Chapter 138: When Paths Cross, the Valiant Prevails

Inside the Cao camp, the various generals were brimming with confidence. They all returned to their respective camps to regroup, eager and restless as they awaited the decisive battle.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei wore a gloomy expression. After hesitating for a moment, Guan Yu finally spoke up, "Eldest Brother, just now I wanted to request permission to do battle, why did you stop me?"

"We cannot stay here any longer. If Cao Cao takes Yangzhou, the entire realm will truly change hands. I have sworn to restore the Han Dynasty; how can I allow such a national traitor to usurp the throne?" Liu Bei said in a deep voice, his expression solemn.

Having stayed in Xuchang for a period of time, he was well aware of the Emperor's plight and Cao Cao's ambitions. Therefore, he had played along deceptively to lower Cao Cao's guard. Now that Cao Cao was launching an offensive against Chu Feng, if he did not leave now, he would truly never be able to get away.

"Eldest Brother, are we leaving?" Guan Yu frowned.

"Yes, we shall head north and pledge allegiance to Yuan Shao. That man possesses several prefectures in Hebei and commands a million armored troops. Only he is capable of standing against Cao Cao," Liu Bei replied.

"Eldest Brother, what is the rush! If you ask me, at the very least we should wait until Chu Feng is defeated and rescue our sisters-in-law first. Besides, isn't Lü Bu still in Xuzhou?"

"In this battle, my second brother and I will take enemy generals' heads and capture their banners, cutting down that Chu Feng. Firstly, Cao Cao will surely heavily reward and employ us, and secondly, it would also avenge you, Eldest Brother, would it not?"

"When we next campaign against Lü Bu, we can then seize the opportunity to head north and pledge ourselves to Yuan Shao!" Zhang Fei patted his chest, eager for a fight. He had been cooped up and stifled for far too long lately.

Guan Yu also frowned and said, "Eldest Brother, what Third Brother says makes sense this time. We might as well wait until Chu Feng is destroyed and our sisters-in-law are rescued before moving. Otherwise, if we head north now, our sisters-in-law will be plunged into an endless abyss."

"Furthermore, even for the sake of the Mi family, Eldest Brother cannot simply up and leave. If we do that, how could the Mi family not turn against us? I hope Eldest Brother will think twice."

Hearing the words of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei sank back into deep thought. What the two of them said was indeed reasonable. Now that victory seemed within grasp, if he were to simply leave just like that, what would the Mi family think of him? Moreover, he held a deep grudge against Chu Feng. That man had repeatedly humiliated him!

At this thought, Liu Bei drew a deep breath and said, "Very well, we shall wait until Chu Feng is eliminated before making further plans. There is no need to rush this exact moment."

"Eldest Brother, rest assured! As for that petty thief Chu Feng, I will surely poke a hundred transparent holes through him and make him beg for mercy on his knees before you, Eldest Brother!" Zhang Fei declared proudly with a laugh.

Having had nothing to do for several months, his hands had been itching for a fight. Now that he could finally engage in a massive battle, he was determined to fight to his heart's content.

"Third Brother, do not take the enemy lightly. Chu Feng's valor is peerless throughout the realm; even Sun Ce was no match for him," Liu Bei cautioned.

"Hmph, it is merely that Sun Ce's martial arts lacked refinement!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard, his hand resting on his swordhilt, a trace of aloof arrogance in his brows. He knew Zhang Fei's capabilities—second only to his own—and he truly did not hold Sun Ce in any regard. Furthermore, with the two brothers joining forces, who in the world could withstand them?

Liu Bei said no more. After all, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were indeed fierce tiger-like generals, and a degree of arrogance was only natural.

***

In the Chu camp, within the commander's tent.

Having listened to Cao Cao's reply, Chu Feng's expression did not change significantly. Liu Yi was not by his side, and while he considered himself well-read in military strategy, how could he possibly match Cao Cao backed by his formidable strategist team?

Therefore, rather than scheming in this battle, it was better to fight to the death. Given his current shortage of troops, he could only rely on sheer valor to win a localized engagement.

"My Lord, are we truly going to fight a decisive battle?" Lü蒙 frowned, looking rather solemn.

"There are no jokes in the military camp," Chu Feng said in a deep voice.

"My Lord, although this route is guarded by Cao's army, we can still take a detour and march straight to Shouchun," Lü Meng advised, primarily because the risks of a decisive battle were simply too high. It was the ultimate gamble!

