Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 20: Fierce Fight with Kou Qianzhi

"Order!"

Zhu Wen and Meng Kai, hearing Huang Chao's command, responded in unison, each leading their cavalry as they charged out from the center of the battle formation. The infantry, like waves breaking apart, orderly opened the passages to allow the cavalry to advance. Once the cavalry had departed, the battle formation abruptly closed again.

But their expressions ultimately revealed an unconcealable weariness. The continued failure to break the deadlock, coupled with the bitter battles they had endured today, and the retreat back to base camp had left the Cao army exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Crossbowmen drew their strings and unleashed a volley, the sound of whirring arrows piercing the air resounding as arrows pelted the Taining cavalry like locusts, forcing them to retreat. Taking advantage of this opening, Meng Kai and Zhu Wen led their cavalry to pounce on the enemy cavalry like hungry wolves on their prey.

The cavalry was in column formation when they went out, but during the charge, they turned into a horizontal formation, with the sound of horses' hooves clattering and dust flying everywhere, covering the sky and the sun.

The Taining cavalry had previously fought Huang Chao's troops and were clearly not very formidable. But with Kou Qianzhi present, things seemed completely different. Moments after the Cao cavalry, shielded by a curtain of crossbows, broke through the formation, the Taining cavalry swarmed back like a swarm of bees, their momentum unleashing the might of a tsunami.

"Brothers in the cavalry, follow me and charge!" Kou Qianzhi shouted loudly, like a thunderbolt out of nowhere, shaking the grass and leaves on the ground into flying leaves.

The eyes of the Taining Army cavalrymen present also shone with a brilliance like the stars and the sun.

Kou Qianzhi, with his iron-rimmed bow in hand, fired an arrow, first knocking a Cao Army cavalryman off his horse. Then, the Taining Army's lancers shouted, stomped their stirrups, and charged forward with their spears. The sound of weapons clashing filled the air, and in an instant, several Cao Army cavalrymen were knocked off their horses by their spears. Then, the Taining Army's sword and archery cavalry also rushed in to kill.

Among the archers and cavalry, a young general with armor as red as fire and skin as white as snow stood out.

"Shhhhhh!"

This person was holding a repeating crossbow in his hand, swinging it in a fan-shaped trajectory, and actually shot several grass soldiers in succession. The heavy crossbow arrows could penetrate armor and even shields, and blood gushed out wherever they passed.

"There are quite a lot of people who are good at horseback archery, but I have never seen a cavalryman using a crossbow, let alone one who is using a repeating crossbow. It really opens my eyes." Meng Kai sighed.

"That should be the 'Suzaku' among the twenty-eight riders of the Nebula. He is known for his powerful crossbow skills and is the best in the north." Zhu Wen replied.

"So it's that Hu kid from Shuofang." Meng Kai said with a smile, "No wonder he has such slicked-back hair and powdered face. His face is even paler than yours, Junior Brother."

Zhu Wen was speechless and didn't know how to answer.

But he knew that his senior brother had no ill intentions and was just speaking his mind.

Kou Qianzhi blew his horn rapidly, with varying rhythms, clearly giving orders to the cavalry. All the Taining cavalry, under his command, moved in an orderly and precise manner.

Seeing the enemy's strong morale, Zhu Wen suddenly felt unhappy. He tightly grasped the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand. The long sword emitted a bright red light under the sun, and then he pounced towards Kou Qianzhi.

As for why he didn't look for "Qinglong" or "Xuanwu", who were also good at close combat - Zhu Wen believed that although his martial arts were not as good as his senior brother Meng Kai, after the guidance and integration of his moves from Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi, it would be difficult to find his opponent among the younger generation.

A battlefield warrior like Kou Qianzhi, who has been famous for many years, is a target worthy of his challenge.

"Well done!"

Kou Qianzhi laughed heartily, hung the horn back on his belt around his waist, pulled the reins, and swung the "Moon in the Well" in his hand, with a dazzling sword light.

At this moment, Zhu Wen almost felt a blade of energy coming out of the knife, carrying an icy glow, and attacking his face from a distance.

