Chapter 5

"How do you know I'm not the nephew of the Imperial Uncle?" Liu Jing was unafraid, staring into Liu Pi's eyes.

Liu Pi had joined the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the first year of Zhongping and had fought across the north and south for over a decade. He had met countless people and had a wealth of life experience. Although he didn't know if Liu Bei had any nephews, he could read people well. From Liu Jing's gaze, he saw a confidence and a calmness that ordinary people couldn't match. This was a level of composure that a mere impostor couldn't achieve.

"What proof do you have that you are the nephew of the Imperial Uncle?"

"The Imperial Uncle studied under Lu Zhi and was friends with Gong Sunzan. In the early years of Zhongping, the Imperial Uncle and his two brothers Guan and Zhang raised an army in Zhuo County to fight against the Yellow Turbans, achieving many victories. However, they were hated by the eunuchs, and despite their achievements, they received no rewards. They wandered without a fixed abode, held Pingyuan, saved Xuzhou, and fought against Cao Cao. The Emperor of Han bestowed upon him the title of Imperial Uncle and Left General. He conspired with Dong Cheng and others to issue the imperial edict to eliminate the national traitors. Can these be used as proof?"

Liu Pi stared at Liu Jing for a long time, slowly withdrew his large knife, and coldly said, "If you dare to impersonate, I will cut you into a thousand pieces!"

Liu Jing smiled faintly, "The Imperial Uncle is besieged by Cao Cao's army, with enemies on all sides. What benefit would I gain by impersonating his nephew at this time?"

"Of course there would be benefits!"

Liu Pi saw that they were already exhausted and waved his hand, ordering, "Prepare a small tent for them and give them a meal of meat and rice!"

...

"Master, you really have a way with words, to be able to fool them. If they suspected us of being Cao Cao's spies, we would have a hard time, let alone getting a meal of meat and rice!" Wu Xiu, hungry and cold, praised Liu Jing while eating the meat and millet porridge.

Liu Jing, however, seemed preoccupied. He had temporarily impersonated Liu Bei's nephew, partly to get a meal, but also to avoid being treated as a Cao Cao spy, which would lead to severe torture and eventual execution. He needed to remain free to escape at any time.

He lowered his voice, "Once we're full, we'll escape under the cover of darkness!"

"Why?" Wu Xiu was taken aback.

"We are likely in a combat zone. They are clearly defeated soldiers who may be attacked by Cao Cao's army again. It's extremely dangerous to stay with them. We need to escape as soon as possible."

Wu Xiu suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly, "Master, you have a good plan!"

"Let's fill our bellies first, no matter what!"

Liu Jing was also extremely hungry and picked up the bowl to eat. This was the first meal of meat he had eaten since arriving in the Three Kingdoms era, and it turned out to be horse meat.

...

At the third watch of the night, Liu Jing tied the leather bag to his body and kicked Wu Xiu awake, "Let's go!"

Wu Xiu was still half-asleep, getting up groggily and following him out of the tent. Liu Jing peeked into the corner on the left and saw that the guard watching them was sleeping under a tree.

"Quick, let's go!"

Liu Jing waved his hand, leading the just-awake Wu Xiu quickly to the edge of the camp. He had noticed when he entered that there was a gap in the northeast corner of the camp, with few defenders.

When they reached the gap, the defense was indeed lax. Dozens of guards were hiding in the corners, sleeping. The two were overjoyed and ran towards the gap. Suddenly, Liu Jing grabbed Wu Xiu and pressed him down.

"What's wrong?"

Liu Jing rubbed his eyes and stared out of the camp. In the dim moonlight, he saw a group of black shadows slowly approaching the gap, already within a few dozen steps. Liu Jing's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. This was Cao Cao's army preparing to raid the camp.

He pulled Wu Xiu back, shouting, "Cao Cao's army is coming! Cao Cao's army is coming!"

The shouts woke the sleeping guards, who also noticed the movement outside. They immediately sounded the gongs and drums.

The sharp sound of the copper gongs echoed through the camp, and the Yellow Turban army fell into chaos. The Cao Cao army outside, preparing to raid, charged in, shouting. The guards fought back, arrows rained down, and logs and stones were thrown.

Liu Pi, holding a knife, rushed out of the tent, shouting fiercely, "All brothers, rise to fight! If the Cao Cao army breaks through the camp, none of us will survive!"

More than four thousand Yellow Turban soldiers rushed to the front of the camp. The camp was built on a mountain, with a dangerous terrain. As long as the defense was strong, the Cao Cao army couldn't break through easily.

The Yellow Turban army had no way to retreat and had to fight to the death. Their morale gradually rose, and they fought to the death, causing heavy casualties to the Cao Cao army, which left over two hundred bodies and retreated in disarray.

At this moment, drums sounded below the mountain, and flames rose from all sides. A Cao Cao army of several thousand men charged from the north, led by General Gao Lan. Another army came from the south, led by General Yu Jin, who was the commander of this ten-thousand-strong Cao Cao army.

Yu Jin, hearing of the failed raid, was furious, "The Yellow Turban rebels dare to defy me! Attack from three sides!"

The Cao Cao army's drums sounded, and ten thousand soldiers attacked the camp from the north, south, and center. The soldiers surged like a tide, and flaming arrows rained down on the camp.

