Chapter 63: A Single Strategist Worth a Million Troops! Burning First, Intercepting After, the Embroidered Pillow Loses His Mind!

For a fleeting moment, Zhang Yun half-believed he was still trapped in a dream, and that everything before his eyes was merely an illusion.

He hastily pinched his thigh, rubbed his eyes hard, and then stared wide-eyed once more.

The firelight remained.

Outside the manor, flames soared into the heavens, illuminating a vast expanse of the night sky.

In the firmament, countless fire arrows continued to whistle downward at intervals.

All around, the frantic shrieks and miserable screams of soldiers echoed through the air.

"General! It's the enemy shooting fire arrows, setting our city of Rang County ablaze!"

"The entire city is engulfed in flames, and our brothers are in complete chaos!"

His personal guard screamed in a trembling, shrill voice.

Zhang Yun drew in a sharp breath, his body swaying slightly as he was jolted violently back to reality.

We’ve fallen into a trap!

These three words instantly flashed through his mind.

That Wei Yan had not fled out of fear; rather, he had feigned weakness, abandoned the city, and lured his grand army into occupying Rang County.

Then, under the cover of night, he had doubled back to launch a surprise attack on Rang County.

The method of this surprise assault was not a nocturnal raid on the city gates, but an all-out fire attack!

Even with Wen Pin’s warning prompting him to station sufficient guards at all four gates, this nighttime ambush rendered such precautions utterly useless.

"This Wei Yan, is he truly so cunning and deceitful?"

"How could I allow myself to be played with in such a manner?"

Consumed by fury and humiliation, Zhang Yun gnashed his teeth, hurriedly donned his armor, grasped his sword, leaped onto his horse, and charged straight out of the administrative office.

He saw that the massive city was ablaze with raging fires everywhere, and the streets were filled with the figures of soldiers fleeing in blind panic.

"General Zhang, the enemy’s move is indeed a trick! Fires are breaking out all over Rang County, and our army has fallen into complete chaos!"

Wen Pin rode over on horseback, brandishing his saber and shouting as he galloped toward him.

At the sight of Wen Pin, a trace of subtle, imperceptible shame flashed across Zhang Yun's face.

After all, just an hour prior, Wen Pin had warned him explicitly not to underestimate the enemy or lower his guard.

Yet Zhang Yun had fancied himself well-versed in the art of war, dismissing Wen Pin’s caution and treating Wei Yan with utter contempt.

Now, Wei Yan had used a fire attack to deliver a resounding, merciless slap to his face.

Just as Zhang Yun was grappling with embarrassment and shame, he suddenly sensed something was amiss and blurted out:

"This doesn't make sense! While fire attacks do exist in military strategy, how could Wei Yan possibly ignite an entire city with just a few fire arrows?"

"Throughout history, within all the tactical precedents of warfare, there has never been such a precedent!"

Zhang Yun’s eyes widened again as he voiced the doubt weighing on his mind.

Wen Pin’s body stiffened. He glanced around at the surrounding inferno, and his own eyes filled with suspicion and bewilderment.

Mere fire arrows were indeed incapable of setting an entire city ablaze.

If fire attacks were this effortless, wouldn't capturing a city be as easy as turning over one's hand? Whenever an army encountered a fortified city, they would merely need to use fire, leaving no explanation for the existence of so many impregnable fortresses and perilous passes.

Wen Pin’s eyes spun rapidly as he racked his brain, yet he could fathom no underlying mystery behind it.

"Crack!"

A burning multi-story pavilion ahead collapsed with a deafening roar, sending a shower of sparks flying straight toward them.

Zhang Yun and the others recoiled in terror, while Wen Pin hurriedly whipped his horse around to escape.

This acute shock drove all their suspicions and doubts straight to the winds beyond the highest heavens.

Wen Pin could no longer spare a thought for contemplation and cried out urgently:

"General Zhang, we have no time to ponder this further! If this continues, the entire army will be burned to death within the city!"

