The fragrance of roses dissipated in the night wind, and there was no sound at all. She stood on the high city wall, her eyes piercing through the layers of cold armor and resting on that man. The torrent of time passed by her ears, making a humming sound, like a hurricane in the wilderness, roaring like an eagle on the top of a mountain.
The pitch-black battle flag fluttered in the wind above Yan Xun's head. The pitch-black night was like a ball of thick ink. The sky was low in pressure, the stars and the moon were dim, and thousands of torches were burning fiercely, reflecting on people's faces, as if covered with a layer of blood. Yan Xun stood on a chariot made of gold, wearing a dark dragon robe, holding a golden bow in his hand, his eyebrows were like swords, slanting into his temples, and his eyes were long and narrow. He raised his head slightly and stared quietly at the familiar figure in his memory.
The entire battlefield was dead silent, and everyone held their breath. The only sound was the sound of war drums, like the heart of the earth, beating on people's spines again and again, making the blood in their veins boil.
Time just froze, they looked at each other silently, their eyes crossed and frozen in mid-air.
The army rushed forward like a tide, and a life-and-death battle finally began.
In an instant, the cavalrymen all drew their bows and arrows. Amid the sharp whistling sound of the wind, the arrows poured down on the soldiers' heads like raindrops. Countless people rushed forward, and the battle showed terrible cruelty from the very beginning, which made people's backs chill.
Screams, groans, and commands mixed together.
War horses galloped wildly, stones rolled like thunder, swords shone like snow, dark clouds covered the cold moon, and even the heaven and earth closed their eyes to this brutal battle.
After a day and a night of fighting, the east city gate suddenly opened. The Xiuli Army, which had fought hard all night, took advantage of the opportunity when the Yanbei Army changed its formation and rode out of the city. They rushed all the way to the bank of Tiexian River. The road there was narrow and could not withstand the impact of the large army. The Yanbei Army had to abandon their horses and rush over. But when they reached the river, they saw the soldiers of the Xiuli Army holding up sheepskin rafts and crossing the river from the most turbulent part of the river.
"My Lord, be careful!"
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Almost at the same time, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao each raised their bows and crossbows, and arrows pierced through the void and shot towards each other. Two ding-ding sounds were heard at the same time, indicating that the arrow did not miss the target, which caused a burst of exclamations from the surrounding guards.
On the river, Chu Qiao stood on a raft, looking at Yan Xun from afar.
She knew that this battle was just a show and Yan Xun couldn't really stop her.
Yan Xun and Princess Jing'an are allies, so Yan Xun has to guard the Handan River for her. However, once Princess Jing'an really attacks Tangjing and allows the descendants of Prince Jing'an to ascend the throne, his retreat will be cut off. Therefore, he cannot win this battle, but he cannot lose badly either.
He also needed to delay the Bian Tang civil war by himself and leave the gateway to Tanghu Pass for him.
Rows of torches spread across the river. The darkness before dawn was like a hideous devil, digging its sharp claws into people's eyes. The sky and the earth turned blood red. The wind blew, raising flames all over the sky.
Yan Xun was riding on the horse, and the warhorse was pedaling its hooves restlessly. His back was still straight, and his whole body was filled with imperial majesty, like a god from the dark world. His gaze was sharp and distant, crossing the wide river surface and stopping on the figure opposite, who was thin but always strong. The night wind blew, lifting her hair at the temples. Her blood-stained armor gleamed brightly in the firelight. She rode on her warhorse, looking at him silently across the surging river and the blazing fire.
At that moment, the ice surface of Yan Xun's memories suddenly cracked. He could even hear a slight sound, and some messy pictures emerged from the surging water with a crackling sound.
How long ago? It was so long ago, as if it was a lifetime ago, so long ago that he could hardly remember it.
It was also such a night, such a dead silence after such a fight, and such a pair of eyes, quietly looking at him across the flowing river. The fire in Zhenhuang City was raging, and endless shouts of killing echoed happily in the wilderness. The young men turned back resolutely, heading in their own directions, to do what they thought was right.
