the city.

It seemed that it was not until this time that Zhang Liao accepted the fact.

That is Liu Bei and Guan Yu... In the past three years, they have grown into new giants, and the Great Wei... and the King of Wei are crumbling in their hands, dying bit by bit -

Suddenly, Gao Rou pointed to the central military position in the military camp under the city.

"The biggest one must be Guan Lin's tent, right? That rebellious son of the Guan family..."

"The rebellious son of the Guan family!" Zhang Liao chanted out this name, but he felt a little bitter and sarcastic at the corners of his mouth.

That's right, it was this rebellious son of the Guan family who, with his mischief and confrontation, and his repeated disobedience to his father Guan Yu, helped the Han army turn the tide in these three years and laid the foundation for the current victory.

Still a rebellious son?

How could this be called a rebellious son? This is clearly a mockery of the Wei Dynasty! This is simply the Qilin child of the Guan family!
Thinking of this, Zhang Liao smiled bitterly.

"If it weren't for him... the world today would never be like this—"

"Perhaps Wei has already seized Jingzhou, and perhaps Wu will not be destroyed yet. This three-way balance of power will at least not be completely changed in three years—"

"perhaps…"

At the end of his speech, Zhang Liao's throat seemed to be dry. The cruelest thing in this world is that there is no if!
Having said that, who could have thought that the fourth son of the Guan family, who had always been unknown, could stir up the world!
I realized it too late... What's the point other than hatred?
"Wenyuan..." Gao Rou saw Zhang Liao's depressed mood and couldn't help but say, "There is still no news from the king. In fact, you and I both know that Wei has already lost, just like Yuan Shao after the Battle of Guandu in the past. Everyone is fighting for power and the country is divided... and our persistence may, I mean, perhaps... has no meaning at all!"

Gao Rou is Gao Gan's cousin, Gao Gan is Yuan Shao's nephew and was once appointed "Governor of Bingzhou" by Yuan Shao. It is precisely because of this relationship that Gao Rou knows better... the current situation, especially the direction of the Wei Dynasty without the King of Wei... what will it be like?
This is just a new cycle!
Zhang Liao stood to one side, staring at the endless military camps in the distance, and said hoarsely: "The king's life or death is unknown. As long as he is still alive, as long as he can return to the northern border, it is too early to say anything..."

"But we can't hold on for much longer..."

With a "click" sound, Gao Rou clenched his fists. He was born in Yuan Camp and had experienced a "collapse of the building" once. He did not expect that Cao Camp...the final outcome would be the same.

"Wenyuan... open your eyes and take a good look. This is not Xiaoyaojin, and Guan Lin is not Sun Zhongmou. We... we can't defend it! Surrender, or else, we will surrender!"

Zhang Liao's back is lonely...

He could understand Gao Rou's thoughts, but this thought... was not valid for him no matter what, and it could not get past his heart.

He asked Gao Rou in return: "Why do you think Xiang Yu refused to cross the river?"

what…

Gao Rou didn't expect Zhang Liao to ask him such a question. Gao Rou could only try to reply: "Yes... I am too embarrassed to face the elders of Jiangdong!"

"Wrong!" Zhang Liao held the hilt of the sword at his waist, his eyes turned blood red, "People only think that Xiang Yu's 8,000 soldiers are his personal soldiers, but who knows that these 8,000 soldiers are Xiang Yu's nine clans! On the bank of the Wujiang River, he looked up and saw that it was his cousin who blocked the knife for him. He looked down and saw that it was his cousin's severed hand. The one who stayed behind to cover the rear was his sister's husband. The one who cried and shouted for him to cross the river was his uncle..."

At this point, Zhang Liao's expression became even more lonely. "Xiang Yu can cross the river, but he will have to face the mothers of his childhood playmates, his sister and grandmother, and all the elders and villagers who watched him grow up... accompanied him to grow up! These people will ask him expectantly, 'My king, why didn't my son and grandson come back together?' And in the end, these people will not blame him, but will hide the grief in their eyes and say, 'Although I am old and weak, I can still fight with my king.'"

