Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 120 The Cry of the Crane at Huating
The eagle soars over Shangcai, the crane cries out over Huating.

These are two stories that Zhen Ranyu heard from her teacher Shi Xiong when she was still a young girl. They are about Li Si, a famous minister of the Qin Dynasty, and Lu Ji, a famous scholar of the Jin Dynasty, who did not retire after achieving great success, but ultimately met a violent death.

As the blade of death slashed across her fair and delicate neck, memories of her forty-eight years of life flashed before her eyes in an instant.

However, unlike scholars, warriors are like arrows, only to be shot by others; there is no reason for them to retire after achieving their goals.

Compared to her teacher, her heroic death on the battlefield was actually quite fortunate.

Even at the very last moment of her life, Zhen Ranyu would not dream of becoming husband and wife with her teacher.

Because she knew that person could never belong to her.

To her, he was salvation, a father, and even a god.

She was not afraid of death; as a military general, she should have been prepared for this day long ago. Forty-eight years of life is not short, and she lived a truly remarkable life.

But there are still some regrets.

Born in this apocalyptic world, all efforts to defend the crumbling empire are nothing more than drifting with the tide. As one of the four marshals, I am merely a single tree adrift in the vast ocean of history.

People say she married herself to the Tang Dynasty. But for Zhen Ranyu, whether it was resisting foreign enemies or suppressing rebellions, it was all for her own fame and fortune.

She never regretted pursuing fame and fortune throughout her life; people always need to demonstrate their value through such pursuits.

But her teacher told her to marry a gentle man, to be a wife and a mother, but she never listened.

As a dignified Marshal Yan, even if she gets married, she can't possibly become a stay-at-home wife.

But at least they can enjoy family life and don't have to be so lonely at this age. Even if there isn't enough love, at least there's companionship.

She missed out on countless good men because of her obsession with her heart.

Even the aloof and reserved senior brother, Li Guochang, had subtly expressed his feelings to her in their youth. The Prefect, Zang Zimian, remained unmarried because of her. As for Zhao Qianye, she was equally keenly aware of his feelings for her.

This is certainly not the result the teacher wanted to see.

One glimpse of this person, and you're doomed for life.

Suddenly, a white crane soared through the sky, graceful as snow, pure and aloof, just like when we first met.

As that peerless beauty spurted blood from her throat and fell from her horse, Zhao Qianye, who was engaged in fierce battle, let out a shrill scream.

He roared and cut down the three grass army knights in front of him. He rode over, dismounted, took off his battle robe, helped the body on the ground up, wrapped it in the robe, and held it in his arms.

Yan Shuai is still as beautiful as ever, just like twenty years ago when she brought him back from Beisha City.

Ten years ago, Marshal Yan arranged for him to marry a female general in the army, and said with a smile, "Boy, if you follow in my footsteps, I will kill you."

When Zhao Qianye's thoughts were exposed, her cheeks turned even redder than her crimson eyes.

But he always obeyed Yan Shuai's decisions.

The body in her arms suddenly opened its eyes slightly.

Zhao Qianye was overjoyed and was about to speak when he heard a faint voice.

"Live on, kid. This is my final order."

With her last bit of strength, her delicate hand sealed his lips.

That was the first and last time his lips touched Yan Shuai's skin.

Yan Shuai knew that without those words, he would have surely died for his lord.

Tears immediately streamed down Zhao Qianye's bloodshot eyes.

The flock of white cranes in the sky seemed to have come from the seaside; their cries reminded Zhao Qianye of his hometown. Yan Shuai had brought him back from the cold winds of Liaodong, and afterwards, his hometown was reduced to desolation by the Khitan's swords.

Fortunately, Yan Shuai's hometown is in Hebei, and as a trusted confidant, he can at least escort her home.

"Zhen Shuai, let's go home..."

Sitting idly, I grieve for you and for myself; a hundred years is but a fleeting moment. My life's emotions are nothing more than this.

