The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

The Yellow Turban Army's charge perfectly matched people's imagination of battle: a huge horde waving weapons, shouting and fighting fiercely, with a fierce and unstoppable momentum.

But to Zou Jing, a seasoned captain, it was a chaotic mess with no formation or discipline.

He immediately rallied his spirits and ordered: "Form ranks to meet the enemy! Archers and crossbowmen, advance and fire!"

"Hold your ground! Just hold on for a moment, and once the enemy's morale is broken, we will surely defeat them."

At this moment, watching the Han army unleash arrows and stones, and the Yellow Turban soldiers being shot down in batches, Zou Jing truly felt a surge of pride that this bandit could be defeated.

Having spent half his life on the battlefield, he was experienced and had a keen eye for the situation. He believed that the Yellow Turbans were indeed disorganized and relied entirely on their fierce courage.

The Han army's deployment was flawless. As long as they held their ground, changed their advances and retreats, and fought tenaciously, they could wear down the Yellow Turbans' morale and defeat them in one fell swoop.

However, if everything went as the officers and generals thought, the rebellion would not have been able to grow so large.

At this moment, the situation on the battlefield was just like that in all uprisings in history: the rebels, full of vigor and fearless, surged forward.

However, the morale of the government troops was low. Although Zou Jing was willing to try to defeat the enemy directly, the state troops had no fighting spirit. As soon as the blades clashed, the entire army collapsed and fled.

Almost as soon as Li Damu donned his armor and charged into battle, the Han army's square formations crumbled one by one, the soldiers losing all will to fight and fleeing for their lives.

Li Damu personally beheaded a squad leader, his spear stained with blood. Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Just as I thought! The Han court is corrupt, the army has no will to fight, and they will collapse at the first touch!"

"My lads, follow me! Don't let these enemy soldiers escape."

Seeing this, the Yellow Turban rebels were greatly encouraged and roared as they pursued and attacked fiercely.

This time, Zou Jing no longer needed to consider any luring strategy. If the state soldiers wanted to survive the relentless pursuit of these tigers and wolves, they would have to abandon their armor, weapons, and all their possessions, gold, and silver.

When the Yellow Turban soldiers saw that the Han army had abandoned countless supplies and gold along the way, they could no longer control themselves and began to scramble for them, chasing after them relentlessly with bloodshot eyes.

Therefore, when Liu Bei and his party saw Zou Jing's troops rushing towards them, panting heavily, an hour later at Shehu Slope, they were all amazed.

Lu Shao couldn't help but praise, "I never imagined that Colonel Zou would have such talent. His strategy of luring the enemy is so realistic; the enemy has fallen into the ambush."

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes widened slightly. He was always arrogant and looked down on all the heroes of the world, regarding the world as nothing except his brother Liu Bei. But seeing this, he couldn't help but exclaim, "The plan to lure the enemy is so realistic. Even if I, Guan Yu, had done it myself, I could not have done it. The enemy's ambush this time is not due to their own lack of skill."

Zhang Fei, however, widened his eyes and looked down, bursting into laughter as he said, "How come I, Old Zhang, don't think he's faking it? He seems like a real defeated fugitive! Brother, look! Isn't Captain Zou almost dead? That Yellow Turban warrior's spear nearly pierced his butt!"

Zhang Fei was known for his forthrightness and humor, unlike Liu Bei, who was taciturn and rarely showed his emotions.

If it were Liu Bei, he simply couldn't come up with the idea of ​​saying something like "I'm about to die."

But Liu Bei had no time to laugh, because he could truly see that Colonel Zou's army was in complete disarray and he was fleeing for his life. If he wasn't rescued soon, Zou would be on the verge of death! This day next year would be his death anniversary!

Then he drew his sword and roared, "My men, today is the day to make our mark! The enemy is doomed; follow me and strike back!"

As soon as he gave the order, the sound of drums thundered from the hilltop.

Immediately afterwards, banners, flags, and battle flags were raised against the wind, their crimson hues like blood under the blazing sun, fluttering in the wind.

Two thousand Han soldiers rose up in formation, their banners and armor covering the mountains and plains, illuminating the heavens and the earth.

