The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Standing atop Zijin Mountain, gazing down at Jianye City, Guan Yu felt a sense of tension, as if he were entering a battlefield for the first time.

It wasn't that he was cowardly, but rather that he had suffered too many defeats recently, and the stakes this time were too high. If he won, he could not only recoup all his previous losses, but he might even be able to destroy Eastern Wu and unify Jiangnan. However, if he lost...

Guan Yu wasn't afraid of losing his life; what he feared was not being able to face Liu Bei. His elder brother had worked hard all his life to win Jing and Yi provinces, but he had lost half of his territory. He truly had no face to meet his elder brother.

Guan Xing understood Guan Yu's nervousness. Even the most composed person would feel their heart in their throat when they were betting everything they had.

After a moment's thought, Guan Xing said, "Sun Quan moved his capital to Jianye in the sixteenth year of Jian'an, which is eight years ago. Since then, there has never been a war in Jianye. They are not very vigilant. We can launch a strong attack or a night raid. There is no need to worry so much."

"The city gates should be open during the day. If we're going to launch a full-scale attack, we might as well send two or three hundred men dressed in white, disguised as a caravan, to launch a surprise attack at the city gate, quickly seize the gate, and then the main force can rush into the city."

"Although this move can punish Lü Meng for his evil deed of crossing the river in disguise and achieve the goal of giving him a taste of his own medicine, it is very risky."

"First of all, there is still a long distance between the city gate and the barbican. If the Wu army outside can hold out for a little while, the Wu army inside can close the barbican and trap us inside."

"Secondly, the drawbridge's winch is on the city wall. If the raiding force cannot quickly rush up the city wall to seize the winch, the Wu army will raise the drawbridge, separating us from the raiding force. In that case, the raid will have to turn into a direct assault."

"Although the Wu army inside the city has fewer soldiers, there are more civilians. Moreover, there are capable people like Zhang Zhao and Sun Shao guarding the city. We also lack siege equipment. If the battle goes slightly wrong, Zhang Zhao, Sun Shao, and others can quickly organize the civilians to climb the city walls. In that case, our six thousand men will probably have no choice but to retreat."

“A night raid would be much simpler. We can sneak across the moat in the middle of the night, climb the city wall with ropes, grab the winch first, and then seize the city gate. With the winch and the city gate in hand, Jianye City will be ours.”

"More importantly, everyone is fast asleep at night, and even if they wake up, their reaction will be three beats slower than during the day. By the time they react and arrive to provide support, we will have already completely taken control of the city gate. Therefore, I suggest a night raid."

Guan Yu naturally understood these principles, but being in the midst of the situation, he couldn't see things clearly. Guan Xing's analysis made him realize the pros and cons instantly, and he decisively said, "Then let's launch a night attack. Order the army to rest immediately and launch a surprise attack at 4:45 AM."

After saying this, he led everyone back, leaving a small number of soldiers on guard, while the rest of them rested, forcing themselves to sleep if they couldn't.

Finally, at the fourth quarter of the Yin hour, which is four o'clock in the morning, Guan Yu summoned all his generals and said, "This time I will personally lead the attack on the city. After I leave, the army will be commanded by Wang Sima. Guoshan (Wang Fu's courtesy name), you can choose the time to attack."

"What the hell?" Guan Xing asked in astonishment. "Father, are you kidding me? The walls of Jianye are at least four or five zhang high. Can you climb them with your old arms and legs?"

Climbing the city wall by holding onto the rope was a bit strenuous for Guan Xing, let alone Guan Yu, who was nearly sixty years old. Did you think he was still a young man in his twenties or thirties?

Wang Fu also advised, "General, this won't do. Let me go instead."

Xin Fei also advised, "This is a minor matter like climbing the city wall, which I can handle. General, you still have to command the army, so how can you risk your life so easily?"

Guan Yu said firmly, “I understand your concerns, but fighting depends on morale. The heroes of each mountain stronghold have never experienced such a great battle. They will definitely back down when they encounter setbacks. But we can’t afford to lose. We must succeed this time. There is only one way to succeed, and that is for me to take the lead and personally lead the charge. Do you understand?”

