In the third chapter, the defense of Longxi is fortified with jade and swords, while Xiangwu bravely resists the bandits with a circular-headed blade

At this moment, Qin Rui and his companions had already penetrated the enemy ranks, causing the bandits to scatter. I had not run far when a bold thief brandished a gun and lunged at me. I dodged the gun, gripped my knife with both hands, and swung it around fiercely to strike back—back when I was in Donglai, I often wielded a wooden stick, using this move to take down local ruffians who dared to confront me—"Crack!" The blade embedded itself into the thief's face, blood splattering everywhere. I dodged the gun, gripped my knife with both hands, and swung it around fiercely to strike back—back when I was in Donglai, I often wielded a wooden stick, using this move to take down local ruffians who dared to confront me—"Crack!" The blade embedded itself into the thief's face, blood splattering everywhere

There was no way out; the retreat had been cut off. Now, I could only rely on this large knife in my hand to carve a bloody path and escape. I gritted my teeth and leaped over the narrow city moat—when a person is pushed to the brink, the sudden surge of power can even frighten oneself—charging straight into the enemy ranks. Ah no, Qin Rui was pursuing from behind. I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs: "Shou Chang, save me!" Unfortunately, my throat suddenly went hoarse, and I couldn't make a sound.

After a long wait until the hour of Wei, the soldiers were all exhausted, and the common people were swaying unsteadily. I also shrank to the side of the city tower to seek some shade when I suddenly heard a commotion by the city wall, with someone shouting: "My lord, they are coming!"

In battle, one always requires weapons. As a scion of a prominent family, I usually do not carry a sword, only wearing a family heirloom jade sword—of course, the jade ornamentation was sold for wine seven or eight years ago—such an item is not suitable for the battlefield. Therefore, I had the old horse open the treasury, and I selected a well-balanced broadsword. Ah, this sword is truly excellent; it has a thick spine and a thin blade, the handle wrapped in hemp cloth, yet it is not too heavy. The only drawback is that the edge is a bit rusty...! You say that soldiers are issued second-rate weapons, while first-rate weapons are left in the storeroom to rust; even Governor Jiang must wonder what kind of hobby that is!

Qin Rui nodded: "In that case, the three of you will defend the three gates, and I will coordinate with the cavalry from within." Damn it, it turns out this guy has such a cunning plan, making us toil away on the city defenses while he rests down below... Not only that, but he also leads the cavalry...! Although he is indeed the captain of the cavalry, everyone knows that once the city falls, the chances of the cavalry escaping are much greater!

Upon thinking of this, I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I ordered the young soldier to go to the north and south gates, instructing the water tank and the young horse to bring all their flags to me. The message to the water tank was one of temptation: "If you survive, I will definitely treat you to a drink." The message to the young horse was one of coercion: "If you do not comply, I will charge forward and cut off your head!" Before long, both sent small carts to deliver the flags. I distributed three flags to each soldier, commanding them to raise them together. Meanwhile, both the soldiers and the common people shouted loudly, and the war drums were beaten as loudly as possible—this was a strategy to create confusion. If the Lin family were to retreat in fear, it would be even better.

Although I do not understand warfare, I am quite skilled in fighting. I know what kind of individuals to look for; despite their short stature and slender arms, they can be incredibly reckless in a fight. I took the initiative to select about one hundred such individuals. Xiao Ma is short and specifically targets taller opponents, while Shui Gang seems to be still dazed, only picking from what we have left behind.

Damn it, Qin Rui really guessed right and gained the upper hand. I immediately issued orders to inform a few "friends" to be on guard. Before long, Qin Rui led the cavalry into the west gate tunnel. He sent a message to me saying: "There are no signs of the enemy at the other two gates; it seems to be just this little bit..."

Old Ma and Young Ma had previously agreed to bow together to Qin Rui, saying in unison: "Thus, longevity entirely depends on you." This demonstrates that regardless of whether one comes from a prominent family or a humble background, whether one is genuine or an impostor, fundamentally, those with the surname Ma are of the same ilk.

