My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

The official road heading west was shrouded in dust and smoke, obscuring the sun.

Cao Ren rode alongside Cao Cao, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't help but speak up: "Brother, there is something I don't understand."

"Speak," Cao Cao said, his eyes fixed ahead.

"Luoyang is the imperial capital. Although it was burned down, its foundation remains. By controlling Luoyang, we can command the world and win over the hearts of the people," Cao Ren said in a low voice.

"Why would you abandon such a great opportunity and instead follow Marquis Ji to pursue Dong Zhuo? This journey is fraught with danger, and even if we manage to rescue the Emperor, the greatest credit will go to Marquis Ji..."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao suddenly laughed.

He turned to look at his cousin, a profound light flashing in his eyes: "Zixiao, you only see Luoyang, but you don't see the real big picture."

He paused, slowing the horse's pace: "Luoyang has been burned to the ground by Dong Zhuo, the palaces are destroyed, and the people are scattered. If we occupy it now, we will only get ruins, and we will have to spend money and grain to rebuild it. Moreover, it will attract the covetousness of other lords and make us the target of everyone's attacks."

"And the emperor..." A glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes.

"That is the real priceless treasure. Dong Zhuo held the emperor hostage to command the princes, so he was able to occupy the moral high ground. If we can rescue the emperor, even if the greatest credit goes to Ji Wenlie, I, Cao Mengde, will also be a meritorious official who saved the emperor. At that time, the court will reward those who have made contributions, and at the very least, I will be appointed as Grand Commandant or Governor, and given a province to govern."

He looked at the smoke and dust drifting westward in the distance, his voice growing deeper: "Only with territory can we recruit soldiers and horses, stockpile grain and fodder, and support our people. At that time, we will be true warlords, instead of being dependent on Yuan Shao and living under his roof as we are now."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ren suddenly understood and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Brother, your wisdom and foresight are beyond my reach!"

Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder and laughed, "Remember, in chaotic times, territory, troops, and talent are all indispensable, and the emperor is the best reason to acquire all of these."

Suddenly, Ji Xuanyuan raised his hand.

The entire army came to a sudden halt.

"There's an ambush." ​​Ji Xuanyuan said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the mountains and forests on both sides of the official road.

Cao Cao stared intently into the distance and saw that the mountains and forests were quiet and the birds were undisturbed, which was indeed an ambush. He felt a chill in his heart; Ji Xuanyuan's insight was truly terrifying.

"Second brother, ninth brother," Ji Xuanyuan called out.

Xiang Yu and Li Cunxiao rode forward side by side.

"Make this quick and decisive, don't delay the trip."

"promise!"

The two generals responded and each led a hundred cavalry to attack from both sides!

Almost simultaneously, arrows rained down from the mountains and forests like locusts, and the sound of hooves rose from behind the mounds as the light cavalry of Xiliang charged out!

However, they were facing the most outstanding warriors of the era.

Xiang Yu swept his double pupils across the area, and his Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd swept across like a black dragon's tail, breaking trees and causing the ambushing soldiers to scream in agony. Li Cunxiao's Yuwang Spear smashed into the ground, causing the mound to collapse and the cavalrymen to fall to their deaths!

Xu Chu and Xu Sheng each led a team to flank the enemy from the side, while Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun led Cao's army to charge head-on.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the ambush was completely routed, and corpses littered the field.

Cao Cao was shocked to see this as the fighting strength of the Jingnan Army.

No wonder Ji Xuanyuan was able to command respect in the northern frontier with the strength of the border region!

"Keep moving forward." Ji Xuanyuan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had only just swept away a few mosquitoes and flies.

The army marched another thirty miles and finally caught up with Dong Zhuo's westward-moving main force.

It was a vast and mighty crowd, with the elite troops of Xiliang leading the way, the emperor's imperial carriage and the carriages of officials in the middle, and countless Luoyang commoners, wealthy merchants and gentry who were swept up in the procession. The cries, the neighing of horses and the sound of whips mingled together, stretching for more than ten miles, like a dying giant python writhing on the official road.

Ji Xuanyuan's eyes flashed like lightning, instantly locking onto the middle of the procession, where the emperor's banners and imperial carriages were located.

Beside the carriage, a figure in golden armor and a red robe stood out like a flame.

Yuwen Chengdu.

He was indeed there guarding the place.

"All troops, heed my command!" Ji Xuanyuan drew his sword and pointed it to the sky.

