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In the days that followed, the balance of power in the siege of Beihai began to shift. The Zhuque Army, bolstered by the disruption of Cao Cao's supply lines, mounted a series of coordinated resistance, slowly but steadily turning the tide in their favor. Xu Chu and Yue Jin without any news of their reinforcement and late supplies, could only be on the passive keeping their attack while sustaining heavy casualties.
The heavy casualties that were mounting caused Yue Jin to order a census to know the amount of deaths and wounded his army had, Xu Chu and Yue Jin's officer immediately did the census after receiving Yue Jin's order.
After some time passed, with a face that lined with fatigue, Yue Jin gathered the census reports from his officers. The numbers were grim with 5,000 deaths and 7,653 men wounded.
The staggering losses weighed heavily on his mind, knowing their combat capabilities had been significantly reduced, especially since this was a siege battle where the attacker should have more men than the defender.
He turned to Xu Chu, who was fuming silently, his massive frame barely containing his frustration. "General Yue Jin," Xu Chu rumbled, "will our reinforcements ever come? We've sustained heavy casualties, and our men are growing weary."
Yue Jin sighed, the burden of leadership pressing down on him. "I fear the worst, General Xu Chu. It seems unlikely that reinforcements will arrive. Our supply lines have been cut off, and our messengers have not returned. We must face the reality that we are on our own."
Xu Chu's fists clenched in anger, but he quickly regained his composure. "Then we must make a stand with what we have. We cannot let Lie Fan's Army continue to hold its ground. We need a new strategy, one that will allow us to gain some ground and minimize further losses."
Yue Jin nodded, appreciating Xu Chu's resolve. "We should consolidate our forces and focus on defensive attack tactics. If we can hold out long enough, perhaps we can find another way to contact our allies and request aid."
As the two generals formulated their plan, the morale within their ranks remained low. The soldiers, though exhausted and demoralized, followed the orders to prepare themselves given by Xu Chu and Yue Jin.
Their encampment was strengthened with the building of trenches, fortifications, and fences to increase the safety of their camp since it would turn into an attrition siege battle.
On the other hand, in Beihai, Taishi Ci and Bu Zhi continued to strengthen their hold on the city. With the crossing port secured and Cao Cao's forces struggling, they saw an opportunity to further demoralize the enemy.
Bu Zhi, utilizing his strategic mind, suggested they launch a series of targeted raids to harass Xu Chu and Yue Jin's encampments, using hit-and-run tactics to keep them off balance utilizing their superior cavalry.
Taishi Ci hearing Bu Zhi's suggestion agreed, organizing small, agile units to carry out these raids. Under the cover of darkness, the cavalries under Taishi Ci and Fan Chou struck swiftly and retreated just as quickly, leaving chaos in their wake.
The constant pressure wore down Xu Chu and Yue Jin's troops, exacerbating their already dire situation. The fortifications that were just made couldn't stop Taishi Ci and Fan Chou alongside their cavalries, which lowered their morale even more.
Meanwhile, in Liang Province, Cao Ren led a handpicked contingent of elite soldiers, their mission was clear which is to capture Wang Yi. The stakes were high, and Cao Ren's determination to succeed was palpable.
They had tracked Wang Yi's movements from a village near Tianshui to a small town near Chang'an. Wang Yi, aware of the danger of her decision, had chosen this more distant location, hoping to throw any potential pursuers off her trail, not knowing that there were pursuers.
As Cao Ren's elite soldiers approached the outskirts of the small town, they moved with the utmost caution. Wang Yi was known for her formidable intellectual skills and sharp mind, and any misstep could lead to disaster. The night was their ally, the darkness providing cover as they closed in on their target.
Inside the small town, Wang Yi and her loyal followers had taken refuge in an inconspicuous house. The atmosphere was tense, as Wang Yi knew that her decision to leave Tianshui had put her on a dangerous path. Her mind raced with thoughts of her next move, unaware of the imminent threat approaching.
It was during this time that suddenly a letter was slipped under the door, catching Wang Yi and her followers by surprise. Her followers immediately went on their guard, forming a protective circle around her. Wang Yi, after overcoming her initial surprise, ordered one of her followers to retrieve the letter.
After ensuring that it was safe, Wang Yi opened the letter. The content of the letter shocked her. It warned her that Cao Ren was approaching her location at that very moment and urged her to leave the town immediately and head to Xu Province Capital to uncover who was assisting her.
Wang Yi's mind raced as she quickly assessed the situation. She knew she had to trust the information for now. Turning to her followers, she spoke urgently, "We must leave at once. Cao Ren and his soldiers are closing in. We have to move quickly and quietly."
