Cao Cao's heart pounded in his chest as he gazed upon the formidable figure of Lu Bu,a sense of unease settling over him.His eyes flicked to Lin Yu,who stood beside him with an air of calm that seemed almost unnatural.Lin Yu's composure was a still pond in the midst of the impending storm,and Cao Cao found a measure of solace in it.He mustered his courage and sneered,"Lu Bu,you despicable traitor!Don't be so insolent!"

"Courting death!"Lu Bu roared,his fury echoing across the battlefield.He kicked his horse into a charge,heading straight for Cao Cao.

"Sir!"Cao Cao's heart clenched,and he called out to Lin Yu in a panic.

"Lord Cao,fear not!"Lin Yu offered a faint smile and nodded towards Dian Wei."Second brother,the moment is yours!"

"Rest easy,elder brother!"Dian Wei replied,his voice deep and resounding.With that,he spurred his horse and galloped out from the ranks of the allied forces.

"How foolhardy!"Lu Bu sneered,raising his Fangtian Hua Ji high and swinging it with great force at Dian Wei.He was brimming with confidence,convinced that he could vanquish Dian Wei as effortlessly as he had dispatched Fang Yue,Mu Shun,and the others before.

"Clang!"A deafening clangor rent the air.

Dian Wei held his twin halberds high and deflected Lu Bu's Fangtian Hua Ji with firm resolve.

"Magnificent!"

"Dian Wei is truly a marvel!"The soldiers of the allied forces erupted in cheers at the sight.

Cao Cao,whose heart had been in his mouth,finally felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Not bad.You do possess some skill,"Lu Bu snorted coldly.He withdrew his long halberd and then thrust it towards Dian Wei from a cunning angle.

Dian Wei,unfazed,calmly swung his twin halberds and once again deftly blocked the attack.

The two warriors reined in their steeds and plunged into a fierce and furious battle right there on the spot.Blades flashed and shadows danced as they exchanged blow after blow,presenting a breathtaking and spectacular tableau.

This magnificent duel held the spectators on both sides in rapt and awestruck attention.

None had anticipated that Lin Yu's sworn brother,Dian Wei,could actually hold his own against the mighty Lu Bu.

Alas,although Dian Wei was valiant,his forte lay in infantry combat,and he was less proficient in mounted warfare.In the beginning,relying on his prodigious strength,he could match Lu Bu blow for blow.However,as the battle raged on and forty or fifty rounds had passed,Dian Wei's weakness in horsemanship gradually emerged.

Lu Bu's successive attacks placed Dian Wei in several precarious and perilous situations.

Cao Cao watched with mounting anxiety,his mind racing with the thought that if Dian Wei were defeated and Lu Bu seized the opportunity to counter-attack,the allied forces would surely be plunged into another disastrous rout.

"Sir..."Cao Cao mused to himself that Lu Bu truly lived up to his reputation as one of the preeminent martial artists of the Three Kingdoms era.

Lin Yu,however,simply smiled enigmatically and said,"Lord Cao,worry not.It's time for Zilong to make his entrance!"

"Your brother obeys!"

Zhao Yun,clad in a resplendent white robe,brandished his spear and urged his horse forward.He burst from the army formation like a streak of white lightning,a vision of martial prowess.

"Who is this?"

"I know not."

"It seems to be another sworn brother of Mr.Lin Yu,by the name of Zhao Yun,I think?"

"What's he doing?Could he possibly be a match for Lu Bu?"

"I've no idea."

The soldiers of the allied forces immediately began to murmur and speculate among themselves.

Under the collective gaze of all,Zhao Yun hurtled towards the heart of the battlefield like a veritable bolt of celestial lightning.

"Second brother,hold on!Your younger brother is here to rescue you!"Zhao Yun's voice rang out loud and clear.

These days,Dian Wei and Zhao Yun had engaged in several sparring matches,so Dian Wei was well-acquainted with his younger brother's strength.

Hearing Zhao Yun's call,Dian Wei heaved a sigh of relief and quickly shouted,"Third brother,beware!This traitor is no ordinary adversary!"

