Chapter 46: Breaking Out of Xuchang

A mere twenty men quickly formed their ranks here, each squad acting independently. At first, Zhang Xiu dismissed them; even with twenty reinforcements, what could they possibly achieve against the tens of thousands in Cao Cao’s army? Yet what transpired next caught him utterly by surprise.

As the battle began, the six men at the rear managed to withstand the onslaught of Cao Cao’s troops. Forming a single line, every soldier who approached was cut down by their curved blades. The six at the front stood resolutely, felling any enemy who dared come near. Meanwhile, the remaining eight surged towards the city gate.

For a moment, Zhang Xiu watched in disbelief, unable to trust his own eyes. They were too formidable. With just a handful of men, they delivered heavy losses to Cao Cao’s forces through sheer skill and ferocity. Regardless of the final outcome, these twenty men radiated fearless strength, each exuding a powerful aura. To those who witnessed it, their presence was as commanding as two thousand soldiers.

“What are you standing around for?” one of the Wolf Shadow squad shouted, snapping Zhang Xiu and his men out of their stupor. “You’re in charge of the flanks—follow the vanguard and break through!”

Hearing the command, Zhang Xiu rallied. “General Hu, let’s fight our way out! Soldiers, follow me—charge!” Hope invigorated him. With the twenty men joining, Cao Ren, observing from atop the city wall, furrowed his brow. Still, he remained unconcerned—after all, they had tens of thousands. What could twenty more do? He thought just as Zhang Xiu had.

But soon, the situation began to shift. The eight at the front wasted no time in battle, always pressing towards the gate whenever opportunity arose. Their methods were ruthless, like killing machines. Even when surrounded on all sides by Cao Cao’s troops, their defense and attack speed stunned all who watched. Attacked from several directions at once, they dodged skillfully and struck back, killing every assailant.

Their actions were especially decisive. Each attack was fatal, never striking the same foe twice; the first blow always ended the enemy. Relentlessly, they pushed forward, and within moments, they reached the passage within the city gate.

Witnessing this, Zhang Xiu, following close behind, was filled with terror. He could scarcely believe such a small group could carve a bloody path through the forces. Now, only a few dozen meters separated them from the gate.

“Soldiers, press forward and relieve their pressure!” Zhang Xiu ordered, hastening his men to keep pace and support the six who had broken through. Though he could not spearhead the assault himself, he could ease the burden on those leading. Gradually, Cao Ren atop the wall became uneasy. He had never expected such prowess from twenty men.

“Quick, stop them! Don’t let them open the gate!” he shouted. “Everyone, attack—kill them!”

Though his soldiers surged forward, the twenty men seemed like an iron fortress, enclosing Zhang Xiu and his comrades within. Even with superior numbers, Cao Cao’s troops were checked by the overwhelming might before them. In time, numbers might change the outcome, but for now, the Wolf Shadow squad had left little time.

At that moment, the six at the front had reached the gate. Between them and Zhang Xiu’s forces, a cluster of Cao Cao’s men remained blocked. Without hesitation, Zhang Xiu cut them down.

“Hurry, open the gate!” he shouted. “Brothers, escape the city quickly!” Grateful, he called to the Wolf Shadow squad, knowing that without them, he would have perished that day.

“Don’t worry about us. These rabble can’t harm us. You go first!” The Wolf Shadow squad replied with unwavering confidence, hardly acknowledging the enemy.

“Brothers, hurry and follow!” Zhang Xiu commanded. “General Hu, lead everyone out!” Without delay, he led his men through the gate. Once Zhang Xiu and his forces had escaped, the twenty Wolf Shadow members withdrew as well, riding twenty black steeds at full gallop into the distance.

Cao Cao’s troops pursued them, and Cao Ren, consumed by fury, cried, “Shoot! Shoot them down with arrows!” For him, it was a humiliation—his tens of thousands had failed to stop twenty men from rescuing Zhang Xiu.

Bows were drawn, and a rain of arrows darkened the sky, aiming for the Wolf Shadow squad. Calmly, the squad glanced back, unperturbed. At that moment, they produced wooden planks, each nearly a yard long and two meters wide, and swiftly shielded their backs. The arrows struck but lodged harmlessly in the wood. After the barrage, the planks were discarded, and they galloped on.

From afar, Zhang Xiu turned and witnessed the scene. “Sir, those planks must weigh hundreds of pounds, yet they carried them on their backs,” exclaimed Hu Che’er, astonished. A general himself, he prided on his own strength, but seeing this, he admitted he could not match them.

“What kind of men are these, possessing such frightening power!” Jia Xu marveled. “Thank heavens they are not our enemies.” They all realized: had these men come to kill rather than rescue, none would have escaped Xu Chang alive.

Thus, as Zhang Xiu and his party fled, their hearts were filled with awe and dread, wondering who these twenty men truly were. Zhang Xiu resolved that, once safe, he would dismount and ask them personally.