The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 527: Zhao Zilong Defeats Murong Tribe in Three Battles

Seeing the heavy losses of the vanguard troops, Murong Ke's eyes became more furious. He raised his scimitar and shouted: "My men, the Han people can only hide behind the city walls and shoot arrows! Follow me and charge forward to flatten Yanmen!"

The Xianbei cavalry roared and rushed to the city wall like a tide. They raised their cowhide shields, rushed to the city under the rain of arrows, and began to set up ladders.

"Pour the kerosene!"

On the city wall, Hao Zhao looked coldly at the enemy troops attacking the city below and gave orders in a deep voice.

Although he had relatively few soldiers under his command, Hao Zhao really didn't care about defense. With the strong city behind him, he believed that Murong's tribe would never be able to break through Yanmen Pass.

The boiling kerosene poured down the city wall and was immediately ignited by the rockets. In an instant, dozens of fire snakes snaked down the city wall, and screams resounded through the sky. The Xianbei soldiers who were doused in kerosene turned into fireballs and fell from the ladders.

“Let the Stones roll!”

Huge rocks rolled down from the top of the city walls, smashing the newly erected ladders to pieces. Each falling rock plowed a bloody path through the dense siege troops.

Murong Ke was watching from behind with his eyes bloodshot. He suddenly pulled the messenger beside him and shouted angrily: "Go tell Murong Lie to concentrate his forces to attack the east gate! There are the least defenders there!"

As night fell, the Xianbei people's offensive continued. Under the cover of darkness, Murong Lie personally led the elite soldiers and quietly sneaked to the east gate. They covered the ladders with soaked cowhide to avoid fire attacks, and finally dozens of people successfully climbed to the top of the city.

"General! There's an emergency at the East Gate!" the personal soldier reported in panic.

Hao Zhao sneered, raised his long sword, called his guards and shouted: "Follow me!"

He personally led his guards to charge towards the east gate. In the narrow corridor on the top of the city wall, Hao Zhao was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. When the sword flashed, a Xianbei warrior would fall. In less than half an hour, the enemy troops on the top of the city wall had been cleared out.

Just when the Murong tribe was unable to capture the city, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from afar. On the horizon, a cavalry force surged in like a silver torrent, led by a white-robed general holding a bright silver spear. It was Zhao Zilong from Changshan!

"Oh no! It's the Han reinforcements!"

Murong Lie was horrified.

Zhao Yun led the way, his silver spear like a dragon, and went straight for Murong Lie. The two horses fought for only three rounds before Murong Lie was knocked off his horse by a single spear. The Han cavalry took advantage of the situation and rushed into the Xianbei formation, tearing the enemy formation into pieces like a hot knife cutting through butter.

Murong Ke was terrified watching from behind. He hurriedly ordered his guards to blow the horn to retreat, but it was too late. Zhao Yun had already locked onto his position and led his elite cavalry to charge directly into the center of the army.

"Murong Ke! Zhao Zilong from Changshan is here!"

The silver spear was as fast as lightning, aiming straight at Murong Ke's throat. Murong Ke hastily raised his sword to block, but was shocked and his palm burst. Seeing this, the four generals around him rode their horses to rescue him. Zhao Yun let out a long roar, and his spear skills suddenly changed. When the silver light flashed, the four generals fell off their horses one after another, and each of them had a bloody hole in the throat.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Murong Ke turned his horse and fled. Zhao Yun took out his iron bow and shot an arrow, which hit Murong Ke in the shoulder. Murong Ke screamed and almost fell off his horse.

With the death of their leader, the Xianbei army completely collapsed. The Han army pursued the enemy and killed more than 10,000 people, capturing countless more. By dawn, only corpses and broken weapons were left on the battlefield, silently telling of the tragic fight. Hao Zhao stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the smoke gradually dissipating in the distance, and bowed to Zhao Yun who had just entered the city, saying: "General Zilong is brave and won a great victory in this battle. The Murong army has been severely damaged."

Zhao Yun returned the salute, the blood on the silver spear flashing a dazzling red light under the morning sun, and replied: "It is all the result of General Hao's defense of the city and the soldiers' sacrifice."

