gnovel Chapter 69 Zhao Yun makes a move, instantly killing Ji Ling.
Chapter 69 Zhao Yun makes a move, instantly killing Ji Ling.
Inside Shouchun City, at the East Gate.
Protected by generals such as Zhao Yun, Yan Liang, and Zhang He, Yuan Tan had just stepped into the eastern gate's barbican and hadn't even settled into his position when a furious roar came from the end of the long street ahead:
"Yuan Huan, you treacherous dog! You actually dare to rebel! Prepare to die!"
A fierce general appeared, clad in heavy armor and wielding a three-pointed double-edged sword; it was none other than Ji Ling, Yuan Shu's top general!
He led several hundred elite armored soldiers, aiming directly at Yuan Huan, who was directing the defenses from the city wall!
Clearly, Qiao Rui eventually exposed Yuan Huan to Yuan Shu, who then dispatched Ji Ling to capture and kill the "traitor"!
Yuan Tan was secretly alarmed.
If time had been any slower, Yuan Huan might have already been captured.
Then he'll have no chance at all.
"Protect Lord Yaoqing!" Yuan Tan ordered sternly.
Yan Liang and Zhang He brandished their swords and rode their horses forward, leading their personal guards to block them.
"Those who block my way shall die!"
Ji Ling's eyes were bloodshot, and the three-pointed, double-edged sword whistled as she wielded it.
The first few Qingzhou soldiers, armor and all, were cleaved away, either dead or wounded!
Yan Liang clashed head-on with his broadsword, but was so shocked that his arm went numb and he had to take two steps back!
Zhang He thrust his spear forward, but Ji Ling easily parried it!
Ji Ling was already extremely skilled in martial arts, and now that he had come in anger, he was even more unstoppable!
He didn't linger in battle at all. After defeating Yan Liang and Zhang He, he fixed his gaze on Yuan Huan on the city wall and charged straight at him like a bull!
Several Qingzhou soldiers who tried to form a defensive formation were instantly torn apart by him as easily as cutting melons and vegetables!
Ji Ling was about to break through the defenses and reach Yuan Tan and Yuan Huan!
Yuan Tan was also greatly alarmed.
Unexpectedly, Yan Liang and Zhang He, working together, were easily overtaken by Ji Ling, leaving them stunned on the spot.
"My lord, be careful!"
Just at this critical moment, a loud shout came from behind!
A white figure flashed out from Yuan Tan's side like lightning!
It was none other than Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!
He had been waiting for this moment, and now that he saw his lord in danger, he held nothing back!
The Dragon Gallant Silver Spear struck first despite being behind, its tip trembling and turning into countless cold stars as it swiftly pierced towards the various openings in Ji Ling's body!
Ji Ling felt a blur before his eyes, and the sky was filled with gun shadows, the sharp chill piercing his skin!
He roared and desperately swung his knife to block!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Several extremely rapid clangs of metal clashing! Sparks flew everywhere!
The next moment, time seemed to freeze.
Ji Ling's massive body froze in place, his three-pointed double-edged sword hanging limply.
He looked down in disbelief at the several bloody holes that had appeared in his chest and throat.
He never imagined that he would be... instantly killed in one move!
"Thump!"
Ji Ling collapsed to the ground like a toppled mountain of gold and a fallen jade pillar, and died instantly!
"General Ji is dead!!"
With their commander killed instantly, Ji Ling's elite troops were thrown into chaos and their morale collapsed!
Zhao Yun stood guard in front of Yuan Tan, his white robes as white as snow, spotless except for the bloodstain on his spear tassel.
Is this the strength of a top-tier warrior in the world?
It was indeed a brilliant move to recruit Zhao Yun by any means necessary.
He announced loudly, "The East Gate has fallen; those who surrender will not be killed!"
This scene was witnessed by Cao Cao, who had just led his elite troops into the east gate!
When Cao Cao saw that Yuan Tan's white-robed young general had killed Ji Ling, Yuan Shu's top general, in a single blow, and that Yuan Shu's army had been instantly routed, and that the eastern gate area seemed to be completely under the control of the Qingzhou army, he couldn't help but gasp in shock!
