The air was thick with the scent of impending battle as the allied forces,led by Yuan Shao,marched towards Luoyang.The vast army,a sea of banners and spears,moved with the steady determination of a single entity,each man driven by the promise of a united front against the tyranny of Dong Zhuo.
Dong Zhuo,sensing the threat,mustered an imposing army of two hundred thousand.He dispatched Li Jue and Guo Si to lead a portion of the troops to safeguard the Sishui Pass,while he himself led another part to position at the Hulao Pass.Dong Zhuo's adopted son,Lu Bu,with thirty thousand elite soldiers under his command,established a camp in front of the Hulao Pass.
Upon receiving word of the Xiliang Army's movements,Yuan Shao promptly sent out an army to challenge at the Hulao Pass.Initially,this army comprised Gongsun Zan and seven other feudal lords.However,due to Lin Yu's influence,Cao Cao's army had grown in strength.Moreover,with Dian Wei having slain Huaxiong previously,Yuan Shao ordered Cao Cao to lead eight feudal lords including Wang Kuang,Qiao Mao,and Bao Xin to assail the Hulao Pass.
As the allied forces reached the Hulao Pass,they beheld an army already arrayed in formation beneath the pass.A military general,resplendent in magnificent armor and brandishing a Fangtian Hua Ji,astride a Red Hare Horse,cut an imposing figure.It was none other than the world-renowned Lu Bu.
At the sight of the allied forces,Lu Bu spurred his horse forward and bellowed mightily,"I am Lu Bu!Who dares to engage me in combat?"His voice thundered like a tempest,striking terror into the hearts of the allied soldiers.
"Lu Bu,don't be so haughty!Fang Yue is here to challenge you!"Fang Yue,a famed general from Henei,rode forth to do battle with Lu Bu.Alas,the disparity in strength between Fang Yue and Lu Bu was too vast,and he was swiftly vanquished by Lu Bu.
Lu Bu's valor sent shockwaves through the allied forces.Seizing the moment,he led the Xiliang Army in a fierce charge.Despite the allied forces'numerical advantage,their morale crumbled in the face of Lu Bu's ferocity.The allied troops were routed under Lu Bu's onslaught and fled pell-mell.
After retreating to a place thirty li from the Hulao Pass,Cao Cao and the others rallied their troops and deliberated on countermeasures.
"Lu Bu's bravery is truly beyond expectation!"Kong Rong exclaimed,his heart still pounding with fear.Just moments ago,Lu Bu had come perilously close to him.Had it not been for Wu Anguo's desperate defense,he might have perished.
"What are we to do in the face of such a valiant Lu Bu?"
"Why don't we return to Yuan Shao and devise countermeasures together?"proposed the other feudal lords.
Cao Cao remained silent,his brows knitted in consternation.Having just led the troops to defeat,he naturally nursed a sense of bitter frustration within his breast.Xiahou Dun,discerning Cao Cao's thoughts,whispered,"My lord,why not seek counsel from Lin Yu?He might have a strategy."
Cao Cao's eyes brightened.Right!He still had Lin Yu,that brilliant strategist.
"Wait here,everyone.I'll return shortly!"With that,Cao Cao hastened towards the baggage camp,leaving Kong Rong and the others looking bewildered.
Lin Yu had long foreseen that the allied forces would be no match for Lu Bu,and thus he had made prior preparations.When the allied forces were routed,he had ordered Dian Wei and Zhao Yun to make a hasty retreat.Now that the situation had calmed somewhat,Lin Yu let out a sigh of relief and leaned against a wagon to rest.
Lu Bu was truly a paragon of martial prowess,and the Red Hare Horse was the king among steeds.The Fangtian Hua Ji was peerless.Lu Bu alone had sent the allied forces scattering like leaves before the wind.
At this moment,Cao Cao found Lin Yu.At the sight of his figure,Cao Cao felt a glimmer of hope."Sir!"
Seeing Cao Cao,Lin Yu knew he had come seeking a plan to counter Lu Bu.
"Lord Cao,please,take a seat."Lin Yu moved the sacks of grain to make room for Cao Cao,who,undeterred by the humble setting,sat down at once.
