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

"Now I understand."

"You are bluffing!"

"You're afraid! Afraid of my Turkic cavalry! Afraid of my million scimitars!"

"That's why they resorted to these shady methods!"

"How laughable! How laughable—the mighty Celestial Empire has been reduced to clinging to life through sneak attacks!"

He laughed wildly, his voice booming and echoing across the battlefield!

Every word was like a whip lashing across the faces of the Tang soldiers!

Li Shimin heard it clearly, and his body trembled—

That's Jieli's voice!

He's still alive!!

The surprise attack...failed?

In an instant, countless eyes dimmed.

Hope is extinguished, like lamp oil running out.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

The soldiers, their eyes red, looked at Li Shimin, their throats choked with emotion, unable to speak.

Li Shimin smiled.

A bleak smile appeared on his lips.

He had anticipated this outcome.

That night, under the moon atop the city wall, I sat facing that young man and we had a long talk—

He once asked, "If we exhaust all our resources and still cannot kill Jieli, what should we do?"

The boy simply replied:

"Then we'll fight to the death. There's no other way."

Now, his words have come true.

Li Shimin closed his eyes, and a tear slid down his cheek.

A gust of wind blows, chilling you to the bone.

When I opened my eyes again—

His eyes held no trace of joy or sorrow, only an overwhelming killing intent!

He gripped the sword hilt tightly, his voice hoarse as if tearing silk, and commanded, word by word:

"All troops, listen to my command—"

"Fight to the death, never retreat!"

"The blood won't run dry—"

"Fight to the death!!!"

Ahead, Li Yingge was still screaming, "Stop advancing!"

She wanted to use her last shout to stop the footsteps of those who were heading to their deaths behind her.

But behind them, the iron torrent continued to surge forward!

Li Shimin's voice pierced the battlefield, like thunder rolling across the sky—

The battle will not end until the blood is spilled!

Even if it's a dead end, we must risk our lives to carve out a path to survival!

Like someone with nowhere to retreat, Li Shimin spurred his horse and galloped wildly, his killing intent soaring to the sky, charging straight into the enemy formation!

"Eige——!"

Li Jing's eyes were bloodshot, and his once unyielding figure, like a god of war, was now trembling slightly.

Watching helplessly as his only daughter was surrounded by the Turkic cavalry, this cold-faced military genius finally broke down, letting out a bloodcurdling roar.

"kill!"

"kill!!"

"kill!!!"

Even if the defeat is inevitable,

Even though the last glimmer of hope for the Tang Dynasty had been shattered,

But Li Shimin did not stop. Instead, he spurred his horse and charged forward, aiming straight for the head of Khagan Jieli!

"Your Majesty, you mustn't—!"

"Your Majesty, please retreat. We will go instead!"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling shouted urgently, desperately blocking the horse's path.

They weren't afraid of death, but they couldn't just stand by and watch the emperor die! This charge was a dead end with no chance of survival!

Li Shimin laughed, a stern smile curving his lips: "Fuji, you should know that when I went into battle carrying the imperial coffin and swore an oath in blood, it was never just empty talk."

His gaze was sharp as a knife, slowly sweeping over the crowd. His voice was hoarse yet penetrating: "Moreover... I made a promise to General Ghost Face."

The wind and sand swirl up, as if one can see once again the walls of Dingzhou, where blood stained the setting sun.

That night, the people were unarmed, yet they faced death with their heads held high.

That night, the masked soldiers died in battle, not one of them retreating.

"What were their feelings when they embarked on that path of no return?"

He whispered, as if asking a man, or perhaps the heavens.

"Since they can do it, how can I let them down?"

Before he finished speaking, Li Shimin suddenly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse neighed and shot out like an arrow! He abandoned everyone, spurred his horse to chase after Li Jing, and led the remaining troops to fiercely charge into the enemy formation!

Ahead, Li Jing charged ahead, moving so fast it seemed to tear through the wind and thunder—his daughter was still deep within the enemy camp!

