Chapter 266: Too Early,
Cao Kun tossed aside the nearly broken long saber and took a new one from Cao Ling’s hand.
This was the fourth saber he had changed today.
“Kill!”
Cao Kun kicked away the enemy in front of him and strode forward. Today, no matter what, he had to take Lingzhou City. Only by taking this city would the Cao Clan have sufficient deterrence to bring him a period of peace.
He needed to make good use of this respite to gain dominant position in the Cao Clan. Only then would his efforts not be in vain, and he would not become someone else’s wedding dress.
In the past, he did not like to personally charge the formation, nor did he like to personally brave arrows and stones, always feeling that his noble body was not suited for such things. Now, he understood one thing: these Cao Clan disciples who entered Lingzhou City—if not for him still fighting bravely at the forefront, they might have already collapsed or fled.
When not at war, everyone respected him as the Cao Clan’s Eldest Son. Only on the battlefield would they know that if he, the Cao Clan’s Eldest Son, wanted to win the officers and soldiers’ following, he had to show himself braver than them, more responsible than them.
Only if he could hold up the sky himself would he become a reliable existence for others, a leader they truly looked up to.
Attacking from the inner city to the city walls was much easier than from outside, but here there were still horse paths, corner towers, and walkways that needed to be contested inch by inch.
“Aha—”
1 Cao Ling swung his wolf-tooth club onto a giant shield. The giant shield knocked off several wolf teeth from the wolf-tooth club. At the same time, the giant shield shattered in a thunderous roar. Cao Kun swung his saber to knock away two long sabers chopping at Cao Ling, used his shoulder to bump the nearly exhausted Cao Ling off the horse path to avoid being killed by the enemy, picked up the damaged wolf-tooth club, and swung it out again.
1 Having finally climbed onto the city walls, Cao Kun had no intention of going down again. Behind him, a Hundred-man General carrying the Cao Clan flag was vigorously waving the flag, calling more Cao Clan soldiers to gather here.
1 Zheng Tianshou spat out a mouthful of blood. His horse spear thrust out vigorously once more. He Tian’s horse chopping saber split the horse spear. With consecutive steps forward, he turned and swung down his horse chopping saber. Zheng Tianshou did not dodge. In the instant of turning, he thrust the horse spear flat out. This mutual destruction fighting style prevented He Tian from chopping off Zheng Tianshou’s head; he could only slash flat in mid-air to deflect Zheng Tianshou’s horse spear.
1 He Tian planted his saber and stood, saying to Zheng Tianshou, who was firmly blocking his path, “Selling your life for the Cao Clan to such an extent—Zheng Tianshou, it truly surprises this old man.”
1 Zheng Tianshou was not eager to attack either. Planting his horse spear similarly, he said, “This old man has four sons. The eldest is thirty-seven this year, the youngest already nineteen. Not one has qi sensation yet. Even if this old man has the ability for qi induction, since they don’t even have qi sensation, what prospects can they have in the future?
1 You say this old man is selling his life for the Cao Clan—you might as well say this old man is selling his life for the four worthless sons he begot.
1 Old He, this old man still can’t figure it out to this day: is He Yu that child truly your own flesh and blood? If so, how could you bear to put her in a steamer basket and steam her alive to death?”
1 He Tian looked up at the sky and said, “Does Cao Kun care that much about He Yu?”
1 Zheng Tianshou sighed and said, “Knowing you would ambush him, he still led troops in pursuit, all for a chance to personally kill you. For this, not only was he himself badly wounded, but he also sacrificed over two thousand six hundred Cao Clan lads.
1 Now, knowing the troops outside the city can’t stop your Tiger Guards, he still risked entering the city—all for a chance to kill you. He Tian, if he didn’t hate you to the bone, he absolutely wouldn’t do such a thing.”
2 He Tian laughed heartily: “Indeed, it was not in vain that He Yu remained unyielding unto death for him.”
2 Seeing a massive Cao Clan flag already planted on the city head, Zheng Tianshou said to He Tian, “The great momentum is gone. He Tian, the Eldest Son said he wants to personally kill you, so this old man won’t interfere.”
2 Seeing Zheng Tianshou about to leave, He Tian said indignantly, “Even if you take Lingzhou City, so what? This old man still has three thousand Tiger Guards and can still rampage through the world.”
2 Zheng Tianshou chuckled: “A figure who dominated a prefecture, now turned into a homeless dog—this old man wants to see how long you can rampage.”
2 He Tian roared: “This old man will surely annihilate the Cao Clan.”
2 With that, he jumped onto a riderless great-horned warhorse and headed toward the West Gate.
2 A mouthful of blood sprayed from Zheng Tianshou’s mouth, staining his armor red. He sat down wearily, watching the Lingzhou soldiers rapidly retreating, muttering to himself, “Third Young Master, Ninth Young Master, my apologies.”
2 Cao Kun continued leading men to clear the remaining Lingzhou soldiers on the city walls. After a low horn sounded, the area before his eyes suddenly cleared. He saw Lingzhou soldiers alternately covering their withdrawal from Lingzhou City. Looking outside the city, he saw more Lingzhou soldiers impacting the Cao Clan’s formation, which had only just barely held.
2 Cao Kun felt his internal breath could no longer circulate. His legs gave way, and he knelt on one knee in the pool of blood. Looking into the distance in all directions, everywhere was filled with the cheers of Cao Clan soldiers.
