Did you count it?

  "Hmm..."

  "Heh heh..."

  Two loud whirring sounds suddenly rang out, and two feathered arrows shot into the watchtower of Cao's camp, striking the sentries. Two of Cao's sentries fell silently to the ground, motionless on the watchtower.

  "Hurry, charge in... be careful not to alert Cao's army." Guan Ping didn't even glance at the two dead Cao soldiers and instead shouted in a low voice to the troops behind him: "Follow me straight into the central camp..."

  Outside the forest, Liu Bei stroked the pair of male and female swords that had followed him for many years, his eyes narrowed and fixed on Cao's camp without moving. The inexplicable sense of crisis in his heart slightly decreased due to Guan Ping's departure. Liu Bei thought to himself: "I hope I'm just thinking too much. Heaven, if you have eyes, help me out, Liu Bei."

  Thinking of this, Liu Bei couldn't help but smile wryly: "When did I, Liu Bei, also beg for the heavens?"

  Liu Bei gently shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions. At this moment, a soldier came to report: "Your Excellency, General Guan has come to report that everything is going smoothly."

  Liu Bei's face remained unchanged, but in his heart he was overjoyed. If things went this way, Cao's army would surely be defeated without a doubt? Liu Bei secretly thought: "Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Yuan, watch me break your camp today!"

  At this thought, that sense of floating and imperceptible crisis was immediately dispelled by the joy of impending victory in my heart.

  Since Liu Bei's Yellow Turban Rebellion, he has been fighting in all directions, but has not gained any benefits, and is still unsuccessful. He finally arrived in Xuzhou, and was delighted to become the governor of Xuzhou, but before he could even warm his seat, he was suddenly attacked by Lü Bu and lost Xuzhou. Later, Cao's army swept away Lü Bu with lightning speed, leaving no opportunity for Liu Bei.

  It was not easy to escape from Cao Cao's prison, thinking that from then on he would be able to soar into the sky and achieve great things, but instead he was besieged by Cao Cao's army in Xuzhou, relying on his three sworn brothers for survival, almost losing his life, and nearly ending up with a broken family.

  Every time he thinks of this place, Liu Bei's back breaks out in cold sweat, and his heart is filled with joy and gratitude. Luckily, heaven is still fair, not everything favors that old scoundrel Cao Cao.

  "Charge into the enemy's camp!" Liu Bei let out a low growl, and with a flick of his whip, he galloped forward on his fine horse, leading the way.

  Guan Ping and his men entered the Cao army camp, and suddenly felt an eerie silence around them. The silence was terrifying, and this atmosphere made Guan Ping and the other generals feel suffocated and oppressed.

  "Ah......" A mournful cry awakened the countless ripples on the lake.

  Guan Ping's heart skipped a beat, his hand gripping the war sword tightened suddenly, and his sharp eyes scanned backwards, only to see a small soldier clutching his foot, with a pained expression on his face, and wailing in agony.

  Guan Ping's eyes twitched, a sudden surge of anger in his chest. The other generals also gradually relaxed from their initial tension, fixing their fierce gazes on the little soldier... Guan Ping, suppressing the flames of rage in his heart, strode swiftly to the front of the little soldier and said in a low voice: "What's going on?"

  "General...G-General, I..." The little soldier stuttered upon seeing Guan Ping's gloomy face.

  "Cut the crap, speak."

  It seemed that Guan Ping had seen through the small soldier's awkwardness, and the small soldier, enduring the pain, stood up trembling and said: "General... General, I was just touched by something earlier and accidentally fell, so..."

  "Hmph... Be more careful in the future, didn't you know that just now that shout was enough to wake up the enemy and put our entire army in danger? Are you not aware of this precarious situation?" Guan Ping rebuked the soldier with a stern face.

  " Ping'er, what's going on? Why didn't you rush forward to the main tent, what are you doing here?" Liu Bei's face was gloomy, and he asked Guan Ping anxiously.

  "Great Uncle, just now this little soldier accidentally fell and let out a loud cry, probably already alarming the enemy. The young nephew's plan is to take advantage of the enemy not having reacted yet, to withdraw from the enemy camp?" Guan Ping heard this and hastily cupped his hands in respect.

  Liu Bei's face turned even darker after hearing Guan Ping's words, and a thread of fierce anger flashed in the depths of his eyes, but it disappeared instantly...

  "Retreat? What a good opportunity..." Liu Bei muttered to himself, Liu Bei also knew that Guan Ping's words were reasonable.

  "The opportunity has slipped away, if we don't seize it this time, it will be hard to come by again..." Liu Bei muttered to himself, hesitating for a moment.

