Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3913 When Blood and Vitality Decline, One Must Be Wary of Gain
At Sishui Pass, the biting north wind howled past the battlements, tugging at Cao Cao's banners and making a mournful sound.

Cao Jun's banners struggled to stay upright in the cold wind, and whenever there was a slight gap, they would try to droop, but the wind would whip them up again the next moment.

However, while the cold wind may damage the banners, it cannot dispel the increasingly solidified and suffocating heavy pressure on the city walls.

The military academy officers on duty stood atop the city wall, gazing westward in the morning light.

It's fine if you don't look at military academies, but once you do, you can't help but shudder!
Suddenly, a large number of figures appeared west of Sishui Pass!
The military academy student instinctively thought that the cavalry was about to launch an attack, but then he realized that the figures were not in formation, and they were not holding swords or spears...

Instead, they used pickaxes, shovels, timber, gravel, and so on.

The military academy dared not delay and immediately reported the situation.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was greatly alarmed. He almost immediately understood the meaning behind the General of the Flying Cavalry's actions.

Such a grand undertaking, disregarding the cost of leveling the rugged, uneven terrain in front of the pass, riddled with potholes and shallow trenches, could only point to one purpose!
The cavalry are preparing for the battlefield before the general offensive!
Cao Cao's mind raced through Cao Hong's previous report...

Those massive, cumbersome siege machines!

Whether it's a trebuchet that needs a level surface, a terrifying cannon, a towering siege tower, or a battering ram covered with cowhide, all require a smooth and safe passage to reach the vicinity of the gate!

To unleash the full power of these siege weapons, it is essential to clear the obstacles in their path!
Of course, not clearing the road surface or paving it is not unusable, but for the Flying Cavalry, obviously the fewer uncontrollable factors there are, the higher the coordination between the troops will be.

Every inch of the rammed land in front of the pass was like a death knell tolling in the hearts of Cao Cao's army!
"Uncle! 』

Xiahou Wei, unable to contain himself any longer, strode forward, his arm armor clanging as he clasped his hands in salute. "They are nothing but a few laborers and auxiliary soldiers of the cavalry, without armor or weapons, armed only with short shovels and pickaxes. They dare to approach the pass so close, clearly taking advantage of our lack of manpower! This is a godsend! I, your humble servant, am willing to lead my elite light cavalry to break through the gates, shatter their formation, burn their stockpiled timber, and drive out their laborers. I will not allow these traitors to act with impunity!"

Before he could finish speaking, the young Xiahou Jie, standing to the other side, also cupped his hands and said, "Uncle! The General of Chariots and Cavalry is going too far, treating us like mere decorations! I humbly request to go with Brother Ji Quan! If the two of us advance together, we can swiftly overwhelm them and strike them down, crushing their arrogance and letting that Fei traitor know that our Cao army is not just a bunch of city-defending fools!"

Those women and servants, if they can't defeat the regular army of the Flying Cavalry, surely they can defeat these auxiliary soldiers and laborers of the Flying Cavalry?!

These past few days, Xiahou and his companion have been feeling incredibly restless.

However, the risks of going out into the open are self-evident.

The ferocity of the cavalry, the cunning of their tactics, and the strictness of their discipline have long been proven by countless bloody battles.

The commotion outside the pass at this moment—who knows if it's not yet another meticulously designed trap?

But what if we ignore it?
Cao Cao weighed the options deeply in his heart.

The General of the Cavalry was by no means a reckless man; Fei Qian always emphasized careful planning before taking action.

How could they dare to carry out such a large-scale construction project so openly in front of the pass without taking thorough precautions?

This was very likely a tempting bait, designed to lure him into sending out his increasingly valuable mobile cavalry out of the pass, so that his elite troops, who had been lying in ambush, could be surrounded and annihilated, further weakening the defenses and counterattack capabilities of Sishui Pass.

however……

If we simply hold our ground and watch the enemy advance their starting position to such close range...

At that time, the artillery of the Flying Cavalry will be able to advance smoothly to the front of the pass...

Cannons roared, arrows rained down, siege engines like giant towers, ladders stretched like forests, and fierce soldiers swarmed in like ants...

Cao Cao's hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly.

We can't just passively take a beating!

We can't just sit here and wait to die!

We must take action, even if it means risking our lives!

Even if we cannot kill the soldiers of the Flying Cavalry, we must slow down their advance as much as possible!

