Chapter 50: The Fall of Shangjun City

Having made up his mind to flee, Niu Gao immediately waved his hand at the soldier and said with a deliberately calm expression, "Go tell the soldiers first, don't panic. This lord is going to change clothes and will head up to the city tower right away."

Seeing Niu Gao's confident look, the soldier's panicked expression calmed down. After cupping his fist, he left the Taishou Fu.

Watching the soldier leave, Niu Gao immediately called over his trusted confidant and whispered into his ear.

Shortly after, the confidant hurried away, and Niu Gao also rushed to the Back Courtyard of the Taishou Fu.

"General, I believe that when Niu Gao sees our army, he will absolutely not defend the city to the death."

"And as Niu Fu's cousin, he is even less likely to surrender to us. Therefore, I am certain he will absolutely abandon the city and flee. The general may send a squad of troops to lie in ambush at the East Gate."

Xi Zhicai glanced at the time and reminded Zhang Liao beside him.

"Oh, how can the Military Advisor be so certain he will flee through the East Gate and not the North Gate? You must know, the North Gate is the closest to Jinyang."

Zhang Liao asked in confusion after hearing Xi Zhicai's words.

"Hehe, the West Gate, East Gate, and South Gate all have our men, while the North Gate was deliberately left open for Niu Gao. Seeing this situation, he will absolutely not flee through the North Gate."

"And the East Gate, aside from the North Gate, is the closest place to Jinyang. Therefore, I am certain he will absolutely flee through the East Gate."

Watching the doubt on Zhang Liao's face, Xi Zhicai said with full confidence.

"Hehehe, the Military Advisor is truly brilliant. Let us proceed according to the Military Advisor's plan."

"Zhang Long, you will lead Two Thousand Troops to lie in ambush at the East Gate. Remember, you absolutely must not let Niu Gao escape."

Zhang Liao first said a word to Xi Zhicai, then turned to speak to a Colonel with the strength of a First-rate Martial General.

"This general obeys your command!"

Zhang Long immediately stepped forward from the ranks. After cupping his fist to Zhang Liao, he led his Two Thousand Troops away.

"General, you may now order the attack on the city. Half a Quarter-Hour has passed, and Niu Gao has not appeared. Attacking now, while the enemy is without a leader, will minimize our casualties."

Xi Zhicai reminded Zhang Liao after checking the time.

Hearing this, Zhang Liao nodded, drew the long sword at his waist, and roared loudly: "All troops hear my command, the time has come, attack the city!"

Having spoken, he charged out at the forefront. Seeing this, the men behind him followed suit one after another.

Instantly, the Guards in the city heard the sound of a great Army charging and hurriedly looked down.

The Guards who saw the scene below all turned pale.

What came into view was a dense Cavalry Army, their momentum surging forward capable of destroying a city in an instant.

"Not good, the enemy is attacking! Where is Lord Niu Gao?"

"We can't hold them, their momentum is too overwhelming. With our meager numbers, we simply cannot stop them!"

"Where is Lord Niu Gao..."

Instantly, cries of alarm rang out throughout the city, and everyone was shrouded in fear.

And at this moment, the people realized that Taishou Niu Gao had still not appeared.

Leaving aside the fear of the Guards in the city, Zhang Liao led the great Army and quickly arrived beneath the city walls.

Zhang Liao saw his horse leap up, mobilized the internal force within his dantian, and delivered a vicious sword slash at the City Gate.

"Bang!"

The sturdy City Gate was instantly broken with a large hole. At this moment, the men behind Zhang Liao had all arrived before the City Gate and followed Zhang Liao's action.

They all mobilized the internal force within their dantian and slashed at the City Gate. Instantly, the sturdy City Gate was shattered into pieces under their assault.

Shortly after, the great Army quickly surged into the city.

"What, they are not human! What divine strength is this? The City Gate was chopped to pieces by them!"

"Run, run quickly! The enemy is not human, it's too terrifying..."

"Help! I don't want to die!"

"I surrender, I surrender, don't kill me..."

Upon witnessing the strength of Zhang Liao and the others, all the Guards in the city were scared out of their wits.

Can such mighty power truly be possessed by humans? It's simply too terrifying!

Such a thick City Gate was actually chopped to pieces by just a few men with a few sword strikes!!!

Soon, sounds of panic rang out throughout the city. As Zhang Liao and the others broke through the City Gate, the Guards in the city instantly lost all will to resist.

With the appearance of the first person to surrender, the others quickly gave up resistance, discarded their weapons one after another, and knelt on the ground to surrender.

"Li Da, you lead men to take control of the four City Gates. Only entry is allowed, no exit."

"The rest of you, follow this general to the Taishou Fu to capture Niu Gao."

After breaking into Shangjun City, Zhang Liao immediately gave orders to the men around him.

Shortly after, a group headed straight for the Taishou Fu...

And at this moment, Niu Gao had already led the wealth from the Prefecture and a group of trusted confidants, quietly exiting through the East Gate.

Coincidentally, he ran into Zhang Long, who had long been lying in ambush here.

"Hahahaha, Niu Gao, didn't expect this, did you? The Military Advisor long knew you would abandon the city and flee. This general has been waiting here for quite some time!"

Seeing Niu Gao and the others fleeing in a sorry state from the East Gate, Zhang Liao immediately urged his horse forward and laughed loudly at Niu Gao.

Seeing that the other side had already set up an ambush, Niu Gao was somewhat shocked. However, upon seeing that the one who came was an unknown person, his confidence instantly returned.

"Hehe, has Zhang Liao run out of men to use? How could he send a nobody like you to deal with me!"

"Kid, if you don't want to die, get out of this lord's way immediately. Otherwise, this lord will make sure you die without a burial place!"

Niu Gao strode forward and spoke to Zhang Long arrogantly, his expression full of contempt and disdain.

If it were Zhang Liao who had come, he, Niu Gao, would still have to show some deference. But for Zhang Long, this unknown nobody, with his mere Third-rate General strength, to think he could hold him back—wasn't that a joke?

"Hehehe, you ignorant fool. Just based on you, do you even qualify to fight this general? Which one of you will go and cut him down for this general?"

Seeing Niu Gao's contempt, Zhang Long immediately let out a cold laugh, his gaze at him as if looking at a dead man.

Turning his head, he spoke to the soldiers behind him.

"General, this man is only at the level of a Third-rate General. Since he refuses to fight you, let me go and cut him down."

Upon hearing Zhang Long's words, a centurion stepped out from the ranks and said to Zhang Long respectfully.

"Good, then you shall go cut him down. I will report your deeds to the General faithfully."

Seeing that it was a centurion with the strength of a Second-rate General, Zhang Long immediately said to him.

"Brat, you've gone too far—daring to humiliate this Prefect! Once I take you down, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Seeing that Zhang Long actually disdained fighting him and instead sent his subordinate, Niu Gao was instantly enraged.

His face flushed red as he roared at Zhang Long.

Then, he bellowed to the men behind him: "Attack! Kill them for this Prefect! Leave that boy alive—this Prefect wants to deal with him properly!"

"Kill—!"

Instantly, the two sides clashed. But how could mere ordinary soldiers be a match for the Bingzhou Army Soldiers who had undergone Martial Dao Cultivation?

In just the first contact, over half of Niu Gao's men were killed or wounded, and he himself was captured alive.

Soon, all the men Niu Gao had brought were slaughtered to the last, and he himself was dragged before Zhang Long.