I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 167 Slaying Zhang Xun and Killing Qiao Rui

Seeing that they could not escape, Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui completely gave up on the idea.

"Meet the enemy!"

Zhang Xun looked up and glanced at the surrounding terrain.

The river here is quite wide, and because Dongyang is higher than other places, a water island has already been exposed in the water!
"Qiao Rui, you lead your soldiers to occupy that watery islet and protect the ships!"

"If I go ashore now, I can leave at my leisure once I defeat the enemy forces on land!"

"Alright! Be careful!"

Qiao Rui immediately issued a military order, instructing his soldiers to sail with him to the island!
However, a mist suddenly rose in the drizzle, making it impossible for Qiao Rui to see the situation in the distance. He could only judge by sound that his soldiers were already entangled with Liu Miao's soldiers.

"Damn it! Is Liu Miao really that impatient?"

Now, if we fight a naval battle directly on ships, even if Liu Miao's army gains the upper hand, its casualties will definitely not be less than those of Yuan's army!
The fighting spirit they displayed was more like that of river bandits than that of regular generals!
"Judging from this, it shouldn't be Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, or their group!"

Qiao Rui was an old acquaintance of those former subordinates of Sun Jian, but he had never seen such a ruthless fighting style.

This direct, close-quarters combat style was difficult for Qiao Rui to adapt to, so he simply abandoned the soldiers who were still fighting Jiang Qin in close combat in front, and only allowed the remaining soldiers behind him to continuously gather towards the narrow waterway.

After seeing the central water island, Jiang Qin understood Qiao Rui's intention.

"Charge! Cut off their retreat!"

Jiang Qin led his soldiers like wave after wave, crashing against Qiao Rui's swaying body. But Qiao Rui gritted his teeth and persevered, gradually gathering about three thousand soldiers who formed a battle formation on the island, forcing Jiang Qin to linger on the periphery for the time being.

South bank.

After landing, Zhang Xun immediately ordered his soldiers to deploy all the cavalry in the southwest direction.

That area is the highest point and the driest, which would minimize the impact of floods on the cavalry.

Although there weren't many, only seven or eight hundred cavalrymen, Xu Huang couldn't help but frown when he saw them.

With only seven or eight hundred cavalry, they obviously couldn't make a name for themselves on the main battlefield.

However, if Xu Huang and Zhang Xun's infantry are entangled, these cavalry can launch an attack on Xu Huang's troops from the flanks or even outflank them from the rear, breaking through and disrupting Xu Huang's formation!

"Zhang Xun is indeed a famous general under Yuan Shu!"

Xu Huang dared not be overconfident, nor did he dare to continue advancing at this time. Instead, he slowly adjusted his formation to protect his flanks.

As a result, Xu Huang's formation gradually slowed down, which gave Zhang Xun more time to adjust.

Xu Huang led his soldiers to approach slowly, when suddenly a scout rode up from behind and delivered military orders to Xu Huang.

After hearing this, Xu Huang silently looked towards Zhang Xun's army formation for a while, and finally made up his mind—

"Go and tell Yun Chang! I will create an opportunity for him!"

Immediately, Xu Huang slammed his long axe heavily onto the ground—

"Charge! Drive these traitors into the river to feed the fish!"

"Here!"

Suddenly, Xu Huang disregarded the cavalry Zhang Xun had set up in the southwest and charged straight into Zhang Xun's army formation, as if he wanted to use his own flesh and blood to break through Zhang Xun's formation!
Zhang Xun had not expected Xu Huang to come so aggressively, but Zhang Xun was not worried but happy!
"It seems it wasn't Cheng Pu and his men! Cheng Pu and his men fought alongside Sun Wentai their whole lives; they would never be so radical!"

"Who is this nobody who dares to challenge me!"

Zhang Xun wiped the rain and sweat from his face and drew his sword: "Ready to fight!"

Then, Zhang Xun ordered his personal guards to head southwest—

"Once our army gets close to Liu Miao's army, tear a hole in their flank! Then I will charge from that side and completely disrupt their formation!"

"Here!"

The sound of rain.

The sound of raindrops falling on the earth.

The sound of raindrops on armor!
The drizzle, which had been silent for several days, suddenly began to pour down, as if it wanted to steal the show and become the sole protagonist on the battlefield!
There was no need for the sound of war drums or shouts; the mere sound of Xu Huang's army approaching and the whistling of arrows shot from Zhang Xun's camp was enough to break the dominance of the rain!
"rush!"

A mud ox, emerging from the mud, charged headlong at Zhang Xunjun with its hooves flailing wildly!
From the range of Han crossbows.

The range of the bow and arrow.

And finally, the distance between swords and blades.

