Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 767: The Defeat of Longxi and the Arrival of Reinforcements

Zhang Fei watched from the side, his already hot temper was completely ignited again, his eyes wide open, he shouted loudly: "You girl, don't be ungrateful! My elder brother has already persuaded you kindly and given you enough face. If you are still so stubborn, then what else can I say? Let's fight! I, Old Zhang, am not afraid of you!" While shouting, he waved the Zhangba Snake Spear in his hand. The tip of the spear cut through the air, making a whistling sound. The flesh on his face trembled slightly with excitement, and his whole body exuded a ruthlessness that should not be underestimated.

When Dong Bai heard this, her beautiful eyes were filled with murderous intent. She met Zhang Fei's gaze fearlessly, swung her horsewhip suddenly, pointed at Zhang Fei, and shouted loudly: "Someone help me deal with this black guy! Don't let him act so arrogantly here!" Her voice was crisp but full of coldness. When the Xiliang generals behind her heard the order, they were immediately excited, and several fierce generals were eager to try and asked for a fight.

Dong Bai glanced around with her beautiful eyes and decisively called out the orders: "Hu Zhen, Duan Wei, Fan Chou, Hua Xiong, step out! Go and meet that arrogant black guy!" The four of them received the order, holding weapons, exuding a murderous aura, and strode out, their eyes fixed on Zhang Fei, ready to fight at any time.

Seeing this, Zhang Fei showed no fear. Instead, he rubbed his hands in excitement. With a loud shout, he brandished his Zhangba Snake Spear and rushed forward. His momentum was like a tiger emerging from the mountains, unstoppable. The tip of the spear flashed with a cold light, and every swing brought a whirring sound, demonstrating his true bravery.

Liu Bei saw that his persuasion was fruitless and knew that this battle was inevitable. Seeing Zhang Fei alone against four men, he could not help but worry, fearing that something might happen to his third brother. He was extremely anxious and hurriedly shouted to Guan Yu, "Second brother, go and help third brother!"

Guan Yu nodded slightly, holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand, narrowed his phoenix eyes, looked at Hua Xiong with a sharp gaze, and said coldly: "I will take your head again today!" After that, he urged the horse under his crotch, and rushed towards Hua Xiong like a red lightning.

In the blink of an eye, the six generals were engaged in a chaotic battle. The battlefield shone with cold light, and the clash of weapons and the shouts of soldiers intertwined, making people's eardrums hurt. Zhang Fei was like a raging beast, his Zhangba Snake Spear wielding an impenetrable force, the tip of the spear flashing with cold light, each spear aimed directly at the vital points of Hu Zhen, Duan Wei, and Fan Chou. His roars were like thunder, each one carrying boundless power, terrifying the three men and making their defense extremely difficult.

Guan Yu, wielding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, moved with agility, pressing Hua Xiong forward. His eyes, wide and sharp as a knife, locked onto Hua Xiong, a hint of disdain playing on his lips. Every swing of his blade carried the force of a mountain splitting and rock slicing through the air. Hua Xiong could only barely parry, his arms numb from the shock, and beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.

Although Zhang Fei and Guan Yu were outnumbered, they coordinated seamlessly, their offensive unleashing a powerful surge. Guan Yu seized the opportunity and delivered a powerful, devastating horizontal strike, forcing Hua Xiong back repeatedly and exposing his weakness. Simultaneously, Zhang Fei roared, his spear piercing Duan Wei's chest like a dragon emerging from the sea. Duan Wei, frightened, turned pale and frantically tried to block. Under their fierce attack, Hu Zhen and the other four generals gradually lost their strength, wounded and exhausted, their fatigue evident, and their defeat becoming increasingly apparent.

On the battlefield, Li Ru watched the battle unfold with trepidation. He saw his own men, Hu Zhen, Duan Wei, Fan Chou, and Hua Xiong, gradually losing ground to the combined attacks of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, their lives in imminent danger. The morale of the remaining Xiliang soldiers was also being suppressed by Liu Bei's forces. Knowing that the situation would only spiral out of control, he quickly rode to Dong Bai's side and urgently exhorted, "Bai'er, we can't continue this! Our men can't hold out. Withdraw and quickly set up camp to discuss the future!"

Dong Bai, like a volcano about to erupt, was blazing with hatred and rage, completely oblivious to Li Ru's advice. Her eyebrows arched, her eyes wide, and she roared, "Retreat? I'm going to avenge my husband today! Army, charge forward! Spare no one!" With that, she swung her whip vigorously, pointed it at Liu Bei's army, and charged out first.

Seeing that Dong Bai had actually ordered the entire army to charge, Liu Bei naturally would not sit idly by and wait for death, and quickly sent out a large army to resist. For a moment, the two armies collided like a surging tide, and the shouts of killing, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses intertwined into one, and the smell of blood quickly filled the air.

However, the Western Liang army launched its attack hastily, and was far less prepared than Liu Bei's army. Liu Bei's troops, well-trained and well-coordinated, gradually suppressed the Western Liang offensive with their tight formations and tenacious resistance. Though brave and valiant, the Longxi troops gradually became exhausted by the methodical assault of Liu Bei's army, and began to show signs of disarray and retreat. The soldiers stumbled, weapons dropped, and casualties mounted as Liu Bei's army pressed on.

Dong Bai watched her army fall into trouble, feeling anxious and angry, but she was helpless. Niu Fu, Xu Rong, and others gathered around her, urging her to withdraw, threatening to scare her into retreat. Dong Bai gritted her teeth, her eyes welling with tears as she gazed at the dire situation on the battlefield, filled with resentment. But ultimately, under the pleas of the others, she reluctantly issued the order to withdraw.

