Xu Fengnian rode forward, dragging his spear behind him. As he and his mount nearly traversed the entire battlefield, a young, inexperienced cavalryman from the Northern Liang lay dying at the battlefield’s edge, his neck sliced open by a cold blade during the charge. Blood poured from the wound. The dying youth raised his arm, trying to lift his Northern Liang saber. Xu Fengnian cast a brief glance but did not offer his iron spear. He continued riding. However, not long after, two riders from Youzhou simultaneously shot arrows—one pierced the young soldier’s arm holding the saber, while the other buried itself into the youth’s cheek.
A dozen riders approached Xu Fengnian head-on, all clad in iron armor, though their armor styles were mismatched, not resembling that of regular border troops. Most bore the unmistakable air of bandits. The leading rider, upon seeing Xu Fengnian up close, was momentarily stunned but did not reveal his identity. He dismounted respectfully and knelt, saying, “General Hong Biao arrives late, deserving death a thousand times!”
Xu Fengnian nodded slightly and said, “Rise.”
After standing, Hong Biao spoke gravely, “Song Diao’er is on his way, leading over twelve hundred riders. Before setting out, there was internal turmoil—three hundred were purged, including four Northern Liang spies from the Spiderweb network.”
Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, “Purged?”
Hong Biao dared not speak further. The stout, middle-aged man kept his gaze low, barely breathing, yet his eyes burned with intensity.
Hong Biao had once been the second-ranking guest general who trained Huishan’s private cavalry. Later, he parted ways with the top-ranking guest general, Huang Fangfo. The latter remained at Daxueping, a wild swallow unwilling to nest in the halls of emperors and ministers. More ambitious, Hong Biao joined the Beiliang army, hoping to achieve glory on the northwestern battlefield. Unfortunately, he was never given significant responsibility. Later, under Huangfu Ping’s orders, he infiltrated Song Diao’er’s den, both to assist and monitor. Though Xu Fengnian’s cultivation had greatly declined, his discernment remained sharp. Hong Biao and Huang Fangfo had long been stuck at the Xiao Zongshi threshold, unable to breakthrough. However, like Mi Fengjie, they were fortunate to witness the martial world’s “Great Year,” eventually unleashing their potential to reach the First-Rank realm. Hong Biao was now a genuine First-Rank Diamond Body cultivator, standing just a step away from the Mysterious Finger Sage realm—where a mere tap could question immortality. Though called the “Great Year” for the sudden emergence of martial talents, it was inaccurate. Many Grandmasters died during this time—Wang Mingyin, the Eleventh Under Heaven; Li Chungan, the Sword Sage; Yang Tai sui, the Ailing Tiger; Song Nianqing of the Sword Pool; Han Shengxuan, the Man-Cat; Liu Haoshi of the Capital; Longshu of the Lianchan Temple; Xie Lingzhen of the Spring Placard Thatched Hall, and more, not to mention Wang Xianzhi and Hong Xiangxiang. These extraordinary martial experts left not just vacancies but also profound shifts in fortune and fate—such as Wang Xianzhi’s generous gift to Yudi Long, or someone from Xishu usurping Longshu’s legacy after his death.
Behind Hong Biao, one of the bandits sneered, “So Hong Biao, not Hong Biao? Keeping secrets from us brothers—aren’t you betraying the spirit of heroes? What, seeing Northern Liang’s General Yu makes your knees weak?”
This leader among Song Diao’er’s bandits mistook the young rider for Yu Luandao, the Youzhou cavalry commander. After all, such a young general commanding ten thousand troops was rare even in the north. Most of Song Diao’er’s bandits only learned the truth after a sudden bloody purge. They held no grudge against their Northern Liang origins—bandits who killed without mercy cared little whether their employers bore the Xu surname of Northern Liang or the Murong or Yelü of Northern Liang. Whoever paid well and offered fine horses was their master. As for genuine loyalty, it was scarce.
