Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The next day, at dawn, the morning mist still lingering, the atmosphere on the Yingchuan battlefield, solemn and dignified, was evident. Liu Bei, clad in battle armor and with a resolute expression, stood on the stage with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wen Pin, and other generals. Behind them stood the well-organized troops, a solemn and hushed atmosphere.

Pang Tong, dressed in a blue robe and a turban, walked steadily up to the stage to review his generals. His eyes, sharp as a torch, scanned the crowd below. He gently stroked his beard with his hand and began to deploy his troops in a loud and resolute voice: "General Guan!" Guan Yu stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and announced: "I am here!" Pang Tong said solemnly: "General Guan is a master of martial arts, feared by all. I will lead a thousand sword and shield soldiers to launch a feint attack at the southwest corner of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation. Once the enemy's attention is drawn, charge with all your might, pretending to break the formation. But remember not to linger in the battle; the key is to draw out the enemy's main force." Guan Yu nodded slightly, his eyes revealing confidence and determination: "Understood!"

"General Zhang!" Pang Tong called out immediately. Zhang Fei's eyes widened as he shouted, "I'm here!" Pang Tong replied, "General Zhang is incredibly brave and unstoppable. I order you to lead two thousand spearmen and lie in wait in the southeastern corner of the formation. When General Guan's feint attack throws the enemy into disarray and the southeastern corner becomes weak, you will charge out like a tiger descending from the mountains, smashing straight into the heart of the enemy's defenses and breaking through the enemy lines." Zhang Fei rubbed his hands excitedly and grinned, "Haha, I'm just waiting for a good fight! Don't worry, I'll turn that broken formation upside down!"

"General Wen!" "I obey!" Wen Pin saluted. Pang Tong said, "General Wen is familiar with the terrain and has extensive combat experience. Take three thousand archers and set up an ambush on a high slope in the distance. When our army engages the enemy in a chaotic battle, use your powerful crossbows to suppress the enemy, covering our attack and preventing them from supporting the enemy's core." Wen Pin nodded in agreement, "I will definitely fulfill this mission!"

Finally, Pang Tong looked at Liu Bei and said, "My lord, you are the commander of the army, commanding the center and overseeing the overall situation. Once our forces launch their attacks and the enemy is thrown into disarray, you will command the remaining forces to break through the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation and capture Yingchuan City." Liu Bei's eyes were firm as he nodded and said, "I will follow Shi Yuan's plan. I wish our army victory in this battle!"

As Pang Tong finished deploying his troops, the various forces quickly took action. As the sky brightened, the mist gradually dissipated in the morning light, and the atmosphere on the battlefield grew increasingly tense, as if the air was ignited by the impending war.

Guan Yu led a thousand sword and shield soldiers, charging like a black torrent towards the southwest corner of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation. Their steps were in unison, their shields tightly linked, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight. Approaching the formation, Guan Yu shouted, "Men, follow me!" His voice resounded like a bell across the battlefield. The sword and shield soldiers roared in unison, charging into the center. Seeing this, Cao's soldiers were immediately alerted, and shouts of killing erupted from the southwest corner. The Cao soldiers defending the formation raised their spears and shields, resisting Guan Yu's attacks. Guan Yu wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, the blade flashing with a gleam of light, sending Cao's soldiers fleeing wherever he struck. For a moment, smoke and dust billowed from the southwest corner as both sides engaged in a fierce battle.

Cao Ren, from within the battle line, noticed the crisis in the southwest corner and hurriedly dispatched reinforcements. However, at that moment, Zhang Fei and two thousand spearmen charged out from the southeast, like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey. Their spears formed a forest, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Zhang Fei roared, "Zhang Yide of Yan is here! Your enemy army, die!" and charged headfirst into the enemy lines. Unexpectedly attacked from the southeast, Cao's army was thrown into disarray. Seizing the opportunity, the spearmen launched a fierce attack, instantly ripping a gaping hole through Cao's defenses. Zhang Fei charged left and right, unstoppable, and Cao's soldiers fell one after another.

At the same time, Wen Pin, from a distant high slope, shouted, "Shoot!" Three thousand archers unleashed a volley of arrows, pouring down like locusts on the Eight-Gate Golden Lock Formation. The Cao army was caught off guard by this sudden barrage, and many soldiers fell to the ground. For a moment, shouts and screams mingled within the formation.

Seeing the opportunity ripe, Liu Bei waved his banner and shouted, "All forces, attack! Break this formation!" Behind him, the army surged towards the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation like a tide. Although Cao Ren tried his best to command the resistance, it was too late. Under Liu's attack from all sides, the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation finally collapsed.

Seeing the Cao army's crushing defeat, their armor and armor abandoned, Cao Hong was filled with anxiety and anger, unable to sit still any longer. Despite his injuries, he drew his sword and charged the enemy, determined to fight Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others to the death. Cao Ren, quick-witted and quick-handed, embraced Cao Hong tightly and urged him loudly, "Zi Lian, don't be impulsive! Our army is now badly defeated and morale is low. Fighting again would be a waste of time! As long as we have the mountains, we will not be afraid of running out of firewood. Let's retreat to Xu Du first and make long-term plans!"

Cao Hong's eyes were red as he struggled mightily, roaring, "Brother, how can I bear to see my brothers suffer such a crushing defeat? I must avenge them!" Cao Ren hugged Cao Hong tightly and said firmly, "Zilian, revenge will come later. If we don't protect ourselves now, not only will we fail to avenge our lord, but we will also cause him to lose even more troops. He is still fighting hard in Dongjun. We must return to preserve our strength. Perhaps we can still lend him a helping hand!"

