Faced with Liu Hong's sudden accusation, Gongsun Zan's smile instantly turned into fear, and he knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty... you will finally be convicted!"

He knew that the emperor was questioning him about his unauthorized pursuit.

Liu Hong glanced down at Gongsun Zan and said in a deep voice:

"I know that this decisive battle is of great significance, and all the generals and soldiers are eager to make meritorious contributions."

I also want to completely eliminate Tan Shihuai, but I am more concerned about the lives of my soldiers.

If it weren't for the timely sounding of the retreat, do you know how many soldiers would have lost their lives if the White Horse Camp had been entangled with the enemy?

"I will absolutely not allow anyone to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers for the sake of their own sense of loyalty. Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty's teachings will be heeded, and I will take this as a warning!" Gongsun Zan lowered his head with a look of shame.

"Alright, get up. Let the soldiers rest for a day. The real battle is about to begin!"

Liu Hong waved to Gongsun Zan, then turned his gaze to the Xianbei army in the distance.

About an hour later, the corpses of the two armies lying between them were cleared away by soldiers from both sides.

Although the troops led by Lü Bu and Huang Zhong had just broken through the Xianbei army's formation with unstoppable momentum, they still lost nearly a thousand soldiers.

Looking at the corpses of the Han soldiers that were carried back, Liu Hong only sighed slightly and did not say anything more.

He also understood that in a cavalry charge, no matter how much of an advantage you have in terms of horses and equipment, there will always be some unlucky people who will lose their lives.

On the main battlefield, a casualty ratio of one to six would be considered a complete victory anywhere, let alone against the elite Gaoliu troops that Tan Shihuai relied on most.

Huangfu Song's expression turned serious as he watched the Xianbei cavalry begin to line up.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Tan Shihuai is preparing to send out a large army!"

"Then let them come!"

Liu Hong said something with a relaxed expression, then sat back on the dragon throne, and Huangfu Song began to arrange his troops.

The 15,000 elite Gaoliu troops on the left wing of the Xianbei had been rendered ineffective by Lü Bu and his forces. Therefore, Huangfu Song assigned Wang Yue's 15,000 Imperial Guards to the vanguard, where they joined Cao Cao's 5,000 Wuhuan cavalry.

Gongsun Du and Ma Teng were assigned to the right wing to guard against the 15,000 elite Gaoliu troops under He Lian's command.

Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, and Gongsun Zan were assigned to the central army, where they, along with the remaining five thousand Imperial Guards, would protect the emperor's safety.

Just after Huangfu Song finished making his arrangements, Tan Shihuai also completed his preparations.

Soon, the sound of hooves rang out again. The Xianbei central army and the right wing, numbering 55,000, formed two cavalry squares, one large and one small, and charged towards the Han army.

In this charge, Tan Shihuai placed Han Sui's 30,000 able-bodied men at the forefront, attempting to use their lives to deplete the Han army's arrows and strength.

"Prepare!!"

At Huangfu Song's command, the 15,000 Imperial Guard soldiers in the vanguard lowered their spears, pointing them directly at the oncoming Xianbei cavalry.

Cao Cao's 5,000 Wuhuan cavalry also took out their bows and arrows.

"The wings of the nation, as lush as a forest, charge!!"

With a loud roar from Wang Yue, the 15,000 Yulin Army soldiers, lined up in neat rows, spurred their warhorses and launched a frontal charge against the 40,000 Xianbei cavalrymen who were coming towards them.

Cao Cao led 5,000 Wuhuan cavalry to outflank the enemy's left flank, intending to emulate the White Horse Camp's tactics and launch long-range attacks on the Xianbei cavalry.

Watching the Imperial Guards begin their charge, Liu Hong stood up, walked towards a golden drum next to the high platform, and then took down the drumstick and struck it forcefully.

"Knock knock knock~!"

The dull drumbeats immediately echoed across the vast wilderness, carrying further and further away with the sound of the soldiers' horses' hooves.

"His Majesty is personally beating the drums!"

On the high platform, Huangfu Song immediately shouted at the messenger.

The messenger understood and immediately began to spur his horse and shout.

"His Majesty is personally beating the drums!!"

Upon seeing this, the guards responsible for protecting Emperor Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, and 20,000 soldiers of the central army also shouted at the top of their lungs.

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guards, who were charging forward, all turned to look towards the high platform.

They saw their emperor vigorously swinging his drumsticks, striking the drumhead repeatedly.

"Brothers, for His Majesty, for the Han Dynasty, charge!!"

"Charge!!"

The Imperial Guard soldiers, charging forward, suddenly roared and turned to stare intently at the Xianbei people not far away, their eyes blazing with intense light.

At that moment, the morale of the Imperial Guards reached its peak.

At the same time, Dian Weiya led several Imperial Guards and beat the remaining golden drums, which, along with the emperor's drumbeats, reached the ears of the Imperial Guard soldiers.

Amidst the thunderous drumbeats, the soldiers of the Imperial Guards instantly forgot everything, their minds filled only with thoughts of killing the enemy, loyalty, and fighting to the death!

Holding a gun and reins in one hand, and a crossbow aimed at the enemy in the other, the Imperial Guard soldiers, with their feet in double stirrups, displayed a combat style that defied comprehension against the Xianbei cavalry.

Soon, the front-line soldiers of the two armies rushed to within two hundred paces of each other.

A dense volley of arrows poured out from the Imperial Guard formation, heading straight for the Xianbei youths opposite.

In an instant, the three thousand Xianbei youths at the forefront were shot dead along with their horses on the way to the charge. Many Xianbei youths in the rear were also knocked to the ground.

The army formation composed of young and strong Xianbei men was immediately thrown into disarray.

The Imperial Guard soldiers immediately put away their crossbows, then gripped their spears with both hands and aimed them at the Xianbei cavalry.

Soon, the Imperial Guards, with their red pheasant feathers and red armor, surged forward like a red river, carrying the momentum to break through everything, heading straight for the enemy.

The warhorses ridden by the young and strong Xianbei were ordinary horses from their respective tribes, far inferior to those of the elite Gaoliu.

When faced with the Imperial Guard's warhorses, which were a head taller and stronger than themselves, these ordinary horses stopped charging forward out of their biological instincts and fear.

The Imperial Guard soldiers, with unwavering momentum, thrust their spears forward, piercing through the flesh and blood that stood in the way of the red torrent.

The Imperial Guards charged into the formation, just like the Wolf Knights before them, wielding their spears, constantly thrusting and retracting, reaping the lives of the Xianbei youths.

The difference is that the Imperial Guards were personally trained by Tong Yuan and Wang Yue, and their spear-wielding speed was faster and more accurate than that of the Wolf Knights!

Moreover, although the Imperial Guards faced a large number of soldiers, they were just a group of ordinary young men, not even in the same league as the elite troops of Gaoliu.

As soon as the two armies clashed, the Imperial Guards gained an absolute advantage.

Shouts and cries of agony echoed through the sky. As more and more Xianbei youths died, the Imperial Guard soldiers had already reached the center of the army formation composed of 30,000 Xianbei youths and continued to charge forward without diminishing their momentum.