Three Kingdoms, Myth

Yuan Shao may have been muddle-headed, but the others were not so drunk that they didn't know what was happening. They quickly advised him against proceeding with Qu Yi's plan, arguing that although they had dealt a heavy blow to Gongsun Zan, their forces were also exhausted, and Qu Yi was severely injured. There was no need to rush. If they pressed on too hastily, things could go wrong. It would be better to stabilize their current position and gradually weaken Gongsun Zan. Victory was inevitable, so why take unnecessary risks?

Qu Yi said nothing, remaining half-kneeling before Yuan Shao. Meanwhile, Yuan Shao, sobered up by the others' advice, stood in silence for a long time. Finally, he filled his cup and handed it to Qu Yi, saying, "Drink this cup! You will lead the charge, and I will follow behind you!"

Qu Yi drank the cup in one gulp and solemnly replied, "Yes!" He then gripped his sword and walked out. Sometimes, war is fought on momentum, and Qu Yi was determined to ride this wave. He swore not to return until Gongsun Zan was defeated.

After Qu Yi left, everyone, including Shen Pei and the other civil officials, tried to dissuade Yuan Shao. They knew Qu Yi's plan wasn't wise—Gongsun Zan would undoubtedly be prepared for an attack that night.

"My general is fighting on the front lines; how can I not keep my promise? Where are Yan Liang and Wen Chou?" Yuan Shao put down his wine cup, stood up proudly, and shouted.

"Yan Liang and Wen Chou are here!" Unlike the others who hesitated, these two never questioned Yuan Shao's orders and immediately stepped forward.

"Prepare the troops for a night battle! Even if Gongsun Zan is prepared, I trust that Qu Yi will show him the difference in strength!" Yuan Shao roared. If a surprise attack was impossible, they would continue the battle from the morning and push through to total victory.

Yuan Shao's determination made the others give up trying to persuade him. Instead of offering futile advice, they focused on ensuring victory.

Qu Yi, wrapped in bandages and clad in armor, led 1,500 remaining death soldiers and selected 3,000 reserves from the rear guard. Without any concealment, they charged straight toward Gongsun Zan's main camp. Qu Yi knew that every corner of Gongsun Zan's camp would be heavily guarded, but that only meant that each defensive position would be weak.

As long as they were strong enough, Gongsun Zan's defenses wouldn't matter. Qu Yi believed that if he was fast and fierce enough to break through the guards before Gongsun Zan could react, the entire army would collapse.

There wouldn't be another opportunity like this, so Qu Yi was willing to gamble. He didn't want Gongsun Zan to retreat and leave a hidden threat for Yuan Shao. Therefore, he was willing to fight, even while wounded, because he knew that only he and his death soldiers could decisively break Gongsun Zan.

Qu Yi's troops charged out of Yuan Shao's camp without hiding their movements. The blood-red aura surrounding the death soldiers was almost palpable, a scent of blood in the air.

Qu Yi's speed was incredible. Before Gongsun Zan's army could react, they were already within 150 paces of the camp. At full speed, the death soldiers' aura transformed, like blood-coated blades attached to every soldier's weapon. Abandoning defense, the strongest offensive unit under Qu Yi's command became a bloodthirsty wolf, slamming into Gongsun Zan's camp.

The centurion guarding the gate had no time to react before being felled by a rain of arrows. Seizing the moment, Qu Yi led his men into the camp, descending like a fierce tiger among sheep, slaughtering the gate guards with relentless ferocity.

Gongsun Zan, who had fallen from his horse when the White Horse Cavalry's banner fell, had only recently regained consciousness. He was a shadow of his former self, the once-proud general who had declared that with the White Horse Cavalry in hand, he could conquer the world. In the moment he woke up, he seemed to age rapidly.

"What is happening?" Gongsun Zan asked as he struggled to stand, only to be hit by a wave of dizziness that almost sent him back to the ground.

"Yuan Shao's forces are attacking the camp!" Guan Jing answered in a panic.

"Where is the White Horse Cavalry? Follow me to repel the enemy!" Gongsun Zan roared, but then froze as he remembered—the White Horse Cavalry was no more. A wave of pain gripped his heart, and with fury in his eyes, he looked outside the tent. "Follow me to kill the enemy!"

When Gongsun Zan arrived at the battlefield, Qu Yi had nearly broken through the reinforcements and was about to penetrate the central camp. Seeing the carnage, Gongsun Zan's eyes blazed with anger. When had he ever been pushed to such a desperate situation?

"Fire the arrows!" Gongsun Zan commanded in a fit of rage.

"Lord!" Guan Jing was stunned, quickly grabbing Gongsun Zan's arm to stop him. "Lord, our soldiers are also in the front lines. How can we fire?"

Gongsun Zan coldly glanced at Guan Jing, his voice devoid of emotion. "Why not fire? If I don't, do you think they can repel Qu Yi?"

He shook off Guan Jing and ordered the archers to fire. The soldiers behind him, seeing the order given, had no choice but to comply. A volley of arrows rained down, indiscriminately striking both friend and foe.

Qu Yi's eyes flashed with anger. This was not the Gongsun Zan he once knew.

But beneath the rain of arrows and the cries of the wounded, Qu Yi found clarity. Originally, his assault might have failed if Gongsun Zan hadn't arrived. He would have been forced to retreat. But now, things had taken an unexpected turn.

Noticing the hesitation in his opponent, Zou Dan, Qu Yi realized he still had a chance. He roared, "Yan Liang! Wen Chou! Come to my aid!"

Waiting 200 paces outside the camp, Yan Liang and Wen Chou immediately mounted their horses and charged toward Gongsun Zan's camp. This was the signal, the moment Qu Yi had been waiting for—the battle had reached its turning point!

Qu Yi led his death soldiers in a frenzied assault, ignoring their own casualties. Victory was within reach. If they could endure this wave of arrows, they would turn the tide of the battle. Gongsun Zan's front lines, already on the brink of collapse, disintegrated under the onslaught of friendly fire.

There was no need to set fires or wreak havoc everywhere. Gongsun Zan's previous actions had already handed Qu Yi a golden opportunity. Simply driving the routed troops into the rear would secure victory. Who would follow a leader so cold-hearted?

Yan Liang and Wen Chou stormed into the camp, but by then, Qu Yi had already shattered Gongsun Zan's front lines. Without the chaotic rain of arrows, Qu Yi couldn't have forced the front camp to collapse. But with the front soldiers now colliding with the archers, the once proud and disciplined archers broke and fled.

For Gongsun Zan, who witnessed this, it was too much. His throat tightened, and his vision darkened. How had it come to this? How had he, Gongsun Zan, fallen so low?