Zhang Xiu opened his eyes with difficulty, glanced at everyone, a hint of relief in his eyes, and a gentle smile on his lips.
He slowly raised his right hand, then said weakly, "I'm fine, help me up."
Zhang Xiu's words were resolute, even though he was now exhausted.
“General Zhang…” The lieutenants looked grief-stricken, tears welling in their eyes, but they dared not disobey Zhang Xiu’s orders and immediately helped him up.
"General Zhang, are we stuck here?" a lieutenant asked, his voice choked with emotion.
Zhang Xiu grinned, forcing a smile, and said, "Brothers, let's fight the Shu army to the death! Even if we die, we'll take a few with us!"
He brandished his spear and led his cavalry in a charge against the Shu army!
"Long live the Great Wei!"
When the soldiers saw Zhang Xiu's resolute determination, their eyes immediately turned red.
"Long live the Great Wei!"
But it was ultimately a futile effort; Zhang Xiu's newly organized charge crumbled instantly.
They couldn't even get close to the core of the Shu army's formation before being riddled with arrows and falling to the ground.
"Heh, it's nothing but a death throes!"
Wei Yan sneered, and with a wave of his command flag, the shield-bearers on both sides suddenly opened, and a group of soldiers wielding hook-and-sickle spears directly cut off the horses' legs.
The Wei soldiers fell to the ground and were instantly hooked into the sickle spears, screaming in agony.
The Shu army seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, and the Wei army was completely routed in a short time.
The battle ended very quickly, with the Wei army suffering heavy losses.
Of the five thousand Wei soldiers, only Zhang Xiu remains; the rest have all perished in battle!
Despair was evident on Zhang Xiu's face. These Wei soldiers were elite troops that he had painstakingly trained, but now they were all dead here!
He was already covered in wounds and bleeding profusely, and it was clear that he wouldn't live much longer.
He sighed helplessly, "I never imagined I'd die here. It's truly a bit frustrating..."
"Zhang Xiu!"
Suddenly, urgent shouts came from afar.
Zhang Xiu turned his head to look into the distance, and saw three horses galloping towards him.
The man at the very front was burly and clad in armor, exuding extraordinary heroism. He held a long spear, his eyes gleaming, and his aura sharp and imposing.
"Who are you……"
Zhang Xiu asked in confusion.
"Ma Chao, a disciple of Guigu!"
Upon hearing the name Guigu, Zhang Xiu's expression visibly changed, and he asked, "You came on the orders of your martial uncle, Lu Li?"
After a moment of silence, Ma Chao said, "No, I called you senior brother. Senior brother, surrender!"
Zhang Xiu gave a bitter smile and said, "A loyal minister does not serve two masters, but I, Zhang Xiu, have already surrendered once, following Dong Zhuo and the King of Wei. I will not surrender this time."
"Senior brother!"
Zhang Xiu shook his head again and said, "I'd like to trouble you, junior brother, to see me off."
Ma Chao knew that Zhang Xiu had already resolved to die.
He sighed, drew his sword from his waist, bowed deeply to Zhang Xiu, and then suddenly raised his sword and thrust it at Zhang Xiu.
Pfft!
Zhang Xiu's neck was slashed open, and bright red blood flowed out.
Zhang Xiu swayed twice, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, dying instantly!
After Zhang Xiu's sacrifice, Sima Yi's army's morale plummeted, and faced with the enemy's fierce offensive, they had no choice but to retreat fifty li.
The soldiers' steps were no longer firm, their faces filled with exhaustion and resentment.
Sima Yi stood atop the city wall, watching the retreating soldiers, his heart filled with self-reproach and pain.
He knew that retreating now was to preserve his strength for a future counterattack.
As night deepened, Sima Yi stood alone on the city wall, gazing at the starry sky, his thoughts drifting into the distance.
He thought of his family, his ideals, and the ten years he had been sidelined.
He knew he couldn't let them down, but he also knew that retreating at this moment was to preserve his strength, not to launch an immediate counterattack.
After retreating, Sima Yi chose to hold his ground and not engage in battle. He knew that with morale low and strength not yet restored, a blind counterattack would only bring greater losses.
He began to tour the army, encouraging soldiers and stabilizing morale, while actively preparing provisions and reorganizing military equipment in preparation for a possible long-term standoff.
Despite repeated attacks by the Shu army, they were unable to advance any further.
Sima Yi's defenses were airtight, giving Zhuge Liang absolutely no chance.
He raised the sign of truce to delay the Shu army's momentum.
The Shu army shouted and cursed under the city walls all day long, cursing Sima Yi's ancestors for eighteen generations, but the Wei army did not budge and refused to leave the city.
However, at this moment, Zhuge Liang sent women's clothing, intending to humiliate Sima Yi.
When the news spread, it caused an uproar in the military.
The soldiers were furious, the officers were indignant; they could not accept such humiliation.
But Sima Yi remained unusually calm, his eyes showing no emotion, as if he had already anticipated all of this.
The next day, Sima Yi summoned the entire army, and in front of the three armies, he slowly put on the women's clothes.
The soldiers were shocked, and the generals were bewildered; they did not understand why their commander would do such a thing.
However, Sima Yi's next words moved everyone.
"Today, I wear this uniform not to submit, but to tell you that no matter what humiliation or hardship we face, we must remain calm and wise."
Sima Yi's voice was firm and powerful. His words were like a warm current, warming the hearts of the soldiers. Their eyes were once again filled with determination and hope.
Having said that, he climbed onto the city wall dressed in women's clothing, looked at the Shu army in the distance, and roared, "Tell your Prime Minister Zhuge that I really like the clothes he sent! Tell him to send more!"
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