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As Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin's forces advanced, unaware of the imminent threat, Lie Fan raised his hand, signaling the beginning of their counteroffensive. The Qilin Army, with renewed vigor and strategic positioning, launched a ferocious assault. The battlefield erupted in a cacophony of steel and shouts as the Qilin Army surged forward, catching the enemy off guard.
Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin, confident in their apparent victory, led their forces deeper into the heart of the battlefield. Their deception had worked, or so they believed, and they were ready to press their advantage. But as they advanced, they quickly realized their mistake.
Lie Fan's counteroffensive was swift and decisive. The Qilin Army, under the coordination of Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, executed their plan flawlessly. The Chao brothers, Zang Ba, Ji Ling, and Xu Rong led their troops with precision, unleashing a devastating assault on Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin's unsuspecting men.
Xiahou Dun found himself suddenly face-to-face with Ji Ling. The two warriors clashed in a fierce duel, their swords flashing in the sunlight. Ji Ling's strength and skill were formidable, fortunately for Xiahou Dun he could keep up with him, blow after blow was exchanged between the two.
Yu Jin, meanwhile, encountered Zang Ba. The two warriors engaged in a brutal fight, their weapons ringing out with each strike. Zang Ba's relentless attacks pushed Yu Jin back, his defenses faltering under the onslaught as he isn't as skilled as Zhang Ba.
The battlefield was chaotic as Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin's forces, caught off guard by the sudden and ferocious counterattack, began to falter. The Qilin Army, reinvigorated by their well-executed trap, pressed their advantage, cutting through the enemy ranks with brutal efficiency.
Lie Fan watched from his command post, his eyes sharp and focused. "Press the attack!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the din of battle. "Do not let them regroup!"
The Qilin Army responded with a renewed surge of energy. The Chao brothers, leading their men with unparalleled ferocity, carved a path through the enemy lines. Zang Ba's relentless assault left Yu Jin barely able to defend himself. Ji Ling's duel with Xiahou Dun reached a fever pitch, each warrior pushing the other to their limits.
Xiahou Dun, realizing the dire situation, called out to his men, "Fall back! Regroup!" But it was too late. The Qilin Army's trap had been sprung, and there was no escape. His men were scattered and demoralized, their earlier momentum shattered.
Ji Ling, sensing victory, tried to press his advantage. With a powerful strike, he tried to disarm Xiahou Dun, but he failed as Xiahou Dun managed to parry his attack skilfully blocking his attempt.
Xiahou Dun, with a surge of determination, countered Ji Ling's attack with a skillful parry. The clash of their weapons sent shockwaves through the air, momentarily stunning Ji Ling. Seizing the opportunity, Xiahou Dun called out once more, his voice cutting through the chaos, "Retreat! Regroup now!"
His men, spurred by his command, began to pull back, attempting to escape the tightening grip of the Qilin Army. Xiahou Dun, not wasting a moment, made his way toward Yu Jin's position.
Yu Jin was on the brink of collapse under Zang Ba's relentless assault. Each strike from Zang Ba's weapon pushed Yu Jin closer to defeat, his defenses weakening with every blow. But before Zang Ba could deliver the final strike, Xiahou Dun intervened, his weapon clashing with Zang Ba's, deflecting the attack with a powerful thrust.
"Hold your ground, Yu Jin!" Xiahou Dun shouted his presence a beacon of hope for his beleaguered comrade. With Xiahou Dun's assistance, Yu Jin managed to steady himself, rallying his remaining strength.
Together, Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin launched a coordinated effort to push back Zang Ba, their combined skill and determination creating a brief but crucial opening. "Fall back!" Xiahou Dun ordered again, his voice resolute. "We retreat to Xuchang!"
Zang Ba, though momentarily stumped by the duo's resurgence, quickly regrouped his own forces. "Don't let them escape! Pursue them!" he commanded, his eyes locked on the retreating enemy.
As Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin led their forces in a strategic withdrawal, the Qilin Army pressed their attack, determined to capitalize on their advantage. Despite the chaos and confusion, Yu Jin's tactical acumen and Xiahou Dun's resilience managed to buy them enough time to organize a retreat.
Though the retreat was not without losses, Xiahou Dun's leadership and Yu Jin's strategic acumen ensured that a significant portion of their army managed to pull back in an orderly fashion, even though their forces were too worn for another battle.
As they regrouped on the outskirts of the battlefield, Xiahou Dun turned to Yu Jin, his expression grim but determined. "We need to head to Xuchang immediately. Our men need rest, and we must replenish our supplies and wait for reinforcements from the West."
Yu Jin nodded in agreement. "I concur. Pushing forward in our current state would be reckless. We must ensure our men are ready for the next confrontation."
With their decision made, Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin began the march toward Xuchang, their men following with weary but disciplined steps. They knew that rest and recovery were essential before they could face Lie Fan's Army once again.
