Countless military banners with "Ma" emblazoned high in the wind flapped and snapped.
Ma Chao's elite Xiliang cavalry was at the ready, their weapons at their sides!
Fully armed, Ma Chao was already sharpening his blades. The Xiliang horses, due to their proximity to the border and their Hu horse lineage, were mostly short but possessed excellent stamina and strength.
They bore the burly Xiliang men, and though the sight was somewhat incongruous, their nimble hooves still kicked up countless muddy splashes as they thundered forward!
Having captured Han Sui and subdued his personal guards, Ma Chao, under Ma Teng's orders, pressed onward without pause.
Ahead lay the main cavalry force commanded by Han Sui's trusted subordinate, Cheng Gongying.
Cheng Gongying was Han Sui's confidant, skilled in both commanding troops and strategy, the person Han Sui trusted most.
At this moment, Ma Chao raised his Tiger-Head Zhanjin Spear, exuding an imposing aura.
The instant he lifted his spear, the entire Xiliang cavalry erupted in a roar. They fiercely whipped their horses' flanks, then leveled their spears and lances… their momentum like a rainbow!
For, just moments before, they had seen… their lord – Ma Teng!
Though somewhat weak, he was alive, a perfectly fine Ma Teng.
And Ma Teng's words had revealed to them that they… they had been played like monkeys by that scoundrel Han Sui.
If patience is a virtue, then this is unbearable!
And this resentment naturally shifted to Han Sui's men.
Sharpening blades, weapons at the ready… it was all quite understandable.
Ma Chao cast a sidelong glance at the surrounding riders, then issued his final order, "Show no mercy, leave none alive!"
The heralds… rode back and forth through the advancing Xiliang army, shouting hoarsely, "Show no mercy, leave none alive!"
"Show no mercy… leave none alive!"
The clamor of battle was earth-shattering, their valiant spirit piercing the heavens!
The knights of the Long Xiao Battalion also noticed the approaching cavalry and the repeated war drums, which had initially weighed heavily on their hearts.
Were they truly to be drawn into a war of attrition?
But when they saw clearly…
This Xiliang cavalry force, at undiminished speed, was surging like a tide towards… the enemy cavalry formation.
They were like a sharp dagger, plunging directly into the heart of the enemy cavalry, and then… the army that had been wearing down the Long Xiao Knights through attrition began to bleed endlessly!
The flames of war blazed, filled with countless heartbroken roars.
From a bird's-eye view, one could see yellow enveloping black, silver-white then encircling yellow, and finally yellow being attacked from both inside and out…
Gradually shrinking… until riddled with holes.
Especially Ma Chao…
Undoubtedly, he was the angriest among the Xiliang knights.
—The wrath of Jin Ma Chao demanded blood.
At this moment, Ma Chao seemed to have become one with his silver spear, a wisp of black smoke, rampaging through Han Sui's camp!
The Xiliang people valued martial prowess. Logically, Han Sui's cavalry, in terms of horsemanship and martial skill, would be no pushover.
If they were to fight to the death, even the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry might not be their match!
But fatefully, they could never have imagined…
That their former ally would launch such an unprovoked attack on their rear…
They had no advantage against the Long Xiao Knights and could only resort to delaying tactics, flanking maneuvers, and attrition to wear down the Long Xiao Knights' stamina.
But when the invincible general Ma Chao rampaged back and forth through their formation.
His spear swept out… sheets of bloody lotuses, piercing Han Sui's cavalry formation until it was riddled with holes!
Under the pincer attack…
Soon… Han Sui's cavalry began to collapse, and new breaches appeared in their formation!
At dawn.
The earth trembled, and the sound of hooves shattered the pre-dawn silence. The thin mist was gilded with silver by the sharpness of the blades; a slaughter was underway!
"The enemy formation is in disarray, follow me and kill!"
Beneath his war helmet, Ma Chao's eyes shone with unparalleled brilliance. Facing the terrifying enemy, whose formation was shrinking in fear, he swung his Tiger-Head Zhanjin Spear horizontally, shattering dozens of huge shields with his immense force.
Next…
Was another round of slaughter!
"Terrifying…"
Cao Xiu, present on the battlefield, witnessed this scene…
His pupils involuntarily constricted!
He shivered uncontrollably, feeling a sense of dread.
Fortunately, he was an ally and not an enemy. Otherwise, if this "horseman" had joined the fray, he would have been a nightmare for the Long Xiao Battalion!
After all…
Cao Xiu had once competed with Sun Ce, but… witnessing Ma Chao's bravery today, he was perhaps even superior to Sun Ce!
For a moment, chaos, blood, and the clash of weapons converged into a triumphant bugle call, resounding across the vast, desolate sands.
In less than an hour, Cheng Gongying's head… was impaled on a bamboo pole.
More and more of Han Sui's generals had their heads hoisted high…
Subsequently, the Xiliang people, who had been fighting for Han Sui's dream of "Western Rise," threw down their weapons, dismounted, and surrendered.
