My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Zhen Zhai'er stood with her spear drawn, and three hundred riders lined up in three rows, completely blocking the way.

Wei Dao'er stared intently for a moment, then suddenly a smile spread across his face, and he spurred his horse forward two steps.

"Zhai'er! It really is you! I almost didn't recognize you! So you're still alive!"

"Do you know how long I searched for you after we got separated? Later, I heard that you had died in battle, and I even burned paper money for you! Now that I see you are still alive, the weight on my heart has finally been lifted—"

He raised his hand and wiped the corner of his eye.

"Zhai'er, come back with me. The Turks are gaining momentum, and the Khan values ​​talent. With your abilities, becoming a commander of a thousand cavalry is just a matter of a word. Let's join forces, brothers, and rise again in the future—"

Zhen Zhai'er's grip on the gun tightened slightly, and she chuckled upon hearing this.

Wei Dao'er was stunned, her smile freezing on her face.

"In the past, I only knew how to fight in the camp, remembered the kindness of my master and servant, and thought that following someone and risking my life for them was a matter of morality."

"But now I understand what family and country mean, what the common people mean. Today I stand here to settle things once and for all with Zhen Zhai'er, who blindly followed you and helped the barbarians to harm the people of Hebei!"

Wei Dao'er's smile vanished completely, and her face twitched twice.

"Zhai'er, how could you forget our past kindness? When you were down on your luck and came to me for help, I took you in, promoted you to a high-ranking general, and treated you like a brother. Have you forgotten all these favors?"

"I remember your kindness and favor, but you led the Turkic cavalry into Hebei, willingly becoming a vassal of the barbarians, allowing your troops to plunder the countryside, and how many people have died tragically under the Turkic swords?"

"I am here today to take your heads as a sacrifice to the innocent people of Hebei who died unjustly."

Chiji, who was standing nearby, could no longer hold back and suddenly whipped the horse's rump.

"Why waste words with him! Charge at him!"

The remaining guards spurred their horses forward and charged.

Zhen Zhai'er spurred her horse and charged forward with her spear.

With each thrust of the spear, a hole appeared in the throat of the three guards at the front, and they fell from their horses with a muffled thud.

Without stopping, he weaved through the crowd, sweeping his gun barrel across and knocking down two more men, then turned and thrust his gun into the ribs of a fourth.

Chiji didn't have many personal guards to begin with, and they were all wiped out in just a few exchanges.

The spear tip turned and pressed against Chiji's throat.

Chiji froze on his horse, his throat pressed against the cold blade of the spear, his voice distorted.

"No, don't kill me! Let's talk this out! I am Ashina Chiji, a Turkic special agent! Killing me will do you no good!"

"Take me and trade me with the Khan! Gold, silver, warhorses, provisions—you can have as much as you want!"

Zhen Zhai'er tightened her wrist, and the tip of the spear moved forward half an inch, causing blood to immediately seep from Chi Ji's neck.

"Tie him up."

Two guards stepped forward, fetched ropes, and properly bound Chiji.

Zhen Zhai'er turned her horse around and slowly walked up to Wei Dao'er.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Wei Dao'er rolled off his horse and knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the mud hard as he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Zhai'er, spare my life! I know I was wrong! I was bewitched and let the wolf into my house; my sins are grave, I deserve to die!"

"I only beg you to spare my life, for the sake of our past relationship! From now on, I will retire to the countryside, live a peaceful life as a farmer, and never again wage war or commit evil, never again harm anyone! I swear! I swear!"

He cried uncontrollably, his face streaked with tears, looking utterly miserable.

Zhen Zhai'er dismounted and walked up to him, looking down at him. Images of their past battles together flashed through her mind.

If this person can truly repent and leave the war behind forever, it wouldn't be unreasonable to spare his life.

"...When you entrusted the cavalry to me without reservation, I truly regarded you as an elder brother."

"Yes, yes, yes! Our brotherhood is still there! Remember how good your brother was to you, and I'll change! I definitely will!"

Get up.

Zhen Zhai'er sighed and reached out to help him.

Wei Dao'er stood up smoothly, and before her hand had even left the ground, a short knife suddenly slid out from her sleeve. Taking advantage of the momentum of standing up, she stabbed it fiercely into Zhen Zhai'er's chest.

With a clang, the tip of the knife struck the breastplate, shifting the force by half an inch, and pierced into the ribs through the gap in the armor plate.

Zhen Zhai'er groaned, and blood gushed out, soaking her armor.

A sharp pain shot through her, and Zhen Zhai'er flew into a rage, kicking Wei Dao'er hard in the chest.

The immense force sent Wei Dao'er flying, crashing heavily into the mud and rolling twice.

Wei Dao'er was thrown around, his breath ragged. Seeing that his sword had failed to kill him, he was terrified and hurriedly waved his hands.

