“Thank goodness the lord sent Dian Wei with us.”
The longer Guo Jia watched the duel, the more alarmed he became.
A murderous glint flickered in his eyes from time to time.
Only after confirming that Dian Wei was holding his own did he shift his gaze toward the residence and murmur, “Now everything depends on General Guan Hai.”
……….
Elsewhere, Taishi Ci was locked in combat with Zhang Liao.
After forcing Zhang Liao back with another powerful strike, he said in a deep voice, “I never expected the Bing Province army to have another warrior of your caliber besides Lü Bu.”
“Today, Lü Bu will undoubtedly be captured or slain by our army.”
“If you’re willing to abandon the darkness and come over to our side, I’ll spare your life.”
His opponent was an exceptional fighter, only slightly weaker than himself.
Moreover, Taishi Ci noticed that Zhang Liao was considerably younger.
He couldn’t help but develop an appreciation for such talent.
“Stop trying to frighten me with empty words!”
Zhang Liao replied, remaining on full guard.
“My lord wields the Sky-Piercing Halberd, rides the peerless Red Hare, and possesses martial skill unmatched under heaven!”
“How could he possibly be captured by the likes of you?”
“I think you’re the one who should hurry back.”
“By now, your companions have probably already been cut down by my lord.”
“Hmph. Incorrigible.”
Taishi Ci snorted coldly and charged once more.
Since Zhang Liao refused to be persuaded, there was no room for mercy on the battlefield.
………….
Outside the residence…
“Lü Bu!”
Just as Lü Bu and Dian Wei reached their fiftieth exchange, the sounds of fighting inside the residence abruptly ceased.
A cold shout echoed into Lü Bu’s ears.
“You dare?!”
After driving Dian Wei back, Lü Bu turned toward the voice.
His expression changed instantly.
His entire family had already been escorted out of the residence and taken hostage.
“Lay down your weapon and you will be spared.”
Holding his saber, Guan Hai stared coldly at Lü Bu.
“Otherwise, your entire clan will be exterminated.”
“Excellent!”
Seeing this, Guo Jia finally let out a long sigh of relief.
He knew the battle was all but decided.
“Husband!”
“Don’t worry about us!”
Though Lady Yan was frightened, she refused to plead with Lü Bu for rescue.
“Father!”
“Husband!”
A young girl and a beautiful married woman also stared nervously at Lü Bu, their faces filled with anxiety.
“My lord, I have failed you.”
His face covered in blood, Gao Shun bowed deeply, his expression filled with guilt.
He had never imagined the Yellow Turbans would stoop to such tactics— splitting off a force specifically to seize his lord’s family.
Because of the army’s oversight, his lord’s wives and children had fallen into enemy hands.
“Lü Bu.”
Guo Jia spoke in an icy tone.
“Surrender and you may yet live.”
“Otherwise, you will be executed immediately.”
As Guo Jia spoke, the two hundred heavy crossbowmen standing beside him raised their weapons and aimed directly at Lü Bu.
These were specially made three-stone heavy crossbows.
Their power far exceeded standard military crossbows.
They could shoot nearly one hundred eighty paces, with an effective killing range of about one hundred twenty paces.
Even the heavy crossbows used by Qu Yi’s famous Vanguard Battalion were of roughly the same specification.
Guo Jia knew that the crossbows alone might not be enough to kill Lü Bu.
But with Dian Wei attacking alongside them, Lü Bu would have no chance of survival.
Clang…
Hearing those words, Lü Bu gritted his teeth.
His eyes were filled with conflict.
After looking around at the situation, he finally understood the hopelessness of his position.
Unwilling though he was, he slowly released his grip on the Sky-Piercing Halberd.
“General Pan Zhang.”
Guo Jia immediately ordered, “Have someone carry Lü Bu’s weapon throughout the city.”
“Announce that those who surrender will be spared.”
“Anyone still holding a weapon will be executed.”
“Understood!”
Pan Zhang saluted.
Although he was responsible for training the Forlorn Hope Battalion, he wasn’t responsible for personally leading every assault.
That was something Zhang Jing had taught him.
His role was to stay alive and inspire the army’s morale.
Soon, two soldiers approached Lü Bu.
Without even glancing at him, they picked up the Sky-Piercing Halberd and headed toward the eastern gate.
“Lü Bu’s weapon is here!”
“Those who surrender will be spared!”
“Anyone who still bears arms will be executed!”
They shouted the proclamation all the way, their faces glowing with excitement.
