Chapter 208: Jin Prefecture’s Li Xiao? You Deserve To Die!
“Privy Councillor, be careful.”
After a nearby personal guard had his neck torn apart by shrapnel from an explosion, Tāyánggǔ was immediately pinned down by a guard beside him.
“Privy Councillor, look, iron nails?”
The personal guard picked up a nail from the ground and said with a shocked voice.
Tāyánggǔ’s eyes narrowed, not expecting that the cause of so much damage to his army was these unremarkable nails.
“Where did these nails come from?” Tāyánggǔ roared in anger, still lying on the ground.
He couldn’t understand how ordinary nails and iron shards could possess such destructive power.
If he couldn’t understand it, he wouldn’t think about it.
After the initial panic, Tāyánggǔ calmed his mind and pushed away the guard beside him.
Standing up, he drew the saber from his waist and roared loudly, “Everyone, don’t panic.”
“Scatter immediately, the enemy is about to attack, hold your formation.”
“Spear and shield soldiers, assemble and stand at the front…”
Although Tāyánggǔ had been defeated many times, he had accumulated considerable experience throughout his years of warfare.
He still had some ability, but not much, and this time they were facing the elite Jin Prefecture Army.
Unless Tāyánggǔ possessed Han Xin’s skill, it would be difficult to achieve the feat of fighting with their backs to the river.
The twilight stained the sky like blood, and twenty Tiger Zun Cannons were lined up on the summit of the hill, their dark barrels spitting scarlet flames, with rising gunpowder smoke coiling around them like giant pythons.
Scorching cannonballs tore through the air, leaving trails of dark red arcs across the sky as they poured down on the Royal Court Army’s positions by the Sihun River.
Amidst the deafening roar, the muzzle flashes illuminated the gunners’ faces, making them flicker in and out of sight.
Sweat beaded on their dark faces, but they stared fixedly at the cannon muzzles, methodically loading gunpowder and pushing iron shots.
Behind the hills, an endless tide of iron cavalry surged.
At the forefront, Jin Prefecture Army soldiers, clad in yellow, red, and white cotton armor, formed a steel bulwark, their uniformly held spears making crisp, light sounds in the wind.
Among these elite garrison soldiers, numerous soldiers from the recently incorporated Eastern Capital, North Sea, and Kuli armies were listening to the instructions of their Shihu leaders.
Although they were also brave and skilled fighters, they were not accustomed to the Jin Prefecture Army’s fighting methods. Their coordination during their first battle would undoubtedly be clumsy, hence the need for the Shihu leaders to demonstrate.
On their flanks, the Kuli Army cavalry presented a starkly different scene—some wore worn leather armor patched with numerous layers.
Even more stood bare-chested, their bronze chests crisscrossed with old and new scars, holding sabers captured from the Royal Court Army, the blades still stained with dark red blood.
The torrent of cavalry, formed by these two groups, swept across the grasslands at the foot of the hills, raising dust that obscured the sky.
The tri-colored banners fluttered in the wind, like a surging sea of wrath.
On the hilltop, Li Xiao, clad in full dark gold and black-trimmed cotton armor, held a telescope, gazing at the Royal Court Army by the river.
A day earlier, Li Xiao had led his army to the north of the Sihun River. After contacting Jiu Meng’an He, he learned that a Royal Court Army unit was building a pontoon bridge downstream, preparing to cross the river.
Li Xiao decided to eliminate this unit first.
When both sides’ strengths are evenly matched, or even when one is weaker, a strategy of attacking during the crossing is necessary.
However, if one’s own force is stronger, one can wait for the enemy to fully cross and then trap them like closing a door on a dog.
And the Royal Court Army led by Tāyánggǔ had, without realizing it, stepped into the encirclement Li Xiao had prepared for him.
“The Marshal’s banner on the opposite side reads ‘Northern Grand Councilor Shamur’?”
“Who is this person?”
Under the bombardment of artillery, Li Xiao gazed at a marshal’s banner by the river and asked in a deep voice.
A general from the Eastern Capital Army beside him explained softly, “Shamir Tāyánggǔ. He is a trusted confidant of the Puppet Emperor, and his sister is an Imperial Consort of the Royal Court…”
Hearing this, Li Xiao finally understood.
So it was Tāyánggǔ.
He had suffered successive defeats at the hands of the Ghur Kingdom and the Khwarazmian Dynasty, becoming a laughingstock in the entire Western Liao, and had indirectly led to Xiao Simo’s rebellion by causing Yelü Zhilugu’s reputation to plummet.
