Chapter 102: E Lai Battles the Tiger Fool (Part II)

Based on Xu Chu’s understanding of Dian Wei, he knew that once the second drum beat sounded for battle, Dian Wei would inevitably launch a second assault.

He admitted that the formation of the Huben Guard was beautiful and remarkably orderly. But what did beauty and order amount to? War depended on tactical flexibility and a martial spirit. The Huwei Guard was battle-hardened, especially having just emerged from the great victory at Luyang County, and their confidence was at its peak.

Setting aside Dian Wei, even if faced with the troops of Yu Jin, Cao Ren, Xu Huang, or Xiahou Yuan, Xu Chu was confident he could take a heavy bite out of them.

The drumbeats suddenly turned rapid, yet the Huben Guard remained as steady as a mountain.

The autumn breeze offered a refreshing chill, but the sun was still scorching. Many people standing in the shade felt the heat; how much more so for the Huben Guard, standing in the middle of the drill ground clad in full armor?

Cao Cao rose from his couch. A flicker of pleasant surprise shone in his eyes.

"Junming, have you truly trained them to be this steady?"

No matter how the Huwei Guard shifted their formation, the Huben Guard made no response. The soldiers stood frozen in their ranks like statues, devoid of sound. The drums thundered; on one side, war cries shook the heavens, while on the other, there was absolute silence. Yet, it was that silent side that instilled a strange sense of fear—it was as if they were a mountain. Such stillness moved everyone present. Cao Ren, Xu Huang, and Yu Jin all stood up as well.

Cao Cao, who had been contemplating Dian Wei’s three hundred cavalry, now pushed thoughts of them to the back of his mind. A vague feeling stirred within him—perhaps this ragtag Huben Guard, assembled less than two months ago, would bring him a surprise.

Xu Chu, too, was slightly moved.

*Immovable as a mountain!*

Guo Jia suddenly recalled the phrase. Xun Yu had told him that Dian Wei’s training methods originated from several diagrams provided by Cao Peng. At the time, Guo Jia had paid them little mind. Later, hearing that Dian Wei placed great emphasis on military discipline, he assumed Deng Ji was assisting in the drills. But the army before him clearly possessed a soul of its own. He couldn't quite define it, but he knew this was not something Deng Ji could have instilled.

Subconsciously, Guo Jia looked toward the observation tower. Although Cao Cao’s main pavilion stood between them, Guo Jia could still sense that Cao Peng was smiling and nodding.

"Swift as the wind, slow as the forest, aggressive as fire, immovable as the mountain."

Cao Peng smiled and said to Cao Hong, "Uncle, can this troop of General Dian's fight?"

Cao Hong nodded. "Zhongkang is going to have trouble today..."

As time passed, the sun grew more oppressive. After several failed probes, Xu Chu saw through the strengths and weaknesses of the Huben Guard. However, the Huwei Guard was beginning to falter. Xu Chu was a strict commander, but the Huwei Guard was composed primarily of members of the Xu clan, which made them inevitably arrogant. When things went smoothly, they were like a gale or a rainstorm, sweeping everything away; but when faced with a stalemate, they lacked patience. Sometimes, war required more than just wits, courage, and reaction—it required patience.

This was a temperament that could not be forged overnight.

Xu Chu was an impatient man. As he grew restless, even his mount began to fret, to say nothing of those around him.

"Zhongkang, attack!" Xu Ding was losing his patience. On one hand, Xu Chu’s hesitation bothered him; on the other, the steadiness displayed by the Huben Guard filled him with a subtle, inexplicable dread. He couldn't explain it, and he felt ashamed—as the brother of the "Tiger Fool" and the second-in-command of the Huwei Guard, how could he feel such fear?

"Uncle, please, order the attack!" the surrounding officers pleaded.

Xu Chu gritted his teeth and slashed his blade through the air.

"Huwei, break the line!"

