Great Han Empire

Chapter 723
"Lv Aiqing, Lu Aiqing..." The Son of Heaven turned pale and yelled, "Go, go, you can't beat them, you are going to die."

"Your Majesty..." Lu Bu turned his head and roared angrily, "I swear to protect you to the death."

"Aiqing, you left me here, you go to Hedong for help..." The emperor saw Yang Feng's army in front of him, and the fear in his heart suddenly subsided, "That is Yang Aiqing's army, I will be fine .”

"How can I leave your Majesty to the traitor?" Lu Bu stomped his foot resentfully, and waved at the thirty soldiers behind him, "Go, turn around, and go back to Taoqiuju."

A soldier picked up the emperor on his back, turned and ran.The rest of the fierce soldiers were guarding the left and right, running desperately.

Lu Bu looked at the overwhelming enemies rushing towards him, and flew backwards.I hope Yang Feng didn't find out that his small team was leading the emperor, otherwise he would not be able to rescue the emperor today.At this time, Taoqiu gathered people to camp, which was a good place to hide.When it was dark, they took advantage of the chaos and fled to the Yellow River Ferry.

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The drums of war resounded through the mountains.

A group of cavalry roared towards them like a whirlwind blowing from the flat ground, and the sound of dense horseshoes was like a violent storm, which was thrilling.

Lu Bu stopped in shock.

"My lord, that's Wang Fang's army." A soldier climbed onto the branch of a big tree by the side of the road, took a closer look, and then yelled.

"How many steps are Yang Feng's troops away from us?" Lu Bu asked with a stern expression, looking back at the field behind him.

"About three hundred paces."

Invincible cavalry in the front and chasing soldiers in the back, there is really no way to go to heaven, and no way to go to earth.

"Go, go west..." Lu Bu pointed his halberd at the grove beside the road, and roared decisively, "Take the path, go to Fenglingdu, quickly..."

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Wang Fang led his personal guards and rode a long arrow that howled fiercely into Yang Feng's army, "Kill, kill me..."

"Rescue the emperor, save the emperor..."

Yang Feng was caught off guard, turned his horse's head and ran away, and the soldiers under his command were killed, crying like ghosts and howling like wolves, creating a great chaos.

Wang Fang's infantry army was still behind, and he didn't dare to chase too hastily.Yang Feng took the opportunity to reorganize his army and begged to retreat.He commanded his own soldiers to shout in unison, "The Son of Heaven was snatched away by Dong Cheng."

Upon hearing this, Wang Fang immediately ordered the cavalry to stop the pursuit.

Yang Feng ran to the front of the formation in a panic.Wang Fang was his superior, so he couldn't yell at him, so he could only swallow his anger and say, "My lord, you made a mistake. I didn't find the emperor."

"Where is the Son of Heaven?" Wang Fang roared angrily, "I told you to protect the Son of Heaven, what did you do? I wish I could kill you with one knife. Where is the Son of Heaven?"

Yang Feng briefly explained the situation, "I have searched all over the road to the ferry of Yan Township, but I have not found the emperor. The emperor must have gone to the ferry of Hucheng. If Dong Cheng can catch up, the emperor is now in Dong Cheng's hands." .”

Wang Fang's eyes widened, and he cursed again.Zhang Ji, Dong Cheng, and Han Xian (xian) just had a scuffle, but they couldn't find the emperor at all.They have already joined forces to chase Hucheng, and told me to chase in the direction of Yan Township.You said that no trace of the Son of Heaven was found along the way, so the Son of Heaven flew into the sky?

Yang Feng suddenly thought of the small group of people who had fled in panic just now.

He had already discovered that small group of people, but he didn't pay attention, thinking they were deserters. Now that he thought about it, he was very likely to be caught by Lu Bu's golden cicada's plan to escape.

"My lord, did you just discover a group of deserters?"

"No."

"The team of deserters ran back when they saw us. Their behavior was very suspicious. Send someone to look for it. The emperor may be among them."

"Really?" Wang Fang was dubious.

