Chapter Thirteen: Deception

  In front of Wuchao Village, the Cao army divided into two routes. One route was led by Xu Chu with infantry to climb the mountain to deal with Yuan Shang, and the other route was led by Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Yu Jin with elite cavalry to resist the frontal impact of Chunyu Qiong.

  Tiger and leopard cavalry, is the most brave and good at fighting cavalry under Cao Cao's command. If we talk about the war of plain impact, looking around the world, only three major cavalry, North Ping White Horse Righteous From, West Liang Iron Rider, and Bing State Wolf Rider can be compared to one battle.

  Unfortunately, by today, Gongsun Zan has perished, Lü Bu is dead, and the White Horse Volunteer Cavalry and Pingzhou Wolf Riders have been eliminated from the world. The Western Liang Iron Cavalry has long guarded the borders and never entered central China. Today, there is no longer a single cavalry that can be mentioned in the same breath as the Tiger and Leopard Riders.

  Yan saw Chun Yu Qiong leading the cavalry charge, and Zhang Liao's mouth corner revealed a hint of cold smile.

  "Tiger Leopard Troop Officers and Soldiers - Charge!"

  As Zhang Liao's voice fell, the earth-shaking sound immediately reverberated throughout the universe. The tiger leopard elite had already galloped out one after another, and under the leadership of Xu Huan, who was waving a big axe, they rushed to kill Xun Yu's cavalry.

  As soon as Cao's army launched the attack, Chunyu Qiong also let out a loud cry to the sky and shouted loudly: "You sons, these dogs from Yan State want to trample on our heads! They are overestimating themselves, thinking they can contend with the Tiger and Wolf Heavenly Army of Hebei. How ridiculous! Follow General to kill all the dogs of Yan State, tear apart the Cao flag in the Central Plains - Kill!"

  With Junyu Qiong's shout, Yuan's cavalry also charged forward with great force.

  In an instant, the sound of clashing steel echoed through the entire dark nest, the dazzling light of swords and guns chilled every soldier's skin to the bone, war horses neighed, and human voices boiled over.

  Cries of agony, shouts, the dull thud of blades entering flesh and the gurgling of blood, all blended together in a cacophony that seemed like the orchestra of death itself playing a grand symphony of mortality, from which no one could escape.

  Unfortunately, although the morale of Yuan's army was not weak, in front of the elite Tiger and Leopard Riders, they actually had no combat power to speak of. The strength of the two cavalry forces indeed had a huge gap, and it was almost just two or three rounds before the Tiger and Leopard Riders tore open a huge hole in the vanguard of Yuan's army. The front section of Yuan's cavalry could hardly resist, and they surged around like a tide.

  Junyu Qing saw this and suddenly did not expect the cavalry combat power of Cao's army to be so strong, actually making his own cavalry collapse at a touch.

  Although Chun Yuqiong was fond of wine and had limited intelligence, he was also a man who would not admit defeat on the battlefield. He led the charge, riding his horse at the forefront, wielding his battle knife to meet the enemy head-on, trying to turn the tide with his own strength alone.

  "Die!"

  As soon as the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry approached, a strange cry was heard from Chunyu Qiong. A flash of cold light, and one of the Tiger and Leopard cavalrymen's heads flew into the air, cut off by Chunyu Qiong with a single knife that sliced through both skin and flesh. The man's neck spurted blood, but his warhorse did not slow down, still crashing head-on into the Yuan army, causing the Yuan soldiers to shout and scatter in panic.

  "Don't retreat, all of you push forward for me!"

  Jun Yuqiong killed with a fierce start, continuously shouting strangely, and in the blink of an eye, he had already beheaded two more Tiger Cavalry soldiers. However, he was ultimately just one person, facing the overwhelming battle situation, and there was nothing he could do but fight to the death, trying to delay for a little while.

  Unfortunately, Cao Jun and his fierce generals were present here, how could they give Chunyu Qiong such an opportunity to show off their bravery?

  In the chaos of the battle, Chunyu Qiong swung his mountain-splitting axe left and right, charging back and forth, and many Cao soldiers were injured by his monstrous strength.

  At this moment, a horseshoe sound was suddenly heard, and a big axe that opened the mountain rushed towards Xun Yuqiong's head, like Mount Tai pressing down on him, making people feel extremely frightened.

  Jun Yuqiong suddenly woke up with a start and hastily raised her knife to block.

  All he heard was a loud "Boom", and Xun Yuqiong felt his arms go numb, a wave of dizziness washed over him, almost causing him to fall to the ground.

  The sword and axe parted, and Xun Yuqiong was just about to counterattack with a move when the opponent's large axe suddenly came slashing over from the right side again, heading straight for Xun Yuqiong's lower waist.

  Jun Yuqiong had no choice but to raise his sword again to block, and there was another "dang" of a muffled sound. The force of this axe's sweep almost pulled him off his horse.

  The other party's martial arts skills were far beyond Chun Yuqiong's expectations, and he put down his sword and stood in front of his chest. Chun Yuqiong looked at him with a surprised face and asked: "Who are you?"

  He came over with an indifferent face and simply replied with two words.

  "Xu Huang!" With that, he raised his axe and chopped again.

  Jun Yuqiong summoned his strength and fought with Xu Huan for over a dozen rounds, but as the fight wore on, the danger grew, and several times he nearly fell off his horse.

  Junyu Qiong deeply knew that the opponent's axe skills were proficient, and his martial arts were far above his own. In desperation, he had no choice but to give up fighting Xu Huan and turn his horse to escape.

  The main force retreated, and the Cao army took advantage of the momentum to attack. The tiger and leopard cavalry charged horizontally and vertically, rushing straight into Wuchao to kill. After entering Wuchao, the Cao army did not ask about anything else, and set fires everywhere.

