If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
___________________________
Despite their efforts, the retreat was disorganized. Many of their men, unable to reach the ships in time, were left behind to act as a distraction. As the intact ships pulled away from the shore, Zhang He and Gao Lan watched with a mix of relief and sorrow. They had narrowly escaped but at great cost. The waters of the crossing port churned with the remnants of the battle, showing a grim picture that polluted the Yellow River as it filled with bodies and ship's wreckage.
Back at Hulao Pass, Lie Fan received updates on the engagement. Jia Xu and Xun You analyzed the reports, and their expressions were thoughtful.
"While they managed to escape, their forces are severely weakened," Jia Xu noted. "This will reduce their combat power to reinforce Cao Cao, as we managed to strike a huge blow on them."
Xun You agreed. "Our immediate task now is to ensure to ensure we will be ready to receive enemy reinforcements, My Lord. And also wait for Taishi Ci and Ji Ling to lead their men to Luoyang through the Yellow River."
Lie Fan nodded, satisfied with the progress. "Continue to monitor their movements, tell the Oriole agents to report any single movement. Also, inform Chen Deng and Bu Zhi that if they are ready to march after their reinforcement arrives, they can immediately commence the operation and keep working together with Jiang Qin."
Jia Xu and Xun You cupped their hand as they bowed toward Lie Fan, receiving the order that was given to them, and immediately left the tent to do their task.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yan, Tian Feng, and Xu You, along with their 70,000 men, had arrived at the crossing port and disembarked from their ships.
They then headed toward Hulao Pass through Luoyang, still unaware of the defeat their comrades had suffered at the crossing port near Puyang. The air was thick with anticipation and tension, as they remained oblivious that Zhang Yan's feeling had come true.
As the battle at Hulao Pass was about to enter a new stage, to the south of Hulao Pass at Wuling, Cai Mao's detachment, sent to relieve Wuling from the siege by Liu Bei's forces, had just arrived.
However, they were immediately ambushed by Liu Bei's army, led by Guan Yu, who had been lying in wait for them, after Kuai Yue and Ju Shou created a stratagem not only to ambush the reinforcement and invite Wuling to open their gate to support their reinforcement.
The sudden attack caught Cai Mao's detachment forces off guard. Guan Yu's troops, emerging from their concealed positions, launched a fierce and well-coordinated assault.
Arrows flew through the air, and the clash of weapons filled the battlefield as Cai Mao's soldiers scrambled to form a defensive line. Guan Yu, wielding his legendary Green Dragon Crescent Blade, led the charge with unmatched ferocity.
The commander who led the army, realizing the perilous situation, attempted to rally his men. "Hold the line! Do not let them break through!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the din of battle.
Despite his efforts, the initial shock of the ambush had severely disrupted their formation, and his men struggled to regain their footing, which caused them to suffer heavy losses.
From the walls of Wuling, Zhang Yun observed the unfolding chaos. He saw the desperation of Cai Mao's forces and knew that if they were defeated, Wuling would fall to Liu Bei.
Without hesitation, Zhang Yun ordered a contingent of his best soldiers to follow him into the fray. "We must aid our reinforcements! To battle!" he commanded, as he and his men hurried to join the fight.
Zhang Yun's forces descended from the walls of Wuling with determination, aiming to turn the tide of the ambush.
As they approached the battlefield, they could see the fierce skirmish between Cai Mao's beleaguered troops and Guan Yu's relentless warriors. Zhang Yun, brandishing his spear, led his men into the thick of the fight, attacking Guan Yu's forces from the flank.
The sudden reinforcement gave Cai Mao's soldiers a much-needed morale boost. With Zhang Yun's men providing crucial support, they began to regroup and mount a more effective defense.
But what they didn't realize was that this was exactly what Kuai Yue and Ju Shou had prepared for Guan Yu
and his army. As Wuling's gates opened and Zhang Yun led his men to aid the reinforcements, they
unwittingly walked into a trap that had been purposely created for them.
Guan Yu saw that their plan unfolding perfectly. He gave the signal, and his army immediately executed a well-coordinated encirclement maneuver. The precision and speed of Guan Yu's troops were
astounding.
Within moments, Zhang Yun's and Cai Mao's detachment forces found themselves surrounded, pressed into a single, vulnerable mass that was ripe for Guan Yu and his army to slaughter.
"Encircle them! Do not let a single one escape!" Guan Yu's voice boomed across the battlefield as his warriors tightened the noose around their enemies.
Zhang Yun, realizing the dire situation, shouted commands to his men and the commander of the detachment army. "We must break through! Follow me!" He led a charge toward the weakest point in the encirclement, hoping to carve a path to safety.
The soldiers, driven by desperation and the fear of being completely overrun, surged forward with renewed intensity attacking with everything left in their tank.
