Han Ji

The news quickly spread throughout the military.

"Have you heard? When that barbarian lunged at the magistrate, it was Military Advisor Liu who risked his life to stop him!"

"Liu Canjun is incredibly strong! He blocked the mace with his sword!"

"If it weren't for Military Advisor Liu, Your Excellency might..."

The soldiers' gaze towards Liu Bei had completely changed. Before, they kept their distance with respect, carrying a hint of aloofness towards scholars. Now, their eyes were filled with genuine gratitude and admiration.

"Liu, the military advisor." An old soldier with an injured arm stopped as he passed the carriage, took out half a dirty flatbread from his pocket, and stuffed it into Liu Bei's hand. "You...you should have something to eat."

Liu Bei looked at the half-eaten cake, then at the old soldier's sincere yet hesitant face, and took it: "Thank you."

The old soldier grinned and limped away.

Liu Bei clutched the half-eaten cake, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After resting for two days in Heituwa, they gathered the defeated troops and took stock of their losses.

The envoys sent to Baishui and Qingmu have returned with news. The leaders of the two villages are indeed ambiguous in their attitude. Although they have not explicitly agreed to betray the regime, they have indicated that they will no longer assist Pan Du and are willing to remain neutral.

This is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Lu Zhi convened a meeting of the remaining officers. The atmosphere was heavy.

"My lord, after this defeat, our army's morale is low. Should we... temporarily avoid the enemy's advance and retreat to Shuxian?" someone suggested.

"No!" the bearded cavalry commander immediately objected. "If we retreat now, the Pan Du will only gain more momentum and join forces with other strongholds to besiege Shuxian! We must fight back!"

"How can we fight? We've lost nearly half our troops, and our brothers are wounded..."

Lu Zhi raised his hand to stop the argument, his gaze falling on Liu Bei, who had remained silent: "Xuande, what do you think?"

Liu Bei's face was still pale, but his eyes had regained their composure. He stood up and walked to the simple sand table—which he had hastily built up over the past two days based on his memory and reports from scouts.

"Teachers, everyone. The defeat at Wild Boar Ridge was due to the ambush and the loss of our advantageous terrain. But now that Pan Du has won this battle, he will surely become arrogant. He is certain that our army will not dare to fight again after our recent defeat, and he will take advantage of the situation to pursue us, and may even send troops to plunder the surrounding settlements and expand our gains."

He pointed to a narrow passage on the sand table.

"This is Eagle's Beak Gorge, the only way for the Poisonous Army to return to their Black Wind Cave stronghold and to split up their forces for raids. Although the terrain is not as treacherous as Wild Boar Ridge, the slopes on both sides are densely forested, which is conducive to setting up ambushes."

He raised his head and looked at Lu Zhi: "This student is willing to lead an army to ambush here! The arrogant troops of Pan Du will be caught off guard! Our army can wait in comfort and avenge the defeat at Wild Boar Ridge!"

The tent fell silent for a moment.

"Liu Canjun, your injury..." someone hesitated.

"Skin injuries are nothing to worry about the overall situation." Liu Bei's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination.

Lu Zhi looked at the sand table, then at Liu Bei, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "How many men are needed?"

"Five hundred elite troops are enough. Prepare plenty of bows and crossbows, oil, and rolling logs and stones."

"Granted!" Lu Zhi approved. "I'll give you five hundred men! Including my two hundred personal guards! This battle is a must-win, no defeat is allowed!"

"Yes, sir!"

Eagle Beak Gorge.

Liu Bei lay prone behind the cold rocks, the muscles in his right arm still throbbing with pain, but he paid no heed. His gaze was fixed on the road below the ravine.

Beside him were five hundred carefully selected soldiers. Two hundred of them were Lu Zhi's personal guards, the strongest in combat. The other three hundred were veterans who had experienced the bloody battle of Wild Boar Ridge and still harbored resentment.

Everyone held their breath and waited.

Time passed little by little.

As the sun began to set, the sound of horses' hooves and the noisy clamor of barbarian soldiers finally reached us in the distance.

coming!

Pan Du rode a tall, stolen horse at the head of the procession, looking triumphant. He was followed by hundreds of elite soldiers, and behind them was a long column of soldiers escorting the looted supplies and prisoners. The column was loose and completely unguarded.

Clearly, the great victory at Wild Boar Ridge had completely lowered his guard.

