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

It was not clear.

After a hearty meal, the Han soldiers donned their armor and weapons, and lined up in battle formation in the open fields outside the city.

The crisp clanging of armor against armor rose and fell, yet there was not a sound.

One hundred thousand soldiers stood in a dense forest, their spears like a forest, their banners fluttering, their fighting spirit soaring to the heavens.

Everyone keenly noticed that behind the military formation beneath the city walls, dozens of mysterious objects were hidden.

Those objects were at least ten feet tall, completely covered by a thick black cloth, their outlines bulky and enormous, obscuring their true appearance.

The soldiers exchanged glances and whispered amongst themselves, making various guesses.

"Could it be some kind of secret weapon that can counter the enemy's elephant regiment?"

All eyes turned to Xiao He.

The Grand Marshal was known for his unconventional methods and his ability to break through enemy lines in every battle, which his generals and soldiers had long believed in.

This time, there must be another ingenious plan to solve the current predicament of the elephant cavalry.

Under the Han flag.

Wei Yan stood proudly, sword in hand.

His cold, murderous gaze was fixed on the south, the only route the enemy could take.

On the city tower, Xiao He stood by the railing, a pot of clear wine and two wine cups on the table. He poured himself a drink and calmly watched the war that was about to break out.

The generals inside the city gate tower had solemn expressions and felt uneasy.

The enemy's elephant cavalry is incredibly fierce, and we have never had a chance of winning against them before. Today, their fate is uncertain, so it's understandable that we are filled with anxiety.

Only Xiao He and Wei Yan had no worries.

They trusted each other implicitly.

Wei Yan never doubted Xiao He's plan in the slightest.

Xiao He had no reservations about Wei Yan's ability to command troops.

This trust is a tacit understanding forged through countless life-or-death trials.

Suddenly, from the distant south, dust and mist surged through the jungle like giant waves, rolling forward.

The ground beneath my feet began to hum and then started to tremble violently, even the city tower creaked slightly.

"coming!"

Wei Yan gave a low shout and tightened his grip on his sword.

Suddenly, countless enormous objects burst into view, blotting out the sky and the sun.

象！
War elephants!

Hundreds of war elephants, clad in armor and armed with blades, charged forward like a moving fortress.

The expressions of the Han soldiers all changed.

Even though they were seasoned veterans and had witnessed countless brutal battles, they couldn't help but feel a chill and a sense of fear when faced with such ferocious elephant troops.

Wei Yan was also taken aback, but he quickly composed himself, a disdainful look appearing on his face, and said loudly:
"Soldiers, do not panic! The enemy has elephant corps, but our Han army also has a plan to defeat them!"

As the words fell, the soldiers' commotion subsided, their gazes once again turning to the mysterious object behind the battle formation, their confidence rekindled…

In the enemy ranks, Guhan sat high on the back of the most magnificent war elephant, holding a scimitar, his disdainful gaze fixed on the Han army formation.

In his eyes, these 100,000 Han soldiers were no match for him and were merely stepping stones for his own elephant corps.

Without the slightest hesitation, he pointed his sword at the Han army and shouted sharply:
"Elephant troops, slaughter the Han army and capture Wei Yan alive!"

A mournful horn suddenly sounded.

Hundreds of elephants roared in unison, their deafening bellows creating a rolling wave of sound.

They charged forward with their massive, powerful legs, their momentum capable of destroying the heavens and the earth.

The elephant cavalry launched their attack.

The earth is shaking and the mountains are shaking.

A hundred paces away, Meng, clad in animal hide armor and wielding a long spear, led tens of thousands of barbarian troops closely following the elephant regiment.

At this moment, his face was flushed and he was extremely excited.

He had only heard of the might of elephant troops before, but had never seen a charging elephant corps in person. Today, witnessing it firsthand, he felt his blood boil and could not imagine how the Han army could resist such a force.

He could almost picture the spectacular scene of Han soldiers being trampled by war elephants, with corpses strewn across the fields.

In his view, once the 100,000 Han troops were defeated, no one in Yizhou could stop his northward advance.

