"Yi De! The enemy troops are numerous; do not entangle with them. It's wise to move forward and join our allies!" Amidst the Yellow Turban wave, a group of two or three thousand volunteer soldiers dressed in simple clothing and armor stood out conspicuously.
In the army, a handsome man with unusually large ears rode a horse, wielding dual swords to fend off the Yellow Turban forces. Not far away, a robust and dark-skinned general, holding a double-headed steel spear, fought valiantly, unchallenged.
These two needed no further introduction: one was Liu Bei, a descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan, and the other was Zhang Fei, known as Zhang Yide, the famed "Warrior of Ten Thousand."
Some days ago, Liu Bei had fortuitously met the wealthy Zhang Fei in Zhuo County. Zhang Fei, generous with his wealth, admired Liu Bei's ambitions. Despite their brief acquaintance, they found themselves kindred spirits. Learning of Liu Bei's intent to raise an army to protect the Han dynasty in the turbulent times, Zhang Fei sold his estates to support the cause.
The two traveled across You Province, gathering over three thousand volunteer soldiers. Upon hearing of the Yellow Turban attack on Zhuo County, they marched to the rescue.
To the present battle: Liu Bei's words were not in vain. Zhang Fei, leading the charge, rode alone into the midst of the enemy. His spear thrust forward and back, and the surrounding Yellow Turban soldiers dared not approach. Many of their leaders were felled by Zhang Fei's spear, and the common soldiers scattered in terror.
"Hahaha!" Zhang Fei laughed heartily, his voice like a tiger's roar reverberating through the mountains, striking fear into all. "Who else among you has the courage to come forward!"
"Arrogant enemy general!" Finally, a figure emerged from the Yellow Turban forces, brandishing a knife. It was Liao Hua.
Zhang Fei gazed at Liao Hua with a fierce expression, "Who are you? State your name!"
Liao Hua was taken aback, thinking it might be a signal. But recalling that none of the three he had met before matched this description, he hesitantly asked, "Are you under General Qin's command?"
"General Qin? Which General Qin?" Zhang Fei, ignorant of Qin Longyang's identity, left Liao Hua confused. "I am Zhang Fei from Yan!"
Zhang Fei glanced back, seeing that Liu Bei had already broken through and joined forces with Qu Jing and others.
"Are we fighting or not? If not, I'll be on my way!" With that, Zhang Fei indeed turned to leave, spear in hand.
Liao Hua hesitated, spurred his horse forward, but Zhang Fei suddenly turned and shouted, "Wah!" His voice thundered, causing Liao Hua's horse to nearly go mad with fright.
"Hahaha!" Zhang Fei laughed again, contentedly riding away.
"A truly formidable warrior..." Liao Hua, beads of cold sweat on his forehead, watched as Zhang Fei's forces departed, then returned to his own army.
...
"Kill!" The cries of battle continued to shake the heavens outside the city. The three groups, after much difficulty, finally gathered together. Before they could identify each other, the Yellow Turban army began to surround them once more.
"Generals, let's retreat into the city and plan our next move!" Guan Yu, brandishing his long blade, led the charge on horseback, with the others following closely.
Upon reaching the city gates of Zhuo County, they found them tightly shut. Guan Yu shouted to the soldiers atop the walls, "I am Guan Yu! Open the gates quickly!"
Unexpectedly, the soldiers atop exchanged glances, then aimed their bows and arrows at Guan Yu. "General, you'd better leave quickly, or don't blame us for not showing mercy!"
"You!" Guan Yu's eyes blazed with anger, feeling betrayed by those who sought to protect themselves.
"Who? Guan Yu?" A leisurely figure on the city tower sat with legs crossed, overlooking the battlefield below. Hearing the name "Guan Yu," he stood up in shock to see who it was.
"Good heavens... it really is Lord Guan?" Qin Longyang swallowed hard. The man below, with his red face, long beard, and phoenix eyes, matched the legendary image of Guan Yu.
"Hurry... open the gates!" Qin Longyang ordered, and the soldiers at the gates scrambled to open them, allowing the group to enter the city.
"What? They escaped?" The remaining scattered troops, nearly ten thousand strong, retreated into Zhuo County, thwarting Guan Hai's encirclement plan. Furious, he slapped the messenger hard.
"Useless fools! Letting them slip away like that!" Guan Hai cursed.
"No need for anger, General," Bo Cai entered the tent behind him. "The government forces are merely struggling to survive. With our superior numbers, we can trap them in Zhuo County and crush them when the city falls!"
"Yes, that's true." Guan Hai, comforted by Bo Cai's words, felt better. "Surround Zhuo County from all sides and prepare for a full assault!"
"Understood!" The generals departed to carry out the orders.
Inside Zhuo County, chaos reigned. With powerful enemies outside and four unacquainted factions within, the situation was tense. Qu Jing's eyes widened in shock as he recognized a familiar face.
"Qin... Qin Longyang? Why are you here!" Qu Jing exclaimed, startled.
Qin Longyang chuckled, "If I weren't here, you'd all be dead outside the city by now."
"An ambush by the Yellow Turbans... Does this mean that the Yellow Turbans at Baishui have already taken Ji City?" Qu Jing urgently grabbed Qin Longyang, his voice filled with concern.
"If Ji City had fallen, I would have died with Magistrate Liu in the city. How could I be here?" Qin Longyang shook off Qu Jing's hand and replied.
"The Yellow Turbans at Baishui have been dealt with, but Ji City remains in danger. I estimate there are at least twenty thousand Yellow Turbans outside the city. If we are wiped out here in Zhuo County, the fall of Ji City is only a matter of time."
