Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 374

Chapter 175 When Death Suddenly Descends

The soldiers who had followed Luo Chen charging towards the wolf camp were shocked by what they saw. It was the most horrific scene they had witnessed since entering the desert. It was a true carnage; the screams of men and wolves, the shouts of those lying in pools of blood, were utterly gruesome. Soldiers with severed arms were biting down on wolves' throats, the wolves howling and tearing at them with their sharp claws. Several large wolves were brutally tearing apart a soldier, dismembering him. The blood was nauseating, the cruelty nauseating.

Lu Bu's army was small; a few soldiers huddled together, some wielding sabers, others short swords, surrounded by a dozen large wolves that probed and attacked. Suddenly, two or three wolves pounced on a soldier with a saber, instantly knocking him to the ground. Seeing this, the remaining wolves charged. The soldiers were quickly forced to fight individually. Some desperately stabbed the wolves in the throat with their short swords, tearing apart their bellies; others hacked and slashed with their sabers. Some soldiers didn't even have time to react before being bitten in the throat, their short sword-wielding hands struggling weakly before dying. Like a dog, like an ant, death was instantaneous, a mere second, without any build-up.

To be honest, the Luo Chen cavalry, witnessing all this and seeing the massive wolf pack rushing towards them, couldn't help but feel a bit panicked. Their instinctive reaction was to hope that Luo Chen would call over the wolves behind him to help them tear the wolf apart. But Luo Chen seemed to have no such intention, instead charging straight ahead. The cavalry behind him realized they had harbored unwarranted wishful thinking, and they all spurred their horses, brandishing their gleaming sabers, to join the fight against death.

Luo Chen didn't know what would happen next. Would the wolves still obey his orders? He didn't know, but he had no room for wishful thinking, nor dared to harbor any. Wishful thinking meant a way out, a vulnerability. Without hesitation, Luo Chen charged directly into the wolf pack, a desperate gamble for survival.

The wolves showed no sign of surrendering; instead, they charged straight at him, baring their fangs. Luo Chen knew his hopes were likely dashed, and a flicker of disappointment crossed his heart. But it didn't matter; he had never dared to rely on that. His only hope lay in the bravery and tactics of his own army. Their refusal to surrender was irrelevant; the key was to quickly rescue Lü Bu and return him to Wuwei City for long-term planning. If that was enough, the campaign would be a success.

He brought two fingers together and shouted, "Explode!" A burst of fire erupted from his fingertips, instantly blasting the charging wolf to pieces. The sudden dismemberment startled the pack. But they immediately resumed their reckless charge. "Armor protection!" Luo Chen shouted. His sturdy armor became an absolute shield of safety. Luo Chen galloped forward on his horse, smashing through the wolves blocking his path, the sharp spikes on his armor leaving the slain wolves a bloody mess.

The cavalry of Luo Jun followed Luo Chen, who led the way, injuring the wolves. The cavalry behind then engaged in a fierce attack, hacking and slashing. Sure enough, under such a fierce charge, the wolves seemed overwhelmed. There weren't enough wolves to deal with Luo Chen; the main force was deployed to Lü Bu's side. But if the main force were withdrawn, wouldn't Lü Bu's efforts be in vain? Zhao Cheng understood Luo Chen's plan: to open a path, combine forces, and then break out together. They would return to Wuwei City to discuss their next move.

"Luo Chen is a very strange person..." Zhao Cheng said. "Why can he breathe fire and blast a wolf the weight of an adult into pieces..." Zhao Cheng had never believed in any strange arts. As a Han Chinese, he didn't believe in any Xiongnu gods. He only pretended to believe in Xiongnu gods to get promoted, make money, and gain trust. What is a god? You are a god. Don't rely on gods, rely only on yourself. Don't pray to Xiongnu gods, pray only to yourself. Don't believe in any strange arts, think they are all charlatans. Each Xiongnu tribe has a priest, who has considerable power and their words carry weight. Only Zhao Cheng didn't take the priest's words seriously. Moreover, his opposition to sorcerers was well-known throughout the army. Everyone said that Ye Suo had a magical way of controlling steppe wolves, but Zhao Cheng didn't believe it at all. It was just years of training. If the wolf pack killed the invading Qiang people back then, it was just that those barbarians were too stupid to run into a large pack of vicious wolves. It would be strange if they weren't bitten to death.

Zhao Cheng's attitude was similar to that of Cao Cao and Luo Chen in the Central Plains. Cao Cao trusted no one and scorned sorcerers. Luo Chen, after all, was a materialist, reading Marx, so he listened to nothing more than talk of ghosts and monsters. Ironically, though Luo Chen himself didn't believe in supernatural arts, he himself possessed them. His blood inspired loyalty, and his mind held a system of both literary and martial arts techniques. How to explain these phenomena was beyond Luo Chen's time and ability to employ complex scientific knowledge and concepts. However, the powerful philosophy of Yin and Yang might vaguely point him towards his future.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Chen rushed to the center of the encirclement and met Lü Bu.

"My lord!..." Lü Bu seemed to have much to say, yet couldn't utter a word. He needed to explain, to complain, to offer guidance... Luo Chen shouted, "Your troops! Organize! We'll break through and return to Wuwei County!"

Lu Bu didn't say another word. He began to gather his troops, preparing to receive reinforcements and open a breach.

"They're about to escape!" Zhao Cheng said angrily. "Those wolves huddled together!" He pointed to the wolves besieging Lü Bu's forces, "What do you need so many wolves for! Send some of them to the breach, don't let them break through!" Zhao Cheng ordered impatiently.

Luo Chen's armor, version 5.3, vanished without warning once again. Several large wolves pounced instantly. Busy directing his soldiers to gather, Luo Chen didn't even realize his armor had disappeared. In the distance, Lü Bu cried out in agony, barely able to speak: "My...my lord!" He desperately spurred his horse towards Luo Chen. But it was too late. Luo Chen instantly realized his armor was gone, but the wolves were already less than ten centimeters away. If it were just one wolf, it would be manageable, but several at once... Luo Chen was stunned. The usually composed man felt a moment of panic. This was death! Luo Chen had never imagined what his death would be like, yet death often lurks in an instant—this was the cruel reality of war.

Chapter 176 I Now Know Who Luo Chen Is

Zhao Cheng even heard Lü Bu's scream. This scream was so peculiar; Lü Bu had probably only ever screamed like that once in his life, and had likely never felt such tension and despair. Zhao Cheng then saw several large wolves pounce on Luo Chen from all directions. He was pleased to see that Luo Chen seemed powerless to stop them. Zhao Cheng felt a surge of elation; no matter how powerful Luo Chen was, even if he could fly, it was probably too late now.

