No matter if it was the Turks or the Chinese soldiers, everyone was dumbfounded. To be able to instantly kill the famous Rabri of the grasslands, and the one who did it was a Chinese who were known for their frailty, this was simply inconceivable.
Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu were the first to come to their senses, their eyes red as they shouted, "The enemy chief Rabri is dead! Brothers, charge with me, don't let a single Turk escape! "
"Charge — —" Their blood was boiling in the chests of the soldiers, killing Rabri made them incomparably excited, the death of their brother had driven them into a frenzy. Under the dual stimulation of excitement and pain, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets, there was only one thought in their minds — — kill the Turks! A boundless battle prowess suddenly burst forth. This group of Great Hua warriors dressed in Hu robes charged into the enemy like ferocious lions and wolves. Roaring and slashing, their ferocity sent chills down the spines of the Turks.
Although Rabri was dead, but the majority of the Hu soldiers were still guarding the city walls, there were still about three to four thousand of them remaining. At this critical moment, the ferocity of the Hu could be seen clearly. The city walls of the grasslands became an important place for both sides to fight over.
The thousands of soldiers behind Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu fought along the city walls, as if they had charged into a hornet's nest, all they could see was a dense mass of Turks. With every step they took, blood and flesh flew everywhere, rivers of blood flowed, countless Turks fell, there were also Chinese soldiers that fell here. At this point in the battle, life and death were already up to the heavens, Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu roared as they charged at the front, their bodies covered in blood, their blades bent. Looking to the front, Lin Wanrong was like a lone wolf charging at the front, the blade in his hand chopping down, countless Turks were beheaded. The tiger's might when he killed Rabri with one blade had left a deep shadow in the hearts of the Turks, no one dared to face him head-on, no one was a match for him. His blade was already covered in cracks, but like a man of steel, he did not notice it at all. His bloodstained face was incomparably malevolent.
"Boom." Amidst a deafening rumble, the army of thousands of men and horses galloped into the city. More than six thousand Dahua soldiers who were lying in ambush outside the city charged into the city. They crossed the grassland gate that Li Wuling and his men had opened with their lives and blood, converged into a fierce torrent and charged straight at the stubborn Turks on top of the city wall.
The arrival of the reinforcements was like a shot in the arm, causing all the soldiers to tremble, while the stubborn resistance of the Hu people trembled in fear.
"Those who offend our country will be punished no matter how far away they are! Kill all these Turks … "Gazing at the faces of the thousands of youthful soldiers, he felt a chill run down his spine. Tears streamed down Hu Bugui's old face, his body roaring, the blade in his hand drawing out a snow-white light. His huge figure was like a soaring bird, leading the soldiers into the enemy group. With a wave of his blade, he split a tall Hu person into two.
The eight thousand soldiers who had trampled the Helan Mountain Tower and descended from the sky all looked solemn and fearless. When they gathered together, they became the death talisman for the five thousand barbarians in Bayanhaote.
There were no crossbows or cannons to help. From the moment the gates of Bayanhaote were opened and the soldiers stepped into the city, it had evolved into a naked hand-to-hand battle. The last hurdle of the surprise attack was a battle of life and death. This was an unavoidable fate. In the dark of night, eight thousand Chinese soldiers and five thousand Turkic cavalry staged a tragic hand-to-hand battle on the vast steppe.
Lin Wanrong did not know how long he had been fighting. His thoughts had long stopped, and his tattered robe was dyed red with blood. He had become an out-and-out blood man. The curved blade pierced through the chest of the Turk in front of him. His hands were as heavy as a thousand catties and his whole body was numb.
"General, General —" Two anxious shouts seemed to come from the horizon. He slowly came to his senses, only to see two bloodied people standing beside him, their faces covered in blood, only revealing an incomparable anxiety in their eyes. The two desperately grabbed his arm, and one of them cried out in tears, "General, don't kill anymore. This Hu person is dead! He's dead! "
"Dead?!" Lin Wanrong's eyes were dazed. He looked down and saw that the Hu person lying on the ground was covered with knife marks. A curved blade had pierced through his chest and deeply embedded into the ground. The Hu person's body was beyond recognition, and blood was splattered all over the ground. He was already dead.
