Yan Province, Dong Commandery
Tonight, the fires at Cangting Ferry burned brighter than ever before.
Even the darkness that normally shrouded the opposite bank of the river was illuminated by the glow.
Standing atop the watchtower with his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Jing gazed silently toward the north.
“My lord.”
Xi Zhicai spoke softly.
“It’s already very late.”
“You should get some rest.”
“I’m sure Fengxiao and the others will return victorious.”
In truth, Xi Zhicai himself found it impossible to remain calm.
Although he and Guo Jia often debated strategy and spoke with great confidence, tonight’s battle was the first campaign either of them had undertaken since entering official service.
Moreover, Zhang Jing had entrusted them with tremendous responsibility and given them his full support.
For both Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia, this battle carried extraordinary significance.
“It’s alright.”
Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“I already rested earlier.”
“At this very moment, Fengxiao and the others are fighting at Dongwuyang.”
“How could I possibly sleep peacefully?”
“I imagine you feel the same way, Zhicai.”
“My lord sees clearly.”
Xi Zhicai made no attempt to deny it.
If someone told him to go to sleep now, there wasn’t the slightest chance he could.
“Bring the chessboard.”
Zhang Jing said, “Let’s play a game of chess while we wait for Fengxiao’s report of victory.”
“It would be my honor.”
Xi Zhicai bowed, finding the suggestion quite agreeable.
…………
“Kill!”
At this moment, the eastern side of Dongwuyang looked like an ocean of flames.
Firelight blazed into the sky, while the sounds of battle echoed across the countryside.
Clang! Clang!
Slash!
“Charge!”
Under Pan Zhang’s command, the Forlorn Hope Battalion hurled burning torches into the residence where Lü Bu was staying.
Then they immediately launched a fierce assault on the front gate.
Outside the entrance, more than two hundred soldiers of the Camp Crusher formed a defensive formation.
Armed with long halberds, short halberds, and heavy shields, they held their ground.
Even against an assault by more than a thousand attackers, not one of them retreated a single step.
“Kill!”
The Forlorn Hope Battalion possessed no heavy shields.
Yet every one of them fought without fear of death.
Even as comrades fell before them, they continued thrusting their spears at the Camp Crusher soldiers, utterly disregarding their own lives.
Before the battle, their lord and Staff Officer Guo Jia had already warned them:
This battle had to be won quickly.
Otherwise, it would end in complete defeat.
“Kill!!”
Even the battle-hardened veterans of the Camp Crusher couldn’t help but be shaken by such ferocity.
“Change formation!”
Seeing the vanguard stall, Pan Zhang shouted coldly.
“Rear ranks!”
“Form squads!”
“Several men to a single long spear!”
“Charge together and smash through that turtle shell!”
“If you die, you’ll be honored in the Hall of Heroes!”
“Slay the enemy commander! Seize the banner! Advance even unto death!”
Pan Zhang knew perfectly well that the Camp Crusher Camp was an elite force even Zhang Jing considered troublesome.
Otherwise, there would’ve been no need to deploy the Forlorn Hope Battalion.
Besides, the Camp Crusher Camp numbered around eight hundred men.
Only about two hundred had assembled here so far.
If all eight hundred managed to regroup, their carefully prepared ambush would become nothing more than a joke.
“Slay the enemy commander! Seize the banner! Advance even unto death!”
As Pan Zhang roared the slogan, the Forlorn Hope soldiers became even more frenzied.
Quickly, they organized themselves into several assault teams.
Each team gripped a single massive spear together, charging like battering rams, without the slightest hesitation, straight into the Camp Crusher formation.
“Brothers!”
Pan Zhang roared once more.
“Charge!”
“Even if you have to climb over the bodies of your comrades!”
“Break through!”
“And even if you die inside the enemy formation, don’t let your brothers’ blood be spilled in vain!”
“Kill!”
Even the Camp Crusher soldiers were stunned by the enemies charging fearlessly toward them.
Every swing of their halberds claimed multiple lives.
Yet not a single attacker stopped advancing.
“Slay the enemy commander! Seize the banner! Advance even unto death!”
One Forlorn Hope soldier, already mortally wounded, threw both hands around a Camp Crusher heavy shield, his eyes blazing with madness.
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
“Break through!”
Pan Zhang gritted his teeth.
This wasn’t his first battlefield.
But it was undoubtedly the bloodiest one he had ever experienced.
Crash!
At last, one section of the Camp Crusher shield wall could no longer withstand the relentless assault and collapsed.
“Charge!”
“Advance even unto death!”
