xymnovel Chapter 26 Huangfu Charges into Battle, the Old Servant Flees in the Night
Chapter 26 Huangfu Charges into Battle, the Old Servant Flees in the Night
Meanwhile, on the other side, Huangfu Gong personally led two thousand elite cavalry from the Southern Army, like a red-hot blade, piercing deep into the heart of the Eastern Barbarian Central Army!
Iron hooves shattered the deathly silence of dawn, their hooves thundering across the frozen plains like a continuous rumble of thunder.
The crimson mountain armor coalesced into a scorching wave of blood, surging in through the breach in the gate.
With slashing sabers and thrusting spears, tents collapsed like rotten wood wherever they passed, and banners broke and scattered under the blades.
While the Dongyi soldiers were still half asleep, their breastbones were crushed by horses' hooves or their throats were slashed by blades, and their terrified screams instantly tore through the morning mist.
Huangfu Gong charged ahead, the Dragon Gallant Silver Spear in his hand gleaming coldly. His eyes were bloodshot, burning like embers; the pain of his elder brother, Huangfu Tianyang, being ambushed and killed on the battlefield, his body never to be found, gnawed at his heart day and night. At this moment, the flames of hatred mixed with killing intent exploded in his chest!
"You treacherous barbarian dogs! Pay for my brother's life!"
The roar was like a thunderclap, and the sound wave even caused a centurion from the Eastern Barbarians three zhang away to bleed from his ears and nose!
The gun arrived with the sound, its tip flashing seven cold stars, piercing the throats of seven enemies.
Blood splattered almost simultaneously. Before the seven corpses could fall, his fiery steed had already trampled over them and charged straight at the central army banner!
The Dongyi guards on duty outside the tent had just gotten up from their straw mats when, still half asleep, they saw the red tide sweeping in.
Some were so startled that they dropped their wooden spears, some had their trousers soaked with sweat, and many more scrambled and fled. The courage they displayed during yesterday's siege had vanished in an instant.
"Stop the Red-Armored Cavalry! Protect the Emperor!!!"
A fierce roar erupted from behind the tent! Chu Ying led five hundred personal guards of the Bordered Yellow Banner out like a whirlwind, forming a black iron dam in front of them.
Yesterday, Nurhaci's eldest son personally supervised the siege. His armor was still stained with blood, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was a mixture of dust and dried bloodstains. Yet, he still mustered his spirits, his long iron sword pointing directly at Huangfu Gong.
"How dare you, you scoundrel, invade my central army! Today I'll teach you a lesson that will leave you with nothing but bones!"
A glint of ice flashed in Huangfu Gong's eyes, and a nearly ferocious smile spread across his lips.
Without answering, he simply twisted the barrel of the gun.
"Thunderous Three Nods!"
The spear tip suddenly exploded into three large, bowl-sized spear flowers, silver light flickering like a venomous snake's tongue, slicing through the throats, hearts, and three inches below the navels of the first three guards! Swift! Accurate! Ruthless!
Just as the three men raised their knives to parry, bloody holes simultaneously appeared in Chu Ying's throat, chest, and abdomen, spraying warm blood all over his face!
Chu Ying was shocked and took a half step back, never expecting his enemy's pistol skills to be so cunning and fierce.
Filled with shame and rage, he spurred his horse forward, swinging his longsword in a wide arc, the blade whistling through the air: "Die!"
Huangfu Gong scoffed coldly, lightly squeezing his legs against the horse's flanks. The fiery steed, seemingly possessed, took a half-step to the side, its blade grazing the armor, sparks flying.
At the same time, the silver spear, like a poisonous dragon, swung upwards, aiming straight for Chu Ying's vulnerable waist and abdomen: "Barbarian tricks, daring to be so fierce?"
Chu Ying hurriedly parried with his sword, and a loud clang made his arms go numb.
The two men spun around on horseback, their swords and spears clashing and sparks flying.
Chu Ying's swordsmanship was bold and unrestrained, relying entirely on his fierce courage; Huangfu Gong's spear movements were light and agile, with his pointing, thrusting, picking, and sweeping techniques flowing like clouds and water.
In less than ten rounds, Chu Ying was drenched in sweat from his heavy armor. The attack on the city yesterday had taken too much of his strength, and now his arms felt as heavy as lead, and his swordplay was becoming increasingly chaotic.
"break!"
Seeing that the opponent was a little slow to return his blade, Huangfu Gong thrust his silver spear forward like lightning!
With a "whoosh," the spear tip pierced through the iron plate on the left shoulder and went straight through the collarbone!
"Ugh—!" Chu Ying screamed like a wounded wolf, his long sword slipped from his hand, and his right hand gripped the spear shaft tightly, but he couldn't stop the spear tip from going in another half inch!
"Down with his post!"
Huangfu Gong exhaled and spoke, his arm suddenly swung! He actually lifted Chu Ying's 150-pound body off the saddle and slammed it hard to the ground!
