The military camp, fifteen li east of Xudu city, was a vital stronghold for the three armies.
Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and Xun Yu inspected the soldiers of the three armies. This was considered the final inspection before their expedition, as the army was set to march south the following morning.
At the same time, a swift horse from the General of the East's manor was traveling at great speed. The imperial road leading to the military camp from Xudu had long been repaired and was as smooth as a plain. The rider on the horse was full of spirit.
"Dada dada..."
The fast horse galloped directly into the military camp. Many of the armored soldiers in the camp recognized the rider and voluntarily parted to create a path for him to reach the central army.
Only when he was close to Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun did he dismount. Who else could it be but Xiahou Mao, Xiahou Dun's eldest son?
"Father, Uncle, Uncle Zilian, Lord Xun Ling."
Xiahou Mao first paid his respects. Xiahou Dun was startled. His eldest son was a homebody, dedicating all his efforts to spear techniques. He rarely ventured out of his residence, except to practice his riding skills. How did he end up at the military camp today? Cao Cao, Cao Hong, and Xun Yu were also surprised. What was going on? Furthermore, he was carrying a strange weapon, something like a "spear"? But it was different from ordinary iron spears. The shaft was made of wood, and the tip was large and long! What kind of weapon was this? A wooden spear? For a moment, Cao Hong tapped his forehead, muttering to himself, did this nephew of Xiahou Mao, who stayed at home all day, practice this oddity? Wasn't this just fooling around?
"Mao'er? This is a military stronghold? Why are you here..." Xiahou Dun glanced at Cao Cao before turning to Xiahou Mao.
"Your son..." Xiahou Mao lifted the long spear. "Your son heard that Father will be marching out tomorrow and wishes to have another spar with Father."
Xiahou Mao was quite forthright and couldn't keep anything hidden. He said whatever came to his mind.
Huo...
As soon as these words were spoken, Xiahou Dun was stunned. Not only him, but Cao Cao, Cao Hong, and Xun Yu were all dumbfounded. So, he had galloped ten li from Xudu not for anything else, but to fight his father? What exemplary "filial piety"! For a moment, Cao Cao even felt a sense of dread. He worried... if he ever told Yu'er that the scumbag father who abandoned his mother was himself, would Yu'er also come looking for him with a spear for a bout of "filial piety" like Xiahou Mao?
Cough cough...
He coughed lightly subconsciously. Cao Cao tapped his forehead gently, wondering when the term "filial piety" had acquired such a new meaning.
At this moment, Xiahou Dun's expression changed drastically.
"Nonsense? What place do you think this is? The army is about to march, how can you be so reckless? Withdraw..." Xiahou Dun's face turned ashen.
Xun Yu stroked his beard, not understanding what Xiahou Mao was up to. Challenging his father at the military camp? It shouldn't be! In the Cao camp, when it came to spear techniques, Xiahou Dun's skills were unmatched among the three armies. How old was Xiahou Mao? How could he possibly defeat his father? Wasn't this asking for trouble? Thinking this, Xun Yu's gaze flickered towards Xiahou Dun, and he mused that perhaps Yuan Rang had also thought of this, hence he told his son to withdraw. One must know that under the watchful eyes of so many, a father could not hold back, otherwise... it would seem like favoring his son and openly cheating.
"Your son has some new insights into spear techniques, and I hope Father will impart some guidance." Xiahou Mao was still rambling, his tone even firmer.
"Nonsense! Get down!" Xiahou Dun's attitude was also resolute. The atmosphere suddenly turned frigid. Xun Yu stepped forward, intending to speak and advise this foolish child. Unexpectedly, Cao Hong stepped out first.
"Since Mao'er says so, what's wrong with a spar?" Cao Hong patted his chest. "If your father won't spar with you, come, Uncle will spar a few moves with you! Let's also see the results of your years of secluded training, my dear nephew."
This...
Xiahou Dun's face immediately turned towards Cao Hong. "Zilian, are you indulging this boy's recklessness?"
"Oh, Yuan Rang... relax, relax, I'll hold back." Cao Hong replied with a smile...
This was his personality; he enjoyed watching a good show. Seeing this young man come to challenge his father, no, to challenge the number one spearman in the Cao camp! Cao Hong was somewhat eager to try and see how this acknowledged stubborn and least perceptive child would perform.
"No..." Xiahou Dun originally wanted to insist on "no."
Unexpectedly, "Hahahaha..." Cao Cao stroked his beard. "Since Mao'er is here, let Zilian try him out, and it can also be a demonstration for the soldiers of the three armies!"
This...