The Yellow Turban army, which was in pursuit, was immediately terrified. Looking up, they saw red banners fluttering in the sky above the mountains, and the air thick with the aura of soldiers. The sound of drums and horns shook the earth, and the landscape seemed to change color.

The arrogance of their pursuit vanished instantly, replaced by shock and fear. The enemy, arrayed on both sides of the mountain with banners obscuring the sun, seemed to conjure images of soldiers everywhere. They assumed they were surrounded by a massive army.

Zhang Fei, who had long been eager for battle, was overjoyed at the sound of the drums. He immediately mounted his warhorse, held his eighteen-foot-long spear upside down, and roared, "Zhang Yide of Yan is here! My men, follow me into battle and kill the enemy!"

He took the lead, followed by over a hundred elite cavalrymen, clad in crimson robes and black armor, their banners gleaming. They charged out from the mountain, plunging straight into the heart of the chaotic army.

The Yellow Turban army had marched more than ten miles, still wearing their armor, and were already panting heavily, unable to stand steadily. Their arms felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and they had no strength to lift their weapons to resist.

Therefore, Zhang Fei's troops instantly advanced several hundred paces, and those who stood in their way were routed. Almost entirely relying on the strength of one unit, they completely cut the Yellow Turbans in half, severing their connection.

Upon seeing this, the Han army's morale soared, and the ambushing soldiers unleashed a hail of arrows.

The soldiers attacked from all sides, their spears like a forest, shouting wildly as they fought fiercely, unstoppable in their advance.

The Yellow Turbans, now cut off, felt surrounded by enemies and had virtually no place to stand.

"Damn Han traitors, resorting to underhanded tricks!"

"Ah, Brother Zhong, save me! I've been shot in the left thigh and can't move!"

"Help! The Han cavalry are fierce and brave; we cannot stop them!"

As screams filled the air, the Yellow Turban army's ranks descended into chaos, colliding with each other and killing hundreds.

"Damn it!" Li Damu was also annoyed by the ambush. He never expected that the Han army, which always collapsed at the first contact in every battle, would have the audacity to ambush them.

Therefore, he was not afraid at this moment, but rather even more shocked and angry, and a fierce anger arose in him. He did not think about how to break through the encirclement at all, but only wanted to regain his position and kill these Han soldiers.

"Don't panic! Hold your ground and follow me to break through the enemy lines and kill all the Han dogs!" Li Damu roared angrily, his voice like thunder, which for a moment drowned out some of the noise.

He truly possessed a certain valor and leadership ability. Seeing the morale of the army wavering, he snatched the Yellow Heaven Banner from the flag bearer beside him with his left hand, gripped a long sword in his right, and stood upright on a boulder on the hillside, undeterred by arrows and stones, so that all the Yellow Turbans around him could see his banner and his heroic spirit.

This heroic spirit of stepping forward and the valor of not fearing arrows and stones had an immediate effect. Amidst the chaos, hundreds of fierce men, wearing yellow turbans, clad in heavy black armor they had plundered, and wielding long halberds and large axes, roared and converged on where Li Damu was.

These men were all loyal followers of the Way of Peace, the most elite "Yellow Turban Warriors" in the army. They were usually treated the best, and were fierce and daring to fight. Whenever there was a tough battle, Li Damu would personally lead the charge, and he could often win the battle with a single blow.

In every previous battle, Li Damu only needed to lead these several hundred elite soldiers to charge into enemy lines and rout them all. Other Yellow Turban rebels, if they pressed their advantage, would surely inflict a great defeat on the Han army.

Li Damu believed that with such heroic spirit and hundreds of elite troops at his disposal, he would surely be able to turn the tide and even achieve victory.

But he clearly underestimated this Han army!

The moment he stepped forward, Guan Yu's eyes flashed like lightning, locking onto him from the mountain, confirming that he was the bandit leader.

"The bandit chief will be beheaded at this very moment!"

Before he finished speaking, Guan Yu had already brandished his spear, spurred his horse, and charged into the midst of the army, heading straight for the central banner.