Hong Biao, driven by ambition, willingly served Xu Fengnian, the Northern Liang cavalry’s supreme commander. During his time in Song Diao’er’s den, he had suppressed his temper for the greater good, accumulating resentment. Hearing the minor leader’s taunts, he nearly killed him with a palm strike. But Xu Fengnian tapped Hong Biao’s shoulder with his iron spear and shook his head, stopping him.
Xu Fengnian looked ahead—Song Diao’er’s thousand riders were nearing. Yu Luandao, Shi Yulu, Fan Fen, and Yudi Long approached on horseback. Seeing the bandits, they remained indifferent, except Fan Fen, a former scout, who felt ashamed for overlooking them in the chaos. The grim-faced officer glared at the bandits—on the border, who excelled at “black-eating-black”? Not large gangs devouring small ones, but Northern Liang border troops using bandits for training, much like Northern Liang scouts hunting in refugee lands to become You Nu riders. Especially the Yanzhi cavalry—once armored, they became terrifying heavy cavalry. They often patrolled lightly armed, breaking into hundred-man units to hunt bandits in the steppes, wielding only iron spears, no blades or bows. Another unit, the Weixiong Army, had a saying even the Southern Court of Northern Liang knew: “Fatten them before killing for a prosperous New Year.” They ignored bandit dens under a thousand until they grew large enough, then slaughtered them all before the New Year.
When Xu Fengnian appeared alone, the bandits behind Hong Biao were unimpressed, still posing arrogantly. But when Yu Luandao’s four riders arrived, the natural disparity between bandits and Northern Liang border troops became evident.
Xu Fengnian whispered to Yu Luandao, “A thousand two hundred bandits will appear shortly. Though allies in name, their intentions are uncertain. Bring a thousand Youzhou riders—we must prepare for the worst.”
Fan Fen, eager, swallowed his usual “Prince” title and shouted, “My four hundred men are enough! We haven’t had our fill of killing yet—the brothers are itching for a fight!”
Yu Luandao did not act rashly, awaiting Xu Fengnian’s nod.
Without orders, Fan Fen raised his arm, making a westward fist and spreading his fingers—a signal. The four hundred scouts surged forward like a tidal wave.
This blatant display of force made the bandits, except Hong Biao, instinctively retreat.
Yu Luandao glanced at these bandits—adequate in small skirmishes but dubious in large cavalry charges—then turned to Xu Fengnian with a questioning look.
Xu Fengnian explained, “They know the terrain beyond the Hulu Pass well. They can guide us to a hidden encampment.”
Yu Luandao relaxed slightly, smiling, “If these bandits truly help, even against ten thousand Rouran riders, our three thousand two hundred can not only break even but profit.”
Half an hour later, over a thousand riders roared in the distance. With Song Diao’er’s main force arriving, the dozen riders behind Hong Biao grew bolder. The hotheaded ones even glared defiantly at the Youzhou scouts.
Yet, this was their limit—actual combat was unthinkable. Recent rumors painted the Youzhou cavalry as ruthless and fierce. From Youzhou to Jizhou’s north, then the Hulu Pass’s north, General Yu Luandao had reduced ten thousand light cavalry to three or four thousand. Their enemies included two veteran Northern Liang commanders from the east, the three border garrisons of Longyaozhou—Huguan, Changyu, and Binglu—and soon faced the autumn and winter “Nabo” hunts. Hong Jingyan’s ten thousand Rouran riders blocked the north, joined by the western “Chun Nabo,” Tuoba Qiyun. Of the four Nabos, only the summer one, Yelü Yuhu, remained in the grasslands. All three others—vying to become Northern Liang’s next general—sought Yu Luandao’s head. Rumors claimed that whoever killed Yu Luandao could present his head to the Southern Court’s emperor, becoming the next Dong Zhuo—a general allowed unlimited private troops.
Seeing the four hundred Youzhou scouts, the thousand bandits halted, cursing loudly.
Xu Fengnian said to Hong Biao, “Let’s go together.”
Riding forward, Xu Fengnian asked calmly, “Cooling Mountain sent six experts. You knew three. How many died?”
