Chapter Ninety-Four: A raging wind sweeps across the land, withering all the grass.
Military orders flew by, the west wind howled, and dark clouds covered the sky.
Two hundred thousand troops lined up in Lujiang County, their imposing presence even more imposing than the dark clouds. The war drums thundered, and the bugle calls echoed endlessly. Bai Ming stood on his horse with his gun on his back, his eyes filled with resolute seriousness as he looked at the soldiers standing in formation below the platform.
"Soldiers!" He spurred his horse forward, spear slung over his shoulder, and shouted, "Do you know why we are fighting?"
"Avenge General Yude!"
"Avenge General Yude!"
"Avenge General Yude!"
The shouts from the crowd rose like thunder, even drowning out the roar of the war drums. Wave after wave of shouts spread across the front lines, no different from raging waves.
Bai Ming nodded solemnly, then clenched the Vermilion Bird Token tightly in his hand as if he had made up his mind, and suddenly raised it high.
The jet-black token shone brightly in the dim light, and the gilded design of the Vermilion Bird pattern gleamed like sunlight, reflecting in everyone's hearts.
Just like Zhong Lishuo's eternally shining eyes.
"We have fought against Yu De for many years, and now he has suffered an inhuman calamity." Bai Ming raised the token high and shouted in a powerful voice, "At this moment! We stand here in the name of Zhong Li Shuo to seek justice for him! To avenge him!"
"Crush Jiangnan! Avenge our humiliation!"
"Crush Jiangnan! Avenge our humiliation!"
Upon seeing this, the deputy generals, led by Zhang Ping, also clasped their hands in agreement and said, "We will obey the general's orders!"
Seeing this, Yang Xiao also spurred her horse forward and stood side by side with Bai Ming. She gripped the reins, took a deep breath, and looked up at the soldiers below the platform, "Since Yu De holds the Vermilion Bird Token, then let's use the Vermilion Bird as our formation and slaughter them without leaving a single one alive."
Bai Ming turned to look at Yang Xiao, then nodded in agreement, raising his gun towards the audience below, "Then send two thousand archers to the southern hilltop to set up high platforms and fire arrows, creating a pressing force against the dark clouds and westerly winds."
The wind seemed to understand Bai Ming's words, howling from the northwest. Yang Xiao looked up at the fluttering banner, nodded solemnly, then pulled on the reins and spurred his horse forward, waving sharply to the soldiers, "The rest of you, follow me!"
In an instant, thousands of soldiers surged down like a floodgate opened, roaring with the west wind as they swept to the banks of the Yangtze River. Wherever they passed, shouts of battle shook the heavens, and the sound of drums and horns soared into the sky.
The elevated platform was erected in an instant, and arrows rained down with the wind, forcing the enemy army to scatter and flee in disarray. The yellow earth was covered with countless arrows.
A sudden burst of war drums thundered, and two battle flags led the way, piercing through the gloomy sky. Two horses, one white and one red, charged forward like madmen, circling above the battle formation like eagles. The fertile land north of the river was instantly captured by Zhong Li'an's army, and the boiling battle cries resounded through the sky.
Jiangxia Nanjun was captured in a short time, but Yang Xiao's troops were still not satisfied and turned their offensive towards Hanzhong. They charged forward like arrows on fire, leaving a trail of blood and gore. Their fierce attack was completely disorganized and had no way to break through the enemy's defenses. They could not resist in the slightest. No matter who set up the formation, it would fall apart and flee in all directions in an instant.
She wielded her silver spear, gritted her teeth, and her eyes were filled with murderous intent and rage. Just as her name suggested, Chi Lian charged forward like a raging fire, without slowing down in the slightest.
Everyone before him turned into targets for his usual shooting practice, or as if they were all the murderers who had harmed Zhong Lishuo and Mu Fei. The burning anger in Yang Xiao's chest instantly transformed into the force of a mountain being uprooted and a tripod being lifted in his hand. His silver spear, like a swimming dragon, broke through the enemy formation and roared across the battlefield.
Suddenly, a banner bearing the character "Qin" fluttered past Yang Xiao's eyes, and a force of over a thousand men galloped down the mountain. She slung her spear behind her back, gripped it slightly, then let out a cold snort, spurred her horse, and charged straight at the approaching force, spear in hand, attacking directly at them.
"General, wait!" A shout came through the wind. The general raised his broadsword, spurred his horse, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Xiao. "I am Qin Yi, and I have come to offer my assistance!"
"Qin Yi?" Yang Xiao glanced at him, then sneered, brandishing her silver spear and shouting, "Why don't you go and stay with your master Zhao Yue and stick close to Xiao Yan? What are you doing in Hanzhong? Are you looking for a beating?"
Before Qin Yi could say anything, Yang Xiao rushed up to him and raised her gun to shoot. He quickly drew his sword to block, and with a loud "clang," Qin Yi was jolted backward, as if a thousand pounds of force had struck his sword, and his arms went numb.
