Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1231 Zhang Liao Arrives and Abandons the Pursuit

Lu Bu reined in his horse, his halberd flashing coldly in the setting sun, as he charged towards the pursuers. Zhang Fei, seeing him alone, widened his eyes and roared as he charged forward with his spear: "Lu Bu, you scoundrel, where do you think you're going this time!"

Seeing this, Wen Ping also spurred his horse forward, his broadsword gleaming coldly. The resentment of being easily defeated by Lü Bu earlier was burning in his chest, and now was the perfect time for revenge. He and Zhang Fei attacked from both sides, their swords and spears coming at him simultaneously, forcing Lü Bu to concentrate on his defense.

The three men fought in rapid succession, exchanging over forty blows in the blink of an eye. Although Lü Bu was brave, his long halberd was not easy to wield, and he also had to divide his attention to parrying the attacks of the other two, gradually becoming strained. Zhao Yun, observing this clearly, frowned slightly, knowing that a prolonged battle would be futile, and immediately joined the fray, asking, "Lord Wen, where is the Emperor now?"

Surrounded by three generals, Lü Bu still laughed arrogantly: "You've been chasing me so relentlessly, and now you think of asking the Emperor?" He swept his halberd, forcing Zhang Fei and Wen Ping back, and his gaze swept over the three men. "But you, you keep asking the Emperor, yet you're chasing after him. What kind of loyal ministers and generals are you?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Zhang Fei thrust his spear forward, shouting angrily, "Zilong, capture this scoundrel, are you afraid we won't get the Emperor's whereabouts out of him? Why waste words with him!"

While dismantling Lü Bu's halberd technique, Zhao Yun said in a deep voice, "Yide, look, there is no large entourage behind him. It seems he has truly parted ways with the Emperor." He pointed his spear tip, forcing Lü Bu to dodge to the side. "Lü Bu is probably bait to lure us here. The Emperor must have already gone to Hebei."

Zhao Yun's arrival greatly increased the pressure on Lü Bu. The three generals attacked relentlessly, and he could only defend himself. After only twenty or thirty exchanges, Wen Ping's broadsword slashed open his left arm, and blood instantly stained his armor.

"Who cares about bait!" Seeing that Lü Bu was injured, Zhang Fei's attack intensified. "General Hansheng has already gone north to pursue them. Since we are here, it wouldn't be a complete failure if we captured this scoundrel Lü Bu!"

Lu Bu gritted his teeth and remained silent, only wielding his halberd with even greater intensity. He knew his injuries were worsening and that he would surely be defeated if he continued fighting. However, glancing out of the corner of his eye towards Hulao Pass, where his wife and daughters were nowhere to be seen, a sense of resolve welled up within him. If he could buy them a little more time, even dying here would be worthwhile.

The clanging of metal on the open field was suddenly drowned out by the rapid sound of horses' hooves. Amidst the billowing dust, a troop of black-armored cavalry surged forward like a black tide, the character "Zhang" on their banners prominently displayed. Leading the troop was a general clad in heavy armor, his left hand resting on his sword, the halberd on his back gleaming coldly in the sunlight—it was Zhang Liao.

"Fengxian, don't panic! Zhang Liao is here!" Zhang Liao's voice pierced through the wind, carrying an undeniable sharpness.

Zhao Yun was taken aback upon hearing this, his hand gripping his spear pausing slightly. The Xiliang Iron Cavalry? Why would Zhang Liao appear with cavalry at this moment? He subconsciously slowed his attack, his gaze sweeping over the elite force. The horses were magnificent, the armor impeccable; clearly, they were a seasoned and formidable army, not a hastily assembled contingent.

"Who cares who comes! I'll kill this bastard today!" Zhang Fei's eyes turned red, and he wielded his spear like a storm, each move aimed straight for Lü Bu's vitals. Now that the battle was in full swing, he had long forgotten his surroundings, and only his "enemy" was in front of him.

As Zhang Liao spurred his horse forward and brandished his sword, the wind from his blade already carried a chilling aura. Wen Ping's powerful slash was only halfway through its trajectory when Zhang Liao steadily blocked it with his sword. The instant the two blades clashed, Wen Ping felt a tremendous force travel along the blade, his wrist went numb, and he almost lost his grip on the hilt.

