Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu watched Lü Bu attempt to escape, and how could they allow him to do so? Their eyes widened, their hair standing on end, and they were about to spur their horses to pursue him, but Liu Bei hastily waved him off, his gaze steady as he turned back to his own formation. Emperor Liu Bian, with a valiant air, suddenly drew his sword from his waist and raised it high. Without the consent of the other princes, he swung it with overwhelming force at his soldiers, shouting in a voice like a bell: "Lü Bu has been defeated. Soldiers, if not now, when? Charge for victory!" These words resonated like thunder in the ears of the soldiers, instantly igniting the fighting spirit and passion within them.

Gongsun Zan was the first to step forward. His eyes blazing with passion, he decisively drew his sword, raised it high, and swung it vigorously at the troops behind him, shouting, "Men, follow me!" His White Horse Volunteers, like a white whirlwind, roared forward. Clad in gleaming silver armor and atop mighty white horses, their spears flashing with cold light, they charged towards the enemy with unstoppable momentum. Simultaneously, Zhang Liao and his Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry swept in like a black torrent, colliding with the White Horse Volunteers with a thunderous roar. For a moment, the shouts and neighs of men and horses were deafening, and the clash of metal resounded through the air. The White Horse Volunteers' spears lashed out like a torrential rain, each blow accompanied by a sharp whistling sound. The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry retaliated with ferocious blows, brandishing their scimitars, their blades flashing and blood splattering. In this fierce clash, the warriors on both sides bravely fought back, fearlessly displaying unparalleled bravery and tenacity.

Zhang Liao fought valiantly amid the chaos, his gaze fixed on Lü Bu, straining his might to carve a retreat for him. He slashed left and right, blood splattering everywhere he struck, tearing a hole through the enemy lines. Protected by Zhang Liao, Lü Bu fought and retreated. Though exhausted from the battles with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, he maintained his pride, brandishing his Fang Tian Hua Ji repeatedly, repelling each approaching enemy. As they neared the Xianzhen Camp, Gao Shun, his face grim, shouted, "Xianzhen Camp, prepare!" Instantly, the well-trained Xianzhen Camp assembled, forming a rock-solid formation. They formed a tight line, their shields and spears interwoven into a solid defensive line.

Zhang Liao led the Bingzhou Wolf Riders to escort Lü Bu back to Gao Shun's Xianzhen Camp. Gao Shun shouted, "Lin!" The Xianzhen soldiers responded swiftly, gathering their shields and spears in unison and moving like a tide, clearing the way for Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and the Bingzhou Wolf Riders to slip into the battle formation. Gao Shun then shouted, "Feng!" The Xianzhen soldiers' eyes widened, and they erupted in a deafening roar of killing. The momentum seemed to pierce the heavens, halting the pursuing White Horse Volunteers.

When the coalition forces arrived, Gao Shun shouted again, "Mountain!" The Xianzhen Camp shifted their formation, forming a tight formation like a towering mountain, solid as a rock, unmovable. Every soldier stood ready, their faces stern, their resolve steely. The coalition's onslaught was like waves crashing against a reef, yet it couldn't shake the Xianzhen Camp even a bit.

The coalition forces surged forward like a surging tide, colliding fiercely with the Xianzhen Camp. Undeterred, the warriors of the Xianzhen Camp withstood the coalition's repeated attacks with their flesh and blood. Spears pierced, shields blocked, each encounter a powerful confrontation. Enemy swords slashed at them, but they gritted their teeth and persevered, refusing to retreat a single step.

In this fierce battle, soldiers from the Xianzhen Camp repeatedly fell, but those behind them quickly took up their place, maintaining the integrity of their defense. They stood like an impenetrable barrier, repeatedly thwarting the coalition's attacks. Blood flowed on the ground, staining it crimson, but the fighting spirit of the Xianzhen Camp only grew stronger. With their lives and courage, they stubbornly held off the coalition's frenzied assault, buying Lü Bu and Zhang Liao precious time to retreat.

However, the coalition forces were unable to breach the Xianzhen Camp's defenses. Despite their repeated efforts, they remained unable to break this iron-clad barrier. After their momentary enthusiasm, the princes watched the battlefield, like a meat grinder, with their hearts aching. They began to realize the immense cost of this battle, and every life lost caused them to suffer deeply. Consequently, some princes began to advise Liu Bian to call off the battle. Liu Bian was well aware of the princes' motives: they wanted victory but were afraid to pay too high a price. However, faced with the current situation, Liu Bian reluctantly agreed to their suggestion.

