Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 362

Liu Bei had been in Xinye for nearly a year. Xinye's administration had been reformed, taxes reduced, and a bumper harvest achieved. The army in Xinye had also been expanded, now numbering approximately ten thousand new soldiers. Liu Bei, clad in fine armor and dressed in the attire of a scholar-general, was the first to mount his horse, displaying the true bearing of an emperor. Zhang Fei, spear in hand, and Zhao Yun, wielding a lance, stood on either side, imposing and awe-inspiring. The eight thousand infantry and cavalry of Xinye, each a spirited peasant youth, though small in number and somewhat poorly equipped, possessed a unique vitality.

Liu Bei left Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Sun Qian, and Jian Yong to see him off outside the city. Liu Bei's family members, Lady Gan, Lady Cai, and Liu Shan, remained in Xinye. As Liu Bei mounted his horse, as if suddenly remembering something, he said to the four senior officials behind him, "Mi Zhu, while I'm away, Xinye is entirely under your administration. Sun Qian, Mi Fang, and Jian Yong, you three will assist you." The four were taken aback; this decision was clearly unexpected. Sun Qian had fought alongside Liu Bei through thick and thin and was the most senior; logically, he should have been in charge of Xinye, but Liu Bei had specifically named Mi Zhu. In fact, since Liu Bei hadn't given prior instructions, the four had already tacitly agreed to let Sun Qian govern. Liu Bei, however, remained calm, seemingly unaware of anything amiss. "Mi Zhu, you must first protect the two ladies and Liu Shan," Liu Bei added, then immediately turned back and shouted sharply, "Let's go!" With that, he spurred his horse and rode ahead. Zhao Yun immediately followed, and Zhang Fei urged the rear guard on, and eight thousand new recruits immediately set off at full speed.

Mi Zhu was completely bewildered. Why had Liu Bei suddenly appointed him to govern Xinye? Had Liu Bei recently married his sister, Lady Mi? Liu Bei didn't seem like the type to appoint people based on personal connections. Besides, Sun Qian had been with him through thick and thin, never abandoning him. How could he be outmatched by a mere relative? Mi Zhu glanced at Sun Qian, who looked completely composed. "Sir..." Mi Zhu said, forcing a smile, "It would be better if you took charge of the military and political affairs of Xinye. Only in this way can you gain the respect of the people... I really dare not personally accept such a heavy responsibility."

“My lord has his reasons for making this arrangement, so why is General Mi making excuses?” Sun Qian stroked his beard and smiled, as if he had realized something.

"What if Cao Cao's army attacks?" Mi Zhu asked with distress.

“Give up Xinye,” Sun Qian said simply.

"Give up?" Everyone present was clearly shocked, even Jian Yong was taken aback. "Xinye is the only place our lord can stay. How can we give it up? Besides, if we run away without a fight and lose our lord's place, how can we face our lord?" Mi Zhu asked repeatedly.

“Our lord left Mi Zhu behind to guard the area. Mi Zhu is Lady Cai’s brother; there’s a deeper meaning to this,” Sun Qian said, stroking his beard with an air of confidence. “Before leaving, our lord specifically instructed us to protect our families first. This is another reminder. In short, he wants us to prioritize protecting our families and not worry about anything else. Ultimately, if Cao Cao’s army attacks, the thousands of infantry and cavalry are not meant to fight Cao Cao’s army, but to escort Lady Cai and the heir to safety.”

These words were indeed brilliant. Mi Zhu thought about it carefully. Although he couldn't resist Cao Cao's 100,000-strong army, he could still safely evacuate Liu Bei's family in the first instance. This kind of matter, which was more personal, was indeed more suitable for Mi Zhu, a relative of the emperor. With this in mind, Mi Zhu was no longer worried or distressed. Instead, he repeatedly agreed and happily returned to the city.

Although Liu Bei's arrangements were well-thought-out, things didn't go as planned. The biggest unexpected event was Liu Biao's sudden death, which completely disrupted the stability of Jingzhou. The various forces no longer needed to fight in secret, but instead took center stage to seize advantageous positions.

Three days after Liu Biao's death, martial law was declared along the entire Yangtze River. The Cai clan had taken over the entire Yangtze River defenses, and Zhang Yun controlled the entire Jingzhou navy. Liu Bei's 973 troops managed to procure some provisions locally, and Yi Ji also sent some. Rumors circulated that Yi Ji had fled to Jiangxia, but Liu Bei had not received any notification from Jiangxia. Liu Bei's forces were truly in a precarious situation, surrounded by the armies of the Cai clan and Liu Lin, caught between a rock and a hard place, and facing a severe shortage of supplies.

