With the descent of night, the sky was like a massive black curtain, so dark that one couldn't even see their own fingers in front of them. The vast steppe was shrouded in gloom.
The clattering of hooves shattered the tranquility of the steppe. In the gloom, one could see several dozen black figures galloping over from the distance, their warhorses shooting through the darkness like arrows. As they got closer, one could gradually make out the figures of these people. They were thirty to forty haggard Turks dressed in rags, their faces covered in dirt and fear and panic. Some of them had even been wounded by arrows and were bleeding profusely, but they had no time to tend to their wounds. They galloped their horses, occasionally turning their heads to look back.
In the distant twilight, there was no one to see or hear the sound of hooves. At some point, the Chinese who had been chasing after them had been thrown off.
The steppe is still the world of us Turks! All the Hu were so excited that their eyes brimmed with tears and they began to cheer, their excitement palpable in their words.
After fleeing for at least forty to fifty li, the Turkic horses were panting from exhaustion while the Hu were panting in fear.
After resting for a while, one of the Hu leaders looked at his comrade and opened his mouth to say something, but for some reason, his voice, which was usually as loud as a bell, had become hoarse. He clearly wanted to speak in Turkic, but in the ears of his tribesmen, it came out as a hoarse roar.
I can't even speak! The Turkic leader's face was ghastly pale, his eyes flashing with endless fear. He used all his strength to furiously roar, but other than hoarse 'ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh What made his heart tremble was that it wasn't just him. The thirty to forty companions that had fled with him had all paled, none of them able to speak.
One of them, a bearded man with a hood pulled down on his head, pulled his mouth wide open in an attempt to speak, but no matter how hard he tried, his efforts were futile. As the thirty to forty Turks heard the furious roars of this black servant, sorrow welled up in their hearts. For a moment, the howls of wolves rose and fell without end.
The leader of the Turks was the calmer one. He thought about how in the last few days of his capture, other than this afternoon, when the Chinese had kindly gifted them a few pieces of dried meat, he and his companions had not eaten a single grain of rice. As they ravenously devoured the meat, it had become a delicacy in their bellies. Now that they thought about it … The sinister Chinese must have done something to the meat, making it so that he and his companions could no longer speak.
The joy of surviving a calamity had long been swept away, replaced by grief, anger, and fear. The sinister and cunning of the Chinese made them cower in fear. Their only thought was to escape the clutches of the Chinese as quickly as possible and return to the embrace of the god of the steppe.
In their despair and fear, the fleeing Turks had no time to make sure they knew each other. They gritted their teeth and galloped on their horses without a word, as if they wanted to leave the devils of China behind.
The bearded 'Turk' was mixed in with the Hu, his teeth clenched, his expression one of grief and indignation. But the sky was dark. No one could see his face clearly.
Everyone was gloomy, and they didn't know how many li they had traveled. Suddenly, there was the hurried sound of horse hooves, mixed with the clatter of sabers and arrow sheaths. In the distance, several hundred Turkic cavalry were galloping over with torches in their hands.
"Ah — — Ah — —" Seeing the majestic Turkic horsemen, The Hu who managed to escape were immediately moved to tears. They hurriedly raised their arms and cheered with all their might. The group of Turkic cavalry suddenly picked up speed and galloped over.
When the two sides were close. The faces of the Turkic cavalry were now clearly visible. The leader was a burly man with a protruding nose and a very majestic appearance. When he saw the leader of the Hu who had escaped, he exclaimed in shock, "Duerhancha, why are you here?!"
Duerhancha roared angrily and nodded his head, shouting a few times. The leader of the Turkic cavalry did not know that he was unable to speak. Even after watching Duerhancha's performance for a long time, he still couldn't understand what he meant.
The fleeing Turkic began to shout anxiously. Only then did the leader of the Turkic cavalry understand what was going on and his face immediately warped, "All of you can't speak anymore?"
The forty Turkic cavalry nodded their heads. Grief and indignation were written all over their faces.