"Pharmacist, don't worry!"

Li Shimin suddenly caught up from behind.

Li Jing turned around, his eyes bloodshot, almost dripping blood.

But Li Shimin gave a bitter laugh, reached out and patted his shoulder, his voice so soft it sounded like a sigh: "Today, to be able to go to the Yellow Springs with my most trusted minister, I... have no regrets even in death."

In an instant, Li Jing's throat tightened, his lips trembled, and he managed to utter only two words: "Your Majesty...?"

The two looked at each other, needing no further words.

A single glance was enough for them to understand each other's feelings.

Having fought side by side on the battlefield for many years, we have long since disregarded life and death.

What is there to fear in a battle? What is there to fear in death?

"kill--!"

Two figures raced side by side, like two dragons emerging from the abyss, leading the last of the Tang army towards the towering demonic shadow!

And behind them—

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling stood under the setting sun, their eyes red as they gazed at that resolute figure.

"It's over..."

"Hahaha... The Tang Dynasty is truly finished..."

"A decade of prosperity, destroyed in an instant."

"After this battle, there is no chance of turning the tide."

They were the chief civil officials and the strategic center; how could they not see that the opportunity for battle had been lost and the situation was hopeless?

Having seen through the true nature of the Tang Dynasty, Khagan Jieli had nothing left to fear.

The Tang Dynasty will retreat step by step, and its land will be overthrown!

"puff……"

Fang Xuanling suddenly laughed, a strange laugh that carried a hint of madness.

Changsun Wuji turned his head sharply: "Are you crazy?!"

"Clang!"

With a flash of cold light, Fang Xuanling drew his sword, his fingertips lightly tracing the blade, his voice as soft as a dream: "Brother Fuji, to be honest... I have never truly used this sword in my entire life."

I've always felt that as a scholar, my duty is to dabble in literature and art, not to get involved in the clash of swords and the fighting..."

He paused, his eyes slightly reddening, but his smile grew even more resolute:

"But today... I want to learn from Master Jiang of Dingzhou."

"To die for one's country is something one can do without regret."

"If His Majesty is willing to go all out, what do I, Fang Xuanling, have to fear?"

Changsun Wuji was startled.

The next second, he suddenly burst into laughter, "With your puny frame, you think you can imitate Master Jiang? Hahaha, that's hilarious!"

He smiled and wiped his eyes, but his smile was clearly full of tears.

Then, he put his arm around Fang Xuanling's shoulder, his voice as deep as iron: "Enough... We've served in the same court for thirty years, arguing and cursing our whole lives..."

"This time—"

"I'll stay with you."

The two looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter, a heart-wrenching, exhilarating laugh!

He then mounted his horse, drew his sword, and roared, his voice echoing through the sky:

"Your Majesty—wait for me!!"

"I will fight alongside you!!"

And then—

Cheng Yaojin could no longer contain himself. His eyes were wide with rage, and he held his steel axe, ready to charge!

Qin Shubao, however, was still lying on the stretcher, his breath weak, his serious injuries not yet healed.

But he heard the roars and the desperate footsteps of those charging forward.

He slowly closed his eyes, but a smile appeared on his lips.

"Brothers... take it easy... I'll come back to you after I've recovered..."

The wind swept away the tattered flags, and blood stained the yellow sand.

We might lose this battle.

But the spirit of the Tang Dynasty has not dissipated.

Qin Shubao's body was already riddled with wounds. Years of fighting on the edge of a knife had left his internal organs weakened by old injuries, leaving him like a candle flickering in the wind.

Enraged, a mouthful of blood rushed to his throat—whoosh! He spat out a large spray of crimson blood, which splattered onto the yellow sand, a horrifying sight.

"Old buddy!"

Even Cheng Yaojin, known in the martial arts world as the "Demon King of Mischief," had tears in his eyes at this moment. Standing beside Qin Shubao, his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and the usually fearless and rough man couldn't utter a single word.

