199. Cao Cao Vs. Lu Bu, Crisis At Puyang

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Cao Cao turned his horse and returned to his early followed by his generals. Cao Ren at Cao Cao's side talks with Cao Cao, saying that everything is as Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai predicted, they would not surrender and wouldn't even realize that they sent 50,000 men through Xiaopei to attack them.

Cao Cao replied to Cao Ren, saying that it was the only thing Chen Gong would not predict, as he thought that his alliance with Lie Fan would break down after defeating Yuan Shu.

It was actually not far from happening, Cao Cao had some words with Lie Fan and decided to prolong their alliance, at least until Lu Bu was defeated or ousted from Yan Province.

This conversation was done before Cao Cao and Lie Fan both departed from Runan, just a casual exchange between the two that became the next move of the forces they led.

Lie Fan helped because he wanted Lu Bu to oust Liu Bei from Qing Province, while Cao Cao wanted Lu Bu to get out of Yan Province which was a win-win situation for the two of them.

Lu Bu and Chen Gong seeing Cao Cao returned to the ranks of his army, began to order their soldiers to prepare themselves as the attack could happen at any time, in the future this battle would be known as the Battle Of Wuxing due to it's located near a town called Wuxing.

Cao Cao returned to his position, where Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai were waiting for him there. To allow his 50,000 men to pass by Xiaopei and attack Puyang from the rear, Cao Cao ordered his soldiers to attack.

Cao Cao's general Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, and Yu Jin led their battalion to attack Lu Bu's fortification, and Xiahou Yuan led his Archer Battalion to rain down arrows on Lu Bu's men atop the wall.

Lu Bu uses his halberd to cut down the arrows that are heading toward him, protecting Chen Gong who was beside him as well. Cheng Lian and Cao Xing, Lu Bu's general ordered the archers under them to fire back.

Below the walls, Lu Bu's general Hao Meng, Liu He, and Li Meng led the infantries preparing themselves if their walls were ever breached, while on the top of the wall, Zhang Liao led an infantry battalion, and Gao Shun led his Formation Breaker Battalion.

Rains of arrows were shot back to back, from both Cao Cao's and Lu Bu's sides. Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong led their battalion to raise makeshift ladders they had made, as the wooden walls weren't that tall, and using siege ladders was a waste of resources.

Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, and Gao Shun led the defense on the top of the makeshift wall, holding back Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong's men from entering. On the east side of the wall, Yue Jin led his men to destroy the wall using a battering ram.

The battle was messy, as it was the first time that someone utilized such a strategy, walling the road using makeshift walls, even though there was no mountains or hill in between Cao Cao still needed to attack it.

It was a threat to him, and if he ignored it Lu Bu could attack him from behind, Cao Cao in his heart raised Chen Gong's level of importance, he felt that maybe it was his fault he couldn't utilize Chen Gong well.

The Eastern wall was going to be breached, but Hao Meng and his men held the wall while firing arrows to rain it down upon the battering ram. Cao Cao oversees the battle, alongside Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai beside him.

Lu Bu and Chen Gong led the defenses, not knowing of the threat behind them. Gao Shun has left Puyang alongside Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu leading the 30,000 men toward Jibei.

Puyang now was left with 15,000 men who were part of the City Guards, Zhang Miao was left there to take care of it alongside Xu Si and Wang Kai and also to protect Lady Yan and Lu Lingqi with the 15,000 men.

So it was vulnerable, as Puyang is a major town and 15,000 city guards were only enough to uphold the law, not for fighting a siege battle defending against 50,000 men who were approaching Puyang.

Cao Cao's 50,000 men under Cao Ren, Yu Jin, Li Dian, and Bao Xin headed toward Puyang, They were sent first under Guo Jia's suggestion so that they would arrive at Puyang a day or two after Cao Cao's clash against Lu Bu.

Cao Ren now led the men, managed to pass Xiaopei, and headed north. He predicted that with the speed they have now, they would reach Puyang at noon tomorrow a perfect time for a siege battle.

Li Dian: "Cao Ren, I think we should rest as the men are tired and the horses also need some rest, we have to cross halfway of the road north toward Puyang so we will arrive at noon tomorrow at Puyang."

Yu Jin: "What Li Dian said is true, the men need some rest so they can begin the siege tomorrow."

Cao Ren: "All right then, Bao Xin led our cavalry to scour the perfect location for us to take a rest."

Bao Xin: "All right leave it to me, if I remember correctly there should be a vast plain that is the perfect place for us north of here.