After all, nothing was more exhilarating than winning a battle.
Guo Jia quietly turned toward Gao Shun and the others.
“What will you choose?”
Clang… Clang…
Gao Shun looked toward Lü Bu.
The veins on Lü Bu’s forehead bulged, yet he offered no response.
In the end, Gao Shun could only throw down his own weapon.
“General Dian Wei.”
Guo Jia said, “Have the men strip Lü Bu and the others of their armor.”
“Bind every one of them securely.”
“Understood.”
Dian Wei nodded, ordering the Central Army soldiers to get to work.
“A true warrior may be killed but he must not be humiliated!”
As several soldiers approached to tie him up, Lü Bu’s face darkened.
“We’ve already surrendered.”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“The lord says you’re a fierce tiger.”
Guo Jia deliberately kept a considerable distance from Lü Bu as he replied calmly.
“If we don’t tie you up tightly who would dare come anywhere near you?”
And he meant every word.
Faced with this “fierce tiger,” Guo Jia truly didn’t dare lower his guard.
Fortunately, Lü Bu’s weakness was all too obvious.
Even so, he remained someone against whom one could never afford to be careless.
“……”
Lü Bu looked at the cold, impassive Guo Jia.
His clenched fists trembled for a moment, but in the end, he slowly relaxed them.
………..
At the Eastern Gate
Taishi Ci looked at the slightly wounded Zhang Liao and asked, “What is your name?”
“I told you before that Lü Bu would be captured.”
“Now that his weapon is being paraded throughout the city, do you believe me?”
“Hmph!”
Having already laid down his weapon, Zhang Liao snorted coldly.
“My lord is unmatched beneath Heaven.”
“If he was captured by the likes of you, then you must have resorted to underhanded tricks.”
“And another thing.”
“I am Zhang Liao of Yanmen— courtesy name Wenyuan.”
In Zhang Liao’s heart, Lü Bu was nearly invincible.
The only reason they had been defeated at Chang’an was not merely because Li Jue and Guo Si possessed overwhelming strength.
More importantly, many of the former Xiliang troops under Lü Bu had defected in the middle of the campaign.
Otherwise, they would never have been forced into such a desperate retreat.
………….
Just Before Dawn
All of Lü Bu’s soldiers were escorted under guard toward Cangting Ferry.
Guo Jia’s report of victory was also delivered to the opposite bank.
Upon receiving the news, Zhang Jing immediately ordered two thousand troops to cross the river.
Together with Guo Jia’s force, they transported all of Lü Bu’s supplies— including his grain, warhorses, and military equipment back to Cangting.
………..
Dong Commandery, Fagan
At this time, all of Yuan Shao’s civil and military officials had gathered in the central command tent.
“Gentlemen.”
Yuan Shao wore a grave expression as he announced, “Our scouts report that during the Hour of Chou (around 1–3 a.m.), Lü Bu was ambushed at Dongwuyang.
“The Yellow Turban rebels have finally made their move.”
The entire tent erupted into an uproar.
“What?”
“The Yellow Turbans actually attacked?”
“They really dared to do it?”
“Could it be that Lord Yuanhao’s prediction was correct?”
“…”
“Don’t speak nonsense!”
someone immediately rebuked.
“This was our lord’s brilliant foresight and strategic insight!”
“Ah, yes, yes! Exactly!”
“I think—”
“Enough!”
Yuan Shao interrupted in a righteous tone.
“These Yellow Turban bandits have not only thrown Yan Province into chaos, they now even dare cross the river and commit acts of banditry in my Ji Province.”
“So long as they remained on the other side of the Yellow River, that was one thing.”
“But now that they’ve crossed they can forget about ever returning!”
“Yan Liang! Wen Chou!”
“Take six thousand cavalry with me as the vanguard.”
“We march immediately to reinforce the Governor of Yan Province.”
“We must reach Dongwuyang before noon.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Yan Liang and Wen Chou stepped forward in unison, cupped their fists, and answered loudly.
Fagan was only about eighty li from Dongwuyang.
Even allowing time to rest their horses, the journey could easily be completed within three double-hours (about six hours).
“In addition…”
Yuan Shao continued, “Send orders to the entire army.”
“The main force will depart at the third quarter of the Hour of Mao (around 6:30 a.m.).”
“We must arrive at Dongwuyang before the Hour of Xu (around 7–9 p.m.).”
“There, we shall assist General Fenwei in suppressing the rebellion, and thereby repay the court for its trust.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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