Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 430 Continue to attack
The cavalry charged swiftly and plunged straight into the Wuhuan ranks, heading straight for the center.

Before the Wuhuan outposts could react, they were sent flying by Zhang Liao's halberd.

"Enemy attack!"

The Wuhuan soldiers finally realized what was happening and hastily engaged in battle.

But it was too late.

Zhang Liao was too fast; before the Wuhuan people could organize an effective defense, their front line had already been broken through.

This was the first time Liu Bei had participated in a battle as a common soldier.

In fact, Liu Bei always felt somewhat uneasy whenever he led an army.

This time, the enemy and our forces were vastly outnumbered, and we were charging into the enemy's main force with a small force. Moreover, Liu Bei, who was used to being the leader, was not in a command position. However, Liu Bei did not feel uneasy at all.

Liu Bei's confidence in Zhang Liao was perhaps even greater than Zhang Liao's own...

Zhang Liao, holding a long halberd diagonally in front of him, charged at an extremely fast pace, much faster than when Liu Bei led his cavalry into battle.

This doesn't look like combat speed; it looks more like the speed of a horse race.

At this speed, you only need to hold the weapon horizontally and steadily; there's no need to swing it.

As long as you feel the blade sweep across the enemy, that's a victory.

Zhang Liao's main cavalry force consisted of light cavalry, which charged faster and gradually overtook Liu Bei's unit, beginning to tear apart to the side and front.

It was precisely because he did not lead the army this time that Liu Bei clearly saw the momentum of their advance.

The Han cavalry, already running at full speed, faced the Wuhuan cavalry who were hastily engaged and unable to accelerate. This combination of mobility and inactivity created the best possible situation for cavalry combat.

Zhang Liao was like an axe blade, splitting open the enemy formation. His personal cavalry immediately followed up, thrusting out from the left and right, forcibly tearing the cut-open enemy formation in two, giving his allies behind them more space.

This is why Zhang Liao charged so fast. Once the enemy's outposts and outer perimeter troops were quickly separated, the enemy's vision was limited and they were less prepared, making it easier for them to break through.

Occasionally, you might encounter 'bamboo joints,' which are brave soldiers in the enemy army who organize themselves for a desperate counterattack.

But Zhang Liao could always split the 'bamboo joints', and his personal cavalry would always rush forward immediately when the enemy cavalry counterattacked, tearing the enemy ranks apart again at the fastest speed.

When necessary, they would even forcibly knock enemies off their horses, just to prevent them from blocking the front of the formation and affecting their own speed.

This kind of charging and relentless fighting style is not a normal way for cavalry to fight.

Normally only mounted infantry would do this.

However... Zhang Liao's troops were originally cavalry infantry.

Liu Bei still clearly remembered how Zhang Liao and Gao Shun each led cavalry and infantry to protect Lü Bu as they broke through Yuan Shao's chariot formation.

At that time, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were also charging forward, while Lü Bu was using mounted archery to kill enemies on the flanks.

Things are different now. Zhang Liao's personal guards are no longer mounted infantry, but they are still not cavalry, but a special hybrid force.

It is a type of troop that belongs exclusively to Zhang Liao.

Every famous general has their own unique qualities, and it is precisely because of these unique qualities that they become famous generals.

"The ruthless chieftain!"

Zhang Liao's eyes were fixed on the crumbling wolf banners of the central army, the white tassel on his helmet fluttering backward, not glancing anywhere else.

Perhaps this was a natural way for Zhang Liao to charge, a habit, an instinct, nothing special.

This kind of unstoppable, headlong rush is the most effective way to boost morale.

—From the perspective of our own troops, the enemy cannot even slow down our army!

The enemy wasn't actually that weak... but Zhang Liao managed to achieve this effect through speed and momentum.

Morale is always ebb and flow.

The battle cries had already shaken the surrounding area. Liu Bei even experienced some tinnitus, unable to hear the sound of horses' hooves or the enemy's voices.

The enemy troops in front of him were constantly being torn apart from left and right. As the galloping horse sped away behind him, the sword in his hand occasionally paused—that was when the horse cut into the enemy.

It was as if the enemy had run into a blade.

This environment is like being drunk; one can't even feel pain.

There was only one thought in our minds—we are marching towards victory!
……

Tadun, in the central army, had already heard the commotion and the shouts of battle.