When Liu Qi went to attend the funeral, Guan Yu naturally sent his navy to escort him. However, Zhang Yun had already blocked the Yangtze River defense line, and the Jiangxia navy was unable to pass through. Liu Qi cried bitterly on the river and returned in tears.

Liu Cong successfully assumed the position of ruler of Jingzhou, but he was clearly being held hostage by Lady Cai, Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, and others. Liu Cong was still young and naturally unable to make decisions; all matters of state and military affairs, large and small, were decided by Lady Cai.

Upon hearing of Liu Biao's death in Xinye, Mi Zhu was filled with anxiety and unease due to the shortage of provisions for Liu Bei's troops. Xinye was now effectively isolated from Liu Bei and Liu Qi of Jiangxia. Without their lord's leadership, Xinye lacked a leader in this critical moment and was powerless to act during this upheaval, only able to sit idly by and offer prayers. Mi Zhu, true to his word, remained focused on his duties. When news of Liu Biao's death arrived, Mi Zhu was quite frightened and organized an escape drill involving Liu Bei's family. A thousand cavalrymen supported the front and rear, while infantry provided cover on all sides; their running speed was indeed quite fast, which reassured Mi Zhu somewhat.

Chapter 112: Under Xinye City

With Liu Biao's death, Jingzhou descended into chaos, and the entire Yangtze River region was also in turmoil. Large numbers of troops began leaving their camps, and martial law was imposed at various passes along the Yangtze. New troops and generals were stationed at key strategic locations to ensure the Cai family's control over these important areas.

Only Xinye and its surrounding area were extremely quiet.

The silence was truly chilling. Mi Zhu wasn't stupid; he could naturally sense the approaching storm. But what could he do? Military exercises had been conducted, preparations had been made, and with these troops, there wasn't much they could muster. Finally, at a meeting, Mi Zhu angrily spoke the truth: "Damn it, the biggest threat to Xinye now isn't Cao Cao in the north, but the Cai clan. Our lord can't guide us in battle, the Cai clan has imposed martial law everywhere, and we can't even determine our escape route!"

Sure enough, Mi Zhu, who was filled with anxiety, received definite news. His soldiers told him, stumbling and crawling, that tens of thousands of cavalry from Jingzhou were rapidly heading towards Xinye, and they didn't know what they were up to.

Mi Zhu immediately convened an emergency meeting. Surprisingly, everyone was in agreement: these guys had ill intentions. However, Mi Fang volunteered to lead a thousand cavalry and infantry to intercept the Jingzhou army on the main road to Xinye, to find out the truth, and if they couldn't win, to retreat immediately. Mi Zhu agreed, also wanting to get to the bottom of things.

Mi Fang looked at the few pairs of cavalry and infantry behind him, barely standing out against the vast plain, and felt a pang of discouragement. But since he was already there, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue. Sure enough, in the distance to the south, dust billowed, and thousands of horses galloped, shaking the earth. Scattered scout teams ahead of the main army were already very close to Mi Fang's forces. These scouts circled around a bit before returning to report. Mi Fang didn't order an arrow to be fired; that would be too unfriendly. What if the Jingzhou army wasn't as hostile as he had imagined?

Soon, a large number of Jingzhou cavalrymen drew closer, and the large characters "々々文" (a type of Manchu script) on their banners became clearly visible. A dark-skinned, short general spurred his horse forward. Mi Fang was somewhat afraid to look him in the eye; his gaze was truly sharp. The opposing general watched Mi Fang lead his troops in a foolish formation, neither firing arrows nor fleeing, and seemed very curious, even somewhat amused.

"Please state your name! What is your purpose?" Mi Fang shouted, forcing himself to speak. But he still felt his voice tremble slightly, as if many soldiers on the other side could hear it and were snickering.

The imposing general opposite him seemed very interested, as if it were something quite fascinating. General Wen Ping casually said, "I am Wen Ping, the Commander-in-Chief of the Xiangyang Garrison. I have come to take Xinye and to invite Mr. Mi Zhu, Mr. Sun Qian, and others back to Jingzhou to discuss important matters."

“Liu Huangshu’s defense of Jingzhou was ordered by Liu Jingsheng himself, how can you call it taking it back?” Mi Fang found these words grating. However, Wen Ping never beat around the bush, and this time was no exception: “Liu Biao is dead, and now the Cai family is in power, so we need to take back Xinye. And we invite you all to Jingzhou to discuss the future plans.”

Wen Ping spoke in a nonchalant and smooth manner, as if taking Xinye was the most natural thing in the world. Upon hearing this, Mi Fang's anger rose rapidly, and she said in a very aggressive tone, "What if we don't go?"

"Then we'll tie you up and take you there," Wen Ping readily agreed.

