My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

The biting wind, like a roaring beast, swept across the west bank of the Yellow River, carrying with it a flurry of snowflakes.

Amidst the icy snow, over three thousand iron cavalrymen surged forth like a raging torrent of steel, their hoofbeats shaking the earth and their battle cries piercing the sky.

The Han cavalry charged forward like arrows released from a bow, fiercely advancing towards the retreating Wei army with overwhelming momentum and unstoppable force.

The arrival of the Han army was like a sudden nightmare, completely disrupting the Wei army's original plans.

The howling wind and snow obscured the Wei army's vision. It wasn't until they were about thirty paces away that the Wei army awoke as if from a dream, only to be horrified to find that the Han cavalry had already attacked them like ghosts.

This distance was undoubtedly insufficient for the retreating Wei army.

At this point, how could they possibly escape the pursuit of the cavalry that came like the wind?
On the ice, the Wei army was in complete chaos and could only flee in panic.

Fate did not seem to favor them.

Before less than half of the Wei army had retreated into the fortified camp, the Han army, like a raging tide, had already caught up with them.

Zhao Yun was like a war god descending to earth, his spear moving like a dragon emerging from the sea, instantly felling several Wei soldiers to the ground.

Blood splattered, staining the pristine white snow red.

Behind him, three thousand iron cavalry surged forward like a whirlwind.

The heavy clatter of hooves was like the drumbeat of death, each step striking the nerves of the Wei army.

Wherever the iron cavalry passed, Wei soldiers were crushed to the ground in droves, their screams and wails echoing across the entire riverbank.

The spearheads flashed, their cold light chilling, and countless Wei soldiers were pierced and fell to the ice like ants.

On the west bank, thousands of Wei soldiers frantically tried to break through the fortifications.

Their faces were filled with terror, and they staggered as if a demon was chasing them.

However, before they could even get close to the wall, the Han cavalry swept in like a surging tide, mercilessly reaping their lives.

In an instant, blood stained the beach red.

Xu Huang spurred his horse, dragging his axe, and like a bolt of lightning, rushed into the fortified position first.

"General, what's going on? What happened?"

Li Tong rode up to meet him, and seeing Xu Huang's disheveled appearance, he couldn't help but ask in surprise.

His voice trembled slightly, clearly shocked by the sudden arrival of the Han army.

Xu Huang pointed his axe outwards and said in a deep voice:
"We were too late. The Han army had already crossed the frozen river and was attacking us."

"Quickly close the gates of the fortified city; we must not let the Han cavalry break in!"

Li Tong was shocked and immediately looked towards the door.

Sure enough, on the frozen river, the Han army descended like divine warriors, slaughtering the Wei soldiers who were breaking through the ice.

The vast majority of Wei soldiers did not have time to enter the fortifications before being overtaken by the Han cavalry, and fell in pools of blood in their desperate struggle.

"But we have at least five thousand men, and we haven't retreated into the fortifications yet!"

Li Tong pointed his gun at the door and called out with a look of reluctance.

In his field of vision, the Wei soldiers who had been abandoned outside were struggling helplessly.

Xu Huang's face contorted with rage as he roared:
"There are still 250,000 Han troops behind us. If the Han cavalry break through the fortifications and we can't close the gates in time, allowing the main force of the Han army to rush in, everything will be over!"

This shout echoed like thunder within the fortified walls, startling all the Wei soldiers present.

Li Tong shivered and suddenly woke up.

Xu Huang's words were true. By sacrificing five thousand soldiers and closing the gates of the fortified walls in time, they were able to barely hold off the Han army thanks to their defensive fortifications.

If 250,000 Han troops were to charge in behind their cavalry, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking of this, Li Tong dared not think any further and hurriedly shouted:

"Order the gates of all the ramparts to be closed immediately, immediately—"

Upon receiving the order, the Wei soldiers inside the fortified walls hastily closed all the gates. The heavy sound of the gates closing was like a death knell, tolling in the hearts of the more than five thousand Wei soldiers who had not had time to escape.

Five thousand abandoned Wei soldiers were like ants, allowing the Han cavalry to run rampant over them.

Their screams and pleas for mercy gradually faded away in the cold wind, leaving only a deathly silence.

"How could this happen? It was a perfectly mild winter, why did it suddenly turn into a freezing one?"

Li Tong was both anxious and shocked, and he stamped his feet and cried out.

His voice was filled with despair and helplessness.

"This must be fate..."

Xu Huang let out a long, helpless sigh, his voice filled with resentment.

Afterwards, he instructed Li Tong to lead the troops to the ramparts to prepare for the main force of the Han army to attack.

He then rode his horse into Puban Pass to report the disastrous battle to Cao Cao.

Outside the fortress, the wails of Wei soldiers rose and fell, their mournful cries sounding like the howls of vengeful ghosts from hell.

Inside the fortified walls, tens of thousands of Wei soldiers were in a state of panic, frantically climbing the walls to defend themselves.

Their eyes were filled with fear and confusion, and the weapons in their hands trembled slightly with tension.

On the city wall of Puban, Cao Cao's mouth was wide open, his face was ashen, and his clenched fingers had drawn blood from his skin.

His eyes revealed endless shock, anger, and despair, as if he couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes.

"That dog Liu Shan, he actually dared to risk crossing the river ahead of schedule, that brat~~"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth, his face contorted with boundless shock and rage.

The voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a hint of deep-seated hatred.

Just now, he witnessed with his own eyes the Han cavalry breaking through the snow and fog, like a sharp longsword, piercing straight into the Wei army that was chiseling ice.

The roaring iron cavalry swept across the land, leaving the Wei army's blood staining the icy plains.

Immediately afterwards, countless Han troops, like a dark, surging tide, swept across the frozen river and surged toward his Puban Pass defense line.

The procession stretched for ten miles, seemingly endless, as if it would swallow up the entire Puban Pass.

Liu Shan and his ministers, along with 250,000 Han troops, launched a general offensive against Puban Pass.

Clearly, they were determined to capture the pass in one fell swoop and completely annihilate their 60,000 Wei troops there.

His last chance to break through the ice before the Han army crossed the river was shattered!

Cao Cao was filled with regret and anger. He hated himself for not preparing in advance and hated that the sudden cold winter had changed the course of the war.

However, at this moment, he could do nothing but be driven to madness and rage.

Footsteps sounded.

Xu Huang hurriedly climbed the city wall, knelt down, and said with a sorrowful expression:

"Your Majesty, the Han army has already crossed the river on the ice; we can no longer stop them!"

"The situation is hopeless. Your Majesty, please issue an order immediately for the entire army to abandon Puban Pass and retreat south to preserve our strength!"

Xu Huang's words of persuasion were filled with sorrow and helplessness.

Cao Cao felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, and a dull pain shot through his heart.

His body trembled slightly, he could hardly stand, and staggered back several steps, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

Xu Huang was actually trying to persuade him to give up Puban Pass!
This was the only hope to stop the Han army's invasion.

This steel defense line was painstakingly built by him at the cost of countless human and material resources!

Are they really going to surrender without a fight? (End of Chapter)