With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 182, Zhang He Crossed the River
The raft cracked in the middle, several ropes broke, and Yuan's soldiers fell into the water. Fortunately, Yan Rou was agile and managed to stand up.

Yan Rou flew into a rage, raised her spear, and thrust it straight at Gan Ning's chest. The spear moved like a whirlwind, fast and ruthless.

But before the stab could reach her, Gan Ning leaped into the water like a nimble fish. Yan Rou watched in disbelief as he jumped in, creating a splash, and then disappeared.

Meanwhile, the other rafts were also attacked by the Jinfan Battalion, and many fell into the water. The Jinfan Battalion moved freely in the water, occasionally emerging from the surface to slash Yuan soldiers with their swords, quickly destroying one raft or bamboo raft after another.

Yuan Bing screamed in terror, creating chaos. Even if they wanted to fight back, they could hardly catch their opponent.

The Jinfan Battalion soldiers were all agile and nimble, like eels, leaping out of the water one moment and causing trouble underwater the next, making them impossible to guard against and impossible to hide from.

Yan Rou stood on the raft. The usually calm man was gradually losing his composure. After all, this was water, and no matter how skilled he was, he had no way to use his abilities.

Suddenly, the water splashed and Gan Ning resurfaced. He then slashed out with his sword. Yan Rou hurriedly retreated, but a nearby Yuan soldier was unlucky. He was struck in the leg and fell into the water with a scream.

He had only struggled in the water for a short while when Gan Ning approached him and ruthlessly slashed his neck with a knife.

The Yuan soldiers who fell into the water cried out to heaven and earth in vain, at the mercy of the Jinfan Camp. Some were suddenly grabbed by the feet and pulled into the water, drowning to death; others were hacked to death; and still others were inexplicably stabbed to death in the water without anyone noticing.

Before Liu Xie traveled through time, he had read "Water Margin," which featured many heroes with exceptional swimming skills who could kill people in the water as easily as eating or sleeping. At the time, he thought it was a bit exaggerated, but now, witnessing it with his own eyes, he completely believed it.

Yan Rou's raft soon became the only one left, and the Yuan soldiers on the other rafts also fell into the water, with no fewer than several hundred dead or wounded.

Gan Ning seized the opportunity, his left hand like an iron clamp, grabbing Yan Rou's ankle and pulling him into the water.

On land, Yan Rou was a formidable hero, but after falling into the water, he quickly lost his weapon and struggled desperately. Gan Ning came over and locked his neck with his left arm, laughing heartily.

"Will you beg for mercy or not?" Gan Ning held a knife to Yan Rou's neck with his right hand. Yan Rou gritted her teeth and didn't utter a sound.

"She's quite stubborn." Gan Ning removed the knife and forcefully pushed Yan Rou's head into the water. Yan Rou immediately began to struggle, kicking and paddling, and instinctively began to struggle desperately in the water.

After a while, Gan Ning let him show his head again and asked, "How about it? Still not begging for mercy?"

Yan Rou glared at him angrily, but remained silent.

"Oh dear, what a stubborn coward who's not afraid of death!" Gan Ning put away some of his contempt, led Yan Rou to the shore, and then brought him in front of Liu Xie.

Gan Ning casually tossed it on the ground and said to Liu Xie, "Your Majesty, this guy is interesting; he's a tough guy."

Liu Xie nodded. "Alright, I will handle it."

Gan Ning turned around and jumped back into the water, charging towards Yuan Bing once again. Even Lü Bu was stunned, never expecting Gan Ning to be so formidable in the water.

Although on land, Lü Bu was arrogant and fearless, he knew that in the water, he would have a tough time even if he encountered Gan Ning.

After Yan Rou calmed down for a while and spat out a few mouthfuls of river water, Liu Xie asked, "Who are you?"

Yan Rou looked at him suspiciously, hesitated for a moment, and instead of answering Liu Xie's question, asked curiously, "Are you really His Majesty the current emperor?"

Liu Xie nodded and asked in return, "Is there anyone in this world who would dare to impersonate me?"

"My name is Yan Rou, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Yan Rou? You're Liu Yu's subordinate?" Liu Xie looked at him with surprise.

Yan Rou nodded, her expression somewhat embarrassed. "I did follow Governor Liu for many years. After he died, I traveled to many places, plotting to contact the Wuhuan and Xianbei people to avenge him. But I was defeated by Gongsun Zan. After that, Yuan Shao occupied Youzhou, and I went to join him."

Liu Xie nodded. He knew Yan Rou to some extent. Yan Rou grew up on the border of Youzhou and was said to have been captured by a foreign tribe. If someone else were captured, they would be doomed and their life would be in danger.