However, Tāyánggǔ was not truly foolish; he had learned much from his two defeats and had grown considerably.
Historically, around the year 1220, the Ghur Kingdom and Khwarazm had once again erupted into war.
Yelü Zhilugu, unlearning his lessons, was easily swayed by Khwarazm and again dispatched Tāyánggǔ to attack the Ghur Kingdom.
Tāyánggǔ, having learned from his previous mistakes, advanced cautiously, eventually defeating the Ghur Kingdom’s fifty thousand strong army with fewer troops.
Even the Ghur Kingdom’s Sultan Shihab ad-Din was almost captured by Tāyánggǔ.
Finally, through the mediation of the Kara-Khanid Khanate’s Khan Osman, Shihab ad-Din promised to hand over elephants, horses, and other supplies, as well as a large ransom, after which Western Liao agreed to let him leave with a hundred personal guards.
Western Liao achieved a great victory in this battle, but in Li Xiao’s view, it was not a good thing, as Western Liao’s army had also suffered heavy losses.
Ultimately, it led to the rise of Khwarazm.
Now, Li Xiao intended to severely cripple the Royal Court Army first, leaving Yelü Zhilugu unable to attend to the war in the west.
Let the Ghur Kingdom and Khwarazm fight.
Without Western Liao’s interference, it would be difficult for these two countries to decide a winner quickly. When they are both weakened, it will be time for Li Xiao to reap the benefits.
After all, Muhammad II and Jalal ad-Din were both capable individuals, considered heroes of their time. Let the Ghur Kingdom bleed them first.
“Issue an order, the Divine Machine Camp is to cease firing.”
“The First Division and the Kuli Army will form the Central Army, the Second Division will be the Left Wing, and the Third Division will be the Right Wing.”
“Encircle them from three sides and annihilate the Royal Court Army on the north bank of the Sihun River.” Li Xiao put down the telescope and ordered in a deep voice.
“Understood.”
The personal guard nodded heavily, then blew the ox horn.
Based on the frequency and tone of the horn, the Divine Machine Camp quickly ceased firing its cannons.
Then, the army in the rear began to accelerate.
“Brothers, follow me, let’s take down those Royal Court bastards.”
“If I kill one more person, I’ll be a Jin Prefecture soldier.”
“Charge, don’t let the garrison soldiers steal the kills.”
“Kill for heads, get women.”
After the war horns sounded, the Kuli Army was the most excited, roaring with enthusiasm.
After the last battle, three thousand Kuli Army soldiers became Jin Prefecture soldiers, and the generous treatment had made the remaining Kuli Army soldiers extremely envious.
Unfortunately, they had not been deployed during the attack on the Eastern Capital, losing the opportunity to get kills.
This time, the combat desire of these Kuli Army soldiers had been completely ignited.
They intended to use the heads of the Royal Court Army soldiers to pave their own way forward.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom~”
After the artillery stopped, the Royal Court Army, not yet having had time to celebrate, suddenly heard a low rumbling sound from a distance.
Tāyánggǔ’s face changed drastically: “Damn it, they’re here.”
“Shield soldiers, form the front line.”
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
Tāyánggǔ roared loudly, trying to maintain order and deploy his troops.
However, the Royal Court soldiers, who had just endured a round of bombardment, were completely shaken.
The soldiers were not with their officers, and the officers were not with their soldiers; it was utter chaos.
By the time Tāyánggǔ had barely organized a defensive formation, the Jin Prefecture Army had already charged forward.
“Boom, boom, boom~”
Charging at the very front were over a thousand Black Armored Army soldiers.
The original number of the Jin Prefecture Black Armored Army was around fifteen hundred. During the battle for the Eastern Capital, Li Xiao had incorporated part of Xiao Simo’s Tiger Pounce Camp.
He had also rescued some Tiger Pounce Camp soldiers from the Royal Court Army.
Seventy percent of the Tiger Pounce Camp soldiers had been incorporated into Li Xiao’s command.
The current number of the Jin Prefecture Black Armored Army had reached over two thousand two hundred.
Li Xiao had left a thousand Black Armored Army soldiers with Li Dashan to defend the Eastern Capital, so only a little over twelve hundred Black Armored Army soldiers were deployed.
Amidst the deafening roar, over a thousand Black Armored Army soldiers, like a moving iron wall, crushed forward.
