After listening to the advice, I rebelled and became an emperor of all ages

"Pfft...pfft..."

The warhorse that had been neighing non-stop when Herodium came had now become limp, fell to the ground, and gasped for breath.

The once majestic figure was now just a trembling shell. The horse's eyes were filled with pain and fatigue, as if telling of the hardships of this escape.

Li Zhongwu looked at the scene before him, and a wave of sadness welled up in his heart. The fate of the warhorse under his crotch might also foreshadow his own fate.

This thought was like a sharp blade, piercing deep into his heart. He couldn't help but think of the brothers who had fallen. Did they, like this warhorse, still faithfully perform their duties at the last moment?
Even though he had just blocked Hu Yanhuan's full-strength attack, he was still able to hold on thanks to the unyielding determination in his heart.

Li Zhongwu held the hilt tightly, feeling the sweat and blood on his palm. That was the proof of his persistence and the reason why he was unwilling to give up.

However, the warhorse under his crotch had already given up and could not withstand such great pressure.

It let out a sad whine, as if complaining about this cruel world, and then collapsed to the ground. This whine echoed in the silent night sky, making people feel sad.

Li Zhongwu leaned over and gently stroked the horse's mane. He could feel the horse's rapid breathing, which was the struggle of life in danger.

At this moment, he seemed to see his own shadow - equally tired, equally persistent, and equally facing the test of life and death.

Hu Yanhuan, who had hit the target with one strike, immediately laughed loudly, his voice as piercing as the cold wind on the grassland. His laughter was full of pride and cruelty, as if victory was within his grasp.

Li Zhongwu no longer had his mount, his body was staggering, and his body was covered in blood. In his eyes, he was nothing more than a dying prey.

Hu Yanhuan held the scimitar in both hands and approached Li Zhongwu slowly and steadily. His eyes were like a venomous snake, staring at the opponent in front of him, with a sneer on his lips.

He would not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, nor would he give Li Zhongwu any chance to breathe.

"Good luck, old friend..." Li Zhongwu knelt beside the collapsed warhorse, struggling in his heart.

He gently stroked the warhorse's cold mane, his eyes filled with grief and reluctance.

This loyal partner had fought with him for many years, but now he fell on the grassland. He took a deep breath, and with trembling hands he closed the horse's eyes, as if to bid it farewell.

Then, Li Zhongwu slowly stood up, and the long sword in his hand dragged on the ground, making a low friction sound.

His eyes were as cold as frost, staring at Hu Yanhuan intently, as if he wanted to engrave the image of this old enemy deeply into his heart.

"What? You still want to come here?" Hu Yanhuan looked at Li Zhongwu's hateful face and couldn't help but chuckle.

His laughter was full of mockery and disdain, as if he was teasing a dying trapped animal.

The scimitar in his hand drew a cold arc of light, and the cold light flashed in the night. "If that's the case, then I'll grant your wish!"

He said, his voice full of cruelty and determination.

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Yanhuan suddenly swung his sword. The scimitar was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, and every move was deadly, aiming directly at Li Zhongwu's vital points.

His movements were swift and precise, the blade cutting through the air, creating a sharp sound of breaking wind.

"Come!" Li Zhongwu roared, as if he had used up all his strength.

His voice was raspy and hoarse, but it spoke of an unyielding determination.

His body was already exhausted, and the severe pain from the wound made every step he took feel like he was walking on the edge of a knife.

But even so, there was still a firm belief in his heart that supported him from falling down: he could only die standing, never live on his knees.

Li Zhongwu raised his sword and rushed forward. Although his movements were not as swift as before, each blow contained his last bit of strength and will.

There was no fear in his eyes, only determination. He knew that he had no way out, and this battle would be the final showdown between him and Hu Yanhuan.

However, physical exhaustion and worsening injuries eventually made it difficult for him to continue.

Just as Hu Yanhuan's scimitar attacked again, Li Zhongwu's vision suddenly blurred, and the sound of the wind in his ears became distant and vague.

Countless images flashed through his mind: the neighing of war horses, the smiling faces of his brothers, the mountains and rivers of his country... These images intertwined into blurry silhouettes and eventually turned into darkness.