This deal was a win-win! They failed to wipe out Lü Bu's men, but Luo Chen did! Zhao Cheng was overjoyed to see the wolf baring its sharp fangs, the most pointed part aimed directly at Luo Chen's throat. Zhao Cheng was very satisfied with this attack method; it was decisive and efficient, which he greatly appreciated. He preferred to act and resolve issues cleanly and efficiently, disliking any dragging things out.

In an instant, Luo Chen realized he was doomed, never expecting it to happen in such a dramatic and sudden way. It was strange, absurd, and ridiculous. Even Emperor Yingzong of Ming, who had been captured during the Tumu Crisis, was probably ten times better off than him; after all, he hadn't died on the spot. Luo Chen stared at the wolf's eyes, which gleamed with a ferocious, greedy green light. The wolf, almost excitedly and gleefully, brought its teeth to Luo Chen's throat. Suddenly, those green eyes seemed to lose their focus, and the sharp fangs froze upon touching his skin. The wolf trembled violently almost instantly, shrinking back. Luo Chen clearly saw the greed and confusion in the wolf's eyes suddenly transform into extreme fear and panic. The wolf shrank back, falling heavily to the ground, curled into a ball. Luo Chen's mind went blank for a moment. In that instant, he had prepared himself for death. Although somewhat unwilling, he desperately wanted to know if he would return to the library, a place whose memory he had blurred, after his death. But then, the wolf fell heavily to the ground in terror. Luo Chen glanced at it from his horse; its eyes had suddenly become lifeless, the pupils shrinking violently. The large wolf was curled up tightly in a small ball, motionless. After a long while, Luo Chen realized that it was dead.

Luo Chen looked around; all the wolves around him had lowered their heads. Blood was dripping from his injured arm, and Luo Chen felt a wave of weakness wash over him. He seemed to have lost a lot of blood. How did that big wolf die? Did it die of fright? Did it commit suicide? Luo Chen felt that all of this was absurd, as if he had already died once.

The surrounding wolves ceased their attack and lowered their heads. People were stunned again. Fortunately, the Luo army soldiers had some experience and weren't too shocked. Zhao Cheng, however, was completely dumbfounded. He had never seen anything so surreal. What was happening? Why had all the wolves stopped attacking at the last second after the wolves had already bitten Luo Chen's throat? What was going on?

"What's going on! Have you all gone mad! Keep attacking!" Zhao Cheng roared furiously. He drew his sword and swung it wildly, shouting, "Why! Why don't you continue! Are you all possessed!" Zhao Cheng was never one to lose his composure in battle, nor did he draw his sword. He usually stood by calmly directing the attack, waiting for his soldiers to bring the enemy commander to him for execution. This time, however, his wild sword-wielding was genuinely agitated, as if he were urging a pack of wolves to attack.

The Xiongnu soldiers seemed to sense their commander's rage, frantically drawing their bows and crossbows, ready to shoot. But their fate was the same as before: the wolves beside them pounced without hesitation, their throats pierced. This time, Zhao Cheng was even more shocked and enraged. These steppe wolves, these vile wolves, had they betrayed them in the face of battle?!

"Assemble! Form ranks!" Luo Chen commanded sternly.

As expected, all the wolves began to form their own packs, creating disciplined ranks. In no time, rows of large wolves stood neatly aligned on the battlefield and along the battlefield's edge. The ragged, blood-stained cavalrymen of Lü Bu's army stood frozen, watching this unfold. Their sabers, gripped tightly, drooped unconsciously. They seemed to have forgotten they were on a battlefield. The reinforcements brought by Luo Chen, however, were experienced. Once the wolves had lined up, they quickly formed ranks, dividing and surrounding the ten thousand-plus Xiongnu riders. The Xiongnu riders panicked. The wolves obeyed Luo Chen's commands, and even more terrifyingly, the wolves they themselves had commanded pounced on the riders without hesitation, killing them instantly. This alone sent chills down the spines of all the riders. They suddenly realized that if Luo Chen gave the order, these wolves' sharp teeth would unhesitatingly bite into their throats. Overwhelmed by immense fear, they dared not move.

For a moment, Zhao Cheng panicked, seemingly bewildered by what he was seeing. However, this shrewd general instantly sensed the approaching death. Yes, he was on the verge of death. This was the instinct of someone who had fought countless battles.

He gripped his sword tightly and tossed a saber to Shaha. Then, he looked in horror at the large wolves beside him. Zhao Cheng was only surrounded by a dozen guards, a dozen messengers, and nearly ten wolves. Zhao Cheng had witnessed the wolves' betrayal and instantly understood why Luo Chen had arrived at Lü Bu's encirclement so quickly—the wolves had turned against him! Zhao Cheng nervously gripped his sword hilt, waiting for the wolves to pounce. Strangely, the wolves neither lined up nor showed any intention of attacking.

"Zhao Cheng is over there!" a soldier from the fallen army suddenly shouted. Zhao Cheng's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't care and instantly whipped his horse's rump with the back of his sword, causing the horse to gallop wildly. Shaha reacted just as quickly, instantly setting his horse on a gallop as well. They heard the whooshing sound of arrows behind them, and several guards seemed to fall to the ground with heavy thuds.

Zhao Cheng felt he was doomed. Graduation meant nothing; he just wanted to run blindly. But then he heard a deafening cry behind him, "My lord!" Zhao Cheng couldn't help but turn around. To his surprise, he found that the pursuers had all turned back. Only Shaha and two guards remained with him. Had something happened to Luo Chen?

Just as Zhao Cheng was about to rejoice, he suddenly caught sight of several large wolves running wildly alongside him. He couldn't help but scream, nearly falling off his horse in fright. "Wolves!" Zhao Cheng cried out in alarm. He now regarded the wolves as demonic creatures; how could he possibly believe they were demons who had turned against him?

“It’s alright, they still obey our commands,” Shaha reassured them.

"Tell them to get out! Get out!" Zhao Cheng shouted hysterically. "Get out! Get out!" The guard drew his sword and stabbed wildly downwards, as if a wolf would pounce and bite off his neck at any moment.

Shaha sighed and simply waved his hand. The wolves stopped and watched in bewilderment as Shaha and his group ran further and further away.

