East of Luoyang City, military banners fluttered in the wind, and the air was thick with the tension of impending battle.
Over a dozen soldiers, bound tightly, stumbled toward the execution ground.
"Commander, spare us! We won’t dare again!"
"Lu Ji, you’ve lost battle after battle, yet you take it out on your own men. Is this all you’re capable of?"
"You won’t die a good death either. I’ll be waiting, haha!"
"The king put someone like you in charge? The great cause is ruined!"
"What’s wrong with taking a few things? We only wanted money. Zhang Fang not only looted gold and silk but even took women!"
"A real man faces death without all this whining!"
The execution ground was filled with chaotic shouts.
Commander Lu Ji knelt behind a low table, his face expressionless.
Is it wrong to punish these troublemakers who plunder before battle and harm the people? he thought to himself.
The gathered generals—Champion General Qian Xiu, Central Protector Shi Chao, Northern General Wang Cui, White Sand Commander Sun Hui, and others like Wang Chan, Hao Chang, and Gongshi Fan—exchanged uneasy glances.
Military Advisor Wang Zhang sighed deeply but remained silent.
"It’s time for the execution," Lu Ji said coldly, about to give the order, when the sound of galloping horses interrupted him.
Lu Ji looked up, startled.
He lacked the experience to gauge the number of riders from the hoofbeats, but with an army of over 200,000 spread across miles, how could anyone breach his command tent so easily? And if it wasn’t the enemy, why hadn’t he been informed? Who dared to ride so recklessly near the central command?
The hoofbeats grew louder, and soon a hundred horsemen came to a halt just ten paces away.
The leader, Meng Chao, sneered and ordered, "Untie our men."
"Yes, sir!" The riders dismounted, pushing aside the executioners and freeing the prisoners—all comrades from their own camp.
The soldiers and officers near the command tent stood frozen, watching in stunned silence.
"Meng Chao!" Lu Ji roared.
"Who gave you the authority to storm the execution ground without orders? Guards!"
"Commander, calm down," someone interjected.
"Don’t be too harsh, Commander. General Meng acted in the heat of the moment."
"With the enemy at our gates, we must stand united."
Officers and advisors rushed to mediate, some even signaling Meng Chao to back down.
But Meng Chao ignored them.
Once the prisoners were freed, he pointed his halberd at Lu Ji and sneered, "These are brave men who fought hard, and you wanted to kill them? You’re unfit to be commander!"
Lu Ji was livid, but with no one stepping forward to support him, he felt his anger boiling over.
Meng Chao laughed, then his expression turned cold.
"Lu Ji, your crimes are exposed! You’ve been colluding with Sima Yi, haven’t you? Do you want to see our 200,000-strong army destroyed?"
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"That’s going too far!"
"Commander Lu has had some setbacks, but accusing him of treason is excessive."
"After a month of fighting, we’ve gained nothing and lost many men. Something’s not right."
"Be careful with your words!"
The crowd buzzed with speculation, but Meng Chao paid no heed.
He turned and left, his halberd still pointed threateningly at Lu Ji.
Military Advisor Wang Zhang and Sima Sun Zheng exchanged grim looks.
Lu Ji, silent, returned to his tent.
Sun Zheng followed, deeply concerned.
"Commander, there are still loyal men in the army. Summon them to your tent, gather your forces, and deal with Meng Chao," Sun Zheng suggested.
Sun Zheng, a native of Fuchun in Wu Commandery, had served as a court official under the Eastern Wu dynasty.
After Wu’s fall, he joined the Jin court and now served as Lu Ji’s advisor.
Meng Chao’s blatant defiance of Lu Ji’s authority was a serious breach of discipline.
If not dealt with harshly, how could Lu Ji command the army? Moreover, Meng Chao’s insult—calling Lu Ji a "barbarian slave"—was a slur against southerners, which deeply offended Sun Zheng.
Lu Ji’s eyelids twitched, but he said nothing.
"Commander…" Sun Zheng pressed.
Lu Ji raised a hand to silence him.
After a moment, he said, "Meng Chao’s attack stems from old grievances with his brother, Meng Jiu. Most of the army is from the north and has never accepted me. Killing Meng Chao could spark a rebellion."
Sun Zheng fell silent.
Meng Chao’s brother, Meng Jiu, was a eunuch who served the Prince of Chengdu and was highly favored.
Once, Meng Jiu had sought the position of magistrate of Handan for his father.
