Chapter 74

Chapter 708: Luo Xiyi vs. Jiang Yidan (4)

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Anyone who had spent even a moment with the main force of the Yu Bu army knew the story. They knew how powerful the Yu Bu generals were.

Let alone someone like Luo Xi or Han Hao, who were part of the Yu Bu army, they would not be unaware of Gao Shun's strength.

However, that strength only helps when he is nearby. If he is far away, what difference does it make from a beauty in a painting?

'If the east falls, we cannot hold back the enemy in the west. General Gao must arrive in time... '

Luo Xi did not like this situation at all.

Huang Baocong, as part of the all-out offensive, had not only devised a coordinated attack but also employed the tactic of Yi Fu.

While there were methods to counter Yi Fu, the real issue was the defense in the east.

The fact that Wei Zhe was so troubled meant that if Gao Shun did not arrive in time, the east would fall.

"Commander, make a decision. Relying solely on General Dan Wai for the eastern defense will not yield good results."

Wei Zhe did not trust Dan Wai's capabilities.

Even if the Xiliang soldiers were formidable, they were vastly outnumbered. He believed that in a flat battlefield where forces were evenly matched, they could not withstand an enemy several times their size.

"Ah! It's difficult to withdraw troops from here. Can't you see that, sir?"

"I am ashamed to say this, but if we continue like this, even General Dan Wai cannot guarantee his survival..."

"Hmm!"

Wei Zhe could easily understand why Luo Xi, who was well aware of the situation on the city walls, insisted on reinforcing the eastern defense.

'If Dan Wai falls, the Xiliang soldiers will lose their commander. Whether it's the east or the west, we cannot afford to think separately.'

Troops from different origins had gathered in one place with a single purpose.

As the commander, Luo Xi had the responsibility to lead them harmoniously.

While the Central Army was under his influence from top to bottom, the Xiliang soldiers were different. They could only be moved through Dan Wai.

However, if they lost Dan Wai, the link, it was uncertain whether the Xiliang soldiers would continue to fight to defend Hanguan.

Just as Luo Xi's thoughts deepened, the long-awaited Gao Shun's forces finally arrived at the eastern side of Hanguan.

* * *

Gao Shun climbed a tree like a monkey and stood on a high branch to assess the battle situation. Specifically, he was looking for the main flag.

'There are five flags, but I can't tell which one is the main flag!'

Even in the darkness, Gao Shun's eyes scanned all of Jiang Yidan's flags.

However, since these flags belonged to the Jiang clan, it was difficult to distinguish the main flag. If it were the armies of the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, or Xianbei, Gao Shun could have identified them, but the Jiang clan was a different matter.

'Is it the rear or the center? That's the question.'

He guessed that one of the central or rear flags was the main flag, but he had no time to deliberate.

Gao Shun leaped from the high branch. As soon as his feet touched the ground, his figure sprang forward like a spring. His troops followed closely behind.

The five generals of the Jiang clan, three of whom, including Jiang Dong, had been captured by Lü Bu, were not all present. Nu Zong, Chui Hao, and Wu Le were also here.

However, the commander was not Wu Le but the leader of the Jiang clan, Ji Zehongque.

Wu Le had no doubt about the Jiang clan's victory. He also believed he would not need to take action. Therefore, he only brought his personal guards to the rear.

From the position, the commander Ji Zehongque was at the forefront of the eastern assault on Hanguan. On his left and right were Bulip and Song Hao, and behind him was Wu Le.

To the southeast of Wu Le's forces, the Biyang forces were stationed to guard the rear in case of an emergency.

However, Gao Shun's forces appeared to attack the rear.

In the darkness, hundreds of Huo Han soldiers, who were the Han Jin Ying, emitted a cold, piercing gaze. They resembled a pack of wolves stalking their prey.

The Biyang forces, though tasked with guarding the rear, were not the weakest among the five armies of the Jiang clan. They were on high alert for any unexpected situation.

From the bushes, the Han Jin Ying soldiers poured out.

Darting spears, blackened to hide their presence, pierced the foreheads of the sentries.

"Enemy attack!"

The Biyang forces immediately alerted the others as the sentries fell, and they quickly began to form their battle formation.

Though they were part of the Jiang clan, under Huang Baocong's command, they were well-versed in Han tactics. However, due to the night and the sudden ambush, they could only form a basic defensive circle.

There is no better formation than a defensive circle for withstanding an ambush or a sudden attack. But in front of the Han Jin Ying, this formation was powerless.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook as Gao Shun closed the distance in an instant and leaped into the enemy formation.

One might wonder if a person could leap such a distance, but Gao Shun proved it was possible.

Thud!

As if struck by a falling rock, Gao Shun's figure plunged into the enemy, causing a deafening roar. The surrounding enemy soldiers were thrown back, screaming in agony.

As the dust settled, a white mist emanated from Gao Shun's nose and mouth. In the darkness, his eyes danced wildly.

