Chapter 79

Chapter 713: All Things Regain Their Time (萬物之得時) (2)

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Jiang Wuzhang's top general was Ji Zehongque. However, he had long been killed by Gao Shun, his back broken.

Now, the one attacking Dangwai was Bulip. He was Jiang Wuzhang's second-in-command and a man who hated Han people. Yet, he served under Huang Boshou, a Han, because he followed Ji Zehongque's ideal of building a strong nation for the Jiang people.

He believed this battle could be won without much difficulty. However, things were not going as expected.

Taking the lead in place of Ji Zehongque's forces, he relentlessly pressed Dangwai. But with the forces of Ji Zehongque, Song Hu, and himself, the progress was slow as they faced a single opponent.

'They are as stubborn as iron chains!'

Bulip swung his two axes fiercely, felling Xiliang soldiers, but the enemies, who refused to retreat, annoyed him.

At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the defeat was imminent. Already, more than half of Dangwai's forces were unable to fight. Yet, they stubbornly held their ground, which was infuriating.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

With the sound of drums, the eastern gate of the Han pass opened, and Han Hao rushed out.

"I, Han Hao, a general under Lü Bu, am leading two thousand soldiers into battle!"

Han Hao led the central army of two thousand and announced his arrival. The besieged Dangwai forces cheered.

The attack began after sunset, and now only the moonlight and the occasional torch and firelight illuminated the battlefield.

In such a situation, it was impossible to know the exact number of enemy soldiers or reinforcements. Therefore, the morale of the besieged forces, which had been at rock bottom, soared like a fire.

Han Hao's troops had also been fighting the Guanxi forces on the city walls. They were as exhausted as Dangwai, but their morale was high.

After all, they had managed to break out from the stench-filled city walls and head east, giving them a sense that they could accomplish anything.

Clatter!

Han Hao entered the battlefield with agile steps. As he approached the enemy, he finally drew his sword.

His sword-drawing technique was flawless, fitting the description of perfect timing.

The sword in his hand was none other than the precious sword Juling, which revealed its presence by slicing an enemy soldier in half.

"General Han Hao, let's break through the enemy lines!"

* * *

Han Hao cut through the enemy soldiers like a fish in water. The armor of the enemy was no match for the precious sword Juling.

As Han Hao led the charge with the precious sword Juling, the soldiers following him were invigorated.

The bravery of the vanguard directly boosted the morale of the entire army.

As more and more enemy soldiers fell to Han Hao's sword, the morale of Han Hao's troops soared.

If Han Hao alone could be so brave, how much more so would those following Lü Bu?

"Let's sweep them away in one go!"

"The enemy is nothing!"

Han Hao's soldiers followed him, piercing through the enemy lines and swinging their weapons with enthusiasm.

Although they were only two thousand strong, Han Hao's participation was enough to change the tide of the battle.

'How can General Lü do this for so long?'

Leading the charge to break through the enemy lines was an exhausting task. Not only did he have to withstand the enemy's attacks, but he also had to clear the way for his own troops.

Han Hao, feeling the fatigue in his body, once again felt deep respect for Lü Bu.

"Rescuing our allies!"

"Ooh!"

Han Hao joined forces with Dangwai and took a deep breath. Dangwai, who had just killed an enemy soldier by thrusting his sword through the back and out the chest, said:

"General Han, I've never been so happy to see someone! Thanks to you, we've overcome a critical moment."

"General Dang, I also owe you for saving me. I almost died in the middle of the enemy lines, relying only on this precious sword."

"I thought you were pushing yourself too hard from a distance. Breaking through with a vanguard... Even if you show favor, you can't join the Dong Shangguo. Don't overdo it."

Dangwai might have seen it that way. Who else but Lü Bu's forces would break through with a vanguard? It was a tactic rarely used even by cavalry.

"I, Han Hao, am not one to change masters. I have no feelings for Dong Shangguo. I fight only for General Lü..."

"But why did you do such a reckless thing? It's awkward to say this after being rescued, but you really almost died in the middle of the enemy lines."