Their black iron heavy armor gleamed with a cold, dark light, and even their warhorses were covered in fish-scale-like iron armor. Only their sharp, murderous eyes flashed with bloodlust through the gaps in their iron masks.
“Form up! Form up—”
Tāyánggǔ’s roar was drowned out by the earth-shattering sound of hooves.
The shield formation of the Royal Court Army, just hastily assembled, was no match for the Black Armored Army. The heavy cavalry in the front row swung their maces, smashing an entire row of wooden shields, men and horses alike, to the ground.
Before the flying rain of blood could land, the second row of the Black Armored Army leaped forward on their horses, their sharp horse-chopping sabers slashing down like lightning. The necks of the shield bearers and their wooden shields broke simultaneously, their heads rolling far away.
The Black Armored Army’s charge was like a broken bamboo, leaving behind severed limbs and scattered arms wherever they passed.
A Royal Court Army Centurion attempted to thrust his spear at the belly of a horse but was blocked and thrown aside by a Black Armored Army soldier using a spear.
Immediately after, another Black Armored Army soldier charged from the side. The warhorse’s speed did not falter, and it rammed the man into the air, sending him crashing down under the iron hooves, where he was instantly trampled into a bloody pulp.
Both the original Black Armored Army and the Tiger Pounce Camp soldiers were all brave and skilled fighters, absolute elites chosen from tens of thousands of soldiers.
Their actions in killing enemies had become instinctual, etched into their very beings. There were no fancy moves, only repeated actions of swinging sabers, thrusting spears, and charging, yet they had already shattered the Royal Court Army’s vanguard.
The Kuli Army and the First Division cavalry followed closely behind the Black Armored Army, harvesting the lives of the Royal Court Army soldiers.
The Second and Third Divisions appeared on the flanks of the Royal Court Army, forming a three-sided pincer movement towards the Royal Court Army by the river.
Amidst the piercing sound of clashing metal, the three armies formed a wedge formation, like three sharp steel knives, brutally piercing the heart of the Royal Court Army.
Pushing the Royal Court Army step by step towards the river.
“Hold the line, no retreat, hold the line!”
Tāyánggǔ roared loudly, wielding his saber.
Watching his army disintegrate in this iron torrent, fear flooded his mind like a tide.
This was not an army of flesh and blood, but iron-clad demons risen from hell.
However, the Royal Court’s defeat was now sealed. No matter how hard he tried, he could not prevent the army’s collapse.
“Great King, Great King Yishi Si and the others are running!”
Suddenly hearing the shouts of a personal guard beside him, Tāyánggǔ quickly turned his head and saw Great King Yishi Si and the other three, accompanied by their personal guards, running towards the pontoon bridge, which was already very close.
“Those four damn scoundrels,” Tāyánggǔ cursed angrily.
Someone had dragged his feet during the previous war with the Ghur Kingdom and the Khwarazmian Dynasty.
And now it was happening again.
His own reputation, built over a lifetime, had been ruined by these fools.
“Great King, let’s go too.”
“The Northern Frontier Army is already attacking, if we don’t leave now, it will be too late,” the personal guard shouted loudly.
Tāyánggǔ looked at the battlefield and saw that the armored cavalry in front had already reached him, their target being his main marshal’s banner.
Seeing the trail of blood behind the armored cavalry, Tāyánggǔ couldn’t help but shudder.
“Go, quickly leave this place.”
With that, Tāyánggǔ directly turned his horse and, leading a small number of personal guards, fled towards the south bank.
Fortunately, the pontoon bridge was too far from the Jin Prefecture Army’s artillery positions to be destroyed.
However, there were too many fleeing soldiers, and the pontoon bridge was insufficient.
Many people crowded in front of the pontoon bridge, completely blocking the path.
“Get out!”
“Get out of the way, don’t block the path.”
“The Privy Councillor is here, make way quickly.”
The personal guards shouted loudly, trying to clear a path for Tāyánggǔ, but at this point, who would recognize Tāyánggǔ?
With no other option, Tāyánggǔ’s personal guards had to draw their sabers and grasp their spears, clearing a bloody path.
“Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh~”
“They’re killing people!”
“The Northern Frontier Army wants to kill us, and you want to kill us too. This is outrageous!”
“We were just following the Emperor’s orders to help him fight, what did we do wrong? Why are you treating us like this?”
The soldiers let out tragic cries, and many were pushed into the river.
The water downstream of the Sihun River had already risen above their heads.
