"The King of Wei is dead, the King of Wei is dead!"

The chaotic cries spread like tides through the night, unsettling the camp from far and wide.

Zhang Liao hurriedly donned his armor, and before he reached the main tent of the King's army, he already heard the overwhelming commotion.

He felt as if his head had been struck by a heavy hammer, filled with disbelief — how could it happen so quickly?

From the moment Zhang Liao put on armor, mounted his horse to the point of providing support, it took less than the time it takes for a cup of tea.

Yet in such a short time, the King of Wei was dead!

Were the enemy forces so strong?

Or did the Wei Army rely too much on appearances?

Zhang Liao's face showed shock; he didn't think it was an illusion. If one person or two shouted, it could still be questioned.

But with the current large-scale shouting, and no one trying to stop it, how could there be any mistake?

Zhang Liao sat on horseback and swiftly extended his spear to block a soldier running out, "Tell me, who killed the King of Wei?"

The soldier, his face full of fear, shook his head and said, "No, I don't know, they were just all shouting that the King of Wei is dead."

These words sparked a tiny glimmer of hope in Zhang Liao, and he cast his gaze towards another fleeing soldier.

That man quickly said, "I know, it's Guan Yu.

He was six zhang tall, one man charged in from outside and no one could stop him!"

"Nonsense! I'm an old acquaintance of Guan Yu; his height, how could I not know it?"

Zhang Liao roared angrily, certain the news was likely false. He was about to move forward for support when he noticed Xiahou Dun's confidants.

He quickly rode forward, yelling, "Hey you! Stop! How is General Xiahou?"

The confidant's knees buckled, collapsing to the ground, shaking his head, "Dead, both he and the King of Wei were killed by Guan Yu."

As he spoke, the confidant's face showed undisguised fear, his legs trembled, "Guan Yu alone, on horseback, directly slaughtered through our army."

Zhang Liao looked shocked; other soldiers could be attributed to rumor.

But this one was Xiahou Dun's personal soldier, also a kin of the Xiahou Clan.

When he had met Xiahou Dun earlier, Xiahou Dun had praised this person's extraordinary bravery.

Yet, how could Guan Yu alone cause such a scene?

"How did Guan Yu do it?"

The confidant sobbed, "The King of Wei said Guan Yu had the help of a Heavenly Deity, even General Xu surrendered to him."

"Nonsense!"

Zhang Liao bellowed, thrusting his spear through the confidant's neck, then pulling it out, letting blood pour forth.

His face unchanged, he hollered, "Quickly, return to Xudu, protect the Princely Heir!"

Whether or not Guan Yu truly received aid from a Heavenly Deity, this news must not spread.

Zhang Liao led his soldiers away from the camp.

Controlling the army now was impossible.

The cries of the King of Wei's death echoed persistently, and even those soldiers unsure of what was happening, scattered in panic.

Recalling the previous day, the King of Wei was here watching drills and inspecting the troops.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Liao looked at the soldiers rushing aimlessly through the night, a sense of desolation crept into his heart.

Could it be that they were truly defeated?

With the King of Wei dead, who in the world could withstand Liu Bei?

Sun Quan of Eastern Wu was automatically dismissed from Zhang Liao's thoughts.

Feeling lost about the future, he returned to the gates of Xudu city by night and saw its walls glowing brightly.

Zhang Liao pulled his reins promptly, shouting upwards, "Open the gate quickly, I am General Zhang Liao from the East, I have urgent matters to speak with the Princely Heir!" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

From the walls, there was silence for a long time.

The illuminated soldiers and guards seemed to be as still as statues.

Zhang Liao's heart slowly sank, yet he sat there, holding onto a tiny strand of hope.

After a while, the soldiers on the wall finally showed some reaction.

Zhang Liao saw a man in a cyan robe stride forward, his features fierce and ambitious, his attire stained with blood.

Sima Yi brought his sword to the parapet and shouted, "General Zhang, you needn't come in anymore, it's better to join General Guan in Fancheng with Xu Huang."

Zhang Liao's face showed shock and fury, shouting, "Sima Yi, do you intend to rebel?!"

"It's Cao Cao and Cao Pi who rebelled!

Cao Pi intended to seize the throne with military force; I have beheaded him, and annihilated the whole Cao Family and Xiahou Clan."

Sima Yi replied aloud, "The mandate is with Han, with the King of Hanzhong!

The death of the Cao Thief by Guan Yu must be clear to General Zhang, do not remain misguided."

Zhang Liao felt rage rising, his forehead swelled with veins, growling, "Sima Yi, you're a treacherous villain!"

"I am merely following the mandate!"

Sima Yi bowed towards Chengdu firmly.

He knew that doing this would tarnish his reputation.

But he had to do it.

Sima Yi had personally seen Cao Cao fall under Guan Yu's blade, and had learned of the events at Fancheng from Cao Cao's personal soldiers.

He quickly led a group of frightened soldiers back to Xudu, to inform Cao Pi of the situation.

Using Cao Pi's trust in him, he proposed usurping Han to establish their own rule.

After all, once everyone was on the same boat, there's no disembarking.

In fright, Cao Pi followed his advice, leading troops to compel the ministers into the palace, attempting to deal with Liu Xie.

Cao Pi's plan was for each minister to take action, stab the Emperor in turn, then ascend the throne by claiming the Han dynasty's fortune.

He was also grasping at straws.

To think the King of Wei was slaughtered by Guan Yu amongst thousands of troops, should he not ascend, he might lack the true dragon's protection.

Yet as the ministers hesitated, Sima Yi instead killed Cao Pi, leveraging Guan Yu's fearsome reputation for killing the King of Wei amidst thousands, and retaliated by exterminating the entire Cao Family and Xiahou Clan.