The battlefield was a canvas of chaos,painted with the strokes of fear and valor.Cao Cao,his heart heavy with a foreboding as dark as the gathering storm clouds,stood at the precipice of a decision that could seal his fate.As he contemplated the dire option of retreat,Lu Bu,a force of nature in his terrifying might,unleashed his prowess.Each powerful strike drove Xiahou Dun back in a continuous defeat.Helpless and battered,Xiahou Dun was forced to yield ground,his retreat sending ripples of fear through the ranks,causing the army's morale to tremble like a fragile reed in the wind.In panic,the soldiers too began to fall back.

Seizing this moment of chaos like a predator pouncing on its prey,Lu Bu launched a ferocious and relentless assault.The generals of the Cao Army,though valiant,were no match for the might of Lu Bu.For a harrowing moment,it seemed as if no one could stem the tide of his onslaught.

Seeing Lu Bu's menacing approach,Dian Wei,gripping his pair of halberds with an iron-clad resolve,stepped before Cao Cao and roared with a voice that seemed to shake the very earth,"My lord,make haste and retreat!I shall hold the rear and safeguard your escape!"

Without a moment's hesitation,Cao Cao wheeled his horse around and led the remnants of his troops in a desperate gallop towards the direction of Xingyang.

With Cao Cao's defeat and hasty flight,the Cao Army was plunged into utter disarray.Countless soldiers,their eyes wide with terror,fled towards the rear in a mad scramble.In the maelstrom of chaos,the air was rent with screams as countless lives were extinguished by the merciless blades of the Xiliang Army.Many more perished under the cruel hooves of their own comrades in the frenzied stampede.

...

The night was deep,and the moon shone with a brilliance that bathed the land in an almost daylight glow.Cao Cao and his beleaguered troops finally halted their flight at a desolate mountain.There,he set about the somber task of reorganizing his forces.After a painstaking count,he found that of the original ten thousand troops,a mere six thousand and some remained.The rest had either been slain in the heat of battle or lost in the chaotic turmoil.

Gazing at the dispirited and weary soldiers before him,a profound sadness filled Cao Cao's heart,and he could not help but heave a heavy sigh.

Oh,if only I had heeded Lin Yu's counsel and not been so headstrong!

Before Cao Cao and his men could catch their breath,the shrill shouts of battle once again pierced the stillness of the night.Squinting through the gloom,they beheld a troop of soldiers charging out from the side like a sudden tempest.

"I am Xu Rong,a general in the vanguard of the Prime Minister's army.Cao Aman,your time has come.Prepare to meet your end!"Xu Rong,astride his steed,held his long spear aloft with a menacing air and led a horde of ambush troops in a furious charge.

The already demoralized Cao Army was plunged into even deeper panic.

"My lord,flee with all speed!Leave this to us!"Xiahou Dun,Xiahou Yuan,and Dian Wei's voices rang out in unison,a chorus of selfless loyalty.

With unwavering courage,they led the soldiers in a bold charge forward,fighting with a desperation born of duty,striving to hold back Xu Rong's advancing troops.

However,before Cao Cao could make good his escape,Lu Bu himself led the Xiliang Army in hot pursuit from a distance.The sound of their approaching hooves was like the ominous drumbeat of doom.

At this sight,Cao Cao felt as if an icy hand had clutched his heart,and despair etched itself deeply upon his face.

Is this the will of Heaven?Does it seek to destroy me,Cao Mengde?

Just as the tendrils of despair threatened to consume him entirely,a clarion shout cut through the chaos like a bolt of lightning.

"Do not be so insolent,you villains!"

A young general,clad in resplendent white robes and mounted on a snow-white steed,came galloping from the west like an avenging angel.

It was Zhao Yun,Lin Yu's sworn brother.

He was like a gleaming arrow,shooting straight into the heart of the battlefield,arriving in the blink of an eye before Xu Rong,who was wreaking havoc among the Cao Army.