He rode his horse to a hillside to observe, and saw that his own army had been cut in half like a pancake by a sharp knife, and the rift was coming straight towards him.

A Wuhuan cavalry commander, stumbling and crawling, rushed to Tadun's side, shouting, "Chanyu! The Han army is charging straight at the central army! We can't stop them!"

Not only could it not be stopped, it didn't even slow down its speed...

The black-clad cavalry, trailing billows of dust and the clamor of battle cries, was rapidly approaching.

The Han general at the head of the group wielded his halberd with incredible speed, and wherever he passed, the Wuhuan cavalry fell like wheat being harvested.

"Gather together! Encircle them!"

Tadun roared, raising his golden sword and charging towards Zhang Liao: "Come closer to me! Come closer to me!!"

Tadun was a strategist, and his response was correct.

The Wuhuan troops marched too disorganizedly and were completely unprepared for a rapid attack. The best way to quickly organize an effective response was to gather the troops around Tadun himself and block Zhang Liao.

As long as the Han army can be stopped or slowed down, the surrounding large forces will continuously surge forward and engulf the Han army in the sea of ​​people.

Even a sudden setback can be courageous.

He was regarded by the Wuhuan elders as a hero 'Modu reincarnated' and the number one expert among the Wuhuan.

Although he was wounded by Guan Yu back then... to be honest, very few people could survive Guan Yu's blade.

Today, Guan Yu's name is known to everyone in Hebei, and no one will look down on him just because Tadun was once defeated by Guan Yu.

Tadun raised his golden sword, gathered his troops, and charged towards Zhang Liao.

The Wuhuan cavalry also began to encircle Zhang Liao.

Logically, the Han cavalry, having penetrated deep into enemy territory, should have turned around to avoid being completely surrounded.

But Zhang Liao did not.

His direction has never changed.

With his halberd slashing left and right, he carved a bloody path through the Wuhuan soldiers.

Tadun was shocked; the Han general was too fast.

Moreover, it seemed that the Han general only had eyes for him?

"Protect the Chanyu!"

The commander of the thousand cavalry shouted, organizing the Wuhuan guards to charge forward.

But Zhang Liao charged too fast, and the Wuhuan army's encirclement was always unsuccessful.

Every time they thought they were about to close in and encircle the enemy, Zhang Liao would lead his troops to break through the obstacles, and the Wuhuan soldiers on the flanks would always be intercepted by Zhang Liao's personal guards.

Tens of thousands of enemy troops were forcibly cut open, creating a bloody path that led directly to the central army.

Tadun's correct reaction of rushing towards Zhang Liao's encirclement actually allowed Zhang Liao to get closer to him even faster.

Zhang Liao is now face to face with Tadun.

Tadun saw Zhang Liao's eyes.

A person's eyes can always reveal some kind of spirit, and Tadun vaguely realized that he might not be a match for the Han general in front of him.

"Fire the arrow! Fire the arrow!"

Tadun reined in his horse and called to his men, his voice hoarse.

His personal guards on horseback unleashed a hail of arrows.

Zhang Liao used his left arm to protect his head and face, and continued to advance forward with his halberd, without slowing down at all.

Several arrows struck his armor, but he was completely unaware.

The black horse beneath him was also hit by three arrows, but it still charged forward with all its might.

Liu Bei continued to follow behind Zhang Liao, slashing at the enemies who slipped through Zhang Liao's side.

Fifty steps, thirty steps, ten steps...

Tadun saw Zhang Liao's eyes.

There was no one else in his eyes; Tadun even felt as if he saw his own reflection in Zhang Liao's pupils.

He knew there was no turning back now.

Zhang Liao was too fast. If the horse suddenly turned around and retreated, it would be difficult to accelerate, and Zhang Liao would chase and kill it from behind.

Zhang Liao only saw the enemy's retreat; turning around would mean being pursued, so he had no choice but to fight.

"...Fight to the death!"

Tadun, having no other choice, raised his golden sword and, with his personal guards, went to meet Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao's halberd had already been thrust out, aiming straight for Tadun's head.

Meanwhile, the commander of a thousand cavalry beside Tadun thrust his spear straight at Zhang Liao's chest and abdomen. Zhang Liao did not dodge.

It seems that Zhang Liao was fighting for his life—perhaps because Liu Bei was behind him, and Zhang Liao dared not avoid him.

But at this moment... two riders suddenly emerged from behind Zhang Liao, each holding a crossbow.