The Yellow Turban rebels were already exhausted, how could they possibly withstand such a divine general? Guan Yu charged into the enemy lines alone, unstoppable. Behind him, more than ten elite cavalrymen rushed in to support the banner, sweeping away all sides.

The rebel army was in complete disarray and could not be stopped at all. In almost an instant, Guan Yu had already reached Li Damu's front line.

Upon seeing this, Li Damu flew into a rage.

Just as he was about to lead his hundreds of elite soldiers to regroup and launch a counterattack, he saw this red-faced Han general ride in alone, charging straight towards the banner. Instantly, a surge of anger, as if provoked, rushed to his head.

He immediately roared, "Since I raised my army, not a single enemy has fallen to my blade! You red-faced traitor, how dare you come here to offer your death? Quickly state your name, for I do not kill nameless nobodies!"

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu's phoenix eyes immediately blazed with anger. He had always been proud of his bravery and looked down on all the heroes in the world, yet this scoundrel dared to openly provoke him.

He immediately let out a clear whistle, raised his spear, and charged forward: "The one who will kill you is Guan Yu!"

Before his words had even echoed, he had already charged into the enemy's stronghold.

Hundreds of Yellow Turban warriors bravely stepped forward, attempting to resist, raising their halberds and unleashing a flurry of attacks, but they could not stop Guan Yu for even a moment.

He held a spear in his left hand and a knife in his right, slashing and thrusting, and those who faced him were killed or wounded one after another.

From the start of the battle to breaking through the encirclement, it was only a few dozen breaths. Guan Yu had already killed more than ten people in an instant. His men and horses were covered in blood, looking like gods and demons. He killed his way to Li Damu's side in less than ten steps!

Li Damu's eyes widened in shock as he watched Guan Yu break through the enemy lines single-handedly, as if entering an empty field. None of his hundreds of the most valiant heavily armored warriors could withstand a single blow from him. He was both astonished and furious. He prided himself on his strength, but he knew he could never match such bravery and invincibility.

But finding himself feeling a chill in his heart, he was immediately enraged and his ferocity was unleashed. He roared and charged at Guan Yu with his sword.

The two horses collided, their cold light flashing and their blood flowing like stars. The next moment, the entire army gasped in surprise.

Guan Yu roared fiercely and thrust out his spear, instantly killing Li Damu in one move. The spear's momentum did not diminish, and it carried Li Damu's burly body backward, pinning him to a boulder behind him, the spear blade embedded more than a foot deep in the stone!

Li Damu's eyes were bleeding, filled with horror and resentment. He was about to roar and curse when Guan Yu raised his ring-pommel sword like a bolt of lightning, instantly beheading him. Blood spurted more than ten feet high from the severed neck, splashing onto the horrified faces of all the Yellow Turban warriors around him.

Then Guan Yu suddenly drew his spear, using the tip to lift Li Damu's head, which was still wide open and covered in bristling hair and beard, and roared, "The bandit chief Li Damu—is beheaded!!!"

Those who surrender will be spared death!

In an instant, the noisy battlefield fell silent.

Especially those Yellow Turban warriors, the most valiant and heavily armored, within hundreds of meters of Guan Yu, were utterly terrified and turned ashen-faced.

They were closest to the chieftain Li Damu and knew him best of his unparalleled bravery.

Throughout the war, the commander-in-chief, who was brave and unparalleled, who charged into battle and whose spirit surpassed that of thousands, was actually killed by that red-faced Han general who charged in alone and was killed in the midst of ten thousand soldiers.

The immense shock and unparalleled terror instantly terrified all the assassins, utterly crushing their courage and fighting spirit.

What kind of divine might and superhuman strength did this red-faced general possess that enabled him to assassinate the leader of the tribe in a single exchange, behead him, and return with his head?

So much so that Guan Yu's phoenix eyes widened in fury, and even hundreds of heavily armored soldiers dared not stop him. Then Guan Yu used his spear to pierce the enemy leader and swept through the enemy ranks. The enemy army was terrified, their morale collapsed, and thousands surrendered without resistance.