"Brother Lin, what's wrong with you?" Seeing his dazed expression, the person on the right hurriedly grabbed his hand. Tears and blood mixed together, and his expression was incomparably terrifying.
"Are you Brother Gao?" The voice sounded familiar, but the cheek was covered in blood and could not be recognized. Lin Wanrong asked in a low voice.
The bloody man hurriedly wiped the tears and blood off his face and grinned, but it was uglier than crying, "It's me! Brother Lin, it's me, Old Gao! God bless you, you've finally woken up! "
Lin Wanrong glanced at the bloody man on the left again, "Are you Brother Hu?"
Hu Buhui wiped the tears and blood from the corner of his eyes and hurriedly nodded, "It's me, it's me, General, you've finally woken up. The war is over, Bayanhaote is ours, it's ours! "
The excitement on Hu Buhui and Gao Qiu's faces could not be concealed. Although they had paid the price of blood, although Bayanhaote was not even as simple as a county government, it was after all the first city that the weak China had gained outside its borders in hundreds of years. Moreover, it was the city of the Turks, the mortal enemy of China. This was a major victory, and for the weak China, its significance was indescribable.
"Is that so?!" There was no ecstasy as expected. Lin Wanrong only gave a faint 'oh', and his eyes were as misty as the clouds in the sky.
"Yes." Hu Buhui hurriedly nodded, "In this battle, we wiped out a total of 4,802 Turkic cavalrymen and captured 198 of them alive. They seized more than thirty thousand warhorses and countless rations. I have estimated that this amount of provisions is enough to feed 300,000 men and horses for more than ten days. As long as the Helan Mountain Pass is held for ten days, the Hu will have to fight with us on an empty stomach. General, look — — "
Following the direction of Hu Buhui's finger, in the blazing torches, there were countless rations and fodder stacks standing tall. Thousands of soldiers were holding firewood and spreading it between the rations and fodder stacks. As long as a torch was thrown, countless rations and fodder would be set ablaze.
Lin Wanrong nodded silently, "How are the casualties of our brothers?"
Hu Buhui lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Our army lost one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven people, and three hundred and twenty-six people were injured, a loss of twenty percent!"
Lin Wanrong's cheeks twitched, and he clenched his fists tightly, tears glistening in his eyes, "Where are the bodies of Little Li and the others?!"
"They've all been settled." Hu Buhui's tears streaked across the blood on his face as he sobbed, "They're waiting for General to send them on their last journey!"
Tears silently streaked across his face, and the scene of hundreds of soldiers being pierced through by thousands of arrows and weeping blood to open the city flashed before his eyes. "Ah — — Ah — — Ah — —" Lin Wanrong suddenly let out a deafening howl, blood and tears streaming down his face. He struggled to pull out the long blade from the ground, and used all the strength in his body to fiercely slash at the city wall. Amidst the chaotic clanging sounds, sparks flew in all directions, and the thick stone wall collapsed. The momentum was so great that even the grassland trembled.
Clang. The long blade fell. Lin Wanrong's face was pale, and the web between his thumb and index finger that was holding the blade was bleeding. Hu Buhui and Gao Qiu did not say a word, quietly standing behind him, tears blurring their eyes.
The atmosphere was so silent that it was suffocating. After an unknown period of time, seeing that Lin Wanrong's figure was as still as a stone statue, Hu Buhui softly said, "As a soldier, dying on the battlefield is the most glorious way to return home. For this, General does not need to blame yourself too much."
"But Little Li, he is only thirteen years old, thirteen years old!" Lin Wanrong choked with sobs, murmuring to himself, and clenching his fists so hard that they were about to bleed.
Li Wuling was the youngest of the soldiers who had gone to the frontier, and was personally brought by Lin Wanrong. He was also the only grandson of Chief General Li Tai. Although taking down Bayanhaote could greatly boost morale, losing Li Wuling was a huge blow to Li Tai and to the mentality of the soldiers of China. Between this joy and sadness, no one could tell which was more important! Li Wuling's death in battle made Bayanhaote's great victory suddenly seem much less significant. Even if he won, he was still defeated.
