Chapter 706 Fierce Battle in the Dead of Night!
Night fell, and the surroundings were pitch black.
However, after turning a corner around the city wall, Yuwen Ye looked up and saw the dark sky ahead glowing red with firelight. There were also constant screams of panic and fear. Even through the city wall, he could hear the chaotic noise from inside the city.
Without uttering a word, he vigorously cracked his whip and galloped for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, finally getting closer and closer to the towering flames.
From afar, one could even see flames flickering inside the wide-open gate ahead.
Just as they were about to reach the city gate, they saw a flurry of figures moving about in the firelight. Suddenly, a group of people rushed out of the city gate like arrows flying through the flames!
Yuwen Ye's eyes were sharp as a hawk, and he immediately recognized that the one charging at the forefront was Wang Shaoji.
Close behind him, the two walked almost side by side, but the one who was noticeably thinner and weaker than Wang Shaoji was his brother, Wang Shaoqiu.
It was indeed Wang Shaoji who set fire to the city and took advantage of the chaos to rescue him!
It wasn't just Wang Shaoqiu; following closely behind them were Wang Shaoqiu and his troops, as well as other prisoners and surrendered soldiers who had clearly just escaped from the Liuzi Camp. Some of them had seized horses, while others not only had no horses, but also hadn't even untied the ropes binding their wrists, and were barefoot. Yet, in this freezing, snowy place, they ran barefoot and galloped out, scattering in all directions as soon as they left the city gate.
As Wang Shaoqiu spurred his horse forward, he glanced back at the people around him and said, "Run! Don't take the main road! Don't let them catch up with you!"
Upon hearing his words, those people scattered like birds and beasts.
This caused chaos at the East Gate, as people were running around in all directions. Soon after, another group of men chased after them from inside the gate. It was Yuwen Qian and his men. They were also blocked by the people running around and were struggling to keep up. Finally, when several soldiers saw that the Wang brothers were about to get far away, they simply swung their whips and lashed the people forward, knocking them to the ground, and barely managed to clear a path.
But it was too late.
As night fell, the sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, and the Wang brothers and their troops soon disappeared into the darkness.
Yuwen Ye narrowed his eyes slightly.
As for Wang Shaoqiu—he hadn't formally fought him, only briefly encountering him at Jiangdu Palace. Although this man didn't possess any outstanding military talent, he was cunning, treacherous, and deeply scheming. When Wang Shaoji came to rescue him, he probably didn't intend to release the others as well. It must have been him who persuaded Wang Shaoji to release the other prisoners of war and surrendered soldiers of the Liu Battalion.
But he did this not to win people's hearts or to regain his troops.
It was all just for this little bit of chaos at the city gate!
He only went to Taiyuan, yet he managed to cause so much trouble, almost causing Shang Ruyi to perish in the Western Turks. If he escapes this time, there will likely be endless troubles to come.
Thinking of this, he suddenly cracked his whip: "Giddy up!"
Instantly, his steed shot off like an arrow, transforming into a bolt of lightning in the darkness, and charged forward, chasing after the direction in which the Wang brothers had just disappeared into the night. At the same time, Yuwen Qian also spurred his horse forward, and the two groups of men merged in the darkness and firelight, running almost side by side, galloping forward together.
At this moment, another rider galloped out of the city gate.
It is Yu Mingyue.
Having just arrived at the east of the city, she saw chaos amidst the flames and people shouting and fighting. Only then did she snap out of her daze and realize that the one who had rushed into Taiyuan City and set it on fire was Wang Shaoji—a fact completely unknown to her. This not only caught her off guard but also left her somewhat flustered and bewildered.
Fortunately, Yuwen Qian reacted quickly, ordering his men to split into two groups. One group stayed behind to extinguish the fire and capture the prisoners still trapped in the city, while the other group followed him, chasing after the Wang brothers who were already rushing towards the city gate.
Despite her best efforts, she still couldn't catch up with Yuwen Qian's pace.
Moreover, on such a dark night, although she had learned her riding skills from Yuwen Qian, they were not very good. She could only ride on flat ground. However, when chasing deserters like this, with countless prisoners and surrendered soldiers running around like birds and beasts, she had no way to keep up.
She could only bite her lower lip, watching unwillingly as the figure disappeared into the night ahead.
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The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife.
Amidst the whistling wind, the thunderous clatter of hooves, which shook the ground slightly, echoed in their ears like muffled thunder rumbling from the sky, yet no one dared to slow their pace.
Although by this time, everyone's faces had been frozen by the cold wind.
Yuwen Ye looked up and stared ahead. In the darkness, those fleeing for their lives dared not light torches, and they had no torches to illuminate the way in their haste. The two groups of people, one in front and one behind, moved forward in the pitch-black night. Every now and then, they could hear the screams of someone who had stumbled and fallen to the ground while galloping on horseback. Compared to those in front, they had to pay more attention to the obstacles on the road.
