I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1004 The Prince is Shocked, the Kushan Empire is in Turmoil, and Divine Revelation Arrives (5K)

You're saying General Suren is dead?

"That's right, Your Highness."

The scout who brought the news knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Yucheng City has fallen! General Suren... has died on the city walls!"

"Snap!"

Prince Bo Diao dropped his riding whip to the ground, his face turning deathly pale. The laughter of the surrounding generals also abruptly ceased, and the air seemed to freeze, making it suffocating.

"Impossible! There must be some mistake!"

General Bahar roared.

General Suren was a general he had respected since childhood, who had made countless contributions to defending the southern border of the empire.

"Since General Suren is personally overseeing the defense of the city, there's no reason for it to be breached so quickly!"

Bahar yanked the scout off the ground and roared at him, his face close to his:

"Say!"

"How much benefit did you receive from the Han people? How dare you speak ill of General Suren like this?!"

The scout trembled with fear and stammered, "General, you are wise. I saw it with my own eyes. That Han general was unstoppable, and General Surun was nailed to the city wall by him."

"Bullshit!" Bahar roared, shoving the scout to the ground and drawing his weapon, shouting, "Dare to disrupt our morale? I'll kill you!"

At this moment, Teacher Fateh summoned several burly men who together restrained the enraged Bahar, brought the situation under control, and asked in a deep voice:

"Since you say that Yucheng City has fallen, then explain clearly: how many troops were defending Yucheng City before? And how did the Han army manage to capture it?"

The scout lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head: "Reporting to Your Excellency, our garrison in Yucheng originally numbered 70,000, but General Suren led them out to pursue the Han army, resulting in the loss of nearly 30,000 men."

“There are still more than 40,000 people in the city. How could the Han army easily capture it?!” Prince Bodiao asked through gritted teeth.

"That's their commander. That red-robed general is said to be the same person who was the Tang King of the Han Kingdom."

“What’s wrong with him?” Fathe asked.

The scout stammered, "He's inhuman! He said he subdued the war elephants with his bare hands, and he's taken almost all of the hundred-odd war elephants we brought with us. Even Baruch has become his mount."

"What? The Han Chinese actually tamed the Baruch?!" Teacher Fathe raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely true! But that's not the key point!"

The scout nodded vigorously, then hesitated, "That red-robed general not only tamed Baruch, but also..."

"What else? Speak!" Prince Bo Diao demanded sharply.

The scout swallowed hard, but finally decided to tell the truth: "He can kill from a distance. The moment our defenders on the city wall raised their bows and arrows, he broke their wrists with stones. In the end, just as General Suren declared he would fight to the death, he hurled a large spear from below the city wall, piercing General Suren through from a distance of three to five hundred paces."

"Huh? Three to five hundred paces away? One shot through???"

Prince Bo Diao glared at him, waved his hand, and said, "Enough!"

"How could you say something so absurd? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

"Men, drag this scoundrel out and behead him!"

"Your Highness is wise! Your Highness is wise!"

"Every word I have said is true; I am truly loyal!"

The scout shouted in panic, but this time no one came to his rescue.

Soon, a sharp crack of a knife rang out from not far away. The scout who had brought the news was beheaded, and Prince Bo Diao hung his head on a flagpole to warn everyone and severely punish those who spread rumors and caused trouble.

When all this was over, his teacher, Fatkh, came up and frowned, issuing a warning:

“Prince, I have heard that there are indeed extraordinary people in the Eastern Han lands, who can summon wind and rain, turn beans into soldiers, and are invulnerable to swords and spears.”

"Especially that King Tang, it was rumored before that he possessed the Thunder God's magic, which allowed him to draw upon the power of heaven and earth to breach cities."

"How could the teacher believe such nonsense?"

Prince Bo Diao sneered:
"What Thunder God Technique? We've dealt with at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, sorcerers back home."

"From heretical priests to martial arts masters, they all boasted about their amazing skills, but they all showed their true colors when the soldiers arrived."

"In the end, when swords were at their throats, none of these people who claimed to have great magic actually cast any spells, except for spouting some empty words and uttering some nonsensical curses?"

