My father, King Chu, was besieged at Gaixia

Chapter 116 No Rules
"You mean, Huang Jizhong did not attack the residence of Great Pillar State Bo Pi, but led his family's private army out in full force and headed for the manor of Great Pillar State Bo Pi located in the east of the city?" Xiang Chang looked shocked and said to the secret agent who was stationed as a slave in the general's mansion.

Without any hesitation, with a shout, thirty elite cavalrymen immediately moved as if they were their own arms. They sorted out their equipment, led out their war horses, and mounted them. Led by Xiang Chang, they charged out of the guesthouse with the force of a dragon and the sound of their hooves as dull as rolling earth.

In front of the guesthouse, Captain Meng Xia was riding on a big horse, watching his cavalry cleaning up the battlefield, feeling melancholy and wanting to be a good person. But when he saw Xiang Chang leading the elite cavalry of the Great Chu envoys rushing in with an attitude of killing everyone, he was startled and hurried forward to stop him and ask.

The three hundred cavalrymen who were cleaning up the battlefield were also startled. They hurriedly climbed onto their horses and lined up behind Meng Xia, looking at him with hostility and vigilance.

Xiang Chang frowned, waved his hand impatiently, followed Tian Jian who was riding beside him and rode forward, whispering something to Meng Xia.

Meng Xia came to her senses and looked up to see that although Xiang Chang had reined in his horse, his eyes were cold and his face was stern. It was obvious that he did not give her the option of "stopping" him. She could not help feeling bitter and knew that it was time for her to make a decision again.

Tonight, he was forced by Xiang Chang to betray Huang Jizhong and then kill his son. He especially killed Huang Baer, ​​which was a great effort. He handed over hundreds of his infantry to Xiang Chang, and set up control on the walls around the courtyard. He first shot arrows, then rushed up and chopped, killing the three hundred elite black-turbaned armored soldiers led by Huang Baer miserably. As for himself, he personally led the remaining hundreds of soldiers to block the door of the guesthouse and wipe out the fish that slipped through the net.

Of course, although this was a very unkind thing to do, it was still consistent with the king's order he was carrying out - to protect the Great Chu envoys.

Now Xiang Chang wants to go out of the city to help Bo Pi's manor, which is naturally not allowed according to the king's order. Without the king's order, the envoys roam around in other countries' territories at will, which is a great disregard and humiliation to the monarchy of the vassal state, indicating that the monarch of this vassal state can no longer control the situation.

Although he knew this, what could Meng Xia do? Could he stop it? His children were still in Xiang Chang's hands.

Seeing Meng Xia hesitating, Xiang Chang raised his eyebrows anxiously, and was about to blurt out "Get out of here", then rode his horse forward.

Meng Xia looked at his expression and was startled. He quickly shouted to the cavalry behind him: "Get out of the way!"

The 300 cavalrymen naturally obeyed the order and immediately rode their horses to move aside and make way.

Without saying a word, Xiang Chang rode his 30 elite cavalrymen across the city. After finding out the direction, he was about to rush towards the East City Gate. Suddenly, he remembered that Meng Xia was the captain of the East City Gate. He looked back and saw that his 30 elite cavalrymen were outnumbered by the 300 cavalrymen behind Meng Xia. He reined in his big black horse and waved to him, "Take your 300 cavalrymen and follow me."

Meng Xia was stunned when he heard this, and he was filled with endless shame and anger: I let you go, and I have already taken the blame for dereliction of duty. What's the point of going with you? Are you still the captain of Linjiang Kingdom? Have you become the private army of Da Chu? You can't be so shameless!

At this time, the official Zhuang Rong ran over, pulled Meng Xia's horse by the head, and whispered to him, "Fool, what are you still holding on to now? Bo Pi, the Great Pillar State, and the Great General in the City have surrendered to the Great Chu, do you still want to be a loyal minister and filial son of Gong Wei? Besides, haha, saying that you are loyal is not as good as saying that a prostitute is as white as a pear blossom, who the hell would believe it? Now the eldest son of the Great Chu is right in front of you, if you make up your mind to be his running dog, wouldn't your future be brighter than being the dog of Gong Wei and Huang Jizhong? Am I wrong to call you a fool?"

Meng Xia's expression changed, his eyes blinked rapidly, he suddenly gritted his teeth, and rode up to Xiang Chang: "Young Master, take this road, it's closer."

As he said this, he led 300 cavalrymen, acting like loyal lackeys, and rushed to the front to lead the way.

Tian Jian gave Zhuang Rong a thumbs up, guarded Xiang Chang, and followed the 300 cavalrymen led by Meng Xia. They were familiar with the route and successfully passed through half of Jiangling City and arrived at the East Gate.

The East Gate was tightly closed.

One of Meng Xia's subordinates, who was the chief officer of the army of 500, was on duty. When he saw Meng Xia leading 300 cavalrymen galloping towards him, he asked him to open the city gate immediately and leave the city immediately. However, he did not have the seal to open the city gate, so he could not help but look embarrassed and hesitated to do his duty.