"Your Excellency just said that Li Le killed dozens of ministers in one go and threatened Yang Biao, but Yang Biao resolutely refused to reveal the whereabouts of the emperor. It can be seen that the emperor is not with him at all." Yang Feng said, "I came all the way in a hurry. , I didn't even see a person, where did that day go? Did it really go to heaven?"

"Search..." Wang Fang pointed to the woods in the distance and shouted, "Order all the ministries to search carefully along the forests on both sides of the road."

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Out of the grove, there is another flat field.

Lu Bu and the soldiers took turns carrying the emperor on their backs, walking like flying.

The chasing soldiers found them, and the sound of war drums for the alarm came one after another, and one after another, they blared straight into the sky.

Wang Fang and Yang Feng commanded thousands of soldiers to pursue them fiercely.

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Lu Bu let out a long breath, and shot three arrows at the enemy cavalry.

"Hoo..." The long arrow roared towards him, and Wang Fang's three personal guards couldn't dodge in time, so they howled and fell off their horses.

"Scatter..." Wang Fang roared, raising his spear and yelling, "Scatter, surround with two wings, kill them, kill them..."

Fifteen fierce soldiers ran forward to protect the emperor, and the remaining fifteen fierce soldiers followed Lu Bu, shooting while running, hoping to slow down the enemy's pursuit speed.

The two sides are getting closer.

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The horn blared.

A group of hundreds of iron cavalry rushed out of the hill suddenly, the roar of iron hooves and the high-pitched killing sound were deafening.

The soldiers stopped helplessly, with despair on their faces.

Lu Bu didn't look back, he used all his strength to shoot the last long arrow, "Brothers, protect the Son of Heaven, go north, go north to break through..."

"Go, go...to the Yellow River..." The soldiers roared like thunder, turned around again, and rushed towards the Yellow River.As long as he can jump into the Yellow River, the emperor will be rescued.

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Lv Bu turned his head suddenly, and was overwhelmed with surprise.

Huangfuhong came, he finally came.When Dong Zhuo was killed, he saved himself once in Fengcheng, Chang'an.Today, he saved himself again.

Lu Bu raised his head to the sky and screamed, tears welling up in his eyes.

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Huangfu Hong took the lead, "Kill, kill me..."

The five hundred cavalry descended with a thunderous force.

Wang Fang never expected that Huangfuhong would appear here, his first thought was that Tongguan was lost and Yuan Shao's army rushed in.Is Huangfu Hong crazy?Then he realized that Huangfu Hong was really crazy.Huangfu Hong didn't kill the group of suspicious-looking people head-on, but swung his sword and slashed at himself.

Wang Fang and his personal guards were caught off guard, and a large area fell under the rain of arrows in a blink of an eye.

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Yang Feng was dumbfounded.

Wang Fang and Huangfu Hong's two personal guards rode on the field and killed their flesh and blood.

A group of iron cavalry broke away from Huangfu Hong's group and caught up with the small group of infantry running wildly across the field.Immediately, the two teams joined together and galloped towards the direction of the Yellow River.

Huangfuhong betrayed us.The Son of Heaven must be ahead.

"Beat the drum and order all the ministries to charge forward with all their strength, toward the Yellow River." Yang Feng held his saber high, his voice hoarse.

Thousands of infantry roared loudly and rushed up like a tide.

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Huangfu Hong and his cavalry were surrounded by groups in an instant.Yang Feng led the brigade to the bank of the Yellow River.

At this moment, Huangfuhong's infantry army arrived.

The three armies were chasing after each other, fighting bloody in the open field.

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Lake City Ferry.

Zhang Liao lay on the ground, dizzy, staring at his eyes, in great pain, the only thing he knew was to open his mouth wide and gasp for breath.

Xu Rong walked up to him and picked him up, "Where is the Son of Heaven? Where is the Son of Heaven?"

Zhang Liao's whole body was drenched with sweat, limp, with no strength at all, allowing Xu Rong to hold him up in the air and keep shaking him, "I don't know, I don't know."

Xu Rong lifted Zhang Liao's helmet and patted Zhang Liao's face hard, "Wen Yuan, Wen Yuan, tell me quickly, where is the Son of Heaven?"

