Chapter 39: kill the enemy

As Ma Kuai, the leading general from Hanoi, thrust his spear toward Lu Bu, the air crackled with tension. Ma Kuai was a renowned warrior in Hanoi, and he possessed remarkable martial skills. He believed that he could at least stall Lu Bu long enough for the other Hanoi generals to join the battle and encircle the formidable enemy.

However, facing the oncoming spear, Lu Bu's eyes gleamed with excitement. He deftly maneuvered his red rabbit horse, sidestepping the spear's thrust with an elegant swerve. Ma Kuai's attack missed its target, and his momentum carried him past Lu Bu.

Before Ma Kuai could react, Lu Bu swung his Fang Tianhua halberd with incredible speed. The blade descended like a flash of lightning, and with one clean stroke, it struck Ma Kuai on the side. Ma Kuai let out a strangled cry as he was cleaved in half, and his lifeless body fell to the ground.

The Hanoi generals who had rushed forward were stunned by this sudden turn of events. They had expected Ma Kuai to at least engage Lu Bu in combat for some time, but their esteemed comrade had been cut down in a single stroke.

Lu Bu, however, did not pause for a moment. He continued to advance, his red rabbit horse carrying him forward with unstoppable momentum. The remaining Hanoi generals hurriedly regrouped, their faces pale as they realized the formidable opponent they were facing.

Wang Kuang, who had intended to retreat from the battlefield, watched in shock as Lu Bu's relentless advance cut down one of his best generals. Fear coursed through him as he understood the dire situation they were in.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!" Wang Kuang shouted desperately. He knew that facing Lu Bu was a death sentence, and their only chance of survival was to escape from the battlefield.

The Hanoi forces, disheartened and shaken by the loss of Ma Kuai, began to withdraw in disarray. Lu Bu, however, showed no mercy. He pursued the retreating enemy, his Fang Tianhua halberd claiming more lives with each swing.

As the Hanoi forces scrambled to escape, Lu Bu and his red rabbit horse cut through their ranks like a whirlwind of death. The soldiers of Hanoi could do little more than flee in terror, leaving behind a trail of chaos and destruction.

Wang Kuang, filled with desperation, urged his horse to flee from the battlefield. He had witnessed firsthand the devastating power of Lu Bu and knew that there was no hope of victory. All that mattered now was survival.

The Battle of Hulao Pass had taken a disastrous turn for the Hanoi forces. They had underestimated the might of Lu Bu, and their defeat was swift and brutal. Wang Kuang, once a proud and determined leader, now found himself fleeing for his life, his dreams of justice crushed by the unstoppable force of Lu Bu.

As Lu Bu continued to pursue the retreating enemy, his eyes burned with a fierce determination. He had proven his dominance on the battlefield once again, and his reputation as a fearsome warrior had only grown. The lords of the coalition, still on their way to Hulao Pass, were yet to face the formidable adversary that awaited them.

As Lü Bu looked at the closed gates of Hulao Pass, his complexion darkened. He had pursued the retreating Hanoi army deep into enemy territory, and now he found himself isolated outside the pass. The enemy had the advantage of numbers, and his own forces were exhausted from the fierce battle they had just fought.

Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, and Zhang Yang, leading their respective forces, had arrived to confront Lu Bu. They were the first among the coalition lords to reach Hulao Pass. Seeing the chaos and carnage outside the pass, they quickly realized that something had gone terribly wrong.

Lü Bu had successfully decimated the Hanoi forces in a ferocious display of combat prowess. He had cut through their ranks like a whirlwind, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. But now, surrounded by the armies of three lords, the situation had taken a dire turn.

Gongsun Zan, known for his valor, stepped forward and shouted, "Lü Bu, you are trapped! Surrender now, and we may spare your life."

Tao Qian and Zhang Yang nodded in agreement, their forces forming a solid line of defense, ready to engage in battle if necessary.

Lü Bu, however, remained undaunted. He sat atop his mighty red rabbit horse, his Fang Tianhua halberd in hand, and Wang Kuang's head hung from his saddle. He exuded an air of unwavering confidence.

"Surrender?" Lü Bu scoffed. "I am Lü Bu, the Flying General! I do not surrender to anyone. If you want my life, come and take it."

His words were met with determined gazes from the three lords and their forces. They had come prepared for a confrontation and were not about to back down.

The standoff continued, with neither side making the first move. The tension in the air was palpable, and the fate of Hulao Pass hung in the balance.

Inside the pass, the citizens and soldiers watched in fear as the battle raged outside. They could see the heads of the Hanoi generals displayed on Lu Bu's saddle, a grim reminder of the carnage that had unfolded.

Back in the city, Wang Yun, the governor of Hulao Pass, and his adopted daughter Diao Chan were also anxiously observing the situation. They had orchestrated the plan to bring Lü Bu to Hulao Pass, hoping to use his might to defend against the impending coalition invasion. However, they had not anticipated the chaos that had erupted outside the gates.

Diao Chan, a masterful strategist in her own right, knew that a swift decision had to be made. She turned to Wang Yun and said, "Father, we cannot let Lü Bu be captured or killed by the coalition lords. We must find a way to break this siege and bring him back into the city."

Wang Yun nodded in agreement. "You are right, my dear. We cannot afford to lose Lü Bu. Let us devise a plan to rescue him from this predicament."

As father and daughter began to formulate a strategy, the fate of Lü Bu and the future of Hulao Pass hung in the balance. The battle outside the gates had reached a critical juncture, and the outcome would shape the course of history in this turbulent era of warlords and alliances.