Qu Jing leaned weakly against the wall. Guan Yu stepped forward, cupping his hands toward Qin Longyang, "I am Guan Yu. May I ask who this general is?"
"Guan Yu, also known as Guan Yunchang, I have long admired your reputation." Qin Longyang greeted him cheerfully. "I am Qin Longyang, now the self-proclaimed governor of Zhuo County."
"Governor?" Guan Yu frowned, puzzled at the unexpected change in leadership.
Noticing his confusion, Qin Longyang beckoned with his hand, and Gao Lan walked forward, carrying a bloody head. He presented it to the group.
"You killed the governor?" Guan Yu asked in disbelief, pointing at the head.
"Yes, I did." Qin Longyang spoke casually, as if the man were a nameless soldier. "Do you know that while you were fighting outside, this coward was packing up and running away? If I hadn't intercepted him, he would have fled to Ji City by now. Such a coward is of no use."
"Outrageous! The emperor appoints officials; life and death are for the emperor to decide. Who are you to act so recklessly? How are you different from the Yellow Turban rebels outside?" Liu Bei, unable to contain himself, stepped forward and loudly rebuked Qin Longyang.
"Humph," Qin Longyang scoffed, cleaning his ears nonchalantly. "Lord Xuande, you speak with great authority. But let me be frank: in these chaotic times, the emperor is but a figurehead."
"Rather than allowing the incompetent and unworthy to hold office, it's better for the capable to compete for power. Can you honestly say that you came here purely out of public duty? Nonsense, who here is speaking nonsense!"
"You!" Liu Bei, taken aback by Qin Longyang's retort, was left speechless with anger. Seeing this, Zhang Fei roared and stepped forward to defend his brother's honor. At the same time, Qin Longyang's subordinates, Sun Lang and Gao Lan, prepared to confront them.
As tensions escalated, the atmosphere became icy. "Enough!" It was up to the most senior, Qu Jing, to step in and mediate. "We are surrounded by enemies. If we cause internal strife, no one will leave here alive!"
"Heh, I don't care," Qin Longyang adjusted his clothes and motioned for Sun Lang and Gao Lan to step back. "Since I could get in, I can find a way out. But if you want a surefire plan, listen to my command. I have a strategy to repel the enemy."
Though Qin Longyang spoke lightly, the others looked at him with suspicion. The four forces inside the city barely numbered ten thousand, while the Yellow Turban army outside had over twenty thousand. Defeating them seemed impossible.
Qin Longyang, humming a little tune, acted as if Zhuo County was already his domain, walking leisurely with his hands behind his back.
"Generals..." Qu Jing finally broke the silence. "This man does have some skill. To be honest, before the Yellow Turbans attacked Zhuo County, he had already predicted that they would set an ambush at Baishui in Juyong to lure us into a trap. But I, Qu Jing, was too proud to heed the warning, and that's how we fell into the enemy's trap."
"In that case, he truly is a prodigy," Liu Bei muttered, wavering slightly. "Yide, what do you think?"
"Me?" Zhang Fei scratched his head nonchalantly. "I'll follow your lead, Brother. But as for this guy... why not test his abilities?"
"Very well. Since everyone agrees, we'll follow his orders!" Guan Yu concurred.
Qin Longyang smiled smugly, "Good, since everyone agrees to follow my command. Then, the Yellow Turbans are currently preparing siege engines. Let's seize the opportunity and launch a surprise attack!"
"What?" The others, expecting some clever strategy, were surprised by the suggestion of a final, desperate attack. Nonetheless, they had agreed to follow his orders, so they all led their troops, opened the city gates, and charged out.
"The government forces are attacking!" Just as Qin Longyang predicted, the Yellow Turbans, busy assembling battering rams and ladders, were caught off guard by the sudden assault. The over ten thousand troops surged out, causing chaos among the Yellow Turban soldiers, who fled in panic.
"What? They're attacking?" Guan Hai was both angry and amused. "Those bastards have some nerve. Surround them and crush them!"
Guan Hai donned his armor and grabbed his sword, striding out of his tent. He could see the government forces closing in as they pursued the fleeing Yellow Turbans.
Yellow Turban generals Gao Sheng, Han Xian, and Yu Du stepped forward to resist but were killed by Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Gao Lan in less than ten rounds, further demoralizing the Yellow Turban soldiers.
"Surrounded by rebels, why haven't you surrendered yet?" Guan Hai himself rode out to confront the government forces. "Did you know Ji City has already fallen to the Yellow Turbans?"
"Hahaha!" Qin Longyang, far from being intimidated, laughed aloud, "What a joke. If Ji City had fallen, why haven't we received any news? On the contrary, have you received any word from Huang Shao?"
Qin Longyang's words made Guan Hai's eyes widen in surprise. He looked at Bo Cai, who was also taken aback. It seemed Huang Shao had not sent any further reports.
"Let me tell you, Huang Shao has long been eliminated outside Ji City. Not only has Ji City not fallen, but your rear, Gong County, has also been lost."
"You're spouting nonsense!" Bo Cai shouted in anger, "Defeated troops dare to boast? I'll cut you down myself!"
With that, Bo Cai, wielding a cold iron sword, charged at Qin Longyang. Qin Longyang smirked, as Gao Lan leaped out from behind, clashing with Bo Cai and killing him in just three moves.
"Arrogant whelp!" Guan Hai was enraged. "Liao Hua! Kill him for me!"
"The one who should die is you!" Liao Hua, who had been holding back, suddenly shouted. With a swift stroke, he beheaded Guan Hai, whose body fell from the horse.
The rapid turn of events left both sides stunned. Liao Hua then saluted Qin Longyang, "Rebel leader Guan Hai has been executed! I, Liao Hua, report to the lord!"