The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 117 Tooth for Tooth
A short while later, Dong Yi came out to greet him, looking much more relaxed. However, he still asked Xiao Yi to leave his soldiers outside and remove their weapons.

Upon entering, Liu Yun was examining the military tally with a complex expression, a mixture of confidence and worry.

"Your Highness."

"This military tally?"

"This was sent by Liu Tingrang as a sign of his willingness to serve. Your Highness can rest assured that he will protect you."

Liu Yun sighed, then placed the military tally on the table and said, "After much deliberation, I have decided to issue an order to Xuzhou to dispatch two thousand troops to protect me."

"Why do you say that, Your Highness? Liu Tingrang is more than capable of ensuring Your Highness's safety."

Why are you stopping me?

"The officials of Bianjing and the people of the world are eagerly awaiting this; how can we delay any longer?"

"Since you're so eagerly awaiting this, can't I transfer another two thousand men?"

"Now that we've come this far, why is Your Highness so hesitant? Is it because Zhang Lingchao is biased towards Hedong and is trying to sow discord?"

"The closer I get to the capital, the more uneasy I feel."

Xiao Yi's patience was wearing thin. He said, "Is it Zhang Lingchao who is shaking Your Highness's resolve? This villain wants to drag Your Highness into an abyss of no return. I beg Your Highness to execute him to restore morale and reassure the people!"

"you……"

Liu Yun was stunned, then filled with shock and anger. His pupils widened as he finally realized what was happening.

Xiao Yi, realizing the true nature of the situation, strode forward.

"Somebody come!"

Liu Yun shouted and drew the ornate sword from his waist.

"Help! Xiao Yi is trying to harm me..."

"Boom."

The sword was drawn and thrust towards Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi swiftly reached out with his left hand, grabbed Liu Yun's right wrist that was holding the sword, and twisted it, causing the sword to fall off.

Liu Yun raised his foot and kicked, causing the body to lean back and fall to the ground, rolling twice before crawling away.

Xiao Yi dodged, picked up the knife that was about to fall with his right hand, took two steps to catch up, swung the knife, and the blade was instantly pressed against Liu Yun's neck.

The movements were executed in one fluid motion, in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, Your Highness!"

As soon as Madam Dong walked around the screen, she saw this scene and let out a short scream, covering her mouth with both hands in fright.

"General Xiao, what is this? Does His Highness disapprove of your relationship with Lady An? I will make the decision and ensure that you get what you want."

"Madam, save me!"

"do not move."

"Xiao Yi, how dare you..."

"Protect His Highness!"

The guards outside rushed into the hall with knives.

Xiao Yi, holding Liu Yun by the arm, shouted, "Don't come any closer!"

One of them, however, pressed himself against the wall, circled around to his blind spot, and tried to pounce on him.

Xiao Yi didn't turn his head. Hearing the sound, he kicked the brazier out of the hall.

The brazier traced an arc and slammed into the soldier with a "thud," followed by a scream as the soldier collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.

Xiao Yi ended his life with a single stroke.

Liu Yun immediately tried to escape, but after only two steps, Xiao Yi pressed the blood-stained blade against Liu Yun's throat again.

"I...I'm just taking a walk."

"Who would dare to step forward?!"

"No, no, don't move!" Liu Yun shouted, "Listen to General Xiao, don't move..."

"Walk."

Xiao Yi pulled him outside. In the courtyard, the twelve guards of the inner palace were already engaged in a fierce battle with the soldiers outside the gate.

Dong Yi was distraught and collapsed onto the snow, muttering, "It's all over, it's all over."

"Put down your weapons! The heir is here! Dong Yi, rise. Go and convey the heir's orders: the Imperial Guards shall take over the defense, and the Xuzhou soldiers shall disarm and surrender their weapons."

"General Xiao, are you really sent by Guo Wei to deceive His Highness? Aren't you afraid of the Hedong army?"

"I'm asking you to relay my order."

Xiao Yi ripped the token from Liu Yun's waist and threw it over.

Dong Yi covered his face and wept bitterly, kneeling on the ground, saying, "Your Highness, I am incompetent and have harmed you!"

"Go, pass on the order." Liu Yun's voice trembled as he cried, "General, I will cooperate, I only beg Lord Guo to spare my life."

Dong Yi wiped away his tears with his sleeve, picked up the plaque, and walked outside.