However, the risks remain significant.

"Accurate! Proceed out of the pass to meet the enemy!"

Cao Cao's gaze, sharp as a knife, swept across Xiahou Wei and Xiahou Jie's faces. He instructed them, word by word, "However… you must remember this! The purpose of this attack is to disrupt and delay! Not to annihilate the enemy and gain merit! Simply burning their timber, destroying their equipment, and dispersing their laborers will be a great achievement! The Flying Cavalry will surely have ambushes prepared in advance. You must not be greedy for merit and linger in battle, lest you fall into their trap! You must strike and retreat swiftly, like a startled swan, without a moment's hesitation! Can you two strictly adhere to this order?!"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Wei and Xiahou Jie were greatly encouraged. They clasped their hands in a fist and bowed deeply, their voices booming, "Your humble servants will obey your command, sir! We will not fail in our mission!"

The two exchanged a glance, then excitedly turned and descended the city wall.

Cao Cao frowned as he looked at it.

Although Xiahou and Jie both readily agreed, the burning light in their eyes, especially Xiahou Jie's almost overflowing eagerness...

This caused a surge of anxiety in Cao Cao's heart.

Young people are full of vigor and easily misled by appearances on the battlefield; what if...

"Evil Lai." Cao Cao turned his gaze to Dian Wei.

Dian Wei was exceptionally tall and strong; even when he stood still, he exuded a chilling sense of oppression.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Dian Wei bowed in response.

Cao Cao said in a deep voice, "You must immediately lead your elite troops to assemble inside the pass, fully armed, and await further orders. If you see Generals Xiahou and Xiahou ambushed and their retreat cut off, do not request further orders; immediately open the gate and provide full support! Make every effort to ensure their safe retreat back inside the pass! Under no circumstances should you engage in reckless fighting! Remember this well!"

"Yes!" Dian Wei said nothing more, clasped his hands tightly, his armor clanging, and turned to retreat.

Why didn't Cao Cao just send Dian Wei directly?

Because Dian Wei was an infantry general...

It's such a shame I have short legs!

……

……

Before long, the side gate of Sishui Pass slowly opened a crack, just wide enough for a few riders to ride side by side, amidst the heavy creaking of the winch.

The deep, rapid beat of war drums mingled with the sudden, thunderous roar of horses' hooves.

Xiahou Wei and Xiahou Jie took the lead, each leading more than a hundred light cavalry. Like cockroaches whose nests had been opened, they poured out of the gate with a whoosh, stirring up clouds of dust that swept towards the cavalry engineers who were working diligently outside the pass!

Horse hooves shattered the frozen earth, and swords and spears reflected the bleak winter light, their murderous aura rising into the air!

The scale of the event was indeed impressive...

However, almost the instant Cao Cao's cavalry poured out of the gate, the elite scouts of the Flying Cavalry, who had been patrolling the high mounds and earthen hills around the perimeter of the battlefield, noticed the movement of Cao Cao's army.

In an instant, the sharp, piercing sound of the copper whistle, cutting through the wind, rang out continuously in a specific rhythm.

Several large red triangular flags were also quickly raised and waved in different locations.

The cavalry engineers, who were engrossed in their work, seemed to have anticipated this and showed no panic upon receiving the alarm.

The military academy sergeant leading the team also shouted sharply at almost the same time: "According to the plan, retreat in shifts! Quickly!" The order was clear and concise.

The cavalry engineers, almost without hesitation, took their equipment, leaving behind heavy and inconvenient carts and dustpans, and retreated quickly and orderly in their original squads to several pre-determined retreat and assembly areas with low slopes, earthen mounds, and simple barricades for cover.

Although the procession was somewhat rushed, it was well-organized and there was no sign of people rushing or trampling each other.

"Chase them! Don't let these thieves escape! Cut off their heads to avenge this humiliation!"

Xiahou Jie, who was at the forefront, became anxious as he watched the cavalry engineers retreat.

After all, not everyone has X-ray vision or a God's-eye view.

From Xiahou Jie's perspective, all he could see were the wriggling buttocks of the cavalry engineers...

The desire for merit that Cao Cao had instructed him to suppress was suddenly ignited like wildfire under the allure of these chrysanthemums.

He could almost see the enemy troops in front of him crumbling and being beheaded one after another!
That would be a resounding victory!

It's also a form of proof!
He proved himself, and he proved the Xiahou clan!