At this point, Zhang Liao seemed to think of himself. Tears slowly welled up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away and continued, "… Just like me now, surrendering is easy, but those fathers and fellow villagers who have fought with me over the years, their sons died on the battlefield, and their grandsons died in foreign lands. If one day I return to my hometown in Bingzhou, they will ask me… why I am wearing the armor of their dead sons and grandsons' enemies to 'return home in glory'? How can I explain it to them? If they ask me to avenge their relatives, how can I face them?"

This…

For a moment, Gao Rou was somewhat moved. He opened his mouth, but was choked with sobs, as if he was sincerely...unable to bear to persuade General Wen Yuan any further.

I feel the same way…

Suddenly, Gao Rou felt as if she had felt the same way.

Just like Xiang Yu, after crossing the river, he was the defeated Xiang Lang, but after crossing the river, he was still the Overlord of Western Chu.

Similarly, Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan, surrendered and he was just a surrendered Han army general, but if he did not surrender, he would still be the God of War of the Wei Dynasty... he would still be the bravest man in Shanxi, and the one of the Five Elite Generals who made the fellow villagers give him a thumbs up!
"So... Wenyuan, do you want to accept Guan Lin's invitation to fight?"

After hesitating for a long time and sobbing for a long time, Gao Rou finally asked the last question.

"catch!"

Zhang Liao replied firmly, "But there is one thing. In this battle... in the end, only Zhang Liao will die in battle. There will never be a Wei Zhengdong General who surrenders—"

It was Zhang Liao's last sentence that made Gao Rou respect him deeply.

Times have changed, and many years have passed, but he... has not changed!

He is still the god of war in Xiaoyaojin, the righteous man who always puts justice first.

...

...

"Boom boom boom——"

At dawn, the sound of drums and shouts that reached the sky once again awakened the silent battlefield!

crunch...

With a sharp sound, the gate of Suanzao County opened. On one side, Zhang Liao and his personal guards rode out slowly on horseback, and on the other side came the mighty Han army led by Guan Lin.

The flags are flying, the military discipline is strict, and we are ready for battle.

In just a moment, smoke and dust billowed, and a group of tattered "Wei" military flags came into the sight of Guan Lin and all the Han troops.

Less than a hundred guards led by Zhang Liao have already reached the front of the Han army...

Because they had experienced the attack on Hulao Pass before.

At this moment, these elite Wei troops...their tattered armor and blood-stained robes were particularly conspicuous.

"Finally, he went to the battle—"

Guan Lin stood on a higher chariot, looking at Zhang Liao... looking at this mighty and powerful war god of the Wei Dynasty, especially the crescent halberd in his hand... and the "Gray Shadow" warhorse he was riding... he couldn't help but sigh.

Inexplicably, in this situation, his figure seemed a little lonely.

On the other hand, those generals from Jiangdong, who had been generals for so many years, should have had hearts as hard as iron and could hardly express emotions. But at this moment, they felt especially nervous when they saw Zhang Liao going into battle.

It was as if I thought of the god of war on Xiaoyaojin.

He, he, he…he does it again.

For a moment, these generals were frightened, but when they added strength to their hands and gripped their weapons more tightly, all their fears disappeared.

According to Master Yunqi, this battle was to help them break this nightmare. Besides, with so many people and such elite weapons, what was there to be afraid of?
at this time…

A roar like a dragon's roar rang out from the Wei army's formation.

"I am Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan. Who wants to fight me?"

When this deafening, powerful voice resounded...

Even the entire Han army formation was moved.

A person’s name, the shadow of a tree…

Even though the Wei Dynasty has been in such a terrible state over the past three years, the name Zhang Liao still makes people tremble with fear as always!
call…

Guan Lin on the chariot exclaimed softly, and he looked around at the generals in front of him...

Some soldiers have already volunteered.

"Fourth brother, your third sister has long wanted to learn the martial arts of General Zhang Liao. Why don't you let me take the lead?"

"Miss Third, you can't do that. Zhang Liao is a very skilled fighter. I, Zhou Cang, should go first! Let's test his strength and weakness! You can come up after I finish the fight!"

"Master Yunqi, I, General Ling Tong, would like to... fight you—"

"Sir, let me go, Gan Ning..."

Voices requesting to fight were heard one after another.

Guan Lin's eyes fell on Jiang Wei, "Bo Yue!"

"The general is here!"

