Chapter 121: Fierce General Of Hedong
Xiao Yi leaped down from the earth wall and glanced at Liu Yun.
Upon hearing that Liu Jiye had arrived, Liu Yun’s expression visibly brightened, as if he believed a rescuer had come.
Xiao Yi called over his soldiers Yu Douzi and Tang Bing, saying, “Keep a close eye on him. If he dares to defy my orders, finish him off directly.”
“Understood!”
“This…” Liu Yun immediately became fearful and said, “Your Highness, please rest assured, I would never dare.”
“Who is the one who has arrived?”
“He is my adoptive brother, originally surnamed Yang, the son of a powerful figure from Lin Prefecture. In his early years, when my adoptive father was the Prefect of Lin Prefecture, he saw that the young man was skilled in archery and horsemanship and exceptionally brave from the age of ten, so he took him in and bestowed upon him the name Liu Jiye.”
As Liu Yun spoke, he instinctively added, “He is very capable in battle. When I left Hedong, everyone in the army called him ‘Little Yuchi’.”
“No matter how capable he is, can he fight two thousand men alone?”
Xiao Yi’s words extinguished Liu Yun’s hope.
He turned and exited the village, watching Liu Jiye arrive and dismount with swiftness.
This man was about twenty years old, tall and burly, wearing a Hedong military robe and lamellar armor with gilded copper studs along the edges. His face was stern, with a high nose bridge, phoenix eyes that gleamed with spirit.
“Where is Big Brother?”
“He is resting inside.”
Liu Jiye’s gaze fell upon him, and after a focused appraisal, he asked, “Who are you?”
“Deputy Commander of the Cavalry Formation of the Taining Army, Murong Fu of Yanzhou.”
“Under Murong Jixun?”
“Yes.”
Liu Jiye continued without stopping, asking, “What has happened?”
“Guo Que’er feigned an invitation for Your Highness to ascend the throne in Bian, but instead, he made a deadly move. Our Young Master and General Zhang were killed one after another, and we, their guards, fled with Your Highness to this place.”
“Why didn’t you cross the river?”
“We were utterly exhausted and could not travel further. Our horses all died from fatigue, and Your Highness’s wounds could not withstand further hardship. We require a carriage.”
Xiao Yi deliberately lagged a couple of steps behind and quickly made a gesture to Mu Lingjun.
Over forty men formed a surrounding posture around the abandoned village.
“Big Brother?!”
Ahead, Liu Jiye let out a loud shout and covered the distance to Liu Yun in a few strides, asking with concern, “Your hand? How did this happen?!”
“It was… it was inflicted by Xiao Yi, under Guo Que’er’s command.”
Xiao Yi was not angered. He stood behind Liu Jiye, resting his hand on his saber, his gaze calmly fixed on Liu Yun.
Liu Yun’s eyes darted away, and he murmured weakly, “I was fortunate to escape. I was pursued by the enemy all the way and was simply too exhausted to continue…”
“Wang Gui, go and tell General Li to send a carriage to pick us up.”
“Understood.”
Xiao Yi observed carefully, noting that the guard Wang Gui appeared sharp and efficient, and his commands were strictly followed. After a moment, Wang Gui mounted his horse and departed.
Liu Jiye’s eyes reddened slightly. He was a man of deep loyalty and righteousness. He removed his cloak and draped it over Liu Yun. Then, turning, he asked Xiao Yi about the situation in Xuzhou.
“Guo Que’er dared to send troops into Hedong?”
“Yes, those rebels fear no death and pursued relentlessly.”
“I also know of Xiao Yi’s feat of spearing Murong Gong. Tell me about him.”
“Speaking of that scoundrel, I hate him,” Xiao Yi gritted his teeth. “He is brutish and ugly as a demon, and kills without batting an eye.”
Liu Jiye said, “I asked you how he pursued Big Brother.”
“He is here.”
The sound of hooves echoed from afar.
The two quickly climbed the earth wall and looked east. They saw snow dust flying on the official road as hundreds of cavalry galloped toward them, flying the Tianxiong Army banner.
“Take Big Brother and go!”
“I fear there isn’t enough time. Your Highness is gravely wounded, and we don’t have enough horses.”
