Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

He immediately turned to Wei Yan, who had been unable to contain himself any longer.

"Wen Chang!"

"The general is here!"

Wei Yan stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell.

"I grant you two thousand Yan Yun Eighteen Riders, and I'll also assign five hundred Iron Pagoda Cavalry to your command! Go find Xiahou Dun and keep a close eye on him!"

If we can fight, we will fight. If they avoid battle, we must keep them firmly pinned down in that area. We must not allow them to threaten the flanks and rear of our main force, and we must not allow them to touch our supplies even a little bit!

Gu Rubing ordered that this mixed cavalry force, combining the mobility of light cavalry with the impact of heavy cavalry, was the best choice to deal with Xiahou Dun's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

"Your subordinate obeys! I will ensure that Xiahou Dun never returns!"

Wei Yan excitedly clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and strode off to muster his troops.

Seeing Wei Yan leave, Gu Rubing dared not be careless in the slightest and immediately gave orders to Deng Ai and the others.

"Cao Cao is cunning and treacherous. We must guard against him attacking the city while our troops are divided in pursuit! Check all the cannons, ensure ammunition is sufficient, and increase double patrols on the city walls day and night! We must wait for Cao Cao here!"

The defenses of the new capital were tightened once again, and the dark muzzles of the cannons gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Wei Yan led 2,500 elite cavalrymen out of the city gate like an arrow, searching for Xiahou Dun's whereabouts along the route in which the grain supply was intercepted.

However, Xiahou Dun and his five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry seemed to have merged into the mountains and rivers. Wei Yan led his men to search the vast area behind them for several days, traversing several valleys and forests where they might be hiding, but they still could not find the exact location of the enemy. The ghostly cavalry seemed to have completely disappeared in the hills of Yibei.

Wei Yan led two thousand Yan Yun Eighteen Riders and five hundred Iron Pagoda Cavalry, traversing back and forth across the vast area behind the new capital, their hooves pounding the hills, woodlands, and valleys.

They combed through places where enemy troops might be hiding like a comb, while scouts were like cast nets, constantly reporting all sorts of clues.

However, Xiahou Dun and his five thousand elite cavalry were like slippery eels. Every time Wei Yan rushed over based on the clues, he would only find a trampled patch of grass or a few piles of embers from long-extinguished campfires. The enemy's main force had long since disappeared.

"General, a large number of fresh hoof prints have been found in a valley thirty miles to the northeast, but the people are nowhere to be found!"

"Report! General, a broken saddle has been found abandoned beside the official road to the west, suspected to have been deliberately left behind by the enemy!"

"No trace has been found in the south...the south!"

Intelligence reports kept pouring in, but none of them pinpointed Xiahou Dun's exact location or next move. Wei Yan's face grew increasingly grim, a sense of defeat gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake.

He had this elite force under his command, which combined speed and impact, but he couldn't even catch a glimpse of the enemy. The feeling of having no way to use his strength made him extremely irritable.

"Damn it!"

Is Xiahou Dun a rat?

"Such excellent hiding skills!"

Wei Yan couldn't help but curse, his eyes wide as he stared at the undulating mountains before him, finding them utterly obstructive. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, as one of the most elite light cavalry forces in the land, possessed unparalleled speed and mobility as their greatest advantage.

They didn't need to confront Wei Yan head-on. They only needed to keep moving, harassing, and hiding to keep Wei Yan's pursuing troops firmly behind them, keeping them busy and constantly threatening Gu Rubing's rear.

Just as Wei Yan was at his wit's end and was about to order his troops to expand the search area, a fast horse galloped from afar like a whirlwind. The scout on horseback almost tumbled off the horse. His face was covered in dust and his lips were chapped, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"General! We've found it! It's reliable intelligence brought to us by the brother of the Crossbow Captain who risked his life!"

The scout, catching his breath, held up a small, sealed bamboo tube high with both hands.

"Xiahou Dun's target is the five cities!"

"Five cities?!"

Wei Yan snatched the bamboo tube, crushed the sealing wax, and quickly pulled out the silk cloth inside for a closer look. After just one glance, his expression changed drastically; a fine layer of cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead, and a chill ran from his tailbone straight to the top of his head!

Five cities! How could it be five cities?!
As a core general under Gu Rubing, Wei Yan naturally understood the importance of the five cities.

It was a small, unremarkable town located at the confluence of several tributaries. The town was not large, and the city walls were not particularly tall or sturdy.

However, it was one of the key hubs connecting the front lines of Yizhou with several grain-producing counties in the rear, and a vital grain transfer and relay station!

