Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3696 Cold Inkstone Condenses the Sharp Edge, Inscribing the Gate of Life; Iron Locks Forge the Soul, Rain Leaves its Mark

The rain was cold, sticky, and endless.

The muddy ground on the southern slope of Mount Song has been trampled countless times, turning it into a dark brown swamp. Every step is accompanied by a sticky pull and a muffled splash.

Visibility was blurred by the rain and blood mist, obscuring the figures ten feet away. It was as if the whole world was nothing but a gray chaos and the roars of a life-or-death battle right before our eyes.

Like a wild beast.

A group of wild beasts faces another group of wild beasts.

Cao Xi felt like a fish thrown ashore, struggling futilely in the cold, sticky mud.

His troops completely collapsed.

The formation is long gone.

The orders were drowned out by deafening roars and the dying cries of soldiers.

The only remaining soldiers around him were the elite guards of Cao Cao's army, who used their bodies to shield him from the swords and spears thrusting from all directions. However, they were pierced and cut down one after another, and their warm blood splattered on his cold armor plates, instantly turning pale red by the rain.

Cao Yi swung his sword and cut down a charging cavalry soldier. The heavy ring-pommel sword sank into the soldier's shoulder blade. When he pulled it out, it brought up a spray of blood. However, his arm was sore and numb from exhaustion.

His self-proclaimed martial prowess in Qiao County and the praise he received from the gentry in Chenliu are now a joke.

His foot slipped suddenly, and he staggered backward, falling heavily into the mud. The cold mud seeped into his neck, and a feeling of suffocation, accompanied by despair, instantly gripped him.

He saw a blood-dripping spear hurtling toward his unprotected face!

"General, be careful!"

The guard rushed forward and knocked the cavalryman to the ground.

But the next moment, other cavalrymen charged forward...

In that life-or-death moment, from the depths of the rain on the left side of the battlefield, a muffled, trembling sound wave came through!

It seemed to be countless heavy footsteps treading on the mud, the friction and collision of iron armor, and a low, collective roar like the panting of wild beasts!
"Kill them—!"

Immediately afterwards, a blurry but enormous shadow burst through the rain curtain!

The one leading the way was Han Hao!

Han Hao was wearing heavy armor. Although the heavy armor easily got covered in more mud, making each step heavy and difficult, he still charged to the front of Cao's army line with a rock-solid stability!

Han Hao switched to a long-handled ring-pommel broadsword, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light of the rain and mist.

He didn't roar like the other Cao soldiers; instead, he silently and fiercely charged into the flank of the cavalry besieging Cao Xi!

There are no fancy techniques, only the most primal power and killing instinct.

Wearing heavy armor, Han Hao charged into the cavalry formation like a human chariot, swinging his broadsword in a wide arc!
*Pfft!*

A cavalry soldier who was thrusting forward with his spear was cut in half at the waist, spear and all!
Internal organs mixed with blood splattered onto the muddy ground.

Han Hao's blade didn't stop, and he slashed at the shield of another cavalryman who was trying to block!
*Click!*

Wood chips flew everywhere, the shield shattered, the arm holding the shield twisted and deformed, and the person fell down with a scream.

Behind Han Hao, Cao's heavy infantry followed closely, advancing with difficulty but determination through the mud like a moving iron wall. With their large shields, long halberds, and flesh and blood, they forcefully broke through the chaotic cavalry!
Each of their roars was accompanied by heavy breathing and the dull thud of weapons piercing flesh. Every swing or thrust was powerful and heavy, but the slippery ground and heavy armor also made each movement more exhausting than usual.

Han Hao saw the familiar tassel on Cao Xi's helmet, and he saw the face distorted by fear and mud.

A feeling of disgust instantly welled up in his heart...

He remembered how this guy had greedily stolen his military merits and how arrogant and rude he had been!
A thought suddenly popped into his mind: 'Wouldn't it be against all reason to let this good-for-nothing die in the chaos of battle? Why should I risk my life for someone like him?'

Just pretend to be one step slower...

But the next moment, the psychological iron shackles that Han Hao had formed over the years in Dahan Shandong instantly locked away all his selfish thoughts!
loyalty!

Loyalty to Prime Minister Cao Cao!

Cao Xi was Cao Cao's cousin and a member of the Cao family. He was one of the people Han Hao had served!