Xiao Yi knew that Fan Shouxu, under Li Rong, was leading the troops who were to feign pursuit. He deliberately stalled, and soon, four hundred cavalry began to surround the abandoned village.
Liu Jiye could not command Xiao Yi, but he was decisive in mobilizing his guards.
“He Huai-pu, immediately take two men and go back to request reinforcements from General Li!”
“Understood.”
“The rest of you, follow me to set up defenses. Ten men will guard the ruined walls on the east side of the village, build stone abatis, and form spear formations. You few will set up sentries at the other village entrances.”
“Understood.”
“Murong Fu, bring your men to support me.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Yi watched impassively, observing Liu Jiye’s organized and swift actions, and thought to himself that this man was remarkable.
“Let him defend. The more he acts the part, the easier it will be for Li Cungui to fall into the trap.”
Soon, Fan Shouxu’s cavalry surrounded the area.
Four hundred cavalry reined in their horses about fifty paces outside the village.
“Fire arrows!”
A sparse arrow rain shot out, embedding in the earth wall or falling to the ground, lacking accuracy.
The plan was proceeding smoothly. After about half an hour, Xiao Yi reckoned that Li Cungui should be arriving soon.
“Something is wrong!”
Liu Jiye suddenly said in a deep voice, “The situation is not right. They have a different objective.”
Seeing that he had actually figured it out, Xiao Yi gave Mu Lingjun a look, signaling him to act at any moment, and asked, “General, on what grounds do you say this?”
“With our small force, and not defending a strategic position, why would they surround us without attacking?”
Xiao Yi calmly replied, “General, you worry too much. The rebels are also tired from their pursuit; they probably intend to rest their horses before launching an attack.”
“No, if they have ventured so deep into Hedong, they would never be so composed.”
Liu Jiye was very sure. He narrowed his eyes, pointed at the distant cavalry, and said, “They hold their reins in their right hands, ready to retreat or surround reinforcements at any moment… This is a feigned attack, designed to lure out and attack the reinforcements. I must inform General Li not to cross the river easily…”
“Roar—”
While Xiao Yi was speaking with Liu Jiye, Mu Lingjun had silently moved behind Liu Jiye and struck with his saber.
However, Liu Jiye, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, dodged the blow instantly.
His figure moved with lightning speed, lunging outward.
“Stop him!”
Two soldiers immediately blocked his path.
Liu Jiye drew his saber, slicing through one soldier’s spear and then slitting his throat; the other soldier had just raised his saber when Liu Jiye kicked him in the chest, sending him flying to the ground.
Xiao Yi commanded his soldiers to surround him, and Liu Jiye’s guards swarmed forward, fighting desperately to help him mount his horse.
“Men, break out!”
“Capture him!”
Xiao Yi did not rush to pursue. Instead, he immediately drew his red signal flag and waved it, signaling Fan Shouxu to tighten the encirclement.
At the same time, he ordered Mu Lingjun to guard all the entrances and exits of the abandoned village, and to keep an eye on Liu Yun, to prevent Liu Jiye from rescuing him.
“General.” Shou Tao urgently shouted, “The enemy’s large banner has arrived!”
Xiao Yi climbed the earth wall in two strides and surveyed the scene. The large banner embroidered with the character “Li” had already crossed the Qin River.
It was not the two thousand men he had anticipated. Judging by the number of banners and the length of the formation, Li Cungui was quite confident and had likely brought only about eight hundred elite cavalry to break the siege.
“Excellent, they have arrived.”
He immediately drew a red-plumed arrow, drew his bowstring taut, and shot towards the reed marsh.
A moment later, Li Rong responded with a red flag.
Xiao Yi also waved his flag in response, signaling that Li Cungui was within three hundred paces.
The major event was settled. However, as his gaze swept over the abandoned village, he was surprised to find that Liu Jiye had not yet been killed.
“Fan Shouxu, what are you doing? Give the order to quickly eliminate Liu Jiye!”
“Understood.”
Xiao Yi watched for a while longer and found that Fan Shouxu was not slow to react, but Liu Jiye was quick on his horse and with his spear. When breaking out to the west proved impossible, he used the ruined walls to maneuver and broke through from the east where the defenses were weak.
