"Today we swear brotherhood, to exterminate Cao the usurper together. May whoever breaks this oath or betrays His Majesty perish in fire and water!"
A trembling hand, a beating heart.
Dong Cheng rose with considerable excitement, lifting a wine vat and filling a large bowl.
The other warriors also rolled up their sleeves, each slashing their arm with a knife, letting their blood drip into the bowl. They then raised the bowls and drank in turn, and finally, six hands clasped tightly together.
This was the Imperial Edict in the Belt!
…
And in contrast to the secret chamber of this wine shop, a rare guest arrived at the mansion of Jingzhao Prefect Sima Fang.
"After His Majesty's blood decree was signed, this is the first time you and I have met, isn't it?"
"To help each other in troubled times is not as good as to forget each other in the world!"
"Indeed. From now on, you and I should maintain some distance. I have already sent someone to cancel the marriage between your third son and my daughter. After all, my Hongnong Yang clan and your Henei Sima clan have destined paths that do not meet!"
The speaker was precisely this rare guest at the Jingzhao Prefect's mansion—Yang Biao, former Grand Commandant of the Hongnong Yang clan.
"Heh heh."
He gave a bitter smile and sneered, "Once something happens to either of us, the other must avoid danger and protect themselves, leaving the last glimmer of hope for the Han Dynasty and for His Majesty."
Tragic, resolute…
Instantly, an exceptionally stern atmosphere enveloped the place. How could Sima Fang not feel it?
"Younger brother understands. Although you and I are like strangers, our paths are the same!"
Upon these words…
Yang Biao and Sima Fang both raised their wine cups and drained them, a silence falling upon them.
Whoosh…
Then, Yang Biao suddenly remembered something.
"I heard from Uncle Dong that that person did not sign. He also advised us not to act for ten days!"
Hmm…
At these words, Sima Fang's brow furrowed.
"He… he won't betray us, will he?"
"There's no need to worry about that!" Yang Biao waved his hand. "Although he is Cao Cao's confidant, he is ultimately a minister of Han!"
"It seems we really have to act in ten days!" Sima Fang's eyes narrowed.
"General Dong has made up his mind. Even if the Yue Dan Ping is a trap, but…" Speaking to this point, Yang Biao paused, "Though thousands may go, I shall go! If we don't enter Cao Cao's trap, how can we make Cao Cao fall into ours?"
"In ten days, at the Yue Dan Ping, you and I will act according to the situation. Do not show yourselves. If things do not go as planned, we must leave a sliver of hope for His Majesty!"
Whoosh… Hope?
Sima Fang gently rubbed his forehead. He had a very strong premonition. "I always feel that this Yue Dan Ping is not simple!"
Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the myriad of stars!
Drip…
Drip…
Gradually, the sound of rain dripped. Under a solitary lamp, Sima Fang and Yang Biao's faces were solemn, their cheeks filled with worry. They both gazed at the candlelight in the lonely lamp.
Can a spark of fire truly… truly ignite a prairie fire?
…
…
Wancheng, atop the city wall.
Cao Cao was inspecting the city defenses. Ten days remained until the arrival of the Yue Dan Ping.
But… Cao Cao remained unhurried, not even mentioning returning to the imperial court.
Completely "calm" and composed…
Of course, this was related to Lu Yu. Long before the attack on Wancheng, Lu Yu had mentioned… after capturing Wancheng, rest for some time, and then triumphantly return to Xuchang two days before the Yue Dan Ping.
This way, the Han court would have ample time to prepare. Once they made a move, it would be a comprehensive sweep, once and for all… This is the principle of eradicating evil thoroughly.
Just then… Cao Cao spotted Lu Yu and Jia Xu, who were also on the city wall!
At this moment, they were talking within the parapet of the city wall…
Seemingly simulating and deducing an attack and defense battle!
Dian Wei intended to announce their presence…
But Cao Cao waved his hand, signaling him not to, and then stopped outside the parapet, standing behind a gate, listening to their "battle situation."
"Mr. Jia, it's your turn…"
Lu Yu's voice came out first…
Cao Cao listened for a while and had a general idea.
On the sand table, Lu Yu was deployed as the attacking force, while Jia Xu was deployed as the defending force.
The current situation was that Lu Yu's attack had fallen into an ambush. Fortunately, he had made prior arrangements and retreated unharmed… Next, it was Jia Xu's turn to decide whether to send troops in pursuit!
"It's my turn? Heh heh, then I choose to send cavalry to pursue Situ Lu!"
Jia Xu gently dispatched the cavalry from within the city on the sand table…
Lu Yu then revealed his retreat formation, "Mr. Jia, I was prepared. This pursuit of yours will likely end in a great defeat."
"Hahahahaha…" Jia Xu stroked his beard, smiled slightly, and waved his hand in concession, "I lost again, to Situ Lu."
