As night enveloped the fields outside Puyang City like an ominous shroud,the campfires of the Black Mountain Army flickered,casting their uncertain light upon the weary and anxious faces of the soldiers.Yu Du,Bai Rao,and the other commanders huddled in a circle around the fires,their expressions a mixture of reluctance and concern.They were engaged in a fervent debate over countermeasures,their voices rising and falling like the waves of a tumultuous sea,before finally succumbing to a heavy silence.

"What are we to do?Are we to simply abandon our efforts?"Bai Rao spat out the words,his tone laced with bitter unwillingness.

Yu Du,too,was momentarily at a loss.With Cao Cao leading a massive army to assail their stronghold,retreat was no longer an option,even if they wished it.Yet,if they persisted in their attack,Puyang City before them stood like an impregnable fortress,a hedgehog bristling with thorns,leaving the Black Mountain Army without any means of breaching its defenses.

Yu Du paced restlessly back and forth,his agitation palpable.After a long moment,he gritted his teeth,his bloodshot eyes boring into Bai Rao,Sui Gu,and the others."Either we go all-out,send our men to fill that accursed pit,and make a desperate bid to capture the city,or we resign ourselves to certain death!"

The leaders exchanged glances.They were not fools;they knew full well the dire straits they were in.Only by seizing Puyang City could they hope to survive this ordeal.

"Very well!We shall follow Chief Yu's lead!"Bai Rao was the first to respond,his voice resolute."Just give the orders!"The others nodded in unison.

"Good!"Yu Du nodded with grim satisfaction."From this moment on,all your troops are under my command.Prepare to fill the pit!"Everyone knew that this so-called filling of the pit would come at a great cost—lives would be sacrificed.But at this moment,the Black Mountain Army had no alternative;they had to steel themselves for the inevitable bloodbath.

Yu Du selected a portion of soldiers from each leader's contingent to ensure fairness,or at least a semblance of it.The Black Mountain soldiers dropped their weapons,shouldered sacks filled with sand,and,under the rain of arrows from both the city wall and within the city,began their perilous mission to fill the pit.

Watching their comrades fall one after another during the charge,Yu Du and the others seethed with rage.They swore in their hearts that once they overcame the city's defenses,they would rend the cunning defender to pieces.

"Ah-choo!Ah-choo!Ah-choo!"Lin Yu,who was taking his ease within the city,was suddenly beset by a series of sneezes.He rubbed his nose irritably and muttered under his breath,"Who dares to curse me?Or is it just the cold getting to me?"

...

The Black Mountain Bandits paid a heavy toll of a thousand lives,yet still failed to fill the deep chasm.As the sky gradually darkened,Yu Du had no choice but to sound the gong and order a retreat.

That night,Dian Wei and Zhao Yun once again convened in Lin Yu's courtyard.

"Big Brother,you should have seen it.When County Magistrate Xun beheld the trap you had me dig today,his expression was priceless!"Dian Wei exclaimed,clapping his hands with glee."Big Brother,as you would say,your move was truly awesome!"

Zhao Yun,standing beside him,also smiled in agreement.Hearing that even a respected figure like Xun Yu had been so astonished by his plan,Lin Yu couldn't help but feel a secret sense of satisfaction.However,he feigned nonchalance,waved his hand airily,and said,"Awesome?It's merely a basic tactic.Don't make such a fuss."

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Lin Yu paused,then turned to Dian Wei,his expression growing serious."Second Brother,the battles of these past two days are but skirmishes.The real turning point will come tomorrow when they attempt to fill the deep pit.You must not let your guard down."

"Whether I get to enjoy the fine wine you've prepared for me depends on tomorrow's outcome,"Dian Wei said,his jovial demeanor giving way to solemnity at Lin Yu's earnest tone."Big Brother,rest assured.I will follow your instructions to the letter and vanquish the Black Mountain Bandits tomorrow."

...

