The seasoned soldiers guarding the city could naturally discern from experience that the shifting dust clouds did not indicate a large approaching force. A rough estimate suggested no more than three riders—likely just one.
Thus, though they remained vigilant and promptly notified their superiors, they were not overly concerned. As the sound drew nearer, it became clear it was indeed a single rider. Soon, the torchlight from the city walls illuminated Geng Liangcheng, who had nearly reached the gate.
"Open the gates!" Geng Liangcheng shouted hoarsely before even arriving at the entrance.
The archers stationed on the walls lowered their bows at their commander's signal. Everyone recognized Geng Liangcheng. After confirming with the night watch general that it was indeed General Geng, the gate was opened. The guard commander, who had once received favors from Geng, personally went to welcome him.
The moment the gates opened and the commander stepped out, before Geng could urge his horse forward, several arrows shot out from the darkness. Their precision was terrifying—every bolt found its mark, striking both the welcoming commander and two junior officers partially hidden by the gateframe.
Simultaneously, dust clouds billowed and the ground trembled as thousands of Turkic soldiers charged forth.
"Close the gates! Close them now!" a commander roared from the walls.
But Geng had not yet entered. He spurred his horse forward desperately. The heavy gates, not yet fully secured, were violently struck open just before closing. With a fierce shout in an unfamiliar tongue, the Turks breached Tingzhou.
Strangely, the Turkic cavalry swept past Geng Liangcheng as if he were invisible, flooding into the city in growing numbers.
Guards at the gate desperately raised their weapons, but they were like eggs thrown against stones. The Turkic soldiers advanced with overwhelming force, easily breaking through the gate defenses.
They expected to meet minimal resistance, but instead found an eerily quiet scene past the gate—no suddenly lit lamps in nearby houses, no panicked civilians fleeing in chaos. The unnatural silence sent chills down their spines.
From outside the gate, a Han army unit emerged, attacking the Turkic rear. Meanwhile, swarms of soldiers poured out from within the city. The Turkic forces were instantly trapped between two fronts, most stuck near the gate tower where archers had multiplied exponentially. Arrows rained down as battle erupted on both ends.
Caught in the middle, Geng Liangcheng felt bewildered. Strangely, neither Turkic nor Han soldiers attacked him. His mind raced—had the Turkic king betrayed him, or had his conspiracy with Xiao Juesong been exposed?
Regardless, self-preservation demanded he fight the Turks.
But before he could act, another group emerged from nowhere, cutting down Han soldiers blocking the gate while frantically searching for something. Spotting Geng, they shouted: "General, we must retreat!"
Geng was stunned—he recognized none of them.
These were men cultivated over the past year by Xiao Changtai. With his vast wealth, Xiao could raise a substantial force in mere months. Though they lacked the discipline of regular troops, Xiao required only their bravery and ability to fight one against three.Xiao Changtai's plan was simple: use Geng Liangcheng to open the city gates, allowing the Turks to invade. His men would act like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—posing as Geng Liangcheng's forces to confuse the Tingzhou army. Almost all of this fell within Xiao Huayong's predictions. Before everyone's eyes, Xiao Changtai exposed Geng Liangcheng's treason and collaboration with the enemy!
The sounds of battle echoed inside and outside Tingzhou's city gates. Beneath the silent night sky, sparks flew as blades clashed.
At this moment, the two generals who had infiltrated the Turk camp to rescue Geng Liangcheng caught up. Their hearts burned with rage, especially since a group of mysterious private soldiers were aiding Geng Liangcheng.
The two fought their way through, closing in on Geng Liangcheng with the intent to capture him. Geng Liangcheng would not surrender without a fight. He resisted fiercely, seized a long spear, and engaged the two in a fierce struggle beneath the city gate. Xiao Changtai's men, under the pretext of rescuing Geng Liangcheng, continuously advanced. The Han army, still holding Geng Liangcheng in high esteem and unable to comprehend the situation, gave way to those shouting to protect him, focusing instead on fighting the Turks.
With Xiao Changtai's men assisting, the two generals were no match for Geng Liangcheng. One of Xiao Changtai's men restrained a general and raised his blade to slash his throat.
Geng Liangcheng cried out in terror, "No—!"
Before his voice fully escaped, a sharp arrow pierced through the air, transfixing the attacker's neck.
A single rider, gripping a long spear, charged forth on horseback.
Clad in robes as dark as ink, billowing in the wind.
Despite the entangled armies clogging the gate tower, he broke through with overwhelming force. His handsome, resolute face and sharp, cold eyes gleamed as his spear swept through, sending several Turk heads rolling.
Swift as a sharp arrow, he surged forward unstoppably.
It was none other than the missing Shen Yungan!
While everyone was stunned, the general who had narrowly escaped death reacted swiftly, immediately swinging his blade at the traitor Geng Liangcheng.
Geng Liangcheng dodged too slowly, his arm slashed open with a gruesome, flesh-tearing wound. Instantly enraged—his evening meal had been laced with substances sent by Xiao Huayong, designed to provoke irritability and fury—he was further incited by the injury and blood.
Provoked by his wounds and the sight of blood, Geng Liangcheng attacked the two generals with lethal intent.
The two generals were soon covered in wounds, but Geng Liangcheng showed no mercy. It was at this moment that Shen Yungan broke through the encirclement and arrived before Geng Liangcheng. From horseback, he extended his spear, blocking Geng Liangcheng's fatal thrust aimed at a general's heart.
"Commander, Geng Liangcheng conspired with the Turks! We witnessed it, and he seeks to silence us!" the two generals shouted.
Hearing this, Shen Yungan raised his spear and pressed toward Geng Liangcheng. The drugs in Geng Liangcheng's system raged more violently. Though he wanted to explain, his hands seemed beyond his control. Against Shen Yungan, who showed restraint and mercy at every turn, Geng Liangcheng struck with unrelenting, ruthless blows.Shen Yunnan retreated again and again, even sustaining multiple minor injuries from Geng Liangcheng in the process. Finally, when Geng Liangcheng launched a fierce slash aimed at Shen Yunnan’s head, Shen Yunnan seemed cornered with no room left to evade. Only then did he have no choice but to get serious. With a swift turn of his spear, he thrust it into Geng Liangcheng’s heart just before Geng Liangcheng’s blade could descend. The edge of Geng Liangcheng’s sword halted just above Shen Yunnan’s forehead, its sharpness breaking the skin and leaving a slender bloodstain between his brows.
Geng Liangcheng was dead—killed by Shen Yunnan in unavoidable self-defense, a move made only after repeated forbearance and in full view of everyone.
This explanation was sufficient.
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