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

"In my opinion, now is not the time to retreat. On the contrary, we should take advantage of Xiao He's division of forces to launch a surprise attack and turn the tide of battle!"

Upon hearing this, the candlelight in the command tent seemed to tremble as if shaken by these earth-shattering words, reflecting the various expressions on everyone's faces.

Lu Kai was struck dumb, startled and jumped up. The teacup on the table wobbled, and a few drops of warm tea splashed out, landing on the cool bluestone floor and instantly spreading into a small dark stain.

He looked at Meng Quan in the main seat in disbelief, his brows furrowed so deeply they could crush pebbles.

The current situation is clearly at a critical juncture of life and death—Xiao and his army are in hot pursuit, and our side has just suffered a major defeat under Wu Rong's leadership, not only losing many soldiers and generals, but also seeing morale plummet to its lowest point.

Scouts outside the camp reported every half hour that Xiao He's two pursuing forces were less than thirty miles away from the camp. At this time, the safest thing to do was to break camp and retreat to the south to defend the barbarian lands, so as to preserve the remaining resources.

But who could have imagined that Meng Quan not only showed no intention of retreating, but instead harbored a gamble, wanting to rely on his remnants and weak troops to fight head-on against Xiao He's elite forces, attempting to turn defeat into victory?

This is not a way to break the deadlock; it's clearly courting death!

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

Lu Kai's voice trembled with anxiety. He took two steps forward, bowed deeply, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Xiao He is a man of great wisdom and resourcefulness. He must have seen through my little tricks long ago! The reason he sent two groups of troops to follow us is because he was certain that you might be hoping to take a chance and lure us into battle!"

He raised his head, staring intently at Meng Quan, his tone pleading:
"Our army's morale is low and our supplies are running low. If we force an attack, we will be like lambs to the slaughter, truly courting death! Your Majesty, please order a retreat immediately. We must retreat south tonight and hold our ground by relying on the terrain. That is the best option!"

Lu Kai's words were clear and logical, hitting the nail on the head. Several lieutenants in the tent couldn't help but nod in agreement, their eyes full of approval.

But these words, when they reached Meng Quan's ears, were like sparks from a firecracker, instantly igniting him.

Meng Quan slammed his hand on the table, the fine sandalwood surface making a loud "bang," causing the candlelight to flicker violently and making his ferocious face appear even more terrifying.

"Lu Kai! How dare you boost the morale of others while diminishing your own!"

He abruptly stood up, the sword at his waist striking the corner of the table with a crisp sound.
"I ask you, do you want me to lead my remaining troops back to the barbarian lands, only to be ridiculed and mocked by those barbarian lads?!"

Lu Kai was startled by his sudden outburst of anger and instinctively took a half step back before realizing what was happening and instantly understanding Meng Quan's predicament.

He then remembered that Meng Quan had promised the leaders of the various tribes that he would lead the barbarians all the way to Chengdu, allowing them to plunder the city and collect gold, silver and beautiful women, in order to persuade them to send troops.

It was this weighty promise that united the previously unruly barbarians, leading them to follow Meng Quan northward.

But now?

Wu Rong had been ambushed by Zhang Bao in the canyon, losing nearly ten thousand elite troops. The news had already spread among the barbarian soldiers, and Meng Quan's prestige was already shaken.

If he were to retreat in such a sorry state now, without even encountering Xiao He's main force, the barbarian leaders would surely think that Meng Quan was untrustworthy. At that point, not only would he be unable to command the tribes again, but he might even lose his position as the "Barbarian King."

So that's how it is. Meng Quan wasn't trying to turn the tide at all; he was clearly trying to salvage the situation, even if it was just a small victory to save face!

Lu Kai sighed inwardly, about to offer further advice, when he was interrupted by a sharp voice.

"Exactly! Military Advisor Lü's words are far too cowardly!"

Wu Rong emerged from the shadows of the tent corner, her armor still stained with blood, and a shallow scar on her face, from her previous battle with Zhang Bao, now adding to her fierce appearance.
Do you think the king is as cowardly and lacking in courage as you civil officials?

