At dusk the following day, Chenliu, Yan Province
Zhang Jing led forty thousand Qihuo Army soldiers to the walls of Chenliu.
After a brief period of rest, the army decided to launch a night assault.
It had to be said that victory was a strange thing—something invisible and intangible, yet undeniably real.
Ever since the Qihuo Army had been founded, it had won battle after battle.
Its morale had become terrifyingly high.
In the past, attacking a major city like Chenliu would have required at least one hundred thousand troops.
Now only forty thousand soldiers had arrived.
Yet the momentum and pressure they exuded surpassed that of a hundred-thousand-man army.
It seemed that as long as Zhang Jing gave the order, the soldiers would charge without hesitation.
………….
On the East Gate’s battlements, Dian Wei stood in armor, staring at the Yellow Turbans below with a puzzled expression.
“Weren’t there supposed to be two hundred thousand of them? Why doesn’t it look like that to me?”
“Military Marquis,” a soldier behind him replied, “There’s no way there are two hundred thousand. I doubt there are even fifty thousand.”
“Those claims of two hundred thousand must be nothing more than Yellow Turban bluster.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
Dian Wei nodded.
Pointing at the distant catapults, he asked, “Could those things be the trebuchets?”
“Excellent eyesight, Military Marquis!”
His subordinate immediately seized the chance to flatter him.
“They certainly look impressive.”
Dian Wei frowned slightly before ordering, “Go inform Sima Zhao at once and tell him to make preparations.”
“I think the Yellow Turbans are about to attack.”
“Understood!”
The soldier hurried away.
“Honestly, the Governor and Sima Zhao are unbelievable.”
Dian Wei glanced around while grumbling.
“The Yellow Turbans are about to attack, yet they’re still sitting around somewhere.”
“They haven’t even come to inspect the walls.”
“That’s downright careless.”
…………….
Half an hour later, night fell.
“Hear this, defenders on the walls!”
A squad of Qihuo soldiers approached the city and began the customary surrender demand.
“We grant you—”
“Shut up!”
Before the soldier could finish, Dian Wei raised a hand and interrupted him.
“Wait a minute first!”
“Wa… wait a minute?”
The young officer below the walls looked utterly bewildered.
Feeling somewhat insulted, he shouted back,
“Are you willing to surrender or not? If—”
“You shut up first!”
Dian Wei interrupted him again.
“Our governor might have run away.”
“Why are you in such a hurry? Let me figure things out first!”
“???”
The officer below was dumbfounded again.
Then he quickly reacted and shouted:
“Listen, defender!”
“Your governor has already abandoned the city.”
“Why risk your life for him?”
“Wu Zi, who stubbornly defended Dingtao the other day, had his entire clan exterminated by our lord after the city fell—”
“Military Marquis! It’s confirmed!”
Just as the Qihuo officer was enthusiastically trying to persuade them to surrender, a subordinate ran up to Dian Wei, panting heavily.
Fear was written all over his face.
“The Governor of Chenliu and Sima Zhao Chong have both fled!”
“All the military camps are empty.”
“They abandoned us!”
“Many people in the city have already learned the news.”
“The entire city is in chaos now.”
“I’m afraid we can’t hold it!”
“That bastard Zhao Chong!”
Dian Wei finally understood.
No wonder Zhao Chong had suddenly started treating him so well yesterday.
The man had been planning to sell him out all along.
Gritting his teeth, Dian Wei cursed:
“And that damned governor too.”
“Neither of them is worth a damn!”
“Gulp… then, Military Marquis…”
His subordinate swallowed nervously.
“Are we still defending Chenliu?”
“Defend my ass!”
Dian Wei exploded in anger.
“Chenliu isn’t mine.”
“Why should I risk my life for those corrupt officials?”
“Open the gates!”
“I’m done with this!”
As though remembering something, his expression darkened further.
“Anywhere I go, I’m just earning a living.”
“I’ve finally seen those officials’ true colors.”
“O-open the gates?”
The subordinate immediately began stammering.
He had considered running away.
He had even thought about taking advantage of the chaos to make a little profit.
But opening the city gates?
That possibility had never crossed his mind.
Because once the gates were opened, nobody knew what the Yellow Turbans might do to them.
The unknown was frightening.
“Open them!”
Dian Wei waved his hand decisively.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“I’m joining the Yellow Turbans.”
“With my abilities, couldn’t I at least become a regional commander?”
“Then I’d live freely and comfortably.”
“Anything is better than risking my life for those damned officials.”
The Qihuo officer below the walls shouted again:
“Defender on the wall!”
“Are you surrendering or not?!”
At this moment, the young officer beneath the city wall was speechless.
Growing somewhat impatient, he shouted:
“Will you just give me a straight answer already?!”
“I surrender! I’m surrendering right now!”
Dian Wei hurriedly replied.
“Fine, so you’re not surrendering, is that it—… Huh?”
The officer suddenly froze.
His eyes lit up.
“The brother up there, are you serious?”
He had never imagined that one day he would actually persuade a major city like Chenliu to surrender.
“I keep my word!”
Dian Wei declared boldly.
“I’ll have the gates opened immediately!”
“It’s actually true—wahahaha!”
The officer was overjoyed.
“Quick! Quick! Go report this to the lord!”
“Understood!”
The accompanying Qihuo soldiers hurried off to deliver the news.
Creeeak…
A short while later, the East Gate of Chenliu slowly swung open.
“I’m the city’s defending general!”
Just as the Qihuo officer was watching with caution, Dian Wei emerged from the city with around a hundred men, striding out carelessly.
“I’ve already surrendered.”
“I’m planning to join the Yellow Turbans.”
“So what position are you planning to give me?”
“…?”
Although the officer saw that Dian Wei and his men carried no weapons, he still felt a little nervous.
Yet after hearing Dian Wei’s words, his brain nearly stopped working altogether.
“Little brother!”
Walking up to him, Dian Wei slapped him on the shoulder and said cheerfully:
“From now on, we’re brothers eating from the same pot.”
“My name is Dian Wei.”
“What’s your name?”
“Liao Hua.”
The young officer pursed his lips and answered.
At that moment, his head was buzzing.
For a brief moment, he could no longer tell which one of them had actually surrendered to the other.
……………
Qihuo Army Central Camp
After hearing the report, Zhang Jing was somewhat surprised.
He had expected a difficult battle.
Instead, Zhang Miao had simply run away.
And the defending general had opened the gates and surrendered.
If a defender lacked the will to fight, fleeing was understandable.
But opening the city gates and surrendering?
That was truly absurd.
After all, although Zhang Jing had established the Qihuo Army, the world still regarded them as Yellow Turban bandits.
Once news of such a surrender spread, the defender’s reputation would be utterly ruined.
In the past, even small county towns would not open their gates and surrender, even when no one was left to defend them.
For Zhang Jing, this was a first.
“Someone!”
Without dwelling on it further, Zhang Jing ordered:
“Command Xu He to lead three thousand brothers into the city.”
“Once everything has been investigated and confirmed, raise our main banner atop the city walls.”
“Yes, sir!”
A young officer accepted the order and departed.
As the lanterns began to glow throughout the city, the great banner of the Qihuo Army was raised above the walls of Chenliu.
Only then did Zhang Jing lead the main army into the city.
“My lord!”
As Zhang Jing entered the city, Liao Hua stepped forward and respectfully clasped his fists.
“While persuading the defenders to surrender, this subordinate was fortunate enough to receive the surrender of Chenliu’s defending general, Dian Wei, who offered the city to us.”
“He wishes to join our army.”
“I ask my lord to make a decision regarding his fate.”
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up ahead of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
