NOVPUBNot to mention Gan Ning’s less-than-favorable feeling, at this time Yuan Shao finally received a message from Juo Yi in the rear camp three days after issuing the battle challenge.
"Lord, Yi is ready," said Juo Yi with difficulty as he bowed to Yuan Shao, his heavy armor clinking with the movement.
"Are you confident this time?" Yuan Shao asked, looking at Juo Yi.
"To win or to die!" This time, Juo Yi’s tone lacked any hint of arrogance and was solemn and powerful as he spoke.
Yuan Shao let out a sigh, "Get ready, my life is in your hands this time! Don’t disappoint me."
"As you command!" Juo Yi didn’t say anything more, just bowed, and turned to walk out of the tent. As he was about to leave, Yuan Shao’s voice came from behind, "Don’t die, Zhengli!"
Juo Yi didn’t turn back; he simply walked out silently. His men had already been selected and trained, eight hundred heavily armored spear and shield soldiers known as Great Halberdiers, and three thousand Death Soldiers called Vanguard, unguarded, carrying heavy crossbows and carrying machetes.
"In this battle, there is advance without retreat! The command banner of the White Horse Righteous Followers shall not fall, I, Juo Zhengli, swear to return only in death!" Juo Yi instructed the mere eight hundred heavy spear and shield infantry, "If any of you have last words, speak now, for there may be no chance to return from the battlefield!"
A deathly silence followed, a faint smile appeared on Juo Yi’s face.
Not a single person spoke. Juo Yi carried a wine jar and poured a bowl for each soldier. Then each man received a bowl, and with a drink consumed, Juo Yi silently led his men out of the camp, prepared to embrace death!
Yuan Benchu’s boldness had won his respect, for sometimes a commander-in-chief does not need to stand behind; leading one’s men with one’s blood and bravery is also a choice! Juo Yi believed that not a single one of his soldiers, even when facing death, would flee. The White Horse Righteous Followers must die, and those who stand in the way of Yuan Benchu’s quest for domination must die!
"The day has come," Gongsun Zan laughed heartily as he looked up to the sky, "Never thought that Yuan Benchu would have some courage. Good! Very good! All generals, break camp, follow me to crush Yuan Benchu!"
Taishi Ci felt slightly dazed, not knowing why, ever since he received Yuan Shao’s battle summons three days ago, he had a bad feeling, and immediately wrote a letter to Gan Ning and sent it off.
What Taishi Ci didn’t know was that at this time, Gan Ning only had a little over three hundred Navy left. The main force had already been dispatched to strangle the water bandits along the coastline and protect maritime merchants.
"Ziyi, would you like to come and help in the battle?" Gongsun Zan said with a smile, appreciating this robust man from Qingzhou; hence, he planned to share some merits with him, for in his view, Yuan Shao’s decision to fight in the open at Jieqiao was a death wish.
"It is my desire, I dare not ask for more!" Taishi Ci laughed, ready to do his part, win or lose, and let everything else take its course.
On the other side of the Zhang River, Gan Ning, with a small sailboard, led his mere three hundred men to prepare for the rescue. He saw nothing wrong with this action, nor did he ever consider that for an army of tens of thousands, his three hundred men could be extinguished with a mere puff.
After dispatching the military affairs, Taishi Ci returned to the rear camp to organize the troops when Gan Ning’s letter had already been delivered. Upon reading Gan Ning’s message, "I am leading all the soldiers upstream along the Zhang River. We must arrive within three days," he instantly breathed a sigh of relief!
In Taishi Ci’s view, having Gan Ning’s unnoticed three thousand elite Navy prowling behind Yuan Shao waiting for an opportunity, even if an accident befell Gongsun Zan resulting in loss of troops and generals, Gan Ning could arrive two or three days after the battle to buy time for gathering the routed soldiers and regrouping for another fight—it wasn’t a problem. As for complete annihilation, how could that be possible?
Unfortunately, Taishi Ci was not aware of the current situation. First, Gan Ning did not have three thousand men, and second, the problem with Gongsun Zan’s battle at Jieqiao was not about winning or losing but about how many of the White Horse Soldiers could survive. The complete annihilation of the White Horse Soldiers was an unexpected event that no one had considered!
The strongest force under Gongsun Zan was the White Horse Soldiers. After Jieqiao, they suddenly vanished into thin air. Though there were still nearly one hundred thousand infantry left, this number paled in comparison to the previous situation when the Hu People would shout to avoid the "White Horse Chancellor."
Without the White Horse Soldiers, Gongsun Zan was like a tiger fallen in Pingyang or a phoenix that had lost its feathers. He no longer had the same momentum to pursue and drive North. Subsequently, the Xianbei and Wuhuan joined forces with Yuan Shao to attack Gongsun Zan. If the White Horse Soldiers had been around, even if Gongsun Bogui had fallen into misfortune, the Hu People would not dare look South.
"Deploy the troops!" With a burst of drum sound, left and right camps of Gongsun Zan emptied forth, with a full ten thousand White Horse Soldiers flanking Gongsun Zan on both wings. The white Cloud Qi almost completely obscured the azure sky.
"My Lord!" As Yuan Shao was preparing to organize the troops to set off, Sheni Pei walked in and bowed.
"What brings Sheni Zheng Nan here?" Yuan Shao asked with some curiosity.
"Would my Lord put his trust in his subordinate strategists and officers?" Sheni Pei asked, kneeling on the ground. He knew that his question was taboo, but out of his loyal heart for the Yuan Family, he had to ask.
"Trust!" Yuan Shao spoke nearly without thinking.
"Then please, my Lord, break camp. General Juo’s words—I did not believe them earlier. But just now, I saw him swear a blood oath: not to return until the White Horse Soldiers are destroyed! Therefore, I, Sheni Zheng Nan, am willing to stand surety for General Juo!" Sheni Pei said solemnly.
"Good! Not only do I trust Zhengli, but I also trust that Youruo and Yuanhao are ready to unleash their full power, waiting for this battle to completely annihilate the White Horse Soldiers!" Yuan Shao declared solemnly, "Zheng Nan, pass on my military command: the whole army shall set out, each man carrying provisions for three days, start fires to burn down the camp, move the supplies, all soldiers guarding the supply should be called back. Tell Zhengli, if we do not win this battle, I too, shall die!"
Yuan Shao was now feeling an increasing pressure. The rise of Cao Cao and Liu Bei was no longer inferior to his own. Under this pressure, Yuan Benchu, once a paragon of the land, had shed the previous taint of incompetence, revealing once again his heroic nature. Since he had opened his heart to trust Juo Yi, he decided to believe in him, believing he would crush the White Horse Soldiers!
Juo Yi, upon receiving the message from Sheni Pei, showed a flicker of panic on his face, which then restored to its original expression. However, a hint of resolve flashed across his face. If before, he had the mindset of fighting to the last soldier, feeling that, even in death, he would have done his duty to Yuan Shao, now there was only one thought: his death was acceptable, but even in death, he must ensure Yuan Shao’s victory in this battle.
Sometimes, war really is a stage for one person. A brilliant victory can create a Renowned General. Perhaps, had Juo Yi continued with the previous idea of fighting to the last man, he might have lost, but with a determination that even in death he would drag the enemy to hell, he had an upper hand in morale. Since ancient times, strategists only planned the odds of winning, but it is the excellent commanders who can pull off a counter from desperate situations. All the battles that are deemed miraculous always have an excellent commander at the helm! (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to qidian.com to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
