Meanwhile.
The Hexi Corridor, along the Shandan River.
Lü Bu, along with his generals Han Sui, Ma Teng, and Yue Ji, gathered at Fanhe, passed through Rile, and entered Shandan.
After passing Wulan, it will be another forty or fifty li before you reach Lude, which is also the seat of Zhangye Prefecture.
Officials from the surrounding counties opened their doors to welcome the army and offered them food and drink.
When Di Qing led his troops through this area, he did not harass them, but instead infiltrated Lude directly.
Subsequently, only Zhaowu County, west of Lude, fell into the hands of Di Qing.
The counties to the east were still unaware that the prefectural seat had changed hands.
When the 70,000-strong army passed through, the Hexi Corridor, which is more than 100 miles wide between the Qilian Mountains and the Mongolian Plateau, was suddenly filled with soldiers and flags.
Like a raging flood, wherever they went, they would grab any stray dogs that were passing by and slap them a few times.
"Report!"
At this moment, the scouts who had gone to Lude and Juyan to investigate three days earlier returned.
"General, we noticed that the flags on the city wall have changed, and there is no trace of Xianbei cavalry over Juyan Lake."
"According to our reconnaissance, a large number of troops have appeared in the city, seemingly no less than two thousand, and they are on high alert."
What!
Lü Bu, Han Sui, Ma Teng, and others looked at each other in bewilderment.
Didn't they say there was some rebellion in Zhangye? How come there are so many more troops now?
If the Xianbei people are not at Juyan Lake, then they have been defeated by this newly emerging force!
hiss!
Forty thousand Xianbei cavalry were completely driven out. In the Western Regions and the northern desert, what force could be more powerful than the Xianbei?
Dingling people? Kangju people? Dayuan people? Or Parthians from the Transoxiana region, or even the Kushans from further back?
That's all possible!
"The stronger the enemy, the more excited I become!"
"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave shall prevail. Let them see the might of our Liangzhou warriors!"
Lu Bu was also slightly taken aback, but then he turned around with an arrogant expression, looked at the group of generals, and loudly encouraged them.
Hearing Lü Bu's bold words, Ma Teng couldn't help but feel his blood boil.
The three boys following him, including an eight-year-old, had eyes full of curiosity and admiration.
These three men were Ma Teng's three sons: Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, and Ma Chao!
Ma Teng had Qiang ancestry and was brave and warlike. Whenever there was a battle, he would bring his son with him, so that he could influence them from a young age through what they saw and heard.
"General!"
Han Sui chimed in, "These 40,000 Xianbei people should have been ours to reap the rewards of their leadership, but some unknown force beat us to it."
"We have to get revenge on them."
“The Xianbei people always rob our Qiang people of their cattle, sheep and women, and we hate them to the bone.”
Yueji gritted his teeth, "I thought I could get my revenge this time, but someone else snatched it away from me. I'm so angry!"
Without the support of the Han army, could you defeat the Xianbei?
Han Sui harbored resentment towards Yue Ji.
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing about who the other is. Wherever my Fangtian Halberd points, everything will turn to mincemeat!"
Lu Bu said proudly, "Please urge your men to hurry up and march."
"We need to reach the foot of Mount Heli outside Wulan before dark to set up camp."
"Tomorrow morning, after a hearty meal and drinks, we'll charge towards Lude in one fell swoop."
The generals cupped their hands and said, "Yes, sir!"
The army numbered 70,000, with Ma Teng leading the vanguard with 20,000 cavalry and infantry combined, and Han Sui bringing up the rear with 10,000 spearmen.
Lü Bu led 20,000 swordsmen, shieldmen, archers, and crossbowmen in the center.
Meanwhile, Yueji's 20,000 Qiang cavalrymen patrolled the left and right sides of the central army.
Before long, the army marched through Wulan and arrived at Helishan.
At this moment, the sky was beginning to darken.
Helishan.
Along the Hexi Corridor, there are small mountain ranges stretching for five or six miles along the edge of the Mongolian Plateau.
The Shandan River, wide and only reaching the calves of warhorses at its deepest point, flows along the southern foot of the Helishan Mountains.
The Great Wall of Qin is located northeast of the Helishan Mountains, extending westward to the Yumen Pass in Dunhuang.
The mountain was bare, covered only with colorful mud and rocks, and since it was winter, there wasn't a single patch of green to be seen.
Vultures circled in the sky, emitting eerie cries.
Lu Bu's army began to search for places to set up camp along the Shandan River.
Just then, three miles away, a deafening roar came from a valley in the Heli Mountains, as if a vanguard of ten thousand horses was galloping in.
The vultures in the sky seemed to have been frightened and had long since disappeared.
"Enemy attack!"
Yue Ji, Ma Teng, Han Sui, and others had lived in Liangzhou for a long time. As soon as they heard the sound, they knew what was going on and immediately shouted.
They felt the ground shaking, and the thunderous sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.
"snort!"
"We haven't even bothered them yet, and they've already come to us on their own initiative!"
Lu Bu sneered, "Commander Ma and Commander Han, you two take command and continue setting up camp."
"Marshal Yueji, lead your 5,000 troops to intercept them."
"Let's see what kind of reckless person dares to provoke our army."
Lu Bu completely disregarded the ambush and paid it no mind.
Upon receiving the order, Yueji immediately led five thousand cavalrymen toward the valley.
When Yueji led his five thousand cavalrymen for a mile, dark shadows suddenly appeared at the mouth of the valley, one after another.
First there were ten or so riders, then a hundred, then a thousand.
They came on strong, their warhorses already galloping.
Soon, like a long dragon emerging from the valley, it rushed towards Lü Bu's 70,000-strong army.
The sky was overcast and dust filled the air, so Yueji could only vaguely see that the person in the lead was also dressed in white robes and silver armor, holding a halberd, and approaching with a murderous aura.
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