2 This battle had truly been fought by him into an equal exchange.
3 Lingzhou City had been taken by him, while the Lingzhou soldiers fleeing in panic outside the city, led by a He Clan flag, were charging in wedge formation straight at the position of the two Cao Clan flags below the city.
3 Seeing the Tiger Guards outside the city, who had been scattered, slowly regrouping and gathering again, Cao Kun supported himself to stand and roared at Cao Ling, who had climbed onto the city walls, “Regroup the army, exit the city!”
3 “In this battle, it looks like no one gained the advantage. Although the Cao Clan seized Lingzhou City, the casualties were too heavy. Even after taking Lingzhou, they will need a good while to recuperate and recover their vitality.
3 Such a result should be acceptable to everyone except the Cao Clan and He Clan.”
3 Seeing the children looking puzzled at this battlefield situation, Liang Kun immediately stood up and explained the gains and losses of this battle to the children from a higher perspective.
3 Lei Ming said, “Not worth it, not worth it. His two younger brothers are about to die, and Cao Kun’s rescue won’t make it in time. He delayed too much time in the city.”
3 Liang Kun smiled: “Yes, delayed too much time. Lei Ming, if you were Cao Kun, would you delay so much time?”
3 Lei Ming shook his head: “No. Cao Kun advanced step by step for safety. Actually, after entering the city and controlling the city gate, he should have stopped pushing forward, left half the soldiers to hold the seized city gate, and had the rest immediately turn to strike the Tiger Guards’ rear.
3 Once the Tiger Guards outside the city were eaten up, it wouldn’t matter even if the city gate was retaken. The decisive factor in this war is the Tiger Guards, not Lingzhou City.
3 Now, most of the Tiger Guards have escaped. Even if Cao Kun takes Lingzhou City, he will have endless troubles afterward.
4 So, I can’t quite figure it out—why would someone as smart as Cao Kun commit such a low-level mistake?”
4 Liang Kun frowned: “You are still young; it’s not suitable to probe human hearts too early.”
4 Lei Ming laughed loudly: “So this is why the two Cao brothers fought He Tian on the left, while Cao Kun pursued the Tiger Guards on the right?”
4 Liang Kun’s expression was awkward. After all, Cao Kun’s reputation in the Yun Clan was usually not bad.
4 Lei Ming, seeing some scattered Tiger Guards enter the mountain forest, said to Liang Kun, “I hear the Tiger Guards are loyal to He Tian for life because there’s an iron spike in their heads?”
4 Liang Kun said, “This is a well-known matter.”
4 Lei Ming said, “Now, in the chaos, let’s catch a few to bring back for Huo Liao and the others to study and see what’s really going on.”
4 Liang Kun was just about to stop him when Lei Ming led a group of young men away from the cliff overlooking the battlefield and plunged into the dense forest. The guards hurriedly said, “City Lord, they—”
4 Liang Kun shook his head: “They have the ability to protect themselves.”
4 After speaking, he returned to the cliff and continued watching the battle that was about to subside.
5 The Cao Clan flag finally fell, swallowed by the earth-yellow waves of Lingzhou troops. That wave, after swallowing up the remaining black stubborn stones like Cao Clan armored soldiers, rolled westward.
5 Cao Kun reined in his warhorse and raised his hand to stop his officers and soldiers from continuing the pursuit.
5 “Where is Uncle?” Cao Kun, unable to hide his fatigue, asked the scar-covered Cao Ling.
5 “Uncle fought fiercely with He Tian and was seriously injured. He is now resting in the city.”
5 Cao Kun dismounted, picked up a Cao Clan army flag trampled by countless people, shook off the dust by waving it a few times, thrust it into the silk sash on his back, mounted again, and roared at the gathering Cao Clan soldiers: “We have taken Lingzhou City—are you happy?”
5 The soldiers all lowered their heads in silence.
5 Cao Kun rode back and forth in front of them, roaring while riding: “We have taken Lingzhou—are you happy?”
5 Cao Ling, following closely behind Cao Kun, waved his arm and shouted: “Happy!”
5 Cao Kun continued galloping through the crowd on horseback.
5 “We have taken Lingzhou City—are you happy?”
6 “Happy!” The voices were sparse.
6 Cao Kun continued moving through the crowd, roaring: “We have taken Lingzhou City—are you happy?”
6 “Happy!” The crowd’s voices finally aligned, and the shout seemed to have some strength.
6 Cao Kun continued roaring: “Since you are happy, then enter the city and take your spoils of war. This general declares: enter Lingzhou City—six days later, seal the blade!”
6 “Yes!”
6 This time, the soldiers’ response finally had a mountain collapse and tsunami-like momentum.
6 Liang Kun stood up from the cliff, looking at the Cao Clan soldiers swarming into the city, and sighed: “No wonder the Lord looks down on you. With behavior like yours that puts eliminating rivals above military objectives, you are doomed to not achieve great things.
6 The chaotic times have only just begun, and you’ve exposed your nature so thoroughly. Cao Kun, you are still too hasty.”
6 Liang Kun had just left the cliff when thick smoke rose from Lingzhou City in the distance. This time, the burning did not look like battle fire…
6 Yun Ce sat on a chair facing the sunrise. Behind him were two rooms sealed tightly shut. From time to time, the cry of an infant came from inside, soon disappearing.
7 He couldn’t help turning back to look. Though separated by door and window, he still felt he could see two tiny figures in the midst of feeding. This scene dispelled all the grievances, unwillingness, and confusion in his heart.
