Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

At this moment, the east was just beginning to lighten, and the first rays of dawn were appearing.

Its daybreak.

Inside Dingzhou City, everyone was awakened.

The city walls were densely packed with people, their eyes fixed on the north—where the smoke and dust were receding, and the enemy's main force had retreated.

But... there is still one army that hasn't left.

Fifty thousand Turkic cavalry, like dark clouds pressing down on the border, stood silently outside the city.

The leader was none other than Huyan Zhuo.

They didn't leave, for one mission—

Within half a day, they shattered Dingzhou and massacred the entire city!

"Siege!!"

A roar exploded across the heavens and earth!

Huyan Zhuo grinned maliciously, raising his long sword high, its cold light slicing through the morning mist: "Charge in! Leave no one alive!"

"kill!!!"

Fifty thousand barbarian soldiers roared in unison, their voices like a tidal wave, shaking the mountains and rivers!

The earth trembled, the city walls groaned, and even the sky seemed to be stained dark red by the killing intent!

On the city wall of Dingzhou, Han Ye had already donned a mask and donned silver armor, standing at the highest point, coldly surveying everything below.

He knew that the real storm was only just beginning.

"Open the city gates!"

He drew his sword abruptly, his voice resolute and piercing through the wind and clouds: "Charge into battle!"

"First echelon—I will lead three thousand iron cavalry in a frontal charge!"

"The second echelon—commanded by Zhong Fang—will follow me to the rear!"

"The third echelon—all the people—must defend the city and fortify its defenses, not yielding an inch of land!"

"Today, there is no turning back! We must fight to the death!"

Three thousand iron cavalrymen lined up in front, each clad in armor and armed with weapons, their warhorses neighing and their iron hooves pounding.

This is Han Ye's last trump card, and Dingzhou's only hope.

Why open the city gates?

Because the spirit of the iron cavalry is not behind the high walls, but on the open fields!

Besieged in a deserted city? That's just waiting to die!

Only by fighting our way out, risking our lives, can we survive!

"Open the gates!!"

Boom—!

The heavy city gates slowly opened, like a giant beast baring its fangs.

The next moment, Han Ye took the lead, and three thousand iron cavalrymen rushed out like a silver torrent breaking through the city gate!

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

The sounds of footsteps, horses' hooves, and clashing armor blended together to form a tragic war song.

The voice was as heavy as a mountain, yet as piercing as the wind.

On the city wall, countless people watched this procession rushing towards death, their eyes red and tears streaming down their faces.

They knew—

Many of those who went never returned.

This is a true battle to the death, a fight to carve out a path to survival with flesh and blood!

"The backbone of the Han people..."

An old scholar, his hair and beard all white, walked shakily up the city wall, but his eyes burned with fierce fire.

Without saying a word, he snatched the drumsticks and smashed them hard against the war drum!

Boom! ! !

A single drumbeat resounded, shaking the heavens!

Then came the second, the third... one after another!

The drums thundered, echoing throughout the city, as if bidding farewell to the warriors, or awakening the slumbering mountains and rivers!

This battle is not just for the city, but for dignity!

This battle is not just about survival, but about defying fate!

"Thump—!"

"Thump! Thump!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump—!"

The drums thundered, tearing through the sky.

The Master stood atop the city tower, waving his arms as the war drums thundered.

He looked up to the sky and sang, his voice as sharp as tearing silk: "How can you say we have no clothes? We share the same robes! The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields, and fight alongside you against this common enemy!"

That cry, so desolate it pierced to the bone, shook the entire city of Dingzhou.

The sound rolled through the streets and alleys, over the rooftops, and plunged straight down beneath the city walls, like a torrent of iron, shaking the earth.

In an instant—

The entire city echoed in unison!

"How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes! The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields, and fight together against this common enemy!"

"How can we say we have no clothes? We will share our garments with you! The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and halberds! We will fight alongside you!"

"How can we say we have no clothes? We will share our garments with you! The king is raising an army; let us prepare our armor and weapons! We will march together with you!"

The roar was deafening, like ten thousand horses galloping, like a thousand troops roaring.

That wasn't singing, it was shouting, it was blood burning, it was the soul roaring!

As Han Ye and his group led Zhong Fang and others out of the Dingzhou city gate, before they could even steady their steps, a deafening singing erupted behind them.

They suddenly stopped.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

A soldier slowly turned around, looking at his trembling old mother on the city wall, his lips quivering slightly: "Mother... your son is leaving."

Someone grinned and looked at the baby in the swaddling clothes: "Zhu Zi, your father... isn't a coward."

Zhong Fang also turned around, his gaze falling on his wife.

He didn't speak, he just smiled gently.

That smile was as light as the wind, yet as heavy as a mountain.

As the Prefect of Dingzhou, he had no way out.

That smile was a farewell.

Everyone looked back silently, no one uttered a word.

But those eyes already held a thousand words—his country, his concerns, his vows, and his determination to die.

Han Ye did not turn around.

There's no need to look back.

The three thousand iron cavalry behind him were equally silent and cold as frost.

One person raised his hand, removed his helmet, and revealed a hideous ghost face.