Following his shout, the war drums roared in unison. But this time, it wasn't just the Huwei drums; the Huben drums joined in as well.

Dian Wei gave a slight nod from his horse. Beside him, Cao Xiu raised his hand, palm outward, then pushed forward three times.

It was these three pushes that set the Huben Guard in motion.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The eight hundred spearmen in the center struck in unison, advancing three steps. Eight hundred men, sixteen hundred legs, moving as one. When those eight hundred feet hit the ground, a boom echoed across the drill ground, faintly suppressing the sound of the drums. Their spears were leveled outward, as flat as a horizon, without a single ripple.

This was modern close-order drill. Whether soldiers or otherwise, such training was essential. The distance of every step and the arc of every arm had strict requirements. It might not have been as perfect as a modern army, but the principle was the same. Such drills were not just for coordination and honor; they emphasized discipline above all. Dian Wei had spent a full month, with the help of Xiahou Heng and Cao Xiu, to give the Huben Guard this embryonic form.

Do not underestimate this training; not every unit could achieve it. First, the commander had to be able to suppress the elite warriors within the ranks. This couldn't be done just by "sharing hardships." Without sufficient prestige and authority, one could never subdue these elites pulled from various divisions. Elite warriors are inherently rebellious; unless you possess immense reputation and formidable strength, they will never bow their heads to you.

Dian Wei was exactly the kind of fierce general who could intimidate them. As for Xiahou Heng and Cao Xiu, though they lacked his reputation, they had their status—one was the son of Xiahou Yuan and son-in-law of Cao Cao, the other was Cao Cao’s nephew, known as the "thousand-mile colt" of their family. With them and the notorious Dian Wei, who would dare to disobey?

As the Huben Guard moved, a chorus of gasps erupted from the drill ground. Cao Cao subconsciously gripped the railing, a faint smile on his face.

"Junming has the bearing of a great general."

With those three steps, the surging killing intent caused the Huwei Guard to falter. Previously, the Huben Guard had looked impressive, but their killing intent had been restrained—a hidden, subtle energy. Once released, it was terrifying.

Seeing this, Xu Chu grew anxious. "Attack! Huwei, attack!"

If the Huwei Guard didn't attack now, once the Huben Guard fully engaged, they might face a total rout. *Losing is fine... but I will not allow a rout.*

In this situation, the best defense was an attack. Xu Chu believed that once they clashed, the Huben Guard’s beautiful formation would instantly collapse.

Eight hundred Huwei soldiers charged, screaming like a black torrent.

But just as they launched their charge, Cao Xiu roared, "Huben, like a mountain!"

The eight hundred spearmen instantly stopped. Amidst the rapid drumming, they crouched into an archer's stance, spears still slanted, forming a defensive wall.

"Mountain! Mountain! Mountain!" the spearmen roared.

Dian Wei looked at Xiahou Heng, asking silently: *Should we attack?*

Xiahou Heng shook his head. "The Huwei are not yet in disarray. Their formation is like a wedge; we must prioritize defense. General, do not worry, just observe."

Dian Wei held the center, but the daily drills were led by Cao Xiu and Xiahou Heng. Since Xiahou Heng had spoken, he would not object. When it came to slaughter on the battlefield, ten Xiahou Hengs were no match for Dian Wei. But when it came to grasping the flow of battle and changing formations, twenty Dian Weis were no match for Xiahou Heng.

The Huben Guard stood as steady as a mountain. The black torrent crashed against the peak, but though the water was violent, it could not topple the mountain.

"One!" Cao Xiu urged his horse and roared.

The first row of spearmen stood tall, pulling back their spears. As the lead Huwei soldiers lunged, the Huben spearmen deflected the attacks with a flick of their weapons—a technique known as "knocking." Before the Huwei could react, the second row swung their spears horizontally to clear the path, and the third row stepped forward to lunge.

Knock, sweep, thrust!

