Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1304 Bloody Battle of Qiao Commandery: Cao Ang's Reinforcements

Inside the Qiao County government office, Cao Hong burst in, covered in blood. His armor was still stained with dust and fragments of arrows. Upon seeing Cao Pi, he knelt down with a thud, his voice hoarse: "Second Prince... this subordinate is incompetent! The entire territory of Runan... is lost!"

Cao Pi's teacup clattered to the ground, spilling tea that soaked his robes without him noticing. He staggered back two steps, bumping into the table, his face ashen. "What did you say? Runan... is all lost?"

“Yes…” Cao Hong lowered his head, his voice trembling with sobs, “Liu Bei’s Jingzhou army was too fierce. I fought desperately, but after the city fell… I could only lead the remaining troops to break out… Now Liu Bei’s army has passed Runan and is heading straight for Qiao County. I’m afraid… I’m afraid they have already entered Qiao County!”

"So fast?" Cao Pi felt dizzy and his vision blurred; he was speechless for a moment. Jiang Ji, Man Chong, and the others in the tent exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with fear. No one had expected Runan to fall so quickly, or that Liu Bei's army would arrive so swiftly.

"What's all the panic about!" A furious shout came from outside the tent. Xiahou Dun strode in, his temples streaked with gray, but his eyes were still sharp as knives. "The enemy is at our gates, we're not at our wits' end yet!"

He turned to Cao Pi and said in a deep voice, "Second Prince, now is not the time to panic! Issue an order to immediately withdraw the troops from the surrounding counties and cities. All available troops should be withdrawn to Qiao County! Fortify the city defenses, prepare provisions, and hold out for reinforcements. Our lord's army is already on its way back. As long as we hold out until our lord arrives, we will surely be able to lift the siege!"

Cao Pi then came to his senses and hurriedly nodded: "Yes! Yes! Let's do as Yuan Rangshu says! Quickly... quickly issue the order!"

Military orders were relayed down, and the garrisons of the surrounding counties of Qiao Commandery began their nightly retreat. However, Liu Bei's army advanced too quickly. The moment the garrison troops broke camp, the vanguard of the Jingzhou army arrived, often capturing the city before the soldiers were even halfway there. Within a few days, several counties bordering Runan in Qiao Commandery fell one after another, leaving the gateway to the commandery capital of Qiao Commandery completely open.

That morning, a sentry on the city wall of Qiao County suddenly cried out in alarm, "They're here! The enemy is here!"

Cao Pi and Xiahou Dun ascended the city tower, where they saw dust billowing on the southern horizon, and the dark mass of Jingzhou troops surging in like a tidal wave, their banners stretching for dozens of miles, the large banner bearing the character "Liu" fluttering in the wind. The vanguard cavalry had already approached the moat, with Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun leading the left and right flanks respectively, standing at the front of the formation, their momentum overwhelming.

Liu Bei's central army camp was set up ten miles outside the city. The commander's flag in front of the tent stood tall, and from a distance, it looked like a mountain pressing down on the heart of Qiao County.

Xiahou Dun gripped his broadsword tightly and said in a deep voice, "Pass down the order: archers, take your positions! Prepare the rolling stones and logs! Tell the brothers that our lord's reinforcements are coming soon. Defending Qiao County is defending our home!"

The Cao soldiers on the city wall looked at the endless enemy army outside the city, many of them pale-faced, their hands trembling slightly as they gripped their weapons. Cao Pi stood by the crenellations, looking at the large "Liu" banner fluttering in the wind, and felt a tightness in his throat. He had never experienced such an imminent crisis, and he didn't know when his father's reinforcements would arrive.

