A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

If that huge banner embroidered with the sun and moon in the same sky represented Yelü Deguang himself.

The twelve divine banners on either side represent the important tribes within the Khitan.

The Khitan were said to be a single state, but in reality, they were a massive tribal alliance.

Each of these divine banners is extremely precious!

Each banner represents the face of this tribal alliance!

But now, it's the Haidongqing Flag.

They were actually killed by the Jin army!

Yelü Deguang was instantly enraged!

"Damn it! Do all the Imperial Guards want to die? What about Yelü Hudu? He couldn't even protect the imperial banner, how dare he live?"

The imperial guard swallowed hard and lowered his head in fear.

"Yelü Hudu Taibao was shot and killed by an arrow by a Jin general at the very beginning of the battle."

Yelü Deguang's anger intensified, and he was about to unleash a furious tirade.

Another guard ran over, speaking urgently.

"Your Majesty, the imperial guards who have returned say that the Jin army of 150,000 has arrived. They urge Your Majesty to withdraw immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Yelü Deguang was stunned for a moment.

He then became so angry that he trembled all over and his teeth itched!

"A bunch of idiots! A bunch of good-for-nothings! Where did the Jin army get 150,000 troops?! They're all holed up in Yangcheng, how could they possibly be here before me?!"

While cursing, Yelü Deguang suddenly drew his sword, pointed it at the chaotic army formation in front of him, and shouted.

"I am right here! Tell them, anyone who dares to retreat again will be killed without mercy!"

The guards, who were in a panic, immediately calmed down and spurred their horses forward to convey His Majesty's decree.

Yelü Deguang swiftly and decisively thwarted the rout that hadn't even begun.

Only after things gradually stabilized did Yelü Deguang receive further information.

"Your Majesty, we have not seen any trace of the main force of the Jin army. The number of the Jin cavalry that launched the surprise attack seems to be no more than five hundred."

The guard bowed his head and reported, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead.

The Jin army cavalry, numbering less than five hundred men, actually routed the so-called elite imperial guards!

They even cut off one of their divine banners!

This is an absolute disgrace!

Yelü Deguang's face was extremely gloomy, and his fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on them bulged.

If the incident where Xiao Pudu's five thousand iron cavalry were attacked at night by three hundred Jin soldiers and suffered heavy losses was like a slap in the face, then it was a slap in the face.

The fact that the banner was cut down this time is undoubtedly even more offensive.

It's like taking off your pants and letting someone else have diarrhea on the head of this mighty Khitan emperor!

It’s tolerable, it’s unbearable!

Seeing that His Majesty the Emperor's face was even more sour than a shoe insole, the guard hesitated for a long time before finally prostrating himself on the ground and speaking tremblingly.

"Your Majesty, the general who led the Jin army in the charge, shot and killed Tiger Guardian, and severed the Hai Dong Qing Banner has identified himself. Yes, yes..."

Yelü Deguang, with a cold face, demanded an explanation.

"What is it?"

The guard lowered his head even further.

"He is the vanguard of the Righteous Army, named... Li Rui."

boom!

The voice just fell.

Yelü Deguang angrily smashed down a precious golden ruyi!

"It's Li Rui again, it's Li Rui again!! Does this guy really have three heads and six arms? What are the Imperial Guards doing!?"

So many people, and they still can't stop a mere Li Rui? Could it be that none of my Khitans, none of my warriors, are as capable as Li Rui?!

Yelü Deguang flew into a rage and roared loudly in the raging wind.

The guards all knelt down, too frightened to even breathe.

Just then, someone reported, trembling.

"Your Majesty, the Vice Commander of the Otsu-muro Department requests an audience."

"roll!"

Yelü Deguang was in a fit of anger and had no desire to see anyone.

However, the guard returned and knelt down in fear.

"Your Majesty, he says he has something very important to discuss with me."

Yelü Deguang gritted his teeth and slammed his sleeves down.

"Let him come over."

Yelü Balide's deputy general scrambled over, his face pale.

He cautiously looked up and saw that his emperor's face was extremely sour, which made him feel even more bitter.

"Your Majesty, this afternoon, the Jin army generals Li Rui and Niu Ben feigned surrender throughout the city, deceiving Lord Balide."

Li Rui entered the camp alone, took Lord Bali De hostage, and fled south. His subordinates gave chase, but due to the strong sandstorm, they lost their way.

During the pursuit, his men discovered...discovered...Lord Barid's body, his head...had been severed.

