Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

Beneath the city walls, the Jie Fan troops flexibly shifted their formations, forming a stable square formation that combined offense and defense.

The soldiers are selected from the bravest and most valiant, equipped with fine swords, shields, and spears, and are known for their close-quarters combat and charging into battle.

Their formations can change rapidly, weaving through and dividing the enemy in the melee.

Hu Zong looked reluctant and muttered helplessly:

"They said they'd only need ten men to attack the city, but in the end they still had to use the Jie Fan Camp. The Emperor is really something, indulging a surrendered general like this; sooner or later, chaos will break out."

Xu Xiang swallowed hard and said seriously:

"Right now, rumors about Guan Yu's divine prowess are rampant in the Grand Commander's camp, and it's hard to tell if they're true or not. This attack on the city is a last resort, a desperate measure."

Speaking of this, Hu Zong's face was so solemn it could drip water. The excellent situation in Jingzhou had been ruined by a prodigy; no one would be willing to accept that.

Since launching his campaign from Jiangdong, Guan Yu had been invincible, winning battle after battle. How could he have suffered repeated defeats at the final battle of Maicheng, when he was at his weakest?

One after another, the generals fell on the battlefield, like leaves falling in the wind. Even Zhou Tai, who had always been able to turn the tide of battle, could not escape his fate.

Hu Zong looked puzzled and hesitant, his expression complex: "Is Guan Yu really that difficult to deal with?"

The soldiers of the Jie Fan Camp within the formation stood in solemn silence, while a troop of scouts galloped out. Outside the formation, craftsmen were installing deer antlers and chevaux-de-frise, everything proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Looking at the disciplined military formation on the city wall, Fu Shiren said sourly:

"To remain mentally undefeated despite such a strong attack makes me seem incompetent."

Upon seeing the traitor, Wang Fu's temper flared immediately:

"Shameless scoundrel, how dare you show your face again? Aren't you afraid of being crushed to pieces?"

Fu Shiren sighed, his voice filled with frustration:

"I have followed the King of Hanzhong for thirty years, and I am still an insignificant figure. Just because I am not the King of Hanzhong's brother, I have not been promoted for half my life."

"Is there any logic to this?"

"The Eastern Wu army is besieging the city and pressing in. What can I do? If I had returned Jingzhou to the Emperor sooner, none of this would have happened, and we wouldn't be in this mess now..."

Wang Fu raised his hand to stop him and shouted:

"If you want a promotion, what outstanding achievements do you have? Li Guang was never granted a title in his entire life. Was it because the emperor wronged him? In the Han Dynasty, military merit was required to be granted a title."

"You served the King of Hanzhong for thirty years with mediocre achievements, not even a single notable feat. We finally promoted you to guard Gong'an, and you immediately defected to the enemy!"

"What kind of promotion do you want? How can there be such a shameless scoundrel as you in this world!"

The garrison soldiers stood tall and proud, looking at Fu Shiren with disdain. He had no military achievements, yet he dared to boast so arrogantly; they had certainly seen something new today.

Fu Shiren's eyes were a little red, and it was hard to tell if it was from shame.

Zhao Lei raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly:

"Even now, you're still making excuses for yourself. As the general defending the city, shouldn't your first thought when the enemy attacks be to hold the line?"

"When things become hopeless, the King of Hanzhong knew he had no choice but to abandon the city and flee. In the twentieth year of Jian'an, Liao Li, the governor of Changsha, was attacked by Lü Meng but managed to escape."

"The King of Hanzhong did not reprimand him too much and continued to appoint him as the governor of Ba Commandery. With this precedent, you did not choose to abandon the city and flee, but surrendered to Eastern Wu without losing a single soldier. You even assisted Eastern Wu in persuading Mi Fang to surrender."

"Now that our army is at the gates of Maicheng, serving as Wu's vanguard in attacking Han territory, what's there to defend!"

