Guo Luo took the lead and charged forward with his troops, only to find that there were people lined up to block their way.
Then I saw several figures fleeing in panic not far away, especially the old man being protected in the middle.
Although dressed plainly, the composure revealed in that hasty glance back, and Yang Yi's desperate protective stance, all proclaimed his identity.
The primary target of this pursuit must be Yang Yan, the Left Chancellor of the Imperial Court and the Garrison Commander of Xijing!
"Yang Yan is ahead! The Grand Commander has ordered that whoever captures Yang Yan will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and promoted three ranks!"
Guo Luo pointed his embroidered spring knife forward, his voice booming like a bell, and issued a tempting command.
Even though a thousand riders could not fully deploy their charge formation on the mountain road, their momentum was still terrifying.
Iron hooves trampled the rocks, and swords and spears gleamed coldly, like an unstoppable black storm sweeping towards Yang Yi's small circular formation.
Yang Yi's face was contorted with rage, his eyes bloodshot. He brandished his long sword and shouted hoarsely, "Release the arrows!"
Scattered arrows shot out from the circular formation, killing the first few cavalrymen.
But compared to the surging tide of the sea, this resistance was like a pebble thrown into a lake, only causing a few ripples.
The Hedong cavalry didn't even need to give an order; the front-line knights had already raised their crossbows, and a volley of even more accurate and dense crossbow bolts rained down on the circular formation like locusts!
"Raise your shields and meet the enemy!" Yang Yi roared.
Wooden and leather shields were raised, but how could they withstand the powerful crossbows in such a hasty manner?
In an instant, shields were pierced, soldiers were shot down, and screams filled the air.
The circular array was instantly thinned by one layer.
"kill!"
Guo Luo took the lead, his long sword like a poisonous dragon, directly cleaving into the crumbling circular formation.
The cavalry behind them embedded themselves like sharp spikes, slashing and thrusting, blood and flesh flying everywhere.
Yang Yi brandished his longsword, forcefully parrying a spear aimed at his face. He then swung his sword backhand, cutting a cavalryman off his horse. But immediately, several more spears came thrusting at him from different angles.
He was struggling to cope and faced numerous perilous situations.
One by one, the guards around him fell like harvested wheat, with very few remaining.
A cavalryman seized an opening and thrust his spear into Yang Yi's ribs.
Yang Yi was unable to dodge in time and his armor was torn open by the spear tip, leaving a trail of blood.
He grunted, his movements faltered slightly, and more attacks followed.
"Protect the general!"
Several valiant guards rushed forward at the cost of their lives, shielding him from fatal attacks with their bodies, but they themselves were hacked down by the blades.
Yang Yi's eyes were bloodshot, his heart filled with endless grief and despair.
He knew that he had no chance of survival today.
Looking south, his uncle's figure had long since disappeared behind the winding mountain path. He took a deep breath and, with all his might, let out a roar of unwilling anger:
"Zhao Muyun! I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
Before he could finish speaking, a dense rain of arrows, as if precisely targeted, instantly covered his location.
He swung his longsword to parry, but how could he possibly stop the arrows coming from all directions?
Several arrows pierced his armor, embedding themselves in his chest, arms, and thighs...
The warhorse neighed and fell to the ground, throwing him off.
He struggled to stand up, but was hit by more arrows, and his whole body was pinned to the ground like a hedgehog, his blood quickly staining the rocks beneath him.
He stared wide-eyed at the gray sky, the light in his eyes quickly fading, finally solidifying into endless emptiness and resentment.
Less than two miles north of Ziwu Pass became the burial place of this cousin of Yang Yan.
Guo Luo didn't even glance at the fallen Yang Yi; his gaze remained fixed on the few staggering figures running not far ahead.
Yang Yan! We absolutely cannot let him get away!
He spurred his warhorse, bypassing the scattered resistance of Yang Yi's remaining troops, and sped off in pursuit!
As they drew closer, he could even see Yang Yan's pale face as he turned around in a panic!
"Yang Yan, don't leave!"
Guo Luo shouted, his long sword already aimed at Yang Yan's back, ready to knock him off his horse and capture him alive.
At this critical moment—
"Woo-woo-woo-woo-"
A deep and desolate bugle call suddenly came from the direction of Ziwu Pass in the south!
Then, the tightly closed door slowly opened with a dull creak!
An army, clad in bright armor and in perfect formation, surged forth from within the pass like a long-awaited torrent!
The young general at the forefront, clad in silver armor and a white robe, with a handsome face bearing the marks of hardship, held a gleaming silver spear and rode a magnificent white horse. He was none other than Yang Yan's prized nephew, Yang Chao, who was ordered to conquer Jiannan Road!
"Uncle, don't panic! Your nephew Yang Chao is here!"
Yang Chaosheng's voice was as loud as a bell, his momentum as strong as a rainbow. He took the lead and led his troops like arrows released from a bow, charging straight over!
His troops marched in perfect unison, exuding a chilling aura; they were clearly a well-trained and formidable force.
It turns out that Yang Chao's progress in Jiannan Road was extremely smooth. With his extraordinary skills and martial prowess, he had basically taken control of most of Jiannan Road.
Upon hearing of the impending crisis in Xijing, he knew that if Xijing fell, he would be like a rootless duckweed in Jiannan. He immediately mustered his three thousand most elite troops and set off day and night to rush north to provide support.
He had just emerged from the treacherous Ziwu Valley and arrived at Ziwu Pass when he received an urgent report from the soldiers at the pass, saying that a large contingent of cavalry from Hedong was pursuing and killing the fleeing army to the north.
Without a second thought, Yang Chao immediately led his army out of the pass, only to witness the perilous scene of Yang Yan being captured alive by Guo Luo.
Yang Chao's three thousand fresh troops, having rested and recuperated, were in high spirits and, like tigers released from their cages, instantly scattered the vanguard of Guo Luo's cavalry.
They were like a moving city wall, blocking Guo Luo and Yang Yan.
Guo Luo watched as Yang Yan was led into the enemy lines by Yang Chao's personal guards and escorted back into the pass. He was filled with hatred and almost gritted his teeth.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com