Countless heads were severed, becoming military achievements…
When Cao Xiu, the deputy commander of the Long Xiao Battalion, met with Ma Chao, the young lord of the Xiliang cavalry, everything was over.
"The Long Xiao Battalion is indeed renowned throughout the Nine Provinces. To face twenty times their number of enemy troops fearlessly today, Ma Chao is impressed!"
Ma Chao bowed first, cupping his hands.
This was a gesture of humility…
Or perhaps, it was gratitude, for the commander of the Long Xiao Battalion… had saved his father.
"I have long heard of the Xiliang Jin Ma Chao's unparalleled martial arts. Seeing it today, General Ma's skills are perhaps not inferior to that peerless Lu Bu. To fight alongside General Ma, Cao Xiu feels greatly honored!"
Cao Xiu also bowed.
On one side, the two shared a moment of mutual admiration between heroes…
On the other side, as the battle situation became clearer, Lu Yu on the embankment let out a long sigh, wiping sweat beads from his forehead – they were all sand!
Indeed, the dust kicked up by both sides during the battle even reached Lu Yu, who was a hundred paces away at a higher elevation.
Fortunately… they had won, a decisive victory.
"Report…" A scout from the Long Xiao Battalion arrived belatedly. "Reporting to the Marquis of Southern Hunt, our Marshal Ma has captured Han Sui and is currently guarding him at the Xiliang military camp."
"General Cao Xiu and General Ma Chao attacked from both sides, and Han Sui's general Cheng Gongying was beheaded; all other enemy troops have surrendered!"
"Report, hearing that Ma Teng is safe and seeing Han Sui's army routed, the various warlords of Xiliang have halted their offensive and sent envoys to seek surrender!"
Seeking surrender…
At this juncture, with the situation clear, it was less about seeking surrender and more about begging for mercy.
"Heh heh…"
Thinking this, Lu Yu smiled. He patted the dust off his clothes, "Let's go. We'll head to the Xiliang camp to meet this Marshal Ma, and also this Han Wen Yue!"
As he said this, Lu Yu was about to leave…
But as he took his first step, he seemed to remember something, "Is it safe on Jue'er's side?"
Jue'er…
What?
Many around him were taken aback…
It was understandable. At a time like this, who would associate the battlefield with the Marquis of Southern Hunt's wife, Xiahou Jue?
Only Guo Jia showed an expected smile, "Ziyu, rest assured. Dezu has dispatched heavy troops for protection."
This…
How did Yang Dezu appear again?
What's going on? What's going on?
Everyone was even more bewildered.
However, they were accustomed to it. Lu Yu's strategies were often unexpected; it would be strange if they were predictable.
Moreover, this time it was quite clear. Ma Chao's defection… was likely related to this Madame Xiahou Jue and Yang Dezu. So, the question arose:
Who was the mole?
Just then.
"Disciple pays respects to Master."
"This concubine pays respects to Master…"
Two consecutive voices, one male and one female. Lu Yu looked in their direction. Besides Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua, who else could it be?
It turned out that after Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua killed Yan Xing, they had rushed back on horseback…
When they arrived, the fierce battle was already nearing its end.
Seeing Sima Yi, Lu Yu felt a wave of emotions… even a hint of heartache.
This young man, although his nature was inherently one of "hiding," undertaking a mission deep behind enemy lines required the "endurance" of an ordinary person, and also great intelligence.
He had achieved it.
Gazing at Sima Yi, Lu Yu for a moment didn't know what to say.
After staring for a long time, Lu Yu finally reached out and patted his shoulder.
"Zhongda, welcome home."
"Don't leave when you come back this time."
As if speaking of everyday matters, Lu Yu smiled faintly at him, then directly boarded the carriage and headed for the Xiliang camp.
In contrast, Sima Yi frowned, his teeth biting his lip slightly.
Welcome home…
Could he finally go home!
But the name "Sima of Henei" no longer existed. Where was his home?
However…
At least, had he, through his own efforts, completely protected his family?
Had he avoided the great disaster of "three horses eating the trough"!
For a moment, emotions surged within him.
Sima Yi murmured, gazing at the departing carriage, a sigh escaping his lips…
As for Zhang Chunhua, she remained silent, only lowering her head to watch this "Master"… yes, in ancient times, the Master addressed by the husband was also to be regarded as Master by the wife…
Master… he hadn't lied!
Master… he had orchestrated a scheme that required hiding from everyone… casting a vast net over Xiliang!
Master… had he protected the Sima family of Henei in another way!
…
…
Urgent reports from scouts continuously flowed towards Xiahou Dun.
Inside the large tent, Xiahou Dun paced restlessly, appearing extremely anxious.
And when the latest scout report arrived, his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, because the latest report stated… fifty thousand cavalry, led by Ma Chao of Xiliang, were charging towards the Long Xiao Battalion.
Fifty thousand!
Ma Chao of Xiliang.
Xiahou Dun had thoroughly researched Ma Chao. The horses under Ma Chao were all short-legged, and while they might not appear as majestic and imposing as tall horses, and their speed was far from fast, these short-legged horses with Hu horse lineage possessed astonishing stamina and were incredibly strong.
