My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Wei Yan suddenly realized what was happening. He slapped his thigh and cursed:

"Lu Kai is truly cunning! Fortunately, the Grand Marshal saw through him, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. If it weren't for you in our army, we might have really fallen into their trap."

After scolding him, Wei Yan asked Xiao He how to deal with the situation.

Xiao He leaned down slightly and whispered a few words in Wei Yan's ear.

As Wei Yan listened, a cold smile gradually appeared on his face, and he shouted:

"Order the entire army to continue south. I want to see what Meng Quan and Liu Xun are capable of! Since they dared to set a trap, we will turn the tables on them and let them reap what they sow."

Thus, at a single command, 100,000 Han troops, like an unstoppable torrent, continued their southward advance.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered, and the sound of war drums shook the heavens.
The Han army arrived in a grand procession north of Jiangyang.

At this moment, the scout in charge of reconnaissance rushed back to camp like a gust of wind, reporting to Wei Yan hurriedly but with a hint of excitement:
"General, we have spotted Shu troops seven miles ahead!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan's eyes sharpened instantly, and he made a decisive order:
"Set up camp and wait for that brat Liu Xun to make his move!"

The Han soldiers sprang into action, setting up tents and defensive fortifications, and the entire camp was quickly and orderly arranged.

Sure enough, before the sun set, a challenge from Liu Xun was delivered to Wei Yan's tent and placed on the table.

The letter of challenge was yellowed, but the handwriting exuded an air of arrogance and unruliness.

In his letter of challenge, Liu Xun vehemently denounced Wei Yan's various "crimes" with strong language.

Liu Xun even boasted that he would personally behead Wei Yan to comfort his father's spirit in heaven and make Wei Yan pay a heavy price for his actions.

Wei Yan looked at the challenge letter, a slight sneer playing on his lips, and said contemptuously:

"This little thief is really overestimating himself, daring to be so arrogant!"

Then, with a disdainful look, he loudly ordered:

"Reply to Liu Xun, I will fight him tomorrow! I want to see just how capable he really is!"

The decision to engage in the decisive battle was thus made by Wei Yan.

The next day, as dawn broke in the east, the sky gradually turned a pale white.

The gates of the Han camp slowly opened, as if a sleeping giant beast had awakened.

One hundred thousand Han soldiers surged out of the camp like a raging tide, their morale high, and quickly formed ranks.

The Han army formed a hundred military formations of varying sizes, each like a solid fortress, supporting each other to form a vast and tightly organized system.

They marched south in a grand procession, the sound of their horses' hooves deafening, the dust they raised obscuring the sky.

Soon, the figures of the Shu army ahead came into Wei Yan's view.

The Shu army's formation was fairly neat, but compared to the Han army's imposing array, it appeared somewhat thin and weak.

Wei Yan's face was filled with a sarcastic smile as he secretly pondered:

I want to see what tricks Liu Xun can pull. With his mere 10,000 troops, he thinks he can contend with my 100,000 Han soldiers? He's simply overestimating himself.

Therefore, Wei Yan remained unmoved, sitting firmly in the center of the army, quietly watching Liu Xun's performance, as if he were enjoying a farce about to unfold.

The two armies thus reached a stalemate, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite a massive battle.

Inside the Shu army formation, Liu Xun's palms were already clenched with sweat, and beads of sweat covered his forehead, slowly sliding down his cheeks.

He gripped the longsword tightly in his hand, a hint of tension in his eyes.

The 100,000 Han troops before them were like a black ocean, surging and unstoppable.

With only 10,000 soldiers, how could he possibly fight this battle?

Liu Xun inwardly groaned. His only hope now was that Lü Kai's plan would succeed; otherwise, today's battle might be his end.

"Father, please bless me!"

Liu Xun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and silently prayed in his heart.

Then, his eyes filled with a resolute expression, as if he had made up his mind to burn his bridges.

He drew his longsword sharply, raised it high, and pointed it at the Han army:
"The whole army obeys the order and attacks!"

The sound, like thunder, echoed across the battlefield.

Upon hearing this, the Shu soldiers all looked at Liu Xun, their faces showing fear.

are you crazy?
The same thought popped into everyone's mind.

In their view, Liu Xun's orders were tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

Sending 10,000 soldiers to fight against 100,000 Han troops is like throwing an egg against a rock.
Isn't this crazy?
For a moment, the Shu army camp was silent. No one dared to move. Everyone stood there blankly, their eyes filled with fear and hesitation.

Upon seeing this, Liu Xun was immediately enraged. His face turned ashen, and his eyes blazed with fury, like a wild beast that had been provoked.

He drew his sword and charged at a soldier who refused to move. With a swift stroke, the soldier fell to the ground before he could even react.

