Chapter 2474: The Han Dynasty Is Not Yet Lost

Just as Zhuge Liang heard Li Jue’s call, another voice appeared in the connected network.

“Li Zhiran, are you trying to die?” Gao Shun’s cold voice transmitted over.

“What the hell do you know? I have twelve thousand elite troops with three talents surrounding me now. If you don’t retreat, once they are unleashed, you’re doomed!” Li Jue’s furious roar directly transmitted.

“Doomed?” Sheni Pei’s voice of inquiry also appeared in the system, “You really underestimate us.”

“Shut up, you bunch of idiots. You don’t even know how strong these guys are!” Li Jue’s agitated voice transmitted once again.

“Cancel all blessings and transfer previous strength blessings to the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.” Chen Gong’s voice also appeared here, “Everyone, use whatever you have to clear a path for the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, then retreat. As such, I’ll handle the rain part, Kongming brush snow and ice, the Romans definitely haven’t prepared winter clothes, or rather, whether they have the concept of winter clothing is questionable!”

“I’ll do my best!” Zhuge Liang slowly said.

“Let me handle it, regarding the cosmic part, I can do it too.” Sima Yi suddenly began to speak, “However, my understanding of the cosmos differs slightly from Kongming’s, but whatever, it’s just eternally unmoving, so go for it. Also, Cao Zidan, stop pretending to be dead; show me the elite under your command who belong to Cao Sikong’s hidden troops, whether they are elite warriors, rapid crossbowmen, or heavy shield troopers. If you keep pretending to be dead, I’ll treat you as non-existent!”

Meanwhile, relying on solidified cloud qi to hold back the Anglo heavy infantry, during intensive drilling, Cao Zhen suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He could assure that he never exposed any of these, not even Cao Cao used these cards; if not for Cao Cao truly treating him as his son, he wouldn’t have known about these elites before the Western Regions campaign.

Moreover, to remain inconspicuous, Cao Zhen hadn’t done anything eye-catching along the way, just behaving like an ordinary elite, listening to Sima Yi’s command diligently training recruits.

“Cao Zidan, if you keep pretending to be dead, I’ll truly consider you nonexistent!” Sima Yi’s angry voice transmitted over. Long ago during the Northern Frontier battle, thinking about Xiahou Dun and the Qiu Linbei battle, you’d know Qiu Linbei was leading the Northern Huns Guards reserve at the time, yet Xiahou Dun didn’t fall behind.

Upon realizing this, not only Sima Yi, others speculated that under Cao Cao’s command there might be some elites, possibly even Tiger and Leopard Cavalry might be a unit released by Cao Cao to draw attention during the Northern Frontier battle. However, the Cao Family didn’t lead Tiger and Leopard Cavalry then, but during the battle, several units in command weren’t inferior to the Northern Huns.

However, that’s also normal. Even without this event, Chen Xi and others wouldn’t think Cao Cao and Sun Ce have no trump cards. Accurately speaking, for such meticulous Feudal Lords, having no trump cards would be incredible, akin to the later generations’ rabbit, all loving to hide things; perhaps it’s a natural instinct in the bones of Huaxia people.

Therefore, at the time, Sima Yi paid attention. With a little investigation, Sima Yi could uncover many things.

The Han Empire indeed fell, yet its foundation remains. Duan Jiong, Zhang Huan, Huangfu Gui, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, Lu Zhi, their legions were disbanded, but truly saying how far it is from this era, less than twenty years from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to this era.

Kushan can pick trash and establish an Empire, Cao Cao now occupies two dynasties’ capitals of the Han Empire. Despite the chaos, military system, and then various chaotic causes which led those powerful legions to disappear, recruiting them anew is something any sane-minded person would do.

If it’s merely one year, perhaps it’s insufficient, but Cao Cao has held Yongliang for several years. From the start, if with the name of military settlement began gathering veterans who fought even divine Zhang Jiao, using them as seeds to inherit previous legions, then Cao Cao’s constant complaining about being miserable is definitely false.

At most, these people reached former quality under predecessor’s tradition but haven’t seen blood, yet such situations are improbable; Cao Cao, with a sane brain, surely merged his elites into this heritage to draw power.

Such matters, if uninvestigated won’t be noticed, but if explored, numerous subtle clues suffice for Sima Yi to stitch a complete thread.

“I’ll eliminate the enemy and rescue you immediately!” After hearing Sima Yi’s roar once more, Cao Zhen dared not overthink. Compared to concealing his own presence, Cao Zhen always felt Sima Yi was more important, at least Sima Yi’s existence could make him stronger.

“Draw your swords, slaughter the enemy for me!” Cao Zhen immediately ordered. Sima Yi guessed correctly that most of the troops under him were elite warriors, a creation inspired by the training of Duan Jiong’s Elite Warriors of Great Qin. These warriors require minimal equipment and possess explosive combat power, as Duan Jiong crafted them when funds were scarce.

