Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 346

"Thank you, my lord!" Zhang Heng said with satisfaction. "Your lord's focus on technological development makes you a wise ruler for all time. I admire your enlightenment and foresight, and I am willing to give my life for you..." Luo Chen was quite pleased that Zhang Heng, a bookworm, was praising him so happily.

0.5 This imperial examination was merely an experiment, but judging from Zhang Heng's evaluation of the talent, the results were quite good. Luo Chen himself felt it enriched the government's talent pool. Most importantly, it promoted social mobility, directly breaking the monopoly of powerful families and delivering a fatal blow to them. Luo Chen thus formally announced the implementation of the imperial examination in the Guanzhong region. The examination content focused primarily on Confucian classics, but also included some natural science skills subjects and a military examination. The examination was divided into the provincial examination (county level), the prefectural examination (province level), and the national examination (interviewed by the court or personally by Luo Chen), with selection at each level. Those who passed each level could apply for official positions in the corresponding departments, enjoying benefits such as tax reductions, exemption from military service, and corvée labor. The history of the imperial examination system would be changed, its emergence from the Sui Dynasty directly brought forward to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Luo Chen wrote to Zhang Juzheng, urging him to implement the imperial examination system at the appropriate time.

Chapter Thirty-Six: Searching for Xu Shu

Meanwhile, Ma Dai led 30,000 light cavalry out of Tongguan, secretly searching eastward for Xu Shu and his party. The original plan was for Xu Shu to leave Guandu and head west along the Yellow River, while Ma Dai would leave Tongguan and head east along the Yellow River, so that the two sides could meet somewhere along the riverbank. Ma Dai had received strict orders from Luo Chen to ensure Xu Shu's safety, so he led his light cavalry on a day-and-night trek eastward in haste. However, after several days of marching, they still hadn't seen Xu Shu and his party. Mianchi was just ahead; theoretically, the two sides shouldn't need to reach Mianchi to reunite, as Xu Shu's troops were light and agile, perhaps even faster than Ma Dai's large cavalry force.

Mianchi has been a strategically important military town since ancient times, serving as a western shield for Luoyang. It would undoubtedly be heavily fortified, making it extremely difficult for a large army to secretly bypass the city. Beyond Mianchi to the east lies Luoyang, heavily guarded and with layers of sentry posts along the Yellow River. Only a lightly armed force like Xu Shu's could slip through; a large army could not pass stealthily unless it launched a full-scale attack. If the cavalry were exposed between Mianchi and Luoyang, it would be disastrous, as they would be vulnerable to a pincer attack from both sides, potentially even being surrounded. With the Yellow River surging and heavily fortified, where would they go?

Ma Dai gripped his longsword, hesitant. But Luo Chen's words echoed in his ears: "Yuan Shao has suffered a crushing defeat, and the situation in the Central Plains is perilous. Master Xu Shu is in extreme danger. Master Xu Shu is my right-hand man; we must ensure his safety at all costs!"

Ma Dai frowned and said fiercely, "Even if all 30,000 men are wiped out, we must ensure the safety of Mr. Xu Shu!" He summoned a messenger and dictated, "Report back to Chang'an immediately. Our troops have been unable to locate Mr. Xu Shu and his party west of Mianchi. We have decided to launch a full-scale attack on Mianchi, then break through the riverside outposts along the Luoyang River, and find Mr. Xu Shu at all costs. We hope our lord can send reinforcements. Our troops will not withdraw until Mr. Xu Shu is found, until all men are killed in battle!"

"Yes!" Several messengers scattered and ran off in different directions. Ma Dai felt a little relieved and ordered, "The whole team, set off! Get to the outskirts of Mianchi as soon as possible to rest, and launch a night raid on Mianchi tonight!"

Ma Dai and his men galloped towards Mianchi. Reaching the outskirts of the city, dusk was approaching. The sunlight slanted across the muddy Yellow River, and soon the sun slowly dimmed, turning reddish, while the horizon was ablaze with rosy clouds. Ma Dai ordered, "The entire force retreats behind the bushes! Do not cross the bushes, lest the enemy see us from the outskirts! No open flames, no smoke! All horses are tethered, do not let them run away!" The soldiers heated charcoal until it glowed red-hot, using the embers to heat their rations without producing a single spark. The vast bushes and hills on the outskirts of Mianchi completely concealed them.

Soon the sun set, and darkness gradually fell. Ma Dai whispered, "The whole army marches out! Quietly approach the walls of Mianchi, and use ropes and the rope ladders we brought to climb up!" The large army quickly approached Mianchi, and the sounds of ropes being thrown and rope ladders hitting the wall could be heard from the darkness. The fallen soldiers quietly climbed onto the city wall.

Mianchi had been free of war in recent years. To its east lay the vast territory controlled by Cao Cao, including the strategically important military and political city of Luoyang. Therefore, Mianchi had no need to worry about enemies coming from the east. While its western side was relatively close to Tongguan and Hangu Pass, it was also protected by important cities like Hongnong and Caoyang, meaning it wasn't entirely on the front lines. Thus, despite being a crucial town on the Yellow River and a shield for Luoyang, Mianchi's army was completely complacent and lacked vigilance. The soldiers on the city walls conducted a token patrol for a few minutes as usual before falling fast asleep. The commander of Mianchi, Xiahou Hui, was a junior member of the Xiahou family. Xiahou was Cao Cao's surname; Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan were brothers of Cao Cao. Although the Xiahou family had suffered condemnation and setbacks due to Xiahou Yuan's defection, it remained powerful and resilient, and its blood relation to Cao Cao meant it was still favored. This Xiahou Hui was a wealthy young man who indulged in eating, drinking, and waiting to die. He didn't want to do anything or serve in the imperial court, so his family had no choice but to appoint him as the governor of a city near Luoyang, so they could take care of him. He would frequently go back to his home in Luoyang to eat, drink, and sleep, only reluctantly going to Mianchi for a while when urged by his family. Xiahou Hui was currently fast asleep in the governor's mansion, surrounded only by a few eunuchs.

