Wang Kuang's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly called out, "Come quickly, come quickly!"
Although the surrounding soldiers were afraid, they still acted as vanguards and rear guards, quickly surrounding Wang Kuang. As for Pan Feng and Hua Xiong, they believed that Lu Bu's victory was entirely due to luck, and that in a real fight, they were superior!
"Lu Bu, stop being arrogant. My brother and I will take your life!" Hua Xiong roared, and with Pan Feng, they rushed out. Lu Bu turned his head, his face sinking, and grabbed a soldier to use as a shield as he charged out.
For a time, horses reared and men fell, but mindful of the brother in Lu Bu's hands, they dared not kill them outright and could only block with spears and other weapons.
Ye Feng possessed unparalleled might, and with the Overlord Halberd, a divine weapon, in his hand, the two combined resulted in a shower of blood and gore, piercing armor twenty to thirty times!
"Feng Xian, protect yourself and show them the might of Liang Province!" Ye Feng swung his Overlord Halberd left and right amidst the crowd, clearly gaining the upper hand!
"Villain, don't flee!" Pan Feng roared, throwing his axe without hesitation. The axe spun back, and regardless of whether it was friend or foe, heads separated from bodies!
"Well done, Pan Feng!" Ye Feng's expression changed. He had never imagined that a general not considered famous would be so difficult to deal with. At that moment, he realized he could not underestimate anyone!
Hua Xiong also constantly flanked them. Although Lu Bu and Ye Feng were peerless in their bravery, they could not sustain it under a war of attrition. They had no choice but to abandon the pursuit of Wang Kuang and turn their attention to Hua Xiong and Pan Feng.
Hua Xiong and Pan Feng exchanged glances and made a decision. In a head-on confrontation, they were no match for Ye Feng and Lu Bu, so they could only retreat temporarily.
As soon as the two retreated, soldiers immediately occupied their positions, leaving Lu Bu and Ye Feng unable to move.
"To think you would use ordinary people to block this king's path, truly remarkable skill!" Ye Feng sneered. When one is the butcher, the other is the fish, and now that the roles are reversed, how could it be so easily dismissed!
"Ye Feng, if you have the guts, come and kill us. What kind of skill is it to deal with ordinary soldiers? Are you not afraid of being branded a coward?" Hua Xiong taunted.
"This king will not spare you!" Ye Feng leaned forward slightly on his horse, his Overlord Halberd moving back and forth under the cover of the Fangtian Huajie, constantly accumulating power. The soldiers raised their shields high and pressed closer to Ye Feng.
"Those who block this king shall be killed without mercy. If you wish to die, come forward!" A roar accompanied by blood-soaked armor was truly intimidating, making the soldiers tremble.
However, they were in the service of their lord and bore his responsibilities. How could Hua Xiong let such an opportunity pass? He reminded them, "Prince Chu is at the end of his rope. Charge out and kill him, and you will be rewarded with marquis titles and noble ranks!"
It was impossible not to be tempted by such a great opportunity. Indeed, some soldiers slowly approached Ye Feng and his companion with their spears. Ye Feng's Overlord Halberd spun slightly in his hand and swept out.
The soldiers at close range fell like leeks. Seeing this, the soldiers became fearful and instinctively wanted to retreat. Hua Xiong sneered and issued an order, "Any retreat will be met with death!"
The soldiers who had just hoped for rewards now regretted it immensely, but it was too late. They could only brace themselves and charge forward.
Meanwhile, the Third Army, seeing that Lu Bu and Ye Feng had gained distance from the ordinary soldiers, felt that the time was right and immediately ordered, "Prepare the crossbows, attack!"
The Zhuge Repeating Crossbow was naturally immensely powerful, especially since this was an improved version from centuries later, more than enough to deal with these ordinary soldiers.
Arrows rained down, reaping countless lives. Only then did everyone remember their shields. As the shields were raised, the arrows struck them.
The weight of the shields, accumulated from the sheer volume of arrows, became unbearable. The soldiers could only grit their teeth and endure. "My lord, I fear we cannot return!"
One soldier's voice became hoarse, and the next moment, he collapsed to the ground, spitting blood and struggling. "My lord, I have done my best!"
With the first, came the second, and the third. More and more fell. Wang Kuang watched with anxiety but was powerless. He could only force himself to speak.
"Brothers, hold on! Their arrows are almost gone!"
This was their only hope, otherwise, under the repeating crossbows, all of them would surely perish!
"My lord, hurry and leave! We will cover your retreat!" The soldiers struggled, raising their shields and surrounding Ye Feng. "As long as my lord returns, our elders and villagers will not suffer too much. Since that is the case, what do we have to fear!"
"Let's move together!" Amidst the shouts, they pressed closer to Ye Feng. Ye Feng remained calm and waved his hand, "Prepare yourselves, attack!"
Instantly, gunpowder and incendiary oil were tied to the arrowheads. Once they landed, those ordinary soldiers would surely perish without a trace. Furthermore, with Ye Feng among the enemy, everyone hesitated!
