Chapter Thirty-Two: The Fall of Chencang

The torchlight atop the city wall flickered unevenly. Liu Hong was staring at the retreating backs of the cavalry entering the city when he suddenly caught sight of the night sky to the southeast illuminated by countless torches, like a swarm of stars suddenly rising and sweeping toward the city of Chencang.

"It's a trap! Close the gates!" Liu Hong’s desperate roar echoed from the ramparts.

However, the screams rising from below suddenly jolted Liu Hong; it was already too late. The enemy had already broken through.

Within the gatehouse, the long spear in Liu Chen’s hands moved like a dragon emerging from the water. Reflecting the torchlight, the spearhead carved silver arcs through the air, sending two soldiers attempting to shut the heavy gates flying over a dozen feet, their bodies slamming into the wooden doors with a dull thud.

Zhuge Chong fired his spear, pinning an archer to the ground, then drew the ring-pommel saber from his waist. The blade cleaved through the neck of a defender, and though the scalding blood splattered across his face, it did nothing to dampen his momentum.

"Form a spear wall! Hold the gate!"

"Crossbowmen, hold the line!"

Liu Chen’s voice cut through the clamor of battle. Fifty soldiers quickly tightened their formation, their long spears slanted forward to create a dense forest of steel, holding the surging defenders firmly on the inner side of the gates.

Another fifty soldiers brought out their repeating crossbows. A series of rapid, rhythmic mechanical sounds erupted, and a hail of bolts tore through the air, shrouding the gate. Piercing shrieks followed immediately as the defenders were struck down one after another by the Zhuge crossbows.

Liu Chen himself stood before the formation like an iron tower. Every thrust of his spear carried the force of thunder and lightning, and wherever the tip touched, there was blood. A lieutenant lunged at him with a halberd, aiming for his face, but Liu Chen did not dodge. He parried the shaft with his left arm, and in the same motion, drove his spear through the man’s ribs. With a twist of his wrist, he swept the shaft horizontally, crushing the skull of another soldier who had lunged forward.

"Hold the gate! General Deng will be here any moment!"

Liu Chen’s voice rang out like clashing metal, clearly audible above the chaotic din of battle. He stood at the center of the gate, and none dared approach where his spear pointed. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the gate, casting a cold, silver sheen upon his blood-stained armor, making him look like a god of war descended to earth.

On the wall, Liu Hong finally grasped the situation. His eyes burning with fury, he shoved aside the guards blocking his path and roared, "Follow me down! We must not let them hold the gate!"

More than thirty elite Wei soldiers followed Liu Hong down the horse ramp. These were the Tiger Guards—men personally assigned to high-ranking officials by Sima Yan, each one a veteran of countless battles. They plunged toward the gate in a wedge formation, and the Han soldiers in their path fell one by one.

Seeing this, a sharp light flashed in Liu Chen’s eyes. He ripped off his blood-soaked Wei outer robe, revealing the black armor of the Shu-Han military beneath. "Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi of the Great Han, is here! Who dares to face me in battle?"

The shout was like a crack of thunder, causing the Wei advance to falter. Liu Hong’s expression changed drastically; he had never imagined that a prince of Shu-Han would personally lead a raid to seize the city.

"Zhuge Chong, how dare you betray the Duke of Jin!"

Liu Hong glared at Zhuge Chong amidst the fray, wishing he could tear him to pieces.

"Heaven’s mandate belongs to the Yan-Han; the Zhuge clan is merely following the will of Heaven," Zhuge Chong replied indifferently.

His family had already departed Luoyang for Bashu. By the time Sima Zhao discovered their departure, the Zhuge clan would likely have already passed through Chencang and entered the territory of the Yan-Han.

"Liu Hong, you fool! Sima Zhao’s ambition is known to all. No man of virtue and honor would follow such a rebel. And now you think you can destroy our Yan-Han? It is a colossal joke!"

Liu Chen’s voice echoed through the gatehouse. "In the past, the Prime Minister made six expeditions from Qishan and lamented the loss of Chencang; today, I, Liu Chen, shall trample this city to comfort his spirit in heaven!"

