Three Kingdoms: From Hidden Dragon to Great Wei Overlord Chapter 753 Trees How Withered, Northern Wind Carries Gongsun Zan’s Sorrow!
The twin swords atop the dual-edged precious swords already bore several nicks.
Liu Bei was unaware… how much these twin swords, which had accompanied him for decades, had endured in this day's escape.
The Wei army commenced a new wave of assault.
The Vanguard Battalion, led by Gao Shun, charged at the forefront. He wore heavy armor, carried a shield, and held a saber, roaring.
Rumble!
Rumble!
His saber was dazzling, his sharp spears like a forest.
How could the Shu army resist now? They scrambled backward, until there was nowhere left to retreat…
Lu Xun, on the perimeter, gave an order, and from both flanks, ten thousand crossbow bolts were loosed.
At this moment, the volley of ten thousand arrows was like a raptor spreading its wings, swooping down from the sky, striking the Shu army’s shield formation like a sudden storm.
Outside the dense shield formation of the Shu army, the area was already a dense mass of arrows…
And the impact of these arrows undoubtedly further depleted the Shu army’s strength and morale.
Boom…
Rumble!
The deafening sound echoed across the land. Warhorses and soldiers in the Wei army collided with the heavy shields and sharp spears, the terrifying impact further compressing the entire Shu army formation.
Now, only a solitary hilltop remained for Liu Bei and the Shu army!
Gao Ning, seeing the Shu army at its last gasp, smelled the imminent blood. He laughed, raised his saber, and was about to join the charge.
At this point, if he couldn’t personally sever the head of this “big-eared thief,” wouldn’t it be a shame!
Just then… a powerful and resonant voice rang out. Turning their heads, everyone saw that it was Emperor Emeritus Cao Cao who had arrived.
He rode his horse, his gaze fixed on the gradually weakening Shu army on the hilltop, on the gradually weakening Liu Bei.
This game of cat and mouse had reached its end.
Cao Cao issued an order.
Lu Xun understood. He signaled the standard bearer to wave the military flag, realizing that for his lifelong adversary, perhaps Emperor Emeritus Cao Cao wished to see him off personally.
As the Wei army’s charging soldiers retreated…
Cao Cao walked towards the hilltop, escorted by the Tiger Guards. He called out loudly.
—
….
….
The scorching sun blazed. Spears, leather armor, swords, and halberds reflected a chilling cold light under the sun. The bright and orderly armor displayed the majesty of the Great Wei’s military bearing.
A falcon rose from the summit of this Baiyan Mountain, spreading its wings and soaring into the highest heavens.
Cao Cao had advanced to within three hundred paces of the Shu army and halted.
Tiger Guards spread a mat on the ground. Beneath the canopy of the sunshade umbrella, a table was set, with wine goblets and a wine pot…
The wine was Qingmei (green plum) wine…
Just like it had been in the past when they were together.
Cao Cao sat leisurely under the umbrella. He vividly remembered the last time he had spoken face-to-face with Liu Bei, when he had uttered that certain phrase…
But…
The mood at that time and the mood at this moment were completely different.
Accompanying the continuous sound of footsteps, a gap opened in the Shu army’s shield formation. Liu Bei, the King of Shu Han, wearing the imperial crown symbolizing his kingship, walked step by step towards Cao Cao’s canopy umbrella.
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had intended to escort him, but Liu Bei waved them off, signaling for him to proceed alone…
The battle had reached this point, what was there left to escort? … Seeing Liu Bei approach alone, Cao Cao also waved his hand, signaling the Tiger Guards to withdraw.
The Tiger Guard attendants frowned.
Cao Cao laughed, “The Great Wei today belongs to Yu’er. Even if Liu Bei harbors ill intentions toward… me, what of it? Everything has ended, it is of no avail. Liu Bei is a shrewd man, he can see this.”
As these words were spoken…
The Tiger Guards retreated, falling back to a distance of one hundred paces from Cao Cao.
Liu Bei also stepped under the canopy umbrella…
As he looked up at Cao Cao, Cao Cao also gazed at him.
Cao Cao spoke first…
Liu Bei smiled faintly.
Cao Cao burst into laughter. He took the initiative to pour half a goblet of wine for Liu Bei.
Indeed…
After cultivating with Zhang Lu for five years, Cao Cao’s state of mind was now incomparable to what it was before.
He was more at peace, more magnanimous, and more carefree.
Liu Bei said with emotion.
Cao Cao suddenly emphasized,
Cao Cao’s words made Liu Bei laugh heartily.
Cao Cao said gravely.
