At the same time, Zhang He turned back, preparing to counterattack, only to see that Zhao Yun's forces had not descended into chaos. Instead, they had quickly reformed into formation and were steadily retreating from the ambush zone.
Zhao Yun, observing the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry across from him and the archers lying in ambush, estimated his remaining forces and decided not to engage in a futile fight. He gradually pulled his troops back, and once they had created sufficient distance, the White Horse Volunteers swiftly withdrew from the area like the wind. Zhang He chose not to pursue.
After weighing the strength of both sides, Zhang He ultimately decided against chasing them. His mission had already been accomplished.
Meanwhile, Chen Xi sat in his carriage, waiting for Zhao Yun's return. The sudden ambush puzzled him, but he wasn't concerned about his current position being attacked.
Chen Xi furrowed his brows as he pondered the situation, though he didn't immediately connect the ambush to Yuan Shao. His habitual thinking clouded his judgment.
Chen Xi couldn't help but frown. Given that Liu Yan had personally gone to meet Chen Gong and sincerely discussed terms of allegiance, no one would suspect that Liu Bei's side had never intended to recruit Lü Bu. As a result, Yuan Shao's side would find it nearly impossible to offer better terms than Liu Yan.
Chen Xi's frown deepened. If their plans had indeed been exposed, it would be a significant setback.
Realizing he was overthinking the situation, Chen Xi shifted his perspective.
A glimmer of realization flashed in Chen Xi's eyes—perhaps he didn't need to overthink it.
"Strategist, General Zhao has returned," Hua Yun called from outside the carriage.
Chen Xi silently opened the carriage door and stepped down, watching as Zhao Yun returned with the White Horse Volunteers and several hundred riderless horses.
"Zilong, it seems you had a difficult time," Chen Xi remarked.
"Not exactly. The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry is indeed one of the finest forces in the world, and they fought my White Horse Volunteers to a standstill," Zhao Yun replied, shaking his head. Meanwhile, the soldiers quickly fortified their position, sent out more scouts, and medics tended to the wounded.
"You're certain it was the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry?" Chen Xi asked calmly.
"Yes, I'm sure. Their tactics were unmistakable, and only a force like the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry could match the White Horse Volunteers so evenly," Zhao Yun confirmed. "It seems Lü Bu has indeed sided with Yuan Benchu. We should return the favor in kind."
"No need for that," Chen Xi said, shaking his head. "Whether or not Lü Bu has aligned with Yuan Benchu doesn't matter. We can simply focus on defeating Yuan Benchu."
"But why is that?" Zhao Yun asked, puzzled. "The attackers were clearly under Lü Bu's general, Zhang Liao. Why target Yuan Shao?"
"If they've aligned with Yuan Shao, then they're one and the same. Attacking either one is fine. If they haven't aligned, then our reason for attacking Yuan Shao is even simpler. Zhang Liao must have disguised himself, so regardless of the circumstances, we don't need to overthink it. Just attack him directly," Chen Xi explained with a shrug.
At first, Chen Xi had wondered why Lü Bu would attack them. But then he realized it didn't matter whether Lü Bu was responsible or not. By targeting Yuan Shao, they'd avenge the attack regardless, making it a straightforward solution—no intricate strategies required.
Zhao Yun blinked in surprise, struggling to follow the logic. But as Chen Xi explained further, it all made sense. No matter the reason behind this strange battle, it ultimately didn't matter. If the ambushers were disguised, Yuan Shao deserved the blame. If it really was Zhang Liao, attacking Yuan Shao would still be justified.
"Then what was the point of this ambush?" Zhao Yun asked, now feeling like he had an intellectual advantage over the enemy. The strategy seemed pointless.
"How should I know what the person behind this was thinking?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes. "Maybe they just wanted to lower our intelligence to their level, hoping to defeat us with experience."
"So, we're going to fight Yuan Shao?" Zhao Yun asked with a slight smirk.
This plan might have worked if Chen Xi hadn't seen through it. After all, with Lü Bu's personality, he'd never explain himself. Once the fighting started, Lü Bu would never back down, making it more likely that he'd align with Yuan Shao out of necessity.
Moreover, they were still a day away from the battlefield where Guan Yu, Yan Liang, and Lü Bu were clashing. Regular scouts wouldn't be able to detect such a distance, meaning Lü Bu probably had no idea about this battle. Even if he found out later, by then, he'd be forced down a single path.
However, once Chen Xi stepped back to reevaluate the situation, he saw it all as a joke. The strategist behind it, in his view, had a critical flaw in their intelligence.
"Of course we'll fight him," Chen Xi said with a nod. "There's no need to overthink it. We'll just attack. It would be a shame not to take advantage of this lack of intelligence."
Zhao Yun wiped away some sweat, though he, too, felt the enemy's strategy was flawed. Chen Xi's blunt criticism was still a bit much for him to handle.
Meanwhile, Zhang He, leading his cavalry and infantry on the return journey, had no idea that Chen Xi had entirely dismissed his plan. He felt quite satisfied with Zhao Yun's cry of "Zhang Liao!" and confident in the combat performance of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry. Indeed, they had proven to be a match for the White Horse Volunteers.
As Zhang He bandaged his wounds and led his troops north, he felt assured that no one aside from Zhao Yun's army and himself knew about this battle. He had taken precautions, using most of his infantry as a reserve force to prevent any of Lü Bu's scouts from discovering the ambush.
Confident that his plan was flawless, Zhang He felt a surge of excitement. He admired Lü Bu's martial prowess and believed that bringing him under Yuan Shao's banner would greatly benefit Yuan Shao's ambitions.
This was why Zhang He had willingly concealed his true strength, using only his silver-tier inner energy to risk his life in a duel with Zhao Yun. Now, his loyalty was firmly with Yuan Shao, and he was willing to fight for Yuan Shao's grand ambitions!