Xiahou Dun was inwardly refusing! But... if Elder Brother Cao Cao said so, he had no choice but to agree.
...
Not long after.
Countless armored soldiers formed a large circle, with Cao Hong and Xiahou Mao standing within. Now, even more people saw the weapon in Xiahou Mao's hand, a long spear with a wooden shaft and a particularly long tip, which was completely different from their usual iron spears! Wood? Could it be powerful? Wouldn't it break with just one touch? Many armored soldiers had doubts in their hearts.
"Nephew Xiahou Mao, I request Uncle's guidance." Xiahou Mao first bowed...
"Bring it on!" Cao Hong shrugged, appearing indifferent. He even had his subordinate bring a spear, while Cao Hong was most skilled with a saber. In his opinion, dealing with a junior, a spear was enough. Cao Hong was even contemplating, for Yuan Rang's sake, how to make Xiahou Mao lose without being too humiliated.
"Alright... Uncle, receive my move!"
Under the witness of Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu... and countless soldiers in the camp. Xiahou Mao's spear shot out like a dragon... If Tong Yuan's Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix spear technique was the most magnificent spear technique in this world, and Zhao Zilong's Seven Probes of the Coiled Dragon spear technique was the most vicious, then... the Yang family spear technique displayed by Xiahou Mao was a fusion of them. Offense... unleashed freely, all offensive moves! Attack where the enemy must defend... For seven consecutive spears, seven spears in succession... every move was a killing blow.
Hmm...
As soon as Xiahou Mao made his move, Xiahou Dun sensed something different. This time... Mao'er had completely abandoned defense. Was he going to push offense to the extreme?
"Bang... bang..."
"Clang clang clang."
The sound of the long spear colliding with the ma槊 (a type of long spear used by cavalry) was endless. Xiahou Mao's attacks were like wind and waves, while Cao Hong defended steadfastly. However, at first... he intended to reserve some strength so as not to let Xiahou Mao lose too badly. But after they started fighting, he realized. Good heavens... how could he reserve strength? Even with full effort, he could only defend and had no opportunity to attack.
"Such a fast spear..."
"Such fierce offense?"
"How can it be so fast..."
Cao Hong dodged and blocked, lamenting inwardly. Indeed, due to the wooden shaft of the long spear, Xiahou Mao's spear technique was more agile. Often, when Cao Hong made one move, Xiahou Mao could unleash three or four moves in succession, each move being dangerous and targeting vital points. Even one slight mistake... Cao Hong feared he would capsize in the gutter.
"Cai..." Cao Cao was increasingly amazed as he watched. "Did you teach him this spear technique?"
"No... no..." Xiahou Dun shook his head repeatedly. "I have never seen Mao'er use such swift spear techniques. Even when I tested his spear skills two days ago, they were far less flexible and graceful than today's... Could it be..." Xiahou Dun thought of Mao'er's mention of "new insights into spear techniques" earlier. Had he truly achieved enlightenment?
"Then, Cai, this unique long spear in Mao'er's hand? Have you seen it..." Cao Cao continued to ask.
"The first time..." Regarding the long spear, Xiahou Dun was also incredulous. "This long spear has clearly reduced weight, and even replaced the iron shaft with a wooden one. But I never expected that this would make the long spear even more agile, and Mao'er's attacks even more continuous. With such an offense, I'm afraid even I would..."
At this point, Xiahou Dun hesitated... He wanted to say that even he, when suddenly facing such a stormy offensive, might not be able to withstand it. After all, it was too fast... The swiftness and ferocity were completely different from ordinary spear techniques! But... as a father, he still had to maintain his dignity. Admitting defeat to his son in public was a very embarrassing matter for Xiahou Dun.
"This spear, this spear technique, are quite interesting!" Even Xun Yu subconsciously exclaimed. Cao Cao nodded. Xun Yu, a scholar, could see the remarkable effectiveness of the wooden long spear and the strategy of using skill to overcome brute force. How could Cao Cao not? Cao Cao's vision was actually much broader. If... he could train such an agile spear army on the battlefield, then perhaps... during ambushes, they could deliver a fatal blow to the enemy more swiftly and "short, flat, and fast." Even... if every soldier in the spear army could be as agile as Xiahou Mao, and this long spear could become a sharp weapon against cavalry. This was a surprise force! Cao Cao's thoughts were not wrong. Historically, spearmen were the bane of cavalry. However... it wasn't the red-tasseled spear in front of them, but the hook-and-scythe spear, the double-hook spear... The word "hook" was for hooking the horse's legs.
