Chapter 035: Liu Bei in Disarray, Lü Bu in Defeat and Retreat

Lu Bu and Liu Bei’s fierce battle raged on for an entire night.

Liu Bei’s forces were already pitifully small, and after suffering an ambush in the wild, their defeat was inevitable.

Riding his steed Dilu, Liu Bei galloped away, his hair disheveled and his face covered in dust. Though he had known many defeats in his life, rarely had he found himself in such a pitiable state.

This time, even his two sworn brothers had been separated from him in the chaos of battle.

Exhausted, Liu Bei felt his strength failing, and Dilu too was spent. Together, man and horse struggled through the depths of the forest.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves thundered all around him.

In moments, he was surrounded by soldiers clad in black armor. Thinking them the enemy, Liu Bei instantly drew his sword, ready to defend himself.

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“Xuande, it’s been a while! How have you been?”

With a broad grin and his distinctive beard, Cao Cao rode forward on a white horse, emerging from the ranks.

“Cao Mengde, you certainly have chosen the perfect moment to appear…” Liu Bei replied with a bitter smile.

His smile was forced, for he realized that all of this must have been Cao Cao’s plot. Yet with things as they were, he had to smother his anger and put on a friendly face.

It was a bitter feeling, one almost too much to bear.

Cao Cao looked at the dejected Liu Bei and could not help but say,

“Xuande, this isn’t like you at all, looking so troubled.”

Liu Bei sighed again. “I’ve lost my city, and now even my brothers are gone. How can I show my face in this world?”

Who knows what Cao Cao truly thought in that moment. He approached Liu Bei and patted him on the shoulder.

“Xuande, pull yourself together. I’ve sent out my finest troops to avenge you against Lu Bu. Come with me and see for yourself how that mad dog Lu Bu is now nothing more than a beaten cur.”

...

After successfully ambushing Liu Bei, Lu Bu’s army battled through the night and emerged victorious, preparing to seize Xiaopei.

But just then, Cao Cao’s forces arrived.

Lu Bu’s soldiers, weary from their struggle with Liu Bei, now found themselves facing the elite troops of Cao Cao. They fought bravely, but it was a desperate struggle.

Chen Gong was utterly bewildered. How could Cao Cao’s army have arrived so quickly? Unless they had set out at the very moment Lu Bu began his attack on Liu Bei.

Did this mean that the entire affair was one of Cao Cao’s carefully laid traps?

The realization struck Chen Gong, and he shouted,

“Fengxian, as long as the green hills remain, we need not fear for firewood! The Cao army is too strong—let’s withdraw to Xuzhou and plan our next move!”

Hearing this, Lu Bu began gathering his men, preparing for retreat.

But Cao Cao’s fierce generals were not about to let him escape.

“Lu Bu, don’t run! Taste my axe!”

The fierce Dian Wei charged like a wild beast, his giant axe swinging with the force of ten thousand pounds.

Facing this fearsome foe, Lu Bu frowned, spinning his halberd to meet the mighty axe. Sparks flew with every clash.

“Captain Dian, let me help you!” Xu Chu shouted, wielding his heavy iron broadsword, swinging directly at Lu Bu’s head.

No matter how bold or skilled Lu Bu was, facing both Dian Wei and Xu Chu at once left him hard-pressed.

Though Lu Bu’s prowess was unmatched and he showed no sign of defeat in the short term, it was only a matter of time before he was overwhelmed.

Fortunately, his steed Red Hare proved its worth. With the help of this magnificent horse, Lu Bu managed to fend off his attackers and break free, if only for the moment.

The tide of battle now turned against him. Cao Cao’s relentless pursuit inflicted heavy losses on Lu Bu’s troops.

But this was no time for regrets—this was a moment for desperate measures, where survival meant everything.

As he fled, heedless of losses, Lu Bu was delighted to find the distance between him and his pursuers growing.

“Cao the traitor, your victory today is no true triumph! Once I return to Xuzhou, I’ll rally my forces and face you again!” he shouted, not forgetting to hurl a threat as he escaped.

...

“Bah! What a farce!” Xu Chu spat on the ground. Had it not been for Cao Cao’s sudden order to ease their pursuit, Lu Bu would not have escaped so easily.

He turned and asked Cao Cao, “Minister, why did you order us to halt?”

Cao Cao smiled. “Never chase a desperate foe. Let Lu Bu flee to Xuzhou full of hope, only to discover it is no longer his. I imagine his expression then will be quite a sight!”

Hearing this, the gathered generals found it immensely entertaining and broke into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha…”