I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 266 The Might of the Heavy Cavalry
"Nonsense!"

Surprisingly, it was Ju Shou, who was always calm and rational, who was the first to reprimand the scout.

"The White Horse Cavalry has been wiped out for many years. Why are you trying to undermine morale?"

Although the White Horse Cavalry is no longer around, those who witnessed its power are still alive.

Anyone who has witnessed the power of the White Horse Cavalry will never forget their swift and invincible presence in Hebei, thanks to their mounted archery tactics!
He always rode a white horse, and his pursuits were never unsuccessful! He achieved numerous victories, and the enemy told each other, "Beware of the white horse!"
Even Hebei generals like Zhang He and Gao Lan shook their heads repeatedly: "Not all cavalrymen riding white warhorses are the White Horse Cavalry. Don't make a fuss about it."

"General! I saw it clearly! The banner clearly bears the name 'Gongsun'! And the soldiers within it are all carrying bows and arrows, exactly the same as the White Horse Cavalry from last year!"

Zhang He and Gao Lan were renowned generals; but the scout was no mere greenhorn who had just joined the army!

Although he had not participated in the Battle of Jieqiao, he had seen the White Horse Cavalry before and knew what this elite cavalry, which amazed countless people, looked like!
Seeing the scouts' certainty, the generals under Yuan also became suspicious.

"Could it be that Gongsun Zan has actually led the White Horse Cavalry out of Yijing again?"

"What's so special about them? They're just the White Horse Cavalry! Watch as I lead my troops to crush Gongsun Zan!"

"..."

Despite the generals arguing, Yuan Shao, Pang Ji, Guo Tu, and others remained unmoved, clearly having realized something.

"Lord Yuan, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Although Gongsun Zan's Yi Jing was looked down upon and even mocked as a "turtle shell," it was undeniably hard!
Now that Gongsun Zan has actually left Yijing on his own initiative, isn't this a golden opportunity for Yuan Shao?
Pang Ji and Guo Tu immediately offered their advice to Yuan Shao, who squinted and stroked his beard, saying, "Agreed!"

------

Yi County, East.

Riding a white horse, wearing an iron helmet, and with a silver-white cloak hanging from his shoulder, who else could it be but Gongsun Zan?

Behind them were lightly armed cavalrymen, also riding white horses and with bows and arrows hanging from their waists.

"The Wuhuan people told each other that they must avoid the White Horse Chief Clerk."

Gongsun Zan looked up at the sky.

In fact, there's nothing particularly interesting about the sky over Youzhou.

It's always pitch black up there. Even the sun seems to be in a hurry to shine down from this land, only sparingly casting a tiny bit of sunlight each day before quickly hiding behind the mountains.

Yet, despite all this, Gongsun Zan could never get enough of looking at the sky.

Although the Gongsun clan was a powerful family in Youzhou, Gongsun Zan's mother came from a humble background. As a result, Gongsun Zan was not well-liked by his clan members and had no playmates. He could only grow up looking at the unpleasant sky of Youzhou every day.

Upon reaching adulthood, due to his family background, he was unable to be recommended for the positions of filial and incorruptible officials or outstanding talents, and could only serve as a clerk in the prefecture. Fortunately, because of his outstanding abilities, Gongsun Zan quickly gained the appreciation of the prefect Hou, and even became the prefect's son-in-law. As a result, he became a student of Lu Zhi and studied the classics in the Goushi Mountains.

Unfortunately, Gongsun Zan couldn't concentrate on his studies, nor did he want to study dogs, horses, music, or fine clothes like his classmate Liu Bei. Instead, he preferred to spend his days in the schoolhouse gazing at the sky.

Unfortunately, the sky above the schoolhouse did not change as a result.

The sky over Mount Goushi is neither higher nor lower just because famous scholars and great Confucianists are here.

From then on, Gongsun Zan rarely looked at the sky, which he felt would never change.

It wasn't until the Battle of Jieqiao that Gongsun Zan saw it again.

The sky this time was a terrifyingly red.

And it seems that he also got a name that day, Yuan Shao.

Many severed limbs, ears, eyes, and mouths fell from the red sky.

Fingers landed on his body, tearing at his clothes.

A mouth fell onto his shoulder, and he begged him to turn back and save him.

But by then, Gongsun Zan dared not look up at the sky again.

Until, the "Langya Alliance" was placed in front of him.

"So, this person wasn't originally surnamed Yuan?"

This was the first time Gongsun Zan had looked up at the sky since the Battle of Jieqiao.

The sky did not get any closer to him because he built the Hundred-Foot Tower, nor did it get any shorter because he left Yijing.

Just as he had understood in the mountains of Goushi, this day should not have changed in the slightest according to people!
"go ahead!"

Gongsun Zan issued orders.

The Hakuba Yoshitsu, once avoided by countless people, has emerged once again from Nagano.

The snow-white horse galloped with its head held high, its long mane flying like a silver waterfall. The cavalrymen on its back were also dressed in plain white battle robes, with bronze belts around their waists, carrying strong bows and arrows on their backs, and wearing silver saddles and golden bridles.

Gongsun Zan continued to advance, and the White Horse Cavalry would not stop either.

As long as the road remains open, as long as the flag still flies high, the magnificent sound of the northern frontier will forever be heard.

"Where righteousness leads, I will follow even unto death!"

"Heaven is my witness, and the white horse is my proof!"

Gongsun Zan felt the wind howling in his ears, as if it were blowing away the decay and despair he had accumulated in the Hundred-Foot Tower over the years!
"If Liu Miao could defeat Yuan Shao once, why can't I!"