Fan Shouxu’s cavalry pursued him. Liu Jiye turned his spear and knocked down two men, creating distance. Leading the remaining six or seven riders, he intended to circle around through the reed marsh to find Li Cungui.
There were Li Rong’s ambushing forces in the reed marsh; they were not afraid of failing to kill Liu Jiye.
Xiao Yi’s gaze returned. Li Cungui’s vanguard had arrived at a gallop, less than a hundred paces from the abandoned village.
“General, they are here.”
“Stay calm. Do not shoot arrows. Order Fan Shouxu to prepare for a feigned retreat.”
“Understood.”
“Bring Liu Yun out so that Li Cungui’s men can see him.”
“Understood.”
“One hundred paces. Signal with the flag.”
“Understood.”
Xiao Yi stared at Li Cungui’s large banner, keeping Li Rong informed in a timely manner.
Suddenly.
On the snowy official road, a rider entered his vision.
It was Liu Jiye.
He no longer attempted to circle around to the east. Instead, with a sudden reversal of his spear, he charged through Fan Shouxu’s defenses. His guards had all fallen in battle, and he himself was covered in blood. The iron spear in his hand had turned red, spattering drops of blood in the wind.
“Stop him!”
It was too late for Fan Shouxu to deploy his troops again.
The fine horse beneath Liu Jiye seemed as if it would fly, moving with lightning speed.
“Ambush!”
“There is an ambush! General Li, halt…”
“Act!”
Xiao Yi decisively snatched the command flag from the messenger’s hand and waved it down forcefully.
A horn blared, and the drums roared thunderously. Cavalry suddenly emerged from the reed marsh.
“Kill!”
Mu Lingjun and Fan Shouxu’s troops immediately changed direction and charged towards Li Cungui’s large banner.
At this moment, Li Cungui’s vanguard cavalry had reached within thirty paces and reined in their horses in haste.
“Neigh—”
Many warhorses whinnied and reared up, causing the riders behind them to crash into each other, men and horses falling in disarray.
Xiao Yi watched clearly from atop the wall. Fan Shouxu’s cavalry crashed headlong into the enemy. Li Rong’s ambush forces, divided into left and right wings, flanked them from the sides.
Although not a complete encirclement, it formed a sufficient advantage.
Li Cungui’s large banner swayed and retreated.
Liu Jiye, however, charged into the formation on his horse, protecting the general in silver armor beneath the banner and fleeing westward.
“Don’t let Li Cungui escape!”
“The one in silver armor and red cloak is Li Cungui. Do not let him get away!”
“…”
Seeing the two sides fighting and moving westward, out of the range visible from the abandoned village walls, Xiao Yi mounted his horse and gave chase with his spear.
Arriving at the bank of the Qin River, he saw that the Tianxiong Army had narrowly surrounded the Hedong Army.
Looking across the river, on the enemy’s side, Li Cungui’s reinforcements had just bypassed Qinzhou City and were heading this way. On their side, Li Rong had long ago dispatched his son Li Shoujie with troops to circle around from the rear, and his banner had already appeared in the southwest direction.
As long as they could capture the general and seize the banner, and rout the fleeing soldiers to break the formation, they could achieve the same victory as when they took Huazhou.
Xiao Yi calmly surveyed the scene and found that Liu Jiye was protecting Li Cungui and the large banner as they broke out. Due to his martial prowess, some of his guards had calmed down and formed a defensive formation around him.
“Follow me to take the enemy’s head!”
Xiao Yi spurred his horse into a charge, with Jin Sanshui, Shou Tao, and others following him, some wielding sabers, others shields, protecting his flanks.
He, meanwhile, used his spear to fend off several attackers and surged behind Liu Jiye.
He thrust his spear.
“Clang!”
Liu Jiye parried the blow with his spear. The spear in his hand coiled like a viper and lunged upward diagonally.
Xiao Yi parried with his spear as well, but Liu Jiye used the force to shake the shaft, and the impact “hummed” against Xiao Yi’s tiger’s mouth.
Intense pain.
From this single exchange, both men were agile and highly skilled in spear techniques, but Xiao Yi knew that the gap in strength was too vast.
After several more exchanges, Liu Jiye used his weight to deliver powerful blows, chopping and smashing; Xiao Yi used his suppleness to deflect and thrust.
