Chapter 232

Chapter 232

The eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, midnight.

It was bitterly cold, and with their camp lost, Xiao Mu and his fifty men had to light a fire to stay warm.

Fortunately, the main Liang army, led by Feng Yun, had been lured away by over two thousand Great Yu soldiers wearing the Xingping Emperor's battle armor. The cave they found was well-hidden. As long as the firelight didn’t escape, the small amount of smoke would dissipate as soon as it left the cave.

They had half a waterskin left. After finishing the cold, hard roasted mule meat, each person had a sip of water, with the rest to be drunk the next morning.

Xiao Mu put away the waterskin and returned to sit next to the Xingping Emperor.

The Xingping Emperor looked at his arm. "How is your wound?"

During the day's escape, the Liang troops' arrows and blades had targeted the emperor and his minister. The Xingping Emperor had been hit by an arrow in his right arm, and Xiao Mu, while protecting the emperor, had taken a blow to his left arm. Without a doctor, the two had simply bandaged their wounds hastily with some medicinal powder they carried.

Xiao Mu smiled. "The bleeding stopped some time ago, so please don't worry, Your Majesty."

The Xingping Emperor glanced at the soldiers who had already fallen asleep and lay down beside Xiao Mu. Looking at the cave wall illuminated by the firelight, he felt a heavy heart. "Those two thousand men..."

Xiao Mu said, "They are the most loyal and brave troops of our Great Yu. When Your Majesty returns to the palace, please generously reward their families."

Xiao Mu was trying to prevent the emperor from voicing any despondent words that might harm morale.

But the Xingping Emperor knew clearly that those two thousand men would not return. Of the eight thousand men who had fought alongside him the previous night, only these fifty still had a slim chance of survival.

Xiao Mu continued, "If I'm right, General Yuan has already dispatched another twenty thousand elite troops. By now, they must have recaptured Bullhead Mountain Fortress. Rest assured, Your Majesty. We'll head for Bullhead Mountain at first light."

The Xingping Emperor said, "Alright, I'll sleep now."

——

Bullhead Mountain Fortress.

In order for Tong Sui to truly rest, Zhou Xian prepared a bowl of soothing tea for her. Nevertheless, Tong Sui woke up just as the hour of Mao arrived.

As she came to, she thought she heard Xiao She's voice.

"Is Second Sister-in-law awake? If not, I'll leave first."

"Fifth Younger Brother, don't be impatient. You've been traveling all night and just slept for half an hour. It's still dark outside..."

Tong Sui suddenly sat up and called out, "Fifth Younger Brother!"

Xiao She, who was outside the door, heard the familiar voice and, in his excitement, pushed the door open and entered.

A dim yellow candle lit the room, and a woman with tied hair, dressed in white, sat on the bed.

Xiao She froze at the door.

He didn’t know if it was because he hadn’t seen his second sister-in-law for over nine months, but she seemed much thinner and more haggard than he remembered.

To Tong Sui, Xiao She looked just as tall and strong as ever.

Seeing this familiar, reliable face in such difficult times, Tong Sui couldn't help but smile.

Her smile brought back that familiar feeling for Xiao She. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Gui suddenly ran in front of him and pushed him out forcefully. "Wait outside. My sister-in-law needs to change. Be careful or my second brother will beat you when he finds out."

Xiao She was speechless.

As soon as the door panel closed, Xiao She couldn't wait for long: "Second Sister-in-law, what's the situation in the south?"

Tong Sui stretched her arms out and said, "The enemy's and our forces are evenly matched. Luo Xiao and the others are still trying to break through. Since Feng Yun hasn't come over, it means he hasn't found the Emperor yet."

Xiao She said, "Alright, I'll go help them break through now!"

Tong Sui asked, "Wait, how many people did you bring?"

Xiao She replied, "Just ten thousand. Second Brother was ordered to defend Chang'an and only told me and Father to come for reinforcements first. By dawn, our army's mules and horses couldn't make it at the northern outskirts of Guangyuan, so I came ahead by myself. When I passed Guangyuan, General Yuan gave me two hundred cavalry. My father should arrive in another hour."