But Yang Xiao wasn't about to give up. He turned his spear and slashed down again.
Upon seeing this, Qin Yi broke out in a cold sweat. He leaned back on his horse and quickly raised his hands to brace the hilt of his sword against Yang Xiao's spear.
Yang Xiao's eyes blazed with fury as she relentlessly pressed down on the gun, until Qin Yi was forced to lie on his horse's back, utterly powerless to fight back.
He gritted his teeth and struggled to lift the gun, frowning as he looked at Yang Xiao's murderous eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "General Yang, listen to me!"
"Ah Xiao!"
Another commotion erupted behind them, and in an instant, Bai Ming arrived at the front, panting. He reined in his horse, raised his hand to press down on Yang Xiao's arm, which was holding down her gun, and gently shook his head at her. "Xiao, stop. It's over."
Yang Xiao's gun loosened slightly, and Qin Yi, still shaken, breathed a sigh of relief and sat up from his horse by pulling on the reins.
Yang Xiao still stared angrily at the blood-stained tip of her gun, her anger still burning fiercely in her chest.
Dark clouds churned in the sky, a westerly wind swept across the land, and thunder and drums roared together without ceasing.
A cold drop landed on Yang Xiao's face, and her heart skipped a beat. She then snapped out of her daze at the spear tip and sat on the saddle, trying to regulate her breathing.
The surroundings had fallen completely silent, save for the incessant patter of raindrops falling from the sky. She sheathed her gun, looked up at the raindrops hitting the ground, and slumped back onto the bridge as if all her strength had been drained. She gave a bitter laugh, "You saw it too, didn't you?"
The only response she received was the tacit murmur of raindrops.
The rain intensified.
A warm hand gently landed on Yang Xiao's shoulder and then pressed down firmly. "Xiao, it's all over."
Yang Xiao sighed deeply, then turned back and gently squeezed Bai Ming's hand with a smile. "Yes, it's all over." She closed her eyes, shook her head slightly, and let out a long breath, as if trying her best to regulate her emotions.
"General Qin, please forgive my offense." Yang Xiao nodded and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qin Yi.
"The desire for revenge is human nature, how could I not understand?" Qin Yi also sighed softly, shaking his head to comfort him, "Besides, ignorance is no excuse. The last time we met, we were enemies on the battlefield, weren't we?"
Bai Ming also clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qin Yi and asked earnestly, "General Qin, what important matter brings you to the front lines from so far away?"
Qin Yi frowned slightly and shook his head, also bowing respectfully. "Prefect Zhao Yue has long been a vassal of Xiao Yan, and this rebellion in Jiangnan is inextricably linked to him. Although I have served him for several years, our temperaments are fundamentally incompatible, and our paths are vastly different." He sighed, then looked up at Yang Xiao and Bai Ming. "Previously, Lord Lun Hong spared my life, and I made a pact with him, saying that if I were captured alive again, I would willingly submit to his rule."
"But we haven't even reached Yingchuan yet," Yang Xiao teased with a light laugh. "How come you've come all this way on your own?"
Qin Yi looked at Yang Xiao's knowing smile and couldn't help but chuckle and sigh, "You sent 200,000 troops to attack Jiangpan to avenge General Yude and pacify Yingchuan. Isn't that a piece of cake? I was just a scapegoat for Zhao Yue. You two are determined to flatten Jiangbei. So, I spared you the trouble and directly rebelled against Zhao Yue, leading my troops eastward to meet you two in Nanyang."
"It's truly admirable that the general has put in so much effort." Bai Ming sighed softly, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qin Yi.
"Everyone says that 'a wise minister chooses his lord to serve.' Although I am not a wise minister, I really do not want to be Zhao Yue's tool anymore. So I will do my best to show my loyalty to you, my lord."
Seeing this, Yang Xiao shook her head and sighed, "It's also my fault. I started hitting him without asking anything." She looked at Qin Yi and smiled bitterly, "Please forgive me."
"General Yang, your fighting spirit was truly on full display today." Qin Yi nodded approvingly at Yang Xiao. "If General Bai hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid I would already be dead here."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao couldn't help but chuckle and waved her hand, "I'll take that as a compliment. Meeting you today, General Qin truly lives up to his name."
Qin Yi was taken aback for a moment, then tilted his head and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"He is loyal and righteous," Bai Ming patted Yang Xiao on the shoulder knowingly, then smiled at Qin Yi, "I'm sure the lord will be overjoyed to hear that the general has come to join us."
"Alright, let's not stand outside in the rain anymore," Yang Xiao smiled and shook her head with relief, then sat on the saddle bridge and casually raised her spear into the air, "Hey, you guys, you've avenged your great enemy, no more crying!"
The tense soldiers around her suddenly burst into laughter. Exhausted, Yang Xiao put down her gun, tilted her head back, and let the rain hit her face, letting the torrential rain soak her face and her battle robe.
