Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

However, the military situation was urgent, forcing no delay, and time was running out like the sands of an hourglass. After a night's rest, Cao Cao's headache hadn't eased; instead, it persisted, and every heartbeat felt like a sharp pain. But Cao Cao knew this was no time to show weakness. He braced himself, his face pale but his eyes steadfast. He gathered in his tent with Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Xun You, and Cheng Yu to discuss a crucial strategic decision: should they focus their efforts on repelling Yuan Shao's pursuit or concentrate their forces on retaking Xu Du?

Cheng Yu was the first to break the silence. He had pondered this matter deeply the previous night, and now he spoke earnestly, "My lord, Xudu is the foundation of our army, our highest priority. Now that the enemy has inexplicably gained control, their base must be unstable. Now is the perfect time to recapture it. If we seize this opportunity while they are still struggling, we can attack and hopefully capture it. If we miss this opportunity, once the enemy has established a foothold in Xudu, recapture will be extremely difficult."

Xun You nodded immediately and added, "My lord, if Cao Ren and Cao Hong hear the news of Xu Du's fall, given their loyalty to you and their understanding of the situation, they will surely rush to your aid immediately. And if Cao Ang, Yu Jin, and other generals in Qiao Commandery learn of Xu Du's fall, they will surely rush to your aid without hesitation. With this three-pronged attack, retaking Xu Du shouldn't be a problem. This is a golden opportunity with all the right timing, location, and people. My lord, don't miss it."

Guo Jia stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said, "While what you two say makes sense, Yuan Shao's army is nearby and remains a serious concern. If we rashly split our forces to seize Xu Du, Yuan Shao will seize the opportunity to launch an all-out attack, and our army will be caught in a dilemma of being attacked from both sides. Furthermore, the situation in Xu Du is unclear right now, and the enemy's troop deployment and defenses are unknown. Even if we launch a three-pronged attack, we cannot guarantee victory. We must proceed with caution and weigh the pros and cons."

Xun Yu frowned slightly, then pondered for a moment before saying, "What Fengxiao said is true. However, the loss of Xudu has had a significant impact on our army's morale and foundation. If we don't recapture it quickly, our soldiers will inevitably panic, and subsequent operations will be affected. Perhaps we can split our forces into two groups. One group can pretend to resist Yuan Shao, while actually using a small group of elite troops to tie him down and wear him down. The other group can quickly return and fully concentrate on retaking Xudu. This way, we might be able to achieve both goals and resolve the current crisis."

Cao Cao listened quietly to everyone's analysis. His headache made his mind a little confused, but he knew that this was a critical decision that concerned life and death. He closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and tried to clear his mind.

Everyone was absorbed in discussing countermeasures when they heard a commotion from behind. The pursuers, led by Yan Liang and Wen Chou, were once again approaching like ghosts. Fortunately, Cai Yang had brought reinforcements the previous night, so Cao's army didn't have to flee any further and quickly organized a defense.

Cai Yang, always proud of his martial arts prowess, saw this and immediately deployed his troops, ready to fight Yan Liang and Wen Chou to the death. Seeing that Cao's army dared to line up to meet the enemy, Wen Chou felt contempt and urged his horse forward, shouting, "Who among Cao's army will fight me?"

Cai Yang's nephew Qin Qi was young and hot-headed. When he heard Wen Chou's challenge, he jumped on his horse and rushed out with his spear without thinking, shouting, "Don't be so arrogant, I'm here to take your life!" However, Qin Qi was young after all and lacked combat experience. After fighting with Wen Chou for only a few rounds, he was seriously wounded by Wen Chou's spear. His body swayed and he almost fell off his horse.

Seeing his nephew unable to defeat him, Cai Yang was extremely anxious and rushed to rescue him, brandishing his sword. However, Yan Liang sat quietly in the rear, looking calm and making no attempt to help, as if confident that Wen Chou could handle it.

Seeing Cai Yang coming to his rescue, Wen Chou sneered and abandoned his attack on Qin Qi. Turning his horse, he thrust his spear towards Cai Yang, shouting, "Old wretch, since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish!" Cai Yang, a veteran with years of experience, faced Wen Chou's provocation with unflinching fear, wielding his sword to meet him. The two men instantly engaged, their swords flashing and spears darting back and forth for a dozen or so rounds, each clashing fiercely, with neither side able to determine the winner. The cries of death and the clashing of weapons resounded across the battlefield, as soldiers on both sides watched intently at the ferocious clash, the atmosphere tense to the hilt.

Cao Cao, in the rear, heard the sudden shouts of killing from the front. His heart raced, and he looked up. He saw billowing dust and the deafening roar of battle ahead, knowing that another battle had begun. He ignored his splitting headache and, despite a near-collapse, hurried to the front. Cao Cao's face was pale as paper, and beads of sweat streamed down his forehead, but his eyes still shone with determination and resolve.

He glanced anxiously toward the battlefield, immediately spotting Cai Yang locked in a fierce battle with Wen Chou. Though Cai Yang fought back fiercely, Wen Chou's attack was fierce, and Cai Yang was beginning to lose. Cao Cao could no longer contain his anger, and he urgently called to Xu Chu, who stood like a towering iron tower beside him, "Hurry, hurry! Rescue General Cai Yang! If this continues, his life will be in danger!"

