Cao Cao looked down at Liu Bei's troops from a high vantage point, as if looking down on a swarm of ants.
Careless, Liu Bei, you have finally become careless.
"Hahaha…"
Cao Cao laughed heartily, and he pointed at Liu Bei.
"Liu Bei, let me tell you, not a single soldier has come to reinforce you. Yuan Shao has retreated, Liu Biao has retreated, and Han Sui, Ma Teng, they are almost at Yuan Shao's doorstep, haha… Look at these tens of thousands of armored soldiers around you. Because of you, they are starving tonight. They wish they could stew you like leeks in a pot!"
Leeks…
Now, whenever Cao Cao thought of Liu Bei, the word leeks came to mind, one crop after another.
As he spoke, before Liu Bei could recover from his shock, Cao Cao directly waved his hand and ordered, "Capture Liu Bei, dead or alive!"
With those words…
The generals by Cao Cao's side, Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, galloped forward. The long spears and halberds they held instantly turned into wisps of black smoke and attacked Liu Bei… attacked Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were surrounded in the large encampment.
This force was not the one that attacked the city during the day; they were the elite of Cao's army…
Their combat power was several times greater than that of the force during the day!
The bright moon hung high in the sky.
The ground suddenly began to shake, and the sound of hooves broke the silence of the night. A wave of sharpened spears, gilded with moonlight, pointed directly at Liu Bei's army. Numerous cavalrymen charged forward rapidly.
"Villain, do not flee! I am Cao Ren, the commander of the main army. Liu Bei… you have fallen into my lord's ambush! Dismount quickly and surrender!"
"Scoundrels, take this spear!"
Shouts of command…
Followed by countless spears and halberds…
Many of Liu Bei's armored soldiers had not yet recovered from their shock when their heads were severed by the weapons of the enemy cavalry. Then, under the immense force, they were shattered and disintegrated.
Under the night sky, chaos, blood, and the clash of weapons converged into a victory horn, clamoring above the vast Cao army camp.
…
"Second Brother, cover Big Brother's escape!" Zhang Fei roared. "Little thief Cao Ren, your grandfather is here! Kill…"
"Third Brother…" Guan Yu cried out…
But in the chaos of battle, in the blink of an eye, the Third Brother Zhang Fei could no longer be seen.
"Alas…" Guan Yu sighed and had no choice but to turn his horse back to protect his Big Brother Liu Bei.
However…
Cao's army was clearly prepared.
Liu Bei's legion and the direction of the military camp were cut off by countless armored soldiers. Guan Yu could not get close.
"All of you, follow me to break through…"
Guan Yu's Qinglong Yanyue saber drew an arc once more, his fierce offensive forcing back the several people in front of him. But no matter how hard he tried, Cao's army continued to surround them. Guan Yu could not reach Liu Bei's direction!
It was as if the rage of Cao's army, after so many days and so many casualties without being able to conquer Xiapi City, was unleashed at this moment.
A fierce tiger breaking free from its cage…
Cao's army advanced with unstoppable momentum, like a fierce tiger breaking free from its cage.
…
Hoo…
Cao Cao, who was high above, watched this scene with great interest. His eyes were fixed on Liu Bei below.
Liu Bei rode a white horse, making him easy to identify. Moreover, Cao Cao's order this time was dead or alive!
He harbored too much resentment towards Liu Bei!
"My Lord…" Xu Chu, standing beside him, watched with excitement, his fists clenched.
"Hahaha…" he laughed and shouted, "My Lord, look! Liu Bei cannot escape this time!"
"Here! The overall situation is decided." Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back.
In his eyes, Liu Bei was being chased by countless tiger cavalry soldiers. Now, he was backed against a mountain slope three zhang high, with no retreat… he was in grave danger. Even… his white horse had collapsed, too tired to stand up!
"Yes, Liu Bei cannot escape this time!"
Cao Cao could not help but sigh.
Because Yu'er had mentioned that running was Liu Bei's greatest skill…
For this reason, Cao Cao had specifically surrounded Liu Bei with several layers of troops. Unless Liu Bei could fly to heaven or burrow into the earth…
Just as he thought this…
He saw that the white horse beneath Liu Bei, which had been exhausted and had fallen, inexplicably, as if threatened by death, sprang up and leaped three zhang, as if it were flying, and jumped onto the three-zhang-high stone steps behind Liu Bei.
