I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 208 - 12: Defeating Lu Bu and Taking Bingzhou, Liu and Cao’s Great Victory (Part 5)
This meant he was destined to be in a dilemma at this moment.
But after all, he was still Lu Bu, especially with the help of Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, Gu Chen couldn’t possibly break his camp directly.
But Gu Chen could hold him back.
Could Lu Bu?
The provisions in his camp couldn’t possibly sustain a prolonged battle.
The successive rebellions of the Taiyuan noble clans further cut off the direct support from Yuan Shao to Lu Bu.
Whether coming from Jizhou or from Sii Province via Shangdang to support Lu Bu, all required passing through Taiyuan.
This was the most difficult situation for Lu Bu at the moment.
Moreover, how could Yuan Shao at this time spare much power to support Lu Bu?
Would Cao Cao and Liu Bei let go of such an opportunity?
For Lu Bu, his only chance now was to break away from Gu Chen, pass through Pingtao, cross the Fen River, and return directly to Jizhou!
This was his only road to survival!
But facing Gu Chen’s continuous attacks, he couldn’t grasp the slightest opportunity, and the situation became more difficult day by day.
In the military camp.
"This general has decided, at the third watch of the night, to abandon the camp and leave!"
Lu Bu’s face was flushed, obviously having drunk a lot, as he slapped the table and shouted angrily.
"General."
Almost instantly, Zhang Liao stepped out and cupped his hands towards Lu Bu, saying: "The vicinity of Pingtao is a plain, and the enemy is composed of elite cavalry."
"If our army abandons the camp and is discovered by the enemy, the losses will be severe."
"Please, General, reconsider."
Gao Shun also stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Lu Bu, saying: "General, Wenyuan speaks rightly."
"Given the current situation, abandoning the camp is by no means a good tactic."
All the generals echoed these words.
Looking at the crowd before him, Lu Bu’s face grew angrier, and he scolded: "Then what do you think should be done?"
"Our provisions won’t last five days."
"Could it be... you want the soldiers to kill their horses for food?"
"Huangfu Song is coming from Yan Sect, and when he joins forces with Gu Chen, what use will this camp be for us?"
All the generals lowered their heads.
Actually, Lu Bu’s analysis was correct. Even if they wouldn’t fall into chaos due to the lack of provisions, defending the camp against Huangfu Song’s arrival would be difficult.
But Zhang Liao shook his head and said: "General."
"Lord Yuan will definitely not abandon us."
"Moreover, I believe that even if Yan Province truly faces defeat, Lord Yuan would still have the strength to fight."
"As long as we can hold on for a little longer, Lord Yuan will surely come to our rescue."
As soon as these words were spoken, many silently nodded.
Zhang Liao’s analysis was indeed accurate.
Yuan Shao still had strength to fight and he wouldn’t abandon Lu Bu, allowing the Gu Clan to return to the Central Plains.
But Lu Bu was somewhat dismissive about it, sneering: "Can that Gu Chen, who can fight against this general, be taken down even if Lord Yuan comes to rescue us?"
Before the generals could speak, he directly waved his hand: "No need to say more."
"Spread my orders."
"No matter what, we must fight our way out!"
Upon hearing this, although the generals wanted to say more, Lu Bu gave them no chance and decided on this matter directly.
——Fifth Year of Hanxing, Eleventh Month, Jiawu Day.
Night.
The bright moon soaked the sky, pure silk draped over the river.
Under the gentle moonlight, Lu Bu personally led his men and horses out of the camp.
Clop... clop... clop...
The sound of horse hooves was extremely piercing under the quiet night sky.
At this moment, the sound of fierce battle cries erupted.
Gu Chen and Ma Chao personally led their troops and charged out.
"Lu Bu, prepare to die!"
Ma Chao shouted angrily, charging at the forefront.
In this moonlight, they didn’t even need to light torches to clearly see each other’s faces.
"Stop, Ma!" Before Lu Bu could speak, Zhang Liao immediately led his troops to block Ma Chao.
Fierce battle between the two sides broke out.
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun seemed to have anticipated trouble this night.
