Chapter 357: Two Tigers Fighting
In the western suburbs of Xudu, Cao's army has already set out.

The moon was hanging in the sky, and all the soldiers in Cao's army held pieces of wood in their mouths.

Teams of Cao's troops advanced westward along the Jingyu Road.

There was no glory of any community or village along the way.

When the news of the assassination of the emperor spread, many scholars and common people in Xudu and Yingyin moved their families.

It hardly takes any thinking to tell these common people, who live at the feet of the emperor and handle daily government affairs, have a strong sense of crisis.

There was no need for Cao's army to plan fortifications and clear the countryside. At this moment, everyone who could escape within a 200-mile radius of Xudu and Xiangcheng had already fled.

The scouts who were leading the way in the front army killed anyone they saw. Near the second watch, Guan Yu's outer guard scouts retreated.

Immediately, drums were beaten, spare campfires were lit in Guan Yu's camp, and all the soldiers gathered.

At dawn, Cao Cao arrived at the front line by car.

The front-line troops had half-surrounded Guan Yu's camp, and most of the officers and soldiers were sitting on the ground to rest and eat dry food.

The vehicles needed for the assault also arrived one after another. Cao Cao looked at an extinguished bonfire in a small outpost outside the camp in the distance. The remaining embers and smoke were blown by the southeast wind and fell towards Guan Yu's camp.

Cao Cao looked around and his eyes fell on Le Jin, Li Dian, Yu Jin, and Zhu Ling in front of the carriage. Finally, his eyes fell on Zhu Ling: "How long will it take?"

"My troops are ready to attack at any time!"

Cao Cao nodded, and then looked at Le Jin and Yu Jin. They both bowed and said, "I would like to fight and be the first to climb the mountain."

"Since the vanguard camps are ready, General Zhu will drive the vehicles to burn and disrupt the enemy camp; General Le will attack from the northeast corner, and General Yu will attack from the southeast corner. General Li will lead his troops to support and wait for an opportunity to join the battle."

"Leader!"

The four men bowed again, took a few steps back holding their helmets, and then turned around and went to gather their subordinates and tribesmen to make plans.

Only then did Cao Cao nod to the military commander Ding Fei, who immediately ordered the drum carts to beat the melody of preparation for battle.

The drums of the central army sounded loudly. The officers and soldiers who were resting in various places stood up at the sound of the drums, and either hurried to eat or ready their weapons and lined up.

Cao Cao quickly climbed up the hastily built two-story wooden platform, grabbed the railing and looked back to the east.

There are still the elite troops led by Xiahou Yuan and Cao Chun advancing in a winding manner. Chenliu, Yanzhou, and Xu Huang are just insignificant details!

As long as Liu Bei is defeated on the front battlefield, all problems will disappear!

Cooperation with Huainan will also be promoted smoothly.

Only if they win here and prove that they can really provide a safety barrier for the Huainan court, will that group dare to give it a try.

Perhaps the people of Huainan have already given it a try and are now just trying to figure themselves out.

There is no time to worry about so many things. Only by winning the battle now can there be a future. If he loses, there is no need for the Grand Sima of Guanzhong. Just Liu Bei can wipe out his three clans.

A whirlwind blew over, and Cao Cao's cloak fluttered behind him. He turned around and stared at Guan Yu's camp in front of him.

No matter how many people die today, we must defeat Guan Yu’s camp!
Under Cao Cao's gaze, Zhu Ling's charioteers formed into small fish-scale formations and marched forward one after another.

Next came Yu Jin and Le Jin, who were responsible for storming the camp. In order to ensure the physical strength of the assaulting armored soldiers, the two of them made the accompanying armored soldiers ride in carts pushed by other soldiers.

Behind them are the 3,000 clan soldiers under Li Dian. If they want to defeat Guan Yu in one fell swoop, they must rely on these 3,000 Li clan members who are of the same blood.

When Zhu Ling was one mile away from the camp, the camp gate opened wide, and Guan Yu led more than 300 cavalrymen to rush out.

The knights behind him followed closely holding a 'Han Shou Ting Hou' battle flag. More than 300 knights were dispatched, and the chariot soldiers commanded by Zhu Ling quickly gathered in a small fish-scale formation to form three larger circular formations.

They formed a camp around the chariots. In the middle of the chariot formation, Zhu Ling stopped his horse and stood in the middle under a war flag, reining in his horse and looking at Guan Yu nervously.

As a general from Hebei, Zhu Ling was well aware of how brave Yan Liang was.

However, Guan Yu only held his spear slightly horizontally at the side of the formation to slow down the cavalry, while frowning at Zhu Ling in the formation.

They looked at each other in silence. After more than ten breaths, when the knights in Guan Yu's middle and rear teams were in full formation, Guan Yu began to speed up.

The two armies of Yu Jin and Le Jin in front of him each had more than 2,000 people, and at this moment they also gathered into a formation without any intention of killing.

Seeing that they were conservative, Guan Yu rushed forward. In front of him were Li Dian's 3,000 clan soldiers, and the marching column of the 3,000 clan soldiers also began to change. The front team stopped to reorganize, the middle team went around to the left and appeared on the south side of the front team, and the rear team went around to the right to supplement the north side of the front team.

