After Han Sui pursued for a short distance, he cautiously gathered his soldiers. He knew well that Dong Zhuo's Army was powerful and not to be underestimated, and he absolutely could not let his guard down because of a temporary victory. He was very clear in his heart that excessive pursuit might lead to a dangerous situation, so he dared not be careless in the slightest, and quickly continued to return to gather his troops, while methodically carrying out defensive deployments, further strengthening the camp, and standing ready to prevent a sudden counterattack from Dong Zhuo's Army.
And Hu Zhen and Li Meng, after escaping Han Sui's attack, led their remnants of defeated soldiers and generals, like startled birds, hastily rushing backward to rendezvous with Dong Zhuo's approaching main army. When Dong Zhuo learned of the vanguard's defeat, his already imposing face became even more distorted with rage. He was like a furious lion, stomping with rage, and immediately inquired about the battle situation in detail. When he learned that it was due to Hu Zhen's underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance, greedy for military merits, Dong Zhuo was even more enraged. He widened his eyes, as if fire was about to spray out, and loudly scolded Hu Zhen: "You, a general who has followed me for many years, are actually so foolish! More than half of Western Liang is rebelling with Han Sui, the situation is so complex and dangerous, how could your vanguard troops, whom I rely on, be easily defeated! You are seeking your own death!"
Hu Zhen trembled with fear, intimidated by Dong Zhuo's aura, and knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing, declaring his death sentence.
The more Dong Zhuo thought about it, the angrier he became, and his heroic spirit was fully displayed at this moment. He waved his large hand and loudly shouted: "Drag this useless thing out and behead him!" This command, like a thunderclap, exploded in everyone's ears, making them shiver with fear.
At this time, the generals in the army and Li Ru, seeing this situation, were all anxious and rushed forward to plead bitterly. Li Ru spoke even more earnestly: "Executing a general on the eve of battle is truly disadvantageous, Lord! Now, with a great enemy before us, it is precisely the time to employ people. Lord can order Hu Zhen to atone for his sins by rendering meritorious service, let him make up for his mistakes, and it will not be too late to deal with him after defeating Han Sui."
Dong Zhuo listened to Li Ru's words, pondered for a moment, and only then did the anger in his heart subside slightly. His piercing gaze lingered on Hu Zhen for a moment, and then he finally ordered Hu Zhen to be temporarily released.
Subsequently, Dong Zhuo grandly waved his large hand, urging the main army to advance quickly; he wanted to fight Han Sui to the death. His firm eyes revealed a desire for victory, as if telling everyone that he would surely defeat Han Sui, quell the rebellion in Western Liang, and achieve a grand hegemony. Under his leadership, Dong Zhuo's Army advanced majestically towards Han Sui's direction, and their imposing aura made people feel awe.
In that vast and sparsely populated Liang Province, the impending large-scale battle between Dong Zhuo and Han Sui's massive forces was indeed an extremely spectacular sight.
On the battlefield, banners fluttered, and war drums boomed. Dong Zhuo's Army stood like an iron torrent, exuding majesty and dominance; Han Sui's soldiers were also arrayed, their eyes revealing firm fighting intent. The number of soldiers on both sides was vast, densely covering the entire battlefield, their figures particularly striking on this expansive land. Warhorses neighed, and weapons gleamed; this great battle seemed to shroud the heavens and earth in an atmosphere of tension and grandeur, making one feel awe for the fierce confrontation about to unfold.
Han Sui and Dong Zhuo, surrounded by their generals, reined in their horses before the formation. Dong Zhuo, with wide, angry eyes, shouted: "Han Sui, the rebel! You fickle scoundrel, you were previously pacified by the imperial court, but now you rebel again. You are simply a treacherous and perfidious villain!"
Han Sui's expression was calm as he slowly said, "Dong Gong, that is incorrect! It is not that I wish to rebel, but rather that the officials have forced the people to rebel! Dong Gong possesses great talent and strategy, a hero of this era. We, the soldiers of Western Liang, are also forced into this situation. If Dong Gong can cease hostilities and make peace, and we join hands together, what great matter could we not achieve!"
Dong Zhuo listened, then sneered, saying, "Hmph! Do not speak of such sophistry again! How could I, Dong Zhuo, collude with rebels like you! Today, I will capture all of you in one fell swoop!"
Han Sui also raised his voice and said, "Dong Gong, if you insist on going to war, only the common people will suffer! Do you truly disregard the people of the world?"
Dong Zhuo was enraged by Han Sui's words. He gritted his teeth and said, "Do not spread such misleading words here! You rebel, today is your day of death!"
After a few exchanges, Dong Zhuo suddenly turned and loudly said to his generals, "Who can join me in taking down that fellow Han Sui?!"
