Dian Wei scratched his head.
"My lord… are you sure you don't need me to stay and protect you?"
Zhang Xin shook his head calmly."If we win this battle, I won't need protection. If we lose… your protection won't matter."
Then he pulled Dian Wei closer and pointed toward the Xianbei formation.
"Do you see that black parasol?"
"I see it," Dian Wei nodded.
"That's their commander," Zhang Xin said. "Cut it down, and when we return—I'll reward you with a whole cow."
Dian Wei's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Zhang Xin shot back.
Dian Wei grinned broadly. "Never! You said I'd eat my fill—I've never gone hungry. You said there'd be wine and meat—and there always has been!"
He mounted his horse at once, grabbing a long halberd, while his twin halberds hung from another mount.
"I'll go now!"
—
As Zhang Xin's formation settled, he gave the order without hesitation.
"Advance!"
The banner of "Zhang" surged forward as the Han central army moved.
Across the field, Kui Tou sneered.
"Reckless."
Less than a thousand men… daring to charge his three thousand-strong center?
"Forward strike!"
The Xianbei vanguard formed a cone and charged.
The Han army answered in kind.
Two arrows volleys passed—
Then the cavalry clashed.
"Kill!"
A Xianbei warrior at the front raised his blade, aiming at the burly figure charging ahead—
But before he could strike, a halberd flew upward.
Clang!
The force shattered his weapon and sent him flying.
"Those who block me—die!"
Dian Wei roared, eyes bloodshot, chanting one word over and over:
"Beef!"
He fought like a man possessed.
Each strike crushed bones or sent men flying.
Seeing his ferocity, over a dozen Xianbei riders rushed him together.
Dian Wei didn't panic.
As they closed within ten paces, his left hand moved—
Small halberds flew out.
Several riders fell instantly.
The rest faltered—but in a cavalry charge, hesitation meant death.
Dian Wei crashed into them.
Thrust. Sweep. Smash.
Bodies fell.
Warhorses thundered over them, trampling flesh into pulp.
—
Behind him, the Han soldiers erupted.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Morale surged.
The Xianbei front—already shaken—collapsed.
Horses collided, formations broke, and panic spread like wildfire.
In less than a quarter hour, the Han army shattered the vanguard and drove straight toward Kui Tou's center.
—
"A thousand men… routed in fifteen minutes?!"
Kui Tou cursed furiously.
"Even a thousand pigs would last longer!"
He had planned to use them to exhaust the Han army.
Instead—they broke instantly.
He had numbers.
But he didn't understand morale.
His troops were hastily gathered, already frightened by tales of Han brutality, exhausted from marching—and now facing armored, battle-hardened soldiers.
Once fear took hold, collapse was inevitable.
—
Kui Tou reached for his sword, preparing to commit his central army—
When suddenly—
A roar erupted from the flank.
He turned.
His right wing—1,500 men—had been shattered.
Through the chaos charged a blood-soaked figure—
Lü Bu.
Chunks of flesh still hung from his halberd.
"Don't run, you dogs!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Panic spread.
Kui Tou didn't hesitate.
He turned and fled with his remaining troops.
—
Zhang Xin saw it from afar.
He raised his spear.
"Whoever takes his head—three ranks promotion! Ten thousand gold! Alive or dead!"
The army roared and surged forward.
On the flank, the Xianbei left-wing general saw the collapse and withdrew as well.
Yan Rou did not pursue recklessly—he instead moved to secure Zhang Xin's position.
If the scattered Xianbei regrouped, they could still counterattack.
But seeing Yan Rou approaching, they abandoned the field and fled.
—
The Xianbei center fled in chaos.
They had already marched far that morning—their horses were tiring.
The Han cavalry closed the distance steadily.
Kui Tou whipped his horse desperately, unaware of the man riding beside him—
Qianman.
A cold resolve filled his eyes.
This power… should have been mine.
After his father's death, leadership should have passed to him.
Instead, Kui Tou seized control—confined him, undermined him.
Now—
Opportunity had come.
"If I capture him… and surrender to the Han…"
Qianman spoke softly.
"Elder brother."
"What is it?" Kui Tou replied, not turning.
"Get down."
With a sudden motion, Qianman lunged—
Bang!
Both crashed to the ground.
The pursuing cavalry scattered in alarm, avoiding trampling them.
"Qianman! What are you doing?!" Kui Tou struggled beneath him. "I am your brother! You betray the Xianbei!"
"You are the one who betrayed us!" Qianman roared. "You provoked the Han and brought disaster upon us!"
Then he shouted to the surrounding riders:
"Kui Tou's cruelty has angered the Celestial Empire! That is why we suffer today!"
"If we wish to appease them—there is only one way!"
He pressed Kui Tou down harder.
"Who will lend me a blade?"