Click—

The mask was fastened tightly, its cold light gleaming.

Immediately afterwards, pairs of eyes began to turn red, like ferocious beasts awakening in the dark night, their pupils burning with bloodthirsty flames.

Ahead lay an overwhelming Turkic army, like a black tide pressing in, their murderous aura soaring to the heavens.

Han Ye's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse as if scraping iron: "All troops—prepare!"

The next instant, Han Song roared and charged forward, shooting through the air like an arrow released from a bow!

"kill--!!!"

boom--!

Three thousand iron cavalry roared simultaneously, their sound waves shattering the clouds!

"kill!!!"

Before the roar had even faded, the men surged forth like a torrent! Their hooves shattered the earth, their armor crashed through the gale, like three thousand awakened tigers and leopards pouncing on the vast ocean of fifty thousand enemy soldiers!

Zhong Fang followed closely behind, drawing his sword, its gleam like snow in the sunlight: "Kill!"

"boom!"

The second wave of attack followed closely behind, with the force of a thunderbolt!

A bird's-eye view—

Huyan Zhuo's 50,000-strong army surged like a black tide, unstoppable, seemingly intent on crushing everything into dust.

On the other side, three thousand iron cavalrymen, like a tempered blade, revealed their sharpness and plunged straight into the core of the enemy formation!

With such a large disparity in numbers, the outcome was clear at a glance.

But in terms of momentum...

This strike severs lives, but also tests the very soul!

Even if it means facing certain death, we must carve out a glimmer of hope from the most desperate situation!

"Kill them—!"

Han Ye's blood and qi surged, and he suddenly activated [Heroic and Skilled in Battle]!

Their fighting spirit surged dramatically!

The three thousand iron cavalrymen's combat power soared, their armor gleamed, and their killing intent solidified into a tangible form!

At this very moment—

The two armies clashed head-on!

"Boom—!!!"

"Boom—!!!"

The earth trembled, and the landscape turned pale!

In an instant, men and horses fell, limbs flew everywhere, and the clanging of metal pierced eardrums! Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, blotting out the sun, and the battlefield was plunged into chaos!

Zhong Fang and the others watched from afar, their hearts breaking.

Three thousand against fifty thousand...

What exactly happened after the collision?

They dare not think.

All that could be heard from within the dust and mist was a cacophony of screams, roars, and the mournful neighing of warhorses, a soundscape straight out of hell.

Everyone held their breath.

In this deathly silence of waiting—

The dust and fog suddenly surged violently!

A figure, like a ghost or god descending to earth, suddenly burst forth from the dust!

"kill--!!!"

A roar that ripped the sky apart!

It's Han Ye!

It's that general wearing the mask that says "crying and laughing"!

He was covered in blood, his white clothes stained red, blood dripping from the spear in his hand, and his eyes were like a demon's!

He actually fought his way out from the heart of the enemy's territory, where there were 50,000 enemy troops!

No, not out—

He stormed in!

They are heading straight for the enemy's core, aiming to take the commander's head!

The drums sounded again.

"Thump!"

"Thump! Thump!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump—!"

Only atop the city wall, the white-haired old scholar stood alone before the broken drum, his withered arms swinging the drumsticks, striking again and again, producing a heart-wrenching drumbeat.

"How can you say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you..."

The desolate chanting, like the wind piercing to the bone, swept over the broken walls and ruins, and pierced the heart of every Dingzhou resident.

The people knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces, their voices choked with emotion, yet they still sang along with all their might.

That wasn't a song, it was a farewell song—a lament for the soldiers about to die, each note a heart-wrenching cry!

And just as this mournful cry was about to cease—

With a deafening roar, yellow sand filled the sky, and the earth trembled!

Ahead, billowing dust obscured the view, leaving everything in a blur. Then, a furious shout ripped through the air:

"kill--!!"

In an instant, a dark figure emerged like a tiger released from its cage, leaping into the air and charging straight into the enemy ranks!

Han Ye!

He held a blood-stained spear, his cloak fluttering in the wind, his eyes burning with a world-destroying blaze. He was like a demon returning from hell, charging forward on horseback with unstoppable momentum!

Then, the three thousand Tiger and Leopard Iron Cavalry roared in unison, their bloodshot eyes and low growls like beasts. Their warhorses galloped like thunder, their iron hooves crushing the yellow earth. The entire army was like a blade tempered a thousand degrees, advancing fiercely!

"Brothers, charge!!"

Zhong Fang stood atop the city wall, fists clenched, tears streaming down his face, and roared hoarsely, "To die for one's country, today is the day when the loyal souls of my Great Tang will never perish!"

"Kill them—!"

"Hahaha! Lord Zhong, see you in the underworld!"

"I, Liu Chi, am tough as nails; I won't die!"

"Turkic bastards! Grandpa will take you all to hell—!!"

Rumble!!

In the blink of an eye, Zhong Fang personally led the last remaining Tang soldiers in Dingzhou out in full force, charging into the enemy ranks without hesitation!

Just as he said on the city wall last night—

We will fight to the death until our blood runs dry!

As long as Dingzhou exists, its people will live on! Even if Dingzhou falls, its spirit will never be forgotten!

