CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 317: INVINCIBLE IN BATTLE

Gao Yu heard the report and the first thought that flashed through his mind was, how is this possible?

The Liao people and his scouts clearly saw Zhang Weihe take away half his troops and leave Guangyang County. Even if Zhang Weihe regretted halfway and returned to Guangyang County, it would be too late.

Unless it was prearranged, Zhang Weihe leaving Guangyang County was just a show for him, to lure him in.

Before Zhang Weihe left, he had issued a military order, having the generals ambush nearby and surround him when he set foot in.

"They dare to plot against me like this."

Gao Yu shouted, striving to calm his emotions, and his mind immediately conjured a more frightening outcome: why would these soldiers trap him here?

Obviously, it was to wait for reinforcements to arrive.

That reinforcement was none other than Song Xian, not far away.

"The rear troops become the front to break the formation," Gao Yu ordered the military general beside him, "retreat."

Leave this place before Song Xian arrives.

Gao Yu knew his troop strength still held the advantage, but the Song Family Army was exceptionally brave, unwilling to retreat no matter the cost.

Gao Yu’s troops barely managed to break through for a few miles but were immediately driven back into the military formation.

Victory on the battlefield never depends solely on numerical superiority; otherwise, there would be no suspense in any battle.

After barely sustaining half an hour, the Royal Army was already showing signs of collapse, the front troops still retreating, many soldiers wore expressions of fear.

The Song Family Army was terrifying, their fearless demeanor chilling to the bone.

In the current situation, unless they could crush the Song Family Army, there was no escape.

Gao Yu drew his long knife: "All soldiers follow me to charge the enemy, those who achieve merit shall be heavily rewarded."

...

After Zhang Weihe left Guangyang County, he headed north, galloping for more than half an hour before finally slowing down.

Wusuo also reined in his horse, always keeping a few steps away from Zhang Weihe, his eyes fixed intently on him.

Zhang Weihe hated that gaze, filled with probing and disdain.

"That’s about enough." Zhang Weihe looked up at the sky.

Wusuo was puzzled: "Could it be the old general wants to take a break?"

Zhang Weihe’s eyes were cold: "Not just running for half an hour, even if I now turn the horse around to head back, I still have the strength to fight another battle."

If that is so, Wusuo said: "Then let’s keep moving, it’s ultimately good for Miss Xie to reach Dai State earlier."

Wusuo prepared to continue forward, only to hear Zhang Weihe say: "You can’t catch her, otherwise you wouldn’t suffer defeat after defeat in Zhenzhou."

Wusuo’s hand tightened on the reins: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Weihe continued: "No doubt Taiyuan Prefecture has received the news, the Pseudo King can’t wait to lead his troops out of the city."

Wusuo’s whole body stiffened.

Zhang Weihe said: "Whether it’s Xiao Xingzong or the Pseudo King, they’re all the same, only daring to scheme in the dark, because they know in open battle, they will be utterly defeated."

Zhang Weihe’s soldiers drew their swords in unison.

Zhang Weihe stared at Wusuo: "I’ve tolerated you along the way, but no more. Now I’ll send you off, and afterwards, let you reunite with your godfather."

Wusuo’s expression changed drastically.

Zhang Weihe’s men blocked his path.

Zhang Weihe said: "Kill him, immediately return to aid Guangyang County."

The men responded in affirmation.

The disdain on Wusuo’s face vanished, replaced by ferocity and anger: "Don’t you want Xie Liangchen alive?"

Zhang Weihe swung his long knife towards Wusuo, who drew his curved blade to parry.

Zhang Weihe said: "The lineage of Prince Guangyang has never abandoned the people. Their path has always been their own, no need for others’ charity, nor will they be blackmailed."

"If I truly allied with you, I’d have followed Prince Guangyang in vain for years."

Wusuo’s curved blade was struck, sending a pain through his palm, and cries of agony echoed around him as his men were besieged.

They had walked into a trap from the start, only making their last struggle.

The number of people around Wusuo dwindled until it was finally his turn.

He had thought that once they reached Dai State, Zhang Weihe would be in his hands, but he hadn’t foreseen Zhang Weihe’s choice.

When Zhang Weihe’s long knife slashed down from above Wusuo’s head, Wusuo still couldn’t understand, wasn’t Zhang Weihe most concerned about the lineage of Prince Guangyang?

Isn’t surviving more important than anything?

Though Xue Ke was so easily convinced, why did Zhang Weihe behave like this?

Wusuo toppled off the horse.

"Go," Zhang Weihe didn’t delay, commanding his men, "return to Guangyang County."

The plan to lure the Pseudo King out of the city was devised long ago by Song Xian and Zhang Weihe, including when and where Zhang Weihe would turn back, and when the Pseudo King would lead troops to Guangyang County, calculated with great precision.

When Zhang Weihe led his troops to Guangyang County, from afar they heard the sound of battle.

The kind of menacing din that would make others fearful, instead filled Zhang Weihe’s men with excitement.

They had waited too long for this battle, all the hatred, humiliation, hope, and yearning surged up in their hearts at this moment.

Zhang Weihe waved his long knife: "Kill." For Prince Guangyang, for the eight states’ people, for those days of enduring.

They no longer needed to hide, no longer needed to fear.

This time, they could finally use their lives and blades to demand justice.

"Kill."

The ground-shaking roar echoed.

Gao Yu turned his horse to see a troop charging towards them.

A large flag embroidered with the character "Yang" fluttered in the wind.

"Yang".

The surname of Prince Guangyang, the troops of Prince Guangyang.

Gao Yu disregarded everything else and looked at the military general beside him: "Escort me away, quickly..." Before getting entangled in the chaos, he must, at all costs, bring the elite away.

The cavalry beside Gao Yu was what he relied on as the Royal Army.

Reluctant to use them usually, now even with disregard for casualties, they had to protect Gao Yu in carving a bloody path.

Gao Yu fled in panic, his troops behind losing the will to battle.

This battle, which they could have fought, lost its chance from being ambushed at the start.

"Your Majesty."

The military general beside Gao Yu said: "I will return, sick or not, to battle Zhang Weihe again."

Such humiliation was unbearable; His Majesty personally led the expedition, it couldn’t end like this.

Gao Yu frowned, intending to stop the general, fearing that his calculation was right, and Song Xian was drawing near.

Before Gao Yu could speak, a loud trumpet sounded not far away.

"From the northwest direction."

Someone shouted.

"The right wing, go and meet the enemy." An order was given, and some from the Royal Army charged forward.

Soon, the Pseudo King’s general clashed with the oncoming forces.

Gao Yu focused intently on the scene, but because of the distance and speed, he only saw his subordinates rush forward and their helmets fall.

Then a spray of blood erupted from the general’s body.

The warhorse continued a while before the body on its back crashed to the ground.

Gao Yu heard a gasp from those around him.

The scene replayed in Gao Yu’s mind, it wasn’t a helmet falling, but a head.

His general had been decapitated by a single stroke.