I drew the bloodied knife and hurriedly turned my head, only to see that it was the bandit leader Lin Zi who was stabbing me. As the saying goes, "To kill the pig, stab the throat; to capture the thief, capture the king." If I could take this guy down, I might still have a glimmer of hope

Hastily descending the city tower, I rushed out of the city gate. Looking back, I saw that only six or seven people were following me. However, those scoundrels in the city were truly infuriating; they charged forward slower than anyone else but closed the gate faster than anyone. Just as I stepped out of the city gate, I heard a loud "bang" behind me, and the gate slammed shut. I felt a sudden "buzz" in my head, and my vision went dark.

We waited and waited, our hearts pounding as we did. Qin Rui estimated that the Shu bandits would not exceed three thousand, but I did not share this view. One must understand that Jiang Wei is audacious and has never adhered to military strategy; I would believe any foolish tactic he might employ. ... However, foolish tactics are still foolish, and the more foolish the tactic, the closer we are to the gates of hell

With a loud shout, the banners on the western city of Xiangwu fluttered in the wind, doubling in number compared to before, followed by a deafening roar of battle cries. ... If it were me ...? ... No, it was the two horses beneath the city m.hetushu .com .com, who would be so frightened that they would roll over in fear. The thieves were no exception; I could see their formation wavering, and those chopping wood and twisting ropes immediately dropped their tools.

"When ... ... " it was just past midnight, we rolled up the fine paper, and all of our colleagues slipped out through the south gate, their whereabouts unknown. "Old Ma replied indignantly, as he probably felt that the cost of last night's drinks not only included the bill but also very likely cost him his life, which was certainly not worth it.

On the night of September 22, a group of bandits from Shu crossed over Gaocheng Ridge and captured Shouyang County. Shouyang County is less than 200 miles from Xiangwu, and if the bandits advance quickly, they could reach the county seat by noon the following day

My cat is behind the city wall, carefully observing the movements of the enemy. I see that they have stopped just an arrow's distance from the city, spreading out to the left and right. Soon, a military officer, clad in silver helmet and silver armor, rides forward a few steps and shouts loudly towards the city: "I am Lin Zi, the Fourth Commander of the Left Army, under the command of the Great General of Han, and the Deputy General of the Front, Sui. Those who understand the situation, quickly open the gates and surrender, so that you may be spared from death!"

Unfortunately, we were not able to receive the news in a timely manner, as we were all gathered in the southern part of the city drinking. When we heard the tragic news early the next morning, I hurried to the governor's office, only to be struck by a shocking revelation. Old Ma, with a face full of grief and indignation, told me that the governor had "run away"

The water tank, emboldened by the effects of alcohol, echoed every word, and I had no choice but to reluctantly comply. The young horse trembled uncontrollably, so frightened that it could hardly speak. In contrast, the old horse wore a face full of springtime joy, as if just being a few dozen paces away from the battlefield and having the young horse perish before him would suffice to bring him lifelong satisfaction

Qin Rui seemed to fear our opposition and hurriedly issued orders: "Divide the soldiers into four teams. Old Wang, you guard the west gate; Shui Gang, the north gate; Old Ma, the south gate; and Xiao Ma will oversee the yamen. Open the treasury to distribute weapons and recruit able-bodied men from the city for defense." I suspect that because Xiao Ma had introduced a young and beautiful widow to Qin Rui a couple of days ago, he was prioritizing personal interests over public duty by assigning Xiao Ma a position farthest from the front lines.

It is said that Governor Jiang is a descendant of Jiang Yin from Tianshui. Back then, Jiang Yin, Zhao Ang, Kong Xin, and others followed Lord Yang Fu to bravely resist Ma Chao, demonstrating great valor and chivalry. Who would have thought that his descendants would be so cowardly, fleeing without even seeing the shadow of the Shu bandits? ... Although I also want to escape ...? ... However, if I flee, I would at most lose my position, but he, as a dignified governor, abandoning the city to flee, according to the law, should be executed. Has that fellow not considered the consequences? They haven't even seen the shadow of the Shu bandits yet, and they vanished in an instant. ... Although I also want to escape ...? ... However, if I flee, I would at most lose my position, but he, as a dignified governor, abandoning the city to flee, according to the law, should be executed. Has that fellow not considered the consequences?