Hong Biao replied, “Only one died after confronting the Spiderweb spies. I followed General Huangfu’s orders to remain hidden. But I secretly killed sixteen riders fleeing the bandit stronghold—all Northern Liang men.”
Meanwhile, Yu Luandao silently returned to the battlefield.
Song Diao’er, the pale-faced scholar-bandit, gripped his reins, lazily nudging his horse forward with his knees, exuding the air of an immortal unbowing to heaven or earth.
But upon seeing a figure, he froze, eyes narrowing in shock. Instinctively straightening, he spurred his horse forward. Recognizing the face, he relaxed—this rider resembled someone terrifying, but it wasn’t him.
Song Diao’er habitually touched the jade pendant at his waist, smiling, “Dare I ask—are you the General Yu who slew thirty thousand enemies?”
Xu Fengnian, dragging his iron spear, sneered, “Song Diao’er, don’t you recognize me? Have the honored forgotten so easily?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Song Diao’er’s fingers trembled. With his sharp mind, he deduced the elegant young noble who once commanded General Huangfu Ping was none other than Xu Fengnian, the “Prince” who later beheaded Xu Huainan and Di Wuhe in Northern Liang’s heartland, now the greatest vassal under the Liang Dynasty.
Song Diao’er clumsily dismounted, hands on the ground, bowing low, “I did not know the Prince’s arrival—Song Diao’er deserves death!”
Xu Fengnian’s spear tip traced the sand as Song Diao’er heard a voice from above, “Your secret letter said to guide the Youzhou cavalry—but it didn’t mention bringing over a thousand shadowy riders.”
Song Diao’er paled, trembling, “Your Highness, the Hulu Pass is now crawling with Northern Liang scouts, even regular border troops in thousands. My leadership failed—after internal strife in one den, morale collapsed. I brought all my men, a last resort to guide you and General Yu safely to the most hidden valley. Thus, even if traitors remain, secrets cannot leak.”
Xu Fengnian glanced skyward, then smiled, “Sounds not like a last resort, but a flawless plan. Song Diao’er, you’ve thought deeply.”
Song Diao’er kept his head low, “Serving the Prince is the greatest fortune of many lifetimes! Without the Prince and General Huangfu’s patronage, I’d still be a wretched bandit with thirty-six riders, scavenging beyond the pass. How dare I not give my all?”
Xu Fengnian gazed at the thousand strong riders two hundred paces away, his indifferent gaze sweeping over them. Curious eyes met him—how could the young “Yu Luandao” inspire such fear in the fearless Song Diao’er?
The atmosphere was tense. A thousand bandits and four hundred Youzhou riders faced off. Between them sat Xu Fengnian on horseback, Song Diao’er kneeling, Hong Biao behind.
Xu Fengnian raised his arm—a motion that startled the bandits, fearing a clash. Though they roamed the northern deserts freely, facing thousands of Youzhou “iron riders” was suicide. They’d rather not provoke the Northern Liang cavalry, who viewed bandits as less than human. Song Diao’er’s bloody purge of pro-Northern Liang factions had been supported not just by his ruthlessness but by the bandits’ fear of Northern Liang. Though Northern Liang now struggled against Northern Liang’s armies, the bandits still feared the Youzhou cavalry. If Yu Luandao’s few thousand could upend the Hulu Pass, surely a few thousand Xu riders could crush them effortlessly.
But soon, all the horse bandits felt a great relief as a bird pierced through the clouds and fell onto the arm of the armored general. Many of the bandits secretly wiped the sweat from their brows. By the gods, this Shadow Rider commander “Yu Luan Dao” was not only skilled in military strategy but also exuded immense authority.
Xu Fengnian lightly shook his arm, allowing the eagle to depart. He paid no heed to Song Dia’er, who remained with his head bowed and expression unreadable. Xu raised his iron spear and pointed at two individuals among the bandits, asking, “Hong Biao, how long have those two been by Song Dia’er’s side?”