On the open field below the city, Liu Bei reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping over the towering walls of Qiao County. The bricks gleamed with a cold, bluish-gray light in the sunlight, and behind the crenellations, he could vaguely see a jumble of heads, but he still couldn't spot the familiar banners of Cao Cao's generals. He couldn't help but sigh, and said to Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong beside him, "My two strategists, our army has reached Qiao County, penetrating deep into Cao Cao's territory, so why is there no sign of Cao Ren, Yu Jin, and other key generals?"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his gaze falling on the "Cao" banner fluttering atop the city wall. He slowly said, "My lord, you are unaware of this. Cao Cao's main force is likely still engaged in fierce battle with Yuan Shang in Yanzhou. This is precisely why our army was able to capture Nanyang and Runan so swiftly. Most of our key generals are still on the front lines in Yanzhou." He then shifted his tone, a sharp glint in his eyes, "But according to my deduction, Cao Cao's reinforcements are probably already on their way back. If he doesn't return, once his rear is lost, he will become a rootless duckweed, with no foothold in this chaotic world."

Liu Bei nodded in agreement, his brows furrowing slightly: "If that's the case, what should we do next?"

Pang Tong stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “My lord, Qiao County has been besieged by our army. Now is the perfect opportunity to break through the city. Even if Cao Cao returns to reinforce, as long as we can capture the city before he arrives, we can hold it and wait for him to tire himself out. At that time, Cao Cao will be exhausted from his long march and his troops will be unable to withstand our advance.”

“Shiyuan is right,” Zhuge Liang agreed, his gaze sweeping over the thickness of the city walls and the layout of the defenses. “Qiao County has high walls and a solid foundation. It is a key rear stronghold that Cao Cao has cultivated for many years. There is no shortcut other than a direct assault.”

Looking at the seemingly impregnable barrier atop the city wall, and recalling the victories they had brought in Nanyang and Runan, Liu Bei's fighting spirit began to rise. He gritted his teeth and gripped the sword at his waist: "In that case, issue the order to attack the city!"

As the military order was given, a deafening drumbeat resounded through the Jingzhou army. Zhang Fei personally beat the drum, its thunderous sound causing the earth to tremble slightly. Zhao Yun led his troops, pushing battering rams towards the city gate, the rolling axles and clashing armor creating a cacophony. Huang Zhong commanded his archers to form ranks, arrows raining down on the city walls like locusts, suppressing the defenders' firepower. Siege ladders were carried to the base of the walls, and armored soldiers swarmed up them like ants, their swords flashing in the sunlight.

On the city wall of Qiao Commandery, Xiahou Dun swung his sword to cleave through the incoming arrows, roaring as he urged his soldiers to resist: "Hold on! Roll the boulders and logs down! Anyone who retreats a single step will be executed on the spot!"

Cao Pi stood to the side of the crenellations, watching the surging attack below, his palms already soaked with cold sweat. He gripped his sword tightly, his mind filled with only one thought: he must hold out until his father arrived.

The shouts of battle outside the city, the angry cries from the city walls, and the clanging of clashing weapons mingled together, echoing across the open field. Liu Bei stood at the front of the battle line, gazing at the city wall that was trembling slightly under the onslaught, knowing that this tough battle had only just begun.

The stench of blood on the walls of Qiao County grew stronger. Liu Bei's fierce attack had lasted for three days. The Jingzhou army surged up the city walls like a tide, only to be repeatedly cut down by Cao Cao's army. The corpses piled up under the crenellations were almost level with the walls, and dark red blood flowed down the cracks in the bricks and stones, forming small pools of blood at the base of the walls.

Cao Pi's hand gripping the sword trembled, not from fear, but from exhaustion. His armor was splattered with blood, indistinguishable between enemy and comrade, and his arm felt so heavy he could barely lift it. Jiang Ji coughed beside him, his white beard dusty, his voice hoarse: "My lord, we can't hold out any longer! We're outnumbered by three to one. If this drags on, the city will fall sooner or later. We must preserve our lives to wait for our lord's return!"

"Mr. Jiang!" Xiahou Dun's roar came from the side. He had just cut down a Jingzhou soldier who had climbed up the city wall, and drops of blood from his blade fell at Cao Pi's feet. "Qiao County is the foundation of our lord's rise to power. If we lose it, the morale of our soldiers will collapse! The city stands as long as we live, and we die when the city falls. This is the rule our lord set back then!"

Cao Pi gritted his teeth and thrust his sword at a charging Shu soldier: "Mr. Liang, General Xiahou is right, I cannot retreat!"