“I know who Luo Chen is now,” Shaha said calmly. “It’s truly strange that he hasn’t seized power.”

Chapter 177 Battle of Red Cliffs

Quan patted his back and said, “Gongjin, your words are exactly what I think. Zibu, Yuanbiao, and the others are all concerned with their wives and children, and are driven by personal desires, which has greatly disappointed me. Only you and Zijing are on my side. This is Heaven’s way of supporting me. It is difficult to assemble 50,000 troops at once. I have already selected 30,000 men, and the ships, provisions, and weapons are all ready. You, Zijing, and Cheng Gong should set out ahead, and I will continue to send more men and more supplies to support you from behind. If you can manage it well, then be resolute. If things do not go as planned, then return to me, and I will settle the score with Mengde.” He then appointed Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu as left and right commanders, leading troops to join forces with Liu Bei to fight against Cao Cao; and appointed Lu Su as military advisor to assist in planning strategies.

—Zizhi Tongjian, Han Dynasty, Volume 57

Under Luo Chen's remote command, Fa Zheng facilitated the Sun-Liu alliance. Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu as Grand Commander, leading 200,000 troops by land and sea to camp at Chibi. Meanwhile, Liu Bei's army was stationed at Jiangxia to contain Cao Cao. Fa Zheng remained in Jiangdong as an advisor. Upon seeing the negotiations break down and Eastern Wu's aggressive stance, Cao Cao was enraged. He immediately mobilized his land and sea forces to the north bank of the Yangtze River, establishing camps stretching for hundreds of miles along the river. He presented an image of overwhelming power, ready to crush Eastern Wu. Thus, the Battle of Chibi officially began.

Cao Cao astutely sensed that the Xiongnu in the north were on the verge of collapse. Battle reports poured into the Central Plains, revealing a major defeat for the Xiongnu army on the northern front, forcing them to retreat across the board. In the Hexi Corridor, the Xiongnu suffered a similar annihilation, their entire army wiped out. Zhao Cheng, the "ghost" or "phantom," suffered his first crushing defeat, which greatly pleased Xiahou Dun. The legendary Steppe Wolf Legion, before even making its debut, vanished again from official documents, seemingly remaining merely a legend. While those fighting on the northern front knew of the Steppe Wolf Legion's prowess, in the distant south, it was nothing more than a vague rumor.

In short, the Xiongnu suffered heavy losses on all battlefields and began a full-scale retreat. Cao Cao believed that the main force of Luo Chen's army would soon be disengaged from the grasslands. This meant that Cao Cao's time to conquer Jiangnan was running out.

In the blink of an eye, autumn winds were blowing. The decisive battle between Luo Chen and the Xiongnu had been raging for over half a year. Luo Chen's army was indeed advancing smoothly on the northern grasslands. As late autumn arrived, the azure sky was cloudless, flocks of geese flew south, and the lush green grass began to show signs of withering. The Xiongnu were barely clinging to life. It was rumored that a portion of Luo Chen's main force, led by Xiahou Yuan, had already marched south back to Hanzhong. In contrast, Cao Cao's situation was far less favorable. This Zhou Yu was indeed cunning and resolute; he was no ordinary man, truly a capable general.

Zhou Yu amassed a fresh army of 200,000 men, setting up naval camps and warships along the river, and establishing land camps. He also built a dense network of fortifications along the river, appearing ready to fight Cao Cao's army to the death in a protracted war. On the first day of the decisive battle, Cao Cao sent a letter of surrender. Fa Zheng squinted, watching Zhou Yu's reaction, while the generals below held their breath, waiting for his response. Zhou Yu glanced at Lu Su, then at Fa Zheng, and suddenly slammed his fist on the table, rising to his feet, his face contorted with rage. He roared, "I am a Han subject, the Grand Commander personally appointed by the Marquis of Wu! How could I surrender to that old traitor Cao Cao!" Without even opening the letter, he tore it to shreds. He shouted, "Come! Take this man out and execute him!" Lu Su said, "In war between two states, envoys are not to be killed..." Zhou Yu refused to listen and ordered the envoy's head to be hung on a flagpole.

After the meeting, Lu Su complained to Fa Zheng about Zhou Yu's recklessness. Fa Zheng said, "The debate in the court about whether to fight or surrender has just subsided, and the ministers' minds are still unsettled. This time, when Cao Cao tried to persuade them to surrender, Zhou Yu killed the envoy. This was precisely to tell the strategists in the court and the soldiers that the decisive battle would not be changed, in order to stabilize the people's hearts... This can be described as a far-sighted strategy." Only then did Lu Su understand.

Upon hearing that Zhou Yu had executed the envoy, Cao Cao was furious: "How dare this scoundrel deceive me like this!" Without consulting his advisors, he immediately summoned Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, ordering them to organize a fleet for an attack. Cai Mao replied, "Our northern navy is currently neglected in training; it is not the time to attack..." Before he could finish, Cao Cao roared in anger. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were so frightened that they prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to utter a sound. Helpless, they could only send out dozens of large ships and dozens of small ships, with a force of ten thousand, and sailed majestically along the river, heading straight for Zhou Yu's naval camp. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yu dispatched dozens of small ships and over eight thousand soldiers to meet the attack, under the command of Gan Ning, a skilled swimmer.

As expected, the northern soldiers were unaccustomed to naval warfare, swaying and rocking precariously. They couldn't even control the small boats, which were tossed about by the river wind; they were lucky not to capsize, let alone fight. Only the large ships, with their deeper draft, moved more steadily. Cao Cao's army fired arrows from the large ships down onto the Wu ships. The Wu ships dodged the arrows while approaching the large ships. Dozens of small boats surrounded the large ships. The Wu ships deployed grappling hooks and ropes, directly hooking the large ships. Gan Ning, leading the charge, bit a short knife into his mouth, grabbed the ropes and climbed aboard. Cao Cao's army was terrified. The northern soldiers had never seen such tactics before! They were lucky to even stand on their own two feet, yet they dared to climb onto another ship with ropes. In their panic, they fired arrows repeatedly, but none hit their mark. Gan Ning jumped onto the ship alone, stabbing several men to death with his short knife. With a single stroke, he cut the ropes on the mast, and the sail fell. The river wind blew, and without the sail, the ship swayed sideways, tilting precariously. The Cao army on the ship was completely unable to control it and thought it was about to capsize. Panic ensued, and some soldiers hastily jumped into the water. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Wu soldiers leaped onto the large ship, killing a hundred Cao soldiers on deck and seizing control. They captured nearly a thousand Cao soldiers alive. The Cao soldiers on the other ships, large and small, were terrified and dared not engage again. They turned and fled. The Wu army pursued for a while, but fearing encirclement, they turned and left with fanfare.

