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

“I am trusted by General Zuo, how can I abandon the people and leave? If I leave, General Zuo’s reputation for benevolence and righteousness will be affected. If Zhongzhi is worried, you can go to Handan first.” Ju Shou responded to Xin Ping’s suggestion with a serious attitude.

Ju Shou was sent north on Liu Bei's orders and in Liu Bei's name to protect the people of Ye City; if Ju Shou abandoned the people and left now, it would be tantamount to Liu Bei abandoning the people.

Seeing that Ju Shou refused, Xin Ping immediately said, "Why do you look down on me, Lord Ju? If you refuse to abandon the people, how can I escape alone? Even if I don't care about my reputation, my son Xin Zhe will be ashamed of me! But..."

Xin Ping then changed the subject, asking, "Now that the enemy is approaching, how should we defend ourselves?"

Ju Shou replied without hesitation: "We will split into two groups. I will display the flag to lure Cao Cao's enemy into pursuit, while you continue to cover the people's northward march."

Xin Ping was taken aback: "But if that's the case, then you'll be in danger, Lord Ju!"

Ju Shou showed no fear: "I once served as Yuan's military supervisor. I was unable to help my lord establish his rule over all regions, nor could I turn the tide when things were about to collapse. I should have died long ago. It is fortunate that I have survived until now. Now, General Zuo trusts me and uses me, and has also saved my Ju clan. I have no way to repay you but to serve you with my life."

When Xin Ping tried to offer further advice, Ju Shou interrupted him directly, saying, "Hesitation will only lead to trouble. Do not be suspicious!"

Seeing that Ju Shou's mind was made up, Xin Ping knew that further persuasion would be useless, so he could only swallow his worries and nodded heavily: "Alright! I will immediately organize the troops and speed up the advance. Lord Ju... please take good care of yourself!"

Ju Shou remained calm and only gave one instruction: "Send out more scouts and keep a close eye on Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang in the north. They are chasing Yuan Shang and the families of his officers and generals. If they cannot catch up, they may turn back and attack us from both sides."

Having said that, Ju Shou said no more, turned his horse around, and ordered the hundreds of Ju family soldiers beside him, as well as the fifty White Feather Soldiers given to him by Liu Bei, to raise the banner with the character 'Ju' on it: "Follow me!"

Banners were unfurled and fluttered in the wind. Ju Shou and his men deliberately turned west to an open area, making a ruckus and waving their flags, intending to draw the attention of their pursuers.

Cao Ren and Cao Chun led their elite infantry and cavalry out of Ye City and pursued Ju Shou along his northward retreat route. Along the way, many stragglers and weak civilians were trampled and driven away.

Such is the nature of chaotic times; the weak find it difficult to survive.

"Report—!" A scout rushed forward to report, "General! Enemy activity spotted ahead! They're flying a flag with the character 'Ju' on it, and there are about several hundred of them moving westward!"

"The west?" Cao Ren's gaze was sharp as an eagle's: "Hmph, a bluff!"

Cao Chun's gaze was steady, and his tone was decisive: "I will lead the cavalry to pursue Ju Shou, while you may continue north, brother."

"Good!" Cao Ren said without hesitation, "Let's finish this quickly and rendezvous with you as soon as possible! Remember my strict orders, if Ju Shou refuses to surrender, kill him without mercy."

"We will not fail you!" Cao Chun spurred his horse, and the three hundred cavalrymen broke away, heading straight for Ju Shou's banner.

Banners fluttered in the wind, and horses kicked up dust.

Ju Shou reined in his horse and stood on a low slope.

Although he only had a few hundred Ju family soldiers and fifty White Feather soldiers sent by Liu Bei, Ju Shou was not flustered. The key to victory was not the quantity of soldiers, but their deployment.

If deployed properly, even if the enemy cannot be driven back, they can still be stopped.

"Cao Chun is here." The captain of the family guards' voice trembled slightly.

"Don't panic." Ju Shou's eyes flashed like lightning: "Form ranks! Hold the pass! Prepare your crossbows!"

Although the soldiers were frightened, with their patriarch by their side, they mustered their spirits and set up a simple battle line.

