Chapter 1579

Cao Cao was secretly surprised; Gu Yi's decisiveness and confidence indeed exceeded his expectations. He had originally thought that by relying on the absolute advantage in numbers, he could easily force Gu Yi and his party into a desperate situation and force them to surrender. But now it seemed that Gu Yi did not intend to surrender easily and was even prepared to perish together.

"Gu Yi, why must you be so persistent? Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists. If you are willing to surrender today, I, Cao Cao, guarantee that I will not treat you unfairly. If your wisdom and martial arts can be used by me, why worry about the world not being settled?" Cao Cao attempted to shake Gu Yi's determination with words, his tone not lacking in sincerity.

Gu Yi sneered even more, his gaze like a torch, sweeping across the dense enemy troops, but his heart was clear. "Cao Cao, you and I each serve our own masters; those with different paths do not conspire together. Although I, Gu Yi, am not a hero, I also know loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness; how can I betray my master for my own selfish interests? Today's battle is not for personal grievances but for the great righteousness of the world. Even if I die on the battlefield, it is the glory of our generation!"

After finishing, Gu Yi fiercely waved the long sword in his hand; the sword light was like electricity, instantly cutting through the air, pointing directly at Cao Cao's location. This sword was not only a challenge to Cao Cao but also a resistance to fate and a persistence in belief.

Seeing this, a trace of approval flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, but there was more regret. He knew deeply that a rival like Gu Yi, once missed, would be hard to find again. Thus, he issued the final order: "The entire army, listen to my command! Whoever captures Gu Yi alive will be rewarded with a thousand gold and enfeoffed as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

Once the order was issued, the Cao army's morale was greatly boosted, and the offensive became increasingly fierce. Although Gu Yi's soldiers resisted bravely, under the dual pressure of numbers and physical strength, they gradually showed signs of defeat. Gu Yi himself was also struggling to cope, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted, unwilling to retreat even half a step.

Just at this moment of life and death, the sky suddenly became covered with dark clouds, thunder rumbled, and a sudden torrential rain poured down, adding a bit of tragic color to this fierce battle. The rain blurred their vision but also temporarily eased the pressure on Gu Yi's side, causing the Cao army's offensive to restrain somewhat.

Gu Yi seized this opportunity to quickly organize his remaining forces, utilizing the rain curtain as cover, and began to transfer toward the predetermined retreat route. He knew deeply that this battle could no longer be won, and preserving his effective strength to wait for the opportunity was the best strategy.

Cao Cao looked at Gu Yi's gradually receding back with mixed feelings. He both admired Gu Yi's martial prowess and loyalty and regretted failing to bring him under his command. Finally, he could only shake his head helplessly and order his troops to clean up the battlefield, preparing to welcome the next battle.

Gu Yi and his party, under the cover of the rain, experienced countless hardships and finally shook off the Cao army's pursuit, returning to their own camp. Although the losses were heavy, Gu Yi's heart was filled with pride and firmness. He knew that today's battle, although a defeat, was honorable, because they had guarded their beliefs and proved the value of loyalty.

After returning to the camp, Gu Yi immediately summoned the surviving generals to analyze the battle situation and summarize the lessons learned. He emphasized that although this battle was a defeat, the spirit was not lost; as long as the hearts of the people were not scattered, there would always be a day to rise again. At the same time, he also began to plan the next action plan, how to utilize factors such as terrain and troop strength to find opportunities and deal Cao Cao a fatal blow.

The rain cleared and the sky turned sunny; the sunlight passed through the clouds and sprinkled on the devastated battlefield, bringing a trace of rare warmth and hope to this land. Gu Yi stood on the high point of the camp, looking into the distance with mixed feelings. The fierce battle just now seemed to still be before his eyes; the bravery of every soldier, the collision of every sword blade, and the neighing of every warhorse were all deeply engraved in his memory.

"General, we have suffered heavy losses; do we need to ask for reinforcements from our master?" a deputy general asked cautiously, his face still bearing the traces of battle, but his eyes revealing firmness.

Gu Yi was silent for a moment and shook his head. "No, it is not the time yet. We must rely on our own strength to overcome this difficulty. Our master also has his own difficulties; we cannot let him be distracted."

"But with our current troop strength, I fear we cannot withstand Cao Cao's next offensive," the deputy general said worriedly.

Gu Yi's gaze was firm. "Although the troop strength is small, the will is not extinguished. We must use wisdom to make up for the lack of numbers and use strategy to defeat the enemy. Remember, true victory does not lie in the number of troops but in the hearts of the people and the ingenuity of the strategy."

In the following days, Gu Yi led his soldiers to begin the arduous reconstruction work. They reinforced the camp, trained new soldiers, and at the same time dispatched scouts to closely monitor the movements of Cao Cao's army. Gu Yi knew deeply that to achieve victory in this war, he must first understand the enemy; know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

At the same time, Cao Cao was also preparing intensively for the next offensive. He knew Gu Yi's cunning and tenacity, so he did not rush for success but adopted a steady and solid strategy. He dispatched spies to infiltrate Gu Yi's camp, attempting to probe the truth, while strengthening control over the surrounding areas to prevent Gu Yi from receiving outside aid.

However, Gu Yi was no ordinary person. He had long expected Cao Cao to do this, so he had made preparations in advance. When Cao Cao's spies infiltrated the camp, what they found was a false appearance that seemed lax but was actually heavily guarded. Gu Yi deliberately let some soldiers appear exhausted, while secretly arranging heavy traps and ambushes, waiting for the enemy's arrival.

Sure enough, when Cao Cao's spies were probing for intelligence, they inadvertently triggered the traps and suffered heavy losses. This event made Cao Cao furious and also raised his vigilance toward Gu Yi to an unprecedented height.

As time passed, the contest between the two sides became increasingly intense. Gu Yi utilized the terrain advantage to successfully repel Cao Cao's offensive multiple times. And Cao Cao did not show weakness; he constantly adjusted his tactics, attempting to find Gu Yi's flaws.

In this long tug-of-war, Gu Yi's soldiers gradually demonstrated astonishing combat effectiveness and cohesion. Although they were few in number, everyone held the belief of certain victory, bravely fighting against the enemy. And Gu Yi himself set an example; he always charged at the front, using practical actions to inspire his soldiers.

In one critical battle, Gu Yi cleverly utilized the cover of night and the terrain to launch a surprise attack on Cao Cao's army. He personally led an elite force, quietly circling to the enemy's rear, and then suddenly launched an attack. This move was unexpected, catching Cao Cao's army off guard and causing heavy losses.