The Luo army swiftly scaled the city walls, killing the sleeping soldiers with a single blow. Awakened, the soldiers screamed in terror; some, bewildered, fled in all directions. The Luo army quickly seized control of the walls and opened the gates. The soldiers on the walls set fires. Seeing everything under control, Ma Dai led a large cavalry force into the city. Shouts of battle erupted. The city's defenders, far from being able to assemble, either surrendered en masse or scattered, only to be discovered and killed by the patrolling Luo army. Xiahou Hui, upon hearing this, was terrified. He didn't order a counterattack, but instead gathered his personal guards and prepared to flee. Ma Dai, anticipating his escape to Luoyang via the east gate, deliberately ordered fewer fires to be set at the east gate. Seeing fewer fires at the east gate, the guards assumed the Luo army hadn't reached it yet and swarmed Xiahou Hui to the east gate.

Xiahou Hui and his entourage were overjoyed to see that the east gate seemed deserted and was half-open. Just as they were about to pass through, torches suddenly surrounded them, illuminating the area. In the bright light, a general in white robes, riding a white horse, surrounded by soldiers, blocked their path. "General Ma Dai, under Prime Minister Luo Chen, is here!" Ma Dai shouted.

Xiahou Hui's legs went weak with fear. Upon hearing the name "Luo Chen," he immediately realized something was wrong. Was Luo Chen going to ambush Cao Cao from behind? Before he could react, Ma Dai gently lifted him off his horse, threw him to the ground, and ordered his soldiers to tie him up. The rest of his personal guards also surrendered.

In less than an hour, Ma Dai had taken control of Mianchi. But he knew he couldn't stay there for long; news of Mianchi's fall would surely panic Cao Cao, who would then send a large army to retake it. He had to make a quick judgment.

Ma Dai interrogated Xiahou Hui overnight.

Have you heard of Xu Shu?

Xiahou Hui was a coward; once frightened by the swords and spears, he said everything without resistance. "I think I heard my family talking about it in casual conversation, saying that even Xu You was afraid of him."

Ma Dai's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't afraid of thieves stealing things, but he was afraid of thieves eyeing his property. It was very likely that Xu You had his eye on Master Xu Shu. Xu You had met Master Xu Shu before surrendering to Cao Cao, and probably heard of his strategies, knowing how capable Xu Shu was. With Yuan Shao's army defeated, Xu Shu would inevitably return west to Guanzhong. So what was the best route? Luo Chen's side could think of the Yellow River, and so could Xu You! Master Xu Shu was likely in extreme danger! Ma Dai dared not think of the worst-case scenario… As the general personally ordered by Luo Chen to protect Xu Shu, he would be inescapably guilty!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Death of Yuan Shao

Ma Dai felt a chill in his heart. If Xu Shu were to meet with any misfortune, he, as the general, would be held responsible.

Ma Dai hurriedly asked, "Is there any news about Mr. Xu Shu?"

Xiahou Hui was also a man who didn't care about anything, and when he was nervous, he couldn't remember anything at all. He scratched his head, his face covered in sweat: "Right! It seems there was a riot on the banks of the Yellow River in Luoyang the day before yesterday. Rumor has it that they were trying to arrest a high-ranking official who had fallen from the army, but it seems they didn't manage to catch him."

"They didn't catch them!" Ma Dai was overjoyed. "How do you know they didn't catch them?" Ma Dai still wanted to confirm.

"General Li Dian, who is in charge of the defense and surveillance of the Yellow River, led a light cavalry south at breakneck speed the day before yesterday. I heard that the high-ranking officer of the fallen army fled south," Xiahou Hui said.

Southward? Ma Dai paced frantically around the room, incessantly turning his back on the enemy. Going south meant entering Cao Cao's heartland; Xu Shu was likely surrounded on all sides, forced to flee south where the enemy was unprepared. He couldn't afford to think further. He glanced out the window; the sky was already turning white, dawn was approaching. News of the capture of Mianchi had probably already reached all the surrounding cities. If they didn't leave now, the enemy's encirclement would be a major problem. Moreover, the sooner they went, the safer Xu Shu would be… Without hesitation, Ma Dai immediately ordered: "All troops move out! Proceed southward to search!"

Taking prisoners was obviously inconvenient, so Ma Dai had no choice but to release all the surrendered Cao soldiers, only taking Xiahou Hui with him bound. Light cavalry then spread out in a fan shape to the south of Mianchi to conduct a large-scale search.

Meanwhile, Luo Chen was inspecting the Chang'an Academy. The Chang'an Academy was a comprehensive institution of higher learning, teaching a wide range of subjects including classics, history, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and mathematics. The academy naturally invited renowned scholars to teach classics and history, and specialized personnel to teach astronomy and mathematics. However, only Zhang Heng led the students in physics and chemistry, conducting research and learning simultaneously. Their main task was to develop gunpowder. Zhang Heng had formed a team of about a hundred people, centered around himself and including physics and chemistry students, mathematics experts, and various craftsmen. They worked day and night and quickly made significant breakthroughs, which greatly pleased Luo Chen.

Luo Chen was listening to Zhang Heng introduce the research progress when Yan Qing rushed in from outside and whispered in his ear, "General Ma Dai urgently needs your help; the messenger is waiting outside." Luo Chen's heart skipped a beat. Could something have happened to Mr. Xu Shu? He hurriedly went out and asked, "What's going on? Is General Ma Dai in any trouble?"

"Reporting to the lord, General Ma Dai has failed to find Mr. Xu Shu west of Mianchi and has decided to force his way through Mianchi and Luoyang, sparing no effort to find Mr. Xu Shu! Requesting your support!" Luo Chen frowned. The fact that they hadn't encountered Xu Shu was worrying. Ma Dai was likely also in danger, as Cao Cao had a large force in the Luoyang and Mianchi area.

