Three Kingdoms, Myth

Leaving aside Gan Ning's uneasy feeling, at this moment, Yuan Shao finally received news from his rear camp three days after sending out his battle challenge.

"Master, I am ready," Ju Yi reported, clad in heavy armor, the clanging of metal accompanying his every movement as he saluted Yuan Shao.

"Are you confident this time?" Yuan Shao asked, looking at Ju Yi.

"Victory or death!" This time, Ju Yi spoke with a calm demeanor, his voice resolute and strong, with none of his usual arrogance.

Yuan Shao sighed, "Be prepared. This time, my life is in your hands. Don't disappoint me."

"Yes!" Ju Yi didn't say another word, simply bowing and turning to leave the tent. As he was about to step out, Yuan Shao's voice reached him again, "Don't die, Zhengli."

Ju Yi didn't look back; he just silently walked out. Outside, his men were already prepared—a force of eight hundred heavily armored spearmen, known as the Da Ji Shi, and three thousand death squads armed with strong crossbows and swords, ready for battle.

"For this battle, there is no retreat! The banner of the White Horse Cavalry must fall. I, Ju Zhengli, swear not to return unless victorious!" Ju Yi commanded his soldiers. "If any of you have final words, speak now, for there may be no chance on the battlefield."

A heavy silence followed. Ju Yi's face showed a faint smile.

No one spoke. Ju Yi poured each soldier a bowl of wine from a large jug, and after they all drank, he led them out of the camp. Ju Yi was ready to die.

Yuan Benchu's boldness had earned his admiration. A commander doesn't always have to lead from the rear. Sometimes, leading with one's blood and courage is also a way to command. Ju Yi believed that his soldiers would not flee, even in the face of death. The White Horse Cavalry must die; anyone blocking Yuan Benchu's path to dominance must die!

"Today is the day," Gongsun Zan laughed heartily, "I didn't expect Yuan Benchu to have such courage. Good, very good! All troops, break camp and follow me to crush Yuan Benchu!"

Taishi Ci felt a bit uneasy. Ever since receiving Yuan Shao's challenge three days ago, he had a vague sense of foreboding. He had immediately written a letter to Gan Ning and sent it off.

What Taishi Ci didn't know was that Gan Ning was now down to just over three hundred naval troops. He had already sent out most of his forces to patrol the coastline, eliminate pirates and bandits, and protect the sea merchants.

"Zi Yi, would you like to join the battle?" Gongsun Zan asked with a smile. He admired this strong man from Qingzhou and was willing to share some of the glory, for in his mind, facing Yuan Shao at Jieqiao was a death sentence for Yuan.

"It is my duty, and I would not ask for it otherwise!" Taishi Ci smiled. Whether they won or lost, he just needed to do his part. The rest was up to fate.

Meanwhile, on the Zhang River, Gan Ning was steering a small sailboat with his remaining three hundred men, preparing to head to the battlefield. To him, there was nothing wrong with this action, nor did he consider that his few hundred men would be nothing more than a drop in the ocean against tens of thousands of troops.

After assigning military duties, Taishi Ci returned to the rear camp to organize his forces, where he received a letter from Gan Ning. The letter stated, "I am leading all my troops up the Zhang River. I will arrive within three days." Instantly, Taishi Ci felt relieved!

In Taishi Ci's mind, having Gan Ning's unnoticed three thousand elite naval troops lurking behind Yuan Shao's lines, ready to strike at any moment, meant that even if Gongsun Zan suffered unexpected losses, Gan Ning could arrive two or three days later to gather the remnants, reorganize the troops, and fight again. As for total annihilation, that seemed impossible.

What Taishi Ci didn't realize was that the situation was far more dire. Gan Ning didn't have three thousand men, and the battle at Jieqiao wasn't just about winning or losing—it was about how many of the White Horse Cavalry would survive. No one had even considered the possibility of the White Horse Cavalry being completely wiped out.

Gongsun Zan's strength lay in his White Horse Cavalry. After the battle of Jieqiao, the cavalry was utterly destroyed. Although Gongsun Zan still had nearly ten thousand infantry, they were a far cry from the force that once made the northern nomads tremble. Without the White Horse Cavalry, Gongsun Zan was like a tiger that had lost its teeth and claws, no longer possessing the same fearsome aura. This set the stage for the coalition of Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Yuan Shao to jointly attack Gongsun Zan. If the White Horse Cavalry had still been around, even in his downfall, Gongsun Zan would have made the nomads hesitate before looking south.

"March!" With the sound of drums, Gongsun Zan's left and right wings surged forward. Ten thousand White Horse Cavalry followed on both flanks, their white banners and clouds of dust nearly obscuring the blue sky.

"Master!" Just as Yuan Shao was about to lead his troops, Shen Pei entered the tent and bowed.

"Zhengnan, what brings you here?" Yuan Shao asked curiously.

"Master, do you trust your generals and advisors?" Shen Pei half-knelt on the ground, knowing that his question was dangerous, but his loyalty to the Yuan family compelled him to ask.

"I do!" Yuan Shao answered without hesitation.

"Then I ask you to break camp. General Ju's words, which I once doubted, I now believe. Just now, I saw him swear a blood oath—not to return unless he destroys the White Horse Cavalry! Therefore, I, Shen Zhengnan, am willing to vouch for General Ju!" Shen Pei said solemnly.

"Good! I trust not only Zhengli but also You Ruo and Yuan Hao, who are ready and waiting for this battle to annihilate the White Horse Cavalry!" Yuan Shao declared firmly. "Zhengnan, relay my orders—break camp! Every soldier is to carry three days' worth of rations. Burn the camp and pull back the supply troops. Tell Zhengli that if this battle is lost, I will die as well!"

Yuan Shao now felt a pressing sense of urgency. The rise of Cao Cao and Liu Bei had grown to rival his own power. Under this pressure, Yuan Benchu, the paragon of the land, shed his former lethargy and once again revealed his heroic spirit. Since he had decided to trust Ju Yi, he would trust him fully, believing that Ju Yi would crush the White Horse Cavalry!

Ju Yi, receiving Shen Pei's message, felt a wave of fear, followed by a return to his usual demeanor. However, his expression hardened with determination. If he had previously thought that fighting to the last man would be enough to prove his loyalty to Yuan Shao, now only one thought remained: he could die, but he would ensure that Yuan Shao won this battle.

Sometimes, war is the stage for just one person. A brilliant victory can create a renowned general. If Ju Yi had still held onto his previous mindset of fighting to the last man, he might have lost. But with the resolve to drag his enemy to hell, even in death, his spirit soared above all. Throughout history, strategists have only calculated odds, but only a truly outstanding commander can turn the tide from the brink of defeat. All miraculous battles have always had one thing in common—an exceptional commander!