Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 151 Xiahou Ba: My father is the Emperor, do you intend to rebel?

The east gate of the camp.

Corpses littered the ground, filling ditches and ramparts; metal clashed and metal struck; blood and fire raged endlessly.

"Since leaving Shouchun, they have been invincible, and Cao Cao's army is utterly vulnerable."

"Invincible my ass! Die!"

One of Yuan soldiers shouted a slogan at the top of his lungs and thrust his spear into the body of a Cao soldier. Two or three other Cao soldiers rushed forward and also thrust their spears through his chest.

Fifteen thousand Cao soldiers, under the supervision of their personal guards who had been killed by fleeing soldiers, and consumed by the desire to keep their swords unsheathed for three days, charged relentlessly towards the three thousand Yuan soldiers who had held out until now.

A fortified camp is not a city, and earthen walls and moats are no match for the fortifications of a city or its moat. Eventually, they will be breached.

The advantage of the fortified camp is that, generally, you don't need to fight to this point. Once you see that Cao Cao's army has used their lives to fill in most of the earthen walls and trenches, Yuan Yuan's army can already withdraw.

In any case, there were more camps after camps, a total of twenty camps surrounding Xuchang, enough to drive Cao Cao's army to despair.

However, at this moment, both Chen Dao and Xu Sheng had to lead their men to defend the East Gate to the death, without retreating even a single step.

But Yuan Jun is also human. Humans get tired and die. Even with Yuan Jun's strong will, he has reached his limit after fighting against Cao Jun's army, which is several times larger than his own.

"Charge! Charge! Charge!!!"
"All troops, charge! Yuan's defenses are about to break! Everyone, push forward!"

Dian Wei fought against Chen Dao and Xu Sheng, but he was also covered in wounds and felt extremely frustrated by the beatings.

His only advantage was that although he couldn't get over the earthen wall, Xu Sheng and Chen Dao didn't dare to come down either, and were trapped in his encirclement with Cao Cao's army.

Therefore, as soon as General Dian sensed something was wrong, he could retreat a few steps, leaving Chen Dao and Xu Sheng unable to do anything to him.

On the other hand, Chen Dao and Xu Sheng could not retreat, because if they did, Dian Wei would lead his men to attack.

Fortunately, there were two of them, and they were on higher ground. With their cooperation, they were able to suppress Dian Wei.

Seeing that Yuan Jun's defenses were in imminent danger, Dian Wei loudly ordered the entire army to advance. Chen Dao and Xu Sheng also hurriedly shouted orders to their soldiers to boost morale.

"Hold on! Hold on!!!"

Since Lord Yuan marched out of Shouchun, he has been invincible. We will never be the first to suffer defeat and bring shame upon the people of Jianghuai!

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!!!"

Today, let these Cao soldiers witness the impregnable fortifications that lie beyond the walls of the Jianghuai region!

The clang of metal clashed, each strike drawing blood, taking the lives of either Yuan or Cao soldiers. Several groups of Cao troops had already stormed the earthen wall, all eyes bloodshot with rage. Close combat ensued, and a fierce, white-hot battle began.

But it was precisely at this moment!

"Dong Dong Dong!!!"

The stirring drumbeats resounded across the battlefield, and in the distance, a large banner bearing the name "Xiahou" fluttered in the wind, proclaiming: "General Who Guards the North!"
One of the men under his command, clad in embroidered robes and golden armor, holding a sword and standing on horseback, was none other than Xiahou Dun!
He surveyed the battlefield with cold eyes, remaining silent, his divine might awe-inspiring and unfathomable.

What else could he say now that things had come to this?

The main problem is that Yuan Ying is extremely cunning. He always only shows himself from a distance. The battlefield is so big that even if he shouts himself hoarse, the people on the front line won't hear him, unless his soldiers shout along with him.

Silence was the greatest resistance he could offer at the moment. However, for Yuan Ying, his silence was unimportant; someone else would act as his mouthpiece and speak on his behalf.

Under the banner of Xiahou, another junior officer rode forward on horseback to deliver a message, amidst the approving gazes of Yuan's camp leaders such as Yang Hong and Taishi Ci.