In June of the fifth year of the Qianfu era, Zhen Ranyu, the female warrior goddess of the Tang Dynasty, died in battle at Muling Pass. Her magnificent dance in Huaying became a final, poignant tale.

After Tian Jun repelled the government cavalry that surrounded her, she realized that Zhu Wen had already accomplished this feat of slaying a god.

She wanted to rescue Zhu Wen, who had fainted and fallen from his horse, but one of Zhu Wen's knights had already rescued him and carried him on his back.

Several spears pierced the body of the knight who had shielded Zhu Wen with his own body, but he seemed to feel no pain. He swung his sword to cut off the spear shafts, glared angrily, roared, threw his sword and cut off the throat of an enemy soldier, and then rode away.

Tian Jun breathed a sigh of relief, only to see the government soldiers' eyes turn red as they pounced on him like demons.

The death of Zhen Ranyu did not break their morale at all; on the contrary, it plunged them into extreme anger.

"Avenge Marshal Yan!"

"Slaughter these bandits, leave no one alive!"

The enemy surged forward, and Tian Jun felt as if she were being overwhelmed by the tide, and was instantly submerged.

At the cost of five injuries, Tian Jun managed to break through the encirclement, but fortunately, they were all just superficial wounds.

Duan Hongyan, who had been defeated, also rushed over to join them.

"The governor of Zang broke through our lines at great cost and was killed by our crossbows. However, the Huaixi mule army still broke through our lines and joined forces with the enemy's central army."

After learning that Zhu Wen had been rescued, Duan Hongyan felt relieved and reported the battle situation to Tian Jun and the others.

The knight who rescued Zhu Wen gave his name: Zhu Zhen. He was from the same hometown as Zhu Wen and shared the same surname.

He was also seriously injured in the fierce battle, and after returning, he collapsed to the ground and was sent to recuperate.

Zhu Wen, however, remained unconscious.

Due to the fierce fighting of the Flame General's central army and the arrival of reinforcements from the rear, the Grass Army's attack was ultimately defeated, suffering heavy losses.

However, killing "Flame General" Zhen Ranyu and Yingzhou Prefect Zang Zimian, and beheading two high-ranking officials of the imperial court, is truly an unprecedented achievement.

Lan Suting was already taking care of Zhu Wen at his bedside. Tian Jun wanted to go too, but Duan Hongyan stopped her.

“My junior brother will be fine. He himself said, ‘Good people don’t live long, but evil people live for a thousand years.’ He’s very resilient.”

Duan Hongyan's eyes showed no sign of worry for Zhu Wen, yet Tian Jun sensed her incredibly strong will.

She had absolute confidence that Zhu Wen would wake up.

It was Duan Hongyan's troops who shot and killed Governor Zang Zimian in this battle. It should be noted that Governor Zang's Huaixi Mule Army was known for its fighting prowess, and Zang Zimian himself was a recognized good general of his time.

Duan Hongyan suddenly sighed, "Even on his deathbed, Governor Zang was still calling out the name of Marshal Yan. He was quite a devoted man."

She patted Tian Jun on the shoulder: "Our teacher instructed that as long as we successfully assassinate Commander Yan, even if the enemy launches a counterattack against our army, they will eventually fall into command paralysis. Now that Junior Brother is seriously injured and unconscious, you, Four-Legged Snake, will lead the cavalry to cut off the enemy's supply lines."

Tian Jun's mind was racing, and she didn't even notice that Duan Hongyan had called her "Four-Legged Snake" instead of "Little Dragon Girl" to her face again. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "What about Wang Jian? Can't he command the government troops?"

“Although Wang Jian is talented, he is not high enough in rank to command the entire army. You will lead the troops to cut off the enemy's supply lines. Within three days, the government troops will surely collapse. I will send Ding Hui and Deng Xuan to accompany you.”

Duan Hongyan's calm and collected demeanor, delivered with ease, left Tian Jun momentarily stunned.

Could it be that, given time, the other party will also be an extraordinary woman like Yan Shuai?
(End of this chapter)