However, Guan Yu's troops were prepared. The encirclement was designed not only to trap but also to
funnel the enemy into kill zones where they could be systematically cut down. Each attempt to break through was met with fierce resistance and the soldiers found themselves hemmed in tighter with
each failed push.
Seeing what happening around them, the commander, fighting near Zhang Yun, could see the hopelessness of their situation. "General! We are being herded like cattle," he muttered through gritted teeth, parrying an enemy's strike. "We need a new strategy to break out of this situation."
Despite their efforts, Guan Yu's forces pressed harder, their attacks coming from all sides with relentless ferocity. The coordinated strikes and disciplined formations of Guan Yu's troops were overwhelming. The battlefield became a chaotic scene of clashing steel, shouting warriors, and the cries of the wounded.
Kuai Yue and Ju Shou, observing from a distance, watched as their plan came to fruition. "It is only a
matter of time now," Kuai Yue said with a grim smile. "They are already trapped and any action they take will crush their effort."
"Master Kuai Yue, your ingenuity truly knew no doubt. I would never expect that all went according to your plan," Said Ju Shou beside him as he saw the situation in front of him. "With this, Wuling would definitely fall into our hands soon."
On the battlefield, Zhang Yun, still rallying his men, tried to instill hope and determination. "Hold your ground! Do not falter!" But as the minutes turned into hours, the relentless pressure began to take its toll. His men, exhausted and demoralized, struggled to maintain their formation.
In the midst of the chaos, a particularly fierce attack led by Guan Yu himself shattered the final remnants of their defensive line. Guan Yu, his presence is a symbol of invincibility, cut through the ranks with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, leaving devastation in his
wake.
Seeing Guan Yu advancing, Zhang Yun knew they had only one desperate option left. "Commander! We must take down Guan Yu! Without their leader, they might break!" he shouted, ordering the commander to lead a suicidal charge toward Guan Yu.
The commander nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. With his elite warriors, the commander led a charge toward Guan Yu hoping to eliminate him and allow their army to break out from the encirclement.
Guan Yu, noticing the focused assault, braced himself and prepared to meet the challenge. The ensuing battle was a testament to the sheer willpower and skill of the combatants. The commander and his men fought with everything they had, but Guan Yu's prowess and skill were unmatched.
Despite their best efforts, The commander and his men soon found themselves outmaneuvered and outmatched. Guan Yu, with calculated precision,
delivered a series of devastating blows, culminating in a final, powerful strike that brought the commander to his knees.
His men witnessing their commanders fall, fought with reckless abandon but were quickly overwhelmed by the surrounding troops around Guan Yu.
As the commander and his men fell, Zhang Yu used this opportunity to lead the remaining soldiers of their combined forces to break out from their encirclement, taking advantage of Guan Yu's focus on other situations.
When Guan Yu realized what had happened, it was already too late. Zhang Yun had managed to lead the combined forces to break out from the encirclement and immediately rushed back toward Wuling. Seeing this, Guan Yu quickly ordered his men to pursue them, hoping to inflict as much damage as possible before Zhang Yun and his forces could reach the safety of Wuling.
Kuai Yue and Ju Shou, observing the sudden development from their vantage point, were taken aback. They had not expected that a commander of Zhang Yun's caliber could manage to break through their carefully planned strategy.
Despite their initial shock, they soon regained their composure. "We may have underestimated him," Kuai Yue remarked. "But even though our plan has not gone perfectly, we have still inflicted significant damage on the reinforcements for Wuling."
Ju Shou nodded. "Indeed. Their forces are weakened, and their morale has taken a hit. We must not let this setback deter us. Guan Yu's pursuit will still cause them further losses."
As Zhang Yun and his men retreated, the urgency of their situation drove them to push forward with all their remaining strength. "Keep moving!" Zhang Yun shouted. "We must reach the safety of Wuling before they catch up to us!"
The soldiers, despite their exhaustion, rallied behind their leader. They knew that reaching Wuling was their only chance for survival. The terrain worked in their favor, offering some cover and slowing Guan Yu's pursuit. However, Guan Yu and his forces were relentless, pressing on with determination.
The pursuit was fierce. Arrows whistled through the air, and sporadic skirmishes erupted as Guan Yu's vanguard clashed with the rear guard of Zhang Yun's forces. The intensity of the chase left no room for rest or respite. Zhang Yun, at the forefront, led his men with unwavering resolve, his mind constantly calculating their best route of escape.
As they approached the walls of Wuling, Zhang Yun could see the defenders on the ramparts, ready to provide covering fire. The sight of the city renewed his resolve. "We're almost there! Just a little further!" he urged his troops. Guan Yu, seeing that his quarry was close to escaping, pushed his men harder. "Do not let them reach the walls unscathed! Charge!" His warriors responded with a surge of energy, redoubling their efforts to close the gap.
____________________________
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