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

Chapter 766 Bloody Battle on the Battlefield

A biting wind, carrying yellow sand, raged across the battlefield. Hou Junji lay supine in a pool of blood, the blood gushing from his severed arm spreading a dark red stain on the sand. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his empty right shoulder, a wave of intense pain washing over him.

"General!" Several guards roared and rushed forward, forming a defensive line with their shields. One of them quickly tore off a piece of his clothing and used it to tightly seal Hou Junji's bleeding wound.

Möngke stood three steps away, his shoulder wound also bleeding profusely. He was panting heavily, but his eyes burned with the flames of victory. Blood dripped from the tip of his scimitar, creating small, dark craters in the yellow sand.

"Protect the general's retreat!" Lieutenant Wang Meng shouted hoarsely, raising his spear at Möngke. "Archers! Fire!"

A hail of arrows pierced the air, forcing Möngke to retreat several steps to avoid them. His cavalry had already charged into the Tang army's ranks, warhorses neighing, swords flashing. The battlefield descended into utter chaos.

"Sir, you go first!" Wang Meng helped Hou Junji up, but was pushed away.

"Get out of my way!" Hou Junji grabbed the long knife from the ground with his only remaining left hand, his teeth grinding together. "Even if I die today, I'll take him down with me!"

As the sun set, it stained the entire battlefield crimson. Möngke's cavalry, like a sharp dagger, tore a gap in the Tang army's formation. But the Tang army was well-trained and quickly regrouped after the initial chaos.

"Form ranks! Tortoise formation!" Wang Meng shouted. The shield bearers immediately formed a defensive formation, with spears extending from the gaps, creating a steel thorn.

Möngke wiped the blood from his face and squinted to observe the battle. The wound on his shoulder burned with pain, but what alarmed him even more was the resilience of the Tang army. This army could still resist so tenaciously after losing its commander.

"Order the left-wing cavalry to encircle them," Möngke said to the messenger beside him. "Set fire to their supplies."

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind. Möngke turned around and saw his strategist Hassan galloping towards him, his face filled with panic.

"Chief! Scouts report that a large contingent of Tang cavalry has appeared in the southeast!"

Mongke's heart skipped a beat: "How many people?"

"At least five thousand; judging by the banners, they're Li Jing's troops!"

Dust billowed on the horizon. The Li banner fluttered in the wind, and the armor reflected the last rays of the setting sun. The arrival of this new force instantly changed the course of the battlefield.

Hou Junji was escorted to the rear by his personal guards, his consciousness beginning to fade. He vaguely heard the soldiers shouting excitedly, "It's General Li! General Li is here!"

Li Jing led the charge, clad in silver armor and a white robe, wielding a gleaming silver spear. His eyes flashed like lightning, rapidly scanning the battlefield. When he saw Hou Junji's tragic state, a flicker of grief and anger crossed his eyes.

"All troops, heed my command!" Li Jing's voice boomed across the battlefield like thunder. "Charge! Rescue our comrades!"

Five thousand cavalrymen surged onto the battlefield like a torrent. Knowing the situation was hopeless, Möngke gritted his teeth and ordered, "Retreat! The entire army retreats to the northwest!"

Night fell over the battlefield, and the sounds of fighting gradually subsided. Inside the Tang army tent, a military doctor was treating Hou Junji's wounds. Outside the tent, Li Jing and his generals were discussing military matters.

"General Hou's right arm...cannot be saved," the army doctor whispered. "The wound is too large, he has lost too much blood, and he is still unconscious."

Li Jing nodded gravely: "Use the best medicine; you must save his life."

Wang Meng knelt on one knee: "This humble general has failed in his duty, neglecting to protect General Hou. Please punish me, Commander-in-Chief!"

Li Jing helped him up: "This is not your fault. Möngke was the greatest warrior of the Turks, and General Hou's ability to fight him to this extent is already a great feat."

At this moment, a scout reported: "Reporting to the commander, the enemy has retreated to Black Wind Valley, thirty li away, and seems to be waiting for reinforcements." Li Jing walked to the sand table and stared at it for a long time: "Order the entire army to rest. Tomorrow at dawn, I will personally meet this Möngke."

