Three Kingdoms: Domination of the World

Chapter 288: Surprise Attack on Donghai County

Han Xin personally led an army of 20. Wherever he passed, dust and smoke covered the sun, as if it wanted to swallow everything. Sun Quan was not willing to be outdone, and assembled an army of 10, watching covetously.

In contrast, Lü Bu had only 15 soldiers, greatly outnumbered and in a precarious situation. The soldiers and civilians in the city were shrouded in a gloomy haze and panic.

Once upon a time, Lü Bu, renowned for his prowess on the battlefield, seemed a completely different person. Over the years, he had become like a weary bird, having weathered many hardships, having put away his former fervent thirst for power and his former arrogance and pride.

In his mansion, he was accompanied by his lovely wife and concubines. Madam Yan was gentle and virtuous, and Diao Chan was stunningly beautiful. She even gave birth to his children, and he enjoyed the happiness of family life. His life was quite comfortable. However, with the relentless war and the enemy at hand, his leisure could not last long.

Upon learning of the enemy's full-scale counterattack, Lü Bu was extremely anxious. He hurried into the military tent, where the flickering candlelight illuminated the solemn faces of the soldiers.

Lu Bu walked straight towards Sun Bin, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and humbly asked for advice:

"Military Advisor Sun, the armies of Jiangdong and Cao's troops are approaching our border with great momentum. How should we defeat the enemy? I hope you can give us some advice." The voice was filled with anxiety and expectation, and his eyes were full of trust in the military advisor.

Chen Gong took a step forward, raised his head slightly, his eyes showing approval of Lü Bu, and said loudly:

"My lord, your performance on the battlefield these past few days has been unparalleled, you have slain numerous enemy generals in quick succession, and your awe-inspiring power is undeniable. Seeing your prowess, the enemy will surely be deterred from any rash action."

Sun Bin stared deeply at the mountains and rivers on the map, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. After a moment, he looked up at Chen Gong and said solemnly:

"Gongtai, I am truly worried about General Xiaofu. You must leave immediately and rush to Donghai Commandery to protect Cangshan alongside General Gao Shun. You must not allow any of them to fail."

Lu Bu frowned slightly, looking puzzled, and could not help but say:

"Military Advisor Sun, General Gao's garrison in Donghai County is incredibly strong! They have a full 10,000 newly-armed troops, well-equipped and with formidable firepower. They also have 20,000 troops in the Formation of the Encirclement, each one a match for ten. The remaining 30,000 are also elite cavalry, charging headfirst into battle and unstoppable. Aren't we being overly cautious with this arrangement?"

Sun Bin shook his head slightly, his expression solemn, and explained patiently:

"My lord, you must not be careless. Think about it, Han Xin is always cunning and unpredictable in his use of troops, and he never plays by the rules. Our seemingly safe base may actually be his most vulnerable point."

Lu Bu pondered for a moment, then, seeing Sun Bin's earnest words and resolute expression, he stopped questioning his advisor's decision. After all, Sun Bin had established a high reputation within the army over the years thanks to his exceptional strategic foresight, a prestige no less than his own.

Without further ado, Chen Gong packed his bags overnight and headed for Donghai County under the stars and the moon.

At Xia Pi, Cao's army camp. Inside the tent, lights were brightly lit, and all the generals had gathered.

Guo Jia was dressed in a black robe, with an upright figure and deep eyes. He stroked his beard, turned slightly to face Guan Yu, and said with a bow:

"Yun Chang, you've fought many battles over the years, achieving remarkable feats and possessing the demeanor of a great general. Now, I have a crucial mission. Are you up to the task?"

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a fierce glint flashing in them, like a cold star streaking across the night sky. He stroked his long beard, held his head high, and spoke in a voice like a bell:

"Military Advisor, I will definitely live up to your trust and accept your orders!"

"Military Advisor, you can't be so partial! I want to go with my second brother, too!" Zhang Fei's loud voice suddenly exploded in the tent, like the roar of thunder. His face was filled with displeasure, his eyes wide as bells. He took a step forward, clenched his fists, and shouted angrily.

Seeing this, Liu Bei quickly stood up and walked quickly to Zhang Fei. With an anxious look on his face, he raised his hand and patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder, saying:

"Yide, you must not be rude to the military advisor!"

Seeing this, Guo Jia smiled slightly. His laughter was so hearty that it seemed to dispel some of the tension in the tent. He looked at Zhang Fei with a hint of expectation in his eyes:

"Hahaha! Don't worry, Yide. This battle against the incredibly brave Lu Bu will depend on your strength."

Zhang Fei's face lit up with joy when he heard this, like a child who had received a favorite candy. He scratched his head and grinned:

"Excellent! I told you the military advisor wouldn't forget me. I'm confident in facing that three-surnamed slave!"

Back then, Zhang Fei's drinking habit led to mistakes, causing Xuzhou to fall into the hands of Lu Bu. This became a pain in his heart for many years.

Over the years, he followed his eldest brother Liu Bei to travel around, but he could never find a place to stay. Now the world has formed a three-way balance of power, but Liu Bei has never been able to seize the opportunity. In desperation, the four brothers of Taoyuan can only commit themselves to serving Cao's camp.