The torches lit up the plains, and the bearded man who had shouted the most furiously lowered his head to prevent others from noticing his movements. Even though he didn't understand the Turkic language, he could guess what these people were talking about. He couldn't help but put his hand on his chest and secretly felt it. He chuckled to himself, "What's the big deal if you don't know how to speak? As long as your Grandpa Gao wants to, I can make you all impotent for the rest of your lives.
All forty of you can't speak anymore? The leader of the Turkic cavalry was shocked, but seeing the anxious look on Duerhancha's face, he hurriedly waved his hand, and the cavalry turned their horses around and escorted the fleeing Turkic cavalry back.
After traveling for twenty to thirty li, a huge flat land appeared in front of them. Two to three thousand Turkic cavalry were gathered here, and the place was bustling with activity. These Turkic cavalry were drenched in sweat, and their ferocity was tinged with exhaustion. After a day and night of galloping, the manes of the Turkic horses were covered in a layer of crystalline sweat, and under the light of the torches, they seemed especially dazzling.
The Turkic cavalry had clearly just arrived as well. The saddles of their horses hadn't been lowered yet, and the stables hadn't been set up yet. The three thousand Turkic horses were wagging their tails and galloping around in a disorderly manner.
Gao Qiu took a few glances and couldn't help but nod his head, Old Hu, that brat, is truly capable. The Turkic cavalry really did set up camp at dusk.
The Turkic cavalry, who were busy preparing water and grass for their horses, stared at the ragged and sallow-faced forty-some of their compatriots slipping into the camp, and jeers could be heard. The Turks were fierce by nature, and they only worshipped the strong. The fact that they could step over the corpses of their comrades was a testament to their wolfish nature. Their contempt for their compatriots, who had been captured alive by the Chinese, was written all over their faces.
Bathed in the gazes of the Turks, Gao Qiu hurriedly pulled his hat even lower, so that his head was almost at his feet, so as to avoid being seen through. His' inferiority complex 'provoked even more scorn and ridicule from the Turks, but no one suspected him. No one could have imagined that a Chinese would be so bold as to sneak into the Turkic camp alone.
"All of you, wait outside. No one is allowed to run around, "the leader of the cavalry bellowed as he pulled on the stunned Duerhancha. He hurriedly made his way to a tent that had just been set up.
Gao Qiu's eyes darted around as he furtively examined his surroundings. The faces of the three thousand Turkic cavalry were covered in dust, and their faces were filled with exhaustion. It was clear that the long march had consumed a great deal of their stamina. Most of them were holding dried meat in their hands, sitting on the ground and munching on the fresh water they had just fetched. There were also several hundred people setting up stables to replenish the water and grass for their horses.
Only two simple yurts had been set up in the camp, and the Turks were resting on the grass in groups of twos and threes. From the looks of it, they were only taking a short break, and it wouldn't be long before they set off.
While Gao Qiu was entranced by the sight, he suddenly heard a strange and shrill laugh: "Make way, cowardly captives!"
He couldn't understand the Turkic language. He couldn't help but raise his head. Two Turkic cavalrymen were shouting. With a strange laugh, they carried a large bucket filled with fresh water from the lake and brazenly pushed aside Gao Qiu and the Turks beside him as they walked toward the stables.
The Hu captives were already furious from the setbacks they had suffered, and hearing the mocking laughter from their tribesmen only further enraged them. With furious gazes, they blocked the two cavalrymen and threw a flurry of punches at them! The moment the battle started, a huge commotion broke out. The Turks who were resting on the grass immediately surrounded the Hu camp, and the Hu camp descended into chaos.
Gao Qiu chuckled coldly as he squeezed his way out of the crowd and silently approached the area where the horses were gathered. Fresh grass was laid out in a long row, and every three to five paces there was a large and wide manger, filled with fresh water. The three thousand horses had galloped for an entire day, and their manes were gleaming with sweat as they leisurely grazed on the grass and water.