  Liu Bei immediately furrowed his brow and asked in a low voice: "Ping'er, why is it that at this moment there is no sign of Cao's army stirring in the great camp?"

  Guan Ping was taken aback by the words, but soon he seemed to understand something and suddenly raised his head to look at Liu Bei, with a sharp gaze that pierced through. At the same time, Liu Bei also seemed to have understood everything, raising his head to glance at Guan Ping, his eyes gleaming with uncontrollable joy...

  "Ping'er, you said Cao's camp is......" Liu Bei asked in a low voice.

  Guan Ping suppressed the excitement in his heart and said repeatedly, "Elder brother, it's probably like this." After a pause, he spoke with a worried tone: "If it's not for this reason, then there can only be one explanation..."

  Liu Bei heard and remained silent, Liu Bei understood in his heart what Guan Ping wanted to say but stopped - "There is a trick in Cao's camp!"

  Taking a deep breath, Liu Bei closed his eyes tightly, his mind was in a mess, struggling for a long time. After a while, Liu Bei slowly opened his eyes, the light in his eyes flickered uncertainly, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly from time to time.

  The surroundings were quiet, with only a few strands of cool wind blowing in their faces, which was quite chilling. Guan Ping and the other generals did not move, their eyes quietly fixed on Liu Bei, knowing that he was about to make another painful decision.

  To fight or not to fight? It's a very confusing thing.

  If we win this battle, then our guess is correct and victory is certain. If our guess is wrong, losing some soldiers and generals will be a minor loss. What I fear most is that in the end, we'll suffer a complete defeat...

  "Heaven won't be helping Cao's thieves, will it? Such a great opportunity must not be missed..." With this thought, Liu Bei's eyes became fixed, and he turned his head to shout in a low voice at Guan Ping: "Charge, charge forward!"

  "Ah?" Guan Ping was slightly startled. He immediately realized his mistake and quickly closed his mouth, quietly looking at Liu Bei. After a moment of contemplation, he said in a low voice: "Uncle, why not let me rush in, and you wait outside to support me?"

  Guan Ping's words moved Liu Bei somewhat, but looking around at the surrounding generals, Liu Bei suddenly shouted at Guan Ping: "Ping'er, what are you talking about?" He paused for a moment, then said: "I swear to live and die together with all of you... share weal and woe."

  Guan Ping was slightly stunned, and then a wave of shame surged up in his heart. After Liu Bei finished speaking, he took advantage of the fact that the other generals were not paying attention to give Guan Ping a glance. Liu Bei didn't have time to explain, he just hoped that Guan Ping could understand his good intentions this time. With a sharp gaze and holding his double-edged sword, Liu Bei strode forward with a fierce momentum.

  Guan Ping also came to his senses at this time, seeing Liu Bei's momentum as if he was going straight forward. He couldn't help but hurry up and follow him with a knife, shouting in a low voice to the soldiers behind: "All generals, follow the lord together to destroy Cao's army... and directly attack the main tent."

  The surrounding soldiers all heard Liu Bei scolding Guan Ping, and for a moment they were all filled with the spirit of dying for their comrades, regardless of whether there were thousands or tens of thousands of enemy troops in front of them.

  At this moment, they had only one conviction in their minds, to follow Liu Bei and charge straight into the enemy's headquarters. As soon as Guan Ping's words fell, all the generals followed closely behind him, with a somewhat heroic and tragic atmosphere of a brave warrior going to his death.

  *****

  Jia Xu stood on the watchtower of the rear camp, standing against the wind. The gentle breeze blew up Jia Xu's green robe, making a rustling sound. Jia Xu's eyes were fixed intently on the dark area in front of the vanguard and the central army. Suddenly, Jia Xu's eyes flickered, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Liu Xiong, I'm afraid I've offended you here..."

  Jia Xu's mind was certain that Liu Bei had already led his troops to the front camp, or perhaps... he should have arrived at the main military tent by now. If Liu Bei had indeed arrived at the main tent, Jia Xu wondered what kind of expression Liu Bei would have on his face when he saw the letter on the table?

  After a moment of contemplation, Jia Yu smiled and put it aside, beckoning a guard to come over and asking: "Have the matters I entrusted been taken care of?"

  The guard bowed respectfully and said: "Sir, rest assured, it's already been taken care of. With just one word from you, sir, it can be settled."

  "Hmm..." Jia Yu nodded and asked: "Is there any news about General Jia Ying?"

  "...has not yet..." The guard had not finished speaking when a soldier came to report: "Sir, the vanguard and central camp have discovered traces of Liu Bei's army. General Jia Yong has sent someone to report that he has arrived, please be at ease..."

