About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 22 Comrades Fighting, People Sacrificed (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

Xia Yu tightened the reins, and the hilt of the sword struck the saddle, making a clear, resonant sound.

This is a knife given to him by Duan Jiong, with the words "Breaking the Enemy" engraved on the back.

As the deputy general finished speaking, he was about to order a state of alert.

Suddenly, logs and rocks collapsed from the mound on the left, and more than a dozen men in blue robes darted out from the shadows of the trees.

In the blink of an eye, the three riders in the front row were overturned by crossbow bolts, and amidst the pitiful neighing of their warhorses, crossbow bolts were piercing the throats of the guards.

Armor-piercing spike? Ordinary assassins would never possess such a weapon.

He looked at the patterns flashing across the hems of the assassins' clothes as they bounced, and his pupils contracted sharply.

"The Yang family of Hongnong?"

In today's world, who doesn't know the Yang family of Hongnong?
The diners under his patronage would have such patterns embroidered on their clothes, and such ostentation clearly indicated that he had no intention of leaving any survivors.

Was it sent by Zhang Huan?
Over the years, Duan Jiong and Zhang Huan have been engaged in fierce open and covert struggles. Zhang Huan was originally from Hongnong, so it was only natural that he would receive assistance from the Yang family of Hongnong.

Unexpectedly... they dared to attack the victorious border general.
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Retainers (political type): such as advisors, or students of the Imperial Academy who sought refuge with powerful figures and entered the bureaucratic system through the recommendation system, possessing the dual identity of retainer and bureaucrat.

Diners (economic type): Some are similar to tenant farmers, engaged in farming, while others are musicians, painters, assassins, etc., who exchange their professional skills for food and clothing.
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Xia Yu drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist and was about to command the cavalry to form a battle formation.

Suddenly, the sound of a huqin (a type of reed pipe) came from the reeds on the right. The desolate tune mixed with the sound of the wind rushed towards them like a death knell.

Xia Yu suddenly turned his head and saw more than ten "Hu people" wearing sheepskin cloaks trampling the reeds, with wolf-head banners swirling up sand and gravel.

"Form a circle!"

He drew a semi-circle with his ring-pommel sword, and his seasoned guards immediately turned their horses around, forming a tight circle back to back, the sound of taut bowstrings echoing throughout the room.

"Fire arrows!"

Xia Yu shouted, and his guards drew their bows and nocked arrows, the sound of arrows piercing the air mingling with the soft clicks of crossbows.

Seeing the arrow flying towards him, Yin Duan rolled on the ground to avoid the fatal blow, and then swung out a short blade from his sleeve, striking a guard in the throat.

Zhu Jun cleaved two crossbow bolts in two, the force of the blade slicing through the arrow shafts and splinters of wood stinging his face.

However, his gaze remained fixed on Xia Yu.

He knew that as long as he submitted his pledge of loyalty, he and Yin Duan could live openly and honestly in the sunlight.

……

After several battles, Xia Yu had only seven riders left.

Amid the chaos, two of Xia Yu's personal guards had already reached the outer perimeter and were about to break out in the confusion.

Zhu Jun was about to stop them when he saw Zhang Ji raise his hand to signal them to let them pass.

This subtle movement made Xia Yu's heart sink...

As expected, after the two riders who had called for help disappeared into the distance, the two ambushers instantly changed their appearance.

On the left, the men in blue robes formed a wild goose formation, while on the right, the "barbarians" formed a cone formation. Xia Yu suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Looking again at the way the wolf-headed banner lord gripped his sword, it was clearly the style of a frontier army's horse-slaying sword.

"The Oath of Qilian Snow!"

Xia Yu suddenly roared, slamming the back of his knife heavily against the saddle.

The sound of the Huqin suddenly stopped, and the "Hu man" on the right holding the wolf-head flag looked up sharply. Half of his sheepskin cloak slipped down, revealing Yin Duan's pale face.

Xia Yu glared angrily at the "barbarian" and added the second half of the sentence:

"Jade Gate Wind and Thunder!"

The snow of Qilian Mountain, the wind of Yumen Pass—this was the password used by the border troops when they buried their comrades.

At this moment, however, it seemed to transform into an ice spike, causing Yin Duan to suddenly tighten his grip on the knife.

Seeing this, Zhang Ji shook his head and raised his hand to swing his sword:

"Now that you've seen through it, there's no need to pretend anymore!"

The men in blue robes removed their outer garments, revealing themselves to be dressed in black, close-fitting outfits.

The midday sun made his armor scorching hot. Xia Yu looked at the two familiar faces before him and a bitter laugh escaped his throat.

Before Duan Jiong and Zhang Huan turned against each other, Xia Yu and Tian Yan had already followed Duan Jiong.

