Chapter 92: Pursuit
Xiao Yi was located at Longtou, the highest point in the area, with a gentle and long slope.
The battlefield at the end of the gentle slope was less than four hundred paces away from him.
Nie Wenjin was originally fleeing west but encountered a deep ditch. A wooden plank was laid across the ditch, and tire tracks extended west, indicating that Liu Chengyou’s imperial procession had already passed.
The remaining troops had not yet managed to cross when Song Yanwo’s troops caught up.
A large banner with the character “Nie” was planted on the east side of the ditch, and they formed a formation, preparing to fight with the ditch at their backs.
At this point, it was impossible to count the number of soldiers by their banners. Xiao Yi calculated based on the formation and found that Nie Wenjin likely had only about three hundred cavalry left.
Within Song Yanwo’s formation, under the main banner, there was a command flag. They approached in a Wild Goose Formation, with one command flag on each side and a rear guard at the back, totaling two thousand Huazhou cavalry. However, their formation had scattered due to the pursuit.
The north wind carried shouts.
“Please Your Majesty do not flee… The one who comes is the Imperial Son-in-law Song! Please Your Majesty return to the city…”
“Nie Wenjin abducted the Emperor and fled west, he is a rebel! Kill him and be rewarded with one hundred bolts of silk and ten qing of land…”
The scattered Wild Goose Formation began to encircle the remaining troops from three directions.
Song Yanwo’s order was sound: first cut off Nie Wenjin’s escape routes to the north and south, then reorganize the formation.
But Xiao Yi, observing from his vantage point, could see the problem.
Nie Wenjin was ready to fight to the death.
The main banner tilted forward, and the sound of horns and drums began.
“Kill!”
Nie Wenjin led the charge, raising his saber high, heading straight for Song Yanwo’s main banner.
He was riding a Hexi Horse, driven into a frenzy by the spurs, charging like an arrow. The three hundred cavalry behind him were inspired and followed with shouts.
The Huazhou soldiers were still shooting arrows.
Xiao Yi knew that cavalry bows typically only weighed two jin, and their damage was limited at a distance. Close-range shooting tested courage, and Nie Wenjin’s troops charging madly like this would likely make ordinary soldiers unsteady.
As expected, Song Yanwo’s vanguard in the center of the army immediately became chaotic.
“Judging by this,” Xi Hou said, “the Imperial Son-in-law will suffer a setback.”
Hu Deng shook his head. “Two thousand surrounding three hundred. If the main banner is lost, it’s a huge loss of face.”
“Commander, I have a brilliant idea.”
Xi Hou pointed and said, “Circle around there, follow the tracks, and we might be able to capture the Emperor.”
“Good!” Hu Deng was overjoyed. “It’s amazing that you, you fool, could come up with such a good idea! We’ll beat that Imperial Son-in-law to it and earn great merit!”
Xiao Yi shook his head and raised his hand to stop the two from speaking further.
He didn’t need to offend Song Yanwo for such merit; it wouldn’t be worth the cost.
“Make some noise, cheer on the Yi Cheng Army.”
“Yes!”
Although disappointed, Xi Hou immediately sounded the bugle.
Hu Deng unfurled the large banner of the Nian Battalion and waved it on the crest of Longtou.
The Huazhou soldiers heard the bugle and turned to look, their morale visibly boosted. Shouts could be heard from afar.
“It’s the Nian Battalion that defeated Yan Kunlunnu!”
“The King of Hell’s Spear is here!”
Suddenly, Xiao Yi’s eyes narrowed.
He could see clearly that Nie Wenjin, eager to charge the main banner, had concentrated his forces and had not deployed any left or right wings for protection.
As they charged, some horses were faster than others, and the formation became a long snake. Indeed, some horses were clearly losing steam.
“Signal Song Yanwo and tell him Nie Wenjin has no reserve forces. I will cut off the Southern Army’s formation, and he should narrow his pincer movement.”
“Commander, but we only have ten…”
“Send the signal!”