This was naturally just an illusion brought to him by Kou Qianzhi's power. If he could really injure others so easily with his sword energy, wouldn't he be no different from the legendary sword immortal?
The two horses crossed each other, the two swords collided, and a tremendous force instantly came from Kou Qianzhi's sword, which made Zhu Wen's chest tremble - it was indeed a natural supernatural power!

As a precious sword, the Moon in the Well was no match for Zhu Wen's Great Xia Dragon Bird. However, from the moment they engaged, Zhu Wen realized he was at a disadvantage. It was clear that Kou Qianzhi's martial arts skills were far superior to his.

The shockwaves of the battle were enough to shake Zhu Wen's blood and energy, causing him to recall his battle with the master, Tian Dao Song Jue.

Although Kou Qianzhi's martial arts skills were not as good as Song Jue's, his swordplay was also extremely sharp, with an indomitable momentum. As a famous general of the time, Kou Qianzhi had a natural condescending aura. When Zhu Wen approached, he gave Zhu Wen a deep-seated suppression.

The Great Xia Dragon Bird Sword spontaneously let out a long cry, the sound was sharp, as if a divine weapon had a spirit, resisting the silent and suppressing power.

Zhu Wen once again mustered up his courage and rode his horse towards Kou Qianzhi with utmost seriousness.

The sound of metal clashing was endless, sparks flew from the collisions. Zhu Wen, relying on his natural pride and bravery, fought a fierce battle with the famous general Kou Qianzhi.

He was a rebellious person in his life, and even if he was no match for Kou Qianzhi, he would never let him become the protagonist of this battlefield.

Moreover, he was entrusted by Huang Chao with the important task of repelling the Taining cavalry and protecting the army's retreat. How could he be timid at this moment? How could he yield?

The narrow road meets the brave to win!

However, Zhu Wen was already blood-thirsty. Kou Qianzhi's battle robe fluttered, and the golden thread reflected the sunlight, flashing with brilliance, but his face remained calm.

When things go well, do not be overly happy; when things go badly, do not be panic-stricken or discouraged; when things are safe, do not be extravagant or idle; when things are dangerous, do not be frightened. Those who have thunder in their hearts but a calm face can be appointed as generals.

This is the demeanor of a famous general.

However, the power of Jing Zhongyue's sword was so strong that each blow was more powerful than the last. Although Zhu Wen was brave, he could not help but feel powerless in the face of the gap in strength.

Kou Qianzhi used the "Ten Styles of Fighting Against Heaven" passed down by his ancestor Kou Zhong. He swung his sword like a tiger descending from the mountain, striking one blow after another. Each move was a fatal strike, and he mastered the key points of "fast, ruthless, and accurate". The murderous aura that came towards him made it difficult to breathe.

Although Zhu Wen had a wide range of knowledge, he didn't have much understanding of this set of sword techniques. When Kou Qianzhi used the tenth move, the sword's power suddenly unfolded, like a net, pressing down on him like a cage.

The blade light was as cold as ice, but the blade force was as fast as sparks. This blade blocked all of Zhu Wen's chances of moving. The blade intent burst out, blocking all chances of life.

In an instant, Zhu Wen felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his head, and a sense of suffocation was surrounding him from all directions, as if a flood was instantly drowning him, making it impossible for him to breathe.

However, Kou Qianzhi's strong demeanor aroused Zhu Wen's pride, making him stand more upright on his horse and fight with all his strength.

But he still felt nervous in his heart, not knowing whether he could take on this fatal blow!

In Zhu Wen's mind, the pure white tiger shadow solidified again.

It had blood-red eyes and an expression similar to Zhu Wen's own.

"Hahaha, what's there to be afraid of? If you have enough courage, then Kou Qianzhi is nothing but a weakling. Remember, don't fear life or death!"

Along with the tiger's laughter, a spirit of bravery instantly permeated Zhu Wen's limbs and bones, making him no longer afraid at all.

