Mythical Three Kingdoms

Zang Ba continued retreating southward, but since most of his troops were infantry, their speed was inevitably slow. Meanwhile, the Miscellaneous Hun forces, consisting of both infantry and cavalry with a large number of riders, initially pursued them aggressively, bolstered by their confidence after defeating the Han Army.

Despite this, Zang Ba, seasoned by years of warfare and having gained significant enhancements after shattering the Military Soul of the Empire, managed to ambush the Miscellaneous Hun cavalry hundreds of miles north of the Yan Great Wall.

With the final strength blessing of the Military Soul of the Empire, the corps talent, he managed to consume half of the vanguard Hu cavalry, making the subsequent retreat somewhat less arduous.

Nevertheless, despite these efforts, the combined forces of the Han army and the aristocratic family private soldiers, initially numbering twelve thousand, had dwindled to just over four thousand, most of whom were injured. As for the cavalry led by Wei Yan and Guan Ping, only a few hundred remained.

It’s worth noting that the soldiers led by Wei Yan, Guan Ping, and Zang Ba were all veterans of more than ten battles, yet nearly every one of them sustained injuries in this engagement.

”The situation doesn’t look good; we’re only about a hundred li from the Yan Great Wall,” Wei Yan said, licking his lips. ”The reinforcements Strategist Jia promised have yet to arrive, but my intuition tells me that the Miscellaneous Huns will catch up in a matter of hours, this time with their main force.”

Saying this, Wei Yan squinted in Zang Ba’s direction, acknowledging the latter’s crucial role in the breakout and rear-guard action, where he and Guan Ping served primarily to boost morale and break enemy lines.

”I’m quite reassured,” Guan Ping said with a smile. ”If the commander doesn’t worry, why should we? Remember, when over ten thousand Hu cavalry pursued us, neither you, I, nor Yuanzhi expected the commander to defeat them so easily.”

”He claimed it was a legion talent; do you believe that?” Wei Yan asked after a moment of silence.

”I don’t believe it, and you don’t either, right?” Guan Ping shrugged. ”I also doubt he’s achieved Qi Refining to Gang; do you believe that?”

”I’m not blind!” Wei Yan retorted irritably. ”He’s definitely achieved Inner Qi Manifestation.”

”So, if the commander isn’t anxious, why should we be?” Guan Ping replied calmly. Indeed, when Zang Ba led his troops to break through the Miscellaneous Hun forces, everyone realized it couldn’t merely be a legion talent.

When the Miscellaneous Huns caught up, Zang Ba led his troops against them, scattering their forces rapidly. Everyone understood then that Zang Ba had changed somehow, but as the commander, especially one of the earliest, no one else had the standing to question him.

”Report, General Zang orders to form up and retreat slowly southward,” a messenger announced hastily to Wei Yan and Guan Ping.

”Looks like the commander intends to fight another battle,” Guan Ping said, scratching his head after exchanging glances with Wei Yan, though it didn’t seem like the best choice.

”No point in overthinking it; continuing on as we are would lead nowhere. Preparing for battle here and hoping for a turnaround under the commander offers our best chance,” Wei Yan declared with a deep breath.

Guan Ping nodded silently in agreement. Wei Yan was right; soon, on Zang Ba’s orders, the entire army received the directive. Under the leadership of middle and lower-ranked officers, it gradually formed a round formation and marched slowly southward.

Just as they reached the Yan Great Wall, Liu Ye, whose face was a mixture of exhaustion and gloom, was listening to reports from Yuan Tan’s former ministers, now serving the Han Dynasty.

”No news at all?” Liu Ye asked, fatigued, as he listened to the reports from the Protector of Wuwan, his expression becoming increasingly grim.

As Jia Xu and Chen Xi had anticipated, shortly after Liu Bei dispatched his troops, Liu Ye proposed leading a force northward first to stabilize the situation in northern Youzhou to prevent the Northern Huns from crossing the Great Wall again. Naturally, Liu Bei agreed.

However, when Liu Ye led his cavalry to the Yan Great Wall, all he got from the Protector of Wuwan was the message that there was no news.

”If I were the Northern Hun Chanyu, given that strengthening my forces currently is unrealistic, the best choice would be the Miscellaneous Huns,” Liu Ye contemplated, looking slightly worried towards the north, though unable to hide his own weariness.

”Though I don’t like Wen He, Jia Wenhe definitely understands this point, so his goal must be to prevent this outcome. But how exactly does he plan to prevent it?” Liu Ye pondered silently, activating his Spiritual Talent to think from Jia Xu’s perspective.

”Zichuan must have returned as well, but he was a step behind me, so his troops likely number only six to seven thousand, reduced to four thousand if they hurried north,” Liu Ye thought with some concern, often finding slight discrepancies when thinking from Chen Xi’s perspective.

”So, with Marquis Chen’s disposition and strength, would he strike the Northern Hun rear for success?” Liu Ye assessed the current situation silently. ”Impossible; the disparity is too great, even for him…”

”There might be a chance of a surprising strike, but what is his true intention?” Liu Ye pondered, feeling slightly troubled. ”If it’s not a meaningless move, then it’s to create an opportunity. But what kind of opportunity?”

”No, seeing it this way, Jia Wenhe’s intentions become clearer, dividing his purpose into two parts,” Liu Ye theorized.

”What about the reverse possibility?” Liu Ye frowned, thinking deeply, ”There could be a chance, but it’s challenging to grasp their real intentions fully. But could it be that despite my swift advance, I was still within Jia Wenhe’s calculations?”

”Such a frustrating feeling!” Liu Ye thought unhappily. ”But what if I hadn’t hurried here so desperately?”

As Liu Ye mulled over this, a general hurried with a letter, gave a salutation, and hesitated about reporting to the Protector of Wuwan.

”This is Pavilion Marquis Liu Ziyang; you may speak freely,” the Protector of Wuwan introduced briefly, with Liu Ye nodding slightly, showing acknowledgment.

The general bowed slightly before addressing the two, ”News from Ning County: two generals under Cao Sikong have confirmed the defense of the Great Wall and have led seven thousand troops beyond the pass.”

Liu Ye’s face darkened, his hand paused mid-sip of tea, realizing Jia Xu’s strategy and even foreseeing Chen Xi’s potential methods. But only when the facts lay before him did he truly grasp it.

”Cao Mengde, who could have expected such boldness! No wonder, no wonder Jia Wenhe had such confidence; even without me, there would have been others?” Liu Ye thought gravely, yet now there was no point dwelling on these things.