The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

…I won't thank you… Jiang Zhe… Looking painfully at the scattered three hundred or so riders behind him, Zhao Yun felt a deep ache in his heart. Three thousand White Horse Cavalry, and now only three hundred remained… “Bo Jiu…” His deputy, Li Liang, rode up to Zhao Yun's side. He hesitated before saying, “The brothers have been riding for over three hours. Even if the men aren't tired, the horses are exhausted…”

"Then let's find a place to rest!" Zhao Yun said wearily. Even he was tired after only three hours of riding, let alone the White Horse Cavalry.

They hadn't gone far when they came to a small grove of trees. Zhao Yun then ordered his men to rest there.

"Ouch..." The White Horse Cavalrymen struggled to fall off their horses, collapsing to the ground and groaning softly. Their slightly trembling legs indicated that they had reached their limit.

Even Li Liang was like that, collapsing onto the ground, unwilling to move for a long time. His warhorse lowered its head and nudged its master's body. But Li Liang patted its head and shooed it away... "Go!" Zhao Yun said softly, stroking his beloved horse's neck. Immediately, Zhao Yun's extremely intelligent white horse galloped away.

"Lord!" Li Liang struggled to his feet, leaning against a tree trunk. "The Cao soldiers won't pursue us anymore?"

"It is only right that we should not..." Zhao Yun replied, then sat down against the trees, but the smile on Jiang Zhe's face when he let them go involuntarily came to mind.

Jiang Zhe…Cao Cao’s top strategist? Zhao Yun’s lips curled into a wry smile. In two months, three thousand White Horse Cavalry and five thousand cavalrymen had penetrated deep into the heart of Ji Province, launching attacks on Yuan Shao’s territory. What a display of power! Cutting off his supply lines and disrupting his peace. How awe-inspiring!

Unexpectedly, he was defeated by a scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken... What's even more ridiculous is that he clearly had the opportunity to kill him back then. "Jiang Zhe, you're wrong. If I had known that killing you alone would save my Qian Tongze, I would have killed you..."

"What's the use of thinking about this anymore!" Zhao Yun chuckled and shook his head to make himself more comfortable lying on the ground.

As Zhao Yun gently closed his eyes, he seemed to hear those soft, gentle words again.

"Do you regret not killing me back then?"

"Would you? Would you kill me?"

"Jiang Zhe, Jiang Shoujiu..." Zhao Yun slightly opened his eyes, looking at the sky, and murmured, "Why do you know that I don't want to kill you? Can you... see through my heart?"

With a deep sigh, the faint breathing of the White Horse Cavalry filling his ears, Zhao Yun shook his head, dismissing the thought from his mind. He murmured, "Jiang Zhe, I spared your life last time because of your kindness; it was truly unbearable. Now that I know you are Cao Cao's top strategist, I will show no mercy when we meet on the battlefield."

The White Horse Cavalry decisively defeated Jieqiao. This news spread throughout Cao Cao's camp in no time.

At that moment, Cao Cao was discussing with Yuan Shao how to defeat Gongsun Qi. Upon hearing the messenger's report, he was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

Those cavalrymen who had caused them so much trouble had actually been defeated? Just like that? Cao Cao was overjoyed, throwing down his pen and laughing loudly. He said to Yuan Shao, "Benchu, this time we have nothing to worry about!"

Yuan Shao's face was quite displeased, but he forced a smile and echoed, "Mengde's words are excellent! Now that you, my lord, have lost your White Horse Cavalry, let's see how you resist us!"

Just as Cao Cao was about to reply, he suddenly heard voices outside and burst into laughter, saying, "It must be Shouyi! We owe him a great debt this time, otherwise we could only watch helplessly as those White Horse Cavalry swaggered around right under our noses... Ha! That's satisfying, truly satisfying!"

The curse was on Yuan Shao's face, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

In the eyes of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, Jiang Zhe slowly entered, cupped his hands, and said, "I have fulfilled my mission and finally defeated the White Horse Cavalry..."

