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

As Zhuge Liang waved his command flag, the three routes of Wuhuan cavalry surged towards Cao Cao's army positions like three black torrents, unstoppable in their advance.

On the left flank of the battlefield, Liu Wu and Yan Shuo's thousand elite cavalry charged into Yu Jin's army formation. Cao Cao's crossbowmen unleashed a barrage of arrows, raining down on the cavalry, but they failed to halt their advance.

Because Tian Chou himself deeply despised the Wuhuan people, during his time in command of the Wuhuan cavalry, he consistently had them maintain the ferocity of battle by killing Wuhuan people, in order to uphold his benevolent and righteous nature outside the battlefield while assisting Liu Bei in restoring the Han dynasty and saving the Han people.

Therefore, these Wuhuan cavalrymen usually appeared harmless and even often went to the fields to spread Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness. However, once they were on the battlefield, these Wuhuan cavalrymen became exceptionally fierce and fearless.

Furthermore, this battle was also for Liu Bei to truly establish himself in the north. Whether it was captains like Liu Wu and Yan Shuo or ordinary cavalrymen, they all regarded the Cao soldiers in front of them as beings that deserved to die even more than the Wuhuan people.

Without Liu Bei, the people of the North would have been slaves of the Wuhuan people forever, living a life of aimless ignorance until they were thrown away by the Wuhuan people like garbage to feed the wolves after their deaths.

Whoever wants Liu Bei dead, the Wuhuan cavalry will make sure they die.

Those with excellent horsemanship dodged Cao Cao's crossbow bolts, while those with poor horsemanship used their bare hands to withstand the arrows and continue charging!
On the right flank of the battlefield, Lu Zhen and Gongsun Jie's troops also pierced into Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao's formation like sharp knives. Zhu Ling hurriedly ordered his spearmen to form a defensive line, but Lu Zhen led his skilled archers to shoot down several squad leaders and sergeants in quick succession.

Meanwhile, in the central army, Qi Huan and Cheng Duan's thousand cavalrymen pressed straight towards Cao Cao's banner. Although Cao Cao's central army found it difficult to advance, the Wuhuan cavalrymen were fearless and charged forward wave after wave. Qi Huan took advantage of the chaos to charge forward and even killed Cai Yang with a single spear thrust. Cheng Duan led a hundred cavalrymen straight into the heart of the central army and almost broke within a hundred paces.

Upon seeing the exceptionally brave and fierce Wuhuan cavalry, Cao Cao's expression instantly turned serious, and he understood why Liu Bei had the confidence to go out of the city to fight!
Although Cai Yang was not considered a particularly powerful general under Cao Cao, he was known for his bravery in the army. Unexpectedly, he was killed by Qi Huan, an unknown junior general under Liu Bei.

The one carrying a banner that read "Colonel Cheng Duan" broke through the enemy lines of Feng Kai and Yin Shu.

In fact, it is not necessary to write the name in a complicated way on the banner.

However, in order to increase Cao Cao's shock and fear, Zhuge Liang deliberately wrote the name on the banner of each captain, in order to intimidate Cao Cao: even if Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun were not present, Liu Bei still had many fierce generals under his command.

Among the Tiger Guards that Cao Cao participated in the battle, apart from Yu Jin and Xu Chu, Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, Cai Yang, Feng Kai, Yin Shu and other generals, although they had some fame, could only be considered second- or third-rate generals, and they were not necessarily as powerful as Qi Huan, Cheng Duan and other captains.

In terms of the number of times they commanded troops in battle or killed people, Zhu Ling and others were far inferior to Qi Huan, Cheng Duan and others who had been sweeping away the Wuhuan tribes in the border regions for the past two years.

Those below the top tier can improve their personal martial prowess and military command abilities through diligence.

Seeing the ferocity of the Wuhuan cavalry, Cao Cao suddenly brandished his sword and shouted, "All troops retreat! Form a chariot formation and barricades!"

Cao Cao strengthened the defensive capabilities of the formation and ordered Cao Chun and his four generals to return to their original positions.

Yu Jin was to assist in commanding the main army, Xu Chu was to protect the central army, and generals such as Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, Feng Kai, and Yin Shu were not up to the task, and Cai Yang was even killed.

Cao Cao needed to make timely adjustments in order to launch an effective counterattack.