"I beg General Zhang to give the order immediately for the whole army to evacuate—"

Before the word "evacuate" could leave his lips,

Zhang Yun had already come to his senses and roared at the top of his lungs:

"Hear my command, all troops! Quickly withdraw through the South Gate and retreat toward the direction of Xinyang—"

Before the complete directive could escape his mouth, Zhang Yun whipped his mount and fled first.

"General Zhang, we cannot retreat through the South Gate!"

Wen Pin shouted in a desperate attempt to warn him, but Zhang Yun had no inclination to listen and was already spurring his horse forward in a wild gallop.

Seeing this, Wen Pin had no choice but to grit his teeth and hastily urge his horse in pursuit.

The South Gate of Rang County.

Wei Yan and four thousand infantry and cavalry stood quietly in the gloom of the night, calmly watching the fiery spectacle unfold before them.

The four thousand soldiers stood dumbfounded, awestruck by the sheer destructive might of the fire consuming the city.

"With a single gesture of strategy, he has shattered an enemy three times our strength."

"Our military adviser alone is truly worth a million brave soldiers..."

Wei Yan sighed with deep emotion, gazing at the blazing fires with exhilaration.

Beside him, Hu Chu'er watched with excitement, yet his expression was tinged with a hint of lingering anxiety as he could not help asking:

"Wenchang, do you think that fellow Zhang Yun will truly attempt to escape through the South Gate?"

"Rang County has four gates, after all. What should we do if he happens to flee through another?"

Wei Yan dismissed his concern with a confident wave, a look of absolute certainty on his face:

"Military Adviser Xiao has said that given Zhang Yun's mediocre military talent, he will undoubtedly lose his wits entirely and fixate solely on escaping back to Xinyang."

"Xinyang lies to the south, so he will naturally and without hesitation choose to flee through the South Gate."

The words had barely faded.

The previously sealed South Gate of Rang County suddenly burst open with a resounding crash, and the drawbridge plummeted down.

Thousands of routed Jingzhou soldiers, much like ants pouring from a collapsed nest, shoved and elbowed one another, scrambling frantically out of the city gate.

Hu Chu'er’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he exclaimed:

"Military Adviser Xiao is truly divine! He guessed it right once again!"

Wei Yan let out a long sigh of admiration and sneered:

"This Military Adviser Xiao of ours truly possesses the brilliance of Zhang Liang reborn."

"In front of him, how could Kuai Yue possibly dare to call himself the premier strategist of Jingzhou?"

Withdrawing his mocking smile, Wei Yan’s expression turned as cold and hard as iron as he laid his long saber horizontally across his saddle.

"It is time for us to make our move. Brother Hu, let us join forces and win another victory!"

"Remember, however, the military adviser's admonition: these Jingzhou soldiers will eventually become our lord's men, so spare every life you possibly can."

"In this battle, we capture the bandits by capturing their chieftain first!"

Without waiting for further instruction, Hu Chu'er spurred his horse forward, brandishing his saber as he charged into the fray.

One hundred Liangzhou iron cavalry thundered forth like a massive black sword.

With a wild laugh, Wei Yan swept his drag-blade forward and joined the charge.

The four thousand Liu army soldiers, who had been poised for action, shook off their shock. In an instant, their battle intent surged to a boiling point, rolling forward like a tidal wave.

The four thousand infantry and cavalry slammed into the panicked, fleeing Jingzhou troops in a crushing slaughter.

Beneath the city gate.

Zhang Yun used his horse whip to beat back the soldiers blocking his path, finally squeezing his way out of the city gate, whereupon he let out a long sigh of relief.

Recalling Liu Biao’s parting expectations—which were meant to give him a chance to achieve glory and establish his authority so he could be justifiably and heavily entrusted with command—

Who could have imagined that this victory within his grasp would instead transform into a disastrous defeat, thoroughly disgraced and utterly humiliating?

Had he not failed Liu Biao’s high hopes?

"Though I have lost Rang County, the casualties among the soldiers should not be severe. Once I rally the routed troops later and recapture Rang County, it will at most result in my merits offsetting my faults..."

Zhang Yun sought to comfort himself inwardly, and his previously panicked countenance reignited with a measure of conceit.