Just as he rounded a bend, several more people who had fallen off their horses and were struggling to get up were sitting on the road ahead, screaming and blocking Yuwen Ye's way!
He frowned, then suddenly spurred the horse and tightened the reins.
With a loud neigh, the steed beneath him leaped over the heads of the group, landing heavily on the ground. The impact of its hooves shook the earth, kicking up clouds of dust. Yuwen Ye didn't pause for even a moment, immediately spurring his horse forward again.
Although Yuwen Qian was not blocked, he turned his horse around to get past the group. Seeing that Yuwen Ye had already run ahead, he didn't dare to delay and immediately waved his whip to follow.
Just as the two of them rounded the bend, suddenly, they heard a few whooshing sounds ahead!
"careful!"
Yuwen Ye shouted and immediately leaned over onto the horse's back.
With a whoosh, a streak of cold light shot past where he had just been, striking a soldier behind him squarely in the shoulder. The soldier screamed and fell off his horse, rolling to the ground.
Those around him quickly pulled on the reins to prevent them from stepping over him.
However, before everyone could react, several more streaks of cold light pierced the air. It was the fleeing men shooting arrows at them from behind. The arrows flashed across the night sky like meteors, and several sharp whooshing sounds were heard. Some arrows missed their mark, and several soldiers fell to the ground.
Yuwen Ye gripped the reins tightly, pressing his entire body against the horse's back. He looked up, pressing his head against the horse's neck, and peered ahead. Sure enough, he saw several soldiers trailing behind. They squeezed their horses' bellies and galloped forward while turning sideways, their bows and arrows flying incessantly. In an instant, several more flashes of cold light passed over their heads.
Turning his head again, he saw Yuwen Qian, who was riding alongside him, also leaning against the back of his horse, just like him, dodging a threatening arrow.
At this moment, Yuwen Ye inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he had just told Shang Ruyi not to follow.
This young woman, though she looks delicate and frail, is no less skilled at riding than these men. If she catches up, she will definitely stay by their side, and those arrows just now might have injured her.
However, this feeling of relief was fleeting.
The most important thing is to solve the problem at hand.
Thinking of this, Yuwen Ye suddenly leaped up and sat upright on his horse. The people following behind him, who were also pressed close to the horse, were startled when they saw him reveal such a large target. Shen Tu Tai, who was closest to him, couldn't help but shout, "Your Highness!"
But the next moment, Yuwen Ye dodged the arrow that was shot at him and crouched on the other side of the horse.
It turns out he had simply changed direction.
Because on the other side of his horse's back hung a bow!
Although it's not the Divine Arm Bow, it's sufficient for this situation!
Yuwen Ye gripped the bow and arrow tightly in his hand, drew another arrow from the quiver, and, while leaning to the side of the horse's back, drew the bowstring.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flew from his hand!
A shrill scream came from the dark, undulating figures ahead. A person fell from his horse. Yuwen Ye's steed reacted quickly, kicking the person and trampling him. The soldiers behind him followed without hesitation. After a few screams, the person was crushed into a bloody pulp by the hooves.
But amidst the screams, Yuwen Ye drew his arrows again, nocked them, pulled back his bow, and fired!
The fluid movements, even more agile and valiant in the darkness, sent streaks of light flying and screams echoing. The archers in front fell from their horses one after another, and the rest, though not yet hit by arrows, were clearly stunned by the unerring accuracy of the archers behind them. They dared not delay any longer, hurriedly gripping the reins and spurring their horses to gallop away, trying to escape the terrifying man behind them who was like a fierce demon.
But where else can such an opportunity be found?
They had slowed down to shoot the person behind them, and now they were only a hundred paces away from Yuwen Ye and his men. Seeing that the other side had stopped shooting arrows, Yuwen Ye threw away his bow and arrows, straightened up and sat on his horse. With a backhand, he drew the heavy longsword hanging on the other side of the horse's back!
With a deafening roar, a cold light gleamed in the night!
Yuwen Ye raised his sword high and shouted at the men behind him, "Follow me!"
Shen Tu Tai had long been unable to restrain himself. At this moment, upon hearing his command, he disregarded his surroundings and spurred his horse forward, charging out from between the two princes!
He gripped the long spear tightly in his hand, swinging it into a halo in the dark night sky. Coupled with his tall stature and imposing figure, he exuded a fierce aura like a demon god, frightening those in front of him so much that they didn't even have the courage to pick up their bows and arrows again.
They screamed and turned to spur their horses.
But it was too late.
A furious roar, like thunder, rang in his ears. Then, he felt a chill on his neck as several heads were sent flying into the air by scalding blood!
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