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

Han Ye stood with his back to her in the blood-red sunset, his voice deep and resonant:

"revenge."

The moment those two words were uttered, the world seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Li Yingge's pupils suddenly contracted, and her beautiful eyes widened.

Her bodyguards behind her gasped, some exclaiming in shock:

"Revenge? You want to... seek revenge against the army of Khagan Jieli?!"

The wind swept away the tattered flag, and the blood mist lingered.

Han Ye nodded slowly, his eyes beneath the mask cold enough to freeze a galaxy.

Li Yingge's pupils constricted, her beautiful eyes widened, and she screamed, "Are you crazy? Are you and your few men going to your deaths?!"

Han Ye did not refute.

He simply looked up at the sky, a smile suddenly appearing on his lips, as light as the wind, yet heavy enough to weigh on one's heart: "Someone has to do this, doesn't someone?"

"Since that's the case..."

"Then why can't that person be me?"

boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, the world seemed to fall silent for a moment.

This is no declaration of defiance; it is a battle order of unwavering resolve!

But he spoke casually, as if he were saying he was going to have a drink tonight, rather than charging into a thousand armies and heading towards the underworld.

There were no tragic cries, no impassioned speeches.

But these words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone hard in the chest!

Li Yingge was stunned.

Her bodyguards behind her were stunned.

Even the seasoned soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, who had seen countless battles and death, stood frozen in place, their eyes burning with tears!

Even though his face was still covered by that cold, hard mask, no one could see his true face;

Even though they still don't know who he is or where he came from—

But at this moment, everyone can see it clearly:

This is a true national hero!

A spine as strong as a mountain, a heart as firm as iron!

Li Yingge, a renowned and powerful female general of the Tang Dynasty, was proud and unyielding throughout her life, never submitting to anyone.

But now, her fingertips trembled slightly, and her voice was tinged with an unprecedented wavering:

"You... you knew all along? Didn't you?!"

Han Ye nodded slowly, his expression calm to the point of being indifferent.

"I know that the Tang Dynasty is now in grave danger."

"It is also clear that Khagan Jieli has already laid out a killing formation on the Wei River, waiting only for the decisive battle."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the smoke of war in the north, but his tone grew increasingly firm:

"So, I'll go and hold off his rear guard, while you prepare your troops in Chang'an."

The longer it drags on…

"This gives our Great Tang Dynasty a greater chance to turn the tide."

He suddenly laughed, a self-deprecating smile tinged with deep pain: "I don't want to see another Dingzhou."

The second Dingzhou...

Those five words, once spoken, felt like a cold blade piercing my heart!

Memories flooded back like a tidal wave—Master Jiang's white hair stained with blood, Zhong Fang wielding his sword on the broken bridge, Liu Chi roaring as he charged forward, Old Lu embracing the enemy general as they jumped off a cliff to their deaths…

Those familiar faces turned to ashes amidst the flames and wails.

Those pairs of eyes, filled with despair, were still shielding their companions from harm until the very end!

miserable?

How can the word "miserable" possibly describe it? It is a pain that cuts to the heart and bones, a shame branded on the soul!

They are Han Chinese! They are compatriots! They are the backbone of the nation, who would rather die than back down!

Now, Han Ye stands on the dilapidated city wall, drumsticks in hand, a silent flame burning in his eyes.

He didn't want to escape anymore, nor did he want to stay any longer.

He was willing to use himself as bait, venturing into the heart of the wolf pack, just to fight for a glimmer of hope for Chang'an!

No sooner had these words been spoken than someone's eyes reddened.

Li Yingge felt a lump in her throat, and her vision blurred instantly.

Not just her—

Behind her were hundreds of guards, each one gritting their teeth, clenching their fists, and their eyes reddening!

Someone suddenly stepped forward, slammed one knee to the ground, and choked out a heart-wrenching sob:

"General—Glory!"

boom!!!

This sound was like a thunderclap!

Immediately afterwards, the second person knelt down! The third person knelt down! Hundreds and thousands of Tang soldiers knelt down in unison, the sound of their armor hitting the ground echoing across the plains!

Their heads were bowed, but their eyes burned with fervor, and they roared in unison:

"General—Glory!"

"General—Glory!"

"General—Glory!"

The roar soared to the heavens, tearing through the clouds!

Standing atop the high wall, Han Ye listened to the overwhelming reverence, simply shaking his head and saying nothing more.

He turned around and waved.

"Walk!"

The masked cavalrymen mounted their horses, their bodies clad in black armor, and followed them like shadows, retreating all the way back to the ruined city of Dingzhou.

The city walls were deathly silent.

The city, which was bustling last night, is now nothing but scorched earth and corpses.

The people are gone, the soldiers have fallen, and even the smoke from cooking fires has become a luxury.

Han Ye silently walked to the war drum and picked up the drumstick that once belonged to Master Jiang.

Boom!

A muffled thud broke the silence.

Boom!Boom!