With the resounding sound of the gong, the allied forces retreated like a tide, each slowly returning to its base. The battlefield was thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder, and the debris and wounded strewn across the ground bore witness to the ferocity of this thrilling battle. The warriors of the Xianzhen Camp remained standing, holding their ground. Though exhausted, their eyes gleamed with the light of victory. Lü Bu and Zhang Liao, escorted back to their base, watched the retreating allied forces with mixed emotions. While the fighting had paused, everyone knew it was only a brief truce, and the future held a fraught landscape filled with uncertainty and challenges. Both sides needed time to heal their wounds, regroup, and await the next clash.

Although the coalition forces had retreated, Lü Bu's Bingzhou army had also suffered considerable losses. After all, relying solely on Lü Bu's Bingzhou army to resist the attack of the Guandong coalition forces, even the elite Xianzhen Camp and Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry were bound to suffer casualties. At this point, Lü Bu had no foundation, living among Dong Zhuo's old guard. Even the slightest loss would cause Lü Bu great distress. Looking at the casualty statistics, Lü Bu felt a pang of heartache.

At this moment, Lü Bu sat down with Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and the other generals. Lü Bu gritted his teeth and said, "Our army has suffered heavy losses this time. It's truly heartbreaking." Zhang Liao frowned and said, "Yes, General. What should we do?" Gao Shun said gravely, "We must now consider our next strategy." Lü Bu continued, "If Li Jue, Guo Si, and these old subordinates of Prime Minister Dong continue to hold Hulao Pass and refuse to emerge, then we will not launch another attack. We must instead maintain a strict defense." Everyone nodded in agreement. Lü Bu added, "Now we can only secretly pray that the elite troops you, Gao Shun, have dispatched—the Xianzhen Camp—can successfully deliver news to Luoyang, allowing Dong Zhuo to arrive quickly to deter these arrogant and reckless men." Gao Shun replied, "I hope so." The others then fell into deep thought.

In stark contrast to the low morale of Lü Bu's Bingzhou camp, the coalition forces were filled with jubilation. This was because Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had successfully driven Lü Bu away, and Emperor Liu Bian seized the opportunity to command the entire army to launch a charge.

During this process, the warlords' thoughts diverged. Cao Cao's gaze was penetrating, as he pondered, "Liu Guan, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei possessed such prowess, capable of repelling the incomparably formidable Lü Bu. They truly could not be underestimated. It seemed the world was full of heroes, and he would have to keep a close eye on them in the future." Yuan Shao, however, was displeased. He had long been wary of Liu Guan, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's prowess, and had intended to recruit them for his own use. However, he hadn't anticipated that they had already been recruited by Emperor Liu Bian. This sudden command from the Emperor further threatened his position as leader. Since Liu Guan, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were trusted confidants of the Emperor, he considered them potential future enemies, a fact that deeply irritated him. Yuan Shu, on the other hand, had a complex expression, marveling at their prowess yet also fearing the threat their rise posed to him. While the other warlords suffered losses, this was still a victory nonetheless.

Among them, the most severely damaged were undoubtedly Gongsun Zan's White Horse Volunteers. While Gongsun Zan lamented the loss of his troops, he viewed Emperor Liu Bian with a new light. He viewed him entirely as his son-in-law, believing that he had demonstrated extraordinary courage and decisiveness at a crucial moment, and therefore, he was not particularly concerned about the losses. Lu Zhi observed all this clearly. He was deeply aware of the emperor's difficult situation and the wisdom and resourcefulness he displayed, and this was precisely what pleased and comforted him most. He was pleased with the emperor's growth and outstanding performance, and was relieved that there seemed to be a glimmer of hope for the future of the Han Dynasty.

As for Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, their performance this time also earned the recognition of their abilities from the various vassal states. After all, Lü Bu's bravery and skill in battle were all witnessed by them, and the fact that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were able to repel him undoubtedly impressed the vassal states. They secretly admired their strength and courage, and at the same time, they secretly pondered the impact these three might have on the situation in the future.