In the Prefect's Mansion of Yecheng, Jizhou.
Xu You presented a battle report, freshly received from Bingzhou.
"My Lord, Qu Yi has advanced westward and engaged the rebel forces of Yanmen. According to scout reports… the two sides are locked in a fierce, earth-shattering battle, suffering heavy losses…"
"And Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou have secretly arrived south of Xinxiang Commandery, while Generals Zhang He and Gao Lan have reached the north of Xinxiang Commandery… General Gao Gan, with his large army, has marched to Pingcheng, and will reach Qu Yi's army camp in another half a day."
"My Lord, now is the time to strike while Qu Yi and the Yanmen rebels are mutually weakened, and eliminate them in one go!"
*Hoo…*
Upon hearing Xu You's words, Yuan Shao's eyebrows lifted.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Qu Yi, he could not be allowed to live. Qu Yi was the first, and must be the last, to dare to set conditions before him, Yuan Shao.
"Good…"
Uttering the word with a cold tone, Yuan Shao immediately gave orders: "Issue a decree, advance on all five fronts, whether it be the Yanmen rebels or Qu Yi, show no mercy in killing them!"
*Er…*
Hearing this, Xu You fell silent for a moment.
He then proposed, "Lord Yuan, this is not advisable… Qu Yi is skilled in martial arts, and the First Vanguard is a formidable force. Although we can win by eliminating them, casualties are inevitable and will be heavy. Perhaps…"
Xu You's eyes sharpened.
"Perhaps Lord Yuan could send a letter, informing him that five armies have been dispatched to reinforce, and arranging for a coordinated advance on all six fronts… Have General Gao Gan invite Qu Yi for a meeting at the army camp, and then… scheme to assassinate him. This way, the First Vanguard will be leaderless, and we can reabsorb them!"
"Good…"
Yuan Shao's heart rejoiced, and he laughed heartily. "Xu Ziyuan, your plan is excellent, truly worthy of a wise strategist under my command! We shall proceed as you say."
"My Lord… this is not wise." At this moment, Tian Feng spoke, "The pressing matter is that our army's primary enemy is Cao Cao, and it is Cao Cao who contends for the realm with Lord Yuan. Internal conflict is unavoidable…"
Tian Feng was the first to plead for Qu Yi. Of course, this plea represented only his personal opinion, not the stance of the Jizhou Talent faction.
Indeed… Qu Yi had been an enemy of Han Fu in the past, and the Jizhou Talents had been loyal to Han Fu. The two sides had been at loggerheads before, and would certainly not plead for him.
But… Tian Feng was considering the overall situation.
In the current circumstances, eliminating Qu Yi would be easy… but… for Yuan's camp, it would be akin to severing an arm.
"Bingzhou is a barren land, and when My Lord moves south… he will undoubtedly need a valiant army to garrison Bingzhou. Although Qu Yi is arrogant due to his achievements, he can serve as a guardian for Lord Yuan's western gateway! Even if we must deal with him, it should be after the decisive battle with Cao Cao… to slay him in front of the enemy, this… this is inauspicious!"
Tian Feng's words were well-reasoned, but as soon as they were spoken, Yuan Shao's anger instantly surged.
"Bang…" he slammed his hand onto the table.
"Tian Yuanhao! You speak utter nonsense!" Yuan Shao said coldly. "In the past, when Cao Cao pursued Dong Zhuo, he suffered a great defeat at Xingyang, exhausting his resources. He recruited soldiers in Yangzhou, but was betrayed by the new recruits. He was on the verge of perishing in this chaotic era."
"It was due to my womanly kindness that I accepted him, provided him with provisions, and had him guard my southern gateway. But… years have passed, hmph, has the former Cao Aman now become my, Yuan Shao's, formidable enemy? Do you wish for Qu Yi to repeat the story of Cao Aman? To raise a tiger that may devour me, making him my next formidable foe?"
*Er… this…*
Tian Feng was stunned, his eyes darted about slightly, and he continued to persuade, "But… but Cao Cao has the Hidden Dragon, and Qu Yi… Qu Yi…"
"My decision is made, no further persuasion is needed!" Yuan Shao waved his hand.
In fact, Yuan Shao, who usually suffered from indecisiveness, was remarkably resolute in this decision.
To put it plainly, Yuan Shao was narrow-minded. To show off before him meant suffering even if it meant cutting off one's own arm or a mutually assured destruction.
"Lord Yuan is wise!" Xu You's lips curved upwards in a faint smile.
Not long after, a swift horse galloped out of Jizhou, carrying an urgent dispatch, traveling eight hundred li to the front lines of Bingzhou.