Seeing their initial defeat, Cao Cao's army was deeply frustrated. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun prostrated themselves on the ground to beg for forgiveness. Cao Cao, of course, knew the reason for the defeat, but merely glanced at them, wanting to reprimand them, yet unable to utter a word. He could only say, "You must use all your skills and intensify your training!" With that, he waved them away. Cai and Zhang thanked him and withdrew from the central command tent. Cao Cao turned to Cheng Yu and the others beside him and said, "The northern soldiers are not accustomed to naval warfare, what can I do! I was too hasty this time and suffered a great loss!" Cheng Yu and the others tried to persuade him, but they were also at a loss.

The two sides clashed several times, each gaining an advantage, but no decisive battle was won; they remained locked in a stalemate. Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye, and the river water, clear and cold, rippled with frigid waves. The northern soldiers, unaccustomed to southern life, were further aggravated by the sudden chill, the large temperature difference between day and night, and the fact that they bathed in the icy river water; many fell ill. Cao Cao, seeing this, grew even more worried.

Chapter 178 Crossing the River

It was an ordinary late autumn night, and the Cao army soldiers on the beacon tower in Jiangling were drowsy. A gust of autumn wind swept by, making the sentry shiver. He was still wearing only a single layer of clothing and the thin armor he wore in summer. Due to the sudden increase in troop strength after the southward march, the rear had not reacted in time, so many soldiers had not yet received their autumn uniforms. The sentry looked up at the moon, but the once bright moon was nowhere to be seen; it was probably obscured by dark clouds. It was already past midnight, and the sentry felt the sky was getting overcast; it looked like it was going to rain.

"Hey! Wake up!" The sentry nudged the fat man next to him. The fat man was curled up in the corner, spear resting on his shoulder, his body huddled together, surprisingly sound asleep. He mumbled a few words, then turned back to sleep, facing inwards. "Wake up!" The sentry kicked the fat man again, this time in pain. The fat man rubbed his backside and complained, "What are you doing! Didn't we agree it was my turn to sleep tonight?!"

"It's a bit overcast, go down and get something to keep out the rain," the sentry said. "Otherwise, we'll both get soaked."

"Didn't we agree that it was my turn to sleep tonight..." the fat man mumbled a few more times. The sentry was about to speak when he realized the man had fallen asleep again.

217 The sentry sighed, craned his neck to look out over the river. The water was crystal clear, and the surface was completely empty. Only the faint starlight was reflected on the water; everything else was pitch black. "Going down for a moment shouldn't be a problem..." the sentry thought to himself. He leaned his spear against the battlements and went down to get some rain gear.

A small boat emerged smoothly from the darkness, making a soft paddling sound, but it was drowned out by the whistling wind and barely audible. When the sentry retrieved his rain gear and peered out at the river again, it was still empty, just pitch black. He didn't know that the small boat had already sailed far away.

The world-renowned Pang Tong and Yi Ji embarked on their journey to Jiangdong aboard a single boat, traveling down the river. Meanwhile, Cao Cao's iron cavalry, upon arriving in Jingzhou, ceaselessly occupied the city's castles and roads, gaining complete control over its military, political, and financial affairs. Thus, the Cao family era began in Jingzhou. However, Cao Cao's army had not yet entered the villages. Southern clans held considerable power, controlling the villages, which were largely self-governed. Although Cao Cao disliked the clans and frequently threatened them, even the Central Plains clans dared not speak out against him, he had only recently occupied Jingzhou, and the people's hearts were not yet settled. Moreover, he needed to urgently deploy troops to Jiangdong, so Cao Cao didn't interfere, simply allowing the villages to govern themselves. Incidentally, Luo Chen was even more hostile towards the powerful clans. This was mainly due to his capable general, Zhang Juzheng. Luo Chen and Zhang Juzheng devised the equal-field system and the militia system, essentially exposing the clans' true nature. How could the clans not resist? However, Zhang Juzheng, who was in charge of implementing these policies, was a hardliner who frequently deployed troops for bloody suppression. First in the Guanzhong region, then in Yizhou, wherever he went, powerful families cried out in despair, demanding bloodshed in retaliation. Therefore, while the clans of the Central Plains and Yizhou in the south dared not speak of Luo Chen, they secretly harbored deep hatred for him. As for Zhang Juzheng, they invariably cursed him, calling him cruel.

Liu Biao of Jingzhou adopted a policy of cooperation with the clans. His wife, Cai Mao, and others came from the largest Cai clan in Jingzhou. Zhang Yun was also a member of the clan. Later, the Cai and Zhang clans formed a group, creating the Cai political group, which alerted Liu Biao. Taking advantage of welcoming Liu Bei, he greatly expanded the power of his Liu clan relatives. He heavily relied on Liu Bei and trained Liu Qi. However, Liu Biao aged too quickly. After a while, he felt restless and old, lacking the ambition to reorganize. The Cai clan still controlled major personnel and financial power from the city of Jingzhou to the local prefectures. Liu Biao only reluctantly supported Yi Ji to barely balance the Cai clan's power. Although Yi Ji opposed the Cai clan and tried his best to prevent them from monopolizing power, he was ultimately outnumbered. Liu Bei defended against Cao Cao and Liu Qi in the north at Xinye, and Guan Yu defended against Jiangdong in the south at Xiakou, both far from the political center. Yi Ji was left to fend for himself in Jingzhou, facing constant exclusion and impeachment every month. Fortunately, Liu Biao, though old and frail, was still discerning and explicitly supported Yi Ji, enabling him to continue his struggle against the Cai clan's tyranny.

Who didn't know the name Pang Tong? But most people had never met him, so the villagers didn't recognize him. Pang Tong fished and farmed when busy, and read when idle. He had no connection with the village or the Jingzhou regime, and lived a carefree life. Yi Ji stayed at Pang Tong's place, watching Huang Zhong defeat Wen Ping. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao's army soon marched south, and Liu Bei fled in panic. Cao Cao's iron cavalry marched day and night, finally catching up with Liu Bei at Changban Slope. The two sides fought fiercely, and Liu Bei was defeated, continuing his retreat to Xiakou. Yi Ji was already old and couldn't withstand the chaos of war, so he had no choice but to heed Pang Tong's advice and continue living at the manor, waiting for things to stabilize before sailing to Jiangdong.

