Chapter 45: Our Play Performed at the City Gate

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Although both Cao Ang and Dian Wei were formidable generals, the number of guards in the Cao household was too few to withstand the assault by Zhang Xiu and his men. Zhang Xiu, having prepared in advance, not only brought along such fierce warriors as Hu Che’er but also a considerable number of soldiers. Thus, when Zhang Xiu led his men in, the situation immediately became dire.

“Find Cao Hong! Quickly, call for Cao Hong to bring reinforcements!” Cao Cao knew well that with so few men, it was impossible to resist Zhang Xiu. The only hope lay in the timely arrival of Cao Hong’s main force.

“Charge in and kill Cao Cao!” Hu Che’er shouted as he cut down several of the Cao household’s guards.

“You impudent whelps, Dian Wei is here!” Dian Wei, a mighty warrior, rushed forward without hesitation. At once, Hu Che’er and Dian Wei clashed.

Meanwhile, Cao Ang also threw himself into the fray to resist Zhang Xiu’s onslaught.

On a distant rooftop, Liu Xie stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the battle unfold within the Cao residence. A few followers accompanied him.

“Unexpected. Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er are truly formidable fighters. It seems that today both Dian Wei and Cao Ang are doomed.”

Historically, Cao Ang and Dian Wei indeed lost their lives in this very battle. Yet Liu Xie lingered, curious to see firsthand the prowess of Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er.

Below, the chaos only intensified. Hu Che’er and Dian Wei had already exchanged countless blows. Elsewhere, Cao Ang had fallen to Zhang Xiu’s hand. Countless men now turned to besiege Dian Wei yet again.

Everyone knew that Cao Ang and Dian Wei were Cao Cao’s most troublesome retainers. Only by killing them could there be hope of eliminating Cao Cao himself.

Before long, under the relentless attacks, Dian Wei too perished. At that critical moment, Liu Xie noticed movement at the street corner—Cao Hong had arrived, leading a large force to reinforce the defenders.

“My lord, it’s not good! Cao Hong approaches with his army!” a soldier shouted to Zhang Xiu within the Cao residence.

“My lord, withdraw quickly! There’s no time to lose!” Jia Xu, among them, urged loudly.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiu wheeled his horse around and charged out. “Everyone, follow me out of the city!”

With that, Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er led their soldiers out of the Cao residence. By now, Cao Cao was utterly enraged.

“Kill! Kill Zhang Xiu! He must die!” Never before had Cao Cao been so humiliated; the rebellion of his own men filled him with burning fury. He was determined to see Zhang Xiu dead.

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As soon as Zhang Xiu and his men burst from the Cao residence, they found both sides of the street already blocked by Cao’s forces. Historically, Zhang Xiu had not faced such dire straits; though reinforcements had come, the predicament had not been nearly so desperate. Now, however, Zhang Xiu was all but trapped.

“To the city gates—charge!” After quickly ascertaining the direction, Zhang Xiu led the way. The street itself was not narrow, but with so many battling within, it became hopelessly congested. Zhang Xiu’s contingent suffered heavy casualties, attacked from both sides by the Cao troops.

From his vantage point on the distant rooftop, Liu Xie remained composed, watching the tumult below.

“My lord, is it not time?” one of his followers asked anxiously. “If this continues, I fear they won’t break free.”

But Liu Xie was calm and unhurried. “No rush. Let them fight a while longer. Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er are both skilled generals. While they may not kill Cao Cao, breaking through this encirclement should be within their means—though, of course, their losses will be higher.”

He spoke evenly. “Come, let us go to the city gate. The next act of our drama will be there.”

With that, Liu Xie and his men departed. The battle below raged on, with Zhang Xiu’s side suffering ever more casualties. Fortunately, Zhang Xiu and Hu Che’er were valiant warriors, cleaving a bloody path through the ranks, cutting their way out.

Without delay, they raced toward the city gate. But when they arrived, their expressions turned grim.

The gate was already occupied by Cao Cao’s main army, with Cao Ren himself standing at their head. They knew all too well the reputation of Cao Ren. In their present state, facing Cao Ren’s personally commanded troops at the gate, escape was impossible.

“It seems that today is the day I, Zhang Xiu, will die here,” Zhang Xiu said gravely. Looking back, he saw that Cao Hong’s forces had already caught up, and of his own men, fewer than a thousand remained. In contrast, Cao’s army now numbered at least ten thousand.

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“My lord, it matters not. As soldiers, the battlefield is our final resting place. Allow me to lead you in one last charge!” Hu Che’er had clearly resolved to fight to the death.

“Zhang Xiu, you dare rebel? Surrender now!” Cao Ren shouted from atop the city wall.

Moments later, Cao Hong’s main force arrived, surrounding Zhang Xiu and his remaining followers.

“Lay down your weapons!” Cao Hong called out.

Zhang Xiu looked around, but made no move to surrender. He knew that after this rebellion—having slain both Cao Cao’s son and his chief general—Cao Cao would never let them live.

“It seems we can only fight to the death,” Zhang Xiu said with a determined face.

“Zhang Xiu, since you persist in your folly, you leave us no choice! Kill them all!” With a loud order, Cao Hong’s troops closed in once more.

Just then, as the Cao army surged forward, twenty figures suddenly leapt from the rooftops all around. Dressed in black, faces masked, black cloaks streaming behind them, each wielded a gleaming curved blade. In an instant, they charged into the fray.

Without a word, they fell upon the Cao troops, slaughtering with ruthless efficiency. Not one hesitated or so much as furrowed a brow, their movements decisive and their martial skills extraordinary. The methods they displayed were shockingly brutal.

Both Zhang Xiu’s men and the Cao soldiers were stunned, unable to fathom where these assassins had come from.

“Why are you standing there? Follow us—fight your way out!” one of the black-clad figures shouted at Zhang Xiu.

“You… you’re here to help us?” Zhang Xiu asked, bewildered.

“One group to cover the rear, two to seize the gate, three to provide support!” the masked leader barked out crisp orders.

At once, the twenty split into three squads. Six or seven moved to cover Zhang Xiu’s rear against the pursuing Cao troops; another group formed up at the front; the last squad charged directly toward the city gate.