  Yuan's army had just pretended to burn the grain, but Cao's army actually did it, and in an instant, the raging flames illuminated the sky as if it were daytime, exceptionally eye-catching.

  On the mountain, Guo Jia saw that the granary at Ucang was on fire and his heart sank. With a look of urgency, he said to Yuan Shao: "Third Lord, something is amiss! Cao's army has broken into Ucang and set fire to our grain stores!"

  Yuan Shang was shocked by the words, turned his head to look in the direction of Wu's nest, and after a long time, he sighed and shook his head: "Burn it then, we've done what we should have done, and left behind what we should have left. I only have 2,000 soldiers under my command, and it's not easy to fight like this. As for what will happen to Wu's nest, it depends on when Father's main army can arrive..."

  The words had barely left his lips when a thunderous roar echoed through the mountains, nearly shattering Yuan Shang's eardrums.

  "You little thief on the mountain, don't think you can escape! Watch me kill you!"

  Yuan Shang turned his head in surprise, only to see Xu Chu wielding a sixty-catty tiger-headed battle axe, advancing on foot up the mountain, and rushing straight at Yuan Shang. Along the way, the soldiers of Yuan's army who tried to block him were killed by him, with their horses falling over, and none of his subordinates could withstand three exchanges with him.

  The other party was clearly coming for him, and no one on his side could stop them. Yuan Shang couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead and said, "Good fellow, hold your steps, take a break and don't be so impulsive. Is there some misunderstanding between us?"

  Xu Chu raised his hand and chopped down another Yuan soldier, baring his teeth in a sinister smile. "Misunderstanding my ass! You stinky little brat, isn't it too late for you to regret now? You were so happy cursing your grandfather earlier, but now you're going to die tonight!"

  Yuan Shang furrowed his brow: "I was just casually saying a couple of sentences, just to get it off my chest, did I deserve for you to be so impulsive? You're being too sensitive... is it really necessary?"

  Xu Zhu swung his great blade, and two more soldiers fell back: "You think you can fool me? Today I'll let you die with a clear understanding. Let me tell you, my surname is Xu, my name is Zhu, my style name is Zhongkang. It's me who will take your life today!"

  "Xǔ Zhū?!" Yuán Shàng was shocked upon hearing the words, that tiger-like Xǔ Zhū who was renowned for his bravery in the Cáo army... how did I manage to provoke him?!

  Kuang Yue saw Xu Chu, one man with one knife, rushing towards him like entering a no-man's land. His heart sank instantly, and he immediately shouted loudly: "Guards come quickly, hurry up to block that enemy general, protect the safety of the three princes!"

  As soon as the words fell, the attendants on both sides rushed up to block him.

  Xu Chu let out a cold laugh and continued to advance with his feet, using one against many. His tiger-headed battle knife danced in the wind, and for a time, no one dared to approach him from either side.

  Seeing Xu Chu being invincible, Yuan Shang wiped the sweat off his forehead and said in a low voice: "What's going on? Our army can't stop him with so many people..."

  Seeing Xu Chu getting closer and closer, Guo Yuan's head was also sweating profusely, saying: "Report to the third master, I have also heard of Xu Chu. It is said that this person was promoted by Cao Cao from the countryside, with superhuman strength, known as the Tiger Madman. In terms of martial arts alone, he is indeed the number one general in the Cao army."

  Yuan Shang nodded and said in a deep voice, "This guy is so against the heavens, you and I can't defeat him by force, we need to use strategy to get rid of him... Come here, bring me my bow and arrow!"

  Kuang Yan was taken aback by his words and stared at Yuan Shang in surprise: "Young Master wants to get rid of him with a hidden arrow?"

  Yuan Shang nodded and then leaned his head close to Guo Yuan's ear, whispering a few words to him.

  As soon as he saw Guo Yuan's face, his complexion immediately darkened, and a sense of indescribable humiliation surged onto his cheeks.

  "Third Master, this move of yours... isn't it a bit too... underhanded?"

  Yuan Shang raised his hand and punched Guo Yuan fiercely, saying: "Do you know how to speak? If not, don't say it! What's called despicable, this move is called 'soldiers are not tired of deceit'! Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and do what I said!"

  At this moment, Xu Chu's murderous intent had already risen to the point where he was brandishing his sword and rushing towards Yuan Shang, who was less than fifty paces away. Seeing that stinky little brat right in front of him, Xu Chu's excited eyes turned red, his war knife gleaming with a fierce light, and he could hardly hold himself back from charging forward to chop him down with one slash.

  Fifty steps...... Forty steps..... Thirty steps......

  As the two men drew closer and closer, Guan Yu suddenly took a deep breath and shouted loudly towards the mountain below: "Brothers who are ambushing at the foot of the mountain, listen! The leader of Cao's guard, Xu Chu, has been lured to the top of the mountain by us. Cao Cao now has no capable generals left beside him. Quickly launch an attack and swiftly kill Cao Cao!"

  This loud shout was like a thunderclap on a clear day, like a muffled thunder that suddenly exploded deep in Xu Zhu's heart.

  In people's minds, there are subconscious and unconscious thoughts. Sometimes, even if they know it's false, when suddenly hearing bad news, in the midst of confusion, a small gap of doubt will appear. Moreover, under current circumstances, there is no time for Xu Chu to consider whether Guo Ai's words are true or false.

  Suddenly hearing that there were ambush troops stabbing below the mountain, Xu Chu instinctively turned around to look at Cao Cao's situation below the mountain based on his physical instincts.

  At this critical moment of turning around, Yuan Shang had already drawn his bow and arrow, tightly aiming at Xu Chu who was turning his back.

  "Dead pig! You're still too tender if you want to kill me, look at the divine arrow!"

  "Whoosh——!"

  "Ahh~~~~!"