“So the strategists can’t seize the throne, huh?”
Chapter 332: The Night Attack by the Yishui
The orders shouldn’t be spreading this fast!
Xun Pi didn’t just randomly boast about Lü Bu’s prowess.
While he was in the military camp himself, the little nuances of the stationed army were pretty evident.
With most of the camp occupied by the training of new recruits, the offensive capabilities were actually way weaker than the defensive ones.
In other words, Qiao Yan’s side was very unlikely to launch an attack on Ji Province this year.
However, out of caution, Xun Pi didn’t share this speculation with Gao Lan and Ju Shou, who were in the Hejian Commandery, but instead mixed in some snippets about the new recruits as he promoted Lü Bu, leaving Ju Shou to make a second judgment.
As far as Xun Pi was concerned, inflating Lü Bu’s reputation was just a minor task. Even if it didn’t succeed, at least he would get a bit of attention from the noble families in Zhuo County, which he considered a bonus. But with Lü Bu’s temperament, the brewing troubles would obviously outweigh any gains.
But little did he know, the time needed to send news from Youzhou back to Bingzhou was much shorter than he assumed, thanks to the carrier pigeons, and Qiao Yan’s response, sent by a fast horse from Taiyuan Commandery, would arrive in just three days.
This military order not only caused Sima Yi to clench his fist in excitement, but for Lü Bu, it was like unleashing a beast.
“You brat have some skill,” Sima Yi had just handed the letter back to Xun You when Lü Bu slapped him on the shoulder.
“General Lü, this isn’t your moment to shine yet; don’t forget you’re up against Ju Gongyu. This guy has meddled in all the commotion from exterminating the Yellow Turbans to quelling various unrests in Ji and Bing provinces, and besides commanding, he’s great with strategies. He’s not on the same level as the Xianbei you’ve fought before,” Sima Yi sighed, fearing Lü Bu might fall for the enemy’s flattery.
Lü Bu shook his head, “You underestimate me. I’m praising you because I’m the one launching this first strike into Ji Province, not just because I’ve already scored some victories.”
He lifted his chin, “If I mess this up because I was careless, first I owe it to the lord for giving me the title of Tiger Tooth General, and secondly, I can’t let Ling Ju see me making a fool of myself.”
He wasn’t foolish enough to allow that.
After all these years of experience, he had learned to balance his natural instincts with some caution.
Sima Yi was at a loss for words.
Although it sounded a bit unbelievable that Lü Bu understood how to analyze the situation, it was still better than him recklessly charging in with a weapon.
Wait a minute! That Tiger Tooth General title was granted by the court; how did it turn into a title from the Grand Marshal!
Just as Sima Yi was pondering this, Tian Feng chimed in, pulling his attention back.
“Ju Gongyu and the others are stationed at Gaoyang. The area closest to Gaoyang is actually the Baiyangdian Marshes; this choice comes from not knowing General Gan’s abilities and because of the achievements in Liaodong after crossing the sea.”
“Since it’s General Lü leading the charge with the promise of victory, let’s take the route through Fanyu Pavilion, going for a surprise attack on Gaoyang.”
Tian Feng paused and added, “I know Ju Gongyu’s temperament; if we send any signals of feigned attacks at Baiyangdian, it might make him more vigilant. It’s better to actually strike. Since this is cavalry’s speed attack making use of the east wind, there’s no need to worry about attacking a city; let’s directly raid another military camp north of Gaoyang and retreat after a successful hit.”
“Also, let the new recruits run at night in the back, so when General Lü attacks the camp and returns, they can meet in the middle, and we can see if there are any peculiar expressions among them.”
Sima Yi shot a glance at Tian Feng. Although he knew his identity, he still had to respect him for his quick adjustment to the situation after it was revealed.
Especially that last line, which would reinforce the faith of the new recruits that Lü Bu truly had the ability to strike down foes in an instant, and also help expose any spies among them.
But it’s true, if spies report back to Ye City that Tian Feng is here cooking up strategies, his family could be in danger.
Now that he had set his stance, rather than waiting passively for Qiao Yan to drop the ball, he might as well seize a favorable position first!
Seeing Xun You also approved the command, Lü Bu immediately sprang into action.
