Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 57 The banner bearing the character "Chiang" flutters in the wind.
The north wind whipped up the raging fire, and flames licked at the charred gate. In this devastated camp, countless Cao soldiers were surrounded and slaughtered by Yuan's army due to the chaos and defeat.

Xiahou Dun managed to shake off Ji Ling's entanglement and barely gathered his last elite troops, hesitating about where to break through.

Then a shout rang out: "Brother Ziyi, don't panic! Lei Bu/Chen Lan, come to our aid!"

Then, from the northwest corner, the sound of horses' hooves thundered like thunder. Looking up, they saw two large banners breaking through the thick smoke, and horses galloping through a sea of ​​fire.

The left side is inscribed with "Lei" and the right side with "Chen". The two leading figures are in silver armor with red tassels. Who else could they be but Lei Bu and Chen Lan?

Following them were two burly, fierce generals carrying large swords, who were clearly the personal guards of Generals Lei and Chen.

Then, like a forest of black-armored soldiers, three thousand light cavalry charged in from the side!
"I am Lei Bu, who dares to stop me!"

"Chen Lan is here! Anyone who blocks my way shall die!"

What an unparalleled pair of fierce generals! Wherever Lei Bu and Chen Lan's troops went, they were unstoppable, and none dared to oppose them.

With their long spears sweeping across the battlefield, Lei Bu and Chen Lan led the charge, displaying unparalleled bravery.

From a distance, it was impossible to see clearly what kind of bloody battle was taking place. All that could be heard was the earth-shaking shouts. Under the unparalleled bravery of Lei and Chen, Yuan's army was torn apart like waves, and in an instant, a "bloody path" was ripped open.

As they charged closer, all they saw was the man behind Lei Bu, his long sword flashing in the firelight, cleaving open the dilapidated gate. Lei Bu then leaped onto his horse and entered the camp, shouting urgently.

"Brother Ziyi? Where is Brother Ziyi? We have come to keep our promise and offer our full assistance!"

The man behind Chen Lan was not to be outdone. He cleaved the barricade with a single stroke, and Chen Lan rode in, shouting.

"We saw that things were going badly and came to your rescue. Quickly, follow us to break through the encirclement! Brother Ziyi, do not hesitate!"

"You two generals truly trust people!"

Jiang Gan laughed loudly, looking at the surrounding Cao army, "Now that reinforcements have arrived, I will lead you to escape from the encirclement!"

Do you, my buddies, still doubt me?

The Cao army soldiers hurriedly apologized, and Jiang Gan, freed from his restraints, immediately snatched the large flag from the boy's hand.

He personally raised the flag and waved it vigorously.

"Generals! Jiang Gan is here!"

At the same time, he ordered someone to urgently inform Xiahou Dun, saying:
"Follow my banner, I, Jiang Ziyi, will lead the troops to break through the encirclement!"

Even in this perilous time, Cao Cao's camp still had its flags flying high, with the banner bearing the character "Jiang" waving in the wind!
Meanwhile, Xiahou Dun was leading his troops in a desperate attempt to resist Yuan's offensive and break through the encirclement.

Originally, seeing Lei Bu and Chen Lanru easily "cut through" Yuan's army, and with the precedents of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, he still had doubts in his heart.

However, at this moment, looking at the collapsed gate and the shattered barricades, Xiahou Dun's pupils shrank, and he looked surprised.

With such unparalleled generals by his side, it's no wonder that no one in Yuan's army dared to stand in his way. Lei Bu and Chen Lan truly have unique skills in leading troops.

At this moment, he received a message from Jiang Gan, instructing him to follow the banner and join Lei and Chen. In this critical situation, he had no time to think.

Considering that Jiang Gan had mentioned evidence of Lei Bu, Chen Lan's resale of military equipment and provisions, his assistance to Liu Xun in establishing himself, and his complete lack of loyalty to Yuan Shu, all of which had been verified by Xi Zhicai, Xi Zhicai concluded that these matters were indeed true.

Now that Yuan Shu has taken away their military power, if they don't take this opportunity while their three thousand loyal soldiers are still willing to follow them, they should betray Yuan and join Cao Cao.

