Chapter 530

Dian Wei's iron halberds were disarmed, but he still had his arm guards. He also roared like a tiger, his arms coming together from top to bottom, intending to break Bai Lang's iron spear. However, Bai Lang withdrew the iron spear and did not give Dian Wei this opportunity. At this time, other great generals of Cao's camp had arrived. The Cao brothers, Yu Jin, Yue Jin, LiDian, and others all swarmed up, surrounding Bai Lang, but they could only stall him. Bai Lang's three hundred cavalry had by now driven the defeated soldiers deep into the camp, and Cao's army was in a complete mess.

CaoCao was, after all, capable of commanding an army. He gathered the defeated soldiers as quickly as possible and mobilized archers to come forward. The Xiahou brothers, having caught their breath, also came forward to join the encirclement of Bai Lang. Bai Lang leaped and roared like a tiger, his roar suppressing these great generals of Cao's camp as he fought. However, following CaoCao's order, these people each unleashed their own explosive strikes after exploding their Qi and then retreated rapidly. After Bai Lang shattered their attacks with one spear strike, what he faced was the fierce shooting of Qi-breaking arrows.

Those were elite archers, each one a soldier capable of exploding Qi—this was already the level of a 'Qu Junhou'. "I guess they are either surnamed Lin or Lu, maybe they will even use their bows to counter-attack with a Rising Dragon." Bai Lang muttered to himself, but his hands were not slow, rotating his long spear to block the vast majority of the arrows. With the eyesight and martial arts of an 'Inner Scene' expert, these arrows were quite troublesome.

When the chaotic arrows were fired, due to the mutual excitation of Qi, the arrows would completely exhibit strange trajectory changes, making them harder to deal with than when they were uniform. After the rain of arrows, the great generals of Cao's camp steadied themselves, each commanding their elite subordinates to take turns attacking Bai Lang and his cavalry. Bai Lang waved his long spear to signal his subordinates to retreat, while he himself covered the rear. Not a single Cao soldier dared to pursue.

Bai Lang retreated, but Cao's camp suffered heavy losses. CaoCao retreated several miles directly and set up camp again. At this time, LiuBei, Liu Xuande, from Pingyuan also arrived, ordering Yunchang and Zilong to lead four thousand troops to assist Kong Rong, Kong Wenju, while he himself led Yide directly into Xuzhou city. This time, because of Bai Lang's battle, Cao's army retreated, so there was no interception by Yu Jin. After Bai Lang retreated, he did not join Kong Rong and Tian Kai's army, nor did he join Tao Qian's Xuzhou army, but instead set up camp by the river on his own. The entire camp had no trenches, no deer-caltrops, and no camp walls.

Bai Lang's main camp was in the center, surrounded by over three hundred tents scattered like stars. Bai Lang's army had one man and two horses, one horse for riding and fighting, and one horse for carrying rations and weapons. Bai Lang himself had three horses, two of which had to carry things for him, since his armor and weapons were heavy. Tao Qian, Kong Rong, and Tian Kai had also invited Bai Lang to discuss matters, but Bai Lang declined them all, just staying in his own camp. However, he did accept the rations and supplies sent by Xuzhou Governor Tao Qian, and incidentally met Mi Zhu, the 'Biejia Congshi', since he had a younger sister who married LiuBei.

Mi Zhu's face was handsome and could be considered dignified. Based on this, Bai Lang could imagine that his sister was probably quite beautiful. However, Bai Lang could not ask Mi Zhu, "How is your sister?" If such a rude question were asked, would this Mi Zhu offer his sister directly? Bai Lang had no interest in such things. Honestly speaking, his aesthetic preferences were probably closer to Cao 'Wife-Stealer'. The Jade Fish was recovering slowly in this world, and Bai Lang felt he might have to spend a longer time here than ever before.

Would the three-to-five-hundred-year lifespan of an 'Inner Scene' expert be affected? Making himself a short-lived ghost in his original world? Such things could be discussed later. Anyway, Bai Lang felt his life had not been shortened at all. "As long as it is not shortened subjectively or objectively, that is fine." He sat upright in the main tent when suddenly soldiers outside reported that LiuBei, Liu Xuande, and Tao Qian, Tao Gongzu, had come to visit together. Bai Lang immediately went out to greet them.

He was not wearing armor, only ordinary cloth clothes, no crown, and no seal, looking quite casual. By rights, he should wear a 'He' crown. So Bai Lang hurried back to put on a crown. It didn't matter for Liu Xuande, as LiuBei was actually like a wandering knight, but Tao Qian was a scholar, so it would be impolite to meet him dressed like that. Seeing LiuBei and Tao Qian come together, Bai Lang invited them to sit in the main tent.

Once seated, Tao Qian thanked Bai Lang for his help and for upholding justice. Bai Lang waved his hand, "Where, where, Tao Gong praises me too much. I just couldn't sit by and watch Cao Mengde slaughter the innocent. If we count by this matter, I should have captured your whole family and sent them to Cao Mengde for disposal. Failing to restrain your subordinates strictly, this is all your responsibility, Governor Tao." Liu Xuande could not say anything, because Bai Lang was right; since they were your subordinates, Governor Tao, you naturally have to take the blame for them.

The host and guests spoke a few words, and Tao Qian directly took out the Xuzhou seal, "Your name for courage is known throughout the world. Breaking the Xiongnu, pacifying Bing Province, formerly Governor of Bing Province, now the world is in turmoil, and the king's law is not upheld. You should exert yourself to support the country. I am old and incompetent, and I am willing to cede Xuzhou to you. Do not decline. I will write a memorial myself to report to the imperial court." Even LiuBei was persuading him from the side, "Yuzhu's name for loyalty and righteousness has long been spread; now is the time to restore the Han Dynasty."

Bai Lang laughed loudly, "I am just a wandering knight. Being a pioneer for the king is fine as a fighting general, but governing a region is out of the question; I can't do it." He pushed away the Xuzhou seal Tao Qian took out, "I see that Lord Xuande has a dignified appearance, is open-minded in speech, and is a member of the Han royal family. If Tao Gong insists on ceding Xuzhou, why not cede it to Lord Xuande?" Xuande left his seat and bowed, saying, "Although LiuBei is a descendant of the Han Dynasty, my merit is small and my virtue is thin. I am afraid I am not qualified even as the Administrator of Pingyuan."

Tao Qian's eyes lit up when he heard what Bai Lang said, but what LiuBei said made him sigh, "Lord Xuande, why be so humble? Does this mean you intend to abandon the people of Xuzhou?" Xuande only said, "Today I came for the sake of righteousness to assist. If you say this, do you suspect that LiuBei has the heart to annex? If I have such a thought, may Heaven not bless me!" He declined repeatedly. For a time, Bai Lang became a spectator.

Tao Qian's thinking was also correct. This Liu Xuande's governance in Pingyuan was not bad, and he also had a reputation for virtue, loving the people like his own children. He was truly stronger than Bai Lang, who only knew how to fight and be a fighting general. If Bai Lang were appointed as an Administrator of a border commandery to fight against the barbarians, that would be outstanding talent. Letting him be the Governor of Xuzhou to pacify the people was indeed truly impossible... Mi Zhu, who followed, also persuaded him a few words. Finally, LiuBei said he would write a letter to Cao Mengde first to persuade him to retreat.

Since this matter was settled, the next thing was for LiuBei and Bai Lang to talk. LiuBei naturally spoke well of how they had not seen each other for a long time and how much he missed Bai Lang. Bai Lang observed his expression, and of course, it was not fake; this Liu Xuande really missed Bai Lang. Everyone was from the background of commoners and wandering knights, so they had more to talk about than the young master wandering knights like CaoCao. Bai Lang also talked with LiuBei about everything, but they talked most about the general trend of the world.

The conversation was pleasant for both host and guest, but Bai Lang would never sleep in the same bed with LiuBei, because he felt that doing so was too 'gay'. However, he agreed to set up camp at LiuBei's place. After all, LiuBei had many people, and the camp was well-built. Moreover, Liu Xuande also said, "Yunchang and Yide also miss Yuzhu quite a bit. I also have ZhaoYun, Zhao Zilong, here, who is a tiger general of this age, and I would like to introduce him to Yuzhu."