Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

It is located 30 li south of Xiaopei City.

"Damn it, damn it, Ji Ling, how dare you break the alliance! When I return to Xuzhou, I will tear you to pieces."

Lu Bu gritted his teeth.

He never expected that he would finally be able to avenge his blood feud this time.

Unexpectedly...

Not only did they fail to avenge themselves, they also fell into Yuan Shu's ambush.

Although they managed to break through by sheer luck.

However, his troops suffered heavy casualties.

Of the original 8,000 soldiers, less than 3,000 remain; the losses are undeniably devastating.

The infantry was almost completely lost, and the 800 elite troops also suffered more than half their losses.

The five thousand cavalrymen fared even worse; now only less than two thousand remain.

Moreover, almost everyone was injured.

"By the way, where is Liu Bei? We've been fighting here for so long, hasn't Liu Bei noticed anything at all?"

As if he had thought of something, Lü Bu's expression became even more unpleasant.

"Reporting to my lord, I was unaware that we were surrounded and had just broken through the encirclement."

"However, I have already sent someone to inform them, and I expect to hear back soon."

Wei Xu shook his head.

"Hmph, we fought a fierce battle in front of his door for so long, how could he not know?"

"They clearly want to sit back and watch the outcome, then reap the benefits."

"Immediately send someone to inform Liu Bei to send troops to attack Yuan Shu."

"Although we suffered heavy losses in this battle, Yuan Shu also fared poorly."

"The casualties among his men are even greater than ours."

"If we make a move now, I can cooperate with him and annihilate Ji Ling in one fell swoop."

Lu Bu said coldly.

Although he was very angry that Liu Bei had ignored him.

But Lü Bu had no choice, since he had taken Xu Province from him first.

The other party harbors resentment.

It's normal not to provide support.

I just hope the other party can understand the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" (meaning that if one's lips are gone, the other will be cold).

If he were to be defeated, how could he possibly withstand Yuan Shu's army on his own?

"Yes."

Wei Xu nodded.

Just as they were preparing to send another group of people, at that moment...

"Report."

"The gates of Xiaopei are tightly closed, and there are no soldiers stationed on the city tower. My subordinates sent people to ask the local people, and they learned that Liu Bei's entire army left Xiaopei half a day ago, heading straight for Xuzhou."

A soldier walked over quickly.

"what?"

Lü Bu was furious.

"That scoundrel clearly knew about our battle with Yuan Shu and wanted to reap the benefits without lifting a finger."

"They were afraid that we would cause trouble for him later, and that he would be guilty of not providing support, so they deliberately made it look like the whole army had left."

"You damned scoundrel..."

Lu Bu was furious.

Immediately, the halberd slammed into a nearby tree, and with a loud crash, the tree fell to the ground.

It took me a long time to calm myself down.

"Forget it, there's no need to go. It's better to rely on ourselves than on others. Once we get back to Xuzhou, we'll reorganize the troops."

"I will not only kill that scoundrel Ji Ling, but also Liu Bei."

"Since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust."

Lu Bu said coldly.

They were completely unaware that Liu Bei's departure at this time, heading to Xuzhou, was to launch a surprise attack on their hometown.

I thought the other party was trying to create an alibi.

However, just because he's stupid doesn't mean his subordinates are stupid too.

"Liu Bei left at this time? And his destination was still Xuzhou."

Hou Cheng frowned.

As if suddenly remembering something, his expression changed drastically.

"not good."

"My lord, Xuzhou is in grave danger."

Lu Bu was taken aback: "What nonsense are you talking about? With Chen Gong holding the fort in Xuzhou, how could there be any danger?"

Hou Cheng said anxiously, "My lord, Liu Bei didn't leave earlier or later, but at this very moment, and his destination is Xuzhou. Doesn't my lord have even the slightest suspicion?"

Lu Bu was startled: "You mean Liu Bei might take this opportunity to launch a surprise attack on our Xu Province?"

Hou Cheng nodded: "It's not a possibility, it's a certainty."

"Liu Bei had long harbored resentment towards us for our surprise attack on his Xu Province."

"Now that we have mobilized most of the troops in Xuzhou to attack, Xuzhou's defenses will inevitably be weak."

"It's not uncommon for Liu Bei to have such thoughts."

"If the other party really wanted to create an alibi, why would they travel all the way to Xuzhou?"

"My lord, something terrible has happened!"

After the other party's analysis, Lü Bu panicked.

You should know that he had already been infamous for his attack on Liu Bei's Xu Province.

If he loses Xuzhou now, he will have no place to stand in the whole world.

Liu Bei would absolutely not give him another chance.

At that time... even if Lü Bu were invincible, he probably would have nowhere to go.

"How dare this scoundrel commit such an act of utter disloyalty and disrespect!"

"He has already acknowledged the legitimacy of my Xuzhou. If we send troops now, won't we end up with the same reputation as me?"

"Liu Bei is known for his benevolence and righteousness, so why would he resort to cunning?"

Lu Bu still clung to a last sliver of hope.

It is hoped that Liu Bei, bound by his reputation for benevolence and righteousness, will not dare to act in this way.

However, Hou Cheng's words soon shattered his hopes.

"My lord, as everyone knows, Liu Bei's recognition of your Xuzhou's legitimacy is nothing more than a means to protect himself."

"Xuzhou was personally ceded to Liu Bei by Tao Qian."

"From both a moral and logical standpoint, he is the most orthodox one."

"We launched a surprise attack on Xuzhou. Although he has acknowledged our recognition, the people of the world do not."

"If the enemy sends troops now, it's to reclaim their territory, so why would they bear the infamy?"

Hou Cheng shook his head.

"If that's the case, what should we do?"

Lu Bu's expression changed several times, and for a moment he was somewhat at a loss.

"Our top priority is to get back to Xuzhou as soon as possible."

"Only in this way can we protect Xuzhou before Liu Bei takes it."

"Otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."

Hou Cheng said.

Hou Cheng may sometimes seem a bit petty, but he was able to become one of Lü Bu's eight generals.

He is no ordinary person.

A feasible solution was quickly identified.

"That's right. Xuzhou is protected by Gongtai, and I have left behind seven thousand elite troops. If Liu Bei rashly sends troops, he will never be able to take Xuzhou so easily."

"As long as we are fast enough, we can stop the enemy before Liu Bei takes Xuzhou."

"They even wiped out Liu Bei."

Lu Bu nodded heavily and immediately gave orders to his men.

"Get up, get up quickly."

"What's the point of resting? Our home is about to be gone."

"Pass on my order: everyone must rush back to Xuzhou for rescue at all costs."

"Those who disobey orders will be subject to military law."

"Lu Bu said loudly."

"Yes."

The crowd sighed in despair; the continuous battles had already left them exhausted.

But now that Lü Bu has given a death order, even if one is unwilling, there is nothing one can do.

"boom."

But before they could act, a cannon shot rang out behind them.

This caused an uproar among Lü Bu's army.

"General Lü, now that you've come all this way, wouldn't leaving just make you a laughingstock?"