When Yuan Lou Shan left Chang'an, he had only five hundred cavalry. Yesterday, he sent three hundred cavalry with infantry to support Tong Sui. This time, he gave Xiao She another two hundred, leaving Yuan Lou Shan with only twenty thousand infantry to defend Guangyuan City and Panlong Town. How much risk was there, considering there were still ten thousand Liang soldiers waiting for an opportunity in the city?

Tong Sui said, "Go. Take two hundred soldiers and meet up with Luo Xiao and the others first. I'll come after I finish breakfast."

Xiao She said, "Then eat quickly, or I'll have broken through by the time you get there!"

Tong Sui smiled, "Just kill as many Liang soldiers as you can, and you must wait for me."

Xiao She replied, "Okay!"

---

Not far south of Bullhead Mountain, the Liang and Yu armies stuck in a stalemate were having breakfast. Since the enemy was right in front of them, neither side had time to set up pots and fires. They just chewed on pre-prepared dry rations, eating a mouthful of hardtack and a sip of water.

Qi Ling, while eating, cursed, "If I weren't injured, I could take down any of those Liang generals."

Zhao Jin said, "Exactly, even Xiao Zhen can't beat me, let alone these insignificant soldiers."

Luo Xiao, more composed, silently ate his food.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried hoofbeats came from behind. Anyone who could come from that direction had to be one of their own. Qi Ling exclaimed in shock, "Is that Tong Sui? Her arm was injured last night, and now she's here to join the chaos?"

Zhao Jin and Luo Xiao looked up and saw the approaching group. Zhao Jin, who recognized the leader first, was so excited that he almost dropped the half piece of food in his hand. After regaining his composure, he immediately started eating faster and shouted, "Everyone, hurry up and eat. The battle is about to start!"

Qi Ling said, "Xiao Wu? Who cares where he came from?"

Zhao Jin laughed, "Who cares where he flew in from, let's get ready to collect those Liang generals' heads!"

When he first arrived in Shuozhou, the Xiao brothers had come to challenge him, hoping to win some fine steeds from Da Tong.

Zhao Jin wasn't afraid of Xiao Yan or Xiao Ye, but he couldn't beat Xiao She!

The three of them wanted to greet Xiao She, but before they could, Xiao She, without stopping his horse, led his two hundred cavalry straight toward the enemy camp.

The Liang generals ordered the archers to loose their arrows!

But in the short time it took for the archers to put down their dry rations, grab their longbows, and hastily form ranks, Xiao She's two hundred cavalry had already charged to within a few dozen paces. Arrows rained down, but Xiao She didn't raise his spear to block. Instead, he leaned low on his horse's back. When the archers lowered their bows to aim at his mount, the horse leaped, flying over their heads.

After the archers came the Liang foot soldiers. The cavalry numbered no more than five hundred, with the main force drawn away by Feng Yun to chase the Xingping Emperor.

Xiao She didn't care whether they were infantry or cavalry; he killed whoever was closest.

The soldiers had no choice but to die at the hands of such a fierce warrior. Two Liang deputy generals and six commanders charged forward to confront him.

Xiao She dealt with the attempts of small soldiers trying to ambush him or his horse while also fighting the Liang generals. Within a quarter of an hour, he had killed a deputy general and a commander.

Zhao Jin, Luo Xiao, and Qi Ling led the infantry to charge, turning the battle into a melee once again.

When Tong Sui and her elite guards rode up, the Liang army was already in chaos, with over ten thousand defeated soldiers retreating south.

Tong Sui ordered the bugler to sound the retreat.

Upon hearing the command, Xiao She and the others looked back, recognized Tong Sui, and called off the pursuit, leading over twenty thousand infantry back to her side.

"Second Sister-in-law, why didn't you let us continue the fight?" Xiao She asked.

Tong Sui looked at Luo Xiao, "Rescuing the emperor is the priority. General Feng, did the emperor tell you which mountain range they were hiding in?"

The Sichuan region is filled with high and treacherous mountains. Jiange Road was built through a lower mountain pass, where large armies couldn't easily pass, but small forces could engage in battles and pursuits.

Luo Xiao took out a map from his chest, drawn in horse blood by the old general. He tried to decipher it but could only make out that the mountains were to the west.

Tong Sui had been the old general's deputy for three years, handling most of the military affairs. However, the old general also taught her about maps, which were essential for military operations.

