Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1016 Liu Bei Arrives and the Situation is Unclear

When Lu Bu saw that his family had been brought back safely, the anger that he felt towards Cao Ang was rekindled. He suddenly became murderous and waved his hand, ready to lead the army to encircle and suppress Cao Ang.

Seeing that Lu Bu was coming with great momentum, Cao Ang knew that the situation was critical, so he made a prompt decision and said to Ma Yunlu, "Yunlu, you quickly protect your family and evacuate first. I will lead the Xiliang cavalry to resist Lu Bu here, fighting and retreating, and lead him towards the dense forest." Ma Yunlu showed worry, but seeing Cao Ang's firm eyes, he knew that there was no time for hesitation at this moment, so he nodded heavily and said, "You must be careful!" After that, he led a team of people and quickly retreated to the rear while protecting his family.

Cao Ang personally led the Western Liang cavalry, charging towards Lü Bu's army. True to their elite status, the Western Liang cavalry, led by Cao Ang, fought like tigers in a desperate struggle against Lü Bu's forces. The two sides engaged in close combat, with shouts of war and the clash of weapons mingling as blood splattered, staining the land red.

Cao Ang commanded his cavalry to fight while retreating towards the dense forest. Seeing Cao Ang fleeing towards the dense forest, Lu Bu pursued him relentlessly, his eyes full of ferocity and determination.

Wang Yun saw this and thought to himself that something was wrong. He quickly advised, "Fengxian, don't be impulsive. There might be an ambush in this dense forest. They are just Cao's family members. Xu Du is the most important thing. We must not lose sight of the big picture." But Lu Bu turned a deaf ear to him, looked at Cao Ang's back, and said with gritted teeth, "So what if there is an ambush? I will let Cao Ang know the consequences of opposing me, Lu Bu!" After that, he urged his horse and whipped it to continue chasing.

Seeing Lü Bu's frenzied pursuit, Cao Ang grew anxious. He had originally planned to ambush Lü Bu in the dense forest, scare him off and allow his family to escape safely. But it seemed Lü Bu had figured out his plan. If Lü Bu continued his pursuit, his family's safety would be endangered. In desperation, Cao Ang acted decisively, leading his cavalry in a sudden turn. Lü Bu refused to give up, pursuing him relentlessly, hurling curses and insults.

Soon, Lü Bu reached a dense forest. Facing the stillness before him, Lü Bu showed no fear. Instead, he looked up to the heavens and laughed heartily, "You little brat, you really think I'll fall for such a scheme?" His laughter echoed through the forest, revealing his arrogance and disdain. He then spurred his Red Hare once more, chasing after Cao Ang in the direction of his flight.

After chasing for another half a day, Lü Bu suddenly spotted the tracks of a large army in the distance. Dust billowed, military flags fluttered, and it seemed as if a vast army was approaching. Lü Bu's heart trembled, and he couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be that Cao Ang has set up an ambush here?" This time, he could see it clearly, and he couldn't help but hesitate.

If he continued to pursue, he might be trapped and unable to escape. But he was unwilling to give up just like that. Lü Bu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately reason overcame his impulses. With a long sigh, he said helplessly, "Forget it. Let's let Cao Ang go for now." With that, Lü Bu reined in the reins, turned his horse, and led his army back to Xudu.

Seeing Lü Bu cease his pursuit, Cao Ang's tense nerves finally relaxed. However, as he cast his gaze into the distance, he saw a vast army approaching, a cloud of dust rising in the air. This was definitely not his own troops coming to support them. Cao Ang knew the situation was like walking on a tightrope; a single misstep could lead to destruction. If he fled in panic, the unpredictable army ahead and Lü Bu behind would be like two pliers, clamping them down tightly.

Cao Ang forced himself to calm down. Although his heart was beating violently in his chest and cold sweat was soaking his back, his eyes gradually ignited with determination. He took a deep breath, loudly ordered the army to stop marching, and quickly put on a serious battle preparation.

Cao Ang pondered, "The army in the distance couldn't possibly be Lü Bu's troops. If this was truly a two-pronged attack from Lü Bu, why would he retreat so easily? But where could any friendly forces possibly come from in this desolate wilderness?" After pondering for a moment, Cao Ang came up with a bold idea: use their strategy against them. He could wait in anticipation, perhaps taking advantage of their uncertainty and using this seemingly fearless posture to intimidate the distant army, which was approaching with unknown intentions.

Under Cao Ang's command, the Western Liang cavalry quickly adjusted their formation, spears like a forest, shields tightly linked. Resoluteness was written on every soldier's face, though their hearts were filled with worry about this mysterious army. Cao Ang, perched on his horse, gazed determinedly at the approaching army from afar, his reins unconsciously tightening as he quietly awaited the impending unknown challenge. At this moment, he could only rely on his own judgment and this final fight.

The army approaching from afar was none other than the contingent led by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, arriving from Yingchuan. After a long journey, they were finally nearing Xudu. As the army advanced in an orderly fashion, a scout galloped up, knelt on one knee, and reported, "My lord, there appear to be Cao Cao's troops ahead, ready for battle."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's expression froze slightly. He turned to look at Pang Tong with a questioning look in his eyes. Pang Tong stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "We've marched here for a long time, and the soldiers are exhausted. We can camp here for the time being, take a closer look, and then make plans." Liu Bei nodded slightly, feeling that Pang Tong's words were very true.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, along with Wen Pin and Pang Tong, ascended to a high point to observe the situation. In the distance, they saw a brave cavalry unit bearing the banners of Cao Cao, arrayed in formation, ready for battle. Further out, they could vaguely make out a larger army. However, the distance made it difficult to discern clearly; they only saw the fleet, unaware that it was Lü Bu leading his retreating army.