"I don't know, I don't know." Zhang Liao swallowed hard, his slightly opened eyes closed tightly again.

"Master Xu, Master Xu..." Taiwei Yang Biao stood up tremblingly with the help of two soldiers, "The Son of Heaven was taken to the ferry in Wen Township by Master Lu."

"Did you break through separately?"

"Yes." Yang Biao sighed sadly, "If Master Lu hadn't acted decisively, the emperor would have been captured by the rebels long ago."

"Hurry up, tell Wang Dang and Yu Du urgently. As soon as there is news about the emperor, send it to me immediately." Xu Rong turned to the messenger and said, "Also, let them send more warships to search along the coast."

"My lord, the situation is critical. Should I let the two lords Wang Dang and Yu Du lead the army forward?" Chen Wei whispered.

"No." Xu Rong waved his hand resolutely, "If Huangfu Hong has given up on Tongguan, now that Yuan Shao's army has already entered, we must not take the risk of attacking at this moment." Then he pointed to Yang Hua and said, "Send someone to tell Qu Yi in Shancheng urgently. Sir, Lord Hongnong Huaxiong, prepare to withdraw from Kansai."

"Withdraw from Kansai?" Yang Biao said in surprise, "Are you going to withdraw from Kansai?"

"My lord, Yuan Shao has already entered, and Guanxi can no longer be defended." Xu Rong said respectfully, "As long as the emperor is rescued, we will immediately retreat to Hedong."

"My lord Xu, the ministers of the imperial court were scattered by the rebels and are in danger. How can you turn a blind eye? In the tent of the emperor in Taoqiu, there are more than 1000 carts of imperial items, talisman codes, and secret books. They are all treasures of the great man. You How can you abandon it wantonly?" Yang Biao was tearful and begged bitterly, "Master Xu, you have so many elite soldiers, why don't you attack and kill the rebels? Why don't you rescue the courtiers? Why can't you save those national treasures?"

Xu Rong's face was sad, and he knelt down to plead guilty, "My lord, it's not that I won't send troops, but the situation in front of me is changing rapidly. As long as the Beijiang army leaves the ferry, it will be difficult to turn back. My lord, how many people have died in the Beijiang army this year? I should be very clear in my heart. If I wipe out this little man again, what will happen to Hedong? What will happen to Jinyang?"

Yang Biao shook his head in despair. He looked at Empress Fu and Concubine Dong Gui who were still in shock, Situ Chunyujia, Sikong Zhang Xi, and more than 30 court officials scattered around him. He could no longer bear the grief in his heart. , slowly sat down on the ground, covered his face with his hands, and wailed loudly.

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Zhang Ji, Dong Cheng, Han Xian and Hu Cai rushed to the ferry of Hucheng.

The four discussed it, and sent a bodyguard to the front of the northern border army to shout that Hussar General Zhang Ji wanted to see Zhengxi General Xu Rong.

The northern border army did not reply, replaced by the roar of a ballista.The unfortunate guard and the horse on which he sat were shot like hedgehogs and fell to the ground.

Zhang Ji and the other four turned pale in shock.

This loud noise represented Xu Rong's answer, shoot to kill.

When the four of them were at a loss, some subordinates came to report, and a captured minister said that Lu Bu had fled to the ferry of Yan Township with the emperor.

"So, the Son of Heaven should be in Yang Feng's hands now." Zhang Ji said to Dong Cheng while ordering the ministries to turn around and retreat.

Dong Cheng smiled wryly, he wasn't sure, "Although Lu Bu fled on foot, judging by the speed at which Zhang Liao and his gang fled, Lu Bu might have taken the emperor on board."

"After all, it's all caused by you idiots." Zhang Ji said angrily, "Why did you leave Lu Bu in the Emperor's camp? Do you think that Lu Bu and Zhang Liao can't rescue the Emperor with a hundred soldiers?" ?”