He and Kou Qianzhi, the long-famous master, met each other's eyes in an instant.

Kou Qianzhi's eyes always carried the composure of a strong man.

However, unlike other government army generals, Zhu Wen could not feel hatred or murderous intent towards these "bandits", but only felt the responsibility as a soldier.

"Don't hurt my junior brother!"

Meng Kai's keen intuition instantly sensed Zhu Wen's critical situation and he wanted to spur his horse to the rescue. However, he was still more than ten feet away. If Zhu Wen couldn't block this move, then Meng Kai, no matter how fast his horse was, would be too late!

The sharp edges of the two swords collided once more, a serpent-like force swirling around them, nearly tearing Zhu Wen off his horse. The sword intent seemed to solidify, seemingly capable of slicing through flesh. With a resounding clang, Zhu Wen and his horse were thrown back several steps, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.

His instinctive desire to survive made him ignore the blood and qi shock in his chest and the piercing pain, and he squeezed the horse's belly hard and spurred it on.

But there was still something strange in his mind.

Just now, when he and Kou Qianzhi met each other's eyes, he actually felt a hazy and gloomy look in the other's eyes, which was completely inconsistent with this person's heroic spirit.

This move seemed certain to kill, but at the final moment, it seemed to lack a resolve to either live or die. It was precisely because his killing intent was weak that Zhu Wen was able to find a glimmer of hope in the sword's grasp, and at the cost of internal injuries, escape the sword's net.

Otherwise, this sword would have killed Zhu Wen in front of his horse!
But Kou Qianzhi and Zhu Wen had never met before, so there was no reason for him to let him go.

He has fought on the battlefield for many years and would never show mercy to the enemy.

So what is the reason?
Before Zhu Wen had time to think, his senior brother Meng Kai had already driven his yellow horse, holding a Xuanhua axe, and swept towards Kou Qianzhi.

"Junior brother, help me clear the way!"

Meng Kai shouted to Zhu Wen, "It's not time for you to leave yet—but also, pay attention to your own injuries."

Zhu Wen felt warm in his heart.

For someone as outspoken as Meng Kai, his concern for others is always genuine.

Yet the battle is far from over.

The twenty-eight Nebula riders gathered like a pack of wolves.

He must work with other cavalry generals to hold the enemy back.

Meng Kai's deputy generals Ban Fanlang and Peng Baihu, as well as Zhu Wen's second brother Zhu Cun, were all engaged in a tough battle.

Zhu Wen wiped the blood off his face, suppressed his injuries, spurred his horse and rushed towards the enemy group again, joining the battle.

Meng Kai's axe had already been stuck to Kou Qianzhi's Moon in the Well sword.

Zhu Wen's actions were by no means reckless or blind, and Meng Kai, relying on his intuition, also noticed this.

Kou Qianzhi was indeed an unparalleled cavalry general who was able to raise the morale of the Taining army to its peak by his own strength.

But the prerequisite is that Kou Qianzhi fights on the front line of the battle and boosts morale.

This creates a contradiction, because no one can fight and command perfectly at the same time.

In other words, as long as Kou Qianzhi himself was contained, the Taining Army Cavalry could be effectively suppressed! After all, apart from the Twenty-Eight Riders of the Nebula, the quality of the Taining Cavalry was not particularly outstanding in the entire Tang Dynasty.

Of course, this was by no means easy. Kou Qianzhi was also a master of his time, and if one wasn't careful, he could easily kill them. This was what happened to Zhu Wen just now.

However, Meng Kai and Meng Juehai, who were known for their "drinking wine in the cup from all corners of the world, and going to the battlefield drunk with sword in hand", were Huang Chao's chief disciple. People said that they had the courage that could not match ten thousand men, and their aura was so awe-inspiring, so what was there to fear in their hearts?
The Xuanhua axe, relying on its length, was swung with the force of a chaotic cloak, with the power to split Huashan Mountain, suppressing Kou Qianzhi's Moon in the Well sword.