*"Tada-da-da"…* the sound of hooves echoed…
It seemed, in the eyes of Yuan Shao and Xu You, that the funeral march for Qu Yi and the First Vanguard was being played!
…
…
Two days later, in Gao Gan's army camp, Bingzhou.
Gao Gan, as Yuan Shao's favored nephew, was a noble scion from the renowned Chenliu Gao clan of the Han Dynasty.
At this moment, he held an urgent letter from his dear uncle Yuan Shao, his mind filled with many thoughts…
His dear uncle Yuan Shao had ordered him to capture the leader and decisively kill Qu Yi, thereby incorporating the First Vanguard.
Following his uncle's instructions, Gao Gan had already dispatched men to invite Qu Yi and had stationed hidden blade-wielding soldiers outside the main tent, waiting for the signal to shatter the cup. No matter how high Qu Yi's martial arts were, he would be chopped into countless pieces.
Who would have thought…
The unfolding of events was somewhat different from what he had anticipated.
"Reporting to General Gao, General Qu… he is not coming…" a soldier reported repeatedly.
"Not coming?" Gao Gan was surprised. "Did you not tell him that Lord Yuan dispatched five armies to reinforce, and invited him to discuss the strategy to eliminate the rebels?"
"I told them everything," the soldier said innocently. "But… but General Qu said that with the major battle imminent, and the engagement with the Yanmen rebels about to begin, he had no time to sit in command and no time to come here. He also said… he said…"
"What did he say?"
"He said, 'A general outside the court may not obey the lord's command,' and that if we wished to discuss, General Gao Gan should go to his camp to discuss!"
This…
Hearing this, Gao Gan was taken aback.
There was a change in the plan…
Yet, what Qu Yi had said was reasonable. According to scout reports, the First Vanguard and the Yanmen rebel forces were engaged in a fierce battle, with sand and stones flying, and dust filling the sky… countless screams and wails emanated from within, it was exceptionally brutal. Even some scouts who wanted to observe closely were directly killed as enemy forces!
It could be described as a scene of widespread misery and rivers of blood.
At such a critical moment of battle, how could Qu Yi have time to seek him out?
But the problem lay precisely here…
After all, on the surface, it was still five armies of reinforcement, six armies attacking the rebels. Since Qu Yi had spoken thus, if Gao Gan dared not go to Qu Yi's camp, it would cause Qu Yi to be suspicious.
This…
Wait…
Gao Gan suddenly thought of something.
"How much longer until Generals Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan arrive?" Gao Gan asked loudly.
A strategist replied, "Within half an hour, all four armies can arrive here…"
Hearing this, Gao Gan's eyes sharpened, and a plan formed in his mind.
"Send swift horses to tell them that upon their arrival here, they are not to rest, but to immediately attack Qu Yi's camp!"
Ah…
Upon hearing these words, the strategist was startled.
Gao Gan's words continued.
"Heh heh, now Qu Yi's army is fighting the enemy in front. What is there to fear if I lead my men to his camp? Once I assassinate him… his army will surely fall into disarray, and then when you and the four generals advance with your troops, how can they not surrender? This is a strategy to attack the heart! Haha…"
Gao Gan laughed out loud, seemingly delighted by his own subtle stratagem.
The strategist's expression remained solemn.
"This… this is too risky, isn't it?"
Gao Gan waved his hand, "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cub!"
Speaking of which, he waved his hand. "Guards, assemble your personal troops and accompany me to General Qu's army camp!"
Not long after…
Over a hundred personal guards lined up outside the gate. Gao Gan mounted his horse, and they hurried towards Qu Yi's First Vanguard camp!
Gao Gan thought, "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cub!"
Who would have thought… he had fallen into the trap of "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
In the biting cold weather, amidst the woods near Qu Yi's army camp, countless spears, halberds, and swords reflected a chilling cold light under the sun. The neat and bright armor displayed the solemnity of the troops stationed here.
Especially the man at the forefront, wearing a silver-white mask, his Fangtian Hua Ji seemed to have smelled blood, its sharp edge becoming even more chilling.
When Gao Gan and his personal guards had departed, and the army camp's defenses were suddenly relaxed.
A strong and resonant voice rang out.
—"Show no mercy in killing!"
—"Leave no one alive!"
A goshawk rose from the forest, its wings flapping straight into the heavens!
Countless long spears and battle axes emerged from the forest, revealing their murderous intent.
"Kill… kill…"
At one point, the shouts of killing… shook the heavens and the earth.
…
…
At this moment, in the central tent of the First Vanguard's army camp.
A bonfire was lit within. A lamb leg was roasted until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Qu Yi and Yang Xiu sat on either side of the bonfire, smelling the aroma of the roasted lamb leg. Yang Xiu's mouth even watered.