Maybe, a long, long time ago, everything was destined. They are like two shooting stars traveling in opposite directions. Even though they have briefly intersected due to many reasons, they will eventually go on the path of separation, moving forward along their own orbits, getting farther and farther away.
Chu Qiao stood on the river bank with a knife in her hand and watched the last army cross the Handan River with her own eyes. The vast river surface was like a natural moat, separating them on the east and west sides, and tens of millions of lives and souls sank into the river. The heaven and earth are a furnace, and all things are firewood and charcoal. What is being forged on the fire is the blood and hope of countless people, as well as their diametrically opposed beliefs. She looked at Yan Xun, and all her thousands of thoughts disappeared in an instant. The hundred thousand armored soldiers disappeared from her sight, leaving only the man in black robe standing alone and proudly between heaven and earth, with wolf-like eyes, as if he had climbed up from the Jiuyou Platform many years ago, leaving bloody marks with every step. Even though there was no one behind him, he had a murderous aura that was enough to destroy the world.
"Sir!" Ping An ran up, his clothes in disarray and his eyes red, and said with his head raised, "In this battle, more than 6,000 of our brothers died."
Chu Qiao lowered her head and saw that there was still blood on the young man's face. The child, who had lived in a peaceful environment for many years, had grown up. After experiencing the baptism of blood, his eyes were no longer pure.
"Peace, any goal, must be achieved at a price." The general of the Xiuli Army sat on horseback, silently looking at the long line of lit torches. After a long time, he said in a low voice, "True peace must always be achieved through war."
Ping An frowned, not quite understanding, and murmured, "Real peace?"
"Yes, I can't see it, and maybe you can't see it either, but someone will see it eventually."
Chu Qiao raised her head and finally looked towards the other side of the Handan River. The fire had gradually gone out. Layers of green smoke were rolling on the surface of the river. In the distance, there was a faint golden glow. The man was wearing ink-colored armor, and his cloak fluttered in the night wind. Although she couldn't see his features clearly, she could clearly imagine his expression and outline, just like that afternoon many years ago when he shot an arrow at her while sitting on his horse. In this, he saved her life and she stayed with him for ten years.
She reached out and grasped her right arm, where there was an arm guard made of black iron that even a crossbow arrow could not penetrate.
That was a gift from Zhao Song to her. There were a pair, and she gave one to him.
She resolutely turned around, merged into the rolling army, whipped her horse, and never looked back at the way she came.
West of the Han River, Yan Xun turned his horse around, and his generals ran up to him and asked, "Your Majesty, are you not going to pursue us?"
Yan Xun said nothing, walked straight past him, and walked a long way before saying calmly, "Retreat."
The army retreated like a tide, the sun rose over the horizon, and a ray of light quietly spread over the earth. The two armies that were marching in opposite directions eventually went farther and farther away.
In the empty tent, a general in armor was kneeling on the ground. He had been kneeling like this for a long time. The sun gradually set, night fell, and the big tent was pitch black. Only the golden fur inlaid with oriental pearls had a faint light, vaguely illuminating the outline of the man, like a mountain peak.
The man didn't say a word. After returning from Tiexian River, he had been sitting there, as if he had forgotten everything around him. The green grass outside the tent swayed gently, exuding the scent of hope in the night breeze. It was midsummer in Bian Tang in May. The clear and melodious chirping of cicadas continued at night. The grass on the wasteland was more than half a person's height. Unknown insects flew in the air, with faint phosphorescence on their wings, shining like stars.
The big tent was very quiet. The general in armor didn't dare to move, didn't even dare to breathe, and didn't even dare to light a lamp. He was not the original veteran of the Yanbei Army, nor was he an old subordinate of the Yan Emperor. In fact, there are only a few of the old subordinates who followed the Yan Emperor to start the rebellion. These people in the army had fought back with every sword and gun. Although Your Majesty is gloomy and unpredictable, he is clear in rewards and punishments, and attaches great importance to military merit. As long as you dare to fight and kill, you will not be afraid of not having the opportunity to succeed.
