Chapter 1597: Responding Calmly

Huang Zhong wore heavy armor and held a long spear, his eyes revealing firmness and determination. The elite unit he led, like ghosts in the dark night, silently crossed the Cao Army's defensive line and headed straight for Cao Cao's central army camp. Under the moonlight, their figures moved rapidly through the woods, every step precise and error-free, demonstrating extremely high military literacy and tacit cooperation.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei's main force also achieved significant progress on the battlefields of various commanderies and counties. Guan Yu, with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, was invincible, and wherever he passed, the Cao Army was terrified; Zhang Fei, with his Serpent Spear dancing like lightning, caused enemies to fall from their horses amidst his roars; Zhao Yun, with his silver spear and white horse, was like a dragon entering a shallow pool, taking the head of an enemy general from among ten thousand troops as easily as reaching into a bag. The three routes of the army were like bamboo being split, breaking Cao Cao's dispersed forces one by one.

Cao Cao waited anxiously in the central army tent for news from the front. However, what came were one piece of bad news after another: one place was broken by Guan Yu, another was swept by Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun was like entering a place with no one around. Cao Cao knew well that if this continued, his massive army would likely be wiped out. Just then, a scout rushed in, his face showing terror: "My lord, it's bad! An enemy force of unknown identity is rapidly approaching the central army, and the leader seems to be... Huang Zhong!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao's heart shook. He had long heard of Huang Zhong's name, knowing that though he was old, his martial arts were extraordinary and he was both wise and brave. Now, this old general was actually pressing directly toward the central army; clearly, he intended a decapitation strike. If successful, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Quickly mobilize the elites and follow me to personally meet Huang Zhong in battle!" Cao Cao decided decisively, choosing to enter the fray personally to stabilize the army's morale, while also wanting to personally meet this legendary old general.

The two armies met outside the central army, and the moonlight illuminated the entire battlefield. Huang Zhong led the way, his long spear pointing directly at Cao Cao, his voice like a booming bell: "Cao scoundrel, do you recognize Huang Zhong?" Seeing this, Cao Cao sneered, drew the precious sword at his waist, and responded loudly: "Old General Huang, your name shakes the world; how could I not recognize you? Let us see in tonight's battle who will have the last laugh!"

With a single order, the troops of both sides instantly intertwined, engaging in fierce struggle. Huang Zhong was agile, his spear technique sharp, every move and technique containing immense power, pressing directly toward Cao Cao. Cao Cao was also a master of swordsmanship, his skills extraordinary, and the two traded blows, locked in an inseparable struggle.

However, just when both sides were fighting intensely, a sudden burst of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar, breaking the balance of the battlefield. It turned out to be another reinforcement dispatched by Liu Bei, led by Ma Chao, arriving in time. Ma Chao, the leader of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, was renowned for his extraordinary martial arts and rapid offensive. His addition instantly turned the tide of the war, and the Cao Army began to show signs of collapse.

Seeing this, Cao Cao knew that the situation was lost and had no choice but to order a retreat. Under the cover of his personal guards, he barely broke through the encirclement, but suffered heavy losses, and morale was low. Liu Bei's side, due to the great victory in this battle, had high morale and even greater momentum.

After the battle, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed follow-up strategies in the central army tent. Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and analyzed: "Though we won this battle, Cao Cao's power is massive, and his foundation is undamaged. We still need to act with caution, consolidate the results, and simultaneously strengthen contact with various commanderies and counties to ensure the hearts of the people are won, only then can we achieve long-term peace and stability."

Liu Bei nodded in agreement and immediately ordered: "Dispatch messengers to various commanderies and counties immediately to proclaim our army's victory, appease the people, and simultaneously collect grain and supplies, reorganize the army, and prepare for the next step of action."

After this battle, the balance of power between Liu Bei and Cao Cao underwent a subtle change. Liu Bei not only consolidated his position in Jingzhou but also greatly improved the morale and combat effectiveness of his army, laying a solid foundation for his future path to hegemony. Cao Cao, meanwhile, had to re-examine Liu Bei as an opponent and began adjusting his strategic deployment to deal with more intense challenges in the future.

As the smoke of the battlefield gradually dissipated, Liu Bei's camp was brightly lit, and generals from all routes gathered to celebrate this hard-won victory. Liu Bei sat in the main seat, looking at the faces below—some excited, some exhausted, but all full of fighting spirit—his heart surging with complex emotions. He knew that this victory was only the beginning, and the true challenge was yet to come.

"Gentlemen, though we won a great victory tonight, remember not to be slack." Liu Bei's voice was steady and powerful, piercing every corner of the camp tent. "Cao Cao's power is massive, and this setback will surely make him make a comeback. We must take this opportunity to strengthen our defenses while expanding our influence and striving for more allies."

Zhuge Liang took up the conversation, his feather fan waving lightly, his eyes flashing with the light of wisdom: "My lord's words are reasonable. We should strike while the iron is hot; on one hand, dispatch messengers to Jiangdong to form an alliance with Sun Quan and jointly resist Cao Cao; on the other hand, go deep into the heartland of Jingzhou to appease the people, incorporate surrendered troops, and enhance our strength."

Generals like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun nodded one after another, expressing agreement. They knew that the current victory was only temporary; to gain a foothold in this chaotic world, they had to continuously strengthen themselves and unite all forces that could be united.

Thus, Liu Bei immediately gave the order to dispatch messengers to Jiangdong, while ordering generals from all routes to divide and garrison the newly occupied commanderies and counties, ensuring public order and restoring production. In addition, he specifically instructed Huang Zhong to closely monitor Cao Cao's movements to prevent a sudden counterattack.

On the Jiangdong side, Sun Quan, upon learning the news of Liu Bei's great victory over Cao Cao, pondered inwardly. He understood that Liu Bei's rise was both an opportunity and a challenge for Jiangdong. If he could form an alliance with Liu Bei to jointly resist Cao Cao, perhaps he could preserve Jiangdong's foundation in this chaotic world, or even go further.

After careful consideration, Sun Quan decided to dispatch a messenger to Liu Bei's camp to discuss alliance matters. The messenger carried Sun Quan's personal letter and a batch of precious gifts, crossed layers of dangers, and finally arrived at Liu Bei's camp.

Liu Bei warmly received the Jiangdong messenger, and both sides held in-depth discussions on alliance matters. After some bargaining, a consensus was finally reached: Liu Bei and Sun Quan would form an alliance to jointly resist Cao Cao and share the fruits of victory.

After the alliance was reached, the coalition of Liu Bei and Sun Quan began a series of military actions. They cooperated with each other, advancing and retreating together, causing Cao Cao's sphere of influence to shrink continuously. Though Cao Cao was furious, he was helpless. He knew well that relying on his own strength alone, it was difficult to contend with both Liu Bei and Sun Quan simultaneously.

However, just at this critical moment, an unexpected thing happened in Cao Cao's camp. An advisor named Sima Yi proposed a bold plan to Cao Cao: utilize the contradictions between Liu Bei and Sun Quan to sow discord and destroy their alliance.

Hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes lit up. He knew Sima Yi's strategy well and immediately adopted his suggestion. Thus, Cao Cao began secretly dispatching messengers to Liu Bei's and Sun Quan's camps respectively, spreading rumors and provoking the relationship between the two sides.

Upon learning this news, Liu Bei and Sun Quan were both very angry. They understood that this was Cao Cao's trick, aimed at destroying their alliance. However, facing Cao Cao's provocation, they did not act rashly but chose to respond calmly. ===== CHAPTER 1598 =====