Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

As everyone watched Qin Shouyi lead his men back, their eyes swirled with guilt, helplessness, and resolve.

Zhao Sheng clenched his fists, but finally gritted his teeth and called out to the others in a hoarse voice, "Let's go!"

Before he could take two steps, Hao Dadao slipped and fell straight forward, tumbling down with Chen Feng, whom he was carrying on his back.

He struggled to get up, but his limbs wouldn't obey him. He had been on the run all night and carried Chen Feng on his back for an hour along a mountain path; he was completely exhausted.

He lay face down in the mud, panting heavily, and after struggling for a couple of seconds, he passed out.

"Master Hao!" Sun Ergou rushed over to help him, but he himself stumbled and almost fell.

Wang Jie ran over, grabbed Hao Dadao's arm, and pulled him up, "Get up! Get up now!"

Hao Da Dao was as heavy as a bag of stones, impossible to move.

Wang Jie gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and pulled twice, but couldn't budge it.

Old Pu quickly approached, reached out to check Hao Dadao's breathing and pulse, and slowly shook his head. "He must have fainted from exhaustion."

Everyone looked troubled, but two villagers still came over and held Hao Dadao up.

Chen Feng rolled on the ground, twitched, and suddenly opened his eyes.

Wang Jie, who was about to help him up, was stunned.

Chen Feng's eyes were open. He blinked twice, and his pupils slowly focused. He saw Wang Jie's face and the gray sky above him.

He heard voices calling his name and shouts of battle in the distance.

Chen Feng tried to sit up, but his body wouldn't obey him; his limbs were as limp as noodles, and he couldn't muster any strength.

Wang Jie quickly helped him up.

Sun Ergou leaned closer, his eyes red-rimmed, "Commander! You're awake!"

Aji and Zhao Sheng also ran over, and when they saw Chen Feng with his eyes open, their faces lit up with joy.

Old Pu squeezed through the crowd, glanced at Chen Feng's face, and frowned, asking, "Commander, how are you feeling now?"

Chen Feng shook his head. "I feel weak, but I feel much better."

Old Pu quickly called Zhao Sheng over: "Commander must have fainted from exhaustion earlier. Come and help him up. He needs to rest well when we get back."

Wang Jie and Zhao Sheng each took one of Chen Feng's arms and started walking up the mountain.

After walking a dozen steps, shouts of killing came from behind.

Chen Feng turned his head and looked to his side and back.

Three barbarian soldiers charged into the village.

Slashing with the blade, smashing with the mace, screams of agony echoed one after another.

The two villagers exchanged a glance, trembling all over, but still charged forward with their knives raised.

The Bayaras formed a triangular formation and easily deflected the two men's knives.

One of the villagers was hit in the chest by a mace, and his entire chest cavity caved in.

Another villager was stabbed through the stomach by Shun.

He glanced down at the blade that had pierced his body, and suddenly smiled.

His mouth was full of blood, but he was smiling.

He lunged forward, following the blade towards the Baya La, and bit down on the Baya La's neck.

Bayala wanted to hide, but he was too weak. He had been chasing Chen Feng and the others all night, and his physical strength had reached its limit.

He struggled twice, making gurgling sounds in his throat, and blood gushed out from his neck.

The two of them fell down together.

Seeing this scene, Chen Feng's mind went blank as he recalled the words Zheng Sanfu and Qin Shouyi had spoken in the village a few days ago.

"Those people are just using us as cannon fodder to die."

"Someone has to die."

"If the imperial court attacks again, we'll just die..."

He swallowed hard, feeling his blood rush to his head, and his hands and feet regained some strength.

Chen Feng abruptly shook off Wang Jie and Zhao Sheng's hands, then turned and walked back.

Wang Jie grabbed him: "What are you doing!"

"Save people," Chen Feng said hoarsely.

Wang Jie held him tightly, "Are you crazy! Those people died, so be it, they deserved it! The most important thing now is to survive!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the villagers who were helping to support the wounded lowered their heads.

Some people clenched their fists, some bit their lips, and something flickered in their eyes.

That's right, it's always been so. Compared to these elite night watchmen, the lives of these scattered soldiers are too cheap.