  "Heh heh, excellent! " Jia Yu stroked his three strands of beard and smiled, saying with a smile: "Let's get started!"

  "Yes!" The soldiers received Jia Yu's order and quickly rushed outwards, preparing for action.

  Jia Yu smiled and glanced at the middle camp before turning around and walking out of the camp.

  As they were about to leave the camp, Jia Xu stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes, smiling at the guards: "When the fire starts, you all shout 'Presenting a gift to Liu Xuande, hoping for your acceptance...'"

  "Yes!" The guard retreated after receiving the order.

  "A gift for Liu Xiang's farewell, hoping you'll accept it with a smile..."

  "A gift for Liu Xiang's farewell, hoping you'll accept it with a smile..."

  "Presenting gifts to bid farewell to Liu Xianggong, hoping for your acceptance with a smile..."

  Suddenly, shout after shout echoed into the central camp tent.

  Inside the big account, Liu Bei held a letter left by Jia Xu and examined it carefully. His hands trembled slightly as he heard "Presenting gifts to meet Liu Xian Sheng, hoping for your acceptance..." Suddenly his heart throbbed violently, and his ecstatic mood suddenly fell into an abyss of despair.

  At this time, there seemed to be a floating firelight outside... Liu Bei's face was gloomy and uncertain.

  At this time, Guan Ping rolled up the curtain and entered the tent. His armor was already covered in black soot, his face was scorched, and he hastily said: "Big brother, Cao's army is treacherous, we fell into their fire attack plan, outside is a sea of flames, our army's formation is greatly chaotic..."

  "What...!" Liu Bei's face suddenly turned pale, then flashed a deep red, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Guan Ping was shocked, and after a moment, Liu Bei regretfully said: "I was careless, this is my fault."

  "Great Uncle, this is not the time to discuss that. What's most important now is to take advantage of the enemy not having surrounded us yet and break out of the encirclement..." Guan Ping said anxiously.

  "Yes, yes, Ping'er is right. Quickly, assemble the troops and break out of the encirclement." Liu Bei shouted loudly as he emerged from his tent.

  The majority of the troops outside the camp were a mob, suddenly shot by thousands of fire arrows, they were at a loss, panicked and fled for their lives, who would still listen to Liu Bei's roar?

  Liu Bei's anger flared up in his heart, and just as he was about to draw his sword and assert his authority, Guan Ping hastily whispered in his ear: "Big Brother, these scattered troops are already beyond redemption. Our elite forces are still intact, but outside the camp there must be Cao's army waiting in ambush. These scattered troops can serve our purpose, why not...

  Liu Bei heard Guan Ping's plan and his eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly in agreement. He called over a deputy general and whispered something in his ear, the deputy general's face showed joy as he shouted "My lord, take care..." then led the remaining soldiers and defeated generals to leave from both sides...

  Liu Bei saw the deputy general like this, his face was gloomy and uncertain, his eyes flashed a hint of gloom, Guan Ping said: "Big brother, such a person is dead, not worth regretting..."

  Liu Bei smiled and said: "Ping'er is right, such people are not worth our sympathy..." He paused for a moment, then asked: "Ping'er, how many men do we have left in our army?"

  Guan Ping seemed to have expected this, and his tone was heavy as he said: "Elder uncle, of the six thousand troops that went out, more than two thousand died in Cao's fire attack. Vice General Ma led three thousand away... Our army still has over a thousand soldiers..."

  Liu Bei's eyes twitched slightly upon hearing this, and though he didn't say a word, the faint tremble of his facial muscles betrayed the deep sorrow in his heart.

  As the time approached, Guan Ping nodded to Liu Bei, who took a deep breath and pointed his two double-edged swords forward. In a low, stern voice, he addressed the over 1,000 officers surrounding him: "Officers, today I, Liu Bei, have failed your expectations and led our army to defeat. However, Cao Cao's treachery has brought about this disastrous outcome, causing many of our comrades to die with grievances unavenged. I vow to avenge their deaths together with all of you!"

  "Comrades, are you willing to follow me and cut a bloody path to pay respects to the heroic souls of our fallen comrades?"

  "I wish to follow my lord and avenge my grievances..."

  "I wish to follow my lord and avenge my grievances..."

  ……

  Over a thousand generals' voices converged into one, rushing straight to the clouds. Liu Bei suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit, his two hands shook, and he pointed his sword forward, roaring: "I, Liu Bei, vow to be with all of you generals, all of you generals, take revenge and wipe out the shame, right now, kill..."