Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The banquet ended, and the noise gradually died down. Sun Jian looked at Sun Ce and the others with a serious expression, and solemnly ordered, "Ce'er, you must return quickly to prepare the troops and horses for the upcoming battle." Sun Ce and the others bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left.

Sun Jian and Cheng Pu marched with resolute steps toward Yuan Shu's camp. Along the way, Sun Jian's expression was serious, as he pondered various possibilities regarding his request for food. Cheng Pu followed closely behind, remaining silent.

Soon, they arrived at Yuan Shu's camp. The guard at the gate, noticing Sun Jian's arrival, hurried inside to report. Yuan Shu was secretly pleased to hear that Sun Jian had come to ask for rations.

Sun Jian strode into Yuan Shu's tent, clasped his fists, and bowed, saying, "Lord Yuan, I have come to request military provisions for our war preparations."

Yuan Shu hurriedly stood up to greet him, put on a hypocritical smile on his face, and said enthusiastically: "Wentai, there is no need for further words between you and me. We should fully support the matter of military rations." However, despite saying this, he was reluctant to mention the matter of military rations delivery.

Sun Jian was slightly puzzled, but he waited patiently. Seeing this, Yuan Shu began to speak in a torrent of flattering words: "Wentai's bravery is known to all. This expedition will surely bring great victory." Regarding military rations, however, he only vaguely stated that they were currently in short supply and that Sun Jian would be given priority, but that scheduling would take time.

Sun Jian frowned and said, "Mr. Yuan, we are about to go on an expedition. I hope the military rations can arrive as soon as possible." Yuan Shu then reluctantly said that he could only give Sun Jian three days' worth of military rations at present, and the rest of the military rations would be distributed in batches when someone came to supply them later.

Sun Jian, preoccupied with the expedition, agreed without further doubt. He left veteran General Cheng Pu behind to transport the rations while he himself led a large group of troops to Xingyang's Xuanmen Pass. Cheng Pu watched Sun Jian's back with a wave of worry, but he could only sigh helplessly and set about preparing for the rations delivery.

Sun Jian led his troops, high-spirited, on their march to Xingyang. He rode atop a mighty warhorse, his armor gleaming in the sun, his eyes filled with determination and pride. Behind him, the soldiers marched in unison, their morale high, their flags fluttering in the wind, a testament to their resolve and courage.

Meanwhile, the allied forces of the other warlords also began their mighty march towards Hulao Pass. Each warlord led their own troops, their banners draping the sky, their cries of battle resounding through the heavens. They advanced along the broad road, the clatter of their horses' hooves resounding through the air, like a surging torrent, heading straight for Hulao Pass. The entire earth seemed to tremble at the sound of their footsteps, and the atmosphere of war permeated every corner. In this moment of turmoil, a decisive battle for the fate of the world was about to begin.

At Hulao Pass, the allied forces gazed at the newly erected camp ahead, all with solemn expressions. The camp and Hulao Pass complemented each other, forming a mutually supportive force, which indeed instilled a sense of apprehension in the ranks.

Cao Cao stroked his chin, thought for a moment and then said: "Everyone, in the current situation, we must first capture this camp like a horn, and then we can march into Hulao." After hearing this, everyone nodded slightly and agreed with him.

At this time, Zhang Yang, the governor of Henei, stood up and agreed, "General Cao is right. If we don't take down the Bingzhou army's camp first, when we attack Hulao Pass, if Lu Bu attacks from the side, our coalition forces will suffer heavy losses and will be difficult to resist!" Other generals also expressed their opinions. Some advocated a strong attack, while others believed that they needed to act cautiously and look for loopholes.

For a moment, everyone was talking about it, but everyone knew in their hearts that this camp had become a hard nut to crack on their way forward, and how to conquer it had become a difficult problem before them.

When Lu Bu learned of the arrival of the coalition forces, he solemnly summoned Zhang Liao and Gao Shun to discuss how to break the deadlock.

Inside the tent, Lu Bu looked at the two men with sharp eyes and said in a deep voice: "Now the coalition forces are coming with great momentum, we need to find a way to deal with it." Zhang Liao frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said: "Marquis Wen, the current situation is indeed tricky." Gao Shun waited for Lu Bu's next words with a serious face.

Lü Bu's eyes flashed with sternness as he declared, "First, I intend to personally lead the charge and dampen the allied forces' spirit, demonstrating my formidable strength!" Zhang Liao and Gao Shun both nodded in agreement. Lü Bu then turned to Gao Shun and solemnly declared, "Gao Shun, I command you to report the current situation to Prime Minister Dong in Luoyang, especially regarding the actions of Li Jue and Guo Si. You must inform Prime Minister Dong truthfully, or else the two sides will be at odds and our plans will be difficult to achieve." Gao Shun bowed and replied, "As you command!"