That makes sense. The bandits' fighting spirit is too weak. They can do well when things are going well, but they might collapse when things are going badly. Guan Yu really doesn't trust the bandits to be the vanguard.

He can't afford to lose.

Guan Xing knew his father was right, so he stopped trying to persuade him and patiently instructed him, "Father, be careful. Once you're on the city wall, send us a signal immediately."

Seeing this, Wang Fuxinfei stopped trying to persuade him and solemnly assured him, "General, rest assured, we will reach the city as quickly as possible."

Guan Yu nodded, called out to his men, and led his two hundred personal guards to stealthily make their way towards the city wall under the cover of night.

These two hundred men had followed him for many years, and even after his defeat at Maicheng, they did not abandon him. Their loyalty and fighting strength were not issues; they were far more reliable than that bandit army.

Guan Xing, Wang Fuxin, Fei, and others rushed to the mountainside, lay in the grass, and stared at the city wall, waiting for Guan Yu to give the signal.

After nearly half an hour of lying in wait, Guan Yu finally arrived at the moat under the cover of night. He nodded to Zhou Cang and took the lead in swimming across the moat to the other side.

The river water was icy cold in winter, but Guan Yu seemed oblivious and swam swiftly.

Dozens of elite soldiers hurriedly followed behind, while Zhou Cang watched quietly from the riverbank, only raising his hand to strike when Guan Yu swam to the other side.

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him raised their crossbows and pulled the triggers, shooting out long ropes with three-pronged hooks that were then pulled toward the city wall.

Guan Yu grabbed the rope and tested it. After confirming that it was safe, he used both his hands and feet to quickly crawl along it.

It must be said that Guan Yu's stamina was truly remarkable. Even at nearly sixty years old, he could still climb walls with incredible speed, quickly leaving the other soldiers behind.

Seeing their old general so brave, the soldiers dared not fall behind and used all their strength to climb up the city wall.

Finally reaching the top, Guan Yu grabbed the battlements and leaped up, successfully landing on the city wall. Looking up, he saw a dozen Wu soldiers huddled together against the battlements, fast asleep and snoring loudly.

It took quite a bit of time to get from Zijin Mountain to the moat. It's already past dawn, which is when people are most tired and sleep the best. Jianye has never experienced war, so it's not surprising that the garrison is fast asleep.

Seeing this, Guan Yu did not rush to attack. Instead, he bent down and reached out to pull the soldiers up. The soldiers on the city wall did the same and pulled up their other comrades.

After a quarter of an hour of this commotion, more than two hundred people, including Zhou Cang, had climbed up the city wall. Only then did Guan Yu chase after the sleeping Wu soldiers. When he got close, he and the soldiers attacked at the same time. Guan Yu covered their mouths and slit their throats, easily killing the Wu soldiers without making a sound.

They continued advancing, eliminating three waves of sleeping Wu soldiers in succession. Just as they were about to reach the winch, one of the Wu soldiers guarding it suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he had just loosened his belt when he saw Guan Yu and the others. He couldn't help but shout, "Enemy... ah..."

Before he could finish speaking, an arrow struck his throat, and he collapsed, waking his companion beside him.

Seeing this, Guan Yu no longer concealed himself, threw away his bow and arrows and took the lead in charging, shouting, "Signal to Anguo, it's their turn to charge!"

Before he could finish speaking, he rushed to the winch and easily cut down the Wu soldier in front of it with a swift stroke of his knife.

At the same time, Zhou Cang lit a torch and waved it three times in the direction of Zijin Mountain.

Guan Xing, who was anxiously waiting for a signal while hiding by the mountain, saw the flames and shouted excitedly, "The general has successfully climbed the city wall, brothers, follow me and charge!"

The six thousand bandits no longer concealed their whereabouts, roaring as they charged down the hillside and rushed toward the city gate at top speed.