It was just a minor defeat, and they were so frightened that they wanted to abandon their armor and flee. If word got out, they would truly be ridiculed by the whole world!

She walked to Meng Quan's side, nodded vigorously, and her tone was full of agreement:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Although our army has suffered losses, our main force is still intact. Xiao He's decision to divide his troops to pursue them is precisely his weakness!"
Going into battle now might not be without a chance of victory!

Looking at Wu Rong's fierce appearance and then at the obvious softening on Meng Quan's face, Lü Kai felt his throat tighten and was speechless.

He knew that Wu Rong was always arrogant and that she was still resentful of her defeat to Zhang Bao last time. She wanted to take this opportunity to get revenge, so she wouldn't listen to any advice.

Meng Quan had been hoping to save face through the war, and Wu Rong's words undoubtedly struck a chord with him.

Sure enough, Meng Quan's expression softened a bit, and his gaze toward Wu Rong held a hint of approval.

Seeing this, Wu Rong pressed his advantage, suddenly kneeling on one knee, placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword, and proclaiming loudly:

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to act! This time, I will personally lead my elite troops to kill that scoundrel Zhang Bao and bring back his head!"

Everyone inside the tent was shocked; no one had expected Wu Rong to personally lead the battle.

Meng Quan frowned and subconsciously looked at the bandage on Wu Rong's shoulder—it was from the injury he sustained from Zhang Bao's spear last time. Although it had scabbed over, it was not yet fully healed.

He hesitated in his heart:
Wu Rong's martial arts skills are indeed superb, but she has just been defeated by Zhang Bao. What if she suffers an accident if she goes to fight again now?
You must understand that Wu Rong is not only his most valiant general, but also the woman he is determined to marry. How could he let her take such a risk?
But just as he was about to refuse, he saw Wu Rong suddenly look up, his eyes filled with resentment and stubbornness:

"Your Majesty need not worry! I lost to Zhang Bao last time because he ran away after the fight, and I didn't have time to use my flying stone technique! If he dares to chase after me this time, the flying stone I've hidden in my sleeve will surely take his life and avenge my defeat!"

She patted her chest confidently, her tone full of conviction:

"Your Majesty, please allow me to avenge him! I will make Zhang Bao pay for his crimes in blood!"

Meng Quan's hesitation deepened.

He agreed, for he was genuinely worried about Wu Rong's safety.

If she doesn't agree, given Wu Rong's volatile temper, he will definitely fly into a rage on the spot, accusing her of breaking her promise and not even giving her a chance to avenge herself.

Moreover, with so many generals watching from inside the tent, if he can't even control his future queen, where is his royal authority?
For a moment, Meng Quan felt caught in a dilemma. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Wu Rong suddenly stood up, clearly impatient to wait for Meng Quan's reply. She grabbed a long sword from beside the table, the scabbard slamming against a tent pillar with a loud clang, startling everyone.

"Since Your Majesty is hesitant, then I will act first and report later!"

She shouted and, before Meng Quan could react, turned and walked out, her footsteps thumping on the wooden planks of the camp, and in an instant she was outside the tent.

Everyone in the tent was stunned. No one expected that Wu Rong would dare to be so presumptuous as to disobey the king's orders and go into battle on his own.

Meng Quan was taken aback for a moment, then flew into a rage, slammed his hand on the table, and roared:
"How dare you! Come back here!"

He turned to give chase, but as soon as he reached the tent entrance, he only saw Wu Rong's back as she mounted her horse. She pointed her long sword forward and shouted sharply:

"My men, follow me and fight your way out!"

Before he finished speaking, he led a group of personal guards and galloped away on horseback, the sound of hooves like thunder, disappearing into the night in an instant.

Meng Quan stood frozen at the tent entrance, his face alternating between pale and flushed, burning with anger yet utterly helpless—the person was already gone, and shouting would be futile, only making him, the king, appear utterly unrespecting.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and abruptly turned around, flicking his sleeves as he awkwardly addressed the people in the tent:
"That's enough. Wu Rong is a peerless martial artist and familiar with Zhang Bao's moves. She will surely be able to kill Zhang Bao and turn the tide of the battle!"

This statement was less intended for others and more a form of self-consolation.

