Chapter 1013

"Good!" Li Ru received the victory report from the front line and stood up excitedly. "Young friend Gu, this move of yours is truly brilliant! Not only did you cut off their supplies, but you also severely damaged their morale; as one side grows and the other wanes, our chances of winning have greatly increased!"

Gu Yi smiled slightly, but there was not much pride in his eyes. "This is just the beginning; the real battle is still to come. We must pursue the victory and not give the Guandong Allied Forces any chance to catch their breath."

Li Ru nodded in agreement, but then revealed a bit of worry. "However, the feudal lords of the east of the pass have massive power after all; if they join forces to counterattack, I'm afraid we will find it difficult to cope. How is the progress of contacting other forces that you mentioned before?"

Gu Yi's expression was solemn, and he said slowly: "I have already sent out the most capable envoys, but the current situation is complex, and all parties are watching; not many are truly willing to take a side. However, as long as we can continuously demonstrate powerful strength, naturally there will be people willing to lean toward us."

Just as they were talking, a messenger hurried in. "Report to the General, there is urgent military intelligence!"

Gu Yi took the secret letter, unfolded it, and his brows immediately locked. "Cao Cao is personally leading a grand army and is rushing toward us, intending to fight us to the death."

Hearing this, Li Ru's expression also became stern. "Cao Cao is a cunning and resourceful person; he cannot be underestimated. This battle is likely to be a hard one."

Gu Yi pondered for a moment, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. "A hard battle must also be fought! Pass the order down: the whole army is to be ready and prepared to meet Cao Cao."

Immediately, Gu Yi discussed the strategy to meet the enemy in detail with Li Ru. They decided to use the terrain advantage to set up layers of ambushes, lure Cao Cao deep into the trap, and then annihilate him in one fell swoop.

Cao Cao's grand army pressed on the border, aggressive and fierce. He stood on high ground, looking at the Xiliang Army camp in front, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Gu Yi, I want to see just how much ability you really have!"

However, when Cao Cao led his army deep into the Xiliang Army's position, he suddenly discovered that the surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. His heart sank, and he felt something was wrong. Just at this moment, suddenly, the sounds of killing shook the sky, and the Xiliang Army surged from all directions, surrounding Cao Cao's grand army tightly.

Cao Cao was shocked, but he quickly calmed down and commanded his grand army to resist desperately. Both sides engaged in a life-and-death struggle; on the battlefield, swords flashed and shadows flickered, and flesh and blood flew.

Gu Yi personally took to the field and commanded the battle together with Li Ru. They flexibly mobilized troops and constantly changed tactics, making Cao Cao's grand army fall into a passive position. And although Cao Cao was incomparably brave, under the layers of siege by the Xiliang Army, he gradually felt powerless.

Just at this moment, Gu Yi suddenly discovered Cao Cao's figure. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he charged toward Cao Cao with his spear. Seeing this, Cao Cao was also fearless and wielded his sword to meet the challenge.

The two fought together, inseparable. Gu Yi's spear technique was sharp, every move pointing directly at Cao Cao's vital points; and Cao Cao's sword technique was skilled, defending without a single leak. The two fought for dozens of rounds, still unable to determine a winner.

However, the situation on the battlefield gradually became favorable to the Xiliang Army. Under Li Ru's command, the Xiliang Army soldiers fought bravely and gradually gained the upper hand. Seeing this, Cao Cao was extremely anxious; he knew that if things continued like this, he was afraid he would be buried here.

Just at this moment, Gu Yi suddenly used a unique skill, the spear tip piercing toward Cao Cao's chest like lightning. Cao Cao could not dodge in time and was pierced in the shoulder by the spear, blood immediately staining his battle robe red. He let out a cry of pain, his figure staggering.

Gu Yi took the opportunity to wield his spear and pierce again, but heard a cry of surprise from behind: "Brother Yi, be careful!" It turned out that Dong Yuan had appeared on the battlefield at some point; seeing Gu Yi in danger, she rushed up regardless of everything.