"Target: The Emperor's carriage! Whoever rescues His Majesty will be granted a title and a reward of a thousand pieces of gold!"

"kill!"

Twenty-three thousand soldiers surged toward the migrating procession like a torrent!

When the civilians and wealthy merchants in the rear saw the pursuers coming, chaos broke out. The cries, screams, and trampling sounds were deafening. The rearguard of the Xiliang army tried to organize a resistance, but they were easily defeated by the iron cavalry of the Jingnan army!

Ji Xuanyuan led his main force straight into the central army, and wherever he went, the Xiliang army fell like straw.

"Second brother, ninth brother!" Ji Xuanyuan shouted to Xiang Yu and Li Cunxiao beside him.

"You two will lead five hundred elite troops straight to the imperial carriage!"

He paused, looked at Xiang Yu, and said in a serious voice, "Remember, saving the emperor is the top priority. If Dong Cheng obstructs you, kill him without mercy. Do not hesitate again because of your concern for talent."

A golden light flashed in Xiang Yu's double pupils, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Brother, rest assured, I understand."

He turned to Li Cunxiao and said, "Ninth Brother, you go and hold off Dong Chengdu, I'll go rescue the Emperor."

Li Cunxiao grinned, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "Alright! I've been wanting to test my skills against him for a long time!"

The two generals each led 250 cavalrymen, like two sharp knives, tearing through the Xiliang army's defenses and rushing straight for the imperial carriage!

Beside the imperial carriage.

Yuwen Chengdu pressed his halberd and mounted his horse. His golden armor gleamed coldly in the setting sun. His gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield, his brows furrowed.

Dong Zhuo ordered him to protect the emperor and not to let anything happen to him.

But given the current situation...

Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply!

Two figures, like ferocious beasts, broke through layers of defenses and rushed straight towards them.

The man on the left, with double pupils and wearing black armor, was none other than Xiang Yu.

The man on the right has long arms and a slender waist, and holds a giant spear. He is none other than Li Cunxiao, who did not fight yesterday!

"Dong Chengdu! Li Jingsi has arrived! Prepare to die!"

Li Cunxiao's voice was like a thunderclap, and the Yuwang Spear crashed down like Mount Tai!

Yuwen Chengdu parried upwards with his Phoenix Wing Halberd!

"clang--!!!"

Amidst the deafening roar, Yuwen Chengdu felt his arms tremble violently, and the wounds he had sustained in the fierce battle with Xiang Yu burst open, instantly staining the bandages with blood!

That's terrifying strength!

Li Cunxiao's strength was actually three points greater than Xiang Yu's!

Yuwen Chengdu felt a chill run down his spine. Red Hare took three steps back to dissipate the immense force. His wound on his right arm reopened, and a sharp pain shot through him, making his movements inevitably sluggish.

Li Cunxiao, having gained the upper hand, pressed his advantage relentlessly. The Yuwang Spear rained down like a storm, each strike as heavy as a thousand pounds, devoid of any fancy techniques, relying solely on the purest form of force to suppress the enemy!

Yuwen Chengdu could only defend passively. Every time the Phoenix Winged Halberd blocked, it made his arm go numb and blood gushed from his wound.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Xiang Yu had led his troops to the front of the imperial carriage. The elite Xiliang guards were scattered like paper under the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd. In a short while, the Xiliang army around the imperial carriage had been cleared out.

"Get out of my way!" Yuwen Chengdu roared, sweeping his Phoenix Wing Halberd with all his might, trying to force Li Cunxiao back and return to the imperial carriage.

Li Cunxiao sneered, and the Yuwang Spear shot out like a poisonous dragon, forcefully pressing down on the Phoenix Wing Halberd!

"Hey? You're in such a hurry already?" Li Cunxiao's arm muscles bulged, pressing the Phoenix Wing Halberd firmly underneath.

"I haven't had enough yet!"

Yuwen Chengdu struggled to lift his arm, but the pain from his wound on his right arm made it difficult to maintain his strength, and the Phoenix Wing Halberd was slowly pressed down by the Yu King's Spear.

"Get up!"

Li Cunxiao suddenly roared and thrust his Yuwang Spear upwards!

"Clang!"

The Phoenix Winged Halberd flew out of his hand, leaving a golden streak in the air before crashing to the ground far away!

At the same time, the spear tip swung upwards, knocking the hair ornament off Yuwen Chengdu's head!

