"Second Brother!" From a considerable distance, Zhang Fei could already be seen riding his horse, Wuyun Tashe, shouting loudly as he charged over.
"Third Brother!" Guan Yu also laughed heartily and spurred his horse forward. Since taking command of the northern defenses, Guan Yu hadn't seen Zhang Fei in a long time.
When the two met, they couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time had passed—it had been ages since they last saw each other.
"General Guan," Xu Chu greeted Guan Yu with a fist salute. They were well acquainted and didn't need too many formalities.
"Greetings, Military Advisor Guo." Both Xu Chu and Zhang Fei respectfully saluted Guo Jia, fully aware of his formidable reputation. Neither dared show the slightest disrespect.
Zhang Fei and Xu Chu led Guan Yu and the others into the main camp. After the two forces merged, Guan Yu took command of both Zhang Fei and Xu Chu's troops, becoming the overall commander of this army—an arrangement that met no resistance.
"This camp is impressively built," Guo Jia remarked as he surveyed the surroundings. "If someone were to try and take it by force in a short amount of time, they'd need to pave the way with lives."
"Thank you, Military Advisor, for the compliment," Chen Chi responded calmly. He had worked with Guo Jia before while managing logistics for Guan Yu in Qingzhou, and he had developed a deep respect for the sickly-looking strategist.
"I'm merely stating the truth," Guo Jia replied with a smile. "With the river as a natural barrier, an outer fortress like this, and such a well-organized inner defense, we can hold our ground against Lü Bu. With this stronghold secured, our only concern is how to deal with Lü Bu himself, which will make things much easier."
Chen Chi didn't respond, maintaining his calm demeanor, though Guo Jia's praise brought a slight feeling of pride to his heart.
"Indeed, it is well done," Guan Yu agreed, nodding. A well-constructed camp directly affected the morale and combat effectiveness of the troops. With the kind of fortifications Chen Chi had built, the soldiers could sleep soundly, ensuring they were ready for battle.
"First, we need to find a way to neutralize Lü Bu. With him around, these fortified hills and crossbows won't be of much use. Just the number of soldiers stationed on these hills won't be enough—he could probably sever a mountain peak with a single strike," Guo Jia shrugged. No matter how formidable a defensive strategy might be, it wouldn't stand up to a monster like Lü Bu.
"Is Lü Bu really that strong?" Chen Chi hesitated. He had previously estimated Lü Bu's combat capabilities, which is why he reinforced the hills and stationed more soldiers there. He even employed cloud formations to block attacks.
"He could probably cleave an ordinary city wall in two," Guo Jia glanced at Guan Yu as he gauged Lü Bu's power.
"..." Chen Chi's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Was this even human? Judging by the expressions of those present, it was clear that Guo Jia wasn't exaggerating.
"Then what's the point of all this defense work?" Chen Chi asked with a grim face.
"It's not just Lü Bu we're facing—there are others too," Guo Jia responded nonchalantly. Ever since he had seen Guan Yu slice open the walls of Le Ling City with one strike, Guo Jia had stopped relying on fortifications to defend against internal energy users. Against such foes, only other warriors could provide a true defense.
"General Zhang, I heard you're planning to challenge Lü Bu to a duel?" Guo Jia asked Zhang Fei, already aware of the situation. Guan Yu had specifically instructed him to make sure Zhang Fei got the opportunity to fight Lü Bu if it arose.
"That's right," Zhang Fei replied confidently.
"Oh? Then let's give it a try tomorrow." After confirming Zhang Fei's resolve and spirit, Guo Jia nodded in agreement.
"I knew Military Advisor Guo understood me!" Zhang Fei laughed heartily.
"Good, that's settled," Guo Jia said. "Let's test Lü Bu's strength tomorrow and see what he's truly capable of. Although we know he's the greatest warrior in the land, we can't make any plans until we assess his combat abilities."
"What did you write?" Guan Yu, who had been sitting quietly in the main seat, suddenly asked.
"I called him a three-family slave, a man without a lord or father, a disgrace to the concepts of loyalty and filial piety! I challenged him to a duel tomorrow if he dares!" Zhang Fei recited proudly. Beside him, Xu Chu covered his face, Guan Yu's expression turned red, and Chen Chi felt a sudden wave of embarrassment.
"Well said!" Guo Jia began clapping enthusiastically, thoroughly impressed by Zhang Fei's approach.
"I knew I wrote it well! Xu Chu here said it was beneath my dignity," Zhang Fei's confidence swelled even more after receiving Guo Jia's approval, and he started to scold Xu Chu.
"That wording might be a bit over the top," Guan Yu murmured to himself before finally speaking. Though he despised Lü Bu's character, even he felt that such an insult was a bit much.
"In war, all tactics are fair game. I imagine Lü Bu must be seething with rage after receiving Zhang Fei's letter," Guo Jia chuckled. "But tomorrow, Zhang Fei, you should prepare yourself. Lü Bu is likely to fight you with a 'do or die' mindset."
Zhang Fei's expression darkened, but then his eyes gleamed with a wild determination. "Who's afraid? I'm not scared of Lü Bu. I came here specifically to fight him. If he's not in peak condition, beating him won't be worth it!"
Zhang Fei might have been audacious, but he was speaking from the heart. He had deliberately provoked Lü Bu because he wanted to face Lü Bu's full strength, not rely on tricks like Zhao Yun had done at the Battle of Hulao Pass. He wanted a true, direct clash!
"Very well," Guan Yu remarked, casting a deep look at Zhang Fei. He realized that his younger brother had subtly surpassed him.
"Tonight, the entire army will rest, and tomorrow we will meet Lü Bu in battle. Since the Battle of Hulao Pass, I wonder if Lü Bu still possesses the confidence to face multiple top warriors at once," Guan Yu said coldly. For a top-tier warrior like Lü Bu, every Han Dynasty fighter would inevitably desire a challenge.
"That sounds good," Guo Jia agreed with a nod. "Where will you be fighting?" he asked Zhang Fei.
Guo Jia didn't bother to be polite anymore—this was a duel, plain and simple. The high-minded concept of a "formal battle" had disappeared after the Spring and Autumn period. After all, staking the fate of a nation on two people fighting a duel was absurd!
"In the northwest, about thirty miles away on the plains. The area is wide open, making ambushes difficult," Zhang Fei wasn't foolish. He didn't want to fall into Lü Bu's trap. Although his strength had increased significantly, no warrior in the world dared to claim victory over Lü Bu with absolute certainty.
"The location sounds suitable. Don't bring any infantry, just cavalry. That way, if something goes wrong, retreating will be easier," Guo Jia suggested. On such open terrain, cavalry had a significant advantage.
Guan Yu and the others immediately understood Guo Jia's point. "Understood. But we still need you to make preparations, Military Advisor," they said.