Lü Bu, leading the remaining wolf cavalry, charged forward without hesitation, cutting down any chance for the Hebei forces to regroup and thoroughly scattering them. If it weren't for Xun Chen and Tian Feng using decoy tactics to delay Lü Bu and setting fire to the camp to hinder his advance, the entire Hebei army would have been annihilated, even if they managed to retreat to the Black Mountain area; there likely wouldn't have been many survivors.
Afterward, Xun Chen and Tian Feng realized how Lü Bu had bypassed their warning system—Lü Bu's mere presence was enough to overwhelm any scouts, leaving none alive to relay information.
Meanwhile, after setting fire to both Xian Deng and the trapping formation, Liu Ye immediately led his troops towards Bingzhou. Yuan Shao's control over the region was relatively weak, and only by taking a detour through Bingzhou could Liu Ye confidently enter Sili. As for how to return, Liu Ye was certain that by then, not only Lü Bu but also Chen Gong would have their own considerations.
Liu Ye's way of thinking allowed him to clearly understand Chen Gong's mindset. Compared to Cao Cao's grand ambitions, Chen Gong's thinking was much simpler—no matter how much Cao Cao did or how well he performed, some things couldn't be undone. The integrity of a scholar is forged with blood; once certain actions are taken, there's no going back.
As for Lü Bu, Liu Ye didn't believe that Chen Gong would give up the greatest asset in his hands. If Chen Gong were to join Liu Bei or Yuan Shao alone, his influence would be significantly diminished. Lü Bu's presence could greatly elevate Chen Gong's status, and the same was true for Lü Bu.
However, like Jia Xu and Li You, Liu Ye was wary of Lü Bu. It's not that they lacked the capacity to accept him, but rather that even people like Xun Yu, Xun You, and the late Xi Zhicai held reservations about Lü Bu.
Compared to Liu Bei's camp, which had options, Cao Cao's side, led by Xun Yu, had fewer choices. Absorbing Lü Bu could greatly enhance their strength, and while they were aware of the potential risks, the gap between them and Liu Bei and Yuan Shao forced them to make such a decision.
Just as in history, when Liu Bei took in Lü Bu in Xuzhou, he likely knew the risks involved. Yet, given the situation at the time, forming an alliance with Lü Bu to resist Cao Cao was the best course of action.
Cao Cao's camp was thinking along the same lines—recruiting Lü Bu might be risky, but it could also be advantageous. However, whether it succeeded or not was another matter, and both Jia Xu and Li You were well aware of this.
While Liu Bei's camp didn't need Lü Bu, that didn't mean they should allow him to fall into the hands of others. Despite the dangers he posed, his immense strength made Jia Xu, Li You, and others determined to keep him from becoming someone else's asset. This meant that, regardless of what others thought, many in Liu Bei's camp were prepared to remove Lü Bu from the equation; they didn't need such a dangerous figure.
Liu Ye shared similar concerns about Lü Bu, but compared to Li You and Jia Xu, his understanding wasn't as deep. This was why he still entertained the idea of recruiting both Chen Gong and Lü Bu together.
After returning to camp, Liu Ye placed Yu Jin in command and appointed himself as the strategist, with Hua Xiong as the vanguard. Leading over eight thousand troops, they set off toward Bingzhou, planning to detour through Sili to show their allegiance to the emperor—though in reality, it was more about making a token gesture of loyalty.
"Zijian, don't be like this. I helped you take revenge; Ju Yi's Xian Deng won't have fared well after that fire," Liu Ye said, trying to console Hua Xiong as they marched. The significant losses suffered by the Xiliang cavalry were a heavy blow to Hua Xiong.
"Thank you, Strategist Liu," Hua Xiong sighed. "But Xian Deng hasn't been wiped out. I believe I'll face them again."
"That's inevitable. The Hebei region has a population of over ten million, similar to that of Lord Xuande's territory. With good leadership, it won't take long for them to recover," Liu Ye replied honestly, not sugarcoating the situation. The population of the northern three provinces was still formidable, and without the ravages of plague, there was reason to be cautious.
"I'm thinking about how to counter Xian Deng. I don't have an army talent or a military soul, not even a hint of one," Hua Xiong said, feeling disheartened.
"But you didn't lose, Zijian. Didn't you say that in your last encounter with them, it was a 60-40 split? That's still impressive," Liu Ye said, amazed. He had witnessed how Xian Deng decimated the Bingzhou wolf riders, so the fact that Hua Xiong managed to hold his ground was astounding.
"That was because of superior numbers, and my troops fought fearlessly, sacrificing their lives to achieve that 60-40 split. I'd rather not have that," Hua Xiong said coldly, recalling the sight of the Xiliang cavalry giving their lives to halt the enemy's advance.
"Then you need to find a way to make your troops stronger, instead of feeling down like this," Liu Ye advised. "Only the weak wallow in self-pity. Losing once isn't a problem, even if you lose a hundred battles. As long as you have the will, we in Taishan can provide you with the troops you need. But if you lose your fighting spirit, your fallen comrades will be waiting for you to avenge them!"
"I will," Hua Xiong said, glancing at Liu Ye. He didn't say much more but touched the thin scar on his chest, a reminder of how close he had come to death against Ju Yi.
Hua Xiong silently reflected, scanning his cavalry, whose morale had visibly dropped.
Hua Xiong pondered quietly.
"Gentlemen, the Qiang cavalry are garbage," Hua Xiong muttered as he recalled the past and how attaching wings to the Qiang cavalry had changed the Xiliang cavalry. He couldn't help but voice his disdain for the Qiang cavalry.
"What did you say?" Liu Ye asked, puzzled.
"I said the Qiang cavalry are rubbish," Hua Xiong repeated bluntly.
"Oh? And how so?" Liu Ye asked, intrigued.
"In Xiliang, our men could take on five of them each. If there were enough of us, we could take on ten of them each," Hua Xiong said confidently.
"..." Liu Ye didn't know how to respond. In his mind, that shouldn't be possible.
"But it feels strange. We can defeat ten times as many Qiang cavalry, but when we face other troops with the same numbers, we struggle. Yet, if we bring ten times the number of Qiang cavalry, the enemy collapses as soon as we engage," Hua Xiong said, perplexed.
"Hahaha..." Liu Ye didn't know how to reply. He realized that Hua Xiong seemed to have strayed onto the wrong path—one that only the most straightforward minds would follow. Could it be that Hua Xiong's intellect was just as limited?