Chapter 340 (1/2)

Zhang Xiu smashed a table inside his camp at Shouchun.

“Defeated!” Zhang Xiu repeated as he looked at the person kneeling in front of him. His Xiliang Cavalry elites, his heavy cavalry of eight thousand, had been thoroughly defeated. Only about a thousand returned from battle, with a lot of them injured. This meant that Zhang Xiu had lost over six thousand troops. On top of that, according to the man kneeling before him, they only managed to kill about a thousand of the enemy troops. Hu Che Er did not dare to lie because he knew that Zhang Xiu trusted him. He knew that if he were to be caught lying, his value in the army would decrease.

“How hateful!” Zhang Xiu was extremely angry not only because he lost six thousand troops but most importantly, they were defeated. Liu Mang’s challenge letter had clearly shown disdain for the Xiliang Cavalry. In anger, Zhang Xiu wanted Liu Mang’s head but the Xiliang Cavalry was defeated. This defeat lowered the reputation of his Xiliang Cavalry and also his own.

There were only two thousand and five hundred enemies. Although they had the ballista, others would not care about whether the ballista was hidden and only cared about the results.1 They only saw that eight thousand heavy cavalry fought against two thousand five hundred heavy infantries and lost.

“Why didn’t you just go and die? Why did you come back?” Zhang Xiu’s anger surged and kicked Hu Che Er. Hu Che Er was unable to dodge because he had lost an arm and his body was weak. Even if he could, he would not dare to. On the other hand, Zhang Xiu was also at a refinement stage. The strength of his kick during his anger could easily be imagined.

Hu Che Er was sent flying by Zhang Xiu’s kick. He started coughing out blood the moment he landed on the ground. His face was also pale. The wound on his arm reopened and blood flowed out.

Although Hu Che Er’s face had turned pale, he did not say anything.

“General Yang Wu!” Just as Zhang Xiu was about to start attacking again, he heard Liu Bei’s voice from outside his camp. Zhang Xiu tacitly accepted, allowing Liu Bei and Pang Tong into the camp. Liu Bei tried to help Hu Che Er up the moment he saw Hu Che Er kneeling on the ground but Hu Che Er declined Liu Bei’s help as he did not dare to move without Zhang Xiu’s order. Liu Bei then thought that this was Zhang Xiu’s matter and it would not be appropriate for him to continue offering Hu Che Er help.

“Did Lord Xuande come here to laugh?” Zhang Xiu’s spoke with a unhappy tone as he still needed to vent. n.o.body would be happy for throwing away thousands of troops. Zhang Xiu was unable to think of another reason Liu Bei would pay him a visit.

Liu Bei shook his head and sighed. “General Yang Wu. You misunderstood me! How could I come here to laugh at you? Both of us are allies. Why would I come here and laugh at you. I, Liu Bei, would also not feel happy about your losses. With the supply route blocked, my soldiers cannot obtain provisions. If we cannot capture Shouchun, we could only retreat!” Liu Bei also felt bitter. Initially, he truly wanted to see Zhang Xiu’s Army make a fool of themselves. He would have benefited if Zhang Xiu dispatched his troops to fight against Liu Mang as Zhang Xiu would have been weaken and Liu Mang would have been restricted. Both sides would suffer while the supply routes would be secured. His own rear would also be safe. But now, Hu Che Er had been defeated and retreated.

Eight thousand men were dispatched. Only about one thousand returned. This was something Liu Bei found out from one of the Xiliang Cavalry soldiers. After losing so much, they only managed to harm about a thousand of the enemy.