A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

Wei Zhao pointed his whip at the crowd outside the Golden City.

"Liu Jingshuang".

Liu Jingshuang immediately spurred her horse forward.

"Your subject is here."

Wei Zhao stared at the sacred flame flag in the distance, his voice so calm that it sent chills down the spines of the generals around him.

"You lead 50,000 cavalry and charge ahead."

Liu Jingshuang's eyes showed no hesitation whatsoever.

"Where do we tear it from?"

Wei Zhao raised his hand and pointed to the chaotic gap between the left wing and the central army of the Holy Fire Sect.

"There."

"Their left wing has more men, but they are disorganized. In the middle, there is an altar with flags and elite guards protecting them. Between the left wing and the central army, there are caravans of refugees, which are the most chaotic."

The Holy Fire Cult is not a regular army.

They had a large number of people, many flags, and loud shouts, making them seem overwhelming. They could frighten even the most timid garrison commander into closing the city gates on the spot.

Having more people doesn't mean you can fight.

"Lead your cavalry in, but don't linger in the battle, and don't pursue the stragglers."

Wei Zhao looked at Liu Jingshuang and said, word by word, "Break through. Clear a path for me."

Liu Jingshuang gripped the hilt of the knife.

"clear."

"Huo Qingluan".

Huo Qingluan looked up.

"Your subject is here."

"You will lead 50,000 heavily armored troops to hold the rear."

Wei Zhao moved the riding whip behind Liu Jingshuang's charging route.

"After Liu Jingshuang tore open the breach, I led 10,000 Imperial Guards to follow closely behind, heading straight for Zhang Yan's location. You lead the Heavy Armored Army to follow behind me, not seeking speed, but only stability."

Huo Qingluan glanced at him.

"To prevent being surrounded?"

"right."

Wei Zhao smiled.

"The Holy Fire Cult isn't stupid. Zhang Yan isn't an idiot either. If Liu Jingshuang charges in, they'll be thrown into chaos. If I enter, they'll definitely try to close the gap and swallow me whole."

Huo Qingluan squatted down and used pebbles to form three formations on the ground.

"After the cavalry breaks through, the Imperial Guards will move to the center line. The heavy armored troops cannot get too close, otherwise it will disrupt the Imperial Guards and also affect the cavalry's maneuverability."

She picked up a pebble and placed it behind the center line.

"I will advance in three layers. The front layer of shield-and-gun infantry will protect the rear of the Imperial Guard; the middle layer of heavy infantry will hold down the flanks; and the rear layer of crossbowmen will shoot at the altar flag and the gathering place. If the Holy Fire Cult surrounds us, I will cut in from here."

With a flick of her finger, she forcefully cut open the pebbles on the ground.

Wei Zhao found it very pleasing to the eye.

These words are far better than those useless people in the court who say things like "Your Majesty, please think it over" and "This matter needs further consideration."

There's not much time for long-term planning on the battlefield.

The enemy has already pressed in outside the city of gold, yet we still need to discuss it.

Zhao Qiniang stood to the side, her face still looking unpleasant.

"Your Majesty, the Holy Fire Cult likes to push women and children forward. Once the cavalry charges, they might make people kneel and cry, forcing us to rein in our horses."

Wei Zhao also knew that this was the most disgusting part.

Zhang Yan uses the people as both a tide and a shield.

If you rein in your horses, your cavalry will lose speed, and the Holy Fire Cult's elite troops will pounce on you from behind.

If you don't take them in, their hooves will trample them, and the elderly and children who were brought here might die.

He looked up, his voice lowered.

"Issue the order to the entire army."

The surrounding military academy students immediately knelt down.

"Anyone carrying weapons, charging into battle, or waving the sacred flame flag shall be killed."

Women, children, the elderly, the weak, and those who have abandoned their weapons and are kneeling on the ground, please keep away.

"The core members of the Holy Fire Cult who dared to use ordinary people as shields shall be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public."

"Anyone who dares to take advantage of the chaos to slaughter civilians shall be executed according to military law."

The military academy students responded in unison.

Zhao Qiniang pursed her lips.

"Your Majesty, this will make things much more difficult for the cavalry."

"I know."

Wei Zhao looked at the crowd in the distance and slowly tightened the reins with his fingertips.

It's difficult, but we have to fight it this way.

"There's one more."

Wei Zhao looked at Zhao Qiniang.

"You lead your men and follow the Imperial Guards. Identify the altar master, the messenger, and those who shout for talismanic water and the manifestation of sacred fire. Point them out, and my men will kill them."

Zhao Qiniang cupped her hands in greeting.

"Your subject obeys."

The military order was passed down.

The golden city gates opened.

Wei Zhao dismounted and walked to the Imperial Guards.

These 10,000 men were elite troops selected from the surrendered Imperial Guards. Their armor still bore traces of the old Wei dynasty, but their eyes were different.

They used to work for Lu Song.