The night wind of the grassland blew against his cheeks, piercing his bones and straight into his heart. The bodies of thousands of soldiers were placed on makeshift wooden racks in a long row, and night crows that came from nowhere circled above their heads, cawing mournfully and coldly.
The remaining five thousand soldiers stood silently, tears swirling in their eyes, silently dripping down and landing on the cold soil of the grassland in early spring.
Lin Wanrong took Gao Qiu and Hu Bugui with him. Walking silently along the long array of heroic spirits, he carefully examined every young face that was gradually turning cold and pale. The heavy sadness, like the wind of early spring, pervaded everyone's heart.
The most tragic scene was that of the hundreds of warriors who had pushed open the city gate with their bodies. Countless long arrows had pierced through their bodies, and many of their bodies had been removed. They had all been shot in the forehead and hung on the city gate. In order to protect their bodies, the soldiers had carefully cut off the arrows that were difficult to pull out. But the arrowheads were still in their bodies. The hundreds of soldiers had their eyes wide open in anger, and none of them closed their eyes.
In the face of these brothers who had been with him day and night but were now separated forever, Lin Wanrong choked with sobs, stroked their cold and stiff cheeks with trembling hands, and slowly closed their eyes one by one.
A slightly short figure appeared in front of him, the childishness on his face had not yet faded, but there was a sweet smile hanging at the corners of his mouth, as peaceful as if he had fallen asleep. Among the thousands of soldiers who died in battle, he was the smallest and the youngest. However, that angry roar of "My body can die, but my heart will never die" was forever engraved in everyone's heart.
"It's Little Li — —" Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu exclaimed at the same time, their eyes instantly tearing up.
Looking at Li Wuling's childish face, Lin Wanrong's shoulders trembled slightly, and at an angle that no one could see, tears streamed down his face. He silently bawled, as helpless as a child.
Li Wuling's body was hit by eight arrows, one on each leg, one on each arm, one on the right rib, one on the left chest, and one on each shoulder. Perhaps it was because he was the smallest and was unconsciously blocked by the other soldiers, so his forehead was not hit by an arrow. The most fatal was the arrow on the left chest. His eyes were slightly open, but there was a sweet smile hanging at the corners of his mouth, as if he had fallen asleep.
Lin Wanrong choked with sobs, slowly stretched out his hands, and tremblingly closed his eyes, "Little Li, it's big brother Lin who did not protect you well! Big brother Lin is sorry! "
He gently closed Li Wuling's eyes, murmuring to himself, hot tears rolling down his face. When he looked up again, he saw an incredible scene — — Little Li's eyes had opened again.
"Little Li — —" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, not even wiping his tears, and hurriedly placed his finger next to Li Wuling's nose to check his breath.
There was not a trace of breath, his cheeks were icy cold, and his eyes were half closed, without the slightest luster. His breath had been gone for a long time.
Is it an illusion? Is Little Li blaming me?! Lin Wanrong felt even more sorrowful, silently sighing, and slowly closed his eyelids. As he lifted his hand, an astonishing scene appeared again. Li Wuling's eyes slowly opened again.
Old Gao was also amazed, and could not help but cry out in sorrow, "Little Li, good brother, big brother Gao knows you died with regrets. Don't worry, I will definitely capture a few more Turkic women, chop them all up, and give them to you as wives! Brother, rest in peace! "
As he finished, he stretched out his hand to close Li Wuling's eyes. Little Li-zi was unyielding. He slowly opened his eyes again. What kind of power is this?! Hu Bugui was so shocked that he could not close his mouth.
Lin Wanrong pondered for a long time, then suddenly stretched out his hand and placed it on Li Wuling's chest. Little Li's chest was icy cold, without the slightest trace of warmth, and was no different from the other dead soldiers.
Shaking his head in disappointment, he was about to withdraw his hand, when suddenly, an imperceptible pulse passed into his palm. Although it was weak, but it made Lin Wanrong ecstatic. He howled with tears streaming down his face, "He's still alive! Little Li is still alive! "
"Brother Lin, my condolences!" Gao Qiu thought that he had lost his mind, and hurriedly pulled him back, shaking his head heavily, "I've touched him, Little Li's breath is icy cold, there is no breath, he really died!"
