Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 341 Death in Battle (Part 1)

There was no reluctance to part, not even a chance to say goodbye. Zhan Fei swiftly led his men and over a thousand warhorses southward.

The cold, biting night wind scraped against my face like a blade.

Hemu calmly wiped the wetness from the corner of his eye, kicked the horse's belly hard, and ran at full speed.

He knew the grasslands best and was the most skilled; he should have stayed behind to fight to the death. Fang Datou's decision to let him go with the horses was a way of giving him a chance to live.

This parting may mean never having the chance to meet again.

In the night wind, the horses galloped, and the ground trembled more and more noticeably. The dark mass of bandits swept in like a whirlwind. At a rough glance, there were at least three or four hundred of them, more than twice the number of Fang Datou's side.

Fang Datou's chest was surging with hot blood; he was utterly fearless. Excitedly, he raised his long sword, roared, and spurred his horse forward. The hundred or so men behind him also brandished their swords and shouted wildly, fighting the bandits.

The Pei family army was constantly at war, and casualties were commonplace. Traveling into the grasslands with a caravan to buy horses was even more dangerous, and the guards for the caravans had been replaced time and again over the years.

They were mostly destitute refugees who were taken in by the general. The general provided them with food and clothing, taught them to read and write, and allowed them to live with dignity like real human beings. Now, it was time for them to serve the general to the death.

Normally, the bandits they encountered were few in number, mostly herders in disguise, and they would run away as soon as they were at a disadvantage. This time, however, the bandits were clearly different from those before, being exceptionally fierce.

These are the real bandits. They've been watching them for who knows how long, waiting to strike on their return journey.

puff!
Fang Datou plunged his knife into the chest of a bandit. Blood splattered from the bandit's chest as he screamed and fell from his horse, where he was trampled by its hooves.

A familiar scream rang in my ears.

Fang Datou did not turn to look at his tragically killed comrades, and continued to fight with his knife.

This battle was incredibly fierce and brutal. Life and death were decided in just a few exchanges. One bandit after another was cut down from their horses, and Fang Datou's men dwindled in number.

A sudden chill ran down his back. Fang Datou didn't even feel the pain, his face contorted in a grimace as he continued to fight desperately. He had been stabbed in the right leg, and warm liquid was gushing from his waist and abdomen.

"Kill!" Fang Datou, covered in blood, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse from shouting, yelled, "Brothers, kill!"

The bandits finally couldn't hold out any longer.

They outnumbered their opponents by more than double. Yet, this caravan's guards were exceptionally fierce and ruthless. Their one-armed leader had suffered five or six stab wounds, two of which were fatal. But he kept swinging his sword, his body covered in blood, like a demon that would never die.

The bandits wanted to steal warhorses and valuables, not to die in vain.

The brave wins when we meet on a narrow road.

The bandits finally began to consider retreating, and some started turning their horses around and fleeing.

Fang Datou spurred his horse forward in pursuit. His fiery courage inspired the surviving cavalrymen around him. They shouted in unison, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Terrified, the bandits finally collapsed and fled, quickly disappearing into the vast night sky over the grasslands.

Fang Datou threw his head back and laughed loudly, then suddenly collapsed to the ground.

……

The evening of the second day.

The fifty-odd survivors caught up with Zhan Fei and his group.

Zhan Fei's heart sank when he saw Fang Datou, who was lying there like a blood-soaked gourd, barely clinging to life. He Mu was faster than Zhan Fei and had already rushed over.

"Brother Fang!" He Mu embraced Fang Datou's battered body, his hands trembling uncontrollably, his voice hoarse: "Brother Fang!"

Fang Datou was too badly injured and barely had time to breathe. In his last moments, he was still able to smile and said with difficulty, "Hemu, brother, I forgive you."

Tears welled up in Hemu's eyes. Something seemed to be blocking his throat, and he couldn't say a word. Hot tears dripped onto Fang Datou's face.

With great effort, Fang Datou managed to squeeze out a few words: "Brother Hemu, from now on, I will lead the general and crush the Xiongnu." A man doesn't easily shed tears, but at this moment, who could hold back their tears?

Zhan Fei grabbed Fang Datou's hand and started crying: "Brother Fang, what is your last wish?"

At first, Zhan Fei looked down on Fang Datou. Among the veterans of Pei's army, Fang Datou wasn't particularly skilled or bright; he was just a senior figure whom the general trusted implicitly. However, after years of traveling across the grasslands and sharing life and death experiences, the two had developed a deep bond.

Seeing that Fang Datou might die at any moment, Zhan Fei felt as if his heart was being pierced by an awl, and he was in excruciating pain.

With his last breath, Fang Datou looked at Zhan Fei and said, "Tell the general that I, Fang Datou, have not disgraced you."

Like a candle that has burned out, the flame in its eyes quietly went out.

Fang Datou died peacefully.

Everyone wept bitterly.

After they finished crying, the group dug a pit and buried Fang Datou's body on the spot.

Hemu found a sapling from somewhere and planted it. He then used a knife to scrape a piece of wood from the trunk and carved a mark on it.

Brother Fang, rest in peace!
……

Pei Qinghe suddenly woke up and sat up from the bed.

Shi Yan was also startled awake. He fumbled for a tinderbox and lit the candle on the table: "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

The candlelight dispelled the darkness.

Pei Qinghe frowned and said in a low voice, "I don't know what happened, but my heart suddenly started beating very fast, and I felt uncomfortable and suffocated, so I woke up."

Years of fighting on the battlefield have honed an extraordinary intuition. Something bad must have happened.

Shi Yan gently patted Pei Qinghe's back and whispered comfortingly, "Perhaps it's going to rain soon, the weather is too stuffy."

Pei Qinghe took a deep breath: "Hmm, probably. Go to sleep!"

The candle was not blown out, and Pei Qinghe closed her eyes and fell asleep again. She hadn't been asleep long when she had a dream. In the dream, she was transported back to her reborn thirteen-year-old self.

On her way to exile, she spotted a simple-minded soldier.

The soldier flaunted a dagger he had somehow acquired. The dagger was sharp and small, easily concealed in his robes, and could be used for self-defense in a pinch.

She found a moment and quietly called the soldier aside: "I'll trade you silver for your dagger."

The soldier initially refused: "The family members of exiled criminals cannot be armed. If Lieutenant Sun finds out, he will definitely scold me and beat me up."

She pleaded in a gentle voice, "Would you trade me for five taels of silver?"

The soldier's eyes lit up: "Exchange! But you have to keep it a secret and not tell anyone."

She readily agreed and exchanged five taels of silver for a dagger, thus acquiring a weapon for self-defense.

Two days later, another soldier approached them and whispered, "I'll sell you Fang Datou's dagger for five taels. I also have a bow and arrow here; it's a bit old, but it'll still work. Do you want it?"

She laughed: "I'll give you ten taels of silver!"

The soldier grinned, took the silver, and casually chuckled, "That fool Fang Datou sleeps with silver in his arms every night. He even calls out for Sixth Miss in his dreams."

……

(End of this chapter)