“This General Lü truly is…” Tian Feng shook his head with a laugh as he watched Lü Bu’s retreating figure.
Xun You commented, “I saw him speaking to you a moment ago; was there something inappropriate there?”
“It wasn’t inappropriate,” Tian Feng replied. “He asked me if that big noble Chen Yuanfang was really that capable, enough to come all the way from Bingzhou just to teach me to be a strategist. If that’s true, he’d visit as soon as he returns to Chang’an and ask if he could take on another disciple.”
What was Tian Feng supposed to say to that?
His true identity was known only to Zhang Liao and the two who were discussing defense and offensive strategies with him. Lü Bu, the kind who loved to chatter nonsense, wouldn’t be filled in on anything that serious, leaving Lü Bu to think Chen Ji was some talented guy.
“I once thought Lü Bu was a bit reckless, but now I think, to manage a subordinate like that, the Grand Marshal really does have some skill.”
What kind of fate would such a person have under Yuan Shao?
Tian Feng found it hard to conclude.
But probably, whether it was because he couldn’t provide a proper environment for Lü Bu to develop his skills or because after showing his prowess, he would be suspected and held accountable for overshadowing his lord, it wouldn’t be like Lü Bu’s current self at all.
He chose not to elaborate further and said to Sima Yi, “Neither Gong Da nor I are suited to observe and judge where the spies are among the new recruits; it’s better to trouble Zhong Da to take a trip.”
Due to his different identity, Tian Feng and Xun You, as the strategist of this journey, were not suitable for participating in the new recruits’ drills; thus, Sima Yi was the most fitting.
“…Am I supposed to run with them at night?” Sima Yi asked, instinctively.
But as soon as he spoke, he noticed Xun You and Tian Feng exchanged smiles, realizing he had just asked an incredibly stupid question.
He was supposed to be supervising, not suffering alongside those spies!
He hurriedly clasped his hands, “I’ll go prepare the troops; we’ll head out with the cavalry.”
Get a few sharp-eyed ones!
He had to find a few suspicious characters among the new recruits to cover up his previous performance!
Little did he know, the plotting Sima Yi had in mind gave Xun Pi a sudden chill down his back, causing him to sneeze.
Just then, someone burst into the military tent, “Everyone, prepare your outer clothing and water; we’re training with a night run tonight!”
Before Xun Pi could ask anything, the soldier responsible for the announcement had already dashed off to the next tent.
Xun Pi couldn’t help but frown.
For some reason, when this news came out, he suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
Night run training? Why suddenly have a night run training?
True, many of these recruits had physical abilities beyond the average, and likely none suffered from night blindness, but normal training shouldn’t need such oddball drills.
At this moment, as Lü Bu’s reputation was being boosted, everything felt rather peculiar.
“We should ask…No, we can’t ask just yet.” Xun Pi’s words were interrupted midway.
When everyone thought General Lü was a fierce warrior, if he allowed questioning of this order, it might sound like he was doubting the decision, potentially exposing his own identity.
Perhaps they just wanted to use this method to sniff out the spies hidden among them.
Now at the center of the storm, he had to restrain himself.
So, Xun Pi, like the other recruits, packed his belongings and lined up at the camp gate before nightfall.
However, when the camp gate opened and they were about to set off, Xun Pi immediately regretted not having inquired earlier.
As the new recruits began jogging out, leading the charge were Lü Bu’s cavalry.
This impressive cavalry had once chased Gongsun Zan’s fleeing soldiers across the plains of Youzhou, and now they were roaring southward with the same fierce formation.
To Ji Province in the south!
Xun Pi’s face darkened.
If it weren’t for the soldiers’ helmets obscuring part of his face, and if it weren’t for the darkening night making his expression hard to catch, and if almost everyone had their attention on Lü Bu’s contingent amidst the sound of galloping hooves, his sudden complexion change would surely have raised some eyebrows!
But he simply couldn’t help but react.
Lü Bu’s forces charged fiercely; this wasn’t just some night run by new recruits in Zhuo County or a patrol at the border but a clear intent to attack Ji Province!