With a scream, the soldier collapsed to the ground, blood splattering everywhere.

The bloody methods immediately terrified the Shu army, who were filled with fear and gasped in horror.

Liu Xun raised his longsword and shouted again in a stern voice:

"Anyone who disobeys military orders will be killed by this Crown Prince! This traitor will meet his end!"

As he spoke, he used his blood-stained sword to lift the severed head high, as a warning to the other soldiers.

The soldiers were terrified when they saw this. They knew that if they didn't obey orders, they might be the next ones to fall.

So they mustered their courage, gritted their teeth, and charged toward the Han army.

Facing him, Wei Yan curled his lips into a sarcastic sneer. Watching Liu Xun use such brutal methods to intimidate his soldiers and force them into battle, he couldn't help but despise Liu Xun even more.

That sneer instantly turned into intense killing intent; his eyes flashed coldly, and he shouted:
"All units, heed my command: slaughter all the remaining Shu rebels!"

As the order to kill was given, the drums thundered in the Han army ranks, igniting the killing intent in the hearts of 100,000 Han soldiers.

They brandished their sharp weapons and charged towards the Shu army, their eyes filled with hatred, like burning flames.

They originally thought that after defeating Liu Zhang, they could return to their hometown to reunite with their wives and children and enjoy family life.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xun resisted to the bitter end and refused to surrender, which forced them to continue south with Wei Yan to pacify the southern barbarians and Liu Xun.

Now, they are suffering from the scorching heat in this hot southern region, enduring immense physical and mental pain, all thanks to Liu Xun.

Therefore, they hated Liu Xun to the core, and now, filled with hatred, they charged towards him.

The two armies of Shu Han, like two surging torrents, each carrying deafening battle cries, rushed towards each other like a storm.

The shouts of battle sounded like roars from hell, filled with boundless rage and murderous intent.

It was clear that the two armies were about to clash violently, and an extremely fierce battle was about to break out.

In an instant, the situation changed dramatically. Lu Kai, his expression urgent, his eyes wide, shouted loudly at Liu Xun:

"Your Highness, order a retreat!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xun was startled and hurriedly shouted:
"All troops, listen to my command! Sound the retreat!"

At his command, the command flag quickly began to wave, fluttering in the wind.

"Clang clang clang!"

A crisp, urgent sound rang out, instantly echoing across the entire plain.

Upon hearing the golden sound, the Shu army seemed to hear the footsteps of death, and immediately collapsed in disarray.

They fled in all directions like a frightened flock of sheep, abandoning their armor and weapons, in a sorry state.

When the Han soldiers saw the enemy flee without a fight, their morale soared instantly, and their eyes gleamed with excitement, as if they could see fame and fortune beckoning to them.

They pursued relentlessly, like madmen.

In their eyes, those Shu soldiers were stepping stones to wealth and glory, and an excellent opportunity for them to make a name for themselves. How could they not pursue them? In an instant, the sounds of battle once again echoed across the plains, shaking the earth.

Sitting on his horse, Wei Yan looked at the chaotic and intense scene before him, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"The Grand Marshal is right, Liu Xun is indeed up to no good. But alas, can such a little trick fool me?"

Then, Wei Yan smiled, cracked his whip, and shouted:
"Zhang Bao, listen to my command!"

Upon hearing the order, Zhang Bao immediately spurred his horse forward, spear in hand, and leaped forward like a bolt of lightning.

Wei Yan looked at Zhang Bao and said:

"I order you to immediately pursue the Shu army!"

Zhang Bao answered loudly without hesitation:
"promise!"

The voice was crisp and clear.

Having said that, Zhang Bao received the order and left. He led 40,000 vanguard soldiers, like tigers descending a mountain, in pursuit of the routed enemy.

The 40,000 soldiers were in high spirits, like an invincible torrent of steel.

Filled with rage, Zhang Bao charged at the enemy like a mad bull.

He brandished his spear, thrusting and parrying left and right, and wherever he went, enemy soldiers fell to the ground, their blood splattering everywhere.

The Han soldiers followed closely behind, indiscriminately slaughtering the Shu soldiers.

At this moment, Wei Yan turned his gaze to Xiao He, his eyes filled with doubt:
"Grand Commander, since Liu Xun was feigning defeat, why pursue him?"

He really didn't understand Xiao He's intentions. In his view, knowing that there was a trap but still pursuing it was undoubtedly walking into a trap.

Under normal circumstances, they should have remained inactive, observed the enemy's movements, and then made further plans.

Xiao He simply smiled without saying a word, his smile mysterious and profound.

Seeing this, Wei Yan, though still puzzled, waved his hand and shouted:

"Guan Xing, Guan Suo, listen to my command!"