“Bang!”
The spear shafts collided again.
The mulberry wood shaft in Xiao Yi’s hand bent under the pressure, while Liu Jiye’s pure iron spear was heavy and even more formidable.
This time, his tiger’s mouth finally split open. It was painful and sticky, and he almost dropped his spear. He could only lean back to absorb the force and evade Liu Jiye’s horizontal sweep.
His rhythm was disrupted, and he could only rely on skill and horsemanship to evade, instantly falling into a passive state.
He suddenly understood how those he had impaled felt in their final moments.
“You are Xiao Yi?”
Liu Jiye suddenly shouted and asked.
Xiao Yi did not answer, seizing the opportunity to regulate his breathing.
The next moment.
A silver flash suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Xiao Yi quickly dodged to the side, nearly falling from his horse, relying entirely on his core strength to hang on.
Blood splashed before his eyes.
His vision blurred amidst the clamor of hooves and weapons. He heard the roars of his soldiers desperately trying to rescue him.
In that very instant, Liu Jiye had thrust his spear directly at his neck with a straight thrust.
The straight thrust should have been a technique he excelled at, inherited from the Yang family’s Pear Blossom Spear. He hadn’t expected it to possess such power in Liu Jiye’s hands.
Had he been hit?
He felt as if he saw death before his eyes.
He also heard Liu Jiye’s sneer.
“Is that all you’ve got…”
“Clang!”
An arrow struck Li Cungui’s helmet nearby with a heavy thud.
Tianxiong Army soldiers swarmed forward, shouting, “Kill Li Cungui!”
Liu Jiye was startled. Forgetting about grappling with Xiao Yi, he grabbed Li Cungui’s reins, ordered his guards to hold the line, killed a few Hedong soldiers who were in the way in their panic, and fled far away in an instant.
Xiao Yi pulled hard on the saddle bridge and returned to his horse, breathing heavily.
Ignoring the surrounding chaos, he reached up with his left hand to his neck. A bloodstain appeared on his palm. It wasn’t much blood, but he was injured.
That was close.
He couldn’t help but reflect. He had only managed to spear Murong Yanchao and thought that the renowned generals of the world were no more than that. Today, he had received a wake-up call.
Coming back to his senses, he heard Li Rong continuously shouting orders.
“Messenger, tell Li Shoujie to cut off the enemy general’s retreat. Do not let Li Cungui escape!”
“Damn it, let’s charge through!”
“…”
Xiao Yi bandaged the wound on his neck and was about to remount his horse when he suddenly saw a troop of cavalry galloping from the east, raising the Tianxiong Army banner high.
“Report—”
“General, it’s a messenger from the Marshal.”
“Excellent!”
Li Rong was overjoyed and exclaimed, “The army has arrived! We can take Jinyang in one go and grind Liu Chong’s old bones to dust!”
“Long live! Long live!”
The anxiety that had accompanied this vanguard army on its journey was finally dispelled at this moment.
The messenger finally reached them. The rider was so cold his face was bruised purple. He reined in his horse, and surprisingly, tumbled from the saddle.
Xiao Yi rode over and took the urgent military order sealed with wax.
As he unfolded it, he was taken aback.
He urged his horse toward Li Rong, who was in high spirits, saying, “General…”
“Never mind me. I will personally lead the charge into Qinzhou.”
“General, there is an order from the Lord!”
Xiao Yi forcefully pulled Li Rong’s arm and, in as calm a tone as possible, conveyed the order word by word.
“The vanguard army is to immediately cease its advance and retreat to Xiang Prefecture!”
“What? We finally made it…”
Xiao Yi was also unwilling.
He swallowed a mouthful of ice-cold air, feeling as if his lungs would burst.
This was indeed not a good opportunity to conquer Hedong. To have failed at the brink of success was undeniably disheartening.
In his mind, the image of Liu Jiye’s iron spear thrusting toward him kept replaying, making him realize his own mediocrity.
For a moment, he felt dejected.
But as he turned to look at the towering mountains of Hedong, the fire of unyielding determination still flickered in his eyes.
If strength is insufficient, then train relentlessly.
When he rides into Hedong again in the future, he will definitely conquer these high mountains.