Even if their numbers weren’t enough to conquer a city, if they managed to secure a victory, it would reinforce the promise that the forces from Bingzhou could hold Youzhou, causing Ji Province’s previously solid defenses to collapse into chaos in an instant.
Damn it! How did this flattery or division lead to this outcome?
But for Xun Pi, it was already too late to realize such arrangements.
In the vicinity of their camp, there were already Yuan Shao’s men ready to assist him, but if he could have sent out news earlier, even if the cavalry’s identity got discovered, there would still have been a chance to successfully relay the information south of the Ju River.
Now it was too late! Way too late!
Lü Bu’s army, equipped with top-notch soldiers and either pureblood horses or hybrid breeds from mating with Bingzhou’s fine horses, had a massive advantage in speed compared to the horses of Ji Province.
In such a lightning-fast assault, the only hope for Xun Pi was that Ju Shou could recognize that Qiao Yan’s side might strike quickly, gaining the initiative and effectively intercepting Lü Bu.
Could Ju Shou do it? What about Gao Lan, who was working alongside him?
As Xun Pi ran out of the camp with the new recruits, his mind was in a daze.
“Watch your step,” someone reminded nearby, “Didn’t you take the chance to catch a quick nap after the night run order was given?”
Xun Pi certainly couldn’t say he was too busy analyzing the deeper meaning of this move and had no time to prepare, so he replied, “I was just thinking about when we can ride like General Lü and charge into battle on horseback.”
Hearing this, those around him nodded in agreement.
Yeah, Lü Bu’s earlier shot with the arrow was remarkable—impressively capable of hitting enemies from two hundred paces away—one could easily imagine him commanding the battlefield with an alarming presence, but the cavalry’s movement was what truly showcased a warrior’s dominance and vigor!
When would they, the newly recruited officers under the Tiger Tooth General, ever have a chance like that?
Even if they were just following along on the war horses from Youzhou, it would be much better than merely running behind!
But for those targeted by Lü Bu in this raid, such admiration for warhorses might not even come to mind.
Ju Shou and Gao Lan’s soldiers stationed inside and outside the city complemented each other and kept a watch on every military movement along the river’s edge, quite different from the Xianbei who had silently raided Qiao Yan’s stronghold.
“This is more chaotic than I expected!”
When Lü Bu’s cavalry stomped towards the nearby guard at Fan Yu Pavilion, the guards didn’t even manage to signal the nearby cavalry before the sound of hooves was picked up by the sharp-eyed troops.
Whether it was prey or person, the cavalry by Lü Bu didn’t hesitate—they notched their arrows and shot one off right away.
The waterways near Fan Yu Pavilion were nearly dry due to this year’s drought, leaving only the main branch of the Ju Ma River. So in this autumn night, the thundering hooves that should’ve been crossing the river now merely leapt over parched ditches, only shattering the autumn frost on the ground when they stomped, sounding like iron hooves clashing with “water surfaces.”
This minor episode did nothing to slow down Lü Bu’s advance.
His target lay beyond the second barrier, and it wasn’t time for them to rest yet.
That barrier was called the Yi Water!
By the time the cavalry outfitted with horseshoes reached this point, the noise was loud enough for Gao Lan’s camp on the opposite side of the Yi Water to hear.
Ju Shou had already set up a full camp defense system here to alert everyone at the first sign of trouble at night; he quickly lit a fire on high ground to send an alarm to the distant Gao Yang City, rapidly gathering the troops within the camp to form a line against the advancing enemy.
But they were just a bit too late.
Wanting to push the battle line all the way to the Ju Ma River and even into Youzhou for the safety of Ji Province, they had built a bridge over the Yi Water several days ago.
The Yi Water wasn’t like the Yellow River or Huai River; this bridge wasn’t a floating bridge!
Gao Lan’s first mistake was failing to destroy the bridge in time.
As Lü Bu launched a furious charge across the river, what he thought was a defending army at the bridge could hardly block him, as the arrows flew in and even at the bridgehead, Lü Bu’s Fangtian Huaji sliced a cruel arc in the moonlight, decapitating the leading archer.
