Seeing that Lü Bu had retreated, Zhao Yun showed a look of gratitude.

He also knew that if Lü Bu was determined to fight him, he would not be able to win, whether it was by leading troops into battle or by engaging in a direct confrontation.

Lu Bu's withdrawal clearly meant that he was giving away the credit that was already in his hands, which was quite befitting of an elder brother.

Standing next to Liu Hong, Lü Zhen saw that her brother was no longer competing with her lover, and a happy smile appeared on her face.

"A daughter is like a bird that flies away from home once she grows up!!"

Seeing that Lü Zhen's eyes were full of Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, who had retreated to the side, muttered to himself while also glaring fiercely at Zhao Yun.

If your precious little sister, whom you've raised for so many years, suddenly falls for someone else, anyone would find it hard to accept.

Liu Hong also looked at Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao in the tent at the right time and said with a smile, "Alright, now only Zilong and Wenyuan are left. You two tell me, who should lead the army?"

"Your Majesty, I am not capable enough. It would be better for General Zhao to go to this battle!"

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, Zhang Liao also spoke up immediately, and then retreated.

He had spent a long time with Zhao Yun, and they were sworn brothers, so he knew Zhao Yun's temperament very well.

Although Zhao Yun appeared to be gentle, refined, humble, and polite on the surface, his desire to achieve great things was stronger than anyone else's.

Firstly, it was because of Lü Bu, his future brother-in-law, and secondly, it was because of the emperor's high regard for him.

Most capable people are proud; they want to earn respect from others through their own abilities, and Zhao Yun was no exception.

Seeing Lü Bu and Zhang Liao retreat one after another, Zhao Yun stepped forward and bowed to Liu Hong: "Your Majesty, this humble general requests to fight!"

Liu Hong laughed and said, "Alright, this surprise attack will be left to Zilong!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Yun's face lit up with joy, and he was about to bow again when Liu Hong continued, "However, Zilong is going into battle for the first time, so he needs someone to assist him. It would be best if he went with someone else!"

Zhao Yun was slightly taken aback, then quickly said, "Your Majesty is right. How about Wen Chang be your deputy and go with me?"

"Alright!" Liu Hong nodded, then looked at Lü Bu and said solemnly, "Fengxian, come along too, to keep an eye on things!"

"Here you go!"

Lu Bu also stepped forward and agreed.

He paid no attention whatsoever to the emperor's offer to make him Zhao Yun's deputy.

Subsequently, Liu Hong personally handed the token to Zhao Yun, who, with Zhang Liao and Lü Bu as his assistants, led 20,000 Xiliang cavalry and 5,000 Bingzhou wolf riders to carry out a surprise attack.

Subsequently, Liu Hong handed over command of all soldiers to Huangfu Song.

As Huangfu Song issued his military orders, all the soldiers in the entire Jincheng camp sprang into action.

Inside the main tent, looking at the emperor, who was dressed in armor and looked eager to try, Huangfu Song hesitated for a moment.

"Your Majesty, I believe it would be better for you to remain in Jincheng to oversee the situation."

"What? Do you think I'm in your way, my dear minister?" Liu Hong's question was clearly tinged with displeasure.

Huangfu Song was startled and quickly said, "No... this humble general just feels that Your Majesty's precious body is really not suitable for..."

"Alright, although I am the commander-in-chief of this great battle, I will not interfere with your command." Liu Hong looked at Huangfu Song with a serious expression: "Rest assured, my dear minister, I just want to go and take a look!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Having said all that, Huangfu Song had no choice but to agree.

March 12th.

Before dawn, Zhao Yun, dressed in bright silver armor and wearing a white cloak, walked out of the tent.

At this moment, the Northwest was still shrouded in darkness, and the air was chilly.

Just then, a guard rushed over and said, "General, all the soldiers are ready to go!"

"Where are General Lü and General Zhang?" Zhao Yun asked.

"Generals Lü and Zhang are already waiting outside the camp with their troops!"

"Set off!"

Upon hearing the guard's report, Zhao Yun led over a pure white warhorse, jumped onto its back, and galloped out of the camp.

After joining forces with Lü Bu and Zhang Liao, the 25,000 cavalrymen galloped across the vast northwest land, heading straight for the southern shore of the West Sea.

"shelf!!"

Zhao Yun, running at the forefront, swung his whip, lashing his warhorse.

This surprise attack required a detour along the southern coast of the West Sea to the rear of Mayi, a journey of nearly a thousand miles. Moreover, it was imperative to breach Mayi's rear and block the retreat of the Qiang and Xiaoyuezhi within ten days.

Therefore, Zhao Yun only had about five or six days left, and he had to speed things up.

Seeing Zhao Yun's anxious appearance, Lü Bu, who was following behind, remained silent.

Lu Bu did not intend to intervene in this surprise attack unless absolutely necessary.

Shortly after Zhao Yun led his army away, the sun rose in the east, its golden rays bathing the earth and bringing light, dispelling the darkness.

Liu Hong, fully armed, rode out of the camp on a black steed, surrounded by generals such as Huangfu Song, Yu Jin, Xu Huang, and Yang Yan. Of course, Lü Zhen, dressed in red, followed closely behind.

Behind them were 10,000 Imperial Guards cavalry, 10,000 Northern Army soldiers, and 75,000 cavalry from Bingzhou, Liaozhou, and Liangzhou.

After the army set off, veteran officials such as Cao Song, Duan Jiong, and Yuan Feng also took on the task of commanding the transport team.

In addition to the official transport teams that had been arranged beforehand, the Qiang people who had migrated to the Han Dynasty also spontaneously joined the logistics support team by driving their own oxcarts and horse-drawn carts.

Cao Song and his companions were not at all surprised by the people who came to help.

After all, in recent years, the Han Dynasty has sent several thousand students here to be responsible for education.

These Qiang people who had submitted to the Han Dynasty, through the teachings and example of those scholars, had long since come to regard themselves as people of the Han and the emperor as their savior.

In their view, the emperor's expedition was to rescue their suffering compatriots and to fight for all the lower-class herders.

Therefore, as a member of the Qiang people, it is only natural that I should contribute my share to the liberation of the Qiang people.

According to the battle plan formulated by Huangfu Song, the 95,000 troops of the headquarters needed to occupy a favorable location to attract Ma Yi's attention. Therefore, Haiyan City, east of the West Sea, became the first choice for this garrison.

Three days later, Liu Hong led his army into the territory of Dongqiang and headed straight for Haiyan.

At this time, due to the calamity caused by Ma Yi, most of the Qiang people either fled to the territory of the Han Dynasty or died due to hardship.

Less than half of the Qiang people who were able to remain in the Qiang region are still alive.

Many villages have less than half their population, and the Qiang people's cattle, sheep, and property have all been robbed by the Ma Yi, leaving many Qiang people with no way to survive!