Chapter 110: The Battle Begins

Zhuge Liang quickly understood Liu Xie's meaning. Without further questions, he turned and left.

Afterward, Liu Xie shifted his gaze back to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu.

"Gentlemen, I have one more task for you. This time, you must do it well," Liu Xie said with a serious expression.

Hearing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei exchanged a glance and then nodded resolutely at Liu Xie.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the two of us will give it our all," they replied humbly this time, no longer boasting.

"Good. Then I shall say it—I will give each of you fifty thousand troops to launch a night attack on Xuchang," Liu Xie declared.

"How confident are you in taking it?" he asked.

At these words, the two were momentarily stunned, and even Liu Bei and the others appeared somewhat puzzled.

"Your Majesty, do you mean we attack Xuchang tonight?" Liu Bei asked with a look of bewilderment.

"Yes, Uncle Liu, are you surprised?" Liu Xie smiled.

Liu Bei nodded slightly; indeed, this was something he had not anticipated. It was too sudden.

"Exactly. Even you, our own people, didn’t expect it. Do you think Cao Cao would?" Liu Xie continued.

The crowd was stunned, then finally grasped Liu Xie’s intention.

"I understand now, Your Majesty. You want to strike unexpectedly, and this surprise is not only for Cao Cao," someone said.

"It’s something even we ourselves find unexpected," Liu Bei realized.

Indeed, that was Liu Xie’s point—to strike when Cao Cao least expected it.

In doing so, they could catch him completely off guard.

Such a surprise was something even their own side could not foresee.

"Alright, prepare yourselves," Liu Xie commanded.

"We march at the fourth watch," he added, giving final instructions.

Yet, until dusk, the soldiers in the camp still had no idea what to do.

Everything was as usual, with no changes.

The soldiers ate and drank as usual, showing no movement.

But as the night deepened to the second watch, Liu Xie revealed all the plans to the troops.

"Soldiers, listen carefully. At the fourth watch, we will launch an attack on Cao Cao’s Xuchang."

"I know this is sudden for you. Think it over."

"If you find it sudden, imagine how they will feel."

"You need not prepare anything except your weapons."

"You don’t need to form ranks."

"At the fourth watch, we will form ranks as we move out."

"We must catch them completely by surprise!"

Within the camp, Liu Xie was rallying the troops.

The soldiers looked very surprised.

Indeed, this was something they had not anticipated.

But on reflection, what more could they prepare?

Nothing more; only their weapons needed to be ready.

Moreover, Liu Xie’s orders were direct—no formation, just move out.

By the second watch, Liu Xie had given all the orders.

Before the third watch, the soldiers’ meals were ready.

With less than an hour before the fourth watch, the army began moving toward Xuchang.

Two hundred fifty thousand troops, not one left behind.

Except for the fifty thousand cavalry under Lü Bu, everyone else marched.

He divided the two hundred fifty thousand into five echelons.

He planned to use the same tactic as before in Jingzhou.

A war of attrition with a revolving attack to besiege the city.

Under the cover of night, not a single torch was lit among the two hundred fifty thousand troops.

They advanced in complete darkness.

Only when within less than two miles of Xuchang did the city’s defenders begin to sense something amiss.

"Soldiers, charge!"

"Catapults, archers, provide cover!"

Liu Xie wasted no more words and ordered the attack.

The vanguard was led by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Having suffered repeated defeats here before, they were eager for revenge.

With five echelons totaling two hundred fifty thousand men, the first echelon of fifty thousand surged toward Xuchang’s gates under Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s command.

Meanwhile, the supply troops were fully prepared.

Catapults launched numerous flaming stones soaked in oil.

Alongside a barrage of arrows, the sky above Xuchang was engulfed in fire and smoke.

Below, tens of thousands of infantry reached the city walls.

They raised their ladders and began their assault.

In the central rear camp were Liu Xie, Zhuge Liang, and others.

"Your Majesty, can this attack succeed?" Zhuge Liang asked with some concern.

"Rest assured. We may not take Xuchang entirely this time, but seizing the city gates is no problem," Liu Xie replied.

Indeed, despite the grand scale of the attack, he had no intention of occupying all of Xuchang yet.

The city was defended by over three hundred thousand, close to four hundred thousand troops.

He might take the gates, but capturing the entire city was difficult.

Of course, his goal this time was only the gates.

His purpose was to get the people inside out.

Anything beyond that was not his concern.

"Zilong, you take ten thousand cavalry, but do not engage in battle."

"Remember, as soon as the gate opens, move up immediately to assist."

"Be sure no one is left behind; all must be rescued."

"Uncle Liu, you lead fifty thousand to support Zhang Fei and Guan Yu."

"Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, you two command the remaining troops, ready to assist and cover the rear."

"Understood?" Liu Xie arranged everything once more.

"Understood!" they all replied in unison.

Then, the remaining troops dispersed.

Zhao Yun led ten thousand cavalry—the entirety of the remaining mounted forces.

Liu Bei commanded fifty thousand troops, ready to support Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in the siege.

The remaining hundred thousand plus were under Huang Zhong and Wei Yan’s command, prepared for the aftermath.

As for the supply forces, they were already arranging the retreat.

"Your Majesty, are you sure we can take the gates?" Zhuge Liang asked again.

Liu Xie nodded lightly. "Kongming, surely you haven’t forgotten what I told you?"

"Do you think our forces are only those you see here?"

"My Wolf Shadow Guards, led by General Gao, are already inside Xuchang."

"Moreover, they lie in ambush around the gates."

At this, Liu Xie’s lips curled into a sly smile.

This was the first time Gao Shun and the Wolf Shadow Battalion operated independently, executing a special forces mission.

If they survived this, the Wolf Shadow Guards would become even stronger.

"I understand, Your Majesty. It appears everything is well in hand," Zhuge Liang said.