No sooner had he spoken than he spurred his mount. The steed reared up, its front hooves shattering the chests of two defenders. Leveraging the momentum, Liu Chen leaped into the air, his spear transforming into a streak of light as he drove toward Liu Hong.

Liu Chen’s spear struck like a silver dragon rising from the sea, aiming straight for Liu Hong’s throat. Liu Hong hastily raised his blade to parry. The clash of steel sparked brilliantly, numbing Liu Hong’s palm and forcing him to retreat five steps; his saber nearly flew from his grasp.

"What immense strength."

Liu Hong’s face turned pale, his eyes filled with terror.

"Protect the General!"

Four Tiger Guards lunged simultaneously. Two halberds crossed to lock the shaft of Liu Chen’s spear, while the other two swung their blades at his horse’s legs. Liu Chen let out a thunderous shout, and his spear shaft spun violently, twisting the iron-wrought halberd blades until they deformed. He seized the opportunity to sweep the spear, cutting two of the swordsmen in half; a rain of blood sprayed across the stone tiles of the gate.

Zhuge Chong seized the chance to lead the crossbowmen forward. The sound of the repeating crossbows was like a torrential downpour, suppressing the arrows raining down from the ramparts. Suddenly, the sound of rhythmic marching came from the western ramp; two hundred armored Wei infantrymen arrived in formation, their wall of iron shields gleaming coldly in the torchlight.

"Kill!"

Seeing this, Liu Chen’s expression remained calm. He drew a deep breath and, using his horse’s momentum, thrust his spear into the lead armored infantryman, the tip piercing through the iron plating to slay him instantly.

His spear moved like a silver snake flicking its tongue, the tip tracing ten lethal, frigid arcs in the firelight. Each strike precisely pierced the gaps in the heavy armor, the sound of steel tearing and flesh parting blending into a single note. By the time the tenth Wei soldier fell, his spear shaft was slick with shattered armor and gore, and the blood dripping from the tip traced a crimson trail across the stone floor.

"This... this is not a man!"

Someone in the Wei ranks screamed in horror. The defensive line of the heavy infantry began to waver, and these battle-hardened elites began to retreat involuntarily.

Liu Chen spurred his horse forward, his spear sweeping to send three shield-bearers spitting blood. The Han soldiers behind him, their morale bolstered, raised a unified cry of "Long live the Prince of Beidi!" and surged like a tidal wave toward the crumbling Wei defenses.

In the distance, Liu Hong’s eyes turned bloodshot with desperation. These heavy infantry were Sima Yan’s personal guard, the elite of the elite; he had never expected them to fall to Liu Chen in such a short time.

Just as he was about to order a volley of arrows, a thunderous sound of war drums echoed from outside the city. A long dragon of torches was rapidly approaching the wall, and the "Deng" banner at the lead whipped violently in the night wind.

"The enemy’s reinforcements have arrived."

Liu Hong’s face was ashen.

He had come to Chencang merely to pad his military record; with this victory, he would have risen through the ranks under Sima Yan’s patronage. He never imagined that Liu Chen would break into the city today, and now, the city was lost.

Liu Chen pointed his spear toward the sky, his voice like thunder: "Soldiers of the Great Han! The unfinished ambition of the Prime Minister shall be completed by us today!"

He whipped his horse around, his spear pointing deep into the city: "Charge—"

At that moment, the reinforcements led by Deng Bei flooded through the gate like a raging torrent; their boots shattered the flagstones, and the glint of their blades turned the night sky red.

Liu Hong knew the situation was hopeless. Just as he was about to order a retreat, a jagged arrow whistled through the air, striking him squarely in the right leg. The arrowhead buried itself deep into the bone, and he tumbled from his horse with a scream, only to be bound tightly by the swarming Han soldiers.

"Yield and live!"

Liu Chen stood tall on his horse at the high point of the gate, his voice shaking the wilderness. Seeing their commander captured, the remaining Wei soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt.

Yet, a few still resisted—mostly those in high-quality armor. Seeing this, Liu Chen ordered them executed without hesitation.

He then commanded Zhuge Chong to lead the cavalry out the north gate to pursue the fleeing enemy for twenty miles before calling a halt.

From that day on, Chencang fell into the hands of the Yan-Han.