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The next day, Gongsun Zan personally stood at the front of his army, gesturing to command his troops. His cavalry was divided into two wings, each like a soaring eagle, exuding a grand momentum. Among the more than five thousand horses under his command, the white steeds made up the majority, standing out prominently as their hooves kicked up clouds of dust. Gongsun Zan sat proudly atop his warhorse, clad in white armor and wielding a white spear, appearing like a blazing fire under the sunlight. He proclaimed loudly, "Warriors, in the past I led the White Horse to raid the Qiang people, sweeping all before us; today I shall show Yuan Shao the might of my White Horse Army!"
The soldiers on both sides responded with a unified roar, their killing intent surging like a tide.
In Yuan Shao's camp, Yan Liang and Wen Chou were already prepared for battle. Yan Liang rode his horse to Yuan Shao's tent and bowed, saying, "General, Gongsun Zan relies on his White Horse formation and feels invincible, yet he does not know we have strategies to break his formation! Please allow me to lead the charge and ensure he returns with nothing!"
Yuan Shao smiled slightly and stroked his beard, saying, "Yan Liang and Wen Chou are the twin pillars of my army. If we can crush their vanguard in this battle, the White Horse Army will surely fall into chaos! Remember, do not be greedy for quick results; we must strike steadily." He then waved his hand, ordering Yan Liang and Wen Chou to each take a thousand archers and split their forces to attack.
Yan Liang raised his spear and shouted, "I will obey!" He then mounted his horse and galloped ahead. Wen Chou snorted coldly and followed closely behind, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty battle intent.
Yuan Shao then commanded Qu Yi to lead eight hundred elite archers to lie in ambush within the formation while another fifteen thousand infantry were stationed in the center. He personally remained at the rear to coordinate the army, discussing strategies closely with his advisors, his eyes shining with confidence. He whispered to those around him, "Though Gongsun Zan is brave, he lacks flexibility. Once Yan Liang and Wen Chou tear apart his flanks, Qu Yi will launch a surprise attack from the middle; he will surely have no way back."
Although Yuan Shao spoke softly, there was a murderous tone in his voice that instilled awe among those present. The sounds of battle began to rise within the ranks as both armies prepared for a bloody confrontation.
Despite having Zilong's assistance, Gongsun Zan harbored doubts and did not dare to deploy him on the front lines; instead, he assigned him to guard a rear contingent. Gongsun Zan sent out his capable general Yan Gang as the vanguard while he himself commanded from the center. The battle flag hung high at the bridgehead; the red circle with golden thread spelling "General" fluttered in the wind as Gongsun Zan sat beneath it, his gaze sharp as he coldly observed Yuan Shao's camp.
As dawn broke with booming drums, Gongsun Zan's army shouted in unison, their momentum like a rainbow. However, by noon, Yuan Shao's camp remained still as stone. Qu Yi held an order arrow and quietly instructed the archers, "Do not move; wait until the enemy is within fifty paces. At my signal, unleash a rain of arrows!" The Army of Righteousness lay hidden behind wooden shields, disciplined and silent.
Seeing that their opponents remained unmoving for so long, Yan Gang grew impatient and shouted loudly, "Cowards! Dare you not fight?" He spurred his horse forward with sword drawn, leading his troops straight toward Qu Yi's position. His soldiers surged behind him like a torrent crashing against rocks.
Suddenly, a loud cannon fired off; the hidden archers revealed themselves as arrows rained down upon Yan Gang's forces. Cries of agony erupted among Yan Gang's soldiers as some fell from their horses while others tumbled to the ground along with their mounts—chaos ensued within their ranks. Yan Gang swung his blade to sever an incoming arrow but shouted fiercely, "Steady yourselves! Charge with me!" Yet arrows continued to rain down; nearby guards fell one after another from arrows piercing them, blood splattering onto him.
At that moment, Qu Yi charged out on horseback with a gleaming steel blade in hand. Seeing this, Yan Gang roared in anger: "You dare challenge me to single combat!" He spurred his horse forward with blade aimed directly at Qu Yi's throat. However, Qu Yi's gaze was fierce and swift as lightning; in a flash of steel light before Yan Gang could swing again, Qu Yi struck him down from his horse with one decisive blow. Yan Gang's body fell lifelessly to the ground while still clutching his sword rigidly.
Gongsun Zan looked far into the distance, his heart jolting with alarm as he immediately ordered reinforcements to come to his aid. However, Yan Liang and Wen Chou had already positioned their archers in ambush on both flanks, and arrows rained down like shooting stars, intercepting the approaching troops of Zan's army. The battlefield was filled with the sounds of battle cries and the piercing of armor, mingled with the screams of soldiers, creating a chaotic symphony. The troops of Gongsun Zan were exhausted and unable to break through.
Seeing the opportunity, Yuan Shao's rear guard surged forward like a flood, pressing against Gongsun Zan's position. Qu Yi led his men at the forefront, aiming straight for Jie Qiao. The personal guards had already pulled down Gongsun Zan's battle flag. Qu Yi galloped across the bridge, swinging his blade to slay the flag bearer, cutting the large flag bearing the character "General" into two pieces, causing the disorganized troops to scatter.