Liu Bei frowned and said, "Mr. Shiyuan, it seems that Cao's army has been prepared for a long time." Pang Tong stared into the distance and said slowly, "Judging from their troops, most of them are cavalry, with high mobility. Our army has come from afar and has marched a long distance. It would be unwise to attack rashly at this time."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu rubbed his hands and said, "Why don't we charge in first and kill them?" Pang Tong quickly waved his hand and said, "General Guan, don't be impulsive. We'll wait for the army to arrive, so we should stabilize the camp and advance steadily. That way, we can be invincible. Once the camp is secure, we can advance and challenge them."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and felt that Pang Tong's plan was sound, so he ordered the army to camp where it was. After making all the arrangements, he, his two brothers, and Pang Tong led some of their elite troops and horses, slowly advancing towards Cao Ang's direction to challenge him.

Cao Ang watched the newly emerged troops in the distance. Seeing that they had indeed set up camp, someone approached to challenge them. Cao Ang braced himself and whispered to his men not to panic and to hold their ground.

The opposite side had a neat formation. A general riding a yellow horse, wielding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand, leaped out of the formation with great momentum and shouted, "Who are these soldiers on the opposite side? Do you dare to fight with me, Guan Yu?" On Cao Ang's side, the generals and soldiers were startled when they heard Guan Yu's challenge. They all turned their eyes to Cao Ang, not knowing how to respond.

Cao Ang, however, looked calm. He secretly gave everyone a look to keep calm, then urged his horse to the front of the formation and shouted, "Oh, it turns out to be Uncle Liu's subordinate. I am Cao Ang, son of Cao Cao. Please invite Uncle Liu out to have a chat." Seeing that they did not respond to the challenge, but Cao Ang came out to invite his elder brother to have a chat, Guan Yu turned around and looked back.

Liu Bei didn't hesitate, spurring his horse and leaping out of the crowd. He exchanged a glance with Pang Tong, thinking to himself, it seems Cao Cao already knew about their occupation of Yingchuan and had made preparations.

Seeing Liu Bei emerge from the crowd, Cao Ang showed no intention of leading his troops into battle. He wondered to himself, "It seems Liu Bei is still unaware of the details of the recent battle at Xudu." He immediately declared, "Uncle Liu, you, a member of the Han royal family, have led your troops here for no apparent reason, invading our borders. My father was prepared for this, but I wonder why you, my uncle, have committed such an act of subversion."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's face turned grim. He shouted back, "Your father, Cao Cao, arbitrarily supported Liu Xie to succeed him, and then held the emperor hostage to issue orders to the princes. Such actions are truly a betrayal of the Han Dynasty's sacred treasures. He is a complete traitor. As a relative of the Han Dynasty, I, Liu Bei, must fight you to restore the Han Dynasty and restore order!"

Cao Ang frowned slightly and said, "Uncle Liu is wrong. The Han Dynasty is in decline and the world is in chaos. Without my father's efforts to turn the tide, who knows what chaos the world would have fallen into. My father welcomed the emperor to Xuchang so that he could use his name to command the princes, quell the chaos and restore peace to the people. Your uncle's actions, under the banner of restoring the Han Dynasty, are actually provoking war and plunging the people into dire straits. Is this what your uncle calls benevolence and righteousness?"

Liu Bei's anger intensified upon hearing Cao Ang's words, but he suppressed it, saying, "Cao Cao is nominally an assistant, but in reality he monopolizes power. The entire court is filled with his cronies, and the emperor is a mere puppet. Such actions are no different from usurping the Han Dynasty. I, Liu Bei, have raised an army precisely to annihilate traitors like Cao Cao and restore order to the Han Dynasty. Young Master Cao, if you can repent and persuade your father to surrender, you can still protect your family. Otherwise, if war breaks out and countless lives are lost, I'm afraid that's not what we both desire."

Cao Ang sneered and said, "Uncle, please do not use the name of justice to pursue personal gain. My father has devoted all his energy to this cause, how can you discredit him with a few words? Today, since I am here, I will not let you take a single step forward. If you insist on fighting, I, Cao Ang, will fight you to the bitter end!" With these words, the Xiliang cavalrymen behind Cao Ang tightened their weapons, their faces determined, and a murderous aura permeated the air. The soldiers behind Liu Bei were also full of high morale, eager to fight, awaiting Liu Bei's order to engage Cao's army in a desperate battle. A major battle seemed imminent.

Lü Bu's troops retreated to a short distance and paused to observe. He saw that Cao Ang's forces had not yet joined forces with the unknown force in the distance, but rather were in a state of standoff. His ever-keen intuition told him that something was amiss. Lü Bu's fierce eyes darted back and forth between the two camps, countless thoughts racing through his mind.

On Cao Ang's side, the soldiers wore solemn expressions, weapons tightly gripped, ready to respond to any unexpected eventuality. Meanwhile, the opposing team, equally well-organized, with flags fluttering, exuded a formidable aura. The two sides stood at a distance, wary of each other, like two ferocious beasts facing each other, poised for a violent clash.

Lü Bu, impulsively making a decisive move, waved his hand and shouted, "The army will temporarily camp, and the flags must be clearly displayed!" Following his command, the soldiers quickly set up camp in an orderly manner. The brightly colored military flags fluttered high in the biting wind, the large banner with the Chinese character "Lü" standing out prominently, highlighting Lü Bu's illustrious reputation.

Lü Bu sat atop his Red Hare, his expression grim as he pondered the current situation. He wondered what the relationship was between Cao Ang and the opposing faction. Why, despite the seemingly tense situation, hadn't he immediately engaged in a fight? If this was a conspiracy, rashly getting involved would likely lead to his own doom. But if this was a rare opportunity, missing it would only lead to bitter regret.