Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 210 One vs. Seven
The north wind was like a knife, whipping up snowflakes that lashed against the armor, making a soft, rustling sound.

Zhang Xian held the Overlord Halberd in one hand, the tip of the halberd pointing diagonally at the ground, drawing a shallow mark on the snow.

Mo Ying seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit, and nervously pawed at its front hooves, exhaling puffs of white steam.

"Our lord wants to fight all seven of us by himself?" Zhang Fei's eyes widened.

"Did I hear that right?"

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes, stroked his long beard, and glanced back and forth between Zhang Xian and the Overlord Halberd.

He noticed the numerous fine scratches on the halberd shaft, marks left from countless life-or-death battles.

"Yun Chang," Liu Bei lowered his voice, "what do you think of your martial arts skills, General?"

He knew his second brother's abilities; describing him as having the courage to withstand ten thousand men would not be an exaggeration.

Guan Yu did not answer immediately.

He saw that Zhang Xian was just sitting casually on the horse, yet he gave off a sense of oppressive power, like a mountain.

That wasn't an aura created intentionally, but rather a natural pressure that had formed after countless battles.

"Unfathomable." Guan Yu finally uttered these four words.

On the platform, Guo Jia asked Ashan in a low voice.

“Ah Shan, my lord, what is this?” He frowned slightly.

Ah Shan chuckled, "Your hands are itching, aren't you? Luckily, I wasn't, or I would have been one of the people getting beaten up." He looked at the generals below the stage with a hint of mockery.

It's so familiar, all too familiar. In the past, it was always those thirteen who got beaten up, but now it's finally someone else's turn.

In the center of the training ground, Zhang Xian was already riding forward slowly, the Overlord Halberd in his hand as light as a feather.

His gaze swept over the seven generals, finally settling on Lü Bu.

"Fengxian, you go first."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu laughed loudly, and his crimson warhorse reared up: "I can't wait!"

This is the third time I've had the chance to compete. The first time I was defeated in one move, the second time within five rounds, and this third time I should at least last ten rounds!
His twin halberds flashed through the air, leaving a cold streak: "Gentlemen! Don't think it's a problem that we have a numerical advantage. The general's abilities are beyond our comprehension!"

Zhao Yun silently adjusted the horse's head, and the white horse nimbly circled to the side.

His spear hung slightly lower, seemingly casually, but in reality, it blocked Zhang Xian's possible escape route.

Zhang Fei and Gao Shun exchanged a glance and tacitly separated to their sides.

Zhao Gou then spurred his horse forward, forming a pincer movement with Lü Bu.

"Yide, be careful," Liu Bei whispered, "General, there must be a deeper meaning behind your actions."

Zhang Fei snorted heavily and gripped his spear tightly: "Don't worry, brother, I want to see just how powerful the general really is!"

"Use real weapons." Zhang Xian suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but clear enough to reach everyone's ears: "Wooden tools are light and unlikely to yield any results."

This statement is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

The soldiers around the drill ground gasped in surprise, and Guo Jia on the command platform put down his wine jug and stood up.

"My lord!" he couldn't help but cry out, "Swords have no eyes!"

Zhang Xian raised his hand to stop him: "Fengxiao, rest assured, my halberd cannot harm my general, and my general cannot harm me either."

He spoke with such certainty, as if stating a perfectly simple fact.

Guan Yu's pupils contracted slightly. He noticed that Zhang Xian said he couldn't hurt him, not that he wouldn't be able to hurt him; the confidence in that statement went beyond mere confidence!
"It's starting." Zhang Xian gently spurred the horse's flanks.

In an instant, the dark figure transformed into a bolt of black lightning! Without any warning, Zhang Xian had already made his move!
The Overlord Halberd drew a perfect arc in the air, aiming straight for Lü Bu's face! The halberd blade sliced ​​through the air with a sharp whistling sound.

Lu Bu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he charged forward with his twin halberds!

"clang!"

The deafening clang of metal clashing echoed across the training ground!
The moment the two halberds clashed, Lü Bu's expression changed drastically. Although he had been mentally prepared, he found that Zhang Xian's strength had increased significantly in their second encounter!

He felt an irresistible force coming from the halberd shaft, which made his arms go numb!
The crimson warhorse was forced back three steps by the force of the halberd, leaving deep hoofprints on the snow!

The whole place was in an uproar!

Zhang Fei's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. After joining the Youyi Army, Lü Bu was the first person he acknowledged as being stronger than his second brother.

My lord forced Lü Bu back with a single halberd strike! What divine power is this?
The two riders separated in one strike. He gave Lü Bu a moment to catch his breath, then used the recoil to turn to the right. With the Overlord Halberd at his side, he swung it around and swept it towards Zhao Yun!

Zhao Yun was prepared. He nimbly retreated, his spear striking Zhang Xian's wrist with the ferocity of a viper.

This shot was as fast as lightning and at a tricky angle; it was the very move that had just defeated Zhang Fei!

