The evening breeze blew in from the east, blocked outside the tent.

The lit candle illuminated the table inside the tent, where Xu Huang stood armored, contemplating which direction to attack next.

He was well aware that he could not afford to lose on this expedition.

If he failed, the King of Wei would never forgive him.

The current King of Wei was no longer the same as before.

Or perhaps the King of Wei had never changed.

It's just that the current King of Wei no longer needed to suppress his temper or show humility to wise men.

Much like how Yuan Shao, once he monopolized his region, could not tolerate dissenting voices.

In the past, Xu Huang wouldn't have thought this way, but as time went on, he had to admit that the King of Wei and Yuan Shao were indeed childhood friends.

Xu Huang looked at the rough map on the table, and after much consideration, he decided to feign an attack on Weitou.

In reality, he would send a heavy force to attack Sizhong.

But this too was just a ruse.

He would attack Sizhong with strong forces, and when Guan Yu saw Sizhong in trouble, he would surely send troops to reinforce it.

Then, he would ambush him halfway.

Xu Huang understood clearly that in a face-to-face confrontation, he might not be able to defeat Guan Yu. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He must fully utilize his advantage as the attacker to lead Guan Yu by the nose through maneuvering.

"Alas, Yunchang, why are you so obsessed with Fancheng?"

Xu Huang thought of what might befall his friend after this battle and couldn't help but feel a sigh of emotion.

If possible, he truly hoped that the letter he had shot into the camp could persuade Guan Yu to retreat and fortify Jiangling and Gong'an.

Unfortunately, Guan Yu was too eager to capture Fancheng and had too much faith in the towns' strength, forgetting that people's hearts could change.

The King of Wei would never allow Fancheng to fall.

As Xu Huang pondered these things, he quickly finalized the battle plan for the next day, just as he was about to extinguish the light and go to sleep.

Suddenly, a loud drumbeat rang out from outside.

Dong! Dong!

Resounding like thunder in the night, Xu Huang's expression changed slightly, and he strode outside the tent.

The cold wind ruffled his slightly white short beard, the wrinkles on his face seeming etched with a chisel, yet his body appeared sturdy.

"What's happening?"

"Reporting to the general, Guan Yu is leading his army to challenge us!"

"What?"

Xu Huang was utterly astonished; Yunchang had gone mad?

Choosing to mobilize his troops at night, and so flamboyantly.

With his ability, he shouldn't make such a mistake that even beginners wouldn't.

Which means, Guan Yu had the confidence to capture his camp at night.

But such a thing was even more impossible!

Xu Huang had confidence in the camp he had built, and it wasn't raining at the moment.

Even if it poured, the place where he was stationed could never be flooded like Yu Jin's camp.

He had deliberately learned from that incident, and after occupying Yancheng, he chose a high ground for camping.

The perimeter of the camp was carefully laid out with thick logs standing in a row, with passageways above accommodating three men abreast, constantly guarded.

During the old days at Guandu, the camp he had set up was enough to withstand the Yuan army's attack.

The standoff lasted several years without being breached.

What could Guan Yu use to breach his camp?

As for field battles, Xu Huang would never recklessly leave the city at night to engage in a life-and-death struggle with Guan Yu.

Simply put, many soldiers were no different than blind at night — how could they possibly fight a night battle?

Driven by curiosity, he quickly made his way to the camp's perimeter.

...

A crowd of officers gathered around Xu Huang as he ascended the passageways of the camp, reaching the position before the camp gates.

From there, he could see the Han Army outside.

Judging by the number of torches, Xu Huang deduced that the Han Army had likely come out in full force.

A vast dark mass, the firelight forming a continuous blaze, disappeared into the distant darkness.

By the light of the flames, Xu Huang saw his friend at the forefront.

He was clad in bright armor, his cloak fluttering slightly in the wind, his long beard hanging to his chest, astride a jujube-red steed.

The hero has aged.

Looking at this old friend whom he hadn't seen for years, a sense of melancholy rose in Xu Huang's heart.

They had all grown old, no longer young.

"Gongming, I hope you have been well."

Aozawa transformed into the likeness of Guan Yu.

While Guan Yu hid within a small space Aozawa had created, the entrance placed upon his chest.

From that small space, Guan Yu could see the scene outside, and his voice could reach beyond.

Xu Huang replied loudly, "Lord, it has been years since we parted, and I never expected your temples to have turned gray."

"Gongming, this night, aided by a Heavenly Deity, I will restore the Han Dynasty.

Open your gates quickly, and I might spare your life."

Guan Yu's voice drifted up to the camp, and Xu Huang couldn't suppress the expression on his face, revealing plain astonishment.

He stared at Guan Yu sitting on his horse, his heart growing increasingly sorrowful.

His old friend had already been pushed to the point of mental strain.

Scanning his surroundings, he found the officers and soldiers were equally showing astonished expressions.

Indeed, who would have thought that not long ago, the renowned Guan Yu would go mad at this moment?

Xu Huang sighed lamentably, "Yunchang, you should accept reality, Fancheng cannot be taken."

He wouldn't directly mention the fall of the Han, nor would he say so.

The extinction of the Han Dynasty was a truth everyone knew, yet no one dared speak of it.

Xu Huang could only persuade Guan Yu to accept reality and not continue his madness.

"Since you don't believe, then I will have to show you the power granted to me by the Heavenly Deity! Beat the drums!"

Saying this, Aozawa dropped the act, directly patting the horse's head.

The Red Hare let out a neigh, charging forward like a blazing flame.

The battle drums thundered from behind.

Most of the Han soldiers were as bewildered as Xu Huang on the camp.

They remained there, beating drums solely out of the awe left by Guan Yu before.

As Xu Huang watched Guan Yu truly charge alone towards the camp, a trace of regret flashed in his eyes.