Hong Biao looked in the direction and saw the young couple. Slowly, he replied, “It is said that the young man first appeared about a year ago, but he soon left the bandits’ ranks. Not long ago, he returned with the woman. It was through this man that the spies hidden among the bandits were exposed, leading to that internal conflict. I only know that he is a concubine’s son from the Bing family of Gu Sai province, and he has known Song Dia’er since childhood. Song Dia’er mentioned that this person nearly entered the prestigious Qi Jian Le Fu, where the noble offspring gathered, but for some unknown reason, he was always sickly and carried the scent of medicine. As for the woman’s identity, she is said to be from Jin Chan province, with the nickname ‘Sajie.’ She usually enjoys drinking contests. I have observed this woman; she is nearly at the level of a minor master, her hands calloused from training. She is a martial artist, but she does not carry a strong aura of the martial world.”
Xu Fengnian gazed at the thousand horse bandits and suddenly said, “Song Dia’er, didn’t you expect to catch not only three thousand two hundred riders from Youzhou, but also me, the King of Beiliang? Don’t hold back; if you want to laugh, go ahead.”
Song Dia’er lifted his head, his face filled with confusion.
Hong Biao’s heart was shaken.
Xu Fengnian looked at this bandit with incredible luck and smiled, “From Qingliang Mountain, both the open and hidden forces. Hong Biao and the visible forces were left by you to help stage the ambush for the Youzhou riders under Yu Luan Dao, which is not surprising. However, I am curious how you managed to kill all the hidden Beiliang experts. In theory, the Tingchao Pavilion and Fushui House sent out three minor masters. With the limited top martial power you have, Song Dia’er, even if you succeeded, you should not have been able to hide it from old hands like Hong Biao. I suspect you had the idea of playing both sides a year ago, and only decided to defect to Beiman after Yang Yuanzan led thirty thousand troops into the Hulu Pass. Tell me, who are those young man and woman from Beiman?”
Song Dia’er was stunned and raised his head to meet Xu Fengnian’s gaze from atop his horse.
Then he slowly tightened his face, followed by a slight upward curve of his lips, and then his smile began to ripple.
When he patted the dust off his robe and stood up, he already had a bright, open smile on his face.
Hong Biao, furious, was about to kill this audacious ant.
Xu Fengnian, holding his spear in one hand, waved the other to stop Hong Biao and asked, “Besides those two couples, who else is hiding there that allows you to remain calm in the face of danger? Or should I say, several people?”
Song Dia’er’s smile did not fade as he extended one finger and shook it, “Not many, just one. It’s just that this person happens to be able to rival Your Highness. Of course, this old ancestor wasn’t originally coming for you. So you see, since I met Your Highness, my luck has been so good that it can’t be stopped.”
Three riders abruptly appeared from the bandit ranks.
Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, “Toba Bosa, Hong Jingyan, Murong Baoding, Deng Mao, Zhong Liang… Beiman doesn’t have many martial arts masters left these days. Toba Bosa probably won’t be here. The other four, except for Deng Mao, who was defeated by Wang Xiu, I’ve already met and they aren’t here either. Since the great Taoist Yuan Qingshan ascended, the Daode Sect has had no successors. As for the Qi Jian Le Fu, there are five first-class poetic forms. The Sword Qi Jin is dead, and the Copper Man Patriarch is as good as gone. Not long ago, the Grand Music Master also died. The ‘Hangu’, who won the two-character poetic form, is now the Crown Princess and certainly won’t come. The Ti Bing Shan’s Fifth He is dead, and in terms of martial experts, there are no successors left. As for the Princess Tomb, I heard that the Little Thought died in Youzhou, and the person who killed her is still waiting for Xu Yanbing’s third spear.”
Song Dia’er smiled and said, “Your Highness, you can’t have imagined this. After all, Beiman’s sincerity is greater than that of our Beiliang. Before you appeared, they offered me the position of commander of ten thousand men. After confirming your arrival, heh, I, Song Dia’er, will be the first under the Dragon Waist Province’s Jie Jie Ling.”
Song Dia’er bowed deeply to Xu Fengnian with a show of respect, and behind him were those three riders.
