Quan Zhong wanted to pursue them, but fearing it would be unsafe in the dark, he had no choice but to withdraw his troops and enter the city.
Twenty-one, Cao Hou displayed his power and captured Quan Zhong.
Chong Houhu's camp was first attacked by Jizhou troops, and then by Su Quanzhong's ambush. Of his 50,000 troops, less than 5,000 remained. He also lost his general Sun Ziyu, and all the survivors were wounded.
Upon seeing the army, Chong Houhu was overcome with grief. Fortunately, General Huang Yuanji comforted him, and he was able to put his worries aside and prepare to wait for reinforcements. Just then, Chong Houhu saw a group of people approaching from the front.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that where the two banners were unfurled, a general appeared with a face as black as the bottom of a pot, a red beard reaching the sea, two white eyebrows, and eyes as black as gold. He wore a crown adorned with nine clouds and blazing beasts, chainmail armor, a crimson robe, and a white jade belt. He rode a fiery-eyed golden-eyed beast and wielded two gleaming gold axes. Upon seeing the newcomer, Chong Houhu, he was overjoyed, for it was his younger brother, Caozhou Marquis Chong Heihu, who had led troops to assist him.
Chong Hu came before his elder brother and said, "I heard that you were defeated, so I led my troops to come and help you."
Chong Houhu laughed loudly, "With my brothers' help, this matter is settled! Hahahaha!"
Chong Yingbiao immediately bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for coming to help, Uncle. With you here, what do we have to fear from the troops of Jizhou?"
It turns out that Chong Heihu had been a disciple of a Jie Sect immortal since childhood. His master secretly taught him a gourd that, when carried on his back, possessed limitless supernatural powers. He could take the head of a general from a million-strong army as easily as taking something out of a bag.
The Chong brothers joined forces and marched towards Jizhou City. They arrived at the city walls shortly afterward, and Chong Heihu sent a messenger to challenge them.
Upon hearing the report that Chong Houhu had returned and was challenging them to battle outside the city, Su Hu was initially astonished that Chong Houhu, after suffering a major defeat, dared to come again. However, when he reached the city wall and saw Chong Houhu's banner, he was greatly alarmed.
After bowing his head and remaining silent for a moment, he said, "Chong Heihu is skilled in martial arts and understands profound principles. None of the generals in the city are his match. What should we do?"
The generals were all puzzled as to why their lord had spoken in this manner. Su Quanzhong, indignant, retorted, "Father, why must you boost others' morale while diminishing your own? He admires Hei Hu's martial arts, but I am no less skilled. I will go and capture him, then hand him over to you for judgment." Ignoring his father's objections, he mounted his horse, halberd in hand, and rode out of the city.
Upon reaching the city gates, Su Quanzhong challenged Chong Heihu to battle. Chong Heihu ordered his men to prepare their mounts and then went out. When he arrived at the front lines, he said to Su Quanzhong, "Nephew Quanzhong, you may go back and invite your father here. I have something to say to him."
It turned out that Marquis Chong Heihu of Caozhou and Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou had a past connection, having served under Grand Tutor Wen in the past, so Su Hu knew his abilities well. This time, Chong Heihu came not only to relieve his brother's predicament of defeat, but also to persuade Su Hu.
Su Quanzhong said, "We are now enemies, what does my father have to say to you!" With that, he spurred his horse and charged straight at Black Tiger. Black Tiger was also furious, wanting to teach Quanzhong a lesson for his old friend, lest he suffer for his arrogance in the future.
The two generals sought a duel on the battlefield, their battle unstoppable. One was like a lion shaking its head descending a mountain; the other like a lion wagging its tail seeking a tiger. Su Quanzhong, relying solely on his lifelong bravery and seeing that Black Tiger wielded a short axe, disregarded him, arrogant and overconfident, determined to capture Black Tiger. He unleashed all the martial arts he had practiced. His halberd, sharp and intricate, advanced eighty-one times, opening seventy-two gates, leaping, shifting, dodging, feinting, delaying, speeding, retracting, and releasing. Su Quanzhong exerted all his strength, leaving Chong Black Tiger drenched in a cold sweat.
Chong Heihu sighed, "Su Hu has such a son, truly a fine one! A tiger cub from a military family!" Chong Heihu brandished his axe, spurred his horse, and rode off. Su Quanzhong, still on horseback, laughed until his back went weak: "If I had listened to my father, I would have been misled! I swear to capture this man to silence my father!" He let the horse come, unwilling to let it go. They rode swiftly, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Quanzhong was determined to succeed, and had been on the move for quite some time.
Hearing the golden bell ringing behind his head, Chong Heihu turned around and saw Quan Zhong reluctantly approaching. He quickly removed the top of the red gourd from his back and muttered incantations. A wisp of black smoke emerged from the gourd, spreading out like a net. From within the smoke, a "hissing" sound arose, and a divine eagle with an iron beak flew in, its beak open, swooping down to peck at Su Quan Zhong.
Su Quanzhong was merely a hero on horseback; how could he know of Cao Hou's extraordinary skills? He hastily brandished his halberd to protect himself. His horse, already wounded in the eye by the divine eagle's beak, leaped up, causing Su Quanzhong to stumble and fall, his golden crown tumbling off the saddle. Hei Lu gave the order: "Seize him!" The soldiers rushed forward and bound Su Quanzhong's arms.
After bringing Su Quanzhong back to the camp, Chong Houhu wanted to kill him to avenge the deaths of his two generals. Chong Heihu stopped him, saying, "Brother, that Su woman is the one His Majesty desires. If you kill Su Quanzhong today for a moment of pleasure, what will happen if she gains the Emperor's favor after her attack? We brothers will be doomed."
Upon hearing this, Chong Houhu broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "Brother, you've thought of everything. Su Quanzhong will be imprisoned for now. Once we capture Su Hu and his entire family, we'll take them to Chaoge and let the Emperor decide their fate."
Meanwhile, Su Hu, standing atop the city wall, saw Su Quanzhong captured by Chong Heihu. His vision blurred, and he nearly collapsed. He cried out, "My son was arrogant, refusing to listen to his father. Now his life is over!" He then wept uncontrollably.
Just as he was sighing, he heard his men say, "My lord, Chong Heihu demands a battle." Su Hu thought of Chong Heihu's extraordinary skills, which made him invincible. He quickly ordered his generals to set up their bows and crossbows, and to prepare firecrackers, ash bottles, rolling logs, and so on.
Chong Heihu watched from below the city walls as Su Hu prepared defensive equipment, yet Su Hu refused to leave the city. He couldn't help but think to himself, "Brother Su, only by coming out and discussing this with me can we withdraw our troops. Why are you afraid? If you don't come out, how will this matter be resolved?"
Chong Heihu returned to his tent and told his elder brother that Su Hu remained inside. Chong Houhu said, "Why not use siege ladders to attack?" (Mobile access: waK)
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