At those words, Yuan Shao was overjoyed and could not help laughing aloud. "Good! Good! Good! Heaven has not sealed off my escape after all!"
"Lü Bu has been attacking the city for ten days, and his army has suffered considerable casualties. Guo Yuan could not have come at a better time. We must wipe out Lü Bu's forces in a single stroke!"
"Mmph-!"
Jiang Qi said gravely, "We can't escape now. What else can we do? Our only chance of surviving is to try persuading Qu Yi to surrender with us!"
Earlier, while leading the rear guard, he had faced one peril after another and nearly died at Zhao Yun's hands, barely managing to escape.
With their commander dead, the soldiers, who had long since lost their morale, naturally dared not resist any further. At those words, they laid down their weapons.
Yan Liang had enraged him, so he had killed Yan Liang before pursuing Yuan Shao. Otherwise, Yuan Shao might not have escaped.
The two groups soon met.
The troops behind him all drew their blades as well.
"Generals, are you confident?"
It was time for him, Qu Yi, to follow the dragon too!
Qu Yi held his spear, his expression shifting uncertainly. Jiang Qi's words had clearly moved him, and he was wavering.
"What?"
Jiang Qi's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. Even as he died, he could not understand why Qu Yi had suddenly struck.
Although they had fled in defeat, they had successfully bought time.
"Yes, my lord!"
He feigned ease and said, "If he escaped, then he escaped. What can a mere Yuan Shao amount to? When spring comes next year, we'll take Yi City in one concerted push."
Zhao Yun and Gao Lan both knew they could no longer catch Yuan Shao.