Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 481 Fengling Ferry

The reason why the part of the white-robed army that crossed the river was able to break through successfully was not only because Yang Zhong and Gongsun Lu fought desperately to cover the rear, but also because Erzhu Rong and Meng Shen focused their main efforts on capturing Chen Qing.

At that time, Gongsun Lu, Hu Longya, and others led their troops across the river to fight, while Ma Fonian, Chen Zhao, and others protected Chen Qingzhi as they continued westward along the north bank.

They had originally planned to cross the river at a later time. But Ayao said that the Dream God had already deployed his divine realm in the Yellow River, and if they crossed now, Chen Shuai would surely die. Although they didn't understand why Ayao said this, she was a woman of few words and never spoke carelessly, so everyone took her words seriously.

So they headed west and soon arrived at Fenglingdu. The Yellow River makes an almost right-angle turn here, its surging waters flowing from the north and then rushing eastward. Now they had no choice but to cross the river.

Seeing the surging Yellow River blocking their way, Ma Fonian said to A Yao with a wry smile, "Sister, what should we do? If we continue along the Yellow River, we'll have to head north to the grasslands."

Ayao said, "Wait."

"Waiting for what?" Ma Fonian and the others asked.

"We'll wait for the boat to pick us up," Ayao replied.

"Didn't you say that the Dream God had already expanded his divine domain in the Yellow River?" The crowd was even more puzzled.

“The arrival of the ship means that the Dream God has already left,” A Yao said.

"..." Everyone was completely bewildered, almost driven crazy by this clueless girl. Ma Fonian glanced at Zu An, who was familiar with her.

Zu Anxin thought to himself that he didn't have the ability to get her to tell the truth, so he smiled wryly and said, "Little sister, I know you girls are introverted, but at a time like this, can you please be a little clearer about what you're saying?"

Ayao finally showed emotion, her eyes welling up with tears as she said, "That's all I know. Ayuan told me all this before we parted..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face...

"Don't cry, don't cry, we know." The grown men quickly apologized, flustered. Ma Fonian even kicked Zu An and said, "You, you always bring up the most awkward things."

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault." Zuan obediently raised his hands in surrender.

~~
So the two thousand white-robed soldiers set up camp at Fenglingdu, building fortifications for self-defense while eagerly awaiting Ren Yuanshuo's ferry.

But before the ship arrived, Hou Jing's Heavenly Slaughter Army came in pursuit.

Ma Fonian was in the central command tent discussing the next steps with Yuchi Bei when a scout stumbled in: "Report! Hou Jing is leading the Heavenly Slaughter Army, covering the entire field!"

“Let’s go take a look.” Ma Fonian was not surprised. He calmly took the helmet and left the tent with Yuchi Bei.

Upon reaching the makeshift camp wall, Ma Fonian saw billowing yellow smoke in the distance, like an approaching dust storm.

He focused his mind and scanned with his Heavenly Eye, and saw tens of thousands of Heavenly Slaughter Cavalry advancing in a single line, surrounding the red wolf-head banner, coming in a mighty and imposing manner.

Beside that banner of the Heavenly Slaughtering God, there was another small flag with the character "Marquis" written on it, indicating that the commander was Hou Jing, a general under Erzhu Rong.

"Damn it!" Yu Chibei spat fiercely, "Erzhu Rong is really willing to spend a fortune for our few remaining troops."

"To cut the weeds, you must pull them out by the roots. There are countless people who don't want us to return to Daliang." Ma Fonian sneered, then solemnly addressed his generals, "Hou Jing is treacherous and cunning, and extremely experienced in warfare. He is not comparable to those brutes of the Erzhu family. You must not be careless!"

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers responded in unison. The battle quickly commenced. Hou Jing lived up to his reputation, employing ruthless tactics from the very beginning. Knowing that the White Robe Army was outnumbered and could only defend while waiting to attack, he ordered a fire attack to clear the way.

