As they watched Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao leave, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. Even the near ten billion in loot they had seized today didn't seem to matter. When they exchanged glances, both saw a faint hint of bewilderment in the other's eyes, and both were momentarily stunned.
"Let's go back and prepare the betrothal gifts. I want to marry her!" Zhou Yu said suddenly, turning to Sun Ce.
"But don't you already have a fiancée?" Sun Ce was taken aback.
"I haven't married her yet, have I?" Zhou Yu replied calmly. "A mere engagement can't stop me. Don't you want to marry Qiao Wei?"
"Aren't you afraid of offending the Zhang family?" Sun Ce asked, surprised.
"My Zhou family has produced three generations of Grand Chancellors. In terms of family background, I am not inferior to the Zhang family. As for talent, I, Zhou Yu, don't believe I am any less capable than anyone from the Zhang family. What do I have to fear? I am determined to marry Qiao Ying," Zhou Yu stated confidently.
"Alright, then. I've decided to marry Qiao Wei as well," Sun Ce declared, recalling the smile that had dimmed the very brightness of the world. "Nothing in this world can stop the two of us when we join forces!"
"By the way, this loot feels a bit strange," Sun Ce said, scratching his head. "It feels more like a merchant ship than a group of river pirates."
"Who cares? What's ours is ours now," Zhou Yu replied nonchalantly. "Just have the ships towed to our dock and let Taishi Ci count the goods. As for what these people were up to, leave that to me."
Zhou Yu casually grabbed one of Zhang Kai's men and, with a glint in his eye, unleashed his spiritual power on the man. The soldier's intelligence plummeted to near-zero as he began spilling information uncontrollably.
"We seem to have stumbled onto something big," Sun Ce said after listening to the details. "But we'll gladly take the loot. How should we handle the situation?"
Zhou Yu let go of the soldier, who would be left mentally incapacitated for some time, and smiled. "This is actually good news. Inform Yuan Shu of this incident. Whether we aim for Jiangdong or Jingzhou, nothing will be able to stop us now. After all, this concerns Cao Mengde of Yanzhou, the linchpin of the Central Plains. Bo Fu, do you want to become the King of Chu?"
"No way!" Sun Ce shook his head vigorously. "Yuan Shu has treated me well. I won't betray him."
"Then there's nothing more to say. Just inform Yuan Shu of this matter. Then, suggest that this is the right time to attack Jiangdong. If all goes well, this responsibility will fall to you. And if Yuan Shu feels incapable, you can tell him that you need no financial support—just a decree, and you will take Jiangdong."
Zhou Yu respected Sun Ce's unwavering loyalty and didn't push him further. Instead, he decided to take things step by step. He believed that as long as he stayed by Sun Ce's side, no opponent, not even a deity, could stand in their way. Although Zhou Yu dreamed of seeing Sun Ce become a mighty ruler, he valued Sun Ce's current spirit even more—his boldness and courage, even if it occasionally led to foolish actions. As long as Zhou Yu was there, he could manage any fallout.
"Good! My hands have been itching for action. The so-called heroes of Jiangdong, I'll show them who's boss!" Sun Ce said confidently.
"They're not to be underestimated," Zhou Yu sighed, though his words held little concern. Despite cautioning against overconfidence, Zhou Yu still viewed the talents of Jiangdong with contempt. In his eyes, anyone who didn't immediately submit to Sun Ce was simply blind to the heavens' decree, and those who dared oppose Sun Ce were mere fools.
While Sun Ce and Zhou Yu prepared to marry Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao and capitalize on the chaos in the Central Plains to seize Jiangdong and Jingzhou, in the west, Ma Teng and Han Sui led an army of 100,000 Qiang cavalry, sweeping across Yongzhou like locusts.
Fan Chou and Zhang Ji, with about 30,000 Xiliang cavalry, camped several miles west of Chang'an at Changping Pass.
"Uncle, why aren't we staying in Hongnong and expanding our forces? Why are we here fighting Xiliang's Qiang soldiers? Isn't this weakening our strength?" Zhang Xiu questioned, puzzled by his uncle's decision to involve them in this conflict rather than fortify their position in Hongnong.