It was a very impressive entrance, but the Biyang soldiers of the Jiang clan had no intention of retreating.

They rushed at Gao Shun, thrusting their spears and swords. To them, Gao Shun was just a fool who had recklessly charged into the heart of the enemy formation, relying solely on his bravery.

* * *

Gao Shun's bravery was beyond imagination.

Whoosh!

A spear aimed at Gao Shun.

However, it did not even touch him; instead, Gao Shun caught the spear shaft.

He pulled the spear shaft.

The enemy soldier holding the spear was dragged along, and Gao Shun's iron fist awaited him.

Crack!

A clean punch struck the enemy's face. Blood spurted from his nose, and broken teeth mixed with blood were scattered.

As the enemy soldier's body flew through the air and crashed to the ground, Gao Shun was already charging towards his next target.

"Ha!"

With a short cry, Gao Shun's fist called for blood.

Despite his massive, bear-like build, his movements were so agile that they left afterimages, overwhelming the Jiang clan's forces.

He relentlessly punched faces and jabbed chins. Each time, soldiers would collapse, their noses bleeding, or fall like rotten straw, their eyes rolling white.

Gao Shun aimed for faces and heads to conserve his strength. He could easily crush armor, but using such great force would not allow him to fight for long.

Even a glancing blow to the chin could cause the brain to rattle, rendering the enemy unable to act and causing them to fall. Gao Shun had already mastered this.

Apart from Gao Shun's prowess, the Han Jin Ying's performance was also remarkable.

Against the Jiang clan, which Huang Baocong boasted about, the Han Jin Ying almost engaged in a one-sided slaughter.

Despite their small number of only seven hundred, their individual sword skills were so formidable that the Jiang clan could not match them.

Swish!

The expression "moving like a slide" perfectly described the Han Jin Ying's movements. Each of their sword techniques was lethal, and their footwork was flawless.

Another strength of the Han Jin Ying was their cooperative combat techniques.

Their movements were as precise as a spider's web, and most of the fallen enemies had wounds on their backs rather than their fronts.

This was possible because they were light cavalry.

Even though the Bingzhou army's situation was difficult, none of them wore leather armor. However, this was not due to a lack of resources. The Han Jin Ying's total number was only a thousand because their training was extremely arduous. The most challenging part was mastering the technique of Jinkai, which made them impervious to swords and spears.

After enduring brutal training and mastering the basics of Jinkai, the probability of receiving fatal wounds decreased, making leather armor almost useless. In fact, it would only hinder their movements.

If these men, who had mastered sword skills based on assassination techniques and the Jinkai technique, were not terrifying, who could be?

However, there was another reason why the Han Jin Ying were considered on par with the Dangyeji. They were willing to do anything to win.

"Aaah! My eyes!"

Jiang clan soldiers were falling in pain, tears streaming down their faces. This was because the Han Jin Ying soldiers had sprinkled sand in their eyes.

This tactic, which had been used by the Youxia Zhu Yin from Hedong against Cao Chong's subordinates, was now being employed by the Han Jin Ying.

After all, the assassination techniques the Han Jin Ying had learned were from Cao Chong's subordinates, so it was natural for them to use similar tactics.

They might be criticized for their despicable methods, but the Han Jin Ying did not care. War is about winning, not losing.

In essence, military strategy is about deceiving the enemy and succeeding in actions that would otherwise be considered despicable.

The five thousand soldiers from Henei, provided by Shan Ben, played a role in further disrupting the areas the Han Jin Ying had already swept through.

"Leave no one alive!"

Dozens of Han Jin Ying soldiers, under their command, once again turned the Biyang forces upside down.

The five thousand Henei soldiers.

A force of five thousand, composed of the best available men.

While their skills were far inferior to the Biyang forces, they were more than capable of cleaning up the battlefield that had been devastated by the Han Jin Ying.

Moreover, they followed the Han Jin Ying's commands without any complaints, having been awed by their strength.

After all, even the rowdy gangs who caused trouble every day would naturally show respect in front of skilled Youxia.

The thousands of Biyang forces saw their formation collapse in an instant and suffered numerous casualties.

However, even excluding the Biyang forces, the remaining forces of the Jiang clan were formidable. Gao Shun hastened his efforts to quickly finish off the Biyang forces.

The more he did, the more enemy soldiers targeted him.

From a distance, the commander of the Biyang forces, Biyang, glared at Gao Shun, who was felling his subordinates.

'Where did such a monstrous man come from?'

Biyang was dumbfounded. He was one of the five generals of the Jiang clan, a formidable warrior and martial artist.

The Jiang clan was an opponent that even the Guanxi generals would respect. Yet, the enemy here was toying with the Jiang clan soldiers like toys.

Among them, Gao Shun was a disaster for the Biyang forces. Despite having no weapons, the bodies of those killed by his bare hands piled up like a small mountain.

"Attack that man first! Ignore everything else! Bring me his head!"