Seeing Fath's gloomy expression, Prince Botiao softened his tone and sighed, saying:

"Teacher, you once taught your students that the gods of heaven would never easily reveal themselves to the world, and that mortal religions are just things to fool ordinary people, existing only to compete with the royal family for power, and should never be blindly followed or believed. How come you yourself are the one who is wavering now?"

When Fath heard the prince's words, he was stunned for a moment, and then sighed with a mixture of relief and helplessness.

Indeed, as the prince's teacher, his most important task was to teach the prince that he must never blindly believe in the words of the priests.

In the Kushan Empire, royal power and religious power were not unified.

Even before, when the Kushan king was the true king of kings, the high priests were the most powerful force in the country.

He had previously been worried when he saw the prince pursuing the high priest's daughter so passionately, but now it seems the prince is quite clear-headed.

But
"A sense of awe is essential."

Fathe explained earnestly:
"While most of the priests who claim to be able to communicate with the gods are undoubtedly frauds, we cannot deny the existence of those mysterious beings."

"The Tang King in the East is said to have ended the internal strife in his country in a short time, bringing the Han Kingdom back to its golden age, and then defeating the eastern kingdoms one after another. He is by no means an empty name."

"It is very likely that he, like the prince, was favored by their gods."

“When facing such an enemy, carelessness is dangerous, and we must never be arrogant or complacent.”

Prince Bodiao was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Teacher's words are correct. However," a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, "even if he does have some ability, I will let him know that the Kushan is not comparable to a small country like the Wusun!"

Seeing that the prince was not dominated by fear, but instead his fighting spirit was even stronger, Fathi smiled with satisfaction: "Good! This is the future great ruler of my Kushan!"

Having calmed down, Prince Bo Diao stroked his chin and said in a deep voice, "The most urgent task is to quickly find out what exactly happened in Dayuan, and whether General Sulun has truly met with misfortune."

"Let me go."

Bahar stepped forward and volunteered, saying:
"Your Highness, please allow me to lead an elite team ahead to investigate. If General Suren has indeed met with misfortune, I will surely be able to bring back accurate intelligence."

Prince Bo Diao pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "My army needs you. Let's leave this investigation to the professionals."

Having said that, Prince Bo Diao turned his gaze to a lean young general beside him and said:
“Amir, I’m giving you a team of three hundred men, with one man and three horses. Go quickly and return quickly, and make sure you find out the truth about Yu Chengcheng.”

Amir is Prince Potsoy's trusted scout captain, known for his shrewdness and caution. Like Bahar, they are friends who grew up with the prince.

He knelt on one knee and replied in a deep voice, "Yes, Your Highness. I will not fail you."

Prince Bo patted him solemnly on the shoulder: "Amir, remember to report whatever you see immediately. Don't act rashly, and always be careful."

Amir stood up and grinned: "Your Highness, don't worry. Don't you trust me? My eyesight is better than an eagle's; I'll never let the Han people find my trail!"

Soon, a light cavalry unit was assembled. Amir mounted his horse, saluted the prince, waved to Bahar, and then led three hundred elite scouts eastward like arrows.

Watching the dust settle in the distance, Prince Botiao's brow furrowed even more. He turned to face Fatkh and Bahar, and said solemnly:
"Order the entire army to advance at a faster pace. First, set up camp at Pengikent and await news from Amir. At the same time, send out more scouts to keep track of the Han army's movements!"

“Pengikent?!” Bahar’s eyes widened. “Then aren’t we going back home?”

After the Kushans conquered Central Asia, Afghanistan, and ruled northwestern India, their kingdom gradually shifted from nomadic to settled life.

Pengjikent was a key border town of the Kushan Empire located at the junction of Dayuan and Kangju, and was an important stronghold for controlling the two northern vassal states.

Upon hearing that the prince had changed his destination, Fathie pondered for a moment: "Your Highness, are you perhaps worried?"

“That’s right, my teacher’s words reminded me that the scout’s words may not be entirely false.” A shadow crossed Prince Bo’s eyes. “If General Suren is truly in danger, our army must be fully prepared.”

“But if we go back to Pengikent, wouldn’t Bita be like giving away the Kangju people for free?!” Bahar said, clenching his fist.