Enraged, Mi Fang charged forward with his spear. Wen Ping met him head-on. Wen Ping's spear was rather strange, resembling a shuttle, quite characteristic of the South. Wen Ping wielded it with ease, delivering a series of thrusts; how could Mi Fang possibly withstand him? After only a couple of rounds, his spear technique became chaotic, riddled with flaws, and he barely managed to hold on. Wen Ping seized an opening and thrust with all his might, striking Mi Fang squarely in the thigh. Mi Fang screamed in agony, nearly falling from his horse, but his will to survive was strong. He managed to grab the reins, drew his sword with his right hand, and stabbed the horse viciously. The horse neighed in pain, broke into a gallop, and ran away. Wen Ping tried to give chase, but he couldn't catch up.

Seeing Mi Fang flee, the thousand infantrymen lost their will to fight and scattered in all directions. Wen Ping, however, was unwilling to give up and drew his sword to command. Wen Ping's tens of thousands of cavalry spread out on both flanks, with the majority in the center and the flanks slightly ahead, like a large bird spreading its wings to encircle the weak Xinye army. Sure enough, the flank cavalry were the first to catch up with the frantically fleeing infantry and began to tighten the encirclement. Soon, they were engaged in close combat with the frantically fleeing Liu Bei cavalry. Wen Ping's cavalry was numerous and aggressive; Mi Fang's five hundred cavalry and five hundred infantry were less than a fraction of Wen Ping's army—how could they possibly withstand them? Wen Ping's cavalry routed Liu Bei's counterattack and successfully tightened the encirclement. Tens of thousands of Jingzhou cavalry surrounded the thousand infantrymen and cavalrymen, pressing them relentlessly. Most of the Xinye army died in battle, and the rest surrendered.

Mi Fang ran into Xinye City. Mi Zhu, disregarding everything else, hurriedly climbed the city walls and gasped in shock. Beneath the low walls of Xinye, layer upon layer, lay a dark, imposing mass of Cao Cao's iron cavalry. In the sunlight, their lances and sabers gleamed white, exuding a chilling aura.

"What's the casualty situation?" Mi Zhu descended the city wall and arrived at the command tent, feeling somewhat lost.

"This humble general deserves death! None of the thousand soldiers I led have returned," Mi Fang said, kneeling on one knee as the army doctor bandaged his wounds.

"Not a single one returned?!" Mi Zhu stood up and repeated it in a low voice, whether in question or in sigh, it was unclear.

“None have been returned. Please punish me, General.” Mi Fang repeated.

“You’re right,” Mi Zhu said through gritted teeth. “We only have three thousand men, and you defeated a thousand of them in one fell swoop, including five hundred cavalrymen, which has dampened our morale. Come on, take them out and behead them!”

Sun Qian and Jian Yong, who had been discussing in hushed tones with grave expressions, couldn't help but raise their heads upon hearing this. Mi Fang himself was also quite surprised. Wasn't the most important reason for the complete annihilation of his army the sheer strength of Cao Cao's forces? There was nothing Mi Fang could do, not to mention that he was Mi Zhu's own younger brother.

“With such a formidable enemy at hand, it’s not entirely General Mi Fang’s fault…” Although Sun Qian was preoccupied with intense thought and discussion about how to defeat the enemy, he could only spare a moment to offer some advice. “The most important thing now is to discuss how to repel the enemy outside. Although General Mi Fang has made mistakes, they are not punishable by death. Let him recover from his injuries first…”

Seeing this, Jian Yong also chimed in.

Mi Zhu had only blurted out the words of beheading in a fit of anger; how could he possibly behead his own brother? Now, taking advantage of the situation, he darkened his face, pointed at Mi Fang, and said, "I'll spare your life for now, but if anything happens to the safety of the two ladies and the young master because of you, you won't have enough heads to chop off!"

Chapter 113 Breakthrough

Meanwhile, Wen Ping's army arrived at the walls of Xinye and soon surrounded the city. Xinye's walls were low and likely couldn't hold out; there were only two options: hold out and wait for reinforcements, or break out.

Sun Qian and Jian Yong, staring blankly at the map, had stopped their hushed discussion and were now looking rather lost in thought. Mi Zhu, completely bewildered, ran over to check on them and found Sun Qian drenched in sweat, his back soaked through. Although Jingzhou was nearing springtime, the weather hadn't been this hot...

"General Mi and Mr. Sun, come out and answer us!" Suddenly, shouts rang out from outside. What had been faint at first grew into thunderous cries from Cao Cao's soldiers. "General Mi and Mr. Sun, come out and answer us! Mi Zhu and Sun Qian, come out and answer us!..." Mi Zhu shook his head and sighed. Sun Qian, seemingly just awakened, glanced at Mi Zhu, said nothing, and walked out. Mi Zhu hadn't wanted to go out, but seeing Sun Qian leave, he had no choice but to follow. Jian Yong also quickly went out, leaving Mi Fang alone in the tent to recover from her injuries.