Luo Chen now has few generals left. Lü Bu and Huang Zhong are in Yizhou, Xiahou Yuan is in Hanzhong, and only Ma Chao is capable of fighting alongside him. Luo Chen decides to personally lead another campaign, leaving Xu Da to garrison Tongguan and Zhuge Liang to oversee the state. He only has two generals by his side, Ma Chao and Yan Qing, and he takes Fa Zheng as his strategist. Luo Chen immediately leads 150,000 troops out of Tongguan, heading towards Mianchi and Luoyang. This campaign has three objectives: the most important is to coordinate the search for Mr. Xu Shu; secondly, to strike at the garrisons of Luoyang and Mianchi, preventing Ma Dai's light cavalry from getting into trouble; and thirdly, to teach Cao Cao a lesson. Cao Cao killed his ally, and it would be inappropriate for Luo Chen not to react.

The day before yesterday, Cao Cao launched an eight-pronged attack, severely damaging Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao retreated entirely to Hebei, where he rallied troops from the three provinces to fight again. Due to Guo Jia and others' strategy of ambush from all sides, Yuan Shao suffered another crushing defeat. The battle was utterly disastrous; generals like Zhang He and Gao Lan surrendered, and many strategists, such as Ju Shou, perished in the chaos. Yuan Shao was dealt a heavy blow and soon died of depression. Luo Chen immediately summoned Xu Shu back to Guanzhong, ordering Ma Dai to lead a light cavalry force to meet him and ensure Xu Shu's safety.

When news of Yuan Shao's death from depression arrived, the entire nation was in the spotlight. This signified a complete defeat for Yuan Shao's group by Cao Cao's, and Cao Cao's unification of the north west of Tong Pass was imminent. Reactions were varied: some mocked, some ridiculed, and some mourned. Jiang Gan, a renowned scholar from the Jianghuai region, lectured in Jingzhou, where he vehemently criticized Yuan Shao. Jiang Gan predicted Cao Cao's inevitable victory, and his prediction proved correct, greatly enhancing his reputation. However, Liu Biao, while expressing benevolent regret over Yuan Shao's death, found Jiang Gan's words harsh and banished him from Jingzhou. Jiang Gan was furious and wrote poems and articles denouncing him for several days. Furthermore, renowned scholars from Jiangdong, such as Lu Su and Zhang Zhao, also correctly predicted Cao Cao's victory; it is said that the famous "Phoenix Chick" (Zhang Zhao) was lecturing in Jiangdong at the time.

In Guanzhong and its western regions, including Yizhou, which were under Luo Chen's control, people generally did not care much. Luo Chen expressed his grief over Yuan Shao's death, conveying his deepest condolences through the emperor's decree and bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. At the same time, he severely condemned Cao Cao's actions in harming the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Court.

Cao Cao naturally disregarded these opinions. With Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang vying for power, the morale of the troops in the three provinces of Hebei was low, and they were extremely weak. If Cao Cao's army marched straight in, the three provinces of Hebei would be easily within his grasp. His only moment of distraction was when Xu You advised him to be careful and eliminate Xu Shu. He instructed Li Dian to set up a checkpoint along the Yellow River near Luoyang as Xu You requested, but this matter didn't particularly concern him. However, just as everyone was discussing this, and Cao Cao was preparing to take the three provinces of Hebei in one fell swoop, the perpetually defeated general Liu Bei suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leading tens of thousands of troops to launch a surprise attack on Xuchang. This time, Liu Bei seemed to have swept away his bad luck. Xuchang indeed had few troops; Cao Cao's army, having suffered several defeats, remained in the city to defend it, urgently requesting Cao Cao's reinforcements.

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed and repeatedly expressed his regret. Cheng Yu found it strange: "Why is my lord so upset? Liu Bei's small force poses no real threat to Xuchang. If you simply send troops to reinforce it immediately, you can quickly defeat Liu Bei. It's a piece of cake..." "No, no," Cao Cao shook his head repeatedly, "I'm not regretting that. I regret that we've been fighting year after year and have forgotten to completely eliminate Liu Bei. Now he dares to attack Xuchang, and he has many fierce generals by his side. He can be said to have quite a few wings. It will be difficult to defeat him in the future!"

Cao Cao then asked Guo Jia for advice: "If we return to reinforce now, what will happen to the three provinces of Hebei?" Guo Jia smiled and said: "Now is the perfect time to return. Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang are fighting each other. If we press them hard with our large army, they will definitely unite. On the contrary, if you return to Xuchang, these two will not have a direct external threat, so they will inevitably fight among themselves. My lord can deal with Liu Bei first, and then the two Yuans will fight each other. It will be easy for my lord to take Hebei."

Cao Cao was overjoyed and cheered repeatedly. Without hesitation, he led his 200,000-strong army back to Xuchang.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Twists and Turns

The Battle of Xuchang, where Liu Bei launched a surprise attack, is clearly described in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Cao Cao used a feint, and Liu Bei launched a night attack on Cao Cao's camp, only to be ambushed. He rushed back to find his main camp had been raided. Liu Bei, true to his reputation as a frequently defeated general, suffered another humiliating defeat and fled in disarray. He barely managed to gather his old troops and relatives before hastily heading south to seek refuge with Liu Biao.

Cao Cao, having easily defeated Liu Bei, was smug and led his army lazily back to the Hebei front. Reports came that Xu Shu had escaped the encirclement, and Li Dian was currently leading a light cavalry pursuit, which slightly dampened Cao Cao's good mood. He said rather displeasedly, "What's wrong with Li Dian! He can't even handle this small matter! A scholar, a few guards, and tens of thousands of soldiers—he let them escape! Utterly useless!" He sternly ordered Li Dian to bring Xu Shu back as soon as possible. However, since a large area to the south was under his control, it seemed Xu Shu couldn't escape much, so Cao Cao wasn't actually worried at all.

