The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 702 You might not believe it, but it wasn't Li Shimin who lured me away, but...

Shen Le was secretly observing others, and others were secretly observing him as well.

Of course, not all of his attention was on him. A major battle was complex and multifaceted; even just standing atop the fortress, there were countless things to attend to:
Pay attention to the defense of Hulao Pass, the movements of Dou Jiande's army, the soldiers' rotation for rest, meals, and water, and the horses' access to water and feed...

After all this was dealt with, a warhorse trotted through the battle formation and approached Li Shimin. The newcomer glanced back at Shen Le and lowered his voice:

"Your Highness, war is dangerous and perilous. Leaving that young Taoist priest here might be... well, Your Highness..."

“Oh,” Li Shimin waved his hand dismissively.
"It's nothing. How could he possibly hurt me in the middle of battle? This young Taoist priest is quite interesting. I'd like to get closer and take a better look."

"But……"

"Hey!"

With a gesture, the person who had raised the objection was grabbed by two men and dragged in the opposite direction from Shen Le. A large hand landed heavily on his shoulder:

"Old Li, didn't you notice? The way that young Taoist priest looked at His Highness... was very strange, not at all like an ordinary person!"

He could so easily pick such a good location, casually discern His Highness's military strategy, and possess such exceptional combat skills—this man is extraordinary; we must observe him closely!

"Old Cheng, you..."

"It's alright, Your Highness knows what you're doing! These two Taoist priests have separated; one is inside the pass, and the other is on the front lines. They won't cause any trouble! I'll keep an eye on them and won't let them harm Your Highness. Don't worry!"

Shen Le was unaware that he had become a prime target for surveillance. He rode his horse into the battle formation, standing there from early morning until the sun was high in the sky, going through cycles of resistance, exhaustion, boredom, excitement, and finally finding something interesting to do.

Right now, it's looking around, craning its neck to see everything:
armor!

Tang Dynasty armor—no, Sui Dynasty regular army armor! Xuanjia armor! The style of this armor is slightly inferior to Mingguang armor, but it's comparable to Shanwen armor!

Military formation!

The area where he was stationed consisted of heavy cavalry, while further away were light cavalry, and even further back were infantry and archers...

The weapons of the heavy cavalry were mostly lances, but some were also lances. Almost all of them carried a bow and a secondary weapon.

Secondary weapons included swords, maces, and some even hammers. These cavalrymen were not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also must have been well-treated to afford their preferred and comfortable secondary weapons.

And horses... Although Shen Le didn't know much about horses, to be precise, he couldn't distinguish Mongolian horses, Ferghana horses, Arabian horses, Andalusian horses, Akhal-Teke horses, etc. at a glance, but he could tell that these were all fine horses.

Any one of these horses was better than any of the warhorses he had ridden or seen in the Anxi Protectorate.

Is this the Xuanjia Army?
Such a magnificent military appearance, such a high spirit, is this the strongest army of the Tang Dynasty that Prince Qin, Li Shimin, relied on to pacify the world?
Shen Le stared intently, almost unable to blink. If only he hadn't had paper and pen at hand, he would have immediately started sketching, one sketch after another. As he looked, his gaze suddenly sharpened, fixing on a warhorse:
This horse had probably just finished drinking and eating when it was being led into the army formation by its groom. It was exceptionally tall, standing out even among a field of fine horses, at least a head taller than the surrounding warhorses.

His limbs were long and powerful, his muscles well-developed, yet his steps were exceptionally light and agile. His entire demeanor exuded confidence; even the way he walked conveyed the attitude that "this old man isn't someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can ride."

Shen Le was watching when a shadow suddenly flashed past his eyes, and someone laughed and said:

"Master Mingde, what do you think? How much of a chance do you believe our army has?"

"Of course we'll win!" Shen Le blurted out without thinking, his eyes still glued to the horse. Only after answering did he realize something was amiss, and slowly turned his head to see Li Shimin smiling, reining in his horse and standing before him.

“How come you see?”

"Ah, this..." Shen Le froze on the spot. He quickly racked his brains, recalling the entire Battle of Hulao Pass, and extracted the answer:

"If Dou Jiande dares to bring out his army, we're guaranteed to win..."

"Then, when do we attack?"

Li Shimin continued to inquire with a smile. Shen Le's face froze, her mind racing for a moment before she quickly replied:

"When they can't hold on any longer, when their formation breaks down and they're ready to retreat, the cavalry will seize the opportunity to charge and win!"