Upon hearing the order, the two young officers immediately mounted their horses and rode forward.

Wei Yan pointed his whip again:

"You two will each lead 20,000 troops and follow behind Zhang Bao."

Guan Xing and Guan Suo responded in unison, "Yes!"

Having said that, the two generals accepted the order and each led an army of 20,000 men, like two winding dragons, in pursuit.

Upon seeing this, Xiao He said:
"Wen Chang, raise the entire army!"

Wei Yan nodded happily and said loudly:

"All troops, listen to my command! Pursue the enemy and slaughter them all!"

With Wei Yan's command, the bugle sounded, and the stirring bugle call seemed to act as a catalyst for battle, igniting the passion in the hearts of the Han soldiers.

The Han soldiers surged out like a tidal wave, their morale soaring, as if determined to annihilate all the enemies.

A chase ensued.

Before we knew it, the sun was already setting in the west.

In the northern part of Jiangyang, the mountains on both sides gradually rise, and a narrow path in the middle connects the north and south, as if it were a passage leading to hell.

Zhang Bao's Han army had caught up with the defeated Shu army, and a massacre broke out.

Zhang Bao wielded his spear like a scythe in the hand of death, reaping the lives of the enemy soldiers.

Every assassination attempt was precise and ruthless.

The Han soldiers were equally ruthless, slaughtering the Shu soldiers indiscriminately.

Nearly four thousand Shu soldiers who had retreated were all killed by the Han army in this frenzied pursuit.

Liu Xun stood aside, watching this scene unfold before him, feeling a pang of heartache.

He originally had more than 10,000 troops under his command, but this time, in order to lure the Han army into pursuit, he lost more than half of them.

How could he not be heartbroken?

He looked at the hillsides on both sides and silently prayed:

"I hope this sacrifice was worth it."

On the hillside, Meng Quan stood with his sword drawn, his eyes filled with pride and arrogance.

He looked down at the fighting in the mountain path, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Lu Kai is indeed quite clever; Wei Yan has truly fallen for his trick. Heaven is on our side!"

He threw his head back and laughed wildly, the sound echoing through the valley, as if mocking Wei Yan.

He was originally arrogant and thought that Wei Yan was all talk and no action, and that it was only because Liu Xun and the Shu Kingdom were too incompetent that Wei Yan had an opportunity to take advantage of them.

Now that Wei Yan has fallen into the trap, he has developed a deep contempt for Wei Yan.

He thought that defeating Wei Yan would be as easy as taking something out of a bag.

His laughter abruptly stopped.

He suddenly drew his sword, pointed it down the mountain, and shouted:

"All troops, listen to my command! Ambush them and slaughter all the Han dogs!"

At his command, the bugle sounded.

Countless Southern Barbarian soldiers appeared on the hillsides on both sides, like demons emerging from the ground, wielding sharp weapons, their eyes filled with ferocity and greed.

They then charged up the hillside towards the Han army, cutting them down one by one.

Zhang Bao, charging forward like a brave and fearless lion, led 40,000 Han soldiers in a massive, overwhelming attack on the fleeing Shu army.

He gripped the gleaming spear tightly in his hand, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

At this critical moment, Zhang Bao's expression suddenly changed. His eyes, which were originally full of confidence and fighting spirit, were instantly replaced by shock and vigilance.

He hadn't expected so many Southern Barbarian soldiers to suddenly appear like ghosts halfway through the journey.

On both sides of the hillside, the Southern Barbarian soldiers, who had been hidden tightly, surged out like a tidal wave.

They were dressed in strange clothes, wielded all sorts of sharp weapons, and shouted deafeningly.

These Nanman soldiers charged down the hillside at incredible speed, like streaks of black lightning, and instantly plunged into the Han army's ranks.

They brandished their weapons, cutting down Han soldiers one after another as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.

Under their fierce attack, the Han army's formation was instantly shattered, and the originally orderly ranks became chaotic.

It wasn't until these southern barbarian soldiers broke his Han army into several pieces that Zhang Bao finally realized he had fallen into a trap.

He inwardly cried out in alarm, instantly realizing the true purpose of Liu Xun's retreat.

It turns out that Liu Xun's retreat was a trap, designed to lure him into a large-scale pursuit.

"Liu Xun, how cunning! You think you can kill me?"

Zhang Bao's eyes widened in fury, and he raised his spear, shouting:

"Soldiers, fight to the death with me! Do not retreat!"

Upon hearing Zhang Bao's order, the 40,000 Han soldiers gripped their weapons tightly.

Despite being in dire straits, they showed no fear or hesitation.

A brutal and extremely fierce battle thus began. (End of Chapter)