The third day of the Black Mountain Bandits'siege of the city arrived.

At noon,Yu Du tilted his face towards the sun and asked weakly,"What's the situation?"

"I just returned from the front.It should be completed within the hour,"Bai Rao replied.Although the trap within the city was deep,it could not withstand the Black Mountain Army's desperate human-wave tactic of filling it.To hasten their entry into Puyang City,Yu Du had even ordered that the bodies of the fallen soldiers be cast into the pit.Under such extreme measures,the deep pit was gradually being filled.

Hearing Bai Rao's words,Yu Du's spirits lifted immediately.Despite the heavy price they had paid,as long as they could capture Puyang City,it would all be worth it.

As the minutes ticked by,soon,jubilant cheers erupted from the front.The deep pit had been filled!Yu Du,Bai Rao,Sui Gu,and Huang Silang were instantly filled with elation.

"Sound the order!The entire army,attack!Charge into the city!"Yu Du roared,his eyes wild with excitement."Tell all the soldiers that they have permission to loot for three days!"

Every member of the Black Mountain Army knew that Puyang City,as the county seat,was a veritable treasure trove,replete with countless riches,abundant food,and beautiful women.Under Yu Du's incitement,the soldiers of the Black Mountain Army were consumed by a blood-red frenzy,yelling and charging towards the city like ravenous wolves.

Seeing that the vanguard had already surged into the city,Yu Du turned to Bai Rao and the others with a feral grin."Shall we,too,enter the city?"

"Let's go!Let's revel in the spoils within the city!"

"Hurry!If we're slow,there won't be any food or women left for us,"the other leaders urged,their impatience evident.

They mounted their steeds and made their way towards the city at a leisurely pace.

On the city wall,Xun Yu was in a state of panic."General Dian,the enemy troops have entered the city.What's your backup plan?"He was like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Although he had believed that Dian Wei had prepared a countermeasure during these two days,now that the Black Mountain Bandits had rushed in and the sounds of battle echoed within the city,Dian Wei remained motionless on the city wall.

How could this not drive him to distraction?

"Don't be hasty.Let the situation unfold,"Dian Wei said casually,repeating one of Lin Yu's favorite phrases.

"What?"Xun Yu was thoroughly perplexed.

Just then,Dian Wei noticed that the yak-tail flags,which signified the identities of Yu Du,Bai Rao,and the other main generals,began to move.And they were heading towards the city's interior.

Finally,they've taken the bait!

Dian Wei couldn't suppress an excited smile and nodded to Zhao Yun beside him.

"County Magistrate Xun,remain here and don't stir,"Dian Wei instructed.

"What are you going to do?"Xun Yu asked,his eyes wide with confusion.

"I'm going to defeat the enemy,"Dian Wei replied before dashing off with Zhao Yun down the city wall,leaving a bewildered Xun Yu in their wake.

Beneath the city wall,chaos reigned.Although the Black Mountain Army styled themselves as an army,they were,in truth,little more than a rabble of refugees,no different from common bandits.At the mention of Yu Du's decree allowing them to loot for three days,what little military discipline they had evaporated.

All of them were desperate to be the first to enter the city and engage in wanton plunder.As a result,they were all jammed up at the city gate.Even Yu Du and the other leaders were forced to wait outside.

"Make way for the leaders!"

"Did you hear me?"

But no matter how loudly Yu Du's personal guards shouted,the soldiers seemed deaf to their commands,refusing to budge.

Yu Du and Bai Rao seethed with anger but were powerless to act.

"Never mind.The city is almost ours.A little wait won't matter,"Yu Du consoled himself.

However,in the next instant,the situation took a sudden and violent turn.Dull,thudding sounds of"bang bang"reverberated from both the left and right sides,as if something massive was collapsing.

Before Yu Du,Bai Rao,and the others could make sense of what was happening,a cacophony of war cries filled the air,and two contingents of Cao soldiers charged towards them from the left and right!