In order to support the war at the front, Gu Rubing ordered that a large amount of grain and fodder collected from the rear be transported to transit points such as Wucheng for counting, storage and secondary distribution, and then delivered to front-line cities such as Xindu by smaller transport teams.

This logistical supply line is the lifeline of Gu Rubing's army! And the five cities are an important node on this lifeline.

Gu Rubing deliberately chose Wucheng, an inconspicuous small city, as a transit point in order to avoid attracting Cao Cao's attention.

He even left only two thousand troops in the five cities, precisely because he did not want to expose the fact that there was a large amount of grain stored there by stationing too many troops.

"My lord's plan was brilliant... but, but how could it have..."

Wei Yan's hand holding the intelligence trembled slightly, and he felt a lingering fear in his heart.

He simply couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if Xiahou Dun breached the five cities and the grain and fodder stored inside, enough to support the frontline army for more than a month, were burned or seized!
The 80,000 troops in the new capital will immediately be in dire straits due to lack of food, and their morale will collapse on the verge of collapse. The entire Yizhou war situation will be completely ruined as a result!

"Quickly! Send someone immediately to report this to our lord with the utmost urgency!"

Wei Yan roared at his personal guards, then suddenly mounted his horse, raised his long sword high, and roared at the slightly tired cavalry behind him.

"Men! All troops, turn around! Target five cities! Charge there as fast as you can! Even if it kills our horses, we must get there before that bastard Xiahou Dun breaches the city! Hurry!!"

"Roar!"

The cavalrymen under his command also realized the seriousness of the situation. They responded in unison, ignoring their fatigue from days of searching, and urged their warhorses on.

Two thousand five hundred riders, like a torrent of steel, suddenly turned and galloped wildly toward the five cities. The sound of their hooves was like a storm, striking the earth and stirring up clouds of dust.

Just as Wei Yan was rushing on his way, Xiahou Dun led five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, who appeared outside the five cities as if they were divine soldiers descending from the sky.

They didn't rest or make any gestures of besieging the city; instead, they launched a swift and fierce attack!

The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was Cao Cao's trump card, painstakingly built up. They were not only unparalleled light cavalry, but also elite soldiers who were handpicked from the best even when dismounted and fighting on foot!
These cavalrymen skillfully gathered their warhorses at the rear for guard by designated personnel, and then quickly unloaded the prepared components from the packhorses that accompanied them—simple yet sturdy siege ladders and battering rams temporarily bound together with thick tree trunks!
The entire process was swift and orderly, demonstrating extremely high military prowess. In less than half a day, the siege equipment was ready. Xiahou Dun's single eye flashed with a fierce light. He drew his sword, pointed it at the small city that he saw as already on the verge of collapse, and roared like thunder.

"Soldiers! By taking this small city and burning its supplies, we will cut off Liu Bei's foundation! A great achievement is within our grasp! Follow me and kill!"

"kill--!"

Five thousand elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry roared and surged toward the five cities like a tidal wave.

On the city wall, the two thousand defenders were already in full battle array. Although they were outnumbered, they knew the importance of the supplies behind them and that there would be no chance of survival after the city fell. Therefore, they displayed astonishing courage.

Arrows rained down like locusts, and logs and stones were pushed off the city wall with great effort.

The battle was fierce from the very beginning. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry soldiers fought bravely, braving the ranged attacks of the defenders, frantically setting up ladders and climbing upwards.

Xiahou Dun took the lead, using a shield in one hand to block arrows and a long sword in the other, as he personally climbed a ladder, moving upwards with the agility of a monkey!
"Stop him! Stop him quickly!"

The general guarding the city wall cried out in terror, and several soldiers thrust their spears at Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun's single eye widened, and with a roar, his shield smashed aside the thrusting spear, while his longsword swept across like a streak of cold light!

With a few splattering sounds, blood splattered, and the defending soldiers screamed as they fell heavily off the city wall.

Taking advantage of the situation, Xiahou Dun leaped up and became the first to reach the top of the city wall!

The commander's bravery greatly inspired Cao Cao's army as they attacked the city.

On the defending side, seeing their commander so easily killed, and seeing more and more elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry following Xiahou Dun to surge onto the city wall, their morale, which had been sustained by sheer courage, crumbled like an avalanche.

Resistance grew weaker and weaker, and more and more defenders began to retreat or simply threw down their weapons and begged for mercy.

The siege did not last long from start to finish.