The general's surname was Mu, and his ancestors were a family of scholars. Although his generation had declined, they were still literate and had some knowledge of military tactics. Relying on this knowledge, he rose step by step, and in just a few years, he had become the leading general in the Yanbei Army.
Unlike others, the general felt that His Majesty was not as violent as rumored. Yes, he once killed his teacher, his sister, and a group of people from the Datong Guild who had assisted him for many years, but so what? Perhaps people involved will think that Your Majesty is ungrateful and will accuse You of having evil ambitions. However, ordinary people like them saw very clearly that the Datong Guild had no knowledge of military affairs and government affairs, and was internally complicated and vying for power with each other, with extremely serious infighting. They occupied northern Yan for many years but achieved nothing. Invasion occurred in the north from the Quanrong tribe and control occurred in the east from the Daxia tribe. They were unable to protect the people of northern Yan, yet they insisted on interfering in state affairs. If Your Majesty does not use thunder-like means to intimidate and suppress such people, it will only support the establishment of a Datong regime with factional chaos in the land of Yanbei.
For those who accomplish great things, what does killing a few people matter?
Since ancient times, has there been every power struggle that did not result in rivers of blood?
The difference between a successful emperor and an ordinary person is the perspective from which they look at problems. Does he consider the overall situation or personal feelings?
Therefore, General Mu really had no good feelings towards the former General Xiu Li. According to his thinking, it was really difficult for women to accomplish great things.
"Mu Lang." A deep voice suddenly sounded, and in the empty tent, the tail end of the voice was faintly echoed. Upon hearing this, Mu Lang straightened up immediately, and then he heard the person above him continue to say, "Send a message to Cheng Yuan, and ask him to send troops to Songyuan Ferry and guard it tightly. Since the Xiu Li Army wants to go in so much, let them go in. King Jing'an's army is still waiting inside."
"yes."
"Also, tell him not to attack Zhao Yang's army, but to attack Zhao Che with all his strength. No matter what the cost, he must destroy Zhao Che's grain and grass depot."
"Yes." Mu Lang replied quickly, "I will send someone to Baizhi Pass to deliver the message."
Yan Xun shook his head. His face could not be seen clearly in the darkness. "No need. We can go tomorrow morning. There is no rush."
Mu Lang was slightly stunned. The military situation was urgent, how could he not be anxious? However, he did not dare to refute Yan Xun's words. He just knelt there quietly, not daring to speak.
"Come, have a drink with me." Yan Xun bent his waist slightly and lowered his head to pour the wine. Under the faint pearly light, he looked a little decadent and dejected.
Mu Lang was flattered. He quickly stood up and walked forward, took the wine glass, but did not dare to sit down.
Yan Xun pointed to a seat nearby and said, "Sit down, don't sit there."
Mu Lang carefully sat down, drank the wine in one gulp and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the wine."
Yan Xun also raised his head and drank. Mu Lang quickly poured wine for him and heard him smile and say, "It's been a long time since anyone has accompanied me to drink. In the past, I couldn't drink because of the environment. Now that the environment is better, there are no people who can accompany me to drink anymore."
Mu Lang's wrist trembled slightly. He was a smart man. Ever since Yan Xun ordered to stop chasing the Xiu Li Army last night, he felt something was wrong. After listening to Yan Xun's words at this moment, he felt more and more that he had heard things that he shouldn't have heard.
"Come."
Yan Xun said this very casually, and even tapped his wine glass lightly against Mu Lang's. He didn't care even when the mellow red wine spilled onto his fingers. The fist-sized wine bottle has a large capacity, but he always drinks it down in one gulp. In a short while, most of the pot of wine was drunk.