"In this battle, you will set an example for the generals!"

"As you command——"

As he spoke, Jiang Wei raised his green spear and rode forward...

"Boom boom boom——"

"Boom boom boom——"

For a moment, the sound of drums was like thunder, shaking the earth, as if they were all cheering and shouting for the young general!
At the same time, everyone's eyes were fixed on him. Jiang Wei's battle was the first, but also the decisive one.

This battle started with Jiang Wei's cry:
"General Zhang, do you know Tianshui Jiang Boyue——"

"You betrayer, you still have the nerve to fight me. I will kill you on the spot—"

Clank, clank, clank——

The fight began, and the most brilliant sparks exploded in an instant, brilliant to the extreme—

...

...

"What's your name?"

"Li Qiu!"

"Where do you live? Do you have any family members still alive?"

"My family lives in Zhending County, Liangzhou. My father, Li Erhe, and my brother, Li Mu, both died in the fire at Beimang Mountain. I was the only one who escaped the disaster... while shopping outside!"

"Then, who recommended you to General Xiahou to assist me?"

"It's Mr. Li Miao——"

After numerous hardships, difficulties and obstacles... Cao Cao, Zhang Fang and others finally passed Ziwu Valley, avoided all searches by Guan Yu, and arrived at the place agreed with Xiahou Dun.

This is after leaving Ziwu Valley, avoiding Lantian County where Guan Yu had deployed heavy troops, and heading directly towards Chang'an, arriving at the southwest corner of Mount Li.

This place is very close to Chang'an City.

But... according to conventional thinking, even if Cao Cao escaped from Ziwu Valley, he would have gone through Lantian County and headed towards Tongguan, and would never have gone in the opposite direction to Chang'an, so... this is the so-called "darkness under the lamp", the most dangerous place, but also the safest place.

Cao Cao was satisfied with Li Miao's choice of meeting point...

What even satisfied him the most was that, being suspicious by nature, he specially sent out a number of scouts to explore the way ahead in order to ensure that everything was foolproof, but they did not find any suspicious points... any ambush at the foot of Mount Li. In this way, he dared to arrive here quietly.

Sure enough, there was a flying ball densely packed inside Mount Li. Because it was hidden, it had not yet been inflated...it just lay shriveled on the ground.

At the same time, there was a group of personal soldiers of his good brother Xiahou Dun, as well as a flying ball player who had survived by chance in the so-called Great Wei Flying Ball Camp.

Because of the relationship between Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun, he had seen many of these personal soldiers before...so he didn't have any suspicion at all.

But Cao Cao seemed a little shy with this fly ball player, so he asked a lot of questions.

"Does your Majesty have any questions? If not, please take a short rest and I will go prepare the flying ball—"

Guan Xing bowed to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao waved his hand and signaled him to make arrangements.

In fact, based on these few questions alone, Cao Cao could not say that he completely trusted the flying ball player, but... the situation was urgent, and staying here for another quarter of an hour would increase the danger, and besides... it was Li Miao who introduced him, so Cao Cao could still trust this name.

Because, no matter what, Liu Bei punished Li Miao, Zhuge Liang sent Li Miao to prison, and Guan Lin humiliated Li Miao. These are ironclad facts.

"Go ahead and make arrangements quickly..."

"Yes!" Guan Xing bowed, but added, "But there is one thing your Majesty needs to know. This flying ball can only carry seven people at most... Please prepare early."

Guan Xing talked freely and did not show the slightest excitement about meeting Cao Cao.

Following Lingju and being in the assassination organization "Parrot" for a long time has honed his character to be extremely calm. The closer he is to the target, the calmer he needs to be.

"I understand. You just need to operate the flying ball well, and I will arrange the rest..."

"promise!"

With Guan Xing's final response to Cao Cao, he bowed and left, then went to the mountains to take care of the flying ball. The first step was to inflate the flying ball!
Normally, this is just an easy step...

But now, due to incomplete equipment, Guan Xing can only use many alternative instruments, and even many of them require manpower to complete, and the efficiency of inflation will naturally be much lower.

Of course, Cao Cao saw all of this.

Zhang Fang noticed something strange in Cao Cao's expression, and couldn't help but ask Cao Cao in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you not trust Li Qiu?"