"No, big brother Gao, he still has a heartbeat, I've felt it!" Lin Wanrong hurriedly shook his head, pulling Old Gao's hand and placing it on Li Wuling's chest.
Seeing that brother Lin was extremely clear-headed, and did not seem to have lost his mind, Gao Qiu doubtfully placed his palm on Li Wuling's chest. Lin Wanrong's words immediately stirred up everyone's hope. Countless anxious gazes gathered on Old Gao, waiting for his next words.
Gao Qiu held his breath, placed his hand on Li Wuling's chest, and waited silently for a long time, but did not feel any heartbeat. Finally he put down his hand, silently shaking his head! Hu Bugui's expression suddenly darkened, tears welling up.
"Impossible!" Seeing the despair in everyone's eyes, Lin Wanrong shook his head angrily, "I've felt it. Little Li is still alive, he must be alive. "
"The death of Li Wuling is too great a blow to the general." Hu Bugui lowered his head, silently sighing.
Regardless of what other people thought, Lin Wanrong stretched out his palm, once again placing it on Li Wuling's chest. An icy cold feeling came, and Little Li's body was quietly lying there, without the slightest movement. He waited like this for a long time, but the first heartbeat he felt was never felt again.
Could it be that I really heard wrong? Lin Wanrong's heart was filled with sorrow, and he had an impulse to burst into tears. Unwilling to give up, he waited for a long time, but in the end even he was disappointed. Little Li was dead! He would never come back.
The breath that he held back finally dispersed. He powerlessly shook his head, and was just about to take his hand away, when suddenly, a gentle heartbeat came from his palm. It was as weak as the last time, and as light and undetectable. Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded. In his heart at this moment, there was no heartbeat in the world that was more powerful than this!
"Little Li is still alive!" Lin Wanrong let out a long sigh, suppressing the ecstasy in his heart. With the previous experience, he dared not be careless again. His palm was still placed on Li Wuling's chest, waiting for the arrival of the next heartbeat.
His face alternated between great sorrow and great joy, which fell into the eyes of Gao Qiu and Hu Bugui. The two exchanged a glance, lightly sighed and shook their heads!
Thump. Although it had been a long time, the second heartbeat finally came. It was still so weak, and if one did not pay attention, it would be overlooked. But in Lin Wanrong's ears, there was no sound more inspiring than this. This was the most precious heartbeat in the world. Lin Wanrong held his breath, tears streaming down his face.
"Big brother Hu, big brother Gao, come and listen!" Lin Wanrong's voice was calm but trembling, but his eyes were incomparably firm.
Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu slowly placed their palms on Li Wuling's chest. Thump. An undetectable and light heartbeat instantly transmitted into their palms. The two looked at each other in disbelief, their faces filled with ecstasy.
After quietly waiting for a while, that incomparably weak but firm heartbeat, could be clearly heard again and again. Old Hu and Old Gao's eyes instantly turned red. "Alive, Little Li is really alive!"
The two five feet tall men hugged each other tightly. They screamed and hugged each other tightly. Their tears flowed down like a flood that had broken through the floodgates.
Lin Wanrong raised his arms and shouted. Facing the sky, he roared, "Li Wuling is still alive! Brothers, our Little Li is still alive! "
"Alive, our brother is still alive — —" The news instantly spread. Countless soldiers raised their swords and spears high, hugging each other, jumping up and down, howling to the sky. The scene of five thousand heroes crying together was deeply engraved in everyone's heart.
Cheering in front of a fallen comrade was not disrespectful, on the contrary, it was the most sincere and simple emotion. Li Wuling did not represent one person, he represented the countless heroic souls of China that were sleeping in the depths of the grasslands. What could be more important than a lost comrade and brother?!
The news that Li Wuling was still alive was like a spring rain in a drought, nourishing everyone's heart. From Lin Wanrong, Hu Bugui, to the ordinary soldiers, there was no one who was not overjoyed, sweeping away the dejection brought about by the death of their comrades.