The generals inside the tent all lowered their heads, none of them daring to speak—Wu Rong had just suffered a defeat, and now, with his army deep in enemy territory, his chances of victory were slim, but none of them dared to provoke Meng Quan at this time.

Looking at Meng Quan's self-deceiving appearance, Lü Kai felt a chill in his heart.

He knew that the battle was already lost, and staying would only lead to his demise along with Meng Quan.

He glanced at Liu Xun standing in the crowd without making a sound, his eyes narrowed slightly, then he shook his head gently and pointed his finger quietly towards the back gate of the camp.

Liu Xun was extremely astute and instantly understood Lü Kai's meaning.

He secretly clenched the token in his sleeve, the symbol that allowed him to mobilize his personal guards. He nodded slightly to Lü Kai, indicating that he understood. This was a signal for him to hurry back, pack his belongings, take stock of his guards, and be prepared to flee at any moment.

The Nanman army's camp had already been breached in several places, with broken spears and swords scattered all over the ground.

Just when the Southern Barbarian soldiers thought they could hold out until nightfall and find an opportunity to break through, a cloud of dust suddenly rose from the northwest horizon, obscuring the sky and the sun. The dust rolled forward, accompanied by the deafening sound of horses' hooves, sweeping in like a raging torrent.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a large black banner embroidered with the character "Deng" fluttered high in the wind, sounding like the banner of death, instantly capturing the attention of all the southern barbarians.

"It's the Han army! And there's a third Han army!"

Some of the barbarian soldiers screamed in terror, their weapons clattering to the ground as they turned to flee.

At the forefront of the dust storm, a general in golden helmet and silver armor galloped wildly on his horse, its steed kicking up dust as it pounded the ground.

This man was none other than Deng Ai, the great general of the Han Dynasty. He had a resolute face and sharp eyes like a hawk. In his hand, he held a ten-foot-long silver spear pointing diagonally to the sky, with a few drops of undried blood still hanging on the tip of the spear.

"kill!"

Deng Ai let out a loud shout, his voice booming like thunder across the battlefield.

His vanguard consisted of elite cavalrymen who had fought many battles. Both men and horses were fully armored and armed with long halberds and powerful crossbows. They followed closely behind Deng Ai and crashed into the Nanman army's formation like an iron torrent.

The silver spear danced, its cold light flashing. Deng Ai charged at the forefront, his spear moving like a dragon emerging from the sea, thrusting left and right. Wherever the spear tip passed, the southern barbarian soldiers screamed and fell from their horses, either pierced through the chest or decapitated, blood spurting out and leaving a long trail of blood mist behind him.

Some barbarian soldiers raised their swords in resistance, but they couldn't even touch Deng Ai's spear shaft before being struck by the wind of the spear, their bones broken and tendons snapped, causing them to fall from their horses and be trampled into a bloody pulp by the iron cavalry following behind.

The iron cavalry galloped forward, their hooves rolling, crushing the southern barbarian army's formation wherever they went.

The barbarian troops, whose morale was already low due to the previous two waves of Han army attacks, were now terrified when they suddenly encountered the third reinforcement.

Their weapons became incredibly heavy, their legs felt like they were filled with lead, and they could only retreat step by step under the onslaught of the Han army. Their formation completely collapsed, and cries and pleas for mercy rose and fell, and they were utterly routed.

"Hold the line! Everyone, hold the line!"

Several barbarian leaders roared, trying to rally their soldiers, but were pushed back by the panicked crowd and couldn't gain a foothold.

Before Deng Ai's iron cavalry, the Southern Barbarian army was like fragile paper, utterly powerless to resist, and no one dared to stand in their way.

In the chaos, many barbarian soldiers shared the same thought:
With such a lopsided battle situation, shouldn't King Meng Quan order a retreat?

As long as they retreat to the heart of southern China, they can rely on the rugged mountains and rivers to save their lives.

But just then, Meng Quan's personal guards rode swiftly through the chaotic army, loudly conveying the king's decree:

"By order of the King! The entire army shall fight to the death to repel the enemy. Anyone who dares to retreat even half a step shall be executed without mercy!"

"What? A fight to the death? How can we fight to the death in this situation!"

