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

Chapter 264 Zhao Yun's Divine Bravery: Killing Five People in the Difficult Tower with His Spear is Just the Lower Limit (1st Update)
If someone were to ask: How long would it take Zhao Yun, leading thirty White Horse Cavalry, to defeat five hundred infantrymen?

Ordinary people could not fathom this, but Gao Rou and a group of officials and officers who were under house arrest today had a profound understanding of it.

After Zhao Yun said, "By order of Military Advisor Zhuge, I request an audience with Chancellor Gao Rou of Changshan," Gao Rou began to stroll slowly in the courtyard. Just as he had gone about three hundred paces, he saw Zhao Yun ride into the courtyard, with his white-horse cavalry standing solemnly behind him, while the five hundred infantrymen outside the courtyard had already scattered and disappeared without a trace!
A renowned health expert once said, "After a meal, food stays in the stomach. One should walk slowly for several hundred steps to disperse the gas and transport it to the spleen, so that the stomach can be cleansed and digested more easily." Ancient books also record, "In ancient times, the elderly would always take a walk after meals to move their bodies and aid digestion. Therefore, later generations regarded walking as a way to relax and shake."

In other words, Zhao Yun had defeated five hundred soldiers in just the time it takes to eat a meal!

This swiftness shocked Gao Rou and all the officials and officers present.

"Zhao Zilong of Changshan, who was able to kill the entire family of Wuhuan King Nanlou by himself, truly lives up to his reputation!" a minor official murmured.

Rumors in the world are often exaggerated, and listeners often doubt their veracity. Among the crowd present, there were also those who had doubts about Zhao Yun's "killing of the Nanlou family," thinking it was just a rumor exaggerating his bravery.

However, today, when they learned that Zhao Yun had only led thirty cavalrymen and had defeated five hundred infantrymen sent by Han Fan in the short time of "walking three hundred paces", everyone realized that the rumors were not exaggerated, but rather that they may have underestimated Zhao Yun's bravery!
Amidst their astonishment, a sense of relief and joy welled up within them.

Fortunately, he did not switch allegiance to Yuan Shang; otherwise, if he had become enemies with Zhao Yun, he might have made a fatal mistake.

The good news is that this experience of being placed under house arrest has become a test of Liu Bei's loyalty. When Liu Bei returns to Ji Province, a bright future awaits them!

After the initial shock, a chorus of praise gradually filled the courtyard.

"General Zhao is truly a divine being!" A captain couldn't help but cup his hands and exclaim loudly, "Thirty riders defeated five hundred men; even Xiang Yu and Huo Qubing of ancient times could not have done it!"

Another clerk clapped his hands in admiration: "I had heard of the 'White Horse Cavalry' roaming Youzhou before, but seeing them today, I realize that the rumors were not true! General's bravery is unparalleled in this world!"

Everyone echoed his sentiments, their words filled with admiration.

Zhao Yun remained calm, merely shaking his head slightly and clasping his hands in a fist salute, saying, "You flatter me, everyone. This victory was due to the bravery of our soldiers and the fact that the enemy had not yet formed a proper battle formation; it was merely a stroke of luck."

His tone was flat, as if he were simply stating a trivial matter.

However, to the ears of the crowd, these words sounded increasingly shocking and outrageous.

"lucky?!"

A garrison commander stared wide-eyed and couldn't help but say, "General, don't be modest! Five hundred infantrymen, even without being in battle formation, are not something ordinary cavalry can break! What's more, you led only thirty riders and crushed them like dry leaves. How many people in the world can match such a feat?"

Zhao Yun remained calm and said, "If the enemy had been well-prepared, it would have taken some effort. However, the enemy was scattered and unprepared just now, so we were able to win quickly."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, secretly thinking:

"Scattered and unprepared? Those five hundred men are Han Fan's elite troops, not a rabble. Even if, as the general says, they are 'not in formation,' thirty riders defeating five hundred men is still too brutal! And if they were in full battle array, it would only take 'some trouble'?"

For a moment, everyone felt that Zhao Yun's humble words were more impressive than his previous charge into battle.

A young official whispered to his colleague, "General Zhao's words sound like he's saying 'it was just a casual thing'... This isn't modesty at all; it's clearly..." The colleague smiled bitterly and continued, "He's clearly treating Han Fan's five hundred infantrymen like dirt!"