Xiao Yi's gaze followed him closely, and he saw that after he had walked about thirty steps, a patrol of soldiers came from ahead.

"Judge Dong, what has happened? Why are the Imperial Guards surrounding us?"

Dong Yi, holding the token, said: "By order of His Highness, you guards have worked hard. The remaining guards are to be handed over to the Imperial Guards. All of you, return to your tents to rest, remove your armor, and hand over your weapons..."

"Don't listen to him!"

Just then, another large cavalry unit arrived, led by Zhang Lingchao and Liu Luan.

"Where's Dalang?"

"In General Xiao's hands..."

"Save my eldest son!" Zhang Lingchao shouted. "Pass on my order: Kill the traitors!"

Liu Luan, clad in fine silver armor, wielding a curved sword and carrying a horn bow on his back, roared, "Kill them all!"

"Young lady, listen to me." Dong Yi ran over and called out, "His Highness, he..."

"waste."

"puff."

Liu Luan showed no mercy and killed Dong Yi with a single blow.

"All soldiers, listen to my command! Rescue our elder brother, and join the Hedong army to storm Kaifeng! Once the city is breached, we will not sheath our swords!"

"kill!"

The cavalry from Hedong charged in, driving the Xuzhou soldiers toward the main courtyard.

Xiao Yi shouted, "Guard the entrance!"

"Here!"

Lü Chou, Jin Sanshui, Wang Jiu, and others immediately chopped down the guards standing by the door, entered the main courtyard, and bolted the door shut to guard it.

"Oh!"

The soldiers from Xuzhou arrived and rammed the gate repeatedly.

The torchlight flickered, and the sound of arrows piercing the air was deafening.

"Block the door! Issue the numbers!"

There weren't many heavy objects in the courtyard, so everyone held the door shut with all their might. Lü Chou blew a sharp whistle, requesting Liu Tingrang's help.

"Hold the line, General Liu will be here soon."

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

With a loud crash, the latch broke, and then a wooden door was knocked down.

The soldiers formed ranks and held their ground.

The battle intensified instantly, with the Xuzhou soldiers charging fearlessly toward the small courtyard gate.

Roars, clashing swords, blades piercing flesh, screams filled the air; in an instant, many were wounded, and the walls and doorframes were stained with blood.

"stop!"

Xiao Yi, holding Liu Yun hostage, stood on the stone steps, his voice shaking the entire area, and said, "Anyone who dares to step forward, I will kill Liu Yun!"

"Whoosh." The sound of wind breaking suddenly came in front of him. Xiao Yi narrowly dodged, and the arrow grazed his neck and embedded itself in the lintel behind him.

Turning his head, he saw Liu Luan sitting on his horse, holding a horn bow, and nocking another arrow.

"Xiao Yi, prepare to die!"

"Whoosh."

Xiao Yi dodged again, then grabbed Liu Yun and used him as a human shield.

"Stop immediately if you don't want Liu Yun to die!"

"Charge in!" Liu Luan shouted. "Let's see if he dares to kill my elder brother."

"kill!"

Suddenly, a scream was heard.

As Xiao Yi watched Wang Jiu parry and slash with his sword, his right arm was severed by another blade, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

Wang Jiu was in so much pain that his whole body was convulsing, but he still stood guard at the courtyard gate and refused to leave.

Enraged, Xiao Yi severed Liu Yun's forearm without hesitation.

"what!"

"General!"

"Dalang!"

The attack abruptly stopped at the courtyard gate.

At that moment, shouts from the Imperial Guards could be heard in the distance.

"Zhang Lingchao is a traitor who has taken His Highness hostage and is plotting treason. Those who have been deceived should immediately lay down their weapons and will be pardoned. Those who resist stubbornly will have their families implicated!"

Zhang Lingchao was shocked and said, "Young lady, it's too late... Let's go!"

"My brother has been taken hostage."

"It's beyond saving. Let's go, it's more important to send a message to the commander-in-chief."

"No, elder brother would rather die than be captured."

Upon hearing Liu Luan's words, Xiao Yi turned his gaze and, with a "whoosh," an arrow shot towards Liu Yun.

In a flash, he pulled Liu Yun backward and they fell to the ground.

"Release the arrows!" Liu Luan shouted, "Shoot them to death!"

"Swish swish."

Arrows rained down like locusts, heading straight for the main house.