With this in mind... In the middle of the training ground, Cao Hong found an opportunity. His chest puffed out high, he tightly gripped the long spear with his right hand, and swung it out, attacking Xiahou Mao directly. This spear attack carried immense power, so potent that it could likely crack stones. Even before the spear touched Xiahou Mao, the whistling tip of the spear made his clothes flutter.
"The opportunity has arrived!"
Feeling Cao Hong's powerful thrust... Xiahou Mao was not flustered. Instead, a sly smile appeared on his lips. Almost instinctively, he tightly gripped the red-tasseled spear with both hands. The tip of the spear trembled slightly, and with a "snap," it struck Cao Hong's spear. This move was precisely the "Block, Seize, Thrust" spear technique of the Yang family's "Block Spear Style"! One force overcomes ten. Xiahou Mao, despite his strength being far inferior to Cao Hong's, managed to block this forceful blow... Immediately after.
"Uncle, you lost!"
Having neutralized Cao Hong's attack, Xiahou Mao followed up with the thrusting spear style. With a shove of his arm, the spear shot out in a straight line. The entire red-tasseled spear transformed into a white dragon, directly reaching Cao Hong's chest.
Buzz... Buzz!
The spear tip, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, mercilessly pierced the air. Another inch forward, and Cao Hong would likely have a transparent hole through him. Good heavens...
At this moment, Cao Hong's eyes widened. Lost... he lost. Subconsciously, four words appeared in Cao Hong's mind: Unbelievable. As a fierce general of the Cao and Xiahou clans, he, Cao Hong, actually lost to a junior of the same clan. This...
"Excellent spear technique, your uncle concedes defeat!" Cao Hong was not a sore loser. As long as it didn't involve his money, he was willing to admit defeat however many times.
"Uncle, thank you for your mercy." Xiahou Mao cupped his hands in a bow, quite humbly.
This time... The entire military camp erupted in an uproar. Cao Cao was stunned, Xiahou Dun was stunned, even Xun Yu was astonished and disbelieving, not to mention the stunned armored soldiers. General Li Feng, Cao Hong, lost. He lost to a junior. This...
Suddenly, the entire military camp fell into silence, a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds! After a full fifty seconds, "Hahahaha..." a burst of laughter broke the silence. "Good... good, good! Truly, a tiger father begets a worthy son!" Cao Cao spoke, uttering three "good"s in succession.
"Give the order..." Cao Cao immediately commanded. "The army will march out at Chenshi tomorrow. Xiahou Mao will be the vanguard general... and Zilian will be the deputy vanguard!"
Ah...
As soon as these words were spoken, Xiahou Mao was completely stunned. Cao Cao, along with Xu Chu and others, began walking towards the central military tent, laughing heartily. This visit to the camp now seemed to have been worthwhile. As he walked... Cao Cao did not forget to command, "Where is Zhongkang?" Xu Chu walked to Cao Cao's side. "Your subordinate is here."
"Investigate..." Cao Cao deliberately lowered his voice. "Investigate whether the spear in Mao'er's hand was forged by the forging workshop? And then send someone to investigate where Mao'er learned such an astonishing spear technique!"
"Yes..." Xu Chu promised and immediately took the Tiger Guards to investigate.
And... Xiahou Mao was still standing there, frozen. He... he became the vanguard general? In an instant, a thunderous roar erupted from the surrounding armored soldiers. All the armored soldiers who had witnessed this spar marveled at Xiahou Mao's incredible spear skills! At this moment, even Cao Hong walked up to him with great admiration.
"Kid, your spear work is excellent! For this vanguard general position, do well and set an example for the younger generation of our Cao clan!"
This...
Facing Uncle Cao Hong's words, Xiahou Mao was at a loss. He, the vanguard general, with Uncle Cao Hong as his deputy? This... how could he possibly be worthy?
"What are you still standing there for? Aren't you going to thank your Uncle Cao Hong for holding back?" In terms of social graces, Xiahou Dun was more adept than Xiahou Mao. He quickly reminded him.
"Thank... thank Uncle for his support." Xiahou Mao cupped his hands.
"Eh..." Cao Hong waved his hand. Winning or losing didn't cost him any money, so he never cared about it. "Kid, you won fair and square. I think you have more promise than your father. Hahaha, hahahaha..." Saying this, Cao Hong also slowly walked away.
At this moment, it felt like a dream for Xiahou Mao. He gazed dotingly at the long spear in his hand, and also at the "Yang Family Spear Technique" that had long been imprinted in his mind, and even the final general principle mentioned by his teacher Lu Yu—
—In one's heart, there is no woman, and the spear will naturally be divine!