"But if we don't leave, and Dayuan is truly lost, and the Han people collude with the Kangju people to attack us from both sides, staying in Kangju will mean certain death!"

Prince Bo Diao's gaze was deep and far-reaching.

He was well aware that although he had captured the capital of Kangju, he had not truly inflicted much damage on the Kangju people. Those Kangju people who had migrated north to avoid peril could at any time join forces with the Han Chinese northern troops and launch a counterattack against him. Under this intense sense of crisis, Prince Bodiao immediately made a decision: the army shifted its course slightly, not heading northeast, but instead quickly returning to the southeast of the country.

Pengikent.

This city is located in the northeastern part of the Kushan Empire, situated on the left bank of the Zelavshan River valley amidst high-altitude mountains, at an altitude of 900 meters.

It is 68 kilometers west of Beitian, the capital of Kangju, and more than 200 kilometers east of Yucheng, the capital of Dayuan. Behind the mountains lies the Tocharian Basin, one of the three major river valley basins in Central Asia.

This city, situated on high ground and controlling the east-west trade routes, was one of the most important passages for trade routes between East and West to enter India, and has been known as the Pompeii of Central Asia since ancient times.

Prince Bo Diao led 50,000 troops and immediately began to strengthen the city's defenses and investigate spies, intending to transform this ancient city into an iron fortress that would consume the blood of the Han people.

However, he did not expect that he would encounter an unexpected visitor as soon as he arrived.

"Samira? What brings you here?!"

On this day, Prince Bo Diao was inspecting the city's defenses when he suddenly heard that a caravan of elite soldiers was approaching from the south gate.

He went over and saw that the person who came was his sister, Princess Samira!

Princess Samira lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a radiant and beautiful face. She wore a magnificent silk gown and gold jewelry, her features possessing both the liveliness of a young girl and a touch of royal dignity.

"Brother, it's been a long time." She smiled slightly, her voice as melodious as a clear spring.

Prince Bo Diao hurried forward and asked urgently, "This is the front line, how did you end up here? Does your father know?"

When Samira saw her brother, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, scold her as soon as he got in the car, she pouted slightly. However, she quickly regained her composure, waved, and gestured for her brother to get in the car and talk.

The brother and sister huddled together, and Samira then whispered her purpose:
"Father's health is failing. He suddenly fell ill half a month ago. Everyone initially thought it was just a minor ailment, but it hasn't gotten better. Recently, his days of lucidity have been getting shorter and shorter, and I'm afraid his days are numbered."

Upon hearing this, Prince Bo Diao's face turned deathly pale: "What?! My father is seriously ill?! Why didn't anyone inform me?"

Samira sighed, "Perhaps the court officials are worried about affecting the war at the front, which is why they've been suppressing the news. It was only after our mother sensed something was wrong and sent someone to eavesdrop in the Queen's palace that we found out."

"Queen? Damn it, those old foxes must be plotting something again!"

Why is Prince Bodhi so eager to prove himself? The reason is simple: he and Samira are not the Queen's children, but the children of a less favored concubine.

When they were young, the mother and her two children depended on each other for survival, and they suffered countless scornful treatment.

However, thanks to this, the palace restrictions did not take them too seriously, and their mother often had their uncles take them to their maternal home in the countryside to relax and unwind.

It was precisely because of this that Prince Bodiao met a large group of partners who would later help him in his campaigns across the country. When the dynasty was in turmoil, he stepped forward and won the support of the people with his outstanding achievements.

But clearly, this does not include the current Kushan queen.

That woman also had two children, making her his mortal enemy and a true contender for the throne.

Upon hearing this news, Prince Bodiao immediately became restless and summoned his trusted confidants for a meeting.

"We must return to the capital immediately!"

Without saying a word, Fateh immediately urged:
"If the Queen were to install her son as the king while we are fighting the Han army, wouldn't all our hard work on the front lines be for nothing?!"

Bahar slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Your Highness, this humble general is willing to be the vanguard and immediately lead the army to escort you back to the capital!"

Prince Bo Diao frowned, tapping his fingers on the table: "But if we withdraw our troops now, the Han army will seize the opportunity to attack, and the situation in the north will become uncontrollable."