The next moment, the heads of those firing the crossbows were each slapped. Only by firing the crossbows could Ye Feng and Lu Bu have a chance to survive. Moreover, in the midst of this chaotic melee, an arrow formation would pave the way for a great victory!
As for Ye Feng and Lu Bu, they were individuals of unparalleled combat prowess, and there was no need to worry excessively. For a time, everyone was at ease, watching the flames explode within the enemy ranks, and instantly, screams, the crackling of fire, and popping sounds filled the air!
Even seasoned veterans of the battlefield felt a pang of pity, let alone new recruits. At that moment, their faces turned cold, and they fell into silence.
"Think about it, everyone. If the roles were reversed today, would they show mercy? Never. Everything we have now was given to us by the Great King. To feel pity for the enemy is foolish!"
"But, but they are also..."
"I have been through your stage before. They are the enemy. So what if they have parents and wives? If we were in their place, we would have died without a burial site. Do you understand!"
His words were like thunder, and the recruits lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. The leader patted the shoulder of the one who had spoken earlier. "Now that you have the ability, you can pity them. Why not think about it? If there were no war, there would be no need for these things!"
"I understand!" The new recruits immediately comprehended. The leader ordered everyone to push the crossbow carts back, held up a large banner, and said solemnly, "Brothers, follow me and charge out to save Prince Chu and kill Wang Kuang!"
"Save Prince Chu, kill Wang Kuang!"
"..."
Wang Kuang, who had just woken up, heard this sound. Coupled with the fact that his own soldiers were in disarray, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted again!
Hua Xiong and Pan Feng exchanged a smile, knowing their opportunity had arrived. Power in the world is held by soldiers and wealth. Furthermore, with Wang Kuang now bedridden, a decisive move would likely succeed.
"Brothers, our chance has come. This person has gone too far. We should have fought to the death, but with our lord in danger, how can we stand idly by? Pass my order, strike the gong and retreat, withdraw quickly!"
"The general is right, withdraw immediately!"
"What are these two fools plotting?" Ye Feng pondered inwardly. "They want to retreat, but I will not let them have their way!"
"Pass my order, engage the enemy in a decisive battle, and do not retreat!" Ye Feng commanded, "Any meritorious service will be duly rewarded!"
Wang Kuang's forces fled in disarray, while Ye Feng's morale was high. With the ebb and flow, how could they be a match for the Third Army?
Tens of thousands of men were driven like sheep to one place by Ye Feng. Hua Xiong's face changed greatly. He was no match for them. On both sides were sheer cliffs, with only one mountain standing in the middle. If they dared to enter, it would be a natural trap, enough to make them perish without a burial site!
"General, what do you think of this?" Hua Xiong hesitated for a moment, then asked Pan Feng slowly, "The art of war states that one should not pursue a cornered enemy. It would be better for us to fight him to the death."
Pan Feng raised his hand and suddenly remembered that Hua Xiong's current status was the same as his. He awkwardly scratched his head and quickly put his hand down. After careful consideration, he said, "Order the entire army to abandon all horses and provisions. Once we reach the mountain, who can do anything to us then!"
Hua Xiong wanted to dissuade him, but seeing Pan Feng's confidence, he could only sigh and pass down the order!
Ye Feng truly feared that these men would turn against him in desperation. Now it seemed his plan was flawed. He smiled coldly and said, "Since they wish to die, this king must oblige them. Order the soldiers to surround this place and find a source of water to cut off. Block all paths up the mountain and allow not a single grain to enter."
Ten thousand people on the mountain, even in the height of summer, would not survive in large numbers, let alone in the current harsh winter. Under Ye Feng's arrangements, it would be a great success if half of these tens of thousands could survive.
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should storm the mountain!" Lu Bu said excitedly, clutching his Fangtian Huajie. "Let them see our might!"
Ye Feng's face darkened. He had long known that this situation might lead to a mutiny by Hua Xiong and Pan Feng. Then, he could annex these people without any casualties, so why increase losses!
"Feng Xian, I know you are unwilling, but do not be impatient. Once they are pushed to a corner, they will surely fall into our hands!" Ye Feng said confidently. "As for the soldiers, let them drink and enjoy themselves daily at the foot of the mountain, with roasted lamb and whatever else they desire, and there is no need to be stingy!"
"Within a few days, they will surely surrender!" Ye Feng gave instructions one by one.
Wang Kuang was nothing. More importantly, if the divine archer were Huang Zhong, they would not be able to escape. The Three Kingdoms era was full of talent. Ye Feng sighed.
He was determined to assemble the Five Elite Generals or the Five Tiger Generals as soon as possible to ensure he would not be stabbed in the back!
"Feng Xian, also have Yu Huatian bring his men. See if they can infiltrate the mountain and spread rumors. It will surely double the results. As for Liu Dai's matter, let it be dropped!"