“Yes!”
Xi Hou immediately waved the signal flag.
Soon, a golden gong sound responded from under Song Yanwo’s main banner, and the wings began to contract.
“Charge with me! Accelerate within one hundred paces. Remember, don’t get bogged down in combat, just cut off the Southern Army’s formation!”
“Yes!”
“I will lead. Shou Tao and Wang Jiu, you two will hold shields and protect my flanks; Jin Sanshui, you will follow with a saber to kill anyone who gets close; the rest of you, use your long weapons to push back the enemy soldiers, but do not charge in front of me.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Yi spurred his horse down the slope, ten riders heading towards the battlefield.
They were getting closer, and when he could see the enemy soldiers’ expressions, his white horse excitedly pawed the ground.
“Giddy up!”
Charging forward, his back straight, leaning slightly forward, shoulders and elbows lowered, he raised his spear.
The white horse and silver spear flashed like a shooting star, accompanied by the sound of the rushing wind.
Ahead, an enemy cavalryman in the northwest hastily pulled his horse back to avoid a collision with him. Another cavalryman in the northeast turned and swung his saber.
Xiao Yi’s spear was not thrust forward, but rather he lightly parried the saber to the right.
Immediately after, the spear was raised high and then smashed diagonally downwards, striking an enemy cavalryman’s helmet and knocking him off his horse.
“Bang!”
The spear body swept sideways to dissipate force, knocking down two enemy cavalrymen and clearing a path.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Without a single drop of blood spilled, Xiao Yi had already consecutively dismounted five men, breaking through the enemy cavalry formation. Ahead, Song Yanwo’s right flank was still rushing over.
Behind him, Jin Sanshui ran through one enemy with his spear. Seeing an enemy cavalryman swinging his saber, he let out a roar.
With several more sounds, Shou Tao and Wang Jiu also roared and raised their shields. The clash of metal on metal was heard, and the soldiers behind them thrust their spears in staggered attacks, felling several men.
Xiao Yi galloped another hundred paces, reined in his horse, and reformed the formation.
“Charge back!”
“Kill!”
This time, they charged diagonally, aiming for the gap they had just created.
The ten riders were like a dagger, piercing the vital spot of the long snake formation once more.
The Huazhou army’s wings closed in, cutting the enemy army into two parts and encircling them separately.
Xiao Yi spurred his horse forward, looking at Nie Wenjin who was fighting fiercely within the encirclement.
“Neigh—”
With a mournful cry, the Hexi Horse was struck by a spear, and Nie Wenjin fell from his horse, still slashing wildly with his saber, its edge already blunted.
The remaining thirty-odd guards rushed forward, protecting him.
“General Nie!” Xiao Yi shouted, “The situation is decided, surrender!”
“Xiao Yi?”
Nie Wenjin turned to look, enraged, and berated him, “I treated you well, why did you not obey orders and kill Wang Yin?!”
“The will of the people.”
Xiao Yi only gave four words, advising him, “A bet is a bet. I am willing to repay your favor and plead with the Marshal for you.”
“Hahaha, well said, ‘the will of the people’.”
Nie Wenjin threw his head back and laughed, shouting, “I am the mastermind of the palace coup!”
“Among all the traitors, only you, General, are a hero…”
“Pfft.”
Before he could finish speaking, Nie Wenjin turned his saber sideways and, with a clean sweep, cut his own neck. Blood gushed from his neck, he swayed, and then fell to the ground with a thud.
“General!”
Six or seven guards, seeing this, cried out in grief and drew their sabers, committing suicide, falling down together.
Xiao Yi suddenly caught sight of one of them and shouted, “Lu Chou!”
Lu Chou looked over, startled, and stopped his suicide attempt.
Xiao Yi’s tone was irrefutable, “Put down your saber. We’ll discuss the rest when you see your elder brother.”
Lu Chou hesitated for a moment, then, along with the other guards, dropped his saber and surrendered to be taken prisoner.