This is Liu Bei and Guo Jia.

Those two crossbows were the same lever crossbows that Liu Bei and Liu Xie used when they went hunting before. They were not very powerful, with a strength of only two stones, which was about the same as that of a horse bow.

Like Liu Bei, Guo Jia had never practiced archery, but he was an expert at pitch-pot.

These weak crossbows, which the tough guys in the army looked down upon, were actually useful to Liu Bei and Guo Jia...

Liu Bei had also been hit by two arrows, and his shoulder and chest were aching. Although he knew that the Wuhuan cavalry archers could not penetrate his armor and inner armor, Liu Bei still had to return the favor with an arrow.

Two crossbow bolts were fired, one aimed straight for Tadun's chest and abdomen, and the other aimed straight for the face of the thousand-man commander next to Tadun.

Actually, riding on a horse and being jostled around, it's impossible to shoot very accurately, but the distance is too great.

At just ten steps away, it was practically right in his face to shoot.

The thousand-man cavalryman was shot in the face by a crossbow bolt and was knocked down beforehand, his spear tilting to one side.

Tadun reacted faster, suddenly seeing a dark figure attacking his chest. He instinctively swung his knife to block, but missed.

Even with the fastest reaction time, you can't possibly parry crossbow bolts with a knife...

The crossbow bolt struck Tadun's right chest, but it didn't actually penetrate his breastplate. However, by the time Tadun tried to draw his sword again, Zhang Liao's halberd was already upon him.

Fresh blood, bubbling with bubbles, gushed out from the gaps in the armor.

Tadun felt a chill in his throat, and although he wanted to look down, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Zhang Liao's warhorse continued its advance.

The warhorse charged past Tadun, and Tadun's head was severed by Zhang Liao's halberd.

Zu Mao, standing behind him, used his long sword to decapitate Tadun.

"Taton is dead!"

Zhang Liao was still leading his cavalry in the charge, but time seemed to have stood still.

The Wuhuan soldiers stared in disbelief as the Chanyu's head was impaled on the tip of a blade, their morale collapsing instantly.

Tens of thousands of troops began to waver, and Tadon's guards were already scattering and fleeing.

"Don't stop! Keep killing!"

Liu Bei shouted and continued the charge with Zhang Liao.

……

Dusk.

The Wuhuan people scattered and fled. Zhang Liao led his army all the way to the Xun River, fighting until there were no more Wuhuan people left alive.

Corpses littered the wasteland; the Wuhuan army had collapsed.

Liu Bei's black armor had been dyed dark brown.

Zhang Liao was taking stock of his men by the river.

Of the three thousand cavalry, six hundred and sixty were wounded and three hundred and fifty-one died in battle.

Of these 351 men, 270 were Zhang Liao's troops, those elite soldiers who followed closely behind Zhang Liao and constantly tore through enemy lines.

"Today, Wen Yuan's merit in defeating the enemy deserves to be ennobled and appointed as a general... The soldiers who sacrificed their lives are all heroes. After returning to the army, we should build a martyrs' orphanage to support the descendants of loyal and virtuous people."

Liu Bei spoke from behind Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao turned around and bowed slightly: "General, you saved my life..."

"The commander of the thousand cavalry was shot and killed by Fengxiao... On the battlefield, among comrades, who saves whom?"

Liu Bei shook his head and said, "The war is not over yet. Wen Yuan will continue to lead me in battle. There is no need to protect me specially anymore. I am still capable of protecting myself."

“…Here you go.”

Zhang Liao, who had already taken off his helmet, paused upon hearing this, unsure whether he should return it to Liu Bei.

The white tassels on the helmet had all turned red.

"You yourself wore it... Guan Yu destroyed the Xiongnu, Wen Yuan destroyed the Wuhuan, the general position of the Han Dynasty should have been given to the general who killed Hu Pijiang."

Liu Bei waved his hand: "I have killed quite a few barbarian bandits in this battle, so I have some merit. Perhaps I should be promoted to squad leader?"

Guo Jia was squatting by the river washing his face when he heard this and immediately turned around: "Then we should make Jia a squad leader..."

Liu Bei sighed: "You, the dignified Prefect of Jinan and the Chief of the Imperial Guard of the Han Dynasty, what are you fighting over for a squad leader position?"