The Xiao brothers, including Xiao Zhen, were taught by the old general from a young age in the proper military map-drawing techniques. Tong Sui hadn't learned those, and when she initially tried drawing mountains her own way, the old general couldn't understand her method. Instead of correcting her immediately, he asked Tong Sui to explain her reasoning.

Tong Sui had almost forgotten this episode, but it turned out that the old general had left a map of the mountains using her method.

Tong Sui dismounted and climbed to a higher vantage point to look west.

Xiao She, Qi Ling, Zhao Jin, and Luo Xiao gathered behind her and asked, "Did you find it?"

Tong Sui nodded, glanced at the four men's wounds, and instructed, "Zhao Jin, stay here with ten thousand men to face the Liang soldiers below. Qi Ling, take three thousand men back to guard the foot of Bullhead Mountain. Xiao She, Luo Xiao, bring the remaining troops with me to find the emperor."

Qi Ling wanted to protest but saw the other three already gathering troops, so he stayed quiet.

Tong Sui turned with Qi Ling, using his burly frame to shield her hand as she pointed to two valley paths southwest of Bullhead Mountain, instructing, "When General Xiao Shouyi arrives, lead him to the northern path to meet us."

Qi Ling asked, "Why the northern path? If the emperor is hiding nearby, the southern path would be closer."

Tong Sui replied, "The closer we are, the more likely we'll encounter Feng Yun's ambush. It's safer to take the longer route."

Qi Ling said, "What if the emperor opts for the closer path, and we miss him by taking the longer route?"

Tong Sui looked up, her clear eyes now cold as frozen springs.

Qi Ling sighed, "Never mind, you're smarter than me. I'll follow your lead. If something goes wrong, we'll face it together."

---

Feng Yun had also set his sights on these two valley paths.

While attacking the mountain where the Xingping Emperor was hiding, Feng Yun had already stationed a thousand archers on the closer southern path. When he discovered that the Xingping Emperor's two thousand men were indeed escaping via the southern path yesterday evening, he was momentarily pleased. However, when they reached the ambush site in the middle of the night, torches revealed a corpse in imperial armor that wasn't the emperor.

Feng Yun chuckled, a mix of amusement and frustration.

"General, should we continue the pursuit?"

Feng Yun said, "No, everyone is exhausted. Rest for the night and resume the chase at dawn."

The mountain valleys were exhausting; the next mountain seemed close but was grueling to reach.

At dawn, Feng Yun stood at the mountain peak, arranging tactics.

With twenty thousand troops remaining, he deployed a thousand soldiers at each of the two paths leading from the northern valley to the southern valley. He stationed ten thousand troops at the northern valley's entrance leading to Bullhead Mountain to intercept, while he led eight thousand troops to chase the Xingping Emperor down the northern valley.

Just because it was a valley path that required walking, didn't mean he couldn't keep running. If Xiao Mu, the old fool, could still run after getting wounded, so could he, Feng Yun.

——

Tong Sui, Luo Xiao, and Xiao She arrived at the mountain top where the Emperor had once hidden. This place was also the key junction leading to two mountain valleys.

Tong Sui pointed to the entrance of the northern valley that led to Bullhead Mountain and said to Luo Xiao, "Take 4,000 men and go to provide support. You might encounter the Liang army. If their forces are greater, unless the Emperor appears, stay hidden and don't rush to engage. Once you start the rescue mission, fire a signal arrow. We, along with General Xiao Shouyi, are on our way."

Luo Xiao, "Yes!"

He took 4,000 men and quickly left.

Tong Sui then pointed to the two paths that led from the southern valley to the northern one and said to Xiao She, "You and I will each take 3,000 men and go through these paths. There will definitely be Liang soldiers. If they outnumber us, we retreat; if we outnumber them, we engage when the time is right. After the battle, leave 300 archers to ambush from the sides of each valley. The rest will continue to pursue along the northern valley. Just like Luo Xiao, delay if necessary and attack when the time is right."

Xiao She, "If I leave, who will protect you?"

Before Tong Sui's eight bodyguards could say anything, a burly general stepped forward and declared in a clear voice, "I, Zheng Qian, under General Yuan, am willing to protect General Tong with my life."

