"Archers, prepare!"
Seeing the approaching enemy, Gao Shun immediately and decisively ordered, "Shield wall, activate!"
The soldiers at the front forcefully planted their shields, half a person's height and the size of a door panel, into the ground, using the ground as cover to create a shield wall.
The archers at the rear placed their large crossbows on their shields and began aiming.
"Fire!"
With Gao Shun's command, two hundred large crossbows fired in a volley.
The recoil force was a full twenty pounds, and the fired bolts could easily penetrate three centimeters of iron armor at five hundred paces!
These reinforced large crossbows were far superior to ordinary crossbows. Crossbows were not only unimaginable and exaggerated, but also something the Han Dynasty had always regulated.
The bolts, carrying immense force, pierced through three soldiers and continued their momentum into the body of a fourth.
His lung was instantly pierced, and blood gushed from his mouth!
"Change arrows! Second squad, charge!"
Gao Shun continued to shout.
The first squad of archers retreated, then the second squad stepped forward, striking their crossbows against their shields.
At Gao Shun's next command, crossbow bolts flew again!
On the other hand, Yuan's army was being mowed down like leaves in autumn, wave after wave falling. Fear immediately spread, and many soldiers began to flee in panic.
The supervising officers immediately drew their swords and cut down the fleeing soldiers, while the squad leaders spurred their troops into a charge.
How could they face death calmly when their hearts were filled with fear!
Upon seeing Tian Feng's flag signal, Ma Dai said to Ma Chao, "The strategist orders us to move out and strike directly at the center!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao immediately hung his wine gourd around his horse's neck. He drank to get his blood pumping and increase his attack power.
"Alright, brothers, today is the day to make our mark! Charge with me!"
The cavalry began to move. Ma Chao led his cavalry to harass from the left flank. Zhao Yun led another cavalry unit to harass from the right flank, while Zhang He's troops entered the battlefield alongside Gao Shun, directly facing the vanguard.
The soldiers in front carried no weapons, only shields splattered with butter, running forward desperately.
Facing Ju Yi's vanguard, Zhang He's plan was to have the shield bearers hold the line, while archers followed behind, continuously hurling arrows. The rain of arrows would keep the vanguard's crossbowmen from coming out.
Once they peeked out, they faced a hail of arrows. Even a volley of arrows, with their sharp arrowheads piercing the head, would be fatal.
Even if they pierced the body, they would be deeply embedded.
The barbed arrowheads would double the pain of being pulled out!
Lu Ming watched all this coldly from behind.
Xu Shu, meanwhile, was constantly observing through binoculars, as were many other sentries. They didn't need to fight; their sole purpose was to record the battle's progress.
Nicknames were also recording their conversations and the soldiers' achievements.
Gongsun Zan personally led his White Horse Cavalry to clash with Zhao Yun's cavalry. Zhao Yun was originally supposed to be Gongsun Zan's subordinate, but Lu Ming had intercepted him.
Turning against Gongsun Zan now felt like a Minotaur boasting in front of his victim, "Zhao Yun, prepare to die!"
Gongsun roared, thrusting his long spear fiercely at Zhao Yun.
The spear, in ancient times, was primarily used in mounted combat. Like the halberd, it was a heavy weapon, mostly wielded by strong and tall individuals.
Zhao Yun used a long spear, which was relatively flexible and mainly used for thrusting.
He skillfully used his strength to deflect Gongsun Zan's spear strike, then countered with a thrust, nearly killing Gongsun Zan instantly!
Fortunately, Gongsun Zan ducked his head slightly, but his helmet was knocked off, his turban cut, leaving him disheveled and extremely pathetic!
"Gongsun Zan is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!"
Zhao Yun roared, blatantly lying, and his guards echoed his cry. The White Horse Cavalry were momentarily stunned!
But their spears didn't falter, each thrust taking a life!
"Damn it, shameless! I'm not dead yet!"
Gongsun Zan was furious, almost spitting blood. He never imagined that the seemingly clean-cut Zhao Yun could be so despicable!
"My lord, I've come to your rescue!"
Tian Kai rushed to the rescue, brandishing his broadsword, only to be stabbed to death by Zhao Yun!
Gongsun Zan seized the opportunity to escape on horseback, filled with regret for ever personally leading the charge!
However, the White Horse Cavalry lived up to their reputation; many were skilled in archery and horsemanship. They still felled many cavalrymen, and the battle raged from noon until nightfall.
Gongsun Zan was no match and was the first to retreat from the battlefield. Yuan Shao, on the other hand, was completely surrounded, unable even to break out.
Most of his routed soldiers had fled. An army collapses when more than a third of its soldiers are killed or wounded. Seeing their comrades die instills fear, naturally leading to their defeat.
Only the last ten thousand men remained, surrounded on the hillside. The Qin army below had already erected palisades, trapping them on the mountain, employing a strategy of encirclement rather than attack.
Meanwhile, the rear was clearing the battlefield and rescuing the wounded.
Looking at the Qin army that had them completely surrounded, Yuan Shao smiled bitterly. "Gentlemen," he said, "after I commit suicide, you can exchange my head for peace."
"Father, you can't do this!"
Yuan Tan wept bitterly, seemingly truly grieving. Yuan Shang remained silent, seemingly waiting for his father to die.
Seeing his two sons' reactions, Yuan Shao was overcome with sorrow. It seemed that in the end, his eldest son was the most reliable.
He had even considered adopting his eldest son into the imperial clan; now he realized how blind he had been!
"My lord, no! If you perish, I will not live on!"
Ju Shou, as a loyal subject of the Yuan clan, would certainly not rebel. He was capable, second only to Tian Feng; however, sometimes talent and advice were useless if one's superior didn't listen.
Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Gao Lan, and the others remained silent, all wounded; those not present were already dead.
"Yuan Shao, listen! If you surrender, the King of Qin will spare your life and make you a wealthy man!"
A powerful shout suddenly rang out from below.
This was an attempt to persuade him to surrender!