The arena was now engulfed in chaos. A few of the Twenty-Eight Riders of Xingyun, worried that their leader might lose if the fight dragged on, tried to break free of their opponents and lunged behind Meng Kai.

But Meng Kai was not afraid. He swung the Bagua Xuanhua Axe and swept it across, galloping back and forth on his horse. Relying on his fast horse, long axe and natural strength, he took advantage of the time difference and forced back all the attacking enemies.

"Xuanwu" urged the white horse and thrust the silver spear towards Meng Kai, but Meng Kai roared violently, like thunder and lightning, and both the man and the horse were forced back.

After fighting for dozens of rounds, he showed no fear and his spirit was high. He was truly the bravest of the three armies!

Arrows were shot at Meng Kai from all directions, but they were all knocked down by his axe. Even his back seemed to have eyes.

This was the intuition possessed only by top-tier warriors. Without the need for sight, simply sensing the energy, they could foresee any possible danger. This was also the fundamental reason why the fierce warriors who charged across the battlefield survived countless hardships and dangers.

Zhu Wen knew that the axe technique used by Meng Kai was the 36-move Tiangang Axe passed down by Cheng Yaojin, the Duke of Lu in the early years of the country. Each move was divided into three strokes, for a total of 108 moves, which was extremely beneficial for horse fighting.

Senior Brother Meng Kai is not a famous general like Kou Qianzhi who can inspire the three armies, but he is a natural warrior. Once he mounts a warhorse and picks up a weapon, he can burst out with amazing fighting spirit.

Even when facing Kou Qianzhi, the world-famous deputy commander of the Taining Army, and the twenty-eight riders of Xingyun who were even stronger and more ruthless than the eighteen riders of Yanyun, Meng Kai was not afraid at all, and he became stronger as the battle went on.

Because this battle could not afford to fail. If they were defeated and retreated, the enemy cavalry would advance straight ahead, and the entire Grass Army infantry formation would be trampled by the enemy cavalry on the plains and would be in danger of collapse.

By that time, there will be countless comrades and brothers whose bones will be buried in the wilderness and whose souls will return to the wilderness.

For the cause of the righteous army, for their ideals and glory. Rather than retreat, they would rather die!

Meng Kai's heroic spirit made Zhu Wen feel that he could not fall behind.

The internal injuries he had sustained from his brutal fight with Kou Qianzhi were still ripping at his lungs, causing a burning pain all over his body. But he had no reason to retreat.

This is war. It's a capstan of flesh and blood, the very reality of purgatory. Only the bravest can endure to the end.

A surge of emotion surged through Zhu Wen's heart, temporarily oblivious to his own pain. He gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and shouted, "Whoever stands in my way will die, and whoever lets me live!"

The killing intent in his eyes made him feel like a wild beast. The tiger in his heart kept roaring, telling him that he would not give up until the last moment.

A Taining cavalryman who was coming towards him was about to raise his sword to block the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword in Zhu Wen's hand, but Zhu Wen smashed it hard, breaking the sword's momentum and cutting off his neck in an instant. His huge head flew into the sky!

The gushing blood formed a thick curtain before Zhu Wen's eyes. The sticky smell of blood filled the air, fueling the ferocious beast within him. The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword shone brilliantly, clanging and resounding, intensifying his murderous intent.

Driving the warhorse under him, Zhu Wen galloped back and forth, trying his best to reduce the enemy's interference with Meng Kai.

He felt numb and just mechanically followed his instincts to fight and kill.

But in this killing field strewn with corpses, between the blood and death, who is not like this? The so-called war is nothing more than a life-and-death struggle, there is no other choice.

Therefore, even though they were enemies, Qi Kerang and Kou Qianzhi were still able to maintain such a calm and composed demeanor on the battlefield, which still made Zhu Wen sigh in admiration.

But one thing is certain.

If Meng Kai succeeds in holding Kou Qianzhi, then the commander who replaces Kou Qianzhi will never be able to unleash the full combat power of the Taining Army's cavalry as easily as Kou Qianzhi.

This was also the basis for Huang Chao's army's safe retreat this time.

(End of this chapter)