"It is useless. The army's logistics are already strained; if we take a detour, would that not further increase our logistical burden? Besides, how could Cao Cao fail to anticipate that our army would take a detour?"

"Rather than sitting here waiting to die, it is better to fight with all our might—a battle with our backs to the river. If we win, we retake Shouchun; if we lose, the worst we can do is retreat and defend the south of the Yangtze," Chu Feng said resolutely.

In his view, this battle had only two outcomes: he won and Cao Cao scrammed, or Cao Cao won and he himself scrammed.

"Enough, pass down the order for the three armies to step up their preparations and rest. Three days from now, we fight to the death!" Chu Feng proclaimed loudly.

"Understood!" The generals rubbed their hands in eager anticipation. Although the odds of winning this battle were slim, it undeniably stirred up righteous anger coupled with a trace of excitement.

***

For three days, both the Cao and Chu armies prepared for war.

However, Cao Cao's 30,000 troops had split off 10,000 to set an ambush at Shouchun, intending to use a counter-stratagem to swallow Shouchun whole before turning back to deal with Chu Feng.

Meanwhile, on Chu Feng's side, his ten-thousand-odd men also donned heavy armor and sharp weapons, preparing themselves for this final battle. In Chu Feng's view, with no stratagems left to deploy, he had no choice but to rely on brute courage and direct assault. This was his plan.

***

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

As the fifth watch approached, the sky remained dim and murky. Against the flickering reflections of numerous bonfires, Chu Feng's resolute and stern face could be seen.

At this moment, he stood upon the command platform, a heavy coffin resting behind him. Sweeping his gaze across the armored soldiers under his command, his expression grave, he shouted thunderously:

"That place is our homeland! All our loved ones are there!"

"Cao's army has invaded, seeking to slaughter your parents, plunder your wives and children, and seize your fields and homes. Right now, Cao's army is right there, outnumbering us tenfold! Do you dare to fight?!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Three consecutive shouts shook the heavens and the earth.

"Open the coffin!" Chu Feng commanded angrily!

Behind him, the thick, heavy coffin was opened wide.

Chu Feng accepted an earthenware jar, looked out at the armored soldiers, and cried out loudly, "The five thousand armored men of Ji Ling's division all died in battle. They died for their loyalty to the country, they died protecting their wives and children, and their deaths were well-deserved!"

"This is their ash; I will place it within this coffin."

"And this coffin is also prepared for myself. This time, I carry the coffin to fight to the death, and I will never retreat! Either I shall bury them outside the walls of Shouchun City, or I shall be buried alongside them in this chaotic era!"

"Do you dare to follow me in a battle to the death?!"

With a sharp *clang*, Chu Feng drew the sword at his waist and raised it high. His battle robe billowed in the wind, and matched with his steadfast and solemn expression, it was profoundly convincing.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Before the battle begins, I want you to know that in this fight, you have no way out."

"If you retreat, your wives will be defiled by Cao's army, your children will be ruthlessly slaughtered by Cao's army, and your loved ones will be separated from you forever across two worlds."

"When two armies meet in a narrow pass, the courageous win! Only by winning can you protect your wives, children, and elders. Cao's army is undeniably fierce and brave, but we sons of Jianghuai are by no means inferior to them!" Chu Feng paced back and forth, shouting sternly.

These words caused countless armored soldiers to silently bite down on their teeth. If their wives, children, and elders were all to die miserably, what meaning would there be in their living on?

"Advance!"

Having spoken, Chu Feng immediately mounted his warhorse and led the charge.

Watching that departing figure, Lü Meng could not help but sigh with emotion. Perhaps this battle truly held a glimmer of hope; Ji Ling's death had not only failed to dampen morale, but had instead ignited their fighting spirit. Chu Feng's methods were truly enough to make one feel humbled.

When it came to stratagems, he was full of cunning tricks, yet facing Cao Cao, he chose not to seek victory through cleverness, but rather to confront the enemy with orthodox troops and conquer them through orthodox might.

To be honest, he truly could not fathom it.

Of course, if Chu Feng were to know this, he would likely reply that the main reason was simply that he had run out of tricks—especially with Cao Cao and a top-tier strategist team on the opposing side. His previous few layouts had all merely borrowed the advantages of hindsight. Having wrung his brain dry, he simply could no longer think of any other schemes and was forced to resort to this desperate measure. After all, Shouchun could not afford to drag things out, and neither could he.