Han Hao, having received great favor from the Prime Minister and risen to the rank of Commander of the Central Army, how could he sit idly by and watch Cao Cao's relatives and clansmen fall into enemy hands?!

This is not for Cao Xi as a person, but for the Prime Minister's foundation, for the dignity of the Cao family, and even more so for Han Hao's own standing!

The way of a subject is to prioritize loyalty!
During the Han Dynasty, the country was governed by the principle of filial piety, and loyalty to the emperor was considered the greatest form of filial p

"Charge with me!"

Han Hao squeezed out three words through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse but carrying an undeniable power.

He stopped looking at Cao Xi's disgusting face, and to avoid actually feeling nauseous, he lost the desire to rush forward.

Han Hao focused his attention on the chaos before him and the enemies blocking his way!
He concentrated all his energy, channeling his strength into his arms, and with a whoosh of wind tearing through the rain, he cleaved his opponent in the path of his sword!
Every step forward seemed exceptionally difficult.

The mud clung to the heavy iron boots, and the slippery ground made every exertion of force a risk of falling.

Rain kept flowing into my eyes, blurring my vision.

The old wound below his left rib began to faintly protest under the intense movements and the pressure of the armor.

Every time he twisted his body and swung his knife, every time he stomped his feet, it felt like steel needles were piercing deep into his old wounds!
The excruciating pain made his breathing heavy and short, and his movements inevitably stiffened and slowed down.

Sweat, or perhaps rainwater?

It was impossible to tell anymore; the lining was soaked through, and it clung to my body coldly and stickily.

Han Hao forcefully shoved aside a cavalry soldier with his shoulder. Sparks flew from the soldier's sword against the plates of his heavy armor, and then Han Hao's broadsword pierced through the soldier's abdomen. However, the cavalryman's dying counterattack struck Han Hao's helmet, causing him to black out and stagger. He barely managed to regain his balance by bracing himself with his sword.

Then Han Hao saw a fierce cavalryman raising his sword and slashing fiercely at Cao Xi, who had just struggled to get halfway out of the mud!

Get out of my way!

Han Hao roared and pounced!
The cold weapon battles in the rain and mist have no beauty whatsoever; they are nothing but a contest of brute force and speed!
*Bang! Crack!*

A dull thud was accompanied by a clear cracking sound!

The fierce soldier was sent flying by Han Hao's smash, knocking down two of his comrades.

Han Hao, due to the exertion and excruciating pain, stumbled and fell to his knees in the muddy water, gasping for breath, oblivious to the icy muddy water filling his mouth. He felt as if the wound on his left rib was being torn open, each breath accompanied by a burning pain that almost suffocated him.

Han Hao forced himself to lift his head, the cold rain washing over his face.

Through his blurred vision, he saw Cao Xi looking at him with extreme fear, his face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal and terror towards him.

It's disgusting...

Han Hao used his knife to support himself on the ground, struggling to stand up and continue fighting, but the excruciating pain in his left ribs distorted his movements, and his body swayed violently.

The surrounding cavalry soldiers saw his weakness and, like hyenas smelling blood, pounced on him even more fiercely!

One by one, Han Hao's personal guards fell, and the defensive perimeter shrank rapidly. He struggled to parry with his sword, but each swing aggravated his wounds, making his movements slower and his strength noticeably diminish.

A long spear darted towards Han Hao's left rib, which was somewhat unprotected due to the aggravation of an old injury!

Han Hao managed to turn to the side, the spear tip grazing the edge of his heavy armor, producing a screeching sound and a few sparks, but the impact of the spear caused his already unsteady body to stagger backward again.

Protect the lord!

Han Hao's personal guards rushed forward and shielded him with their shields.

Break through! Charge out!

Han Hao roared.

At this moment, Sima Yi, who was relatively far away and in a relatively safe position in the central army, was also severely limited in his field of vision by the rain.

The drawbacks of not being frontline warriors are now becoming apparent.

Sima Yi was unable to control the changes at the front line. He could only see a blurry scene of people rolling and fighting in the mud, and hear deafening shouts and screams of the dying.

He couldn't see the sweat on Han Hao's face, nor the pain in his eyes. Similarly, he couldn't know the specifics of the struggle between the two sides beneath the chaos, mud, and blood.

