Chapter 1643: Plunged into Chaos

The defensive line carefully arranged by Zhang Lu displayed powerful might; Liu Bei's vanguard force suffered heavy losses in the dense rain of arrows and artillery fire and had to temporarily retreat to reorganize. However, Liu Bei did not retreat because of this; he knew deeply the importance of this battle, thus he personally led the main force, charging toward Yizhou again with the momentum of a collapsing mountain and an overturning sea.

On the battlefield, the soldiers of both sides fought bloody battles, blades and shadows crossed, and every collision was accompanied by the symphony of metal and the passing of life. Zhang Lu personally commanded an elite force, moving flexibly on the battlefield, at times concentrating firepower to launch a fierce attack on the enemy, at times utilizing the terrain to conduct clever detours and encirclements, making Liu Bei's army fall into a bitter battle.

Ma Chao, as a brave general in the coalition army, took the lead; he rode a war horse, held a long spear, and was like entering no-man's land in the enemy formation; wherever he went, the enemy fell off their horses one after another. His brave performance greatly boosted the morale of the coalition army, making the soldiers fight even more bravely.

However, Liu Bei was also a hero of a generation, after all; he quickly adjusted his tactics and sent two fierce generals, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, to lead elite troops to break through the two wings of Yizhou's defensive line. Guan Yu's blade technique was fierce and invincible; Zhang Fei was immensely strong and unstoppable. Under their leadership, Liu Bei's army gradually broke through part of Yizhou's defensive line, and the situation became increasingly critical.

Seeing this, Zhang Lu made a prompt decision and decided to adopt a detour tactic. He ordered a portion of the army to continue to hold the position, attracting the enemy's attention, while the main force, under Ma Chao's leadership, detoured to the enemy's rear, preparing to launch a surprise attack on Liu Bei's army.

Night fell, firelight soared to the heavens on the battlefield, and both sides were still fighting fiercely. Just when Liu Bei thought victory was in his grasp, the Yizhou army led by Ma Chao suddenly killed out from behind, like a sharp blade inserted into the heart of Liu Bei's army. Liu Bei's army was immediately plunged into chaos, and under the attack from front and back, they suffered heavy losses.

Seeing this, Liu Bei was struck with terror; he knew deeply that if this continued, he feared his entire army would be wiped out. Thus, he had to order a retreat to preserve his strength. Under the joint efforts of Zhang Lu and Ma Chao, Liu Bei's army was finally forced to withdraw from the territory of Yizhou.

The victory of this battle not only consolidated Yizhou's defensive line but also made Zhang Lu's prestige in the hearts of the common people reach an unprecedented height. The common people praised Zhang Lu's wise leadership and Ma Chao's bravery and skill in battle one after another; they believed that under Zhang Lu's leadership, Yizhou would surely be able to resist the invasion of all foreign enemies and usher in a more beautiful future.

However, Zhang Lu did not lower his guard because of this. He knew deeply that Liu Bei, although temporarily retreating, would absolutely not give up. Thus, he continued to strengthen Yizhou's internal construction, improve economic strength and military power, and at the same time actively expanded diplomatic relations, striving for more support from allies.

Under Zhang Lu's efforts, the alliance relationship between Yizhou and Eastern Wu became more solid; both sides not only supported each other militarily but also carried out extensive cooperation in economy and culture. This made Yizhou's comprehensive strength receive a great improvement, becoming one of the most powerful regions at that time.

And Liu Bei, after retreating, also deeply reflected on his mistakes. He realized that to break through Yizhou, relying on force alone was far from enough, and he must also utilize wisdom and diplomatic means. Thus, he began to actively seek cooperation with other forces, attempting to build a more extensive anti-Zhang Lu alliance.

Under Zhang Lu's wise governance, Yizhou not only became a safe haven in troubled times but also gradually developed into a region with prosperous culture and advanced technology. Zhang Lu knew deeply that the inheritance and innovation of culture were the cornerstone of a country's long-term stability; thus, he vigorously advocated education, built many schools, and invited famous scholars from all over the world to give lectures, teaching Confucian classics, military strategies, and farming techniques, making Yizhou's talent reserve increasingly rich.

At the same time, Zhang Lu also encouraged technological innovation, established "Craftsman Workshops," summoned capable craftsmen, researched and improved farm tools, improved production efficiency, and also invented many new types of equipment convenient for people's livelihood and military. Among them, a weapon called the "Chain Crossbow," capable of firing multiple arrows continuously in a short time, greatly improved the army's combat effectiveness, making Yizhou's defense even more impregnable.

With Yizhou's increasing strength, Zhang Lu began to set about building a more extensive alliance system to cope with challenges that might appear in the future. He sent envoys far to Jingzhou, Jiaozhou, and other places to negotiate alliance matters with local lords, and through mutually beneficial cooperation, gradually expanded Yizhou's influence. In these diplomatic efforts, Zhang Lu paid special attention to integrity and justice, and his sincerity and wisdom won the respect and trust of numerous allies.

However, just when Yizhou was peaceful inside and out and seemed about to usher in long-term peace, Cao Cao in the north rose quietly, becoming a new threat. Cao Cao, with his great talent and bold vision, unified most of the northern regions, his troops were strong and his horses were sturdy, and he intended to head south to unify the world. Yizhou, as an important force in the south, naturally became Cao Cao's next target.

Facing Cao Cao's threat, Zhang Lu did not choose to escape or compromise, but actively prepared for war, preparing to welcome the coming challenge. He knew deeply that the battle with Cao Cao was not only about Yizhou's survival but also about the well-being of the world's common people. Thus, Zhang Lu summoned all generals and strategists to discuss countermeasures together.

At the meeting, Zhang Lu proposed the strategic policy of "Uniting with Wu to Resist Cao," that is, strengthening cooperation with Sun Quan of Eastern Wu to jointly resist Cao Cao's offensive. At the same time, he also proposed a series of specific tactical deployments, including strengthening border defense, training elite troops, and reserving supplies, to ensure Yizhou could remain invincible in this great battle.

Ma Chao, as one of the main generals of the coalition army, swore to fight Cao Cao to the death to defend Yizhou. He led elite cavalry to drill day and night, his morale was high, and he swore to shed the last drop of blood for Yizhou. Under the leadership of Zhang Lu and Ma Chao, the military and civilians of Yizhou were of one heart and one mind, preparing for the coming great battle.

Cao Cao's large army finally pressed on the border; the black army was like clouds covering the sun, aggressive. However, when Cao Cao's army stepped into the territory of Yizhou, they encountered the defensive line carefully arranged by Zhang Lu. The Yizhou army utilized the terrain advantage, cleverly set up ambushes, making Cao Cao's army suffer setbacks repeatedly and suffer heavy losses.

Among them, a key battle occurred at "Longmen Pass" in the north of Yizhou. Cao Cao personally led the army to attack this pass, intending to break through Yizhou's defensive line in one fell swoop. However, Zhang Lu had long laid out heavy mechanisms and traps here. When Cao Cao's army entered the pass, suddenly, the earth shook and the mountains swayed, giant rocks rolled down, rockets were fired together, and Cao Cao's army was immediately plunged into chaos. ===== CHAPTER 1644 =====