Since Meng Xia decided to join Xiang Chang, he wanted to show off in front of Xiang Chang and demonstrate his importance, but he didn't expect to be humiliated by his subordinates.

Meng Xia felt his face burning with anger and without saying a word, he decisively ordered 300 cavalrymen to open the city gate on their own, and at the same time he swung his whip at the man, beating him to death and making him wail incessantly.

Seeing how brutal he was, the other soldiers guarding the city, who were originally his subordinates, dared not stop him and cooperated obediently to open the city gate.

Xiang Chang was quite satisfied with Meng Xia's decisiveness. He nodded slightly and was about to ride out of the city when he suddenly had an idea and shouted to the officer who was squatting on the ground with his head in his hands after being beaten by Meng Xia: "Was it Huang Jizhong who left here just now? I ordered you not to open the door for anyone else?"

The officer looked at Xiang Chang in astonishment, then nodded timidly.

"How many soldiers did he take out of the city?"

"About six or seven hundred!"

Xiang Chang said no more and urged his riders to leave the city.

Meng Xia came to his senses. No wonder he dared to disobey the order of the city gate officer. Did he feel that he had someone to back him up after climbing up the ladder? The anger that had just been vented suddenly rose again: "The first thing a person should pay attention to is loyalty. Clinging to the powerful and climbing up without any rules will only lead to death in the end." While cursing, he waved the whip at the officer again, almost beating him to death.

Tian Jian and others who were riding by on horseback heard his righteous and condescending scolding, and they rolled their eyes in silence.

After leaving the city gate, Meng Xia rode closer to Xiang Chang, and squeezed into the thirty elite Chu cavalrymen and came in front of Xiang Chang. With the advantage of his familiarity with the terrain, he guided Xiang Chang the way attentively.

Xiang Xi, with a trembling centipede on his face, and Huang Zhong, who was waving a large guillotine with arms as thick as cow legs, were very annoyed. No matter how they threatened him, whether explicitly or implicitly, they failed to scare him away.

"General, according to the officers at the city gate, Huang Jizhong has been out of the city for some time, and I'm afraid he has already arrived at the manor. Can we still catch up with him?" Tian Jiancui rode his horse behind Xiang Chang and said anxiously.

As Xiang Chang's confidant, Tian Jian knew the family of Great Pillar Bo Pi, especially the eldest son's new concubine, Great Pillar Bo Pi's daughter, Bo Yan, but they were all hiding in the manor, far away from the storm vortex of Jiangling City.

Who would have thought that Huang Jizhong would seize upon this loophole and do the opposite, taking an unconventional approach, abandoning Jiangling City and launching a surprise attack straight ahead.

It must be said that this was a very accurate strike. Huang Jizhong was indeed the general of Linjiang Kingdom, and he had a high level of attainment in military strategy and tactics. Meng Xia could not help looking at the stirrups on both sides of the horses of the Great Chu elite horses around him, his eyes flickered, and he made up his mind to turn around and equip his cavalry immediately.

Information travels extremely slowly in this world today. The stirrups made by Xiang Chang during the Han-Chu battle at Gaixia City have not yet reached the Kingdom of Linjiang.

Xiang Chang's face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, revealing a bone-chilling coldness, but he was still able to remain calm. In response to Tian Jian's question, he shook his head slightly and did not answer.

Outside the city gate, there was a vast field where one could ride freely. The warhorse galloped at full speed, and the twenty-mile journey was soon left behind.

It was the darkest moment before dawn. Looking around, it was pitch black and nothing could be seen.

Xiang Chang, who had let the big black horse gallop, suddenly changed his expression and pulled the reins hard, trying to stop the big black horse from charging forward.

At this time, the majestic nature of the big black horse can be seen. It is keenly aware of its master's intentions and gallops at full speed. It stops when told to stop. With a loud and powerful neigh, the huge front half of its body stands in the air. It only relies on its two hind legs to stand on the ground, thus stopping its forward momentum.

Xiang Chang's legs were supported by the stirrups, and he was half-standing steadily on the big black horse.

As he braked suddenly, the thirty elite Chu cavalrymen beside him followed suit without hesitation, reining in their mounts. It was because of the stirrups, and they were all elite soldiers picked from a hundred miles away, that although they were a little embarrassed by the sudden attack, they all sat firmly on their horses, and none of them fell off.

Meng Xia and his three hundred cavalrymen, however, came up with all kinds of tricks.

Meng Xia was lucky enough. Thanks to his superb riding skills, he managed to control his horse after rushing out a dozen steps and stopped charging.

His 300 cavalrymen were not so lucky. Some of them rushed out dozens of steps but still couldn't control their horses. Some of them managed to control their horses, but they slipped off their horses' buttocks, flew over their horses' heads, or fell sideways from their horses' backs...

Although Meng Xia did not understand why Xiang Chang suddenly stopped his horse, he was overwhelmed by the gap between his cavalry and the elite cavalry of the Great Chu, and was extremely ashamed. He shouted angrily, ordering the cavalry to quickly gather their horses and form a formation.