Xiahou Jie spurred his horse, urging it to accelerate and chase after the retreating engineers. His personal guards, seeing this, also shouted and urged the horses to speed up. As the chase progressed, the formation gradually stretched out, and the originally compact assault formation began to break apart.

"Wait!! Remember our lord's words! Simply burn the timber and equipment; do not pursue them further!"

Xiahou Wei, who was behind, saw it clearly and his heart tightened. He hurriedly shouted a warning at the top of his lungs.

Xiahou Wei reined in his horse and turned to his cavalry, ordering, "Quickly! Quickly! Burn the enemy's supplies and timber! Light the fire, light the fire!"

Immediately, the Cao army soldiers following Xiahou Wei began rummaging through their pockets, shouting, "Fire striker! Where's the fire striker?!"

"You only have a few torches? Why didn't you bring more?"

"Damn it! All you do is talk nonsense, why didn't you grab two yourself?!"

Before the battle, the soldiers didn't know the objective. If the general didn't give them instructions beforehand, and if the quartermaster didn't prepare in advance, forget about gunpowder and gunpowder; they would even have to tear off strips of cloth from their crotches on the spot...

Do you really think that battlefield warfare is like in a game, where soldiers can prepare all kinds of supplies anytime, anywhere, and then just give an order to pull out all sorts of things from Dora's pocket to meet all kinds of needs?
However, lighting a fire was a common occurrence in Cao Cao's army every day. Once a fire was started, the flames could be spread.

Of course, this speed is inevitably a little slow.

But it was finally lit. Several sparks crackled and popped, billowing black smoke that was particularly glaring against the gray sky.

But Xiahou Jie, who was charging ahead, could only see the 'alluring' backs of the 'disheveled' retreating engineers in front of him...

He felt this was a golden opportunity!
A head is a military achievement!
Genuine military achievements!

Once he achieves considerable military merit, who will dare to secretly mock him as a "youngster" and "unfit for great responsibilities" when he returns?!

Just as Xiahou Jie was filled with joy and imagining a bright future, a deep bugle call suddenly sounded!

"Whoosh—Buzz—"

Immediately afterwards, a general's flag embroidered with a large yellow character, along with several tricolor battle flags of the Flying Cavalry, were raised high from behind the earthen slope on the flank, fluttering wildly in the wind!
Huang Cheng, leading his cavalry, who were already poised and fully armored, suddenly appeared like a pack of wolves that had been lying in wait!
With unparalleled coordination, the cavalry quickly deployed into a solid wedge-shaped charge. Without any pre-battle encouragement or special commands, they poured down the earthen slope and charged directly at Xiahou Jie's troops!

This is a systematic army ruthlessly crushing a disorganized, scattered force!

Xiahou Jie only remembered Cao Cao's instructions at this moment, but it was too late!
Almost instantly, the vanguard of both sides clashed!
The dull thud and the ear-piercing scraping and tearing of metal erupted almost simultaneously, forming a heavy melody, accompanied by the sounds of bones breaking, the dying neighs of warhorses, and the short screams of soldiers, all blending together into a series of chilling death symphonies!

The sharp spears of the Flying Cavalry, aided by their speed, easily pierced the leather armor of Cao Cao's cavalry, which lacked tight formation protection!

Even the Cao army cavalry, clad in iron armor, were like straw targets, easily thrown from their horses by the spears of the Flying Cavalry!
The cavalry lances were just an appetizer; the real main course was the saber.

The saber sliced ​​through melons and vegetables with ease, sending up sprays of blood. Hot blood splattered everywhere, and even the rising smoke seemed to turn pink.

The moment Xiahou Jie's troops were attacked by Huang Cheng's men, they fell into complete chaos and collapse.

Xiahou Jie's cavalry at the front were either dead or wounded, while the soldiers in the middle and rear were terrified. They instinctively reined in their horses and turned around, trying to escape this bloody slaughterhouse, but they failed to effectively divert their attention. They turned however they wanted, like a traffic lightless intersection for students leaving school or getting off work. Everyone thought they were going the right way, and the ones who were wrong were the ones blocking their way...

Traffic jams at intersections may result in cursing and delays, but on the battlefield, a loss of order leads to chaos, trampling, and bloodshed!
Even Xiahou Jie himself was caught in the center of this sudden collapse, forced to spin passively with his men and unable to escape...

