Just as Cao Zhang, Sun Ce, and Ma Chao were talking, Liu Cheng and his group arrived.

"I didn't expect bandits to be lurking in a place like this?" Like Cao Zhang, Liu Cheng also frowned after seeing the fight ahead.

Guo Jia stepped forward with a smile: "Your Highness, bandits can't be completely eradicated anywhere. Perhaps these bandits were deliberately left behind by the government of Yizhou!"

"Um?"

Liu Cheng was slightly taken aback: "What do you mean by that, Fengxiao?"

Before Guo Jia could speak, Sima Yi explained, "Your Highness, whether it's here or elsewhere, as long as there are merchants, there will inevitably be bandits. Even if the Yizhou government wipes out the current bandits, new bandits will always emerge."

Therefore, if a caravan wants to be safe, it has to spend a lot of money to hire guards, and the people these bandits dare not mess with the most are the people of our Han Dynasty.

Therefore, although these bandits are not good people, they have helped our Han guards find a livelihood; perhaps those guards are even officials from the Yizhou government.”

"I see!"

After hearing Sima Yi's explanation, Liu Cheng nodded in understanding.

Guo Jia said with a smile, "Since the bandits can't be eradicated, let's find a way to make use of them. This will both promote the might of the Han Dynasty and generate revenue. The officials of Yizhou are really clever!"

Liu Cheng nodded, then turned to look at the two sides locked in fierce combat, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

Although Liu Cheng was educated from a young age on how to govern the country, deep down he also longed for the thrill of war.

"Your Highness, you wouldn't be thinking of...?" Noticing the glint in Liu Cheng's eyes, Cao Zhang asked worriedly.

"Of course, it's not easy to come across such an opportunity, so naturally I want to kill a few bandits!" Liu Cheng replied nonchalantly.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhang immediately objected, saying, "This is absolutely unacceptable, Your Highness. How can you risk your life?"

Liu Cheng waved his hand: "Hey, with you guys and the Imperial Guards in the rear, what danger could there be?"

"But……"

"My mind is made up, no one should try to persuade me anymore!"

When Cao Zhang tried to speak again, Liu Cheng immediately used his authority to silence him.

Sima Yi, standing to the side, seemed to have a sudden realization as he looked at Liu Cheng's resolute expression.

Ultimately, it is the aura of the current emperor that puts a lot of pressure on the crown prince. Although the crown prince is very outstanding, it is probably impossible for him to surpass the emperor along the original path.

Therefore, the only place where the crown prince could achieve something was by doing things that the emperor had never done, such as going into battle to kill the enemy.

Subsequently, Liu Cheng sent Ma Chao to inform the Imperial Guards at the rear.

Upon learning that the Crown Prince wanted to go into battle, the Imperial Guard officers remained calm. After learning that the bandits numbered only about three hundred, the Imperial Guard officers immediately dispatched three hundred cavalrymen to provide support.

They're just a bunch of bandits. If I could harm the Crown Prince while under their protection, I wouldn't deserve the title of Imperial Guard.

Upon seeing the three hundred Imperial Guards cavalry approaching, Sun Ce and Ma Chao became excited, and even Zhou Yu, Guo Jia, and others were intrigued.

Although Zhou Yu and others were civil servants compared to Sun Ce and Ma Chao, it does not mean that they lacked martial prowess.

Sun Ce was the first to jump out: "I'll be the vanguard, you all just follow behind me and charge into battle!"

"Why should you be the vanguard? You weren't the first to spot these bandits," Ma Chao immediately retorted.

"What? You're not happy about this? Let's fight first?"

"Fine, let's fight. Are you scared of me?"

As they spoke, Sun Ce and Ma Chao got into position.

"Alright, stop arguing. You two can be the vanguard. Whoever kills fewer people loses!"

When Liu Cheng saw Sun Ce and Ma Chao about to fight, he immediately lost his temper. As soon as he got angry, the two of them shrank back and quieted down.

"Yes, Your Highness!!"

The two agreed and then stepped aside.

At the same time, three hundred Imperial Guards cavalry arrived and put away their general's banners.

"Why have they put away their military flag? Doesn't that take away all their prestige?" Ma Chao muttered, looking puzzled at the Imperial Guards' actions.

Guo Jia laughed and said, "If we go there with our flags flying high, won't all those bandits run away? Who will you kill then?"

“Hmm, that’s true!” Ma Chao nodded.

"Set off!"

At Liu Cheng's command, Ma Chao and Sun Ce each led a hundred cavalrymen and charged toward the bandits, with Liu Cheng leading the rest of the men in close pursuit.

Meanwhile, the Persian merchants who were fighting the bandits were also struggling to hold on, and people kept collapsing.

Seeing victory in sight, the bandits became excited and fought even harder.

Although the government of Yizhou turned a blind eye to these bandits, their lives were not easy.

They couldn't rob Han Chinese caravans, nor could they rob caravans guarded by Han Chinese. Therefore, their targets were limited to small caravans that were unwilling to spend money to hire Han Chinese guards.

Now that they've finally encountered a large Persian caravan, they naturally want to seize the opportunity to make as much money as possible and enjoy a period of happiness.

However, the bandits' wishes were soon dashed.

Just as they were preparing to break through the Persian guards in one fell swoop, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out from behind.

Amidst the billowing dust, the bandits on the outermost edge, though unable to make out the approaching figures, could tell from the dense sound of hooves that there were definitely quite a few of them.

However, the bandits inside were already locked in a fierce battle with the Persian guards, making it impossible for them to regroup.

So, under the command of their leader, these bandits on the outskirts began to draw their bows and nock their arrows, preparing to block the cavalry that had suddenly appeared.

In their view, these were probably competitors planning a double-cross; as long as they shot some of them and then negotiated, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Just as the dozens of bandits on the outskirts were ready, Sun Ce and Ma Chao's troops came into clear view.

"These...these are the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty?"

When the bandits saw the Imperial Guards cavalrymen with red pheasant feathers on their heads, wearing iron armor and red cloaks on their backs, they were filled with disbelief.

Although they were far away in Yizhou, these bandits who feared the Han Dynasty like tigers were not unfamiliar with the Han's elite troops.

In Linhai City, there was a Yulin Army stationed there. Although there were only a thousand men, they were all incredibly strong.

In order to open up the trade route, the thousand Imperial Guards spent more than a year clearing out this area, and nearly ten thousand bandits died at their hands.

Upon seeing the Imperial Guards cavalry suddenly charging towards them, the bandits were terrified and turned pale.