CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 22 - BORROWING A KNIFE TO KILL SOMEONE_3

Rage surged in Deng Ziliang’s heart. He had initially thought that it was Zheng Fan from the Green Willow Fortress who had launched a night attack against him; after all, a man who dared to depose a prince wouldn’t find such an act surprising. But it wasn’t him.

Deng Ziliang drew his bow again and shot down three more Qian State knights. The area around his main tent was briefly empty. However, just as Deng Ziliang was about to retrieve his horse to rally his subordinates elsewhere in the military encampment, over ten more riders suddenly charged at him.

These Qian State knights were not ordinary!

In any night raid, not only is the defending side thrown into chaos, but also the attackers. He had been continuously felling Qian State knights near his main tent; logically, other Qian State knights nearby should have noticed. Under these circumstances, compounded by the darkness, ordinary soldiers would not dare approach. The darkness provides the best cover for the cowardly. However, these Qian State knights had regrouped and charged at him again.

With ten horsemen charging simultaneously, even the highly self-confident Deng Ziliang dared not stand his ground. He turned and fled, diving into his main tent just as the Qian State knights’ longspears lunged at him.

The dozen or so Qian State knights did not immediately charge into the tent. Instead, they threw their torches at it.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Unexpectedly, even as they waited for the fire to gradually spread, two more arrows shot out from the tent, striking down two Qian State knights.

The remaining cavalrymen could wait no longer and forced their warhorses into the military tent.

BOOM!

The main tent collapsed.

Deng Ziliang, having swapped his bow for a long saber, lunged forward like a dragon emerging from the sea. He leaped onto the back of a Qian State knight’s horse, slit the man’s throat with his saber, and then shoved him off the horse with a push of his palm. Killing and commandeering the horse was done in one fluid motion.

However, before Deng Ziliang could urge the commandeered warhorse forward, two cavalry sabers swung at him. Deng Ziliang instantly leaned back, narrowly dodging them. At the same time, he struck the horse’s rump with the flat of his saber, causing the pained animal to bolt forward.

Deng Ziliang sat up again, saber in his right hand, reins in his left.

The remaining Qian State knights immediately gave chase. Whether it was Deng Ziliang’s red armor or the martial skills he had displayed, it all told them: This man is a big fish! He might very well be the person their commander had come north to kill!

The pursuing Qian State knights were too relentless, giving Deng Ziliang no opportunity to rally his subordinates. Moreover, the military encampment was teeming with Qian State knights.

Bloody hell! What had gotten into these Qian people? To dare to pay such a heavy price for a sneak attack!

Suddenly, a cavalry detachment charged out from ahead, led by one of Deng Ziliang’s captains.

The two groups quickly diverged, with this cavalry detachment intercepting the pursuing Qian State knights for Deng Ziliang.

Deng Ziliang finally had a moment to catch his breath and began to survey the encampment. However, before he could assess the situation clearly and issue commands, a silver-armored general suddenly charged out from the front of the encampment. This was a night raid; this was chaos. It wasn’t surprising to encounter enemies or allies anywhere.

Without the slightest hesitation, and with no intention of facing the silver-armored general’s spear, Deng Ziliang spurred his horse onward, shouting,

"Retreat!"

The situation was beyond saving. The priority now was to withdraw as many troops as possible. Scattered troops could be regrouped the next day; if they were annihilated, nothing would remain. The Yan people were fierce, and their horsemanship was indeed first-rate. However, the issue lay with military leaders like Deng Ziliang, whose natures were more akin to those of warlords. They were more concerned with preserving and developing their own strength than with meaninglessly sacrificing the lives of their men. Had the Northern Suppressing Army or the Southern Pacifying Army been stationed here, such a situation would never have arisen.

In fact, even before Deng Ziliang issued the retreat order, many of his knights, facing this night raid, had already grabbed horses and begun to flee outwards. Of course, many others were cut down by the charging Qian State knights before they could even find their warhorses or don their armor.

When Zhong Tianlang saw the red-armored general completely ignore him, even actively galloping toward the camp’s perimeter, he felt both angry and amused.

This Zheng Fan, he only has this much courage, huh!

Refusing to let "Zheng Fan" get away, Zhong Tianlang spurred his horse and chased after him. His mount was a divine steed from North Qiang, while Deng Ziliang was on a warhorse he had just commandeered. Thus, after they charged out of the encampment, the distance between them rapidly closed during the brief chase.

Suddenly, a troop of Qian State knights burst out from the forest ahead!

Deng Ziliang was instantly aghast. The Qian people’s commander had actually deployed an ambush in the west! Previously, the Qian State soldiers had launched their camp-breaking charge from the east, so most of the Yan people’s cavalry attempting to escape would naturally head west—falling right into the Qian people’s trap!

Deng Ziliang immediately reined in his horse and turned.

The silver-armored general was already upon him, his longspear in hand, like an incarnate dragon.

Deng Ziliang swung his cavalry saber, never expecting the opposing longspear to contain such ferocious power.

CLANG!

A sharp pain shot through Deng Ziliang’s hand between his thumb and forefinger, but he still gripped the hilt tightly. However, the upper half of his cavalry saber had snapped clean off.

Damn it!

The longspear thrust forward, unstoppable.

Deng Ziliang leaned his body to one side, barely dodging the spear’s thrust. However, the silver-armored general flicked his wrist, and the spear shaft suddenly swept out horizontally!

BANG!

Deng Ziliang was struck and knocked off his warhorse.

Just then, the surrounding Qian State knights swarmed in, trapping him completely.

They intend to capture me alive!

The battle can be lost! But as a scion of the Deng Family of Sanshi, how can I tolerate being captured alive and shaming my family?

Immediately, he placed the broken saber to his neck and roared,

"Qian State dogs! When my Great Yan’s iron cavalry truly marches south, I’ll be waiting for you in hell!"

With that, the broken saber sliced into his neck, and blood gushed out.

The surrounding Qian State knights parted, and the silver-armored general rode closer.

At this moment, Deng Ziliang glared at him; he could feel his blood gushing out, his life force rapidly fading.

He was unreconciled, filled with hatred. His life had, in truth, only just begun! He had caught the wave of this national war, a chaotic era ripe with opportunity for advancement, yet he was forced to commit suicide here!

The silver-armored general removed his helmet, revealing a face that still seemed to carry a trace of youthfulness. Looking at Deng Ziliang, who had cut his own throat and was on the verge of death, he said,

"On this point, you haven’t disappointed me too much. You do have some backbone after all, Zheng Fan."

...Deng Ziliang!!!