Instantly, Liu Bei felt as if he were riding on clouds and mist…
His hand… subconsciously stroked the mane of the "Dilu" warhorse beneath him, his eyes wide with disbelief…
"Divine horse, help me! Heaven does not wish me dead, it… it is Heaven that does not wish me dead!"
He cast one last glance at his Second Brother Guan Yu and Third Brother Zhang Fei, who were still fighting in the Cao army camp.
"Alas… alas…"
With two sighs, Liu Bei no longer hesitated, and quickly urged the "Dilu" horse towards the northern border to escape…
This scene…
Truly stunned Cao Cao.
What was happening? This… what was happening? A horse? Could it leap three zhang?
Instantly, Cao Cao felt that his own horse, Jueying, was no longer as appealing.
Of course, the famous horses of the Three Kingdoms each had their own characteristics. For example, Cao Cao's Jueying was known for its "speed," while Lu Bu's Red Hare could tread on rivers and lakes as if on flat ground. The characteristic of this "Dilu" horse… was its leaping ability. A leap of three zhang was probably enough to leave even a "mountain goat" that courted death on cliffs and precipices far behind!
"A dragon steed? Is this a dragon steed?"
Cao Cao could not help but exclaim…
After all, this "Dilu" horse was originally gifted to Liu Bei by Cao Cao in Xuchang. Of course, Cao Cao's original intention was to test him, but unexpectedly, Liu Bei chose the most emaciated horse among the many fine steeds…
Cao Cao remembered clearly…
Even the name of this horse, the horse officials had to consult for a long time to find out, and it was called—"Dilu."
(PS: The origin of the Dilu horse here references the Records of the Three Kingdoms. If it were the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the story would be different.)
Who would have thought that this ordinary-looking horse would save Liu Bei's life with a three-zhang leap today!
This…
Hoo…
Cao Cao let out a long breath. His heart was filled with infinite regret. Was it another oversight despite meticulous planning?
He couldn't help but sigh, "Liu Xuande, who is skilled in concealing his heart, and his Dilu horse, which is skilled in hiding itself,呵呵, they are truly a match made in heaven!"
"Let's go!" Cao Cao waved his hand…
"My Lord…" Xu Chu was still somewhat bewildered.
"The overall situation is decided. Let's go, Zhongkang, and take Xiapi City. Liu Bei may escape, but can his wife escape?" Cao Cao snorted coldly.
Uh… Xu Chu seemed to understand, and yet he didn't.
Did his Lord Cao Cao mean that Liu Bei owed him and he would "ruthlessly" take it back from Liu Bei's wife? Was that it?
Thinking about it that way, it was even a little thrilling!
And this behavior was very "Cao Sikong"!
…
…
In Xuchang City, the Situ Mansion.
"Where is the person?"
Lu Yu had already gone to bed, but he had to get out of Xiao Qiao's warm embrace. This feeling was very uncomfortable…
However, something truly major had happened.
According to Dian Wei's report at the gate, when the Mojin Battalion was excavating a tomb, for some reason… a fire broke out in the tomb, trapping thirty Mojin Battalion soldiers inside. In the end, only one person managed to escape.
"In the main hall…"
Dian Wei's voice came out…
Lu Yu's brow furrowed, and he immediately put on his clothes, ready to go out.
Unexpectedly…
Just as he stood up, a pair of slender hands grabbed his arm.
"It has only just begun… are you… leaving already?"
Turning his head, he saw Xiao Qiao's resentful eyes. It was as if… she had been living in the cold palace for many years, and finally seeing Lu Yu, her current resentment was as great as her anticipation then.
Lu Yu could only gently stroke Xiao Qiao's face…
"Sleep early, it's cold at night. Drink more hot water…"
As the words left his mouth, Lu Yu felt he was being too direct. He immediately laughed and added, "Well, next time, I promise…"
With that, he gently moved Xiao Qiao's slender hands away and quickly walked out of the "small bridge flowing water" courtyard. The small bridge was indeed flowing with water… he didn't know if it was tears or…
The bright moon hung high, and the stars twinkled brightly…
In the boudoir, only Xiao Qiao remained. She pouted and mumbled, "Tomorrow… tomorrow I'll definitely tell Sister Zhaoji. This isn't the first time, how… how can this be!"
Although she said that, in reality… how could Xiao Qiao complain to Sister Zhaoji?
If she truly complained, it would seem as if she were unsatisfied…
…
…
In Xuchang City, the Situ Mansion, the main hall.
"How are you?" Lu Yu asked urgently.