Two valiant Southern cavalrymen pounced like leopards, quickly wrapping the rope around the wound several times, binding it into a dumpling in the blink of an eye.
"Father Khan—save me!!!" Chu Ying cried out hoarsely, tears streaming down his face.
This desperate cry for help pierced through the battle din and went straight into the central command tent.
Nurhaci, who was about to don his armor and go into battle, was shocked by the sound. He lifted the tent and saw his beloved son being captured. His vision suddenly went black!
Outside the tent, a battlefield of carnage had already broken out.
Dai Shan was locked in a fierce battle with Xiao Ce, the cavalry captain of Zhaowu Guard. He wielded his long spear haphazardly, relying entirely on brute force to thrust wildly.
Xiao Ce's face was cold and stern. His goose-feather saber flew like snowflakes. After dodging three moves, he suddenly turned and rushed forward, his blade flashing diagonally upwards.
"Snap!"
Dai Shan's large head flew three feet into the air, blood gushing from his cavity like a spring! The head rolled to the ground, its eyes wide open in anger, its lips still moving.
"Second Brother!!!" Mangultai's eyes widened in fury! He was already known for his violent temper, and seeing this scene, he lost all reason, swinging his axe and charging forward with a roar:
"Summer dog, pay with your life!!!"
The axe swept through, carrying a stench of blood. Two Southern cavalrymen were cleaved in two, horse and all, along the way! Their entrails and guts spilled onto the ground. Mangultai, as if possessed, charged straight at Huangfu Palace.
"Want to die? I'll grant your wish."
Huangfu Gong reined in his horse, raising his silver spear horizontally. As Mangultai charged to within three zhang (approximately 10 meters), he suddenly spurred his horse to charge again! In the blink of an eye, the two riders' stirrups met, and the silver spears, like white rainbows piercing the sun, struck first despite being the one who attacked later.
"puff!"
The spear tip entered through his chest and exited through his back! Mangultai's momentum did not stop; he ran for another ten steps before collapsing with a thud. His axe slipped from his hand and smashed into the frozen ground, the blade still trembling.
In the blink of an eye, he lost two sons, and the remaining three generals, Abai, Tanggu, and Tabai, were utterly annihilated.
Abai brandished his short sword and shouted to form a battle formation, but the red-armored cavalry advanced like a wall. Wherever the sword flashed, his personal guards fell like wheat being harvested.
A rider suddenly appeared, his long spear darting through the net of blades like a venomous snake, piercing his throat. Abai clutched his neck and fell to the ground, blood and foam gushing from between his fingers.
Tang Gudu scrambled into a nearby tent, huddled behind a grain sack, and trembled with fear.
The thunderous hooves of horses approached from outside the tent, and suddenly the tent flap was torn apart!
Several warhorses trampled him down with their iron hooves, his ribs cracking like popping beans. Before he could even scream, he was reduced to a pile of minced meat, blood soaking through the tent and dripping down.
Tabai was struck by seven arrows and staggered away like a hedgehog. Suddenly, a stray arrow came from the side and pierced through the back of his knee.
He fell to his knees, and before he could get up, a Southern army swordsman galloped past on horseback, his curved blade slicing across his neck. His head rolled more than ten feet away, his lips still murmuring curses.
The area around the central command tent had become a living hell. Defeated soldiers trampled each other, their cries shaking the heavens.
Some tried to climb over the fence, only to be caught up by cavalry and cleaved in two; others knelt and raised their weapons, only to have their heads crushed by horses' hooves; and many more fought each other in the chaos, just to carve out a way to survive.
Nurhaci stood before his tent, gazing at the corpses of his relatives and nephews scattered everywhere. The veins on the back of his hand, gripping his scimitar, bulged like dragons.
His guards clung tightly to his armor sash: "Great Khan! The Bordered White Banner has collapsed, and the Plain Blue Banner has mutinied! If we don't leave now, our entire clan will be wiped out!!!"
A mouthful of blood welled up in his throat.
Nurhaci surveyed the vast army he had built up over half his life. Flames engulfed the tents, banners burned in pools of blood, and the Eight Banners warriors who had once made him proud were now scattering and fleeing like a flock of frightened sheep.
"General Helan... the ten-day agreement..." He gave a bitter smile, his teeth clenched so tightly they clicked, and finally, a blood-curdling roar burst from between his teeth: "Withdraw—!!!"
His guards lifted him onto his warhorse, and over a hundred surviving riders, protecting the wolf-headed banner, stormed through the bloody path and charged northward.
Huangfu Gong did not pursue them.
He reined in his horse and stood before the burning central command tent, his silver spear pointing diagonally to the sky. The firelight illuminated his blood-stained profile and the mountain of enemy corpses piled at his feet.
The morning breeze carried the stench of burning and blood. He slowly raised his head, gazing at the gradually brightening dawn in the direction of Beique Pass. His lips moved slightly, silently uttering two words:
"Brother..."