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Hu Zhen led five thousand elite troops, charging out from Si Shui Pass with great fanfare. Banners fluttered in the wind, and their armor gleamed, creating an impressive spectacle. In Sun Jian's camp, Cheng Pu rode out with spear in hand, directly confronting Hu Zhen. As the two armies clashed, hooves kicked up clouds of dust, and the two generals engaged in fierce combat. Hu Zhen wielded his spear like a venomous dragon piercing the clouds, while Cheng Pu skillfully countered with his Iron Spine Snake Spear. The tips of their weapons collided repeatedly, sparking bright flashes. The two fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand, amidst the cacophony of neighing horses and shouting soldiers.
Suddenly, Cheng Pu let out a mighty roar, spurring his horse forward. With a swift thrust, he aimed directly at Hu Zhen. Caught off guard, Hu Zhen was struck in the chest by the spear, blood gushing forth as he fell from his mount. Cheng Pu glanced around coldly and shouted while brandishing his spear, "The enemy general is dead! Surrender now or face death!" Seeing this, Sun Jian immediately spurred his horse and swung his blade with a voice like thunder: "Charge! Take the pass! Let Dong Zhuo's dogs know who truly rules this land!" The Jiangdong Army surged forward like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, sweeping through the enemy ranks and forcing Dong Zhuo's forces to retreat.
However, the defenders at Si Shui Pass were no ordinary soldiers; they had long been prepared. Arrows rained down like a storm from the walls, while rolling logs and massive stones crashed down upon the Jiangdong Army, causing chaos and hindering their advance. Observing this situation, Sun Jian decisively ordered, "Retreat! We will regroup at Liangdong and wait for a better opportunity to fight again." After a brief pause at the pass, the Jiangdong Army withdrew while Sun Jian led his main forces to set up camp.
Back at the camp, Sun Jian immediately summoned his subordinates to take action. He sent messengers to deliver news of their victory to Yuan Shao's headquarters while urgently dispatching others to Yuan Shu for supplies. However, within Yuan Shu's tent, dark currents were already stirring; he was wary of Sun Jian's achievements. One advisor suggested, "General, although Sun Jian is an ally, he is valiant and skilled in battle. If he captures Luoyang and slays Dong Zhuo, do you think he will be content to remain beneath you? This Jiangdong Tiger could become uncontrollable and threaten your position. It would be better to withhold supplies for now to shake his morale and disrupt his ranks; this way we can curb his accomplishments without harming our own standing."
Yuan Shu chuckled coldly and pondered for a moment before replying, "This is indeed wise advice. Send orders to delay the supplies; there is no need to rush." The messenger returned empty-handed, plunging Sun Jian's army into dire straits.
With insufficient provisions, discontent spread among the soldiers as unrest brewed both inside and outside the camp. As night fell, arguments erupted outside the tents; some soldiers even resorted to fighting over the remaining rations. Several generals approached Sun Jian with concern: "General, it seems Yuan Shu is deliberately withholding supplies to weaken us." Enraged by this news, Sun Jian slammed his fist on the table and shouted furiously: "Yuan Shu is so shortsighted! Is he playing political games while our nation is in peril? At this rate, does he intend to let Dong Zhuo seize control of the realm?"
Yet even as internal troubles brewed, external threats loomed large. Scouts quickly relayed news of Jiangdong Army's food shortages back to Si Shui Pass. Hua Xiong rejoiced upon hearing this and immediately summoned strategist Li Su for a secret discussion. Li Su proposed a plan: "General, we cannot miss this opportunity. Reports indicate that Sun Jian's army is in disarray and soldiers are voicing their grievances. Tonight I will lead an elite force through a back road to attack his main camp from behind while you strike from the front. With a pincer attack, even his Jiangdong Tiger will be unable to withstand us!"
Hua Xiong slammed his fist down in excitement, a fierce expression on his face: "A brilliant plan! Let this Jiangdong wolf experience the might of my Xiliang cavalry!" With orders given, war drums sounded as soldiers quickly prepared for battle, ready to annihilate Sun Jian’s forces in one fell swoop. Under the cover of nightfall, an atmosphere of bloodshed hung heavily in the air as they prepared for a ruthless night raid.
After feasting well into the night, Hua Xiong set out under the moonlight for a surprise attack on Sun Jian’s camp. In the quiet surroundings of Si Shui Pass under the starry sky, only the low whinnies of warhorses could be heard. The bright moon hung high above as a gentle breeze stirred; Hua Xiong's army surged towards Sun Jian’s encampment like a black tide. Upon reaching the camp's perimeter, Hua Xiong waved his hand—war drums thundered as torches flared up and cries of battle shattered the stillness of night. Soldiers charged into the camp like tigers leaping from their dens.
Sun Jian was awakened by the commotion and quickly donned his armor before mounting his horse with a furious shout: "Enemy attack! All troops prepare for battle!" Armed with his Ancient Coin Blade, he burst from his tent just as Hua Xiong approached head-on. The two clashed fiercely as blades flashed and weapons danced in deadly arcs; Hua Xiong’s powerful form unleashed ferocious strikes while Sun Jian responded nimbly amidst clashing steel.
