The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 235 Yan Liang and Wen Chou Battle Ma Chao, Liu Bei Praises Ma Chao's Bravery (2nd Update)
"General Zuo sent me to lead the charge to test Ma Chao's strength. I never expected Ma Chao to be so arrogant and want to fight two against one. I've never heard of such a request before. We must serve him well."

"If we brothers join forces, how can we possibly defeat a single general? We must not use excessive force."

"We don't need to hold back too much. If we are careless and Ma Chao turns the tables on us, we brothers will become a laughing stock. General Zuo, you should dampen Ma Chao's spirit and win him over. Just make sure he is neither dead nor crippled."

"Then let's go!"

Yan Liang and Wen Chou had made their decision and set off on horseback.

Yan Liang brandished his sword and roared, "You scoundrel, stop your arrogance! Yan Liang is here!"

Wen Chou also brandished his steel spear and shouted fiercely, "Wen Chou, come and take your head!"

The two had known each other for many years and often worked together on the battlefield, so they had a tacit understanding.

In the blink of an eye, the two generals had already formed a pincer movement and suddenly appeared in front of Ma Chao. They slashed at the heads of the warhorses with their swords and pointed their spears at Ma Chao's throat. If you tried to block the sword, you couldn't block the spear; if you tried to block the spear, you couldn't block the sword. Few people could withstand the combined attack of Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

Ma Chao saw it clearly, but without answering, he flicked his tiger-headed golden spear and, disregarding everything, aimed straight for Yan Liang's throat!
What's the most important thing in a group fight?
That's ruthless!

Be ruthless to your enemies and even more ruthless to yourself.

No matter how many people are on the other side, grab one first and beat him to death, using the most insane ruthlessness to terrify the enemy.

Ma Chao was called the Divine Might Heavenly General by the Qiang people, and this was no empty title. His ruthlessness alone was something that ordinary generals could not possess!

Yan Liang was also startled by Ma Chao's ruthless willingness to risk his life for another, and immediately changed direction to block Ma Chao's spear. Ma Chao then leaned back to avoid Wen Chou's spear aimed at his throat.

The two horses passed each other without either of them getting hurt.

"Ma Chao of Xiliang truly lives up to his reputation."

Liu Bei saw it clearly and couldn't help but clap his hands in delight.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Huang Zhong, who initially had faint smiles on their lips, gradually became focused and attentive.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Guan Yu and his two companions had all witnessed the power of Yan Liang and Wen Chou's combined attack.

When facing two opponents, an ordinary general is truly as Wen Chou said, "If we brothers attack together, how can we possibly defeat a single general?"

Unexpectedly, Ma Chao easily broke through the combined attack of Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

The ruthless willingness to risk their lives for each other stirred the blood of the three men, who wished they were the ones fighting on the battlefield instead of Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou, having failed in their first attack, turned their horses around, their hearts filled with trepidation.

Their combined attack was always successful, but today Ma Chao easily neutralized it with such a desperate move.

"A warrior who can be valued by General Zuo is indeed worthy of his reputation."

"We really can't be careless. If we had underestimated them just now, we would have become a laughing stock."

Yan Liang and Wen Chou gripped their weapons tightly, hung on the reins, and held their weapons with both hands, controlling their horses solely with their feet.

Ma Chao, who had turned his horse around, replaced his arrogance with solemnity, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. "They were too arrogant. The two heroes of Hebei live up to their reputation. If they hadn't refused to fight me to the death, I would have been severely injured, if not dead."

In recent years, Ma Chao has been unmatched among the generals in Guanzhong. Even Yan Xing, who almost killed Ma Chao with a broken spear a few years ago, is no longer a match for Ma Chao.

That's why Ma Chao underestimated Yan Liang during the duel, and insisted that Yan Liang and Wen Chou come out together.

However, one must swallow the bitter wine one has brewed oneself, even with tears in one's eyes.

Since he publicly boasted that he could take on two opponents at once, he can't blame the other side for winning unfairly.

Meanwhile, in Ma Chao's camp, Pang De was extremely anxious, wanting to go into battle to help but fearing Ma Chao's wrath.