“General Wei is a squad leader, so why can’t Jia be a sergeant? I was the one who shot and killed that commander of a thousand cavalry…”

"Having shot down a thousand cavalrymen, it seems he should be promoted to Marquis of Qu. I'm afraid Fengxiao is going to be my superior..."

"Huh? There's such a good thing?"

……

……

three days later.

Guan Yu and Zhang Liao led their troops to Wuzhong.

The Wuhuan people withdrew two days ago.

The siege of Qianzhao was lifted, but Qianzhao immediately gave Liu Bei bad news.

Xu Rong is dead.

There will always be some unfortunate accidents in this world.

Xu Rong died in battle while pursuing the enemy after winning a victory.

Before Tadun besieged Wuzhong, Qianzhao contacted Xu Rong and agreed to join forces to launch a counterattack.

But about twenty days ago, when they agreed to launch a counterattack together, Qian Zhao attacked Wuzhong, only to find Xu Rong's remnants fleeing towards him.

Xu Rong defeated Wuyan, the Khan of the Wuhuan, at Xuwu Mountain. While pursuing the enemy, he was accidentally shot in the neck by a stray arrow and died from his injuries.

It was precisely because of Xu Rong's unexpected death in battle that Xu Wushan was once again occupied by the enemy, and Qian Zhao could not get external support, and also lost contact with Lulong Fortress.

Both Wuzhong and Lulongsai were left isolated, and thus the siege could not be lifted for some time.

……

Apart from the bad news of Xu Rong's death in battle, everything else was good news.

After the disorganized troops were scattered, news spread throughout most of Youzhou.

Half a month ago, Zhao Yun and Tian Yu defeated Su Puyan, the King of Wuhuan, in northern Hejian. Su Puyan was also known as the Wuhuan of Liaodong.

Su Puyan was shot and killed by Tian Yu. Several thousand Wuhuan cavalry were blocked by Zhao Yun and Tian Yu in the Baiyangdian swamp area, and almost all of the Wuhuan in Liaodong were wiped out.

Zhao Yun has led his troops to western Liaoning, and Tuyin in Youbeiping has also been captured by Tian Yu along the way.

Moreover, Zhao Yun happened to intercept the remnants of Tadun's forces who were fleeing to Liaodong on the banks of the Ru River.

The remnants of Tadun did not flee towards Lulongsai, because Lulongsai was still in Xianyu Fu's hands.

They had originally come from the Ru River in western Liaoning and were trying to escape back the way they came, but at the very place where Zhang Yao died, the remnants of Tadun's forces unfortunately encountered Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun acquired several thousand more horses with almost no effort.

Moreover, after news of Tadun's death reached Lulong Pass, the Hu people outside Lulong Pass withdrew their troops.

All the sieges have been lifted, and the battle in Youzhou is progressing smoothly, but the war is not over yet.

The various families in Youzhou haven't yet collected enough heads, and they are all currently serving their sentences while still guilty.

With the roles of offense and defense reversed, every family in Youzhou was determined to kill the Hu.

Liu Bei's troops were going to Liaodong to settle scores.

Having just won a battle, Zhang Liao decided to advance his troops into White Wolf Mountain to continue the pursuit.

Guan Yu also felt that the fight against the Hu people had to be carried out to the very end, and only by annihilating them could victory be considered achieved.

Zhao Yun's military achievements were already extremely outstanding, but he wanted to avenge Zhang Yao. In Zhao Yun's eyes, Gongsun Du and Yuan Shao were both enemies.

Even Zhang Fei, who hadn't yet arrived at the battlefield, sent word that he was on his way to Ji County... That's how it is with reinforcements; often, by the time they receive the news and rush to the battlefield, it's no longer there.

Anyway, nobody wants to end this war.

Zhang He and Xianyu Yin launched counterattacks against the Hu people in Shanggu and Yuyang respectively.

Zhang Liao led his army out of Lulong Pass to pursue the remnants of the Wuhuan tribe. Tian Chou accompanied the army and led the way. Guo Jia did not become Liu Bei's superior, but was instead transferred to Zhang Liao's army as a military advisor.

Liu Bei was transferred to Guan Yu's central army and traveled along the coastal road in western Liaoning to meet Zhao Yun before heading towards Liaodong.

Liu Bei did indeed serve as the team leader, leading his own personal guards.

Liu Yi and Yang Yi probably didn't expect that just as they retreated to Linyu in western Liaoning to sit back and watch the tigers fight, Liu Bei's army arrived immediately.

(End of this chapter)