In the distance, behind the 50,000-strong Turkic army.

Commander Huyan Zhuo coldly surveyed the scene, his iron armor gleaming in the sunlight, a sinister smile slowly spreading across his face.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it is courting its own destruction."

He smiled dismissively and waved his hand, ordering, "Surround them! Leave no one alive, wipe them all out!"

"promise!!"

As soon as the order was given, 50,000 Turkic cavalry surged forward like a tidal wave, their swords flashing and their killing intent soaring to the sky, determined to crush this isolated army into mincemeat!

But faced with this overwhelming encirclement and attack—

Han Ye showed no fear, but rather his fighting spirit was boiling!

"Form ranks! Charge forth with the vanguard, break through enemy lines and slay the enemy generals!"

At a command, three thousand iron cavalrymen quickly regrouped, transforming into a cone-shaped iron spear, with Han Ye at the head, like the spearhead, piercing straight into the heart of the enemy!

The blade rises! The head falls!

Gunshot! Hollowed in the chest!

"Pfft—!"

"Pfft—!"

"Pfft—!"

Blood surged, corpses flew everywhere, and severed limbs and broken bodies covered the wasteland like fallen leaves.

Every inch of land was soaked in blood, the stench of blood filled the air, and the cries of ghosts and gods echoed through the air!

however--

Outnumbered and outgunned, we were ultimately no match for them.

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump..."

Behind him came the muffled thuds of warhorses collapsing and soldiers falling to their deaths.

One person falls, then another falls...

Han Ye heard it clearly; those were his brothers, each taking their last breath right next to his ear.

His pupils shrank sharply, and his eyes were bloodshot, almost bursting open!

If even he was like this, then Zhongfang's infantry unit was even more so—

With few men, broken equipment, no strong defenses to rely on, and no reinforcements to look forward to.

In a short while, they were all submerged under the iron hooves of the Turks, leaving no trace of their bodies!

……

Meanwhile, on the official road leading from Youzhou to Dingzhou.

The horses' hooves thundered, raising clouds of dust.

The mighty female general Li Yingge took the lead, her silver armor reflecting the sunset, her red tassels fluttering, her brows furrowed with murderous intent, yet a cold smile played on her lips.

Eight thousand elite soldiers followed closely behind, their banners fluttering in the wind, their momentum like a rainbow.

Her goal for this trip was clear—

First, find the elusive "Ghost-Faced General";

Second is Han Ye.

But to be honest, what itches her most right now is not the battle situation, nor fame, but that mysterious man wearing a bronze mask who stirs up the winds and clouds!

"I refuse to believe I can't uncover your true colors!" She sneered, her fingertips lightly tracing the hilt of her sword. "Playing tricks, stealing my credit, and never showing your face? Hmph, this general is determined to peel your skin off and see!"

She was born a favored daughter of heaven; her father was Li Jing, the Duke of Wei, and no one in the army dared to challenge her.

The name "Divine Might Female General" has long been known throughout the world, and she is admired by everyone.

But then a masked general appeared—

He fought the battle she wanted to fight first.

He took all the credit she wanted to earn;

We've never even met once!

She couldn't swallow this insult!

"All troops, speed up! March day and night to Dingzhou!"

Her red lips parted slightly, and a cold, stern military order rang out with a resounding thud!

At that very moment—

"Report—!!"

A scout galloped up from the front, dismounted, and loudly reported:

"Reporting to the General! A young man has been intercepted at the front, suspected to be a deserter from Dingzhou. Should he be taken in for interrogation?!"

A teenager? A deserter?!

Li Yingge's brows furrowed, her eyes turned icy, and her voice was chilling: "Bring him here!"

"yes!"

The iron boots pounded the ground with a clanging sound.

Several heavily armored soldiers dragged a mud- and blood-covered boy into the camp.

The boy's eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his neck bulged, like a trapped lion cub. His roar shook the dust off the tent ceiling.

"I am not a deserter! I am Zhong An, son of Zhong Fang, the Prefect of Dingzhou! I have been ordered to leave the city to fetch reinforcements to Chang'an! To fetch reinforcements!"

"I'm not a deserter!!"

Zhong Fang's son?!

Li Yingge's eyes flickered slightly, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and her gaze was like a knife as she stared at the young man.

His clothes were tattered, and his face was smeared with dried blood and dirt, but his spine was straight, like a sword that would rather break than bend.

He has backbone.

But... if he wasn't a deserter, why did he break through the encirclement alone from Dingzhou? The enemy's iron walls were so tight that even birds couldn't get through; how could a civil official's son escape?

She stood atop the high steps, her cold armor reflecting the moonlight, looking down from above.

Young Zhong An tilted his head back, tears streaming down his face, yet he still stared intently at her, his lips trembling as he murmured:

"I'm not a deserter..."

"There were no deserters in Dingzhou... not a single one..."

"You may kill me, you may humiliate me... but you are not allowed to say—that Dingzhou has fallen!"

The voice was as soft as the wind, yet it struck people's hearts with tremendous force.

Li Yingge's heart skipped a beat, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.

This kid...maybe he really wasn't lying.