Now they serve the new Emperor Wu.

Wei Zhao knew that they still harbored fear, doubt, and the lingering unease left over from the old dynasty.

Therefore, he wanted to personally lead them to the summit.

The will of the people cannot be suppressed by imperial edicts alone.

They need to see with their own eyes that the emperor is in front of them.

Wei Zhao drew his spear.

The white-clad figures stood out conspicuously in front of the armored formation.

Ten thousand Imperial Guards knelt down in unison.

"His Majesty!"

The shouts weren't very coordinated, but they were quite loud.

Wei Zhao looked at them and suddenly smiled.

Are you scared?

No one dared to answer.

Wei Zhao nodded.

"That's right, you should be afraid. I'm afraid too."

Several Imperial Guards were stunned.

Wei Zhao held his spear horizontally.

"Even if it's scary, we have to fight."

"Because behind you is the capital, your home, and the people who have just settled down."

"Among those people ahead, there are rebels and civilians who have been brought here. I will not allow you to kill indiscriminately, but I will also not allow you to die."

"Follow me."

He turned and mounted his horse.

"I will lead you to take Zhang Yan's head."

Liu Jingshuang was already at the forefront of the cavalry.

She raised her long sword.

Fifty thousand cavalrymen spread out behind her, their heads bowed low, their iron hooves gently pawing the ground.

The Holy Fire Cult had not yet reacted from a distance.

They probably thought the city of gold would be defended.

talks.

They will send someone to persuade them to surrender.

They might even put on a benevolent act and ask if they were hungry and if they wanted some porridge.

Zhang Yan may be waiting for the new Wu Dynasty to make this mistake.

pity.

Wei Zhao had no intention of playing along with him.

Liu Jingshuang turned and glanced back at the city wall.

Wei Zhao nodded to her.

The next moment, the long sword fell.

"Rush!"

The 50,000 cavalrymen moved out with a roar.

There was no drumming prelude.

There was no horn three times.

The iron cavalry pressed out directly from outside the Golden City; the sound of their hooves, which was initially scattered, quickly became a continuous roar.

The Holy Flame Sect's vanguard was stunned at first.

They seemed completely unprepared for the New Martial Army to charge directly.

One of the followers, holding a yellow flag, was still shouting.

"The sacred fire protects us! The new martial arts school dares not kill us! They fear divine punishment!"

Before he could finish speaking, the first rank of cavalry had already crashed into the crowd.

The blade flashed.

The yellow flag was broken.

The head flew off and landed in the arms of a group of people behind him.

The man looked down and let out a strange cry.

Chaos.

The Holy Flame Cult's vanguard was immediately thrown into chaos.

Some people were still shouting that the sacred flame would never be extinguished, some turned and ran, some pushed the people around them forward to block them, and some even held up wooden guns to try to stab the horses in the belly.

With a single slash, Liu Jingshuang split the wooden spear in two, and her warhorse rammed between two cult members wielding knives. The cavalry behind her pressed down hard along the gap she had created.

"Kill anyone who carries a weapon!"

Those who lay down their weapons and kneel will not be killed!

"Slay those who block my way!"

The military orders were repeatedly relayed among the cavalry.

This was no ordinary charge.

The cavalryman's sword kept falling, then kept veering away.

They avoided the kneeling, weeping women, knocked over the young men charging around with knives, and hacked to death the altar followers waving flags behind the crowd.

difficult.

too difficult.

But Liu Jingshuang didn't stop.

If she stops, the 50,000 cavalry will be swallowed up by this swamp.

Wei Zhao stared at the gaping wound that had been forcibly torn open in front of him, his eyes gradually turning cold.

it is good.

Right now.

"The Imperial Guards."

He pointed his spear forward.

"Follow me into battle!"

Ten thousand imperial guards roared in unison.

Wei Zhao spurred his horse, and the white-clad warriors charged out from the front of the army formation, followed by the Imperial Guards who pressed into the gap created by Liu Jingshuang.

A shirtless cultist charged at them, brandishing a knife.

Wei Zhao thrust his spear forward, the tip piercing through his throat.

Blood splattered onto the white clothes.

It's hot.

It's also very dirty.

Wei Zhao called out, "Zhao Qiniang!"

Zhao Qiniang rode her horse alongside her, pointing to a high platform covered with yellow cloth to the right front.

"There! The one with the black bell is the altar master! He's relaying a message!"

Wei Zhao didn't waste any words.

"shoot!"

The Imperial Guard crossbowmen raised their arms.

A volley of crossbow bolts flew out.

The Black Bell Master had barely rang his bell twice when three arrows pierced his chest.

He looked down in disbelief, opened his mouth as if to shout for the protection of the sacred fire, but blood gushed out first.

The faces of the surrounding believers all changed.

"The sect leader is dead!"

"Isn't the sacred flame supposed to protect you?"

"How did he die?"

The Holy Fire Cult army was caught off guard and immediately descended into chaos!