Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

Zhang Ziqian was picking up a slice of luncheon meat when he heard this, and paused for a moment.

He looked up at Cao Cao's face, which was filled with sorrow and determination, and then at the steaming hot pot in front of him.

"Going to my death?" He stuffed luncheon meat into his mouth, chewing as he mumbled, "Boss, don't put it so harshly. What do you mean by 'dying'? It's so unlucky."

The little voice inside him was screaming: "What a joke! I just got a new phone, downloaded two movies that I haven't even watched yet, and you want to drag me to my death? Don't even think about it! Go by yourself, I'm not going with you."

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Cao Cao's eyes dimmed, and a great disappointment welled up in his heart.

Yes, what right do I have to ask him for anything? He's just a warrior I recruited. Why should I expect him to risk his life with me? We're not related; we're just lord and general.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly and stood up.

"I was overthinking it. You stay here, it's safe here. I'll go by myself."

After he finished speaking, he turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute." Zhang Ziqian suddenly called out to him.

Cao Cao paused, but did not turn around.

Zhang Ziqian said slowly from behind, "Boss, are you stupid? With a powerful backer like me, what are you afraid of about dying?"

Cao Cao turned around abruptly, looking at him in disbelief.

Zhang Ziqian picked up another slice of fatty beef and ate it with his mouth full of oil.

"What I mean is, go ahead and chase me, it's no big deal. You're my boss, I have to follow you wherever you go. Otherwise, if you really die, who's going to pay my salary, who's going to feed me?"

He wiped his mouth and said something that Cao Cao would never forget.

"Go ahead and don't worry, boss. As long as the food is plentiful, let alone chasing Dong Zhuo, even if you were to go and tear a hole in the sky, I'd still hand you the pole."

Cao Cao stared at him blankly, at his matter-of-fact expression, and at his clear and pure eyes.

There was no fervent patriotism in his eyes, no ambition to achieve great deeds, and not even reverence or loyalty to him.

Yes, it's just the simplest logic—you are my meal ticket, and I have to ensure that my meal ticket is safe.

This pure and simple reason, at this moment, was more moving to Cao Cao's heart than any impassioned words of loyalty.

His eyes were actually a little moist.

He sniffed, suppressing his excitement, and walked back to Zhang Ziqian, bowing deeply to him.

"Ziqian, having you alone is worth more than a million soldiers!"

"Alright, alright, stop with the formalities." Zhang Ziqian waved his hand impatiently. "If you're going, hurry up, wait until I finish this pot. By the way, if I go with you, the food allowance has to be doubled! At least five roast chickens a day!"

"Ten of them are at your command!" Cao Cao laughed heartily, all the frustration and resentment in his heart vanished, replaced by boundless pride.

With Ziqian around, there's nowhere in the world we can't go!

……

The next day.

While the other warlords were still arguing over how to divide up the scraps in Luoyang, Cao Cao had already gathered all his troops, totaling more than 10,000 men, and resolutely embarked on the westward pursuit.

This is a lonely army.

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Li Dian, Yue Jin, and other members of the Cao clan and their trusted generals were all present.

Walking at the very back of the group, yawning and looking like he hadn't woken up yet, was Zhang Ziqian, carrying the Yuwang Spear.

He was studying his phone until midnight last night, and Cao Cao dragged him out of bed before dawn this morning. Now he's so sleepy he can barely keep his eyes open.

"The boss is really something, why is he being so proactive? Would it kill him to make Dong Zhuo run around for a couple more days..." he muttered under his breath.

The army marched westward and soon arrived at the territory of Xingyang.

Scouts reported that Dong Zhuo's main force had already passed by, and Xu Rong, one of his lieutenant generals, was in charge of covering the rear.

Upon hearing the report, Cao Cao immediately ordered his entire army to speed up and catch up with Xu Rong's troops at the Bian River, east of Xingyang, to annihilate them in one fell swoop.

However, when they arrived at Bianshui, they found the place completely silent, without even a trace of enemy troops.

"Something's not right!" Cao Cao reined in his horse, his brow furrowed.

"My lord, could it be that Xu Rong, that scoundrel, heard that our army was coming and got so scared that he ran away in a panic?" Cao Hong said with a smile.

"Impossible!" Cao Cao categorically denied. "I've heard of Xu Rong; he's a rare general in the Xiliang army, possessing both wisdom and courage. He would never retreat without a fight! There must be an ambush here!"

He had barely finished speaking.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Suddenly, arrows rained down from the dense forests on both sides of the river!

Countless Xiliang soldiers charged out from all directions, shouting as they fought!

The leading general was none other than Xu Rong!

"Cao Cao! You've fallen into my trap! This place will be your final resting place!" Xu Rong shouted, brandishing his sword.

The Cao army was caught off guard by this sudden ambush and their formation was thrown into chaos.

The Xiliang army was seasoned in battle and had been well-rested, making its fighting strength far superior to Cao Cao's hastily assembled army.

In a single encounter, Cao Jun's vanguard was overwhelmed.

Shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons filled the air.

"Don't panic! Hold your ground! Form ranks! Form ranks!" Cao Cao drew his sword and shouted, trying to stabilize the situation.

But once the army is defeated, the chaos is overwhelming and difficult to contain.

Cao's soldiers were routed and suffered heavy casualties.

Although Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and others fought desperately, they were no match for the crowd and were quickly overwhelmed.

A stray arrow, seemingly from nowhere, struck Cao Cao's horse squarely. The warhorse neighed in despair and crashed to the ground, throwing Cao Cao to the ground.

"Protect our lord!"

When Cao Hong saw Cao Cao fall from his horse, his eyes widened in fury. He rushed over without hesitation and helped Cao Cao up.

But the Xiliang soldiers around them swarmed in like sharks that had smelled blood!

"Cao Cao is here! Whoever kills Cao Cao will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!"

Dozens of spears and broadswords came from all directions, thrusting towards Cao Cao and Cao Hong, who were surrounded in the middle!

"My life is over!" Cao Cao looked at the flashing cold light before him, his heart turned cold, and he closed his eyes in despair.

At this critical moment.

A lazy voice, filled with a strong sense of morning grumpiness, suddenly rang out amidst the chaos of the battlefield.

"What's going on... It's so noisy, can't a person even use their phone in peace?"

Cao Cao suddenly opened his eyes.

A black, mountain-like shadow descended from the sky and landed in front of him.

"boom!"

The figure landed, creating a shallow crater in the ground.

He casually swung the monstrous spear in his hand outwards!

"Bang bang bang bang!"

The dozens of Xiliang soldiers who had attacked were sent flying backwards with their weapons and bodies like flies being swatted away, screaming in agony. One by one, they suffered broken bones, coughed up blood, and died on the spot!

The person who arrived was Zhang Ziqian, who had been woken up.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, looked at the chaotic battlefield before him, and then at Cao Cao, who had almost been stabbed into a pincushion, and frowned.

"Holy crap!"

He let out a gasp.

"Boss, if you die, who's going to pay my salary?!"