Xu Rong had just dispatched a Cao Army soldier with a thrust of his spear when a sudden,primal sense of danger prickled at his senses.Looking up,he saw a glint of cold light slicing through the night air,hurtling towards him with deadly intent.Startled,he twisted his body with a desperate agility,narrowly evading the lethal strike.

Casting his gaze upon the attacker,he beheld a young general in white robes,his countenance a picture of determination.

"Who are you?I do not slay nameless foes!"Xu Rong,gathering his wits,sneered as he demanded.

"I am Zhao Zilong from Changshan!"

With this bold proclamation,Zhao Yun wasted no further words.He urged his horse forward with a fierce determination.The long spear in his hand seemed to come alive,bursting forth with a thousand glints of cold light that enveloped Xu Rong like a deadly shroud.

Xu Rong was all but dumbfounded.

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Never had he expected that this young general,with a face still bearing the traces of youth,would possess such extraordinary spear-wielding skills,equal in every measure to his own!

He could not afford to engage in a head-on confrontation!

Xu Rong,now acutely aware of the danger,brandished his long spear with all his might to parry Zhao Yun's weapon.Then,with a sharp tug on the reins,he attempted to retreat to the rear.

But Zhao Yun was not one to let his quarry escape so easily.

A flash of cold light preceded a thrust as swift as a dragon's strike.

Before anyone could even blink,Xu Rong was pierced in the back by Zhao Yun's spear and toppled from his horse,lifeless.

Seeing the enemy general Xu Rong slain,the morale of the Cao Army soared like an eagle taking flight.Thunderous cheers erupted,filling the air with a newfound hope.

Cao Cao's face lit up with joy.

Lin Yu's third brother,Zhao Zilong,was truly a marvel!

In contrast,the morale of the Xiliang Army soldiers plummeted like a stone.

Lu Bu,engaged in a fierce and chaotic battle with Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan,turned his head in the direction of the commotion.

Upon seeing Xu Rong's lifeless body being hoisted aloft by Zhao Yun,his eyes widened in astonishment.

Xu Rong,dead just like that?

At that moment,he also noticed in the distance,under the veil of night,shadows flickering and moving,as if a large number of Cao Army soldiers were approaching in support.

He knew he was no match for the combined might of Dian Wei and Zhao Yun,and now with the possibility of Cao Cao receiving reinforcements,he had no choice but to retreat.

With this decision made,Lu Bu feinted with his Fang Tian Hua Ji,creating a diversion,and then led his army in a hasty withdrawal.

Seeing the Xiliang Army retreating,Cao Cao had no intention of giving chase.Instead,he immediately ordered his troops to gather and retreat towards Luoyang City under the cover of night.

...

After a long and arduous night's journey,Cao Cao finally reached Luoyang City just before the break of dawn.

When he saw Lin Yu waiting patiently in front of the camp gate,Cao Cao's eyes welled up with emotion,and he was on the verge of tears.

He quickly dismounted and rushed forward,seizing Lin Yu's hand tightly,his voice choked with gratitude as he said,"Sir,you are truly my savior!"

Had Lin Yu not sent Zhao Yun to his aid,he would surely have perished at the hands of Lu Bu and Xu Rong during the previous night.

"Lord Cao,you are far too kind.This is but my duty.The army has endured a long and wearying march throughout the night and must be both tired and hungry.I have already ordered provisions to be prepared.Please,enter and rest."Lin Yu said with a warm smile.

Cao Cao did not demur and led his troops back into the camp.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill,they once again counted the remaining troops.Of the original more than ten thousand soldiers,only a little over five thousand remained.

Learning of this result,a shadow of gloom fell over Cao Cao's face.

Lin Yu,standing at his side,offered words of comfort."Victory and defeat are but common occurrences in the affairs of war,Lord Cao.Do not let this weigh too heavily on your heart."

"You are right,"Cao Cao replied,taking a deep breath to steady himself.He rallied his spirits and looked at Lin Yu,asking,"In your esteemed opinion,sir,what course of action should we take next?"