After hearing Cao Ren's words, Cao Hong froze, and the knife in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. He looked up to the sky and sighed, tears welling up in his eyes. Finally, under Cao Ren's earnest persuasion, Cao Hong reluctantly gave up the idea of ​​fighting to the death.

Suppressing their grief, the two led the remaining troops in a retreat towards Xudu. Zhang Fei would not let them go so easily, and he led his cavalry in pursuit for a while longer. The Cao army, already in disarray, suffered heavy casualties under Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei's fierce pursuit. Along the way, Cao soldiers continued to fall, their blood staining the ground red.

The pursuit continued into the evening, and when darkness obscured vision, Zhang Fei reined in his troops and withdrew. Cao Ren and his men, taking advantage of the darkness, fled in panic. They dared not rest for a moment, and only at daybreak did they venture into a secluded area to gather their remaining forces.

By this time, Cao's army had long lost its former glory. The soldiers were exhausted, wounded, and their eyes filled with fear and confusion. Cao Ren, observing this desolate scene, felt a wave of sadness. He forced himself to cheer up and shouted to his soldiers, "Brothers, don't lose heart! Although we have been defeated this time, as long as we are still here, we have a chance to regroup. Everyone, rest for a while. After we have regrouped, we will rush back to Xudu as soon as possible."

The soldiers responded weakly to Cao Ren's words. Cao Hong sat silently by, his heart filled with remorse and resentment. Cao Ren approached Cao Hong, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Zi Lian, don't be too sad. Victory and defeat are common in war. We must cheer up. When we return, we will apologize to our lord and find a way to salvage the situation."

Cao Hong looked up at Cao Ren and said, "Brother, I feel sorry for our fallen brothers, and even more sorry for the trust our lord placed in us." Cao Ren consoled him, "This isn't your fault. The battlefield situation is ever-changing. We must learn from this lesson and will never let our lord down again."

Cao Ren and Cao Hong gazed upon the dwindling number of troops before them, their hearts filled with sorrow and helplessness. They carefully counted the troops and came to a heartbreaking conclusion: the newly formed Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, once so highly anticipated, had once numbered 20,000 at its peak, but now it was reduced to less than 8,000. The remnants of the other armies were even more deplorable, totaling only 5,000.

Cao Ren's face was grim as he gazed upon the surviving soldiers. He understood that this defeat was undoubtedly a crushing blow to Cao Cao's forces. Cao Hong's face was filled with grief and indignation. He pounded his fist against the tree trunk beside him and said, gritting his teeth, "Brother, I will not be a human being until I have avenged this!" Cao Ren sighed and said, "Zilian, don't act rashly. The most urgent task is to bring these soldiers back to Xudu as soon as possible to prevent the enemy from pursuing their victory and posing a greater threat to Xuchang."

Without further delay, the two men hurriedly led the remaining 10,000-plus troops in a hasty march toward Xudu. Along the way, the soldiers wore dejected expressions, their steps heavy, as if shrouded in the shadow of defeat. Cao Ren and Cao Hong rode their horses, their hearts pounding with anxiety, not only for the enemy troops that might pursue them, but also for the safety of Xudu itself. Little did they know, within the seemingly peaceful Xudu, a far greater conspiracy awaited them.

Lü Bu was already extremely anxious, eager to storm Xu Du and seize the city for himself. In his eyes, Xu Du was like a ripe fruit, easily within his grasp. However, Wang Yun remained calm, knowing full well that this matter could not be rushed. He hurriedly dissuaded Lü Bu, saying, "Fengxian, Xu Du's current military deployment appears simple, and it is indeed not difficult to capture it. But have you ever considered that while it is easy to capture Xu Du, it is not so easy to hold it. Once Cao Cao and his subordinates learn of Xu Du's fall, they will undoubtedly rush to its rescue. Not to mention Cao Ren and Cao Hong in Yingchuan, as well as Yu Jin, Li Dian, and Cao Ang in Qiao County, they will surely return to rescue us. By then, we will be attacked from both sides and our situation will be very dangerous."

Lü Bu frowned upon hearing Wang Yun's words. Though he felt resentful, he had to admit that Wang Yun had a point. He paced back and forth in his tent, irritated, and asked, "What do you think, my father-in-law? Should we just stand by and watch Xu Du approach us without taking any action?"

Wang Yun smiled faintly and said confidently, "Fengxian, why don't we camp outside the city first, keep our troops in place, and wait and see what happens? Right now, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are fighting fiercely in Dongjun, and Cao Ren and his men are confronting Liu Bei in Yingchuan. Each side is depleting its strength. When one of them is defeated, we can wait and attack them unexpectedly. If we destroy one of their active forces first, not only will we reduce our resistance, but we will also strengthen our own strength. Wouldn't that be better?"

Lü Bu pondered for a moment and decided that Wang Yun's plan was indeed feasible. He paused and said respectfully, "Father-in-law, you've thought this through. Okay, I'll follow your advice and hold back for now."

From then on, Lü Bu dispatched numerous trusted confidants daily to gather intelligence from Xudu, Yingchuan, and Qiaojun. He closely monitored the progress of the war on all sides, never missing a single detail. Meanwhile, he repeatedly consulted with his generals in his tent, meticulously preparing his plans and waiting for the perfect moment to strike a fatal blow.