The army marched slowly and set up camp for the night. Late at night, Cao Cao was reading in his tent when a messenger on horseback suddenly rushed in with a report. Dian Wei led his soldiers into the tent, and one soldier hurriedly reported, "Report! Tens of thousands of Luo Chen cavalry have attacked Mianchi at night! According to reports from the front lines, the defending general, Xiahou Hui, has been captured!" Cao Cao was shocked and jumped up in a panic, knocking over the candles on his desk. "How many enemies are there?!" Cao Cao asked. His biggest fear was that Luo Chen might launch a full-scale attack on Xuchang. Luo Chen was not as easy to deal with as Liu Bei; if that happened, his plan to quickly conquer the three provinces of Hebei and the Wuhuan in northeastern Central China would be indefinitely delayed. "Also, quickly summon Mr. Guo Jia!" a soldier hurriedly went to fetch him.

"It seems to be twenty or thirty thousand men, all light cavalry, and the leader seems to be Ma Dai, the enemy's lieutenant general."

Ma Dai? Tens of thousands? Light cavalry? Cao Cao was puzzled, pacing back and forth. If Luo Jun were to launch a full-scale attack, his vanguard should obviously be fierce generals like Lü Bu and Ma Chao, and their numbers should be much greater, including heavily armored troops. How could it be tens of thousands of light cavalry?

"Are there any enemy activities at Tongguan?" Guo Jia, who had just arrived, asked.

"We haven't received any news of enemy movements yet," the sergeant said.

"Immediately order Cao Hong in Luoyang to take full command of all surrounding troops! Encircle and annihilate Ma Dai's army at the gates of Mianchi!" Cao Cao ordered angrily. He then said to Guo Jia, "Shouldn't we set off to return with the main force? If Luo Chen's entire army attacks, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Silence fell over the tent. After a long while, Guo Jia slowly said, "Perhaps my lord is overly worried. According to the current information, the Luo army has not launched a large-scale attack. Ma Dai managed to remain undetected by passing through Hongnong and other places, only appearing at Mianchi. This suggests that he is likely carrying out some special mission, and doesn't seem like the vanguard of the Luo army." Cao Cao did not answer, but paced back and forth in the tent. Guo Jia then pondered for a moment, "I speculate that he may have come to meet Xu Shu."

“That sounds reasonable…” Cao Cao said. Dawn was approaching, but Cao Cao did not issue an order to set off; instead, he waited for news. Soon, Dian Wei entered again, bowing and reporting, “A messenger from Mianchi requests an audience.” “Let him in,” Cao Cao immediately said.

The messenger, panting, slowly said, "Ma Dai's army left Mianchi early this morning, and it seems they headed south. General Cao Hong is mobilizing a large army to pursue them."

"He went south?" Cao Cao frowned, but seemed relieved. "I remember there was a report last time that Xu Shu fled south?"

“That’s right,” Guo Jia said. “It’s obvious that Ma Dai is searching for Xu Shu.”

Cao Cao nodded and told the messenger, "Tell Cao Hong to handle it himself, but he still needs to keep an eye on the Luochen troops in the west. Only deal with Ma Dai after ensuring the safety of the west." Cao Cao seemed to have reverted to his usual nonchalant and lazy state. "Order Xiahou Dun to divide 50,000 cavalry to assist Li Dian in capturing Xu Shu and attacking Ma Dai's cavalry. The rest of the troops, immediately set off to attack Hebei!" It seemed Cao Cao didn't take Ma Dai seriously; attacking Hebei was clearly a more important matter.

Cao Cao's army set off again.

Cao Cao was riding his horse, admiring the scenery along the way. He was now full of confidence; the most difficult time was over, and the victory at the Battle of Guandu was decisive. He was envisioning the unification of the country. Suddenly, a hoarse cry came from a horse: "Report! General Cao Hong has an urgent report!"

"What is it?" Cao Cao asked hurriedly. The messenger, drenched in sweat and panting, stammered, "Battle report from the front: this morning, the Luo...Luo army crossed Tongguan and marched straight towards Luoyang and Xuchang. They have already captured Hongnong and Caoyang. The Hongnong garrison commander, Liu Fang, has been killed in battle. General Cao Hong is currently resisting along the Mianchi-Luoyang line. Please return to reinforce them immediately!"

Upon hearing the first sentence, Cao Cao felt dizzy and thought, "Damn it, are you kidding me?!" He sent Ma Dai to find Xu Shu, and then came over himself!

"How many enemy troops are there? Who is their commander? Xu Da?" Cao Cao asked.

"The enemy has a large force, probably around 200,000! They are led by Luo Chen himself! Please return to their aid immediately!" This soldier ended every sentence with "Please return to their aid immediately." This might be related to Cao Hong telling him that if he couldn't get reinforcements, he would be executed.

The situation is now clear: Luo Chen's large army's attack on Luoyang and Xuchang is merely a pretext to strike at Cao Cao's rear. Luoyang and Xuchang are Cao Cao's home base and absolutely cannot be lost. In a sense, if Luo Chen insists on attacking, Cao Cao will have to commit all his manpower and resources to a desperate battle. Cao Cao's strength lies in his pragmatism; even when the scenario he least wants to see is about to occur, he quickly regains his composure. This time, he didn't consult with Guo Jia but clearly ordered: "Order the main army to immediately return, and order the 200,000 troops stationed on the Hebei front to immediately return and assemble in Xuchang, Luoyang, and other places to prepare for the decisive battle!"

In other words, a large force of over 500,000 Cao Cao troops would be concentrated in a small area centered around Xuchang and Luoyang! This could be considered almost all of Cao Cao's resources. It's no wonder, since if Cao Cao's army threatened Chang'an, Luo Chen would also mobilize all his forces to prepare for a decisive battle.

