Accident at the bottom of the cliff
“Zongzheng Hengyu is indeed a man of great reputation. His military tactics are unpredictable and his bravery is extraordinary. Ordinary generals are no match for him.” Munasha analyzed calmly, “The defeat at Blackstone Fortress was due to our underestimation of his decisiveness and risk-taking, as well as our overestimation of the rebels’ combat strength. Rather than sending a large army to confront him head-on, we should outsmart him.”
"Outsmart? How do we outsmart them?" Muller looked at his extraordinary daughter, his anger subsiding slightly.
Munasha walked to the huge northern sand table and pointed to "Fallen Eagle Gorge," a treacherous canyon where the Yanyun Mountains meet the Gobi Desert.
"This place is flanked by two mountains with a swift stream, accessible only by a narrow plank road in the middle. Our army can feign a rout, abandon some of our supplies, and lure Zongzheng Hengyu's main force into this ravine."
"At the same time, we will divide our forces into three groups: one group of elite troops will ambush them on both sides of the cliffs, with plenty of rolling logs, rocks, oil, and arrows; another group of light cavalry will circle around to their rear, cut off their retreat, and burn down their temporary pontoon bridge; and a third group of suicide soldiers will be sent, disguised as remnants of the army, to infiltrate their ranks and create chaos when they venture deep into dangerous territory!"
Her gaze was intense as she continued, "Zongzheng Hengyu is arrogant by nature. After a series of victories, he is bound to become conceited. Seeing our army 'defeated,' he will surely lead his elite personal guards in pursuit, seeking a swift victory. Once he enters Luoying Gorge, he will have no chance of escape! At that time, amidst the chaos of battle, even if he has three heads and six arms, he will not be able to escape the inescapable net!"
Muller Yan pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "This plan is extremely risky, but if it succeeds, it can eliminate my greatest threat in one fell swoop! Natasha, you..."
"Father!" Munasha knelt on one knee, raised her head, and her eyes shone with determination and an indescribable light that was a mixture of challenge and curiosity. "This plan was devised by your daughter. I humbly request that you allow me to personally lead the troops to carry out this mission of luring the enemy and encircling them! I have long wanted to meet this world-renowned King Heng of Great Shang and see if he is truly as rumored... invincible and exceptionally brave!"
She spoke the last few words softly, a flicker of emotion, not even fully clear to herself, passing through the depths of her eyes. The legend of Zongzheng Hengyu had already spread throughout Beiyuan with the help of caravans and scouts.
His reputation as a cold-faced war god and his supposedly unparalleled handsome appearance circulated privately among the noble girls of Beiyuan, naturally attracting the attention of this proud and arrogant princess.
Looking at the unwavering determination and confidence in his daughter's eyes, Muleyan knew she was exceptionally capable and possessed a fierce determination that rivaled any man. He nodded emphatically, "Alright! It's as you say! Munasha, listen to my command! You are hereby appointed as the vanguard commander, leading ten thousand elite cavalry. Follow the plan and make sure that Zongzheng Hengyu is trapped and killed in Luoying Gorge!"
"Your daughter obeys!" Muna Sha clasped her hands in a fist salute, a confident smile playing on her lips.
...
The northern frontier, the garrison of King Heng's army.
The successive victories did not make Zongzheng Hengyu complacent in the slightest; on the contrary, he became even more vigilant. Scouts reported that a small group of Northern Abyss cavalry and remnants of the rebel army were active near Luoyingjian, seemingly transporting supplies. Their movements were hurried, suggesting they were preparing to retreat.
“Fallen Eagle Gorge…” Zongzheng Hengyu stood in front of the map, his fingers tapping on the name of the perilous place, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
Deputy General Zhou Chuang warned, "Your Highness, Luoying Ravine is a treacherous place, easy to defend but difficult to attack, and there may be an ambush."