Generals such as Tian Jian looked at Xiang Chang in surprise.

Xiang Chang turned his head and looked at the sparse or dense woods around the field, and said in a deep voice: "It's too quiet."

Tian Jian undoubtedly reacted very quickly. He turned around and said, while Xiang Xi and the others were still confused, "We were riding at full speed, making such a loud noise, but not a single bird was startled in the surrounding woods."

As soon as Tian Jian finished speaking, the other generals all woke up and became frightened: Is there an ambush?
Just as he finished the thought, he heard the rumbling sound of horse hooves like thunder from all directions, followed by the flickering torches. Judging from the momentum, there were probably four or five thousand people, and they completely surrounded the mere three hundred of them.

Meng Xia was terrified, especially when he saw a general in the lead among the rapidly approaching cavalry, illuminated by the torches, wearing black armor and a black helmet, with a strong body, broad shoulders, and a fierce face. It was General Huang Jizhong. He couldn't help but feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The thirty elite cavalrymen beside Xiang Chang were fearless, and quickly arranged their armor and weapons, ready for a battle. However, the three hundred cavalrymen behind Meng Xia were in a panic, ready to collapse without a fight.

"Xiang Chang, my boy, we finally lured you out. It was really not easy." Huang Jizhong, under the protection of the burly and majestic family private cavalry with heavy shields and upright spears, slowly approached Xiang Chang several dozen steps away and shouted in a deep voice.

The hatred contained in his words is so strong and deep that it cannot be washed away even by pouring rivers and streams. It is simply frightening.

Under Shusun Tong's strong persuasion, the old villain Huang Jizhong paid more attention to Xiang Chang than ever before. Fearing that the 600 family soldiers were not enough, in order to ensure that everything would be foolproof, he asked Luo Dian to transfer him and the 3,000 cavalry under Huang Bair from the Northern Army.

Huang Jizhong was on the verge of rebellion by secretly summoning 3,000 elite cavalrymen without the king's order. Even if he successfully destroyed the Chu envoys, this matter would definitely go against the will of Linjiang King Gong Wei and he would not tolerate it. However, Huang Jizhong, whose entire family and son had died, had completely become the rebellious seedling that Shusun Tong hoped he would become. As long as he could get revenge, he would have no scruples.

Xiang Chang had no idea at this time that he had fallen into Huang Jizhong's trap.

After being led by me and getting so angry, this old thief was able to suppress the hatred in his heart in such a short time. He did not completely lose his mind, but came to his senses in the shortest time. Not only did he jump out of the trap I set for him, but he also dug a deep pit for himself and trapped himself in it. He really deserves to be the general of Linjiang Kingdom and should not be underestimated.

"The envoys of the Great Chu have caused chaos in the Linjiang Kingdom and have committed heinous crimes. We are all to be killed by the order of the general. You, the soldiers of the Linjiang Kingdom, why don't you quickly switch sides? Are you going to be killed along with them?" Luo Dian rode his horse and brandished his spear, his eyes blazing with anger. He stared at Captain Meng Xia and then turned to shout at the 300 cavalrymen.

Meng Xia led 300 cavalrymen to guard Xiang Chang like a loyal lackey. His attitude was self-evident. And Huang Baer had obviously died in the guesthouse as Huang Jizhong had guessed.

Hearing Luo Dian's roar, the three hundred cavalrymen behind Meng Xia made a loud noise and became even more agitated.

Meng Xia was furious. You want to put the blame on me? You traitors, are you worthy? He immediately shouted back: "We are under the king's order to protect the Great Chu envoys. Luo Dian, you are the Lieutenant General of the Northern Army of the Kingdom. You have secretly dispatched troops to attack the Great Chu envoys without the king's seal of dispatching troops, destroying the good diplomatic situation between Great Chu and Linjiang Kingdom. Do you want to rebel and be executed with all your clans?"

He turned around and said to the three hundred cavalrymen, "How can you, the mighty king's army, follow the enemy? Do you want to have your entire clan exterminated? Follow me and fight this old enemy's army to the death. Those who make contributions in this battle will be rewarded handsomely."

The three hundred cavalrymen were shocked, as if a bucket of snow water had been poured on them. The restlessness in their hearts instantly calmed down. Although they were still afraid, they had expected this day to come when they joined the army. They shouted in unison: "Yes!"

Meng Xia boosted morale, bowed to Xiang Chang again, and said in a hasty tone with a resolute look on his face:
"My Lord, now we have no choice but to fight to the death. I will lead 300 cavalrymen to charge ahead and clear a bloody path for you. You follow closely behind and fight your way out in one breath."

Meng Xia knew that his inconsistency had led to Huang Baer's death in the guesthouse, which was a real pitfall for Huang Jizhong. Huang Jizhong would never tolerate him, and now he had no choice but to follow Xiang Chang to the end. Only by saving Xiang Chang could he talk about other things and the future.

(End of this chapter)