Before the stubborn belief of storming the enemy camp, Lü Bu never even spared a glance for his subordinate who was knocked into the river by the crossbow; instead, he briefly glanced at the distant Gao Yang’s city wall before charging forward with his soldiers toward the enemy camp.
The rear of the cavalry had already received Xun You’s instructions before departure, and at this moment they were spontaneously dismantling the defenses at the bridgehead, preparing to guard their escape route.
Lü Bu, along with his remaining subordinates, full of rising battle fervor, directly crashed into Gao Lan’s camp.
His only goal—
Break through the camp in front of him!
And then return to the camp north of the Ju Ma River, carrying the fear he’d instilled in the enemy!
Lü Bu could clearly feel, amid this midnight charge, that Chitu was even more excited than usual, almost as if his steed understood that this was his own battle achievement.
“Good buddy, let’s go!”
He wanted to show the Lord how right her decision to send him out had been.
And let those Ji Province youngsters see that even if they modified some remote weaponry like the crossbow based on the Grand Marshal’s ideas, they had never truly witnessed their power!
This was the true prowess of the Bingzhou army!
Gao Lan hadn’t even had time to feel dissatisfied over his failed obstruction at the bridgehead when Lü Bu and his troops crashed into his camp like a sharp blade.
The beacon fire on high that was lit for warning seemed to turn into a guiding mark for him, as the sound that threatened to shatter the ground rushed toward his position amidst riders and horses toppling in every direction.
The previously dug ditches and traps in the camp, along with the tangled horse snares on the ground, felt virtually non-existent before this charging cavalry.
No, it couldn’t be called non-existent.
There were still about ten cavalrymen pulled down by the snares, yet as soon as they hit the ground, they pounced upon the enemy like hungry wolves.
This ferocity put fear into anyone just a step away from Lü Bu’s long halberd.
Chitu never slowed down.
The losses from the fighting behind him, and any that would come from ambushing the camp, would only push him and his elite soldiers to act even more recklessly.
As they tightened their grips at the horse’s sides, embracing the viciousness of battle while fighting with their halberds, everyone held their arms poised above the ready crossbows they had resting on their mounts.
They were equipped with very few crossbows because no one knew if losing them might give the enemy the chance to crack their secrets.
These were only there to break the situation when they couldn’t break through encirclements or when they were too close to the enemy commander.
Lü Bu always took this phrase seriously.
And so it was in front of him that the shield soldiers were advancing, and as Gao Lan’s fully-armored figure surfaced faintly behind, the fierce Bingzhou tiger made a high-hoisted halberd gesture in Gao Lan’s sight.
Gao Lan thought this was Lü Bu indicating direction to the cavalry that had scattered, unaware that this was the signal to formally open fire!
The elite soldiers on fine horses had yet to crash into the front shields when these black-armored cavalry suddenly raised their arms with crossbows, like they had practiced countless times before, and the front rank split like water to the sides; the next moment, the sound of bowstrings releasing followed their movements as arrows flew through the gaps of the shields.
Those archers behind the shields, already faced with the awkwardness of having no target due to the crossbowmen’s armor, suddenly bore the brunt of this fierce attack.
It wasn’t just one arrow!
Each bolt cut through shield soldiers before reaching the long-speared soldiers behind them, maintaining a steady stream aimed at the further back archers.
This chaotic slaughter in the back, especially the halting of the archers, freed Lü Bu’s cavalry, which had been suppressed by the storm of arrows, in an instant. These Bingzhou soldiers, used to leaping into action at the slightest chance, didn’t give the enemy a chance to regroup.
Meanwhile, Lü Bu had taken the lead with exceptional horsemanship, cutting through the gaps in the front shields.
This tiger general might not be suited for the role of main commanding officer since he was easily overwhelmed by aggression, yet he was undoubtedly the perfect vanguard for actions that broke through enemy camps.
An arrow whizzed past him, dropping the guard beside him; he didn’t flinch, only clenched his jaw, revealing that his mood wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
Chitu dashed forth under the moonlight, heading straight toward Gao Lan.
By the time Ju Shou arrived with troops fast enough, Lü Bu had already crossed the Yi Water and was gone.
A fire had ignited on the bridge over the Yi Water.
From the intensity of the blaze, it was clear they had poured oil on it!
