The little girl screamed in fright and desperately hid in her mother's arms.
The woman held her child tightly, as if protecting a fledgling that was about to be snatched away.
The cheetah's fists were clenched tightly, its nails digging deep into its flesh, and the veins on the back of its hands bulged.
He felt a surge of heat rush to his heart, and he almost couldn't control himself from rushing out.
But he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Rushing out now would just be suicide.
He must first find other companions and devise a detailed plan.
Only then can we effectively fight against Liu An's army and truly save these innocent people.
He silently memorized the place, then turned and disappeared into the maze-like alleyways.
This is just the beginning; the capital is destined to experience a bloodbath.
"I heard that Liu An, in order to win over the people, granted a general amnesty and reduced taxes."
An old man with a hunched back walked by unsteadily and said in a low voice.
His clothes were tattered and patched, and his cloudy eyes were filled with deep worry.
The cheetah sneered and stuffed the cloth back into its arms.
"What a show! Tax reductions? It's all just a way to consolidate their rule!"
"I wonder how many fools have been fooled by him."
He touched the dagger hidden at his waist; the cold touch reassured him slightly.
He took out a small piece of paper from his sleeve and carefully wrote down the information he had gathered on it with a charcoal pencil:
The atrocities committed by Liu An's army in the city, the panic of the people, the reaction of the officials... His handwriting was messy.
Yet the words penetrate the paper with such force that each one seems to be soaked in blood and tears.
After writing, he rolled up the note and stuffed it into the small bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg.
He gently stroked the soft feathers of the carrier pigeon and murmured to himself:
"Go and deliver the message to Lord Lu."
After saying that, he released the carrier pigeon.
A gray figure, bathed in the faint morning light, pierced through the thick fog.
It flew towards Shannan Prefecture and disappeared into the vast sky.
...
Meanwhile, a fierce battle was unfolding in the dense forest of Wufeng Ridge, fifty miles west of Shannan Prefecture.
Li Mu was covered in blood, and the long sword in his hand was already chipped.
He led a remnant of the Imperial Guard, numbering less than five thousand men.
They risked their lives to protect Chen Qingwan and her personal maid, Qiao'er.
The pursuers sent by Liu An surrounded them like hungry wolves.
"Protect His Majesty! Kill!"
Li Mu roared, his longsword flashing like the wind, bringing with it a shower of blood.
The soldiers of the Imperial Guard were all ready to die for their cause.
They used their own flesh and blood to build an ironclad defense for Chen Qingwan and Qiao'er.
He was clad in tattered armor, his face smeared with blood, looking like a god of war who had stepped out of hell.
"Your Majesty, we...we can't escape..."
Qiao'er hugged Chen Qingwan tightly, her voice trembling as she spoke.
Chen Qingwan's face was pale, but her eyes were firm, without a trace of fear.
"I am the Emperor of Datong. Even in death, I will die with dignity!"
He patted Qiao'er's hand again, comforting her:
"Don't worry, General Li will definitely protect our safety."
Although she said that, she had no confidence at all.
The current situation is clearly one of certain death.
The soldiers of the Imperial Guard were all heroes capable of taking on ten men at once.
But facing an enemy several times their size, they gradually felt overwhelmed.
Their armor was stained red with blood, and the ground beneath their feet was also stained red with blood.
But it cannot stain their determination to defend their homeland.
"ah!"
A soldier of the Imperial Guard was pierced through the chest by a spear.
He let out a scream and collapsed into a pool of blood.
"You scoundrel! Prepare to die!"
Li Mu roared and swung his sword, killing two enemy soldiers.
However, he was also slashed in the left arm by an enemy general's sword, and blood gushed out instantly.
"General Li!"
Several Imperial Guard soldiers exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward to protect Li Mu.
"I'm fine, keep killing!"
Li Mu gritted his teeth, held his sword in his right hand, and continued to fight the enemy soldiers.
Unexpectedly, he was ambushed from behind by another enemy soldier, who slashed him in the back.
He staggered and nearly fell.
Blood stained his battle robe, and the intense pain made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"General Li!"
Several Imperial Guard soldiers tried to rush to their aid, but were entangled by more enemies.
An enemy general grinned maliciously as he approached Li Mu, raising his broadsword high.
"Prepare to die, you old bastard!"
The enemy general's broadsword, carrying a strong wind, was about to cleave off Li Mu's head.
Li Mu closed his eyes in despair.
However, the expected excruciating pain did not come; instead, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang in my ears.
As it approached from afar, it sounded like rumbling thunder or a flash flood.
The black iron cavalry surged into the battlefield like a tide, instantly scattering the enemy soldiers surrounding Li Mu.
The enemy's formation rippled violently, like water being struck by a boulder.
Leading the group was Zhang Xun, who wielded his long spear with impressive skill.
As if entering an empty field, they instantly routed the enemy soldiers surrounding Li Mu.
"Damn it, they dare to touch my men? They're asking for it!"
Zhang Xun's roar echoed across the battlefield, carrying a strong sense of banditry.
Zhang Xun took the lead, his spear flashing like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, aiming straight for the enemy general's throat.
The enemy general was terrified and hastily raised his sword to parry.
With a loud bang, sparks flew everywhere, the enemy general's broadsword was knocked from his hand, and blood gushed from his tiger's mouth.
Before he could react, Zhang Xun's spear was already there, its tip piercing his chest like lightning.
The enemy general let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground.
The black-armored cavalry, like a black whirlwind, swept into the enemy ranks with unstoppable force!
The originally densely packed enemy troops were instantly scattered and overwhelmed!
Wherever the iron cavalry passed, the enemy fell like wheat, one swathe after another, completely dead!
Screams, neighing horses, and the clanging of weapons filled the air, creating a cacophony of death!
Zhang Xun wielded his spear like a silver dragon, hacking and slashing wildly through the enemy ranks!
One shot and several people will die!
The cavalry behind him were also incredibly fierce.
The swords in his hands were like the Grim Reaper's scythe, reaping heads with madness!
The enemy's supposedly tight formation was completely destroyed by this black whirlwind.
Like a flood bursting its banks, it's running rampant everywhere!
Fear spread like a plague, terrifying everyone.
They threw off their armor and fled for their lives, crying and screaming, but they still couldn't escape the clutches of death!
The black-armored cavalry rampaged across the battlefield like meat grinders.
Drag the enemy in and wipe them out completely!
Zhang Xun rode up to Li Mu's side, dismounted, and helped the swaying Li Mu up.
"General Li, how are you?"
Zhang Xun's voice was slightly hoarse from the fighting, but it couldn't hide his concern.
Li Mu coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper, but he forced himself to say:
"Thank you, General Zhang... cough cough... I'm fine..."
"Enough talk! Quickly, get General Li out of here!"
Without saying a word, Zhang Xun handed Li Mu over to the soldiers behind him.
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