Chapter 132: The Battle of White Horse Begins!

Liu Xie gave them a very solemn and thorough briefing.

He knew full well that the mission they were now undertaking was no different from that of twenty-first-century special forces.

Deep behind enemy lines, executing high-value operations—this was precisely the kind of work carried out by modern special operatives.

And the primary objective assigned to this cavalry unit was to serve as a shadow force.

A shadow force, in essence, did not mean remaining unseen; rather, it meant executing lightning-fast combat operations.

Striking with such velocity that the enemy would be defeated before they even had time to react.

In truth, as far as the impending Battle of Guandu was concerned, even if Liu Xie and his men had not intervened, Cao Cao would not have gained any easy advantages.

For in historical accounts, the reason Yuan Shao suffered such a disastrous defeat was entirely due to the events preceding the Battle of Guandu—specifically, the Battles of Baima and Yanjin.

During those engagements, Yuan Shao's formidable generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, had both perished.

Both had fallen at the hands of Guan Yu.

Yet currently, Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and the rest of them were entirely under Liu Xie's control.

Consequently, there was no one left to help Cao Cao slay Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

Given that these two individuals had earned the status of top-tier generals under Yuan Shao, one could easily imagine their formidable combat prowess.

Even so, Liu Xie had resolved to intervene and muddy the waters when the opportune moment arose.

After all, his purpose in coming here was straightforward: to maximize the casualties on both sides.

Over the next few days, Liu Xie kept the Shadow Wolf Guards concealed deep within the rugged mountains.

All the while, he continuously dispatched scouts to keep a close eye on Baima City in the distance.

A few days later, movement finally stirred within Baima City.

"Your Majesty, there is movement in Baima City."

"Yuan Shao has dispatched his premier general, Yan Liang, to lead a massive army and attack Dongjun of Baima."

"Liu Yan, the Administrator of Dongjun, has already sent urgent pleas for reinforcement to Cao Cao," reported a scout, delivering intelligence from the Baima City sector.

Upon hearing this news, both Zhao Yun and Gao Shun perked up instantly.

"It turns out there really is a war brewing in this region."

Recalling Liu Xie's earlier predictions, their admiration for the Emperor now knew no bounds.

"There's no need to rush. Let them clash for a while first. The task we must execute next..."

"Requires the utmost caution."

Indeed, ever since Liu Xie arrived in this territory, virtually every move he made was executed with extreme discretion.

For no other reason than the fact that this region was currently the home turf of both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

Once their presence was exposed, the situation would instantly become perilous.

In the days that followed, although Liu Xie and his men remained completely inactive, they kept their eyes locked firmly on the developments at Baima City.

Meanwhile, in their minds, they were constantly calculating the optimal moment to strike.

Waiting day after day, enduring the stagnant days, Gao Shun and Zhao Yun eventually began to grow restless.

"Your Majesty, when do we strike? Just lingering here like this endlessly is hardly a solution," Zhao Yun asked, unable to conceal his impatience.

"Zilong, do not be hasty. Never forget, we are the Shadow Wolf Guards, not ordinary soldiers."

"Troops like yours belong to a class known as special forces."

"Special forces?" A term entirely foreign to someone of this era like Zhao Yun left them profoundly puzzled.

"Indeed, special forces. And since they are special forces, their purpose is to carry out extraordinary missions."

"Right now, Baima City holds at least tens of thousands of enemy troops, and they are currently locked in a standoff with Cao's forces."

"If we charge out now, it would be tantamount to walking right into a trap, resulting in unnecessary casualties."

"If My calculations are correct, in a few days' time, Yuan Shao will surely dispatch troops toward Yanjin."

"And Cao Cao will undoubtedly lead his personal army here as well."

"That will be the precise moment when our intervention becomes necessary."

Liu Xie's words sounded as though he were explaining the strategy to Gao Shun and Zhao Yun, but at the same time, he was reinforcing the plan within his own mind.

As he spoke, Liu Xie continuously refined his strategy.

Historically, Yuan Shao's campaigns at both Baima City and Yanjin ended in utter failure.

Now, however, Liu Xie intended to alter that trajectory.

Just as he anticipated, a few days later, Yuan Shao's camp made another move.

"Your Majesty, as you predicted, Yuan Shao has indeed dispatched troops toward Yanjin."

"Furthermore, the commanding general leading them is Wen Chou," Zhao Yun reported upon receiving the latest intelligence.

"Oh? In that case, it appears the time has come for us to make our move."

Well-versed in the history of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Xie knew precisely what was about to unfold.

At this very moment, the geopolitical landscape of the entire northern region was undergoing subtle shifts.

A grand strategy was gradually unfurling.

Yan Liang led a massive host to assault Cao Cao's Baima City, prompting the besieged garrison commander Liu Yan to cry out for help.

To lift the siege of Baima City, Cao Cao heeded the counsel of Xun Yu.

He dispatched a substantial force to advance toward Yanjin.

Yanjin served as Yuan Shao's vital rear supply base.

Upon learning of this development, Yuan Shao immediately ordered his fierce general Wen Chou to turn back and reinforce Yanjin.

And this was precisely the outcome Cao's forces desired—to create the illusion in Yuan Shao's mind that they intended to capture his rear base.

Sure enough, Yuan Shao fell right into the trap.

Just as Yuan Shao diverted his troops to reinforce Yanjin, Cao Cao traveled light with an elite cavalry detachment.

Moving in absolute secrecy, they advanced rapidly in the direction of Baima City.

Meanwhile, Yan Liang, still lingering in the Baima City sector, remained utterly oblivious.

This was a somewhat atypical application of the classic strategy: "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao."

It was also the historical sequence of the Battle of Baima.

Naturally, with someone like Liu Xie present in this era, the outcome of the Battle of Baima was destined for a slight alteration.

In history, Yan Liang suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Baima and lost his life on the field, granting Cao Cao a sweeping victory.

Yet this time—indeed, Yan Liang would still suffer a heavy defeat.

But he would not die, nor would Cao Cao secure an unmitigated triumph.

As time ticked away, Liu Xie's scouts kept a constant, unblinking watch on Cao Cao's covert, forced march.

"Your Majesty, Yan Liang remains completely unaware of Cao's troop movements."

"Should we perhaps give them a warning?" Gao Shun stepped forward to suggest.

Liu Xie gently shook his head. "No. Let them fight it out."

"Transmit the order: have all troops maintain a state of constant readiness."

"We strike the moment the opportunity ripens."

With Liu Xie issuing comprehensive directives, the atmosphere across the entire Baima City region grew increasingly tense.

Both Liu Xie and Cao Cao understood intimately that a major battle was fast approaching.

Only Yan Liang remained utterly in the dark, ignorant of everything transpiring around him.

Then, on an afternoon a few days later, a thunderous roar of war cries shattered the peace near Baima City.

Leading fewer than tens of thousands of lightly equipped cavalry, Cao Cao launched a fierce, sudden assault upon Yan Liang's army.

It was only when Cao Cao's forces had closed to within less than ten miles of his camp that Yan Liang finally detected the enemy.

Yet, with the distance so critically short and devoid of adequate preparation, Yan Liang's army began to fracture and rout the moment the two sides clashed.

Standing atop a distant mountain peak, Liu Xie peered through his telescope, quietly observing the sudden, raging tempest of war below.