"Plop!" Li Zhongwu's body fell heavily to the ground, and the long sword slipped from his hand with a crisp sound.

His consciousness gradually faded away, and only Hu Yanhuan's shrill laughter remained in his ears, like an echo from the abyss.

……

Time passed by, and the sky gradually became brighter. In a relatively secluded place, Lin Zhongyun led the people who had escaped from the siege to take a short rest.

The surrounding grassland seemed particularly quiet in the morning light, and the only sound was the gentle breeze blowing, as if telling of last night's fierce battle.

"Hoo-ho-!"

With heavy breathing, a scout used his last bit of strength to report the situation to Lin Zhongyun, "Your Highness, there are no pursuers behind us."

At this moment, Lin Zhongyun stood on a high place, looking at the gradually brightening light on the distant horizon. His figure looked particularly lonely and resolute in the morning light.

Although he was physically and mentally exhausted, he still stood straight, as if he wanted to support the entire team with his willpower.

Under the dim morning light, he bathed his whole body, which dispelled the coldness of the night and gave him a light warmth.

The rising sun should represent hope, but at this moment, he not only could not feel any warmth, but his heart was chilled. The chill that penetrated deep into his bones seemed to freeze his heart.

Several hours had passed since they began their breakout after dark.

During this period, he had certainly escaped the siege and was temporarily safe, but until now, there was no sign of Li Zhongwu. This uneasiness and anxiety was like an invisible hand, tightly gripping his heart.

He understood that Li Zhongwu would surely die if he was pursued by tens of thousands of troops.

However, just like the rising sun, we must always have some hope.

Even if there was no news at this point, it would basically be a death sentence, but he was still willing to believe in a miracle.

After all, Li Zhongwu had created many miracles, and his courage and wisdom had saved them from desperate situations many times.

Just as he was able to successfully break through the enemy's encirclement this time, a large part of it was because he was lucky enough.

But he knew that luck would not always be on his side, and he had to rely on his own wisdom and courage to lead the remaining soldiers out of the predicament. Lin Zhongyun took a deep breath and felt the freshness of the morning breeze. He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that Li Zhongwu would return safely.

At the same time, he was also thinking about the next plan of action.

He knew that the pursuers from the Northern Barbarians might appear again at any time, and they had to find a safe hiding place as soon as possible, or find a way to reunite with the main army.

Time waits for no one, opportunities are fleeting, only by seizing the present can we make the most of our youth.

Lin Zhongyun knew that she didn't have much time left, so he called a few scouts over and got a preliminary understanding of their battle with Hailanhak.

"According to what you said, we are now cut off by Hailanhak and are attacked from both sides?" He said with a frown. The current situation is far worse than he had imagined.

"Yes, General." The scout responded in a deep voice, "The enemy has occupied the key roads, and the food and grass supplies have been cut off. We must break out as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.

Lin Zhongyun took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as a torch, and quickly thought of a countermeasure in his mind.

He knew very well that calmness and decisiveness were crucial at this moment. His current safety was only temporary. If Chagan Wuli found out that the man he had captured was a fake, he would definitely conduct a carpet search again.

He had to find a breakthrough before Chagan Wuli could react and lead his troops out of the encirclement. Time was running out and every step had to be taken with caution. If there was any mistake, the risk of the entire army being annihilated would increase exponentially.

"How many people are there in Hailanhak's group?" he continued to ask, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

The scout thought for a moment and replied, "About 30,000 to 40,000 men, well-equipped and in high spirits."

Hearing this, Lin Zhongyun weighed the pros and cons in his mind. He thought that a force of thirty or forty thousand soldiers should not be underestimated. Let alone thirty or forty thousand, even his own less than ten thousand soldiers would be enough to give him a hard time with his current strength.

In this case, forcibly breaking out and joining the opposing army is not a good idea, and will only increase casualties.

But now she doesn't have much time left. If he continues to stay here, he will definitely be angered by Chagan Uli behind him, and then he will not be able to escape death.

"hateful!"