Before Cao Cao could utter a word,Lin Yu smiled and said,"Though Lu Bu is brave,he is not invincible.I have a scheme to defeat him."
Cao Cao quickly inquired,"What is your ingenious plan,sir?"
Lin Yu gestured towards Dian Wei beside him.
Cao Cao was startled and then said with a rueful smile,"Sir,though Dian Wei is valiant,I fear he is no match for Lu Bu either."
"True.But what if we add my third brother,Zhao Yun?"Lin Yu said with a smile,beckoning to Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun stepped forward and saluted Cao Cao."Zhao Yun pays his respects to Lord Cao."
Cao Cao had learned of Zhao Yun's background during his previous encounter with Gongsun Zan.He just hadn't expected that Zhao Yun had now become Lin Yu's sworn brother.Looking at Zhao Yun's refined and elegant countenance,Cao Cao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.Patiently,he said,"Sir,Lu Bu's prowess is not something that can be overcome merely by having more men."
"Have no fear.The martial skills of my third brother Zhao Yun are on a par with those of my second brother Dian Wei!The two of them joining forces against Lu Bu will surely quell his arrogance!"Lin Yu declared with absolute confidence."When Lu Bu is defeated,Lord Cao can seize the opportunity to launch an attack."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Despite Lin Yu's assurances,Cao Cao remained doubtful.But at present,he had no alternative.After a moment's reflection,he could only sigh and say,"Then we shall follow your plan,sir."
Cao Cao returned to Kong Rong and the others and relayed Lin Yu's plan,only to be met with opposition.
"Although Dian Wei slew Huaxiong,Lu Bu is no ordinary foe!"
"Yes,he is incredibly brave.How could he be defeated just by having more people?"Everyone shook their heads in disbelief.
"I have made my decision.You all must follow me!"Cao Cao insisted firmly.
Reluctantly,the others had no choice but to comply.
After reorganizing the allied forces,they set out once more towards the Hulao Pass under Cao Cao's leadership.
Inside the Hulao Pass
Dong Zhuo,with his corpulent belly,sat in the main hall and roared with laughter."My son Lu Bu is truly invincible.These allied forces are but trifles before you!"
Lu Bu preened himself in the hall and said with feigned modesty,"Father,you praise me too highly.I owe all my success to your great name,Father."
Hearing this,Dong Zhuo was even more elated."My son Lu Bu,Father will not be ungenerous.You will be richly rewarded later!"
Lu Bu's joy knew no bounds upon hearing this.
The hall was filled with an atmosphere of deep-seated father-son affection and harmony.
However,just then,a messenger rushed in,his face pale with anxiety."Prime Minister,disaster!The allied forces have returned to attack!"
"What's there to panic about?"Lu Bu chastised him with a sneer."These defeated wretches dare to return.They're simply courting death!Father,I'll go and dispose of them at once!"
"Very well.I leave this matter in your hands,"Dong Zhuo nodded solemnly.
Everyone in the Xiliang Army,including Dong Zhuo,was completely at ease and did not take the allied forces seriously at all.After all,Lu Bu had just routed them.
Below the Hulao Pass
The gate slowly creaked open,and Lu Bu led a troop of soldiers and charged out.Gazing at the allied forces not far away,he couldn't help but laugh uproariously."You hapless losers,it was your good fortune to escape last time.But you're so foolhardy as to return and seek your doom!"
With renewed determination,the allied forces prepared for the battle of a lifetime.The air was thick with tension as both armies eyed each other,each side knowing that the outcome of this encounter would shape the course of history.
Lu Bu,confident in his invincibility,rode forth,his Fangtian Hua Ji gleaming in the sunlight.Behind him,the Xiliang Army roared their battle cries,their morale high.
Cao Cao,positioned at the forefront of the allied forces,raised his sword,signaling the start of the battle.The air filled with the clash of steel and the thunderous sound of horses'hooves as the two armies collided.
Dian Wei and Zhao Yun,following Lin Yu's strategy,circled around the main battle,their eyes locked on Lu Bu.As the fighting raged around them,they waited for the perfect moment to strike.
Lu Bu,sensing their approach,turned to face the two warriors.His eyes narrowed as he recognized the threat they posed."So you dare to challenge me again?"
