The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 34 As unpredictable as the shadows, both cowardly and reckless.

Striking the gong?
The soldiers were caught off guard.

It should be known that in the army, drums and gongs are used as commands.

The drums sounded to advance, the gongs to signal retreat.

The bronze gong is the latter.

At this moment, the enemy suddenly attacked the city.

Instead of engaging in battle, Mi Wei wanted to strike the gong to signal a retreat.

Did he get the order wrong?
"What are you all standing there for?" Jiao Zhong shouted at the crowd from the side.

"Superintendent Mi is the garrison commander appointed by Registrar Liao. His orders are Registrar Liao's orders. If he tells you to strike the gong, then strike it now!"

Before becoming the gatekeeper of the prefecture, Jiao Zhong was a veteran under Liu Bei and held considerable prestige among the lower ranks of the army.

At his shout, the soldiers dared not delay and immediately took action.

Soon, the entire city of Jiangling was filled with the resounding sound of bells, which echoed for miles around.

The bronze gong is a musical instrument shaped like a flattened bell.

The sounds are similar too.

The main theme is loud and melodious.

However, its metallic material gives it a distinct sound compared to a drum.

But Miwei was still not satisfied and gave another order:

"Light all the torches you can! Everyone face south and sway from side to side!"

After saying this, he snatched a brightly lit torch from a soldier next to him and personally demonstrated how to use it.

Although everyone quickly followed the instructions, they became even more confused.

Pan Jun, however, watched the flickering figures of his disciples in the firelight, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

……

The unusual activity on the city wall quickly caught Guan Xing's attention.

After all, it was the unit closest to Jiangling City on the battlefield.

After a desperate breakout that disregarded casualties, there were few enemy troops left in the way.

We were only six or seven hundred steps away from the south gate of Jiangling.

It looked like we'd reach our destination in just one more burst of speed.

but.

What does this mean from the city wall?
Should we call a retreat?

But they didn't send any troops in the first place... So where are they going to recruit troops from?
At this moment, Guan Xing, having fought fiercely through the night, was covered in blood, cold, and hungry.

It was precisely at the moment of utter exhaustion.

The thought process is definitely chaotic.

However, strange, unconventional fire signals suddenly appeared on the city walls.

He naturally recalled that the person in charge of defending the city at this time was Mi Wei.

Only someone like Deer-kun, who's new to the game, would act so recklessly and disregard the rules.

But once you think of Miwei...

Naturally, I remembered the agreement I made with the other party before leaving the city yesterday.

He remembered saying this to Miwei at the time:

"Lord Mi, you have a high vantage point on the city wall and a wide view. If there is any unusual movement in the enemy camp, please immediately use candles and drums to warn them!"

Clearly, Miwei was warning him at that moment!
What is being warned about?

Tonight is different from last night.

Now he is not heading south for a night raid, but rather heading north to break through the encirclement.

Or rather, a rescue operation.

The retreat should not have been directed towards Jiangling City in the north.

If not Jiangling City, where should we collect them from?

Ma Mucheng?
Does this mean I should abandon the rescue of Jiangling and return to the fortress to hold the line?
Guan Xing still didn't understand the logic behind this.

But since it was a decision made by the person he considered "Marquis Liu," there must have been a reason for it.

So after only a moment's hesitation, he resolutely turned around and charged back to Mamucheng.

As Guan Xing's flag turned back, the two routes to the west reacted one after another.

The western route breakout force was originally intended to lure the enemy.

Since Guan Xing had turned back, they naturally followed suit and rushed back as well.

Their change of direction made it difficult for Guan Ping's cavalry, who were not far away, to miss.

Incidentally, because they were on horseback, they had a wider field of vision than infantry on the ground.

So they quickly noticed the unidentified fire signal on the city wall of Jiangling.

Guan Ping had certainly not made any agreement with Mi Wei.

However, he had personally heard Fei Shi's evaluation of Mi Wei and knew that the boy had quick talent.

They also knew that Liao Hua had entered the city this afternoon and instructed the other party to stay put as much as possible.

At that moment—

Lu Meng's surprise attack suddenly occurred, his younger brother abruptly changed direction, the sound of the gong was illogical, and the flames flickered strangely... all these things came together.

As an excellent cavalry commander.

Guan Ping, on the contrary, grasped the signal that Mi Wei was trying to convey faster than Guan Xing.

He immediately turned his horse around again and headed southwest, towards Lingxi Garrison.