Three movements, performed by three men, yet executed as if by one. As the third row lunged, they stepped to the front, standing tall to deflect the next wave, while the first row moved to the back to prepare, and the second row stepped forward to kill... the cycle continued incessantly.

The three rows intertwined, advancing and retreating as one man. The Huwei were indeed ferocious, but in the close quarters of the drill ground, they often found themselves fighting three men at once. They gained no advantage. From the total numbers engaged, it was even, but locally, the Huwei were always outnumbered. It was fortunate that this was only a drill, and the spears were made of hardwood; otherwise, the Huwei would have suffered heavy casualties.

"What kind of formation is this?" Cao Cao couldn't help but exclaim.

Watching the Huben Guard weave in and out, eight hundred men acting as one without the slightest disorder, and hearing the rhythmic cries amidst the thundering drums, even Cao Cao felt his blood race.

The generals in the other towers were dazzled by the orderly, synchronized combat. Which of them hadn't seen countless battles? Yet when had they ever seen eight hundred men fight like a single entity? Silence fell over them all.

*If I led troops to attack them, could I win?*

The same question surfaced in the minds of Cao Ren, Xu Huang, and Yu Jin.

"Someone!"

"Yes!"

Cao Ren was the first to react. He summoned an aide and said, "Take my name card and deliver it to the Huben Residence immediately. Tell them that after the drill, I invite Junming to drink at the Yuxiu Tower."

As the most skilled in military discipline among the Cao clan, Cao Ren keenly sensed that Dian Wei’s training methods were extraordinary.

"Brother!" a young man sitting beside him stood up. "Let me go personally to show my sincerity."

This youth was Cao Chun, courtesy name Zihe, the younger brother of Cao Ren. Since Cao Cao had begun raising troops to crusade against Dong Zhuo, Cao Chun had followed him through countless battles. Now, serving as an Imperial Counselor and participating in military affairs for the Excellency of Works, he was a Cao kinsman highly valued by Cao Cao. Three years younger than Cao Ren, at twenty-five, he loved cavalry warfare and excelled in rapid raids.

Cao Chun volunteered for a reason. Ever since Cao Cao had witnessed the might of the Xiliang cavalry, he had harbored a dream: to build a cavalry force even fiercer than theirs. Previously, due to a lack of horses in the Central Plains, he had taken no action. Now, controlling three provinces and with the Guanzhong region—the gateway to the Western Regions—in chaos, the horse trade was opening up. This reignited Cao Cao’s desire to build an elite cavalry.

As one of the most trusted kinsmen, Cao Chun knew of this ambition and hoped to build such a force himself. Seeing the Huben Guard's cavalry equipment, he realized it might represent a qualitative leap in mounted warfare.

"Brother," Cao Chun smiled, "Junming really picked up a treasure during his last ordeal. It’s hateful that the guy has turned so devious—he had all these treasures and never mentioned them to us. If not for today’s drill, who knows how long he would have hidden them? The Lord has long desired to build a 'Tiger and Leopard' elite cavalry. This time, Junming has truly performed a great service."

"I hear Aman is sixteen now?" Cao Ren asked.

Cao Chun paused and nodded. "Yes, just turned sixteen."

Cao Ren stroked his beard, musing for a long time. "Ayuan is of age, and I am looking for a match for her. What do you think?"

Ayuan was Cao Yuan, Cao Ren’s daughter, just thirteen years old. In ancient times, girls matured early, and marriage at twelve or thirteen was common.

Cao Chun laughed. "Aman is a good child—he has good skills and a steady nature. The Junming family are all honest people. It would be a fine match if Ayuan were to marry into his house. But brother, it would be best to report this to the Lord. If the Lord speaks for you, it will surely succeed."

"Then you go to the Huben Residence; I will go find the Lord."

Cao Ren and Cao Chun descended the tower together.

On the drill ground, the Huwei Guard was retreating step by step. Initially, they had been able to resist, but as the Huben drums quickened, the Huben Guard's advance accelerated. Like a tidal wave, the Huwei could not hold them back. Xu Chu roared, and by now, he seemed to understand the words Xu Yi had told him that night.