"Good!" Cao Cao walked over, patted Jiang Zhe on the shoulder and said, "We owe a great debt to Shouyi. Now that the White Horse Cavalry has been defeated, we can directly attack Gongsun Zan's camp. What do you think, Yuan Shao?"

"Primordial?"

"Huh?" Yuan Shao, bewildered, averted his gaze from Jiang Zhe and asked in surprise, "What did Mengde say?"

Cao Cao gave Yuan Shao a strange look and asked疑惑地道, "Cao Cao then said that we can advance our troops now and not engage in a minor skirmish with you, Yuan Shao. Your complexion is quite unwell."

"It's alright, it's alright!" Yuan Shao waved his hand. Looking at Jiang Zhe, he sighed inwardly and said in a deep voice, "Mengde is absolutely right. However, how to proceed... we still need to clarify!"

Cao Cao nodded in deep agreement.

Therefore, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were able to summon their advisors to discuss the matter of advancing troops.

Tian Feng, the Prefect of Ji Province, spoke first. "My lord, we were previously attacked from both sides due to insufficient troops. Now, with the help of Governor Cao, our forces are no less than those of Gong Bieqi and Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Yellow Turbans. Continuing this stalemate will only result in wasted supplies. It would be better to attack soon!"

"Yuan Hao is absolutely right!" Shen Pei echoed. "Now Gongsun Qi has lost his elite cavalry, just like us. But in terms of infantry, we are certainly no less capable than him!"

"Please give the order, my lord! Attack!" Feng Ji said, bowing deeply.

Seeing that his advisors all spoke in the same vein, Yuan Shao was secretly tempted. He glanced furtively at the silent Jiang Zhe, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhi, and said softly, "Mengde, why don't you ask your key strategists what their opinions are?"

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and asked Jiang Zhe with a smile, "Shouyi, what do you think?"

Jiang Zhe glanced at Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai. Seeing them both smiling at him, he said, "My opinion is the same: let's fight!"

"Hahaha!" Seeing Jiang Zhe say this, Yuan Shao was secretly pleased and laughed loudly.

"So, Shouyi, in your opinion, should we first attack Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Yellow Turbans, or first defeat Duke Youzhou, Duoxi?"

"Why not attack both at once!" Jiang Zhe said with a smile.

"Inch. Below 7" "The lord and my lord should each choose one person to attack it, relying on each other from within and without, supporting each other from afar. Wouldn't that be good?"

Tian Feng's eyes lit up. He smiled and nodded at Jiang Zhe, thinking to himself, "I was just about to say this, but you brought it up. Hah… On the battlefield, the worst thing is for orders not to be carried out; it's better to separate them…" Yuan Shao glanced at Cao Cao, frowning slightly. He laughed and said, "Excellent! But… how should we select them?"

"That's easy!" Jiang Zhe smiled and pulled out a copper coin, saying mysteriously, "Let's just wait and see what fate has in store..."

Cao Cao regretfully drew Gongsun Zeng…

After the matter was discussed, Jiang Zhe was about to return to his camp when Tian Feng quietly stopped him.

"Brother Yuanhao, what is it?" Jiang Zhe looked at Tian Feng with a puzzled expression.

Tian Feng hesitated for a moment. Finally, he said, "Shouyi, this..."

"Brother, speak your mind!"

"Alright!" Tian Feng nodded and said, "Shouyi, then brother, please speak frankly, don't be offended! Shouyi has done a great service by defeating the White Horse Cavalry. But, I wonder about those warhorses..."

"Warhorses?" Jiang Zhe's eyes widened. He looked at me with a puzzled expression. "What warhorses?"

Tian Feng looked extremely embarrassed. He hesitated and said, "It's those...the warhorses of the White Horse Cavalry..."

"Oh..." Jiang Zhe suddenly realized. He then asked, "What happened to that warhorse?"

"..." To be honest, Tian Feng was really hesitant to say it. But Yuan Shao was busy reorganizing his cavalry, and he had heard that the White Horse Cavalry's warhorses were all handpicked. So he asked Tian Feng to find Jiang Zhe... "Shouyi is indeed righteous. The White Horse Cavalry is so arrogant and domineering, yet they can only be defeated by Shouyi's brilliant strategy. I admire you, brother..."

