Leu Leu 3

As Wei Yan said, we passed through the passes that we expected to cross easily since they had fought two battles, even faster than we anticipated.

The pass commander of Guangcheng Pass, was it Zhu Kai? I really never dreamed he would open the pass without any battle.

I saw it briefly as we passed, but there were no traces of battle at all. Surely he didn’t just open the gates to all three of us – Guan Yu, Sima Yi, and me? Zhu Kai is a veteran officer with considerable experience, he wouldn’t do that, right?

Unlike the clean Guangcheng Pass, the scene at Yijue Pass was utterly miserable. Not to mention being scorched by fire, uncleared corpses and bloodstains were scattered everywhere.

Our troops grew quieter after confirming their attire was that of Han soldiers. It was obvious that only angry curses would come out if they opened their mouths.

The number of corpses was considerable, as if the force guarding Yijue Pass hadn’t been small. Whether left by Sima Yi or originally guarding Yijue Pass, there were still easily over a thousand corpses remaining even though Wei soldiers were proceeding with cremation of the bodies.

How long had it been since thousands of Han soldiers were massacred by Wei forces? As far as I remember, it was something that could only be seen before Red Cliffs.

On the other hand, Wei Yan’s face was stiffened to a level similar to mine, perhaps recalling the devastating defeat suffered by Lu Xun during the former Wei-Wu alliance.

After passing Yijue Pass, at the last rest before heading straight to Luoyang Castle, I spoke in front of the gathered soldiers:

“All troops, engrave that emotion clearly in your hearts! And let’s pay back those Cao bandits who dared harm our comrades!”

It was the start of the final rush towards the final destination, Luoyang.

From Yijue Pass to Luoyang is less than 30km, a close distance. If we gallop at a trot to conserve the horses’ strength for battle, we can arrive in 2 hours.

‘The problem is the Luo River.’

Two tributaries flow to the south of Luoyang Castle. The aforementioned Luo River and the Yi River flowing a bit further south.

We had already crossed the Yi River since its upstream is south of Yijue Pass, but the Luo River was still flowing majestically between us and Luoyang, cutting off the land route.

If there was no bridge to cross, we might have helplessly watched the tragedy befalling Guan Yu like watching a fire across the river.

This was something we could only rely purely on luck. Although Sima Yi had called in Cao Biao as reinforcements, if by chance news of our coming had reached him, Sima Yi would have burned the pontoon bridge to cut off the path while blocking variables.

However, my worries were fortunately just needless anxiety.

“Those bastards left the pontoon bridge as is, not even dreaming we would come!”

Wei Yan shouted joyfully upon seeing the pontoon bridge still laid across the Luo River.

The Wei forces who discovered us initially stayed still, perhaps mistaking us for reinforcements, but soon realizing we were enemies, they hurriedly gathered to cut off the pontoon bridge.

Those holding torches came forward, and behind them, archers began forming ranks to check us. They certainly respond quickly, perhaps because they’re under Sima Yi.

Anyway, we can’t let them set fire to the pontoon bridge like this.

“I’ll go first!!”

Jinjing Huang hadn’t even been spurred, but hearing just my shout, it increased its speed. Befitting its name as a Thousand Li Horse, unlike ordinary horses that spread out after just a few minutes of full gallop, Jinjing Huang still had strength left to accelerate and dash ahead even after running all this way.

“General! It’s dangerous to go alone! You should match speed…”

“Bai Yue, I’ll go first too! General, I’ll go with you!”

Jiang Wei’s anxious voice calling me was heard from behind, but soon faded hazily beneath Ma Dai’s voice closely following me.

Even Jiang Wei is from Tianshui, but perhaps because he briefly served as a civil official in Wei, his horsemanship seemed to lag slightly behind the Xiliang cavalry. If even Jiang Wei from Tianshui is like that, there’s no need to mention Wei Yan.

Though unable to completely catch up to Jinjing Huang, the Xiliang cavalry, whose horse quality and rider skill are a cut above other cavalry, follow right behind me.

We enter the pontoon bridge with me at the very front, supported by the Xiliang cavalry behind.

As soon as we step onto the pontoon bridge, Jinjing Huang reaches the opposite side in an instant, as if folding space to run.

The Wei soldiers trying to set fire seemed scared of the huge body of the horse rushing towards them and the me riding atop it, stumbling backwards and falling on their behinds.

Watching the torch roll on the ground, I passed right by the Wei soldiers.

Slash!

Was it my imagination? Whether because they couldn’t keep up with Jinjing Huang’s speed, an eerie sound seemed to ring out a beat late.