Upon witnessing this divine might from the mountain, Liu Bei exclaimed, "My second brother truly possesses the courage of gods and demons. Throughout the ages, there has never been such a peerless talent in charging into battle and slaying generals!"

Lu Shao was also utterly shocked. He charged into the enemy ranks alone, stabbed the enemy general amidst ten thousand soldiers, and returned with his head severed. No one could withstand him.

It was truly a case of overwhelming force, leaving the entire army in ruins.

He murmured, "With such fierce generals under Xuande, how can he not sweep away the rebels and restore the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Bei mounted his warhorse, drew his sword, pointed it, and roared, "The bandit leader has been killed, the enemy's courage has been shattered! All troops, attack! Sweep away the remaining rebels, reclaim the territory—today is the day! Kill—!"

"Thump thump thump thump thump—!!!"

In an instant, the drums thundered, and the bugle call for the general offensive was even more impassioned than before. The soldiers of the three armies were greatly inspired and launched an attack with a roaring, overwhelming force.

"The Han army is mighty!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!!"

"Victory!!!"

Zhang Fei, thoroughly enjoying the battle, laughed heartily: "Hahaha, good, good, this is truly exhilarating! The enemy is terrified! My men, follow me, Zhang Yide, and we'll cut through their ranks and claim the greatest credit!"

He pulled on the reins, and the steed neighed loudly, charging straight into the densest part of the routed army. It charged back and forth, trampling and stomping. Wherever its iron hooves passed, men and horses fell, and under the barbs of the spears, blood and flesh flew everywhere. No one could withstand its attack.

Guan Yu also turned his horse around and personally led over a hundred of his elite cavalrymen, charging into the enemy lines and attacking from all sides. Wherever they went, chaos ensued. With swords and spears raised, their blades fell in a flurry of blows, and several minor commanders who tried to gather the remaining troops were instantly beheaded. No one else dared to step forward.

As the commander of the infantry, Qian Zhao was more composed. After leading his troops to defeat the enemy in front of him, he quickly reorganized his formation and advanced slowly.

Whenever a routed army managed to regroup, he would launch a fierce attack, defeating them in one fell swoop, and then his iron cavalry would roar and pursue the fleeing enemy.

Tian Yu then led his troops to spread out to both flanks, driving away the enemy and encircling them from both sides.

Liu Bei raised his banners high and his three armies advanced together, thus inflicting a great defeat on the enemy.

The bandits were routed like a house of cards. The Yellow Turban soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, crying out for their parents and wishing they had two more legs, as they desperately fled towards the main camp.

Countless people died from trampling each other. The Han army pursued them for more than twenty li, and the dead lay piled up on top of each other.

From the valley to the camp, a distance of twenty li, military supplies and equipment filled the valley and blocked the river.

The Yellow Turbans, having been arrogant and neglecting to repair their fortifications for days, are finally reaping the consequences.

The defeated bandits fled back to their camp, crying and screaming, but before they could catch their breath, the Han army's iron cavalry arrived in pursuit.

Zhang Fei, with his overwhelming courage, charged ahead on horseback, leading his iron cavalry to break through the camp gates and storm into the camp.

The soldiers guarding the camp were thrown into chaos by the chaotic charge of the enemy troops and were completely unable to resist.

The Han cavalry charged through the camp, setting fires and quickly causing the morale of the disorganized troops to collapse.

Liu Bei led a large contingent of soldiers to the scene, surrounding the enemy from all sides. They advanced with great fanfare and momentum, making the enemy feel as if they were surrounded by thousands of troops, and they had no will to resist.

They abandoned their camps and fled, scattering like wolves and boars across the mountains and fields.

By late afternoon, the setting sun was like blood, illuminating the battlefield strewn with corpses and the still-burning embers of the rebel camp. All resistance from the Yellow Turban army was crushed, and the Han army killed or captured more than 3,000 people.

Liu Bei then ordered his soldiers to withdraw, extinguish the fires in the camp, treat the wounded, and set up camp.

Zhang Fei was ordered to lead three hundred elite cavalry to continue pursuing the fleeing Yellow Turban soldiers, chasing them for over thirty li until they reached the border of Guangyang County before withdrawing his troops.