Looking around, Gao Qiu saw that everyone's gazes were focused on the commotion on the field. He took out various medicinal pouches from his bosom, held his breath, and tiptoed over to the manger. The medicinal powder in his hand silently fell into the water.
"What's with the ruckus!" Three people walked out from the yurts that had just been set up. Other than Duerhancha and the cavalry leader from before, the one at the front was a brawny man in his thirties. He had a muscular body and a fierce face. When he glared at them, no one dared to speak loudly.
This brawny man seemed to be the commander of the three thousand cavalry. He fiercely ordered: "All Turkic warriors, gather immediately. The China cavalry is right before us. It is time to serve the Khagan! "
"Solanke, isn't this too risky? According to Duerhancha, there are more than five thousand China soldiers who have penetrated deep into the steppe, and they are all elite Chinese soldiers picked out of a thousand. Besides, the leader is cunning and treacherous, full of tricks. Let's go like this. If we go like this, won't we fall into his trap?! "
The one who spoke was the cavalry leader who had rescued Duerhancha. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his expression was cautious.
"Are you afraid?" Solanke disdainfully smiled: "Do you think my three thousand cavalry cannot defeat a mere five thousand China soldiers? If you are afraid, then take the Har Helin tribe back first. Our Ejin Empire will not retreat. "
The cavalry leader angrily retorted: "You dare to look down on us? Our brave Har Helin tribe will not retreat. "
Solanke nodded: "Good, the Khagan needs warriors like you. Now, pass down my orders. Investigate the thirty-five people that Duerhancha brought back. The China people are cunning. I do not believe that they would let their captives escape so easily. There must be a trap. "
Gao Qiu could only hear the two talking, but he could not understand a single word. After the medicinal packets were sprinkled into the horse troughs, Gao Qiu waited for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. The warhorses and water plants were mostly replenished. Gao Qiu could not help but chuckle.
The Turks gradually gathered towards their tents. The thirty or so Hu who had escaped were also called over for questioning.
"One person is missing!" Solanke counted the number of people and suddenly shouted: "That person must be a spy. Search immediately —"
Before he could finish his words, there was a whoosh. An arrow shot into the sky and exploded into the most dazzling fireworks.
"Turks, your Grandpa Gao from China is here!" A strong man with a beard and a face full of curly beard sat on a horse and roared with laughter. He threw his hat away and revealed his square face.
"That's him — — capture him!" The Turks roared angrily and charged at Gao Qiu with their sabers raised.
"Hyah — —" Gao Qiu anxiously shouted. He used one hand to deflect the arrow and the other to grab the mane of his warhorse. The Turks neighed and galloped far away, scattering the Turks. In the blink of an eye, they were out of the tents!
The Turks were indeed well-trained. Gao Qiu's charge was sudden and fierce, but the Hu did not panic. Thousands of them mounted their horses. At the same time, they pulled the reins. They followed behind him.
"Chi — —" Far away in the sky, another arrow flew into the sky, as though it was responding to this place.
"Forty li ahead. Chinese cavalry have been spotted! "The report from the front made the Turk commander's face flush with excitement. He unsheathed his scimitar and shouted: "Invincible warriors of the Turks, for the Khagan, it's time to render meritorious service! Kill the Chinese who have invaded the grasslands, kill them! "
"Kill the Chinese!" The ferocious nature of the Turks was on full display as they howled. The three thousand of them were almost parallel to the backs of the horses, moving faster than arrows. The thundering of the hooves sounded like thunder in spring, causing the ground to tremble.
Gao Qiu turned around to take a look, and his hair immediately stood on end. The three thousand warhorses galloped forward like a rapidly advancing mountain, stirring up a cloud of dust. The might of their charge was enough to cover anything. The sabers in the hands of the Turks gleamed coldly. Even before they got close, they could already feel the howling of the wind. Every now and then, as though they had eyes, they would shoot at the back of his head, shoulders, and chest. The saber in his hand danced in the air, his mind numb from fear.