Back on the battlefield, the Chao Brothers, Zang Ba, Ji Ling, and Xu Rong, with Zhang Liao and Gao Shun at their helm, watched the retreating enemy with a mixture of frustration and determination.
"Shall we pursue them?" Chao Bo asked, his eagerness to press the advantage clear in his voice.
Zhang Liao, however, shook his head. "Our Lord, Master Jia Xu, and Master Xun You have ordered us to stay put. Our men are exhausted and have sustained heavy losses. We cannot risk overextending ourselves."
Zang Ba, nodding in agreement, added, "We've won this battle, but we need to consolidate our gains and allow our troops to recover. Chasing them now could turn our victory into a pyrrhic one."
Xu Rong and Ji Ling, though equally eager for pursuit, understood the wisdom in their words. "We must trust in the leadership of Our Lord and the Masters," Ji Ling said, his tone resolute.
Lie Fan, standing alongside Jia Xu and Xun You, observed his generals and soldiers with a mixture of pride and caution. "Our victory here is significant, but we must not be reckless. Ensure our men are tended to, and fortify our positions. We will press our advantage, but only when we are ready."
Jia Xu nodded, his keen mind already working on the next steps. "I agree, My Lord. We should also use this time to recuperate our supplies and gather intelligence on our enemies' movements. They will not sit idly by."
Xun You agreed. "Our next move must be calculated and precise. We will continue to monitor Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin, but our primary focus now is on recovery and preparation."
With their orders given, the Qilin Army began the process of tending to the wounded, securing their positions, and preparing for the next phase of their campaign. The battlefield, though quieted for now, was a testament to brutal battle that had happened.
As Lie Fan and the Qilin Army triumphn't over Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin, to their east at Jibei, the relentless siege battle there raged on. Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian, determined to break through, led their forces in continuous assaults on the fortified town.
The defenders, led by the Dian Wei and the Chen Deng, leading the Baihu Army, met each attack with fierce resistance and coordinated defenses that make Jibei looks impenetrable.
The battlefield was a brutal tableau of warfare. Siege engines hurled projectiles, and the clash of steel echoed through the air. Despite the intensity of the assaults, neither side showed any sign of yielding.
The determination of both the attackers and defenders resulted in mounting casualties, the ground stained with the blood of countless soldiers that had fallen on this battle.
Dian Wei, his armor covered in grime and blood, rallied his troops from the walls. "Hold the line! Do not let them breach our defenses! Keep your eyesight focused on the enemies!"
Chen Deng, equally resolute, coordinated the defense with precision. "Archers keep firing, do not stop! Concentrate on their siege engines! We must disrupt their momentum!"
Xiahou Yuan, observing the battlefield, saw the need for a new tactic. "Li Dian, we need to break their spirit. Focus our forces on a concentrated assault on their weakest point. We must create a breach!"
Li Dian nodded, his eyes scanning the fortifications for any sign of vulnerability. "I see it. Their northern wall is our best chance. Prepare the men for a full-scale attack."
The attackers regrouped, preparing for the decisive assault. Siege towers were repositioned, and battering rams were brought forward. As the signal was given, Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian led the charge, their men following with a renewed ferocity.
On the walls, Dian Wei and Chen Deng braced for the impact. "Prepare for the worst!" Dian Wei shouted, his voice booming over the chaos. "We will not falter!"
The assault was fierce and unrelenting. Xiahou Yuan's forces threw everything they had at the northern wall, determined to breach it. The defenders, though strained and battered, fought back with equal intensity, refusing to give an inch.
The stalemate continued, the battle's outcome hanging in the balance. Every inch of ground was contested fiercely, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The determination of the Baihu Army and the strategic acumen of their leaders were tested to the utmost.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the battlefield, the intensity of the fighting gradually diminished. Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian, recognizing the futility of continuing the assault in the dark, ordered their men to cease the attack and regroup. The defenders of Jibei, equally exhausted, took the opportunity to fortify their positions and tend to the wounded.
In the command tent, Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian pored over maps and discussed their strategy for the next day's confrontation. The tent was a hive of activity, with officers coming and going, relaying orders and updates. Suddenly, a messenger burst into the tent, a scroll bearing Cao Cao's seal in his hand.
Xiahou Yuan took the scroll and broke the seal, unfurling the letter. He read its contents quickly, his expression growing serious as the content if the letters inform him to retreat from Jibei and fortify Puyang. Li Dian watched him intently, waiting for Xiahou Yuan to inform him. Closing the letter, Xiahou Yuan inform Li Dian of the order they received from Cao Cao which caused the two of them to grimace as the sacrifices made on Jibei could be said to be a waste for them.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 31 (198 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 825
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 936 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 96
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0