"Ah, the Xiliang army is no longer unified, and our strategists have vanished. Relying solely on brute force may allow us to dominate for a time, but it won't guarantee our survival," Zhang Ji sighed, reminiscing about the days when Dong Zhuo's forces were at their peak. Comparing those days to the current fractured Xiliang army, he could only lament the inevitable decline.
Zhang Xiu lacked the political acumen to grasp the subtleties of his uncle's words, so he merely listened in confusion.
"Ah, you are my only nephew, and I have no sons of my own. I had hoped to bring Jia Xu to your side so that if anything happened to me, someone could look after you for the rest of your life. But during the chaos in Chang'an, both our military advisor and Jia Xu disappeared," Zhang Ji said, looking at his nephew with a mix of regret and affection. "Focus on honing your martial skills and become a mighty general who doesn't need to think too much."
"Uncle, you're in good health. There's no need to speak such discouraging words," Zhang Xiu replied, displeased by his uncle's tone. He deeply respected Zhang Ji and didn't want to hear any talk of misfortune.
"Hahaha," Zhang Ji laughed heartily, though he couldn't hide the weariness in his eyes. He knew his own body well; he was already weakening from within. While he lived, the old bonds of camaraderie among the Xiliang generals might protect Zhang Xiu. But once he was gone, those ties would likely sever, leaving Zhang Xiu vulnerable to those coveting his command.
This was why Zhang Ji had brought Zhang Xiu into this battle. He wanted to give his nephew a stage to prove himself, a battle he was certain they would win. Zhang Ji hoped that Zhang Xiu would demonstrate enough value in this battle so that, when Zhang Ji was gone, Zhang Xiu could find a powerful and broad-minded lord to serve, ensuring his safety for the rest of his life.
After returning to his tent, Zhang Xiu quietly polished his Tiger Head Gold Spear. For over ten years since returning from his training, he had been holding back, even during the battles against the Qiang, where he never unleashed more than a fraction of his true strength. Now, finally allowed to fight with his full power, Zhang Xiu was eager to prove himself.
Mounted on his horse, Zhang Xiu slowly rode out of the camp. His uncle, Zhang Ji, had handed him the military seal, making him the commander of this force. With over 10,000 elite Xiliang cavalry under his command, Zhang Xiu led them in a formation that had been drilled to perfection over the past weeks.
"Isn't that Bo Yuan?" Fan Chou spotted Zhang Xiu, clad in golden armor, basking in the winter sun, and was momentarily stunned by the sight. It reminded him of the awe-inspiring presence of Lü Bu in his prime.
"I greet you, Uncle Fan," Zhang Xiu said from atop his horse, saluting Fan Chou with his spear. "My uncle asked me to request reinforcements from you."
"Reinforcements? How many do you need?" Fan Chou asked, surprised that Zhang Ji would request additional troops.
"I don't need cavalry, just some of your troops to guard our camp," Zhang Xiu replied calmly.
"You plan to empty your camp and engage the enemy in a field battle?" Fan Chou asked in disbelief.
"I'm just going to take Han Sui and Ma Teng's heads and their command flags," Zhang Xiu said, his voice calm and unwavering.
Fan Chou felt as though he were dreaming. Such a feat was something only Lü Bu could accomplish.
"Bo Yuan, wait a moment. I'll gather my troops and accompany you," Fan Chou said with a bitter smile. Zhang Xiu was Zhang Ji's only nephew. If something happened to him, Zhang Ji would be devastated.
"There's no need, Uncle Fan," Zhang Xiu replied calmly. As he spoke, a red aura surrounded his body, intertwined with a blue light. "I'm just retrieving what belongs to us."
"Internal Qi manifestation..." Fan Chou looked at Zhang Xiu in disbelief. Since when did Zhang Xiu possess such power?
"I reached this level ten years ago. Now, even my junior disciple is on par with Lü Bu. How could I be any weaker?" Zhang Xiu's words were filled with confidence. The red and blue energies around him swirled and merged into a tranquil purple hue.