Among these nomadic soldiers, only a very small number knew how to swim. Most of the soldiers who fell into the river sank after a few struggles.
This scene terrified the soldiers on the bank even more.
The pontoon bridge was too crowded to get across, and jumping into the river meant death.
These soldiers began to feel despair.
However, at this moment, shouts from the Jin Prefecture Army could be heard from a distance: “Lay down your weapons, surrender with your hands raised, and you will not be killed.”
“Lay down your weapons, surrender with your hands raised, and you will not be killed.”
Li Xiao arranged for soldiers to specifically shout this in Khitan, Turkic, and Uyghur languages, in a loop.
The purpose was to break the soldiers’ final resolve to resist.
After all, these soldiers were elites from the six Khitan tribes and the Pishi Army; they had only been ambushed.
If they were to fight head-on on the battlefield, even the Kuli Army would only be evenly matched with them.
Li Xiao was concerned that if these soldiers fell into despair, they might make a desperate last stand.
Even if they couldn’t turn defeat into victory, it could still inflict more casualties on the Jin Prefecture Army.
Therefore, Li Xiao ultimately decided to focus on accepting the surrender of these soldiers.
They were all Khitan elites and were valuable individuals.
Indeed, upon hearing the shouts of the Jin Prefecture Army, many soldiers felt an immediate sense of relief, and their resolve began to waver.
With the muffled sound of ‘clang’, the first soldier dropped his spear, and more and more people began to lay down their weapons.
The Jin Prefecture Army achieved a great victory in this battle.
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the Sihun River into a boiling broth of blood. The river surface was littered with shattered armor and bloated corpses, while weapons drifting with the current gleamed faintly in the twilight.
On the riverbank, tens of thousands of Royal Court Army captives shuffled along dejectedly, their weapons confiscated, their tattered armor stained with mud and blood. Many were wrapped in crude bandages, their oozing bloodstains forming dark purple scabs in the dusk.
Suppressed sobs and sighs occasionally erupted from the ranks of prisoners, and fear spread through the crowd like a plague.
Recalling the tragic sight of his companions being slaughtered on the battlefield, his heart was filled with worry for his future fate.
Li Xiao stood by the river on his tall horse, the setting sun casting a dark red halo on his armor.
The black long tassel on his head gently swayed in the wind.
He looked at the remnants of the Royal Court Army’s camp on the opposite bank, vaguely seeing traces of their encampment, but now it was full of ruin and desolation.
“Great Governor, the prisoners of war have been counted, a total of twelve thousand three hundred people,” Zhang Xinghua said, walking forward on horseback, panting.
He was still working as a quartermaster, counting captured prisoners and tallying military merits and losses were his most important tasks.
In this battle, only a small number of soldiers crossed the pontoon bridge and escaped to the south bank of the Sihun River; most soldiers could not swim and could only surrender their weapons.
The Jin Prefecture Army had reaped a rich harvest.
“Confiscate the warhorses and weapons of all these twelve thousand people, and temporarily detain them on the north bank of the Sihun River.”
“After defeating the main force of the Royal Court Army, they will be incorporated into the Kuli Army along with other prisoners of war,” Li Xiao said in a low voice, gazing at the waves of the Sihun River.
Over the years, the Jin Prefecture Army had captured so many prisoners of war that it had long established a relatively complete management system.
First, they would be detained, then incorporated into the Kuli Army, and taken north to fight the Kangli Allied Army.
If they died in battle, Li Xiao would not feel heartbroken; if brave and skilled warriors emerged, Li Xiao would only be happier and would recruit them into the three garrisons of Jin Prefecture.
Garrison soldiers, Kuli Army soldiers, and slaves fit only for labor.
These were the three classes of Jin Prefecture today.
And within these three classes, there were also hierarchical divisions.
The status of Jin Prefecture veterans was higher than that of the Eastern Capital Army and the Northern Sea Army. The Naiman Tribe soldiers captured first were higher in status than the Kereit Tribe soldiers, and the Royal Court Army soldiers captured now.
So-called equality of status was no different from poison in this era.
People were not born equal, and Li Xiao could not give everyone fairness.
Everything he did, although it would sacrifice the interests or even lives of some people, was merely a necessary means to maintain the rule of Jin Prefecture and make this regime stronger.
Night quietly crept onto the horizon, the last crimson glow disappearing from the sky.
The river water, carrying fragments of wood and broken arrows, lapped against the gravel on the bank, making a sobbing sound.
