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

Chapter 752 The End of the Hero
The gaps in Wu Sangui's armor were filled with mud and water, and every step he took made a tooth-grinding sound of metal friction. His golden armor had long lost its original color, and the brown-red mud covered every inch of the armor - it was a mixture of blood and soil, and it was proof of the continuous fighting and fleeing in the past seven days.

"Sir, the horse is no longer able to fight!" The captain of the personal guards, Wang Hu, shouted hoarsely. His left arm was simply bandaged and the bandage was soaked with blood.

Wu Sangui did not answer. He stood on a protruding boulder, the rain running down his visor, forming a muddy stream at his chin. In the distance, a dark mass of pursuers had appeared on the ridgeline, and the big flag with the word "Li" embroidered on it fluttered in the rain.

"Li Zheng." The name rolled out of Wu Sangui's throat like spitting out a piece of red-hot charcoal.

Three months ago, he was the most respected border guard of the Ming Dynasty, commanding 50,000 elite cavalry. But now, he has less than 300 remnants of soldiers left, and was chased all the way to this nameless valley. All this is because of that damn decision.
"Form a battle array!" Wu Sangui suddenly shouted, his voice exploding in the rain. "Even if I die, I will make Li Zheng pay the price!"

The soldiers followed the order silently. These veterans who had followed him for many years were exhausted, but no one complained. They lined up in a loose half-moon formation, protecting the last dozen war horses in the center. These beasts, like them, had not eaten properly for three days, and their ribs were clearly visible under their wet fur.

The rain got heavier. Wu Sangui took off his helmet and let the cold rain wash over his face. His 40-year-old face was covered with frost, and a scar extending from his brow to his chin looked particularly hideous at this moment - it was left when he fought with the Jurchens in Liaodong five years ago.

"Sir, look!" Wang Hu suddenly pointed to the hillside.

A tall figure was riding down the horse, with a black cape spreading out behind him like devil's wings. The man was not wearing a helmet, revealing a sharp-edged face. The rain washed away the blood on his face, but it could not wash away the murderous intent in his eyes.

"Li Zheng." Wu Sangui clenched the long sword in his hand until his knuckles turned white.

Li Zheng reined in his horse fifty steps from Wu's army. He slowly raised his right hand, and the pursuers behind him immediately stopped, their movements in unison. This army that once belonged to Wu Sangui was now loyal to his mortal enemy.

"Wu Sangui!" Li Zheng's voice was like thunder. "Surrender, and His Majesty may give you a quick death!"

The answer was silence. Wu Sangui's soldiers held their weapons tightly, and no one wavered. They knew what surrender meant - the penalty for treason would make death a luxury.

Wu Sangui suddenly laughed. The laughter started softly, then grew louder and louder, and finally turned into hysterical laughter. He laughed so hard that he bent over, and his tears mixed with rainwater flowed down his face.

"Li Zheng!" He finally stopped laughing and stood up. "Do you think I came to this point just to save my life?"

Li Zheng narrowed his eyes: "Then what are you doing this for? For the false title of 'King of Pingxi' given to you by the Qing Dynasty?"

"Bullshit!" Wu Sangui suddenly flew into a rage, his facial muscles twisted. "I, Wu Sangui, have spent my entire life guarding the border for the Ming Dynasty. Which of the 27 scars on my body was not left for the Zhu family's rule?"

His voice echoed through the valley, even the rain stopped.

Li Zheng sneered: "Then why did you open Shanhaiguan to let the Qing army in? Why did you betray your majesty?"

This question was like a knife stabbing into Wu Sangui's heart. Suddenly, that night appeared before his eyes - the fire in Beijing, the news that Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself, and the secret letter. The secret letter, which was stamped with the cabinet seal and ordered him to "borrow Qing troops temporarily to fight against the bandits together",

"You know nothing." Wu Sangui murmured, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

At this moment, Wang Hu suddenly shouted: "Master, be careful!"

An arrow flew through the air, Wu Sangui instinctively tilted his head, and the arrow rubbed his cheek, leaving a bloody mark. The archer behind Li Zheng had already drawn his bow and arrow, waiting for the order.

"Kill him!" Li Zheng finally lost his patience, unsheathed his long sword, and pointed it at Wu Sangui. The cavalry began to charge. Mud splashed under the horses' hooves, and the sound of armor colliding was like the death knell of the god of death. Three hundred against three thousand, this was a battle doomed to fail, but none of Wu Sangui's soldiers retreated.

"Meet the enemy!" Wu Sangui jumped onto the last warhorse beside him, holding his sword high, "The Ming border troops—"

"Fight to the death!" The remaining soldiers roared in unison, the sound even drowning out the thunder.

The two armies collided in the rainstorm. Amidst the flashes of swords, people and horses rolled in the mud. Wu Sangui's long sword drew a silver arc, and the first cavalryman who rushed in front of him was split in half, including his horse. The hot blood splashed on his face, and was instantly washed away by the rain.

"Li Zheng!" Wu Sangui looked for the black figure in the melee, "Come and fight me!"

As if in response to his call, Li Zheng's horse charged out from the flank, and his long sword went straight for Wu Sangui's throat. Wu Sangui barely managed to block the blow, and the two weapons collided, sparks flying in the rain.

"Traitor!" Li Zheng roared, his sword as powerful as a storm.

Wu Sangui did not answer, concentrating on dealing with each sword. They were colleagues and had fought side by side in Liaodong. At that time, Li Zheng was still a young boy, but now, his swordsmanship has reached perfection.

The two men fought in the chaos, and the battle around them seemed to have nothing to do with them. Amidst the flashes of swords and sabers, Wu Sangui suddenly turned sideways and slashed with his long sword, leaving a deep scratch on Li Zheng's breastplate.

Li Zheng groaned, but did not retreat. His long sword stabbed out at a strange angle, piercing Wu Sangui's left shoulder. Blood immediately gushed out, staining the silver armor red.

"This sword is for His Majesty!" Li Zheng gritted his teeth.

Wu Sangui's eyes went dark with pain, but he gritted his teeth and swung his long sword in his right hand, forcing Li Zheng to retreat. The two men pulled away, both panting heavily.

The sounds of fighting around him gradually faded. Wu Sangui knew without even looking that his soldiers were falling one by one. Wang Hu's roar came from not far away, and then stopped abruptly.

"You lose." Li Zheng said coldly, with rain dripping down his chin.

Wu Sangui suddenly laughed, with an indescribable sadness in his smile: "Li Zheng, do you think that killing me can save the Ming Dynasty? Do you think that all this is really just because of me, Wu Sangui?"

Li Zheng frowned: "What do you mean?"

"Go find it." Wu Sangui's words were suddenly interrupted. A stray arrow shot from nowhere and hit him in the back. He staggered but did not fall down. "Go find Zhou Yanru's letter."

Li Zheng's expression changed: "Former Prime Minister Zhou Yanru?"

Wu Sangui did not answer. His vision began to blur, and his legs could no longer support his weight. He knelt in the mud, his long sword stuck in the ground, barely holding himself up to prevent himself from falling completely.

"Sir!" The few remaining guards wanted to rush over but were stopped by Li Zheng's soldiers.

Li Zheng dismounted and walked in front of Wu Sangui, holding his sword to his throat: "Tell me clearly, what is the matter with Zhou Yanru's letter?"

(End of this chapter)