Li Dian: "It's great that Our Lord sent Bao Xin alongside us, he understands Yan geography more than we do as he has served here longer."

Cao Ren: "It was under Master Guo Jia's suggestion, for Bao Xin to come alongside us, Our Lord truly hit the jackpot by receiving Master Guo Jia."

Yu Jin: "That's true, Master Guo Jia is truly a terrifying talent, he was still young but already had such a broad mind."

They didn't need to wait a long time, Bao Xin who headed out soon returned and led them toward a vast plain that was 2 kilometers from their location. They took a rest there for a day, and the next day continued their march.

Cao Ren and his army arrive at Puyang around noon, and the City Guards standing atop the wall panic when they suddenly see a large army arrive at the East Gate, they close the gate and report this to Zhang Miao.

Zhang Miao who was in the Governor's Castle alongside Xu Si and Wang Kai was alarmed by this, they headed toward the East Gate and when they see the army before them, Zhang Miao ordered for all of the gates to be closed and all cut guard to come to the Eastern Gate.

Cao Ren seeing the gate was closed knew that Puyang had seen them, 50,000 men are very easily to be seen, so he halted the army and rode forward alongside Yu Jin, Li Dian, and Bao Xin.

Cao Ren: "Whoever the leader of the defense, just surrender and we will spare you and all of your men!"

Zhang Miao: "Cao Ren you bastard! We will never surrender! Why would we do so? Our Lord will be informed of this predicament and he will come to save us!"

Cao Ren: "So it turns out to be you, Zhang Miao, I didn't expect that you receive such trust from Lu Bu, aren't he scared to put a traitor such as you in charge of Puyang again?! Haha!"

Xu Si: "Cao Ren shut your mouth! Master Zhang Miao is not a traitor, he only chooses which lord takes care of him and understands him better, Cao Cao is the one who throws Master Zhang Miao out after using him!"

Li Dian: " *Spit* A dreamer you are! Lord Cao Cao always treated Zhang Miao with courtesy and respect, but this is how you repay him, Zhang Miao? I pity My Lord for having a friend such as you!"

The war of words between both sides doesn't stop, allowing some time for the courier to hurry and repair this situation to Lu Bu, leaving through the Western Gate.

At Lu Bu's residence, Lady Yan and Lu Lingqi heard about how Cao Cao's army managed to slip by and now sieging Puyang at the eastern gate. Lu Lingqi who heard the news, immediately adorned her armor and took her halberd then ran out.

Lady Yan tries to stop her but she can't, she is afraid that something bad will befall her daughter, and can only hope for Lu Bu to hurry and come and save them.

Lu Lingwi rides her horse toward the southern part of Puyang, where there is a big mansion but when she enters, inside on the courtyard is full of training equipment for soldiers, where a group of women training right now.

Lu Lingqi called them all to line up, and seeing Lu Lingqi all of the women began to line up, and there were around 300 women. Lu Lingqi told them about what happened and asked them if they wanted to follow her to protect Puyang.

All of the women immediately cheered, showing their support to follow Lu Lingqi. Lu Lingwi was satisfied, so she ordered them to adorn their armor and bring their weapons to follow her to the East Gate.

Lu Lingqi's soldiers spend 10 minutes before all of them are ready, then under Lu Lingqi's lead, they head toward the East Gate of Puyang. When they arrived, Lu Lingqi saw that the battle had begun as arrows could be seen on the ground below the wall.

All of the City Guards that were rushing to the top of the wall were surprised by Lu Lingqi and her women soldiers' presence, but as the situation was urgent they soon ignored her and continued rushing up.

Lu Lingqi led her unit to the top of the wall, and when she reached it she saw Zhang Miao, Xu Si, and Wang Kai show as leading the defense, and Lu Lingqi could also see the army below, and she predict there were around 40,000 to 50,000 men.

Lu Lingqi led her unit to guard around Zhang Miao, and Zhang Miao who was suddenly being guarded, saw Lu Lingqi which caused him to panic, as he remembers Lu Bu's order to not let Lu Lingqi do anything reckless.

Zhang Miao tried to persuade Lu Lingqi to go back, but suddenly an arrow was headed toward him, Zhang Miao couldn't react in time, but Lu Lingqi who was beside him used her halberd to block the arrow saving his life. Zhang Miao seeing this feels that he can allow Lu Lingqi to join, as long as she stays beside him.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 25 (192 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 1.588.000

Renown:  605

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 371.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 906 (+20)

VIT: 578 (+20)

AGI: 563 (+10)

INT: 567

CHR: 93

WIS: 489

WILL: 377

ATR Points: 0