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

Chapter 768 Showdown of Nemesis
Before dawn, Xiangyang was shrouded in a blood-red hue. Torches flickered on the city walls, illuminating weary yet resolute faces. Outside the city, the Mongol army's camps stretched for miles, encircling the isolated city like a black tide.

Guo Jing stood atop the city wall, his rough hands gripping the cold bricks. His gaze swept across the moat, landing on the distant royal banner embroidered with a golden wolf's head. That was the main camp of Möngke Khan.

"Master Guo, we've run down less than a hundred bundles of arrows left at the East Gate," a soldier with a face covered in soot reported.

Guo Jing nodded, his brow furrowed. Three months had passed; Xiangyang had been besieged for a full three months. Food supplies within the city were dwindling daily, arrows and weapons were being severely depleted, while the Mongol offensives grew ever more ferocious.

"Pass down the order: demolish the abandoned houses in the west of the city and use the wood to make arrow shafts. Have the women and children continue to boil the elixir of immortality, and make sure there is enough before dawn tomorrow." Guo Jing's voice was hoarse but firm.

The soldier obeyed and left. Huang Rong came up from behind and gently took her husband's hand. Her sleeves were stained with blood, left from treating the wounded.

"Brother Jing, if this continues, we won't be able to hold on much longer," Huang Rong whispered, her eyes filled with worry.

Guo Jing gazed at the smoke rising from the Mongol camp outside the city and said in a deep voice, "Reinforcements will definitely come. Marshal Yue will not abandon Xiangyang."

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose below the city. Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance and hurriedly ran towards the direction from which the sound came.

Beneath the south corner tower, the garrison soldiers were gathered together, pointing into the distance and discussing amongst themselves. Following their direction, Guo Jing saw a cavalry force of about five hundred men galloping from the mountain path to the south, their banners fluttering in the morning breeze.

"It's the flag of the Song army!" a sharp-eyed soldier shouted.

Guo Jing narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart. However, when he saw the commander of the cavalry, he couldn't help but gasp.

The man was clad in silver armor and wielded a long, eighteen-foot-long sword that gleamed coldly in the morning light. He rode a pure black warhorse, charging ahead like an arrow released from a bow, with cavalry following closely behind in a wedge formation.

"It's Hou Junji!" Huang Rong exclaimed in surprise.

Guo Jing's heart skipped a beat. Hou Junji—this name was renowned throughout the army. Legend had it that he had once defeated five thousand enemies with only three hundred cavalry outside Yanmen Pass, earning him the title of "Divine General." However, this man was eccentric and ruthless, drawing much criticism from the court.

In the blink of an eye, the cavalry had reached the outer perimeter of the Mongol army. The Mongols had clearly also spotted the attacking Song army, and horns immediately resounded across the plains.

"Open the city gates! Let the reinforcements arrive!" Guo Jing ordered decisively.

However, before the city gates could be fully opened, Hou Junji had already led his cavalry like a sharp blade, piercing through the Mongol army's defenses. His long sword drew silver arcs in the morning light, and wherever it passed, Mongol cavalrymen fell like wheat being harvested.

"What a fast knife!" Huang Rong exclaimed.

Guo Jing stared intently at the battlefield. Hou Junji's tactics were extremely bold; he didn't engage with the Mongol army on the periphery at all, but instead went straight for the central army, with a clear objective—the royal banner of Möngke Khan.

The Mongol army was clearly unprepared for the ferocity of this Song army, and their ranks were thrown into disarray. Hou Junji seized the opportunity, sweeping his longsword across, and three Mongol cavalrymen fell from their horses simultaneously. His warhorse leaped high, soaring over the fallen enemies, and continued its charge.

"All troops, attack! Cooperate with General Hou!" Guo Jing drew his longsword and personally led a team of elite troops out of the city gate.

The battlefield erupted in a deafening roar of battle cries. The defenders of Xiangyang and Hou Junji's cavalry formed a pincer movement, leaving the Mongol army caught between two forces and their formation beginning to crumble.

Under the protection of his personal guards, Möngke Khan coldly observed the battlefield situation. When he recognized Hou Junji, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Is that the Song people's 'divine general'?" Möngke pointed his whip in the direction of Hou Junji.

