Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao, along with his troops, and Ma Chao, hurried anxiously to the palace gate. Before they even got close, they could hear the thunderous cries of killing coming from within the palace, each one so piercing that it seemed to rip one's eardrums apart.

Ma Chao and Cao Cao exchanged a glance, a trace of solemnity in their eyes. They quickly passed the urgent message to He Jin, and then a brutal siege began.

Soldiers surged toward the palace like a tide, shields held high, bracing themselves against the rain of arrows and stones that fell from the walls. Ladders were erected one after another, and warriors climbed them recklessly, while men were repeatedly shot and fell, screaming and tumbling down the ladders.

The defenders on the city walls fought desperately, brandishing their swords and cutting down the approaching enemies. Blood stained the walls red, and severed limbs and arms splattered everywhere. War drums roared, and the cries of killing shook the earth. Soldiers on both sides were blinded by blood, as if locked in an endless slaughter.

Cao Cao personally supervised the battle, his roar echoing across the battlefield, inspiring the soldiers to advance bravely. In this brutal battle, life became so fragile, but the desire for victory burned like a flame in everyone's heart.

The battle reached a stalemate, and He Jin, seeing this, immediately ordered a large army to rush to reinforce. Suddenly, the pressure on the city gates increased dramatically.

Seeing this, the defending general Han Xian was extremely anxious. He was about to ask for help from other gates, but he found that Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu's troops had also begun to attack the city. In an instant, all the gates were plunged into a fierce battle.

Shouts of killing and the clash of weapons intertwined, filling the battlefield with thick smoke and the smell of blood. Soldiers on the attacking side surged toward the city gates like a tide, their eyes gleaming with madness and determination.

Some soldiers were struck by arrows during the charge, their bodies falling like kites with broken strings, but those behind them continued forward, stepping over the bodies of their comrades. Soldiers on the ladders were smashed to a bloody pulp by rolling logs and rocks thrown by the defenders, but they still clung to the ladders and climbed tenaciously.

As swords clashed, sparks flew, accompanied by shrill screams as soldiers tumbled and clashed in pools of blood. Severed limbs flew across the battlefield, a scene of unbearable horrific intensity. Every moment, a life was lost, every charge brought with it immense sacrifice. The attackers, with their flesh and blood, composed a tragic and heroic war song.

Ma Chao watched the escalating battle from afar, his heart aching as if stabbed by thousands of needles. He had no idea what was happening inside the palace, but the only thing he knew and deeply concerned about was that his beloved teacher, Lu Zhi, was trapped there, his life or death uncertain. This filled him with immense worry and fear.

At this thought, Ma Chao could no longer suppress his inner anxiety and anger. His eyes burned red, and like a thoroughly enraged lion, he let out an earth-shattering roar. Then, he abruptly leaped from his horse, his spear tightly gripped, and recklessly charged towards the city. His steps were firm and resolute, each one seeming to leave a deep footprint on the ground. Each step carried his immense concern for his teacher's safety and his determination to save him, even at the cost of his life.

Ma Chao personally braved a dense and deadly rain of arrows, recklessly charging into the city walls. His eyes burned with rage, a hatred for the enemy and a concern for his teacher's plight. His gaze also revealed a steadfast resolve, a determination to fight to the death, even at the cost of his own life.

The defenders on the city walls sensed Ma Chao's ferocity and terrifying power, and they surged toward him like a tide. However, Ma Chao remained undaunted. He brandished his spear, its shadows swirling like a whirlwind, striking down the enemies who approached him one after another. His spear swung with the agility of a dragon and a snake, sending foes screaming and falling wherever he touched. Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the city walls red. The defenders stared at him in horror, as if facing an invincible god of war, their hearts filled with fear and despair.

Ma Chao charged left and right on the battlefield as if he was in an empty space, and carved out a vacuum zone on the city wall. Han Xian saw that he was brave, so he sent his personal soldiers to surround Ma Chao, and for a while Ma Chao was also in a tough fight.

Pang De and Sun Ce were quietly waiting for support near the city gate. The moment the shouts of killing rang out, they were already paying close attention to the situation at the city gate with great tension.

Just as the personal soldiers went to besiege Ma Chao, Pang De and Sun Ce keenly sensed the opportunity. They raised their weapons without hesitation and rushed towards the defending general Han Xian like tigers.

Because Han Xian's personal soldiers were not by his side, he was suddenly attacked by Pang De and Sun Ce. He was caught off guard for a moment and could not stop their attack. He could only flee in panic among the group of soldiers.

Sun Ce was truly valiant. Together with Pang De, he thrust his swords like two sharp knives, charging straight at Hancheng. Han Xian's soldiers were completely overwhelmed by their fierce attack, and for a moment, the city gates were plunged into chaos. The shouts of the soldiers and the clash of weapons resounded through the air, and the situation grew increasingly tense and intense.

Cao Cao seized the opportunity and decisively mobilized all his troops to launch a more fierce attack. For a moment, the city gate became precarious under the fierce attack of Cao's army, and it seemed that it could be breached at any time.

Han Xian was also preoccupied with himself at the moment, unable to distract himself from anything else. He was extremely anxious, yet powerless to do anything, and could only watch the situation grow increasingly critical.

Sun Ce stared at Han Xian's every move with his eyes as sharp as torches, and when the opportunity arose, he quickly blocked the enemy's attack, then chased after him with a spear in hand, like a gust of wind.

Sun Ce, with his agile figure, closed the distance between them like lightning, and thrust his spear forward, piercing Han Xian with pinpoint accuracy. Han Xian stared at Sun Ce with wide eyes in disbelief, blood gushing from his mouth as he slowly collapsed.

Seeing this, Pang De immediately shouted, "The defending general is dead. Those who surrender will not be killed!" His voice was as loud as a bell, echoing across the battlefield. Suddenly, the defending soldiers were in chaos. They looked at each other, their hearts filled with fear and confusion.

Some soldiers began to waver, their weapons trembling slightly. They realized that the situation was hopeless and their hope of defending the city was gone. Others continued to resist stubbornly, but their morale had been severely damaged. The entire battlefield situation changed dramatically because of Sun Ce's spear and Pang De's cry.

Ma Chao was originally surrounded and under immense pressure, but with Han Xian's death, the pressure around him was suddenly relieved. He wielded his spear with all his might, like a ferocious beast, sweeping away the enemies who besieged him one by one and successfully escaping the encirclement.

At the same time, Sun Ce and Pang De also fought hard on the battlefield, gradually getting closer to Ma Chao. Finally, the three of them met together.

Then, the three of them charged towards the city wall, as if they were in an empty space, brandishing their weapons and causing the defenders to fall wherever they went. They wiped out all the defenders inside the city gate.

Ma Chao, Pang De, and Sun Ce successfully opened the city gate. With a loud bang, the heavy gate slowly swung open. Immediately afterwards, Cao's army surged in like a tide, and the shouts of killing instantly resounded through the sky.

Seeing that the city gate had been breached, He Jin ordered Cao Cao and Chunyu Qiong to rush to the other two city gates to support Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao.

Ma Chao, Pang De, and Sun Ce, the three young generals, were like three sharp blades, charging forward as vanguards, charging towards the palace with unstoppable momentum. Their figures darted across the battlefield, crushing the enemy wherever they went.

Their faces were full of determination and resolve, and their eyes were burning with fighting spirit and passion.

Under their leadership, Cao's offensive became more fierce, the enemy was defeated step by step, and the entire battlefield was filled with a strong smell of blood.