Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lu Bu frowned, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the fact that more than half of his personal guards had been killed. His mind was also preoccupied with the family Chen Gong was escorting, and he had no will to fight. He feinted with his halberd, forcing Zhang Fei back. Seeing that Lu Bu was about to leave, Zhang Fei thrust his spear forward again.

"Trying to keep me here? You're still too green!" Lü Bu roared, sweeping his halberd across, forcing Zhang Fei to hastily retreat to defend. Taking advantage of this opening, Zhang Fei turned his horse around and shouted to the remaining guards, "Retreat! Head northwest!"

The guards, already exhausted from the fighting, were overjoyed at the news and followed closely behind Lü Bu, spurring their horses northwestward. The terrain there gradually rose, and the shadows of mountains and forests could be vaguely seen.

"Where do you think you're going!" Zhang Fei roared, his eyes wide with rage, and gave chase, spear in hand.

Suddenly, urgent shouts came from behind: "Yide! Yide! Wait!"

Zhang Fei suddenly turned his head and saw Zhao Yun, Wen Pin, Huang Zhong, and others leading a large army to catch up, their banners fluttering in the wind. It turned out that the others were worried that he might be caught up too quickly, so they followed closely behind.

"Zilong, you've come at the right time!" Zhang Fei perked up again when he saw the main force catching up. "That scoundrel Lü Bu can't have gone far. Let's catch up and capture him!"

Zhao Yun reined in his horse, and his mount, the Jade Lion, snorted. He frowned and looked at Zhang Fei, who was about to urge his horse on: "Yide, calm down! Our lord ordered us to pursue the Emperor's carriage. According to the direction of Juyi's vanguard camp, they should have gone north to Hebei. Why are you leading your men to pursue them to the northwest?"

He pointed his whip northwest, his tone steady: "That's the territory of Hulao Pass, getting further and further away from Yuan Shao's sphere of influence. It's definitely not a road the emperor's carriage should take."

Zhang Fei was taken aback by the question, then retorted defiantly, "I was just fighting that bastard Lü Bu! He couldn't win, so he ran away, fleeing all the way northwest. Of course I had to chase after him!" He patted his spear, his face full of indignation, "Should I just leave that scoundrel alone?"

Zhao Yun reined in his horse in thought, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the shaft of his spear. Daylight had broken through the trees, illuminating the tracks on the ground. On the official road to the north, cart tracks and hoofprints were haphazardly intertwined, clearly indicating the passage of people and horses; the same was true on the fork in the road to the northwest, where hoofprints and cart tracks were also evident.

"Could it be that Lü Bu has parted ways with the Emperor?" he muttered to himself, then realized something was amiss. "But Ju Yi was escorting the Emperor; he should have been heading north to join Yuan Shao. Why would he suddenly change course?"

Suddenly, a look of realization flashed in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Fei: "Yide, you just said that Lü Bu fled to the northwest... Could it be that they're just creating a diversion?"

"A deliberate feint?" Zhang Fei was taken aback.

“Exactly.” Zhao Yun nodded. “They anticipated that we would follow the usual path and pursue them northward, so they deliberately left a large trail in the north, while actually circling around to the northwest.”

"That's it!" Zhang Fei slapped his thigh, almost dropping his spear. "That must be it! Zilong, quick! Follow me! We must catch him this time!"

“Even so, we must be cautious.” Zhao Yun pressed down on his shoulder and said in a deep voice, “General Hansheng,” he turned to Huang Zhong, “I trouble you to lead your troops north. Whether it is a feint or not, you must find out the truth. If there really is the emperor’s carriage, you must keep a close watch on it.”

Huang Zhong bowed and accepted the order: "Zilong, rest assured, I understand."

“General Wenping,” Zhao Yun said, looking at Wenping, “you, along with me and Yide, will lead a light cavalry unit to pursue them to the northwest.”

Wen Ping responded, "As you command."

Zhang Fei, unable to contain himself any longer, spurred his horse to leave: "Stop dawdling! If we're any later, Lü Bu will be far ahead!"

Zhao Yun and Wen Ping exchanged a glance and quickly followed. The three rode side by side, leading several hundred light cavalry, galloping along the northwest fork in the road. Their hooves pounded the dewy grass, startling a flock of morning birds.