"Although the Murong tribe was defeated, Murong Ke is not dead yet. There is still a chance for us to make a comeback. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble General Zilong." Hao Zhao hesitated.

"General, don't worry. I will lead the troops in pursuit and will definitely destroy Murong Ke." Zhao Yun said without thinking.

Zhao Yun led his army to pursue the defeated Xianbei remnants, his silver armor gleaming in the morning sun. He raised his bright silver spear and shouted, "Eliminate all evil! Follow me!"

The first battle took place at the Yinma River. Murong Ke had just ordered the remnants of his army to stop and rest when dust and smoke suddenly rose from the rear. Zhao Yun personally led 3,000 light cavalry to rush over, and the Xianbei people hurriedly responded to the battle. With a silver spear like a dragon, Zhao Yun charged into the battle alone and attacked Murong Ke's center.

The Xianbei general Murong Xiao raised his spear to block the attack, but was knocked off his horse by Zhao Yun's spear. Seeing that the situation was not good, Murong Ke led his personal guards to break out, leaving behind countless baggage.

Three days later, the second battle took place in Black Bear Valley. Murong Ke set up an ambush and ordered archers to ambush on the cliffs on both sides. Zhao Yun had already sent scouts to find out the enemy's situation. He pretended to be tricked into entering the valley, but secretly divided his troops to go around. When the Xianbei arrow rain stopped for a while, Zhao Yun suddenly returned to attack, and attacked from the front and back with the troops who went around. In the melee, Zhao Yun killed eight thousand captains of Murong's army, and the Xianbei army collapsed. Murong Ke's horse was hit by a stray arrow, so he had to change horses and escape again.

The last battle took place at the foot of the Yin Mountains. It was midwinter, with snow and wind everywhere. Murong Ke only had a hundred guards left, and they were exhausted. Zhao Yun personally led fifty elite cavalrymen and braved the wind and snow for three days. When the two armies met on the snowy plain, Murong Ke knew there was no way to escape, so he drew his sword and shouted: "Zhao Zilong! I will fight you to the death today!"

In the snow, the silver spear and the scimitar collided, sending out sparks. Murong Ke was an extraordinary martial artist, and his swordsmanship was fierce, but Zhao Yun's spear was as fast as lightning, and after thirty rounds, a "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" pierced Murong Ke's throat. The Xianbei Khan fell off his horse, holding his bleeding neck, and dyed a large area of ​​snow red.

Zhao Yun put away his spear and stood, looking at the gradually dying snow, and said in a deep voice: "Order all troops to collect the enemy's corpses and take Murong Ke back to Yanmen."

When the victory report was sent back to Yanmen, Hao Zhao ordered the gates to be opened and personally welcomed Zhao Yun. Seeing Zhao Yun's bloodstained battle robe but solemn expression, Hao Zhao held his hand and sighed: "General, you have conquered the northern border in three battles. This achievement should be recorded in history."

Zhao Yun shook his head: "Protecting the country and the people is our responsibility." The two entered the city side by side. The soldiers behind them held up a large flag with the word "Tang" on it, which fluttered in the north wind.

After this battle, all the Xianbei tribes were terrified at the name of Zhao Yun, and his reputation of white horse and silver spear shook the grasslands.

After Qin Shou got the news, he immediately promoted Zhao Yun to the third-rank marquis. This fierce general who had just joined the Tang army showed his style on the battlefield and was rewarded.

This kind of reward is not what he could get when he was working under Liu Bei.

The news of the defeat of the Murong tribe reached Kebi Neng, the Xianbei Khan who dominated the northern desert, who was discussing the current situation in his tent. Upon hearing the urgent report from the scouts, he slammed the golden cup in his hand onto the table with a clang, and the mare's milk splashed all over him.

"What? Murongke's entire army was wiped out?!" Kebi Neng stood up suddenly, the scar on his face twisted in anger. The leaders of the various tribes in the tent were silent, only the Khan's heavy footsteps echoing back and forth on the wool carpet.

One general said sinisterly: "The Han people are cunning, and Zhao Yun is just relying on the advantage of surprise attack."

(End of this chapter)