Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 396 Slaying Tadun in Battle, His Might Shakes the You and Liao Regions

"Who is this valiant general?"

Seeing Zhang Liao kill Wu Yan in battle and rush straight towards the low hill, Tadun looked serious, squinted at Zhang Liao from afar, and asked his men and women.

A servant who could read Chinese characters rode his horse down the slope and looked towards the approaching general's banner.

Seemingly to make it easier for his attendants to see his name, the banner behind Zhang Liao suddenly fluttered in the wind, displaying the words "General Zhang Liao, Conquering the West"!

"Zhang Liao!"

The attendant exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that it was General Zhang Liao who was personally leading the attack.

"Your Majesty, the approaching general is Zhang Liao, the enemy commander!"

The attendant dared not delay and quickly rode back up the hill to report the information to Tadun.

"Zhang Wenyuan actually has such courage!"

Seeing that it was Zhang Liao leading the charge, Tadun was inexplicably invigorated and exclaimed, "The people of Shanxi all praise Zhang Liao for his bravery and courage, saying that he is no match for ten thousand men. Now he dares to lead his cavalry into battle to attack us. He truly lives up to his reputation."

"Your Majesty~"

Just as the others were about to say something, Tadun changed the subject, pointed his whip forward, and said sternly, "Is the enemy general so arrogant that he thinks our Wuhuan are without anyone?"

"Issue my order: all troops, follow me into battle. I swear I will not cease hostilities until Zhang Liao is slain!"

Historically, when Sun Quan saw Zhang Liao fighting on the battlefield, perhaps considering his own status, he led his troops to hold the line and ordered his soldiers to surround and kill Zhang Liao. However, Tadun was not Sun Quan; although Sun Quan was fond of martial arts, he rarely went to the battlefield.

When Tadun was young, he went to the battlefield and fought. It was through his bravery that he won the respect of the leaders of the Wuhuan tribes. Therefore, when Tadun learned that Zhang Liao was personally leading a large army to surround and kill him, his first reaction was not to send his soldiers to the front, but to personally lead the army to surround and kill Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao had initially feared that Tadun would hold the low hill, making it difficult for him to launch a direct attack. However, now that Tadun was personally leading his troops to surround and kill them, it actually suited Zhang Liao's intentions.

Zhang Liao and his cavalry are already engaged in fierce fighting with Tadun's personal guards. He is leading the charge and, with his steel whip and long spear, has already killed more than twenty people!

Having broken through the obstruction of the vanguard, Zhang Liao was already heading straight for the high ground where Tadun was located. Seeing the royal banner symbolizing Tadun advancing, Zhang Liao was overjoyed.

After knocking one of them down, Zhang Liao shouted loudly, "Zhang Wenyuan of Yanmen is here! Where is Tadun of Wuhuan? Do you dare to fight me?"

As they spoke, Zhang Liao spurred his horse forward, brandishing his spear twice to knock down one rider and kill another, demonstrating his extraordinary bravery.

Seeing Zhang Liao challenge him to battle, Tadun, spear in hand, shouted to his left and right, "This scoundrel is arrogant! Move forward quickly and surround and kill Zhang Liao!"

As he spoke, Tadun spurred his horse forward, leading his personal cavalry to kill Zhang Liao.

As Tadun spurred his horse forward, his royal cavalry changed formation, with armored men carrying spears in front and skilled riders and archers behind, quickly spreading out to surround Tadun.

Meanwhile, the attendants raised the white banner of the Wuhuan Chanyu high to proclaim Tadun's bravery!
Zhang Liao noticed the white banner in the crowd. Seeing that Tadun had come to him, he laughed a few times and spurred his horse straight toward the banner.

Zhang Liao's change of direction caught the attention of his cavalry, and he immediately followed Zhang Liao!
The thousand cavalrymen led by Zhang Liao were Zhang Liao's main cavalry force, while the one or two hundred escorting riders were mostly Zhang Liao's fellow townsmen or clansmen. They had followed Zhang Liao into the army and were veterans of many battles. They were all brave and valiant warriors and were Zhang Liao's trusted confidants.

Zhang Liao's confidence to charge into battle stems not only from his own bravery but also from his trustworthy cavalrymen who are willing to go through fire and water with him.

Aiming at Tadun's white banner, Zhang Liao and his cavalry charged into the enemy lines!