The eight bodyguards, "..."

Xiao She appraised Zheng Qian, and seeing Tong Sui nod, had no choice but to leave with his men, choosing the middle path, which offered the quickest route to catch up with the main forces of the Liang and the Emperor.

Because Feng Yun's forces had wasted an entire night on the southern valley, the departure of Tong Sui and her two generals was not much later than the Liang army's.

Tong Sui took the southernmost path and was the first to encounter the 1,000 Liang soldiers that Feng Yun had left behind to block the road.

Zheng Qian led 3,000 men to charge, and the Liang soldiers were annihilated.

Tong Sui selected 300 archers and ordered Zheng Qian to take the remaining 2,000 men to continue the pursuit.

Zheng Qian asked, puzzled, "Aren't you going, General?"

Tong Sui, "Once General Xiao Shouyi arrives, Feng Yun will surely retreat the way he came. I'll stay here to ambush him."

Zheng Qian, "But he might retreat through the other path ahead..."

Tong Sui smiled, "We're staying here just as a precaution. With you attacking from both sides, Feng Yun likely won't make it back alive. Having me, a lone archer, follow would only complicate things."

Zheng Qian felt that General Tong had another plan in mind, but considering they might encounter the main Liang army, it was safer for her to stay behind.

"I bid you safety, General. I'm going!"

Tong Sui stood in the middle of the valley path, and once Zheng Qian's 2,000 men had turned the corner, she said to the 300 archers who remained, "Hide on the mountain slopes. If Feng Yun's forces try to escape, just shoot your arrows. Don't bother chasing them down. I just remembered something I need to tell General Zhao Jin. I'll be heading back."

"Yes!"

——

The northern valley was higher in elevation than the southern valley.

Although there was a path through the mountains, the cliffs on either side were too steep, with only scattered tufts of withered grass in the cold wind.

A few trees grew at the base of the mountain, but they offered no cover.

The arrow wound of the Xingping Emperor hadn't yet affected his mobility, but Xiao Mu's knife wound was more serious. Due to excessive blood loss and his advanced age, after four days and nights of continuous fighting and fleeing, he now needed two soldiers to support him to keep up with the others.

Xiao Mu had more than once urged the Xingping Emperor to leave him behind, but the Emperor refused. When Xiao Mu attempted to take his own life, the Emperor put a knife to his own neck, saying he would die with the old man.

Xiao Mu shed tears of despair.

Just as the fifty men approached the next bend, 10,000 Liang soldiers, who had been sent by Feng Yun, also spotted them. Driven by both national and personal vengeance, the Liang soldiers immediately charged forward with spears and swords. ——

Forty-eight Great Yu soldiers immediately surrounded the Xingping Emperor and Xiao Mu, with ten of them armed with bows.

The Xingping Emperor helped Xiao Mu sit down, then drew his bow and fired at the Liang soldiers.

With eleven bows and less than two hundred arrows, this wave of arrows took down the Liang soldiers at the front, but more enemies pressed from behind.

The Xingping Emperor then drew the saber at his waist and joined his soldiers in the fight against the enemy.

The Great Yu soldiers gradually fell, and when only twelve were left to protect the old man, Luo Xiao’s four thousand soldiers finally arrived.

The Xingping Emperor was overjoyed and turned to Xiao Mu, saying, "The reinforcements have arrived!"

Xiao Mu nodded vigorously.

The remaining twelve fought with increasing bravery, but the Liang soldiers were too many, and Luo Xiao’s reinforcements could not reach the Xingping Emperor immediately.

A spear thrust came, and the Xingping Emperor grabbed the spear shaft with his left hand, while his right hand wielded his saber to kill the Liang soldier. He then threw the saber aside and continued to fight with the spear.

Xiao Mu, also skilled with a spear, picked up a spear from a dead Liang soldier, used it to steady himself, paused for a moment, and then stood up.

Gradually, he and the Xingping Emperor adopted a back-to-back stance.

"Xingping Emperor is ahead, all troops follow me and charge!"

Just as Luo Xiao fought his way to the Xingping Emperor’s side, a surprised shout came from the south as Feng Yun’s eight thousand Liang soldiers arrived.

All eyes were locked in a deadly stare, each side driven by a mutual hatred that ran deep.