Xiao Yi dismounted and went to examine Nie Wenjin’s body, then reached out and closed his eyes.
Among those involved in the coup, Nie Wenjin had ability, courage, and was the clearest-headed. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong path and ultimately met his end.
“Xiao Lang, thank you for your help.”
“Zhong Jian Xiong.”
Xiao Yi turned around and saw Song Yanwo approaching rapidly. He returned the greeting and said, “We both serve the Marshal, it was the right thing to do.”
“Xiao Lang, with your white horse and silver spear breaking through the formation, your demeanor today is something I will never forget.”
“You flatter me, Zhong Jian Xiong. Nie Wenjin showed me great favor, and I wish to give him a proper burial and plead for his family.”
“Although I cannot make the decision, rest assured, a man who rose through military merit will not be blamed after death by the Marshal. I will also speak on your behalf.”
“Thank you.”
“We are brothers, no need for formalities. The Emperor was held hostage and may be in danger. The Marshal, seeing I am a close relative of the Emperor, ordered me to protect him with all my might. Are you willing to accompany me?”
“I am willing to go with Zhong Jian Xiong.”
“Please!”
Although he agreed to go, Xiao Yi noticed Song Yanwo’s gaze always fixed on him with a burning intensity, and for some reason, he subconsciously kept his distance.
They left men to clear the battlefield and temporarily guard Nie Wenjin’s body and the prisoners. Soon, the Huazhou cavalry reformed their ranks and set off.
They rode through the wind and snow. After half an hour, scouts rushed back from ahead.
“Report—”
“The Emperor’s Golden Chariot has been found!”
After riding a bit further, they saw that the Grand Master of Ceremonies’ army-leading banner was still erected beside the Golden Chariot, and a group of officials and armored soldiers were dejectedly guarding it.
Song Yanwo spurred his horse forward and shouted, “Where is Your Majesty?!”
“His Majesty… has gone hunting in the west.”
Xiao Yi looked and saw that there were footprints leading in all directions from beside the Golden Chariot, with the most going towards the official road to the west.
However, a line of hoof prints caught his attention. It led north along a rugged small path, leading to some unknown small village. But only horses were running in that direction; no one was walking.
“Let’s go, keep going!”
“I suspect His Majesty fled north.”
Suddenly, an official shouted, “You’re talking nonsense! I saw His Majesty ride west with my own eyes.”
Xiao Yi ignored him, dismounted, and walked towards the small northern path. He squatted down to observe the hoof prints.
Song Yanwo also came closer.
“Zhong Jian Xiong, look. The imperial horse’s horseshoe is half an inch wider than ordinary warhorses’, with a cloud pattern on the edge. All the horses heading north are imperial horses.”
“How do you know that?”
“I captured the Imperial Messenger yesterday and noticed that all the horses he carried were Hexi Horses, with hooves three inches wide,” Xiao Yi said. “Look again, the hoof spacing is even, indicating stable control of the horses, unlike scattered soldiers. It’s more like elite guards escorting the Emperor. We can split our forces to pursue.”
“Good.”
Song Yanwo’s distribution of forces was to have the acting military registrar, Wang Chongwen, responsible for arranging the directions. He himself, along with Xiao Yi, led a small group of light cavalry along the northern path, showing great trust in Xiao Yi’s judgment.
The path wound its way to a small village. At the entrance of the village, a wooden sign read “Caijing Village.” After passing a section of frozen earth road where the snow had been swept away, the hoof prints continued north.
Xiao Yi suddenly reined in his horse.
Song Yanwo asked, “What is it?”
“The snow was just swept away, why? This path is on the edge of the village, and most of the houses by the road are empty. Look at the main road through the village over there.”
Xiao Yi pointed to the village. On the main road running through the village, the snow was trampled with messy footprints.
He dismounted and pushed open a door. The lock had been smashed open. Inside, a broom covered in snow was discarded, the footprints were messy, and they led through the house.
Song Yanwo followed and, upon seeing this, immediately said, “His Majesty is nearby.”