Countless rockets streaked across the sky like meteors, raining down on the white-robed army camp with sharp whistling sounds.

In an instant, the ferry crossing was engulfed in flames. The Heavenly Slaughter Army's rockets, while not as powerful as the Fire Crow Arrows, were still spiked. As they burned, they emitted thick, yellowish-green poisonous smoke.

The poisonous smoke quickly filled the sky, choking the white-robed soldiers so much that they couldn't open their eyes. Even with their face shields protecting them, violent coughing continued incessantly.

Taking advantage of the obstructed vision of the White-Robed Army, Hou Jing immediately launched a fierce attack.

The Heavenly Slaughter Army was well-prepared. With volleys of heavy crossbow bolts, armor-piercing arrows rained down like a storm. With a series of 'thud, thud, thud' sounds, the white-robed soldiers' shields, unable to withstand the pressure, were pierced one after another. The iron arrows mercilessly pierced the flesh and blood of the soldiers.

A Taoist priest in the army struggled to set up a protective formation to try to shield his comrades from the arrows, but was hit by three wolf-tooth armor-piercing arrows at the same time!
The immense impact pinned him to the ground, and blood gushed from his wounds, quickly staining his silver armor crimson.

His comrades nearby were too late to help him, because the wolf soldiers of the Heavenly Slaughter Army had already leaped onto the low camp wall!

With a whoosh, the traps set up by Zaun activated, and a volley of javelins shot out, turning the wolf soldiers in mid-air into a string of candied hawthorns...

But the Heavenly Slaughter Army was almost inexhaustible, and countless wolf soldiers still landed on the wall, baring their fangs and claws as they pounced on the white-robed army.

"Form ranks and meet the enemy! Drive them away!" Ma Fonian swung his broadsword horizontally, decapitating a wolf soldier!

The soldiers of the White Robe Army, in small squads, engaged in a fierce battle with the Heavenly Slaughter Army on the low camp walls!

Amidst the clash of weapons, shouts of battle shook the heavens. Where the cold light flashed, severed limbs and screams rained down.

"Kill!" The white-robed soldier's spear tip pierced the enemy's throat, but when he tried to pull it out, the enemy held it tightly.

Immediately, a spear from the Heavenly Slaughter Army thrust forward, but it was blocked by a white-robed soldier with a shield. At this moment, the white-robed soldier also changed tactics, twisting the shaft of his halberd with both hands, and sliced ​​off the Heavenly Slaughter Army's fingers along with half of his head.

But before the white-robed soldier could retract his halberd, he was pinned to the rammed earth wall by a flying javelin.

Such fierce fighting took place everywhere on the battlefield, with blood pooling into rivers at the feet of both armies, staining the earthen walls red...

Ma Fonian cut down two more Tianlu Army generals who charged at him. His face and body were splattered with blood, whether from the enemy or himself, it was unclear.

Looking at his comrades falling one after another around him, he was extremely anxious. He shouted to A Yao, who had killed countless enemies, "A Yao, we must cross the river, or our entire army will be wiped out here!"

A Yao's Ziwei Sword shot out and pierced the forehead of a nine-aperture general. She nodded and no longer insisted, saying, "Alright."

"Retreat to the rear..." Ma Fonian shouted the order, and the remaining thousand or so white-robed soldiers retreated to the western camp wall.

Hou Jing knew the White-Robed Army was trying to escape, so how could he let them go? He ordered in a deep voice, "Strengthen the frontal attack, and have the cavalry flank them from both sides. Make sure to keep the White-Robed Army at Fenglingdu!"

Amidst the mournful sound of horns, the Heavenly Slaughter Army swiftly obeyed orders, like a giant iron clamp, firmly gripping the remnants of the white-robed army!

Just as the White-Robed Army was about to collapse and be completely surrounded, a middle-aged man with graying temples and a snow-white robe suddenly appeared on the west city wall of the earthen camp.

(End of this chapter)