Yuan Shao might have been muddled, but the others weren’t drunk to the point of oblivion. They hastily urged him not to proceed, saying they had already dealt a heavy blow to Gongsun Bogui that day. Although they had won a great victory, they were also exhausted, and General Juo too had suffered severe injuries. There was no need to hurry for a moment, in short, they advised against it. Rushing in might bring misfortune; it would be better not to go. They should secure the current situation instead, gradually consuming Gongsun’s forces. Victory would inevitably come, so why the rush to succeed?
Juo Yi didn’t speak, just half-kneeling in front of Yuan Shao. After being persuaded by everyone, Yuan Shao sobered up, stood in front of Juo Yi, and remained silent. After a long while, he poured himself another cup of wine and handed it to Juo Yi, "Drink this cup! You’ll charge as the vanguard, and I’ll follow you!"
Juo Yi drained the cup in one gulp and spoke solemnly, "Understood!" Then, clutching the Precious Sword, he walked out. Sometimes, war is about spirit, and Juo Yi was holding onto that spirit now. He wouldn’t turn back until he had destroyed Gongsun Bogui!
After Juo Yi left, everyone, including Sheni Pei and other civil officials, began to try to persuade Yuan Shao, for Juo Yi’s earlier suggestion was not a good idea! Surely Gongsun Bogui would be prepared tonight.
"My generals are fighting at the front; how can I not fulfill my promise! Yann Liang and Wen Chou, where are you!" Yuan Shao put down his wine bowl, stood up, looked at everyone with pride, and then roared aloud.
"Yann Liang and Wen Chou, at your service!" Unlike the others who hesitated, these two never discounted Yuan Shao’s orders, and they immediately stood out at the first call.
"Assemble the troops, prepare for a night battle! Even if Gongsun Bogui is prepared, I believe Zhengli will make him understand the difference in strength!" Yuan Shao shouted angrily. If a surprise attack was impossible, then they would continue the morning’s battle, the morning’s victory, until they utterly overwhelmed the enemy!
The determination of Yuan Shao made Sheni Pei and the others abandon their attempts at persuasion. Instead of engaging in fruitless efforts, it was better to figure out how to secure a victory.
Bandaged and clad in Iron Armor, Juo Yi led one thousand five hundred Vanguard Death Squad soldiers still capable of fighting, and selected another three thousand reserve soldiers from the reserve force, charging straight towards the main gate of Gongsun Zan’s camp. They made no attempt to conceal their movements. He knew well that Gongsun Zan’s camp was defended at every corner tonight, but for that very reason, Juo Yi was even more certain of one thing—every defense was worthless!
If strong enough, Gongsun Zan’s current method of defense was meaningless. Being strong enough, what could Gongsun Zan’s defenses amount to, even if they existed?
Directly crushing the enemy’s defense was far more terrifying than skulking about. Moreover, the shadow of the White Horse Soldiers’ defeat had not yet dissipated. Juo Yi firmly believed that as long as he was fast enough, fierce enough to crush the guards of the camp before Gongsun Bogui could react, Gongsun Bogui’s infantry would descend into chaos!
After today, there wouldn’t be such an opportunity, so Juo Yi was willing to take the gamble. He didn’t want Gongsun Bogui to retreat just like that. He didn’t want to leave remnants for Yuan Benchu. Therefore, he would rather go into battle wounded, because he knew, only he in Yuan Shao’s Army, leading the Vanguard Death Squad, could potentially crush Gongsun Bogui head-on.
When Juo Yi led his troops out from Yuan Shao’s camp, there was no concealment. Fifteen hundred Vanguard Death Squad soldiers, along with three thousand ordinary infantrymen, charged straight toward the main gate of Gongsun Bogui’s camp, the thick scent of blood almost palpable in the air.
Juo Yi was fast. Before Gongsun’s Army could react, he was already within a hundred and fifty steps of the camp, charging at full speed. In that moment, the Vanguard Death Squad’s Qi unfolded, like Blood Blades adhering to each of the Death Soldiers’ swords. Abandoning defense for the strongest offense, they became like a bloodthirsty wolf slamming ferociously into the gates of Gongsun’s Camp.