Meanwhile, on Xu Shu's side... It was fortunate that Xu Shu managed to escape. Logically, everyone was a scholar, each serving their own master, and should have no connection with each other. Unexpectedly, this Xu You was truly treacherous and despicable... Xu Shu observed that Cao Cao's sentry posts, which originally only had about ten men, now had over a hundred men at each post, and every soldier looked alert, as if searching for someone. Xu Shu immediately sensed something was very wrong; something was amiss.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: An Unexpected Encounter

Lord Niu was orphaned at a young age and made a living selling shoes and weaving mats with his mother. In the southeast corner of their house, there was a mulberry tree over five zhang tall. From a distance, it looked like a small carriage canopy, and passersby were amazed by its extraordinary nature, some saying that a noble person would emerge from it. When Lord Niu was young, he played with other children in his clan under the tree and said, "I will surely ride in this feathered canopy carriage."

—From the Biography of Liu Bei in the Records of the Three Kingdoms

Meanwhile, Xu Shu sensed something amiss and glanced at Tian Feng behind him. Tian Feng had been rescued from the chaos of battle by Luo Chen. Seeing Yuan Shao's crushing defeat, Luo Chen suspected he intended to kill Tian Feng and had warned Xu Shu. Xu Shu secretly ordered Tian Feng to be brought out of prison and hidden in his residence. Yuan Shao suffered a crushing defeat at Wuchao, his army scattering. Xu Shu and Tian Feng, along with their followers, retreated with Yuan's army. Sadly, Ju Shou was killed in the chaos. Soon after, Yuan Shao was defeated again, and Xu Shu, receiving orders from Luo Chen, led Tian Feng and several followers towards Guanzhong.

Tian Feng also sensed something was amiss and nodded. Xu Shu immediately led his entourage southwards, where there were fewer sentries, intending to bypass the area and reconsider. Unexpectedly, he soon spotted his portrait plastered all over the walls of Luoyang. A soldier recognized him and shouted, "Look! Xu Shu! The fallen general—the high-ranking official Xu Shu!"

Xu Shu cursed under his breath, then, without further ado, spurred his horse and fled south at breakneck speed. A cacophony of shouts and even arrows flew from behind. He galloped for a while, until the noise seemed to recede into the distance. Looking back, he saw a general leading a large contingent of cavalry flanking him from both sides, relentlessly determined to capture him. Xu Shu cursed again in exasperation. What else could he do but run? Even with his strategic brilliance and genius, in this situation, even a genius couldn't pull it off! He could only blindly continue his frantic escape.

With a swift "whoosh," an arrow whistled through the air, and his attendants fell to the ground. Xu Shu whipped his horse again, but it had already reached its limit. Xu Shu watched as the enemy slowly approached; his horse was utterly exhausted, panting heavily, and on the verge of collapse. The enemy general shouted triumphantly, "Take him alive! Don't hurt him! His horse can't run anymore! Shoot all the attendants!" Arrows whistled past, and Xu Shu's attendants fell one after another, struck by arrows.

Suddenly, a white-robed general appeared from the side, wielding a long spear. Without a word, he charged forward like lightning. Xu Shu was startled, and his horse was also quite frightened. Startled, the horse suddenly collapsed, throwing Xu Shu to the ground as well. Tian Feng's horse was also startled, jolting for a moment before coming to a stop a short distance away.

The Cao army general was none other than Li Dian. Seeing the white-robed general charging towards him, Li Dian quickly raised his spear to block. The spear struck with considerable force, causing Li Dian to stumble and his rapidly advancing horse to a halt. Li Dian was startled, realizing he had encountered a formidable opponent. He exclaimed, "Who goes there! State your name!"

The white-robed general sneered and shouted, "Zhao Zilong of Changshan!" He then brandished his spear and charged forward. Li Dian, a shrewd man, knew better than to throw his life away. Seeing Zhao Yun's menacing attack, he didn't lower himself to defend, but turned his horse and fled faster than a rabbit. Li Dian's men hadn't even reacted before Zhao Yun had killed several of them in quick succession. Only then did they realize their mistake and hastily turn their horses and flee.

Xu Shu, who had fallen to the ground and sustained minor injuries, saw the white-robed general drive back Cao Cao's army. He struggled to his feet, bowed deeply, and thanked the general, saying, "Thank you for your help, General. I will never forget your life-saving grace. Just now, I heard you call out 'Zhao Yun.'" The white-robed general humbly returned the bow and said, "Indeed, I am Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, currently serving under Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle."

"Oh," Xu Shu said with interest, "I heard along the way that your lord led his army to attack Xuchang, forcing Cao Cao to personally lead a large army back to reinforce it? How is the situation now?"

Zhao Yun sighed, "Cao Cao is cunning and powerful. My lord's forces are too weak to resist." Xu Shu nodded sympathetically, "Liu Bei is a hero of the world. His strategy this time was also appropriate, but unfortunately, he has been unlucky..." Zhao Yun said, "My lord is nearby... I only met you by chance when I was on an inspection tour. I know that Cao Cao general. When I saw that you were in trouble, I helped you."

It turned out that Liu Bei had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Cao Cao's army and fled in disarray. Upon arriving here, he slowly gathered his generals and advisors, regrouped, and managed to establish a small remnant force of several thousand soldiers to rest. It was then that Zhao Yun, by chance, appeared and saved the lives of Xu Shu and Tian Feng.

Xu Shu said, "Thank you for your help, General. My name is Xu Shu, also known as Xu Yuanzhi. I am the deputy military advisor under Prime Minister Luo Chen. This is Tian Feng, an important strategist under Yuan Shao. General, could you please introduce us to Liu Bei?"