He was horrified: "Yuan Xiansi actually has such a formidable warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men?! No wonder he was able to capture the East Gate so quietly!"
No! We can't delay any longer, or I won't even be able to get a bowl of soup in this Shouchun city!
We must not let Yuan Tan take all the credit!
"All troops, listen to my command!"
Cao Cao drew his sword, pointing it directly towards the pseudo-imperial palace within the city.
"The lair of the traitors is right before us! Follow me into the fray, capture the national traitors, and achieve glory today!"
"Kill—!" Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and other generals responded with a roar, leading the elite Cao army and charging recklessly along the main road toward the pseudo-imperial palace in the center of the city!
However, not long after they rushed out, they ran into another Yuan Shu army that had rushed to reinforce the east gate.
It was the troops led by General Qiao Rui!
Qiao Rui intended to capture Yuan Huan, but instead encountered Cao Cao's main force!
They met on a narrow path! Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred!
"You traitor Cao! Cease your arrogance!"
Qiao Rui, with red eyes, led his troops to meet them.
Instantly, Cao Jun and Qiao Rui's troops engaged in a fierce battle on the street leading to the pseudo-imperial palace!
The battle was even more intense than when the East Gate was first breached!
At this moment, Yuan Tan, after witnessing Zhao Yun's divine might and seeing Cao Cao being entangled by Qiao Rui, also sighed inwardly!
This is incredibly lucky.
Boss Cao's sudden intrusion was a huge help to me.
Since he wants to go to the palace, then let him have the palace.
Although the pseudo-Zhonghuang Palace was wealthy, the political significance of taking it outweighed the economic benefits.
Furthermore, the imperial palace holds the hot potato of the imperial seal.
At this time, Yuan Tan had few soldiers and generals, so there was really no need for him to try to seize an imperial seal.
Therefore, the first thing he did after the city fell was to go to the residences of those traitors under Yuan Shu.
To Yuan Shu, these people were nothing but parasites.
He has absolutely no skills, but he's incredibly good at embezzling and accumulating wealth.
Of course, for feudal bureaucrats, corruption was nothing special, given the prevailing social environment.
When Shouchun was about to be besieged, Zhang Xun once advised Yuan Shu to concentrate all the wealth and grain from Huainan in Shouchun. As long as Shouchun had well-trained soldiers and sufficient food, it would be easy to deal with even if Cao Cao's army was much larger than Shouchun's.
After all, Cao Cao's army couldn't possibly revolve around Shouchun every day. To the north was Yuan Shao, to the west were Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao, and to the east was Lü Bu, who was eyeing them covetously. They were surrounded by powerful enemies and couldn't keep their eyes on Shouchun forever.
As long as Cao Cao leaves, they can make a comeback.
This was originally a very sound suggestion, but things changed after Yuan Shu concentrated all the wealth of Huainan in Shouchun.
Yuan Yin, this good son, seemed completely unaware that Yuan Shu was on the verge of life and death.
Taking advantage of their positions, they embezzled a large portion of the wealth they had amassed and kept it for themselves.
Even a small portion of the grain fell into their hands.
The morale of Yuan Shu's army later plummeted, which can be said to be largely due to these two individuals.
"A golden opportunity!"
He whispered to Guo Jia and Yuan Huan beside him:
"Let Cao Cao tackle the tough challenges of the puppet palace! We'll go straight for the treasury, government offices, and the mansions of the powerful and wealthy!"
He immediately divided his forces:
"Zhao Yun, Yan Liang! Lead your elite troops to wipe out the remaining enemy forces near the East Gate, secure the passage, and provide support for follow-up troops!"
"Zhang He! Take your men and follow me, Fengxiao, and Lord Yaoqing straight to Yuan Yin and Yuan Yao's residence! Search their property!"
"Remember! Take all the gold, silver, silk, books, and skilled craftsmen! And be quick!"
"Yes, sir!" The generals roared in response.
Yuan Tan mounted his horse and, under the protection of Zhang He's elite troops, joined Guo Jia and Yuan Huan, ignoring the deafening battle cries emanating from the main road.
Instead, they quickly turned into the alley and, based on the precise intelligence provided by Yuan Huan, headed straight for Yuan Yin's compound!
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