Only on the grasslands could one truly feel the invincible aura of kings of the Turks. Their galloping, riding, and shooting abilities were something that no other race possessed. Compared to the assault of the desert, the horde of Turks on the grasslands was far more fearsome and fearsome.
After galloping for more than twenty li, the Turks were drenched in sweat, but their speed did not slow in the slightest. The Hu behind them were still only two to three hundred zhang away, the screams of the Hu and the whistling of the arrows echoing in his ears. Even though Gao Qiu was an expert in martial arts, he could not help but feel his ears ringing and his face turning pale.
"Old Hu, Hu Bugui, why aren't you coming out yet?!" Gao Qiu cursed. In his panic, he covered his head with his hands and dodged an arrow. The warhorse beneath him let out a low whinny, white foam rising from its mouth. Its forelegs went limp, and it fell straight down. At the same time, it raised its hind hooves, and Gao Qiu's body was thrown out.
Seeing the Chinese man fall from his horse, the Turks immediately became excited. Whistling and cheering, they charged forward like the wind.
"My god!" Seeing the Hu warhorses charging at him, it seemed like they would reach him in the blink of an eye. Old Gao's body rolled twice on the ground, then he leaped into the distance and covered his head with his hands.
"Brother Gao, don't be afraid. Hu Bugui is here! "A heaven-shaking roar came from the distance. The clopping of hooves was like a clap of spring thunder. Countless torches lit up the dark night as if it was day, the dragon banner of China fluttering in the wind. Old Gao's eyes brimmed with tears of excitement. My god, my savior has finally arrived! — —
Gazing at the Turkic cavalry charging over like wolves, Lin Wanrong gripped Old Gao's hand and praised, "Big Brother Gao. If we win this battle, you will be the greatest contributor! "
"Brother Lin overpraises me, this is what I should do." Gao Qiu smiled, forgetting about the danger he had just faced: "The Hu warhorses have already galloped for more than twenty li in a single breath. They are like a lamp that has run out of oil. Hehe, this should be enough for these brats to suffer."
The two of them had only exchanged a few words when the Turkic cavalry slowly came to a halt. A stiff voice came from the Hu formation, speaking in Chinese: "Are the Chinese cavalry, Wo Laoshi?!"
Lin Wanrong smiled as he urged his horse forward: "I don't dare. I don't dare. My name should be addressed by your grandmother. Are the Ejin Tribe or the Har Helin General? "
"I am Solanke of the Ejin Tribe," a ferocious-looking Turkic stepped forward and pointed his horsewhip at Lin Wanrong: "Wo Laoshi. Quickly dismount and surrender, and I will leave your corpse intact. Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces. "
"So cruel," Lin Wanrong smiled: "This General, I heard that you are the number one warrior of the grasslands?"
Solanke was slightly surprised. Although he thought of himself as strong, he did not dare to call himself the number one warrior of the grasslands. But seeing the China's' Wo Laoshi 'sneering, he said angrily: "I am one of the bravest warriors of the grasslands! Cowardly Chinese, do you dare to duel with me?! In the name of a warrior, I promise you that I will not ambush you! "
Lin Wanrong narrowed his eyes. He stared at his horse for a while and smiled: "You are the number one warrior of the grasslands. As for me, I can barely be called the weakest warrior of China. Since General Solanke wants to use the number one warrior of the grasslands to challenge the weakest warrior of China, Since General Solanke wants to use the number one warrior of the grasslands to challenge the weakest warrior of China. Sigh, I am too embarrassed to refuse — Brother Suo, what weapon are you best at? "
Solanke handed the bow and arrows on his back to the person beside him and proudly raised the sword in his hand: "I am a Turkic cavalryman, of course I will use a scimitar to duel with you. Solanke can swear in the name of the god of the grasslands that I will not ambush you. "
"Oh." Lin Wanrong gave a long laugh: "Since that is the case. I will not take advantage of you. To be fair, Brother Suo and I are only allowed to use one weapon in our hands. Whoever falls off the horse first or gets hit by the opponent first will be the loser. What do you think, Brother Suo?! "
Want to compete with me in horsemanship? Solanke sneered: "Okay, this is a fair method. I will use a scimitar, what will you use?! "
Lin Wanrong took out a black object from her bosom and held it in her hand. He smiled: "In order to show the great spirit of China, I will use a short weapon to duel with you. You see, this is much shorter than your scimitar. Brother Suo, I am an honest man, everyone knows that I will not take advantage of you. "
The short weapon in Wo Laojun's hand was really short, not much bigger than Solanke's palm. There were two iron pipes tied to it, shining with a faint light. It did not look powerful.