How could he not recognize Yin Duan, Zhang Huan's confidant, and Zhang Ji, who was once Zhang Huan's personal guard and was also Zhang Huan's cousin?

He still remembered that back in Huangzhong, Yin Duan had taught him the Qiang language and once shared half a roasted lamb leg with him on a snowy night...

Zhang Ji even choked on his drink because he misspoke in the Qiang language.

The struggle between Duan Jiong and Zhang Huan has finally moved from the imperial court to the wilderness, and this time, he is the sacrifice...

Xia Yu's laughter, mixed with blood and foam, sprayed onto the knife:

"Yin Zhengze!" He stared at Yin Duan's hand holding the knife. "When you taught me the Qiang language, did you ever think of this day?"

For a moment, neither Yin Duan nor Zhang Ji spoke, but Zhu Jun stepped forward.

"Prefect Xia, please don't blame us."

He slowly raised the horizontal sword in his hand, the blade reflecting Xia Yu's mottled face. "In the end, we're not on the same path..."

Xia Yu let out a cold laugh through clenched teeth, and abruptly turned to look at Zhang Ji:

Where were you when I was fighting desperately against the barbarians?

"Is this all you do, such despicable and petty things?"

His gaze swept over several familiar faces, finally settling on Yin Duan.

"My head is right here; if you wish to take it, come and get it!"

Yin Duan turned her face away, her hands clenching and unclenching.

When Xia Yu was besieged by the Qiang people, he led 500 cavalrymen to his aid at great risk.

Although they later served different masters, the friendship they once shared cannot be faked.

Now he is going to dress as a barbarian to intercept and kill Xia Yu.

He harbored resentment towards Duan Jiong, but towards Xia Yu…

Zhu Jun gently patted Yin Duan's shoulder, leaned down and whispered:
"Sir, we are all in cahoots with Duan Jiong; only one of us can live..."

Zhu Jun's voice was soft, yet it struck Yin Duan's heart like a heavy hammer.

Seeing the strange look on Yin Duan's face, Zhang Ji immediately brandished his sword and shouted:

"Enough talk, let's get started!"

As the men from both sides closed in simultaneously, Xia Yu roared and slashed out with his ring-pommel sword, killing three people in succession.

Seeing his menacing approach, Zhang Ji dared not meet him head-on and retreated repeatedly.

But then Zhu Jun suddenly appeared from the side, aiming straight for his face, forcing him to parry with his sword.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his left arm as a crossbow bolt grazed his arm guard, leaving a deep, long wound on his skin.

Fresh blood dripped down the hilt of the knife, scalding dark red marks on the yellow earth.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ji roared:
"Xia Yu, stop resisting. I will leave you with a whole body."

Xia Yu ignored him, turned to look at the complex expression in Yin Duan's eyes, and suddenly gave a bitter laugh:

“Zhengze…we all swore an oath on the banks of the Huangshui River to protect the peace of the Han Dynasty’s borders, but now this situation…”

"Fine, I have one last request... Would you be willing to die in battle?"

Yin Duan's knife tip trembled, and a bitter taste rose in his throat.

He remembered, of course he remembered, back then they all thought the frontier was the battlefield...

"I'm sorry..."

He looked down at Xia Yu, but his voice was carried away by the wind.

He then gritted his teeth and waved his hand.

Zhu Jun instantly accelerated and swung his knife violently. Xia Yu raised his knife to meet him, and the two knives clashed, producing a piercing metallic clang.

In the heat of battle, Xia Yu suddenly caught sight of Zhang Ji flanking from the side, his short knife aimed straight for Xia Yu's waist and abdomen.

He had a bad feeling and was about to dodge when he saw a resolute look flash in Yin Duan's eyes as he slashed his sword fiercely at his neck.

The moment Xia Yu saw the blade flashing, the knife in his hand clattered to the ground.

A soft cough was accompanied by a smile, a smile that contained sorrow and relief, but no hatred.

I wanted to say something last... but all I could manage was a gurgling sound in my throat.

The moment blood spurted out, the weapon in Yin Duan's hand fell to the ground.

Xia Yu watched as the white clouds on the horizon were dyed red, and felt as if he had returned to the snowy night in Huangzhong...

The aroma of roasted lamb shared around the campfire now smells of blood.

Did Yin Zheng shed tears? He couldn't see clearly anymore; everything in front of him was becoming increasingly blurry.

Perhaps this question will never be answered...

Yin Duan knelt on the stone path, gently closed Xia Yu's wide-open eyes, and picked up the ring-pommel sword engraved with "Po Lu".

Zhu Jun walked over and patted him on the shoulder. Neither of them spoke; they just stared southeast...

There, surely the flames of war must be burning there?
(End of this chapter)