Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

puff--

The blade sliced ​​across his neck.

Warhorses carrying figures wielding swords galloped past headless corpses.

Blood gushed from the cavity, like a light rain.

"You scoundrel!" The sight of the head rising into the sky made Zhou Jin's eyes turn red. He gripped his spear tightly and shouted fiercely, "Give me your life!"

Shi Bao didn't have time to wipe the blood from his face, letting the bloodstains flow down. He silently advanced like a war chariot, wielding a wind-splitting blade that slashed left and right with great force. The sharp blade caused people's limbs to spin, their armor to crack, and half of their heads to be separated from their bodies.

Blood splattered in the air as warhorses charged forward. Shi Bao, his face cold, slashed down several cavalrymen charging ahead, his eyes fixed on Zhou Jin, who was leading the Song cavalry.

Zhou Jin's scalp tingled instinctively. Before he could think of why, Shi Bao had already charged forward on horseback, and the cavalrymen following Zhou Jin nearby simultaneously thrust out their spears.

"Drink-"

With his neatly trimmed beard and lips wide open, he roared and cleaved several spears in two with a single stroke. Then, his hands, which had been gripping the sword, paused, and with a swift, fierce pull, he reversed the blade.

Several screams of agony rang out as the severed arm, holding a broken spear, flew into the air. Zhou Jin opened his mouth and leaned back. As Shi Bao's warhorse galloped past, a flash of light from the blade cleaved him in two, and his corpse fell to the ground.

The crackling sound of burning flames filled the air, and horns blared from the rear camp. Throughout the plains, the figures of Qi and Song soldiers ran under the firelight.

The screams of death went largely unnoticed that night. In the firelight, Shi Bao, having broken through the cavalry blockade, crashed into the surging Song army. His personal guards, following behind, spurred their horses to provide support, instantly cutting the few remaining cavalry in two.

"Lord Yu, Lord Yu, behind us!"

A cavalryman shouted, and Suo Chao turned around. Behind his undulating figure, he could vaguely see soldiers and horses fighting fiercely.

"follow me!"

Suo Chao immediately shouted, and his warhorse turned its head. A cavalryman picked up the short horn hanging on the side of the saddle and blew it.

Hundreds of riders turned past a military tent and sped up from the other side of the passageway.

Surrounded by thick black smoke, he was anxious. He gripped his great axe and cleaved Shi Bao's personal guards who were fighting in front of him to death. He had only taken a few steps when the sound of hooves rang out from his side again: "You traitorous general, stop your arrogance! Sun Li is here!"

Leading dozens of cavalrymen, they broke through the black smoke and charged in like the wind.

Before Suo Chao's cavalry could turn around, they were rammed into the enemy with a loud crash. The outermost dozen or so cavalrymen were immediately cut down by spears and iron swords. Occasionally, the horses that were rammed into each other let out two miserable neighs.

Startled, Suo Chao didn't have time to fight Shi Bao. He quickly turned his horse around and smashed his axe at the spear that was thrusting at him.

when--

The sound of metal clashing rang out, and Xu Ning appeared in front of Suo Chao with a round face. Without saying a word, he thrust his iron-handled gold-threaded spear forward. Suo Chao quickly used his gold-dipped axe, shouting repeatedly. For a moment, the two were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.

In the midst of the battle, Shi Bao glanced back, his blade flashing as he felled several cavalrymen. He then pulled on the reins and said, "You hold them off here."

The warhorse pushed off the ground with its hind legs and suddenly leaped forward, the broadsword sweeping backward in a cloud of blood and gore.

……

Fireworks engulfed half the camp, and the smells of burning filled the air.

"The guards, blow the horn and let the surviving soldiers break out."

Bian Xiang, wielding a large axe, shouted amidst the sea of ​​fire. Beside him, Lu Junyi, clad in inner armor, had soldiers helping him put on breastplates and shoulder guards: "General, you go first, I, Lu, will follow behind to protect you."

Bian Xiang nodded, gripped the saddle, leaped onto the horse, and pulled on the reins: "Go."

The soldiers protecting him quickly followed, and Lu Junyi, holding his spear upside down, mounted his warhorse and followed behind Yan Qing.

