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The night enveloped the land, and the air was thick with the scent of burnt grass and wood. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei led their troops swiftly towards Yingchuan. In the distance, they spotted a bright red glow lighting up the horizon, accompanied by faint cries of battle that seemed to shake the entire night. Liu Bei reined in his horse, focusing intently ahead, his brow furrowed. "Brothers, the situation appears urgent; we must hurry to assist!"
Guan Yu nodded steadily, his tone calm. "If we arrive even a moment late, our aid may come too late. We must ride quickly."
Zhang Fei laughed heartily. "These Yellow Turban Rebels seem to have already suffered a fiery blow! By the time we arrive, we can give them another thrust!"
Liu Bei glanced at Zhang Fei, a slight smile on his lips, but his tone remained serious. "Yi De, do not underestimate them. In chaotic times, even if the enemy is defeated, we must not let our guard down."
The group quickened their pace and soon reached the battlefield. At this point, the Yellow Turban Army was in disarray, fleeing in all directions. Liu Bei surveyed the ground littered with corpses and the remnants of the Grass Hut Camp, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. He dismounted and ordered his soldiers to clear the battlefield while he made his way towards Huangfu Song's main camp.
Huangfu Song was busy arranging pursuit plans when he heard of Liu Bei's arrival and immediately stood to greet him. Upon seeing Liu Bei, he displayed a look of relief. "Mr. Xuan De, I did not expect to see you today! You have arrived just in time; the siege of Yingchuan has been lifted. Although our forces have won, remnants of the Yellow Turbans remain and must be eradicated."
Liu Bei stepped forward to pay his respects and replied respectfully, "Mr. Lu sent me to assess the situation at Yingchuan and to assist General Huangfu. I hope to contribute my humble efforts."
Huangfu nodded and turned his gaze towards the distant glow of fire. "Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao may have been defeated, but their remnants still exist and will likely seek refuge in Guangzong under Zhang Jiao's banner. I intend to send people to pursue them; if Mr. Xuan De is willing to assist me, it would be a great service to the court."
Guan Yu stepped forward and cupped his hands lowly. "What you say is absolutely correct, General. If we may accompany your forces, we will strike at their roots to eliminate future threats." His tone was stern, with determination shining in his eyes.
Zhang Fei strode forward boldly, speaking with bravado. "I've long heard of that old rascal Zhang Jiao's cunning; he can command these rebels to wreak havoc! Good! Since we're heading to Guangzong, I, Zhang Fei, will certainly claim his head as a show of support for General Huangfu and my brother Xuan De!"
Huangfu Song chuckled lightly at Zhang Fei's straightforwardness but quickly adopted a serious demeanor. "Though the Yellow Turban Rebels are defeated, Zhang Jiao still commands a large army; facing him directly will not be easy. Mr. Xuan De, if you are willing to lead our troops swiftly towards Guangzong, I will coordinate with general Zhu for subsequent pursuits so we can encircle Zhang Jiao together."
Liu Bei clasped his fists in response. "With your command, I dare not decline." He turned to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and said solemnly, "Brothers, our journey to Guangzong will undoubtedly be a tough battle; we must proceed with utmost caution."
Guan Yu nodded slowly, his gaze resolute. "Brother Xuan De, there is no need for more words. Yun Chung will accompany you."
Zhang Fei raised his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear and boisterously declared, "What is there to fear? We three brothers are united in heart; whoever Zhang Jiao or Zhang Liang may be, let them come, we shall take them on!"
Liu Bei smiled slightly, a glimmer of trust and determination flashing in his eyes. He turned to bid farewell to Huangfu Song. "General, we shall set off now and hope to meet you again at Guangzong."
Huangfu Song nodded, watching Liu Bei and his party depart. He then summoned his subordinate generals to adjust the pursuit strategy, casting his gaze once more towards the distant horizon where the flames of battle still flickered.
As night fell, the stars dimmed, and a cold wind swept through the desolate battlefield, carrying the scent of grass and trees. Liu Bei's group rode swiftly, their banners rustling in the wind. Passing through an open area, they caught sight of flickering flames ahead, mingled with the sounds of clashing weapons.