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Zhao Yun, accompanied by Xu Shu and Tian Feng, arrived before Liu Bei. After introductions and formalities, they sat down. Liu Bei, having spent the previous night traveling, looked haggard, with burn marks on his face, appearing quite disheveled. However, his ears reached his shoulders, his eyes shone brightly, and his appearance was imposing, exuding a heroic air. Liu Bei sighed, "This attack on Xuchang has failed again. The Cao army is too powerful… Alas!" He looked around; the soldiers were disheveled, many wounded, and the generals and officials were in disarray. He couldn't help but weep, saying, "You are all men of great talent and wisdom, valiant generals and extraordinary men of the world. Following me, Liu Bei, you have suffered repeated defeats… It is my bad luck. You should all seek a wise lord yourselves, and not ruin your futures!" He then covered his face and wept. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Mi Fang, Mi Zhu, and others stood around Liu Bei. Upon hearing this, they all knelt down, covering their faces and weeping, "Your subjects swear to follow our lord to the death…"

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Xu Shu, watching from the side, was deeply moved and said, "Uncle, there's no need to be sad. Back then, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang fought Xiang Yu to a standoff, suffering repeated defeats, yet he still ultimately became the ruler of the world. Uncle, you are a hero; you're just unlucky right now... What are your plans for the future, Uncle?"

Liu Bei sighed, "Sir, you flatter me. I am truly ashamed. I have nowhere to settle now, so I have no choice but to temporarily seek refuge with Liu Biao and make no further plans." "Oh..." Xu Shu stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, "My lord, Luo Chen, is a man of great talent and ambition, and eager to seek out talented individuals. I originally intended to invite you to join Prime Minister Luo Chen, but since you are willing to go to Liu Biao in Jingzhou, I will not insist..." Liu Bei nodded without replying. He only inquired about Xu Shu and Yuan Shao's situation and expressed his regret. Xu Shu said, "I was sent by Prime Minister Luo to Yuan Shao's camp to offer advice. Yuan Shao's defeat was due to two reasons. First, he was stubborn and refused to listen to good advice. Many strategists, including myself, Mr. Tian Feng, and Mr. Ju Shou, warned him, but Yuan Shao remained oblivious. How could he not be defeated? He also made a mistake in battle, neglecting one aspect for another. His military tactics were simply no match for Cao Cao's! Second, there was Xu You. Not only did he defect to Cao Cao, but he also caused Mr. Tian Feng and me to suffer such a predicament."

Chapter Forty: Matchup

Xu Shu then told Liu Bei about Yuan Shao's defeat. Xu Shu continued, "Yuan Shao suffered a great defeat, and I was ordered by Prime Minister Luo Chen to retreat to Guanzhong. However, on the way back, I heard that he had died of depression after his defeat, which is truly regrettable..." Liu Bei said, "I also heard about this at the time. I knew that Cao Cao had stationed his troops at the front line, leaving the rear vulnerable. I planned to take advantage of this to launch an attack, which would also relieve some pressure on Hebei. However, Cao Cao's power was too great, and I was no match for him."

Xu Shu said, “It is fate that I can meet you here, General. I had planned to meet Ma Dai along the Yellow River, but Xu You was treacherous and tried to harm me. I have no grudge against him. We are both loyal to our respective masters and have no connection with each other. This man is truly wicked and does not deserve to be called a scholar. Fortunately, General Zhao Yun came to my rescue, otherwise Mr. Tian Feng and I would have been in danger.”

The two were having a pleasant conversation when a soldier rushed over: "Report! There's a large plume of dust to the north, it looks like Cao Cao's cavalry!" Xu Shu, feeling inadequate, exclaimed, "Oh dear! I was so busy meeting you that I forgot about that! That Li Dian just fled back like the wind, he's probably going to get reinforcements, I might be dragging you down with me!"

Liu Bei quickly stood up: "Sir, there's no need to worry. I am sworn enemies with Cao Cao, how could I be implicated? At worst, I'll protect you with my life." Zhang Fei, the dark-faced, thick-bearded man under Liu Bei's command, shouted: "That Cao Cao! He's chased us all the way here! I will definitely avenge yesterday's humiliation!"

With Liu Bei's few thousand remaining troops now exposed to Cao Cao's army, a safe retreat was clearly impossible. Liu Bei rallied his remaining forces, along with his generals, deciding to fight to the death and then try to escape. Cao Cao's army, numerous as they were, surrounded them from three sides, raising clouds of dust and sounding the thunder of drums. The horses' hooves pounded the ground like an earthquake, and Liu Bei felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. Sure enough, the defeated general Li Dian was among Cao Cao's ranks, surrounded by tens of thousands of cavalry. However, the commander didn't seem to be him; instead, there were twenty burly, one-eyed generals.

"That's Xiahou Dun, a fierce general in Cao Cao's army," Xu Shu recognized him, and Liu Bei nodded in agreement. Zhang Fei, already impatient, spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Hey you one-eyed guy! I heard you're one of Cao Cao's generals, come out and fight me! Let me see your skills! Are all Cao Cao's soldiers made of mud?" Enraged, Xiahou Dun charged forward with his halberd. Zhang Fei parried with his spear. What a fierce battle! Halberds and spears clashed with incredible speed. Sometimes the two dodged swiftly, only the flashing blades obscuring their figures. Other times, they parried with their spears and halberds, testing their strength until both were bulging with veins and drenched in sweat. They fought for twenty rounds, neither gaining the upper hand. Then another twenty rounds, and Xiahou Dun gradually became unable to defend himself, his halberd techniques becoming increasingly chaotic. Seeing the situation was dire, Li Dian behind him charged at Zhang Fei with his spear. Seeing the situation was dire, Liu Bei's side sent Zhao Yun on horseback to meet Li Dian. After four or five rounds of combat, Li Dian, realizing he was outmatched, tried to flee. But escape was impossible. Zhao Yun's spear pierced Li Dian's chest, leaving a gaping hole, and he fell dead. Xiahou Dun, seeing the situation was hopeless, abandoned his fight, feinted with his halberd, and used the opportunity to escape back into his ranks. He drew his sword and shouted, "Cavalry, charge!"