In front of him sat an armored soldier from the Mojin Battalion, looking as if he were on his last breath…
"By luck… by luck I survived, but… but more than twenty brothers from the Mojin Battalion all… all died in the great fire of that royal tomb."
"Drink some water first, take your time to tell me the details." Lu Yu poured a bowl of water and handed it to the Mojin Battalion soldier.
"Your subordinate's name is Hu Balu, and I am a squad leader in one of the Mojin Battalion's teams…" This armored soldier named Hu Balu swallowed and recounted everything that happened in the tomb that night in detail.
His words were halting…
When he mentioned some bizarre scenes, he was still filled with lingering fear.
This was very unusual. After all, for the Mojin Battalion, tomb raiding and grave robbing had long been as simple as eating and sleeping, so they would not be afraid.
Speaking of which… the current Mojin Battalion was still under the command of Cheng Yu.
However, Cheng Yu was too busy now. He was managing political affairs in the Imperial Secretariat and also had to persuade enemy generals to surrender. His energy was truly limited, and he could only manage the Mojin Battalion to a very small extent…
Fortunately, out of more than a hundred men in the Mojin Battalion, he had divided them into ten small teams, with a squad leader assigned to each team!
For small royal tombs, one small team could often complete the task.
For large royal tombs, it required the cooperation of several small teams.
At this moment… Hu Balu's voice continued, "This is the tomb of a famous brutal ruler from the Spring and Autumn period buried in the Central Plains. Because the royal tomb was very large, three of our small teams cooperated!"
"But unlike other royal tombs, shortly after entering the tomb, I began to show signs of poisoning. My breath carried a strong smell of garlic, and my vomit could glow in the dark. Feeling unwell, I went towards the entrance to relieve myself! Who would have thought… in less than fifteen minutes, the entire tomb ignited in a great fire, and I only managed to escape because I was at the outermost perimeter…"
"What happened next?" Lu Yu continued to ask. Based on his understanding of "Ghost Blows Out the Light" and "Grave Robbers' Chronicles," he needed more details to uncover the strangeness of this matter.
Hu Balu continued, "After that… flames rose, but the fire started and died down quickly… it soon subsided, leaving only the 'ghost fire' in the air, as if… as if 'ghosts were manifesting'!"
Upon mentioning "ghost fire" and "ghosts manifesting," it was evident that Hu Balu's body trembled violently. Lu Yu's eyes narrowed, and he fell into deep thought.
There were several details in this.
First, the feeling of poisoning after entering the royal tomb. Second, the fire started and died down quickly. Third, after the fire burned, ghost fire appeared in the sky.
This…
Blinking his eyes repeatedly, Lu Yu found it a bit strange.
However…
It was precisely this "ghost fire" that reminded him.
Lu Yu was a good young man who believed in science. Even when reading magical tomb-raiding novels like "Ghost Blows Out the Light" and "Grave Robbers' Chronicles," he always tried to use scientific methods to verify some of the phenomena described in the books.
For example, "ghost fire"…
Lu Yu had consulted a large amount of related information.
In ancient times, "ghost fire" occasionally appeared on summer nights.
Scientifically speaking, it was phosphine gas burning freely in the air. Because phosphine burns with a blue-green flame, it led to the misunderstanding of "ghosts manifesting."
Simply put, it was white phosphorus…
The ignition point of white phosphorus is forty degrees. Once the summer temperature is too high and white phosphorus spontaneously combusts, "ghost fire" will appear in the dark!
And precisely…
The other details, such as the fire in the royal tomb starting and subsiding quickly, were also related to the properties of white phosphorus.
Also… the feeling of poisoning.
That's right… after white phosphorus poisoning, the breath would have a strong garlic smell, and the vomit would also glow in the dark.
Thus, the truth was very close…
"Hu Balu, did you notice a large amount of white powder in the royal tomb?"
Lu Yu asked directly…
"Yes…" Hu Balu replied truthfully. "During the tomb raiding, I had a habit of taking some things back if I saw anything novel. In that tomb, there was a large amount of white powder everywhere. I filled a bottle and brought it back. It has already been… already handed over to the medical department!"
As expected… Lu Yu's eyes narrowed, and his mind was working rapidly.
After all…
Although the Central Plains did not lack grain now, a large part of Cao's camp's military supplies was earned through tomb raiding and grave robbing. This was the fundamental basis for coping with all natural and man-made disasters!
For this reason, every brother in the Mojin Battalion was extremely precious.
Losing more than twenty men at once, let alone anyone else, even Lu Yu felt a pang of pain.