Suddenly,

Bugle horns resounded, and battle cries erupted from the south.

In the southern night, countless Liu army soldiers surged out of the darkness like netherworld ghosts rising from the nether-realms, charging fiercely ahead.

Though the Jingzhou troops were numerous, their morale had completely collapsed, leaving them with no stomach to fight.

In an instant, the fleeing Jingzhou army was scattered into disarray by the Liu forces, howling in terror and despair.

"An ambush?"

"They actually left an ambush at the South Gate as well?"

Zhang Yun’s face distorted in horror, and the confidence he had just rekindled vanished instantly into sheer terror.

At that moment, Wen Pin finally galloped up in pursuit.

Taking in the scene before him, Wen Pin stamped his foot in bitter frustration and reproached:

"General Zhang! How could the enemy possibly rely solely on a fire attack? They were bound to set an ambush outside the South Gate, waiting to intercept us as we fled toward Xinyang!"

"Why on earth did you refuse to heed my warning and rush to retreat through the South Gate?"

Zhang Yun’s body shook violently as he was jolted back to awareness.

A wave of intense shame once again washed over his entire being.

"Why didn't you warn this general sooner? What use is it to say such things now!"

"Hurry and lead the troops to escort me through this breakthrough! If I suffer even the slightest mishap, my uncle will hold you and you alone responsible!"

Naturally, Zhang Yun would never admit to his own misjudgment, choosing instead to bark angrily at Wen Pin.

Wen Pin’s brow knitted deeply, a knot tightening in his chest as his fists clenched abruptly.

At that exact second, he truly felt an overwhelming impulse to punch Zhang Yun squarely in the face.

Taking a deep breath, he was forced to suppress his surging anger.

There was simply no alternative—after all, the man genuinely was Liu Biao’s nephew.

Since he was eating out of Liu Biao’s rice bowl, he had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

"Protect General Zhang as we break through! Let's move!"

Wen Pin immediately ordered his personal guards to surround and escort Zhang Yun as they charged into the chaotic mob of soldiers.

Wen Pin forged the path ahead, relying on his formidable martial prowess to cut down every Liu soldier attempting to block their way.

Just as a successful breakout seemed within reach,

"Wei Yan is here!"

"Where do you think you're running!"

A thunderous roar erupted.

Wei Yan rode forward, dragging his saber, cutting a bloody path through the ranks like a god of slaughter as he whistled toward them.

"Wei Yan?"

"Just a nameless nobody who betrayed Lord Jingsheng! I, Wen Pin, have come specifically to test your skills!"

Stirred to fury, Wen Pin spurred his horse forward with his blade dragging on the ground, riding directly to meet Wei Yan.

The two horsemen trampled across a bloody path, colliding head-on.

"Clang!"

Their two war blades struck each other dead center in mid-air.

Both men shook slightly in their saddles as the impact rattled their vital energies.

"This fellow actually managed to block my strike?"

Wen Pin’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.

"Wen Pin, you are nothing special after all!"

With a cold snort, Wei Yan twirled his long saber, unleashing overlapping curtains of steel that descended upon his opponent with overwhelming force.

Feeling deeply belittled, Wen Pin’s eyes blazed with fury as he whirled his blade like the wind to meet the onslaught.

The two generals instantly became locked in a fierce, chaotic duel.

Unable to spare any attention for Wen Pin, Zhang Yun barked orders at the surrounding soldiers, urging them to shield him as he bypassed the combat zone and continued his frantic flight southward.

Ahead, the surrounding enemy troops were growing fewer; behind them, Rang County was fading into the distance. It seemed they were on the verge of escaping with their lives.

Just as Zhang Yun felt a flicker of self-congratulatory relief and exhaled a long breath,

"Where do you think you're going!"

A bestial roar echoed from behind him.

Instinctively, Zhang Yun turned his head back—his eyes instantly bulging to their utmost limits, his features contorting into a mask of pure terror, as if he had just gazed upon a ghost.

An immense war horse, hurled by some unseen, monstrous strength, was actually flying through mid-air directly toward him, hurtling downward with crushing momentum!