"No! I didn't really want to kill you! I just... just wanted to scare you—"

Zhen Zhai'er pressed her bleeding wound tightly with one hand, held a gun in the other, and walked step by step toward Wei Dao'er.

"I was going to spare your life, but you asked for it!"

"No! Zhai'er, no!"

Wei Dao'er was so frightened that she crawled backward on all fours.

Zhen Zhai'er thrust her spear forward, and with a soft thud, it pierced his chest, the spear tip protruding three inches from his heart.

Wei Dao'er screamed, her body convulsed a few times, and she fell forward, motionless.

Zhen Zhai'er pulled out her gun, and beads of blood trickled down the shaft.

The sound of hooves approached swiftly, and Pei Xingyan led his troops to the scene, just in time to witness it.

"Medic! Quickly!"

Pei Xingyan dismounted and quickly ran to Zhen Zhai'er's side.

The military doctor rushed over with his medicine kit, cut open the nail tape, and tore open the wound to examine it.

Zhen Zhai'er gritted her teeth and remained silent, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.

"The knife tip missed by half an inch, barely avoiding the heart. He survived, but the injury is serious and he'll need at least two or three months to recover."

Pei Xingyan breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head, saying, "Is it worth taking a knife for such a fickle and untrustworthy person?"

Zhen Zhai'er looked down at Wei Dao'er's corpse, her face lying on the ground, exactly the same as before.

"Consider it repaying the life I owed him in the past."

The fighting gradually subsided.

Of the 10,000 cavalrymen under Chiji, more than 2,000 were killed in battle, more than 1,000 were routed, and more than 6,000 were captured.

Most of these surrendered soldiers were former vassals of the Xi, Shiwei, and Wei Dao'er tribes, and were unwilling to fight to the death for the Turks.

Once the commander was captured, most of the vassal tribes laid down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

The Sui army divided into groups to gather prisoners and inventory supplies. The camp was filled with neatly bundled supplies, and warhorses, cattle, sheep, and grain were piled up like small mountains.

Before long, the guards brought Princess Yicheng to Li Jing.

She wasn't in much disarray; her clothes were neat and her demeanor dignified. However, as she walked along, her expression turned rather unpleasant upon seeing the Sui army's banners filling the camp.

Li Jing bowed respectfully and said, "Princess, you have been frightened."

"Li Jing, I am a princess of the Sui Dynasty and the Khatun of the Turks. Is this the proper etiquette you are showing me?"

"You are indeed a princess of the Sui Dynasty, but when the Turks marched south and slaughtered the people of Hebei, did you ever say a word for the people of the Sui Dynasty?"

"Such is the nature of the Turkic tribes; they plunder and kill, which is beyond my control."

"If we can't influence it, are we just going to sit idly by?"

"Everything I have done is to preserve the legitimate Yang family dynasty!"

"The princess keeps claiming to protect the Yang family's dynasty. But when she personally went to Feihu Pass to persuade me to open the gates and let the Turkic army into Hebei—was that also beyond her control?"

After those words, Princess Yicheng was speechless.

"Princess, you cherish the Yang family's legitimacy and care about the fate of the nation, but don't forget, without the people, where would the nation come from?"

"The truth will be judged by public opinion. As for the princess, she is currently a prisoner of our Great Sui Dynasty."

"Take him away and keep him under good guard. Provide him with food and clothing, and do not allow anyone to mistreat him."

The guards stepped forward and escorted Princess Yicheng away.

Gentleman's Pavilion, the main tent of the Turkic central army.

Shi Bi's face turned ashen as he stared at Du Bi kneeling before him.

"Ten thousand cavalry! My ten thousand iron cavalry!"

"I entrusted you with ten thousand cavalrymen, ordering you to bypass their supply lines and attack their supply lines. How will you repay me?!"

"Ten thousand iron cavalry! Ten thousand iron cavalry! An entire army wiped out! A disgrace! A disgrace indeed! You...you still have the nerve to come back?"

Just then, the tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a scout covered in blood scrambled in.

"Khan! Something terrible has happened! The Lingqiu camp is gone!"

"What did you say?"

"Li Jing led his iron cavalry in a night raid on Lingqiu! Chiji Teqin was captured! The Khatun was also captured! Ten thousand cavalrymen were either killed or surrendered, and all the cattle, sheep, provisions, and supplies fell into the hands of the Sui army!"

An uproar erupted inside the tent.

The leaders of the various departments looked at each other in dismay, and some of them turned pale on the spot.

Shi Bi stood still, his chest heaving violently twice, when suddenly he felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered on the ground.

"Khan!"

The crowd screamed and rushed forward.

After finishing, he leaned on the table to support himself, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and it took him a while to catch his breath.

"Li Ju... Li Jing..."

He looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and anger, mixed with something he had never seen before—fear.