However, compared to the original Elite Qin Warriors, there is a certain distinction. The second talent of these warriors allows them to infuse spirit energy into their swords in a normal state, effectively providing high-effect nourishment and greatly enhancing the sword’s lethality.

As a consequence, when not wielding their swords, these warriors appear just like ordinary elites. Moreover, it reveals Cao Cao’s intention in providing these over five thousand elite warriors to Cao Zhen, making it evident that Cao Cao was no angel.

Following Cao Zhen’s orders, the Han Army, initially wielding long spears against the Anglo Heavy Infantry, discarded their spears and with speed unimaginable to the Romans, instantly broke through the frontal blockade. As they drew their swords, the elite warriors led by Cao Zhen advanced with a momentum akin to the Military Spirit!

“Crack!” The high-speed movement brought by the first talent’s thrust left afterimages on the Roman Heavy Infantry’s retinas before dissipating. The swordsmen wielding longswords had already brushed by, and the explosive attack power at that moment cleaved the enemy into halves, regardless of who they were.

This was the bitter land of Liangzhou, home to the elite forces Duan Jiong used to massacre enemies before the advent of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Unlike the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, known for their defensive prowess, Duan Jiong’s elite were purely a killing force. Their attack power was already explosive, paired with the thrust’s explosive force; its destructive power in that instant could cleave horse or man with one stroke!

As for weaknesses, this kind of troop’s weaknesses naturally need mentioning. Their defense is poor, and they lack effective means against archers. If caught by archers, they might perish in a few breaths.

Yet, in this battlefield, the Roman archers weren’t near Cao Zhen, for after hearing Sima Yi’s roar, Cao Zhen immediately initiated a cavalry charge formation enhanced by Cloud Qi solidification, further boosting the mobility of the elites led by him. Before the Romans could react, he transverse-charged towards Sima Yi’s location.

“Zhongda, I have come to rescue you!” Within the time of one incense stick, Cao Zhen had fought through the Anglo Heavy Infantry Legion and a Barbarian Legion, directly thrusting himself before Sima Yi. Upon seeing this, Sima Yi tightly bit his lip and glared fiercely at Cao Zhen, thinking, “You Cao Family are truly something!”

“Next, Lyu Ziming will cover for you. Any archers targeting you will be preemptively dealt with. So, you must resist Caracalla’s Heavy Infantry Legion with the Yuan Clan. I may not speak afterward,” Sima Yi glared at Cao Zhen, composed his emotions, commanded, and then infused his spiritual capacity into the Eight Formation Diagram; it was his best opportunity for learning and verification.

“Wen Yuan!” Gao Shun glanced at Zhang Liao, with a touch of coldness, while the silver-gray radiance of the Vanguard Camp gradually faded.

Leading the Tacitus Ninth Legion and Second Trajan Legion, Camillo was gradually adapting to this level of attack. Upon seeing Gao Shun reining in his horse suddenly, he stopped likewise. However, the next instant, he witnessed a horrific scene.

The silver radiance on the Vanguard camp was fading, turning into the dark color the Han Army referred to, and simultaneously, the momentum of the Vanguard camp started to decline, as if it was about to drop to the level of the Military Spirit.

“Gongzheng, you…” Zhang Liao sensed the change in the Vanguard’s momentum, immediately understanding Gao Shun’s intent. Though transitioning into such a state held considerable significance for the current battle, it was definitely not fun.

“Inherit the strength of the Feathered Forest Guards, let it blossom!” Accompanied by Gao Shun’s roar, the dark radiance engulfed the whole Vanguard camp and half of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry. This was the power Gao Shun inherited from the Feathered Forest Guards. After taking up their armor, he inherited this power, and similarly, it’s a key reason why Gao Shun’s power of military spirit was perpetually insufficient, for half was drawn away by the Feathered Forest Guards’ military spirit!

The Han Dynasty still exists, Jianzhang stands tall, symbolizing the empire’s brilliance. The Feathered Forest Guards will not vanish in history; their legacy infused into the military spirit when Gao Shun received those weapons. This explains why Gao Shun was able to seek out the millennia-old prowess from the north, as he already bore a portion of the nation’s will!

“Weren’t you asking what I bear?” Gao Shun gazed at Camillo opposite, at this moment, Camillo clearly sensed a deep-rooted fear stemming from the lower end of the food chain facing a higher being, which they absolutely cannot resist!

“Eternal circulation, my heart unchanged!” Sima Yi’s low voice, coupled with spiritual capacity infusion, caused the Xiliang Iron Cavalry to drop the power of Flying Bear’s military spirit, returning to their original, most primitive state, and the legion talents of Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou also resurfaced. Numerous tragic memories were once again dredged up from the depths of their minds!