She opened her eyes and let out a long sigh of relief, then looked at Bai Ming with a light smile, "Let's go back to camp."
"Okay." Bai Ming nodded in agreement, took the spear from her hand, patted her shoulder, and rode back together.
Confined by the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, the army halted north of the river. But the bloody storm, with its overwhelming killing intent, swept across the waves, heading straight for the south of the river.
Chaos reigned in front of the Marquis of Yue's residence. The so-called "close ministers" who usually followed He Yuan had already gone their separate ways and were vying for control of the Jiangnan region after the northern token was issued.
He Yuan slumped in the hall, trembling all over. He stared in terror at the chaotic figures outside the window, a chill running through him. He moved back until his back was pressed against the wall, unable to move an inch.
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, carried by the wind. A group of people, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, swept past the gate like lightning, instantly scattering the chaotic soldiers in their struggle.
The commotion grew louder and louder, and the sounds of clashing swords and spears rang in He Yuan's ears like a savior. He was filled with hope and staggered to his feet, leaning against the wall. As if a savior had descended from the sky, He Yuan stumbled to the door and clung to the door frame, looking outside.
"Lingyue Pavilion! It's someone from Lingyue Pavilion!"
"What!"
The idea of "saviors" crumbled in He Yuan's mind. He staggered back two steps, calling out in a hoarse and helpless voice, "Help! Help!"
The next moment, the door was kicked open with a bang, and a handsome, dashing face looked at He Yuan with disdain. "What, looking for reinforcements?"
He Yuan shuddered in fright and backed away helplessly. But the person in front of him did not press him down as he expected. Instead, he leaned against the door with a smile as if it were none of his business, watching the panicked He Yuan with great interest.
"Stop looking. Your reinforcements are either serving Xiao Yan or busy carving up the Jiangnan region you're so proud of," the man sneered. "It's not a wise move for you to blindly obey them and even put your life and fortune in their hands."
"You..." He Yuan tried his best to calm himself down, raising his trembling hand to point at the person, "Who are you!"
"I am Chen Mo from Lingyue Pavilion, though I am not very talented."
Chen Mo chuckled and stepped into the house from the doorway. "I remember you were quite assertive when you were negotiating with Yang Xiao and the others. How did you end up in such a state? Jiangnan has been passed down through generations to you. How could it all be over overnight?"
He Yuan leaned against the wall, suppressing the panic in his heart, and pointed at Chen Mo, "Isn't it all because you rebelled and divided Jiangnan..."
"Me, rebelling?" Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. "If I hadn't brought some men with me, you would have been finished long ago." His smile was icy and chilling as he walked step by step toward He Yuan. "Do you know why chaos suddenly broke out today?"
He Yuan looked at Chen Mo warily and shook his head.
"You are indecisive and easily swayed by others. You sent a false challenge to Zhongli An, but in reality, you had already planned to defect to Xiao Yan. As for the battle of Lujiang, you ambushed 50,000 troops to support Zhongli An's 5,000 loyal soldiers. You intended to win this battle to prove your loyalty to Xiao Yan, but you never expected that your own army would be defeated by 5,000 men."
Chen Mo's expression gradually turned cold. "Zhong Li'an is magnanimous. If it were just a defeat, it wouldn't have been necessary to go to such lengths. But you shouldn't have lost two of his generals." Chen Mo gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. "Bai Ming was seriously injured and almost died, and Zhong Li Shuo," he turned and glared at He Yuan, "even risked his life to attack the city, and his blood was spilled on the spot in Lujiang."
“I…” He Yuan shivered involuntarily. Like a child who had done something wrong, he looked up at Chen Mo timidly, then lowered his head again, seemingly lost in thought.
“Zhongli An dispatched Generals Yang Xiao and Bai Ming with an army of 200,000 to march south. Yang Xiao, like a madman, went without food or water for a day and a night, directly attacking from Lujiang through Jiangxia and marching straight to Hanzhong.” Chen Mo lowered his eyes and chuckled lightly, “Even if the chaos hadn’t started today, how many days do you think Yang Xiao and Bai Ming would have had to reach Jiangnan? How long can your remaining troops hold out?”
He Yuan's hands were drenched in cold sweat. Leaning against the wall, he looked up at Chen Mo and asked, "So you... came here this time..."
"It was just some curiosity. You bear the infamy of injustice, have harmed loyal and righteous people, and said you wanted to join Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan's troops have been slow to come to your aid. Now, you've driven yourself to this point," Chen Mo chuckled disdainfully, "What were you thinking?"
He Yuan retreated, trembling as if he were being shaken. "Xiao Yan's forces are formidable, and he is not someone that ordinary people can defeat. Even if Zhong Li'an and I join forces, we have almost no chance of winning. Rather than that, I was thinking..." He timidly looked up at Chen Mo, "Why not take such a foolproof method..."
"Is this what you think, or is it the group of advisors around you who make you think this way?"
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