Last night,Liu Dai,the governor of Yanzhou,had requested grain from Qiao Mao,the governor of Dongjun.Qiao Mao had refused,and in a fit of rage,Liu Dai had led his troops to storm Qiao Mao's camp,slaying him and absorbing his forces.

The other feudal lords,witnessing this turn of events and sensing the impending chaos,had each led their troops and departed.The so-called allied forces had now disintegrated into a scattered mess.Lin Yu's eyes swept around the tent.Besides him and Cao Cao,there were also several loyal generals present,such as Xiahou Dun,Xiahou Yuan,and Cao Hong.These men were the very bedrock of Cao Cao's trust,their loyalty as unwavering as the mountains.

Lowering his voice,Lin Yu spoke slowly and deliberately,"For Lord Cao,the path forward is clear.I offer you these nine words:Build high walls,accumulate abundant grains,and delay proclaiming yourself king."

Having witnessed the hidden motives of the feudal lords and endured the bitter taste of last night's disastrous defeat,Cao Cao now realized the profound wisdom in Lin Yu's previous words.In these tumultuous times,heroes were carving up the land like vultures,and the world was plunged into chaos.The once-mighty Han Dynasty was teetering on the brink of collapse.

To restore order and bring stability to the world,the only viable path was to first amass strength and proceed with caution.These nine words,"Build high walls,accumulate abundant grains,and delay proclaiming yourself king,"held within them a depth of truth,concise yet powerful.

Cao Cao's eyes sparkled with newfound understanding,and he was almost moved to slap the table in admiration."With your guidance,sir,great deeds can be achieved!"

Cao Cao saluted Lin Yu with solemn respect."It is my honor to serve you,Lord Cao,"Lin Yu replied with a smile.

With his knowledge of history and thoughts that spanned a thousand years beyond the ancients,why should there be a situation of a tripartite division of the land?He could assist Cao Cao in rising to power,unifying the entire nation,and creating an era of peace and prosperity,thereby ensuring a comfortable life for all.

"However,having said that,where should we focus our development?"Cao Cao mused,stroking his chin with a pensive expression.

Lin Yu's gaze turned distant,as if looking through the fabric of time itself."Lord Cao,the world is vast and opportunities abound.But for now,we must focus on strengthening our base.We should turn our attention to the central plains,where the heart of the Han Dynasty lies.By securing the central plains,we can control the flow of resources and people,which will be crucial for our future endeavors."

Cao Cao nodded,the pieces of the puzzle falling into place in his mind."You are right.The central plains are the key.We must fortify our positions there and gather support from the local populace."

"Exactly,"Lin Yu agreed."And we must also be wary of the other warlords.They will not sit idly by while we strengthen our position.We must be prepared for any challenges they may throw our way."

The two men continued to discuss their plans late into the night,mapping out strategies and contingencies.Outside,the camp was quiet,the soldiers weary but satisfied after their meal.The night was cool,a gentle breeze whispering through the tents,carrying with it the faint scent of smoke from the cooking fires.

As the night deepened,Cao Cao retired to his tent,his mind still racing with thoughts of the future.He lay down on his cot,staring up at the canvas ceiling,the flickering shadows of the oil lamp dancing across the fabric.Despite the weariness that pulled at his limbs,his mind was alert,filled with the weight of the responsibilities that lay upon his shoulders.

He thought of the men who had followed him into battle,the lives that had been lost,and the lives that yet hung in the balance.He thought of the empire,once a beacon of civilization,now a fractured shell of its former glory.And he thought of Lin Yu,the man who had become not just an advisor,but a friend,whose wisdom and counsel had become invaluable in these tumultuous times.

Cao Cao closed his eyes,allowing the darkness to envelop him,the silence of the night a respite from the chaos of the day.As sleep claimed him,he whispered a silent prayer to the heavens,a plea for guidance and strength in the days to come.