Gu Yi was shocked in his heart, quickly retracted his spear, turned around, and protected Dong Yuan behind him. And Cao Cao took the opportunity to break free from the Xiliang Army's siege and fled back to the camp with his remaining troops.

"Yuan, why did you come? It's too dangerous here!" Gu Yi looked at Dong Yuan with reproach, his tone carrying a bit of severity.

Dong Yuan just smiled slightly, her eyes full of concern. "I was worried about you, so I came. Brother Yi, are you okay?"

Gu Yi looked at her, a wave of emotion in his heart. He shook his head gently, "I'm fine, thank you, Yuan."

Although this battle failed to capture Cao Cao alive, it greatly frustrated the morale of the Guandong Allied Forces. Cao Cao was injured and fled back, causing turmoil within the Guandong Allied Forces. And the Xiliang Army's morale was greatly boosted, and the soldiers admired Gu Yi even more.

After the battle, Gu Yi and Li Ru gathered again to summarize the battle experience and discuss the next combat plan. They knew that although they had achieved a temporary victory, the battle was far from over. The feudal lords of the east of the pass were still watching like tigers, and the Xiliang Army had to remain vigilant at all times, prepared to meet more arduous challenges.

"Young friend Gu, you have made an indelible contribution to this battle." Li Ru looked at Gu Yi, his eyes full of appreciation. "However, the road ahead is still very long, and we must be even more cautious."

Gu Yi nodded in agreement. "Yes, in these chaotic times, every step is like walking on thin ice. But as long as we are united as one, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome."

As the war deepened, the contest between the Guandong Allied Forces and the Xiliang Army became increasingly fierce. Although Cao Cao was injured and fled back, he did not give up because of this; instead, he became even more determined to defeat the Xiliang Army. He knew deeply that in these chaotic times, only the strong could survive, and he had to become that strong person.

Under Cao Cao's call, the feudal lords of the east of the pass gathered again, preparing to launch a new round of offensive against the Xiliang Army. This time, they not only mobilized more troops but also meticulously planned various tactics, intending to defeat the Xiliang Army in one fell swoop and seize Chang'an.

Facing the strong counterattack of the Guandong Allied Forces, Gu Yi and Li Ru did not feel fear. They knew that this battle concerned the life and death of the Xiliang Army and they had to go all out. Thus, they began to prepare for the battle in a tense and orderly manner, strengthening defense lines, training soldiers, and continuing to seek alliances with other forces.

"Young friend Gu, what do you think are our chances of winning this battle?" Li Ru looked at the busy military camp, unable to help but feel a bit uneasy.

Gu Yi pondered for a moment and said slowly: "It is hard to predict the chances of winning. But as long as we are united as one and fight with all our might, there will definitely be hope for victory. Moreover, I believe that heaven rewards diligence; we have put in so much effort, and there will definitely be a return."

Hearing this, Li Ru's eyes flashed with determination. "You are right; we must never give up easily. In this battle, we must not only win but win beautifully!"

Under the leadership of Gu Yi and Li Ru, the Xiliang Army soldiers were in high spirits, and their training became even more arduous. They knew that this battle was not only for the glory of the Xiliang Army but also for their own survival. Therefore, everyone put in twelve points of energy, preparing to meet the upcoming massive battle.

However, just as the massive battle was on the verge of breaking out, a sudden piece of news broke the silence of the battlefield. It turned out that there was a split within the Guandong Allied Forces; some feudal lords questioned Cao Cao's command and began to fight on their own. This change made the combat effectiveness of the Guandong Allied Forces greatly reduced and also gave the Xiliang Army a chance to catch their breath.

After learning this news, a trace of cunning flashed in Gu Yi's eyes. "It seems heaven is helping me. We must make good use of this opportunity to give the Guandong Allied Forces a fatal blow."