However, Yan Rou became very familiar with the Wuhuan and Xianbei people. After Liu Yu's death, she was even recommended to be the Wuhuan Sima for a period of time.

Although Liu Xie had never been fond of foreign tribes, Yan Rou was an expert on them, and Liu Xie was short of such talent.

After all, having someone like Yan Rou to deal with other races in the future will allow us to better understand them and our enemies. Besides, we can't just exterminate all the other races, can we?

Yan Rou was familiar with the customs and environment of the foreign tribes, so he naturally had an advantage in how to manage them.

Liu Xie helped him up, and Zhao Yun hurriedly took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Yan Rou.

Liu Xie asked, "How has Yuan Shao treated you?"

Yan Rou shook her head helplessly. "I was born and raised on the frontier. I am not from a prominent family. I am also a surrendered general. How could Yuan Shao possibly value me? To be honest, Your Majesty, I had no choice back then. After all, Youzhou had already fallen into Yuan Shao's hands. If I did not submit to him, I had nowhere else to go."

Liu Xie advised, "Then stay by my side. Anyway, even if you still want to follow Yuan Shao, I'm afraid it won't be long before you have no chance."

"But it belongs to your subject..."

Yan Rou was deeply moved by Liu Xie's recruitment. Seeing the troubled look on his face, Liu Xie guessed, "Could it be that you're worried about your family?"

In many time-travel novels, once an enemy is defeated or captured, they can be easily persuaded to surrender. In reality, this is absolutely impossible!

Because they have families and clansmen, how could they possibly surrender without any regard for them?

"Alright, let's pretend you've been captured by me. You shouldn't show your face for now. Surely Yuan Shao won't make things difficult for your family just because you've been captured?"

Yan Rou said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. If my family's safety can be guaranteed, I am willing to surrender."

Liu Xie nodded. As long as Yan Rou was kept out of the public eye for the time being and Yuan Shao was kept in the dark about his surrender, that would be fine.

Chen Gong advised, "Your Majesty, Yuan Shao has always been ambitious and loves to save face. Under normal circumstances, he would not make things difficult for the families of his subordinates!"

Liu Xie said with a serious expression, "Gongtai, you are right. I have said the same thing to those surrendered soldiers before. However, even if there is only a one percent chance, I absolutely cannot take the risk. I must ensure that General Yan Rou has no worries."

Yan Rou was deeply moved. She had only just met the emperor, yet Liu Xie was already putting himself in her shoes and considering her feelings. Such a good emperor was hard to find even with a lantern.

Liu Xie had Yan Rou temporarily taken to the military camp.

Liu Xie kept his word and issued an order that no one was to leak his information.

With Yan Rou captured, the remaining Yuan soldiers were leaderless, suffering over a thousand casualties and hundreds more captured. The rest, seeing the situation was dire, fled back to the north bank.

The plan to divide the troops and cross the river failed, which greatly angered Yuan Shao. In the following days, he made several more attempts to probe the river, but each time he was intercepted by Cao Cao's army.

The frontal assault also suffered heavy losses, with Yuan Shao incurring over 20,000 casualties in several days of river-crossing operations. However, Yuan Shao's forces were still numerous and powerful, and on the sixth day, Zhang He finally led his men to the south bank, where they engaged in a fierce battle with Xiahou Yuan.

Cao Cao hurriedly ordered his troops to retreat and enter the second line of defense.

"First, have all the trebuchets retreat to a safe place. Zixiu, you are in charge." After Cao Cao finished speaking, he drew his Yitian Sword and strode towards the shore.

Cao Ang cried out worriedly, "Father, what's wrong?"

Cao Cao turned to look at his son and said with a heavy expression, "I will stand with the soldiers to hold off Zhang He. Zixiu, you must remember that I am not only your father, but also the commander-in-chief of the three armies. As the commander-in-chief, I must be there wherever there is danger!"

Deeply moved, Cao Ang nodded vigorously, "Father, I will remember."

Both sides on the shore were already in a bloody frenzy. Xiahou Yuan brandished his broadsword and stood firmly at the front, while Yue Jin, Xu Huang, Dian Wei, and others were fighting against Yuan's soldiers. Blood flowed like a river on the shore, and corpses piled up everywhere.

As more and more Yuan soldiers landed, the fierce battle escalated time and again, becoming increasingly brutal.

Cao Cao arrived with Xu Chu and others. By then, more than 10,000 Yuan soldiers had landed, and more and more were coming in, stretching endlessly.

Without a word, Cao Cao immediately raised his sword, raised his arm and shouted, "Soldiers, kill! Kill!"

Cao Cao is 46 years old this year, but his fighting spirit is still as strong as it was when he was young. He is definitely not just putting on a show.