Li Xiao turned around, preparing to return to the camp, and said in a deep voice, “Rest for tonight, and at dawn tomorrow, the army will cross the river and eliminate the Royal Court Army upstream.”
Li Xiao’s voice was low and firm, echoing in the deepening twilight.
The waves of the Sihun River continued to tirelessly wash away the blood and wails on the bank, only the pontoon bridge built by the Royal Court Army remained steadfast in the night.
For reasons unknown, Tāyánggǔ, while fleeing, had forgotten to have the pontoon bridge burned.
Perhaps he feared cutting off the hope of the soldiers behind him, and being shot to death by arrows from despairing soldiers.
……
Upstream on the Sihun River, the Royal Court Army camp.
Twelve Son of Heaven banners fluttered gently in the evening breeze. Yelü Zhilugu, inside the tent, had a heavy expression, full of anger.
Looking at the Royal Court Army generals in the tent, he angrily asked, “Are you sure it’s the Eastern Capital’s reinforcements that have arrived?”
A Pishi Army general slowly stood up. He had a white bandage tied around his chest, and blood was constantly seeping out.
“Your Majesty, it is confirmed to be Eastern Capital reinforcements.”
“Because we found some soldiers wearing white armor in their army, exactly like a Jin Prefecture army during the Northern Frontier rebellion last time.”
The Pishi Army general spoke with certainty, his face contorted not from anger but from the pain of his wound.
Today, his unit had been responsible for the vanguard, attacking the Seven Rivers Army on the north bank.
If they could break through the Seven Rivers Army in one go, it would be best; if they failed, they could also share the pressure for Tāyánggǔ’s army downstream, preventing the Seven Rivers Army on the opposite bank from splitting off to intercept Tāyánggǔ.
But what he never expected was that just as his troops had landed on the north bank and were fiercely pursuing the Seven Rivers Army.
A fully armed army suddenly attacked, and in the end, their efforts were in vain, and he himself was shot in the chest by an arrow.
Fortunately, his armor protected him, otherwise he would have had to report to Yelü Zhilugu lying down.
However, those arrows were indeed very sharp. Armor that ordinary arrows could not penetrate was like paper to them, piercing through with a single poke.
This greatly shocked these Royal Court generals.
“Jin Prefecture’s army? Li Xiao?”
“Damn it, how did Jin Prefecture’s army get here?”
“How many people have arrived?”
Yelü Zhilugu would never forget that it was that scoundrel Li Xiao who had broken through Kuyun-Ordu.
“This? Your subordinate is still investigating.”
In reality, after arriving at Seven Rivers, Li Xiao had only dispatched a small contingent of Jin Prefecture troops and three thousand Great Desert Army soldiers to support Jiu Meng’an He.
He himself then led the main force of the Jin Prefecture Army to annihilate Tāyánggǔ’s army.
Therefore, although the army on the north bank of the Sihun River had been reinforced, their numbers were still far fewer than the Royal Court Army.
“Where is Zhixin? Where are his twenty thousand troops?” Yelü Zhilugu thought of the army in the Eastern Capital.
With internal strife in the Eastern Capital and Yelü Zhixin’s twenty thousand troops acting as a restraint, it was impossible for the Eastern Capital’s army to reinforce Seven Rivers.
But now, the Jin Prefecture Army had truly appeared.
Yelü Zhilugu immediately had a bad premonition.
“How long has it been since Zhixin sent any news?”
“Go, send someone to contact them immediately. I must know the situation of Zhixin’s army.”
Yelü Zhilugu said sternly, pacing back and forth in the large tent, his mind in turmoil.
Although he had several sons, Yelü Zhixin was indeed the most outstanding one.
He had originally planned for him to accumulate military merit and increase his prestige, preparing him for future succession.
But he never expected this~
Although unwilling to believe it, Yelü Zhilugu understood that the twenty thousand troops under Yelü Zhixin had probably met with misfortune.
Thinking of this, Yelü Zhilugu felt a twitch in his forehead, his heart burning with rage, and he said in a deep voice, “Pass the order, at dawn tomorrow, continue attacking the north bank and pin down the Eastern Capital’s reinforcements here.”
“As you command,” the generals replied in unison.
Yelü Zhilugu still placed his hope on Tāyánggǔ.
He intended to hold back the Seven Rivers Army and the Eastern Capital reinforcements, creating a favorable opportunity for Tāyánggǔ to break through from downstream.