Not long after, news arrived of the Sun-Liu alliance and the outbreak of the Battle of Red Cliffs. Pang Tong, fearing the battle would make crossing the river even more difficult, packed his belongings overnight and headed south along the river to Jiangdong. Sure enough, the river was heavily blockaded, and all commerce ceased. Martial law was in effect everywhere along the river from south to north. Pang Tong and Yi Ji traveled day and night, finally passing the beacon tower at Jiangling. Having passed Jiangling, their destination was not far off.

A few days later, the two arrived near Baling on Dongting Lake. Indeed, Dongting Lake presented a breathtaking panorama. The autumn wind caressed their faces, making the shimmering waters appear even more ethereal. Later, the Song Dynasty poet Fan Zhongyan wrote a famous poem about it. Here's how he described Dongting Lake: "I have observed the magnificent scenery of Baling, and it lies in Dongting Lake. It embraces distant mountains and swallows the Yangtze River, vast and boundless; its morning glow and evening shadows create countless breathtaking scenes. This is the grand view from Yueyang Tower." Connecting to distant mountains, the Yangtze River seems to flow without end; as far as the eye can see, it is all a vast expanse of water. The morning glow, the evening glow, clear skies, and cloudy days create countless breathtaking scenes. On cloudy days, "the incessant rain continues for months, the wind howls furiously, and the turbid waves surge into the sky." The wind howls fiercely on Dongting Lake, and the waves seem to reach for the heavens. Boats cannot even leave the lake. If the sky is clear, then "the spring is warm and the scenery is bright, the waves are calm, the sky and water blend into one vast expanse of blue; seagulls soar and gather, fish swim; irises and orchids grow lush and green on the banks." On a clear day, the wind is calm and the water is clear, offering a panoramic view. Seagulls glide slowly over the beach, and wildflowers and grasses flourish on the shore. Just as Du Fu wrote in his poem, "The mud thaws and swallows fly, the sand warms and mandarin ducks sleep." What a beautiful scene of Dongting Lake!

Because of the war, there were shipyards on Dongting Lake where ships were being built and naval forces were preparing.

There's a poem by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty, specifically about Mid-Autumn Festival on Dongting Lake. I've included it here to evoke the spirit of the festival: "Dongting Lake, green grass, near Mid-Autumn, not a breath of wind stirs. Thirty thousand acres of jade-like fields, a small boat drifts upon it. The bright moon shines, the Milky Way reflects its image, both inside and out, crystal clear. A serene understanding arises, its subtle beauty difficult to describe. Thinking of the years spent beyond the mountains, its solitary light shining, its heart and soul as pure as ice and snow. Short hair disheveled, sleeves cold, I steadily float on the vast, empty sea. I drink deeply from the West River, carefully pour from the Big Dipper, all things in the universe as my guests. I tap the side of the boat and whistle alone, unaware of what night this is."

Chapter 179 In the Wulin and Chibi Section

Pang Tong and Yi Ji traveled down the river. Yi Ji decided to go to Jiangxia to find Liu Bei, while Pang Tong stuck to his original plan and intended to stay at a farm near Chaisang.

The small boat traveled day and night, successfully navigating the heavily guarded Yangtze River. They occasionally made brief stops on land in case of emergencies. Fortunately, they encountered no major problems.

The defenses around Wulin and Chibi were the most stringent, with Cao Cao's camps stretching for miles along the river, faintly visible from the water. At night, the bright lights illuminated the great river to the north, creating a magnificent spectacle. To the south lay Jiangdong, with fewer troops than the north, but numerous fortifications, along with a dense network of observation posts and beachhead positions, displaying an air of determination to fight Cao Cao's army to the death. The ability to complete the construction of these defensive positions in such a short time also demonstrates Jiangdong's powerful mobilization capabilities.

Crossing this stretch of river stealthily was impossible. The sheer density of the opposing armies clearly indicated a battlefield. When they set off south from Jingzhou, neither of them had anticipated the situation would develop so rapidly. They were already at war. Pang Tong hesitated for a moment, then decided to cross the river from the east side. After all, Yi Ji was Liu Bei's man, and with the Sun-Liu alliance, being recognized would be easier to handle. If they crossed from Cao Cao's side, Yi Ji might be captured.

Sure enough, as soon as the small boat reached this section of the river, the Wu soldiers on board shouted in a language that was difficult to understand: "Who goes there!... On the shore!..." Pang Tong, having traveled for a long time, finally managed to understand that they were being told to bring their boat to shore immediately. Pang Tong saw that the Wu soldiers on the observation post had already aimed sharp arrows at them, and one soldier threatened to burn their boat if they didn't come ashore. Helpless, Pang Tong had no choice but to bring the small boat to the shore.

As soon as the small boat docked, several Wu soldiers surrounded it, shouting sternly, "Come out! Hands up! No weapons allowed!" Pang Tong and Yi Ji both carried swords, which the Wu soldiers immediately removed upon seeing them. Pang Tong was extremely displeased and shouted, "This is utterly rude!" The Wu soldier, seeing an incredibly ugly fellow with such a bad attitude, immediately became enraged: "Spies from the north! Spying on our army! Arrest them!" He then began to tie the two men up with ropes. Pang Tong became even more furious, his face darkening as he cursed, "Go to hell! I am the Phoenix Chick, Pang Tong! Is this how you Eastern Wu treat great men?!" These Eastern Wu soldiers, who usually farmed and were conscripted to defend the Yangtze River, had never heard of any "Phoenix...what the hell" kind of person he was! Moreover, having his mother insulted, how could he not be furious? He jumped up and was about to whip Pang Tong with the ropes. Although Pang Tong was a scholar, he had a fiery temper and had practiced swordsmanship in his youth. Seeing this, he seized the sword and was about to brandish it. The Wu soldiers, realizing the use of weapons—a violent and armed resistance against the army, a grave offense—frantically shouted, "Northern Army spy! Resisting arrest with a sword!" The sergeant, hearing this, quickly led his men forward and, without a word, attempted to seize Pang Tong. Yi Ji stood by, stunned. The Wu soldiers, seeing his gray hair and assuming he was an old man with little power, left him aside. In a moment of quick thinking, Yi Ji shouted, "I am Yi Ji, a strategist under Liu Bei! A strategist under Liu Huangshu! I wish to see your commander!" The sergeant, hearing this, recognized him as a subordinate of Liu Bei, a member of the Sun-Liu alliance, and couldn't afford to be disrespectful. Although the sergeant wasn't entirely convinced, he couldn't be impolite, lest he be accused of "disrupting the Sun-Liu alliance," a death sentence.