With his golden crown shattered and his long hair cascading down, Yuwen Chengdu's handsome face appeared somewhat ferocious amidst the disheveled strands of hair, like an enraged lion king.

His eyes flashed with ferocity. He abandoned his weapon, turned his hands into claws, and before Li Cunxiao could retract his spear, he suddenly leaned forward and kicked Li Cunxiao hard in the chest!

"Bang!"

Li Cunxiao was caught off guard and was kicked off his saddle, flying backward and falling heavily off the horse!

Yuwen Chengdu dismounted, grabbed the Phoenix Wing Halberd from the ground, leaped onto Red Hare, and, no longer wishing to fight, spurred his horse westward at breakneck speed!

"Damn it, no sportsmanship... sneak attack..." Li Cunxiao got up from the ground, rubbing his chest and cursing, but seeing that Yuwen Chengdu had already gone far away, he had no choice but to give up.

Before the imperial carriage.

Xiang Yu stood solemnly beside the carriage, his double pupils gazing at the carriage curtain.

The curtain was lifted, revealing a young and pale face. The nine-year-old Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, was dressed in the emperor's everyday clothes. Although he tried to remain calm, his eyes could not hide his fear.

"General Xiang Yu!" Xiang Yu knelt on one knee, speaking as gently as possible.

"We are late in coming to your rescue, Your Majesty. Please forgive us."

He tried his best to suppress his murderous aura, but his double pupils were naturally filled with a murderous aura, and his domineering aura, honed over many years on the battlefield, was not something that could be easily hidden.

Liu Xie looked at him, and when his gaze fell upon those heterochromatic double pupils, he trembled.

He seemed to see not a general rescuing him, but an ancient ferocious beast that could suddenly attack and devour him at any moment. The wildness in its eyes and the bloody aura honed by countless battles filled Liu Xie with instinctive fear.

But the general in front of him was clearly kneeling and bowing respectfully.

"General Xiang... what are you saying..." Liu Xie's voice trembled slightly as he tried to maintain his imperial dignity.

"I am deeply gratified that the general came to my rescue... I will certainly reward him handsomely in the future..."

He spoke haltingly, his inner shirt already soaked with cold sweat.

Xiang Yu saw the emperor's fear and felt helpless. He didn't understand why these emperors of the Liu family were all so afraid of him, Liu Hong and Liu Xie alike.

He didn't say much, but stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this place is dangerous and not a place to stay for long. Please follow me to a safe place to talk."

Liu Xie nodded repeatedly: "Good, good..."

Just then, Ji Xuanyuan arrived with his reinforcements.

Seeing that the emperor was unharmed, Ji Xuanyuan, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei dismounted, straightened their clothes and hats, and knelt before the imperial carriage: "Your subject is Ji Xuanyuan, General of the Cavalry and Marquis of Zhuo—"

"Your subject, Cao Cao, Commandant of the Army—"

"Your subject, Liu Bei, magistrate of Pingyuan—"

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Their voices were in unison, and their manners were impeccable.

Looking at the three people kneeling in front of him, Liu Xie felt a little relieved. At least these people seemed much more "normal" than the double-pupiled general.

He composed himself, raised his hand, and said, "My beloved ministers, please rise. You... have rendered meritorious service in saving my life, and I... I have remembered it all."

Ji Xuanyuan looked up and met Liu Xie's gaze.

Although the nine-year-old child's eyes showed fear, he already possessed a calmness and intelligence beyond his years.

He truly deserves to be the successor favored by Emperor Ling of Han.

At this moment, however, the child's hand trembled slightly inside his sleeve.

"Your Majesty," Ji Xuanyuan said gently.

"Although Dong Zhuo has retreated, he has not gone far to the west, and this place is still not safe. Please, Your Majesty, move to a safe place for the time being, so that we may reorganize our troops and discuss the next steps."

Liu Xie nodded: "Everything... is at the general's disposal."

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the chaotic official road.

The westward-bound army had scattered. Yuwen Chengdu escorted the remnants of Dong Zhuo's forces away. The emperor's entourage was rescued, and the officials and palace servants were gradually gathered together.

Ji Xuanyuan gazed at the smoke and dust in the west, then looked at Cao Cao and Liu Bei beside him.

The merit of saving the emperor has been achieved.

The next step was to figure out how to "settle" the young emperor.

Meanwhile, in Luoyang...