"Wen Yuan, Gong Ming, and Man Cheng, you three will lead the three thousand light cavalry in the camp and break through Liu Bei's three cavalry routes for me. Zi He, you will personally lead the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry straight at Zhuge Liang's banner and capture Zhuge Liang alive for me!" Cao Cao gave these orders as soon as the four generals returned to their camp.

At Cao Cao's command, Cao Chun, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Li Dian, like arrows released from a bow, each led their troops to rush to the battlefield.

The three thousand light cavalry led by Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Li Dian had a clear objective: to charge directly at the three routes of Wuhuan cavalry dispatched by Zhuge Liang, intending to intercept, divide, and annihilate them.

All three generals were renowned commanders under Cao Cao, known for their bravery and skill in battle, and their light cavalry was also highly trained. Even though the Wuhuan cavalry were fierce, they dared to confront them head-on, and were able to utilize their mobility to flank or harass them, using spears and arrows to wear down the cavalry's morale.

For a time, the originally imposing three-pronged cavalry offensive slowed down and fell into a stalemate and melee.

At the same time, Cao Chun's five hundred elite cavalrymen, like arrows released from a bow, ignored the disturbances on the flanks of the battlefield amidst the heavy armor and the low neighing of their warhorses, and aimed directly at Zhuge Liang's banner.

"Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, hehe."

Zhuge Liang stood under the banner, his expression still calm and composed.

Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet.

While others might not recognize the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Zhuge Liang was extremely familiar with them.

In my distant memory, it was the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry that decisively defeated Liu Bei's army at Changban Slope, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many officials and their families who followed Liu Bei.

Although none of this has happened now, it still stung Zhuge Liang's distant memories.

"Order: Colonels Zhang Luan, Kou Pan, Wang Chi, and Geng Ling, each lead five hundred elite cavalrymen in a square formation. At all costs, capture Cao Cao's cavalry!"

With the cold military order issued and the command flag waved, Zhang Luan and his four cavalrymen led their elite troops to intercept Cao Chun and his five hundred elite cavalrymen from the front, flank them, or outflank them from behind. In no time, they had surrounded Cao Chun and his five hundred elite cavalrymen.

What shocked Cao Chun even more was that Zhuge Liang had also ordered the elite cavalry to carry a large amount of firewood and oil, and directly used fire to forcefully stop the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's charge.

Although the fire failed to harm the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, having lost their momentum, could not gain an overwhelming advantage over the Charge Cavalry.

Despite the fact that the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry were all heavily armored and at the level of centurions, it was difficult for them to break through in a short time.

Cao Cao was looking out from the rear.

Seeing that fire broke out in front of Zhuge Liang, and that the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's charge was halted and unable to penetrate Zhuge Liang's banner, and seeing that Zhuge Liang was directing his cavalry to surround the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry in the middle, they immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Although the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had stronger defenses than light cavalry, they also put a heavier burden on their warhorses, often serving as the vanguard and unable to fight for long periods.

Cao Cao was puzzled. Zhuge Liang's use of fire attacks and sieges seemed to be specifically targeting the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Was it necessary?
No one could answer Cao Cao's question, and Cao Cao had no time to ponder the reasons. Worried that Cao Chun and the five hundred Tiger and Leopard Cavalry who had been assembled at great expense might suffer mishaps, Cao Cao hurriedly ordered his troops to advance.

Cao Cao wanted to advance and join forces with the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, but Liu Bei did not want Cao Cao to advance, so he immediately led his troops to intercept him and blocked Cao Cao's advance.

Seeing Liu Bei's reaction, Cao Cao suddenly realized, "Oh no, we've fallen into a trap!"

Only then did Cao Cao realize Liu Bei's true purpose in today's battle: the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry! Liu Bei had come for the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!
"Immediately issue the order to Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Li Dian to abandon their pursuit and immediately reinforce Cao Chun." Cao Cao's voice became sharp with anxiety.

However, despite the military orders being issued, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Li Dian were unable to shake off the entanglement of the Wuhuan cavalry. Upon seeing Cao Chun's elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry charging straight at Zhuge Liang's banner, these Wuhuan cavalrymen relentlessly pursued the location of Zhang Liao and the other two's banners. (End of Chapter)