Chapter 72: The Blind Xiahou, Slain with a Single Spear!

“Don’t panic! Form ranks around the supply wagons and hold the line!”
Xiahou Dun barked orders at his personal guards, grabbing a shield and a short blade himself as he took his place at the rear of the formation.
On the other side, another squadron of cavalry charged in from behind, led by Zhao Fan. Xiahou Yuan, who had just been attempting to assemble his own lines, glanced at the iron cavalry bearing down from the rear, his brows knitting with concern.
“Yuanrang, quickly—retreat! We can’t hold them!”
It was clear they were surrounded. The Chu army had come prepared, striking from both sides—defense was impossible.
Xiahou Dun’s single eye blazed with fury. He couldn’t quite make out what Xiahou Yuan was shouting, thinking only of stopping the enemy.
In a flash, the iron cavalry was upon them.
At the head, Chu Feng charged, wielding the Heavenly Dragon Halberd. Apart from a mere hundred or so men who could still barely maintain a defensive formation, the rest of the Cao army scattered and fled in panic.
Disordered soldiers on an open plain stood no chance against the cavalry—such was as good as suicide.
“A hundred gold for the head of Xiahou!”
Chu Feng raised his halberd, his voice thundering out the command.
He paid no heed to the supply wagons, instead spurring his horse to pursue and shatter the fleeing enemy troops. His halberd swept wide and deadly, felling a dozen men in an instant.
Xiahou Yuan glanced at Xiahou Dun, now trapped near the supply wagons, then at the fearsome warrior bearing down on them—eyes narrowing with recognition. He had long heard of Chu Feng’s prowess with the halberd; it could only be him.
Never did he expect Chu Feng to charge the ranks in person, nor that the halberd would reap so many lives with each swing, leaving none among his men able to withstand even a single exchange.
Another glance at the cavalry flanking from the side, and Xiahou Yuan knew he could linger no longer. He shouted, “Retreat! Fall back at once!”
“Yuanrang! Withdraw quickly!”
With that, Xiahou Yuan had no choice but to lead his troops in retreat.
“Ha!” Chu Feng eyed the fleeing Xiahou Yuan. If the man was intent on escape, he would be difficult to catch. But Xiahou Dun—he could not be allowed to get away.
At that moment, Xiahou Dun, realizing the dire situation, abandoned his shield, gripped his blade, vaulted onto his horse, and prepared to break out with his personal guard—otherwise, death was certain.
“Zhao Fan! Pursue and cut them down!” Chu Feng shouted.
Zhao Fan nodded, his spear darting like a dragon, harvesting lives as he went. Countless men dropped to their knees, begging for mercy; the five-thousand-strong army was scattered to the winds in the blink of an eye.
Chu Feng, halberd in hand, rode straight for Xiahou Dun.
Xiahou Dun saw him coming. The remaining cavalry had already encircled him. If he wanted to live, he would have to break through—and only by cutting his way past Chu Feng, and swiftly at that. He steeled himself, tightening his grip on his broadsword.
“Are you Chu Feng?” Xiahou Dun demanded.
“You one-eyed wretch! If you know who I am, why haven’t you surrendered?” Xu Chu called out boldly.
Xiahou Dun’s single eye narrowed. Survival depended on breaking out. He would have to give everything to drive Chu Feng back.
He clenched his sword tighter, raised it, and shouted, “Chu Feng! I’ve heard much of your skill—let’s see if you can take three of my blows!”
Then, turning to his men, he roared, “Brothers! Follow me—break out!”