……

the other side.

Arrows flew sparsely across the sky, and figures flashed in the firelight.

Once they realized what was happening, the other battalions of the Qi army rear guard reacted. Under the command of their officers, the other battalions, arranged in a quincunx pattern, dug trenches near the junction with Bian Xiang's battalion to create a barrier. Soldiers armed with powerful bows and crossbows ran behind the wooden palisade, nervously watching the dark night outside.

In the field of vision, flames burned in the military camp, and the figures under the firelight danced wildly as if drunk. Horse hooves trampled wildly, and spears protruded from the galloping warhorses, with screams coming from the side of the warhorses.

Suddenly, a figure pounced from behind, thrusting a spear forward with all its might. The warhorse neighed in agony, its front legs buckled, and it collapsed to its knees with a thud. The rider was thrown out and crashed into the burning tent. "Ah! Ah—" he screamed a few times before quickly getting to his feet.

Unexpectedly, a bare-chested soldier with a knife rushed over and plunged a blade into his stomach. He kicked the burning body to pull out the knife, and then a cavalryman following behind stabbed him in the chest, where he was thrown into the air on a spear.

Around them, more Qi soldiers tried to escape the inferno, and many officers and generals in the army shouted for their soldiers to evacuate from the range of the flames.

Nie Gong, with disheveled hair and bare arms, wearing only a simple inner armor and wielding a horizontal sword, roared as he watched the Song cavalry charging towards them from afar: "Song army, defend!"

The next moment, the Song general leading the charge spurred his horse into the Qi army, which had not yet formed a battle formation. He swept and thrust his eighteen-foot spear left and right, instantly clearing a space, and the cavalry behind him followed suit.

"Ah, you're asking for it—"

Nie Gong's face turned a deep shade of liver with rage. He roared and ran forward a few steps, then suddenly ducked down, slid forward with a sliding tackle, gripped his sword tightly, and slashed fiercely at the horse's leg.

"Humph!"

Yue Fei had anticipated this move. He snorted coldly from his horse and, as Yue Fei charged forward, he squeezed his legs tightly around the horse's belly, pulled on the reins, and the warhorse leaped up. He threw the Li Quan Divine Spear in his hand, grabbed it in the back of his hand, and thrust it downwards.

"what--"

The spearhead pierced through the inner armor, penetrated the flesh, and embedded itself in the ground.

"Ugh..." Nie Gong's eyes widened suddenly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

clatter--

As the warhorse landed, Yue Fei exerted force in his hand, gently lifting his spear, the drawn tip leaving a trail of blood.

Nie Gong's body was pulled upwards, a few specks of black soil were lifted by the spearhead and then pressed down by his back, and he lay on the ground with his eyes wide open, the light in his pupils gradually dimming.

"The ordnance isn't in this camp. Let's go, hurry up!"

Yue Fei showed no excitement at killing enemy generals; his usually resolute face was filled with impatience. The cavalry following behind him ran forward, and someone took out a horn and put it to his lips.

Waaah, waaah—

The sound of a bugle call came from the other side of the military camp. The bugler was dumbfounded, and Yue Fei in front of him also changed color. He waved his long spear and pointed towards the direction from which the bugle sounded: "Follow me, Suo Yuhou and the others are in danger."

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, horns sounded intermittently, and the flickering flames cast shadows on Yue Fei's face. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would stir the plumes of smoke, causing the cavalrymen marching against the wind to squint.

The sounds of battle and shouts gradually became clearer. Yue Fei looked at the cavalry fighting fiercely near the sea of ​​fire and immediately shouted, "Follow me and charge!"

"I am willing to follow General Yue—"

"kill--"

The horse's hooves spun up the black mud on the ground, and the weapon crashed down. Spears pierced men's bodies, and wounded figures fell from their horses, only to be trampled by someone. A scream came from beneath them.

Amidst the surrounding clamor, Yue Fei charged forward relentlessly, wielding his spear while constantly scanning his surroundings. Although the cavalry no longer had room to charge, the fighting became even more ferocious, with swords slashing and spears striking, every move drawing blood. The side that should have had the advantage in the surprise attack was now at a disadvantage.