Fifty White Feather Soldiers silently occupied the most vulnerable positions at the front, with swords and shields in front and spears behind, standing silently like an iron wall.

Compared to the Ju family's troops, the White Feather Soldiers were better equipped and more likely to withstand Cao Chun's offensive.

If the Ju family's troops were to lead the attack, the disparity in equipment and morale would likely prevent them from even holding off the first wave of attacks.

Ju Shou himself stood on the slope, calmly observing the battlefield. "Overestimating themselves!" Seeing Ju Shou and his men not only not fleeing but also forming ranks, Cao Chun scoffed and swung his arm: "Archers, volley fire!—Fire!"

Upon receiving the order, Cao's cavalry skillfully drew their bows, swept upwards at an angle, and rained down arrows with piercing whistles upon the defenders on the low slope.

"Raise your shields—!" the White Feather Soldier Commander roared.

The round shields formed a shield wall, and the sound of arrows hitting the wooden shields was incessant.

Occasionally, screams of agony could be heard, as soldiers were often unable to dodge and were shot.

The White Feather Soldiers' shield wall withstood the first volley of arrows with almost no damage.

What a perfect teamwork!

Ju Shou couldn't help but secretly praise them. Although there were only fifty White Feather Soldiers, their professionalism far surpassed that of the Ju family's soldiers.

Cao Chun was equally surprised, his gaze sharpening slightly: Who trained these elite troops? They shouldn't be the troops from Ye City!

After carefully observing Ju Shou's formation, Cao Chun sternly changed his order: "Left squad, hold back the shield formation! Right squad, follow me straight to the top of the hill—Charge!"

The cavalry broke apart in response!

On the left, over a hundred cavalrymen continued to fire arrows, while on the right, cavalrymen followed Cao Chun and charged straight up the slope through the gap on the flank!

"Crossbowmen, intercept them!" Ju Shou shouted urgently.

The Ju family soldiers hastily raised their crossbows, but the sparse arrows were evaded by the superb horsemanship of the charging cavalry.

Cao Chun led the charge, and with a sweep of his long spear, two of his guards who were blocking his way were instantly killed. Hundreds of guards could not stop Cao Chun's hundred-plus riders!

"Niu Er, you lead thirty men to stay here and guard this place. The rest of you will come with me to protect Lord Ju!"

The commander of the White Feather Army was greatly alarmed when he saw how incompetent the Ju family's troops were. He knew that if Ju Shou were to be lost, he would have no face to return to Liu Bei.

Normally, the Ju family's troops would not be so incompetent, but they were facing Cao Cao's newly formed special cavalry: the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was commanded by Cao Chun, and those selected were all the most valiant warriors in the land, some of whom were promoted from the rank of centurion. They were far superior to the Ju family's troops!
Before the commander of the White Feather Army could catch up, Cao Chun had already spurred his horse across the gap and charged straight at Ju Shou. His cold spear cut through the wind, pointing directly at Ju Shou, who was standing below the fluttering banner bearing the character "Ju".

"Bang" sound.

Cao Chun's long spear was blocked by a flying round shield.

However, seeing that Ju Shou was in danger, the commander of the White Feather Army directly hurled his round shield at Cao Chun.

"Lord Ju, step back!"

The commander of the White Feather Army shouted as he swept his spear across Cao Chun's horse's legs, forcing Cao Chun to retreat.

"How dare you! Who are you!" Cao Chun took a step back, pointing his long spear directly at the White Feather Army commander.

The commander of the White Feather Army glared and shouted, "I am Yang Qun, a native of Danyang and the commander of the White Feather Army under the Left General! And who are you?"

"I am Cao Chun, the commander of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry under Cao Sikong. It will be your honor to die by my hand!" Cao Chun shouted, brandishing his spear, but inwardly he was secretly terrified: As expected, they were not soldiers from Ye City. Liu Bei's White Feather Army was so fierce!

"To die by my hand is an honor for you!" Yang Qun retorted, picking up his round shield and standing protectively in front of Ju Shou. Thirty White Feather Soldiers followed suit, skillfully forming a defensive formation. (End of Chapter)