Her followers, loyal and disciplined, nodded in agreement. Gathering their belongings, they prepared to leave the house under the cover of darkness. Wang Yi took one last look at the letter before burning it, wondering who could be helping her and what their true motives were.
As they slipped out of the house and into the night, Wang Yi's thoughts were focused on reaching Xu Province Capital. Whoever had sent the letter had bought them precious time, and she intended to use it wisely.
The journey was arduous and fraught with danger, but Wang Yi and her followers moved swiftly, avoiding main roads and keeping to the shadows. They knew that every second counted, and they could not afford to be caught.
As dawn approached, they had put a considerable distance between themselves and the small town. Wang Yi allowed herself a brief moment of respite, her mind still buzzing with questions. Who was their mysterious benefactor and why were they helping her?
Determined to uncover the truth, Wang Yi led her followers onward, their destination clear in their minds. The road ahead was uncertain, but Wang Yi's resolve was unshakable. She would reach Xu Province Capital and find the answers she sought, no matter the cost.
On the other hand, Cao Ren and his elite soldiers arrived at the now-abandoned house. Finding it empty, Cao Ren's frustration boiled over. Unable to contain his anger, he thrashed the house, overturning furniture and breaking anything in his path. His soldiers stood by, waiting for his fury to subside.
After a few moments, Cao Ren's anger began to wane. Taking deep breaths, he started to think more clearly. How had Wang Yi known about his approach? Someone must have warned her, but who could it have been?
"Spread out and search the area," Cao Ren commanded, his voice still tinged with anger. "Look for any clues about where Wang Yi might have gone. Check for footprints, any signs of recent activity."
His men immediately obeyed, fanning out to scour the town and its surroundings. They examined the ground for footprints, searched the abandoned house for any overlooked clues, and questioned any villagers they encountered.
One of the soldiers, keen-eyed and thorough, discovered a set of footprints leading out of the town, heading in the direction of Chang'An. He reported his findings to Cao Ren, who listened intently.
"General! It seems that they headed toward the direction of Chang'An," the soldier said, pointing out the direction.
Cao Ren nodded, his mind working quickly. "We need to move fast and catch up to them before they reach their destination. Send word back to our main forces and inform them of our new heading. We must intercept Wang Yi and her followers."
With renewed determination, Cao Ren and his elite soldiers set off in pursuit of Wang Yi. He knew they had a significant lead, but he was confident that with swift action, they could close the gap.
Unfortunately for Cao Ren and his unit, their departure from the town was met with a series of unexpected obstacles. As they tried to follow Wang Yi's trail, they encountered traps that seemed deliberately placed to slow them down.
Horses were startled and bolted, causing further delays, while misinformation from townsfolk misled their route. It quickly became apparent that this hindrance was no accident.
Frustration filled Cao Ren as he assessed the situation. He realized that Wang Yi had help from a well-organized group, likely with intimate knowledge of the area and their movements.
The Oriole agents, though unseen, had been meticulously coordinating these disruptions, effectively buying time for Wang Yi and her followers to escape.
"Damn it!" Cao Ren exclaimed, his fist clenching in anger. "Someone is helping her, and they're good. We need to be smarter and more cautious. Spread out and leave the town through different exits, we can't afford to lose Wang Yi and her followers!"
His elite soldiers begin to separate into small groups, one by one trying to leave the town from different exits, but the Oriole agents keep hindering them through any means they can.
The Oriole agents continued their relentless efforts to obstruct Cao Ren and his soldiers with each small group of elite troops facing cleverly placed traps, misleading directions, and sudden obstacles that delayed their progress.
The town, seemingly peaceful on the surface, became a maze of confusion and frustration for Cao Ren and his unit.
Meanwhile, Wang Yi and her followers, guided by their anonymous benefactors, pushed onward with determination. They reached the outskirts of Chang'an by nightfall, their journey expedited by the Oriole agents' constant interference with their pursuers.
Upon arrival in Chang'an, Wang Yi led her group to a discreet Inn known for its privacy, the Serenity Inn. Here, they found much-needed supplies and a brief respite from their arduous journey. Chang'An provided a momentary haven, allowing Wang Yi and her followers to regroup and prepare for the next leg of their journey.
As they rested, Wang Yi pondered their mysterious benefactors. She understood that someone with significant influence and resources was aiding them, but the motives remained unclear and she had to think of many people who could possibly help her.
In her mind, the most possible person was Lie Fan as he controls Xu Province and Xiapi was his seat of power, but it still a possibility as there could be other people who could possibly only use Xiapi as a first stop. After a few hours of rest and resupply, Wang Yi gathered her followers. "We cannot linger here for long. Our enemies are relentless, and we must stay ahead of them. We head for Xiapi immediately."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 31 (198 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 825
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 936 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 96
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0 ,
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