The battlefield situation reversed for the second time. Only the enemy cavalry on the far east side continued their relentless charge towards Jiangling City, seemingly oblivious to the danger.

But at this moment, due to Mi Wei's unusual deployment, no friendly forces outside the city came forward to provide support.

Jiangling has become a helpless, isolated city.

Besides Mi Wei, there was also Pan Jun standing behind him, whose expression grew increasingly subtle.

Everyone on the city wall felt a deep sense of fear.

In particular, as the enemy cavalry drew closer.

A large banner with the character "吕" (Lü) gleamed brightly amidst the flames.

This fear was so intense that it was almost suffocating.

General Lü Meng was known as Tiger Might.

When a tiger suddenly appears, who wouldn't be startled?
As the saying goes, "As unpredictable as the shadows, as swift as thunder."

"Such composure and such terrifying prestige—truly worthy of being called a tiger general who dares to defy General Guan!"

"If I hadn't known that General Guan was coming back soon, I'm afraid I would have been scared out of my wits!"

"Uncle, I'm starting to understand you!"

Miwei was saying some very cowardly things.

Meanwhile, he waved to signal the archers on the city wall to get ready.

As soon as the enemy cavalry came within range, he ordered them to fire without hesitation.

As arrows rained down in the darkness, the seemingly unstoppable enemy cavalry vanguard's charge suddenly stalled.

This is inevitable.

It should be noted that the range of a foot archer exceeds that of a horse archer.

Shooting from a higher vantage point increases the firing range.

So in that brief moment, the cavalry charging into the city could only passively take the beating, utterly powerless to retaliate.

However, this only happened after two rounds of volleys from the city walls.

The enemy cavalry finally charged into their firing range and quickly retaliated.

Miwei had his shield bearers move forward as soon as the defenders fired their second volley.

He and several garrison commanders stayed close to the parapet wall, minimizing their exposed area as much as possible.

Therefore, this volley of fire from the enemy cavalry did not cause too many casualties.

It only had a slight effect of "suppressing firepower".

Taking advantage of the reduced firing density of the defenders on the city wall, the enemy cavalry quickly caught up from behind.

That large banner bearing the character "吕" (Lü), and the figure of the well-armored cavalry general beneath it.

Finally, she appeared before everyone.

Miwei glanced at it briefly.

To be honest, Lü Meng was even thinner than he had imagined.

Let alone the weakened version of Guan Xing.

Even Zhan Sifu, who suffered from malnutrition since childhood, was somewhat inferior to him.

Such a thin and frail person.

Could he really be the famous general who helped Sun Quan seize Nan Commandery and defeat Guan Yu in history?

"Uncle Zhong, I heard that Lü Meng is dying soon?"

Mi Fang was hiding in a wall next to Mi Wei at this time.

Hearing this, he was taken aback at first, then murmured:
"He's definitely sick, but look at him now, personally leading cavalry to attack the city. He doesn't look like he's about to die at all!"

Mi Fang was terrified.

But Miwei disagreed.

Historically, Lü Meng died of illness not long after winning this battle.

They didn't even catch up with Sun Quan when he established the Wu Kingdom and submitted to Cao Pi.

So much so that, strictly speaking, he cannot even be considered a figure from the "Three Kingdoms" period.

"Awei, aren't you...aren't you afraid?"

Mi Fang looked at her nephew, who was chatting and laughing as if nothing was wrong, and was a little confused.

"Afraid, why not?"

Miwei responded, and taking advantage of a lull in the enemy cavalry's volley of upward fire, urged the defenders to return fire once again.

Mi Fang was even more confused: "Then you still dare to oppose Lü Huwei?"

Miwei retreated behind the parapet and said:
“Uncle, it was precisely because I was terrified of tigers, that I risked my life to drive them away and even kill them!”

As he spoke, he seized the opportunity to order a counterattack.

After several rounds of shooting, Mi Fang was completely stunned and speechless because of Mi Wei's words.

Seeing that there was no opening in Jiangling City, the enemy cavalry below the city finally stopped their advance.

Instead, it quickly swept across and made a sharp turn to the west.

Only then did the crowd dare to peek out.

But then they were shocked to discover...

The enemy's massive cavalry force consisted of only one or two hundred riders, who followed the banner bearing the character "Lü" to approach the city and harass it.

The remaining majority had already moved west.

And at this point, they arrived at their destination.

But it was exactly the position where Guan Xing's troops had pushed to their limit when they advanced northward!
(End of this chapter)