"There seems to be unusual movement among the cavalry ahead; something is amiss," Guan Yu said as he reined in his horse, his expression stern. His Green Dragon Crescent Blade tilted slightly, ready for any incoming threat. Liu Bei raised a hand to stop him, listening intently before slowly saying, "It does not seem like a battle; it appears to be a convoy. Let us approach and see what is happening."
Zhang Fei dismounted and leaned forward for a better look before turning back with a low roar. "Brother Xuan De! It’s a prison cart; there are people inside! It looks like… Mr. Lu!"
Liu Bei's expression changed at those words as he urged his horse forward. Indeed, they saw a convoy escorting a wooden prison cart, inside which was none other than his mentor, Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi's face was pale; he wore thin prison garb, his beard unkempt, and his expression was filled with anger and helplessness.
"Master!" Liu Bei exclaimed in shock, dismounting swiftly and kneeling beside the cart. "Xuan De is incompetent; how could my master end up in such a situation? May I ask what has happened?"
Lu Zhi looked up at Liu Bei, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes before he sighed deeply. "Xuan De, it is not your incompetence; it is fate that plays tricks on us. I have been encircling Zhang Jiao for some time now; victory was within reach when Zhang Jiao used Black Magic to confuse our troops. My army could not secure an immediate victory. At this time, the court sent Huangmen Zuo Feng to inspect military affairs. This man had ill intentions and sought bribes from me. I told him directly: 'Our military provisions are already insufficient; how can we have extra money to flatter an envoy?'"
Lu Zhi clenched his teeth, anger evident in his tone. "This angered Zuo Feng; he returned to court and falsely accused me of failing to engage in battle and neglecting morale. The court believed his slander and furiously ordered General of the Household Dong Zhuo to take command of my troops and escort me back to the capital for questioning!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's fists clenched tightly as he spoke solemnly. "My master has served the country loyally yet suffers such injustice! This matter Xuan De will surely seek justice for you!"
Zhang Fei, upon hearing this, was filled with rage, his hair standing on end. He shook his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear and shouted angrily, "These corrupt officials are so heartless! I might as well slay these escort soldiers first and rescue Mr. Lu!"
As he spoke, he stepped forward to take action. The escorting soldiers, seeing this, raised their weapons in defense, and the atmosphere grew tense.
"Yi De, stop!" Liu Bei shouted sternly, stepping in front of Zhang Fei. In a low voice, he said, "This matter is too serious; we cannot act recklessly. Although Mr. Lu has been wronged, the court has its rules. Rushing in with swords will only add to our mentor's troubles!"
Zhang Fei gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with unwillingness. " Brother Xuan De, can we just stand by and watch our mentor being wrongfully escorted? Is that even human?"
Liu Bei's gaze was sharp as he replied solemnly, "We will do everything we can to help our mentor, but we cannot let rash bravery ruin the greater situation!" He turned to Lu Zhi and bowed deeply, speaking steadily, "Mentor, Xuan De is powerless to rescue you from this predicament, but I hope that one day I can restore your honor."
Lu Zhi sighed deeply from within the prison cart and nodded slowly. "Xuan De, do not act foolishly. This matter is beyond your control. Remember that there are countless lives in this world waiting to be saved; you must think of the people and not take reckless risks for my sake."
Guan Yu observed the escorting soldiers coldly and lowered his voice. "Since Lu Zhonglang has already been captured, it seems we will have little chance to act if we go to Guangzong. Brother Xuan De, it would be better for us to return to Zhuo County, regroup our forces, and plan again."
Liu Bei remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and finally nodded. "Yun Chung's words are wise. The court is currently incompetent, and there are frequent changes in the military; we must not act rashly. Let us return to Zhuo County and watch for developments."
The escorting army set off again amidst the shouts and curses of the soldiers, the prison cart creaking over the hard ground with a harsh sound. Liu Bei stood by the roadside, watching Lu Zhi's figure grow fainter in the distance, pain and unwillingness reflected in his eyes. He silently tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and turned to call Guan Yu and Zhang Fei: "Prepare the troops to head north; we return to Zhuo County."
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