As Huang Zhong watched their departing figures, he turned his horse around and said to his troops, "Brothers, follow me north! Search carefully and don't miss any trace!"

The large contingent marched in a mighty procession toward the official road to the north.

Having shaken off Zhang Fei's entanglement, Lü Bu was burning with impatience and spurred his horse to gallop. The wind whistled in his ears, and his mind was filled with images of Diao Chan and his daughter. Only when he saw the slowly moving carriage ahead did he rein in his horse, his chest heaving violently.

But when he got closer, he was stunned—beside the carriage that Chen Gong was protecting, there were also the entourages of Yang Biao and Zhong Yao's families. Several people were standing by the roadside talking in hushed tones. When they saw him coming, they were all taken aback.

"Husband!" Diao Chan, holding Lü Lingqi, leaned out of the carriage, her eyes red and tears welling in her eyes. She quickly approached him, her fingertips gently tracing the bloodstains on his armor. "Are you alright?"

Lu Bu grasped her hand, shook his head, and turned his gaze to Yang Biao and Zhong Yao, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

Yang Biao looked at him and said with a wry smile, "Lord Wen, you have really put us two in a terrible predicament." He sighed, "Yuan Chang and I, with our families, originally intended to go to Xiliang peacefully, but we ran into you. Now, Liu Bei's pursuers are probably all coming for us."

Zhong Yao also frowned: "We parted ways with Wang Yun and the others long ago, intending to quietly go west, but who would have thought..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the helplessness in his eyes was obvious.

Lu Bu scratched his head, his face flushed. He was straightforward and didn't understand those complicated things. Only after hearing Yang Biao's words did he realize that his escape had led the pursuers to these two families.

"It was my oversight." He softened his tone, which was rare for him. "But now is not the time to talk about this. Although I have driven Zhang Fei back, Liu Bei's troops are still behind us. We must leave quickly."

“That’s right.” Zhong Yao nodded quickly. “We’re still a hundred miles from here to Hulao Pass. If we quicken our pace, we might be able to catch up with the pursuers.” He paused and then added, “We sent our servants to Hulao Pass earlier to ask for help and inform them of our situation. If the garrison commander Zhang Liao gives us some face, he should have already set off to meet us.”

Chen Gong also said, "Hulao Pass is a strategically important location. If we can get there, we can temporarily avoid the enemy's advance."

Lu Bu said no more, dismounted, helped Diao Chan onto his own horse, and then took Lu Lingqi into his arms. He said to the others, "The carriage is too slow. Let the women ride on horseback and travel light!"

Yang Biao and Zhong Yao exchanged a glance, then without further hesitation, ordered their families to transfer to fast horses, while the remaining servants drove the carriages closely behind. The group continued on their way, galloping northwest, the sound of hooves echoing across the open fields, resembling a string of stars blown by the wind from afar.

The group sped across the open field, the wind whistling through their ears. Chen Gong leaned close to Lü Bu and whispered, "Lord Wen, the pursuers are closing in, and we're cornered. We've heard that the garrison commander of Hulao Pass is Zhang Liao. He spared our lives out of old friendship; his loyalty is extraordinary. Let's go to Hulao Pass and beg him for temporary refuge. Even if we don't go to Xiliang, at least we'll have a place to stay. If Liu Bei's pursuers catch up with us, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lu Bu tightened his grip on the reins, his halberd swaying slightly in front of the saddle. "What's there to be afraid of? At worst, I, Lu Bu, will spill my blood on this wilderness!" Though his words were firm, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. "Wen Yuan released us without permission earlier, which violated military discipline and has already incurred countless punishments. If I were to beg him again now, wouldn't that only make things more difficult for him?"

"My lord!" Chen Gong's voice trembled with anxiety. "If you don't think of yourself, you should at least think of your wife and young lady!" His gaze swept over Diao Chan, who was holding Lü Lingqi on horseback. "The young lady is still young and is your only child; your wife is young and beautiful. If she falls into the hands of the pursuers..."

These words struck Lü Bu like a hammer blow. He looked down at his daughter in his arms. Lingqi had woken up sometime earlier and was staring at him with her big, dark eyes, her little hands clutching his clothes tightly. Diaochan beside him was pale, but she tried to remain calm, though her fingertips were icy cold.