Although Liu Bei's camp had many fierce generals, giving them a significant advantage in individual combat, their forces were outnumbered, many were wounded, and they were primarily infantry. They were no match for the charge of Cao Cao's tens of thousands of cavalry. Soon, Liu Bei's troops could not hold out and scattered in retreat. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and several other generals protected Liu Bei, Xu Shu, and others, fighting their way back.

Meanwhile, on Ma Dai's side, after two days of searching in a fan shape, he hadn't even spotted Xu Shu. He tried to inquire with the people, but upon seeing a stragglers, they all fled, some into the mountains, others into the towns. The garrisons in the surrounding cities, realizing their forces were outnumbered and unable to contend with Ma Dai, could only hold their positions and plead with Cao Hong for help, requesting his main army to arrive quickly. That day, Ma Dai was directing his troops in a search as usual when suddenly a messenger arrived on horseback with the report: "Report! A large force of Cao Cao's cavalry has appeared ahead, galloping south!"

This was Cao Cao's cavalry, consisting of Xiahou Dun's 0 iron cavalry and Li Dian's tens of thousands of light cavalry. Li Dian, frightened by Zhao Yun, was thinking of returning to Luoyang to see Cao Hong when he unexpectedly encountered Xiahou Dun, who had come specifically to help him. Overjoyed, he hurriedly led Xiahou Dun to Liu Bei's encampment. Xiahou Dun, hearing that Xu Shu was ahead, ordered his iron cavalry to attack swiftly without any reconnaissance, failing to notice that Ma Dai's light cavalry was just a few miles behind his army. The two cavalry forces, originally intended to fight each other, strangely missed each other.

Seeing this formation, Ma Dai guessed that Xu Shu was likely ahead and immediately ordered, "Cease the search! Converge on Cao Cao's army!" Ma Dai's light cavalry charged madly towards Xiahou Dun's iron cavalry, who in turn charged madly towards Liu Bei. Cao Hong had originally intended to pursue Ma Dai, but the previous day, Luo Chen's army had captured several important towns and was advancing straight towards Luoyang. How could Cao Hong possibly fight Ma Dai? He hurriedly gathered his forces and struggled to resist Luo Chen's attack.

At this moment, Liu Bei and his men were surrounded and on the verge of defeat when, unexpectedly, Cao Cao's army suddenly fell into chaos. It turned out that Ma Dai had attacked them from the rear. Both Liu Bei's and Cao Cao's armies were cavalry, and they instantly became entangled, hacking and slashing at each other in utter disarray, unable to maintain their formation. Ma Dai, alone on his horse, charged left and right, and in the distance spotted a large group of people seemingly surrounding something. Ma Dai immediately summoned over a hundred of his personal guards, and they pounced, hacking and slashing from behind. Cao Cao's army, caught off guard, scattered and fled. Ma Dai spotted Xu Shu at once and was overjoyed, shouting, "Master Xu Shu! Ma Dai is here! Are you alright!"

Xu Shu had been in Yuan Shao's camp for months, and these past few days had been especially hectic. Seeing his own army, he was naturally overjoyed. He quickly said, "I'm fine! Cao Cao's army is numerous. Gather the troops, fight and retreat, head south first!"

1.2 "Yes!" Ma Dai immediately relayed the order. The Luojun cavalry slowly regrouped and retreated, while the Cao army cavalry, having suffered heavy losses, dared not pursue rashly. The two sides remained locked in a stalemate for a long time, one slowly retreating and the other slowly advancing.

Xiahou Dun had originally intended to eliminate Liu Bei, Xu Shu, and others in one fell swoop, but Ma Dai's unexpected appearance greatly angered him. Although Cao Cao's 50,000 cavalry held a slight advantage, they couldn't defeat Ma Dai's light cavalry. Ma Dai's army fought a retreating battle, seemingly heading towards Jingzhou. Xiahou Dun remembered that Cao Cao had also deployed a large army around Wancheng and Fancheng, as this area was a stronghold eyeing Jingzhou. Cao Cao's large-scale troop deployment there was preparation for a future attack on Jingzhou. Unexpectedly, a few days ago, Huang Zhong led a portion of Luo Chen's main force to Shangyong and established a base, putting immense pressure on the garrison of Wancheng.

Chapter 41 Yu Jin

Xiahou Dun recalled that Cao Cao originally had 50,000 regular troops and a large number of miscellaneous soldiers in the Wancheng and Fancheng areas. Unexpectedly, a few days ago, Luo Chen conquered Yizhou and sent Huang Zhong with 60,000 main troops to garrison Shangyong. With the implementation of the Yizhou military system, Huang Zhong's forces quickly expanded to 100,000, becoming the most powerful force at the junction of Yizhou, the Central Plains, and Jingzhou, even overshadowing Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao worried that Huang Zhong would launch a surprise attack on the Central Plains from the south, so he ordered General Yu Jin to lead 20,000 cavalry to garrison Wancheng. After arriving there, Yu Jin gathered the original Cao army and trained miscellaneous soldiers, also organizing a force of about 100,000 men, heavily guarding the southern part of the Central Plains, preventing Huang Zhong and the Jingzhou forces from advancing north.

Since there are so many Cao troops in Wancheng, why not use them? Xiahou Dun immediately sent his general, his nephew Qin Yang, to Wancheng to request reinforcements and order them to block Ma Dai. Xu Shu was no fool; how could he not see the situation nearby? He had already sent someone to tell Huang Zhong to prepare for the rescue the day before. Huang Zhong received the message and, being bored with the lack of battle, his soldiers hurriedly amassed their forces, looking ready for war.