The two land armies ultimately failed to prevent the rain from taking center stage, and after a thunderous collision, they became the sole protagonists of the world!
Zhang Xun let out a loud shout and roared at the mud ox!

He wanted to break the horns of this clay ox! He wanted to rupture its tendons! He wanted to make this clay ox stop its arrogance!

But the moment the two armies switched sides, Zhang Xun's expression changed drastically!

Contrary to expectations of a close contest with some advantage, the mud ox's horn pierced right through his belly!
"Where did these soldiers come from? Why are they so brave?"

"No, it's not a problem with the soldiers..."

Zhang Xun stared wide-eyed, ignoring the pain caused by rainwater getting into his eyes.

"It's a knife! It's armor!"

Sutsu Tetsuka!

Ironclad Warrior!
The current method of forging steel is no longer limited to the initial two swords that could only be forged from extraterrestrial divine iron under the pretense of being forged by heavenly fire!

As Jinling grew increasingly prosperous and Yecheng was built day and night, most of Liu Miao's soldiers had now been equipped with such sharp blades!

These new things have long since grown into terrifying weapons that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary generals, quietly growing in obscurity!
When swords clashed, it was always the Yuan army soldiers whose blades were chipped!
When swords and armor clashed, it was always the Yuan army soldiers whose armor would break down!

Although the floodwaters of the Huai River had receded, the shock Zhang Xun felt at this moment was no less than when he saw the Huai River roaring and overflowing!
What exactly did Liu Miao do in Jiangdong?

But Xu Huangjun was too fast, so fast that Zhang Xun had no chance to think about the problem at all.

The vanguard had been almost completely wiped out! The cold glint of the iron swords in the hands of Liu Miao's soldiers shone on Zhang Xun's face!
"Where are the cavalry? The cavalry!"

Zhang Xun climbed to a high place and looked southwest, finally feeling somewhat relieved.

Because the cavalry he had deployed in advance on the southwestern highlands were already less than a hundred feet from the flank of Xu Huang's army!
Xu Huangjun's flank will soon be breached, and then...

Zhang Xun's pupils suddenly dilated: "What is that thing?!"

Suddenly, a formation of about a hundred soldiers emerged from Xu Huang's camp, forming two rows and blocking the flanks.

These soldiers were all burly and strong, clearly elite soldiers selected from among thousands! In their hands they each carried a weapon about ten feet long and weighing twenty pounds, shaped like a Han dynasty horse-slaying sword, but heavier, wider, and sharper!
Su Tiemodao!

It only made a fleeting appearance before Liu Miao when it fought against Liu Yao and Xu Gong, making it impossible for other lords to find out any information about it.

When this thing actually appeared in front of Zhang Xun, it brought him only shock and disbelief!

"Isn't Jiangdong a poor and remote place? How could they have made such a weapon!"

Such a terrifying weapon would require just as many resources to forge as a piece of heavy armor!
Has Jiangdong become so wealthy that it can forge such weapons?
As soon as Su Tiemodao appeared on the battlefield, it instantly created a thicket of thorns on Xu Huang's flank!
Steel thorns! Their sharpness inspires fear, and even cavalrymen who charge close want to turn back. But just as water flows downhill, speed cannot be reduced in an instant!

Flesh and blood flying everywhere!
The most bloody and terrifying flower on the battlefield bloomed brilliantly, making Zhang Xun's eyes widen in horror!

"Charge!! Infantrymen, charge ahead and deal with those soldiers wielding broadswords!"

Although the ten-foot-long iron mace could block cavalry, its excessive weight meant that the soldiers wielding it no longer had the strength to carry shields and bows.

The weapons that were effective against cavalry were actually at a disadvantage against infantrymen wielding swords and shields, allowing Zhang Xun's army to find a chance from the side when they could not confront Xu Huang head-on!
Zhang Xun was overjoyed!

This sliver of opportunity is a war machine more precious than gold!
If we seize the opportunity, we can turn defeat into victory!
Once victorious, Zhang Xun would be able to obtain the iron weapons from Xu Huang's army and use them to uncover Liu Miao's secrets in Jiangdong!

"Rush over!"

Zhang Xun, mounted on his warhorse and wielding a spear, personally directed his troops to push towards Xu Huang's flank!
Just like the dikes that block the waters of the Huai River!
You can tear a big hole by simply making a small slit!
Once a large hole is torn in, the military force will be completely unstoppable!

It's almost here! It's almost here...

"General! What is that?"

The battle directly ahead was so intense that it took a long time before Zhang Xun's personal guards asked him a question and told him to look in the southwest direction.

"Could that be a surprise attack by the general?"

Zhang Xun was taken aback.

When have I ever laid an ambush?