This time, he was faced with a difficult decision, his heart filled with anger and helplessness. Moving forward seemed like walking into a trap, while retreating was like waiting to die.

No matter which path he chooses, he knows clearly that he will face huge risks and challenges.

Now, with the departure of Li Zhongwu, the number of generals he can rely on has been sharply reduced, almost to the point of being stretched to the limit, and there is no one who can share the burden on his shoulders with him.

"Are we just going to wait to die like this?" He frowned and fell into deep thought for a moment.

His eyes slowly swept over everyone present, and what came into view were faces full of grievance and resentment.

Even now, these people still haven't expressed any complaints towards him. They haven't given up, so how can he give up on himself so easily?

"No, we can't just sit there and wait for death!" Lin Zhongyun said firmly, with a gleam of determination in his eyes. "Since we are doomed whether we advance or retreat, we might as well burn our boats and fight to the death!"

Soon, a bold and risky plan emerged in his mind. He quickly gathered all his men and said to them in a deep voice: "A general's success is based on the sacrifice of thousands of men. Our success depends on this one. Everyone, listen to my command and follow me to Hailanhak."

In comparison, Chagan Uli's army was undoubtedly more powerful, but Hailanhak's strength was relatively weaker.

Moreover, Hailanhak's side was blocking his army of tens of thousands. If he could join forces with that army, the situation would be reversed in an instant.

After hearing his plan, everyone nodded heavily, their eyes flashing with determination, filled with surging hatred and indomitable fighting spirit.

Lin Zhongyun's plan was like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, giving everyone present a glimmer of hope.

They knew that this was a life-and-death gamble, but rather than sit and wait for death, they would rather give it a try.

"We have no way to retreat, we can only move forward!" Lin Zhongyun's voice echoed in the air, arousing everyone's fighting spirit.

He continued: "We must use our courage and wisdom to create a miracle."

Inspired by Lin Zhongyun, a raging fire ignited in everyone's hearts and they were ready to meet the upcoming challenges.

"Get ready to go!" Following Lin Zhongyun's order, all the troops took action. They organized their equipment, checked their weapons, and prepared to embark on an unknown journey.

As night fell, they quietly left the camp and headed towards Hailanhak.

Lin Zhongyun walked at the front of the team, his eyes were firm and deep, as if he had already seen the other side of victory.

They know that the road ahead is full of unknowns and dangers, but they also believe that as long as they unite as one, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome.

"No matter if there are mountains of swords or seas of fire ahead, we will get through it together!" Lin Zhongyun swore silently in his heart and led his team to challenge fate.

……

At the same time, Hailanhak, who was far away, did not know that he had become Lin Zhongyun's target and was being closely watched.

At this moment, Hailanhak was leading his Hailan tribe in an arduous battle.

Faced with the mighty army of tens of thousands of rebels, the Hailan tribe displayed amazing courage and determination. They stubbornly blocked the advance of the rebels and ensured that no soldier could break through the defense line and interfere with the battlefield in front.

This firm resistance was not out of fear of Chagan Uli, nor was it an attempt to seek his forgiveness and change his mind, but because Hailantaish's death had plunged Hailanhak into complete despair.

Now, Hailanhak had only one thought in his mind, which was to witness Li Zhongwu's head falling to the ground with his own eyes and to witness the defeat of the rebel army with his own eyes.

His eyes were full of determination. He wielded a long sword in his hand and commanded the tribal warriors to fight to the death.

Every shout and every flash of sword embodies their unyielding will and firm belief.

"Brothers, work harder. For the sake of the Northern Barbarians, we must not let any of these Northern Barbarians pass."

He roared at the people below, then rode his horse down the hill and personally went into battle to kill the enemy.

The cold wind whistled past his ears, and this time he felt fearless, as if he had returned to the days when he died on the battlefield.

Hailanhak's figure was like a flash of lightning, shuttling through the enemy's camp, and every swing of the sword was filled with endless anger and determination.

His subordinates followed closely behind him, burning with the same faith in their hearts, and blocked the rebels who were equally determined in their faith. (End of this chapter)