The platoon leader scratched his head, signaling his soldiers to stop. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, saying, "Sir... please understand, the war is urgent, and in these extraordinary times, we must be on high alert... I will go and report to the general immediately. Please go to the command post first. If there is anything I cannot do, please forgive me in these extraordinary times..." He then gave a wink, and his soldiers led Pang Tong and Yi Ji to a small, dark stone room. Although called a command post, it was actually dark and damp, filled with some equipment and other items. The two men stayed inside, guarded by soldiers outside. The platoon leader quickly ran to the main command tent for this defensive operation to report.

After a long while, presumably because the platoon leader hadn't had a chance to see the general, Pang Tong grew increasingly impatient and cursed, "What a piece of trash! Wu rats! So slow! If you're this slow in battle, you might as well surrender now and save Cao Cao's army from massacring Wu!" The soldiers outside, hearing this, became even more enraged, convinced that this man was undoubtedly a spy for the Northern Army, even impersonating Liu Bei's man... They shouted, "Shut your stinking mouth!" Just as they were about to say something more offensive, they saw the platoon leader come running in a panic, tumbling and crawling, followed by the Wu general Dong Xi, who strode over himself.

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Hearing the Wu soldier's rebuke, Dong Xi remained silent, merely glancing at him. He then quickly went inside and invited Pang Tong and Yi Ji out. Although Dong Xi knew of Yi Ji's reputation, he had never met him before. Seeing an old man with gray hair, short in stature, and rather ugly, he bowed and said, "Um, I just heard that Mr. Yi Ji has come to Jiangdong… May I ask which one of you is Mr. Yi Ji… I am Dong Xi, a military officer of Eastern Wu, responsible for the defense of this section of the riverbank."

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Yi Ji said, "I am Yi Ji." Then he pointed to Pang Tong and said, "This man is Mr. Phoenix Chick, Pang Tong."

Upon hearing this, Dong Xi was greatly surprised. He had long heard of Pang Tong, the great sage of the South, known as the Phoenix Chick, who possessed extraordinary talent and was ranked alongside Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang had already emerged from seclusion to serve as the regent and chief strategist of Luo Chen, while Pang Tong was still living in seclusion, only known to be traveling around the Yangtze River region of Jingzhou. No one knew where he was now, and he never expected to have come to Eastern Wu.

Dong Xi had never met these two men before. Although he didn't know if they were real or not, he was certain they were great men, and he couldn't afford to be negligent. He hurriedly said, "Gentlemen, I am truly sorry. My men were blind to your greatness. Please don't hold it against them..." He then gestured for them to rest, saying, "My command tent is not far from here. Please go and rest there first. I will report to Commander Zhou Yu and Mr. Lu Su immediately."

Pang Tong and Yi Ji had originally intended to cross the river quietly, but now they were required to meet Zhou Yu and Lu Su, leaving them looking at each other in bewilderment. If these high-ranking officials of Jiangdong met with the two, Yi Ji would be fine, but Pang Tong's plan to live in seclusion at a farm near Chaisang would likely be ruined. However, seeing that Dong Xi would absolutely not let them go without Zhou Yu and Lu Su's presence, Pang Tong and Yi Ji had no choice but to agree.

Chapter 180 Mr. Phoenix

Dong Xi quickly found two horses for Pang Tong and Yi Ji, and they rode without stopping to the Jiangdong Commander-in-Chief's camp at Chibi. Lu Su and Pang Tong were old acquaintances, and upon hearing of their arrival, Lu Su personally went to the camp to greet them. Dong Xi was still quite uneasy; the identities of these two men had not yet been confirmed. What if they were just charlatans? Wouldn't that make them a laughingstock, and wouldn't Master Lu Su be displeased?

The group rode at full speed for over ten minutes, passing the checkpoint and arriving at the central army camp. Sure enough, Lu Su was waiting at the camp gate. Upon seeing Pang Tong on horseback, Lu Su's face lit up with a smile, and he quickly went to greet him. He even personally led the reins and helped Pang Tong dismount. Seeing this, Dong Xi knew in his heart that this man was indeed the Phoenix Chick, and couldn't help but feel fortunate for his earlier courteous treatment.

Upon entering the main camp and reaching the central command tent, they saw Zhou Yu, nicknamed "Two-Eight-Three," personally standing at the tent entrance to greet them. Zhou Yu was indeed imposing, a young and promising general. He wore white robes and armor, his lips were like painted rouge, and his eyes shone brightly. As soon as he saw Lu Su leading two men towards them, he said loudly, "It is an honor to have two esteemed gentlemen grace Jiangdong with their presence!" He then bowed to them, and Pang Tong and Yi Ji returned the bows. Zhou Yu gestured for them to enter and prepare a banquet in their tent. Pang Tong and Yi Ji had traveled day and night for over ten days, enduring wind and rain, and mostly only managing to eat a little dry rations. Now they could finally rest a bit.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhou Yu said, "Mr. Pang Tong, the two armies are currently facing each other, and I am pondering a strategy to repel Cao Cao. I wonder what your advice is?" Pang Tong pondered for a moment, then said, "When I came here, I saw that the naval camp on the north side was well-organized, with its defenses interlocking. The naval forces on the north side are training day and night. At this rate, in half a month to a month or two, the northern naval forces will be able to launch a large-scale southward attack in their large ships." Zhou Yu was alarmed. He had gone to Cao Cao's camp the other day to investigate and, looking across the river, saw that the deployment was indeed well-organized. He was currently very anxious. Pang Tong's words only made Zhou Yu more worried. "In your opinion, what should we do?" Zhou Yu asked hastily. Pang Tong was quite frank: "The timing, the location, and the people... it all depends on whether Heaven gives you the opportunity. If you, Commander, have the chance to eliminate Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, who are training Cao Cao's navy, then that would be the best outcome. If not, you can only rely on the natural defenses of the Yangtze River and the dense fortifications along the riverbank to resist..." Zhou Yu was somewhat displeased that Pang Tong told him to "wait for the right time," implying a rather pessimistic outlook. However, given Pang Tong's reputation, Zhou Yu couldn't easily show his displeasure. After holding back for a while, he said, "Sir, you are so convinced that Cao Cao's army is attacking. Why not have our army launch a surprise attack on Cao Cao's army?"