"Master, let's run from the back of the mountain!" Wu Xiu, who had never experienced such a battle, was trembling with fear, tightly holding onto Liu Jing, afraid he would leave him behind.

Liu Jing had no intention of running from the back of the mountain. He had just experienced a high-speed escape two days ago and didn't expect to be caught in another battle.

Although he had no experience in war, his mind was clear. The Cao Cao army had definitely sealed off the back of the mountain, and escaping would be a dead end.

"Besides hoping the Yellow Turban army can hold out, we have no way out."

Liu Jing smiled bitterly, realizing the situation was even more severe than he thought. In the chaos, pretending to be Liu Bei's nephew or even Cao Cao's father wouldn't help.

"What do we do? Are we going to die here?" Wu Xiu, on the verge of tears, almost cried.

Liu Jing looked at him with disdain. He originally thought this clerk was decent, well-read, and had the courage to let him impersonate Liu Biao's nephew, showing some ambition.

But when death approached, his cowardly and fearful side was revealed. Liu Jing saw through him. He let him impersonate Liu Biao's nephew just to give Liu Biao an explanation, fearing Liu Biao's punishment. He had no real ambition and was just a coward at heart.

Liu Jing was truly annoyed. He broke free from Wu Xiu's grip and coldly said, "No one wants to die, but if it's our fate, there's nothing to fear!"

He ignored Wu Xiu and walked towards the front of the camp. The battle at the front was intense. The Yellow Turban army, with the advantage of the terrain, rained down logs and stones, repelling the Cao Cao army. Hundreds of soldiers held water-soaked cloths, ready to extinguish the flaming arrows.

Despite the Yellow Turban army's bravery and high morale, Liu Pi was worried, standing under a tree, staring into the distance.

"General, what are you worried about?" Liu Jing walked up and asked with a smile.

Liu Pi sighed, "I fear the Cao Cao army will besiege us. The food in the camp is already exhausted, and we can only kill horses for food. If the Cao Cao army besieges us for five days, we will all be finished."

"Has the general considered surrendering?"

Liu Pi shook his head, "I heard that Cao Cao has issued an order to kill all the Yellow Turban rebels in Runan. Surrendering means death."

Saying this, Liu Pi patted Liu Jing's shoulder and smiled, "No matter if you are the nephew of the Imperial Uncle or not, I still thank you. If you hadn't discovered the Cao Cao army in time, we would all be finished."

Liu Jing's face turned red. He knew Liu Pi had already seen through him. If he were really Liu Bei's nephew, he wouldn't have thought of escaping at night.

"What are the general's plans?"

"I want to break through the encirclement and return to Ancheng County. If that fails, we will move south."

Liu Jing shook his head, "Ancheng County has already been captured by Xiahou Yuan's cavalry. General Gong was completely defeated. I met him on the road. Moving south is impossible. I advise the general to hold the camp and wait for the Imperial Uncle to come to our aid."

Liu Pi, hearing that Ancheng County was captured and General Gong was defeated, turned pale. This was his last hope, and it was now shattered.

"The Imperial Uncle is in trouble himself. How can he help us?"

Liu Pi was disheartened, turning and walking wearily towards the tent. Liu Jing followed, "General, the Imperial Uncle will definitely come to our aid!"

Liu Pi's lips curled in a mocking smile, "Just because his nephew is here?"

"No!"

Liu Jing said urgently, "If he doesn't come to our aid, he won't be the Imperial Uncle. General, holding the camp is our only way out."

Liu Pi stopped, thinking for a moment, and said, "Perhaps you are right. The Imperial Uncle's benevolence and integrity are known throughout the world. If he doesn't come to our aid, he will lose credibility with the world."

Liu Pi's spirit was rekindled, and he bowed to Liu Jing, "Thank you, Master, for your advice. Liu Pi almost made a grave mistake."

He shouted, "Defend the camp! If the camp falls, none of us will survive!"

...

The Cao Cao army attacked five times but was repelled by the Yellow Turban army, who used the terrain to their advantage. Over a thousand Cao Cao soldiers were killed or wounded. Yu Jin, though furious, had no choice but to order the retreat. Attacking the camp at night was indeed disadvantageous.

At this moment, Gao Lan brought two Yellow Turban prisoners, "General, these are the enemy scouts we captured. They have good news!"

"What good news?" Yu Jin glared at the two prisoners.

Gao Lan kicked the two Yellow Turban prisoners to their knees, "Speak!"

One of the prisoners, trembling, said, "The food in the camp is exhausted, and they can only survive by killing horses. They can last at most five days."

This news made Yu Jin's eyes narrow. He thought for a moment, and Gao Lan stepped forward, "Since the enemy is out of food, why not besiege them?"

Yu Jin shook his head, "Liu Bei has fled west, and the Chancellor has given us only two days. I don't want to wait any longer."

He decisively issued the order, "Pass my command, the army will immediately withdraw!"

...

When it was broad daylight, the Yellow Turban army unexpectedly found that the Cao Cao army had withdrawn. The camp erupted in cheers, and Liu Pi was overjoyed, immediately ordering, "The army will move down the mountain and retreat east!"

Liu Jing, hearing the order to move down the mountain, was alarmed. He rushed to Liu Pi's side and shouted, "General, this is a Cao Cao army trap. Moving down the mountain will lead to our complete destruction. We cannot retreat. We should send a messenger to the Imperial Uncle for help!"

Liu Pi, with no