Chapter Seventeen: Sold
In front of Liu Mang, on the endless plains, teams of Cao's army gathered, long spears and swords forest, bright armor fluttering, war horses neighing, iron cavalry trampling the ground!
Liu Mang had never truly seen the gathering of an army since arriving in this era, and now he was shocked to see Cao's large army attacking the city gate in Xiapi City. Only a small number of troops were left in the city to fight against Liu Mang and his men. Later, although Yu Jin and Xiahou Dun's armies arrived, they were blocked by Liu Mang using Wei Xu and Song Xian as shields! So he had never seen the gathering of a large army before!
Lü Bu, Zhang Liao and others were even more majestic. Lü Bu wore a golden Haoyuan Sacred Robe, shining brightly in the sunlight. Holding a trident made him look even more powerful. Although he was not riding Red Hare, his horse was still a magnificent steed.
"The enemy in front of us should be no less than 10,000 people!" Liu Mang couldn't help but click his tongue. In the past at school, 5,000 people could already fill up the entire playground, and now the area spread out before them was absolutely larger than a single playground!
"Fifteen thousand!" Lü Bu's single remark revealed the number of Chen Deng's opposing army!
"Fifteen thousand?!" Liu Mang began to think that Lü Bu had gone mad, he only had over two thousand men under him, and now he was using these two thousand plus men to face off against the opposing fifteen thousand?! Wasn't this stupid?!
Even if you have all the elite under your command, Lü Bu, you can't take on ten men alone! You think everyone is like Chen Gong or Yan Liang?!
"Haha!" Lü Bu didn't respond to Liu Mang's words, instead he let out a loud laugh and charged forward on his horse.
"Form up the entire army!" Gao Shun raised his hand and brought it down.
"Form the phalanx, form the phalanx!" More than 700 men of the phalanx formation quickly formed up, Liu Mang didn't understand military tactics or formations, but he could also see that this phalanx formation was just a giant turtle. Countless shields formed a strong defensive line, and within this defensive line, the cold light reflecting off the blades shone brightly.
If the 15,000 people in front of us were densely packed and terrifying, then the current phalanx formation is like a single person! The 700 people are in order, like a giant.
The enemy army in red clothes on the opposite side also stopped and stood up in a row.
A team of people rode out from among the great army.
A scholar led the way, followed by several armored generals on either side.
"Household, it's Lü Bu's army up ahead!" a general said to the scholar in white.
"Huh?" Wen Shi said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the opposing army of Lü Bu, Zhang Liao's Bingzhou army, and Gao Shun's Trap Array Camp. And that golden armored warrior!
Isn't that Lü Bu!
"People all say that among horses, there's Chi Tu, and among men, there's Lü Bu. I think he's not that impressive!" A general beside him spoke up, "This Lü Bu's army is only a few thousand men strong. Seeing our great army arrive, they don't even dare to retreat, but instead prepare to fight us head-on. How arrogant! My lord, I request to be the vanguard and bring back the head of that little brat Lü Bu for you!"
Chen Deng's eyebrows were also furrowed tightly. What was Lü Bu thinking?! He wasn't unaware of the situation in the encircled camp and the state army, he had once served under Lü Bu before!
The Ambush Camp can be said to be the king of infantry warfare. With less than 10,000 troops, it is invincible! Eight hundred ambush soldiers can crush a large army of 5,000!
The Pingzhou army was originally the Pingzhou wolf cavalry, and although they no longer have horses, they are still seasoned veterans of a hundred battles.
But it's impossible for him to be the opponent of his own 15,000-strong army! Moreover, according to Cao Zhenxiang, Lü Bu's army has limited food and grass, and they have already been cut off from supplies for a day now!
Could it be a trick? Chen Deng's suspicious nature made him unable to see through Lü Bu in front of him.
"Let's go and meet Lü Bu!" Chen Deng couldn't see through Lü Bu's thoughts, so he had to probe first!
"Charge!" Chen Deng and his men rode forward towards the front of the army.
