Chapter 9: Tigers setback
Hu Zhen's retreat was successful, but Hua Xiong found himself ensnared within the confines of the canyon. Surveying his surroundings, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness despite volunteering for this rear guard role. These soldiers were his comrades, those with whom he had shared battles and sacrifices. An overwhelming sense of injustice gnawed at him as he mourned the fallen, including himself, who stood on the precipice of death.
"Jiangdong Tigers, is brute force your only strategy?" In this grim moment, Hua Xiong's resonant voice pierced the air like an arrow from the heavens.
Sun Jian, in the process of encircling Hua Xiong, jerked his head up, squinting at the dimming twilight sky. Though the sun had begun its descent, the landscape remained devoid of any figures. Just as puzzlement furrowed his brow, a sudden eruption erupted from behind them. Three swift arrows materialized simultaneously, downing the vanguard soldiers who had caught wind of the impending danger.
"Reform the formation, quickly!" Sun Jian's face darkened as he swung his horse around, gripping his ancient ingot-shaped blade. Assessing the situation, he recognized the invaders as a relatively small force, perhaps a thousand strong, responsible for decimating Hu Zhen's troops. His calculations went haywire in the face of this unexpected massacre.
A slew of impending thoughts raced through his mind. The circumstance seemed desperate, yet...
Before he could articulate his concerns, a determined challenger hurled himself into the fray. His halberd danced through the ranks, exuding an aura of divine might. Amidst the chaos, a single figure stood out, astride a horse distinguished by its crimson hue – a steed akin to a ferocious beast. This warrior and his mount, melding seamlessly, carved through the enemy formation like a marauding tiger. Blades cleaved, and in their wake, not a blade of grass stirred. The disjointed formation unraveled, at the mercy of his relentless assault.
Yet, his was not a fight to the death. The warrior's intent was not to eliminate, but to incite pandemonium, and then slip through the breaches created by his foes' confusion.
"Who is this formidable foe?" Sun Jian puzzled over the assailant's identity. Swift and strategic, the mystery warrior bore a square-shaped halberd that gleamed with chilling menace. This weapon twirled with a sinister elegance, but it wasn't his sole attribute that captured attention – it was his steed. This fiery-red stallion, larger than average, charged with a distinct ferocity. It didn't gallop like a horse; it surged forward like a predatory beast. This warrior and his steed synchronized to exploit every chink in the armor of chaos.
"Could it be Lu Bu?" Huang Gai conjectured, as he turned to Sun Jian. Observing the majestic red steed, he surmised, "My lord, if we permit him to rampage unchecked, our forces may succumb to complete disarray."
Sun Jian's gaze sharpened. He weighed his options, acknowledging that this display of prowess could turn the tide against them.
"Demou, Yigong, halt this storm!" Sun Jian ordered, dispatching his loyal generals to curtail the threat. Meanwhile, he and Huang Gai confronted the opposing cavalry, aiming to stall its support for the marauding warrior.
However, despite his earlier despair, Hua Xiong witnessed an unexpected reversal. Momentum swung in their favor. Unleashing a profound understanding of battlefield dynamics, he manipulated the chaos to his advantage, wreaking havoc in the enemy ranks.
The warrior leading the cavalry encountered Hua Xiong's newfound mastery with surprise. Even amidst the turmoil, he displayed unparalleled battlefield acumen, exploiting fleeting openings for maximum impact.
"Death to the traitor!" Sun Jian bellowed with a roar that reverberated like a tiger's call. His wrath intensified, fueled by the loss of Han Dang. Eager to avenge his fallen general, he charged, Huang Gai at his side. Their combined efforts sought to hinder Lu Bu's command over the cavalry.
In the clash that followed, Lu Bu's halberd versus Sun Jian's blade illuminated the chaos with flashes of cold steel. Lu Bu's agility surprised Sun Jian, permitting him to narrowly sidestep a potentially fatal strike.
Undeterred, Lu Bu shifted his weight, leveraging his halberd to strike Sun Jian. A clash of weapons resounded, and their duel continued. Meanwhile, the thundering approach of a fresh wave of soldiers signaled the onset of a significant escalation.