Starting with the soldier at the very front, I cut down the Wei soldiers before me indiscriminately. Merciless violence. A festival of absurd slaughter.

Though the Wei soldiers under Sima Yi must also be elite troops, perhaps because their minds were so occupied with the front, not a single soldier withstood even one exchange with my spear.

It was the same even for those who seemed to have considerable rank like governors or commandants. When I swung my spear, they became wandering souls no differently.

The Wei forces who failed to stop us at the river crossing stage were busy fleeing in confusion. The reaction of those who hadn’t expected us to come at all. I mercilessly tore apart their encirclement while ripping into the sloppiness they showed.

“General! I can see the Grand General!”

Ma Dai, who had approached while I was charging forward cutting down Wei soldiers like a massacre, pointed towards the west and said.

‘Was I a step too late…!’

Guan Yu’s appearance with spear blades piercing him could by no means be described as unscathed. However, the fact that Guan Ping and Zhao Lei were forming ranks centered on Guan Yu, and that Guan Yu was still mounted on his horse alone, suggested he was still breathing.

“We’re not too late! The Grand General is still alive! We’ll penetrate the enemy lines like this and protect the Grand General!!”

Our forces, on the verge of achieving their goal, became even more spirited and fiercely drove back the Wei army.

I am at the vanguard, with Jiang Wei and Ma Dai assisting at my sides. And Wei Yan is solidly positioned in the center to maintain the overall balance of the army, so our cavalry of over 10,000 penetrates the enemy lines with organic and efficient movements as if a single living being.

The Wei forces focused on blocking the front were extremely vulnerable to opponents appearing from the rear. No, even if they had been prepared for us in advance, the result wouldn’t have changed much.

That’s how much our breakthrough power and offensive power transcended the kind that could be blocked just by knowing about it.

‘Sima Yi…’

Just before joining up with Guan Yu’s army by penetrating Sima Yi’s Wei forces trapping Guan Yu’s army from the south, I confirmed the opponent who had been staring at me constantly from some distance away by reversing and following that gaze.

It was the same face I saw in Yecheng. However, the expression was even more distorted than what he showed when I presented the Tan Ji to Cao Pi.

Sima Yi, whose eyes met mine, stopped shouting orders to those around him and glared at me as if having a staring contest.

‘Should I aim for Sima Yi now, entrusting Guan Yu?’

Such a thought popped up due to displeasure, but soon dissipated like foam.

As the area around Sima Yi was where his orders reached first, a perfect defensive posture had already been established, and Guan Yu’s army’s situation was so pressed that they would have been unable to avoid annihilation here if not for my coming.

No matter how much I hated Sima Yi and coveted his head, it couldn’t take priority over saving Guan Yu.

‘Know you’re lucky, Sima Yi.’

Sima Yi seemed to have noticed that our purpose was rescuing Guan Yu above all, and we would prioritize that. Otherwise, with his personality, there’s no way he would maintain a position not far from an enemy suddenly attacking the rear.

That was quite irritating.

‘He freely surrounds and beats others, but thinks he won’t be attacked himself?’

Isn’t it vexing? After killing so many Han soldiers and even grievously wounding Guan Yu, he stares thinking he’ll be safe.

“Bai Yue! You check on the Grand General’s condition, and prepare to withdraw from here with Governor Zhao Lei!”

“What? Surely the General isn’t…”

I turned my back without even listening to Jiang Wei’s following words.

We opened a path while penetrating the Wei forces. The following cavalry that poured in widening the path laid by the vanguard would be less fatigued, they were also elite cavalry of the Nanling Army, and there was also one here who could ride in sync with me.

“Rear General, do you remember? That day leaving Hanzhong?”

“Hahaha! Of course I remember! Indeed, the General of the Guards and I are of one mind.”

Wei Yan must have felt similar to me, as he changed his horse’s direction with a loud laugh as soon as I mentioned that day when we rescued Ma Chao’s followers from Hanzhong.

“Then follow me!”

The situation can’t be said to be better than that time. On that day leaving Hanzhong, Zhao Yun, Chen Dao, and Fang De were also with us.

However, now 10 years later, Wei Yan and I have grown from inexperienced generals who couldn’t keep up with those three then, to fierce generals standing tall in the world in our own right.

With the two leading fierce generals of Han’s second generation gathered, he dares to stubbornly maintain his position?

I’m not certain I can take his head. Sima Yi isn’t some minor general, and he’s the type to preserve his own safety impeccably. He might even try to capture me in return, seeing my attack attempt as an opportunity.

But at least I was confident we wouldn’t be overwhelmed by Sima Yi’s army.

“I must see that shameless face of Sima Yi in utter panic before I go.”