Hong Biao watched this bandit, who was soaked in sweat, and couldn’t help but sneer.
After Song Dia’er straightened up and raised his head again, he patted his chest and smiled, saying, “No wonder you are the number one person under heaven, Xu Fengnian. I was actually scared to death. I thank Your Highness for sparing my life.”
When Xu Fengnian saw the rider between the young man and woman, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Old sir, it’s really you.”
The old Confucian scholar with white hair and a gaunt frame looked at first glance like nothing more than a poor scholar who had spent his life buried in books.
Xu Fengnian felt a sense of emotion.
The old man felt the same.
Their first meeting was inside the Yanhui Pass, which had long since become a camp for the Beiman army. At that time, Xu Fengnian had teased the old man, who kept talking non-stop, with the words, “Old sir, you should check if your book bag has fallen.”
The old man was none other than the Beiman Taiping Decree, who had traveled through Liyang for twenty years!
The old man pointed to the young man beside him, “Toba Qiyun, the spring Nabo, and also my Qi Jian Le Fu’s Bua Suan Zi Man. He’s not bad at chess, just too slow. Not long ago, he said you would definitely appear outside the Hulu Pass, so I came with him.”
The old man then pointed to the woman on his left, “Yelü Yuhu. She has no ill intentions; she just wants to see you in person.”
The old man pointed to himself, “Of course, I really want your head, but a year or two earlier than I imagined. I’m a bit disappointed, but more impressed. To be honest, besides the seven thousand elite riders of the autumn and winter Nabo who are about to enter the battlefield, Hong Jingyan’s ten thousand Rouran Iron Riders will also fill the gap. If you insist on escaping, I naturally can’t stop you, but you can only go west alone, leaving the three thousand two hundred riders behind. Before you leave, if you want to vent your anger by killing someone, besides Toba Qiyun and Yelü Yuhu, I won’t bother to stop you. Do as you please.”
Xu Fengnian asked, “Is Toba Bosa waiting for me to the west?”
The old man shook his head, “Toba Bosa cannot move. Our Beiman cultivators are gone, while your Beiliang still has Tan Jing Pingjing and the Guanyin Sect. With this ebb and flow, if Toba Bosa moves, it will startle the snake, and then Xu Yanbing will surely come, and Hu Yan Daguang will be happy not to fight anyone.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, “If Toba Bosa starts moving, I must already be on my way back. Then is it Murong Baoding and Zhong Liang working together?”
The old man sincerely sighed, “Xu Xiao was the best in the world at fighting and gaining office, the best at marrying a wife, and his son was still the best. In the end, he could die peacefully in bed. Amazing. In my opinion, Zhang Julu was far inferior to Xu Xiao.”
The old man was like a kind elder chatting with a younger generation, calmly saying, “Both sides have imposed strict blockades on the border, but there are intelligence reports coming back from within Liangzhou and Youzhou. Chu Lushan did not take a risky move this time, risking everything to move the main force of Liangzhou to the Hulu Pass for you. Fortunately, your Beiliang Commander did not really do this, otherwise our Southern Court King’s fifty thousand troops would have to run themselves to death, and might not even get half a good result. However, in the long run, the hasty decision to abandon Liangzhou for quick gains, although it seems grand, is destined to be unwise.”
Xu Fengnian helplessly said, “Old sir, you already have the victory in hand, why are you still helping Hong Jingyan delay time?”
The sickly Toba Qiyun smiled knowingly, while Yelü Yuhu stared intently, carefully observing this young man whose image was so different from her imagination.
Throughout the entire process, Song Dia’er had no chance to speak. He knew his place, and aside from Hong Biao, any one of the others could drown him with a mere spit. He wished no one would pay attention to him, this “insignificant” little person. When Song Dia’er heard the Taiping Decree’s sharp and unkind words about burning the bridge after crossing the river, he was truly trembling with fear, afraid that Xu Fengnian would impale him with his iron spear at any moment. However, judging from the situation, Xu Fengnian was preoccupied and probably did not care about the life or death of a mere bandit like Song Dia’er. While Song Dia’er was relieved, he was also furious, thinking that once he became a major figure fully in charge of half the border military affairs of Longyao Province, he would certainly launch an attack into Youzhou!