Han Hao knew Dangwai was worried about him, so he didn't argue.

"If General Lü or any of the Eight Generals were here, we would have beheaded the enemy commander in one go."

"Ha! Are you joking?"

"It's not a joke. General Dang, when you have the chance, you'll see how brave our Eight Generals are."

Han Hao made a bold claim, but Dangwai didn't believe him. He thought Han Hao was just boasting out of pride.

Of course, Dangwai, not wanting to be outdone, swung his sword to teach Han Hao a lesson.

"General Han, our Xiliang soldiers are also skilled at breaking through. The power of the Xiliang spear made Dong Shangguo the ruler of the world."

It wasn't a wrong statement.

But Han Hao secretly mocked the Xiliang soldiers. If they had seen the bravery of Tang Yeqi, there would be no need to debate who the best spearman in the world was.

"Our Xiliang spears don't use full strength from the start when breaking through."

"Isn't the beginning the most dangerous time?"

"Nonsense. The most dangerous moment is when you run out of strength in the middle of the enemy lines."

If it weren't for the need to kill the enemy, Han Hao would have nodded in agreement.

Thud! Dangwai fell to the ground, kicked by an enemy soldier during the chaos. The enemy soldier, holding his sword backward, tried to cut Dangwai's throat.

Swish!

Dangwai thought it was the end as the scene flashed before his eyes. But it was the enemy soldier who met his end. Han Hao's precious sword Juling cut off the enemy's hands.

And once again, Han Hao's sword beheaded the enemy soldier.

* * *

Han Hao extended his hand to Dangwai. Dangwai grabbed it and stood up. But Dangwai had another purpose.

Han Hao was momentarily pulled toward Dangwai. In turn, Dangwai used the force to pass by Han Hao.

Dangwai's sword pierced the chest of an enemy soldier who was about to attack Han Hao from behind.

"Consider this a debt repaid."

"Let's call it even."

Han Hao's troops had joined forces with Dangwai's to fight against Jiang Yidan's Bulip forces. The sounds of weapons clashing and the cries of soldiers and the wounded filled the air.

Han Hao, fighting back-to-back with Dangwai, asked:

"The number of enemy soldiers doesn't seem overwhelming."

"General Han, don't underestimate me. We've already swept through once. For some reason, the enemy's main force retreated to the rear."

"Ah! With the numbers now even, this is our chance."

"I agree. Cover me. I, Dangwai, will behead the enemy commander."

Dangwai showed his desire for glory, and Han Hao didn't back down.

"Leave that to me. I plan to present the enemy commander's head to General Lü as a gift."

"Listen, General Han. I brought thirty thousand Xiliang soldiers. I need to have something to say when I return. Let me have the enemy commander's head."

"Neither of us seems willing to back down... Let's do this."

"How?"

"The one who beheads the enemy commander first gets to keep it. How about that?"

They were making grand plans, but they didn't realize the enemy's rear was getting noisy.

"What are these crazy guys doing all of a sudden?"

Han Hao and Dangwai, who had been competing for glory by easily cutting down enemy soldiers, were taken aback by the sudden surge of enemies.

The Jiang Yidan soldiers were rushing forward like a flock of sheep chased by wolves.

"Form a spear formation! The central army, form a spear formation!"

Han Hao tried to counter the enemy's charge with a spear formation. Dangwai followed suit, gathering the Xiliang soldiers.

The enemy soldiers, breaking through recklessly, fell one by one, unable to penetrate the spear formation.

After withstanding the initial wave, Han Hao and Dangwai felt proud. But soon, they sensed a chilling presence and tightened their grip on their swords.

"Here they come again!"

Dangwai expected another attempt to break through. Soon, he saw a towering figure.

The light from the moon and the fire was too dim to see clearly.

'Is it a bear? Why would a bear be here...?'

Dangwai didn't immediately realize it was a person, as the silhouette was so large.

But soon, he recognized it as a human. Despite this, a deep fear welled up inside him.

The cold, piercing eyes in