The drumbeats gradually rise, heavy as a heartbeat.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

He spoke in a low voice, hoarse yet penetrating the night wind:

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

The king has raised an army; let us prepare our spears and shields, and fight together against our common enemy…

The remaining few hundred masked iron cavalrymen removed their helmets, stood on both sides, and sang softly.

Yesterday, Master Jiang beat the drum to send them off, and sang songs to accompany them on their journey.

Today, Han Ye beats the drums to pay homage to the fallen heroes, and sings a long song to send their spirits back to the Yellow Springs!

The sound of drums echoed across the wilderness.

Far below the city walls, Li Yingge remained standing motionless.

The wind whipped the battle flag, ruffled her hair, but it couldn't dispel the awe and reverence in her heart.

She gazed at that solitary figure, and murmured:

"Who...is this man?"

At this moment, Li Yingge stood below the city wall, her beautiful eyes slightly red, staring blankly at the ghostly figure on the city wall chanting incessantly.

The wind rose, the battle flags fluttered, but her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by something.

She suddenly realized—that man wearing the hideous mask, that lone general guarding the city, the masked general who swore an oath in blood… he had quietly reached a height she had never reached before!

She surpassed her!

What shocked her even more was that, faced with such transcendence, she felt no jealousy whatsoever. Instead, an indescribable respect welled up in her heart, like a sudden flash of light in the cold night, burning her eyes with heat.

Gazing at Han Ye's figure, Li Yingge felt a sense of reverence that ran deep in her bones, as if that person was not an ordinary person, but a war god who had emerged from the flames of war.

"This person... is truly a national hero who can support the country..." she murmured softly, her voice slightly hoarse.

"What a pity..."

The guards behind him sighed softly, "If he had been born in Chang'an and held a high position in the imperial court, why would he be living in obscurity on the frontier? He would probably be famous throughout the land by now!"

Li Yingge nodded silently, her throat tightening, but she suppressed her emotions, not letting a trace of weakness show.

Without hesitation, without delay!

She abruptly raised her hand and coldly ordered, "All troops, listen up—prepare yourselves and retreat immediately to Chang'an!"

"yes!"

The entire army responded in unison, their voices echoing across the vast wilderness.

A guard hesitated before stepping forward and asked in a low voice, "General... then, young master Han Ye, we... we're not going to look for him anymore?"

"I'm not looking anymore."

Li Yingge slowly shook her head, her gaze fixed on the lone figure on the city wall, as if piercing through the cold iron mask to reach the hidden face of that person.

Her voice was as cold as frost and snow, yet it concealed a complex and poignant sorrow: "If he is unwilling to show himself, even if I search the ends of the earth, I will not find him."

As she spoke, her eyes were like knives, fixed intently on Han Ye!

In that instant, it was as if she had truly seen through the mask and glimpsed that familiar yet unfamiliar face—

And that heart, harder than steel and burning hotter than fire!

……

At the same time, the army of Jieli Khan surged forward like a black tide, rushing towards the banks of the Wei River.

Horse hooves shattered the setting sun, and billowing dust blotted out the sky.

He didn't even pause for a moment to rest—because what he wanted was a fatal blow!

Taking advantage of the Tang Dynasty's unstable foundation and the change of imperial power, they broke through the defenses and headed straight for Chang'an!

He knew that Li Shimin would not stand idly by.

The real battleground will be at the Wei River!

Therefore, he had to seize the time and gain the upper hand, using overwhelming force to crush the Tang army's still-unassembled formation!

"How much longer until we reach the Wei River?"

The voice of Jieli Khan was deep and resonant, tinged with suppressed anxiety.

The strategist beside him hurriedly unfolded a sheepskin map, sweat beading on his forehead: "Reporting to the Khan, within two days, our army will be at the Wei River!"

"Um."

He nodded slightly, then asked again, "What's the situation with Li Shimin?"

"A scout reports that the Tang emperor is mobilizing troops and is rushing to the Wei River to set up defenses... The force... will not exceed 50,000."

"Oh--"

Jieli Khan let out a cold laugh, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Of course!

Li Shimin had just seized the throne, the court was in turmoil, and the people's hearts were not yet won over. How could he possibly have the spare strength to gather a million soldiers?

Fifty thousand? Gathering fifty thousand defeated soldiers would be the limit!

In his eyes, this small force was nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs, easily crushed!

But then, his brow furrowed suddenly—

Dingzhou!

He left Huyan Zhuo with 50,000 elite troops, ordering them to quickly regroup after conquering Dingzhou... According to the schedule, the good news should have arrived long ago!

Why is there still no news from them?

"Any news from Dingzhou?"

His tone suddenly turned cold, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

The strategist shuddered, cold sweat trickling down his back, and he forced himself to say, "Report to...report to the Khan, we have not yet received the military report."

But General Huyan Zhuo commands a large army, and Dingzhou is a mere place that he could destroy with a snap of his fingers. Perhaps... perhaps he is still cleaning up the aftermath of the massacre and has not yet sent an envoy to deliver the message..."