“Military Advisor Sun, you are a strategist, can you think of a way? Although General Ma is brave, Yan Liang and Wen Chou are not good people either. It is really dangerous for one to fight two against one.” Pang De looked at the lightly armored youth on his right.

The young man was Sun Zi, whom Liu Bei had sent to join Ma Chao. He successfully became Ma Chao's strategist thanks to his exceptional eloquence.

Upon hearing this, Sun Zi smiled faintly: "Colonel Pang, do not worry. I am certain that General Ma will be safe. This duel is a trick by Liu Bei. How could he hide it from me?"

Pang De asked in surprise, "What do you mean by that, strategist? I don't quite understand. Please explain."

Hearing the discussion, Yang Qiu also turned around.

Sun Zi glanced at Yang Qiu out of the corner of his eye, deliberately lowered his voice, and said to Pang De, "Battles on the battlefield mostly rely on trickery. If you can outnumber the enemy, you will never fight one-on-one. If you can win quickly, you will never delay the opportunity. But now Liu Bei deliberately sent a challenge to General Ma to a duel, which is suspicious. During the duel, he also let the famous Yan Liang and Wen Chou fight two against one, which is suspicious. Liu Bei's banner is flanked by the banners with the characters Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Huang Zhong, but Liu Bei only ordered them to watch the battle and did not set up an ambush, which is suspicious. With these three suspicions, I think Liu Bei only wants to use the duel to dampen General Ma's spirit, not to take General Ma's life."

Pang De was immediately indignant: "According to the strategist, if Liu Bei wanted to take General Ma's life, it would be as easy as turning his hand?"

Sun Zi sighed softly: "General Ma's military tactics are more about bravery than cunning. However, Liu Bei's military tactics prioritize sophistry. Does Colonel Pang remember when Zhong Yao used an ambush to kill Xia Zhao and capture Deng Sheng, only to be trapped in the city by Liu Bei for three days and dare not leave? Xia Zhao, Deng Sheng, and those four thousand soldiers were all used as pawns by Liu Bei, which shows how ruthless and cunning Liu Bei's tactics are. If today Liu Bei uses Yan Liang and Wen Chou to restrain General Ma, and then launches an ambush on our flanks, can Colonel Pang hold the flanks while General Ma is away?"

Pound felt a chill run down his spine: "I've heard that Liu Bei has always valued integrity and loyalty; surely he wouldn't do such a thing?"

Sun Zi shook his head: "All's fair in war. Liu Bei and General Ma have no prior relationship, so what trust or loyalty can there be?"

During the conversation, Yang Qiu suddenly asked, "Since Military Advisor Sun could see things clearly, why didn't he advise General Ma against leaving the city?"

Sun Zi glanced at Yang Qiu and chuckled, "I am just a strategist, not the commander-in-chief. If General Ma wants to have a duel, how can I stop him?"

Yang Qiu pressed on, "Isn't Military Advisor Sun afraid that if we fall into an ambush, you'll also lose your life?"

Sun Zi smiled without changing his expression: "As a strategist, how foolish it would be if you couldn't even judge whether you yourself are in danger? If I hadn't seen the banners bearing the names of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Huang Zhong, I wouldn't have stayed here to watch the battle."

Yang Qiu narrowed his eyes, still harboring doubts, but didn't ask any more questions.

Just then, the sound of retreating troops rang out again. It was Liu Bei who saw that Ma Chao was starting to pant and worried that continuing the battle would make things worse, so he sent a message to Yan Liang and Wen Chou to return to the camp.

"Ma Chao of Fufeng is indeed quite brave and strong. We'll fight again next time." Yan Liang feinted with his sword and quickly retreated. Wen Chou also followed Yan Liang back to his own camp.

Although Ma Chao was filled with doubt and uncertainty, he did not lose his momentum. He raised his spear and shouted, "Yan Liang and Wen Chou, you two do have some courage and strength. If you are not used to staying under Liu Bei, you can come and join me."

"That Ma Chao is so ungrateful! Brother was afraid he'd embarrass himself, so he sent Yan Liang and Wen Chou back to the camp, but he still dares to be so arrogant!" Zhang Fei said indignantly. "Brother, let me go into battle! I'll teach Ma Chao a lesson he won't forget!"

　Update 2 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)