Dong Cheng lowered his head, filled with remorse.When the army was short of food, it first ate up all the war horses and baggage horses in the Tianzi Camp.When the army withdrew back to Tongguan this time, the soldiers of the Tianziying were pushing and dragging the luggage carts to Taolin.Lu Bu did not bring a horse, and the Tianzi camp had no horses, and both Lu Bu and Zhang Liao were horsemen. Without horses, trying to rescue the emperor was indeed asking for death, so neither he nor Yang Feng resolutely prevented the emperor from keeping Lu Bu and his party.If I had known that Lu Bu and Zhang Liao were coming for the emperor, I would drive them away no matter what.

The army walked halfway, and Yang Feng sent someone to report that the emperor was being held hostage by a group of troops from the northern border army and was fleeing towards the Yellow River.Originally, the army could catch up, but Huangfu Hong suddenly rushed out, and the army was blocked. Please help quickly, my lords.

"It's over." Zhang Ji was dumbfounded at the time.

"My lord, what's wrong with you?" Dong Cheng said anxiously, "Why don't you hurry up and save the Son of Heaven?"

"You're saving a fart." Zhang Ji was furious, and gave Dong Cheng a whip, "Tongguan was lost, Yuan Shao came in, we will die if we save the emperor, and we will die if we don't save the emperor, do you know that? Huangfu Jianshou, since you won't let us live, then we all die together. Let's go and kill us in the village of Yan."

He left, but Dong Cheng did not move, nor did Han Xian and Hu Cai.

"My lord, what should we do?" Han Xian asked.

"What else can I do? Stay here and die. Let's go to Hedong." Dong Cheng said, "I am a relative of the state, and you used to be a Yellow Turban Army. The general will neither kill me nor you. Let's go. "

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Zhang Ji did not go to the village of Yan, but led his army to rush to Taolin Fortress.

On the way, he met Zhang Xiu who came to help.Zhang Ji was overjoyed, and immediately joined forces and rushed to Taoqiuju.

"Uncle, the Son of Heaven is still gathering in Taoqiu?" Zhang Xiu asked puzzled.

"Don't worry about the emperor now, let's take care of our own affairs." Zhang Ji sighed, "Yuan Shao has entered the customs. If we want to survive, there is only one way, to preserve our strength and seek refuge with Yuan Shao."

Zhang Xiu was dumbfounded.

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Lu Bu was stationed on the Ma River embankment, looking at the surging Yellow River, raised his halberd and roared.

"My lord, what should I do? I can't see the boat." Qin Yi turned to look at the pursuers who were getting closer behind him, and kept panting, "It's more than ten miles away from the ferry in Yanxiang. We don't want to turn around." That's too late."

"Go down the river."

"What did you say?" Qin Yi pointed to the Yellow River and said in surprise, "Swim over? Can your lord swim over?"

Lu Bu shook his head, "Although I can't swim, they can." Lü Bu pointed to the [-] soldiers who had dismounted and laughed loudly, "Master Xu has already prepared. The hundred soldiers I brought, As long as one can reach the Yellow River alive, the Son of Heaven can be safely sent to the other side."

The emperor's face turned blue, his lips trembled, and he wanted to say no to leaving, but when he heard the deafening shouts of killing, he dared not leave.

Lu Bu picked up the emperor, strode to the river, and sent the emperor to a small cowhide raft that could only accommodate one person.Lu Bu took off the leather armor on his body and fastened it carefully for the emperor, "It's windy on the river, your majesty should be careful not to catch a cold."

"Aiqing, aren't you going?" The Son of Heaven grabbed Lu Bu's big hand and asked fearfully.

"Lord Huangfu saved my life." Lu Bu took a step back and knelt down on the ground, "Your Majesty, if Lu Bu is not dead, I will fight for His Majesty. Even if my body is broken, I will not hesitate."

The emperor's heart became hot, and tears blurred his eyes, "Aiqing, I will definitely come back alive."

Thirty fierce soldiers escorted the emperor sitting in the cowhide raft, and swam to the opposite bank with all his might.

Lu Bu raised his halberd.The war horse neighed and stood upright.

"Brothers, kill, kill up..."

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(End of this chapter)