Just as Xiao Mu took another sword wound to protect the Xingping Emperor, a roaring shout came from the north as Xiao Shouyi’s ten thousand cavalry finally broke through into the Northern Valley Road after abandoning their horses and crossing another mountain.

The Southern Camp’s fifty thousand cavalry included both veteran soldiers from Wei County and Shuozhou, as well as recruits who surrendered during the Xiao Family’s march south to Luoyang. All of them were loyal to the Xiao Family’s leadership.

The ten thousand who arrived today, along with the forty thousand cavalry left in Chang’an, were determined to rescue the emperor, but their primary concern was protecting the old man.

Although together the Great Yu soldiers were still at a numerical disadvantage, Xiao Shouyi broke through the enemy lines and charged to the front of the old man and the Xingping Emperor, joining Luo Xiao in blocking Feng Yun’s strongest attacks.

"Your Majesty!"

A quarter of an hour later, Xiao She’s two thousand soldiers arrived. While he sent his men to engage the others, Xiao She charged straight toward Feng Yun.

From that point on, more and more Liang soldiers fell.

When Zheng Qian’s two thousand reinforcements appeared, Feng Yun knew the situation was lost. Avoiding Xiao She’s attacks, he shouted sorrowfully, "Retreat! Retreat!"

Xiao She was ready to give chase, but the old man called him back sharply, "Send someone else, you stay and protect us."

Xiao She finally saw the sword wound on the old man’s back. His heart sank, and without a second thought, he fell to his knees, crying out, "Grandfather!"

---

Both Xiao She and Xiao Shouyi stayed to protect, with Luo Xiao, battered all over, also among those being protected.

As the number one general of Liang, Feng Yun fought through the blood-soaked battlefield and successfully broke out of the encirclement with over a thousand soldiers, fleeing south along the Northern Valley Road.

At the first pass, Feng Yun sensed an ambush and quickly changed course, continuing his retreat south.

At the second and final pass, knowing an ambush awaited but with Zheng Qian’s pursuing troops behind, Feng Yun had no choice but to charge through.

The Liang soldiers formed a protective wall around their general, shielding him from harm.

The 300 Yue archers, hidden on both mountain slopes, unleashed their arrows.

In the end, Feng Yun broke through with a dozen men.

They ran in short bursts, stopping occasionally. Seeing a cliff ahead, with only a small cluster of bushes growing from a rocky outcrop—barely enough to conceal two men—Feng Yun quickly assessed the distance between the bushes and the base of the cliff. He raised his hand and said, "Alright, let's rest here for a moment."

A dozen men sat down opposite the cliff, surrounding Feng Yun.

Feng Yun closed his eyes and thought about today's defeat. In anger, he slammed his fist onto the ground. "Where did all those reinforcements come from!"

Yuan Lou had to leave at least 20,000 troops to guard Guangyuan and Panlong Town. Hanzhong was vulnerable, and Chang'an was a thousand li away from Jiange Pass. Even if Chang'an had received the battle report from Bullhead Mountain, reinforcements wouldn't have arrived in time.

The Liang troops lowered their eyes.

They didn't understand tactics, nor did they understand where the great general, known for his brilliant strategies, had failed. They only knew that another 20,000 of their men had died, and that they were still fleeing.

As their breathing gradually returned to normal, Feng Yun sighed, stood up first, and said, "I've estimated the Yue army's strength. There shouldn't be any more ambushes ahead. We can..."

As he spoke, he bent down, intending to help a soldier struggling to rise.

At that moment, a sharp arrow flew out from the bushes on the opposite cliff.

Sensing the danger, Feng Yun instinctively looked up.

With a sharp "thud," the arrow buried itself deep into his forehead.

The Liang soldiers stared in horror with wide eyes. Only when Feng Yun fell backward did they suddenly look toward the cliff.

Still concealed behind the bushes, Tong Sui continued to fire arrows.

All the Liang soldiers fell to the ground.

Tong Sui remained hidden, her gaze passing through the gray-green foliage, resting on Feng Yun's forehead.

She had killed many soldiers before—rebels, former dynasty troops, Liang soldiers—all enemies, but never had she felt such satisfaction. This time, however, she did.