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All elite troops have their strongest aspect, such as the now vanished White Horse Righteous Followers, which was almost the fastest unit of the time. Had they not been eradicated in one fell swoop by Juo Yi when he seized the opportunity, I’m afraid other troops would have had no choice but to eat their dust—they were that fast.
Similarly, Juo Yi’s initial goal was to defeat the White Horse Righteous Followers. Hence, after choosing the right battlefield, he naturally focused his training on maximizing killing power, aiming to annihilate the White Horse Righteous Followers without leaving a single surviving seed for Gongsun Zan.
As a result, the Vanguards, trained in this manner, naturally possessed the strongest offensive capability, the drawback being that their defensive power was quite ordinary—they could only claim to have barely surpassed the White Horse Righteous Followers!
However, compared to regular armies, the Vanguard’s formidable offensive strength was enough to crush the enemy’s formations before they had time to react, then swiftly rout them. In such a violent advance, one hardly sees the downside of their lower defensive power, especially when led by Juo Yi, as the enemy would often flee at the mere sight of him!
Unfortunately, compared to Juo Yi, Gao Shun, emerging from the Northern Jiu Yuan, understood what elite meant better than anyone else. Whether it be a strong attack, high defense, quick reflexes, or a powerful impact force, emphasizing one aspect always meant weakening another. Yet, because the elites were so prominent in their strengths, it was difficult for others to notice their weaknesses, but this did not mean they had none.
[ "I’ve long passed the age where I use others as a stepping stone, but Chen Gongtai’s words make a lot of sense. This battle is crucial for our future standing. If we defeat the Vanguard Death Squad, whether we align with Yuan Shao or Liu Bei afterwards, we will obtain a higher status. Even if not for my own sake, I have to consider it for their sakes." ]
Grasping his hands tightly, Gao Shun looked to the north with an expression as cold as ice. There lay the current claimants to the title of the strongest troops in the world, the Vanguard Death Squad. However, Gao Shun was clear about one thing—he would not lose. The Vanguard Camp under his command was invincible against any foe; he had taken the path of the elite to its extreme.
In comparison to the White Horse Righteous Followers, the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry was originally renowned for being all-around capable. The Vanguard Camp was formed by selecting the most elite from the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, and under the fanatical training of Gao Shun, they had become an all-around capable troop type. They had no weak points in close combat, ranged attack, sieging, or defense—they were Super Soldiers.
If the Vanguard Death Squad is likened to a sharp dagger that only an excellent assassin can wield to take life instantly, then the Vanguard Camp under Gao Shun is comparable to a Great Halberd—an instrument that can stab, lift, sweep, and shear—but it requires a top-level person to truly harness its capabilities.
Meanwhile, Hua Xiong, who was riding horses in Fenggao, had already received Liu Bei’s orders instructing him to temporarily join Guan Yu’s command and await new orders. At the same time, Zhang Fei also received his orders, allowing him to enter Yanzhou soon to engage in battle with Lyu Bu. Yu Jin once again handed over his duties and, leading his deputy commanders, reorganized his troops, already pressing upon the borders of Mount Tai.
"Listen up, all of you—this upcoming battle will be the toughest fight you’ve experienced since your debut. We’ll set aside the Vanguard Death Squad for now, but as for Gao Shun, I understand him better than anyone! His Vanguard Camp is strong, extremely strong!" Hua Xiong bellowed at his subordinates from the Commanding Platform.
Upon confirmation that he was about to engage with Gao Shun, Hua Xiong was initially taken aback, then began to tremble—not out of fear but out of excitement. He had already mastered the ’Celestial Lock Three Transformations’ technique passed down by Li Ru, integrated so deeply, it was etched into his bones. Now, about to face the formidable Gao Shun from his memories, Hua Xiong was completely thrilled.
The bandit soldiers Hua Xiong had selected from the Bandits of Mount Tai, after surviving numerous battles, now numbered about fifty percent of their original count. Of these, less than half still stood in the ranks, the rest having either retired or were new recruits. However, under the subtle influence of the old soldiers, these new soldiers had grown just as firm and resilient as their seasoned peers.
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Regarding what Hua Xiong said, his soldiers showed not the slightest reaction; their discipline was thoroughly etched into their will. However, no matter how hard Hua Xiong tried, he still couldn’t impart his legion’s talent to instill a military spirit in his army, which was probably the greatest regret he had.
"The Vanguard Camp might be strong, but we are not weak. Many of us may not return from this battle in Yanzhou, so I will distribute consolation money to you all in advance! I, Hua Zijian, guarantee that if any one of you doesn’t come back, I will ensure a second portion of consolation money reaches your families!" Hua Xiong roared to his soldiers.
Then, chest after chest of copper coins was brought up, and Hua Xiong ordered them to be distributed to all the soldiers. It wasn’t time yet to distribute stipends, but Hua Xiong knew very well that the battle in Yanzhou would not end easily. He understood Lyu Bu’s strengths better than anyone else!
"Wen Ru, you’re back!" Liu Bei smiled and stood up as he saw the dust-covered Li Youu, walking over to greet him.
"Is Lord Xuande planning to fight Lyu Fengxian?" Li Youu clasped his hands in a salute, and before Liu Bei could extend his hand to help him up, he quickly asked.
"Yes, Zichuan’s first step of the plan has already reached this extent. Among the Four Directions, only Lyu Fengxian remains. My intention is to persuade him to surrender if possible, otherwise, we will have no choice but to execute him. I hope Lyu Bu is sensible enough to recognize the situation," Liu Bei said with a smile, ordering someone to bring Li Youu some tea and candied fruit.
"That’s only appropriate. Lyu Fengxian indeed is a problem; the sooner we deal with him, the better. But for this expedition to Yanzhou, whom has Lord Xuande appointed as commander, and who are the generals?" Li Youu asked, bowing slightly.
"Yunchang will carry the banner; Fengxiao will serve as the military advisor; Zijian as the vanguard. Yide has been eager for another clash with Lyu Fengxian, so I have appointed him as Yunchang’s deputy. And Zijing has advised me to summon Wen Ze to ensure stability," Liu Bei responded, not concealing anything. To him, there was nothing in front of him that the latter could not know.
"Did Jia Wenhe not offer any counsel?" Li Youu asked, frowning.
"Wen He also agrees with Zijing’s view, moving Wen Ze to command the rear army to stabilize the situation when necessary," Liu Bei replied, seeing Li Youu’s expression, and asked, puzzled, "Is there something wrong with this arrangement?"
"There are no major issues, but Wen He and others are underestimating Lyu Fengxian. Although Lyu Fengxian is nothing more than a brute, there are two generals under his command that must be taken seriously. One is named Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan, whose military strategy and valor are top-notch in this world. The other is Gao Shun, extremely low-profile, yet he commands some of the finest elite troops of our time!" Li Youu said with a wry smile.
Li Youu valued Zhang Liao highly, otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to the extent of having Dong Zhuo grant him the official position of Cavalry Captain in Luoyang back then, to win Zhang Liao over. It should be noted that at that time, Zhang Liao was merely twenty-three years old, and the position of Cavalry Captain ranked just below generals and was quite a senior office. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to give your recommendation and monthly votes at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
