The First Killer God of the Tang Dynasty

Zhang Yang's voice was cold, and his face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

Behind him was a squad of fully armed Zhengyang soldiers, dressed in paper armor, with their Zhang family swords already drawn.

These Han Chinese soldiers, looking at their bullied compatriots, had hatred in their eyes that almost seemed to turn into blood.

Ashina, clutching his slightly numb arm, looked at Zhang Yang and forced a smile: "What does Supervisor Zhang mean by this? Does he intend to start a war with our Uyghur allies before us, with such a formidable enemy at hand? If Supervisor Zhang acts in this way, it will be difficult for our Uyghur tribe to fight the rebels with peace of mind!"

Zhang Yang coldly looked at Ashina: "I don't have time to waste words with you. These are all people of my Great Tang Dynasty. Tell your men to get out of the way and let them in!"

Ashina showed no sign of backing down: "Supervisor Zhang, I am ordered by Moyan Khan to guard the gate and cannot allow people of unknown origin to infiltrate. As the supervisor, you should know how dangerous it is for spies to infiltrate during wartime, right?"

"Or is it that Supervisor Zhang would sacrifice our alliance with the Tang Dynasty for the sake of these few commoners?"

The people watched Zhang Yang nervously, and some of the older, more experienced folks began to sigh.

In their view, the outcome was inevitable.

Almost no officer would risk offending a powerful ally for the sake of these worthless civilians.

Especially now, the Tang Dynasty is on the verge of collapse.

Zhang Yang stared at Ashina for a long time before uttering a few words: "Pick someone out."

Ashina was taken aback: "What?"

Zhang Yang said with a mocking smile, "Aren't you Uyghurs the most martial? If so, then decide the fate of the people in your own way. You and I will have a one-on-one duel. If I win, I will let the people into the military camp. If you win, I will absolutely not interfere with how you deal with these people."

Ashina frowned, glancing at the Uyghur soldiers behind him out of the corner of his eye.

There is no doubt that the Uyghurs value martial prowess. The moment Zhang Yang issued the challenge, the Uyghur soldiers all turned their attention to Ashina's back.

In the Uyghur Khaganate, only the strongest and bravest person can become a leader.

For a moment, Ashina found himself in a difficult position.

If he refused, his prestige within the Uyghur tribe would inevitably decline. Especially since this challenge was initiated by the Han Chinese. If he chose to evade and cower in the face of the Han Chinese who looked down upon him, it would certainly affect his standing among his subordinates.

But if he accepted... Ashina had heard of Zhang Yang's formidable reputation; he was a god of war. The arrow he had just fired still left Ashina's arm numb.

"What? Ashina, do you only dare to bully the weak, and when facing the strong, you don't even have the courage to fight?"

Zhang Yang pressed on again, and under immense pressure, Ashina could only offer a lame excuse: "My lord, it's not that I don't want to fight, but you are, after all, the supervising officer. If I were to fight you and cause casualties, it wouldn't be easy to explain to either the Khan or the Prince of Guangping!"

Zhang Yang said calmly, "I won't make a move myself; I'll have my men do it!"

Ashina's eyes lit up: "Good! Then there's no problem!"

Zhang Yang is indeed as strong as a war god, but how can those Han Chinese under his command defeat him, a Uyghur nobleman?

Guo Shitou, Guo Huzi, and Wang Lie all clamored for battle, their eyes filled with a fierce determination to win.

But Zhang Yang's gaze swept past them and landed on someone somewhat unexpected.

"Yuchi Xin, do you dare to go into battle?"

Yuchi Xin was stunned for a moment, but when he looked at the kneeling people, an indescribable feeling suddenly filled his chest.

The moment he was selected for the Dragon Martial Army, the memories of being oppressed by the Uyghur soldiers and Zhang Yang's great victory over the Black Flag Army flashed before Yuchi Xin's eyes like a revolving lantern.

"General, I am ready to go into battle!"

Yuchi Xin practically shouted those words.

"good!"

Zhang Yang turned to the kneeling people and said in a loud voice, "Fellow villagers, look closely! The man standing before you, fighting for you, is named Yuchi Xin! He was once a member of the Great Tang Dragon Martial Army, and now he is a battalion commander in the Zhengyang Army! What is the Zhengyang Army? It is the wall that holds back the rebels for you, the shield that protects your homes!"

"Yuchi Xin, do you have the determination to win?"

As Zhang Yang asked his question, the Zhengyang Banner behind him rose with the wind, as if a brand new force was emerging from the heavens and earth.

"I have it! General, I have it!"

Yuchi Xin's answer was almost a roar, his eyes filled with a bloodthirsty fighting spirit.

Ashina glanced disdainfully at Yuchi Xin, his face full of contempt: "The trash of the Dragon Martial Army dares to be compared with the warriors of the grasslands!"

With that, the two removed their armor, stripped to their bare chests, and began hand-to-hand combat in the most primal way!

"Drink!"

Ashina charged at Yuchi Xin first. He was a size bigger than Yuchi Xin, but the latter did not retreat. Instead, he collided head-on with Ashina!

Shoulder to shoulder, head to head!

After the two collided and bounced away, Yuchi Xin seemed to feel no pain, and his fists, as big as sandbags, rushed towards Ashina.

Ashina, blocking Yuchi Xin's fist, looked on in horror: "Has this kid gone mad?"

Ashina did not miss the opportunity to counterattack; Yuchi Xin also suffered several heavy blows and was covered in wounds.

But Yuchi Xin seemed to have gone mad at this moment, completely oblivious to the pain, only roaring and punching Ashina.

The Zhengyang Banner was behind him, General Zhang was behind him, and the people were behind him!

He could only move forward, he could only forge ahead with unstoppable momentum!

"You're insane!"

Ashina punched Yuchi Xin in the chest, and Yuchi Xin's face contorted in pain. Even so, he did not back down. Instead, he swung his forearm back and punched Ashina hard in the abdomen.

"what!"

Ashina spat out a mouthful of acid, fell backward, and couldn't get up at all.

Yuchi Xin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his back almost hunched, yet he still forced himself to stand upright: "You've lost. People, you may enter the village!"

Inside and outside the military camp, there was a moment of deathly silence, followed by a burst of enthusiastic cheers from the civilians, and then from the newly-designated Dragon Martial Army soldiers, who raised their fists in unison and roared excitedly: "Zhengyang Army! Zhengyang Army! Zhengyang Army!"

Zhang Yang walked to Yuchi Xin's side, supported his swaying body, and said to all the Zhengyang soldiers, "As soldiers, you must understand in your hearts who you are fighting for and why you are fighting!"

"We must fight for the people in this chaotic world who just want to survive cautiously; we must fight for every city, every town, every village! We must fight for a world where you can live with dignity!"

"Open the city gates! Let the people into the village!"