"Your Majesty, it is indeed Hou Junji. This man is highly skilled in martial arts and once broke through seven of our army's camps in the Northwest," the commander beside him replied in a low voice.

Möngke snorted coldly: "Send word: whoever captures this man alive will be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold and appointed a commander of ten thousand!" The order spread swiftly, and Mongol cavalry surged towards Hou Junji like a tidal wave. However, Hou Junji was not afraid at all. His long sword swung like the wind, each strike precisely finding gaps in the enemy's armor. His combat skills were concise and efficient, without any superfluous movements, like a precise killing machine.

Guo Jing's troops had already charged into the enemy ranks. His Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were incredibly powerful; with each strike, Mongol soldiers coughed up blood and flew backward. The two reinforcements gradually converged, and the battlefield situation began to reverse.

"Great Hero Guo!" Hou Junji bowed to Guo Jing from his horse, his face splattered with enemy blood, yet bearing a wild smile. "I've long admired your name; meeting you today, I can confirm it truly lives up to its reputation!"

Guo Jing was about to respond when his expression suddenly changed drastically: "General Hou, be careful!"

A stray arrow flew towards Hou Junji from the side. Without turning his head, he swung his longsword in a backhand motion, precisely cleaving the arrow in two. This feat drew cheers from the surrounding Song soldiers.

"Mongke is going to personally lead the troops!" Huang Rong rode up and pointed in the direction of the Mongol central army.

Sure enough, Möngke Khan was already fully armed and, escorted by a troop of elite cavalry, was advancing towards the center of the battlefield. His target was clear—Hou Junji.

"General Hou, Mongke's martial arts are extremely high, we must not underestimate him!" Guo Jing reminded him.

Hou Junji laughed loudly: "I couldn't be happier!" With that, he spurred his horse forward and took the initiative to meet Möngke.

The two armies automatically parted on the battlefield, creating a path for their commanders to face off. The Mongol soldiers shouted "Long live the Great Khan!" while the Song soldiers yelled in unison, "General Hou is mighty!"

Mongke held a curved sword, its blade gleaming with an eerie blue light, clearly coated with deadly poison. He coldly scrutinized Hou Junji: "Song general, state your name."

"General Hou Junji of the Great Song Dynasty, General of Anxi." Hou Junji stood on his horse, sword in hand, his imposing presence no less than that of the grassland overlord.

“Good, very good.” Möngke nodded. “Your head is mine.”

Before he finished speaking, Mongke suddenly spurred his horse forward, his scimitar flashing like a blue lightning bolt, aiming straight for Hou Junji's throat. Hou Junji was prepared; he parried with his longsword, and the two weapons clashed, sparks flying.

The two horses passed each other, then turned around and clashed again. This time, Hou Junji took the initiative, his longsword slashing like a storm. Although Mongke was highly skilled in martial arts, he could only barely parry.

"Great Khan, be careful!" The Mongol guards rushed forward to help their master when he was at a disadvantage.

Upon seeing this, Guo Jing immediately led a detachment of elite troops to intercept them. The battlefield instantly descended into chaos. The Mongol cavalry fought desperately to protect their Khan, while the Song army did everything in their power to prevent them from approaching Houjunji.

Seeing his guards blocked, Möngke's face flashed with anxiety. In that moment of distraction, Hou Junji's longsword had already slashed through his shoulder armor, and blood instantly stained his golden battle robe.

"The Great Khan is wounded!" A cry of alarm rang out from the Mongol army.

Mongke roared and swung his scimitar even more rapidly, but Hou Junji could see that he was beginning to tire, so he launched an even fiercer attack. His longsword moved like a silver dragon emerging from the sea, each strike carrying the force of a thunderbolt.

"Your Majesty!" Three Mongol cavalrymen charged forward desperately, trying to slow Hou Junji's advance.

Möngke impatiently swept away three cavalrymen with a single stroke, but ultimately could not prevent Hou Junji from seizing an opening. Hou Junji raised his longsword high and brought it down with a powerful "Mount Hua Cleave" strike. Möngke hastily raised his sword to parry, but the blow sent him and his horse staggering back several steps, ultimately causing him to fall from his horse.

"Great Khan!" Chaos erupted within the Mongol army.

(End of this chapter)