Suddenly, Yelü Yuhu noticed that Taiping Decree and Toba Qiyun exchanged smiles, but their smiles carried a hint of self-mockery and a touch of helplessness.
Yelü Yuhu furrowed her brows, still staring intently at that young man whose actions defied normal expectations. Thinking forward, she could not reach a conclusion, so she thought backward. There was no way this guy would remain completely calm just to appear composed in front of the Imperial Tutor and Toba Qiyun. He must have something to rely on. The cities of Wogong and Luanhong inside the Hulu Pass had already fallen, and Youzhou could not possibly mobilize enough troops to cross the heavy defenses to support him and that young general Yu Luan Dao, while the main force of Liangzhou had not moved either… the main force of Liangzhou… she finally relaxed her brows, the playful and cat-like amusement in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by coldness.
Xu Fengnian looked at this Beiman woman, who was said to have declared that she would make his second sister, Xu Wei Xiong, “look good,” and smiled, “You’ve been staring at me for a long time. Do you want to make me pregnant or make yourself pregnant?”
Before Yelü Yuhu could speak in retaliation, Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “Just make sure you don’t fall into my hands.”
Xu Fengnian lifted his iron spear, looking at her, his smile gone, and slowly said, “Otherwise, I will hang your corpse on it.”
The cicada represents the supply line of the Beiman forces outside the Hulu Pass. The mantis is Xu Fengnian and Yu Luan Dao’s Youzhou cavalry. The oriole is the three people of Taiping Decree and that bait of a thousand horse bandits, the seven thousand elite soldiers of the two Nabo, and Hong Jingyan’s ten thousand Rouran iron cavalry, Zhong Liang and Murong Baoding.
This forms an “interesting” situation of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
But what is truly interesting is the so-called “slingshot on the side” as the grand finale.
The old man sighed lightly but still smiled at Xu Fengnian and said, “Let’s go. It’s a pity that Hong Jingyan’s Rouran iron cavalry probably won’t make it out mostly. The two Nabo who came all the way from the eastern front will also have made their trip in vain. Xu Fengnian, I will send a message to Zhuo Zhuo, telling him to pay more attention to Chu Lushan.”
Xu Fengnian suddenly looked towards an unremarkable rider among the horse bandits, “Old sir, you’re not being fair. You let Zhong Liang, a great master, play the role of a nobody for so long.”
The old man seemed to have no more regrets, laughing heartily, “It’s just a matter of deception in warfare.”
Xu Fengnian smiled.
The old man had already turned his horse around but turned his head to ask, “I’m very curious. When did you find out that the ten thousand riders were coming? Or was it a trap set by you and the Commandery from the beginning?”
Xu Fengnian did not speak.
The old man shook his head and slowly departed.
The Taiping Decree and “Bu Suan Zi Man” Toba Qiyun, Yelü Yuhu, and the great demon Zhong Liang, who had been hidden among the horse bandits and only appeared at the last moment, rode northward.
Toba Qiyun coughed a few times, and after stopping, he said, “It’s a pity Murong Baoding still needs half a day to arrive. Otherwise, there would still be a chance to keep Xu Fengnian.”
The Beiman Imperial Tutor said indifferently, “It’s not that Murong Baoding can’t come in time, it’s that he doesn’t want to.”
Before leaving, Yelü Yuhu couldn’t help but make a hand gesture of chopping at that bastard, and at this moment she coldly said, “They’re all traitors!”
All of them.
Except Murong Baoding surnamed Murong, who else?
The old man had already closed his eyes to meditate and ignored everything.
Toba Qiyun lightly scolded, “Silence!”
Zhong Liang, the demon who had returned empty-handed, let out a big yawn and didn’t get involved in anything.
The old man remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking, “Whether it’s Yelü or Murong, even if one Beiman cannot contain them, as long as we conquer Liyang, no matter their surnames, even the greatest ambitions will be satisfied.”