"Lü Bu, Lü Wenhou, where are you? Chen Deng of Guangling has come to pay his respects!" Chen Deng shouted personally.
"Haha, haha! What is Chen Deng and Chen Yuanlong? Traitors who betray their lord and abandon righteousness!" A loud, heroic laugh echoed as Lü Bu galloped away on his horse.
"How dare you insult my master!" A general was about to go forward and fight, but Chen Deng stopped him. "Do you want to die?" Although Lü Bu didn't have Red Hare or the Heaven-Defying Halberd, he wasn't someone a second-rate general like this could compare to!
"Welcome back, Duke Wen! I hope you're well!" Chen Deng said with a bow.
"Thanks to your Chen family's good fortune! You're not dead yet!" The three-pronged spear in Lü Bu's hand was humming, revealing its master's murderous intent.
"Haha, as long as you're not dead, it's all good! As long as you're not dead, it's all good!" Chen Deng chuckled. "Wen Hou, just a few days ago, you were still in control of Xuzhou, with 70,000 armored soldiers under your command. How did it come to this, with only so few people left?!"
"Hmph, how can there be so many people left? Don't you Chen Deng know?! If you Chen Deng didn't know, you wouldn't be standing in front of me Lü Bu now!" Lü Bu coldly snorted and said.
"Wenhou, Wenhou, my father and I are doing this for your own good!" Chen Deng said with a concerned expression. "Cao Zhenxiang has been appointed by the emperor to oversee the world, and as a Han minister, you should have put down your military power and entered the imperial court as an official long ago. Wouldn't it be glorious for your family if you were promoted several ranks?! Letting Xu State go to Cao Zhenxiang or to His Majesty is all the same!"
"Is it good for me? Haha, what a good thing for me! No wonder, the Chen family of Guangling can take root in Xuzhou for so many years! An army of 15,000, what a big handwriting!" Lü Bu also had some admiration for the Chen family. During Tao Qian's reign in Xuzhou, the Chen family was already there. Tao Qian forgot that he was still there, and later Liu Bei, and then himself, but this Chen family was still the overlord of Guangling! Not hurt at all, on the contrary, it became bigger and bigger in the repeated changes!
An army of 15,000 can rival a feudal lord!
"What a pity!" Lü Bu continued, "Pity your old father Chen Gong can't see this!"
When Lü Bu mentioned his father, Chen Deng furrowed his brow and said, "The proverb says 'don't hit a person in the face' and 'don't mention a person's relatives'. Marquis Wen, you are being impolite!"
"Haha, I understand, I understand!" Lü Bu sneered at Chen Deng, indeed as Gongtai had said. This Chen Deng still didn't know about that matter. "You shouldn't know yet, should you? No wonder, no wonder!"
"What's going on?!" Chen Deng was already suspicious of Lü Bu's intentions and now he was even more perplexed by what Lü Bu had just said.
"When even Wen Hou was being evasive, this wasn't like his usual style!" Chen Deng said.
"Alas, Chen Deng! Why are you so stubborn? If your Lord Cao doesn't tell you, there must be a good reason. And I'm an outsider, how can I interfere with your family's affairs?"
Is Cao Cao hiding something from me? Chen Deng's gaze swept across the camp of the trapped army and the state troops. Didn't Cao Cao say that Lü Bu's army had no more rations and had been starving for a day already? But this expression is clearly radiant with joy! The appearance of being well-fed! "Lord Wen, please speak your mind!"
If there's one thing Chen Deng can't let go of, it's the development of his family, the Chen clan, and another is his old father, Chen Gu!
"Great righteousness of Yuan Long! I, Lü Bu, am not worthy, not worthy!" Who says Lü Bu is incapable of strategy? He simply never bothered.
"You're just a dog of the Lu family, you were never as good as our family's master, what's there to lament about!" One of the families had long been displeased with Lü Bu, why did he have the reputation of being the world's number one warrior.
"Yuan Long, lock up your own dog cage and don't let it bite people everywhere!" If Lü Bu didn't want to see Chen Deng's expression after knowing that news, he would have killed him with his army long ago, how could this be possible!