Just as they fought fiercely for ten exchanges or so, reinforcements led by Li Su arrived from behind the camp shouting: "Set fire to their tents!" Flames erupted instantly as chaos engulfed Sun Jian’s camp; soldiers panicked and scattered in all directions. Sun Jian shouted desperately: "Steady yourselves! Follow me out!" However, with flames raging around them and enemy forces pressing hard on all sides, it became increasingly difficult for Jiangdong Army to mount an effective defense.
Amidst this turmoil, Zu Mao closely followed Sun Jian as he cut through pursuing enemies with his blade. Just then Hua Xiong pursued them from behind with an angry shout: "Sun Jian! Prepare to die!" Sun Jian turned back and loosed two arrows in quick succession; Hua Xiong evaded them with agile movements. Unwilling to relent, Sun Jian drew back for a third shot but heard a loud snap—the bowstring broke under pressure. Cursing under his breath, he tossed aside his bow and spurred his horse into flight.
Seeing this, Lord Zu Mao urgently said, "My Lord, you are wearing the Red Cap, and the enemy can easily identify you. Please give me the cap so we can escape separately." Sun Jian made a quick decision, handing the Red Cap to Zu Mao. He donned his armor and commanded, "Be careful. I will take the back road!" Zu Mao nodded, putting on the Red Cap and shouting loudly to attract the enemy's attention before galloping away in another direction.
From a distance, Hua Xiong spotted the Red Cap and immediately ordered his soldiers to pursue. "The one in the Red Cap is Sun Jian; capture him alive!" The pursuing soldiers surged after Zu Mao. He rode swiftly and soon saw a village ahead, with charred pillars still standing. An idea struck him; he took off the Red Cap and hung it on one of the half-burned pillars. Then he leaped off his horse and quickly hid in the dense forest outside the village.
Under the dim moonlight, Hua Xiong's army saw the Red Cap hanging like a bright beacon on the ruined pillar. Frowning, Hua Xiong restrained his impatient subordinates and whispered, "Don't rush in; it might be a trap." He ordered his archers to surround the area, and arrows rained down like locusts towards the Red Cap. The sound of arrows whistling filled the air as they struck, but the Red Cap remained still. Finally, a soldier approached to take a closer look and discovered it was merely a decoy.
"Damn Sun Jian!" Hua Xiong fumed, pointing his blade forward. "Continue pursuing; don't let him get away!" However, before Hua Xiong's troops could act, Zu Mao suddenly burst out from the trees, dual sabers gleaming coldly as he charged at Hua Xiong. Zu Mao shouted fiercely, "You scoundrel Hua Xiong, come and face me!"
Hua Xiong sneered and swung his Dadao to meet him. The two horses collided amidst flashing blades and clashing steel, with cold wind mingling with the scent of blood. Zu Mao attacked fiercely, aiming for Hua Xiong's vital points with each strike, but Hua Xiong countered with overwhelming strength, his blows steady as a mountain. After several exchanges, Hua Xiong let out a roar and seized an opportunity when Zu Mao grew weary; he delivered a powerful strike that sent Zu Mao crashing to the ground along with his horse, blood splattering everywhere.
"Sun Jian's subordinate is nothing special!" Hua Xiong looked down at Zu Mao's lifeless body with disdain and waved for his troops to withdraw as dawn began to break.
The next morning, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang led their troops in search and finally found a disheveled Sun Jian. They dismounted to greet him, and Han Dang asked quietly, "My Lord, are you injured?" Sun Jian shook his head sadly and replied, "I am fine, but Zu Mao has bravely sacrificed himself; many soldiers have been lost. How can I face them?" His gaze swept over his subordinates as he declared coldly, "Gather our remaining troops and regroup; we cannot let the enemy underestimate us Jiangdong warriors!"
Sun Jian sent messengers overnight to report on the battle situation to Yuan Shao's camp. Upon receiving the news, Yuan Shao's face darkened as he slammed the letter onto his desk with force. "I can't believe Sun Wentai was defeated by Hua Xiong! The coalition against Dong Zhuo has barely begun, and we've already lost two generals—how am I supposed to handle this?"
The following morning, Yuan Shao summoned various lords to discuss matters in his main tent. The atmosphere inside was tense; everyone sat in silence with their heads bowed. Yuan Shao scanned them coldly and expressed his dissatisfaction: "The other day General Bao's brother acted without orders and went into battle alone—resulting in heavy losses for our forces. Now Sun Wentai has also been defeated by Hua Xiong; our morale has taken a hit! Gentlemen, what should we do now?"
A deathly silence filled the tent; no one spoke up. The only sound came from the charcoal crackling in the brazier. Yuan Shao's piercing gaze swept over each lord present, but all they could do was bow their heads submissively as they weighed their options for how to respond.
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