Chapter 131 The Breakthrough of Changsheng Pass
Lin Changning's face darkened, and he exchanged a glance with Wen Zhi. Both of them saw seriousness in each other's eyes. They had not received this information before.
If it's not fake news, then it can only mean that someone blocked the flow of information in an attempt to turn Daxing into an isolated city.
Lin Changning tossed down another coin: "Grandma, prepare some cakes for us. As you said, we should set off as soon as possible."
After saying that, he looked at Ma San Niang and said in a serious tone, "San Niang, take An An and get in the carriage!"
The old woman nodded, took the silver, and went back into her room. Lin Changning looked at her and asked, "Do you know anything about this?"
He shook his head, his expression also not good: "I don't know anything about this."
If they couldn't understand it, then Qi Rong was deliberately keeping it from them. No wonder they suddenly had to set off and asked her to take An'an with her. Qi Rong clearly had some prior information.
However, Lin Changning didn't completely believe the old woman's words and still needed to go to two more towns to inquire. While the old woman was preparing dry rations, suddenly the sound of chaotic hoofbeats came from behind. Shilang's hand holding the reins trembled slightly. Lin Changning and Wenzhi exchanged a glance and immediately mounted their horses.
Looking back, seven or eight Tartar cavalrymen had already crossed the woods and were galloping towards them. Lin Changning looked at Wan Jin and instructed, "You go to the carriage and protect Shi Lang and the others. The rest of you, follow me and charge!"
"yes!"
A dozen guards immediately responded, drawing their swords and preparing for battle. As the Tartar cavalry drew closer and closer, Lin Changning suddenly drew his sword and charged forward first.
The Tartars coming towards us laughed loudly and said in Tartar: "Look at this Han Chinese young master who is courting death without knowing his own mortality."
Smiling, he drew his scimitar and charged towards Lin Changning. The scimitar was dazzling, and the longsword was sharp. The two exchanged blows immediately. Lin Changning cleaved the Tartar's scimitar with a single strike. The Tartar's palm trembled slightly with the scimitar, and a tremendous force surged through his hand, causing his palm to go numb. The Tartar immediately abandoned his contempt and was about to turn around and ride his horse to rejoin his teammates when Lin Changning, who had turned back, slashed him down from his horse.
Seeing that things were not going well, the other Tartars started chattering and trying to surround and kill Lin Changning. Just then, Wen Zhi arrived with his men. The group of people easily captured the Tartars. Lin Changning used the back of his sword to cut down the last Tartar who was trying to escape. Seeing that the man had fallen off his horse, he put his sword to the Tartar's neck.
"I ask, you answer!"
The man was babbling incoherently, and Lin Changning clicked his tongue: "Can't speak Chinese? Useless."
After saying that, he killed the man with a single blow, feeling somewhat annoyed: "After hearing this, go and find out the news first. If the news is true, you take An'an and Third Sister to Taiyuan, and I will take Wan Jin back."
Hearing this, Wen Zhi frowned, seemingly lost in thought. He shook his head and said, "Let's go together. It's not safe for you to go alone."
Lin Changning thought for a moment and nodded: "Let's inquire and confirm the information first before discussing the follow-up."
The group turned back to the teahouse and saw the old woman holding her grandson, trembling as she looked at them. Lin Changning looked at her and comforted her, "Grandma, don't be afraid. We are from Daxingwei. The Tartars are all dead. We can't stay here any longer. We'll leave now. You should also leave as soon as possible."
The old woman nodded and said, "Young sir, do you want to confirm whether the Tartars have really amassed a large army? There's no need to ask. Changsheng Pass ahead has already been occupied by the Tartars. You can see for yourselves from a distance and know whether it's true or not. The people in Guanzhong were massacred a week ago, and some news has only come out in the last two days. It is said that the Tartars have occupied the town, and now the villagers in the vicinity are all fleeing."
Lin Changning's phoenix eyes suddenly sharpened: "What? Changsheng Pass is lost? Why hasn't any news of it come out?"
Lin Changning took a breath, picked up the riding crop, and said coldly, "We can't delay any longer. We need to head towards Changsheng right now."
The old woman called out to Lin Changning: "Young sir, go twenty li to the west and you'll find Eagle Strike Cliff. Once you reach the cliff, you can see the current situation inside Changsheng Pass."
Lin Changning thanked the old man, nodded, mounted his horse, and hurried westward.
The group finally arrived at the cliff before nightfall. The convoy stopped at a high point, and Lin Changning's knuckles, which were white as he gripped the reins, looked out at the scene of the towns inside the pass, which was somewhat shocking.
The city was densely packed with Tartar tents, and smoke from the fires, mixed with the stench of blood, rose into the sky. Lin Changning was familiar with this smell; it was the smell after every war. People the size of ants in the city were bound together with ropes and huddled together like livestock, forming a dense, shadowy mass. Even from this distance, the deafening cries from within the city could be faintly heard.
Hearing this, his voice trembled: "Beast!! Judging by the number of tents, they've been set up for at least a week!"
In the open space of the city, a man who appeared to be a Tartar general squatted in the center, with a tall torch burning in the middle. Children were being pushed into the fire, and the flames burned them so much that they screamed and ran away.
A group of Tartars surrounded the bonfire, laughing and driving people into it with whips in hand. From a distance, the children inside the bonfire seemed to be performing a grand yet eerie dance.
The general in the middle clapped his hands and laughed. Lin Changning closed his eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.
"Beast! Beast!! Wen Zhi, you take An An and the others away, I'm staying to kill him!"
Lin Changning gripped the reins tightly, staring intently at the people in the city. The killing intent in his eyes seemed to penetrate the city wall and pierce into the body of the Tartar general.
After giving the order, Lin Changning took the bow and arrows from Wan Jin, preparing to launch a night raid on the Tartar general.
Wen Zhi grabbed Lin Changning: "Don't be impulsive, Xiao Liu. The most important thing now is to inform the prince about the situation here. According to the number of Tartar camps in the city, there are at least eight thousand people. If you go there, you will only be sending yourself to your death."
Lin Changning flung Wen Zhi's hand away: "Then what do you suggest we do? Just watch the people of Da Xuan die?"
Hearing this, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes: "Let's think about it carefully, Xiao Liu."
Lin Changning's face darkened as he looked at Wen Zhi: "Those are all citizens of Da Xuan. I am a border soldier, a commander of the Da Xing army. I cannot watch them be tortured and killed."
Qi An'an suddenly climbed off the car: "I'm not going to Taiyuan anymore, Brother Wenzhi, please take me back."
Hearing this, Qi An'an stared wide-eyed: "Young Master, don't join in this nonsense."
Qi An'an widened her eyes and said seriously, "I'm not being silly. I'm going back to find my eldest brother. I heard that you sent Sister Ma to the Prince's Mansion. I'll go back with my sixth brother. With me there, Father will try to help Daxing. Then my eldest brother won't have such a hard time."
Although Qi An'an was young, he had been studying and understanding principles since childhood. After his grandmother passed away, he became even more aware of the coldness and warmth of human relationships. He also knew that his elder brother had a hard life and was not well received by his parents. However, his grandmother had said that his elder brother was a hero who protected the country. He had admired his elder brother since childhood. Although he was young and might have been a bit playful, he understood the most basic principles. For the people on the border, his elder brother's life was more important than his own safety. If he were alive, his elder brother would have an extra layer of protection.
Even if his father and mother disliked his eldest brother, they had to find a way to ensure his safety. Although the Duke of Qi's mansion was weak, the power left by his grandfather in the army was not to be underestimated.
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