Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao led his army in relentless pursuit, even though they were constantly on the move. However, it was nearing the end of the year. While his men did not blame Cao Cao, the ordinary soldiers could not help but feel homesick. On New Year's Eve, the army was still on the march, the soldiers could only gnaw on dry rations, and resistance inevitably set in. Cao Cao did not dare to rush the march and instead sent Xiahou Yuan to lead a group of soldiers ahead to investigate Dong Zhuo's whereabouts.

On the evening of New Year's Day, as they neared the border of Hangu Pass, Xiahou Yuan led his troops back to report that they had spotted signs of a large garrison ahead. Judging by the size of the marks, they must have been left yesterday. Cao Cao's spirits rose upon hearing this, thinking that Hangu Pass was not far away. If Dong Zhuo had already passed through and left troops there, pursuing him would be much more difficult. After all, once past Hangu Pass, Chang'an would be within reach. Cao Cao, energized, continued to have Xiahou Yuan scout the way ahead. They decided not to set up camp for now, but to advance under cover of darkness and plan to set up camp before reaching Hangu Pass. If Dong Zhuo had already passed, they would await the allied forces there. If, as fate would have it, Dong Zhuo had not yet passed, they could engage in battle and stop him outside.

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Upon receiving the order, Xiahou Yuan immediately led a small force to explore the route ahead. After another two or three hours of travel, before reaching Hangu Pass, they could see numerous camps in the distance. Xiahou Yuan immediately dispatched scouts to quietly survey the surrounding area, while he himself remained stationary, patiently awaiting Cao Cao's arrival.

Xiahou Yuan waited for another hour, until the sky was already dotted with sparse stars. At this time, Cao Cao finally arrived with his army and successfully reunited with Xiahou Yuan.

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Xiahou Yuan hurried to Cao Cao, clasped his fists and bowed to report: "My lord, the camp ahead is where Dong Zhuo's army is." When Cao Cao heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he immediately came up with the idea of ​​taking advantage of Dong Zhuo's unpreparedness and attacking him by surprise.

Upon hearing Cao Cao's plan, the generals stepped forward to dissuade him. Cao Ren, with a worried look on his face, said, "My lord, our army has been marching for days, and the soldiers are exhausted, both physically and mentally. A rash attack now would be too much for us. It would be better to rest and wait, allowing the soldiers to recover and recuperate, before making any plans." Li Dian echoed, "Yes, my lord. Dong Zhuo's army is formidable. If we launch a hasty attack now, the consequences of our failure would be disastrous."

However, Cao Cao waved his hand, his eyes firm and resolute, and overruled the crowd. "The opportunity for battle is fleeting. Dong Zhuo is unaware of our arrival. If we launch a surprise attack at night, Dong Zhuo's army will inevitably be in panic and in disarray. This is a godsend. If we don't seize the opportunity, our whereabouts will be exposed after daybreak, and Dong Zhuo's army will be ready. Our army will be outnumbered, and victory will be extremely difficult against the Western Liang cavalry. As long as we maintain good concealment and launch a surprise attack, we will surely succeed."

Cao Cao, against all odds, decided to launch a surprise attack. Knowing the key to this battle lay in the element of surprise, he began meticulously deploying his battle plan. His gaze blazed, his expression serious, and his voice steady and forceful, he issued instructions to his men: "Men from all camps must advance silently, making no sound to avoid alerting the enemy. The vanguard must swiftly break through the enemy's defenses, striking directly at their core and disrupting their command system. Follow-up troops must closely follow, expanding our gains and denying the enemy even the slightest respite." Cao Cao's words were like a stabilizing force, gradually strengthening the confidence of the initially nervous soldiers.

Meanwhile, ever since Dong Zhuo was shot and fell unconscious, the military situation has become volatile. Lü Bu, already unstable, is now even more out of control. Li Ru, fully aware of the dire situation, urgently consulted with Xu Rong on countermeasures. With a solemn expression and a furrowed brow, Li Ru paced back and forth in the tent, meticulously analyzing the situation. "With our lord unconscious, Lü Bu unreliable, and powerful enemies surrounding us, our situation is extremely precarious. We must defend the camp with all our might and never let our guard down."