"Well said!" Li Shimin clapped and laughed. He then dismounted, affectionately patted the tall horse Shen Le had been staring at, and leaped back onto it.
"Is the Taoist priest looking at Qingzhui? — If you achieve great merit in this battle, I will give you a warhorse as magnificent as it, how about that?"

Shen Le couldn't hear the last sentence. He stared intently at the proud and nimble warhorse before him, at its slightly swaying mane, at its raised hooves, gripping the reins tightly to keep himself from reaching out to touch it.
“Zhao…”

"what?"

"Zhao—this horse is truly magnificent!"

At the critical moment, Shen Le bit her tongue hard and quickly changed the subject. The Six Steeds of Zhaoling!
Among the six steeds of Zhaoling, the second most famous horse on the east side is Qingzhui!
Live!

It's not carved in stone, not broken into several pieces and barely pieced back together, not one where the inscriptions have all been worn away... It's alive! Alive! Alive!

I really want to carefully repair your stone carving and restore it to its original appearance...

Telebiao, Qingzhui, Shifachi, Baitiwu... and Saluzi and Quanmaogua, which were stolen to America and have not been returned to this day...

He stared intently at the Green Steed, tracing its proud head, its broad chest, its light and quick forelegs, and its four legs that stretched out in a straight line with its body as it galloped...

Look carefully, remember it, and draw it in your mind. When you return to the modern world, you must draw it perfectly!

In his daze, he didn't even notice that Li Shimin smiled and gave him a deep look before turning his horse around. He pointed forward, past the ranks:
"We can attack now!"

He spurred his horse and charged forward. Shen Le stared intently at Qingzhui, instinctively urging his horse to follow. Before he knew it, the surrounding cavalry had all begun to gallop, their hooves thundering!
"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill--"

The battle cries were deafening. Before Shen Le could react, he was already swept up in the torrent of the Xuanjia Army, surging forward. Shen Le shuddered, gripping the reins tightly, momentarily bewildered:
Following the Xuanjia Army in charging into battle?
I?
This battle was won by a smaller force!
This battle was epic!
This battle... was extremely dangerous...

Wait, we've only sent a few men out! Based on my experience—no, based on Ah Li's experience—this wave of cavalry that charged out could only manage two or three hundred men at most! Li Shimin, why did you personally lead the charge?! And you led light cavalry! Light cavalry!
Come back!!!
The already scattered military formation opposite them visibly wavered. The Xuanjia Army drew ever closer, and Shen Le could even see undisguised bewilderment and panic on the faces of the front-line soldiers.

Most of them had already begun to retreat, while a small number were still sitting on the ground. Many of them had taken out their rations and water bags and were drinking and eating when they were suddenly attacked by a thunderous onslaught.

Dou Jiande's army at the front quickly turned around and formed ranks, each soldier hastily drawing their swords and raising their spears, trying to mount a defensive posture, but it was too late.

"kill--"

Li Shimin took the lead, leaping onto his horse and charging straight in with his spear. His black-armored cavalry followed, and in an instant, they crushed the first rank of troops, advancing in unison!

Dou Jiande's army collapsed almost completely. The battle cries continued to rise, and the Xuanjia Army roared and shouted as they fought their way through the enemy lines!
Shen Le was completely swept forward. Before he could even decide whether to retreat, a blade came crashing down on his head. Without thinking, Shen Le forcefully swung his lance, sweeping the blade and himself away in a sweeping motion.
"roll!"

The cavalry charge left no room for hesitation or confusion. After the first shot was fired, Shen Le could only muster all his martial skills, fully utilizing Ah Li's muscle memory, thrusting, swinging, sweeping, and thrusting with his lance, moving up and down with incredible speed.

He didn't know how long he had been charging when the pressure around him finally eased. He panted and turned his head left and right, only to see smoke and dust rising all around him on the battlefield, as if people were shouting and killing each other everywhere.

As for where the battlefront had advanced, where the key points of the battle were, and even where Qingzhui and Li Shimin it carried had gone, Shen Le neither took flight nor launched any drones; he genuinely couldn't find them—

As he searched around, the surrounding shouts of killing suddenly rose another wave. Shen Le turned his head left and right, seeing that the young faces around him were all filled with intense killing intent, and turned to his left front:

There, several flags were raised high, clustered together, and rushed forward!

Qin Qiong's banner!
Cheng Yaojin's banner!

Stalin's banner!