"set fire!"

Then, torches were thrown in and lit the curtains.

Liu Yun cried out in pain, "Luan-mei... Luan-mei... you've gone mad..."

"You're crazy! You want to be a prince, but you don't want to be my older brother. Fine, I'll grant your wish."

"Girl!" Zhang Lingchao roared, "Let's go!"

Liu Luan shouted, "Brother, please commit suicide, lest you disgrace Hedong... Giddy up!"

"Surround them!"

Inside the house, the fire quickly flared up, making it impossible for Xiao Yi to open his eyes due to the smoke.

He dragged Liu Yun out of the house, and when he looked again, he saw that Madam Dong had been hit by two arrows and was lying in a pool of blood, the fire quickly engulfing the silk and brocade on her body.

Leaving Liu Yun behind, Xiao Yi turned to check on the injuries of his subordinates. The most seriously injured was Wang Jiu, who was lying in the snow, struggling in excruciating pain.

"Quick! Stop the bleeding! Can the severed arm be reattached?"

"catch?"

"save him!"

Lu Chou rushed over, grabbed Wang Jiu's arm, and said, "Bring some clean snow, wrap it in cloth, and bring some hemostatic medicine..."

"General, Liu Yun's hand is also broken."

"Take care of Wang Jiu first."

Xiao Yi went over, grabbed a clean cloth, and used it to wrap the gruesome severed arm.

Wang Jiu gasped in pain, saying, "General... I didn't... embarrass myself... this time!"

Before he could finish speaking, he screamed and fainted.

"Do everything you can to save him!"

Xiao Yi stood up and strode outside.

Outside, Liu Tingrang had already brought the situation under control, eliminating the few remaining stubborn resistance fighters, and most of the Xuzhou soldiers chose to surrender.

But outside the camp, the faint sound of horses' hooves could still be heard.

"Someone escaped?"

"Yes."

"Give me a bow and arrow."

Xiao Yi took the bow and quiver, tried them out, and found the foot bow, weighing six jin (approximately 3 catties), not quite comfortable to handle.

He mounted his horse and galloped off to the north.

At the camp, the corpses of Xuzhou soldiers were scattered all over the ground, a testament to the ferocity of the breakout.

In the moonlit northern wilderness, a dozen or so riders were galloping frantically, while forty or so riders were sent in pursuit.

Xiao Yi rode fast and caught up with it.

After only about fifteen minutes, the horse got tired and slowed down.

Ahead, the pursuers stopped by a small river and shouted incessantly.

"They are dismantling the bridge."

"Shoot them, you guys go around them."

At the same time, Liu Luan's voice came, shouting, "Cover with arrows, dismantle the bridge quickly!"

Xiao Yi was still more than ten steps away from the river when he urged his horse on and stared intently at it.

On the opposite bank, Liu Luan's silver armor shone brightly in the moonlight.

She pulled down her visor, holding a shield in one hand and a knife in the other, and urged the soldiers to dismantle the bridge.

Several of her men tried to rush across the bridge, but she cut them all down with a single stroke.

Xiao Yi slowed his horse down, controlled it with both legs, and held a bow in one hand, drawing a three-edged arrow from the quiver.

He drew the bowstring taut, the string creaking as he aimed at Liu Luan, his gaze searching for the weakest point in her armor, finally settling on the fine scales around her waist.

Liu Luan seemed to sense something, and suddenly pulled on the reins, looking in this direction.

Xiao Yi showed no mercy, his mind was blank, just as he did with any opponent.

"Om-"

The bowstring trembled, and the arrow was released.

The arrows whistled softly and sharply in the cold wind.

Across the stream, a horse let out a mournful neigh, and a slender figure clad in silver armor on its back was struck by an arrow, falling heavily from the horse's back like a kite with a broken string.

"Girl!"

The cavalry from Hedong cried out in alarm.

Zhang Lingchao, who had been lying in ambush in the woods on the opposite bank, galloped over on horseback, roaring furiously.

"Xiao Yi, the iron hooves of Hedong will surely crush you into mincemeat!"

The roar, filled with bloodlust, traveled across the river, but was torn apart by the wind and became weak by the time it reached Xiao Yi's ears.

He only knew that Guo Wei was going to attack Hedong, and he couldn't let Liu Chong know beforehand.

"Charge them all, leave no one alive!"

(End of this chapter)