"snort!"

Jieli Khan laughed in fury, his eyes turning sinister: "I hope so."

Otherwise—I, the Khan, will personally skin him alive, tear out his tendons, and use his head as a sacrifice to my flag!

Before the words were finished—

"Report!!!"

A piercing roar came from behind, and a scout stumbled out, his face filled with terror, and fell to his knees.

"explain!"

Jieli Khan's eyes flashed like knives as he coldly swept over them.

The soldier spoke tremblingly, "From the rear... from the rear, a defeated army appeared, claiming to be General Huyan Zhuo's troops... They said... that Dingzhou has fallen, and Huyan Zhuo... has been beheaded beneath the city walls!!!"

boom--!!!

His words were like a thunderclap, and the entire room fell into a deathly silence!

Just moments before, they had asserted that 50,000 iron cavalry would easily crush Dingzhou!

The next moment—the commander was beheaded, and the entire army was wiped out!

The air seemed to freeze, and even the wind stopped breathing.

boom--!

What?! Huyan Zhuo's army was defeated?! Even their commander was beheaded?!

Jieli Khan's eyes widened suddenly, his throat hoarse as if burned, his teeth almost grinding to powder: "Who...did this?!"

The messenger trembled, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints, his voice shaking: "Ghost... Ghost-faced General!"

With a loud "boom," it felt like a thunderclap had exploded inside his skull!

It's him again! That madman with the ghost mask and murderous aura! That evil star who crawled out of hell!

In an instant, Jieli Khan's eyes turned bloodshot, his blood surged, and his face twisted into a demonic contortion.

My heart is burning with rage, my very insides are on fire!

He suddenly sprang to his feet, roaring like thunder: "Halt! Turn around! Charge back to Dingzhou immediately—I want to personally chop off that masked general's head and hang it before my horse as a sacrifice to the flag!!"

"Stop—!"

"Order! The entire army turns around!"

"The Khan has decreed: raze Dingzhou to the ground and slaughter all enemy generals!!"

The order was given swiftly, and the scouts sped out.

The hundreds of thousands of Turkic cavalry, who had been galloping tirelessly towards the banks of the Wei River, suddenly reined in their horses and stopped in the blink of an eye!

Yellow sand rose, dust billowed, and the neighing of warhorses shook the heavens.

The strategist, sweating profusely, rushed forward and exclaimed, "No, Khan! That masked general is nothing but a clown; how can we let one person disrupt our overall strategy? The right thing to do now is to march straight to Chang'an and fight Li Shimin to the death!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his face. Jieli Khan's eyes flickered slightly, his chest heaved for a moment, and finally he slowly nodded: "You're right... I acted impulsively."

He took a deep breath, about to order the advance to continue—

"Report—!!"

A piercing scream tore through the sky!

A soldier tumbled off his horse as a galloped past, his face ashen: "Khan! More than a dozen masked soldiers have appeared behind our lines! They... they're throwing out the heads of fallen cavalrymen, one by one! The ground is... covered in bloody heads!"

boom--!

The flames of anger within him reignited, consuming his reason to the bone!

Before he could speak, another rider galloped up, his voice trembling: "Reporting to the Khan! The masked bandit general has appeared in the rear, loudly hurling insults at our army, accusing them of being cowardly and lacking courage, and daring not to fight!"

Immediately afterwards—

"Report! Enemy attack! Several masked men stormed into the camp, slit the throats of three generals, and vanished without a trace!"

"Report to the Khan! A letter written in blood has been found at the supply depot, which reads, 'You lowly Jieli, you only deserve to follow behind!'"

"Report—!"

"Report—!!"

One military intelligence report after another came crashing down like slaps to the face—loud, ruthless, and merciless!

Jieli Khan stood still, breathing heavily like a wild beast, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers.

The anger he had just suppressed exploded completely, turning into a monstrous killing intent!

"Ghost-Faced General...you're asking for death!!"

He uttered each word through clenched teeth, his eyes bloodshot, his murderous intent chilling to the bone.

He whirled around, staring at the strategist, his voice as cold as a knife: "Order—the entire army turns around! Attack immediately!"

"I'm not going to the Wei River! I want to tear that masked general to pieces first, and then I'll carry his head to see Li Shimin!"

"In this battle, I will let the world know—those who anger me, Jieli, even if they hide underground, I will dig them up and grind their bones to dust!"

……

"Turn around! The entire army, turn around—!!"

"Raze Dingzhou to the ground! Slaughter every man, woman, and child in the city! Leave no one alive!"

"Whoever presents the head of the Ghost-Faced General will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!!"

Jieli Khan's eyes were bloodshot, he looked like a madman, and his voice echoed across the wilderness.

The bugle sounds, and the war drums beat!

Hundreds of thousands of Turkic troops suddenly turned around, their iron hooves flying, stirring up clouds of yellow sand, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, blotting out the sun!

Wherever it passed, grass and trees were broken, the earth trembled, and even the sky seemed to change color!