127 Liu Bei Slips Away

Where to go?

Along the way, Liu Bei was absent-minded, lost in deep thought about where to head next.

In the end, Liu Bei decided to go to Jingzhou to seek refuge with his kin, Liu Biao and Liu Jingsheng.

His decision to turn to Liu Biao was not made impulsively but was the result of careful consideration.

First, the Jing and Xiang regions—originally nine commanderies—had been reduced to eight after Su Ming seized Jiangxia.

These eight commanderies were prosperous lands. By aligning with Liu Biao, Liu Bei would no longer need to worry about funds and provisions.

Secondly, Liu Biao was under immense pressure.

He faced threats from Su Ming in Jiangxia, the ever-watchful Sun Quan in Jiangdong, and after Cao Cao dealt with Yuan Shao, he would also have to guard against Cao Cao’s advances.

Jing and Xiang were like rich flesh everyone wanted a bite of.

Now, Liu Bei, leading fifty thousand troops, sought to join Liu Biao—this was like lending aid in dire times. Liu Biao would undoubtedly value and employ him greatly.

At that point, Liu Bei could slowly plot and perhaps even wrest Jingzhou into his hands.

Liu Bei was not only seeking Liu Biao’s support; he brought with him fifty thousand soldiers from Yuan Shao.

Ever since Su Ming set out for Wuchao, Cao Cao’s scouts and spies had kept a constant watch on Yuan’s camp.

The moment Yuan Shao began to break camp, Cao Cao would seize the chance to deliver a crushing blow to the fallen foe.

Cao Cao’s massive army was ready—only waiting for Yuan Shao to make the first move to launch a full-scale attack.

Cao Cao appointed Xiahou Dun as commander with Xiahou Yuan as deputy, leading a hundred thousand troops to assault Yuan’s left wing.

He also assigned Cao Ren as commander with Cao Hong as deputy, commanding another hundred thousand to attack the right wing.

Finally, Cao Cao himself led the remaining forces, accompanied by generals Li Dian, Le Jin, and Xu Chu, to strike the front line of Yuan’s camp.

Upon receiving the news that Yuan Shao had indeed broken camp, Cao Cao immediately ordered all troops to advance and launch the full assault.

The forces rapidly clashed at a certain location. Yuan Shao had only brought fifty thousand troops, so in terms of numbers on the front, Yuan’s army still held the advantage.

Though morale was somewhat low among Yuan’s troops, their superior numbers made any attempt by Cao’s forces to break through their defenses seem like a fool’s errand.

The battlefield was brutal.

In such large-scale group combat, human lives were as cheap as grass.

Under their respective generals’ command, Cao’s troops launched wave after wave of fierce charges.

Yuan’s forces, led by Ju Yi, steadfastly defended their camp.

Both Cao Cao in the front and the Xiahou brothers on the left wing fought with great difficulty.

Their soldiers suffered heavy casualties under the stubborn resistance of Ju Yi and Gao Lan.

The front and left wing battles were far from smooth, but the right wing was a completely different story.

Yuan’s right wing was defended by Liu Bei with fifty thousand troops. Under him were the famed generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.

Theoretically, fifty thousand men were sufficient to hold the right flank.

However, Liu Bei had no intention of continuing to serve Yuan Shao loyally.

Even before Cao Cao’s attack began, Liu Bei forged a fake order and led the fifty thousand soldiers away!

Though these soldiers belonged to Yuan Shao, they were now under Liu Bei’s command.

On the battlefield, orders were law.

If Liu Bei gave the command to retreat, the soldiers could only follow.

Besides, with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun watching, there would be no mutiny among the troops.

Once Liu Bei fled, Yuan’s right wing was as vulnerable as an unattended bathhouse.

Cao Ren and Cao Hong led the right wing forces deep into enemy territory without encountering any resistance.

At the front, Ju Yi was directing the battle against Cao Cao when suddenly a bloodied deputy hurried in.

“General Ju Yi, bad news!”

“What is it?”

“The right wing! Cao Ren has broken through the right flank!” the deputy panted.

Ju Yi was stunned.

The right wing was guarded by Liu Bei and his generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun. How could Cao Ren possibly break through so quickly?

“Impossible!” Ju Yi exclaimed in disbelief. “How could Liu Xuande be so weak?”

In Ju Yi’s view, if a breach were to occur, it would have been on the left wing under Gao Lan first.

Yet, the seemingly impregnable right wing was the first to fall.

Yuan Shao had instructed them to hold for five days, yet it was only the first day and the right wing was already breached.

Upon hearing this, the deputy quickly explained: “General Ju Yi, Liu Bei never put up a fight.

He took the fifty thousand troops you entrusted to him and fled without firing a single arrow. He vanished long ago!”

“Ah!” Ju Yi shouted in anger. “That whelp Liu Bei has ruined our battle plans!”

Indeed, Liu Bei’s actions were somewhat reckless.

Running away was one thing, but taking fifty thousand soldiers without warning was another.

He fled in silence, leaving a gaping hole on the right flank.

With Liu Bei gone, the right wing was left exposed.

Now, it could not be ignored.

If Cao Ren broke through the right wing, the entire battle would be lost.

Ju Yi scanned his subordinates and asked, “I will assign thirty thousand troops. Which general dares to confront Cao Ren?”

The battle at the front was intense, and Ju Yi could spare only so many troops.

Thirty thousand was the limit.

Yet Cao Ren commanded a hundred thousand strong force.

After Ju Yi finished, no one dared to speak.

Thirty thousand against a hundred thousand, facing Cao Ren—this was no easy fight.

None of Ju Yi’s generals were confident.

Seeing no one willing to step forward, Ju Shou stepped up, bowed, and said, “General Ju, give me thirty thousand troops. I will face Cao Ren in battle.”

His words made the other generals blush deeply.

Good heavens, these commanders were acting like scared turtles, yet a scholar like Ju Shou was volunteering to fight?

At that moment, a general stepped forward from the crowd, bowed, and said, “General Ju Yi, I, Jiang Yiqu, am willing to lead troops into battle.”

“Cao Ren is a renowned general. I cannot claim I will defeat him or hold the line for days.”

“But I can guarantee, as long as I live, he will not break through my defenses.”

Jiang Yiqu’s words were sincere and resolute.

Ju Yi immediately ordered Jiang Yiqu to lead the thirty thousand troops to confront Cao Ren and patch the breach left by Liu Bei.

(End of chapter)