The four brothers were separated for many years and suffered a lot, especially the fourth brother Wei Qing, who was highly trusted by Cao Cao and had already started a family and settled down in a different place.

Seeing that his great cause had not been accomplished, Liu Bei often felt sad and cried. Zhang Fei saw all this and felt pain in his heart.

Now, the opportunity for revenge is right in front of him. He secretly swore in his heart that he would seek justice from Lu Bu and make him pay the price for his past actions.

On the battlefield of Xuzhou, the Cao army's tents shone brightly, ablaze with brilliance. Han Xin looked around, seeing the generals' high fighting spirit, like a raging fire, and felt a sense of satisfaction. With steady steps, he walked to the center of the table and began to plan the battle to encircle Xuzhou.

"General Xuande!" "You must immediately go to Guangling Commandery and invite General Sun Quan to join forces to attack Lü Bu. Be sure to speak earnestly, explain the pros and cons, and facilitate this alliance." Han Xin turned his gaze to Liu Bei, his expression stern and his tone firm.

Liu Bei clasped his hands together and bowed to receive the order:

"The last general takes orders."

"General Yunchang, speed is of the essence in war. You must follow the military advisor's arrangements, lead your own army, and act according to the plan without making any mistakes." Han Xin turned to look at Guan Yu, his eyes full of trust.

"I obey your command." Guan Yu responded with a fist salute.

The main battlefield of Xia Pi was thick with war clouds, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water could drip from it. Han Xin, Guo Jia, Zhang Fei, and others led a main force of 12 men, surrounding Xia Pi like an iron barrel, waiting for the order to launch a fatal attack.

Lu Bu also led 8 troops, ready for battle, with his silver armor shining. All his soldiers had firm expressions, and their eyes showed the determination to face death.

At the same time, Ying Bu led 7 elite troops and attacked Donghai County like a gust of wind and thunder.

To ensure victory, his army was equipped with Liu Ye's latest artillery. The black muzzle looked like the gaping mouth of a giant beast, ready to spew out fire at any moment.

For several days, the battle in Xuzhou was stalemated, like two battling tigers, neither willing to yield. Ying Bu and Gao Shun engaged in a fierce battle in Tan County, each going back and forth, with neither side able to resolve the conflict.

It was not until the troops led by Guan Yu secretly sneaked into Donghai County under the cover of night that the balance of the war seemed to be quietly pried open by an invisible hand and began to slowly tilt.

"General, we have crossed the Cangshan Mountain. If we go further, we can go straight into the heart of Gao Shun's tribe!" Deputy General Zhou Cang reported to Guan Yu in a low voice with an excited look on his face.

Guan Yu stared coldly at the unknown ahead shrouded in darkness, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice:

"Alright! Soldiers, eat and drink your fill first, and recharge your batteries. We'll march overnight and catch him unawares!"

The night sky was dark and the sky was still, except for the 10,000 elite soldiers led by Guan Yu, who moved through the darkness like ghosts. They quietly approached the rear of Gao Shun's army.

When the time was right, Guan Yu, with his sharp eyesight, saw that the opportunity for battle had arrived. He decisively gave the order for the entire army to attack.

In an instant, the shouts of Cao's army rose up, and flames shot up into the sky. These ten thousand elite soldiers were like tigers descending from the mountains, and quickly destroyed Gao Shun's food and grass camp.

Gao Shun was struck by lightning when he learned that the food and fodder had been destroyed. He knew that the army was in dire straits. Without food and fodder, it would soon be starving. At that time, it would be attacked from both sides by Cao's army, with disastrous consequences.

"General Gao, I'm late! The Cangshan defense line that the military advisor was worried about has been breached." Chen Gong was anxious and hurried over with a guilty look on his face.

"Gongtai, what should we do now?" Gao Shun said anxiously.

"The situation is now desperate. You should quickly take some elite troops and sail the ferry to Yizhou Island to ask General Tuoba Tao for help. There may still be a glimmer of hope." Chen Gong said decisively.

Gao Shunhu's eyes were filled with tears, his face was filled with grief and indignation, he gnashed his teeth and said:

"Gongtai, I am a sinner! How can I abandon my lord? I will bring my elite troops back to Xia Pi to support my lord!"

......

However, ideals are full of hope, but reality is very skinny. Ying Bu and Guan Yu attacked from both sides. Although Gao Shun's troops fought desperately, they were gradually defeated due to lack of food.

In desperation, part of Gao Shun's troops had to retreat to Yizhou Island on the ferry boats stored in the county, while the other part followed Gao Shun and retreated to Xia Pi City.

At this point, Han Xin's meticulously planned ambush had already taken shape. Looking out, the land of Xuzhou seemed like a giant net, tightly enveloping Lü Bu and his men.

Even if the Overlord were to be resurrected, what could he do in such a desperate situation? Even the sage of strategy, Sun Bin, with all his wits and ingenuity, was powerless to reverse the situation. It seemed that the entire territory of Xuzhou was already within the grasp of the Cao-Sun coalition forces, easily captured.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like