Everyone remained silent, but Lu Ji’s brother, Right Sima Lu Yun, openly opposed it, arguing that Handan was a crucial location and should be governed by a qualified official, not the father of a eunuch.
The grudge had festered since then.
This time, Meng Chao’s troops had run amok, looting and killing.
Lu Ji had ordered a crackdown, arresting the worst offenders to enforce discipline.
But Meng Chao had stormed the execution ground with a hundred horsemen, publicly humiliating Lu Ji and deepening the rift.
"I have a plan," Lu Ji continued.
"Issue the order: tomorrow, all camps will attack Jianchun Gate. No mistakes."
Jianchun Gate, also known as Shangdong Gate, was located on the eastern wall of Luoyang.
Sun Zheng understood that Lu Ji aimed to boost his authority by capturing the city, forcing the generals to submit.
He couldn’t say whether this was the right move, but he advised, "Commander, it would be wise to coordinate with Zhang Fang and attack from both east and west for a better chance of success."
"Understood," Lu Ji nodded.
"I’ll send a letter to the west."
In ancient warfare, sieges typically involved surrounding three sides of a city to weaken the defenders’ resolve or launching a concentrated attack on one side while feigning attacks on others to distract the enemy.
Lu Ji planned to attack Jianchun Gate while Zhang Fang launched a simultaneous assault from the west.
He even considered sending small forces to feign attacks from the north and south to further divide the defenders.
Zhang Fang agreed.
On the eighth day of the tenth month, Lu Ji led his army to Jianchun Gate, while Zhang Fang attacked from the west.
For the defenders stationed at the southern gate, it seemed they could breathe easier.
But the 20,000 troops Lu Ji sent to feign an attack on the south still demanded attention.
"Commander, we’ve interrogated the prisoners. The enemy general is Meng Chao, with over 3,000 men," Shao Xun reported, standing on the city wall and pointing at the dense enemy forces on Kaiyang Gate Street.
"They seem intent on clearing the southern area to use it as a base for attacking Kaiyang Gate and Pingchang Gate."
"Just Meng Chao’s troops?" Mi Huang asked.
"Not just them. Look over there—" Shao Xun pointed his bow toward the Imperial Academy and other areas.
"Smoke is rising everywhere. Meng Chao is here to attack us."
Mi Huang’s expression darkened.
This was a full-scale assault, not the sporadic raids by Zhang Fang’s troops.
The widespread alarms meant the enemy was numerous, and their own prospects had suddenly become uncertain.
But he knew he couldn’t show any fear—it would damage morale.
"Commander Shao, the Imperial Academy is in your hands," Mi Huang said earnestly.
"I’ll even place my personal guards under your command. Everyone will follow your orders. If we win this battle, I’ll personally recommend you for a promotion, no matter the cost."
"Commander, there’s no need for that," Shao Xun replied.
"The thousand people at the Imperial Academy are one. If the academy falls, none of us will survive."
"Well said!" Mi Huang’s eyes gleamed with emotion.
"If you need me, don’t hesitate. I learned some martial arts in my youth. I may not be a master, but I can hold my own against these bandits."
"Commander, please take cover below the wall and support me from there," Shao Xun said.
"The enemy is advancing."
"Understood."
Mi Huang quickly descended the ladder.
Shao Xun continued to observe.
Opposite the Imperial Academy was the Hall of Brightness.
If they could station troops there to support each other, it would greatly hinder the enemy.
But the academy’s defenders were too few, and the hall was too large.
After some thought, Shao Xun abandoned the idea—splitting their forces would only weaken them.
The rhythmic sound of marching feet grew louder, each step tightening the tension.
Shao Xun focused on the enemy, estimating their numbers at around 3,100 to 3,200, a mix of infantry and cavalry.
It was strange to see cavalry in a street battle, even if there were only a hundred riders.
But it made sense.
Soldiers were loyal to their commanders, and these riders were likely Meng Chao’s personal troops.
He wouldn’t lend them to others.
The enemy’s formation was orderly, but nothing extraordinary.
You couldn’t expect much from soldiers who had lived in peace for too long.
Perhaps after a few years of battle, they’d improve, but for now, they were mediocre.
"We’ll have to hold our ground, wear down their morale, and then see," Shao Xun thought.
The enemy quickened their pace, their faces and the variety of weapons they carried now clearly visible.
Shao Xun decisively raised a black flag.
Li Zhong, resting in the courtyard, sprang to his feet and led his fifty archers to the front.
(End of Chapter)