The clash of metal produced a sharp and dangerous sound.

Suo Chao was also anxious in the midst of the battle. After exchanging a few blows with the fair-skinned, round-faced man opposite him, he knew that the other party was a tough opponent. As his warhorse turned, he could see the cavalry behind him falling off their horses one after another. The troops in front, which had been cut off, were being held back by a dozen well-dressed cavalrymen and could not break through.

"Drink up—" With a roar, Suo Chao swung his axe and slashed several times. Xu Ning calmly countered, his golden spear reflecting the firelight and flashing with golden light, dazzling the eyes.

"Prepare to evacuate—"

The great axe smashed through the golden light, sparks leaping between the blades. Suo Chao saw Yue Fei charging towards him and shouted, rousing himself and ignoring Xu Ning's sweeping spear, desperately raising his axe to chop down at the opponent.

Xu Ning was unwilling to trade his life for Suo Chao's, so he had no choice but to flick his spear. "Clang—" The two weapons clashed again and remained locked in mid-air.

The sound of hooves rang out around the two men. Shi Bao, covered in blood from the battle, spurred his horse into the fray, slashing his knife at Suo Chao: "You dog, leave your life behind!"

"what?!"

Suo Chao was startled. It was too late to dodge. He watched helplessly as the blade came down toward his face. In the corner of his eye, a black shadow flew past his cheek.

Ding--

The blade struck the metal, and the sparks that flew out illuminated the true form of the shadowy figure.

The long, flat spearhead is decorated with intricate patterns.

"what--"

With a hysterical roar, Suo Chao swung his arms and forcefully pushed Xu Ning back, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat that was sticky, damp, and icy cold.

"Lord Yu, let's go!"

Yue Fei roared, startling Suo Chao, whose heart was pounding wildly, awake. Without even thanking him, the two of them immediately brandished their spears and axes, launching a few desperate attacks to force Shi Bao and Xu Ning back. Then, they pulled on the reins and retreated diagonally.

"Don't go!" "Stop!"

Shi Bao and Xu Ning were furious when they saw their hard-earned credit slipping away. They shouted at the same time, twirled their spears and drew their swords, and spurred their horses to give chase.

Sun Li was commanding Sun Xin and Le He, along with a group of cavalry, to fight against the Song army. Just as they were about to separate the charging cavalry, the cavalry suddenly turned their horses around and began to flee despite being injured.

"Chase!"

The sick Yuchi was also unwilling to see the enemy retreat like this, so he roared and led his soldiers forward at breakneck speed.

The flames engulfed the enemy, and the cavalrymen, unable to withstand the heat, ceased their fighting and spurred their horses to push away the flames. Behind them, the sound of collapsing tents could be heard.

"Don't linger in battle. The enemy's equipment isn't here. Retreat—"

With his spear, Yue Fei deflected the enemy beside him and shouted. The cavalrymen beside him heard his voice and approached. The group did not dare to rush straight to the back gate of the camp, but instead rode their horses in an arc to the wooden fence and galloped along the open space.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed continuously in the military camp. As black smoke rose into the air, it added even more chaos to the already cacophony. Shi Bao, Xu Ning, and Sun Li roared incessantly and fired arrows every now and then, causing many fleeing cavalrymen to fall from their horses.

"Pengju, over here, over here!"

The shouts came from the wooden fence to the side. Yue Fei and Suo Chao looked in the direction of the sound and their eyes lit up.

A large hole had been broken through the wooden fence in front of them, and there were many corpses of Qi soldiers all around. In the firelight, they could see that Wang Gui, Zhang Xian, and Tang Huai were leading more than a thousand infantrymen.

"go!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the two generals quickly led the remaining cavalry over.

Upon seeing this, Shi Bao spurred his horse and brandished his sword, following closely behind. Xu Ning, Sun Li, and the others, fearing for his safety, quickly spurred their horses to follow.

"shoot--"

As the command was given, in the dim light, the Song soldiers outside raised their crossbows and unleashed a hail of arrows, raining them down on them. Then the soldiers in front retreated, only to be met with a barrage of arrows from behind, and so on.

