Chapter 339: Yingchuan on the Verge of Storm and Rain

Thunder Come!

Thunder Come!

Thunder Come!

The shouts, one after another, like a Death-Calling Talisman, faintly came from the distant Yellow Turban Army's main camp.

Black clouds rolled across the sky, hanging low as if to crush the city walls; with each shout, blinding silver serpents tore through the heavens, carrying a deafening, thunderous roar, and slammed down hard onto the already scarred walls of Changshe Cheng, scattering stones and leaving charred marks everywhere.

The thunder not only struck the walls, but like a heavy hammer, pounded repeatedly on the heart of the defending commander Zhu Jun!

He had previously allied with Huangfu Song to engage the main Yellow Turban forces led by Bo Cai, but unexpectedly suffered defeat.

Bo Cai not only employed cunning tactics and commanded with poise, ranking among the era's renowned generals, but more troublingly, he had learned the Lightning Summoning Method from Zhang Jiao!

During the battle, heavenly thunder rolled down, the Imperial Army's troops panicked, their formations broke into chaos, caught off guard, and could only hastily withdraw, retreating to defend within Changshe Cheng.

Now besieged by the Yellow Turban Army, whose forces far outnumber theirs, the enemy strong and they weak, the enemy numerous and they few, daring to sally forth is like striking stone with an egg; they can only cling to the city walls for support.

Zhu Jun stared at the endless enemy camps beyond the city and the terrifying Thunder Light that flashed intermittently, furrowed his brows, let out a long sigh, and was about to concentrate and devise a strategy to break the enemy when the curtain was suddenly ripped open.

A man strode in.

He was clad in iron armor, the plates dusted, yet still upright; his face was resolute, a short beard like a spear under his chin, eyes like tigers, bright and spirited. Even in this predicament, not a hint of despondency was seen; instead, a sharp vigor that grew stronger with each setback.

It was the Right Middle General, Huangfu Song, who was also trapped with him!

Huangfu Song moved with a wind‑borne stride, approached Zhu Jun, and in a steady, powerful voice said, "Brother Zhu, I have a plan that might break the enemy!"

Zhu Jun heard this, his spirit instantly revived, sprang up, and hurriedly said, "Oh? Yizhen (Huangfu Song's courtesy name) has what brilliant scheme? Speak quickly and in detail!"

Huangfu Song's eyes were sharp, clearly having observed the enemy for some time; in a low voice he said, "I have been observing for days and found that although Bo Cai's bandit army is numerous and formidable, its troops are largely newly attached refugees, lacking training, and its discipline is lax. Their camps are hastily set up, with the main camp built among grass and trees, and the successive encampments leaning on wild grass and shrubs!"

He paused, a flash of brilliance in his eyes: "This is a path to death! Camps built on grass are extremely easy to set ablaze."

"Now Bo Cai's fellow keeps repeatedly using demonic arts, summoning great winds that have not ceased."

"This wind is detrimental to our defense, but for the bandits… it is a Death-Calling Talisman!"

He stepped closer, his tone decisive: "I intend to employ the Fire Attack Strategy! When tomorrow evening comes, at the peak of the wind, I will personally lead elite death soldiers, bearing fire‑bearing items, slip out of the city, approach the bandits' grass camps, and set fires everywhere! Wind Assists Fire, Fire Borrowing Wind Power, Fire Borrowing Wind Might— the enemy camps will be thrown into chaos!"

He stared intensely at Zhu Jun: "When that time comes, Brother Zhu, if you see fire erupt in my camp, immediately lead all the troops inside the city, fling open the gates, and launch a fierce attack amidst the chaos! Our forces will combine inside and out, striking from both sides; the bandits, panicked and disordered, will have their formations shattered! Even if Bo Cai can summon wind and thunder, amid the raging fire and chaos he will not be able to reverse the defeat!"

"What do you think of this plan, Brother Zhu?"

Zhu Jun listened to Huangfu Song's clear, incisive analysis, especially hearing the words "Fire Attack," and recalling the endless grass camps outside and the relentless gale; it was as if the clouds were parting and the sun shone through, and his mind was suddenly illuminated!

He slammed his hand on the table, the gloom that had lingered on his face swept away, excitement flashing in his eyes, and he loudly praised:

"Brilliant! Brilliant! Yizhen's plan perfectly matches the timing and terrain! Fire Borrowing Wind Power will surely incinerate the bandits' courage in one stroke!"

"We shall act according to this plan!"

Cao Cao led his meticulously trained cavalry along the official road toward Changshe, racing to quickly reinforce the besieged Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun.

The sound of hooves thundered like drums, raising clouds of dust.

Soon after entering Yingchuan's territory, forward scouts reported that two suspicious figures were on the official road ahead.

Cao Cao tightened the reins, gazed far ahead, and indeed saw, in the unsettled dust of the road ahead, a large and a small figure walking at a leisurely pace.

In this war‑torn, fire‑ravaged Yingchuan, ordinary civilians had long fled or huddled within cities, unwilling to venture out; thus this composed pair strolling calmly on the official road appeared strikingly out of place and abrupt.

Cao Cao originally intended to bypass them; the military situation was urgent and could not tolerate delay.

But that odd feeling sparked doubts in his mind, fearing they might be Yellow Turban scouts or some other ruse.

He paused briefly, then immediately issued orders.

The well‑trained cavalry instantly split into two wings, spreading like a flock of geese, swiftly and orderly surrounding the two figures, their hooves striking the ground, forming an invisible encirclement.

Cao Cao himself, spurring his horse, surged ahead of the troops, reaching the front, his eagle‑sharp eyes locked onto the two men, especially the young man at the front.

He stared closely, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became!

The man wore seemingly ordinary clothing, yet it was spotless, his bearing calm and unhurried, as if the surrounding spears and armored cavalry were merely field straw.

A long sword hung at his waist, its sheath… identical to the one described in the palace by Zhang Rang, the sword carried by the Red Sky Immortal Master!

Recalling that this person dared to walk calmly in this land of endless flames, accompanied only by a young girl… Cao Cao's mind roiled with a sudden storm, a thought flashing like lightning: 'Could it be… this is the Immortal Master who flashed through Luoyang, enraging His Majesty, leading to the execution of Zhao Zhong, and was ordered to be sought?'

Indeed! If he did not possess earth‑shaking abilities, how could he act so boldly? How could he have such transcendent composure?

Cao Cao's thoughts raced, and he made an instant decision.

He no longer hesitated, thrust his right hand up sharply, and shouted to the cavalry behind him:

"Dismount! Everyone, dismount immediately!"

The command came abruptly, and the riders were stunned, not understanding why.

But the order was like a mountain; seeing his solemn expression and unquestionable tone, none dared to delay, and they all flipped off their horses in unison, the clatter of armor ringing loudly.

Everyone looked at Cao Cao with puzzlement, not knowing his intention.

After the order, Cao Cao himself swiftly dismounted, flinging the reins to his close guard.

He tidied his slightly disheveled armor and cap from the rapid ride, took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement and slight nervousness, and alone walked through the passage cleared by the cavalry to stand before the man.

Under hundreds of astonished, puzzled gazes from behind, he faced the man, bowed solemnly in an extremely respectful manner, and his clear, powerful voice echoed along the silent official road:

"Cao Cao, I pay respects to the Immortal Master!"