The scorching flames completely blocked the fleeing figures from the view of those on the southern bank of the Yi Water.
Ju Shou looked towards their camp, seeing it still in disarray from the ambush, and his cold expression instantly replaced the shock on his face as he shouted, “Where is General Gao?”
If Gao Lan were still here, even with many wounded among the camp, he shouldn’t let it be this way!
This was a disgrace!
“General Gao… General Gao he…” stuttered a soldier pointed out by Ju Shou.
“Is he dead?” Ju Shou asked.
“No, that Lü Bu charged right up to General Gao intending to kill him, but for some reason suddenly held back and instead knocked him out with a halberd, then took him away!”
Taken away?
Ju Shou’s brows furrowed.
In the face of such a fierce ambush, to not kill the enemy general when given the chance but to take him away certainly exceeded what could be considered reasonable.
Unless that taken general still had some other use for them.
But Lü Bu had no idea about that use.
Just thinking that due to this person’s exceptional defense, he experienced enough casualties during a supposed direct rush into the camp made him want to smash the guy’s head into pieces.
But right before he set out, Xun You had repeatedly reminded him that if there was an opportunity, he must definitely bring back the enemy general; the Lord would surely reward everyone for it, and their contributions would be duly noted, and Sima Yi had said the same, so Lü Bu decided to trust them one more time.
At the moment Lü Bu was about to cleave Gao Lan in half with the Fangtian Huaji, he suddenly reversed the halberd and slammed it against the helmeted head.
Under the protection of armor, he wasn’t immediately killed, but he was knocked unconscious and then tossed over Lü Bu’s horse to be carried away.
By dawn, the team returning from the ambush met with night-running soldiers still on the move.
These guys were well past their limits at this point, but upon hearing the sound of hooves approaching, they each forced themselves to perk up to leave a good impression on their commander.
Also exhaling heavily, Xin Pi, who looked just as eager, put aside his regrets about facing more trouble and focused his entire mind on Lü Bu’s achievements this time.
But the hope that had sustained him until that moment seemed to fade away.
In fact, as soon as he heard the sound of Lü Bu’s cavalry—though urgent, it was not disordered—he prepared himself for the worst.
But seeing with his own eyes that Lü Bu’s troops had suffered minimal losses and even still looked invigorated post-kill made Xin Pi feel that every ounce of his midnight fatigue exploded all at once.
What filled him with a sense of impending doom was seeing Lü Bu toss Gao Lan from his horse and, under the first light of day, bellow, “Everyone, look at this armor; it’s from a top general under Yuan Benchu, we’ve captured him! Who’s willing to accompany me in the next battle?”
What a spirited display!
Whether it was Qiao Yan or Zhang Liao, they had paved the way for Lü Bu, equipping this elite cavalry with all sorts of military supplies, leading to this splendid victory.
But for the new recruits from Zhuo County, they didn’t need to ponder such matters.
All they needed to know was—this glorious battle-ready appearance was their future!
So what was there to hesitate about?
It wasn’t even in the military camp, but rather in the outskirts of Youzhou after a long journey, yet a startling cheer erupted from them, “We are willing to go!”
This boisterous and piercing shout even jolted the unconscious Gao Lan awake.
Rubbing his throbbing head, he sat up, as if he couldn’t process what misfortune had struck him.
Amid the dull ache blurring his senses, Gao Lan instinctively searched for familiar faces, quickly locking eyes with Xin Pi among the crowd.
The other’s somewhat disheveled appearance jolted him back to reality, realizing he wasn’t in his own camp.
He was not enjoying the luck of survival from Lü Bu’s Fangtian Huaji but was instead in a dire situation having been captured!
Thus, he saw Xin Pi!
Receiving the signal to look away, Gao Lan quickly acted like he didn’t recognize Xin Pi and turned his gaze, putting on a mask of confusion as if he hadn’t yet grasped his predicament.
But such an exchange, brief as it was, didn’t escape the watchful eyes of Sima Yi waiting nearby.
Not to mention those who had been stunned by Lü Bu’s victory, seeing this scene, Sima Yi’s eyes flickered with deep thought and joy.
It seemed he saw a big fish!