Wen Ping sat languidly on his horse, two soldiers taking turns holding his green-cloud parasol. Cao Cao's soldiers formed neat fighting squads, completely surrounding Xinye City. Sun Qian listlessly climbed the city wall, Mi Zhu following him.

“Oh… Mr. Sun Qian… General Cai has sent me to take over Xinye City and invites you to Jingzhou to discuss important matters,” Wen Ping said in his usual smooth tone. “How about we send my troops into Xinye City? That way we won’t have to stand in the sun.”

“What if we refuse?” Sun Qian asked in a hoarse voice.

"Then don't blame me for being impolite." Wen Ping sneered, "The earthen walls of Xinye haven't even been repaired. How can they possibly withstand Cao Cao's tens of thousands of iron cavalry with just this?"

Sun Qian did not answer. After a long while, he said coldly, "Let us think about it." With that, he went down the city wall and went to the command tent.

"Mr. Sun, what should we do? You don't really want them to go into the city, do you?" Mi Zhu asked anxiously.

“Our current task is to bring the Crown Prince and his two wives safely into the Lord’s hands,” Sun Qian said in a hoarse voice.

"So... abandon Xinye City and break out?" Mi Zhu thought of Sun Qian's analysis from a few days ago.

"Can we get out?" Sun Qian's gaze was somewhat unfocused, and he pressed his hands tightly to his forehead. "Given the current situation, only General Guan can probably break through successfully... What can we do? Even if Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were alive, they wouldn't be able to do anything!" Sun Qian's voice rose from low to high, the last syllable sounding utterly desperate. Mi Zhu trembled with fear. If the Crown Prince and his two wives fell into Wen Ping's hands, he, Mi Zhu, would have no face to live on; he would have to atone with his death.

"Give it a try..." Mi Zhu said weakly.

Sun Qian didn't speak, but simply lowered his head. Jian Yong, who had been silent all along, finally made the decision for him. Jian Yong said softly, "Let's give it a try. Mobilize all the troops while Wen Ping is off guard."

Now Mi Zhu was the only remaining half-military officer; Mi Fang was injured, and Sun Qian and Jian Yong were scholars. Undoubtedly, Mi Zhu should be the one to escort them. Mi Zhu, seemingly reckless, ordered, "Bring me my gun! Have the rest of the men assemble. Invite the two ladies and the heir to the carriage, and proceed as rehearsed the other day!"

The troops were ready within ten minutes. Mi Zhu helped the two ladies into the carriage; Lady Mi was still holding A Dou in her arms. Liu Bei had recently married Lady Mi in Xinye, and their son was born six months later, a son born late in life. When Lady Mi gave birth to A Dou, she dreamed of swallowing the Big Dipper, hence the name Liu Shan, nicknamed A Dou. Mi Zhu, standing beside the carriage with his command sword at his waist and having discarded his spear, knelt on one knee and said, "Ladies, Wen Ping has surrounded Xinye, making it impassable. Now I must ensure that you and the young master reach the lord's camp safely. Please do not panic, and do not show yourselves. This carriage has been reinforced, some even with iron plates and stone slabs. Please try to hide behind the iron plates."

The two ladies were pitiful. A few days ago, they followed Guan Yu through five passes and slew six generals, traveling day and night for nearly a month, finally reuniting with Liu Bei. Now, after only a few days of peace in Xinye, Liu Bei has been frequently dispatched to war. During this campaign, Liu Biao suddenly passed away, and within days Wen Ping arrived in a menacing manner. Now, they are facing a situation where they must ride in a chariot to the battlefield and break through the encirclement of tens of thousands of Cao Cao's troops. Fortunately, the two ladies are understanding and have no complaints. Liu Bei has suffered repeated defeats and fled many times, which has honed his courage. Lady Gan, on behalf of the two ladies, said, "General Mi, please fight. We will follow your arrangements."

Mi Zhu nodded and was about to mount his horse when Madam Gan seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly said, "General, wait! All our troops are about to charge out. What about Mr. Sun Qian and Mr. Jian Yong?"

Upon hearing this, Mi Zhu lowered his head silently and remained silent.

Upon seeing this, Madam Gan understood most of the situation and couldn't help but shed tears.