"Uncle Fan, guard the camp and watch how I take down the enemy," Zhang Xiu saluted Fan Chou before leading his Xiliang cavalry towards Ma Teng and Han Sui's camp. Zhang Xiu's grand performance was about to begin.
Fan Chou watched in stunned silence as Zhang Xiu's forces departed. The sight of the tightly-packed wedge formations, with Zhang Xiu at the forefront, reminded him of Lü Bu's bold style—utterly convinced of his own invincibility.
The movement of over 10,000 Xiliang cavalry was felt by Ma Teng and Han Sui's forces miles away. However, they assumed it was merely a probing attack and ordered their forward camp to brace for the enemy's approach.
Zhang Xiu wasn't versed in many battle formations. During Li Ru's training of the Xiliang troops, only the simplest formations had been taught—the offensive Wedge Formation and the defensive Circle Formation. However, Zhang Xiu had spent ten years refining the Wedge Formation, and he believed in the words of his master, Tong Yuan: "Diligence can compensate for clumsiness."
From a distance, Zhang Xiu observed the deployment of Ma Teng's forward camp and sneered. The Xiliang cavalry's purple aura began to swirl violently as Zhang Xiu unleashed his ultimate technique, "Hundred Phoenixes Soaring Towards the Sun."
With the first thrust of his spear, a hundred spear shadows, accompanied by the cry of a phoenix, rapidly converged. Like the opening sequence of "Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix," but even more powerful, a massive purple-red fireball quickly formed. Surrounding it were flames shaped like wings, creating a breathtaking yet deadly sight.
As Zhang Xiu continued to wield his spear, the Wedge Formation of the Xiliang cavalry split into countless serrated edges, resembling the teeth of a saw.
"Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun," Zhang Xiu muttered. With a final surge of internal energy, the fireball, now fueled by the aura of the entire army, grew even larger. The surrounding fiery wings expanded, transforming into fully-fledged phoenixes that hovered around the blazing sun.
"For the final step, reverse it!" Zhang Xiu channeled all his energy into his spear and thrust it into the artificial sun. The fireball, now unstable, began to leak energy unpredictably, causing the phoenixes around it to swell in size. One by one, the phoenixes attached themselves to the serrated edges of the formation.
"Hundred Phoenixes Soaring Towards the Sun—Destroy!" Zhang Xiu commanded. At his order, the hundred phoenixes, each carrying the force of Zhang Xiu's full power, shot towards Ma Teng's camp. The purple flames tore through the sky, raining destruction upon the enemy lines.
The attack consumed seventy percent of the Xiliang cavalry's aura, leaving only a faint purple glow behind. But Zhang Xiu paid no mind, charging forward with his troops. He was confident that the initial strike had already devastated most of the forward camp.
Master Tong Yuan's spear techniques were known for their cumulative power. Whether it was "Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix" or "Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun," each move built up to a final, decisive strike. The previous moves served only to gather energy for the ultimate blow. However, Zhang Xiu had realized long ago that in a battle with thousands, or even tens of thousands, of soldiers, he didn't need to rely solely on his internal energy. The collective aura of his troops could amplify his power exponentially.
Zhang Xiu had spent ten years honing his spear skills and refining his understanding of military formations. His greatest insight came when he accidentally discovered that he could split the final, all-powerful strike of "Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun" into hundreds of smaller, yet still devastating attacks. While this approach deviated from Tong Yuan's original teachings, it allowed Zhang Xiu to conserve his strength while maximizing the damage dealt to the enemy.
As the phoenixes descended upon Ma Teng's forward camp, their overwhelming power shattered the enemy's aura. Chaos erupted within the camp as flames consumed everything in their path.
"Charge!" Zhang Xiu roared, leading his cavalry into the fray. The already disordered camp crumbled further under the onslaught of the Xiliang cavalry, who were invigorated by the sight of their leader's devastating attack.
"Don't get bogged down! Push straight to the central command!" Zhang Xiu ordered, dispatching any enemy that stood in his way. His troops followed suit, slicing through the chaos with unstoppable force.
In no time, Zhang Xiu's forces breached the heart of Ma Teng's camp. Both armies' auras clashed violently, turning the battlefield into a gruesome melee where only courage and tenacity mattered.