If they're determined to stay in Yuan's camp, what future do they have?
Xiahou Dun couldn't believe that if Lei Bu and Chen Lan, these two traitors, didn't rebel now, when would they?

Thoughts raced through his mind, and the heavy look in Xi Zhicai's eyes before his departure seemed to weigh on his shoulders once more.

[Yuan Rang, the fate of our lord rests on the success or failure of this battle.]

If they were to force their way out on their own, how many of these elite troops would be left? And even if they succeeded in breaking through, how would they defend Yangdi?

If Yangdi falls, and Xu County only has 5,000 defenders, it will be difficult to hold for long. If both places are lost, the gateway to Yan Province will be wide open. At that time, not to mention Yu Province, Yuan Shu's 100,000-strong army will be able to sweep into Yan Province, and our lord's great cause will be destroyed in an instant.

Xiahou Dun's single eye was wide open. He knew he had no choice but to bring this last batch of elite troops back; he could not allow them to be wiped out here.

The only opportunity right now is with "Lei Bu" and "Chen Lan".

Even with the cautionary tales of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, when faced with a dead end and the prospect of falling off a cliff, one must desperately grasp at even the smallest straw.

Perhaps from the moment he led his troops into Yuan's camp, he had no other choice.

Xiahou Dun had made up his mind, and then ordered someone to summon Yue Jin and whispered an instruction to him:
"I will risk my life to break through the encirclement with Jiang Ziyi. Wenqian can take this opportunity to lead 800 veterans from Qiao County in the opposite direction to find their own way to survive, in case of unforeseen circumstances."

If Yangdi is lost, then Xuxian must not be lost. The strategist is in poor health, and Yuan's army often attacks the city all night long, with malicious intent.

"Neither of us can perish here. One of us must take his place and defend the city. Remember this!"

"Yuan Rang!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Jin knew that the man was already determined to die, and hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.

"If that's the case, it would be better if I led the army to break through the encirclement, while the general led the veteran soldiers of Qiao County."

"It is still unknown whether we will live or die. In the midst of the chaos of war, how can you be so modest and delay?"

"Le Wenqian, immediately obey the military order; disobeying will result in execution!"

Having said that, he gave him no further chance to speak. Xiahou Dun suppressed the heaviness in his heart, his face beaming with joy, and shouted to the generals.

"Reinforcements have arrived. Follow me and fight to the death to join forces with Lei Bu and Chen Lan's troops and break out of Yuan's camp."

He raised his gun, spurred his horse, laughed loudly, and took the lead in following the banner with the character "Chiang" fluttering in the wind!

At this moment, all Yue Jin could do was pray: Mr. Ziyi, please be reliable this once.

While Yuan's army was distracted by Xiahou Dun's breakout, he secretly dispatched 800 elite veterans from Qiao County, who were hidden among the fleeing soldiers of the prefecture and county, and broke out in the opposite direction.

"Brother Ziyi, I'm here to help you!"

"Brothers in Cao's camp, break through the encirclement quickly! We will fight our way out for you."

Lei Bu and Chen Lan continued chanting slogans, but as the "Chiang" banner drew ever closer, they felt utterly helpless.

Brother Ziyi, it's not that we don't want to help you, it's just that we can't.

Similar to Zhou Yu, the three thousand cavalrymen they led actually did not obey their orders at all.

This cavalry force, ostensibly bearing the banners with the characters "Lei" and "Chen," was actually Yuan Shu's personal guard.

Commander Xu Chu and Deputy Commander Zhou Tai stood guard on either side of them, protecting them closely.

The gleaming blade that sent the camp flying and cleaved the barricades in two was clearly a warning to them:
Do not move, or you will die!

Not a son of man!

Who puts a knife to someone's throat and forces them to rebel?
Lei Bu and Chen Lan were on the verge of tears. Who had slandered them, causing their lord to have a prejudice against such "loyal" men, and to think that they were just playing themselves and could portray the image of "traitors" well?

I, Lei Bu/Chen Lan, am clearly a loyal subject of Yuan Shikai!

To restore our reputation as loyal and virtuous brothers, Ziyi, today we will use your 30,000 Cao soldiers and your tremendous achievements to honor our reputation as unparalleled generals!
"Lei Bu/Chen Lan is here!"

"Friendly forces, no doubt!"

(End of this chapter)