A wooden stick is much more effective; with a single swing, the enemy falls in response. Then, using the momentum, I can twist my waist and swing at another foe beside me with the same stick. Using a knife is far more troublesome; I have never had any experience in cutting someone. If the blade does not come out in time, and the enemy falls backward, it can throw me off balance. Thank the ancestors, it was just that one stumble that allowed me to evade a thrust coming from the side.

I was dozing off in a daze, dreaming that I had married a second wife. However, the second wife and the first wife were in a quarrel. Suddenly, a clever thought struck me, and I jumped up at the sound, hitting my head against a wooden pillar, which caused a large bump. I endured the pain and stumbled over to the city wall. Looking down, I was astonished to see flags blocking the sun and dust swirling in the air, as a large group of bandits was marching towards the west gate. Upon careful counting, I realized there were at least five hundred of them!

I rushed forward, intending to take the life of the thief, but did not expect such a useless person. His subordinates truly had a few loyal followers who rushed up in the blink of an eye, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him more than a yard away. As a result, my blade struck the ground fiercely, causing my wrist to go numb. Lin Zi, covered in dust, with blood flowing from his nose, struggled to get up and shouted angrily, "Despicable scoundrel, state your name!"

Since he does not dare to leave the city, I cannot press him too hard. I might as well stay in the city and watch how those five hundred or so people plan to attack. The bandit leader surnamed Lin shouted a few times, and seeing no one respond, he returned to his camp. I noticed that they sent out over a hundred men to cut down the trees around the city and weave ropes, seemingly intending to manufacture siege equipment. I estimate that by the time they finish, it will be dark, and I will have to live another day. Truly, it is the blessing of my ancestors in heaven!

With the decision made, we began to allocate the soldiers. Qin Rui took away all sixty-two warhorses, including seven old horses that stumbled even while walking. I wanted him to spare me one for my escape after the city fell—of course, I would never state this reason outright—but he resolutely refused, citing the need to concentrate the cavalry's advantages. The cavalrymen and the book soldiers naturally followed him, leaving the rest of us to divide what remained into three parts, each receiving one hundred and zero.

Thus, I gathered my spirits and struck fiercely with my blade at the warhorse beneath that thief's waist. Although the warhorse had seen many battles, in a one-on-one fight, it might not be as experienced as I was. With a sudden move, it was caught off guard and suffered a wound to its chest. With a "whoosh," the horse's hooves rose, and a man named Lin fell headlong into the dust

With a loud "crack," the gates swung wide open, revealing Qin Rui leading over sixty cavalrymen charging out. Ah, this cunning fellow truly knows how to seize an opportunity. The strategy I devised—could it be that he has snatched the credit for it? Fighting is like this; it all depends on momentum. If the opponent's spirit is weak, mine will be strong. I suppose warfare is no different. After all, retreating is a dead end, so my courage swelled. I swung my large blade and called to the twenty guardsmen: "If the thieves are trying to escape, come with me to take down a couple and claim the credit!" Fighting is like this; it all depends on momentum. If the opponent's spirit is weak, mine will be strong. I suppose warfare is no different. After all, retreating is a dead end, so my courage swelled. I swung my large blade and called to the twenty guardsmen: "If the thieves are trying to escape, come with me to take down a couple and claim the credit!"

It is ... ... '' While I searched for an escape route with the corner of my eye, I shouted loudly, `` It is General Wang Xian, the acting governor of the four provinces of Yong, Liang, You, and Yang under the command of the Grand General Sima of the Great Wei, with the false yellow seal! ''

In the city, one after another, men with hungry expressions were dispatched by Old Ma to assist in the defense. They either carried hoes or were given old-fashioned wooden-handled long spears—whose heads were not even two taels heavy. To my eyes, apart from serving as a natural rear guard due to their inability to run after the city was breached, hindering the thieves' pursuit, they seemed to be of little use.