"Shield-bearers, advance! Intercept from the flanks!"

At Xu Chu's command, four hundred shield-bearers moved out. Simultaneously, Xiahou Heng smiled. "General, order the shield-bearers to intercept the spearmen, and release the cavalry."

Dian Wei nodded and waved his hand. He was having the time of his life. From start to finish, he had barely spoken a word, merely making a few gestures, and the Huwei Guard—long considered his greatest rival—had been reduced to ashes before him. What could be cooler than orchestrating such a victory with a wave of a fan, as if it were a casual conversation?

*Ha, Afu is indeed my lucky star...*

Cao Xiu’s expression was cold. As he brought his arms together, the shield-bearers on both flanks converged toward the center. Simultaneously, the cavalry accelerated to the sound of the drums, howling as they charged toward the shield-bearers.

The Huben cavalry were equipped with short bows and long blades. They fired a volley, and as they closed in on the Huwei, they drew their blades and charged. In the past, without stirrups or proper saddles, cavalry had mostly been used for harassment. The requirements for mounted archery were too high for the average man. Now, with these two treasures, everything was different.

The cavalry could leverage the momentum of the horses for their strikes. The Huben blades were wrapped in hardwood; otherwise, with the force of man and horse combined, they could split a man in two. Charging into the Huwei, the seven-foot blades hacked continuously. When the enemy was too close, the riders used their stirrups to stand and kick the enemy’s head. This was the true utility of stirrups—it made the rider incredibly agile in the saddle.

The Huwei had never seen such tactics. In the blink of an eye, their formation collapsed.

"Cavalry! Use the cavalry to charge!" Xu Ding roared, spurring his horse into the fray.

Behind him, three hundred cavalry moved at his command, their iron hooves thundering as they swept toward the Huben Guard. But the Huwei cavalry’s sortie was clearly too late. As the Huben blades advanced, the Huben spearmen had already cleared the field, setting up a spear wall that blocked the Huwei cavalry.

Xu Chu’s cheek twitched violently. He gripped his sword hilt, several times wanting to charge out himself.

Just then, a rapid clanging of copper gongs sounded.

It was the signal to withdraw.

Cao Cao watched with satisfaction as the two forces separated from their entanglement, his eyes filled with mirth.

"Gongren!"

"Yes!"

"Invite Cao Jiji here."

Dong Zhao immediately understood Cao Cao’s intentions and turned toward the side tower. As he walked, Dong Zhao muttered to himself: *It seems the Lord is preparing to make great use of Cao Ji.*

"Master Cao, the Lord requests your presence in the main pavilion."

Cao Ji had been watching with delight. He was happier than anyone that Dian Wei had won—partly due to their relationship, and partly because this victory included his own efforts. Still, hearing that Cao Cao summoned him gave him a fright. He felt incredibly nervous, trembling as he stood, straightened his robes, and followed Dong Zhao into the main pavilion.

On the drill ground, junior officers cleared the field. In the brief engagement, the Huben Guard had suffered about eighty casualties. But the losses of the Huwei Guard were catastrophic. The eight hundred spearmen were almost completely wiped out; half of the four hundred shield-bearers were lost. The cavalry had suffered the least, yet still lost over eighty men—and their commander, Xu Ding, had been captured alive.

No judgment was needed; the winner was clear at a glance.

The Huwei soldiers were bruised and dispirited. The Huben Guard, however, showed no signs of victory; they maintained their strict formation, standing as still as a mountain.

*Swift as the wind, slow as the forest, aggressive as fire, immovable as the mountain.*

The Huben Guard had brought the four concepts of "Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain" to life.

Xu Chu’s face was ashen. He sat on his horse, silent. Suddenly, he spurred his mount, charged out of his formation, and roared across the field: "Dian Wei! Do you dare to duel with me?"