Xu Rong nodded solemnly and left. Returning to the camp, Xu Rong immediately summoned all officers and issued a series of rigorous orders. He personally supervised the battle, directing the soldiers to build numerous layers of antlers around the camp, dig trenches several feet deep, and embed sharp wooden stakes within them. The number of soldiers in the watchtowers was multiplied several times over, standing guard day and night, daring not to slack off even for a moment. The camp gates were locked tightly, heavily guarded, and archers were on high alert. The entire camp was built to be as impenetrable as an iron barrel.

Xu Rong also deployed numerous ambushes within the camp to prevent the enemy from breaching the defenses. He constantly inspected key defensive points, checking the soldiers' equipment and morale, ensuring every detail was meticulous. Xu Rong knew this battle depended on the survival of Dong Zhuo's army; he must give it his all and leave no room for error.

As night fell, Cao Cao led his army and quietly approached Dong Zhuo's camp. But they did not expect that an extremely difficult battle was waiting for them.

The moon was dark and the wind was strong, the thick, inky darkness seeming to swallow everything. Cao Cao personally led his army, advancing silently and ghostly towards Dong Zhuo's camp. Cao Cao, clad in heavy armor, shone coldly under the dim starlight. He wielded a longsword, the hilt inlaid with gemstones emitting a dark luster. Cao Cao's expression was resolute, his eyes revealing a determination to win, a gaze that seemed to penetrate the boundless darkness and reach the shore of victory.

Though exhausted from continuous fighting, the soldiers, buoyed by Cao Cao's passionate encouragement, fortified themselves. They gripped their weapons tightly, their palms slick with sweat, yet they resolutely followed Cao Cao's lead, cautiously advancing toward the enemy camp. Their steps were as light as possible, their breathing suppressed, fearing even the slightest sound would alert the enemy.

As they neared the camp, Cao Cao suddenly gave the order, and his soldiers rushed towards the enemy camp like a surging tide. For a moment, the shouts of killing shook the heavens, seeming to rip the silent night apart. Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Li Dian, Le Jin, and the Xiahou brothers each led the charge, bravely attacking the enemy. Their weapons were brandished, each strike deadly, blood splattering everywhere, and enemies around them fell one after another. His roar echoed through the night, inspiring the soldiers to charge forward.

However, Dong Zhuo's camp was not as defenseless as Cao Cao had anticipated. Xu Rong's meticulously constructed defenses repeatedly frustrated Cao's advances. The sturdy antlers, deep trenches, and relentless rain of arrows exacted a heavy toll on Cao's army's advances. The Cao soldiers, already exhausted, saw their morale crumble against such a formidable defense. Fear and hesitation began to show in their eyes.

At that moment, Dong Zhuo's Xiliang cavalry burst forth like a whirlwind. Each cavalryman, clad in heavy armor, gleamed coldly in the moonlight, their spears wielding their tips, their tips gleaming with a cold gleam. Their warhorses neighed like demons from hell. They charged into Cao Cao's ranks like a tiger among a flock of sheep, instantly shattering their formation. Blood splattered wherever their hooves trampled, and screams echoed.

Seeing the situation dire, Cao Cao attempted to organize a resistance. He shouted the names of his generals and brandished his sword to regroup his troops. But the exhausted soldiers were overwhelmed by the fierce charge of the Western Liang cavalry. Their resistance seemed feeble, and their formation collapsed. Cao Cao had no choice but to order a retreat. The soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons and fled in all directions. Fear spread among them, causing them to forget all discipline and honor.

The Western Liang cavalry pursued relentlessly, their hooves thundering like thunder, shaking the earth as if they were about to devour Cao's army. Fortunately, darkness gave Cao's army a moment of respite, allowing them to avoid being completely exposed to the enemy's sight in this chaos. Cao Cao, with his remaining troops and defeated generals, fled desperately under the cover of darkness.

Along the way, Cao's soldiers were in a state of disarray. Some fell wounded, trampled beneath the cavalry behind them before they could even utter a groan. Others, disoriented, ran aimlessly through the wilderness, calling out for their comrades in despair and terror. Cao Cao was terrified, yet he could only desperately urge his soldiers on. His warhorse panted heavily, its coat drenched in sweat, but Cao Cao kept whipping it, eager to reach safety.

Finally, just before dawn, Cao Cao and his remaining troops escaped the pursuit of the Western Liang cavalry. Each of them, ragged and scarred, looked like a ghost escaped from hell. But Cao Cao had suffered heavy losses in this battle, a crushing defeat. Gazing at the few remaining troops behind him, he was filled with regret and resentment.