"General Wenping, why must you be so ruthless?" Zhang Liao's voice boomed like a bell, but his left hand had already reached behind him with lightning speed, firmly grasping the halberd that had accompanied Lü Bu in battle for many years. With a flick of his wrist, the halberd whistled through the air as it left his back, and then he threw it towards Lü Bu: "Fengxian, catch this!"

Lu Bu had been eyeing that familiar divine weapon for a long time. When he saw the halberd flying towards him, he immediately dropped the halberd in his hand. The halberd whistled as it hurtled straight at Zhang Fei's face, forcing Zhang Fei to hastily parry with his spear. Taking advantage of this opening, Lu Bu leaned forward and snatched the halberd firmly into his hand.

The long-lost weight and familiar feel instantly spread throughout his body, and even the pain in his left arm wound seemed to lessen. "Haha! That's exhilarating!" Lu Bu laughed loudly, twirling his halberd in his hand. The cold light at the tip of the halberd suddenly intensified, becoming several times more ferocious than before, and he rushed straight towards Zhang Fei.

The situation, which had been barely held together, suddenly changed because of this halberd. Lü Bu was already the bravest in the army, and now with his weapon in hand, he became even more ferocious. As the halberd flew, it sometimes resembled a dragon emerging from the sea and sometimes a tiger descending the mountain, forcing Zhang Fei to retreat repeatedly. His previous arrogance immediately diminished considerably.

Seeing this, Zhang Liao brandished his sword to force Wen Ping back, and said in a deep voice, "General Zhao, things have come to this point, there is no point in fighting anymore!" The Xiliang cavalry behind him had already formed ranks, their black armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Although they had not yet charged, they already exuded immense pressure.

Zhao Yun gazed at the imposing halberd in Lü Bu's hand, then at the Xiliang cavalry arrayed in battle formation, his brow furrowed. He knew that with Zhang Liao's reinforcements arriving and Lü Bu regaining his divine weapon, continuing the fight would not only be futile but would likely result in further losses. But how could he explain to his lord if he simply gave up?

"Yide, retreat for now!" Zhao Yun finally shouted, stepping forward with his spear and feinting to force Lü Bu back. "General Wenyuan, we will certainly report today's events to our lord. However, Lü Bu's connection to the Emperor's whereabouts is very deep, and we must demand an explanation!"

Lu Bu leaned on his halberd, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "General Zhang, are you perhaps desperate? If the Emperor were with me, why would I be entangled in this fight with you? Ju Yi's vanguard has already escorted the Emperor to Hebei. Instead of pursuing him, you're relentlessly pursuing me. Are you perhaps trying to use me to cover your tracks?"

Zhang Fei was struck where it hurt. His spear slammed to the ground with a clang, sparks flying: "Don't try to deny it! If you hadn't hidden the Emperor, why would you have risked your life to stop him?"

"Fight to stop me to the death?" Lu Bu laughed, the sound of his laughter causing his left arm wound to throb. "Why should I, Lu Bu, hide my actions? It's you who are being used as pawns without even realizing it."

Zhang Fei was stopped by Zhao Yun, his spear creaking in his hand. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Zhang Liao and roared, "Zilong, let him go! This kind of liar is only a menace to be kept alive!"

Zhao Yun exerted a slight force with his arm, pulling Zhang Fei back half a step, and said in a deep voice, "Yide, what Zhang Liao said is not entirely unreasonable. This matter has not yet been investigated, and taking action rashly will only cause unnecessary trouble." His gaze swept over Lü Bu behind Zhang Liao, then fell back on Zhang Fei's face, his tone admonishing, "Moreover, he is an important minister under the Liang King. If we really hurt him here, it may intensify the conflict between the two sides, which will not be helpful in tracking down the Emperor's whereabouts."

Zhang Fei's chest heaved violently, and his spear slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust: "But...but this guy is clearly protecting Lü Bu!"

Zhao Yun gazed at the imposing halberd in Lü Bu's hand, then at the Xiliang cavalry arrayed in battle formation, his brow furrowed. He knew that with Zhang Liao's reinforcements arriving and Lü Bu regaining his divine weapon, continuing the fight would not only be futile but would likely result in further losses. But how could he explain to his lord if he simply gave up?