Dian Wei,his muscles rippling beneath his armor,hefted his massive halberd."We shall see who falls this day,Lu Bu!"
Zhao Yun,equally matched in skill and valor,drew his blade with a flourish."Together,we shall end your tyranny!"
The battle cries of the allied forces rose in unison,a chorus of defiance against the might of Lu Bu.The clash of steel echoed across the battlefield as Dian Wei and Zhao Yun engaged Lu Bu in a fierce duel.The Red Hare Horse,sensing the intensity of the fight,reared and snorted,its fiery eyes reflecting the determination of its master.
Lu Bu,undeterred,met their attacks with a ferocity that matched his reputation.His Fangtian Hua Ji danced in a blur of steel,parrying and countering with deadly precision.The air around him seemed to crackle with the force of his strikes,each swing and thrust a testament to his unparalleled strength and skill.
Dian Wei and Zhao Yun fought as one,their combined might a spectacle to behold.They moved in harmony,their attacks complementing each other's,forcing Lu Bu to defend on all fronts.The ground shook with the force of their blows,and the very air seemed to hum with the intensity of their struggle.
Cao Cao,watching from the sidelines,felt a surge of hope."By the heavens,Lin Yu's plan may yet succeed!"
Kong Rong,standing beside him,gripped his sword tightly."If they can but hold their own,our forces may yet turn the tide."
As the battle raged,the sun reached its zenith,casting a harsh light on the scene of chaos and valor.The allied forces,though battered and weary,fought on,their spirits lifted by the sight of their champions battling the legendary Lu Bu.
Lu Bu,despite his prowess,began to tire under the relentless assault.His breath came in ragged gasps,and his eyes flickered with a hint of doubt.Could he truly defeat these two warriors who fought with such unity and purpose?
In that moment of hesitation,Dian Wei saw an opening and struck with all his might.His halberd crashed into Lu Bu's defenses,the force of the blow sending vibrations up his arm.Lu Bu's armor dented under the impact,and for the first time,a look of genuine fear crossed his face.
Zhao Yun,seizing the opportunity,lunged forward with a swift and precise strike.His blade sliced through the air,aiming for Lu Bu's exposed side.Lu Bu,reacting with the instincts of a seasoned warrior,managed to deflect the blow at the last moment,but not before a thin line of blood appeared on his armor.
The allied forces roared in triumph,their spirits soaring at the sight of Lu Bu's first wound.Their belief in victory,once a distant dream,now seemed within reach.
As the battle wore on,the tide of the fight began to shift.Lu Bu,though still formidable,was now on the defensive,his every move calculated to avoid the combined might of Dian Wei and Zhao Yun.The allied forces,sensing the change,pressed their advantage,their attacks becoming more coordinated and relentless.
Cao Cao,seeing the opportunity,raised his sword high."Now is the time to strike!For the glory of the alliance,charge!"
The allied forces,with a collective cry,surged forward,their numbers overwhelming the tired Xiliang Army.The battle,which had once been a display of individual might,now turned into a chaotic melee as the full force of the alliance bore down on Lu Bu's troops.
Lu Bu,surrounded and beleaguered,fought with desperation.But even his legendary skills could not withstand the relentless assault of the allied forces.As the sun set on the battlefield,the last rays of light glinted off his Fangtian Hua Ji as it fell from his grasp,signaling the end of his reign of terror.
The battlefield fell silent,the only sound the heavy breathing of the exhausted soldiers and the distant wails of the wounded.Cao Cao,his face streaked with sweat and grime,looked out over the scene of victory and loss."We have won this battle,but the war is far from over."
Lin Yu,standing among the victorious troops,nodded in agreement."Indeed,Lord Cao.But today,we have shown that even the mightiest of foes can be defeated when we stand united."
As the night fell,the allied forces retreated to their camp,their hearts filled with the mixed emotions of triumph and the sobering reality of war.The victory had been hard-won,and they knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges.
Cao Cao,in the privacy of his tent,poured a cup of wine and raised it in a silent toast to the valor of his men and the cunning of his strategist."To Lin Yu,"he murmured,"without whom this victory would not have been possible."