Chapter 190 Challenge From Huang Zhong (2/2)

Zhu Jun gave Liu Biao a meaningful look. He decided. ”To be honest … I don't like all of you with the surname Liu *Cough*, but I will give you my last order. From today onward … you will be the grand commander of this army ... Make sure you take down *Cough* Liyang City in my stead *Cough*”

With dried voice, Zhu Jun gave his order. After he was done, he lied down again to continue sleeping. Zhu Jun had a severe cold and could hardly breathe. Giving orders and sleeping was the best he could do.

Without saying anything, Liu Biao bowed. He took the grand commander order token from the table inside the tent and went out.

'That man is too sick. He will die soon.' Liu Biao thought. He gazed at the direction of Liyang City where the white smoke was still rising in the air.

'We can't use the night siege either. The obstacles and fire are everywhere.'

Liu Biao sighed. The enemy was tricky and cunning. On the other hand, the Imperial force was too honest in this battle as they were too blunt in this siege, attacking the city with common tactic of siege ladders and siege towers.

'If he had thought of the big picture, we could have just surrounded the city and preserved through the winter. Since there were over 50,000 soldiers inside the city, they should not have more than this in their bases. Julu and Ye City should only have fewer troops.'

'Once spring arrives, we can just withdraw and waste this army's time. By this time, the other allies from Yuan Shao, Liu Yan, and Sun Jian could have launched an assault on Julu and Ye.'

'What a narrow-minded fool!'

Liu Biao looked back at Zhu Jun's tent and snorted. He returned to his camp to see his generals. There were many things he had to clean up after the previous battle.

'We've lost too many troops. We can't siege the city! There must be something that I can trick those rebels with …'

'Aha! There's still that move! I hope my generals are valiant enough to take this task.'

…

October 26th.

10 AM.

Tong watched his radar map. Somehow, Zhu Jun forces decided not to siege the city today as all of their troops did not move from the camp.

Everyone inside the city breathed a sigh of relief after Tong announced that the Imperial army would not siege the city today.

For the injured soldiers, this one day break was more valuable than gold.

'They probably reconstruct their siege weapons again.'

Tong analyzed that Zhu Jun had suffered a severe blow from the loss of almost all of his siege ladders and towers. These toys took times to build, and the materials were also hard to find.

2 PM.

All calculation and analysis from Tong were wrong. A messenger came from Zhu Jun camp. He fired an arrow with a letter on it into the city and left.

The garrison soldiers secured the letter and passed it to Tong. The letter was not a message for negotiation because it was a challenge letter.

[I am Huang Zhong of the Imperial Army. I'm sending this letter to challenge you with the fate of our soldiers on the line!

I challenge the strongest man in your army for a duel!

We shall wager with our army. If I lose, all Imperial soldiers will withdraw back to Luo Yang. However, if I win, I want the rebel force to surrender!

This is a gentleman's duel. I don't want to harm our soldiers and your soldiers. They have families and friends back home. I want them to live, and I don't want to drag this stupid war.

Tomorrow, our force will siege your city again. If you accept my challenge, fight me in front of your men and our men!]

Tong choke from his saliva when he read the name of the sender, ”Huang Zhong”.

He had a suspicion about the previous general that exchanged arrows and bullets with him at the west wall. Because of the chaotic fight, Tong forgot to check the name of the general he fought with.

With this challenge letter, Tong connected the puzzle pieces and got his answer.

The guy he fought with yesterday was probably Huang Zhong. Who else could have shot fast arrows with precision in rapid succession as he dodged bullets?

'Should I send Xu Huang? But …'

Tong remembered the fictional event in the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms where Guan Yu and Huang Zhong dueled when Liu Bei sieged Changsha City. Guan Yu impressed the old archer general, and Huang Zhong decided to surrender to Liu Bei because he measured the quality of the warlord with the subordinate's skills. If Liu Bei were a pushover, he would not have tamed this fierce general.

'Is Xu Huang good at duel? I believe he is more like a leader type.'

Tong pondered if he should accept this duel or not. If he agreed and won, he could avoid the fight and retreat to Ye City to prepare for the war next year.

If he were to lose, he would lose everything.

'I have the advantage. Why should I accept the duel? It's too fishy to begin with!'

'But … If I can recruit Huang Zhong …'