Therefore…
He had to find the reason for the instantaneous ignition of the royal tomb, otherwise… for future Mojin operations? There would inevitably be greater and more unacceptable losses and sacrifices!
"Go to the medical department…" Lu Yu did not hesitate and ordered immediately.
Even though the moon was rising high.
Tonight, this matter must have an explanation!
…
…
"Dada dada…"
"Dada dada…"
It was hard to imagine, on the official road from Xuzhou to Jizhou, a thin and weak white horse was carrying a middle-aged man covered in blood and dust.
This horse was the "Dilu" horse, and this middle-aged man was Liu Bei, Liu Xuande.
He had to run…
Forget everything… and run forward with his head down.
From night until dawn, until the morning light, he was already exhausted. At this moment, he so desperately wished he could take a dose of the measured Five-Peck Tiao San, that brief hallucinatory feeling… was too urgent for him!
Even for a moment, Liu Bei felt that fate was unfair. Why was Cao Cao always opening his cheat codes, while he, Liu Bei, was always being beaten!
"Da…"
Finally… the Dilu horse's steps faltered, its front hooves knelt on the ground, and it collapsed.
After all, the Dilu horse's specialty was leaping, not endurance.
In terms of endurance… these "Dilu," "Red Hare," "Claw Yellow Flying Dragon," "Jueying"… and even fine horses from Dawan, could not compare to the unassuming border horses of the frontier!
At this moment, the "Dilu" horse kept snorting, and white foam even began to emerge from its mouth. It had reached its limit.
"Dong…"
As the "Dilu" horse fell, the powerless Liu Bei also fell to the ground. He was dishevelled… he looked back. His second brother and third brother were gone, his tens of thousands of soldiers were gone, and even the… the flag on the city wall of Xiapi, Xuzhou, had changed again.
From gaining to losing, then to gaining again, then to losing again…
Who could possibly know the bitterness of this experience?
He struggled to support himself with his hands…
His dark face lifted, and he looked up at the sky. He opened his mouth, but his dry throat could not utter a single sound.
He looked like a thirty-year-old man in later generations… who had achieved nothing, was fired by his company, betrayed by his wife, and plotted against by his brothers!
"Tap… tap!"
He walked step by step to the edge of the cliff.
His eyes opened and closed tightly. For a moment, he had a fleeting thought.
"Ancestors, Liu Bei… Liu Bei is incompetent!"
Liu Bei placed his twin swords beside him, spread his hands, and prepared to jump down… The "Dilu" horse could no longer run. It was obvious that there were endless pursuers behind him!
If he, Liu Bei, did not jump off the cliff? Being captured by Cao Cao… his fate would be even more miserable.
Feeling the biting wind on the cliff.
Liu Bei thought of his childhood… he thought of the large mulberry tree in the southeast corner of his home, he thought of himself pointing at that large mulberry tree and shouting—"I will definitely ride in a carriage with a feather canopy like this in the future!"!
He thought of when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out and he formed the Great Mulberry Tree Defense Team in Zhuo County;
He thought of… meeting the brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei at that time, sharing meals and sleeping in the same room;
And… and meeting Lady Gan in Xuzhou's Xiaopei.
And when his army was defeated, Mi Zhu, the leader of the Xuzhou commoner faction, not only supported him with all his might but also married his sister, Lady Mi, to him…
Heh heh…
It was not in vain that Liu Bei had journeyed through this chaotic world!
Liu Bei's only regret was that he had no son to this day…
Once upon a time, when he thought about this topic… Liu Bei always avoided it. Now… he was at peace with it.
"Perhaps it's because I'm incapable. I heard that Xiahou Yuanrang in Cao's camp was also incapable but was cured by Lu Yu. What a pity… I don't have such luck."
Upon saying this…
Liu Bei no longer lamented. With his eyes closed, he was about to jump down.
It was too difficult. In this chaotic world… without Yuan Shao's status, without Cao Cao's luck, without the help of Yin Lin, it was too difficult to forge a path.
"Farewell… everything, everything ends!"
Tap… tap…
Taking a step forward, he was about to step into the void, into eternal damnation.
But… just then.
"My Lord…"
A voice called out.
Along with it, a completely different sharp tone.
"You by the cliff, are you the benevolent and righteous lord Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, famous throughout the world?"
"General Liu, you are the pillar of the Han Dynasty! The bridge connecting the seas! The task of supporting the Han Dynasty falls upon you! How can you seek death!"
…
…