"Step down!" Chen Deng was eager to know the news about his father. "Let Duke Wen see the joke, can you tell me the news about my old father?" Chen Yulang is not stupid! The only thing Cao Cao can deceive him about is the news of his old father!
"Alright, I'll tell you since Yuan Long is so sincere! Chen Gui, Mr. Chen has already passed away!" Lü Bu looked at Chen Deng's face with a colorful expression, wanting to laugh but unable to do so.
"Impossible, impossible!" Chen Deng's eyes widened in an expression of disbelief. "Lü Bu, I treated you with courtesy, why do you want to deceive me?" Chen Deng asked.
"What's wrong, Chen Yuanlong? Do you think I, Lü Bu, am the kind of person who speaks empty words?" Lü Bu's face also turned cold.
"Your old father has not only passed away, but also died at the hands of Cao Mengde, to whom you are loyal!" Lu Bu said slowly and clearly.
"You're lying! Lying!" Chen Deng was no longer calm, Chen Qiu might die, but it's absolutely impossible for him to die at Cao Cao's hands. Killing Chen Qiu would bring no benefit to Cao Cao, Cao Cao wouldn't be so stupid!
"Believe it or not!" Lü Bu also didn't bother to explain. "You only need to go ask Cao Ang, what your old father said before he died, and everything will be clear!"
"Hum! This matter is settled, I will definitely go and ask the Prime Minister, but today, Wen Hou you still come with me to see the Prime Minister!" Chen Deng made up his mind, he must keep Lü Bu here, Lü Bu's threat was too great, he alone could make Chen Deng sleep and eat poorly, plus the large army, so Chen Deng couldn't let Lü Bu leave alive!
"How can you still want to keep me here! Then come on!" Lü Bu sneered.
"Then let's meet on the battlefield!" Chen Deng didn't think Lü Bu would be captured so easily, and after saying that, he returned to his main army.
"You can leave if you want to!" Lü Bu said coldly. "Or stay, it's up to you!" As soon as he finished speaking, the horse under him suddenly darted out like a whirlwind.
"How dare you!: The family on the side would have been unbearable long ago, in their opinion Lü Bu is just a show-off, do you dare to charge alone?!"
"Lü Bu, leave your head behind, remember it was Guangling...". Before the name of a certain Chen Deng's family member had even been spoken, his head had already flown off and soared into the high air.
"No need to mention your name, too many people have died at my hands, Lü Bu's hands. There are too many names to remember! The blood flowed down the tip of the trident, and finally, the trident had its fill of blood."
"Kill!" Two more generals rushed up, both of whom were cut down from their horses by Lü Bu without a single round.
Chen Deng had six men in total, now only two were left. The two households glared at each other and shouted "Master, hurry up and leave, I'll hold him back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two headless corpses fell to the ground again. All five members of Chen Deng's family were killed in action.
"Hum!" However, this brief delay allowed Chen Deng to rush back into the battlefield.
"Lü Bu, no matter how strong you are, you're just a lone hero! Under the mighty army, you'll eventually become ashes. I advise you to surrender, otherwise, you'll only sacrifice your subordinates' lives in vain." Chen Deng has already entered the army and is safe now.
"Is it? Then come and take a look!" Lü Bu stood tall with his halberd, looking like a god descending from heaven under the sunlight.
"Alright, since you want to die I'll grant your wish! Pass down the military order for a full-scale attack!" Chen Deng may be a scholar but scholars of the Three Kingdoms are not inferior on the battlefield!
"The general has given an order, the whole army will attack"
"The master has given an order, the whole army will attack!" The messenger passed on the order one after another, and the vast Chen family army opposite began to move.
Fifteen thousand people, each spitting a mouthful of saliva could drown someone to death, let alone this collective action, the entire earth began to shake and dust flew up.
You wouldn't believe that Chen Deng really knew military tactics, with long spear soldiers in the front, knife shield soldiers protecting both wings, and two thousand archers on top of the central army, drawing their bows and firing.