Then let us quickly tidy up... How about we take a rest..." Xiao Ma timidly suggested, voicing my thoughts, but was met with a glare from Qin Rui, who reprimanded him, saying: "To flee before the battle has even begun is too cowardly! Jiang Wei's main force is still surrounding Lord Wang in Didao, and to dare advance this far east must mean they are a detached force, no more than three thousand men. There are still four hundred defenders in the city, I have sixty warhorses, and if we drive the common people into the city, it is not impossible to hold our ground!" Jiang Wei's main force is still surrounding Lord Wang in Didao, and to dare advance this far east must mean they are a detached force, no more than three thousand men. There are still four hundred defenders in the city, I have sixty warhorses, and if we drive the common people into the city, it is not impossible to hold our ground!

I found a whetstone, rolled up my sleeves, and began sharpening the sword with a series of "clang clang clang" sounds, making the large blade shine brightly. Then I led over one hundred soldiers, whose eyes glinted with ferocity, up to the city wall. I estimated that the bandits would not arrive until around the hour of the snake, so I first arranged the duties for each person. Everyone lined up, with each person defending a section of the city wall about three to five zhang long. Given such density, the situation was certainly perilous, so I carefully selected twenty individuals who appeared to be quite strong to closely follow me, ready to cover my retreat at any moment. I estimated that the bandits would not arrive until around the hour of the snake, so I first arranged the duties for each person. Everyone lined up, with each person defending a section of the city wall about three to five zhang long. Given such density, the situation was certainly perilous, so I carefully selected twenty individuals who appeared to be quite strong to closely follow me, ready to cover my retreat at any moment.

"Nonsense!" Qin Rui continued to glare, "The city has four gates; how can I defend it alone? You all need to arm yourselves and go up to the city!" As he spoke, he cast his gaze towards me and the water jar. The water jar, clearly still intoxicated, was dazed and thumped his chest, saying, "Alright, I will take charge of one gate, that’s settled." Although I felt anxious inside, I couldn’t show weakness in front of a friend I had fought with. I merely reminded him, "The Weishui River flows past the east gate; considering the Shu bandits are coming from afar and are not fully equipped for an attack, the east gate can be left unguarded."

However, Old Ma refused to continue, saying: "I know where the keys to the treasury are. Moreover, recruiting the common people for defense relies heavily on public trust. Ma Li, a descendant of the Ma family, has no reputation. How can he be entrusted with such an important responsibility?" As he spoke, he reached down to weigh his money pouch, clearly warning us that if we did not allow him to remain in the position of governor, he would no longer be willing to play the fool and cover our drinking expenses.

Qin Rui swallowed hard and ultimately decided to conform to the prevailing trend of the times, firmly believing that whoever has more money is the one in charge. Thus, he nodded and said, "Xin Xiang has taken the initiative to volunteer, very good, very good—alright, it's settled then!"

Registration? How should I say it? "Under the command of the Governor of Yongzhou of the Great Wei, the Prefect of Longxi, Jiang, is accompanied by a scribe." This is truly embarrassing. Although the other party is merely a low-ranking military officer, he holds a position and a title. I cannot appear to be inferior to him. Since I cannot be lower than him, I must certainly be higher, high enough to make him gasp in shock, high enough that if he were to behead me, he could still return and falsely report his achievements, ultimately being discovered and confined for three to five months, along with a year's salary deduction.

I sent a messenger to the city gate to inform Qin Rui of the challenge, asking him to consider whether he would go out to face it. Shortly thereafter, the messenger returned with Qin Rui's words: "Ha! Who would engage him in a one-on-one duel? If I were to leave the city, I would surely be surrounded by the enemy forces and chopped into minced meat!"

Although the enemy is not numerous, they are all seasoned bandits who can take on ten men each. Given the exhausted soldiers and starving civilians in Xiangwu City, it is better to hold the fort by taking advantage of the terrain. I noticed that the soldiers who previously displayed fierce expressions now have their ferocity concealed, replaced entirely by fear, with some even trembling in their legs. Moreover, no one can guarantee whether there are large forces of bandits following behind.