The setting sun illuminated the surrounding mountain valleys, and as darkness fell, the Dongyue army marched to Hengling, which was only a day away from Dongmen Pass.
The Dongyue army had been traveling from Liangcheng to this place for three days. Seeing that it was getting dark, Su Yun ordered his troops to rest in this mountain valley for the night, and then regroup and march straight for the eastern gate of Nanshu the next day.
To be honest, this mountain valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides, is the least suitable place for an army to set up camp. If an enemy army appears and attacks from all sides, the army camped in the valley will be like a trapped beast, with no choice but to be slaughtered.
But Su Yuntian was such an arrogant and conceited person. He possessed the most powerful gunpowder in the world, and he took back Liangmen Pass without lifting a finger. At this moment, he felt that he alone could control everything in the world and did not take anyone else seriously.
However, not long after the Eastern Yue army set up camp, a huge explosion resounded throughout the valley.
Just then, someone rushed forward and reported: "Your Majesty, an explosion has occurred in the southern military camp. The explosion was very powerful and has killed or wounded countless soldiers."
Su Yuntian was furious: "Weren't the military explosives stored in the western explosives depot? How could they be detonated in the south?"
Before the soldier who went forward to report could reply, explosions occurred one after another from the east, north, and south, followed by the painful screams of the soldiers in the Dongyue camp.
The Eastern Yue army stationed there began to observe, unaware of what had happened. Then, several more loud booms were heard.
At this moment, General Xiao Chuan of Dongyue stepped forward with a solemn expression and said, "The gunpowder is stored in the west, but at this moment, explosions are happening in different places at the same time. The situation must be unusual. It is very likely that Nan Shu is up to something. There may be enemy spies in the army who have stolen our gunpowder and launched a counterattack against us."
Su Yuntian glared at Xiao Chuan with eyes full of hostility, as if he wanted to devour Xiao Chuan alive. He said, word by word, "Investigate for me! Find those people for me."
The gunpowder explosion ignited the Dongyue military camp and surrounding trees, and a raging fire broke out. Coupled with the Dongyue soldiers fleeing in all directions, it was a horrifying sight.
Su Yuntian's brow was filled with hostility.
Xiao Chuan had only run a few steps when he retreated back to Su Yuntian's side.
"Your Majesty, what should we do now? Such a large fire, if it ignites the surrounding trees, our army deep in the heart of the territory will be doomed!"
Su Yuntian raised his arm and pointed forward, shouting, "Lead the men out of the ravine first!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of light streaked across the dark sky and fell into the army, followed by a violent explosion moments later.
By the light of the fire, he saw countless soldiers being blown into the air and then crashing heavily to the ground.
The explosives ignited the clothes of nearby soldiers. Soldiers, their bodies ablaze, struggled, screamed, ran, and rolled in the flames, only to set their comrades ablaze as well. Soon, more and more East Vietnamese soldiers were engulfed in flames.
The wind was particularly strong that night, and the flames quickly spread, igniting one soldier after another, and the air was filled with the nauseating smell of burnt flesh.
The horses were also frightened by the towering flames and stood still, kicking their hooves and refusing to move forward an inch.
Su Yuntian spurred his horse and looked up at the mountaintop, his expression suddenly changing.
Suddenly, the mountain hollow was filled with Southern Shu soldiers holding torches. Although he was far away and couldn't see who was leading them, he had a vague feeling that they were related to the Mu family army.
After all, apart from the Southern Shu army that Mu Yan took from Liangcheng before they arrived at Liangmen Pass, it was impossible for any army from Southern Shu to appear in this place.
Clearly, Xiao Chuan and many of the Dongyue soldiers had seen it, and they also discovered something that terrified them: the Nanshu army actually had gunpowder, and the fact that they could launch it from a distance to attack them was far superior to the gunpowder of Dongyue.
Now, the Eastern Yue army was in even greater chaos. They scattered and fled in all directions, their horses were startled, and chaos ensued.
Su Yuntian's narrowed eyes were as cold as ice. The soldiers fleeing in all directions were from Dongyue and Beiqi, but no matter where they came from, they were like the bow and arrows in his hand, nothing more than tools for killing.
He always believed that with gunpowder in his hands, there was no city he couldn't conquer, and with victory right in front of him, how could he be willing to admit defeat?
Su Yuntian, riding his horse, shouted at the soldiers beside him, "Don't run! Fire rockets at the mountain!"
But by this time, the Dongyue army was in complete chaos, with cries of agony filling the air. The soldiers had long forgotten about orders and discipline, and were fleeing for their lives in all directions along the side paths. No one listened to Su Yuntian's orders at all.
Enraged, Su Yuntian reined in his horse, drew his long sword, and slaughtered the Dongyue deserters who passed by him one by one.
He thought that once he broke through the East Gate of Southern Shu tomorrow, seized Southern Shu, then turned around and destroyed Northern Qi, and then Western Liang, he, Su Yuntian, would become the greatest king in the world.
But tonight's unexpected turn of events has scattered the entire Eastern Yue army like a pile of sand, easily blown away by the wind.
He was so arrogant that day that when he learned that Mu Yan had led the Southern Shu army out of Liangmen Pass, he did not think Mu Yan was a threat at all, so he did not order anyone to pursue them.
Su Yuntian exuded a terrifying aura as he roared at the Southern Shu army atop the mountain, "Mu Yan! Is it you? I underestimated you, you piece of trash."
The guards beside Su Yuntian, protecting his safety, said, "Your Majesty, let's retreat first!"
Another explosion landed a few feet away from Su Yuntian, shaking him off his horse and causing him to fall to the ground. If his guards hadn't caught him in time, the horse, startled, would have reared up and trampled him.
The guards escorted Su Yuntian, intending to escape along a mountain path ahead. Su Yuntian never imagined that he would one day find himself fleeing in such a sorry state.
The mountain road was pitch black, making it impossible to discern directions. Su Yuntian's guards could only run swiftly around him.
As they ran, a group of people carrying torches suddenly rushed towards them. Even though he couldn't see who they were, Su Yuntian knew that anyone who could so calmly block their way could only be his enemy.
He stopped in his tracks, and the guards around him drew their swords to block his way. At that moment, Su Yuntian suddenly saw clearly the man in the lead with an arrogant smile on his face.
Standing beside that person were Mu Jin and Mu Yan.
Su Yuntian slowly walked forward and said through gritted teeth, "You're not dead yet!"
Su Yi smiled provocatively and said, "I haven't even had time to marry A Jin yet, so how could I bear to die?"
Su Yuntian gripped his sword tightly in one hand and clenched his fist in the other. He glared ahead and roared, "Su Yi!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