Seeing his wife weep, Jian Yong couldn't help but shed tears as well. He wiped his own tears and said, "Madam, please go out. We will hold this place. Our lord has ten thousand cavalrymen, and generals like Yun Chang, Yi De, and Zi Long. They will surely return to rescue us." Though he said this, Jian Yong knew in his heart that Xinye City wouldn't last three days, and then he would die. He only said these words to comfort his wife. Madam Gan, whether she understood or not, continued to weep.

Mi Zhu, who had been bowing his head, finally raised it, but dared not look at his wife. He simply shouted, "Open the city gates! Breakout troops, get out of the city!"

The city gate slowly opened with a creaking sound.

A sharp-eyed Cao army soldier immediately spotted it and shouted, "The city gates are open! The city gates are open!" Wen Ping was startled and looked, and sure enough, it was so. Sun Qian had somehow climbed onto the city wall and shouted, "Wen Ping! Listen up! We're giving up Xinye, but you absolutely mustn't harm the people here!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ping knew they had indeed surrendered! The soldiers in Xinye numbered only a few thousand, and Liu Bei was not there either. Wen Ping had originally estimated that they would surrender and compromise, or that he could quickly defeat them even if they did not. And now it had indeed come to pass.

The city gates finally opened, and Mi Zhu, spear in hand, leaped onto his horse and charged out. The Cao army soldiers, thinking they were surrendering, were caught off guard and retreated in shock. Mi Zhu brandished his spear, killing several men, and shouted, "Wen Ping, you little thief! How could we surrender! Charge out! Protect the Lady!" Following the drill, two hundred cavalrymen on each flank fought fiercely, carving a bloody path and tearing open a gap several meters wide. Although the Cao army was initially caught off guard, they quickly regrouped and began their attack in layers.

Chapter 114 Breakthrough (Part Two)

Wenping was startled. He thought he had surrendered, but he didn't expect it to be a trick. He was furious.

Although Cao Cao's army was startled and retreated hastily, they still outnumbered the enemy. Their battle formations were layered and overlapping, completely surrounding Xinye City. Upon seeing Mi Zhu leading his chariots out, they all rushed towards them. Mi Zhu's chariots seemed to be stuck in mud, unable to move an inch, and the encirclement tightened further.

Mi Zhu fought fiercely, and soon his battle robe was stained with blood. He saw that Cao Cao's army was gathering in ever-growing numbers, and in front of him were layers upon layers of cavalry and infantry, making it clear that breaking through was impossible. Exhausted, Mi Zhu struggled to stay beside the two ladies' entourage.

Seeing Liu Bei's army dwindling in number as the fighting progressed, Wen Ping sneered, "Order the combat formations to divide Liu Bei's army and prevent them from getting close." As he spoke, he directed his guards to move closer to the center of the convoy, indicating that Wen Ping intended to personally lead the charge.

Upon seeing a group of Liu Bei's troops, Cao Cao's battle formation surrounded them with several times their numbers, inflicting heavy casualties on Liu Bei's army with spears. The cavalry were all forced to dismount, otherwise, they would be too conspicuous and easily killed by spears or arrows. Sure enough, in a short time, Liu Bei's army was almost wiped out. Only Mi Zhu, with fewer than a hundred men, desperately resisted, clinging to the carriages of Lady Gan and Lady Cai.

Wen Ping, on horseback, sneered repeatedly, raising his voice slightly: "Mi Zhu! Surrender with your two ladies, and we'll guarantee your safety. Otherwise, don't blame us for being merciless!" Mi Zhu was exhausted, barely able to lift his spear. He had been pierced by several spears, a sword strapped to his back, and his body was soaked in blood—it was unclear whether it was his own or splattered from the slain Cao soldiers. Seeing that his spear was dull and quite heavy, Mi Zhu threw it away, drew his sword, and slashed at several men, shouting fiercely, "Don't even think about it! Wen Ping, you petty thief, you've gotten your way! I, Mi Zhu, swear I'll never surrender!"

"Liu Bei ordered you to protect the ladies. Swords are merciless; if the two ladies die on the battlefield, how will you explain it!" Wen Ping, seeing this tactic fail, began to use the ladies' safety as leverage. Mi Zhu indeed paused, and another spear pierced his waist. Although the two ladies didn't look outside, they roughly guessed what was happening. Lady Gan shouted from inside the carriage, "General Mi! Don't listen to the treacherous Wen Ping's nonsense! Lady Mi and I swear we'd rather die than be prisoners of Cao Cao's army! I have a dagger!"

Mi Zhu was shocked. Lady Gan had hidden a dagger; it seemed she was prepared to commit suicide on the battlefield. He lamented his own incompetence, forcing both ladies to take their own lives. Thinking this, Mi Zhu burst into tears, held his sword horizontally to his neck, and prepared to end his life.

"General!" A soldier grabbed Mi Zhu. "General, wait! Look to the west!"

