Chapter 84

Listening, listening, Guangzong's South City Gate.

At this moment, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang had already led their 40,000 Yellow Turbans to the South City Gate, where they joined forces with the defenders and the 10,000 Yellow Turbans already there, forming a 60,000-strong Yellow Turban army.

"Open the city gate for me, everyone, charge out," Zhang Bao shouted loudly.

At this moment, outside the South City Gate, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu were fighting fiercely. Although they had suffered significant losses, the Yellow Turbans at the South City Gate were almost unable to hold on, and the city was about to fall. Then the great merit would fall into their hands. What they didn't know was that they were the slowest of all. The other three directions had already attacked into Guangzong long ago.

However, just as they were about to attack into Guangzong, a sudden change occurred. The city gate of Guangzong opened for no apparent reason, and a large number of Yellow Turbans suddenly emerged from inside.

Caught off guard, Dong Zhuo and his men were killed by the Yellow Turbans. Dong Zhuo had only brought 30,000 men, and had already lost more than 10,000 soldiers in the attack, leaving him with only about 20,000 government troops. They were no match for the 60,000 Yellow Turbans.

However, just as Dong Zhuo was about to flee for his life, he noticed that these Yellow Turbans had no intention of fighting, but were instead fleeing southward. Dong Zhuo then realized that Guangzong had been captured, and these Yellow Turbans were fleeing.

At this moment, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang ran past Yuan Shu, not far from him, looking disheveled. A flash of insight appeared in Yuan Shu's eyes. Originally, he had not intended to exert much effort, but now seeing such a good opportunity, he rushed forward.

"Zhang Bao, you scoundrel, Yuan Shu is here. Surrender quickly," he said, and immediately thrust his sword at Zhang Bao.

Zhang Bao was already very frustrated. Hearing Yuan Shu's words, he became furious. He had never heard of Yuan Shu and didn't think he was a formidable figure, yet he dared to challenge him.

He immediately raised his spear and thrust it at the charging Yuan Shu, shouting, "Yuan Shu, you brat, die for me." With Zhang Bao's loud cry, his spear, which had been slower to start, now reached Yuan Shu's face.

Seeing the spear coming closer, Yuan Shu was terrified, thinking, "I am doomed." At this moment, Yuan Shu regretted getting involved in this matter.

Just as the situation was critical, a three-pronged double-edged saber came from the right, deflecting Zhang Bao's spear. The spear grazed Yuan Shu's hair, knocking off his hairpin and causing his hair to fall in disarray, making him look very disheveled.

"Your servant arrived late and startled the lord. Please forgive me, my lord," the owner of the three-pronged double-edged saber said, appearing beside Yuan Shu and pleading for forgiveness.

Yuan Shu, who had narrowly escaped death, finally reacted, seeing the person who had saved him and gratefully said, "Fortunately, Fu Yi arrived in time, or I would have been dead."

The person who arrived was none other than Ji Ling, one of Yuan Shu's generals. He was skilled with a 65-jin three-pronged double-edged saber and could fight Guan Yu for more than thirty rounds without losing. He was extremely loyal to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu, who was cruel to his subordinates, was particularly concerned about Ji Ling. It was not only because Yuan Shu valued Ji Ling's martial arts but also because Ji Ling had saved Yuan Shu from danger many times.

Zhang Bao, seeing the large man in front of him, knew he was a formidable opponent. If he were to be delayed here, he would not be able to escape. Therefore, he ignored the two and galloped southward towards Julu.

Ji Ling, worried about Yuan Shu's safety, did not dare to pursue, and could only watch as Zhang Bao fled.

At this moment, Yuan Shu realized that Zhang Bao had escaped and became furious. It was the first time in his life that he had been so embarrassed. "Fu Yi, chase after him and kill Zhang Bao to vent my anger," he ordered.

However, just as Ji Ling was about to obey, he was surrounded by a large number of Yellow Turbans. Yuan Shu, unable to break free, shouted in anger and could only fight the enemies around him, watching helplessly as Zhang Bao escaped from under his nose.

Not far away, Yuan Shao, who was also fighting fiercely, saw Yuan Shu's embarrassed state and couldn't help but laugh with schadenfreude. In his eyes, making Yuan Shu suffer was the happiest thing for him.

"Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang are escaping," Dong Zhuo shouted, noticing the two trying to flee. However, he was quickly surrounded by countless Yellow Turbans and could not move, as not everyone had the ability to take a head from an army of ten thousand.

This breakout cost Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang another 20,000 troops, leaving them with only 40,000 Yellow Turbans to continue their flight towards Julu. Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu, with the aid of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun from the North and West City Gates, annihilated 20,000 Yellow Turbans. They then joined forces and pursued Zhang Bao in the direction he had fled.

There was only one road between Julu and Guangzong.

By now, it was already dawn. In the weak sunlight, a large army could be seen approaching.

The approaching army was none other than the 40,000 Yellow Turbans led by Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. They had been chased by Huangfu Song's army all night, barely managing to put some distance between them. Now, Julu was in sight, and Zhang Bao was excited. He was sure he could reach Julu before Huangfu Song caught up, and then he might save his life.

However, at this moment, Zhang Bao's excitement was immediately extinguished. Before he could see Julu, he saw a well-equipped cavalry of 5,000 men, with two generals, one in black and one in white, standing in front of them. Between them stood a young scholar, looking very frail.

"Ha ha ha, General of the Earth, General of the People, by the order of my lord, I have been waiting for a long time," the young scholar laughed.

"It's you!!!" Zhang Bao's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the three. The two generals were none other than Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, under Liu Yao's command, and the young scholar was undoubtedly Guo Jia. The hope that had just reignited was immediately extinguished.

Zhang Liang, seeing the 5,000 well-armed cavalry, could only laugh bitterly. He knew the strength of Liu Yao's iron cavalry. How could his 40,000 exhausted troops be a match for them? Moreover, Huangfu Song's army was about to catch up from behind.

"Did your lord Liu Yao know from the beginning that we would flee in this direction?" Zhang Liang asked, laughing bitterly.

Guo Jia nodded and said, "Yes, my lord foresaw it and ordered us to wait. You two have no way out, so you might as well surrender."

Zhang Bao nodded helplessly. He had already resigned himself to his fate and was prepared to follow Zhang Jue's advice to surrender. He then asked in a pleading tone, "We two know our crimes are grave and deserve death, but before we die, can we request one thing?"

"What is it?" Guo Jia asked.

"It doesn't matter if we die, but I don't want the 40,000 brothers behind me to die with me. Please spare their lives," Zhang Bao said sincerely. Perhaps it was true that a dying man's words were kind.

"No!!!!" Before Guo Jia could agree, a roar came from the Yellow Turbans' rear, followed by the arrival of Huangfu Song's army. Leading the charge were Yuan Shu and Ji Ling.

The one who had just opposed was none other than the incompetent Yuan Shu. He had never been so embarrassed in his life and was not about to let the culprits off easily. He wanted to kill all these scoundrels to vent his anger.