At the same time, after Li Dian retreated into the formation, he did not have any conversation with Guan Yu.

He was afraid that Cao Gong would misunderstand him, and he was also afraid that Guan Yu would turn against him if they disagreed with him.

The Li clan soldiers changed their formation quickly and blocked the road.

Guan Yu immediately turned off the road and circled westward along the fields.

On the wooden platform, Cao Cao saw that Guan Yu was determined, so he raised his right hand but did not lower it for a long time.

Cao Xiu, who was standing beside Cao Cao, was holding a banner and observing the position of Guan Yu's cavalry. Seeing that they had bypassed Li Dian's main formation, he could not help but speak: "Mingsir!"

"Shut up!"

Cao Cao put down his right hand and whipped Cao Xiu's horse whip hard on his shoulder armor. A crisp sound made Cao Xiu stunned. Cao Cao shouted: "If you open your mouth again, the military law will be merciless and will not be spared!"

Li Dian was in the formation and was also watching the flag on the wooden platform. There were nearly 500 knights among the Li clan soldiers, and now they had the opportunity to cut off Guan Yu's retreat.

Li Dian asked the young soldiers with good eyesight to watch and wait for the commander's orders.

Cao Xiu was so angry that his face turned red.

Near the wooden platform, a group of more than 500 knights were also in a state of agitation, and several cavalry officers frequently raised their heads to look at the flag on the platform.

Soon, Guan Yu led the knights to two hundred steps away from the wooden platform.

Guan Yu held his spear horizontally to stop the cavalry. After the cavalry had stabilized their column formation and changed into a horizontal formation, Guan Yu led several knights forward and said, "Han Shou Ting Hou Guan Yu is here! I invite Cao Gong to answer my questions in front of the battle line!"

Cao Cao resisted the urge, and slowly raised the whip in his right hand. Cao Xiu raised his eyebrows and stared at the whip raised by Cao Cao, while clenching the banner in his hand.

Just when Cao Cao was in great trouble, Cao Zhen, who was standing on the other side of him, drew his bow and aimed at where Guan Yu was, then pulled the bow to its full extent and shot an arrow.

The arrow was fired suddenly, but was deflected by Guan Yu's spear.

Cao Zhen took out his arrows and was ready to shoot. Many military officers who were good at archery near the wooden platform also began to take out their bows and prepare for shooting.

Cao Cao lowered his raised right hand, turned his head and glared at Cao Zhen, and ordered: "Prepare the carriage!"

Cao Zhen was so angry that he took two deep breaths before putting away the bow and arrow: "Here!"

Cao Zhen walked quickly down the wooden platform. Cao Xiu watched Cao Cao leave the platform and could only stand at the edge of the platform with his long flag, lowering his head and squinting his eyes to stare at Guan Yu who was a hundred and thirty steps away.

Not long after, Cao Cao rode out into the battle in a carriage covered with a green umbrella. Only Cao Zhen was driving the carriage, followed by Xu Chu on horseback.

The carriage gradually stopped, and Cao Cao felt embarrassed to go see Guan Yu.

Guan Yu pinned his lance to the ground and bowed to Cao Cao: "Your relatives murdered the emperor, this is a fact recognized by the world. As long as Cao Gong surrenders to Xuande, I am willing to guarantee that I will only hold the culprit accountable and not the others."

"At this point, why can't Yunchang understand?"

Cao Cao was neither hurried nor slow. After seeing Guan Yu, he calmed down and said, "Even if Xuande controls the four states of Yan, Yu, Qing and Xu, how can he be a rival to Guanzhong?"

Looking deeply at Guan Yu, Cao Cao said, "Yun Chang also knows that the man has some magical skills. In the death of the emperor, does he not have any responsibility at all?"

Guan Yu simply tightened his grip on his lance, raised it sideways and aimed at Cao Cao: "Does Lord Meng De still want to persuade me to withdraw my troops?"

"I know Xuande is strong-willed and Yunchang is loyal and brave, so how could I have the heart to persuade them to stop fighting?"

Cao Cao also said helplessly: "This battle is unavoidable, but no matter who wins or loses, it will be of no use."

Guan Yu reined in his horse with his left hand, turned his horse's head to show Cao Cao his horse's rear and back, and glanced back at Cao Cao's carriage: "I also hold the same view. I came to see Lord Meng De in front of the battlefield today, and I have no intention of stopping the war. I just want to see Lord Meng De. After this separation, I am afraid it will be difficult to see him again."

Cao Cao looked at Guan Yu's back as he rode away on his horse, reached out his hand to try to keep him, and wanted to ask him something.

But considering Guan Yu's character, the children that Mrs. Du brought with her should be safe.

If Guan Yu came forward to protect him, Liu Bei would also help Guan Yu bear the pressure from Guanzhong.

After thinking about it, Cao Cao sat dejectedly in the car. His fighting spirit had been lost by more than half, leaving only 30%.

(End of this chapter)