Zongzheng Hengyu was naturally aware of the risks involved. But he also knew that if they did not press their advantage and completely crush the main force of Beiyuan and the core of the rebel army, the war would inevitably become a stalemate once they recovered and were able to use the complex terrain of the Yanyun Mountains to fight them. This would only waste the country's resources and give the ever-watchful Night Hawk Pavilion more opportunities to take advantage of the situation.
"Only by taking risks can one achieve unexpected victory," he said coldly.
"Issue the order: Zhou Chuang shall lead the majority of his troops to firmly defend Juechen Pass, clear the surrounding area, and guard against any entrapment. I, the King, will personally lead five thousand 'Black Armor Iron Cavalry' to pursue the remaining enemy. I want to see whether this Falling Eagle Ravine is a place to bury eagles or an abyss to capture dragons!"
He was not blindly confident, but had absolute confidence in his own strength and that of his cavalry, and was also prepared to deal with any ambush.
The following day, Zongzheng Hengyu personally led five thousand Xuanjia Iron Cavalry, like a black steel torrent, chasing after the "rout" Beiyuan rebels, and marching all the way to Luoyingjian.
As expected, the enemy army collapsed at the first contact, abandoning countless flags and supplies, and fled in panic into the ravine.
The road inside the ravine is rugged and narrow, with the narrowest point only wide enough for three horses to walk side by side. The cliffs on both sides are steep, with jagged rocks, dim lighting, and a depressing atmosphere.
"Your Highness, something's wrong, it's too quiet!" the vanguard general reported warily.
Zongzheng Hengyu raised his hand, and the entire army slowed down, cautiously observing the cliffs on both sides.
He had anticipated the possibility of an ambush and ordered his troops to advance in a tight formation, with shield bearers on the outside, followed by spearmen, and archers ready to fire.
However, Munasha's scheme was even more ruthless. Just as Hengwang's army had penetrated most of its territory into the ravine, and the ranks were stretched out, the Northern Abyss assassins who had infiltrated the army suddenly launched an attack, igniting the oil canisters they carried and attacking the soldiers, creating enormous chaos!
Almost simultaneously, war drums thundered and battle cries shook the heavens from the cliffs on both sides! Countless logs and boulders poured down like a torrential rain, interspersed with ignited rockets, instantly turning the narrow plank road into a living hell!
"An ambush! Raise your shields! Stabilize your formation!" Zongzheng Hengyu remained calm in the face of danger, his voice like a stabilizing force, attempting to calm the army.
But the terrain was simply too unfavorable! Rolling logs and boulders shattered shields, soldiers fell, and fire arrows ignited the vegetation and soldiers' armor. Screams, horse neighs, and the sound of falling rocks mingled together in utter chaos. News arrived from the rear that their retreat had been cut off by the Northern Abyss light cavalry, and the pontoon bridge had been burned!
Zongzheng Hengyu's heart sank. He knew that he had ultimately underestimated the ruthlessness and ingenuity of his opponent's schemes.
"Charge forward! Charge out of Falling Eagle Gorge!" He made a snap decision, knowing there was no turning back; the only option was to fight his way forward and carve a bloody path!
He brandished the Liquan Spear, leading the charge like a black whirlwind. Wherever he went, the Northern Abyss ambushers who tried to stop him were killed.
The Xuanjia Iron Cavalry were also elite warriors who, under the leadership of their commander, unleashed astonishing combat power and pushed forward despite the dire situation.
Just as they were about to see the light at the mouth of the ravine, a lithe figure leading a squad of elite Northern Abyss warriors blocked their path. The leader was none other than Muna Sha, disguised as a man!
"Zongzheng Hengyu! Your death is near!" Munasha's voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of suppressed excitement, as she pointed her scimitar straight at him.
Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes turned cold, completely ignoring her challenge. His Liquan Spear shot out like a venomous dragon, aiming straight for her vitals! To capture the thief, first capture the king!