Zhao Yun sneered and bellowed,"Take this spear!"

He raised his Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear high,and it sliced through the air with a shrill whistle,hurtling towards Lu Bu with lethal force.

Lu Bu,now under attack from both the front and the rear,had no alternative but to stoop low in a rather ungainly manner to avoid the spear.

When he straightened himself once more,his face had contorted into a mask of fury and consternation.

As the saying goes,an expert reveals his true mettle with a single move.From the power of this single spear thrust,Lu Bu could sense that the new arrival was a formidable foe.

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Dian Wei alone had been a tough opponent,and now with Zhao Yun joining the fray,Lu Bu knew that no matter how great his own strength,it would be nigh impossible to withstand their combined assault.

Should he retreat?While Lu Bu wavered in indecision,Dian Wei had already regained his composure.

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun then launched fierce attacks on Lu Bu from the left and the right respectively.

With this,the tide of the battle reversed in an instant.Previously,Lu Bu had held the upper hand,but now he was being driven back by the combined might of Dian Wei and Zhao Yun.

The soldiers of the allied forces watching from the sidelines were left gaping in astonishment.

Who could have fathomed that this youthful-looking Zhao Yun,who seemed scarcely in his twenties,would also prove to be a fierce general on a par with Dian Wei?

As for Cao Cao,he was nearly salivating at the sight.He thought to himself that if he could somehow acquire these two formidable generals from Lin Yu,then...

He quickly shook his head to dispel the thought.After all,Dian Wei and Zhao Yun were Lin Yu's sworn brothers.If he were to demand them by force,he might incur Lin Yu's wrath.This matter required patience.

While Cao Cao was lost in thought regarding Lin Yu's two sworn brothers,Lu Bu on the battlefield was being steadily driven back by them.

In history,Lu Bu had been no match for Liu Bei,Guan Yu,and Zhang Fei when they faced him together.Today,against Dian Wei and Zhao Yun,who were equally renowned,he was faring no better.

Lu Bu's breathing grew more and more ragged as the battle wore on,and his Fangtian Hua Ji became increasingly unwieldy.It was clear that he was at a severe disadvantage.

If this continued,he feared defeat was inevitable.

With a grimace and a burst of strength,Lu Bu swung his Fangtian Hua Ji with all his might,pushing aside the weapons of Dian Wei and Zhao Yun.

He then yanked on the reins and spurred his Red Hare Horse towards the direction of Hulao Pass.

"Don't flee,you traitor!"Dian Wei roared and gave chase after Lu Bu as per Lin Yu's prior instructions.

Zhao Yun was not one to be left behind and also urged his horse forward in pursuit.

Seeing their general in retreat,the soldiers accompanying Lu Bu rushed forward to try and halt Dian Wei and Zhao Yun.

But Dian Wei and Zhao Yun were like two terrifying gods of war.How could these common soldiers hope to stop them?

Dian Wei's twin halberds and Zhao Yun's spear rose and fell with deadly precision,slaying numerous soldiers of the Xiliang Army.

In an instant,the air was thick with the stench of blood and the screams of the dying.Flesh and gore flew in all directions as the two warriors carved a path of carnage through the enemy ranks.

Seeing this turn of events,Lin Yu quickly turned to Cao Cao and said,"Lord Cao,quickly issue the order to attack.This is a golden opportunity to pursue the victory and seize Hulao Pass!"

Cao Cao,a seasoned veteran on the battlefield,knew that Lin Yu was right.

With a grand sweep of his arm,he bellowed,"All troops,attack!"

At this command,the vast and mighty host of the allied forces surged forward like a tidal wave.

The Xiliang Army under Lu Bu had already been shattered by Dian Wei and Zhao Yun and was bereft of all fighting spirit.

When the soldiers of the allied forces arrived,the Xiliang soldiers immediately abandoned any thought of resistance and fled towards the Hulao Pass in the rear.

On the other side,Lu Bu managed to escape into Hulao Pass by virtue of the Red Hare Horse's speed.

