Chapter 826: Breaking the Formation

"Can this really break the formation?" Guo Jia asked quietly, understanding formations better than anyone else present. As Chen Xi and the others turned to watch Zhao Yun lead his troops toward the northwest of Yuan Shao's army, Guo Jia voiced his doubts.

"If it doesn't break the formation, we’ll only lose six thousand soldiers. But if they go in and we decide to fully commit, we could lose twenty thousand, and there's no guarantee it would even result in a stalemate," Jia Xu said, his face calm, showing no sign of regret for sacrificing a portion of their troops.

"If this plan is discovered, you'll get scolded by the lord for sure," Guo Jia muttered after a moment of reflection. He glanced at Jia Xu, suddenly realizing that this man was not only ruthless toward others but equally harsh toward himself.

"Then it mustn't be discovered," Jia Xu said with a cold smile. "You won’t say anything, and by the time Zichuan and Zijing figure it out, it will be too late. They may be smart enough, but their lack of experience shows. They’ve never seen true despair and thus don’t understand the necessity of sacrifice."

"Fine, do as you please. I’ll cover for you," Guo Jia nodded, choosing not to say more. As he spoke to Jia Xu, he realized why Jia Xu had chosen to attack the northwest. It wasn't just a matter of sacrifice; there was indeed a small chance for a reversal.

With that realization, Guo Jia couldn’t help but gain newfound respect for Jia Xu. In the chaos of battle, Jia Xu had chosen an unorthodox solution, though it carried a fifty-fifty chance of success.

[He’s betting on Qu Yi's temperament, Xu Shou's control over Qu Yi, and the complacency of human nature. It’s a gamble. If it pays off, Wenhe might win a significant victory. Even if it fails, losing six thousand soldiers is better than a mutual destruction costing tens of thousands.]

Guo Jia's eyes sharpened, his mind filled with admiration. Being able to come up with a viable plan amidst such chaos was not something just anyone could do. Jia Xu's strategy was indeed one of damage control.

Meanwhile, Xu Shou breathed a sigh of relief after successfully shifting the formation. Though he had claimed full confidence before, he had been quite anxious up until the moment it worked. Despite countless rehearsals, nothing compared to executing it on the battlefield.

"Phew," Xu Shou exhaled deeply, glancing at Tian Feng and the others beside him with a smile. His companions mirrored his relief as they watched Liu Bei’s forces launch a flank attack on their central army, feeling reassured at last.

"It’s done," Yuan Shao, standing nearby, asked sternly, though a smile of satisfaction crossed his face as he looked at Xu Shou with approval.

"Proceed," Xu Shou gestured to a flag bearer. As several large flags waved in the air, Yuan Shao’s army shifted once again, the lines between illusion and reality blurring, creating dizziness and confusion.

At that moment, Qu Yi began maneuvering through the formation, effortlessly splitting the enemy troops as he advanced. Soon, he encountered Liu Bei’s forces, who had become disoriented and confused. With a single slash, Qu Yi decapitated Wu Lan, laughing heartily as he moved through the formation.

"The power of this formation is incredible!" Qu Yi roared with laughter, cutting down Liu Bei’s soldiers with ease. Inside the formation, the Xian Deng Guard moved with increasing fluidity, their strength seemingly enhanced, while Liu Bei’s forces faced severe limitations. At times, the two sides passed within meters of each other, but Liu Bei's soldiers were unable to see the Xian Deng Guard, though the Guard could see them clearly.

Despite initially thinking they held the upper hand, Sun Guan and his men soon realized that their forces had dwindled to less than half. Panic crept into Sun Guan’s heart, and upon surveying the battlefield, he immediately understood they had fallen into a trap.

A veteran of many battles, Sun Guan quickly abandoned the idea of retreating the way they had come. Instead, he ordered his remaining troops to form a tight circle and defend against attacks from all sides while they waited for reinforcements.

"Liu Bei’s commanders are competent. They know that moving recklessly would only bring about their own demise. However, none of them seem to have the confidence to break through this formation," Xun You observed, sneering as he watched Sun Guan and his men hunker down defensively.

"The tactic is sound, but abandoning six thousand soldiers will surely damage their morale. Such a loss would shake the faith of their entire army," Shen Pei added with a cold smile. "And to think they believed they could break the formation from the outside—pure fantasy!"

As they spoke, Zhao Yun had already launched his attack from the northwest, ramming into the Xuanxiang Formation. Though Zhao Yun's forces managed to dent the formation, it continued to function, its core unshaken.

Nevertheless, Zhao Yun persisted, following Liu Bei’s original orders to continue attacking the northwest. His attacks became more ferocious, pouring all his strength into bombarding the enemy lines. Soon, the landscape began to change under the relentless assault.

Suddenly, an unexpected sight unfolded. Qu Yi, who had been leading the attack on Sun Guan’s forces, let out a sneer and turned his attention to the northwest. He had spotted Zhao Yun and his Bai Ma Yi Cong cavalry.

Qu Yi remembered how Zhao Yun had wounded Yan Liang the day before and couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger. Now, seeing Zhao Yun recklessly attacking the northwest, Qu Yi’s fury boiled over.

[Hmph, Xu Gong said this formation could devour five or six thousand troops with ease. I’ll lure Zhao Yun and his forces in and take revenge for the lord and Yan Liang.] Qu Yi made up his mind, leading the Xian Deng Guard towards the northwest. In his eyes, Sun Guan and Wu Dun’s forces were as good as captured, ready to be devoured whenever he chose.

As Qu Yi charged toward Zhao Yun, Xu Shou hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing. Drawing Zhao Yun deeper into the formation wasn’t a bad idea, he thought. While Qu Yi hadn’t sought approval before acting, the current situation was favorable enough that Xu Shou saw no need to interfere.

Zhao Yun, meanwhile, felt increasingly frustrated as his attacks on the northwest seemed to have little real impact, despite appearing successful. His strikes grew fiercer as his irritation mounted, but nothing seemed to change.

Just as Zhao Yun began to wonder whether Jia Xu had made a mistake, a rain of arrows suddenly descended upon him. Zhao Yun quickly deflected the arrows, but several of his Bai Ma Yi Cong were caught off guard and shot down from their horses.

"Zhao Yun, do you not know who defeated the White Horses? And yet you dare show your face before me? Today, you won’t even be able to save the last spark of the White Horse cavalry!" Qu Yi sneered as he raised a massive crossbow, taunting Zhao Yun.

"Qu Yi!" Zhao Yun roared in fury, spurring his horse toward the enemy. Laughing, Qu Yi turned and fled back into the formation. Without hesitation, Zhao Yun gave chase, leading his men deeper into the chaotic battlefield. Within moments, the formation swallowed them whole, and Qu Yi disappeared from sight.

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