I, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, have risen since I destroyed the Turks

Chapter 751 Wu Sangui's Last Stand

The sandstorm outside Tongguan was howling, blowing up the dead leaves and dust on the ground, hitting Wu Sangui's weathered face. He squinted his eyes and looked at the Tang army in front of him, which was waiting in full battle array. The dark formation was endless, and the iron armor was shining coldly in the sunset.

"Your Majesty, we are surrounded." The captain of the personal guards, Zhao Tiezhu, whispered, his thick fingers tightly gripping the hilt of the knife, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Wu Sangui did not answer immediately. He slowly raised his hand and stroked the mane of his warhorse "Zhuifeng". The warhorse, which had followed him in battle for many years, seemed to sense his master's emotions and pawed its hooves restlessly.

"Report--" A scout came on horseback, almost unable to stand when he rolled off the saddle, "Tang troops are ambushing on the east and west sides. We...we have no way to retreat!"

The soldiers around him looked desperate upon hearing this. Some began to sob quietly, while others clenched their weapons tightly, with a determined look in their eyes.

Wu Sangui took a deep breath, as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest. He looked around, and all the soldiers who had followed him through life and death were now looking at him eagerly, waiting for his decision.

"Where is the captain?" Wu Sangui suddenly asked, his voice hoarse but firm.

A moment later, a Tang army lieutenant wearing Ming Guang armor rode out on his horse and pulled the reins ten steps away from Wu Sangui. The lieutenant had a stern look, and his eyes were filled with disdain and vigilance.

"Would Li Xian like to negotiate terms with me?" Wu Sangui looked directly into the captain's eyes, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.

The captain sneered and shook his head: "Okay, you surrender first."

The air seemed to freeze. The soldiers behind Wu Sangui began to stir, some cursing angrily, while others hung their heads in despair.

Wu Sangui raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. He slowly dismounted, his armor making a dull clanging sound. Zhuifeng neighed uneasily and rubbed his head against his master's shoulder.

"I am willing to surrender," Wu Sangui's voice suddenly became unusually calm, "but please let the others go."

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Tiezhu and several of his personal soldiers exclaimed at the same time, dismounting and kneeling on the ground, "No!"

Wu Sangui did not look back, but waved his hand: "I voluntarily surrender and will not implicate anyone. Shut up."

The captain nodded slightly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then ordered: "Tie them up."

"Yes, sir!" A team of Jinyiwei responded and walked towards Wu Sangui holding ropes.

At this critical moment, there was a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats and shouts of killing from the rear. Wu Sangui turned his head sharply and saw a group of cavalrymen with Tang army flags rushing from behind them, and the leader was his deputy general Li Xian!
"Your Majesty, hurry! Run away!" Li Xian shouted loudly with a strange smile on his face.

Wu Sangui understood everything in an instant. He was furious, with veins popping out on his forehead: "Li Xian! You actually betrayed me!"

Li Xian laughed: "He who knows the current situation is a hero! Wu Sangui, your situation is over, why do you have to drag so many people to be buried with you?"

Zhao Tiezhu roared, drew his long sword and blocked Wu Sangui: "Protect His Majesty!"

A melee was about to break out. The rebels led by Li Xian and the Tang army attacked from both sides, and Wu Sangui's troops were immediately in a desperate situation. Arrows rained down like raindrops, and screams rang out one after another.

"Your Majesty, as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!" A personal soldier with blood all over his face pulled Wu Sangui's sleeve and shouted.

Wu Sangui looked back and saw that the soldiers who had followed him for many years were fighting desperately, using their flesh and blood to build a defense line for him. His eyes were moist and hot tears slid down his cheeks.

"Good brother, let's go together." Wu Sangui choked and suddenly drew out his sword "Qingshuang". The sword glowed coldly in the setting sun.

Zhao Tiezhu was already blood-thirsty. He brandished his long sword and cut a bloody path through the enemy's formation: "Your Majesty, follow me!"

Wu Sangui jumped on his horse. Zhuifeng seemed to sense his master's determination, and he neighed loudly, and rushed out like an arrow. A dozen personal soldiers followed closely behind him, forming a moving defense line. "My men, follow me!" Wu Sangui raised his head and howled, his voice full of grief, indignation and unwillingness.

Arrows whizzed past his ears, and one of them grazed Wu Sangui's cheek, leaving a bloody mark. But he was completely unaware, and his eyes were only focused on the narrow path ahead.

Zhao Tiezhu rushed to the front. His left arm had been shot by an arrow, but he still swung his long sword, killing an enemy with every swing. "Your Majesty, there is a forest ahead. We will be safe once we enter the forest!"

However, just as they were about to rush into the woods, a group of archers hiding in the bushes suddenly appeared and a dense rain of arrows came towards them.

"Be careful!" Wu Sangui shouted, but it was too late. The three soldiers in the front fell off their horses. Zhao Tiezhu was also shot in the shoulder by an arrow. He groaned and almost fell off his horse.

Zhuifeng suddenly raised its front hooves into the air and neighed in pain - an arrow had deeply penetrated its hind leg. Wu Sangui caressed his beloved horse's neck with a look of determination in his eyes.

"Dismount!" he ordered, jumping off the injured Zhuifeng first, "Tiezhu, you take the brothers who can still walk and continue to move forward. I will cover your retreat!"

"No!" Zhao Tiezhu roared, "I will never abandon your majesty!"

Wu Sangui turned around suddenly, pointing the Qingshuang Sword directly at Zhao Tiezhu's throat: "This is an order! I want you to return alive and tell the world what happened today!"

The two men's eyes met in the bloody air. Zhao Tiezhu's eyes were full of tears, but he finally nodded: "As you command, Your Majesty."

Wu Sangui smiled with relief and turned to face the enemy troops that were coming in like a tide. He slowly took off his helmet and let his gray hair flutter in the wind.

"Li Xian!" he shouted, "You want my head, don't you? Come and take it!"

In the distance, Li Xian's face changed. He waved his hand to signal the archers to stop shooting: "Wu Sangui, surrender. I can save your life!"

Wu Sangui laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm: "I would rather die than surrender to a traitor!"

At this moment, there was a sudden movement in the woods. Dozens of ragged civilians with sharp blades rushed out, led by a white-haired old man.

"Prince Wu! We are here to help you!" the old man shouted loudly.

Wu Sangui was stunned. These were the people he had protected when he was stationed at the border. He never expected that they would stand up at this critical moment.

"Father-in-law, you..." Wu Sangui's voice choked.

The old man waved a rusty hatchet and said, "The prince saved our entire village back then, and now it's our turn to repay him!"

Li Xian was furious when he saw this: "A bunch of unruly people, looking for death! Shoot!"

The rain of arrows poured down again, and several civilians fell to the ground. But the rest were not afraid at all, and used their bodies to build a human wall for Wu Sangui and the remaining soldiers.

"Your Highness, please leave quickly!" The old man pushed Wu Sangui, but he was shot in the chest by an arrow and slowly fell down.

Wu Sangui's eyes were burning with rage. He clenched the Qingshuang sword and was about to rush forward to fight, but was held back by Zhao Tiezhu.

"Your Majesty, their sacrifice cannot be in vain!" Zhao Tiezhu cried.

Wu Sangui closed his eyes in pain. When he opened them again, his eyes were clear: "Go!"

The remaining dozen people, under the protection of the people, finally rushed into the depths of the woods. Behind them, the shouts of the pursuers gradually faded away, but everyone knew that the real test had just begun.
(End of this chapter)