Zhang He was a courageous and fierce warrior. Although shocked upon realizing they had fallen into an ambush, he quickly regained his composure. When two forces of over a thousand cavalry suddenly attacked from both sides, Zhang He knew that if he didn't break through within the time it took to burn an incense stick, he, Yan Liang, and the thousands of Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry would all be trapped here.
"Charge!" Zhang He roared. The clouds in the sky twisted violently and began to shift. For the first time, Zhang He revealed his legion's special ability to the world.
"What is this…" Chen Xi frowned as he observed the dark clouds gathering around Zhang He's forces.
"It's a legion ability. Although we don't know its exact nature, no matter how strong a legion ability is, the key still lies in the commander and the soldiers. They are the main force, while the clouds and the legion ability are merely supplementary," Guo Jia also frowned but felt somewhat reassured as he watched the arrows rain down on the enemy from the front lines.
"It seems to be a legion ability that enhances the agility of the entire army," Chen Xi speculated. This was the first time he had encountered such an ability, but it was clear that with this power, Zhang He's army could collectively perform maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible.
"It's not of much use here, but in large-scale battles, this kind of agility could significantly improve both the survival rate and combat effectiveness of the soldiers. However, it's having no impact right now," Guo Jia nodded, then chuckled. "Eight thousand strong crossbows—only a wealthy force like Taishan could afford this. Any other warlord would be hard-pressed to gather so many."
"Annihilate them, but it's a shame. Zhang He is indeed a clever strategist, unexpectedly attacking from the rear. My front lines won't avoid losses after all. Too much offensive power often leads to insufficient defense!" Chen Xi sighed.
Zhang He had no choice but to charge frantically toward Liu Bei's forces. After just one volley of arrows, at least several hundred of his men were killed, and many more were unhorsed. In just one round of shooting, Zhang He lost over a thousand soldiers to the eight thousand strong crossbows and longbows.
After three volleys of arrows, Zhang He led his forces into the front lines. The archers, armed only with short swords, were no match for the charging cavalry and were quickly cut down. The front lines turned into a scene of carnage, but Zhang He's main concern was that his Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry had been intercepted by the cavalry led by Sima Ju and his men. Any further delay, and they would be completely surrounded.
"General Yan, retreat!" Zhang He fought his way to Yan Liang's side. By this time, Yan Liang had been hit by several arrows, his armor stained with blood. Of the hundred or so soldiers who had been with him, only a few remained.
"Junyi, you go! Quickly!" Yan Liang shouted, seeing that Guan Yu was leading the central forces toward them.
"If you don't go, we'll all be trapped here. Do you want us all to die?" Zhang He shouted back. "The lord is still waiting for you to return. Do you want to leave him with regrets? Have you forgotten what the lord told you?"
"I…" Yan Liang hesitated, only to be struck by another arrow. He continued to swing his sword furiously at the surrounding enemies.
"General, retreat now!" Zhang He roared angrily. He had come to rescue Yan Liang, and now, with so many of his men sacrificed, if he couldn't save Yan Liang, all his efforts would have been in vain.
"I…" Yan Liang struggled to find the words.
"Enough talk, Yan! The lord gave you a fine horse, a precious sword, and a beautiful woman—not for you to throw your life away! You need to return those things to him. Do you want these items to become the enemy's spoils, for Liu Bei to wield them against the lord?" Zhang He shouted in frustration. "How will you repay him if you're dead?"
Zhang He's words struck Yan Liang like a gong.
"Let's go! We'll fight our way out. I cannot die before repaying my lord!" Yan Liang roared. The arrows embedded in his body were forced out as he regained his resolve.
The previously despondent will to die vanished as Yan Liang's roar echoed through the battlefield. Once more determined, he chopped down the frame of a nearby chariot and leaped onto his steed, Qingcong.
With Yan Liang at his side, wielding his mighty blade, the two of them hacked a bloody path through the enemy forces, escaping toward the north. Blocking their way, however, was Zhao Yun, who had just arrived after flanking from the left.
"Kill!" Zhang He roared as he fearlessly charged at Zhao Yun. He had fought Zhao Yun before and knew that only by fighting without fear of death could he withstand Zhao Yun's attacks for fifty moves.
As for what would happen after fifty moves, it would depend on whether Yan Liang could save him, though Zhang He didn't dare place all his hopes on that. Fortunately, this time he didn't have to hide the extent of his inner strength from Zhao Yun.
"Yan Liang, prepare to die!" Guan Yu, a flash of green light, shot across the battlefield from the central army. In that moment, he gathered all his strength into a single strike, aiming directly at Yan Liang.
"You will die!" Yan Liang's eyes were filled with determination. He could not die—at least not before repaying his debt to Yuan Shao.
With an unshakable resolve, Yan Liang poured all his strength into his blade and clashed with Guan Yu. In the collision between his resolve to win and Guan Yu's belief in invincibility, Yan Liang was sent flying, along with his horse, dozens of steps back, landing near Zhang He.
"Junyi, retreat! You are no match for him!" Yan Liang shouted, brandishing his Summer Dragon Sparrows blade and striking at Zhao Yun.
In that brief moment of direct combat with Zhao Yun, Yan Liang realized that Zhao Yun was on the same level as Guan Yu, perhaps even equal to Lü Bu, though his focus wavered.
Yan Liang's deadly strike was deflected by Zhao Yun's spear, followed by a flurry of spear thrusts, each accompanied by sharp bursts of energy. But Yan Liang, refusing to dodge, took the blow head-on, forcing Zhao Yun to retreat, despite his injuries.
Zhang He and Yan Liang managed to break through the White Horse Cavalry's lines, though they were left with only a few hundred soldiers. Compared to the initial overwhelming force of ten thousand horses, their current state was pitiful, but they had survived.
"Order the troops to clean the battlefield. No pursuit," Chen Xi commanded after seeing Zhang He and Yan Liang escape and observing Zhao Yun and Guan Yu's failed attempt to capture them.
In the brief battle with Zhang He, which lasted less than a quarter of an hour, about three thousand men had fallen on the battlefield, with many more wounded. As Chen Xi surveyed the scene, he couldn't help but acknowledge that the battle had been won, but the aftermath would be critical.
Once Chen Xi ordered the battlefield to be cleared, the bodies of Yuan Shao's fallen soldiers were buried on-site, and all the wounded were treated. By the time Guan Yu and Zhao Yun returned, their expressions told Chen Xi they hadn't managed to catch Yan Liang and Zhang He. These men were truly difficult to pursue.
"Unlucky," Guan Yu muttered with a sigh.
"What happened?" Chen Xi asked curiously, seeing Guan Yu's frustrated expression.
"We were about to catch up to them, but then we ran into Yuan Shao's main force," Zhao Yun added, equally exasperated.