Those words shook the men so deeply that Cai Mao felt his scalp go numb.
He quickly swept his gaze from side to side.
No one dared move against him, but the looks in their eyes made a chill run down his back.
“Do not listen to that big-eared bandit spreading lies and disrupting our army’s morale!” Enraged and humiliated, Cai Mao drew his sword and pointed it down toward the city below.
“Archers, loose arrows!
Kill that big-eared bandit!” The soldiers looked at one another and did not dare move.
On one hand, Liu Bei had always enjoyed a strong reputation in Xiangyang, and many of them did not dare show him such disrespect.
On the other hand, his words had struck straight into their hearts.
When Cai Mao saw the soldiers hesitate, he quickly shot a look at Cai Zhong.
Cai Zhong understood at once and immediately ordered his own loyal troops to fire.
Only then did several hundred archers draw their bows and prepare to shoot at Liu Bei.
But Liu Bei had expected this.
Before the enemy’s arrows could fall, he had already withdrawn behind his own lines.
Arrows rained down, but they struck nothing at all.
Cai Mao grew even more furious.
Pointing his sword at Liu Bei, he shouted, “Big-eared bandit, do not think you can stir up my soldiers and divide their hearts.
If you have the courage, then come attack.
As long as I, Cai Mao, am here, you will never step even half a foot into Xiangyang!” Back at the center of his own formation, Liu Bei looked at the wildly shouting Cai Mao and lifted the corner of his mouth in a cold, scornful smile.
Cai Mao and the city’s main force had all been drawn here now.
He immediately gave the order.
“Set off the signal fire at once.
Tell Zhang Fei and Wei Yan to make their move.” East Gate of Xiangyang.
“All troops, get up on the wall and prepare for battle.
There are not enough archers, so send me another thousand crossbowmen at once.
Move faster, all of you.
If anyone delays the defense of the city, military law will deal with him.” On top of the wall, Cai He waved his horsewhip and barked orders at his subordinates.
Cai Mao did not trust outsiders to guard the gates, so every gate of Xiangyang was held by members of the Cai clan.
As the third-ranking figure of the Cai clan, Cai He was naturally in charge of East Gate.
The soldiers of Jing Province, still only half awake, were driven onto the wall by their officers in a frantic rush.
The archers carried bundles of arrows, while the infantry hauled baskets of stones up to the battlements.
Men kept colliding with each other, and arrows and stones spilled all over the ground, leaving the whole scene in chaos.
The disorder filled Cai He with anger, but with nowhere else to vent it, he turned on the young military marquis instead.
“Wei Yan, why are you standing there like an idiot?
Hurry up and lead your men to carry more logs onto the wall.” Wei Yan did not react.
His eyes remained fixed on the direction of North Gate.
“Are you deaf?
Did you not hear this general’s order?
If you delay military business, I will demote you to squad leader tomorrow.” Remembering how Wei Yan had once talked back to him, Cai He grew even more irritated and seized the chance to press him.
Yet Wei Yan showed neither anger nor fear.
Instead, a cold smile with a deeper meaning touched the corner of his mouth.
Three beacon fire had already risen above North Gate.
That was the agreed signal with Liu Bei.
Liu Bei had led the main force in a feigned attack on North Gate, drawing Cai Mao and the city’s main defenders there.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fei had brought a separate force and hidden outside East Gate under cover of darkness.
Wei Yan’s task was to seize the gate in a mutiny and let Zhang Fei storm into Xiangyang.
“General Cai’s order has naturally been heard.
I will carry it out at once.” With a blank expression, Wei Yan cupped his hands, then turned and strode away.
Cai He stared at his back and let out a scornful snort.
“He drags his feet on everything.
With that little skill, he still dares to act so full of himself.
A man like him is only fit to be a squad leader.” After muttering those words, Cai He turned away to scold the other soldiers again.
The instant he turned, Wei Yan stopped and turned back as well.
A cold light flashed in his eyes.
His sword left its sheath with a sharp ring.
Wei Yan lunged forward in a single step, and the tip of his sword was already pressed against Cai He’s throat.
Silence fell at once.
The soldiers of Jing Province, who had been scrambling in confusion only a moment before, all froze where they stood and stared in shock.
A mere military marquis had actually rebelled against his superior and put a sword to the neck of the third master of the Cai clan.
Had he gone mad?
“Wei Yan, what are you trying to do?” Cai He’s face twisted with shock and fury as he shouted in a hoarse voice.
Wei Yan did not answer.
He only gave a cold order.
“I want you to issue the command at once.
Everyone is to get off the wall immediately.” How could Cai He give in so easily?
He answered with a furious curse instead.
“Wei Yan, are you insane?
What exactly are you trying to do?” Wei Yan frowned, and the hand holding the sword pressed a little harder.
The blade sliced a line across Cai He’s neck, and blood began to seep out.
Pain shot through his neck, and Cai He’s face instantly turned pale.
Wei Yan spoke in a tone that left no room for refusal.
“I will say it one last time.
Make everyone get off the wall.” Murderous intent had already appeared in his eyes.
Cai He lost his nerve and cried out in a trembling voice.
“Are you all deaf?
Get off the wall right now.
Right now.” The bewildered soldiers of Jing Province hurried down in a swarm and vanished in moments.
Along the wall, only the five hundred men under Wei Yan remained.
“Open the gate at once, lower the drawbridge, light the beacon fire, and welcome General Zhang Fei into the city.” Those five hundred men were all natives of Yiyang, and they obeyed only Wei Yan.
The gate slowly opened, the drawbridge gradually dropped, and another beacon fire rose above the wall.
Only then did Cai He finally understand.
This boy was acting as the inside guide, staging a mutiny to seize the gate and let Liu Bei’s main force take Xiangyang by surprise.
From the look of it, the whole thing had been planned in advance.
“How dare you, Wei Yan.
How dare you betray your lord and commit such a disloyal and treasonous act.” The panic on Cai He’s face turned into clenched-teeth rage as he cursed loudly.
Wei Yan looked at him with contempt and gave a cold snort.
“Lord Liu Biao has barely been laid to rest, yet your Cai clan dares to force Liu Cong to surrender to the Cao Cao’s army and hand over the land Lord Liu Biao left behind, all so your Cai clan can trade it for wealth and rank.
A shameless ingrate like you still thinks he can speak to me about loyalty and honor.”