Ignoring the halberds thrusting toward them, the Forlorn Hope soldiers surged through the breach, their long spears leading the way.
“They’ve broken through…”
Watching from a distance, Guo Jia’s expression remained solemn.
Even he couldn’t help being moved by the Forlorn Hope Battalion’s suicidal determination.
“General Dian Wei!”
Guo Jia called out.
“Take one thousand men from the Central Army and support the Forlorn Hope Battalion.”
“Under no circumstances can the Camp Crusher Camp be allowed to reform their formation.”
With his strategic eye, Guo Jia understood exactly where the Camp Crusher Camp’s true strength lay— not merely in the bravery of its soldiers, but in their flawless coordination within formation.
“Understood!”
Dian Wei nodded heavily.
Inside the residence, Lü Bu stood with an imposing expression.
His wife, Lady Yan, helped him fasten the last pieces of his armor.
In the courtyard, stood a magnificent horse.
Over eight chi tall, ten chi long, its entire body gleamed like living flames.
Sensing the commotion outside, Red Hare pawed impatiently at the ground.
“My lord.”
When Gao Shun entered, he saw that Lü Bu had already finished putting on his armor.
He immediately bowed.
“The Camp Crusher soldiers guarding the residence have been driven back.”
“The remaining troops have gathered and are defending the front gate.”
“Come.”
Lü Bu’s face turned icy cold.
“Follow me.”
“We’ll cut our way out.”
“They’re nothing but a band of thieves.”
“And yet they dare ambush me.”
“They truly have a death wish.”
With those words, Lü Bu picked up his Sky-Piercing Halberd, then mounted Red Hare with majestic confidence.
Neigh!
Red Hare let out a thunderous whinny, spun around in a flash, and galloped toward the residence gate.
Gao Shun hurried after him.
“Kill!!”
At this point, the Forlorn Hope Battalion had already broken into the residence, where they engaged the newly assembled Camp Crusher Camp in fierce hand-to-hand combat.
“Out of my way!”
Lü Bu charged out from the inner courtyard and roared, “I, Lü Fengxian, am here! How dare you act so presumptuously!”
With a thunderous shout, he burst forward.
Wherever Red Hare thundered past, not a single opponent could withstand even one exchange.
“Where is your commanding general?!”
In moments, Lü Bu had fought his way out of the residence.
Several Forlorn Hope soldiers were sent flying by his charge.
Standing proudly with overwhelming presence, he bellowed, “I, Lü Fengxian, stand here! Who dares face me in battle?”
Neigh!
As though it possessed human intelligence, Red Hare reared onto its hind legs, working in perfect harmony with Lü Bu as they cut down enemies in every direction.
“Loose!”
Yet what awaited Lü Bu was not an enemy champion.
Instead, a cold, emotionless command rang out— followed immediately by two hundred heavy crossbow bolts that had been prepared in advance.
Flying alongside them were several throwing halberds hurled by Dian Wei.
“How dare you!!”
The instant he sensed the incoming attack, Lü Bu’s expression changed drastically.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Facing such an overwhelming barrage,
Lü Bu swung his Sky-Piercing Halberd to its absolute limit.
Even so, he could not knock aside every projectile.
Neigh—!
Boom!
As Lü Bu leapt from the saddle to avoid the attack, Red Hare let out a cry of agony.
“You vermin…”
“…YOU SEEK DEATH!!!”
Seeing his beloved steed grievously wounded and on the brink of death, Lü Bu was consumed by boundless fury.
His eyes were bloodshot with rage.
“Lü Bu!”
“I, Dian Wei, will face you!”
With a solemn expression, Dian Wei stepped out from the ranks, twin halberds in hand, and strode into the middle of the long street.
“DIE!!!”
Nearly driven mad with grief, Lü Bu rushed forward, his Sky-Piercing Halberd aimed straight at Dian Wei.
Red Hare was far more than a cherished horse.
It was the prize Lü Bu had obtained only after murdering his superior and forever staining his own reputation.
It could be said that he had sacrificed far too much for this horse.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two exchanged three lightning-fast blows.
Each collision of their weapons sent showers of sparks flying.
“Again!”
Dian Wei didn’t feel satisfied in the slightest.
At the same time, he fully acknowledged Lü Bu’s terrifying strength.
“Kill!”
Lü Bu’s face remained as cold as ice.
Without wasting another word, he threw himself back into battle with Dian Wei.
“He truly is a fierce tiger…”
Watching the duel, Guo Jia couldn’t help but feel inwardly shaken.
A warrior of this caliber was powerful enough to determine the outcome of an entire small-scale battle almost single-handedly.
— The end of the Chapter–
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