Mi Zhu, who was about to break free, glanced westward upon hearing "Look west," and froze. To the west, dust billowed, and thousands of horses galloped, shaking the heavens and earth. Several cavalrymen led the way, far ahead.

On the walls of Xinye, a different scene unfolded. Sun Qian, seeing Mi Zhu break through a path, initially thought there was hope, but in reality, he remained quite pessimistic. Sure enough, Cao Cao's army swelled, and Sun Qian could see at a glance that a breakout was hopeless. For some reason, Sun Qian stood blankly on the city wall, letting the arrows fly, appearing utterly dejected. What would happen next? Sun Qian dared not think about it. Would his two ladies be captured and fall into the hands of Lady Cai or Cao Cao? Would his two ladies commit suicide on the battlefield or be killed, and then, like ordinary soldiers or generals, have their heads cut off and displayed by the enemy before their horses or on the city walls as a display of victory? If that were the case, what face would any of the Liu Bei soldiers present have left to live? Even in death, it would be an indelible disgrace.

Sun Qian dared not even consider these possible outcomes; he simply stood frozen on the city wall. Arrows whizzed past his ears, and he almost wished they would just kill him outright, so he wouldn't have to witness the final carnage.

Both on and below the city walls, a slight tremor of heaven and earth was felt, followed by a sudden silence. All the soldiers, whether from Cao Cao's or Liu Bei's army, ceased fighting, stopped thrusting their spears, and stopped slashing with their swords. No matter which direction they faced, no matter how ferocious the faces of the enemies before them, they stopped, drawn to something in the distance. The sudden silence startled Sun Qian. He then saw billowing dust rising to the west.

"Could it be..." Jian Yong murmured beside him, "Could it be them...?"

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"From Shangyong..." Sun Qian seemed to have come to his senses, "Huang Zhong, it's Huang Zhong!"

"Mr. Sun! General Mi! General Huang Zhong, commander of Luo Chen's army, is leading 100,000 cavalry to our aid!" The messenger's voice echoed throughout the city.

For a moment, there was a brief silence, as if many hadn't yet reacted. A few seconds later, cheers erupted. The dying, the severely wounded, the surrounded and cut off by an enemy force several times their size, the desperately resisting Liu Bei's soldiers suddenly cheered with unbridled abandon. Then came the terrified neighing of horses, the astonished chatter of Cao Cao's soldiers, and the shouts of Cao Cao's battle formation captains: "No retreat! No retreat without orders!"

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"Take down Liu Bei's two wives first!" Wen Ping, as a general, momentarily showed panic, but soon his face hardened into a ferocious expression. Like a stubborn wild beast or snake from the south, no matter how powerful the enemy, he stubbornly believed in his own victory and was willing to use any means necessary to achieve it, until he exhausted his last ounce of strength. Even in his final moments, his stubborn gaze remained unchanged, ready to deliver a final mockery to the enemy.

But the passion and excitement that Liu Bei's army suddenly displayed was astonishing. Cao Cao's army was surprised to find that the more than one hundred Liu Bei soldiers, dressed in rags and covered in blood, suddenly showed expressions of joy and pride. They were no longer clumsy, exhausted, or timid. Instead, they threw themselves into the battle with almost joy and eagerness, as if they were saying, "Come on, if you dare! Don't you dare run away!"

Conversely, Cao Cao's army, which had initially believed they would easily win, realized how naive and laughable their thinking had been. They discovered that Liu Bei's soldiers were fighting with incredible ferocity, disregarding death and willing to choose mutual destruction without hesitation. How terrifying it is to fight against someone who is not afraid to die! Moreover, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves from the west constantly vibrated their eardrums, as if continuously telling them: "You won't live much longer! You will once again see gleaming sabers, crushed like ants under a horse's hooves. How long can you remain smug?"

Chapter 115 Massacre

Meanwhile, Mi Zhu, along with Lady Gan and Lady Cai, attempted to break through the encirclement but found themselves in dire straits. Just as he was about to commit suicide, Huang Zhong's 100,000 iron cavalry arrived in time to their rescue. The Cao army soldiers, who had been exceptionally arrogant just moments before, began to stir, their will to fight waning.

Wen Ping ordered that Lady Gan and Lady Cai be captured first, but Liu Bei's soldiers were greatly encouraged and resisted fiercely. Before they could even touch the two ladies' carriages, Huang Zhong's iron cavalry arrived first.

Huang Zhong charged ahead, wielding a broadsword, and plunged into the midst of Cao Cao's army. He swung his sword, slashing several men in succession. The remaining tens of thousands of Luo Army soldiers surged forward, their specially equipped sabers swung again in the sunlight. Cao Cao's army panicked, and screams of agony filled the air.