—The seventh page of the spear manual, lock the heart's door in seclusion!
Is this the realm of wielding the spear with ease and freedom? And this... it allowed him, an unknown person, to jump from... from an unknown soldier, to become the vanguard general?
Hoo...
Xiahou Mao exhaled deeply. If not for his teacher Lu Yu, how could he, Xiahou Mao, have achieved this transformation today?
...
...
In the blink of an eye, twenty days later.
Shouchun battlefield.
The two armies were arrayed against each other. On one side was Cao Cao's vanguard army, with Le Jin, Xiahou Mao, and Cao Hong as vanguards, totaling over thirty thousand soldiers. On the other side was Yuan Shu's main army, totaling one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shu; the faction representing the "Han Dynasty" Emperor and the faction representing the "Zhong" Dynasty that defied heaven's will were about to engage in a decisive battle here! It could be said to be a battle of global attention... Various lords had dispatched countless spies and scouts to gather information. They wanted to find out one thing: in the future, who would truly control the Central Plains!
For any decisive battle... The first engagement was crucial! Therefore, Yuan Shu had almost dispatched his most elite formations. Generalissimo - Zhang Xun! Generals of the Five Routes - Chen Ji, Lei Bo, Chen Lan, Li Feng, Liang Gang! They each led their respective troops and lined up in order. Ji Ling led the personal guards to defend the central army.
Beneath the golden embroidered parasol, Yuan Shu, clad in golden armor and with two sabers on his wrists, stood at the forefront of the formation. He kept shouting, encouraging the soldiers.
—"Heroes of chaotic times should possess the spirit of breaking heaven and earth! If this battle is won, the entire Han Dynasty will fall into the hands of my Zhong family. You will be meritorious officials of the founding of the nation, forever famous!"
After boosting the morale of his side, Yuan Shu did not forget to stand on a high platform and order the "messenger soldiers" to shout towards Cao's army.
—"You are offending heavenly authority and committing treason! Kneel and submit before the true Son of Heaven, and your dog lives may be spared!"
It could be said to be arrogant and overbearing!
And on another corner of the battlefield... Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, along with their regiments of several hundred men, were poised for battle.
"I can't figure it out..." Guan Yu's face was expressionless. Stroking his long beard with one hand, he asked Liu Bei, "Why is Cao's army attacking so hastily?"
"The rebel Yuan Shu is waiting for them to exhaust themselves, while this side is on a forced march. Wouldn't it be more confident to rest for a few days and wait for Cao Cao's main force of one hundred thousand troops to arrive before engaging in a decisive battle?"
"I don't know either." Liu Bei shook his head. Currently, it was three thousand against one hundred and twenty thousand. This was not much; history had precedents of fighting fewer against more. At the very least, Huo Qubing's eight hundred cavalry had swept through the Xiongnu royal court! However... this time, to suppress the rebel Yuan Shu, there was no need to rush like this. Cao Cao's ten thousand troops would arrive in less than three days. Engaging in a decisive battle at this moment seemed unwise no matter how one looked at it.
"Exactly, exactly." Zhang Fei grumbled. "Even I can see it. They could have fought ten thousand against ten thousand, but why must they fight three thousand against ten thousand? And it's an open field battle... If you ask me, the general who requested the battle is either an idiot or a traitor!"
"Third Brother..." Liu Bei stopped Zhang Fei, afraid that he would start complaining incessantly.
Hoo...
Liu Bei sighed lightly. He was still pondering this matter. He thought more and farther...
"Second Brother, Third Brother, don't forget that Yin Lin is still in Cao's camp. As the saying goes—Yin Lin's words reveal heavenly secrets!"
"With the assistance of this Yin Lin, how could Cao Cao be so foolish? This hasty march and fighting fewer against more, deliberately making a mistake, is perhaps another stratagem of Yin Lin."
Upon hearing this...
"Heh heh." Zhang Fei chuckled. "Whether it's Yin Lin or not, the troops on Rebel Yuan Shu's side, in my opinion, are a bunch of rotten copper and iron. I alone am enough to capture Yuan Shu and present him to eldest brother! At that time, wouldn't the imperial court have to bestow a high official position upon eldest brother?"
"Hahaha..." Zhang Fei's words made Guan Yu laugh. "Third Brother speaks the truth. In Guan's view, although Yuan Shu's army is large, his generals are too weak. They are merely scarecrows!"
Is that so?
Liu Bei pondered for a moment. He secretly mused, could such a vast disparity in troop strength truly transform the rotten into the miraculous? How was the ever-wise Yin Lin deploying his forces this time?
...
...