He swung his sword with all his might, parrying a thrusting spear and then slashing down a cavalryman who tried to approach. Although he possessed extraordinary strength and remarkable bravery, his individual prowess seemed so insignificant in the face of the collapse of the collective battle formation.

As his personal guards fell from their horses one after another, their familiar screams assaulting his eardrums, he regretted not heeding Cao Cao's stern warning not to be greedy for glory and linger in battle...

……

……

Xiahou Wei, who was directing the arson from the rear, witnessed Xiahou Jie's troops being surrounded in an instant, and his heart trembled with fear!

Reason told him that the wisest choice at this moment was to immediately abandon Xiahou Jie and then lead his troops back to Sishui Pass at full speed without looking back. With the crossbows on the fortified city, the cavalry would not dare to approach easily, thus preserving his troops.

but……

Watching his brother Xiahou Jie charge left and right through the encirclement, narrowly escaping death, the blood ties of kinship overwhelmed him, instantly dispelling any semblance of absolute rationality...

"All soldiers, heed my command! Follow me forward and rescue General Xiahou! Kill—!"

Xiahou Wei's eyes were bloodshot, and he almost spat out the command through clenched teeth. He kicked his horse's belly hard, ignoring the piles of wood that were not yet fully burning, and led his troops in a desperate charge towards the chaotic battle, trying to help Xiahou Jie escape the encirclement.

Xiahou Wei blocked some of the cavalrymen, leaving an escape route for Xiahou Jie in the chaos. But just as Xiahou Wei met up with Xiahou Jie, who was covered in blood and whose helmet was askew, and they were preparing to break through the encirclement at all costs, another unexpected change occurred on the flank of the battlefield!
Huang Cheng's other elite cavalry detachment of about two hundred men, which he had pre-deployed, did not directly participate in the battle on the front lines. Instead, they circled around to the flanks and appeared behind Cao Cao's army when Xiahou and his companion were preparing to retreat!
With Huang Cheng's main force pressing in from the front and elite cavalry lurking behind, Xiahou Wei and Xiahou Jie were terrified. A chilling despair surged in their hearts, and they cried out that something terrible was about to happen!
Fortunately, Cao Cao's contingency plans did prove somewhat effective.

The war drums of Sishui Pass roared once more, and Dian Wei charged out first with a whoosh!
He was clad in specially made, thick armor, and held a fine iron halberd in each hand. He was accompanied by carefully selected heavily armored soldiers.

These soldiers were mostly clad in heavy lamellar armor and carried long halberds and large axes, clearly an optimization designed for cavalry.

To the flanks and rear of the heavily armored soldiers were some lightly armored, swift-armored, and agile leaping soldiers as a supplement.

Dian Wei wasn't particularly bright, so his lack of special ideas became his greatest advantage. Following Cao Cao's orders, he didn't seek out Huang Cheng or any other cavalry officers for a duel, but instead charged like a whirlwind into the flanking cavalry unit!

When Dian Wei wielded his twin halberds, they were truly impenetrable, whistling through the air, and none who stood in his way could withstand them!
A cavalryman charged forward with his spear, but Dian Wei easily deflected it with his left-hand halberd. With a follow-up swing of his right halberd, the man and his armor were crushed and deformed, and he fell to the ground screaming in agony!

The other cavalrymen were momentarily stunned by Dian Wei's ferocity...

Dian Wei's heavily armored infantry, armed with large shields, long halberds, and long axes, possessed a certain advantage against cavalry. The slender legs of warhorses were clearly no match for these long halberds and axes.

Archers on the city walls also assisted, raining down arrows to hinder and intercept.

"Quickly! The entire army turns! Follow General Dian and charge back to the pass!"

Xiahou Wei reacted extremely quickly, overjoyed, and roared loudly.

The two men no longer cared about formations or tactics; guided only by the gap opened by Dian Wei, they fled desperately towards Sishui Pass, abandoning their armor and weapons. The defeated army moved like a receding tide, utterly panicked.

When Huang Cheng saw Dian Wei charge out, he frowned slightly. He knew that fighting at the pass, especially with a fierce-looking man like Dian Wei, was not a good choice. He immediately ordered the retreat.

Upon receiving the order, the cavalry demonstrated an extremely high level of discipline.

The pursuing cavalry gradually closed in, unleashing a barrage of crossbow fire. While increasing the casualties of Cao Cao's fleeing army, they also covered their own troops as they advanced, rescuing their fallen and wounded comrades before slowly making their way away.