Although they were still faced with more than a thousand dead comrades, the mood of the soldiers was completely different from before. A moment ago it was tragic, but a moment later, they saw boundless hope. This feeling of regaining something they had lost, and coming back from the jaws of death, made their confidence and fighting strength unprecedentedly strong.
The bodies of the fallen soldiers burned in the flames. Lin Wanrong said quietly, "Brother Gao, collect the ashes of our brothers, ask them to come home with us!"
The word 'go home' made Gao Qiu's heart warm and sorrowful. He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, grunted heavily, and strode away.
"General, look!" Hu Bugui excitedly shouted as he galloped back.
Lin Wanrong looked up, only to see that above the main gate of the city of the grasslands, where Li Wuling and the others were killed, there was a bloody and sinister-looking head hanging high. It was Labri, whom Lin Wanrong had personally killed.
This method of hanging the head was the most naked demonstration of force, the most resounding slap to the face of the Turks!
There was no longer a need to discuss whether it was humane or inhumane, war was like this.
Looking at the heavily injured and unconscious Li Wuling on the stretcher, looking at the thirty thousand war horses left in the city, Lin Wanrong snorted, "Brother Hu, you know what to do with these Turk war horses, right?!"
The recovery of Li Wuling was a great encouragement to everyone. Hu Bugui swept away his previous dejection, angrily snorting, "Don't worry general, I know that the Turks will not be able to get a single war horse or a single grain of food. You see, isn't it starting now? "
Thousands of Tiger Cavalry surged forward, arrows, blades, and in an instant, the Turk war horses that were trapped in the encirclement neighed and blood flowed like a river.
"Too cruel." Lin Wanrong shook his head and sighed, "Brother Hu, think of a more humane way in the future, war horses are also living beings! This bloody scene will scare the children of the Turks, it will be your fault. "
Hu Bugui chuckled. "It was Old Gao who said that it would be too troublesome to poison the warhorses. We have to spend money to buy the poison, so we can't waste our military funds like that. It's more practical to use saber punishment. Not only will it allow the soldiers to practice their saber skills, it will also allow them to train their courage."
Lin Wanrong shook his head with a bitter smile, Old Gao, I don't even want to talk to him anymore.
The sky was faintly turning white. In another four hours, the red sun would rise over the grassland, and the Hu people would come to Bayanhaote's aid. The boundless grassland would be in turmoil.
"General, we can start now!" All the food and grass had been connected by firewood, and Hu Bugui passed the burning torch in his hand to Lin Wanrong.
The lamp oil exploded from time to time, and the torch crackled. Seeing that Old Gao and the hundreds of brothers were silently collecting the ashes of their fallen brothers, Lin Wanrong pulled the reins with his left hand, squeezed his legs, and the horse galloped forward.
As he galloped, Lin Wanrong suddenly let out a long roar, "Burn, Bayanhaote!" As his voice faded, he fiercely pulled on the reins, the horse neighed, and the torch in his hand shot out like a powerful javelin, hitting a haystack right in the middle.
With a loud boom, red flames soared into the sky, and thick flames rapidly spread out. The countless bundles of food and grass that the Hu people had gathered here immediately burst into flames, and the sky was filled with flames, reflecting the dark blue sky in the dark night.
"Roar — —"
"Roar — —"
The flames shone on the blood-stained clothes and cheeks of the soldiers of China. They roared in unison, as if to let all the humiliation drift away with the flames.
The fire grew fiercer and fiercer. Everywhere in the city was burning, smoke billowed, and thick fog filled the air. The scorching heat made Lin Wanrong's clothes all wet. Blood, tears, and sweat were all mixed together, giving off an indescribable taste.
Less than an hour later, more than half of the food and grass had been burned. Even if there was a downpour at this moment, there was no way to turn the situation around. The city of the grassland was covered in scorched earth, ash stains, and smoke. No one could be seen within dozens of feet.
The extra war horses had all been killed, and the remains of the fallen soldiers had been collected. More than five thousand soldiers were lined up in front of the city gate, ready to set off.
