Mythical Three Kingdoms

Regarding Chen Xi’s orders, Guan Yu did not cut corners. At least, Guan Yu approved of everything about Chen Xi’s performance after the Hulao Pass incident. Although sometimes Chen Xi’s laid-back attitude was excessive, making Guan Yu find it unbelievable, Guan Yu absolutely recognized Chen Xi’s abilities.

At least in Guan Yu’s view, the battle that routed a million Yellow Turbans merged their bravery with his ingenious strategy, revealing the whole from a glimpse; naturally, Guan Yu held Chen Xi in high esteem.

After Xuu Chu’s army was ready, the messenger finally arrived in front of Zhao Yun, who, thanks to the White Horse Soldiers’ astonishing mobility, had perfectly completed the task of intercepting Yuan Shao’s Army’s left and right camps. Upon receiving the order, Zhao Yun did not linger and turned his horse around, ready to rout the Central Army in battle.

Yann Liang went on a fierce rampage and swiftly killed his way back, joining forces with Yuan Shao’s Army at one location, and then he found Jiangh Qi, who was dressed in ordinary Miscellaneous Soldiers’ armor. ”Righteous Follower, can you hold on?”

”It’s not a big problem.” Jiangh Qi glanced at Yann Liang. ”Stay away from me. I don’t have your strength. If that monster Zhao Yun sees you standing with me, he’ll certainly shoot an arrow over. You might be fine, but I’m sure to die.”

”Nonsense, with my protection, and two thousand strong soldiers, there’s absolutely no way Zhao Zilong could kill you,” Yann Liang said confidently.

”That’s easy to say, but what I mean is, during warfare, don’t stand beside the commander-in-chief. Not everyone can dress as brightly as you do and not get killed,” Jiangh Qi remarked while estimating the extent of entanglement between Liu Bei’s Army and Yuan Shao’s Army and speaking to Yann Liang.

In the previous clash, Chen Xi’s phalanx had also become unstable, having been penetrated by not a few soldiers, which naturally led to the soldiers from Liu Bei’s Army adopting a more adept fighting stance and starting a melee with Yuan Shao’s Army.

”What’s there to fear?” Yann Liang laughed and said, ”I somewhat underestimated Guan Yu. That guy’s strength is comparable to mine. My brothers might be slightly less formidable, but the gap isn’t very pronounced. However, the advantage of his horse is too obvious. My green horse is a gift from our lord, rare in this world. Next time I encounter Guan Yu, I must be careful; his horse is fast and his blade is heavy—a moment of carelessness could be fatal!”

”Alright, I got it. Go to the rear camp and equip what I have prepared for dealing with the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry. We have probed their strength enough,” Jiangh Qi waved his hand, signaling Yann Liang to hurry. Yuan Shao’s Army could not afford to suffer more losses.

”Are you sure you can handle the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry? You don’t know that last time Zhengli was almost killed by an elite Trap Formation of Bingzhou Wolves. He still hasn’t recovered,” Yann Liang was taken aback and asked. Jiangh Qi never mentioned he had some secret weapon, yet now he claimed, unabashedly, to be able to counter the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry.

”You’ll know once you’re there. Yanu really lives up to its reputation as the heartland of the Central Plains. So great. I heard that Liu Bei’s key supporters are on the other side. Cutting off one of Liu Bei’s arms wouldn’t be so bad,” Jiangh Qi’s face revealed a chilling smile. ”Charging into battles is not my strong suit, but commanding troops—I won’t disappoint Ju Gong for his high regard.”

In the moment of Jiangh Qi’s smile, Yann Liang felt a cold chill rise in his heart and nodded in acknowledgment, completely disregarding the fact that he had no idea what equipment Jiangh Qi had prepared.

After Yann Liang left, Jiangh Qi issued the final command: the entire army was to conduct a decisive counter-charge; to succeed or die trying.

”Why do I feel this situation is getting weirder and weirder? We, who should be attacking, are now in a defensive position. Yuan Shao’s Army, which should be defending and waiting for reinforcements, is now desperately attacking. Are they trying to swallow us with a surge of morale?” Chen Xi said with an odd expression.

Chen Xi somewhat regretted his earlier assumption that this battle would be easy. He thought it would be a good opportunity to train newcomers, so he had Chen Chi command the Central Army, with Guan Yu and Zhao Yun finding gaps to exploit. But now, they had encountered this situation.

”Something isn’t right. Have you noticed a problem? The number of soldiers in Yuan Shao’s Army seems off,” Guo Jia said, frowning.

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At this moment, Xu Chu had already led the Tiger Guard Army to crash into the midst of Yuan Shao’s forces, creating a breach with their sharp momentum. Guan Yu, leading the School Sabre Bearers, was frantically widening this gap, and it was estimated that another quarter hour would completely split Yuan Shao’s Army in two.

”It seems like there are three to five thousand men missing,” Chen Xi said with a frown. ”If it were the reserve troops, they should have shown up by now. Once Zhongkang and the second brother break through Yuan Shao’s Army from the front, Zilong will definitely mobilize the Cloud Qi without any reservations, unleashing a devastating blow,” Chen Xi added, with a strange expression.

”Once it gets to that situation, the White Horse Righteous Followers will charge straight in. Even if the enemy has reserve troops, there’s no way they could turn the tide. The entire army will have only one route to take—to collapse. Even if they are counterattacking desperately right now, morale can only last through a single drum beat under those circumstances!” Guo Jia analyzed rapidly.

”Are you suggesting that the enemy is confident that within a single drum beat, they can take down Zilong and the White Horse Righteous Followers?” Chen Xi asked, furrowing his brow. ”Zilong isn’t like Gongsun Bogui, that type of rash man, and this is a plain, without the limitations of Jieqiao.”

”Jieqiao?” Guo Jia was startled, then suddenly realized, ”Zichuan, order Zilong to pull back quickly. Don’t charge in; I fear the enemy intends to recreate the special terrain from the battle at Jieqiao. They might actually be able to do it!”

”It’s too late! Send orders to Gong Xi fast!” Chen Xi also started, instantly grasping the situation. The enemy was indeed trying to create the same type of terrain as at Jieqiao. Although that kind of terrain would only last for a few breaths of time, Chen Xi didn’t dare to gamble. A few breaths could well be enough to turn the tide.

The White Horse Righteous Followers were indeed swift, but with Xu Chu breaking through the enemy, Guan Yu expanding the advantage, and Zhao Yun crushing the enemy’s momentum, the fact remained that at the moment of breakthrough, the Yuan Shao’s Army was essentially surrounded by forces on both sides, though these forces were on the verge of collapse.

If the enemy could indeed turn the battle around within a single drum beat, then the Yuan Shao’s soldiers crumbling on both sides would form a barrier as restrictive as the one at Jieqiao, and a single push would be enough to trap the White Horse inside. Without their speed, the White Horse Righteous Followers would be even less useful than foot soldiers. This was a lesson paid for in blood!

”Liangyu, go up and see if Tian Feng’s Stronghold has any other protection besides the wicker fence,” Guo Jia surveyed the surroundings continuously, and then suddenly stood up and asked.

”Returning to Military Advisor Guo, Tian Feng’s Stronghold only has an outer wicker fence. After a previous battle, the surrounding camps have also been destroyed, leaving nothing but flat land in front of the entire stronghold,” Ruan Liangyu reported after looking from atop the carriage scaffolding.

”Is that truly the case?” Guo Jia asked, then smiled wryly, ”Zichuan, we may face the biggest failure since we started following our lord.”

”Failure?” Chen Xi raised an eyebrow, ”I don’t think we’re going to lose!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian ). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)