Xu Chu received the order, his eyes wide open, and a roar resounded like thunder in everyone's ears. He clamped his legs against the horse's belly, and the warhorse neighed like an arrow from a bow, charging towards Wen Chou. He was broad-shouldered and thick-chested, his body bulging with muscle. The broadsword in his hand gleamed a cold, chilling light in the sunlight. His aura was unstoppable, like a god of war descending to earth, shaking the very air around him.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Chu reached Wen Chou, wielding his sword without a word. Wen Chou was already locked in a fierce battle with Cai Yang, and now with Xu Chu's presence, the pressure mounted. But he was no ordinary warrior. He instantly gathered his courage, his spear wielding like a dragon, and engaged Xu Chu and Cai Yang in a desperate struggle. For a moment, swords flashed, spears danced, dust rose around the three men, and the clatter of horses' hooves and the clashing of weapons echoed through the air.

However, Cai Yang, concerned about his nephew Qin Qi's injuries, frequently glanced at him, hindering his coordination with Xu Chu. Yan Liang, observing from the battlefield, discerned Xu Chu's extraordinary abilities through his years of military experience. Xu Chu's strikes were fierce, each strike carrying a tremendous force, a force unmatched by any ordinary general. Yan Liang, deeply alarmed, could no longer remain still. He roared, "How dare this traitorous general use his numbers to bully a minority? Do you really think we have no one in Hebei?" His roar was like a thunderclap, its ears ringing with the surrounding soldiers.

With that, Yan Liang clamped his legs against his horse's belly. The warhorse neighed and raised its front hooves, charging towards Xu Chu like a bolt of black lightning. He raised his broadsword high in his hand, and with a flash of cold light, it ignited a sharp gust of wind, as if cleaving the enemy in two. On the battlefield, Yan Liang's figure was like a tiger descending from the mountains, unstoppable, raising a cloud of dust in his wake. Soldiers on both sides were stunned by the breathtaking scene, their eyes fixed on the four men's fight, their hearts in their throats, as if they would burst out at any moment. The atmosphere on the battlefield was extremely tense, as if the very air was ignited by the fierce fighting.

However, Yan Liang, already slightly above Wen Chou, charged in, his presence instantly changing the tide of battle. Yan Liang's fierce attack was so powerful that even Xu Chu felt overshadowed, and he gradually became exhausted from resisting.

Cao Cao watched from within the ranks, his heart aching. He saw Xiahou Dun's eyes blazing with rage, eager to charge forward and aid. But how could Cao Cao bear to do that? Xiahou Dun had just lost his brother, Xiahou Yuan, and was heartbroken. He had fought to near exhaustion the previous day, and Cao Cao simply couldn't bear to let him take another risk, something that could cost him his life.

At this moment, Wei Yan, a guest soldier standing nearby, was thoroughly aroused by the fierce battle before him. He strode quickly to Cao Cao, clasped his hands in a bow, and declared in a resounding voice, "Lord Cao, let me go forth and fight Yan Liang!" Cao Cao looked at Wei Yan, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes, and hurriedly said, "General Wei, be careful!" Wei Yan's expression remained resolute, and he declared, "Be careful, Lord Cao!" With a loud shout, he gave his horse a powerful kick, and the steed neighed and charged at Yan Liang like a rocket. Wei Yan's broadsword swung, stirring the wind with a whistling sound.

It turned out that Wei Yan and Yan Liang had clashed before, during the Battle of Chang'an. At that moment, Wei Yan galloped away, shouting, "Yan Liang, you bastard, stop being so arrogant! Wei Yan is here!" Yan Liang hadn't forgotten the humiliation of being captured in Chang'an. Seeing that it was none other than Wei Yan, Yan Liang's eyes blazed with envy. Wei Yan had been no match for him on the battlefield, but Li Ru's machinations had left him vulnerable. Although Yuan Shao hadn't criticized him too much and offered him comfort, Yan Liang's pride as a warrior wouldn't let him down. Without hesitation, he abandoned his fight with Xu Chu and turned to confront Wei Yan.

As Wei Yan and Yan Liang clashed, the flash of their swords shone like two bolts of lightning colliding on the battlefield. Wei Yan's sword danced with impenetrable force, each blow carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks. He slashed down at Yan Liang with such force that the wind from his sword seemed to rend the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Yan Liang was no less impressive, his broadsword wielding with equal grace, its blade gleaming with a chilling cold gleam. Facing Wei Yan's fierce attack, Yan Liang responded calmly, meeting it with a powerful, open and close attack. With a resounding clang, he swung his broadsword across the air, precisely blocking Wei Yan's fierce blow. Sparks gleamed in the sunlight. Then, Yan Liang drew his sword, swung, and like a dragon emerging from the sea, he struck Wei Yan across the waist with a swiftness so intense it was impossible to follow.

Seeing this, Wei Yan quickly leaned back, almost touching his horse's back. The broadsword slashed past his clothes, sending a gust of wind through him. Before Yan Liang could retract his sword, Wei Yan abruptly straightened up, his broadsword raised high, and slashed down at Yan Liang from above like a mountain falling down. Yan Liang took his time, squeezing his feet against the horse's belly. The warhorse neighed and leaped forward, avoiding the fatal blow. At the same time, he stabbed Wei Yan's throat with his backhand. Wei Yan quickly held his sword horizontally to block the blow. The two swords collided with a dull thud, and the shock numbed their arms.

The two men engaged each other, their figures flashing like lightning, like two gusts of wind swirling and tangling across the battlefield. Wei Yan, with his nimble agility and fierce swordsmanship, unleashed a relentless onslaught of attacks, while Yan Liang, relying on his exquisite swordsmanship and composed defense, countered each attack, occasionally seizing an opening to launch a swift counterattack. The two fought with equal strength, and for a moment, it was difficult to determine who was superior. The surrounding soldiers watched with fascination, exclaiming in amazement at the spectacular exchanges.