Looking from a distance, Zhang Xun saw that dozens of riders were charging toward him.

However, Zhang Xun had indeed deployed cavalry in that direction beforehand, so he was somewhat unsure: "Could it be deserters who didn't follow orders before?"

But when the dozens of riders charged right up to him, Zhang Xun immediately recognized the leader—

"Guan Yu? What are you doing here? Has Liu Bei come too?"

Guan Yu remained silent, simply lying on his horse's back and charging forward relentlessly!
What he was carrying was not his usual weapon, but a Su Tie Mo Dao that he had taken from Liu Miao!

"This thing is much better than my weapon!"

Guan Yu immediately set his sights on the Su Tie Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and even though it was not suitable for mounted combat, he still resolutely took it to the battlefield!
The clouds follow the dragon, the wind follows the tiger!
Guan Yu roared in, bringing with him gusts of wind that forced Zhang Xun's soldiers to close their eyes.

Guan Yu swung his ten-foot-long iron mace into a blood-red moon, recklessly reaping the lives of Zhang Xun's soldiers who stood in his way!

Zhang Xun finally began to panic, constantly looking left and right.

Having fought this far, Zhang Xun's biggest feeling is one of utter bewilderment!

For some inexplicable reason, the plan to breach the Huai River failed.

For no apparent reason, Liu Miao suddenly led his main force to appear in Dongyang.

For no apparent reason, Xu Huang pulled out a weapon he had never seen before.

Out of nowhere, Guan Yu, a general under Liu Bei, suddenly appeared.

Evil door!

This battle was fought in a very strange way!

Zhang Xun had no time to think about anything else. He only knew that if he continued to stay here, who knew what other inexplicable things might happen!

"Withdraw...wait?"

Zhang Xun was about to give the order to retreat, but suddenly let out a soft "Eh."

He suddenly felt a strange sense of dizziness.

This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

In that instant, he could see the sky, the earth, the soldiers, and also Guan Yu's face, as red as a jujube, and his magnificent beard that everyone envied.

Until Zhang Xun saw Guan Yu's large hands cover his head and slowly lift it up—

"I am dead?"

In the blink of an eye, Guan Yu cut a path through the enemy lines and went straight to Zhang Xun, beheading him!
When Guan Yu killed Zhang Xun, he was already surrounded.

If Guan Yu cannot kill Zhang Xun, he is certain to die!

But Guan Yu succeeded, so naturally there are no "what ifs".

Guan Yu held Zhang Xun's head in his hand and shouted to those around him, "Zhang Xun is dead!"

At that moment, Liu Miao's soldiers around him shouted, "Zhang Xun is dead! Zhang Xun is dead!!!"

The Yuan army on the shore immediately erupted in uproar, which quickly escalated!
The sound here could not be blocked by the rain. On the water island, Yuan's army, led by Qiao Rui, also heard this terrifying and desperate cry.

Qiao Rui turned pale instantly, yet she couldn't believe that Zhang Xun had been so easily killed by Liu Miao's army.

But when he saw that Yuan's troops on the shore had completely lost their formation, and some were even rushing to jump into the Huai River, Qiao Rui believed it!

What else could there be but the execution of the commander-in-chief in such chaos?
Qiao Rui roared in her already hoarse voice, "Retreat! Retreat!!!"

Yuan's troops boarded the boats one after another and frantically rowed the oars, with such force that it seemed they wanted to smash the damned Huai River to death!
Upon seeing this, Jiang Qin immediately ordered his soldiers to surround and intercept them.

However, the scene was too chaotic at the moment, and the fog on the water was too thick, so even Jiang Qin was somewhat unable to distinguish directions.

Just then, a ship shot out like an arrow!

Guan Yu, who had just killed Zhang Xun, had somehow boarded a ship and was chasing after him in one direction!
As Qiao Rui saw a ship getting closer and closer behind him, it finally recklessly rammed into his own ship!

House seemingly endless rain.

The impact immediately created a hole in the hull, leaving the boat weak and helpless, spinning in circles on the river.

The ship shook violently a few more times, and Guan Yu, who was chasing behind, had already jumped onto the ship.

Before Qiao Rui could utter a single word, Guan Yu's broadsword had already slashed across his neck!
Liu Miao was still drinking warm wine on the city wall at this time.

Suddenly, a soldier scaled the city wall, excitedly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Liu Miao, and shook the rainwater off his armor—

"My lord! Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui have both been executed!"

"Several generals have asked me to inquire whether we should continue the pursuit and strike directly at Yuan Shu's camp!"

Liu Miao drank the last sip of wine, then immediately stood up and gripped the hilt of his sword—

"you still need to ask?"

"Go after them right now!"

(End of this chapter)