Chapter 875: The Movement of Clouds

"Perhaps the recent pressure has been too much, and I haven’t been resting well. Damn Liu Bei! Tomorrow, I'll show you my true strength!" Yuan Shao muttered angrily after snapping back to reality from a brief moment of confusion.

"Everyone, rest well tonight. Gather your strength, and tomorrow, we will slay Liu Bei!" Yuan Shao shouted loudly, a rare departure from his noble demeanor, signaling just how much he now feared Liu Bei.

The civil and military officials laughed heartily, bowing respectfully. Since dismantling the camps would directly form the battle formations, there was no need to elaborate on how the troops would be arranged. Everyone had passed through these positions many times before and was already familiar with each formation’s layout and the intricate movements required to protect the central army.

On the other side, Jia Xu glanced at Guo Jia, feeling a bit reflective at his words. "If the enemy is evenly matched with us, how do we distinguish between what is real and what is false? And from where should we judge the difference?"

Moonlight bathed Jia Xu and Guo Jia as Guo Jia, raising his cup toward the moon, spoke with a hint of intoxication. "I’ve never hesitated to think from the most pessimistic viewpoint about everything I will face."

"You're being careless, Wenhe," Guo Jia said softly, shaking the wine jug in his hand as his gaze turned contemplative. "Or should I say, you’re becoming impatient. I wonder, what is it that makes you rush? Or perhaps, what makes you feel this urgency?"

"My mental aptitude has always been a burden to me, so I often disregard it, relying instead on my own eyes to see, my own ears to hear, and my brain to discern. Don’t you notice the coincidences?" Guo Jia’s intoxicated eyes flashed with pride. Even without his mental prowess, even having forsaken his unique gift as a strategist, he was confident he could still stand proudly above all others.

This trait of Guo Jia was what made him so terrifying. Even without his innate talent, he wouldn’t be defeated—he might even become stronger. As Guo Jia had said, his spiritual gift was nothing but a burden to him.

"Very well, let’s consider everything from the worst possible perspective," Jia Xu replied, his expression unchanged as he gazed at Guo Jia.

"For us, the worst-case scenario would be Yuan Shao mobilizing the entire Hebei army. And the talk of running out of supplies and soldiers dispersing? It’s all nonsense," Guo Jia said calmly.

"Let’s fight, then!" Jia Xu said coldly. "You probably understand that the victory our army needs now isn’t about overwhelming strength but about absolute momentum—an aura that crushes everything in its path."

"So even though you know the opposing side has five army formations, filled with uncertainties, you still took this step?" Guo Jia dropped the white porcelain wine jug in his hand, letting the priceless vessel shatter into fragments.

"What of it?" Jia Xu asked. "Nothing will change the fact of Yuan Shao’s defeat."

"You’re gambling..." Guo Jia finally said after a long pause. "But I suppose there’s no reason to stop you. Still, Wenhe, you’ve been unusually impatient lately. If there’s something troubling you, now would be the time to speak."

Jia Xu silently shook his head and turned to leave. Some things, it seemed, were best left unsaid.

That night, Chen Xi's forces at Puyang split into two groups. One, led by Yu Jin, feigned an attack to encircle Puyang, while the other moved under cover of darkness toward Dongwuyang.

That same night, Hua Xiong led the remaining 6,000 Xiliang Cavalry along the Yellow River, heading toward Dongwuyang. They were to be the sharp dagger that would pierce Yuan Shao’s heart in the coming battle.

At the same time, Chen Xi and Liu Ye led 2,000 infantry troops, with Xu Sheng commanding the navy, sailing toward Dongwuyang as an unexpected force. Chen Xi, naturally cautious, wanted to ensure there were no unforeseen complications in this battle.

That night, Fa Zheng handed a sealed letter to a soldier disguised in Yuan Shao’s armor, to be delivered to Yanzhou. All of his plans were contained in that letter. Whether they succeeded or failed would be determined when it reached Yanzhou.

Simultaneously, Jiang Yiqu, in charge of defending Ye City, led a large force along the official road, moving in a different direction from Fa Zheng. Meanwhile, Ye City’s defense was left to the surrounding garrison troops.

Almost at the same time, Xun Chen and Guo Yuan led the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry out from the northern gate of Puyang, heading toward Dongwuyang under the cover of darkness. Whether as a razor-sharp blade or as a cavalry force capable of turning the tide of battle, this unit, led by Guo Yuan, was formidable enough to meet either role.

Around this same time, Xu Shu and Wei Yan stood outside the old manor of the Cui family in Qinghe, having gained nothing. Frustrated, they cast one last look at the manor.

After spending so much time, they still had not gained any clear results from the ambiguous stance of the Cui family, leaving Xu Shu with a severe headache. Although the Cui family had shown signs of wavering several times, Xu Shu found it impossible to discern what they truly intended. Ever since Xu Jun’s defeat, Cui Yan had mastered the art of concealing his emotions, leaving Xu Shu struggling to read his intentions.

"Yuan Zhi, if this goes on, we’ll just be wasting more time. Should we continue?" Wei Yan asked, frustrated at the lack of progress.

"One more attempt. If that fails, we can’t afford to waste any more time here," Xu Shu replied after some thought. Suddenly, he felt a faint tremor in the earth beneath his feet.

"Yuan Zhi, did you feel that? It’s the sound of a large cavalry force on the move," Wei Yan said, his expression growing serious.

"Why would there be such a large cavalry force at this hour?" Xu Shu frowned deeply.

"Who knows? Let’s sneak over and take a look," Wei Yan suggested, glancing at Xu Shu.

"Very well," Xu Shu agreed. He wasn’t too concerned about safety—after all, Wei Yan was an inner energy master. If something went wrong, they could easily escape.

But when they cautiously approached the source of the disturbance, they found nothing but a mass of chaotic hoofprints on the ground.

"What were those cavalry troops up to?" Wei Yan muttered to himself. It was clear that the cavalry had not come for them.

Xu Shu knelt, examining the crushed soil left by the horses' hooves. As he looked around, realization dawned, and he was struck with a sudden sense of urgency.

"Changwen, we must return to camp immediately! Abandon everything here and head straight for Dongwuyang. I only hope we’re not too late!" Xu Shu exclaimed in alarm. Even with only a few scattered traces, his intelligence and insight allowed him to quickly piece together the situation.

"What’s going on, Yuan Zhi?" Wei Yan asked, watching Xu Shu mount his horse and race back to camp as if possessed.

"We must return to the army at once! I fear that at the next sunrise, Yuan Shao will launch his final assault!" Xu Shu shouted, his face dark and grim as he spurred his steed onward.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter