xymnovel Chapter 74 Killing the General
Chapter 74 Killing the General
Lü Guang, son of Lü Polou, a famous minister of the Former Qin Dynasty, came from a powerful Di ethnic family. He was a key military figure from the Former Qin to the Later Liang period. He had a distinguished military career but could not escape the regret of his later years.
When Lü Guang was young, he was calm, steady, generous and magnanimous, and never showed his emotions. His talents were not valued by his contemporaries, but he was appreciated by Wang Meng, the prime minister of the Former Qin Dynasty.
Later, recommended by Wang Meng, he entered officialdom through the "recommendation of virtuous and capable people" and served as the magistrate of Meiyang County near Chang'an. During his tenure, "the people and barbarians feared and loved him, and the neighboring areas were pacified." He was later promoted to General Yingyang and granted the title of Marquis of Guannei.
After that, Lü Guang began a new chapter in his life.
In the Battle of Tongbi, facing the formidable general Zhang Hao, whom no one could defeat, Lü Guang stabbed him off his horse, allowing Deng Qiang to capture him alive. After this battle, Lü Guang's fame spread far and wide.
During the rebellion of Fu Shuang and Fu Wu, Lü Guang took advantage of the rebels' lack of food and launched a swift pursuit, killing 15,000 men.
Later, he quelled the rebellion of Fu Luo, captured the main general alive, and was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry based on his military achievements, becoming a key military figure relied upon by Fu Jian.
In 382 AD, he was ordered to lead 70,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry on a westward expedition to the Western Regions. He led his troops across 300 miles of shifting sands and used his unique "hook and chain method" to defeat the allied forces of Kucha and the Western Regions, beheading more than 10,000 people. He forced the King of Kucha to abandon the city and flee. More than 30 countries in the Western Regions sent envoys to submit to him. He also successfully brought the eminent monk Kumarajiva back to the east.
In 385 AD, Lü Guang killed Liang Xi, the governor of Liangzhou, on his way back east and occupied Guzang.
In 386 AD, he quelled the rebellion of Zhang Dayu, killing more than 20,000 people including Tuoba Xiyu, and then wiped out the separatist forces of Peng Huang and Wang Mu, unifying the entire Hexi region.
In 389 AD, he proclaimed himself King of the Three Rivers.
The Later Liang regime was formally established in 396 AD, with its capital at Guzang.
During Lü Guang's reign, he defeated Peng Xinian of the Southern Qiang and seized Fuhan, and conquered the Western Qin, forcing it to submit to the vassal state and pay hostages. In the later period, he fought against the Southern Liang and Northern Liang forces, with both sides experiencing victories and defeats.
History has also offered polarized opinions about it.
Fu Jian praised him as "loyal, filial, and upright," while Wang Meng called him "an extraordinary person."
The Book of Jin also acknowledges his military talent as "heroic, decisive, brave, and awe-inspiring in remote regions," but also criticizes his senility and incompetence in governing the country in his later years, which ultimately led to the rapid decline of the Later Liang regime.
Regardless of anything else, Lü Guang's abilities are beyond doubt. He could lead an army on horseback and govern the people on foot, making him a truly versatile talent.
And today, he begins to make a name for himself in the world.
[Ding dong, Lü Guang's skill 'Yi Wu' effect 3 is activated. When used against an enemy, his own attack power increases by 5, and he randomly suppresses the opponent's attack power by 1 to 6 points;]
Lu Guang's base martial prowess is 104, with the Cold Moon Halberd +1 and the Silver Mane Horse +1, bringing his current martial prowess to 111.
[Ding dong, affected by Lü Guang's skill 'Yi Wu', Zheng Bo's own attack power has decreased by 6, and his current attack power has dropped to...]
With a difference of nearly thirty points in martial prowess, Zheng Bo was stabbed off his horse by Lü Guang in just one round of combat.
[Ding dong, Lü Guang's skill 'Yi Wu' effect 4 is activated. When he is on the battlefield, the attack power of the entire army increases by 1. If he personally leads the battle, the attack power of the entire army increases by 1 again.]
Lü Guang's current martial prowess is +2, bringing his current martial prowess value to 113;
Chao Gai's current strength is +2, base strength is 96, Heavenly King Mountain-Splitting Saber is +1, "Valiant" is +4, and his current strength value has increased to 105;
Wang Ying's current combat strength is +2, and her current combat strength value has increased to...;
Zheng Tianshou's current combat strength is +2, and his current combat strength value has increased to...
Yan Shun's current martial prowess is +2, and his current martial prowess has increased to...
As the founding emperor, even if Lü Guang was only the founding emperor of the Sixteen Kingdoms, he was still a member of the founding emperors.
His awakened monarch skills naturally have their unique features. Moreover, this is a warrior emperor who fights on horseback, so it is not surprising that his skills have effects on the entire army.
With Lü Guang's swift execution of the general, the morale of the Liangshan soldiers was greatly boosted, making them act as if they were on steroids, directly overwhelming the three thousand government troops.
Damn it.
Seeing Lü Guang kill the general in one move, the morale of the Liangshan bandits instantly rose to a new level, and Chang Zhengkuo couldn't help but curse angrily.
His original plan was to remain firmly in the center of the army and, as long as reinforcements arrived, the bandit in front of him would be no match for him.
But he never expected that the person in front of him would be so powerful. If he were allowed to kill his way through the government troops, the morale of his men, which he had worked so hard to build up, would collapse.
Then the battlefield situation will collapse completely in an instant!
Upon realizing this, Chang Zhengkuo immediately decided to take action himself.
"Giddy up! You treacherous general, cease your arrogance! Captain Chang Zhengkuo of Fengxiang is here. Prepare to die!"
With a furious roar, Chang Zhengkuo's horse kicked up dust mixed with blood, which condensed into a crimson mist, adding to its murderous aura.
[Ding dong, Chang Zhengkuo's skill "Fenwei" effect 1 is activated. As long as there is no fear in his heart, his own martial power will increase. Each time this effect is activated, his own martial power will increase by 2. This effect can be activated up to three times.]
Chang Zhengkuo's own martial prowess +2, base martial prowess 98, current martial prowess value increased to 100;
As the warhorse galloped, Chang Zhengkuo leaned close to the horse's back, his broadsword whistling through the air as he slashed down at Lü Guang's waist.
This strike was swift and decisive, as if executed in one fluid motion. The wind from the blade whipped the hair at Lü Guang's temples backward, revealing his profound skill honed over decades of martial arts training.
If it were an ordinary infantryman, he would probably be cleaved in two before he even had time to react to this thunderous strike.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Lü Guang, a peerless warrior capable of wounding Zhang Hao. Just as the blade was about to touch Lü Guang, a cold star suddenly lit up, followed by lightning speed!
"Hissing sound—"
The warhorse beneath Chang Zhengkuo let out a mournful whinny, its front hooves suddenly buckling to the ground, and a spurt of blood shot out from its neck.
Lu Guang's move caught Chang Zhengkuo completely off guard. He tumbled off his horse and crashed heavily to the ground, his armor scraping against the earth with a screeching sound.
"General!"
Upon seeing this, the surrounding guards let out a heart-wrenching scream and abandoned their opponents, rushing towards them.
Chang Zhengkuo had no time to respond. In the face of life and death, he almost instinctively rolled to the side in a sorry state, his elbows and knees scraping raw and bloody on the rough ground.
"Pfft!"
Almost the instant he rolled away, a halberd whistled as it pierced the spot where he had just landed, the tip sinking half a foot into the ground, the shaft still humming loudly!
If he had been even a fraction slower, he would already be a corpse!
Chang Zhengkuo was still in shock when he looked up and saw that Chang Yuchun was surrounded by a surge of evil energy, which flickered like flames. This was a mark that only a Heavenly-level Martial General who had gathered Qi into Martial Arts could possess!
"Heavenly-level...Heavenly-level Martial General!"