Yes, if his wife and daughters were to be lost, he would not be able to die in peace.

Lü Bu abruptly reined in his horse, his chest heaving violently. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll head to Hulao Pass! Once there, I'll entrust my wife and daughter to Wen Yuan. Even if I, Lü Bu, die in battle, with Wen Yuan taking care of them, I'll have a proper entrustment. Wen Yuan, remembering our past friendship, will certainly not let them be in danger. At that time, I will fight to the death at the pass and end my life!"

Seeing that he had relented, Chen Gong felt a great weight lifted from his heart and hurriedly said, "It's good that Marquis Wen has come to his senses. Let's hurry on our way and try to enter the pass before the pursuers catch up!"

Diao Chan heard everything clearly and her eyes welled up with tears, but she only said softly, "Husband, don't say discouraging things. We will definitely get through this."

Lü Bu didn't turn back, but simply gave a heavy "hmm," turned his horse around, and lashed it sharply towards Hulao Pass. The warhorse, in pain, let out a long neigh and galloped away carrying the three men. Yang Biao and Zhong Yao, seeing this, quickly spurred their horses to follow.

The wind across the wilderness remained biting, yet it seemed to carry a glimmer of hope. The outline of Hulao Pass grew clearer on the horizon; that imposing pass, straddling the Central Plains and Xiliang, had now become their only safe haven. Lü Bu tightened his embrace around his daughter, then glanced at his wife beside him, his mind filled with only one thought: even if it cost him his life, he would get them to safety.

Behind them, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei's pursuers drew ever closer, the sound of their horses' hooves pounding like drums in everyone's hearts. This escape was far from over.

"Look! The silhouette of Hulao Pass is just ahead!" Chen Gong reined in his horse, his voice trembling with relief after surviving the ordeal. The group looked up; the majestic pass was now clearly visible in the distance, its greyish-black walls resembling a lurking beast in the twilight. They estimated the journey to be about fifty li, but behind them, the wind carried the deafening roar of approaching forces—

"You thieving Lu Bu! Quickly turn your horse around and fight us! What kind of hero would you be if you fled in the face of battle!"

Zhang Fei's roar, like thunder, rolled across the wilderness, sending chills down everyone's spines. Yang Biao and the others turned pale, and suddenly whipped their horses. The mounts, in pain, bolted forward like madmen.

Lu Bu suddenly pulled on the reins, causing his warhorse to rear up, its front hooves pawing the air and neighing restlessly. He dismounted with lightning speed, turning around to embrace Diao Chan and his daughter tightly in his arms.

"Diao Chan." His voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded. His palms pressed against the trembling backs of his wife and daughter, the force so great that it almost seemed to knead them into his bones. "Listen, you will go with Gongtai, straight to Hulao Pass."

Diao Chan's face was already covered in tears, and her nails dug deep into his shoulder armor: "No! Husband, we'll go together! We'll die together!" The daughter in her arms was so frightened that she cried loudly, her little hands tightly gripping Lu Bu's clothes.

"Foolish!" Lü Bu pried her hands away, his eyes filled with an unprecedented ferocity, yet when he touched her tearful eyes, they quickly reddened with a burning rage. "If I stay behind to hold them off, you'll have a chance to survive. If you run together, you'll be torn to pieces before you even reach the pass!" He looked at Chen Gong beside him, pushing his wife and daughter into his arms with both hands. "Gongtai, I beg you... I beg Wen Yuan to remember our past relationship and protect them, mother and daughter."

Chen Gong took Diao Chan from him, noticing she trembled like a leaf in the wind. "Fengxian!" he cried, his throat tightening. "You..."

"Go!" Lü Bu whirled around, grabbed his halberd from the ground, and the halberd scraped against the ground with a piercing sound. He mounted his horse, took one last look at his wife and daughter who were weeping uncontrollably, and his voice cracked into pieces: "Tell Lingqi that her father is not a deserter!"

Before the words were even finished, Red Hare had already charged out like a streak of crimson lightning, heading straight for the billowing dust behind it. Diao Chan struggled desperately in Chen Gong's arms, crying out his name, but the carriage had already been spurred on at breakneck speed, leaving that lone, courageous figure and the deafening sounds of battle far behind.