Without hesitation, he spurred his horse directly at Chu Feng.
Behind him, a dozen cavalry and several dozen infantry, desperate and cornered, roared with a surge of fighting spirit and followed close.
Xu Chu was about to ride out to join the combat,
but Chu Feng barred him with his halberd and charged ahead.
In the blink of an eye, the two opponents drew near.
Xiahou Dun’s eyes were fierce, a savage smile twisting his face—he thought Chu Feng arrogant, foolishly daring to meet him head-on.
Let him taste the edge of my blade!
“Prepare to die!”
Xiahou Dun’s fighting spirit exploded as he raised his sword in a vicious arc.
Seeing the blade descend, Chu Feng lifted his halberd to parry.
A metallic clang rang out. Xiahou Dun felt a jarring tremor in his hand, the skin splitting at his tiger’s mouth—his full-force blow had been turned aside with ease.
In an instant, Xiahou Dun’s pupils quaked with shock.
How was this possible? He wasn’t the strongest in the army, but he was far from mediocre—yet...
“That’s all? With such feeble skill, you dare boast so loudly?”
Chu Feng sneered at him, taunting, as if he’d expected more.
Shame and anger burned on Xiahou Dun’s face, his cheeks flushed crimson.
He started to strike again, sword raised, but Chu Feng swept forward, halberd whirling, exuding a commanding presence.
The Heavenly Dragon Halberd opened and closed in mighty arcs; Xiahou Dun clenched his teeth and let out a muffled roar, bracing for defense.
Clang!
A spurt of blood!
Blade and halberd crossed—Xiahou Dun was hurled back like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily to the ground, blood spraying from his lips.
His organs churned; another mouthful of blood followed.
Xiahou Dun’s one eye widened in terror. His personal guard, though fearful of Chu Feng, surged forward as one—after all, Xiahou Dun had always treated them well.
“Block me, and die!”
Chu Feng’s halberd spun like a whirlwind. In the blink of an eye, a dozen bodyguards were cut down. Another cast of the weapon pinned a guard supporting Xiahou Dun, nailing him to the spot.
Chu Feng rode slowly forward. Xiahou Dun stared up, his mouth stained red with blood—his gaze a mixture of fury, fear, and defiance.
“Rest easy. You won’t be alone.”

With a ringing sound, Chu Feng drew his sword and severed his head.
“Take Xiahou Dun’s head and pursue the routed troops. Any who resist—kill them without mercy,” Chu Feng commanded, tossing the head to a guard.
“Yes, sir!”

———

By dusk,
Zhao Fan finally returned with his men.
He was splattered with blood, but his face was alight with excitement. “My lord, what a glorious battle! You should have seen it—when Xiahou Yuan heard of Xiahou Dun’s grisly death, he howled at the sky in rage.”
“He wanted revenge. If not for his guards, I’d have taken his head too! Had we slain both Xiahou brothers, I imagine Cao Cao would be overjoyed.”
Zhao Fan grinned with satisfaction.
“Haha, bringing down Xiahou Dun alone was more than I expected,” Chu Feng replied, idly turning the seal in his hand.
“True enough. Oh, and my lord, Xiahou Yuan escaped with only twenty-odd cavalry. Besides the slain and those who fled, three thousand Cao troops surrendered. Our losses amounted to a little over thirty riders.”
“So many surrendered?” Chu Feng arched an eyebrow, stroking his chin in thought. “Since we’re here, we might as well give Cao Cao another surprise!”
Zhao Fan’s eyes glittered at the words.
“We’re not far from Chen Commandery. Most likely they’re still unaware of what’s happened. Zhao Fan, take a team disguised as Cao soldiers and go to Chen County. Use Xiahou Dun’s seal to order the local official to send reinforcements.”
“Say the armies are locked in fierce combat and urgently need support. Once they march out, we’ll attack from both sides and annihilate them,” Chu Feng said thoughtfully.
“My lord, what if King Liu Chong of Chen refuses to send troops?” Zhao Fan frowned.
“Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare. Xiahou Dun is kin to Cao Cao—offending him would mean the end of Liu Chong’s tenure as king.”
“And if he really refuses, then we simply withdraw,” Chu Feng shrugged, unconcerned.
After all, if the plan worked, it would be a great coup. If not, nothing lost.
“Understood. I’ll see to it right away!”
Zhao Fan nodded, selecting a few low-ranking officers from the Cao forces and promising them rewards to steady their morale, while also posting a hundred cavalry to keep watch.
Chu Feng and Zhao Fan then led their men north,
ready to use Xiahou Dun’s seal to reap the spoils of Chen Commandery.

PS: One more chapter coming later. The book will likely go on sale at the start of the month—advance notice will be given. As for bonus content, your humble author will have it ready!