Chapter Two: The Army-Breaker

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The north wind drove the snow like knives against the face.

Liu Chen and Zhuge Shang galloped side by side. Three thousand cavalry surged across the boundless snowfield like a black flood, cleaving through the drifts as they raced toward Fu City. The muffled thunder of hooves shattering the frozen earth mingled with the howl of the blizzard, composing a frantic march.

“Zichong, look.” Liu Chen reined in his horse and pointed toward the shadowy mountains vanishing into the clouds. “Those are the strategic passes surrounding Fu City. Deng Ai has made a forced march over a great distance. By now, he must be desperate to seize the plains. If we can choke this passage, we will cut off his only avenue of escape.”

Zhuge Shang’s youthful face was grave. Tightening his hand around the sword at his waist, he said, “Your Majesty is absolutely right. But Deng Ai is cunning and treacherous, and his son Deng Zhong is a fierce and seasoned warrior. Though our cavalry gives us an advantage, we must still proceed with caution.”

He suddenly raised his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, and suggested, “My father often taught me, ‘Meet the enemy openly, but win through the unexpected.’ Why not let me lead an elite cavalry unit around to the flank of the mountain road? Once the enemy enters the ambush, we can strike from behind and cut off their retreat.”

Liu Chen threw back his head and laughed. “Excellent! That is precisely what I had in mind. We shall follow your plan. With you attacking from the rear and me from the front, we will make Deng Ai taste the misery of being unable to guard both ends at once!”

He patted Zhuge Shang on the shoulder, his voice carrying an irresistible force. “Remember, this battle is not merely about holding Fu City. We must also show the entire army that Great Han still has the strength to fight!”

Zhuge Shang nodded firmly, wheeled his horse around, and selected five hundred cavalrymen. Like a tributary joining a river, they swept into the dense forest on the left.

The wind and snow grew fiercer.

Elsewhere, Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong were leading their troops along a narrow mountain road. Sheer cliffs rose on either side, while snow hung from the cracks in the rock, as though the whole mountainside might collapse at any moment.

“My father said that the main Shu army must still be dawdling at Mianzhu,” Deng Zhong said disdainfully as he tightened his cloak. “What does a pampered son like Zhuge Zhan know of marching and war? By the time we reach the city walls, he will probably still be wondering whether he ought to leave camp.”

Shi Zuan, however, frowned deeply as he stared at the road ahead, blurred by wind and snow. “General Deng, you are being far too careless. The terrain here is treacherous. If the Shu army has laid an ambush—”

Before he could finish, a sudden sound tore through the air.

“Loose the arrows!”

With a furious shout, countless boulders suddenly came rolling down from both cliffs, smashing the Wei soldiers into cries of agony. A moment later, arrows poured down like a torrential rain, instantly transforming the mountain road into a field of slaughter.

“It’s an ambush!” Shi Zuan roared as he drew his sword to parry the incoming missiles.

Then a figure in dark armor charged forward. His long spear twisted like a dragon, lunging straight at Deng Zhong.

“Deng Zhong! Your opponent is me!”

Liu Chen’s roar echoed through the snowstorm. His spearhead carried a biting chill as it drove Deng Zhong into hastily raising his blade. With a resounding clang, Deng Zhong’s arms went numb, the web of his hand split open, and he nearly fell from his horse. He stared in horror at the young general before him. The fury burning in those eyes stirred an involuntary trace of fear within him.

“Who are you?”

“The Prince of Beidi, Liu Chen!”

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The long spear struck again, darting forward like a serpent flicking out its tongue, aimed directly at Deng Zhong’s heart. Deng Zhong hurriedly dodged, but Liu Chen twisted his wrist and swept the shaft across, striking him squarely beneath the ribs. Deng Zhong let out a scream and fell from his saddle. Before he could struggle to rise, Shu soldiers rushed forward and pinned him firmly to the ground.

“The general has been captured!”

The Wei army immediately descended into chaos. Liu Chen seized the opportunity and drove his forces forward. Two thousand cavalry charged through the narrow mountain road like tigers descending from the hills, surging left and right. The Wei army had already been caught completely off guard by the ambush. Now that their commander had been taken prisoner, they had no heart left for battle and scattered in rout.

Amid the confusion, one Shu soldier fought with extraordinary ferocity. Wielding a long saber, he moved through the Wei ranks as though no one stood in his way. Wherever his blade passed, blood flew three feet into the air. With one stroke, he split open the armor of a Wei deputy commander, then seized the man’s warhorse, swung into the saddle, and pursued the fleeing troops. In moments, he had cut down several more men.

