The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

"When Red Hare rears up, Lu Bu's figure will pause for a moment, and his vital organs will be completely exposed."

He looked at Xiahou Yuan: "By then, General Xiahou, will you be confident in your ability to fire another arrow?"

Xiahou Yuan's eyes lit up. He carefully considered the scenario, then nodded emphatically: "If that's truly possible, I'm eighty percent confident I can hit Lü Bu!" But then he hesitated, "However... such an action is ultimately..."

"General Miaocai, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles," Guo Jia said lazily. "Is this the time to concern ourselves with the distinction between gentlemen and villains? If we can break through this barrier, what are a few tricks worth mentioning?"

He glanced at Xiahou Yuan, "Besides, isn't Cao Cao's safety your top priority?"

These words struck Xiahou Yuan's weak spot precisely. Without further hesitation, he rose, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "This humble general obeys!"

Guo Jia added, "This plan needs further refinement. We can contact Sun Wentai and ask him to attack from the other side, diverting the Xiliang army's attention. Once Lü Bu is wounded, our soldiers will shout in unison, 'Lü Bu has been defeated!' The garrison at Hulao Pass relies on Lü Bu as their pillar; once they hear of their commander's defeat, their morale will surely collapse. At that time, it will be our chance to seize the opportunity and break through this formidable pass!"

With the plan settled, everyone dispersed to prepare for their own events.

Xun Hao was about to get up when Guo Jia pressed his shoulder down. Only the two of them remained in the tent, the glow of the oil lamp casting long shadows.

"What do you think of Liu Bei?" Guo Jia suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Xun Hao closed his eyes, feeling the warmth from Guo Jia's palm, and said softly, "He will be a formidable enemy of our future lord."

Guo Jia's fingers paused slightly.

Xun Hao added, "But he will not be our lord."

Upon hearing this answer, Guo Jia's lips curled into a satisfied smile that went unnoticed by anyone. He released his hand and instead ruffled Xun Hao's hair, his tone returning to its usual languidness: "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Xun Yu and Cao Cao did not rest either; they talked late into the night by candlelight in Cao Cao's tent. The wine on the table had gone cold, but neither of them noticed. Their conversation had long since shifted from the current battle situation to the post-war military settlements, from the settlements to the resettlement of displaced people, from people's livelihoods to the future official system.

The more Cao Cao listened, the more shaken he became. Xun Yu's words were incisive and to the point, and the blueprint he painted was exactly the vision he had longed for. Xun Yu, in turn, saw in Cao Cao's undisguised thirst for talent and his ambition a future completely different from that of Yuan Shao and his ilk.

That night, the bright moon hung high in the sky. Some people found companions to walk alongside them. Others found a lord to whom they could entrust their lives.

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

Cao Cao's army camp was fully mobilized, while on the other side, Sun Jian's army was also ready to march. Although this fierce tiger of Jiangdong had been ambushed by Yuan Shu, he had not lost his fighting spirit.

The two armies formed a giant pincer shape in the dawn light, pointing towards Hulao Pass in the distance.

On the wall above the pass, Lü Bu was already standing with his halberd at his side.

The war drums sounded for the third time.

"You traitor, your Grandpa Zhang is here again!"

Zhang Fei's roar was as loud as ever. He took the lead and thrust his eighteen-foot spear straight at Lü Bu.

Guan Yu and Liu Bei positioned themselves on the left and right, respectively, pressing forward in a pincer-like formation.

The four figures clashed once again, the sounds of metal clashing against metal as dense as rain.

On a distant hillside, Xiahou Yuan lay prone in the grass, three specially made wolf-tooth arrows beside him. He adjusted his breathing, his gaze fixed on the battle, waiting for that one and only opportunity.

Xun Hao and Guo Jia stood beside Cao Cao.

"Stop watching, the outcome won't be decided within an hour," Guo Jia said in a low voice.

"It'll be soon." Xun Hao's gaze never left the battlefield. "Zhang Yide is about to make his move."

Guo Jia raised an eyebrow.

Xun Hao, relying on Guo Jia's presence, secretly used the plan left behind to deduce that this small matter would not consume much electricity.

As expected, Zhang Fei, unable to break through Lu Bu's defenses, grew increasingly irritable. Suddenly, he roared, changed his attack, and instead of targeting Lu Bu himself, his eighteen-foot spear shot towards Red Hare's forelegs at an extremely tricky angle!

Lu Bu's expression changed, and he quickly twisted his wrist, using his halberd to parry downwards.

But he was fast, and Red Hare reacted even faster.

Sensing the threat, the divine steed let out a high-pitched neigh, its front hooves suddenly rearing up, its entire body standing upright!

It's now!

On the hillside, Xiahou Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He already had his bow drawn, the bowstring taut like a crescent moon. An arrow, which had been waiting for a long time, whistled through the air and pierced the air, embedding itself in Lü Bu's thigh! A sharp pain shot through him, and Lü Bu groaned, his arm gripping the halberd going limp, slowing his movements by a fraction.

"Third brother, now is the time!"

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his Green Dragon Crescent Blade left a trail of afterimages as it slammed heavily into Lü Bu's shoulder armor with immense force!

"Snap!"

The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible.

Lu Bu could no longer maintain his posture, and his body swayed violently.

"Lu Bu has been defeated!"

"Lu Bu has been hit by an arrow!"

Someone shouted first, and then thousands of soldiers in Cao's army shouted in unison with all their might.

The Xiliang garrison on the gate tower, who had been cheering for their general's divine might, suddenly found their invincible god wounded.

The shouts of the defenders came to an abrupt halt.

Lu Bu dared not fight any longer. He feigned an attack, turned his horse around, and fled towards Hulao Pass under the desperate protection of his personal guards.

Seeing this, Cao Cao waved his command flag sharply: "All troops, attack! Break through Hulao Pass!"

Several thousand of Cao Cao's troops, together with Liu Bei's army, launched a general attack on Hulao Pass like tigers released from their gates.

Sun Jian's troops also attacked from the flank, forming an encirclement with Cao Cao's army.

The defending troops at Hulao Pass were in disarray; their commander was seriously wounded and had retreated, leaving them with no will to fight. Faced with the ferocious allied forces, they offered only a brief resistance before collapsing.

The door was easily kicked open.

Cao Cao took the lead and charged into the pass.

The battle report of capturing Hulao Pass was sent back to the Suanzao camp as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing the news, Yuan Shao and the other warlords were initially shocked, then overjoyed. They immediately ordered a report of this "great victory" to be written and spread far and wide, boasting about how the allied forces, under the brilliant leadership of their leader Yuan Shao, had been invincible. The report made no mention of Cao Cao and Liu Bei's unauthorized military actions, instead taking all the credit for themselves. It was as if they were feasting and making merry in the rear, yet they were able to win battles from afar. As for Cao Cao and Sun Jian, who had actually fought valiantly, they were only mentioned at the end as having "also made minor contributions."

In Cao Cao's camp, everyone scoffed at Yuan Shao's shameless behavior, but right now, they had a more serious problem to face.

Although they won the bloody battle, Cao Cao and Sun Jian's troops suffered heavy losses and were severely depleted. Holding Hulao Pass was already a struggle; with their limited forces, attacking Luoyang was virtually impossible.