Upon hearing this, Pang Tong noticed Zhou Yu's arrogant tone, suggesting he intended to launch a surprise attack on Cao Cao's army. He smiled and asked, "What brilliant plan does the Commander-in-Chief have?" Zhou Yu replied, "An army marches on its stomach. Cao Cao's supplies are stored at Wulin. I suggest we send troops to set Wulin ablaze." Pang Tong shook his head and remained silent. Yi Ji, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but say, "We've dealt with Cao Cao many times. He has a penchant for burning enemy supplies; Yuan Shao is a prime example. Now that he's stored his supplies at Wulin, he'll surely be heavily guarding it..."

Zhou Yu listened, but he was not angry. He sneered, "What you are saying, sir, I know all too well. However, the grand strategy in Zhou Yu's heart is not something that ordinary people can understand!"

Yi Ji was puzzled; what kind of scheme was Zhou Yu plotting now? He turned to look at Pang Tong, who merely smiled and remained silent. After a long pause, Pang Tong kindly advised, "While the Commander-in-Chief has a plan, caution is still necessary. The final attack cannot be launched without four or five steps of preparation!" Zhou Yu, upon hearing this, glanced at Pang Tong again. Pang Tong simply smiled, appearing completely unperturbed. Zhou Yu, unsure if Pang Tong had guessed his plan, could only lazily reply, "Sir's reminder is wise; Gongjin, please be careful."

Seeing that the group was not getting along and the atmosphere was quite awkward, Lu Su could only repeatedly urge them to eat and drink. The group, also feeling embarrassed, simply ate in silence.

Pang Tong and Yi Ji, having eaten and drunk their fill, prepared to leave. Lu Su had been waiting for Zhou Yu to speak up and ask Pang Tong to stay. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yu remained silent, despite Lu Su's repeated attempts to signal him. Frustrated, Lu Su had to speak himself. He bowed to Pang Tong and said, "Master Fengchu, the Lord of Wu is eager for talent and wishes to invite the greatest sages of the land to teach him. Now that you have arrived in Jiangdong, why not stay here and meet the Lord of Wu in a few days, so that you may realize your lifelong ambitions?" Pang Tong had anticipated this and immediately replied, "I am but a recluse from a village. I have come to Jiangdong to find a farm near Chaisang to live in seclusion, to observe the Yangtze River tides, read books, and compose poems—that is all. How could I possibly be fit for such a great responsibility!" He then insisted on leaving. Lu Su, however, was unwilling to let him go and pleaded with him to stay and advise on the Battle of Red Cliffs. Just as the stalemate was at hand, Fa Zheng heard that Pang Tong and Yi Ji were in the central command tent, so he rushed over.

Upon seeing Pang Tong, Fa Zheng bowed respectfully. Pang Tong returned the bow slightly. The two had never met before, and although they were both polite, there was a palpable sense of unfamiliarity and curiosity between them. Pang Tong, seeing Fa Zheng's cunning and scheming demeanor and hearing that he had outmaneuvered the Xiongnu in the north and had been transferred to the southeast by Luo Chen due to his expertise in the southeastern war, thought to himself that this man was treacherous, skilled in strategy, but not a virtuous or wise person, but rather a power-hungry opportunist. He felt a sense of disdain, but still said aloud, "I have long admired your name, sir, and heard that you are a capable strategist under General Luo Chen..." Fa Zheng, seeing Pang Tong's ugly and short stature, felt a similar disdain, and since Pang Tong had never actually served in the military and only held the empty title of "Young Phoenix," he didn't take him seriously. Nevertheless, he still said, "I have long admired your great wisdom in the southeast..."

Yi Ji, impatient, asked, "Sir, you came from my lord's side. How is my lord now?" Fa Zheng, seeing this, quickly replied, "Sir Yi Ji, my lord misses you very much and has even sent people to look for you... You should return to Jiangxia immediately. My lord is in dire need of someone to advise him." Upon hearing this, Yi Ji immediately informed Zhou Yu and Lu Su that he wanted to go to Jiangxia to find Liu Bei. Zhou Yu and Lu Su could not stop him, so they dispatched troops to escort Yi Ji back to Jiangxia by warship.

Seeing that Lu Su was relentless in insisting that Pang Tong plan the Battle of Red Cliffs there, Fa Zheng couldn't help but sneer, saying, "Sir, you are a recluse, a man of high standing. Why would you disturb him with mundane matters..." Pang Tong sensed the sarcasm in Fa Zheng's words but didn't care. Seeing that Zhou Yu was arrogant and might not welcome him, he became even more determined, saying, "Zijing, don't stay. If you need anything, just ride quickly to the riverbank ten miles north of Chaisang." With that, he broke free from Lu Su, mounted his horse, and took his leave. Lu Su had no choice but to give up, sighing to himself for a while.

Chapter 181 The Death of the General

Luo Chen's army achieved two decisive victories in the north. Xu Da crushed the Xiongnu regular army led by Zhong Ting and Yesuo on the northern front. Luo Chen personally controlled the legendary steppe wolf army in Hexi, and the famous ever-victorious general, "Ghost" Zhao Cheng, fled in disarray. The Xiongnu were completely out of control in Hexi.

Sun Yuanhua's arrival completely reversed the course of the war on the northern front. This proved the powerful effectiveness of the National Science and Technology Agency established by Luo Chen.

After the heavy artillery bombardment, Xu Da drew his saber and ordered a charge. The Xiongnu soldiers were now completely panicked, their psychological defenses utterly collapsed. The once formidable Xiongnu soldiers crumbled at the first contact, surrendering as soon as they were surrounded. In the face of such terrible disaster, one's most hidden thoughts and character are truly revealed. Those soldiers who firmly believed in the Xiongnu gods and were infinitely loyal to the grasslands believed that such severe punishment proved their mistakes were unforgivable. Coupled with the ferocity of the Han soldiers and the loss of their homeland, they had lost all reason to live. Many soldiers committed suicide. Of course, most, driven by panic and a strong will to survive, chose to kneel and surrender. These were the lucky ones; the unfortunate ones were those who were inexplicably torn to pieces by the cannon fire. And even more unfortunate were those who, terrified by the cannon fire, were then hacked to death by sabers.