Given the overwhelming difference in strength and Xiahou Dun's personal valor, the fall of the five cities was almost inevitable.

When Xiahou Dun kicked aside the corpses of the guards at the city gate and looked at the mountains of grain and supplies piled up inside the city, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his fierce face.

He gave the order immediately.

"Quickly! Eliminate the remaining enemies and take control of the four gates! Prepare..."

Before his orders were fully issued, a rapid and thunderous sound of horses' hooves, like muffled thunder, suddenly came from afar outside the city! The sound grew louder and louder as it approached!

Xiahou Dun's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly turned his head to look outside the city.

On the horizon, a black torrent of cavalry was sweeping toward the five cities at an astonishing speed, with a large banner bearing the character "Wei" fluttering in the wind at the head of the way!

"Wei Yan?!"

How could he have arrived so quickly!

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiahou Dun's single eye, but it was quickly replaced by ruthlessness.

He glanced at the situation inside the city, which was not yet fully under his control, and then at the enemy troops surging in from outside the city. He immediately changed his mind and shouted sharply.

"Enemy reinforcements have arrived! Everyone, defend the city! Quickly! Block the city gates!"

At this moment, Wei Yan took the lead and had already rushed to a place less than a mile away from the five cities.

He reined in his horse and looked up. The large banner bearing the character "Gu" that had been fluttering atop the city wall was gone, replaced by a conspicuous banner bearing the character "Xiahou"! At the crenellations of the city wall, soldiers dressed in Cao Cao's armor could be vaguely seen hurriedly setting up defenses, while in some areas, the bodies of soldiers in their own uniforms could be clearly seen lying on the ground...

Five cities have already been lost.

Wei Yan reined in his horse outside the five cities, gazing at the "Xiahou" banner fluttering atop the city walls and the faintly visible figures of Cao Cao's army. He felt a surge of anger, but even more so, a sense of urgency.

The city has only been fallen for a short time, and Xiahou Dun's position is not yet secure. There may still be small groups of resistance within the city. This is his only chance!
"My men! Xiahou Dun has just breached the city, and the defenses are not yet secure! Follow me to retake the five cities and protect the grain supplies! Kill!"

Wei Yan raised his long sword high, roared hoarsely, and charged towards the city gate. The two thousand five hundred elite cavalry behind him shouted in unison and dismounted—facing the city wall, warhorses were useless; they were now all elite infantry.

The siege broke out instantly! Wei Yan's soldiers bravely carried makeshift wooden ladders they had found and launched a fierce attack on the city walls, braving the sporadic arrows shot down from the city walls.

Xiahou Dun, on the city wall, reacted swiftly, immediately organizing the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, who had just experienced a siege, to defend the city.

These Tiger and Leopard Cavalrymen, dismounted and fighting on foot, were just as fierce as ever. They took advantage of the city walls, using bows and arrows, rolling logs, and even dismantled bricks and stones to desperately block the enemy troops from climbing up.

In an instant, fierce fighting erupted once again on and around the five city walls. Both sides were battle-hardened elites with extremely tenacious fighting spirit. Swords flashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere; every time someone scaled a crenellation or defended a section of the wall, it came at the cost of their life.

However, Wei Yan was ultimately outnumbered.

He only had 2,500 men, while Xiahou Dun had nearly 5,000 elite cavalry in the city! As the battle continued, the disadvantage of Wei Yan's insufficient troops gradually became apparent.

The waves of attacks began to weaken, and fewer and fewer soldiers were able to climb onto the city walls. Often, they were cut down by several Cao soldiers as soon as they appeared.

Although Wei Yan was brave and killed more than ten Cao soldiers, he once occupied a small foothold on the city wall. However, he was forced to retreat when Xiahou Dun personally led a counterattack.

"General! We've suffered heavy casualties among our brothers!"
This kind of brute force isn't working!

A blood-soaked captain of the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun rushed to Wei Yan's side and shouted anxiously.

Wei Yan's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the still densely packed Cao army figures on the city wall, and at the Cao soldiers searching the city in the distance. He knew his subordinates were right. A direct assault would only increase casualties.

He swung his sword sharply, deflecting a stray arrow, and roared.

"Sound the retreat! Retreat five hundred paces and form ranks to await further orders!"

The crisp sound of gongs rang out, and the attacking Han army retreated like a tide, leaving behind more than a hundred corpses below the city.

On the city wall, Xiahou Dun's one eye swept over the retreating enemy troops, then glanced at his own men, whose casualties, though not high, were also in dire need of rest. He let out a cold snort. (End of Chapter)