And the Ma Chao army, mounted on these short-legged horses, was a shining example among the Xiliang warlords in terms of both troop numbers and combat effectiveness.
Their participation undoubtedly cast a thick shadow of gloom over Xiahou Dun's mood.
Could the Long Xiao Battalion hold out?
What's more, Xiahou Dun wanted to provide support, but… Lu Yu had explicitly forbidden him from intervening, which put him in an awkward position…
Of course, looking at the mere few thousand men under his command, Xiahou Dun also knew that even if he went, it would be of little help.
"If the Long Xiao Battalion is routed, the Xiliang campaign will completely collapse!" Cao Hong, standing nearby, reminded him with difficulty. "Even if the Long Xiao Battalion is not routed, even if it suffers a major defeat and loses its unblemished golden body, the morale of our Great Wei will inevitably plummet!"
Saying this, Cao Hong sighed and mumbled, "But even if we lose, we must rescue Ziyu and Cang Shu (Cao Chong)! Compared to the Long Xiao Battalion, the two of them are of far greater importance!"
Indeed…
Especially Lu Yu. Cao Hong had thousands of retainers, involved in all walks of life…
The businesses cooperating with Lu Yu were countless!
Cao Chong was the son most favored by the Eldest Brother. Anyone else could have an accident… but not these two. Otherwise… Cao Hong couldn't even imagine, nor could he explain to their headache-plagued Eldest Brother!
"The safety of the Marquis of Southern Hunt is indeed of paramount importance…" Li Dian, who was usually calm, also suggested, "If the Long Xiao Battalion is defeated, at most it will be a blow to the morale of Great Wei. If the Marquis of Southern Hunt suffers any mishap, King Wei will surely be enraged, and his current health cannot withstand it!"
While everyone was discussing,
Another scout rushed in, his forehead covered in sweat. It was clear he had rushed here at the first opportunity after gathering intelligence.
Seeing the scout, Xiahou Dun's face darkened…
His heart was filled with worry, or rather, he was extremely afraid… he dared not… and did not wish to hear any unfavorable news.
"Speak!"
Xiahou Dun pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.
The scout quickly reported, "It's over, it's all over!"
Over?
These three words undoubtedly made Xiahou Dun's heart leap, and not just his; the hearts of all ten or so civil and military officials in the tent were pounding.
"Get to the point!"
"Ma Chao, leading fifty thousand Xiliang iron cavalry, defected on the battlefield, and the Long Xiao Battalion achieved a great victory!"
"The Marquis of Southern Hunt is heading to the enemy camp to personally interrogate Han Sui!"
Uh…
The moment these words were spoken!
Everyone's face twitched involuntarily…
They won?
The Long Xiao Battalion won, and Ma Chao's fifty thousand troops weren't attacking the Long Xiao Battalion, but… but had defected?
So, this was Lu Ziyu's plan!
Xiahou Dun let out a breath of relief. He even felt that his good younger brother was going against the heavens!
He hadn't heard of him meeting Ma Chao, but… but… how could Ma Chao defect?
"Could this be a trap?"
Cao Hong also came to his senses. He felt something was a bit strange about this matter…
But if it was a trap, it wasn't entirely so.
Why would Ma Chao resort to a trick? Fifty thousand cavalry directly charging the Long Xiao Battalion!
The Long Xiao Battalion, at its last gasp, how could they resist? What would be the point?
Cao Hong closed his mouth, feeling his words were redundant…
Unexpectedly, Xiahou Dun's intelligence believed it.
"Yes… these Xiliang people are fickle and untrustworthy. It's possible they're deliberately doing this to lure Ziyu to the Xiliang camp and then capture him…"
Saying this.
With a "bang," Xiahou Dun forcefully slammed the table. "Mobilize the troops, we're going to the Xiliang camp too!"
Uh…
Li Dian was a bit confused…
He admired Cao Hong's intelligence, and even more so Xiahou Dun's train of thought…
Even suddenly, Li Dian had a terrifying conjecture…
He pondered that the reason the Marquis of Southern Hunt didn't let Xiahou Dun get involved was because he felt… that with this General Xiahou's intellect, he would achieve nothing and ruin everything…
Saying this, Li Dian glanced at Xiahou Dun, seeing him still looking flustered.
It was as if… the Xiliang people would indeed use a stratagem to lure Lu Yu!
Using tens of thousands of men? Just… just for one Lu Ziyu?
Wait a minute…
Li Dian tapped his forehead. If calculated this way, tens of thousands of men for one Lu Ziyu didn't seem like a bad trade!
Going in circles, he had gotten himself confused too!
However, in another location.
Not far from Xiahou Dun's encampment, in a thicket of trees.
When a swordsman reported the battle situation to a black-clothed man standing with his hands behind his back.
"Whoosh…"
The Zhongxing Sword was heavily inserted into the tip of a tree in front of him.
His hand gripping the sword turned crimson from sheer tightness…
He said nothing…
Yet, it seemed to convey much…
…
…