Liu Chen caught sight of him amid the chaos, and a trace of approval flashed in his eyes. Once the battle had somewhat subsided, he rode over to the soldier. Though covered in blood and grime, the man stood straight, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s.

“What is your name?”

The soldier dropped to one knee and answered in a voice as resonant as a bell. “I am Yan Ming, Your Majesty!”

“Yan Ming…” Liu Chen nodded. “A truly courageous warrior. You have rendered outstanding service in this battle. Once Fu City has fallen, I shall reward you handsomely.”

A flicker of excitement crossed Yan Ming’s eyes. He bowed deeply until his forehead struck the ground. “Thank you, Your Majesty! I am willing to fight and die for Great Han!”

At that moment, Zhuge Shang led his troops in from the flank and joined forces with Liu Chen. The two exchanged a smile, their eyes bright with exhilaration.

“Your Majesty, Deng Zhong has been captured alive. Shi Zuan has fled toward Fu City with the remnants of his forces!” Zhuge Shang announced.

Liu Chen gazed toward Fu City in the distance, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Can he escape? Pass down the order. Let the men rest briefly, then follow me to seize Fu City!”

—

Within Fu City, chaos reigned.

Shi Zuan stumbled back into the city, his face filled with shock and fury. He had never imagined that the force ambushing them would be Shu Han’s Prince of Beidi, Liu Chen. Nor had he expected that Zhuge Zhan’s command could possess such an elite cavalry force.

“General, the Shu army has drawn up outside the city. It appears they intend to attack!” a personal guard reported in panic.

Shi Zuan clenched his teeth. “What are you panicking for? Fu City may be small, but its walls are sturdy. We still have three thousand defenders. We need only hold out until General Deng’s main force arrives—”

Before he could finish, a rapid trumpet call suddenly sounded outside the city walls.

“Wooo—wooo—”

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Shi Zuan’s heart tightened. He was just about to order the defenders to hold the city to the death when a sudden uproar of shouting and killing erupted at the city gate.

“Kill them! Seize the gate!”

Dozens of men dressed in Wei uniforms suddenly launched an attack from within the city. Brandishing sharp blades, they charged straight at the gate guards. The defenders were already demoralized, and caught completely off guard, they were cut down in an instant. At the head of the assault was Meng Qi, who brought his saber down upon the chains securing the gate and strained to force the massive doors open.

“Your Majesty! The gate is open!”

Liu Chen led the charge, racing into the city at the head of his army. Shu soldiers poured in like a tidal wave and clashed with the Wei troops in the streets.

Seeing this from atop the city tower, Shi Zuan was so enraged that his eyes nearly split. He snatched up his sword and tried to rush down, but his guards held him back with all their strength.

“General! The tide has turned against us. We must withdraw!”

Shi Zuan stared at the Shu soldiers flooding into the city, then glanced toward the distant direction from which Deng Ai’s main force might arrive. Despair flickered in his eyes. He suddenly tore himself free of his guards and charged toward Liu Chen, roaring, “Liu Chen, you insolent whelp! I will fight you to the death!”

Liu Chen gave a cold laugh. With a sweep of his spear, he sent a Wei soldier flying as the man charged at him with his sword raised. Then he spurred his horse toward Shi Zuan.

“A defeated general, and you still dare to swagger?”

Sword and spear collided. Shi Zuan felt a tremendous force surge through his arms, nearly wrenching the long sword from his grasp. To his horror, he discovered that the young Prince of Beidi before him possessed martial skill far beyond anything he had imagined.

Liu Chen gave him no chance to catch his breath. His spear struck like a sudden storm, every thrust aimed to kill. Shi Zuan struggled desperately to defend himself, but soon exposed an opening.

A cold gleam flashed in Liu Chen’s eyes. His spear suddenly accelerated and drove through Shi Zuan’s chest with a wet, piercing sound.

Shi Zuan’s eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the spearhead jutting from his chest. Blood welled from the corner of his mouth. He opened and closed his lips as though trying to say something, but in the end he managed only a dull groan before crashing to the ground.

Until the moment of his death, he could not understand how the battle had come to this.

With their commander dead, the Wei army completely lost the will to resist. In less than half an hour, Fu City had been brought entirely under Shu control.

Liu Chen stood atop the city tower, gazing down at Fu City beneath the snow, then at the cheering soldiers below. His heart swelled with boundless pride. This was his first great victory since crossing into this world—and Shu Han’s first glimmer of hope.

“Carry out my orders,” Liu Chen said as he turned, his voice resounding across the tower. “Reinforce the defenses, count the spoils, and tend to the wounded! Remain ready for battle at all times!”

The snowstorm continued unabated, but within the hearts of the Shu soldiers, a raging fire had already been kindled.

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