Zhang Fei rode out of the pass and lined up his soldiers on both sides. Crossbow carts had already been set up at the critical moment, aiming at Cao's army from a distance.
Xu Huang was about to fight, but Zhang Fei reached out to dissuade him, saying, "Xu Gongming, I see that you have a wound on your neck. Could it be that you were bullied by Cao Hong and attempted suicide?"
Xu Huang's face was gloomy. He had already seen that this was a plot to alienate Liu Qi. All this was done deliberately by Liu Qi. He said coldly, "What does it have to do with you?"
Zhang Fei said sternly: "I, Zhang Yide, never bully my enemies. How about we fight again after you recover from your injury?"
Xu Huang laughed loudly and said, "Zhang Fei, don't be so arrogant. I will chop off your head today."
"Wait a minute!" Zhang Fei stopped Xu Huang again and asked with a glare, "How do you compare to Yan Liang and Wen Chou?"
Xu Huang snorted coldly: "Why are you asking this?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Yan Liang and Wen Chou were famous generals from Hebei. They were killed by my second brother in one blow. I didn't see them in person. It's a pity. General Xu, can you tell me something?"
"Wen Chang... you are truly a god!" Xu Huang sighed and stared at Zhang Fei. "General Guan once said that you are more powerful than him. Taking the head of a general in a million-strong army is as easy as taking something from a bag. The Prime Minister also asked us to remember this. I don't think that's the case."
"This is my second brother's kindness," Zhang Fei laughed and said, "You are no match for me, but Cao Hong sent you to fight. This is a scheme to kill someone with a borrowed knife. Why don't you just come with me to see my second brother?"
"How dare you!" Xu Huang was furious, and rushed over with his giant axe, shouting, "Since I have a good relationship with Yunchang, don't I know the meaning of loyalty and righteousness? I will never sacrifice public interests for personal gain."
Zhang Fei held his spear horizontally and advised: "You followed Cao thief to protect the emperor, so you can be considered a loyal minister. Now Cao thief has the intention of usurping the throne, oppressing the emperor, and killing ministers. How is he different from Dong Zhuo? If you still work for him, you are helping Zhou to commit atrocities..."
"Bullshit!" Xu Huang was so angry that he cursed and raised his axe to chop at Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei blocked them one after another, and held back the axe with his backhand, sighing: "You went into battle with an injury. If my second brother knew, he would definitely blame me. How about we have a good fight in three days?"
Xu Huang had been exhausted these past few days, and had not slept the whole night before. He was suppressed by Zhang Fei and was powerless to resist. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's a deal!"
"I won't take advantage of you!" Zhang Fei retracted his snake spear. "I have something to ask you. Please tell me."
Xu Huang asked, "What's the matter?"
Zhang Fei said, "It is said that when my second brother was in Xuchang, Cao Cao tried his best to win him over. He held a small banquet every three days and a big banquet every five days. He was given the title of Marquis of Han Shou Ting, a red horse, gold for mounting the horse and silver for dismounting, and ten beautiful women to serve him. Is this true?"
Xu Huang nodded slightly and sighed: "Yun Chang is loyal and righteous, with a heart as hard as stone. How can he be moved by food and money?"
Zhang Fei asked again: "How is my second brother doing in Xuchang? Besides reading the Spring and Autumn Annals, does he do anything else at night?"
"Zhang Yide!" Xu Huang was furious when he heard this and shouted, "You are so lucky to have sworn brotherhood with Yunchang. How dare you question his character? How can this be absurd!"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant!" Zhang Fei waved his hands and said, "Xuchang has a huge collection of books and classics. Second brother has always been eager to learn and make progress. In addition to the Spring and Autumn Annals, have you read any other books?"
Xu Huang looked at Zhang Fei again: "Why do you ask this?"
Zhang Fei sighed, "After my brothers and I were separated in Xuzhou, my second brother returned from Xuchang and his demeanor changed drastically, as if he had been reborn. Did you know that when he was in Zhuo County, he was just a peddler pushing a cart..."
Zhang Fei talked about the past incessantly. He recounted how the two of them fought in the street, Liu Bei tried to stop the fight, and how the three of them became like-minded and swore brotherhood in Peach Garden to join the army to save their country.