After a moment's thought, Prince Bo Diao immediately made a decision:

"My teacher and I will lead three thousand men back under cover of night. Bahar, you will lead the rest of the soldiers to defend this place to the death."

"Once I ascend the throne, I will immediately mobilize the entire nation's army to come to the north to support you."

This seems like the best option, however.
Princess Samira bit her lower lip and said, "Brother, Mother asked me to tell you that she met someone in the palace who appears to be a confidant of the Northern Governor. They may have colluded with the Queen to prevent you from returning to the capital. Taking only three thousand men... I'm afraid..."

"Damn it! That old fox finally couldn't sit still anymore!"

Prince Bo Diao roared angrily.

It's really a leak in the house that happened to rain in the night.

Prince Bo's true intention in this northward journey was not the journey itself, but rather to become the governor of the north.

Prince Bodhi, whose maternal family originated from southern India, had never received the support of the governor of the north. After gaining control of most of the country's military power, nothing was better than using war to consolidate power.

However, who knew that the sudden changes would disrupt everything?

Before he could deal with the Governor-General of the North, that man was already itching to make a move against him.

Teacher Fathe pondered, "If the Governor-General of the North has already joined forces with the Queen, our journey back to the capital will likely be fraught with peril. Your Highness, perhaps we should first send a secret envoy to contact the Governor-General of the South and ask him to send troops to meet us?"

“It’s too late.” Prince Bodiao shook his head. “My father could die at any moment. We must set off as soon as possible.”

Just as everyone was at a loss, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent. Amir rushed in, looking grave: "Your Highness, Yucheng City...has indeed fallen!"

Prince Bo Diao suddenly stood up: "Where is General Suren?"

Amir knelt on one knee, his voice low: "Although I did not witness it myself, based on what those defeated soldiers said, I am afraid..."

There was dead silence in the tent.

Without a doubt, if General Suren were still alive, given his character, it's impossible that he wouldn't have sent back any news by now.

Prince Bo Diao staggered back two steps, grabbing the table to steady himself: "How many Han soldiers are there?"

“About fifty thousand cavalry, but,” Amir hesitated, “that red-robed general… he is probably extraordinary indeed. Everyone says he is incredibly powerful, some even claiming he is an incarnation of a god.”

Princess Samira's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this: "An incarnation of a god?"

Prince Bodiao waved his hand impatiently: "Enough! What gods? They're nothing but tricks!" He turned to Amir, "What's the current situation with the Han army?"

Amir clenched his fist, swallowed hard, and said:

"This humble general is certain that he has never been exposed, but the Han army seems to have known our location in advance and is rushing here at full speed."

"Its vanguard of 10,000 cavalry is expected to arrive as early as tomorrow."

"What? Tomorrow?!"

Everyone exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that they would only have one day to prepare!
Prince Bo Diao took a deep breath and sneered:
"Well done!"

"Since that's the case, I'll first wipe out this wave of Han troops, then take advantage of the momentum to return in triumph, and see who dares to stop me then!"

It seems there are no more options left.

Prince Bo Diao decided to launch a full-scale attack, taking advantage of the superior terrain to deliver a crushing blow to the enemy, and return to the capital in triumph.

This certainly had an element of gambling, but the Han army's vanguard had been marching at breakneck speed, and the men and horses were exhausted and separated from the rear guard, which seemed to be a godsend.

Under Prince Bo Diao's determination, the generals finally reached a consensus and decided to have a fierce battle tomorrow to test the waters.

Unexpectedly, the princess suddenly shouted to stop her:
"Can't!"

"Brother, you absolutely must not fight that Han general!"

"I'm going to die, I'm really going to die!"

"What did you say?!"

Prince Bo Diao stared blankly at his sister, filled with surprise and doubt.

He had never seen his sister so panicked.

After a long pause, Prince Bo Diao finally spoke solemnly:
"Samira—with a great battle imminent, you've disrupted our morale!"

"Even if you are my sister, you must give me an explanation. Otherwise, don't blame your brother for being ruthless under military law!"

"It's Sister Dina."

Princess Samira said nervously:

"Before leaving, Sister Dina received a divine revelation in a dream: If you fight against that Han general, you will surely die!"

"You mean divine revelation???"

(End of this chapter)