"Yide, let's retreat for now!" Zhao Yun said, cupping his hands. "General Wenyuan, we will certainly report today's events to our lord. However, Lü Bu's connection to the Emperor is very deep. If we have the opportunity in the future, we will definitely demand an explanation!"

Although Zhang Fei was still indignant, he knew the situation was hopeless. He glared at Lü Bu fiercely, cursed, "You scoundrel, I'll spare you for now," and finally sheathed his spear. Seeing his commander give up, Wen Ping also retreated dejectedly.

Lu Bu stood on his horse, halberd in hand, his chest heaving violently. Blood from his left arm stained half of his armor, but his eyes remained defiant: "I'm ready anytime!"

Zhang Liao stepped forward, cupped his hands to Zhao Yun, and said, "General Zhao, please."

Zhao Yun nodded, then turned and left with Zhang Fei and Wen Ping. The sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, leaving only Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, the arrayed Xiliang cavalry, and the halberd trembling slightly in the wind.

Lu Bu gazed in the direction where the pursuers had disappeared, then suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. His halberd clattered to the ground, supporting his nearly collapsing body. Zhang Liao quickly stepped forward to support him: "Fengxian, your injuries are serious! We must quickly go to the pass for treatment!"

Lu Bu waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the direction of Hulao Pass, his voice hoarse: "Have Diao Chan and the others... entered the pass?"

“We have already sent people to escort them through the pass; they are perfectly safe,” Zhang Liao said.

Lu Bu then smiled, a smile that seemed to drain him of energy, yet carried an unprecedented sense of relief.

Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Wen Ping, and their entourage turned their horses around and galloped along the northern official road, pursuing Huang Zhong's trail. The golden rays of the setting sun cast long shadows across the open fields, and the sound of their hooves was exceptionally clear in the silence. It wasn't until dusk that they finally saw a troop of men approaching in the distance, their banners askew and many soldiers bearing wounds—it was Huang Zhong's army.

"Lord Hansheng!" Zhao Yun spurred his horse forward and, seeing bloodstains on Huang Zhong's battle robe, hurriedly asked, "How is the battle going? Have you caught up with the Emperor's carriage?"

Huang Zhong reined in his horse, his face filled with exhaustion and resentment. He shook his head: "We caught up, but were stopped by Ju Yi's vanguard. That fellow is very slippery; he kept directing from behind the lines, refusing to engage in direct combat." He sighed, his voice heavy, "The vanguard is too elite. Their armor is sturdy, and they are skilled in archery and horsemanship. My troops were driven back several times, and we lost many brothers..."

Wen Ping asked from the side, "Are we just going to watch them leave?"

"But we didn't let them escape unscathed." A fierce glint flashed in Huang Zhong's eyes as he raised his hand to press on the longbow at his waist. "That Ju Yi was hiding arrogantly behind the formation, but I seized the opportunity and shot him in the arm with an arrow. Unfortunately, the arrow didn't penetrate deeply enough to kill him, and in the end, we still managed to have them escort the carriage to Hebei."

Zhang Fei was furious upon hearing this, slamming his spear on the ground: "Outrageous! I'll go after them! I'll definitely bring that Ju Yi back!"

"Yide, no!" Zhao Yun quickly grabbed him. "It's already dark, and the Vanguard Camp knows the route well. If we chase after them, we might fall into an ambush."

Just as they were arguing, the sound of hooves came from afar, and a knight galloped over. Upon closer inspection of the banner, it was Mi Fang, who was by Liu Bei's side.

"General Zilong, General Yide, General Hansheng!" Mi Fang dismounted, panting, and said, "My lord sent me to deliver the order: return to Xuchang immediately!"

"Why should we go back?" Zhang Fei glared and said, "The Emperor's carriage is right ahead, how can we give up now?"

Mi Fang said anxiously, "My lord said that Cao Cao is eyeing Xuchang with hostility. Our main force is currently outside, and our camp is weak. If he takes the opportunity to launch an attack, we may not be able to resist. My lord is alone and weak, and I am really worried about him!"

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this. They had been so focused on the pursuit that they had forgotten about Cao Cao, who was still lurking in Xuchang. Although Cao Cao and Liu Bei had temporarily joined forces to conquer Xuchang, their alliance was ultimately superficial. If Cao Cao were to exploit this opportunity, the consequences would be unimaginable.