Yelü Yuhu softly said, “Master, I was impolite.”
Behind the four riders, the more than a thousand horse bandits felt the cold wind blowing through their souls.
Especially Song Dia’er, who stood like a wooden chicken, completely unaware of what had happened, and the situation had suddenly turned around.
Yu Luan Dao, who had originally thought he would fight to the death, came to Xu Fengnian’s side. The latter leaned closer, patted his shoulder, and said, “Let’s go back to Liangzhou together, riding with the Snow Dragon Cavalry.”
Yu Luan Dao was stunned, and his eyes instantly became moist. He quickly turned his horse and galloped away.
Xu Fengnian gave Hong Biao a look, who nodded with a sinister smile, then hesitated to speak.
With his back to Hong Biao, Xu Fengnian calmly said, “You don’t need to blame yourself. After you finish your task, go tell those more than a thousand horse bandits, if they want to survive, they don’t need to fight desperately. Later, each of them just needs to cut off five heads of the Rouran iron riders on the battlefield.”
Even Song Dia’er, who was not stupid and always prided himself on being a clever man with a sharp mind, surely knew what his fate would be next. So he knelt down heavily, kowtowed repeatedly, and cried out desperately, “Your Highness, a great man does not hold a grudge against a small person. Although Song Dia’er deserves to die, I still have a loyal force of one thousand two hundred riders that can be of use. Even more, I can help Beiliang gather another two thousand strong horse bandits. Song Dia’er will surely risk his life to disrupt Beiman’s supply lines for Your Highness…”
“Your Highness, I beg you, spare my life! Song Diao’er can still be of use, really!”
No matter how much Song Diao’er kowtowed and pleaded, Xu Fengnian had already ridden far away.
As Song Diao’er caught a glimpse of Hong Biao’s feet from the corner of his eye, right before his death he suddenly raised his head and roared, “Xu Fengnian, at least let me die by your hands!”
Hong Biao smashed his palm onto the ungrateful bandit’s head, pushed downward, and crushed his skull and upper body into a pile of bloody pulp, looking like a vivid crimson tree stump. Hong Biao gently shook his hand, spat on the ground, and sneered, “You got off easy.”
On the battlefield just cleared by the Youzhou cavalry, after hearing the news brought by Yu Luandao, there was no celebratory roar of relief that usually followed a narrow escape from death.
All the Youzhou cavalry, who had originally thought they would once again abandon the corpses of their fallen comrades, silently hoisted the bodies of their dead brothers onto their horses with red-rimmed eyes.
Xu Fengnian halted his horse and gazed at those three thousand two hundred riders of Youzhou, and at the many comrades behind them who had forever closed their eyes.
His lips trembled, but in the end, he said not a single word. Alone on his horse, he turned and began riding south.
This cavalry force would soon head west, then once again southward into Liangzhou.
Yu Luandao followed.
Shi Yulu and Su Wenyao followed.
Fan Fen followed.
All three thousand two hundred riders followed.
That child, Yudi Long, still trailing at the end of the army, sniffled and muttered to himself, “Big guy, I’ll owe you for now.”
Shi Yulu spoke softly, “General, I didn’t dare tell you before—Liu Tao, the young scout who died in the battle two days ago, was the one waiting for you in that Jibei village. Before he passed away, this boy said that if you ever had time, he hoped you could pour a bowl of wine in front of the tombstone of their squad leader at Qingliang Mountain, and if you could pour one for him as well, that would be even better.”
Commander Fan Fen reached out his hand to wipe his face, his expression unreadable, “But this boy never drank while he was alive.”
Xu Fengnian nodded silently.
He recalled that young scout, who had waited for him to return to the village, eager to speak but too shy to say anything, and in the end, they never exchanged a word, only a bashful and honest smile.
Suddenly, Xu Fengnian sharply dug his heels into his horse’s belly, raised his long spear, and charged straight toward the ten thousand Rouran cavalry and Hong Jingyan.
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