Those flags fluttering high in the wind, surrounding a magnificent banner, sped forward at a speed that made Shen Le's heart race!
Beside the main banner, there were other banners with names and titles that Shen Le was not familiar with, and he didn't know who they represented.

But that doesn't matter anymore. Seeing these flags rushing forward, you know that the important generals of the Tang army are all charging in that direction, even risking their lives!
Shen Le glanced around. No one around her showed fear on their faces; only tension, excitement, and exhilaration.

They looked up to their left front, and with each glance, their admiration deepened.

The King of Qin personally led his troops into battle!

The King of Qin has already rushed to the front!

So, what reason do these soldiers have not to fight to the death?
What reason is there left for fear and timidity? Why not squeeze out every last bit of strength from your body?!

Amidst the shouts, everyone rallied, even their warhorses quickened their pace. Shen Le, caught up in the excitement, was also swept up in the fervor.

What am I afraid of!
They'll die, but I won't! If I die, I'll restart, charge into the battlefield again, and see Li Shimin again—it's worth it!
He spurred his warhorse forward, spear in hand, clearing a path through the battle formation. Completely focused, a surge of heat rose unconsciously from his dantian, coursing through his entire body and giving his arms an immense strength!

"roll!"

"roll!"

"Get out of the way!"

"Get out of the way!"

"Those who surrender will not be killed——"

Shen Le roared as he advanced, brandishing his spear. The spear swung and swept left and right, killing few but carving a straight path across the battlefield, leading directly to the great banner ahead.

Even the warhorses were exceptionally spirited, rousing themselves and leaping about. If an enemy stood in their way, Shen Leteng wouldn't even lift a finger; the warhorses would simply kick it. If a warhorse blocked their path, the warhorse would stretch out its head and bite off half its ear!

With Shen Le charging ahead, a squad of Xuanjia soldiers naturally gathered around him, using him as their spearhead to bravely advance.

The further they went, the thicker the enemy's formation became. In addition to cavalry and infantry, there were also stray arrows flying everywhere. Shen Le seemed to have entered a state of flow, his spear flashing as he deflected all the arrows, not a single one hitting his mount.

Around him and behind him, warhorses neighed and rolled to the ground, and cavalrymen fell with a crash. Shen Le didn't even have time to glance at them; he was completely focused, urging his horse forward.
They charged faster and faster, getting closer and closer to the great banner ahead. Suddenly, the pressure around them eased, and the nearby enemy troops tumbled and scattered in a cacophony of shouts:
"Failed!"

"Failed!"

"We've lost—run away—"

Shen Le watched helplessly as a Dou Jiande cavalryman, dressed in leather armor and riding a lowly horse, charged straight toward him.

Shen Le handed over his lance, focused his mind, and prepared to fight him. Unexpectedly, the man yelled, threw down his weapon, slung himself over his horse, and fled—

He almost threw out his back!
Shen Le quickly withdrew his attack. His mount continued galloping forward. A foot soldier ahead, seeing his horse approaching, neither fought back nor dodged. Instead, he threw down his sword and shield, covered his head, and collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear.

"Spare your life——"

Shen Le jerked on the reins. The warhorse neighed, its hind legs buckling as it leaped high over the foot soldier. Shen Le couldn't help but curse.
"What the hell!"

If I hadn't reacted quickly, you would have been trampled to death by the horse, if not killed by me!

Shouts and pleas for mercy raged across the battlefield like a deafening roar. Shen Le tried to ignore them, sprinting straight towards the banner. Finally arriving, he glanced at the group of men under the banner, and his expression changed:
"Qingzhui!"

The steed, Qingzhui, lay sprawled on the ground, its hooves bent, its breathing weak; it was clearly dying. Prince Qin, Li Shimin, knelt before it, while behind the horse, a general attempted to pull out an arrow.

Everyone turned to look when they saw Shen Le approaching.
Who are you staring at?
The King of Qin is standing right here, and you don't even glance at him? Is your only concern the warhorses?
Shen Le rushed forward, dismounted, and stared intently at the beautiful warhorse. At this moment, the reliefs on the Six Steeds of Zhaoling and the exhausted horse before him seemed to merge into one.

Shen Le stood there blankly, reaching out her hand, not even daring to touch it:
"Qingzhui, what happened to you..."

“It’s no good.” The answer came from Li Shimin’s deep voice. The young man held the horse’s head, stroking its wet mane repeatedly.

"He was hit by five arrows... Good boy, you run very fast, and all the arrows hit the back half of your body, they couldn't aim at it..."

(End of this chapter)