Chapter 876: The Decisive Battle Begins

Regardless of how forces gathered from all directions, at dawn the next day, Yuan Shao's army dismantled their camps on the spot. The entire army, brimming with morale, prepared for the battle. The previous ceasefire, due to the apparent lack of provisions on both sides, had given the soldiers ample time to rest and recover.

Soon, the camps on the flanks, where Zhang He and Jiang Qi were stationed, were arranged into attack formations. Both commanders led over 10,000 troops each, though Zhang He’s left flank mainly consisted of elite cavalry, while Jiang Qi’s right flank was primarily composed of heavy infantry with large shields and swords, supported by a regiment of crossbowmen.

On either side of Yuan Shao’s main force, Lü’s three brothers and Wen Chou commanded 20,000 soldiers each as the army's wings. Unlike the forward units, these were mixed-formation corps equipped with a variety of weapons to handle any situation. In the center, Yuan Shao stood between these two forces, leading an additional 20,000 troops.

Yuan Shao’s central army was commanded by Yan Liang as the lead general, with Ju Shou coordinating, assisted by Shen Pei and Yuan Shao himself. In the front were a large number of powerful crossbowmen and shield bearers. Additionally, the formidable halberd-wielding warriors, famous for being among the most deadly in combat, were also deployed.

Unlike in the Battle of Jieqiao, all 800 of the halberdiers stood tall, each over nine feet in height, with imposing builds. They were fully equipped, clad in sealed steel armor from head to toe, carrying thick, single-cast shields and long spears. Every one of these men was a battle-hardened warrior, personally selected by Yuan Shao.

Their combined equipment weighed at least 50 kilograms, and only those with strong internal energy and powerful physiques could even manage to walk in such gear, let alone fight.

However, this immense weight also provided unparalleled defense. With this armor, even fierce generals like Guan Yu or Yan Liang would struggle to slice through more than one of them in a single strike, especially under the diminishing effects of battle clouds.

For this battle, Yan Liang had also set aside his usual short-handled Da Xia Longque Saber in favor of a long sword, as the battlefield’s restrictions on internal energy made wielding a short-handled weapon impractical.

This time, unlike past battles, Ju Yi was not leading his troops at the front of Yuan Shao’s forces. Instead, he commanded the "Suicidal Vanguard" from the rear, where he coordinated with other commanders like Zhao Rui and Wang Mo, making the rear forces seem bloated and massive.

With an army of 150,000 spread across the battlefield, Yuan Shao's rear troops alone took up half of the formation, leaving Yuan Shao’s central army directly exposed. In the center stood the enormous "Yuan" banner, openly displayed without any attempt at concealment.

On the other side, Liu Bei's forces were arranged into two massive, overlapping triangular formations. Gan Ning and Guan Yu were positioned at the tips of each triangle, while Liu Bei’s central forces, hidden away, were guarded by Xu Chu in the overlapping section. Zhao Yun commanded a small cavalry unit on the left flank.

"What is Yuan Shao trying to achieve with this formation?" Liu Bei questioned as he gazed across the battlefield, eyeing Yuan Shao’s exposed central army.

"No matter his intentions, our goal is to crush them," Lu Su declared with fervor, as he calmly began his preparations. Unlike previous battles, this time, Jia Xu, Guo Jia, and Lu Su poured all their mental energy into the army's clouds.

As the three strategists exerted their efforts, the clouds over Liu Bei’s army surged, and, as planned, a golden glow began to appear on the hands of every soldier gripping their weapons.

"This is likely the best plan we've devised. As the times change, we must evolve with them," Guo Jia remarked, panting after downing a cup of wine. At this point, conventional strategies like altering the weather had lost their relevance, and even Lu Su’s mental ability had limited effectiveness.

This was the ultimate tactic that Jia Xu and the others had developed—a method that infused spiritual energy, heaven and earth's vital energies, and internal energy into the flow of battle clouds. The idea was that since mental energy could control the flow of clouds, why not infuse these clouds with the same power as military formations?

"Fight! No matter what happens behind us, don’t look back!" Jia Xu stated calmly. "Trust that Zichuan will surely arrive!"

"I trust what I saw in Xiliang back then. Aside from the unbreakable will of the people, iron cavalry is enough to crush everything!" Jia Xu looked up at the sky, smiling faintly.

"Give the order, my lord. This time, there’s no need for negotiations—let’s begin the battle directly," Jia Xu said, his tone cold and resolute. The fate of the world would be decided today, and Yuan Shao had to die.

As the command flag waved, Liu Bei’s left and right armies began marching forward, slowly at first, but the imposing pressure they exuded caused Yuan Shao’s troops to feel an immense weight.

"Marching forward slowly, using momentum to overwhelm us?" Ju Shou smirked as he calmly issued a signal. The 150,000 soldiers of Yuan Shao's army obeyed, advancing steadily with a well-organized formation. At the same time, Ju Shou activated his spiritual ability.

In an instant, Yuan Shao’s army’s aura surged, breaking through limits and reaching its peak.

Ju Shou felt his mental energy pouring out like water through a broken dam. All active spiritual abilities consumed mental energy—only the amounts varied depending on the targets.

This was the first time Ju Shou had fully unleashed his spiritual power, pushing it to its absolute limit. At this moment, the morale and spirit of Yuan Shao’s 150,000 troops were at their highest, every soldier brimming with energy.

It was as though each soldier’s combat strength, which usually fluctuated within a certain range, was now pushed to its maximum limit. This included elite generals like Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

Meanwhile, on Liu Bei's side, as the clouds began to solidify, the destructive power of every soldier increased. This applied even to exceptional warriors like Guan Yu.

As the two massive armies, totaling over 200,000 troops, drew closer, the moment their central forces—Liu Bei’s main army and Yuan Shao’s flanks—were aligned, both armies suddenly surged forward, charging with battle cries.

Along the vast front stretching for over ten miles, Yuan Shao’s flanks advanced at uneven speeds, threatening to envelop Liu Bei’s army from both sides. But Liu Bei’s forces ignored these provocations, charging directly at Yuan Shao’s central army, where the "Yuan" banner stood—a banner that had never fallen, symbolizing the invincibility of the northern army.

Victory or defeat would be decided here and now. The battle that would determine the fate of Yuan and Liu, the northern hegemon, and ultimately, the empire, had begun just east of Wuyang in Yanzhou.

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