The two sides' lines clashed, fighting raging on mountain paths, slopes, ridges, and valleys. Sima Yi's only clue was the trajectory of Han Hao's signature heavy armor moving through the chaos…

When Sima Yi discovered that the trajectory was no longer as unstoppable as before, but had become sluggish, rigid, and even showed obvious staggering and pauses, he felt that the moment to decide the outcome had arrived!

"Han Hao is exhausted!"

Sima Yi made a swift judgment: "Send the order! Press forward! Surround him and kill him! Use long weapons! Wear him down!"

There is only one chance to relay the order.

It's like turning around before battle; you can only agree on it in advance and then turn around once.

The more chaotic the battle situation, the more difficult it is to transmit orders.

His last mobile force, about two hundred elite infantrymen led by his trusted confidant cadet, personally rushed down to deliver and execute the message!

This reserve force was Sima Yi's last trump card, and he unhesitatingly threw it into the battle to annihilate Han Hao.

Their fresh strength squeezed Han Hao's remaining defensive perimeter.

Sima Yi's reserve force joined the battle, their heavy halberds and spears thrusting densely, forcing Han Hao and others to constantly parry, retreat, and suffer casualties.

Each block intensified the excruciating pain in Han Hao's left ribs, and each retreat made it even harder for him to breathe.

He was like a tiger trapped in a swamp, all claws and teeth, yet dragged down by the endless mud and pain.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Just as Han Hao and the others were in despair, a rapid, sharp, and extremely penetrating sound of a gong suddenly rang out from the direction of Flying Fox Fortress!
"Reinforcements! It's our reinforcements!"

Cao Xi saw the Cao army banners in the rain and mist and roared with joy.

Immediately afterwards, from the depths of that chaotic rain curtain, from the direction of the wide-open gates of Flying Fox Castle, came heavy footsteps and deafening battle cries!
Xun Yun commanded Cao Cao's army at Feihu Fortress and arrived at the battlefield before Han Hao, Cao Yi, and others collapsed!

Historically, there was the story of Lü Bu fighting three heroes; now, there is also Zhongda facing off against three generals.

The cavalry troops besieging Han Hao, especially the reserve force sent down by Sima Yi, were the first to feel the immense pressure coming from the flank and rear!

Sima Yi's heart sank.

He couldn't see the general's flag across the rain and mist, nor could he hear exactly who was shouting on the battlefield, but the sound of the gong, the sudden offensive, and the momentary shaking of the reserve troops all clearly told him that another fresh force of Cao Cao's army had arrived!

And now, he has played all his cards!

He has no cards left to play!
Even though Han Hao and other Cao troops were already on the verge of collapse!

However, if Sima Yi were to force his way through at this moment, his entire army would inevitably be bogged down by this new force...

If the scattered fronts collapse and the collapse snowballs, the consequences will be unimaginable!
"withdraw!"

Sima Yi made a decisive decision, his voice hoarse but exceptionally resolute.

The few remaining guards around him immediately waved strips of cloth of a specific color that signified retreat, while simultaneously using short, sharp gong sounds to transmit signals to the troops fighting below. Of course, this was not entirely based on sound carrying far, but rather on a relay system among the soldiers, with officers identifying the signals and then passing them on to the next level of soldiers.

"Retreat! Northwest! Alternating cover!"

The orders were painstakingly relayed through mud and blood.

The cavalry, which was besieging Han Hao and his men, fought and retreated, disengaging from engagement. Under increasing pressure from Xun Yun's forces closing in from their flanks and rear, they began a difficult retreat northwestward. They dragged the seriously wounded, supported the lightly wounded, and those cavalrymen who were too badly injured to retreat to do so tore off their dog tags, handed them to their comrades, and then chose to stay behind to cover the rear…

With Xun Yun joining the battlefield, the terrifying pressure weighing on Han Hao gradually disappeared.

He leaned on his broadsword, breathing heavily. Each breath felt like a knife cutting into his lungs, and the excruciating pain in his left rib almost made him faint.

The cold rain washed away the thick mud and congealed blood from his armor, and also washed away his body, which was trembling uncontrollably from extreme exhaustion and pain.