Zhang Fang thought... after all, he is a new face, so it is understandable.

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "I didn't trust him just now, but now, I do..."

This…

Without waiting for Zhang Fang to ask, Cao Cao's words came out again, "He was sent by Hannan. For several years, Hannan is a person I can always trust. In addition, if he had ill intentions, the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade would have arrived by the time I arrived here, and there is also the flying ball... It is obvious that he hid here in a hurry. It is true that many things are missing, but it looks more real this way-"

Hearing Cao Cao say this...

Zhang Fang cupped his hands, "The king is indeed thoughtful, but... he just said that only seven people can ride the flying ball, but here... the king's personal soldiers, the high-ranking officials of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, and the ghost soldiers, there are more than a thousand people..."

Hear this.

Cao Cao was silent for a moment and closed his eyes slightly.

But soon, his tiger eyes opened again, but became much firmer, and his voice also rang out at the same time, low, firm and determined.

"I would rather let others down than be let down by others—"

...

...

The crescent halberd was swung high in a full moon arc, and Zhang Liao swung down with great force.

When Jiang Wei saw the halberd, he raised his spear... held his composure and charged forward.

"when--"

A spear and a halberd collided in the air, sparks flew, and a huge force penetrated the hands of the two men.

This was already the twentieth round of the fight between Jiang Wei and Zhang Liao.

In the previous duels, Jiang Wei showed his agility in spearmanship. Whenever his spear collided with Zhang Liao's crescent halberd, it would often come to an abrupt stop... He would immediately retract it and attack from the side...

This also meant that even though Zhang Liao was far superior to Jiang Wei in strength and had the upper hand in the battle, he was unable to convert this advantage into victory.

Until this blow...

He was watching for the right opportunity, and seeing that Jiang Wei had no way to escape, he was forcing the fight between the two to turn into a contest of power.

Of course, if he were to fight against Guan Yu, he would never do so.

But, a young major general? Even if he trained himself from birth, he would not be a match for Zhang Liao.

It should be noted that Zhang Liao's original surname was Nie. He angered the Huns during the Mayi conspiracy, so his family changed their surname to Zhang to avoid disaster.

This is a family with a long history of martial arts.

Also, because he took root in Yanmen County, which was the border between Han and Hu, he studied under the martial arts prodigy among the "Zhang family's disciples", Zhang Jian, who was ranked third (and also taught Lu Bu), and he heard and saw the martial arts of the fierce Hu cavalry and Zhang Liao. His strength was completely acquired through actual combat.

Although Jiang Wei is also like this...

But based on experience, Zhang Liao undoubtedly had the upper hand and was suppressing Jiang Wei.

"Suffer death——"

Following Zhang Liao's roar, his halberd thrust down like a mountain pressing down on one's head... was destined to kill!
Accidents can happen overnight...

At this moment, the sharp edge of Jiang Wei's spear, which he swung with all his strength, collided with Zhang Liao's crescent halberd.

With Jiang Wei's cheeks already red, he roared without fear.

"Come--"

Spears and halberds collide...

Then, with a "click" sound... the edge of Zhang Liao's crescent halberd broke suddenly, and the halberd blade flew out along with the top of the halberd handle, spinning and breaking into pieces.

And the force brought by this blow... has not been removed.

Zhang Liao was pressed down by the thousand-pound gravity and actually jumped up... Only when the force was removed did he fall heavily to the ground.

He looked extremely embarrassed.

But even so, he still drew his sword from his waist and stared at Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei did not push forward, but dismounted from his horse, stuck the spear in his hand into the ground, and drew the sword from his waist.

He turned toward Zhang Liao, with the blade also pointed at Zhang Liao, and said with a smile:
"General Zhang's crescent halberd doesn't look very strong, but I wonder if the swords forged by the Wei army are strong enough? Can they block my sword?"

"court death--"

Zhang Liao shouted loudly, endured the pain in his body, and walked quickly towards his sword.

Jiang Wei bit his lip slightly, then held the knife in both hands and stepped forward, chanting the word "broken" -

...

...

(P.S.: According to the outline, there are still about fifteen chapters. Dear readers, please stick with me. I will be very grateful to you.) (End of this chapter)