The skilled archer among the Wuhuan king's cavalry had already taken aim and was riding alongside him. As the two armies drew closer, arrows soared into the air and were fired at the riders.

"Whizzing!"

Riding side by side, braving the arrows, they showed no fear. When arrows struck their bodies, the sturdiness of their armor mitigated much of the damage. Even when arrows pierced their flesh, they merely groaned; none of them slowed down to cushion the impact. Instead, the pain of the arrows piercing their flesh excited them.

Cavalry is a game for the brave; anyone who dares to block a high-speed charge is undoubtedly a hero.

In terms of bravery, Zhang Liao was the most daring and fearless general under Zhang Yu. When Zhang Yu fought against Kebineng, it was Zhang Liao who led his cavalry into the enemy lines, charging straight at the spearmen. Before Zhang Liao was appointed to a military post, he was responsible for commanding armored cavalry, defeating one formidable enemy after another for Zhang Yu.

Seeing that Zhang Liao and his cavalry were unafraid of death, the Wuhuan king's cavalry gradually showed fear. Such madmen were rare indeed, let alone a group of madmen. However, in order to protect Tadun, the king's cavalry chose to meet the enemy head-on.

"boom!"

The two riders clashed, and Zhang Liao thrust his spear swiftly, its cold gleam killing three riders in quick succession. He charged through the gap in the enemy's formation, followed closely by his retinue, who, with their strong armor and swift horses, charged straight into the heart of the enemy ranks. Seeing the overwhelming momentum, many of the enemy's riders retreated slightly, intending to flank and attack the enemy later.

Seeing that he was getting closer and closer to Tadun's cavalry, Zhang Liao spurred his horse forward and brandished his long spear, shouting, "Zhang Wenyuan is here! Tadun, you little thief, why don't you quickly die!"

Seeing Zhang Liao's arrogance, the Wuhuan archers aimed their arrows at him. More than ten arrows fell, and Zhang Liao was struck by several. Fortunately, his armor was double-layered, preventing him from being riddled with arrows, but even so, he already had more than ten arrows in his body. Yet, facing the encirclement and attack of the Wuhuan cavalry, Zhang Liao showed no fear and continued to charge and shout.

"Does Tadun dare to fight me?"

Seeing Zhang Liao's reckless charge, and knowing that no cavalryman who fought him could survive for long, none of the cavalry dared to go forward alone to meet him in battle.

"kill!"

"Anyone who retreats will be executed!"

Zhang Liao's extremely arrogant behavior greatly angered Tadun, who, disregarding the obstruction from his left and right, immediately spurred his horse to attack, heading straight for Zhang Liao in the crowd.

Seeing that Tadun was about to rush forward and kill Zhang Liao, the royal cavalry dared not let Tadun go ahead alone. So, dozens of royal cavalrymen tried to flank Zhang Liao from both sides, intending to capture and kill him. However, Zhang Liao charged too fast, and with fewer than ten riders around him, he was already surrounded by the royal cavalry. Zhang Liao shouted loudly, wielding a steel whip in one hand, striking and smashing, instantly felling several men. Then, a rider swept his spear horizontally, but Zhang Liao parried with force, and with a 'crack,' the enemy's spear was broken in two by the steel whip.

Another Hu cavalryman approached from behind, brandishing a spear and attempting to stab Zhang Liao in the back.

Upon seeing this, the cavalryman exclaimed in alarm, "General, be careful!"

Zhang Liao glanced sideways, his upper body swaying slightly to dodge the spear's back thrust. He then drew his ring-pommel sword from its sheath, swiftly severing the Hu cavalryman's arm. As the cavalryman cried out in pain, Zhang Liao lashed out with his whip, knocking him off his horse.

Having escaped the encirclement of the Hu cavalry, Zhang Liao charged forward with all his might, already close to the white banner, and could almost see Tadun's figure.

"kill!"

Seeing Zhang Liao charge in alone, Tadun brandished his spear and shouted, "Kill Zhang Liao!"

With Tadun personally taking the field, Zhang Liao's pressure immediately increased. The enemy cavalry, who were flanking him from both sides, fought bravely and fiercely, all clad in iron armor, making them a rare elite force.

"General, the main force is entangled with the Hu cavalry. We only have a few riders left around us, which is not enough to fight Tadun to the death. It would be better to break away first!"

