Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1522: Chapter 1465: An Imperial Edict Arrives

Stabilizing the rear army, Chen Dao led his trusted aides to withstand the relentless arrow rain from the Cao Army, jointly resisting the fierce attacks from Le Jin and Li Dian, and even nearly began to reverse push Le Jin and Li Dian’s troops with the strength that was almost like that of a Military Spirit Legion.

Unfortunately, Chen Dao’s Military Spirit Legion was, after all, evolved from a Legion Talent. Although far stronger than normal elite troops, it bore only the combat power Juo Yi had before the Military Spirit was separated out. Surrounded and under a rain of arrows, it was difficult for Chen Dao to forcibly break through the situation.

Although they could suppress several times the elite forces, due to being ambushed and suffering significant losses, deeply trapped, it was fundamentally difficult for them to break out by charging. At most, the trusted aides led by Chen Dao could stabilize the line, with great difficulty going further.

Add to this that Le Jin, now full of fighting spirit and unaware of how daunting it was to battle against Chen Dao Guards, unleashed combat power under the pretext of ignorance and fearlessness that even made it difficult for Chen Dao Guards to capture.

However, Chen Dao and others were deeply ensnared in the formation, fearing that once Xun Youi brought the archers over, the situation would drastically change.

”It’s truly formidable, but this kind of consumption cannot go on.” Xun Youi gazed afar at the heart of the formation and ordered people to pull over the last two reserves of a thousand men each; it didn’t matter whether using crossbows or bows and arrows, shooting at the Liu Bei’s Army surrounded at the heart of the formation from the rooftops.

Just as Xun Youi was deploying reserve forces preparing to shoot down Liu Bei’s Army from the rooftops, a contingent suddenly arrived.

”Why have you suddenly come here?” Xun Youi frowned as he looked at the approaching Cao Hong.

”The Lord has ordered a ceasefire between our army and Liu Bei’s Army to jointly proceed northward to campaign against the Huns!” Cao Hong said to Xun Youi.

Xun Youi’s expression tightened. Watching the Cao Army gradually reach the rooftops, he sighed after pondering for a moment, ”Sound the gong!”

Amidst the sharp bronze gong sound from within Chenliu City, despite being very puzzled, the Cao Army, under the leadership of Le Jin and Li Dian, immediately retreated to the rear, clearing a large space for Liu Bei’s Army, which was besieged on Central Avenue.

By now understanding the situation, the disheveled Liu Ye looked in disbelief at the withdrawing Cao Army, while Yu Jin and Chen Dao seized the opportunity to regroup and sought a breakout direction. However, both sides were filled with civilian houses, and the front and rear were Cao Army. For a moment, Chen Dao and Yu Jin couldn’t come up with a good solution.

Liu Ye, with a gloomy expression, looked across, knowing he had been calculated, yet found no feasible solution amidst such circumstances.

”If the situation becomes dire later, you initiate a Legion Attack to destroy the dwellings on the left side and break out without worrying about me.” Liu Ye transmitted his voice to Yu Jin and Chen Dao. If not needing to protect him, Yu Jin and Chen Dao together might have had a fair chance of breaking out.

Liu Ye’s voice revealed a clear trace of desolation. He didn’t expect to fall prey to such a low-level scheme. However, it could be said that the simplest strategies often turned out most effective, but indeed he was too confident.

”How could we abandon our strategist and leave?” Yu Jin and Chen Dao both responded thus.

”Say no more. Once the Cao Army’s archers get onto the roofs, none of us will be able to break out. Under the significant suppression of Cloud Qi in the city, whether a Legion Attack can even destroy the side dwellings is doubtful; there is only one chance!” Liu Ye issued an indisputable order.

Liu Ye knew that if captured, he might not necessarily die and would potentially rise again later, but Chen Dao and Yu Jin, once captured, would have entirely different fates.

”Liu Ziyang, come out.” At this time, Xun Youi, riding a horse, came to the front to call across to the opposing military formation.

”So it was you!” Liu Ye, with a grim expression, stepped out from the formation.

”The Emperor has ordered from the day of the Imperial Edict, all Feudal Lords supporting the Han Dynasty to cease any warfare until the invading Northern Huns are defeated.” Xun Youi looked at Liu Ye and said indifferently.

”I don’t believe just this one Imperial Edict could make you stop. I never believed you, Xun Youi, to be that kind of person!” A glint of coldness flashed in Liu Ye’s eyes. If the Northern Hun invasion were true, then such an order from Liu Xie made sense, but why was Xun Youi complying!

”Let me put it this way: in a confrontation of roughly equal strength, apart from Chen Zichuan who makes me wary, you are not worth mentioning.” Xun Youi spoke calmly.

Liu Ye’s expression turned exceedingly dark, glaring coldly at Xun Youi who unabashedly revealed his indifference.

”Let’s put it this way, under Grand Commandant Liu, even without Chen Zichuan, you wouldn’t be in the First Sequence. Moreover, my coming to Chenliu was not to deal with you; you at most counted as a side dish. Our target is Chen Xi.” Xun Youi, unaffected by Liu Ye’s expression, said calmly.

”The arrangements in Wancheng with Zhongde, Miaocai, Boyuan were merely bait. Chenliu Commandery being surrounded on three sides was never abandoned to wait for this occasion, but alas...” Xun Youi sighed as he spoke.

Liu Ye, looking incredulously at Xun Youi, quickly understood what was happening under Xun Youi’s hint. Without accidents, he would inevitably lose at Chenliu, and Xun Youi, with his Commander’s Seal and banner, would head south directly into Yingchuan. Should Chen Xi be unprepared, he would undoubtedly fall under a three-pronged attack.

Surrounded on three sides wasn’t just the case with Chenliu Commandery; Yingchuan county was similarly surrounded!

”It seems you’ve figured it out, but Liu Xuande’s luck is too good!” Xun Youi sighed. Originally destined circumstances for a triad attack by Xun Youi, Cheng Yu, and Zhou Yu at the edges of Yuzhou against Chen Xi, suddenly made hopeless.

”How could you be sure Zichuan would go to Yingchuan!” After a long silence, Liu Ye said. Chen Xi was traveling separately from the main forces, and thus far, no outsider should know Chen Xi’s whereabouts.

”If you can guess, why can’t I?” Xun Youi calmly replied, ”Leave it at that; let’s hope you have such luck next time.”

As he spoke, Xun Youi had already ordered Cai Yang at the rear army to open a path for Chen Dao and others to leave. If they couldn’t capture Chen Xi, then killing Liu Ye’s group wouldn’t fundamentally change the current situation. Rather than wasting resources, it was better to allow passage.

[Who knows if such an opportunity will arise again, but capturing Liu Ye and others would drain resources for nothing. Unless I carry out a thorough job and kill them here, otherwise, in the subsequent national war, Liu Xuande and the Lord might communicate frequently, and the three might also be released back...]

Xun Youi looked at the slowly retreating figures of Liu Ye and others with a bit of bitterness in his heart, confident he could capture the three, but such an outcome would not bode well for the national war. Moreover, with Xun Youi’s intelligence, though hard to believe, he already understood Cao Cao’s intent.

[Oh Emperor, may you not let us down. Let Chenliu stand as the bridgehead left for you. Leading your forces from here, you will gain riches throughout the world.]

Xun Youi thought with a bitter smile. He didn’t hold much hope for such affairs. He had encountered Liu Xie when serving as Yellow Gate Attendant and indeed found him smart, but having experienced so little, Liu Xie really didn’t know how to revitalize the Han Dynasty.