With the plan finalized, Gao Shun set to work. He returned to the Xianzhen Camp and selected several of his most astute and loyal soldiers. Under cover of night, Gao Shun arranged for these soldiers, leveraging their exceptional stealth skills, to quietly bypass Hulao Pass and relay the message to Luoyang.

Lü Bu, with a stern expression, rode majestically atop his Red Hare, leading the elite troops of Bingzhou slowly out of the camp. He was clad in ornate armor, his Fang Tian Hua Ji tightly gripped, his eyes filled with both contempt and confidence.

They marched in a mighty procession towards the coalition camp, the sound of horse hooves echoing across the land and raising clouds of dust. When they approached the coalition camp, Lü Bu pulled the reins and stopped.

He puffed out his chest, gathered all his strength, and shouted, "You rats of the coalition army! I am Lü Bu, Lü Fengxian! I have come to challenge you today. Who dares to fight me?" His voice, like a mighty bell, echoed across the empty battlefield, filled with defiance and majesty. The Bingzhou army behind Lü Bu also shouted in unison, their momentum surging as if they were ready to engulf the coalition army in one fell swoop.

In the allied camp, upon hearing Lü Bu's cries of defiance, the soldiers were all startled, their faces filled with fear. However, some, roused by Lü Bu's provocation, rubbed their hands, ready to fight. For a moment, the atmosphere on the battlefield grew extremely tense, and a major battle seemed imminent. The warlords looked at each other, each debating how to respond.

After a brief silence, Fang Yue, a famous general from Hanoi, stepped forward. His face was firm, his eyes flashed with determination, and he shouted, "Lu Bu, don't be so arrogant. I'm here to fight you!" After that, he spurred his horse and brandished his spear, rushing towards Lu Bu like an arrow.

The two men clashed in an instant, spears and halberds collided, sparks flew, but after a few rounds, Fang Yue was gradually defeated and was knocked off his horse by Lu Bu's halberd.

At Hulao Pass, the allied forces' drums thundered, their passionate rhythm cheering the soldiers on their way to battle. However, before the drums died down, a soldier came running in panic, shouting, "Oh no! Oh no!"

Everyone's heart tightened. Yuan Shao hurriedly asked, "Why are you so panicked?" The soldier, breathless and terrified, reported, "General Fang Yue, General Fang Yue... was killed by Lü Bu!"

As soon as this news broke, the coalition forces erupted in an uproar, their faces filled with shock. The atmosphere, which had been high just moments before, suddenly turned heavy. No one had anticipated Fang Yue's swift defeat, and their fear of Lü Bu intensified. Yuan Shao's expression darkened, and the princes all frowned, secretly pondering how to deal with this incredibly ferocious Lü Bu.

As the allied forces were reeling from Fang Yue's death, Shangdang Governor Zhang Yang suddenly stepped forward and declared, "I have a brave general, Mu Shun, who can challenge Lü Bu for battle!"

Mu Shun, a towering figure, commanding an imposing presence, strode forward, his heavy sword in hand. After saluting the crowd, he emerged from the tent with a valiant and unyielding spirit, and mounted his horse. He clamped his legs against the horse's belly, and the steed charged toward the battlefield like an arrow. With the aura of a fearless general, Mu Shun shouted fearlessly, "Lü Bu, watch out for the sword!"

Lü Bu looked at the charging Mu Shun, his lips curled slightly in a look of disdain. The two men instantly engaged, their swords and halberds clashing with a clang of metallic impact. However, after only a few rounds, Lü Bu, with the ease of a leisurely stroll, swung his halberd with a sudden, cold flash. Mu Shun screamed, then fell straight off his horse, beheaded by Lü Bu.

After Mu Shun was beheaded, the coalition camp fell into a dead silence.

The princes stared with wide eyes, faces filled with disbelief and shock. They had thought Mu Shun could hold out for a while even if he didn't win, but they hadn't expected Lü Bu to kill him so easily. Some generals looked horrified, cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads, their fear of Lü Bu reaching its peak.

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, their once high morale plummeting. They began whispering among themselves about Lü Bu's terrifying prowess. Yuan Shao's expression darkened, his fists clenched, his heart filled with anger and anxiety, unsure how to handle the dire situation. Panic and confusion washed over them, as if their confidence had been shattered by Lü Bu's halberd strike. For a moment, the coalition forces were plunged into a deep state of unease and anxiety.