Jiang Ji watched the young master's clumsy yet determined movements, sighed, and turned to direct the archers: "Aim at the siege ladders below the city! Don't let them get close!"

On the morning of the fourth day, Liu Bei convened a military council in front of the battle lines. Zhuge Liang pointed to the "Cao" flag fluttering on the city wall and said in a deep voice, "My lord, the garrison of Qiao Commandery is already at its last gasp, but Xiahou Dun is too fierce and brave. A direct confrontation would result in too many casualties. It would be better to surround them without attacking, cut off their supply lines, and wear them down until they lose their composure."

Pang Tong shook his head: "No, Cao Cao's reinforcements will arrive in three days at most. We can't afford to delay. In my opinion, we should concentrate our firepower on the west gate, which is Xiahou Dun's defense zone. He is a fierce man and will definitely take the lead himself. We should seize the opportunity to capture the leader first."

Liu Bei looked at Zhao Yun: "What do you think, Zilong?"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands and said, "This humble general is willing to lead elite troops to launch a feigned attack from the east gate to attract their attention, while my lord and Military Advisor Pang can lead the main force to attack the west gate."

With the plan finalized, Cao Pi on the city wall quickly sensed something was wrong. The attack from the east gate suddenly intensified several times over; the Shu soldiers charged forward like madmen, their battle cries shaking the city walls. Just as he was about to call for reinforcements, Xiahou Dun patted him on the shoulder and said, "My lord, stay here. I'll go check the east gate!"

Just as Xiahou Dun led half of his troops toward the east gate, a deafening roar suddenly came from the west gate. The Shu soldiers had actually used battering rams to break open half of the city gate!

"Not good!" Cao Pi's heart tightened, and he rushed towards the west gate with his sword drawn, but Jiang Ji stopped him: "Young master, don't go! That's a trap!"

Before he finished speaking, flames shot into the sky from the direction of the west gate, clearly Pang Tong's fire attack. Cao Pi watched helplessly as Xiahou Dun returned from the east gate, his body ablaze, and charged towards the Shu soldiers at the west gate. Eventually, exhausted and surrounded, his roars faded into the distance.

"General Xiahou!" Cao Pi's eyes were bloodshot. He broke free from Jiang Ji and tried to rush over, but was held down firmly.

"Young master! As long as we live, we'll all be here!" Jiang Ji cried, tears streaming down his face. "If we don't leave now, we'll all be stuck here with you!"

The guards carried Cao Pi to retreat through the secret passage. He glanced back at the city of Qiao in the firelight. The "Cao" flag on the west gate was still burning, like a torch that had burned out.

Xiahou Dun was surrounded by the Jingzhou army, blood seeping from the cracks in his armor, and his sword swung with increasing weight. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Second Prince Cao Pi being carried by his personal guards to a secret passage behind the city. A relieved smile involuntarily appeared on his lips—so be it, the Second Prince is the lord's flesh and blood. It's better for him to live than to die with him in this chaotic army.

"Kill!" he roared fiercely, his blade whipping up a gust of wind as he cleaved two Jingzhou soldiers in front of him to the ground. Blood splattered on his bearded face, adding to his fierceness. Enemy troops surged forward like a tide, their spears and swords densely packed, threatening to completely engulf this "stubborn rock."

Just then, a deafening shout suddenly erupted from the rear of the enemy camp, and the once orderly formation began to stir like a swarm of ants scattered by a storm. Xiahou Dun squinted and looked into the distance, where dust billowed as a cavalry force pierced through the Jingzhou army's ranks like a silver arrow. The general at the head of the cavalry, clad in silver armor and a white robe, wielded a spear that gleamed coldly in the sunlight—who else could it be but Cao Ang?

"Uncle Yuanrang, don't panic! Cao Ang is here!"

A clear shout pierced through the battle formation. Cao Ang took the lead, his spear flashing like a dragon. Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ba stood guard on either side of him, each wielding a weapon. Behind him, the Xuzhou cavalry surged like a torrent, instantly tearing a gap in the Jingzhou army's formation.