Despite the pain and panting, he managed to say something from the several wounds on his shoulders and back.

Zhang Liao glared at his cavalry, thinking, "Now that we've come this far, how can we give up!"

But Zhang Liao looked around at the situation and quickly calmed down.

He charged too fast, leaving most of his cavalry behind. Now he is surrounded, with barbarian cavalry constantly closing in from both inside and outside. If he insists on fighting to the death, he will likely perish in the encirclement.

But if he retreats, wouldn't he miss the opportunity to kill Tadun?

"Follow me and retreat for now!"

After thinking for a while, an idea flashed through Zhang Liao's mind. Without hesitation, he reined in his horse, turned around, and charged into the gap.

Seeing this, Tadun slowed down his horse, threw his head back and laughed a few times, saying, "Zhang Liao has guts, but not enough courage!"

"Men! Surround and kill Zhang Liao! We must not let him escape!"

In fact, there was no need for Tadun to give orders. Seeing Zhang Liao escape, the Hu cavalry were greatly encouraged and shouted in pursuit, wanting to kill Zhang Liao to show their power.

The royal cavalry that had previously surrounded Zhang Liao pursued him from the left or right, all with the sole purpose of killing him. Therefore, in a short time, Zhang Liao mobilized the royal cavalry under Tadun's command. Relying on his bravery and the speed of his horse, Zhang Liao moved swiftly through the gaps between the various tribes, like a slippery eel, making him difficult for the Hu cavalry to surround.

After all the commotion, the Wuhuan cavalry had to fight alongside the mounted warriors while also pursuing Zhang Liao, and their entire formation became increasingly chaotic.

Of course, not only Tadun's troops, but also Ma Chao, Huyan Le, and Man Chong, leading infantry and cavalry, were engaged in fierce fighting with the main force of the Wuhuan due to the collapse of their vanguard. The Bing army was in high spirits, and by taking advantage of the collapse of the main force and the desperate fighting of its soldiers, it had gradually gained the upper hand.

Seeing the formation in disarray, Tadun first abandoned his plan to kill Zhang Liao, and then led his men back up the low hill, intending to issue orders and adjust the battlefield situation.

As Tadun was ascending the hill to the left and right, a sudden exclamation arose from the surrounding area.

But then a familiar red-tasseled hat floated out from the chaotic crowd. Horses moved like lightning, and Zhang Liao broke through the encirclement of dozens of riders like a sharp blade. No one could stop him along the way, and he charged straight at Tadun!

Zhang Liao, knowing he couldn't kill Tadun at the time, used himself as bait to lure the royal cavalry into pursuing him, thus reducing Tadun's guards. Now, taking advantage of the weakened defenses and the moment when everyone was off guard, Zhang Liao seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

"My king, hurry up!"

"Zhang Wenyuan is here!"

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

In an instant, a cacophony of sounds rose and fell, much like Tadun's current mood: first joy, then shock!

"Whoosh!"

When Zhang Liao was about ten paces away from Tadun, he fired two arrows in quick succession, killing two Hu cavalrymen who were blocking Tadun's way. One arrow hit the throat and the other the eye socket, both killing him instantly.

"Tadatun, prepare to die!"

The next breath, Zhang Liao charged up to Tadun, whip in hand, his eyes blazing with fury, and with all his might, smashed the whip down on Tadun's head!
Tadun stared wide-eyed, his face full of disbelief, as he parried Zhang Liao's attack with his spear.

"Snapped!"

"Oh!"

The sound of a spear breaking was heard first, followed by the sound of an iron whip lashing against the helmet of a tadun.

Tadun's helmet caved in, and blood gushed from his eyes, nose, and ears almost simultaneously. He swayed and collapsed to the ground. The scene unfolded so quickly that the Hu cavalry barely had time to react before Zhang Liao killed Tadun with a single whip strike and then swaggered away!

Tadun's death in battle first elicited howls from the royal cavalry, followed by a commotion.

Zhang Liao seized the opportunity and led his cavalry to charge the low hill again. Seeing Zhang Liao approach once more, the Hu cavalry were terrified and scattered to avoid his charge. Thus, Zhang Liao not only cut down the white banner symbolizing Tadun, but also snatched Tadun's head from the Hu cavalry's hands!

(End of this chapter)