The Luo army's 10,000-plus cavalry on both flanks began a pincer attack. Meanwhile, Cao Cao's "870" soldiers in other areas of Xinye began to scatter. Cao Cao's battle formations, which appeared formidable, crumbled under the Luo army's charge. The soldiers within the formations disregarded their commanders' orders, pushing and shoving as they fled. Some of the more organized formations attempted to resist, but they were easily overwhelmed by the powerful Luo cavalry charge.

"Escort the two ladies back to the city!" Huang Zhong ordered loudly.

Hundreds of Luo Jun's iron cavalry surrounded the convoy, slowly making their way back to the city. The Cao army soldiers dared not obstruct them; anyone who dared to cross was slaughtered. Mi Zhu seemed to have exhausted his last ounce of strength, simply clinging to his horse and being led by soldiers as they slowly entered the city beside the two ladies' carriages. Sun Qian sat silently in a corner, letting out a long sigh, seemingly oblivious to the fierce battle raging outside. Indeed, the ladies and the safety of Xinye City were now truly assured.

Outside the city, Wen Ping's eyes were bloodshot as he gripped his sword tightly, hacking and slashing. However, the Luo army cavalry, in both quality and quantity, completely overwhelmed the Jingzhou cavalry. The Luo army cavalry were well-organized, coordinated in combat, and highly skilled in horsemanship and swordsmanship. They often charged without warning, their ferocious attacks leaving Jingzhou soldiers unprepared and dead. The Luo army encircled them from three sides, their center like a sledgehammer, smashing everything in its path. Wherever their heavy cavalry charged, groups of Jingzhou soldiers were left bleeding and their corpses lying on the ground. The Luo army's light cavalry on the flanks were even more elite and swift, driving any Jingzhou soldiers attempting to escape into the three-sided encirclement, either killing them outright or having them annihilated by the heavy cavalry in the center.

Huang Zhong's cavalry had flag bearers everywhere they went, passing on information, receiving orders, and guiding the cavalry's attack positions. Huang Zhong also had a large number of flag bearers and messengers around him, and he relied on these flag bearers and messengers to ensure that his nearly 100,000 troops faithfully executed his battle strategy in the ever-changing battlefield environment.

Sure enough, the Jingzhou soldiers staggered south, surrounded on three sides by the Luo army, like ducks being herded. The Luo army's three-sided encirclement was like a mobile slaughterhouse, with their iron cavalry relentlessly advancing and fiercely attacking the panicked Jingzhou cavalry inside. The Jingzhou cavalry could only flit about within the encirclement, only to be utterly crushed by the powerful Luo army's heavy cavalry. Some Jingzhou cavalrymen attempted to break free from the Luo army's three-sided attack, but the light cavalry on the flanks were not about to let them escape. They immediately launched attacks, routing those who tried to break out and forcing them back into the encirclement.

This was the first time Wen Ping had witnessed such a tactic of attack. He noticed that there seemed to be Luo Jun soldiers in every direction, these Luo Jun soldiers like wild beasts, and his soldiers like prey. In less than an hour, more than half of the 30,000 iron cavalry of Jingzhou had been lost, and this loss was a complete wipeout. Wen Ping felt extremely humiliated and furious. He had never encountered such misfortune in his military career. Wen Ping knew that if he didn't take action, he himself might be killed by those damned Luo Jun cavalry. He finally understood why Luo Chen's cavalry was so famous, why Luo Jun's cavalry could directly confront the Xiongnu iron cavalry and not be inferior at all. These cavalry were indeed too powerful; this level of skill was something that southern generals had never seen before.

Wen Ping's greatest desire was naturally to organize a counterattack, to strike the Luo army head-on and show them that he was no pushover. Unfortunately, looking at the panicked Jingzhou soldiers, their battle formations were completely disrupted. Junior officers, soldiers, and even squad leaders were all mixed together, with no discernible organization. To the Luo army, they were all identical prey. It seemed a counterattack was impossible. Wen Ping, sword in hand, charged forward. The Luo cavalry, though skilled, were no match for Wen Ping, this fierce southern general, and were instantly cut down. Wen Ping shouted, "Those who want to live, follow me!" He then unleashed a flurry of attacks. The Jingzhou soldiers, panicked and running around within the encirclement, seeing their men constantly being killed, were swayed by Wen Ping's shout. Desperate to survive, who wouldn't go? Sure enough, the Jingzhou soldiers quickly regrouped and launched a fierce attack on a single point within the Luo army's encirclement.