As soon as his voice fell, the valiant general Fan Chou beneath his tent roared, "This humble general volunteers!" With that, he held his long spear, clamped his legs to his horse's belly, and galloped to the front of the formation like an arrow released from a bow.
Fan Chou's warhorse neighed beneath him, and he stood there majestically, his long spear gleaming with a cold light, exuding an aura of courage and fearlessness.
Han Sui's Army was not to be outdone; Liang Xing galloped forward, brandishing his blade, and charged out of the formation.
On the battlefield, Fan Chou and Liang Xing, two great generals, instantly engaged in battle. Fan Chou thrust his spear fiercely, the spear's shadows like a forest, each strike accompanied by the sound of tearing air, displaying formidable power; Liang Xing, on the other hand, wielded his great blade, its light flashing, his fierce attacks assaulting Fan Chou like a furious storm.
The two warhorses galloped past each other, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust. Fan Chou's movements were agile, his attacks swift and powerful, each strike carrying immense force; Liang Xing's movements were nimble, his blade techniques cunning and unpredictable, each swing carrying a deadly threat.
Both sides went back and forth, fighting fiercely, the clang of weapons incessant, sparks flying, the battle exceptionally intense and thrilling.
On Dong Zhuo's Army's side, Wang Fang and Yang Ding, seeing that Fan Chou and Liang Xing had not yet determined a victor, also spurred their horses out to join the fray. From Han Sui's side, Li Kan and Zhang Heng also charged out with their spears. Instantly, the battlefield was filled with shouts of battle, as six generals engaged in a chaotic, inseparable melee. Fan Chou's spear was like a swimming dragon, his attacks fierce, colliding violently with Liang Xing's great blade, sparking dazzling fire; Wang Fang and Yang Ding were not to be outdone, wielding their weapons and fighting fiercely with Li Kan and Zhang Heng.
The three pairs of generals galloped across the formation, their blades and spears crossing, the shouts of battle and the clang of weapons reverberating through the sky. Their movements were agile, their techniques unpredictable, sometimes engaging in close combat, sometimes pulling back to unleash their unique skills. Warhorses neighed, dust flew, and the entire battlefield was filled with a strong aura of slaughter, the intensity of the battle dazzling to behold.
As the great battle between the two sides continued, after nearly a hundred rounds, Wang Fang of Dong Zhuo's Army, in the fierce fighting, carelessly exposed a fatal flaw. Li Kan keenly noticed this opportunity; a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and his long spear, like a venomous snake, swiftly extended and fiercely stabbed towards Wang Fang.
With a "thud," the long spear accurately pierced Wang Fang's body. Wang Fang cried out in agony and fell from his horse. His eyes gradually lost their luster, and the breath of life rapidly faded away.
The situation on the battlefield instantly changed. Dong Zhuo's Army, seeing Wang Fang fall from his horse, suffered a blow to their morale, while Han Sui's Army was greatly invigorated. Han Sui, seeing this opportune moment, a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. He unhesitatingly raised his arm high, then forcefully waved it, shouting: "All troops charge! Kill them!"
As Han Sui's order was given, Han Sui's Army immediately surged with morale, like a group of wild horses unleashed, shouting and roaring, charging towards Dong Zhuo's Army like a surging tide. Their morale was as fierce as a dragon, as if they wanted to tear and flatten everything in their path.
Dong Zhuo's Army, under this sudden and fierce impact, was caught somewhat off guard due to their low morale. Under the ferocious attack of Han Sui's Army, their morale gradually diminished, and Dong Zhuo had no choice but to order a temporary retreat. Although Dong Zhuo's Army was defeated, it was not in disarray. The soldiers retreated in an orderly manner along the predetermined route, maintaining close coordination with each other, without any chaos or rout.
They quickly and methodically returned to their camp and fortified themselves within. During the retreat, Dong Zhuo's Army's generals directed the soldiers to maintain their formation while closely monitoring the movements of Han Sui's Army, ensuring that the troops could safely withdraw.
When Dong Zhuo's Army retreated into the camp, they quickly adjusted their deployment, strengthened their defensive works, and prepared to meet any further attacks from Han Sui's Army. The atmosphere in the camp was tense and solemn; although the soldiers had just suffered a setback, their eyes still revealed firm belief and an unyielding will. They knew that this was only a temporary setback, and as long as they united, they would surely find an opportunity to counterattack and regain the initiative on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Han Sui's Army took advantage of the situation and pursued, advancing triumphantly. Their momentum grew even stronger, as if they had already seen victory beckoning to them. But Han Sui also knew that Dong Zhuo's Army was not to be underestimated; their temporary retreat did not mean complete defeat, and the battles to come would be even more difficult and intense.