Xiahou Dun was leading his army in pursuit of Ma Dai's forces when a messenger galloped up, whipping him and shouting, "Urgent order from the lord! Urgent order from the lord!" Xiahou Dun asked, "What's the rush? What is it?" The messenger, panting, replied, "Urgent order from the lord! Luo Chen is leading a large army to attack Luoyang and other areas. Xiahou Dun is ordered to return immediately to reinforce Luoyang and cooperate with Cao Hong in the battle!" Xiahou Dun was stunned. Luo Chen's army was about to launch a major attack on Luoyang and Xuchang? But clearly, Cao Cao didn't know that he had been rushing south for the past few days, almost reaching Jingzhou. By the time he returned, Cao Cao's army would have arrived, and he wouldn't be needed to provide support! Cao Cao still thought he and Ma Dai were not far from Luoyang! Xiahou Dun was in a dilemma. If he returned now, he would be too far away to be of much help and would miss a golden opportunity to eliminate Xu Shu and others. If he didn't return, wouldn't that be disobeying orders?

Xiahou Dun hesitated for a long time, but decided not to return. He sent a messenger to explain the situation. He still decided to pursue Ma Dai until he had killed Xu Shu, Liu Bei, and the others.

Now, let's talk about Yu Jin. Yu Jin usually buried himself in training troops, ignoring everything else. While the fighting in Hebei was raging, he repeatedly applied to lead troops north to join the battle, but Cao Cao refused, saying it was to prevent Huang Zhong from harassing the rear bases in the Central Plains. That old scoundrel Huang Zhong, unable to go out and fight himself, had also been stuck there. Over time, Yu Jin lost hope. He spent his days sleeping in front of the training ground watching the soldiers train, or reading military books. Occasionally, he would organize large-scale sports competitions such as wrestling, fencing, and archery, with top performers receiving promotions and Yu Jin's autograph… all to showcase his image as a scholar-general. Yu Jin's most glorious moment to date was when he indiscriminately dealt with Xiahou Dun's Qingzhou troops. The Qingzhou troops were disrupting military discipline and harassing the civilians; Yu Jin routed them. When Xiahou Dun went to Cao Cao to complain, Cao Cao was stunned, thinking Yu Jin was about to betray him. Unexpectedly, Yu Jin came over to explain the situation. Cao Cao was overjoyed and praised him highly, believing that he was a strict military leader and could be a great general. He even granted him a marquisate, and from then on, Yu Jin reached the pinnacle of his life.

However, it's best not to reach the pinnacle of life too easily, because once you do, it means you'll be on a downward spiral from then on. Yu Jin, a legendary general, was given 20,000 cavalry by Cao Cao to manage the southern defenses. He painstakingly gathered the surrounding troops and trained them, and his army swelled to 100,000. Even Huang Zhong, whose army had fallen, dared not advance north, yet Cao Cao didn't offer him a single word of praise. That was bad enough; during the Hebei campaign, his colleagues routed Yuan Shao, receiving promotions and large rewards, while Yu Jin received nothing. In the entire Central Plains, he and Cao Hong were the most miserable, one in the north around Luoyang and Mianchi, the other in the south around Wancheng and Fancheng, both defending against the damned Luo Chen. But who was Cao Hong? Cao Cao's brother, who had saved Cao Cao's life. Since Cao Ren's death, Cao Cao had cherished him even more; how could Yu Jin compare?

However, things are better now. If Yu Jin knew what he would experience later, he would definitely cherish this good time. Later, he was sent by Cao Cao to fight Guan Yu, but the difference in ability was obvious. Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, and Yu Jin became Guan Yu's prisoner, helping Guan Yu reach the pinnacle of his life. From then on, Guan Yu's power shook the Central Plains, and the cowards Cao Cao and the cowards of Eastern Wu were terrified. But as I said, after reaching the pinnacle of life, everyone has to go downhill…

Of course, history will only continue to develop in this way if Luo Chen does not interfere...

Yu Jin is currently enjoying a period of ease. But his ease will soon be short-lived. While Xiahou Dun is relentlessly pursuing Ma Dai, Huang Zhong has already received the news and immediately raised an army. Yu Jin's deputy rushed over: "General! A major situation has arisen! Huang Zhong's troops in Shangyong have been mobilized, seemingly heading northeast, towards our direction!" Yu Jin was greatly alarmed. He had been hoping for Huang Zhong's natural death, lest he one day lead his formidable Luo Chen cavalry and infantry-chariot mixed force to attack him. Unexpectedly, that day has come so soon. Yu Jin had just received news from the north that Luo Chen was leading an army of over 207 men in a fierce attack on Mianchi and Luoyang. The Cao army captured by Ma Dai at Mianchi was deeply traumatized; they abandoned the city and fled after little fighting. Now, Luo Chen's army is at the gates of Luoyang. So, is Luo Chen about to launch a full-scale attack, sweeping across both the north and south, and directly confronting Cao Cao?

Without a second thought, he immediately ordered the Cao army in and around Wancheng to assemble and prepare for battle.

Before long, Huang Zhong's army appeared in Yu Jin's sight, but strangely, they did not seem to be in a hurry to attack. Instead, they occupied the hilltops, set up camp, and seemed to be waiting for something.

Yu Jin was growing impatient waiting on the city wall when a soldier rushed up: "General, Xiahou Dun's general Qin Yang requests an audience." A man of Yu Jin's integrity had always despised spoiled brats who relied on their family's power. Wasn't Xiahou Hui a prime example? He was probably still bound by Ma Dai, half-dead, hanging from his horse. Such a mediocre talent, appointed as the Prefect of Mianchi? It was utterly absurd.

Chapter 42 Safe Return

Qin Yang is the second example. He's arrogant and domineering, but in reality, he's mediocre. He boasts of being both literate and martial, but in terms of martial prowess, he's not even as good as a sergeant major. As for literature, he's full of spelling mistakes, his literacy level is comparable to Xiahou Dun's. This mediocre talent, relying on the Xiahou family's power, actually rose to the position of a military officer. Luckily, he's Xiahou Dun's military officer; if he were Yu Jin's, he would have already killed this idiot.