He will seize the opportunity to recover lost territory, march straight to Chengdu, and bring the entire Yizhou under his control, achieving unparalleled feats.
Meng Quan was already envisioning this grand plan, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, his eyes filled with greed and fanaticism.

At that moment, the horns sounded again signaling the elephant cavalry's charge, and the earth-shaking sensation became even more pronounced. Meng Quan knew that the elephant cavalry had launched their offensive, and victory was within reach.

"Wei Yan, let's see how you break through Guhan's elephant cavalry!"

"Today is your death day!"

Meng Quan looked up at the sky and laughed loudly.

The barbarian soldiers on either side were also infected by him, and they all brandished their weapons, letting out ferocious screams.

Lu Kai, standing to the side, appeared calm, but a hint of heroic spirit shone in his eyes.

Although he had previously had doubts about relying on elephants to win, seeing their power firsthand now filled him with anticipation.

Perhaps, in today's battle, Guhan's elephant corps can truly create a miracle, break through the Han army in one fell swoop, and open the way for Meng Quan to march north.

At this moment, with Meng Quan's order, tens of thousands of barbarian soldiers behind him broke through the formation and, like a tide, followed closely behind the elephant cavalry, charging towards the Han army.

All the barbarian troops were mobilized, determined to achieve victory in one battle.

Lu Kai stood there with a cold smile, ready to watch the Han army be annihilated by the elephant cavalry and the barbarian army.

Han army formation.

The ground beneath my feet trembled violently, and the roar of war elephants charging forward grew louder as they approached, carrying with them a cloud of dust that swept towards me.

The Han generals' hearts were in their throats, their palms were sweating, and their eyes were fixed on the approaching elephant herd, their fear barely concealed.

Even Wei Yan, a veteran of countless battles, had beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, and he quickly glanced at the city wall out of the corner of his eye.

On the city floor.

Xiao He stood by the railing, his expression calm and composed. Noticing Wei Yan's gaze, he raised his hand and nodded slightly to him, indicating that he should not be afraid.

Xiao He's composure was like a reassuring pill, instantly dispelling Wei Yan's fear.

Wei Yan took a deep breath, his fighting spirit rekindled, and suddenly roared:
"Bring out the weapon that can defeat the enemy!"

The order was given.

Deng Ai accepted the order and quickly relayed the message.

In a short while, dozens of mysterious weapons covered in black cloth were pushed by soldiers and slowly moved to the front of the formation. The Han army's formation shifted accordingly, forming a well-organized battle array.

The southern barbarians saw this scene clearly.

As Guhan sat atop the war elephant, a hint of doubt suddenly crossed his face, wondering what the Han army was up to.

But soon, the doubt turned into indifference.

He had fought for half his life and had never seen a weapon that could withstand a troop of elephants. He simply did not believe that the Han army could break through his troop of elephants.

"Wei Yan, today, I will take your head!"

Guhan, fearless, brandished his sword and charged forward, ordering the elephant cavalry to accelerate.

The war elephants roared deafeningly, their hooves flying as they charged wildly, leaving a trail of destruction that seemed to shake the heavens and the earth.

On the front lines, the Han soldiers were on edge, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.

Their bodies were instinctively filled with fear as they faced the overwhelming power of the elephant herd, but their will was unwavering, and they did not retreat an inch!

With Grand Marshal Xiao He present!
Victory in this battle is assured!
Win!

The same thought was stirring in the minds of every Han Chinese man.

Instead of retreating, they all took a step forward.

One hundred steps.

The two armies were only a hundred paces apart, and the ferocity of the elephant herd was already close at hand.

The time had come. Wei Yan's eyes widened, and he shouted again:
"Show your weapons!"

The order was passed down quickly.

The Han soldiers stepped forward and ripped off the black cloth covering them.

The colossal object reveals its true nature.

Crossbow!

Ballista!

That was a divine crossbow that Xiao and his secret craftsmanship had created.

This giant crossbow is enormous, requiring several people to operate it together. It has a range of up to 800 paces and is extremely powerful.

When the Han soldiers saw the giant crossbow in person, their previous tension and fear vanished. (End of Chapter)