Chapter 404 Chapter Not Found (1/2)
Chapter 404 – Guan Yu's Karma
Cao Cao read Guan Yu's message scroll, which informed him about Liu Bei's stance in Hongnong.
Similar to Liu Bei's promise to Liu Biao, he attempted to surrender to Cao Cao with the condition that he got to retain his position as Hongnong's governor.
He burst into laughter, ”Oh, Liu Bei. You've never changed, no matter which world it is. Whoever your lord was, you always betrayed them for your personal gain. Now, are you planning to use me again?”
Cao Cao looked at the combat between infantry at the center. Guan Yu had long retreated from the frontline and regrouped with the charging 20,000 footmen. The infantry wave was so massive that all of Cao Cao's commanders were panicking.
Cheng Yu received the scroll and read it. He frowned, ”Isn't this man Yuan Shao's underling? What is he doing here?”
”He's a leech. Without his sworn brothers, he's nothing special. For now, let's survive Li Ru's onslaught. That man is going all-out.”
.
20,000 Footmen crashed against Cao Cao's remaining troops. This time, Li Ru's soldiers also had archers, who fired their arrows into Cao Cao's ranks.
Cao Cao's men retaliated with their grapeshots and repeating crossbows while the frontline held their advance.
Unfortunately, Cao Cao's forces were at a disadvantage in numbers and cavalry's strength.
5,000 Cataphracts routed Li Dian's horsemen and destroyed Cao Cao's flank defenders. They proceeded to Cao Cao's main battalion, which consisted of cannon crews and spearmen.
However, Cao Cao was ready.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Grapeshots from cannons and spearwall formation managed to stop their charge.
Three hours into the fight, 15,000 Remaining Xiliang soldiers brokethrough Cao Xiu's rank and captured the general.
Upon the defeat of Cao Cao's relative, the warlord decided to retreat.
His 55,000 soldiers reduced to 25,000 in a day, which disheartened everyone but Cao Cao.
On the other hand, the victor suffered more casualties.
15,000 Xiliang cavalry, 5,000 cataphracts, and 10,000 footmen remained after Cao Cao had fallen back to Hulao Gate. From 70,000 to 30,000, the loss was significant.
Still, Guan Yu's footmen secured something that Cao Cao's men left behind, a wheeled cannon.
Taking advantage of the victor's side, Li Ru had his men looted all corpses. He also took all dead warhorses, converting their meat into provision for his men.
In the temporary camp of Li Ru, the prisoner Cao Xiu was taken to the strategist. Guan Yu, the assisting commander, was at his side, looking at the prisoner in a pity.
He believed that Li Ru would not let this Cao Cao's cousin live.
Li Ru looked at Cao Xiu in solemn, ”What's your name, general?”
”… Cao Xiu.”
”You look young. How old are you?”
”… 18 maybe?”
Guan Yu revealed a bitter smile. The first time he killed somebody was when he was in his 20s, but this lad was commanding an army in his teen.
'Come to think of it, Zhang Tong also has many young generals. This land is so rotten that so many people have to take up arms in their youth.'
Guan Yu's memories from the other timeline resurfaced. Comparing this life with this strange memory from a different world, he did not like the current development.
At this rate, Liu Bei would follow the trend of history, becoming the first emperor of the Shu Han Dynasty once he had obtained a territory of his own.
The purpose of their fighting was for the people, not personal gain!
'Can I stop his ambition? What should I do to stop Xuande from continue fighting?'
While Guan Yu was in deep thought, Li Ru was interrogating Cao Xiu.
”What's the total number of your troops?”
Cao Xiu almost swore and cursed at Li Ru. But once he recalled the death of his men, he found it insignificant to reveal the outdated information.
”80,000”
Cao Xiu exaggerated.
”That's odd. I thought he had only 50,000 to 60,000 men. Are you hiding your troops elsewhere?”
”We didn't mobilize all our troops. The rest are protecting Hulao Gate.”
Li Ru frowned, ”Oh?”
He fell into silence, staring at the teenage general.
”Take this liar away and kill him. We don't need him anymore.”
Cao Xiu's face paled. He gritted his teeth as he stared into Li Ru's eyes.
Before Li Ru's men could drag Cao Xiu to the execution ground, Guan Yu blocked the men and appealed to the strategist.
”Sir Li Ru, can you reconsider? I believe this youth is Cao Cao's cousin. He's more valuable if we keep him alive.”
Li Ru shook his head, ”That's more the reason that I want him dead. Cao Cao and his ally clans are a thorn to our lord and his majesty Yuan.”
”I'm sorry. As his majesty's subject, I have the authority to decide all prisoner's fate. Please don't forget that you're within our territory.”
Li Ru glared at Guan Yu, ”Don't step over the line, general. I may look weak, but I'm the grand commander of this army. You may be a general of Yuan Shu, but under the chain of command, you work for me.”
Guan Yu chuckled in sarcasm, ”Not anymore. We're not serving the Xiongnu.”