Qin Shubao simply raised his hand and used the rough sleeve of his battle robe to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

His face was ashen, but his eyes shone with a frightening light as he stared intently at Cheng Yaojin, growling, "Zhijie, get out!"

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable, iron-willed authority.

"Go protect the emperor! Go kill the enemy! Don't stay here guarding my corpse! I'm not dead yet!"

Cheng Yaojin clenched his fists, his tiger-like eyes filled with tears, and was ultimately shaken by that angry shout, he took several steps back, turned around and ran away, his back staggering as if his bones had been pulled out.

Qin Shubao, trembling, propped himself up and, with each step unsteady, managed to drag his crippled body onto the warhorse.

The warhorse neighed mournfully, and he drew his sword from his waist. The blade reflected the blood and flashed with a cold light.

He gazed at the billowing dust ahead, muttering to himself, as if speaking to the heavens:

"Your Majesty... this battle is the last head I'll ever sever for you."

"It was worth it."

Blood trickled from his lips again, but he smiled—a smile of openness and no regret.

The next moment, his warhorse neighed, and he rode out alone, heading straight for the heart of the Turkic army!

No turning back.

Because he knew in his heart—

This journey leads to the Yellow Springs!

"kill!!"

"We will not return until our blood is spilled!!"

"Protect our land, exterminate all the barbarians!!"

Behind them, the Tang soldiers, led by Li Shimin and Li Jing, roared in unison, their voices tearing through the sky! Their eyes were bloodshot, burning with the flames of their lives, a determination to die rather than retreat!

This is a national war!

It's a life-or-death struggle!

Even the emperor himself charged into battle, and even the marshals fought valiantly. Who would dare to retreat? Who could possibly retreat?

Even with a severed arm, the captain still waved the flag; even with serious injuries, the general refused to remove his armor; and even as soldiers fell, they would grab the enemy's ankles and perish together with them!

The entire Tang Dynasty mobilized!

Every inch of their flesh and blood is fighting for their country!

……

Deep within enemy territory, the battle had reached a dead end.

The surprise attack team led by Li Yingge has been completely surrounded and killed.

They were too close to Khagan Jieli—close enough to hear his breath, close enough that the blades could almost touch his tent flaps.

That is why they had no way to survive.

"Heh..." Khan Jieli sat astride his tall horse, coldly looking down at the young female general, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Kill this snot-nosed brat!"

Before the words were even finished, the army surged forward like a tidal wave!

Amidst a forest of flashing blades and a hail of arrows, Li Yingge was surrounded. He charged left and right, his armor shattered and his clothes stained with blood, yet he still held his spear high and roared, fighting to the death!

But she knew—

I am nothing more than bait.

The real big fish is Li Shimin, who is charging towards us!

Sure enough, Khagan Jieli's gaze shifted, fixing on the familiar figure in the dragon-patterned battle robe in the distance. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed wildly:

"Li Shimin! Is this all the backbone your Great Tang Dynasty has left?!"

"That's all! That's all there is to it!"

With a sinister grin, he quietly reined in his horse and retreated, his figure disappearing behind the army, leaving only a deafening roar behind him:

"All troops, attack! I want Li Shimin's head displayed outside my golden tent!"

"kill!!!"

In an instant, hundreds of thousands of Turkic cavalrymen surged forward like a dark cloud pressing down on the city!

The earth trembled, the grass and trees split, and the sound was like the gates of hell opening and a million ghost soldiers trampling down the ground!

Three times the size of the Tang army, they swept across the land like a black torrent, crushing down on Li Shimin and his men!

The sheer oppressive feeling alone is enough to make an ordinary person's liver and gallbladder tremble and their scalp tingle!

boom--!!

On the banks of the Wei River, the two armies finally clashed head-on!

Like two giant mountains colliding, the deafening explosion shook the heavens and the earth!

Men and horses were thrown about! Limbs flew everywhere! Screams and roars mingled into a scene of carnage!