Chapter 8: The Three Brothers of Peach Garden Take Action

  Mastered! The big alliance has topped again, this support is really awesome, no need to say more, handshake.

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  The Battle of Jieqiao began, and people at that time did not look highly on Yuan Shao. After all, Gongsun Zan and his Youzhou army were too famous and powerful, almost invincible in the north. Last year's Dongguang battle even defeated 300,000 Yellow Turbans with only 30,000 troops, shocking the world.

  At that time, Yuan Shao had just taken control of Ji Province and was still in the process of establishing his power. Although he had a prestigious name, it was generally believed that he was not as capable as Gongsun Zan in terms of military affairs. This was something that even Yuan Shao himself did not deny, which is why he gave the important position of Governor of Bohai to Gongsun Fan, Gongsun Zan's cousin, in an attempt to curry favor with him. If it weren't for this invasion by Gongsun Zan into Hebei, with his army heading straight for Yuan Shao's hometown of Ye City, and if the situation hadn't been so pressing, Yuan Shao would have truly not wanted to provoke this formidable opponent.

  Due to a lack of confidence, Yuan Shao led the central and rear armies from Guangchuan (now Zaoqiang, Hebei) to slowly advance southward, while letting Miu Yi lead the vanguard to first engage in battle with Gongsun Zan at Jie Bridge. This was originally just a probing attack, but unexpectedly, Gongsun Zan suffered a disastrous defeat and was forced to defend his camp. If not for Miu Yi's unexpected death, it can be imagined that Gongsun Zan would have been defeated even more miserably.

  Great joy completely dispelled the sorrow of losing a great general, Yuan Shao immediately accelerated his march, rushing to the front line of Jieqiao, and launched a general attack on Gongsun Zan's Youzhou army headquarters.

  Ma Yun threw himself into this chaotic melee under such circumstances.

  At this moment, Ma Xun is leading dozens of men, stationed at a forest, gazing into the distance.

  As the time approached noon, both armies had formed their arrays near Jieqiao Bridge and sent out vanguards to launch probing attacks. At this point, several thousand infantrymen were already entangled in combat. Meanwhile, the cavalry of both armies harassed and charged at each other on the flanks.

  The battle entered a stalemate, at this time, in front of the left wing array of Youzhou army, a red flag with a military commander level flew out of the array at high speed, and more than 100 riders surrounded the big flag, charging towards the Jizhou army's right-wing cavalry.

  On the large flag, a big "Liu" character, particularly eye-catching. Among the Youzhou Army's deputy generals, there was only one with the surname Liu - Liu Bei.

  Ma Hu immediately fixed his gaze on the three riders under the large flag: The one in the center wore a helmet and armor, holding a long spear; The one on the left also held a spear, but it was extremely long, four times longer than an ordinary spear, reaching an astonishing length of four meters. In Han Dynasty measurements, it was a "zhangba" long spear. The one on the right held a two-meter-long knife with a narrow and long blade, and the nine-foot handle shone with a silver light in the sunlight - incredibly, it was an iron-handled long knife.

  Liu's large flag on both sides are "Guan" and "Zhang" green small flags.

  Liu, Guan, Zhang! As expected, the three brothers of Peach Garden have come out!

  Liu Bei resided in the midst of his cavalry, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei guarding his flanks, surrounded by more than 40 attendants, with nearly 50 bowmen following closely on both sides. This was the elite of Liu Bei's nearly thousand-strong private army.

  Liu Bei was then the deputy commander, with over a thousand soldiers under his command. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were respectively appointed as military marquises. However, among these over a thousand men, there were only over a hundred cavalrymen, while the rest were infantrymen. These over a hundred cavalrymen were Liu Bei's only elite troops that he could rely on. At this critical moment of the battle, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase his strength. Liu Bei, who was best at seizing opportunities, would not miss this chance and would fully demonstrate his abilities.

  But seeing these more than 40 cavalrymen forming a small wedge-shaped formation, the 50 archers scattered behind them, from south to north, turning around and brushing past the flanks. The hundred cavalrymen were like the wind, with swords and guns falling together, arrows flying like locusts, the Jizhou soldiers were caught off guard, and the soldiers on the outer edge of the army formation fell down in a large swathe like cut grass.

  Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei wielded their swords and spears, riding their horses as if flying, cutting through the enemy's right flank. The blades shattered bones and sliced through skin, while the leather armor and wooden shields were reduced to fragments. More than 40 cavalrymen held lances and guns, using the momentum of their horses to heavily pierce the enemy's leather armor, wooden shields, and bodies that had lost their protective gear...

  Fifty mounted archers, Liu Bei imitated Gongsun Zan's White Horse Army and established the system. However, qualified archers were absolutely scarce talents. With Gongsun Zan's ability, his White Horse Army had only over a thousand men. How many more could Liu Bei recruit? Therefore, Liu Bei had to expand the recruitment object. Among these fifty mounted archers, more than half were Wuhuan and Xianbei people, thus barely forming combat effectiveness.

  The Hu people have a natural advantage in archery, and almost every time they shoot an arrow, someone in the enemy's formation will fall to the ground. After galloping back and forth in front of the formation three times, each cavalryman shooting over ten arrows, more than 100 Jizhou soldiers were killed by their hands, and the number of wounded was twice that number.

  The sudden attack caused the Jizhou soldiers to panic, and in the chaos, dozens were trampled or injured.

  With just a small cavalry, such achievements were made, which greatly boosted the morale of the Youzhou army, and they cheered endlessly.

  On the south bank of the Pan River, at the large camp, on a temporarily erected four-zhang-high tower, the commander-in-chief of Youzhou Army, Gongsun Zan, wearing heavy armor and holding a large banner, stood at the top of the tower, leaning against the railing to observe the battle. Seeing this situation, he couldn't help but applaud and praise: "Xuande is indeed extraordinary, and has achieved another merit for our Youzhou Army."

  Due to Liu Bei's outstanding performance, after the Battle of Jieqiao, Gongsun Zan rewarded him and appointed him as the Administrator of Pingyuan, in charge of a whole commandery. From then on for a long time, Liu Bei was known as "Liu Pingyuan" or "Liu Zhugong", truly having his own territory to nurture his own followers.

  Liu Bei succeeded in his adventure.

  As time went on, the seemingly invincible Peach Garden Three Brothers slowly revealed their decline. First was the bow cavalry, after continuously shooting nearly twenty arrows, more than half of their strength had been exhausted. At this point, they had to reserve some energy, lest they be taken advantage of by the enemy, and it could be said that they had temporarily lost the ability to continue fighting. Under Liu Bei's order, the bow cavalry gathered and dispersed, covering each other as they retreated back to their own camp.

  Then there were the light cavalry, rapid and violent charges, not only did human physical strength drain rapidly, but so did that of the horses. A few rounds of charging and slashing, the effect of killing the enemy was remarkable, what was paid out was a large consumption of physical strength.

  At present, among this team of strange soldiers, except for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei who are still fierce and powerful, the rest of the cavalry are all weak and feeble.

  Liu Bei was also panting, looking around, quite satisfied with his own military achievements, the goal had been achieved, and they could withdraw.

  "Yun-chang, Yi-de, return to the army!"

  Guan and Zhang had just warmed up when they heard the order to retreat from their elder brother. Although they were reluctant, on the battlefield, military orders come first, and since they themselves were unharmed, but their warhorses could not withstand it, they could only retreat for now.

  Jizhou army was not easy to get along with, and this cavalry team on the right wing was making a big stir. How could the central army of Jizhou be unmoved? Just as Liu, Guan, and Zhang were about to turn back, dozens of flags appeared in the central and rear armies of Jizhou, rushing to encircle them.

  Dozens of flags were divided into three batches, with more than 300 riders, galloping under the leadership of three military generals. Their identifying flags were embroidered with "Yan", "Wen" and "Zhang" respectively.

  Ma Xun narrowed his eyes, among these surnames, Zhang was not to be mentioned, and the Yan and Wen surnames were extremely rare. In Yuan Shao's army, they had a special meaning. Could it be that the incoming general is...

  At this time, the Jizhou cavalry relied on their strong horses and quickly intercepted a dozen or so riders who had retreated halfway, including Zhang Fei. Liu Bei and Guan Yu, who had already escaped from the encirclement, saw that their younger brother was surrounded and immediately turned back to rescue him, charging into the encirclement of the Jizhou army.

  Xiangguo Yan Liang.

  "Yingchuan Wen Chou."

  Zhang He of Hejian.

  "You still don't hurry up and surrender!"

  Ma Xian heard from afar and smiled brightly, it was indeed them, this time, there would be a good show to watch.