This…
Instantly, Cao Cao found it rather uninteresting?
This… how boring!
Let alone Yu'er, even if he failed to capture the city, when retreating, he would swap the positions of the vanguard and the rear guard, and also set up ambushes along the way. It would be fine if the enemy did not pursue, but if they did, they would surely return defeated.
Jia Xu? Is this all he's capable of?
Even this he didn't anticipate?
Just as Cao Cao thought this… he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, but at this moment.
"Mr. Jia, why are you letting me off?" Lu Yu's voice came out again. "Mr. Jia clearly still has a contingent of cavalry in hand. After the first pursuit fails, Mr. Jia will surely send a second contingent of cavalry to continue the pursuit, and I… will absolutely not anticipate that there will be pursuit after pursuit, and will inevitably relax my guard. In this second pursuit, Mr. Jia will surely achieve a great victory."
Lu Yu's eyes narrowed…
One sentence after another…
That's right, he and Jia Xu were simulating the battle situation of Cao Cao's second attack on Wancheng in history.
Actually…
Lu Yu just wanted to test if Jia Xu would go all out, or hold back.
After all, this old scoundrel is very cunning and has many thoughts!
Is he a "cowardly" king as recorded in ancient texts!
As expected…
Upon testing, Lu Yu understood.
This guy, even after joining Cao Ying, even after becoming a core strategist for Situ Cao, is still extremely "cowardly"!
Putting in only three parts of his effort in everything, is this what is called being wise and preserving oneself?
Just then…
Jia Xu's voice chimed in at the right moment.
"Haha, Situ Lu, you are mistaken."
"If it were Situ Cao, I would definitely pursue again after failing the first pursuit, because a wise person like Situ Cao would never think that there would be pursuit after pursuit, and would inevitably be careless and underestimate the enemy. This is my understanding of him. But… playing against Situ Lu!"
"Heh heh, forget it. After the first pursuit fails, I will cut my losses, because Situ Lu will inevitably set up another ambush, and even a third and fourth time. This is because… just as I can predict Situ Cao's thoughts, Situ Lu can also predict my thoughts, Jia Xu!"
Whoosh…
Hearing this, Cao Cao outside the door's eyes focused.
He never imagined that after this uninteresting city siege battle, a small pursuit would hold such profound knowledge and hidden depths.
Jia Xu was right…
If he, Cao Cao, were to use troops, he would only set up one ambush when retreating. If Jia Xu pursued again, he, Cao Cao, would inevitably be defeated!
This was not Cao Cao's lack of caution!
But who would have thought that under the enemy's defeat, there would be another pursuit? This was completely taking advantage of his thoughts.
Thinking like this, Jia Xu… is indeed worthy of being the "strategic advisor" valued by Yu'er!
But… even this strategic advisor, in his confrontation with Yu'er, was extremely conservative. Just as he said, he could understand Cao Cao's strategy, but he couldn't see through Lu Yu's strategy at all.
However…
From this conversation between Yu'er and Jia Xu, Cao Cao keenly understood something.
If you don't fall into the enemy's ambush, how can you make the enemy careless?
And then…
How can you make the enemy fall into your own ambush?
At this moment, he, Cao Cao, thought of the time when he alone pursued Dong Zhu during the campaign against Dong, but was ambushed in Xingyang and returned defeated!
If… at that time, he had this realization… he would definitely not have been so pessimistic, and would have gathered his remaining troops, or sought aid from some lords, and pursued Dong Zhu again!
Pursuit after pursuit, this second pursuit would surely have reclaimed the Emperor and achieved a great victory, and the trajectory of history would have undergone a tremendous reversal and deviation!
"A brilliant strategy! The chess match between Jia Wenhe and Yu'er is truly exquisite!" Cao Cao exclaimed repeatedly in his heart.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" – these eight words instantly… were engraved in Cao Cao's heart, in a very prominent position.
"Situ Cao, is it cold on the city wall? Or shall we go into the parapet?" Dian Wei advised…
"No need!" Cao Cao waved his hand, immediately turned, and went to inspect the southwestern city wall of Wancheng elsewhere!
He intended to savor the conversation between Yu'er and Jia Xu.
That's right…
—Savor it, and savor it carefully!
…
…
Bing Province, inside Yanmen Pass, on a street!
Bonfires were lit, and countless Han people were held captive here. There were more than thirty women, and only a dozen men, most of them injured. If one looked closely, there were also some brave men who defended Yanmen, who were hanging from posts.
And hundreds of barbarians surrounding the bonfire were enjoying themselves.
Yuan Shao had abandoned this area of Yanmen and withdrawn all his garrisons, making this Yanmen Commandery a buffer zone between him and the Xianbei people, to avoid conflict with them!
Now…
This Yanmen Pass, which had once defended against barbarians and was full of honor, had been breached by the barbarians!