Under the heavy pressure from the enemy, Gongsun Zan's forces began to retreat in disarray, soldiers fleeing in panic; the White Horse Army no longer held its former might. The soldiers of Yuan Shao shouted loudly, their battle cries thunderous, as the balance of power in the battle at Jie Qiao quickly tipped in favor of Yuan Shao.
From afar, Gongsun Zan saw Qu Yi cut down the "General" flag, and a sharp pain pierced his heart. Gritting his teeth, he shouted angrily and urged his horse onward, abandoning his position to flee beneath the bridge. Qu Yi laughed heartily, brandishing his bloodied steel blade as he commanded his troops to pursue: "Charge forward with all your might! Capture Gongsun Zan!" The troops surged toward the bridge like a torrent.
Qu Yi personally led the vanguard, advancing with unstoppable force straight into Gongsun Zan's rear guard. At that moment, a sound of thundering hooves erupted as a rider on a white horse burst forth from the flank like lightning. With a flick of his silver spear, a cold light flashed. Qu Yi focused intently and saw that it was Changshan clad in white robes and riding a tall white horse, exuding an imposing presence. Changshan's voice rang out like a giant bell: "Qu Yi, prepare to die!"
Changshan squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, urging it to gallop like the wind as his spear shot forward like a white dragon breaking through the air. Qu Yi struggled to meet him head-on, swinging his steel blade in an attempt to suppress Changshan's momentum. The two clashed amidst whirling hooves and clashing weapons, sparks flying as their weapons met with deafening sounds. Yet within ten exchanges, Changshan found an opening; with a flick of his spear, he aimed directly for Qu Yi's throat. Qu Yi's face turned pale with terror as both man and horse fell to the ground, blood instantly staining the battlefield.
Changshan stood tall with his spear drawn, glaring fiercely at Yuan Shao's troops as he shouted: "Who dares approach my army?" Without waiting for a response from Yuan Shao's men, he charged into their ranks, weaving left and right as if entering an unguarded realm. Wherever his spear pointed, enemies fell like wheat before a raging wind. A colonel from Yuan Shao attempted to confront him with a sword but was struck down by Changshan ’s silver spear before he could even get close.
Seeing Changshan ’s bravery invigorated Gongsun Zan’s morale instantly. He raised Pei Jian high and shouted: "Zhao Zilong is unmatched in valor; how can we retreat? Follow me back into battle!" The remaining soldiers under Zan rallied in response and reformed their ranks for a counterattack. Gongsun Zan personally led them alongside Changshan into the fray. Wherever the White Horse Army went, Yuan Shao’s formation was torn apart; soldiers panicked and dropped their weapons in flight.
At that moment, Yuan Shao was filled with joy upon hearing that Qu Yi had captured flags and generals while decisively defeating Gongsun Zan. He sent scouts to investigate the situation on the battlefield; they returned swiftly and reported: "General Qu Yi is advancing like a tidal wave; Gongsun Zan’s army has collapsed and his remaining troops are scattering!" Hearing this news made Yuan Shao laugh heartily as he urged his horse forward and said to Tian Feng: "I knew all along that Gongsun Zan was incompetent and would be easily defeated. This great victory will surely shake Ji Province!"
Tian Feng frowned slightly and said solemnly: "My Lord, battles change rapidly; we must not underestimate our opponent. Gongsun Zan is known for his cunning and bravery; it may not be so easy for him to lose this battle. Although Qu Yi is brave, penetrating deep into enemy lines could lead to miscalculations; it would be wise for you to quickly regroup your forces for support against unforeseen circumstances."
Yuan Shao waved dismissively with laughter in his voice: "Tian Yuanhao, you are too cautious! Gongsun Zan’s White Horse Army has become frightened birds; Qu Yi will sweep through them as if picking fruit from a tree. I shall personally observe this great victory; how could I miss such an opportunity?" As he spoke, he ordered hundreds of soldiers wielding halberds to form ranks for protection and summoned dozens of archers to accompany him as they slowly advanced toward the front lines.
As he stepped onto the battlefield, Yuan Shao looked up at the sky and laughed heartily while pointing at the chaotic scene below filled with scattered armor and fleeing remnants of soldiers: "Look at those armors lying haphazardly on the ground and those disordered troops fleeing—this is what Gongsun Zan calls his 'White Horse General'? Easily defeated; truly laughable!"
Tian Feng rode closely behind, a hint of worry etched on his brow. He glanced around, his gaze falling on the distant swirling dust, and his frown deepened. He leaned closer to Yuan Shao and said in a low voice, "My Lord, the battlefield is unusual. I do not see the banner of Qu Yi raised; there may be trouble. We should retreat quickly!"
Yuan Shao dismissed his concerns with a cold smile, turning back to him. "Tian Yuanhao, you are truly timid as a mouse! Our army has achieved great victory; what else could there be on this battlefield besides the sounds of a defeated army?" Just as he finished speaking, a thunderous roar of battle echoed from afar, accompanied by the distinctive sound of hooves from the White Horse Army, causing the ground to tremble.
The smile on Yuan Shao's face froze, replaced by shock and confusion. He abruptly reined in his horse and turned to ask, "What is that sound?" In the distance, a cloud of dust billowed as a contingent of the White Horse Army broke through the remnants of the enemy formation, their spears standing tall like a forest, and the battle cries were deafening. Leading them was Zilong, raising his silver spear high and charging forward with fierce determination!
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