Although he and Guan Yu had a good relationship, Guan Yu had always been taciturn. When in Xuchang, he basically did not interact with others except Zhang Liao and himself, and never mentioned a word about the past. However, Xu Huang felt the same concern for his two brothers.
Listening to Zhang Fei talking about the past now, it really makes people very envious. Xu Huang's heart is filled with excitement and yearning.
I feel so emotional in my heart, if I can meet such a loyal person in my life, what regrets would I have even if I die
When Zhang Fei was a butcher in Zhuo County, he dealt with all kinds of people and was talkative. Now, when he recalled the past and thought of Liu Bei, his emotions were like a surging river and could not be controlled.
One spoke with deep emotion, the other listened attentively, until the horn sounded at the critical moment. Then they both suddenly became alert and realized that it was already noon.
Zhang Fei's eyes turned red, and he smiled and said, "I wanted to hear about my second brother, but I ended up talking about a lot of gossip. If there is a chance, I will drink with you again."
Xu Huang personally felt the deep affection between Liu, Guan and Zhang, and felt much closer to Zhang Fei. However, his intention of going into battle this time was to express his true feelings.
He immediately gathered his thoughts, clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "In three days, we will fight to the death!"
Zhang Fei said nothing more and rode back to Guanzhong. Liu Qi came forward to greet him and said with a smile, "I didn't expect Third Uncle to be so talkative. If it weren't for dinner time, I really wouldn't have the heart to interrupt him."
Zhang Fei wiped his stubble, shook his head and sighed, "The past is too painful to look back on!"
Ever since Liu Bei's death, he had not confided his true feelings to anyone for a long time. Even when facing Guan Yu, he did not dare to drink and chat like before, for fear of causing sadness to both of them.
I never expected that today, on the battlefield, I would reveal everything to an opponent.
However, after this long talk, the depression hidden in my heart was released, and I felt a lot more relaxed.
Pang Tong chuckled and said, "Three days is enough time for Ma Teng and his son to start a rebellion."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Wen Chang has also entered Hanzhong. The longer we can contain Cao Hong, the more favorable the situation will be for us."
…
When Xu Huang withdrew his troops and returned to the camp, he found that all the soldiers had strange expressions. Ma Yan was leaning against the camp gate with his arms folded, sneering with his lips curled.
Cao Hong had arrived at the front of the battle formation half an hour ago. He suppressed his anger and watched Xu Huang and Zhang Fei chatting and laughing in front of the battle formation. Where was the murderous intent in them
To outsiders, this was clearly a reunion of close friends after a long separation.
He returned to the tent angrily, his face gloomy enough to drip water. When Xu Huang entered the tent, he smiled coldly and said, "General Xu, I ordered you to fight, but you are reminiscing about the past. Do you still have the official business and the prime minister in your mind?"
Xu Huang clasped his fists and said, "Zhang Fei saw that I was injured and was unwilling to fight. We agreed to a decisive battle in three days."
"It took an hour to fight?" Cao Hong slammed the table and said sternly, "Since you said that Wuguan Pass is difficult to break through, I will show you how I can take it within three days!"
Xu Huang hurriedly advised: "General, you must not do this. Wuguan Pass is dangerous and Liu Qi has extremely powerful weapons. It will only increase casualties..."
"Shut up!" Cao Hong was so angry that veins popped out of his neck. He roared, "You don't want to fight, you don't want to attack. Are you waiting for Wuguan to destroy itself and then God will kill Liu Qi?"
Before Xu Huang could continue to persuade Cao Hong, he was roared at and cursed at, and kicked out of the tent. He then ordered the three armies to attack Wuguan immediately.
Xu Shang waited outside the tent and whispered, "Recently, there are rumors in the army that the general has already surrendered to Liu Qi and has no intention of fighting. Rumors are spreading everywhere. The general must be careful in what he says and does."
"This is Liu Qi's plan!" Xu Huang sighed, his eyes gradually firmed, and he said slowly: "My heart belongs to the Prime Minister, just like Guan Yu's loyalty to Liu Bei. The innocent are innocent. The Prime Minister must know my heart, so why should I be afraid of rumors?"
At this time, he had made up his mind to die. Three days later, he duelled with Zhang Fei and was determined to bring Zhang Fei down even at the risk of his life.
It is enough for a real man to die in the battlefield and be wrapped in his horse's hide!