Fu Shih-jen's unstable state of mind led to a breakdown and hysteria:

"I may not have any achievements, but do you think none of the old troops of Youji have? You all know better than I what kind of treatment Zilong received in the army. Even a rising star like Wei Yan can step on his head."

"I just want a promotion, I just want to be ennobled! I've wanted it for thirty years, so what if I want to be ennobled!"

The Martial Saint suddenly said, "Have you been granted a marquisate? The Crescent Blade is waiting to congratulate you."

The sudden, unexpected roar made Ding Feng, who was hidden among the attacking troops, tense up and involuntarily shiver.

He was dispatched to assist in the siege, truly landing the most difficult task in the world. If it weren't for Lord Wu's order, he would never have risked his life to come.

Fu Shiren was terrified, his mouth watered uncontrollably, and a sinister smile flashed across his ugly face:

"It is precisely because I am mediocre and have no achievements that I have worked diligently for thirty years. I know how difficult it is to climb up, the harder I try, the more desperate I become, and the slimmer my chances become."

"The more desperate and hopeless things seem, the harder I must try!"

"Guan Yu, do you know how much I've suffered over the past thirty years? Following you, I've always kept my head down, and I've never uttered a single complaint. You had to force me, step by step, saying you'd punish me when you got back."

"Have you considered my feelings?"

Wang Fu's eyes were mocking, and his tone was even more sarcastic: "If you were really so diligent, how come the armory happened to catch fire?"

Fu Shiren's pretense of decency was ripped off, and he lost face: "I don't care! The Supreme One said that whoever captures Maicheng will be ennobled. From this day forward, I am the Supreme One's dog!"

He felt no shame in saying such things in front of the entire army. On the contrary, he hoped someone would relay the message to the Marquis of Wu.

He, Fu Shiren, was ambitious, loyal, and grateful.

The title of nobility is a watershed moment: crossing it means becoming a noble family that brings glory to one's lineage; failing to cross it means remaining one of the common people whose lives are as insignificant as grass.

Without being granted a title, even the greatest achievements are merely those of a capable general; only after being granted a title can one truly secure their family's honor and leave their mark on history. A single step can make all the difference in one's fate.

In times of chaos, all those with ambition exert themselves to achieve great things, even if the chances are slim and as fleeting as clouds. They dare not slacken their aspirations.

"To be granted a title of nobility." Ding Feng would feel a thrill that made his hair stand on end whenever he thought about it. Coming from a humble background, he felt the same way.

Shen Dan, the governor of Shangyong, was a fence-sitter who obediently surrendered to the King of Hanzhong and was granted the titles of General Who Conquers the North and Marquis of Yuanxiang.

Fu Shiren had worked diligently for thirty years but had never even reached the threshold, no wonder he was dissatisfied. Military merits and rules were all just constraints on honest people.

Qi Ye looked at the righteous and stern Fu Shiren and found it all laughable. How could a traitor have the nerve to put on such a show?

It was only a matter of time before Zhao Yun was ennobled. As the Han dynasty expanded its territory, figures like Fu Shiren also had their share of opportunities.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu were both granted the title of Pavilion Marquis, while Zhuge Liang, despite his great achievements, was never granted a title. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Shen Dan's title of Township Marquis is highly questionable and lacks real value.

The Martial Saint coldly said, "Today, I will end your dream of becoming a marquis."

Ding Feng felt a jolt run through his body, his mind reeling with shock. The Martial Saint's wrath was sure to bring disaster upon someone; instinctively, he moved away from Fu Shiren and shielded Hu Zong and Xu Xiang in front of him.

Fu Shiren spat out foam and took two steps forward to stand in the light: "Men, bring him here."

A servant roughly shoved a thin old woman forward, her thin shoulder blades creaking. She was barefoot and had disheveled hair, walking on the cold, frozen earth.

"You said you could take me to see my son one last time, are you going to break your promise now?" Liao's mother suspected she had been set up, and the Jiangling family members following behind her were equally bewildered.