Wen Ping attacked the flank of the fleeing cavalry's light cavalry. The flank forces were few, and Wen Ping initially succeeded. However, Huang Zhong's command system was far from ineffective. Upon seeing this, Huang Zhong immediately ordered the breach blocked, while his heavy cavalry swept through. Riders and messengers moved constantly, and the heavy cavalry quickly changed direction, heading straight for the breakout point. Simultaneously, more light cavalry rushed in to block the breach. Wen Ping fought fiercely, and indeed, several hundred men broke through, while the remaining Jingzhou soldiers were trapped inside. Even worse, once the Jingzhou soldiers gathered, the heavy cavalry pounced, resulting in an instant massacre. Blood flowed like a river, and the Jingzhou soldiers screamed in agony. Only then did Huang Zhong order the four sides sealed off, completely surrounding the group. Huang Zhong shouted sternly, "Jingzhou soldiers, surrender! Don't fight for Cai Mao and his ilk! Surrender now, and you will be spared!"

Seeing that Wen Ping had fled, and unwilling to die for him, the Jingzhou cavalry dismounted and surrendered. Only about five thousand soldiers surrendered; the rest were all killed—a rare massacre. For dozens of miles south of Xinye, blood flowed the roads, and corpses littered the fields. This not only gave Cao Cao's army a taste of the ferocious slaughter of the Luojun cavalry, but also sent chills down the spines of the Jingzhou soldiers who heard of the Luojun's iron cavalry.

Wen Ping, with several hundred men, fled in panic. He knew that if he returned now, Cai Mao would surely not spare him, so he temporarily secluded himself in a fishing village on the banks of the Yangtze River, waiting for Cao Cao's army to march south before seeking refuge with him.

Chapter 116 On the Vast Grassland

Back on the dusty northern battlefields of the Xiongnu, Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu each led 60,000 elite cavalry westward from Shuofang, heading straight for the Hexi Corridor.

This was the first time that elite cavalry from the Central Plains had galloped across the vast grasslands. After crossing the Yellow River to the west, they would be completely separated from the Central Plains. They were now north of the Great Wall, on the western side of the section of the Yellow River that ran north-south in a "几" shape.

Slightly south of Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu's army was about 20,000 iron cavalry led independently by Luo Chen and Yan Qing.

This was an amazing journey.

Luo Chen had long resided in the Guanzhong region, occasionally venturing south to the Jianghuai area. This northward journey to the Xiongnu was his longest trip ever. Mounting his warhorse, dressed in simple officer's attire with a sword at his waist, he galloped across the vast grasslands. Luo Chen felt a surge of exhilaration, dispelling the gloom of the past few days' sluggish progress in battle. The further west he went, the thinner the grasslands became, gradually containing sand. The sound of his horse's hooves on this sand was vastly different from that on dense grass. Ten thousand cavalrymen galloped around Luo Chen, kicking up clouds of dust. Luo Chen was initially uncomfortable, but after a while, he got used to the constant cloud of dust brushing against his face. Fortunately, these guards and cavalrymen had undergone rigorous training and were accustomed to it.

The less green there is, the darker the sand becomes; further ahead, it's a deep yellow. Looking back, however, there's a faint green that stretches to the horizon. In the far distance, there seems to be a long, ribbon-like river, perhaps the Yellow River.

The cavalry moved like a hurricane, kicking up dust and standing out starkly on the vast steppe. Fortunately, the area was sparsely populated, and apart from their own troops, they saw no one else. Luo Chen, feeling slightly tired, pulled the galloping column aside to rest, and Yan Qing followed. The cavalry had practically trampled all the grass and swept away the dust. This was natural, given that thousands of horses had traversed the area. But the steppe was thick and vast, and the grass was resilient; perhaps when they returned months later, they would find the area restored to its former state, as if nothing had happened.

As for the low shrubs and dead branches on the ground, the cavalrymen found that they had disappeared without a trace after they passed by. The shrubs seemed to have been swept away directly, leaving only the yellowish-brown ground and sand.

"My lord, why don't we make a bed out of a net and have the soldiers carry you on horseback? That way you won't be so tired," Yan Qing suggested. Luo Chen chuckled. How could he even think of that? Wouldn't that make him a prisoner? He wouldn't be the lord then! Luo Chen waved his hand with a smile: "No need, I can adapt." "My lord is so busy with affairs of state, and now you have to endure the bumpy ride on horseback..." Yan Qing muttered. Luo Chen couldn't help but laugh, but didn't reply.

However, Luo Chen was indeed no match for those cavalrymen who spent their lives on horseback. After all, he was the lord in command, spending his days in the central command tent contemplating battles, and had no time for daily training. The guards, on the other hand, were adept at their duties, specifically responsible for protecting Luo Chen's safety and handling emergencies. The guards circled Luo Chen at a moderate pace, galloping across the vast grassland.