It had been a long time since he had eaten lamb…
This time, it was General Qu Yi himself who had roasted it, which was of great significance!
At this time, an armored soldier brought a large pile of dishes and placed them by the bonfire, seemingly as a garnish for the roasted lamb leg…
Qu Yi, while using a small knife to carve off the crispy parts of the lamb leg, placed them on a plate and handed them to Yang Xiu. He asked curiously, "Young Master Yang, do you think… Gao Gan will fall for it?"
Yang Xiu had just put a mouthful of lamb into his mouth, chewed it thoroughly, and found the taste exquisite, exceptionally fragrant and crispy…
He immediately replied with a smile, "Of course he will fall for it! Haha, after all, he is Yuan Shao's nephew. Who wouldn't want to perform well in front of their uncle? It's not just General Qu who wants to be the King of Bingzhou, but this favored nephew of Yuan Shao!"
"Besides, aren't our Yanmen forces locked in a fierce battle over there?"
What was called a fierce battle, in reality… was a staged fierce battle!
Yanmen Commandery and the First Vanguard had not fought at all. The two sides gathered together, merely roaring and putting on a show of brutality.
Outside, horses were already pulling branches back and forth, stirring up dust and flying sand, as if tens of thousands of soldiers were engaged in combat.
Even…
Countless sheep's blood was released, resembling a scene of widespread misery and rivers of blood!
Under such circumstances…
… no scout, no matter how skilled, could discern the situation. Of course, the roars of killing in their ears and the bloodshed before their eyes were incredibly real.
"As expected of Commander Lu's student, this strategy of attacking the enemy's heart and mind has some of Commander Lu's spirit!"
Qu Yi praised.
"I am far from it…" Yang Xiu waved his hand. "The gap between me and my teacher is like that between a glow-worm's light and the bright sun, like scattered stars and a clear, vast sky. However… there is one thing that General Qu has said incorrectly. I, Yang Xiu, am not merely my teacher's student, but my teacher's last disciple!"
Ho…
Last disciple! These four words were quite boastful!
His status had instantly soared by a large margin.
"Hahahaha…"
Qu Yi laughed. He realized that in terms of pride and boasting, he was thoroughly outdone by this Yang Xiu.
This fellow was even more arrogant than him, and yet, he was Lu Yu's last disciple, thus possessing the capital for arrogance.
"Come, try this roasted lamb leg. In the past ten years, Young Master Yang is the first to taste my roasted lamb leg skill."
Just then.
"Report… General!"
"Gao Gan has arrived with a squadron of personal guards, saying he wishes to meet the General to discuss the siege of the Yanmen rebels!"
An armored soldier came from outside the tent and reported repeatedly.
*Hoo…*
Upon hearing this, Qu Yi's eyes flickered. He subconsciously glanced at Yang Xiu, then added, "How many people have come?"
"One hundred… over a hundred people!" the soldier stated truthfully.
"Hahahaha…" Qu Yi immediately laughed, smiling at Yang Xiu. "As expected, just as Young Master Yang predicted, this Gao Gan is walking into a trap, hahaha…"
Qu Yi laughed with a sense of melancholy.
Yang Xiu, however, stood up, his eyes narrowed, and said loudly, "Once this Gao Gan arrives, won't his camp be leaderless? At most, half an hour, and it will be wiped out!"
Yes, Yang Xiu mused, if Lu Bu were to make a move, it would naturally be unstoppable… wiped out in an instant!
With this thought in mind, Yang Xiu gave a faint smile…
"Heh heh… As for Gao Gan…"
In an instant, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"General Qu might as well search them. Since this Gao Gan has come, he must have had ill intentions. Their armor must be concealing daggers and other sharp weapons. Caught red-handed, let's see how he can quibble."
As Yang Xiu uttered these words…
"Why bother with such trouble!" Qu Yi waved his hand. "Whether he hides sharp weapons or not! I'll directly tie them up and chop them into meat paste!"
As he spoke…
Qu Yi shouted, "Guards!"
"Your subordinate is here!" The subordinate general at the gate bowed in salute.
"Gather your troops, and follow this general to 'slaughter a chicken'!" Qu Yi's eyes narrowed. He had already grasped his saber. "Young Master Yang, please continue enjoying the roasted meat. I shall return shortly!"
*Tap-tap…*
The solid and heavy footsteps echoed. Over a hundred First Vanguard armored soldiers followed Qu Yi, marching briskly towards the camp gate!
From behind them, Yang Xiu could see clearly…
Each of the First Vanguard death warriors had a sinister dagger tucked into their waistbands.