The Longxi army had fought in such haste that they hadn't even had time to set up camp. Their formation was in disarray, and defeat was clearly imminent. The soldiers stumbled, their faces terrified, and retreated under the fierce attacks of Liu Bei's army, unable to fight back.

Liu Bei gazed upon the chaotic battlefield, a wave of pity welling up in his heart. He had no desire to engage in a life-or-death battle with the Xiliang army, so he ordered his troops to withdraw. But Zhang Fei, now in a state of killing fervor, his face flushed, his eyes wide, like a demonic deity. He ignored Liu Bei's orders to withdraw, roaring, "Kill! Spare no one!" Brandishing his Zhangba Snake Spear, he led his men like a surging tide, charging towards the Xiliang army.

Seeing this, Liu Bei was horrified. He knew Zhang Fei was being too reckless. If he got caught in a siege, the consequences would be disastrous. Helplessly, he looked at Guan Yu and said anxiously, "Brother, Yide is being too impulsive. Go and meet him immediately. Make sure he returns safely!"

Guan Yu's expression was solemn, and he nodded slightly. With his Green Dragon Crescent Blade in hand, he mounted his horse and galloped towards Zhang Fei. With his nimble agility, he charged left and right amidst the chaotic enemy, drawing retreat wherever he went. As he charged, he called out to Zhang Fei, "Third brother, don't fight any longer. Follow me back to camp!" The battlefield was in escalating chaos, the cries of battle deafening, and life and death hung in the balance.

Just when the situation on the battlefield was at a stalemate, Zhang Fei was killing himself and Guan Yu was trying his best to support him, suddenly a cloud of dust rose in the distance, and a large group of cavalry rolled in, all wearing white helmets and armor, and everyone in mourning clothes, which was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Liu Bei thought to himself that something was wrong. He looked carefully and his face turned pale in an instant. He shouted, "We've fallen into a trap! Leave quickly!" While shouting, he hurriedly led his troops to turn around, trying to meet Zhang Fei and Guan Yu and get out of the current predicament.

Guan Yu also saw the cavalrymen charging towards him. Seeing them in mourning clothes, he was startled. He rode to Zhang Fei's side and shouted, "Yide, don't fight any longer! Retreat quickly! Don't ruin my brother's plan!"

Zhang Fei's face was red from the killing, his face stained with sweat and blood. He was in high spirits when he heard Guan Yu's cry. He suddenly came to his senses, looked around, and saw the dire situation. He gritted his teeth and roared unwillingly, "Humph, I'll let you go today!"

Meanwhile, Dong Bai and his men were desperately resisting Liu Bei's attack. Their strength was already weakening, and they were momentarily bewildered by the sudden onslaught of the mourning-clad cavalry. Before they could react, they saw the cavalry charging towards Liu Bei and Guan Yu without hesitation. The situation on the battlefield instantly became even more complex, with shouts of war and the neighing of horses mingling in a terrifying cacophony.

This unexpected cavalry, clad in white helmets and armor and mourning robes, struck like a sharp blade through the heart of Liu Bei's army. Their fierce and fearless attack instantly shattered Liu Bei's army. The soldiers panicked, fleeing in all directions, and the once-strict formation fell into chaos.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fought fiercely amidst the chaos, finally managing to stabilize their position. The three men coordinated their efforts, leading the remaining troops in a slow retreat. Strangely, the cavalry didn't pursue the enemy, but simply reined in their troops and reorganized their ranks.

Dong Bai witnessed this dramatic scene on the battlefield, noticing the enemy troops were all wearing white helmets and armor. A thought struck her, and she wondered: Could it be the Western Liang army arriving? She immediately raised her voice and demanded, "Have they arrived? Who is leading them? Please answer!" Her voice was clear and audible over the somewhat noisy battlefield. She was filled with anticipation, a hint of anxiety in her eyes, as she stared intently at the cavalry, hoping for a positive answer.

Zhang Xiu, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Gan Ning and others in the formation heard Dong Bai's voice, looked at each other, and after confirming that it was correct, Zhang Xiu kicked his horse's belly and rushed to the front of the formation first. Zhang Liao and Gan Ning followed closely behind him. The three horses were as fast as lightning.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the battlefront. Zhang Xiu dismounted, knelt on one knee, and with a solemn yet anxious expression, he called out, "Miss Dong!" Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning also dismounted and saluted. Zhang Xiu then asked, "Where is our old lord? We come to apologize!" His voice was loud, yet tinged with a hint of unease. He raised his head and fixed his gaze on Dong Bai, his eyes filled with guilt and expectation.

Dong Bai saw Zhang Xiu, Zhang Liao, Gan Ning, and the others, and memories of her past with Ma Chao flooded back to her mind. A pang of pain flared up in her heart, and her eyes instantly reddened. She calmed herself down and said, "Uncle Ma is in Wuwei and hasn't arrived yet. When I heard my husband was killed, I led the troops in Longxi, vowing to avenge him."

Only then did the four of them notice Dong Bai was dressed in plain white mourning clothes, her hair tied up in a woman's bun. Instantly, their hearts trembled, their faces filled with grief and self-blame. They knelt again with a thud, kowtowed deeply, their voices choked with sobs and guilt. "Madam, we were incompetent and failed to protect our lord, leading to his tragic death in Chang'an. We are to blame for this, and we sincerely apologize!" With these words, they pressed their foreheads to the ground for a long time, unable to get up, their bodies trembling slightly, their hearts filled with grief and self-blame for Ma Chao's passing.

Dong Bai's eyes were red, and his expression was sad, yet he forced himself to remain calm. He raised his hand to signal them to stand up. His voice was slightly choked but revealed his determination: "This is not your fault. It's all due to the conspiracy of the foolish court. Stand up."