Liu Bei’s eyes turned cold, and he gritted his teeth, saying,
Hoo…
For some unknown reason, upon hearing Liu Bei’s words, Cao Cao felt an immense sorrow and said with emotion,
At this point, Cao Cao suddenly looked up, his piercing gaze fixed directly on Liu Bei. He said indifferently,
Liu Bei opened his mouth, but only managed one word before choking up. He didn’t know what else to say.
Or rather, he had too many words in his heart, too much unspoken grievance…
He had endured too much hardship. After finally reaching this day, he… how could he be willing to accept it?
But…
Unwilling? But… what could be done?
Cao Cao continued to speak. Liu Bei paused slightly and then said loudly:
These words carried a somewhat confrontational tone.
Cao Cao put away his smile, his expression turning serious.
He spoke with genuine emotion…
And speaking of this, Cao Cao pointed to White Emperor City across the river and continued with emotion, “The reason the Han Dynasty prospered for four hundred years… originated from Han Gaozu Liu Bang, the son of the Red Emperor, who slew the son of the White Emperor at Mount Mangdang. Today, Xuan De brother dies on this Baiyan Mountain, within the territory of White Emperor City, it can also be considered that ‘the White Emperor has avenged the four hundred-year-old revenge of the Red Emperor slaying his son!’ Everything arises and perishes, causes and effects cycle.”
Speaking of this…
Cao Cao paused. He drank the wine before him in one gulp, his expression becoming even more solemn.
Liu Bei retorted.
Cao Cao’s words touched Liu Bei.
Liu Bei opened his mouth… but then closed it.
He actually wanted to say that his lifelong perseverance and the foundation he built were not ultimately for the sake of achieving great success!
It was because he, Liu Bei, knew that you, Cao Cao, could not tolerate him!
Therefore, he, Liu Bei, had been striving his entire life! This was not… but rather a disadvantage!
From the moment you, Cao Cao, uttered those words, Liu Bei knew that he could only choose self-preservation. He could only be forced by Cao Cao to climb step by step, to the peak of his life!
Ultimately, Liu Bei did not say these words. A person facing death still maintains their last bit of dignity, their last bit of heroic spirit.
Liu Bei added a question.
Cao Cao nodded. He poured himself another cup of wine, saying with some emotion:
This…
Cao Cao’s words stirred Liu Bei. He bit his teeth, seemingly anticipating what Cao Cao was about to say.
Cao Cao then paused and continued… as if feeling his voice was not loud enough, his tone not intense enough.
Cao Cao raised his voice and roared again.
—
—
On this side, Cao Cao and Liu Bei were having their final conversation outside White Emperor City, on Baiyan Mountain.
On that side, in Shu Commandery, on Hemming Mountain near Jiange Pass…
Lu Yu and Xun Yu were climbing the mountain and chatting.
The topic of conversation also turned to Liu Bei…
Lu Yu was expressing his views,
Lu Yu wanted to use this word to describe it, but ultimately felt the wording was too exaggerated.
Xun Yu followed Lu Yu’s words, “Your Majesty means that the Shu Han was a combination of individuals who were not favored or taken seriously, and they became… a formidable royal army capable of shaking the world?” Lu Yu nodded.
“Such people, even if they are ultimately failures, their deeds… will be passed down for a thousand years… and will still bring joy to future generations, cause them to worry, serve as their role models, and sing their praises.” Lu Yu was speaking of the romantic charm of the Shu Han!
This charm had long surpassed success or failure. And this charm was precisely what Liu Bei, who had wandered through life, persevered, and faced dangers, exuded!
Whether it was feigned or genuine…
At this point, did any of it still matter?
When some people can feign something for their entire lives, then the fake also becomes the undeniable truth!
Hearing this, Xun Yu coughed lightly and said with emotion,
Lu Yu nodded.
What Lu Yu said… stirred Xun Yu’s emotions.
There were many things he couldn’t speculate on, and history itself did not allow for any speculation.
Of course, Xun Yu did not believe that these speculations could change history…
Because…
Lu Yu overlooked the most crucial point…
Unless it was Liu Bei’s illegitimate son!
Otherwise, this single point alone would smooth over a series of variables.
Xun Yu stroked his beard and continued:
Xun Yu seemed hesitant to speak.
Lu Yu then picked up Xun Yu’s words:
Xun Yu nodded.
Hoo…
Lu Yu let out a sigh. He couldn’t help but recall a sentence from Zhuge Liang’s “Memorial on Sending Out the Troops.”
—
A figure full of faith!
A glimpse of romanticism painted in a turbulent era!
But ultimately…
His story was destined to conclude!
Perhaps, this was the tragedy of romanticism?
….
….
bq.
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