As dawn broke, the Tang army was already in full battle array. Li Jing personally donned his armor and led the charge, his silver armor gleaming in the morning light.

"Report! The enemy has arrayed themselves at the entrance to Black Wind Valley, seemingly preparing for a decisive battle!"

Li Jing sneered, "Just what I wanted. Order the vanguard cavalry to prepare for the charge, with archers providing support on both flanks."

As the sun rose fully, the two armies faced each other in the valley. Möngke, with bandages wrapped around his shoulders, rode a black warhorse, facing Li Jing from afar.

"Li Jing!" Möngke shouted, "Yesterday I severed Hou Junji's arm, today I'll take your head!"

Li Jing did not answer, but slowly raised his spear. With a horn sounding, the Tang army surged towards the enemy like a tidal wave.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a desolate atmosphere already hung over Black Wind Valley. Li Jing's white horse pawed restlessly, its breath condensing into frost in the cold air. He squinted, observing the enemy formation through the thin mist. Möngke's cavalry were arrayed in a crescent shape, clearly intending to use the terrain to their advantage to outflank the Tang army.

"General, the enemy's left flank is weak. We can order Qin Qiong to lead elite cavalry in a surprise attack," Deputy General Su Dingfang whispered.

Li Jing shook his head slightly: "Mengge's military tactics are cunning; the feigned weakness on the left flank is surely a trap to lure the enemy." He pointed to the grove of trees faintly visible behind the enemy's right flank, "There must be an ambush there. Order Cheng Yaojin to lead the Mo Dao (陌刀) troops to hide behind the central army, awaiting my command."

As the bugle sounded, the Tang army's vanguard cavalry charged towards the enemy lines like arrows released from a bow. Seeing this, Möngke Khan's lips curled into a sinister smile, and he raised his scimitar high: "Loose the arrows!"

A hail of arrows rained down, and the Tang cavalrymen raised their shields to parry. Suddenly, Zhang Liang, the captain at the forefront, stumbled—the ground was now covered with caltrops. Dozens of riders fell in succession, and the formation was thrown into chaos.

"It was a trap!" Li Jing spurred his horse sharply. "Change formation! Fish Scale Formation!"

The well-trained Tang army swiftly changed formation, their shields overlapping like fish scales. Seeing his plan foiled, Möngke led his personal guards straight to the center of the army: "Li Jing! Do you dare fight me?"

On the battlefield, Li Jing and Möngke finally faced each other. Möngke's scimitar slashed down with a whistling sound, and Li Jing flicked his silver spear, the tip of which precisely struck the back of the blade with a crisp "clang".

"Excellent marksmanship!" Mongke shouted, his sword suddenly shifting from a slash to a cut, aiming straight for Li Jing's throat.

Li Jing dodged the attack by leaning back, and at the same time swept his spear horizontally, forcing Möngke to parry with his sword. The two exchanged blows for more than twenty moves in the blink of an eye, yet neither could gain the upper hand.

On a distant hillside, Hou Junji, who had just regained consciousness, was being helped by his personal guards to watch the battle. Seeing Möngke's agile movements, he unconsciously clenched his one arm: "General, be careful. This fellow is incredibly strong!"

As they were talking, the battlefield situation suddenly changed. Mongke suddenly feigned an opening, and Li Jing's spear missed its mark, nearly causing him to fall from his horse. Mongke seized the opportunity and slashed at Li Jing's back with his sword!

"General!" the Tang soldiers exclaimed.

At the critical moment, Li Jing suddenly leaped from his horse, turned in mid-air, and thrust his spear like a silver dragon emerging from the sea, aiming straight for Möngke's face. Möngke hastily dodged, his helmet was knocked off, and a bloody gash appeared on his forehead.

"What a brilliant counterattack!" Mongke wiped away the blood, his fighting spirit growing even stronger.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a deafening battle cry suddenly echoed through the valley. A cavalry force bearing the banner of "Yuchi" charged into the battlefield from the flank, led by none other than the dark-faced general Yuchi Gong!

"General, do not worry, Yuchi Gong is here!"

(End of this chapter)