Time passed into the deep night, and Yelü Zhilugu no longer had the mood to let his consorts attend to him, lying alone in bed.
He couldn’t fall asleep for a long time due to worry about Yelü Zhixin, muttering repeatedly, “Damn scoundrel, if you dare to harm my son, I will have your entire family executed once I break through the Eastern Capital.”
When Yelü Zhilugu finally managed to fall asleep, it wasn’t long before the sound of a personal guard suddenly came from outside.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty~”
Yelü Zhilugu opened his eyes hazily, his anger beginning to rise, and he said with a fiery tone, “What is it?”
But he also understood that since the guard dared to wake him in the middle of the night, there must be something important happening.
As expected, the guard’s voice rang out from outside the tent: “General Tāyánggǔ has returned.”
Upon hearing this, Yelü Zhilugu instantly sobered up and suddenly sat up from the bed: “What?”
“Quick, have him come in.”
Tāyánggǔ should have been downstream on the Sihun River at this time. If he had moved quickly, he could have reached the north bank of the Sihun River.
But now, Tāyánggǔ had abandoned his army and come to the main camp late at night; something major must have happened.
As expected, a moment later, Tāyánggǔ, disheveled and covered in blood, entered the large tent.
He immediately fell to the ground and cried out, “Your Majesty, I am ashamed to have failed you.”
Seeing his state, Yelü Zhilugu, wrapped in a sheepskin blanket, hurried forward and asked, “What happened?”
“Your Majesty, after our army crossed the Sihun River, we were ambushed by the Jin Prefecture Army~”
“The Jin Prefecture Army used a terrifying weapon, and without seeing any enemy soldiers, our formation was shattered~”
“In the end, our army was almost completely annihilated!” Tāyánggǔ cried.
Hearing this, Yelü Zhilugu’s eyes widened, and his expression was one of disbelief.
“What?”
“Completely annihilated?”
“Jin Prefecture’s army again? Are you sure?”
Yelü Zhilugu immediately thought of the report from the Pishi Army general just now.
The reason the attack failed today was due to the reinforcement of the Jin Prefecture Army.
Now hearing the name of the Jin Prefecture Army again, Yelü Zhilugu’s face turned red with anger.
“Your Majesty, it must be the Jin Prefecture Army.”
“That special armor and the flags with the sun and moon totem, there is no other army in the world that wears them besides the Jin Prefecture Army.”
Tāyánggǔ stated with certainty.
But hearing these words, Yelü Zhilugu’s eyes began to show bloodshot veins, and he kicked Tāyánggǔ in the head.
“A mere Jin Prefecture army defeated you completely?”
“Tāyánggǔ, how did you fight this battle?”
“I placed such great trust in you, assigning you such an important task, and this is how you repay me?”
“Useless, utterly useless.”
Yelü Zhilugu continued to kick Tāyánggǔ, panting heavily, but he could not vent his anger; instead, he became even more enraged.
He knew that the situation had become dire.
Being able to annihilate Tāyánggǔ’s army in one battle meant that the Eastern Capital reinforcements numbered at least twenty thousand.
The addition of this force instantly shifted the balance of offense and defense on the Sihun River battlefield.
It further meant that the Eastern Capital Army had resolved Yelü Zhixin’s twenty thousand troops, otherwise they could not have dispatched so many reinforcements to Seven Rivers.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, kill me.”
“Your subordinate has no face to live on.”
Tāyánggǔ held his head and cried out, enduring Yelü Zhilugu’s fierce kicks.
But he was just saying it. He understood Yelü Zhilugu too well.
If Yelü Zhilugu had truly wanted to kill him, he would not have said a word and would have had him dragged away.
The fact that he was being beaten meant Tāyánggǔ could still live.
Indeed, after a long period of kicking and hitting, Yelü Zhilugu finally got tired and sat down on the ground, panting.
Thinking of the once great situation ruined, and remembering that the Pishi Army general and Tāyánggǔ had both mentioned the Jin Prefecture Army.
Yelü Zhilugu gritted his teeth and said resentfully, “Jin Prefecture’s army? Li Xiao?”
“You truly deserve to die!”
“You were the one who broke through Kuyun-Ordu, and you are the one who made my Great Cause of Northern Expedition fail.”
“Someday, I will tear you into a thousand pieces!”
After venting for a moment and smashing the tent into pieces, Yelü Zhilugu said with a look of dejection, “Pass the order, at dawn tomorrow, the army will break camp.”
“Retreat quickly!”