He glanced at Cao Xi, who had been dragged out of the mud by his personal guards and lay limp on the ground like a rag doll. His eyes showed no concern, no contempt, only a blankness that was almost numb.

He had done his utmost in loyalty and righteousness, and his body had also reached its limit.

He clung to the last vestiges of his consciousness, gazing at the approaching figures of Cao Cao's army swaying in the rain in the direction of Flying Fox Fortress. His tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, and he slumped down...

……

……

The cold rain, like the prostate gland of a man in his forties or fifties, dripped and pattered against the southern foothills of Mount Song.

If you say there's no, it squeezes out a few drops; if you say there is, it stops dripping after a while...

The muddy ground was no longer a place that could provide effective support, but a bottomless brown swamp, as if the earth itself was greedily sucking up the strength of the passers-by, and wanted to devour the flesh and soul on it and take them to the underworld.

Visibility was compressed to its limit; the dense rain and pervasive moisture blurred the figures ten feet away. The whole world was left with only a gray, chaotic scene, a biting chill, and the sounds of panting, cursing, and the occasional scraping of metal from clashing weapons.

The retreating column trudged through muddy gullies and slippery dense forests, its formation loose and oppressive, like a weary crowd that had been battered by a storm during their migration.

Sima Yi, wrapped in a raincoat that was already soaked through and as heavy as iron, stood in a recess in the rock wall that could barely shield him from the wind and rain.

The cold rain streamed down the edge of his straw hat, blurring his vision.

He refused the piece of flatbread, swollen and cold from being soaked in the rain, offered to him by his personal guard. All his attention was focused on the area behind him, shrouded in noise and a hint of murderous intent.

Under the command of Han Hao or Xun Yun, Cao Cao's army maintained a suffocating sense of oppression.

Cao Cao's pursuit was not a reckless, all-out attack, but rather seemed to be a planned operation...

Would Xun Yu send a large army into the mountains to encircle and block them?

Sima Yi pondered.

Because of the rain, areas that were previously dry now have water, thus expanding the passable area.

Just like the location where Sima Yi's troops are currently stationed.

But this rain...

It will eventually stop.

Sima Yi stared at the rain and mist before him, and a thought suddenly struck him!
This rain can be an obstacle, but it can also be a weapon!

An invisible weapon!

"Pass on the order!"

Sima Yi's tone remained clear and calm, like a sharp blade: "The rearguard will be deployed in shifts, using the terrain, boulders, fallen trees, and dense forests to construct tiered blocking points! The aim is not to inflict casualties, but to delay the enemy! Each blocking action will last for half an incense stick's time; once that time is up, immediately retreat in shifts, do not linger! The rest of the troops, advance rapidly and find shelter from the rain and to dry land!"

The order was relayed by the guards and messengers.

A hoarse roar and a short whistle rang out alternately.

Soon, the structure of the retreating troops changed.

The designated rear guard quickly broke away from the main force, using all available terrain features to cover the retreat of most of Sima Yi's troops.

A craggy boulder served as a natural cover, several fallen giant trees blocked the road, and a dense thicket of thorny bushes provided an excellent ambush point.

They built simple low walls with slippery mud and stones, dug some traps, and stuck in some sharpened wooden spikes.

Cao Jun's pursuing troops soon stumbled into these traps.

Although most of Cao Cao's soldiers did not suffer any direct harm, there were always some unlucky ones who were hit and let out miserable cries.

When Cao's soldiers attempt to clear obstacles or force their way through, the ambushing cavalry infantry will suddenly charge out, thrusting with spears and slamming with swords and shields, unleashing a short but fierce battle. Then, before Cao's main force can press forward, they will quickly disengage like ghosts and disappear into the rain and complex terrain.

"These bastards! Don't run away if you dare!" A Cao army garrison commander wiped the rain and blood from his face and roared angrily, but he could only watch helplessly as the rearguard of the cavalry disappeared from sight, leaving behind several tangled corpses and an even muddier and more chaotic road.

Each of these brief retaliations was like a poisonous thorn stuck in the soles of Cao Cao's pursuing troops. Though not fatal, it greatly slowed their pace and drained their already limited strength.

More importantly, hidden dangers were quietly brewing and accumulating within Cao Cao's army...

The plans of both sides have been altered once again.

Gradually, no one knew where the war would go or how it would veer off course...