Heh heh…
In this scene, who was the prey, and who was the hunter? It was truly uncertain!
…
…
Ten miles away from Qu Yi's army camp, Yuan's army camp!
The "Yuan" banner and the "Gao" banner fluttered in the wind…
With General Gao Gan absent, countless armored soldiers had a rare opportunity to slack off, taking a nap in broad daylight.
After days of marching, they were truly tired. Moreover, with the First Vanguard and Yanmen rebels fighting fiercely on the front lines, it was absolutely safe here!
Under such circumstances, the entire army camp was exceptionally lax and careless.
Precisely at this moment.
"Rumble!"
"Rumble!"
That's right, this was a sound louder than thunder, the sound of… tens of thousands of warhorses charging!
At this moment, tens of thousands of warhorses, led by a general in red robes and riding a red horse, transformed into a torrent of steel.
A thousand miles away, it was only an instant!
A strong wind blew through Yuan's army camp, causing the trees in the bushes to sway. Countless flying sands spread through the air…
Closer…
Even closer.
When the sentries of this army camp saw these figures, they froze in place.
Countless white, black, and brown warhorses galloped from the plains. The horses… were like waves of various colors, constantly appearing in their sight.
Before he could cry out… to alert the guards to be on their guard.
This group of warhorses had already charged to their vicinity…
Kill, kill, kill, kill!
In the eyes of this sentry, the leader… a masked man riding a red horse and wielding a Fangtian Hua Ji, was like a god of war, constantly spilling streaks of crimson blood within the army camp!
His horse was fast. He, alone, charged into the army camp, galloping back and forth, as if entering an uninhabited land.
And by the time many soldiers in the army camp reacted, they had already been pierced by the Fangtian Hua Ji.
"Ah…"
"Ah ah…"
Moans and screams were endless.
And under the inspiration of the general on the red horse and in red robes, tens of thousands of cavalry let out heart-wrenching roars and shouts.
They were like a sharp long knife, piercing directly into the army camp.
The more than thirty thousand Bingzhou soldiers were caught completely unprepared, and now… leaderless, fighting independently.
In an instant… a rift was torn open, and this rift continued to deepen, to widen, like a dike being gnawed by insects, instantly becoming riddled with holes.
"Kill… kill…"
"Leave no one alive!"
The shouts of killing continued. Under the increasingly fierce assault, Yuan soldiers fell one after another, endlessly. Here, there were no lamentations of the weak, only the roars of the strong!
And the masked general on the red horse was like a warship braving the waves, roaming freely among tens of thousands of enemy soldiers, leading all the soldiers.
"Swoosh!"
At this moment, a battle halberd was swung down, piercing into the flesh of this general in red robes. Because of the fine steel armor, the wound was not deep…
But blood still flowed down.
The enemy general wielding the battle halberd raised a cold smile. The next moment, he found that when he tried to retract the battle halberd, it was being held by something.
Following the battle halberd, he looked closely… and then his eyes widened, the fear reflected in his pupils clearly visible.
Afterwards…
This general in red robes actually grabbed one end of his battle halberd with one hand, looked at him with icy eyes, and then… guided by this gaze, the Fangtian Hua Ji was swung with one hand!
Then…
In the enemy general's vision, the world suddenly spun several times. When it settled, he saw a familiar figure, seemingly his own body… still holding the battle halberd, but his head was gone from his neck!
Immediately after…
The entire world fell silent!
In less than half an hour…
The armor of tens of thousands of cavalry was dyed red, shining brilliantly under the sunlight.
And the Bingzhou soldiers finally… could no longer withstand such an assault. Except for… the armored soldiers who lay eternally here, one by one, they dropped their helmets and armor, fleeing in disarray!
And this force that ambushed them did not pursue.
"General… the enemy has retreated! Should we pursue?" an armored soldier reported.
Upon hearing this…
The general in red robes put away his Fangtian Hua Ji. At this moment, even his mask was crimson, like a blood-soaked man… or like a demon.
And it was still visible that drops of blood were still dripping from the edge of his Fangtian Hua Ji!
"No need to pursue!"
"Inform General Zhang Yan and General Gongsun, as planned, to ambush in the valleys to the south and north. If the enemy's four armies arrive, they will never return!"
His voice was hoarse, but every word was sonorous and powerful.
"Understood!"
The armored soldier accepted the order and rode away to relay the message.
And this general in red robes tore off a piece of cloth to wipe the blood from his mask. His eyes coldly scanned the surroundings, scanning the plain battlefield under the blood-red sun.
—"A bunch of scumbags!"
A smile curved his lips, his tone haughty and dismissive…
—"This invincibility in Yanmen is truly lonely, yet exciting!"
…
…