Infinity, The Arcade Age

"What is the meaning of this?! Why is Zhao Chui's head in your hands? Isn't he your cousin?!"

"General Li Dian! The main camp is under siege! The Shu army's forces are overwhelming! General Xiahou can't hold them off anymore! He ordered my cousin Zhao Chui and me to lead the Tiger Leopard Cavalry and break through to seek your aid! But on the way, we were ambushed by Huang Zhong! My cousin... he..."

Looking at the head on the ground, its eyes wide open and face mangled, Qin Ming couldn't help but recall how this same man had once relentlessly chased him. His teeth clenched with hatred.

"He was gravely wounded by Huang Zhong's ambush! The Tiger Leopard Cavalry sacrificed themselves to cover our retreat! When it became clear we couldn't break through, my cousin Zhao Chui ordered me to sever his head to serve as proof of our plight and plea for reinforcements, General! Please, send help!"

As Qin Ming's anguished shout echoed, Li Dian staggered back, collapsing into his chair with a pale face. He muttered under his breath, "The camp is besieged... Zhao Chui fell in battle... No! That can't be! You're lying! The Shu forces were scattered! How could they muster a large army? They barely had four or five hundred men left!"

"I don't know, General! All I know is that they appeared overnight! First, they lured General Xiahou out of the city for a duel, then launched a surprise attack with their army! Of the 20,000 troops, less than half made it back to the camp alive!"

"What?! But I sent a message to warn him! I told him not to act rashly!"

"You mean the messenger named Li Yi, your trusted rider?"

"You saw him?"

"Yes! General Xiahou received him in my presence!"

"Then why—"

"But General Xiahou didn't heed your advice! When he saw the Five Tiger Generals appear with only a few hundred men, he ordered an immediate full-force assault!"

Crash!

Li Dian slammed his hands on the table, flipping it over in fury. His voice roared through the tent.

"Yuanrang has failed me! Yuanrang has failed me! It was clearly a trap! How could he dare to attack?! How?!"

Clutching his forehead, Li Dian's thoughts were in chaos.

The man before him was undoubtedly one of the Zhao family, with their famed unyielding physiques.

He also carried Zhao Chui's severed head and knew the name of the messenger Li Dian had sent.

All these details confirmed that Qin Ming was indeed Xiahou Dun's subordinate.

No wonder Huang Zhong dared to pursue a single man with just a few hundred soldiers. No wonder reinforcements had suddenly appeared, transforming what was once a small force into a significant threat.

Slumping back into his chair, Li Dian rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, overcome with a pounding headache.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming stepped forward anxiously, seizing the moment to plead.

"General! Please, send reinforcements immediately! General Xiahou is on the verge of collapse!"

Li Dian, now calmer, shook his head slowly. "Not yet. Go and rest for now. We'll discuss this later."

"But, General! If something happens to General Xiahou—he's the Prime Minister's cousin! He's been by the Prime Minister's side since the beginning of the campaign! If he falls—"

"Silence! I said later! Leave!"

"...Understood!"

Suppressing his frustration, Qin Ming saluted and left the tent. His bloodied bandages trailed behind him as he walked away.

Left alone, Li Dian exhaled deeply, trying to make sense of his predicament. Should he send reinforcements or stay put?

Logically, sending troops was a high-risk move. If an army of 20,000 couldn't hold, what chance did his mere 3,000 men have? They could end up annihilated, leading to a total loss in this campaign.

Yet, the besieged was Xiahou Dun. Qin Ming's earlier words rang true: anyone could fall in this battle—anyone but Xiahou Dun.

If Xiahou Dun died, Li Dian's future in Cao Cao's camp would be bleak. Even if Cao Cao spared him, the Xiahou and Cao clans' retainers would certainly make his life miserable.

Xiahou Dun was one of the Cao family's key leaders, with immense standing. His death would shake the entire command structure.

Not rescuing him might sow resentment from Cao Cao, making survival within the faction impossible.

But attempting a rescue could mean total defeat, with his entire force wiped out.

Li Dian's mind churned with indecision until, at last, he rose abruptly and made his decision.

"Deputy General! Gather the troops! We're moving out to rescue him!"

"Yes, sir!"

The deputy general saluted sharply and hurried off to execute the orders.

Caught between preserving his forces and saving Xiahou Dun, Li Dian ultimately succumbed to the pressure, choosing the latter.

Even if the battle was lost, saving Xiahou Dun could shield him from blame. But if Xiahou Dun fell, even a victory would bring no rewards—only retribution.

This was a battle he couldn't avoid. He had to save Xiahou Dun, whether he wanted to or not.

Grabbing his spear and adjusting his armor, Li Dian strode toward the camp gates with his personal guard, ready to lead the rescue operation.

But just as he stepped outside, the deputy general returned in haste.

Seeing him, Li Dian scowled. "Why are you back so soon? I told you to gather the troops! What are you doing here?!"

The deputy general hesitated, then spoke in a strange tone. "General... another of Xiahou Dun's envoys has arrived at the camp."

"What?!"

Li Dian's head snapped up, and he saw a mounted soldier escorted by his trusted guards.

The soldier's attire was unmistakable—he was part of the elite Tiger Leopard Cavalry, the pride of Wei's army.

The rider dismounted and knelt before Li Dian, producing a sealed letter from his chest and presenting it with both hands.

"By General Xiahou Dun's command! I bring you orders, General Li! One of the Five Zhao Brothers, Zhao Xiong, has fallen to enemy treachery! The General instructs you to strengthen your defenses and hold the camp—do not act rashly!"

Hearing this, Li Dian's eyes widened in shock.

"You're saying Zhao Xiong is dead?"

"Yes!"

"And Zhao Chui?"

"Zhao Chui? General Zhao Chui is fine!"

"The camp—is it under siege?"

"Siege? General, you must be joking. What's left of their forces couldn't even attempt such a thing! The camp is secure!"

"...Deputy General! Summon that Zhao Ming brother! I have questions for him!"

Li Dian's face had grown cold, his expression turning as sharp as ice.

(End of Chapter)