However, Zhang Xian seemed to have anticipated this. The momentum of the Overlord Halberd did not diminish. When the two weapons clashed, he changed from sweeping to thrusting. The halberd blade collided with the spear tip, making a crisp clanging sound.

Zhao Yun felt a strange force coming from the spear shaft, and the spear almost slipped from his hand! He was terrified and quickly changed his move, spinning the spear shaft rapidly in his palm to neutralize the force.

"Good!" Zhang Xian nodded approvingly, but his hand kept turning the direction, and the Overlord Halberd attacked Zhang Liao like a storm.

Zhang Liao responded calmly, using short swords to defend against attacks, each strike perfectly blocking the halberd's momentum.

But after only three moves, sweat was already beading on his forehead. Each of Zhang Xian's halberd strikes felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, making his tiger's mouth ache.

"Surround them!" Lu Bu finally recovered and roared.

With someone taking the lead and giving the order, the others, having witnessed Zhang Xian's prowess, all responded in kind.

The seven people instantly formed an encirclement.

Guan Yu's longsword, powerful and heavy, slashed from the side; Zhang Fei's iron spear, like a poisonous dragon emerging from its cave, aimed straight for Zhang Xian's back; Gao Shun's longsword, steady and firm, blocked the retreat; and Zhao Gou's spear, swirling and flying, focused on attacking the lower body.

Faced with an attack from seven sides, Zhang Xian remained calm and composed, and the Overlord Halberd seemed to come alive in his hands.

He would sometimes parry with the shaft of his halberd, and sometimes counterattack with the blade. His moves flowed smoothly and without any hesitation.

clang! clang! clang! clang!
The sound of metal clashing was incessant.

Zhang Xian fought seven opponents single-handedly and held his own in no way! Every move he made was perfectly timed, as if he could predict everyone's attack routes.

What's even more terrifying is that his power seems inexhaustible; every swing of the Overlord Halberd is like a full-force strike.

Guan Yu grew increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed.

Every time his long saber clashed with the Overlord Halberd, he felt a tingling numbness in his arm.

What shocked him even more was that Zhang Xian seemed to know their moves inside and out, and could always block their killing moves in advance before they changed their tactics.

"Yun Chang, be careful!" Liu Bei suddenly shouted.

Guan Yu suddenly snapped back to reality, only to find that the Overlord Halberd had somehow broken through Liu Bei's defenses beside him, and the blade was heading straight for his throat! In the nick of time, Guan Yu tried to lean back to dodge, but it was too late. The halberd blade stopped steadily just inches away from his skin.

"I was distracted." Zhang Xian's voice was as calm as still water.

Cold sweat beaded on Guan Yu's forehead. If this were a life-or-death struggle, he would already be dead.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and retreated, looking ashamed.

The battle continues.

With one player off the field, the remaining six generals coordinated more and more seamlessly, launching wave after wave of attacks. But Zhang Xian was like a reef in a turbulent current, remaining unmoved no matter how the wind and waves raged.

"His breathing is perfectly steady." Zhang Fei gasped for breath, looking incredulously at Zhang Xian, who remained calm and composed.

Lu Bu's eyes were bloodshot, and he wielded his double halberds with impenetrable force.

Ten rounds! Ten rounds! All he could think about right now was holding on for ten rounds!

"Ah!" Lu Bu roared and swung his halberd down with all his might!
A glint flashed in Zhang Xian's eyes. He neither dodged nor avoided the attack with his Overlord Halberd, but met it head-on!

boom--!
The two halberds clashed, creating a burst of sparks! Lü Bu felt an irresistible force, and his double halberds flew out of his hands, embedding themselves in the snow ten paces away!

There was silence.

Instead of pressing his advantage, Zhang Xian sheathed his halberd and stood still, saying, "Fengxian has indeed made progress. His halberd skills are now second nature. Not bad."

Lu Bu stood there dumbfounded, his face turning pale and then red.

Just then, Zhao Yun seized the opportunity, his spear moving like a dragon, thrusting straight at Zhang Xian's back! This thrust was silent and swift as lightning!

Sneak attack!

Zhao Yun might not resort to such underhanded tactics against others, but against his own brother, Xian, he wouldn't hold back! He'd use them! He wouldn't need to win!
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Zhang Xian didn't even turn around. He swung his Overlord Halberd backward and accurately blocked the spear tip.

Then he flicked his wrist, twisted it, and swung it.

Zhao Yun was shocked and hurriedly dropped his spear. The spear fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

“You’ve learned your lesson. I’ll tell Master Tong when I get back, and he’ll be sorry.” Zhang Xian glared at him, then swung his halberd to force back Zhang Liao, who was attempting a sneak attack.

"I didn't mention Wen Yuan, did I? Han Sheng is right here in Jinyang. You just wait and see."

For the two younger ones, just tell their teacher, and someone will naturally teach them properly.

But the other people are the real targets he wants to guide.

Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao both wore wry smiles. The thought of their teacher's strictness unconsciously fueled their increased strength.

The battle lasted for another quarter of an hour.

The seven generals took turns attacking and sometimes surrounded Zhang Xian, using all their skills, but they were still unable to break through his defenses.

In contrast, Zhang Xian's breathing was steady, and his moves remained as sharp as ever.

"The final move." Seeing that the time was almost up, Zhang Xian suddenly said, his voice becoming more solemn.

Upon hearing this, the seven generals tensed up without prior agreement.

Zhang Xian took a deep breath, slowly raised the Overlord Halberd, and an invisible aura emanated from him, as if even the surrounding air became stagnant.

"Sweep!"

With a soft shout, the Overlord Halberd transformed into a blur! The seven generals only felt a blur before their eyes, and then a tremendous force surged through their weapons!
clang!clang!clang!
Seven crisp sounds rang out almost simultaneously!

Seven weapons flew out of his hands at the same time and stuck into the surrounding snow!
The drill ground was completely silent.

Zhang Xian sheathed his halberd and stood still, his dark figure motionless.

He looked around at the seven generals, and finally a smile appeared on his face: "Not bad, they are all fierce generals."

The seven generals looked at each other in dismay, and finally dismounted in unison, kneeling on one knee: "Our lord (general) is incredibly brave!"

Guan Yu's heart was in turmoil.

He prided himself on his superior martial arts skills, but today he realized that there are always people more skilled than him. Zhang Xian demonstrated not only strength, but also a profound understanding of weapons, the body, and the essence of combat.

"Get up."

Zhang Xian dismounted and walked up to the seven men: "In the way of martial arts, one either progresses or regresses. Have you gained anything from today's battle?"

Lu Bu was the first to speak: "General, I am confident in my strength, but why do I always feel that I cannot exert my full strength when facing you?"

Zhang Xian nodded: "You're nervous. You're too nervous. You know you'll lose, but you still want to win, so your breathing has changed."

He reached out and placed his hand on Lü Bu's chest: "A slight change in your breathing caused your power to be scattered. Next time you face me, first keep your mindset."

Lu Bu began to ponder.

Zhao Yun picked up his spear, his mind already preoccupied with how to face Tong Shi's letter, his face pale.

Guan Yu hesitated for a moment before asking, "General, there is something I don't understand. Why do you always seem to know our attack routes?"

Zhang Xian smiled: "What the eyes see."

He raised the Overlord Halberd: "When you make your move, the tension in your muscles, the change in your breathing, and the vibration of your weapons will all convey information. When you are familiar with the human body to a certain extent, this information will reveal your thoughts on how you will make your move next. That's why you think I can predict your moves."

Guan Yu seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

Liu Bei stood aside, utterly shocked.

He had thought that Zhang Xian was only exceptional in governance and politics, but he never expected that today's battle would be more powerful than any military general he had ever seen.

How could there be such an all-powerful person in the world? The awe that rose in his heart deepened even more.

"Xuande," Zhang Xian suddenly looked at him, "Why don't you ask?"

Liu Bei was taken aback, then smiled wryly: "My martial arts skills are meager; I dare not compare myself to you generals."

“You’re wrong.” Zhang Xian shook his head: “The most important thing for a general is to cultivate his mind. If your mind is burdened with worries, how can you make progress?”

He pointed to Liu Bei's hands: "Your swordsmanship is actually quite good, but you always hold back three-tenths of your strength, which is a sign of a lack of confidence."

Liu Bei was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

Zhang Xian's words revealed his long-standing heartache: as a member of the Han imperial family, he had always been down on his luck, and deep down he had always lacked true self-confidence.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, General." Liu Bei bowed deeply, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Zhang Xian patted him on the shoulder: "Remember, a sword is like a person's heart. Straight is strong, curved is soft. Too much strength will break it, too much softness will weaken it. Only when strength and softness are in balance can it be the best."

Thousands of soldiers around the training ground witnessed all of this and were filled with longing.

On the reviewing stand, Ashan laughed and said to Guo Jia, "How about that? I told you someone got a beating again, hahaha."

Guo Jia breathed a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with deep admiration: "My lord's abilities often exceed my expectations."

Zhang Xian stood in the center, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers.

Seven generals surrounded him, their eyes filled with respect.

"This concludes today's report for Senior Colonel."

Zhang Xian's voice echoed across the drill ground: "The military law officer will compile a list of those who excel, and tonight the military advisor will issue rewards and encouragement to them!"

"promise!"

"My lords! We cannot slacken our martial skills even for a day in this border region. Protecting the borders and the people depends on your superb martial arts. Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime. I don't want to see you in the cemetery. Remember that!"

"We will heed our lord's teachings!" Thousands of soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

As Guan Yu gazed at Zhang Xian's retreating figure, the vague thought in his mind became clearer: this man was indeed a wise ruler of our time!
(End of this chapter)