Gongsun Zan raised his spear high!
Inside the Hundred-Foot Tower, Gongsun Zan often looked back, fearing that some treacherous villain might appear behind him.

But now, as he rode away on his white horse at breakneck speed, Gongsun Zan realized that no one was capable of catching up with him!

He is still the same White Horse General who killed so many Xianbei and Wuhuan that not a single horse dared to go south!

"charge!"

"Yuan Shao's main camp is stationed in Anxin! Charge to Yuan Shao's banner! Don't give him a chance to react!"

Over the years, Gongsun Zan has constantly reflected on how to defeat Yuan Shao and how to defeat those elite crossbowmen!

And the answer, after years of trials and tribulations, has gradually solidified—swift as lightning!

Using the high mobility of the White Horse Cavalry, they constantly engaged Yuan Shao's crossbowmen, creating openings in the battle, and then struck a decisive blow during these openings, killing and beheading Yuan Shao!
This time, Gongsun Zan is confident that he will not repeat the same mistake!

The humiliation of being confined in high-rise buildings was quickly left behind by Gongsun Zan and the White Horse Cavalry.

Just as Gongsun Zan had predicted.

Yuan Shao did not rely on his main camp to resist his attack.

Yuan Shao remained as arrogant as ever, placing his central army in the most prominent position and silently waiting for Gongsun Zan.

"Yuan Shao, still so arrogant!"

Gongsun Zan gritted his teeth upon seeing Yuan Shao's composure.

"You've already lost to Liu Miao once, yet you still show no restraint!"

Gongsun Zan turned around and issued orders to the rear—

"Flank them! Approach Yuan Shao's central army from the left!"

The White Horse Cavalry, like a smooth and soft ribbon, suddenly made a sharp turn in front of the two armies and attacked Yuan Shao's flank.

The light cavalry was so fast that Gongsun Zan easily spotted Yuan Shao's preparations on the flank.

A familiar formation.

The familiar crossbow.

The only unfamiliar figure was the general leading the troops at that moment.

Qiang people's fighting tactics!

First to charge!

Hebei Tingzhu!

"Yuan Shao, he's still using the same old tricks!"

Gongsun Zan scoffed, and the meandering arc widened again. At the same time, the arrows that the White Horse Cavalry were famous for also curved, falling like meteors from the sky and crashing into Yuan Shao's camp.

Upon seeing that the crossbowmen on the opposite side had already loaded their crossbows, Gongsun Zan immediately led his troops to retreat and instead charged towards Yuan Shao's other army formation.

Arriving menacingly, the White Horse Cavalry once again harassed them with arrows.

When the enemy made a move, Gongsun Zan suddenly led his cavalry to retreat.

The command of the cavalry was almost an art form.

The vast battlefield became an open space for Gongsun Zan to compose his music, with Yuan's army formations being pulled, broken through, and disrupted by Gongsun Zan from time to time.

Gongsun Zan realized that Yuan Shao had given a strict order, forbidding any counterattacks, and that he was being led by the nose by Yuan Shao, when he saw that his shooting rendered Yuan's army unable to make any further moves.

"Do you want to exhaust our arrows?"

Gongsun Zan glanced at the quiver out of the corner of his eye.

Although each member of the White Horse Cavalry was equipped with two quivers of arrows, the high intensity of their combat has gradually depleted their arrows.

but it does not matter!
Gongsun Zan fixed his gaze once again on the flank he had initially aimed at! He aimed at the vanguard crossbowmen!
Because all the soldiers operated powerful crossbows, only a row of vanguard soldiers holding large shields were specially assigned at the very front for protection.

In other words, as long as Gongsun Zan can break through that barrier, he can easily penetrate the position of the vanguard crossbowmen!

These ranged units would be fatal if cavalry got close!
If Gongsun Zan can scatter these crossbowmen, he can get close to Yuan Shao's central army and suddenly thrust at Yuan Shao!

Gongsun Zan licked his dry, withered lips.

Liu Miao's act of drawing his sword was enough to make Yuan Shao submit!

Then, when he draws his sword, the light of the white horse will surely shine upon the world once more!

"charge!!!"

The White Horse Cavalry, originally known for their archery skills, suddenly abandoned their bows and arrows and instead used iron swords and bronze hammers to keep approaching Yuan Shao's camp!

With a deafening roar, the shield-bearing soldiers at the forefront of the crossbowmen could not withstand the terrifying blow and were all pushed to the ground by the powerful horse.

When the crossbowmen behind saw Gongsun Zan's cavalry charging towards them, they cried out and huddled together in a chaotic mass.

These routed soldiers were driven like sheep, rushing towards the left and right of Yuan's army formation, as if they had become an aid to the White Horse Cavalry, trying to tear apart Yuan's army formation and make it shaky.

"Success!"

Gongsun Zan couldn't believe it.

I reviewed the tactics in my mind over and over again, and it actually worked!

I have actually fought my way to Yuan Shao's side!

Gongsun Zan opened his mouth wide, greedily inhaling and exhaling the bloody air around him.

"Hahahahahaha!!!"

Gongsun Zan laughed loudly, a laugh that could not be drowned out by the battle cries!

"I am the winner! I am the victor!"

Just as Gongsun Zan was laughing wildly, a loud roar suddenly came from near Yuan Shao's central army!
That roar was thunder! It was also divine punishment!

The next moment, to Gongsun Zan's bewildered gaze, a strange cavalry force of three hundred men slowly emerged.

Men and horses were clad in armor! Their bodies showed no warmth, only a cold glint and sharpness born for battlefield slaughter!

These are the three hundred heavily armored cavalry that Yuan Shao brought specifically for this battle!

(End of this chapter)