"Kill them all!" Ma Teng bellowed, leading his guards into the thick of battle. At the same time, Han Sui's elite Eight Knights also charged towards Zhang Xiu's forces, driven by the same relentless determination that had carried them through countless battles.
Zhang Xiu's spear danced through the enemy ranks, every thrust and sweep claiming lives in rapid succession. His prowess on the battlefield was unparalleled.
"Hundred Flowers Bloom!" Zhang Xiu shifted his stance, unleashing another powerful technique. The petals of destruction scattered across the battlefield, each strike felling multiple foes.
"Ma Teng!" Zhang Xiu spotted Ma Teng amidst the chaos and charged towards him with a thunderous shout.
Seeing Zhang Xiu approach, Ma Teng realized he was up against an internal energy master of unparalleled skill. Though he braced himself for the clash, the first exchange nearly cost him his life. Only the presence of his son, Ma Chao, saved him from certain death.
"Don't harm my father!" Ma Chao cried, intercepting Zhang Xiu's attack. However, Ma Chao soon found himself outmatched, barely able to fend off Zhang Xiu's ferocious strikes.
"Don't let harm come to our lord!" shouted Pang De as he rushed to Ma Chao's aid. Together, the two managed to hold off Zhang Xiu, though the strain was evident.
"Quick, help my sworn brother!" Han Sui commanded his Eight Knights. They abandoned their posts and joined the fray, attacking Zhang Xiu alongside Ma Chao and Pang De. For a moment, the combined efforts of ten warriors managed to suppress Zhang Xiu's rampage.
Despite his overwhelming skill, Zhang Xiu found himself struggling against the onslaught of ten elite warriors. His internal energy, already drained by the earlier techniques, was further weakened by the oppressive battlefield aura. Before long, Zhang Xiu was wounded—a spear thrust from Ma Chao leaving a deep gash in his side.
"You'll all pay for this!" Enraged, Zhang Xiu disregarded his master's teachings and activated the forbidden techniques. With a series of rapid strikes to his own pressure points, Zhang Xiu forcefully unleashed his internal energy, ignoring the pain and potential consequences. "Die!"
In an instant, Zhang Xiu's power surged to half its normal level, allowing him to momentarily regain control of the battle. He unleashed a flurry of attacks, forcing Ma Chao and Pang De back, though the strain on his body was immense.
"Open up!" Pang De roared, his blade enveloped in a black aura as he struck back with all his might. Ma Chao, also burning his internal energy, launched a ferocious counterattack, their combined efforts creating a deadly storm of strikes.
The battlefield trembled under the weight of their clash. Even the Eight Knights were caught in the crossfire, severely wounded by the residual force of the three-way battle.
"You cannot be allowed to live!" Zhang Xiu declared, his eyes blazing with killing intent. He focused all his attacks on Ma Chao and Pang De, determined to eliminate them.
But the battlefield's oppressive aura soon reasserted itself, draining the energy of all three combatants. Realizing their strength was fading, Pang De and Ma Chao exchanged a quick glance before executing a final, desperate strike. Then, without a word, they turned their horses and fled.
As they retreated, Zhang Xiu gave chase but was quickly overcome by exhaustion. Blood poured from his mouth as he struggled to remain upright on his horse.
Zhang Xiu spat blood as he tried to regain his composure. "Mission accomplished." He tossed Ma Teng's command flag and the banners of the Eight Knights at Fan Chou's feet. "Han Sui escaped, and I couldn't claim his flag. Worse, I missed the chance to take their heads. But they won't be able to fight again anytime soon."
Fan Chou stared at Zhang Xiu in disbelief. He had just witnessed a feat more impressive than any of Lü Bu's. Though Lü Bu had once faced 100,000 Xiliang cavalry, Zhang Xiu had triumphed over 100,000 Qiang cavalry. Despite the difference in the enemy's strength, Zhang Xiu had won—decisively.
No matter how one looked at it, Zhang Xiu had led a single force to victory against entrenched foes. His name would now be known across the land. At the same time, word spread of Ma Chao and Pang De both achieving internal energy mastery. From that day forward, Ma Teng became the most powerful force in Liangzhou.