Their only purpose was to bolster the night scouts' morale during attacks and to serve as a burden when the night scouts retreated.

Chen Feng stopped and turned to look at Wang Jie. His gaze made Wang Jie feel uneasy, and he subconsciously loosened his grip on Chen Feng's hand.

"Did they deserve to die?"

Chen Feng said, word by word, "No one is born to die."

The villagers looked up at him, their eyes filled with emotion.

An older villager came over and stopped Chen Feng: "Commander Chen, Old Qin went back for your sake. If you go back now, he...they will have died in vain."

Chen Feng looked at him, then at the three still panting Bayaras down the mountain and Qin Shouyi, who was still fighting with Orosechen.

Both Bayara and Orosechen were noticeably slow in their movements. One of Bayaras was even lying on the ground, clutching his injured leg, unable to get up. They were both at their last gasp.

"The Tartars have reached their limit," Chen Feng said. "Look at them, they're even having trouble lifting their swords."

Everyone looked down and, just as Chen Feng had said, the two remaining Bayaras were having difficulty even going to help Orosechen.

"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave shall prevail!" Chen Feng clenched his fist. "This is the last chance to save Elder Qin."

He turned around, picked up the sword that Hao Da Dao had dropped, and walked down the mountain.

Meng Changgeng glanced at his swollen hands, tried to grip the knife tightly, and without bothering to pull his earlobe, turned around to follow Chen Feng.

Zhao Sheng watched his retreating figure, gritted his teeth, and followed him.

Wang Jie grabbed Zhao Sheng, "Idiot!"

Zhao Sheng paused for a moment, then remembered that he seemed to have said the same thing before, and suddenly laughed.

"Following the boss can make you stupid." He pondered for a moment, "but this feeling isn't unpleasant."

He shook off Wang Jie's hand and chased after Chen Feng.

Wang Jie watched Zhao Sheng and Chen Feng's retreating figures, gritted his teeth, and still turned his back and walked up the mountain.

Aji wanted to follow, but as soon as he took a step, his right hand hurt so much that he couldn't hold the knife. The bowstring had already broken, and he didn't even have a weapon.

Old Pu grabbed him, "Kid, you shouldn't go."

Aji struggled, saying, "Boss! I want to go!"

Old Pu pointed at his hand: "If you move your hand again, it'll be ruined. If your hand is ruined, how will you draw a bow in the future?"

Aji was stunned.

Sun Ergou wanted to join in, but Old Pu grabbed him with his other hand. "You too! Do you still want that hand? You said you'd want to get married someday!"

The two were stopped by Old Pu, and could only watch helplessly as Chen Feng and Zhao Sheng walked downstairs.

After Chen Feng took a dozen steps, the villagers who had been helping the wounded put down the wounded, gripped their knives and spears, gritted their teeth, and followed one after another, their faces full of determination.

No one spoke; they simply gripped their knives and followed behind him.

Chen Feng was still very weak, and every step he took felt like he had exhausted all his strength.

When he was halfway there, Qin Shouyi was slashed open in the stomach. Qin Shouyi roared, "Drive out the barbarians! Recovering..."

The word "Hua" was not uttered.

Chen Feng saw Qin Shouyi's thin body rise into the air, his head facing backward, and fly away.

Before he even landed, Oroseson's knife was already slashing at his neck.

His head flew off and rolled to the ground.

Chen Feng's eyes instantly reddened, "Old Qin!!!"

He didn't know where the strength came from, but he suddenly started running.

Oroseson cut off the head, panting as he raised his head.

He saw Chen Feng.

That Nikan, that "Liang Siye," is rushing towards him.

A sinister smile crept across Orošešen's lips as he switched the mace to his left hand and bent down to pick up a spear from the ground.

He stood up, staring at Chen Feng who was getting closer and closer. He pulled his arm back and threw the spear with all his might.

The spear came hurtling through the air.

Chen Feng saw the spear tip looming larger in front of him and instinctively ducked to avoid it.

The spear flew past his head, shaving off a few strands of hair, and flew straight backward.

A muffled thud came from behind.