Chapter 29: Lü Bu Seizes Xuzhou

“Very well. How could I, Lü Bu, a man of honor, remain subordinate for long? Please devise a plan, Master. I shall follow your instructions to the letter.”

Chen Gong nodded with satisfaction. Lü Bu’s attitude was precisely what he appreciated most.

“Cao Bao, I now offer you a chance to redeem yourself. Are you willing?” Chen Gong asked.

“Master, please command me!”

Of course, Cao Bao was eager. He loathed Zhang Fei with a grinding hatred, and coming here to join Lü Bu, he had no intention of ever returning.

“Good. Now, return to the city and act as our agent within. When the flames rise tonight, open the gates.”

“Master, rest assured. I shall not fail you!” Cao Bao thought grimly, “Zhang, this is what you forced me to do!”

That night, under Chen Gong’s guidance, Lü Bu personally led his troops to the gates of Xuzhou.

Lü Bu himself wore a deep blue beast-faced armor, draped in a brocade coat adorned with a hundred flowers, wielding the Dragon Halberd in his hand, and astride the fiery Red Hare, whose neighs echoed in the night. He appeared as a war god descended to earth, formidable and awe-inspiring, looking down upon all.

The garrison commander atop Xuzhou’s wall saw the blaze below and shouted, “Who goes there?”

No answer came; the silence was uncanny.

Lü Bu drew his bow and loosed an arrow swift as a meteor, its whistling flight ending with the shaft buried deep in the guard’s throat.

The commotion caught the attention of patrolling soldiers nearby, who hurried over, only to feel a chilling sensation behind them.

“Enemy attack—”

Before the warning could be finished, the soldier collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

Driven by vengeance, Cao Bao flung open the gates of Xuzhou.

In the darkness, flames illuminated the city's streets. Hooves thundered across the stone roads, screams of slaughter echoed everywhere.

---

“Third General, Third General, Lü Bu has rebelled!”

When the soldiers dragged the still-sleeping Zhang Fei from his bed, the burly man’s face was filled with disbelief.

“That scoundrel Lü Bu, how dare he!”

“Fetch my weapons! Follow me to face Lü Bu!”

Within Xuzhou, as Lü Bu pressed his assault, more and more defeated soldiers defected and surrendered.

Sun Qian, the army supervisor, realized that all was lost.

“Third General, you must flee! Cao Bao has betrayed us, opened the gates, and Lü Bu’s troops are already inside!”

“Third General, the defenders of the West and North gates have surrendered!”

One dire report after another crashed down.

Zhang Fei was still intoxicated, unable to grasp the situation, insisting on wielding his snake spear to fight.

Sun Qian quickly ordered the soldiers to restrain him, forcefully placing him on horseback and sending him out of the city.

Sun Qian knew well that if Xuzhou were lost, Liu Bei would likely not blame them—but if he died here, he’d be doomed.

“I won’t leave! Let go of me!” Zhang Fei roared, his voice shaking the skies, but several soldiers held him fast and mounted him.

Lü Bu’s aim was swift conquest of Xuzhou; Cao Bao’s was to find Zhang Fei.

Unable to locate him within the city, Cao Bao asked Lü Bu for a small detachment of cavalry to pursue him outside.

“Hurry! The man on the black horse ahead is Zhang Fei!”

“No one is to touch him. I’ll kill him myself!”

---

Cao Bao finally caught up to Zhang Fei. When foes meet, their hatred blazes. Spear in hand, Cao Bao charged at Zhang Fei.

Despite his drunken state and dulled abilities, Zhang Fei was a top-tier warrior of the Three Kingdoms era, whereas Cao Bao was a mere nonentity. Their clash had but one outcome.

With a single exchange, Zhang Fei’s snake spear pierced Cao Bao’s throat.

“Bah! Filthy my snake spear for nothing!”

Zhang Fei glanced back at Xuzhou, regret tearing at his heart. He cried out in agony,

“Brother, I have failed you!”

...

That night, gentle rain descended, nourishing the earth. In his tent, Liu Bei was discussing strategy with Guan Yu, while the strategist Jian Yong waited outside.

At such critical military meetings, Guan Yu disliked the presence of others; he believed only the three brothers shared true unity, and no one else belonged.

Jian Yong, understanding this, waited alone outside the tent.

By the firelight of the camp, he saw a burly man standing beside a tree, sobbing.

This was the military encampment—how could an outsider be here? Curious, he walked over.

Even from the side, he instantly recognized the man as Zhang Fei.

“Third General, why are you here?”

“Wu wu wu…”

Normally arrogant and fierce, the black-faced Zhang Fei was now weeping bitterly.