Within the entire Yanmen Commandery, over one hundred and twenty villages, and… the ruined city walls, scorched by flames, were undergoing another round of plundering and humiliation!
"Gyaa gyah gyah…"
The sound of rampant laughter continuously erupted. A barbarian gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor and staggered with drunken steps towards the captive women.
"Screech!"
"No…"
A young girl was caught off guard, her clothes torn open, revealing a large patch of her fair skin. In the eyes of the barbarians, she was a "fat sheep" perfectly suited for venting their lust!
"You… you get away!"
"No!"
The woman's continuous cries further ignited the barbarian's beastly desires.
"Gyaa gyah gyah…"
"Jie jie jie…"
Accompanied by endless rampant laughter, countless barbarians watched with great interest, as if cheering.
—"Altai, are you f***ing capable or not?"
—"This little girl looks good, lucky you."
—"You first, next turn for me!"
—"Want to join?"
Although the women couldn't understand these words, judging by their expressions, they could easily guess what they intended to do.
Countless women's faces turned as pale as paper. They desperately curled their bodies into the darkness.
Despair, at this moment… they were experiencing despair.
"Beasts…"
These brave men, hanging from posts, had their eyes split open with rage. They continuously roared at these barbarian dogs.
But…
Heh heh… another barbarian sneered, then drew his whip and, grinning menacingly, lashed out a few times!
"Ah…"
The brave man, whose body was already covered in bloodstains, felt fresh blood dripping from his chest… He endured the pain, but even so, he gritted his teeth and spat a mouthful of phlegm at these Xianbei barbarian dogs!
However, despite all his strength, it was… easily dodged by the barbarian, and in return, he received more, and harsher, whip lashes!
"Ah…"
"Ah…"
Although he tried his best to grit his teeth and endure the pain… the feeling of flesh being torn apart when the whip struck his wounds still made him unable to resist!
"Barbarian dog, don't touch Old Li…"
"If you have the guts, whip me. I have thick skin!"
"I'll f*** your ancestors!"
These curses did not stop the barbarians' atrocities, but instead made the Xianbei people laugh even more wantonly.
Many of them had their eyes darting around, looking at these brave men, and then looking at the women curled up in their bodies.
Heh heh… a fun idea arose.
If they found some amusement in these women, how would it feel to them, in front of these Han men?
…
"No… no!" The woman's whimpering continued.
"Don't be scared, I'll be gentle… How does it feel to enjoy it, and then eat it? Gyah gyah…" The barbarian called Altai had already taken off his light armor. He leered and reached for the woman!
"Mom…"
Perhaps because the woman's resistance was too loud, a little girl tottered out and used her small body to shield the woman!
"Er Bao, why did you come out? Go back… Hurry, go back!"
This little girl was precisely the woman's daughter, only seven or eight years old, and very cute.
But at this moment, her appearance… undoubtedly made her mother cry out in worry!
Her husband had already died at Yanmen Pass, and she… her daughter… could not have anything happen to her!
"Go back, hurry back…"
The woman was almost crying.
But…
This little girl, who had always obeyed her mother, showed extreme stubbornness this time. No matter how her mother pushed her away, she still protected her mother.
Her face was full of innocence and merriment, but she was not ignorant. She had witnessed the cruelty of these barbarians, and naturally knew… how terrifying these barbarians were!
Her whole body was trembling, yet she still said timidly.
"Uncle, you… you eat… eat Er Bao, please let go, let go of Mom!"
"Hahaha…"
Altai burst into laughter. He squatted down with great interest and spoke in his broken Chinese, "Er Bao, is it?"
"Gyah gyah, after Uncle enjoys your mother, how about we eat you both together? Hahaha!"
His expression was exceptionally ferocious…
There was no trace of pity in his words!
He was like a beast, a creature worse than pigs and dogs.
"No… Uncle… eat Er Bao, don't eat Mom!"
This little girl named Er Bao pursed her lips, her trembling face filled with stubbornness. Her hands were always extended, soft and weak, trying to block the "uncle" in front of her!
But…
If Yanmen Pass couldn't stop these beasts, what could she… a little girl, do?
"Get back here!"
The woman finally got angry. She fiercely picked up the little girl and threw her towards the place where the women were gathered.
The little girl fell to the ground, but ignored the pain. Her eyes were full of grievance. Whimpering… she seemed to be crying, but dared not cry, only softly calling out "Mom, Mom…"
"Er Bao…"
The woman couldn't help but hug the little girl tightly. Tears streamed from her eyes, like pearls from a broken string. Hatred… she hated this chaotic world, hated the barbarians for their atrocities, hated those lords who only cared about fighting for territory, and who cared about them, the suffering common people?
She was so useless. Not only was she about to be defiled by the damned barbarians, but she couldn't even protect her daughter!
Er Bao…
Er Bao was only seven years old!