However,before he could catch his breath,his routed troops came pouring into the pass in disarray.

When he saw the enemy troops hot on the heels of his fleeing soldiers,Lu Bu was seized with great alarm and shouted,"Close the city gates quickly!"Lu Bu's command echoed through the pass,but the chaos of his retreating troops made it impossible to heed his order.The gates,meant to be a barrier against the allied forces,remained stubbornly ajar,a gaping mouth inviting disaster.

Seeing Dian Wei and Zhao Yun charging in like enraged tigers,Lu Bu's heart sank.He dared not delay another moment and spurred his Red Hare Horse towards the inner city,leaving behind a trail of panic and confusion.

The allied forces,sensing the shift in the battle,poured into the pass like a flood,their numbers overwhelming.The Xiliang Army,already demoralized by the retreat of their champion,offered little resistance.The taste of victory was in the air,and it drove the allied soldiers forward with renewed vigor.

Lin Yu,observing the scene,turned to Cao Cao with a sense of urgency."Lord Cao,this is our chance to press the advantage.We must not let Lu Bu regroup."

Cao Cao,his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt,nodded."You are right,Mr.Lin.We shall not squander this opportunity."He raised his voice,issuing orders to his commanders,"Push forward!Take the pass and secure the victory!"

The allied forces,now a cohesive force,moved with purpose.The sound of their march was like thunder,shaking the very ground beneath their feet.The Xiliang Army,caught between the relentless advance of the allied forces and the walls of the pass,found themselves in a desperate situation.

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun,at the forefront of the charge,cut through the enemy ranks with ease.Their weapons were extensions of their will,each swing and thrust a testament to their skill and power.The Xiliang soldiers,already disheartened,fell before them like wheat before the scythe.

As the battle raged on,the sun began its descent,casting long shadows across the battlefield.The air was thick with the smoke of burning tents and the stench of blood.The cries of the wounded and the dying mingled with the war cries of the soldiers,creating a cacophony of sound that seemed to mirror the chaos of the battle.

Lu Bu,now within the walls of the inner city,looked out upon the scene with a growing sense of dread.His once-great army was in disarray,and the enemy was at his doorstep.He turned to his remaining officers,his voice a desperate plea."We must hold the city at all costs.Prepare the defenses.We will not surrender to these traitors!"

His officers,though weary from the battle,nodded in agreement.They knew the stakes were high,and they would fight to the last man to protect their lord and their city.

Back on the battlefield,Dian Wei and Zhao Yun fought side by side,their bond as brothers in arms only strengthening their resolve.They were a formidable pair,their combined might enough to turn the tide of the battle in the allied forces'favor.

Cao Cao,watching the progress of the battle,turned to Lin Yu with a newfound respect."Mr.Lin,your strategy has proven most effective.Your brothers are truly warriors without peer."

Lin Yu,though pleased with the outcome,remained humble."It is not I who deserve the credit,Lord Cao.It is the bravery and skill of Dian Wei and Zhao Yun that have won us this battle."

As the night fell,the battle began to wane.The allied forces,though victorious,were weary from the long day's fight.They withdrew to their camp,leaving the Xiliang Army to lick their wounds and tend to their fallen.

In the quiet of his tent,Cao Cao sat with Lin Yu,reflecting on the day's events."Mr.Lin,what think you of our next move?Should we press on to Luoyang,or consolidate our position here?"

Lin Yu considered the question carefully before responding."Lord Cao,while we have won a significant victory today,we must not underestimate Dong Zhuo's remaining forces.It would be wise to fortify our position here and prepare for the next phase of the campaign."

Cao Cao nodded,his mind already turning to the challenges ahead."You are right,Mr.Lin.We must be cautious and strategic in our approach.We will rest and regroup,and then we will continue our march towards Luoyang."

With the decision made,the two men sat in silence,each lost in their own thoughts.The victory had been hard-won,and the road ahead was still fraught with danger.But for now,they had a moment to savor their success and prepare for the battles to come.