Upon hearing the order, the barbarian general Meng Chang was so enraged that his eyes turned red. He grabbed the messenger by the collar and complained angrily.

He watched as his soldiers fell one after another, and the Han army's iron cavalry drew ever closer, his heart filled with despair.

But the king's orders were absolute, and he had long heard of Meng Quan's brutality. If he dared to disobey the order, even if he escaped back, he would be torn to pieces.

The messenger, his face flushed red from being pulled, struggled to speak:

"General Meng, His Majesty said that this battle concerns the honor of the Southern Region. If we are defeated, none of us will have a place to be buried!"

Meng Chang shoved the messenger away, gritted his teeth, and suddenly drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

He mounted his horse, brandished his long sword, and roared at the chaotic soldiers:

"Soldiers of the South, heed my command! The King has ordered you to fight to the death and resist the enemy! Anyone who dares to retreat will be punished according to military law!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a barbarian soldier clutched his head and fled backward. A fierce glint flashed in Meng Chang's eyes. He spurred his horse and gave chase, slashing down with his long sword. The barbarian soldier's head rolled off instantly, and blood sprayed all over Meng Chang.

"See that? This is what happens when you retreat!"

Meng Chang raised his blood-stained longsword and shouted sharply.

The bloody crackdown had no effect whatsoever.

The Southern Barbarian army was inherently undisciplined. They relied on their fierce courage to fight, and when they were in a favorable situation, they were all incredibly brave. However, once they fell into adversity, all they could think about was how to save their own lives.

Meng Chang's threat seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the fear of death.

More and more barbarian soldiers ignored his orders, abandoning their armor and weapons, and fled wildly toward the rear of the camp. The rout was completely unstoppable.

Meng Chang was trembling with rage. He was about to kill a few more deserters to establish his authority when he suddenly felt a sharp killing intent lock onto him.

He looked up abruptly and saw a figure in silver armor moving through the chaos of the enemy ranks ahead, riding alone and leaving a trail of blood mist as he charged straight toward him.

The man was tall and imposing, his silver spear gleaming coldly; he was none other than Deng Ai, the leading general of the Han army!
Deng Ai's eyes were already fixed on Meng Chang, the general of the barbarian army. He knew the principle of capturing the leader first. As long as this general was killed, the collapse of the southern barbarian army would be even more complete.

"Deng Ai is here! Savage dogs, prepare to die!"

Deng Ai roared, his voice so loud it made Meng Chang's eardrums ache. His silver spear thrust forward like lightning, the tip of the spear whistling through the air as if it were about to tear the air apart.

Meng Chang was thoroughly enraged by this arrogant attitude, and his shame and indignation overwhelmed his fear.

As a renowned and fierce general in the south, when had he ever been treated with such contempt?
In his view, the Han army was only strong because of its large numbers; if it came to one-on-one combat, he would never lose.

"You Han dog, how dare you look down on us Southerners! Today, I will take your dog's life!"

Meng Chang roared, dragged his long sword, spurred his horse on, and charged towards Deng Ai.

He was full of arrogance and had no idea that Deng Ai's martial arts skills had already reached their peak. He thought that Deng Ai was just a person with a reputation but no skill.

The two horses clashed, moving with lightning speed.

Meng Chang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with both hands, and with all his might, he brought it down fiercely towards Deng Ai's head. The blade whistled through the air. A hint of triumph flashed in his eyes, as if he could already see Deng Ai being cleaved in two.

But the next second, his smile froze on his face. Deng Ai's gun was too fast, so fast that he couldn't even see the trajectory. He only felt a cold glint flash before his eyes, and then a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest.

"puff!"

A dull thud rang out, and the gleaming silver spear pierced his chest without any resistance, the tip emerging from his back with a glob of hot blood.

Meng Chang looked down at the gun barrel on his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief.

His knife was still halfway there, several feet away from Deng Ai's spear, and he hadn't even touched the hem of Deng Ai's clothes.

"How is that possible? How could his gun be so fast? It's impossible!"

Meng Chang coughed up blood, his body slumped onto his horse, only one thought remaining in his mind. (End of Chapter)