Mythical Three Kingdoms

"Damn, looks like we won't be able to annihilate them today," said Chen Xi, his face darkening as he repaired another patch of clouds. But once again, the clouds in front were punctured by Xuu You, creating another hole. Such actions made it impossible for Chen Xi to completely seal them off, even though his Spiritual Capacity was thousands of times that of Xuu You's, the limit of what he could endure restricted Chen Xi's output.

"Kongming, it seems your strategy might not be able to take them down after all. I've already become the bait, whether we can eradicate this guy depends on today!" Chen Xi roared at Zhuge Liang beside him.

"I didn't tell you to be the bait, I even suggested that you should stay with me, and how could you have been penetrated!" Zhuge Liang said with a darkened face, taken aback by Chen Xi's roar.

Zhuge Liang had not anticipated that the enemy would use such a simple method to break through his calculations. Although he only mentioned it in passing, his army could see in the night even without moonlight, while Yuan Shao's Army would be blind without it. Such was the advantage of using the weather to one's benefit.

However, continuing this way, even if they managed to leave behind all twenty thousand men, they would not achieve their objective. Moreover, chasing the moonlight, not to mention other soldiers, the elite cavalry under Wen Chou's command would definitely escape. Now they couldn't even completely annihilate the enemy, at most, they could only rout them.

"Idiot, can't you also create a few holes? It's better to divert than to block. He said they are advancing by following the light, so let's make a few holes and thoroughly throw their army into chaos. We may not be able to annihilate them all, but let's eliminate as many as we can," Fa Zheng said in a rush, and as he spoke, two more small holes appeared in the clouds.

"I'll handle it, you two command your soldiers to quickly round up Yuan Shao's soldiers," Chen Xi said hurriedly, "Also, Kongming, quickly order the Rear Army medics to treat the wounded soldiers, and everyone else will follow me to pursue Yuan Shao's Army."

The moonlight pouring through the openings in the clouds threw Yuan Shao's Army into confusion. At this time, the army had almost completely broken down, the soldiers no longer seeing their leaders in sight, and the entire army had already collapsed. Following the few beams of light, Yuan Shao's Army was instantly thrown into several scattered groups.

Unfortunately, the cavalry were letting their horses run free, rushing in one direction, and were not confused by the starlight lured down by the holes Chen Xi created in the clouds. Nevertheless, even so, it was enough to make Xuu You tremble with rage.

"Retreat, forget about them, if we don't leave now, we won't be able to leave either!" Xuu You, grinding his teeth, ordered Wen Chou.

By now, Xuu You had no solutions left. Behind him, Liu Bei's Army soldiers had already appeared in groups of three or five, blocking and fighting dozens of Yuan Shao's soldiers. Even worse, some were pulling horsemen from their mounts from the flanks and leaping onto their horses to pursue Yuan Shao's cavalry. If this continued, the entire Yuan Shao's Army would be stranded here without exception.

Wen Chou, grinding his teeth and without any further hesitation, could see the current situation. His soldiers were crashing around like headless flies. Worse, because of the dark night, when they could not see, and hearing the crazy sounds of combat around them, they plunged into madness, pulling out their swords and wildly hacking at the people beside them, whether they were comrades or enemies.

The so-called collapse of an army was just like this. Xuu You had calculated everything but had not anticipated that Liu Bei's Army soldiers could truly fight at night. As for his own soldiers, the night meant complete darkness.

It was just such a slight difference that made Xuu You's defeat so simple. He, who might have retreated intact, could now only return utterly defeated.

After a night of fighting, Liu Bei's Army achieved a complete victory, capturing nearly ten thousand of Yuan Shao's soldiers, and thousands of fine horses. Yuan Shao's Army, only a fraction remaining, led by Wen Chou, retreated to Chiping, using the city to defend against Chen Xi's counter-attack.

"Huff..." Chen Xi, looking towards Wen Chou at the walls of Chiping City, had almost come to hate cavalry.

Yuan Shao's Army lost the majority of its soldier casualties last night due to their inability to see their hands in front of them, as they pushed and shoved each other, leading to many being trampled to death after the large forces marched over them. What's scarier is that it wasn't just the infantry that was blind, but the cavalry as well; they couldn't see anything either. As they fled throughout the night, the majority who escaped were the cavalry, and many soldiers died under the hooves of their own army's horses.

"How many of our soldiers have we lost?" Chen Xi, mounted on his horse, stood beneath the walls of Chiping City and turned to ask the Quartermaster, who was tallying the casualties.

"We lost over three thousand six hundred men, most of whom perished beneath the walls of New Linyi City. There are about one thousand three hundred wounded, but thankfully, most injuries are minor," the Quartermaster promptly reported the casualty figures to Chen Xi.

Reflecting on the perilous counterattack last night, even Chen Xi felt an unease at the memory; the death of over three thousand six hundred men, with a significant number falling to the cavalry's iron hooves in the first wave. As for the later counterattack, there were hardly any deaths, and most injuries occurred due to accidents.

"Those who died in battle will receive full compensation. Survivors of the first wave who resisted Yuan Shao's Army in formation will be promoted one rank. Double compensation will be granted to the families of those who fell," Chen Xi said after a moment of silence.

"Soldiers who stood with Xingba directly against Wen Chou's cavalry and survived will be promoted two ranks, and the families of those who fell will receive double compensation. One child from each family will be granted a position equivalent to their father's civilian rank," Chen Xi continued, waiting for the Quartermaster to finish taking notes.

"Great success is built atop a mountain of bones," Chen Xi sighed to Fa Zheng after the Quartermaster had left, as he saw the latter riding up alongside him.

"Yesterday was indeed too dangerous," Fa Zheng glanced at Chen Xi and then turned his head to look at the figures on the city ramparts, saying, "Xingba has suffered numerous wounds, some of which are severe and have reached his internal organs. And you, you nearly perished under the hooves of the horses yesterday."

"I wouldn't have," Chen Xi said quietly.

"Such formidable confidence. Despite the dangerous situation yesterday, when I saw you, you didn't appear to be the least bit flustered," Fa Zheng said, not turning his head, continuing to gaze at the Chiping City ramparts.

"..." Chen Xi murmured but eventually didn't speak. Was it really confidence? No, what he was confident about was not that he wouldn't fail, but that while standing amidst the rain of arrows, he himself wouldn't make any move; yet, all arrows would naturally veer away upon coming within ten steps of him.

At that moment, Chen Xi knew that protecting him were not only immortals or reclusive experts but also the hearts of countless civilians.

"At least I know whether what I'm doing is right or wrong, and that is enough," Chen Xi said with unparalleled calmness.

"Snap..." A heavily bandaged left hand landed on Fa Zheng's shoulder, "Xiaoo Zhi, I just heard you speaking ill of me."

"Xingba, are you alright?" Chen Xi looked back and said to Gan Ning.

"I won't die. The wounds are somewhat severe, but for someone who can separate their Inner Qi, it won't take more than a ten-day period to fully recover. It's a pity for those old brothers of mine, though; having followed me through thick and thin, they ended up lying on this battlefield," Gan Ning said with a noticeable sense of loss but with little sorrow, as it seemed to him that dying in battle and being wrapped in horsehide was the destined end of a warrior. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)