A swarm of arrows flew towards Lü Bu's army, covering their heads and faces.
"Order the entire army to retreat!" Zhang Liao was no fool, his current troops from Pingzhou didn't have war horses and could only be used as infantry, without the large shields of a phalanx formation. Infantry would absolutely not survive in this hail of arrows.
The Bianzhou army retreated in an orderly manner, avoiding the range of Chen Jiajun's bows and arrows.
"Change formation!" Gao Shun looked at the arrow rain, but instead of retreating, he gave a loud order. The 700 soldiers in the ambush immediately raised their shields and formed a shield wall, blocking the arrows outside the shield wall.
"Launch!" Watching the shield wall block the arrows, Chen Deng gave the order to launch.
Don't underestimate Chen Jiajun, he has been able to occupy Guangling for so long, naturally he has his own military strength.
Two thousand archers raised their bows and shot arrows into the sky. The arrows flew to their highest point, then fell down one after another, with greater force under the effect of gravity.
"Black Tortoise Formation!" At Gao Shun's command, the 700 soldiers of the trapped army tilted their shields and one by one shrank into the shield wall like turtles.
"Thud, thud, thud!" The catapulted arrows had a powerful impact, and even though the camp had huge shields to block them, some of the arrows still pierced through the gaps in the shields and shot inside.
"Whoosh!" The arrow pierced through the arm and torso of a person, bringing out a patch of fresh blood. Although it was extremely painful, these soldiers in the ambush remained silent, their eyes fixed intently on the enemy outside!
"Long spear soldiers attack!" Chen Deng saw that the archers were ineffective, and prepared to launch a direct attack.
"Kill!" There were as many as 8,000 long spear soldiers, and with 7,000 more, this group of long spear soldiers would definitely win if they weren't fools! That's how people deal with those who are stronger or about the same strength as themselves - they go all out. But when facing those who are weaker than themselves, even to an extreme degree, they relax.
Even if you're the best of the best, even if you're a king among soldiers, what's the point? You can take on ten at once, but in the end, you'll still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers!
The enemy is getting closer and closer, the killing sounds in the distance seem to be right next to their ears, but the troops in the ambush are completely still, eerily quiet, without Gao Shun's order, these ambushing soldiers will not move a single inch, even if they have knives about to fall.
One hundred paces, ninety paces, eighty paces, seventy paces, fifty paces, thirty paces, twenty paces, ten paces.
Both armies could see clearly the facial expressions and demeanor of the enemy across from them; those with good eyesight could even see the whiskers on their opponents' faces.
"Are you scared silly?!" The general of the Chen family's army looked at the trapped camp and laughed, laughing very happily. No wonder, under nearly twenty times the military strength, it would be normal to be terrified!
But don't worry, just one knife cut, and it's all over!
This commander will no longer be able to laugh at this meeting.
Gao Shun looked at the increasingly close enemy army and his eyes actually closed.
"Gao Shun has gone mad?!" Liu Mang was stunned, he was standing right next to Gao Shun! If these 8,000 long spear soldiers charged over, he would be finished.
You're paralyzed! Liu Mang wanted to run but suddenly discovered that he couldn't escape at all, because he was in the shield wall.
"Old tall and handsome! High music high! I'm going to, you're so cool, you're giving orders now!" Are we supposed to just stand still and get hacked?!
"Kill!" The first Chen family soldier approaching the besieged camp had a smile in his eyes, these enemies were really frightened to death, his knife had already fallen, and it would be a bloody flower in just a few seconds, followed by military merit!
With military achievements, he can enjoy rewards and glory!
"Die, die!" Every single face of Chen's army revealed a ferocious expression.
Suddenly, Gao Shun's eyes snapped open: "Open formation!"
The originally turtle-shell-like encampment suddenly opened a gap, like a giant black tortoise opening its mouth, and the vanguard of 8,000 long spear soldiers rushed in.
One hundred, two hundred, three hundred, five hundred, one thousand, two thousand!
Swallowed up two thousand people at once.