With each word spoken by his deputy, Yelü Deguang's expression grew increasingly grim!

The anger in those narrow eyes seemed to solidify, almost bursting forth!

By the end, the lieutenant was stammering and barely managed to finish recounting Yelü Balide's fate.

After recounting what had happened, he didn't dare to look up and meet the emperor's gaze.

suddenly!

One of the guards screamed in panic.

"His Majesty!"

The lieutenant suddenly looked up and found that his emperor was covering his head and swaying precariously!

"Your Majesty! Quickly, help His Majesty up!"

Several guards rushed forward and steadied Yelü Deguang.

Just then, Yelü Deguang's eyes widened in fury, and he roared angrily.

"Li Rui! I will tear you to pieces! I will eat your flesh, drink your blood, and sleep on your skin!!"

Yelü Deguang looked up to the sky and shouted, then "poof!"

He spat a mouthful of blood onto the face of the guard in front of him.

Yelü Deguang's eyes rolled back, and he fainted from sheer anger!

The guards around were terrified!

Those calling for the imperial physician, those pinching the philtrum, and those trying to stabilize the situation all panicked and became chaotic.

Only the deputy commander of the Otsu-no-kami department remained kneeling there dumbfounded, muttering to himself.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, I haven't asked yet what should be done with the Jin spy named Wang Digou."

……

"Achoo!"

Li Rui sneezed and frowned slightly.

The wind was too strong, did you catch a cold?

Or is someone criticizing me?

At this stage, it's probably Yelü Deguang who's doing the cursing.

Li Rui shook his head and glanced around at the soldiers who were riding horses with their heads bowed.

How many people are left?

Jung Yung-guk was silent for a moment, his voice a little hoarse.

"Eighty-four."

Niu Ben was covered in wounds. Upon hearing this number, his wounds, which had just begun to clot, reopened and bled again due to the trembling of his body.

It went at 309 and returned at 84.

Li Rui took a deep breath through the cloth and could only offer words of comfort.

"These eighty-four survivors are all veterans, and they will be the backbone of the new army in the future. They will not be treated unfairly."

Niu Ben remained silent for a moment, then, as if he had suddenly come to a realization, turned to Li Rui and said.

"From this day forward, there will be no more Trapped Camp, only the Restoration Army."

Li Rui was taken aback, not yet understanding what Niu Ben meant.

But the next second, the system notification sounded in my mind.

[Gaining loyal subordinates and having them kill enemies will count towards the host's kill count.]

[Number of enemies killed +500]

[Number of enemies killed +1]

[Number of enemies killed +1]

……

Li Rui realized that Niu Ben had made up his mind to follow him from now on.

The 500 kills likely refer to the number of heads taken by Yelü Balide.

This man is the king of the Yishi tribe of the Khitan, a man of noble status, whose 100 kills are five times more valuable than Xiao Pudu's.

The remaining +1 kill count should be the ordinary Khitan soldiers killed by Niu Ben and his subordinates.

Of course, Li Rui was more pleased with Niu Ben's loyalty than with the number of enemies killed.

"Brother Niu, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Niu Ben said with a sigh.

"I've figured it out. I led the Trapped Battalion several times before, thinking I was brave and fierce, but in reality I always led people to their deaths."

But you, Li Rui, are different from me. You can lead people to survival!

In this world, people die every day, but everyone longs to live. I can't make everyone live, but you can.

Li Rui was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"It's not that I can, it's that we can."

Niu Ben was taken aback, but the gloom in his heart vanished, and he laughed loudly.

"Yes! We can, hahaha, live...it's fucking good!"

As Jung Yoon-guk listened to their conversation, his eyes reddened, and he roared back with all his might.

"That's right, it's fucking good to be alive!"

Behind him were eighty-four riders, all of whom had escaped death and knew the feeling of being alive best. They all laughed heartily.

It was in the early hours of the morning.

Li Rui and his group were exhausted.

Fortunately, we shouldn't be too far from Yangcheng, and we'll be safe soon.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, feeling even stronger after surviving the ordeal.

The faint sound of horses' hooves could be heard from ahead.

Then...

It's getting bigger and bigger!

Upon hearing the thunderous sound of horses' hooves, more than eighty people reacted with fear almost reflexively!

Are the Khitans here again?

Niu Ben then launched into a tirade of curses.

"Damn it! Is this never going to end? Are we all going to die?!"