Liu Bei's heart pounded, and he clenched his fists. He glanced at the crossbowman beside him, who nodded; the crossbow bolts were already nocked.

When the vanguard of the poison-wielding unit had fully entered the ambush zone, and most of the rear guard had also stepped in—

Liu Bei suddenly swung his hand down!

"put!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!

On both sides of the hillside, the muffled thuds of crossbows firing and the whistling of bowstrings suddenly rang out! A dense rain of arrows poured down!

"There's an ambush!"

"Government troops! It's government troops!"

The barbarian army was thrown into chaos! Arrows pierced through leather armor, spraying blood everywhere. Men and horses neighed and trampled each other.

"Roll logs! Roll boulders!" Liu Bei ordered again.

The prepared logs and boulders came crashing down, creating further chaos and blocking the road.

"Light the fire! Set up fire barriers!"

Firewood soaked in kerosene was lit and pushed down the ravine. The thick smoke and flames severed the communication between the front and rear ranks of the barbarian soldiers.

"kill!"

Liu Bei drew his long sword and was the first to stand up, pointing at the chaotic barbarian troops below the mountain!

"Avenge our fallen brothers! Kill—!"

"Revenge! Kill—!"

The pent-up anger and hatred erupted completely at this moment! Five hundred government troops charged down the mountain like tigers descending from the slopes on both sides!

Pan Du was stunned by this sudden attack. He brandished his scimitar, trying to organize a resistance, but his troops had been divided, unable to support each other, and their morale had collapsed.

With a clear objective, Liu Bei charged straight at Pan Du's central army! His sword flashed, and he weaved through the chaotic enemy ranks, specifically targeting and killing the barbarian leaders who were trying to regroup their troops.

Zhang Wu and Li Huan stood on his left and right, like two sharp knives, tightly protecting him and blocking most of the attacks.

In the midst of the chaos, Liu Bei spotted Pan Du, surrounded by his personal guards, attempting to break through the encirclement!

"Pan Du! Where do you think you're going!" Liu Bei shouted, ignoring the pain in his right arm, and charged straight ahead with his sword!

Pan Du also saw Liu Bei and recognized him as the young man who had blocked the warrior in the canyon that day. His eyes flashed with ferocity, and he spurred his horse to meet him! His scimitar flashed with a cold light as it slashed towards Liu Bei!

Liu Bei neither dodged nor evaded. His right sword precisely struck the weakest point of the curved blade's force, deflecting it by half. At the same time, he slid to the side, and his left short sword, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, thrust straight at Pan Du's ribs!

Pan Du hadn't expected Liu Bei's swordsmanship to be so tricky, and hurriedly parried with his own blade.

"when!"

Swords clashed! Liu Bei's right hand wound reopened, blood instantly staining the bandage, but he gritted his teeth and refused to retreat an inch! His right hand thrust the sword once more swiftly towards Pan Du's face!

Pan Du was forced into a panic by this life-or-death fighting style. His mount was startled and reared up!

opportunity!

A cold glint flashed in Liu Bei's eyes, and he lunged forward! Abandoning defense, he channeled all his strength into his left arm, and with lightning speed, he thrust his longsword straight into the horse's exposed area from below!

"puff--!"

The longsword pierced through his abdomen!

Pan Du's body stiffened abruptly, and he looked down in disbelief at the sword tip protruding from his abdomen. The curved blade in his hand clattered to the ground.

Liu Bei twisted the hilt of his sword with all his might, and then pulled it out with a swift motion!

Blood splattered!

Pan Du's massive body swayed and he fell off his horse.

The barbarian soldiers who were putting up a stubborn resistance around them were terrified when they saw their leader killed. They let out a shout and scattered in all directions.

"Pan Du is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!" Liu Yong shouted with all his might, raising his sword.

"Pan Du is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!" The government troops shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the mountains and fields.

The remaining barbarian soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

News of the great victory at Yingzuijian spread quickly, and Lu Zhi's main force followed up swiftly, seizing the opportunity to recover lost territory and wipe out the remaining enemy forces.

Pan Du was beheaded, and the main force of Black Wind Cave was wiped out.

The barbarian scourge that had plagued Lujiang County for many years was initially quelled after this battle.

With the Battle of Eagle Beak Gorge, Liu Bei's name resounded throughout the army.