Shi Bao and his men quickly reined in their horses, wielding their weapons incessantly. Some of the pursuing soldiers were hit by arrows and fell from their horses, letting out screams of agony.

Xu Ning felt his mount suddenly go limp, and his vision plummeted. He quickly grabbed his spear with both hands and used the momentum to get off the saddle. The moment he landed, several arrows pierced his armor.

"hiss--"

A burning sensation came from his shoulder, and the golden spearman knew he had been hit by an arrow. Fortunately, the other areas were protected, but his body was still a little sore from the impact of the arrow.

"Lehe!" A voice came from the side. The group turned to look and saw Sun Xin dragging Lehe backward. There were two crossbow bolts stuck in the man's abdomen, and he was holding it tightly with his hands.

"Take him to another camp to find a medic, quick!"

Shi Bao called out, and Sun Li and Sun Xin gave him a grateful look. Then Sun Li ordered the soldiers to help Sun Xin escort Le He back.

Sun Li spurred his horse forward two steps: "General, aren't we going to pursue?"

Shi Bao looked at the Song army figures that were about to be swallowed by the darkness outside, then looked back at the team of less than a hundred men, and sighed: "If it were any other time, it would be fine, but these Song soldiers are not spineless. I'm afraid we can't handle them. Let's go find the general first."

Sun Li and Xu Ning both nodded silently. Shi Bao looked at the raging fire behind him, then at the darkness where no one could be seen anymore.

"This is incredibly embarrassing!"

……

Boom boom boom——

The thunder of hooves echoed across the plains, the banner of "Wanyan" fluttered in the air, and the firelight illuminated Wanyan Loushi's stern face. The warhorse stopped outside the military camp, and the rider looked at the thousands of disheveled soldiers gathered at the camp gate not far away.

"General Wanyan."

Bian Xiang rode over, looked at the man on horseback, and cupped his hands in greeting: "With me guarding this place, the enemy will not be able to get out easily. I hope the general will keep an eye on things outside the camp to see if they can break out from another direction."

"Alright." Wanyan Loushi nodded, grasped the reins and was about to leave, but then stopped: "I'll leave five hundred cavalrymen for the general, so that it won't be difficult to deal with the enemy if they have cavalry at their disposal."

Bian Xiang paused for a moment, then solemnly clasped his hands in a salute: "Thank you."

Wanyan Loushi nodded, turned and gave an order. Cavalrymen followed the military commander out of the ranks, then he shook the reins and led three thousand cavalrymen away at full speed, their torches forming a continuous line as they wound their way along.

……

"Whoohoo-"

The sound of panting filled the ranks as the infantry, who had come to support Yue Fei and Suo Chao, quickly moved away from their original positions. The long run tonight had left everyone's lungs burning and about to explode, but no one dared to slow down.

"We suffered considerable losses..."

On his horse, Wang Gui glanced at the severely depleted cavalry and muttered to Yue Fei, "Now almost all of our elite troops have been wiped out."

"...They died fighting for their country; they are all heroes." After a moment of silence, Yue Fei turned to look at the still visible firelight: "The Qi army seems to be very experienced in night battles. I need to go back and tell Zong Xiang about this, so that we won't be taken advantage of when the Qi army attacks the city in the future."

The people around him nodded silently.

"The soldiers' fighting spirit is also high, which is something few in Daming Prefecture can achieve." Suo Chao looked up at the sky, then smiled bitterly at Yue Fei: "Today I must thank General Yue for his help, otherwise I would have died on the battlefield."

Yue Fei shook his head and smiled: "Lord Suo, there's no need for thanks. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. I only did my best and dare not take credit."

"It's a fact that you saved me." Suo Chao, however, was stubborn and patted his chest, saying, "I'm not an ungrateful person. From now on, you can do whatever you want with my life."

Before Yue Fei could utter a sound, he suddenly heard Tang Huai's voice: "Wait, listen to what's behind you."

The crowd fell silent. Yue Fei and Suo Chao turned their heads sharply, and in the darkness, a fire dragon was leaping. (End of Chapter)