"Close ranks!" Gao Shun gave the order once again, and the gap that had opened up was closed once more.
"Kill him!" Gao Shun's voice was devoid of any emotion.
"What?!" The general who rushed into the Xuanwu Gate was stunned, opening and closing his mouth. The two thousand of them were sealed in a circular formation, with shields blocking their retreat completely.
"Seven hundred people swallowing two thousand? Gao Lao Da, your appetite is too good, be careful not to choke yourself to death!" Liu Meng cursed on the side.
Gao Shun glanced at Bai Liu Mang with a hint of disdain, not quite believing he would actually do it.
The general who rushed into the circular formation with two thousand men made a left turn and charged again, but couldn't get out. He gritted his teeth: "Brothers, this Lü Bu's army wants to swallow us! With only seven hundred people, they want to swallow our two thousand people! His appetite is really good, he is seeking his own destruction. Brothers, follow me in charging into the formation and killing the enemy!" It was a desperate situation; if they didn't fight back, they would really die here.
"Huh?! Chen Deng also discovered the commotion in the enemy camp. "What a big appetite, since you want to swallow my soldiers, I'll give you more to eat! Wear our military order, left wing knife shield hand charge into the enemy camp!"
Eight thousand long gun soldiers, Gao Shun can still resist, after all, the giant shield is born to be the nemesis of the long gun. However, when encountering a similar sword and shield user, it's not easy to deal with, because the opponent also has shields, they can form a shield array and directly charge over. Once the shield array is scattered, the trapped camp will be finished!
"Turn!" Gao Shun gave the order once again.
The entire camp was stirred up, like a top spinning faster and faster with each turn, bringing forth a storm of blood and rain.
Since the appearance of the shield wall, the camp has been suffering casualties. Every impact has soldiers spitting blood from their mouths, this is the power of the collision, which hurts the internal organs. Once someone falls out of formation, another person will replace him immediately, and the entire phalanx continues to maintain its rotation.
Inside there are long gunners, outside there are knife shield soldiers, even the vanguard can't hold on!
One by one, the soldiers in the trenches fell down, and one by one, they were replaced, only to fall again.
In no time, over 200 people were lost in the formation.
"Hmph! I thought you had a good appetite! Turns out you can't eat either! Since you can't eat, spit out what you ate before! Chen Deng sneered and said, 'Right-wing halberd shield soldiers, go up and send them to hell!'"
The right-wing shield bearer also moved, the camp really couldn't hold on, Liu Mang cried, damn it, I still can't escape death! Lü Boss, you're a traitor! I brought you food and sent you armor, but you played me like this.
"Kill!" Gao Shun also joined the battle, and there were not enough people.
Seven hundred and eighty thousand, plus the knife shield soldiers, that's one million three hundred thousand! You think you're a god or something?!
"Lü Bu, Lü Fengxian, you just wait to be killed by me!" Chen Deng's eyes sparkled as he looked at the golden armor man inside the ambush camp. Suddenly, his heart was startled "Right! Lü Bu, Lü Bu! Until now, it has been Gao Shun of the ambush camp who has been fighting, where is Lü Bu? And Zhang Liao! The golden armor man in the opposite ambush camp hasn't moved at all, this isn't Lü Bu's style!"
"Haha, Chen Deng, are you looking for Lü Bu? Lü Bu is here! Prepare to meet your death, Chen Deng!" Suddenly, a group of cavalrymen emerged from both sides of Chen Deng's camp, and the leader was none other than the Golden Armor General Lü Bu himself!
Originally, the ambush camp swallowed up two thousand long gun soldiers, not because he was arrogant and self-aggrandizing, but to perform for Chen Deng, just to make Chen Deng think that victory is in hand! Continuously dispatching troops! First, it was the right-wing knife shield soldier, then the left-wing knife shield soldier. Now both wings are empty, leaving only the middle army's bow and arrow soldiers. Although there were two thousand people, they were not opponents of Lü Bu's Pingzhou Army, let alone Zhang Liao, this fierce general!