They actually steadied their formation.
Lu Bu’s face was full of anger, holding his halberd tightly, glaring at Gu Chen: "Hey, Gu Chen!"
"You disgrace your Gu Clan heritage!"
"I, Lu Bu, thought you were a hero of our time, wanting a direct battle, but I didn’t expect you to use such petty tricks!"
"Hmph!" Gu Chen shook his head disdainfully: "A patricidal man dares to talk of heroism with me?"
"You’re courting death!"
Lu Bu was utterly enraged and charged with his halberd.
——But his heart was ultimately in turmoil.
He seemed to smell the scent of death, his attack today was more chaotic compared to usual.
Not even thirty moves.
Gu Chen seized the opportunity, with a deft move of his silver spear, he directly flicked Lu Bu’s halberd away.
Without a moment of hesitation, he thrust towards Lu Bu’s face.
"Don’t harm my lord!"
A loud roar suddenly echoed.
Gao Shun rushed over at this moment to block the attack for Lu Bu.
"Hmph!"
Looking at Gao Shun in front of him, Gu Chen did not attack and instead asked: "Lu Bu is a patricidal man, why do you protect him?"
"Hmph!"
Gao Shun, unflinching, replied: "Say no more, if you wish to harm my lord, first ask if my long blade is sharp?"
Seeing that Gu Chen did not attack, he quickly helped protect Lu Bu as they retreated,
Lu Bu’s expression was very unpleasant at the moment, having lost the will to fight, yet he still shouted at Gu Chen: "Today’s defeat is because of my turmoil!"
"One day, I, Lu Bu, will take your life."
Gu Chen laughed disdainfully, shouting coldly: "How dare a defeated general speak of courage?"
"Even if you were given a thousand years, you wouldn’t even reach the dust of my back."
After speaking, Gu Chen moved his long spear, and led his troops charging directly. ...
——————
"Fifth Year of Hanxing, June, Gu Chen raised troops to attack Bingzhou State.
At that time, Yuan Shao had just defeated Gongsun Zan in Youzhou State, his fame shaking Hebei. Hearing of the changes in Bingzhou State, he appointed Lu Bu as Governor of Bingzhou, ordering him to return north to face Gu Chen.
Shao also allied with Yuan Shu, combining an army of two hundred thousand to march south to Yan Province.
From then on, Kyushu was in turmoil.
Gu Chen wielded his troops like a storm, breaking the camps along the West River within a month, shaking Jinyang.
Lu Bu hastily returned to Pingtao, setting up heavy troops to fight Gu Chen fiercely.
The two armies clashed for a full three months, spears and halberds blocking the sun, rivers of blood flowed, yet even though Lu Bu’s valor was unmatched in all three armies, he could not break Gu Chen’s formation.
However, Gu Chen, known for his strategic prowess, secretly spread rumors within Lu Bu’s camp, causing its morale to waver.
With changes in Yan Province, Shao’s forces collapsed at Pu Yang.
The Bingzhou nobility then supported Gu Chen, with the powerful clans of Taiyuan, Qi County’s Wang Clan, and Jinyang’s Guo Clan cutting off Lu Bu’s supplies, leaving him with no provisions.
Lu Bu broke camp at night, fleeing to Jizhou on horseback, shouting as he went: "I took you for a brave man, willing to decide life and death on the battlefield, what use is petty scheme!"
Gu Chen, blocking with his spear, replied: "Will the killer of Ding Yuan also speak of bravery? A hundred days of fierce battle, have you even breached an inch of my fortress?"
Lu Bu’s eyes were bloodshot, engaging in desperate combat with his halberd, but his spirit had already fallen, and within thirty moves, Gu Chen knocked him off his horse.
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun fought desperately to rescue him, yet Lu Bu still roared from his horse:
"Today’s defeat is merely due to your deceit, I’ll surely take your head one day!"
Gu Chen, retracting his spear, laughed heartily: "A defeated one stuck in the mud, how dare you dream of the vast sea? Even if granted ten years, you’ll only see dust and smoke!"
——"Record of Heroes of Late Han: Gu Chen Chapter"