Looking at the soldiers with tattered clothes and charred faces, Lin Wanrong paused for a moment, then said loudly, "Everyone can see it. We have done something that no one in the history of China has ever done before — — the throat of the Hu, the city of the grassland, Bayanhaote, is now burning at our feet. It has been completely turned into a piece of scorched earth. From now on, this castle will be completely erased from the map of the Turks. "
"Roar — — Roar — —" Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu took the lead, waving their sabers high. They roared in unison with the soldiers.
Lin Wanrong waved his hands down, and the soldiers instantly quieted down. "In the battle of Bayanhaote, our whereabouts have been completely exposed to the Hu. Attacking the Hu castle on the grassland and stabbing the hearts of the Turks is something they have never encountered before. It can be foreseen that an even crueler slaughter will soon come. Everyone, please remember, from this moment on, our strategy will be completely changed. We will become rabbits on the grassland. To be able to avoid the claws of eagles and return home alive will be our greatest victory! "
The scene was silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Wanrong. Everyone knew in their hearts. Although the task was completed, they were only halfway through the cruel journey. The next part of the road would be the most dangerous, and no one had ever experienced it before. On this vast grassland. They were about to become the prey of the Turks. Returning to the Helan Mountains alive could only be the most beautiful dream of all. However, after experiencing so many bloody battles and getting used to seeing life and death, he was no longer able to control himself. Who would really be afraid of that?
The eyes of more than five thousand people who were unafraid of death made even Lin Wanrong silently choke with emotion. He waved his hand, and the first warhorse leaped out of the city gate, followed by the second, the third...
Five thousand soldiers silently withdrew from Bayanhaote. The crisp sound of horse hooves mixed with the blazing flames, like a loud pastoral song on the grassland.
Lin Wanrong brought Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu at the back. As they stepped out of the city gate, the three could not help but turn their heads to look.
The city of the grassland was shrouded in smoke. Besides the sound of wind and fire, there were no more sounds of people or horses. It was completely different from the situation when they came.
Lin Wanrong thought for a moment, then suddenly pulled the reins and leaped onto the horse, hurriedly galloping back.
"What does General Lin want to do?" Hu Bugui asked in puzzlement.
Gao Qiu thought for a moment, then shook his head powerlessly, "I also don't know. But brother Lin's actions have always been unfathomable. Given our intelligence, it is impossible to guess. Like what happened tonight, if it were in the past, would you believe that he could kill Labry with one strike?! "
Thinking of General Lin's lightning strike, Hu Bugui's heart palpitated, and he hurriedly shook his head and sighed, "Profound, it really is profound!"
When they reached the city gate, Lin Wanrong leaped off his horse and found a thick burning stick by the side of the road. The ground was covered with the dripping blood of the Turkic horses. He stirred the stick several times in the blood, and then began to write on the city wall. These words were written in flamboyant calligraphy, dripping with blood, and had a majestic momentum. After he finished writing, he threw away the blood-stained stick, looked left and right, and suddenly burst into laughter.
Gao Qiu's eyes were the best, he saw that the words were crooked, but they were incomparably huge, and could be seen clearly at a glance, "China's Lin San, was here for a visit! If you have the guts, you can build it again, I will visit again next year! "
As soon as he finished, Hu Bugui laughed out loud. "Good! What a good 'I will visit again next year'! This momentum, this writing, that is General Lin's style! "
"Good poem, good poem." Seeing Lin Wanrong turn around and come to his side, Gao Qiu gave him a thumbs up, "The antithesis is neat, the rhythm is strict, it really is a peerless treasure, a gift from the heavens. This time the Hu people are rich, just this poem alone, in a few hundred years, it will most likely be sold for hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. "
Hu Bugui sternly said, "That's right, that's right, General Lin's calligraphy, in our China, is a treasure that is hard to find even with money. But I don't know why General Lin has the mood to write such a peerless work on the city wall of the Hu people?! "
Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "I'm ashamed, I'm just scribbling, it's just a habit of traveling. I'm just afraid that the Hu people don't understand our Chinese language, it's a waste of my time. "
The few of them laughed at the same time, their voices piercing through the sky of the grassland …
Looking at the pale and unconscious Li Wuling lying on the stretcher, Lin Wanrong forcefully grabbed his hand, saying with a smile, "Brother, let's go home!"
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