The two instantly clashed! Guns flashed like dragons, and blades gleamed like snow, as a thrilling battle unfolded on the narrow plank road.
Munasha's martial arts skills far exceeded Zongzheng Hengyu's expectations. Her knife skills were cunning and ruthless, and her strength was not weak either. Moreover, she was agile and moved among the rocks and corpses, fighting him for dozens of rounds without a clear winner!
Zongzheng Hengyu was anxious. The soldiers behind him were still struggling to hold on, and every moment of delay increased the casualties. His attacks became more and more fierce, each shot faster than the last, forcing Munasha to retreat repeatedly.
Munasha was also shocked. She prided herself on her martial arts skills, but she never expected to struggle so much against Zongzheng Hengyu. His overwhelming power and exquisite marksmanship made her truly understand the power of the "God of War".
But the more this was the case, the brighter the glint of light in her eyes became.
During the fierce battle, the two fought their way from the plank road to the rocky beach near the edge of the cliff.
Zongzheng Hengyu seized an opening, and with a sudden swing of his Liquan Spear, he deflected the curved blade of Kaiba Yue, the shaft of which then struck her breastplate with great force!
A muffled thud.
Munasha felt a tremendous force come over her, her throat tasted sweet, and her body staggered backward uncontrollably. Behind her was a bottomless cliff shrouded in mist!
"Princess!" a soldier from the Northern Abyss exclaimed from afar!
Upon hearing the word "princess," Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes flashed with surprise, but he had no time to think about it. He instinctively took a step forward, intending to capture her as a hostage.
However, the moment he reached out, the rocks on the cliff edge, which were already loose due to the previous battle and falling rocks, suddenly collapsed!
Zongzheng Hengyu's expression changed, and he lost his balance! At the same time, Munasha, who was falling, also slid off the edge of the cliff!
In an instant, the two plummeted off the cliff almost simultaneously! Their figures were quickly swallowed up by the swirling clouds and mist!
"Your Highness!!"
"Princess!!"
Both the soldiers on the cliff and in the ravine were stunned by this sudden turn of events!
...
The icy river water stimulated his senses, and Zongzheng Hengyu struggled to regain a sliver of consciousness from the violent impact and the suffocating feeling of drowning.
He felt as if he were drifting with the rushing river, his whole body aching as if it were falling apart, especially his left arm and ribs, which were piercingly painful, probably from hitting a cliff or a rock in the water when he fell.
He barely managed to open his heavy eyelids. Through his blurred vision, he saw a gray sky and moss-covered cliffs rushing past on both sides.
His survival instinct made him try to paddle and control his direction, but his injuries and loss of energy made it difficult for him to move.
He drifted for an unknown amount of time until the river seemed to calm down, and he was swept by a current to a relatively calm riverbank.
The icy river water washed over his body. He struggled to get up, but the movement aggravated his wounds. A sharp pain shot through him, and everything went black as he lost consciousness again.
…………
Munasha woke up before Zongzheng Hengyu.
She was also soaking wet and in a sorry state. Fortunately, she was cushioned by the branches extending from the cliff when she fell, and her entry into the water was also slightly better, so her injuries were relatively minor, mostly abrasions and shock.
She coughed up some of the river water she had swallowed, struggled to sit up, and looked around.
This is a secluded valley riverbank, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense vegetation.
Then, she saw Zongzheng Hengyu lying unconscious in the shallow water of the riverbank not far away.
His striking black armor stood out against the gray riverbank. His spear lay nearby, its red tassel soaked and dull by the river water.
Munasha's heart skipped a beat! Almost instinctively, she reached for her waist, only to find that her scimitar had been lost in the fall. Her gaze swept across the room and fell upon a sharp-edged stone.
Kill him! Now is the best opportunity!
As long as he is killed, the war in the North can be settled, and my father's biggest threat will be eliminated!
The thought flashed through her mind. She endured the pain in her body, grabbed the stone, and walked step by step toward the unconscious figure.
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