Cao Cao led the charge to the shore and fiercely attacked the enemy. His Yitian Sword flashed coldly and mercilessly sliced ​​through the neck of a Yuan soldier.

A head fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere.

Xu Chu stayed close to Cao Cao, protecting him while wielding his broadsword and hacking away fiercely, each strike ruthless and merciless.

Seeing Cao Cao personally join the battle, Cao's soldiers erupted in a thunderous roar of battle cries, their fighting spirit soaring, and they all fought with all their might against Yuan's troops.

Cao Ang led his men to move the trebuchets, while Guo Jia and Xun You led their men to move other supplies.

The second line of defense was chosen in advance at the beginning of the war.

Although the Guandu River could serve as a barrier against Yuan Shao's army, given the sheer number of Yuan Shao's troops and the possibility that they might eventually reach the south bank, a second line of defense was built between the two large marshes.

Liu Xie also helped lead people to transport supplies, including tents, food, and wounded personnel. At this time, time became especially important.

Around noon, Guo Jia rushed over and said, "Your Majesty, you should hurry up and leave. The ferry crossing is about to fall."

"But there are still so many supplies that haven't been transferred," Liu Xie said with a worried expression.

Guo Jia sighed, "Your Majesty, there is no way. More and more of Yuan's troops are landing, and their numbers have exceeded 30,000. Cao Cao cannot hold out for much longer."

Because Cao Cao's goal was simply to buy time for everyone, it was impossible for him to leave his troops on the shore.

Liu Xie glanced around quickly. "Fengxiao, it will take about two more hours. I will lead men to help hold off Yuan's army for two hours. I am confident I can do it."

"Your Majesty, are you also going to the ferry?" Guo Jia stared in surprise, and as he spoke, Liu Xie had already started walking away into the distance.

As they walked, Liu Xie instructed Gan Ning to gather men.

"Your Majesty, you can't go! The ferry crossing is too dangerous!" Guo Jia quickly caught up, shouting as he ran.

Liu Xie replied without turning his head: "Fengxiao, I am not under anyone's command. No one can stop me from making my decisions!"

Gan Ning ran out, and soon, several thousand soldiers quickly gathered from the camp towards this side. In the blink of an eye, no less than five thousand people had gathered around Liu Xie.

Guo Jia wanted to move closer, but Wang Tong stopped him with a hand. "Chancellor Guo, please wait!"

Guo Jia was so anxious that he stamped his feet, watching helplessly as Liu Xie led his men to the ferry.

Guo Jia sighed heavily, "Alas... how come His Majesty and Cao Cao have the same temper? They do whatever they say they will."

When Liu Xie arrived at the ferry, the earthen slope on the shore, which had been occupied by Cao Cao's army, had been captured by Yuan Shao's army.

Zhang He brandished his spear and charged ahead, fighting fiercely as Yuan's soldiers swarmed over the earthen slope in dense numbers.

Although Cao Cao had several fierce generals who were eager to fight and fearless, Yuan Shao's army was numerous and had an overwhelming numerical advantage.

Cao Cao was also covered in blood, but under Xu Chu's protection, he continued to command the battle.

Liu Xie glanced at the battlefield hastily, and without saying a word, decisively drew his Qinggang sword.

Zhao Yun hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Your Majesty, you can stay behind, Your Majesty..."

Before Zhao Yun could finish speaking, Liu Xie had already drawn his sword and charged forward.

"Soldiers, charge! Stand shoulder to shoulder with Cao Cao and hold off Yuan's troops!"

Zhao Yun stomped his foot, hurriedly grabbed his silver spear, and charged forward with lightning speed.

This time, both sides in the rare battle were engaged in foot combat.

Cao Jun was stationed on the riverbank and could not possibly ride horses to intercept the enemy. If they did ride horses at this time, the horses would just stand there dumbly, because neither side would give an inch, and riding horses would not be of any help.

Yuan Bing's troops were only the vanguard that had just crossed the river and arrived on the shore, so they could not possibly fight on horseback.

Warhorses would only be transported over and deployed to the battlefield once the main force had reached the south bank.

Unable to dissuade Liu Xie, Zhao Yun could only stay close to him. Lü Bu, Gan Ning, and others also rushed forward, and the group tacitly protected Liu Xie in the middle.

As soon as these people joined the battlefield, their astonishing combat power instantly changed the tense situation.

Liu Xie and his men were like a sharp sword, instantly creating a huge gap in Yuan Bing's army.

Wherever they fought their way, the breaches spread rapidly.

When Cao Cao saw Liu Xie, he was also surprised and his eyes widened, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

(End of this chapter)