Everyone shared the same feeling; Zhao Yun's humble words sounded even sharper to them than straightforward praise!

Gao Rou stood aside, his gaze deep, and sighed inwardly: "Zhao Zilong of Changshan is brave and unparalleled, yet he is not arrogant. With such a person left to guard the rear, General Zuo will not be able to accomplish anything!"
Zhao Yun simply stood quietly in the courtyard, his white horse and silver spear at the ready, his expression unchanged, as if everything that had just happened was truly just a fluke.

Seeing that everyone's emotions had calmed down, Zhao Yun stepped forward and bowed to Gao Rou, saying, "Is Prime Minister Gao alright? Military Advisor Zhuge is worried about the situation in Xinshan and Changshan, so he specially sent me to provide support. I wonder if Han Fan and the others have given you any trouble?"

Gao Rou returned the greeting with a slight bow, her brows showing signs of fatigue, but her gaze remained sharp: "Thank you for your assistance, General Zhao. Although Han Fan has placed us under house arrest, he has not dared to harm us, but—"

With a slightly somber tone, Gao Rou glanced at the officials and officers in the courtyard and sighed, "Yuan Shang used the pretext of 'General Zuo colluding with Cao Cao' to forcibly seize the military power of Changshan, and even wanted to use the war in Bingzhou to trap General Zuo. Now, the eight thousand troops in Zhending City have all been transferred to Shangdang by his confidants, and their food supplies have also been requisitioned."

Immediately, Gao Rou's tone became somewhat ashamed: "The Black Mountain people outside the city have also been conscripted in large numbers as laborers. I am trusted by General Zuo and Military Advisor Zhuge, but I cannot protect the Black Mountain people. I have no face to see General Zuo and Military Advisor Zhuge again."

Upon hearing Gao Rou's words, Zhao Yun's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister Gao, there is no need to blame yourself. Yuan Shang's perverse actions cannot be stopped by one person alone. Now that I have arrived, I will certainly help you all to restore order!"

After surveying the crowd, Zhao Yun's voice was as sharp as iron: "Gentlemen, there is no need to panic. Military Advisor Zhuge has already made plans. Yuan Shang wants to cut off our army's retreat, but he does not know that the eight thousand soldiers of Changshan have received much kindness from General Zuo. Therefore, all we need to do is rescue you all, contact our old subordinates, and then use Prime Minister Gao's name to cut off their supply lines. Yuan Shang's troops will surely collapse without a fight!"

Upon hearing this, a captain who had been under house arrest for several days stepped forward excitedly: "Although Yuan Shang has placed me under house arrest, my trusted confidants are still in the army. If General Zhao can help me, I can personally go and make contact!"

Another clerk offered a suggestion: "Han Fan forcibly requisitioned grain and laborers, causing widespread resentment among the people. I am willing to carry Prime Minister Gao's order to persuade the village elders to cut off the grain transport!"

Immediately, the officials and officers under house arrest offered their suggestions. Having been under house arrest for so long, they were all filled with resentment and now had a chance to vent their anger. Naturally, they did whatever made them feel better.

As they were talking...

Xiahou Lan rushed in and whispered, "We've discovered that Han Fan is leading over a thousand soldiers toward this place!"

As everyone's expression changed, Zhao Yun thrust his silver spear into the ground and laughed loudly, "You've come at the perfect time! You've saved us the trouble of traveling! Prime Minister Gao, please rest for a moment, and watch me capture Han Fan alive!"

He turned to the thirty White Horse Cavalry and ordered, "All of you, enter the courtyard, prepare your bows and arrows, and obey my commands."

Afterwards, Zhao Yun rode out of the hospital and stood alone at the gate, which amazed Gao Rou and the officials and officers!
Han Fan had already ordered over a thousand soldiers to line up in battle formation.

His opponent was Zhao Yun, who had single-handedly defeated the entire Nanlou family of five. Moreover, with five hundred men scattered by Zhao Yun's thirty riders, Han Fan dared not be careless.

Seeing Zhao Yun standing alone at the courtyard gate, Han Fan couldn't help but become suspicious. He looked around warily, worried that an ambush might be about to break out.

　Chapter 1 is here! Oh no, my sleep schedule is all messed up.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)