She was too young!
"Mom, Mom don't cry. Er Bao is good, Er Bao is the best!"
Er Bao tried to wipe her mother's tears with her sleeve, nestling in her arms as obediently as possible… to make her feel a little better. In the past, when she was mischievous, this usually made her mother happy.
"Heh heh…"
Unexpectedly, at this moment… an untimely cold laugh was heard. "You Han people love this. It's quite touching! Gyah gyah…"
He slowly walked towards the mother and daughter…
Illuminated by the bonfire, his face was as terrifying as that of a beast!
"Beast, let them go… If you have the guts, kill me, eat me!"
"Barbarian dog, I'll f*** your ancestors eighteen generations!"
"Guardian God… Guardian God of Yanmen, are you still there? If you are in heaven, can you see the hardship of us border people!"
Countless brave men, hanging from posts, saw the heart-wrenching scene before them… their eyes were streaming with tears, they struggled desperately, they roared and bellowed frantically…
Until finally, only low sobs remained.
And the other women… they curled up together even more, as if only by burying their heads forever in the darkness could they find their solace and warmth!
"Er Bao, is it? Heh heh… you little thing is too much of a hindrance. I've already taken off my pants, it's not to watch your mother-daughter affection! Gyah gyah…"
Altai smiled cruelly, then drew his saber. With his beastly desires overwhelming him, he wanted to hack the little girl with one stroke…
And then…
Hum hum!
"Mom…"
Er Bao was, after all, just a child. How could she not be afraid when she saw the saber?
Her eyes were full of fear, her legs trembled with fright, and she didn't even have the strength to run.
"Barbarian dog!"
"Stop!"
"This is a child!"
The voices of countless brave men grew louder. They wished they could break free from their ropes and, bare-handed, wounded as they were, fight the barbarian dogs to the death!
But… they…
"I f*** you…"
Amidst the countless roars, just as Altai's saber was about to fall.
"Swish…"
A faint sound cut through the sky, breaking the stillness of the twilight, its momentum astonishing…
Uh…
Immediately after, to the disbelief of countless people, a dark arrow pierced Altai's throat, passing through from front to back…
This was the most tragic way to die. Altai's eyes widened to their limit, but… he didn't even have a chance to let out a scream!
Despair, this beast had only endless despair in his final moments!
Thump…
Thump…
As Altai fell to the ground, many brave men saw the arrow clearly. It was an ordinary black arrow… but its tail was made of golden feathers…
As everyone knows, the end of an arrow is adorned with the feathers of large birds…
And this golden feather was the feather of a golden eagle, a top-quality arrow.
Precisely… in this Yanmen region, such golden feather arrows were paired with the Dragon Tongue Bow, and the owner of the Dragon Tongue Bow, in all of Bing Province… was only one person.
—The one known as the "Guardian God of Yanmen Pass"!
Even though it was rumored that he had perished at Bai Men Lou in Xiapi, he was still the pride and hero in the hearts of all border civilians!
From Jiuyuan, Bing Province — the Peerless, Lu Bu!
"Da da da…"
"Da da da…"
From afar, more than thirty horsemen could be seen approaching at a gallop!
"Er Bao, don't look…"
The woman seemed to realize something and covered the little girl's eyes.
The horses' hooves lightly tread…
Except for the little girl, everyone else saw the approaching figures clearly. Under the twilight, beside the bonfire, a troop of knights clad in dark armor and holding battle halberds was rapidly approaching!
They were all black, like… ghosts!
Especially the one leading them, mounted on a scarlet warhorse, his armor, the color of enemy blood, was particularly striking. He had discarded his Dragon Tongue Bow, holding a Fang Tian Hua Ji… and his face was covered with a mask gleaming with cold light.
This…
Instantly… the brave man called Old Li's eyes widened!
The general before him with the red horse and red robes, his physique, his posture when riding, even his weapon, and the way he held it, was just like…
That…
"You're back? Is it you… is it you who's back?"
"Guardian God of Yanmen Pass, you… you're really back!"
Tears rained down…
Suffocation, anger, sorrow…
Countless emotions were released at this moment. He was like a madman.
That's right, having been a subordinate of that man, he had guarded Yanmen under that man's leadership, and had never let Yanmen Pass fall! The barbarian cavalry had stopped here!
And… and that man's promise!
—"Promise, oath… General… General, you haven't forgotten that oath!"
—"Yanmen Pass is broken, and the border civilians are in imminent danger… You… you really…"
—"Have returned!"
—"Brothers, do you see? Our Guardian God of Yanmen is not dead, his heroic spirit… has always guarded Yanmen, and his oath still stands!"
—"As long as General Lu is here, barbarian horses shall not cross Yanmen!"
At this moment…
Old Li's voice was almost choked with emotion, his voice infinitely hoarse, making one's heart ache!
…
…