Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

On the fifteenth of June, on the southern border of Lu State (prefecture) in Yanzhou, outside Xue County.

Cao Cao's army camp stretched as far as the eye could see, banners fluttering in the wind. Inside the central command tent, Cao Cao's face was ashen, the bamboo slips in his hand crumpled in his hand.

"Yuan Shao has withdrawn his troops... Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and Tao Qian are all observing and remaining inactive, while Gongsun Zan is preparing to attack Ji Province." Cao Cao's voice was low, filled with suppressed anger. "What a fine alliance! What a joint effort to defeat Lü Bu!"

Xiahou Yuan, his eyes bloodshot, clasped his hands and said, "My lord, even so, our army has already set out; how can we return empty-handed? Huang Zhong is but an old soldier, and Zhao Yun, though brave, is young. The garrison in Xue County numbers no more than five thousand. I am willing to lead ten thousand elite troops, and we will surely break through this city within three days! We will surely kill Huang Zhong and avenge my brother!"

Cao Ren, however, said, "My lord, we must not act rashly. The alliance has now dissolved, and Lü Bu has returned to Chang'an. He may march east to support Yanzhou at any time. If our army is bogged down at Xue County and fails to capture it after a long siege, we may face annihilation once Lü Bu arrives."

Le Jin shouted, "Why are you encouraging the enemy, Zixiao? Although Lü Bu has returned to Chang'an, it's still a thousand miles from Chang'an to Yanzhou, which will take at least half a month. If our army can quickly capture Xue County and then take the entire territory of Lu, we can defend the city. What can Lü Bu do to us then?"

Yu Jin also said, "This humble general is willing to go with General Xiahou!"

Cao Cao looked at Xun You and Xi Zhicai.

Xun You pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, although the current situation is unfavorable, Xue County is indeed an opportunity to attack. Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun are both brave generals, but their forces are limited. If our army can achieve a quick victory and occupy Lu, we can connect with Pengcheng to jointly resist Lü Bu. Even if Lü Bu attacks, there will be defensible terrain."

Xi Zhicai's cough worsened, and he managed to say, "However... we must guard against a surprise attack by Lü Bu. My lord should send out more scouts, from Chenliu in the west to Dongjun in the north, to keep a close watch. If anything changes, we must immediately retreat."

Cao Cao finally made up his mind: "Very well! Tomorrow we will attack the city. Miao Cai and Wen Qian will lead the vanguard, Zi Xiao will lead the right wing, Man Cheng will lead the left wing, and I will personally lead the central army. We must break through the city in one battle and avenge Yuan Rang!"

"promise!"

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Cao Cao's 20,000-strong army was arrayed outside Xue County, with swords and spears like a forest and drums beating loudly.

On the city wall, Huang Zhong stood with his hand on his sword, over fifty years old yet still vigorous. Beside him, Zhao Yun, in silver armor and a white robe, held the Dragon Gall Spear, exuding heroic spirit.

"Cao Mengde has indeed arrived." Huang Zhong sneered. "Send the order: archers, crossbowmen, and logs and stones, prepare them. No one may move without my command."

"promise!"

Below the city walls, Xiahou Yuan rode out alone, glaring at the city walls, and shouted, "Old man Huang Zhong! Do you dare to come out of the city and fight me? I will take your head to avenge my brother Yuan Rang!"

Before Huang Zhong could answer, Zhao Yun brandished his spear and said, "General Huang, this humble general is willing to go out of the city and slay this scoundrel!"

Huang Zhong shook his head: "Zilong, calm down. Cao Cao's army is using this tactic to provoke us. Our army is defending the city; the advantage is in our hands. Why risk a duel?"

However, Xiahou Yuan's curses grew even fiercer, his language becoming increasingly vulgar and unbearable to hear.

Behind Huang Zhong, his deputy Chen Lan couldn't help but say, "General, Cao Cao is hurling such insults. If we don't fight, it might damage morale!"

Huang Zhong frowned and looked at the Cao army formation outside the city—the vanguard was loose, the central army was well-organized, and there seemed to be ambushes on the left and right flanks.

"Cao Mengde is cautious in his military tactics; how could he really let Xiahou Yuan fight alone?" Huang Zhong pondered. "This must be a trap to lure the enemy. However... I can turn the tables on him and defeat him by force."

After reforms to the military rank system, increased pay, and modern training, Lü Bu's new army's combat effectiveness and equipment far exceeded the expectations of the warlords. Huang Zhong was confident that he could catch Cao Cao off guard.

He whispered a few words to Zhao Yun, who nodded and turned to leave the city.