"Brother, you flatter me. It's all thanks to your strong support. If it weren't for your wise plans for Zhe..."

This plan will not succeed.

"Hehe, Feng just wanted to ask about this 'warhorse'..."

"Brother Yuanhao, please don't mention the word 'warhorse' to me. The mere mention of it reminds me of those despicable White Horse Cavalry, and my heart burns with boundless rage!"

"Why?"

"Brother Yuanhao!" Jiang Zhe pulled Tian Feng aside. He sighed and said, "Do you know how much we paid for that mere... sigh! Just to put it another way, do you know the price we paid to annihilate those mere five thousand cavalrymen? Tsk tsk tsk! It was truly a terrible sight..."

"Yes...yes..."

"Zhezhen wished he could slaughter all those captured warhorses and make them snacks for the soldiers!"

"Don't kill them! Don't kill them!" Tian Feng's eyes widened. He waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Warhorses are already extremely precious, but the warhorses used by the White Horse Cavalry are even more precious, they are the best warhorses selected from thousands. They are something you can only dream of..."

"Brother, don't be anxious. Zheye is nothing. Kill him? Wouldn't that make me look like a fool? You said it was a top-quality warhorse! Oh, what did you just say? What happened to that warhorse?"

Tian Feng opened his mouth, but was speechless as he looked at Jiang Zhe.

"Oh, I see!" Jiang Zhe grinned at Tian Feng, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, you're such an honest man. So quick to fulfill your promise? There's no need to rush... Where are those four warhorses? I'll send someone over immediately!"

"But..." Tian Feng opened his mouth, feeling incredibly embarrassed, and hesitated before saying, "This..." "Could you perhaps grant me a few more days?"

"How many days?" Jiang Zhe hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed. "Alright! Your words, brother, are enough! But..."

"Just what?"

"Brother, you know..." Jiang Zhe sighed, gazing into the distance. "Actually, when our lord had just plotted against Lü Bu, his rule was unstable, and many of my colleagues advised me against it... Alas!"

"transport……"

"Brother, do not think that I covet those mere four thousand warhorses. In fact, those were what I used to persuade my lord and my colleagues... You saw it yourself, when it was mentioned that Governor Yuan wanted to send four thousand warhorses to ask for help, my colleagues were speechless. Only in this way could I persuade my lord to send troops..."

"..."

"A mere four thousand warhorses? Now, looking at the situation... Brother, in this first battle alone, we've lost a full five thousand men! Not to mention the tens of thousands seriously wounded and lightly wounded, I haven't even reported the list of fallen soldiers to our lord yet... If we are severely punished by our lord, I hope you will put in a good word for us."

"Shouyi, don't rush! Shouyi, don't rush!" Tian Feng felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He repeatedly advised, "Brother, you know Shouyi's predicament. If Magistrate Cao blames you, I will certainly explain to Shouyi. How about this: my lord still has over a thousand warhorses under his command. Give them to Magistrate Cao first. We can discuss the rest after we defeat Gongsun Qi."

"A thousand warhorses?" Jiang Zhe blinked, then hesitated before speaking. "Brother, there's no need for that. We can discuss the warhorses later. Is there anything else? If not, I'll take my leave. I still need to submit the list of fallen soldiers to my lord."

"Shouyi! Shouyi!" Tian Feng hurriedly grabbed Jiang Zhe, pleading, "A thousand warhorses may be few, but they can somewhat appease Lord Cao's anger. Brother, you can order your soldiers to hand over those thousand warhorses later..." Shouyi can then discuss this matter with Lord Cao...

"this……"

"Shouyi then heeded his brother's advice..."

"In that case, Zhe thanks you for your patience, brother..."

What a true gentleman! Watching Jiang Zhe leave into the distance, Tian Feng sighed inwardly, patted his head, and prepared to return to his tent. After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked completely astonished.

"Didn't I come here to ask him for the captured Malayan Communists? What's wrong?"

.