Unfortunately, sometimes things came down to fate. Jiang Qin was already gravely ill, and after waiting a long while in the evening breeze, his condition had only grown worse.
Worried that this crucial city might fall, he gathered more than three thousand soldiers, dragged himself out despite his illness, mounted his horse, and led them toward the west of the city.
But just as Jiang Qin, swaying unsteadily, reached a spot some distance from the city gate, he ran straight into a Han cavalry unit led by Guan Bao.
Under normal circumstances, Guan Bao, a young officer leading troops, would have been no match for Jiang Qin. But Jiang Qin was gravely ill and dizzy, so when Guan Bao swung his blade, Jiang Qin was struck down at once.
"General!"
Jiang Qin's soldiers had been preparing to form up against the cavalry, but when their general suddenly collapsed, they hurried to rush in and rescue him.
The Wu soldiers' defensive formation fell into chaos. The cavalry behind Guan Bao charged straight past him, cutting down Jiang Qin's soldiers as easily as chopping vegetables. Only a few quick-thinking men managed to protect Jiang Qin and flee with him into a nearby alley.
The remaining Wu soldiers saw how fearsome the cavalry was and that Jiang Qin had already escaped. None of them dared to stay; they scattered in every direction.
Guan Bao was a little bewildered. He had simply swung his blade when he saw someone, never expecting his opponent to fall with a single blow.
Then someone shouted, "General!" and Guan Bao couldn't help wondering if his swordsmanship had improved.
Leaving Guan Bao's excitement aside, after the fastest reinforcements led by Jiang Qin were routed, the other reinforcements still hadn't arrived. Meanwhile, Xiahou Shang's troops had already reached the city