Before long, the city gate slowly opened, and Huang Zhong rode out of the city alone, holding a phoenix-beak saber, with a red face and long beard, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

"Xiahou Miaocai, I've come to meet you!" Huang Zhong's voice boomed like a bell.

Xiahou Yuan was overjoyed and spurred his horse to charge into battle, brandishing his sword.

The two generals clashed, their blades flashing, and fought for more than ten rounds without a clear victor. Huang Zhong's swordsmanship was as steady as a mountain, while Xiahou Yuan, eager for revenge, launched attacks like a raging storm, yet he could not break through.

[Remember the fastest online novel website: 1 ...

In reality, Huang Zhong deliberately feigned weakness to secure a decisive victory and kill Xiahou Yuan in one strike, avoiding using his full strength. Otherwise, if he had gone all out, Xiahou Yuan would have been no match for Huang Zhong, who was on par with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.

After another ten or so exchanges, Huang Zhong suddenly showed signs of fatigue; his swordplay slowed, and his breathing became heavy. Xiahou Yuan was overjoyed at this sight and intensified his attack: "Old thief, your strength is waning!"

Huang Zhong feinted with his sword, then turned his horse and turned back, the sword tip hanging low and his body slightly bent, seemingly retreating in defeat.

Xiahou Yuan had no intention of letting him go, and spurred his horse to give chase: "You old scoundrel, leave your head behind!"

Cao Cao, observing the situation clearly from within his ranks, immediately ordered: "That old man Huang Zhong is plotting something! Sound the gong and summon Miao Cai back to the camp at once!"

However, Huang Zhong deliberately slowed down to lure Xiahou Yuan, who had already caught up with Huang Zhong on horseback and was only a few feet behind him.

Hearing the approaching hoofbeats behind him, Huang Zhong's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse lurched forward. Xiahou Yuan charged forward with the momentum and was about to raise his sword to strike down when he saw Huang Zhong's phoenix-beak sword, which had been hanging low, suddenly rise from under his arm. Using the force of his waist twisting as he turned, it transformed into a bright arc of light and slashed upwards from below!

This strike came without warning, as fast as lightning, and was the essence of the dragging knife technique—concealing the killing intent in a state of defeat and unleashing it the instant one turns around!

Xiahou Yuan's pupils contracted sharply as he tried to sheathe his sword to block, but it was too late.

"Snap—"

Where the blade flashes, blood splatters three feet.

Xiahou Yuan charged forward several steps with his horse, his broadsword clattering to the ground. He looked down at his chest—his armor was torn open, revealing a deep, bone-revealing wound that ran from his abdomen to his shoulder, from which blood gushed forth.

"What a... dragging sword trick..." he managed to utter the numbers before collapsing from his horse with a thud.

A deathly silence fell over both the city walls and the surrounding area.

Huang Zhong reined in his horse and turned around, his long beard stained with blood, his phoenix-beak dagger pointing diagonally at the ground, his awe-inspiring presence like that of a god.

"Brilliant talent!!!"

Cao Cao's eyes were bloodshot, and his mournful roar echoed across the plains.

Cao's army's morale plummeted immediately.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Huang Zhong led the thousand cavalrymen waiting in the city out and charged straight at the front of Cao Cao's army.

Filled with grief and rage, Cao Hong led his personal guards in a counterattack: "I will avenge Miao Cai!"

In the ensuing melee, Huang Zhong, though brave, was gradually surrounded by Cao Cao's superior numbers.

At this moment, the gates of Xue County opened again, and Zhao Yun led two thousand cavalrymen from the 11th Army out to meet Huang Zhong.

Upon seeing this, Cao Cao immediately ordered his left and right flanks to encircle the enemy.

However, Huang Zhong was prepared. With a wave of his command flag, catapults and crossbows on the city wall fired simultaneously, raining down stones and slowing down the Cao army's offensive on both flanks.

After half an hour of chaotic fighting, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun saw that Cao Cao's army was gradually closing in, so they decisively ordered a retreat back into the city.

Cao Ren, Yu Jin, and others attempted to follow and attack into the city, but were stopped at the drawbridge by two top generals, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun, who personally covered their retreat. Their men were no match for them, and Cao's generals dared not approach.

In the end, the Yanzhou army successfully withdrew into the city, closed the city gates, and raised the drawbridge, leaving Cao Cao's army helpless.

In this battle, the Yanzhou army, thanks to the advantage of its cavalry armor, suffered only a little over a hundred casualties.

Cao Cao's army suffered over a thousand casualties, with General Xiahou Yuan killed in action and Le Jin severely wounded and forced to withdraw from the battle after being stabbed in the shoulder by Zhao Yun.