Zhong Ting, the commander of nearly 300,000 troops, braved the artillery fire and ran to the observation platform in the camp. Even the usually fierce Erlu beside him was bewildered and panicked. He could only mutter silently, "Forgive me, Hunnic God, forgive me..." He didn't shout, perhaps realizing he was still a general and couldn't disrupt the morale of his troops. Zhong Ting ran to the observation platform, amidst the flying shrapnel and artillery fire. For a moment, Zhong Ting didn't understand where this heavenly fire came from—was it truly the Hunnic God's punishment? However, as the soldiers surrounding the camp gate were shelled, and he saw the figures of fallen cavalrymen slashing and killing in the firelight, Zhong Ting roughly understood. This was Xu Da's doing.

The soldiers collapsed. Zhongting had never heard such desperate cries. The Xiongnu soldiers were renowned for their stoicism and tenacity. The violent explosions were like thunder in the sky, and shrapnel severely wounded every soldier who came into contact with them. The shockwaves and explosive force could blast huge holes in the sturdy camp walls, shatter tents into fragments, and turn them into infernos. The most terrifying thing was undoubtedly seeing comrades-in-arms, with whom they had spent every day, suddenly reduced to a pile of fragments; an arm blown into the air, the body gone. Every soldier who witnessed this scene was utterly terrified, their psychological defenses completely collapsing.

The Luo army's cavalry charged in from all directions, dividing and encircling the main force of the Xiongnu who were foolishly lying in ambush outside the camp. The Xiongnu soldiers suffered heavy losses, and many surrendered directly. The fleeing and collapsing soldiers were trampled down without hesitation by the Luo army's iron cavalry and cut down without hesitation by their sabers.

Zhongting watched all this, his initial panic turning into an overwhelming calm. Once reality undeniably presented itself—no matter how disheartening it might be—he had failed, utterly failed. He had not only been defeated by Luo Chen and Xu Da, but also by Yesuo. Yesuo's prediction was correct; he had indeed failed to swiftly crush Luo Chen's main force. Of course, Yesuo hadn't anticipated how powerful and terrifying Luo Chen's weapons would be. He had not only lost face before the enemy, but also before his own people—before his son Zhongping, before Elu, and especially before Yesuo. He would no longer be worthy to face the elders and people of the Xiongnu. Now, recalling his arrogance, his stubbornness, and his arbitrary decisions at the Yinshan Conference, Zhongting felt utterly ashamed. It was no exaggeration to say that he had cost the lives of two to three hundred thousand Xiongnu cavalry, thus costing the Xiongnu steppe its life. He was a sinner against the Xiongnu steppe.

Zhong Ting sneered, perhaps a bitter laugh, tinged with obvious despair. In the firelight, Erlu, tears streaming down his face, cried out, "General, what do we do?" This burly, fierce general appeared so panicked and helpless.

Zhongting's gaze hardened. He said coldly, "What are you crying for!" He then unsheathed his command sword and handed it to Erru: "The soldiers still organized in the camp, gather and retreat immediately. The scattered, disorganized soldiers around here, have them ride up and follow you." He forcefully shoved the sword into Erru's hand. "Retreat immediately! Retreat immediately! Retreat behind the Yinshan Mountains! Head north!" He then shoved Erru hard.

Erru was momentarily stunned, and asked tremblingly, "What about you? What are you doing?"

Zhongting did not answer, but instead ordered even more fiercely, "Execute the order immediately! I will stand guard here!"

"General, let's retreat together!" Erru shouted. The artillery fire seemed to have landed not far from the observation post, creating a huge explosion. "Hurry! Otherwise, it'll be too late!" Erru said, grabbing Zhongting and trying to pull him down.

Enraged, Zhong Ting kicked Erlu hard, sending him tumbling down the steps. Erlu rolled several meters down the steps, staggered to his feet, glanced at Zhong Ting in the stands, and left in tears.

The intense artillery fire finally ceased, and the Xiongnu camps were engulfed in flames. The northern sky was illuminated as if it were daytime. In the firelight, even small animals like steppe rats could be seen scattering in panic. The barely gathered army of the 133rd rank of the Oru had already fled in disarray. In the chaos, no one even noticed, and those who did assumed it was just a small desertion. In fact, compared to the Xiongnu casualties and prisoners of war, the remnants gathered by the Oru were indeed a small force. Surrounded by enemy forces on all sides, a large number of Xiongnu soldiers were encircled, and they were astonished to find that this was the largest number of enemy soldiers captured since the start of the campaign. The large number of prisoners taken from the brave Xiongnu soldiers was indeed surprising, but this was the power of the psychological deterrent of artillery.

Groups of desert soldiers surrounded the observation platform. Countless crossbows were aimed at Zhong Ting on the platform.

Xu Da simply watched from afar, the dense torches below and the bonfires on the observation platform illuminating Zhong Ting's face. Calm, even somewhat disdainful, and extremely stubborn.

Zhong Ting calmly drew his sword and slowly placed it against his neck. A gasp rippled through the crowd below, and an officer shouted, "Stop him!" But Zhong Ting seemed to merely sneer, and without hesitation, he swung the sword horizontally. Blood splattered, and the stubborn general crashed to the ground.

Xu Da, mounted on his horse, gazed into the distance at that still stubborn face, a face that had never given up in its entire life. Xu Da offered no further expression or words: "Bury him. No special treatment needed." With that, he spurred his horse and rode away.

Chapter 182 Returning to Wuwei County

After the fierce battle, Luo Chen collapsed from excessive blood loss. The surrounding generals and guards cried out in alarm, causing chaos. The cavalry that had been pursuing Zhao Cheng also turned back to assess the situation; Zhao Cheng and Shaha had escaped with two guards.

In the fierce hand-to-hand combat, the wolf pack lost nearly 20,000 heads, while the Xiongnu cavalry suffered over 10,000 casualties. Lü Bu's forces suffered over 40,000 casualties, and the main force of Lü Bu's army suffered a heavy blow.

Chang Yuchun, Lü Bu, and Yan Qing each organized their troops to clean up the battlefield, then led their armies to Wuwei County. Luo Chen's wounds were bandaged, but he remained asleep. Luo Chen's injury and coma cast a shadow over this victory. Furthermore, Lü Bu's forces suffered heavy losses; these elite troops from the Central Plains, mostly from the Guanzhong Iron Cavalry, would forever rest in this arid desert. Lü Bu, with his remaining soldiers, silently dug graves for them; a huge stone tablet would be erected, inscribed: "Here lie 30,000 of Luo Jun's Guanzhong Iron Cavalry."