Before leaving, Xiahou Ba glanced back at his uncle, Xiahou Dun, and seeing that Xiahou Dun remained silent, he clearly acquiesced. He then raised his head and puffed out his chest, riding his horse to the front of the battle.

Yang Junshi had overheard his conversation with his uncle. The details of the battle were to be sent to Lord Yuan for his personal review. If he performed well and made contributions, he might be adopted by Lord Yuan as his godson.

Who would have thought that a newly surrendered person like himself, who had just entered Yuan's camp, could obtain such immense wealth and honor?
This is because he has an uncle who is a General Who Guards the North. Does having connections make things easier?
Four generations of high-ranking officials!
That's how the Xiahou family climbed up to the status of the Yuan family, the most prestigious family at the time.

Isn't this better than following the Cao family, the descendant of a eunuch?

Although Cao Cao currently controls the emperor and has become the Chancellor of Han, Yuan Shao, with the power of a Grand General, has defeated Liu Yao, defeated Cao Cao, repelled Liu Bei, and allied with Lü Bu. He has won every battle and is unmatched in the world.

It commands respect in the southeast, its power shaking the entire nation.

The situation is ever-changing, and it remains to be seen who will ultimately rule the land.

Considering the current situation, it's not hard for Xiahou Ba to understand why his uncle Xiahou Dun suddenly surrendered to Yuan Shao amidst everyone's disbelief.

This must mean the Xiahou family has decided to diversify their investments!

Xiahou Ba could already imagine the scene when his father, Xiahou Yuan, heard in Cao Cao's camp that he had become Yuan Gong's adopted son.

At that time, he would openly fly into a rage, sever ties with his father, and draw a clear line between them, but inwardly he would be secretly pleased and feel gratified for himself.

In the future, when Cao Cao and Yuan Shao fight, no matter who wins or loses, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao will be invincible.

Cao Cao won! Xiahou Ba is my father, Xiahou Yuan, the current Grand General, and Cao Cao's brother who has fought alongside him through thick and thin!
Yuan Gong has won! His father, Xiahou Ba, is my father, Yuan Gonglu, and the current emperor!

Moreover, as Xiahou Yuan's second son, if he stayed in Cao Cao's camp, he would inevitably lose to his elder brother.

If I follow my uncle into Yuan's camp and become Yuan's adopted son, wouldn't that be like a fish rising to heaven?

These scenes flashed through his mind, and Xiahou Ba felt that his surrender today was a stroke of genius. He laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

In the future, the name Xiahou will surely flourish because of Xiahou Ba, and the glory of his ancestors will be restored!
Upon arriving at the front lines, where the Cao and Yuan armies were locked in a fierce battle, a young general rode up on horseback, laughing loudly.

"I am Xiahou Ba, the second son of Xiahou Yuan and the nephew of General Zhenbei!"
Now that Yue Jin has surrendered, my uncle, the General Who Guards the North, has personally led a large army here. General Dian, why do you not surrender now? When will you?

Such shouts before the battle were naturally echoed by Yuan's soldiers, immediately resounding throughout the entire battlefield.

In fact, when Xiahou Dun's banner was raised and the reinforcements from Yuan Shao's army arrived, Cao Cao's troops already had a bad feeling, and their offensive immediately weakened by three points.

When Xiahou Ba appeared to give his testimony, Cao Cao's army was immediately in an uproar.

"General Yue has surrendered?"

Then what about us brothers who have fought so hard, risking our lives to go and support them? Wouldn't that make us look like a joke?

“I recognize the man who came. He is Xiahou Ba, a junior officer under General Yue. He has come to persuade General Yue to surrender. I’m afraid General Yue has really surrendered.”

"What do we do now? Yuan's reinforcements have arrived, and General Yue's troops are no longer in the camp to cooperate. We have nowhere to advance and no reinforcements from behind. Are we just going to stay here and wait to die?"

Seeing that Cao Cao's army was wavering and its morale was low, how could Dian Wei sit idly by?
(End of this chapter)