The Centurion guarding the gate was shot down by a volley of arrows before he could react, and then, taking advantage of the moment of the enemy’s cries, Juo Yi plunged into the camp like a ferocious tiger descending a mountain, a tiger into a flock of sheep, fiercely slaughtering the guards at the gate!
Gongsun Zan had been thrown from his horse the moment the Command Banner of the White Horse Soldiers fell, and he had only just come to not long ago. Much had darkened in him, gone was the bravado of having the world in his hands with White Horse under him, and at the moment he awoke, he seemed to have aged greatly.
"What’s happening?" Gongsun Zan, hearing the chaos outside the camp, stood up, but suddenly felt a bout of dizziness and nearly fell to the ground again.
"Yuan Shao’s Army is here to raid the camp!" Guan Jing replied frantically.
"Where are my White Horse Soldiers? Follow me and we’ll crush the enemy!" Gongsun Zan bellowed, then paused, realizing what had happened. He no longer had his White Horse; the pain twisted in his heart, his eyes angrily swept outside the tent, "Follow me to kill the enemy!"
By the time Gongsun Zan had arrived, Juo Yi had almost overwhelmed the reinforcements from all sides and was about to break into the Central Army. Gongsun Zan watched the decaying battlefield, his eyes ablaze with rage. Since when had he, Gongsun Zan, been pushed to such a limit!
"Release arrows!" Gongsun Zan roared.
"My lord!" Guan Jing was taken aback, quickly grabbing the arm of Gongsun Zan who was ready to give the order, "My lord, our soldiers are also ahead. How can we shoot arrows at them?"
Gongsun Zan looked coldly at Guan Jing and said without an ounce of sympathy, "Why not shoot? Even if I don’t shoot, could they repel Juo Yi?"
After he said this, he shook off Guan Jing and commanded the archers beside him. The soldiers behind him, seeing Gongsun Zan’s command, could only draw their bows and notch their arrows. A rain of arrows enveloped both sides who were in the midst of fierce battle.
[This Gongsun Zan is so heartlessly callous!] A flare of anger flashed in Juo Yi’s eyes. This was nothing like Gongsun Bogui had been before.
Juo Yi narrowed his eyes amidst the storm of arrows, and amidst the cries of agony, he calmed down. Originally, if Gongsun Zan had not arrived, he would have failed to break through the reinforcements, and the night raid would have been doomed. He should have retreated slowly. Now, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Seeing a moment of distraction flash within the eyes of his opponent Zou Dan, Juo Yi knew there was still hope. Thus, he bellowed, "Yann Liang and Wen Chou, come aid me!"
Yann Liang and Wen Chou had been stationed just two hundred steps outside Gongsun’s Camp, waiting for Juo Yi’s command or seizing the chance to launch a ferocious attack. At his roar, they flipped onto their horses and furiously galloped toward Gongsun’s Camp. It was a secret signal from Juo Yi. This roar indicated that the critical moment of battle had come tonight!
Juo Yi led his Vanguard Death Squad in a frenzied slaughter of the surrounding infantry, completely disregarding their own casualties. He was close to victory. If he could only withstand this wave of arrows, he could turn the tide against Gongsun’s Vanguard. The already crumbling front lines of Gongsun’s Vanguard collapsed even further with the arrow rain!
No need to set fires, no need for rampant killing, Gongsun Bogui’s previous action had already given Juo Yi a prime opportunity. Just by driving the routed soldiers, victory could be achieved. Who would want to follow a naturally cold-hearted person?
Yann Liang and Wen Chou mounted their Precious Horses and charged directly into the camp. By this time Juo Yi had already routed Gongsun Bogui’s Vanguard. In fact, without Gongsun Bogui’s indiscriminate arrow rain, Juo Yi would never have been able to overturn the entire Front Camp, then chase the routed Vanguard right into Gongsun Bogui’s Archer Squad.
Already demoralized by the morning’s grave defeat and completely disheartened after killing their own comrades, the Archer Squad naturally fled when rammed by the Vanguard. As for Gongsun Zan, seeing this unfold, he felt a sweetness in his throat, darkness before his eyes. Since when had he, Gongsun Zan, fallen to such a low point! (To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian ). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)