"Okay. Then we will do as you say. "Solanke was relieved. He urged his horse forward.
"Sigh, wait!" Lin Wanrong glanced at his warhorse again, smiled and waved his hand: "Brother Suo, don't panic, there is still one more thing that we have not agreed on."
"What is it?!" Seeing the China man dilly-dallying, Solanke was deeply dissatisfied.
Lin Wanrong sneered: "Since it is a duel, there must be a prize. Brother Suo, if you lose, your three thousand cavalrymen will be captured and I will deal with them! If I lose, I will release one of them! "
"Do you think I am a fool?" Solanke was very dissatisfied: "If I lose, I will have to pay with my people. If you lose, you will only release one person — — "
"Don't panic." Lin Wanrong took out something from his boots, smiled and said: "Look at this, you will know whether it is worth it or not!"
What he held in his hand was a small scimitar, made of pure gold, exceptionally exquisite. In the blazing fire, it flashed a bright brilliance.
"Hey. Isn't this Crescent Moon's knife?! "Gao Qiu exclaimed softly.
Looking at the shining golden scimitar, Solanke opened his mouth wide in astonishment, his eyes flashing with fear, surprise, and desire. He first got off the horse, knelt on one knee, and bowed deeply, muttering a few pious words to himself. Then his eyes flashed fiercely, and he leapt onto the horse, shouting loudly: "China man. I agree to your conditions! "
This Crescent Moon was more important than his three thousand people?! Gao Qiu's eyes flashed with astonishment.
Lin Wanrong nodded with a smile, handing the golden scimitar to Hu Bugui. "Well, brother Suo. This is probably the fairest duel in the history of China and the Turks. Let's begin! "
"Go!" As soon as Lin Wanrong's voice faded, Solanke lifted the reins of his horse, the bright scimitar in his hand flashing a cold light, charging straight at Lin Wanrong. When his horse leapt up, it seemed to stagger slightly. But at this time Solanke's murderous intent was thick, how could he notice this.
"Good!" Lin Wanrong gave a long laugh, squeezed the horse's legs, and shot out like an arrow.
One hundred feet, eighty feet. The two were gradually approaching, about to fight for their lives. Lin Wanrong suddenly laughed, turned his horse, and unexpectedly ran perpendicular to the direction Solanke was running, galloping back and forth in the open space in front of the two armies.
"Where are you going!" Seeing that the China man seemed to be afraid of the battle, Solanke was ecstatic. With a loud roar, he spurred his horse to chase behind him.
Seeing their commander go into battle, the soldiers on both sides did not dare to blink, staring at their every move.
Solanke's horsemanship was indeed extraordinary. As Lin Wanrong galloped in front, he chased from behind, the distance gradually narrowing. From the initial one hundred feet, to the later eighty feet, five hundred feet, the distance gradually closed. The Chinese soldiers suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Watch my spear!" The galloping Lin Wanrong suddenly bellowed, turning his head on his horse. The black barrel of the spear was aimed at Solanke.
The Hu on the horse shivered and subconsciously lowered his head. Old Wo's short weapon remained silent, not making a single sound. This was a feint. The distance between them, which had just closed, was widened again in an instant. The soldiers of the Great Hua Nation laughed heartily.
This cycle repeated, one running, one chasing. Every time the distance between the two sides closed, the Chinese soldier would say, "Watch my spear!" and Solanke could only helplessly lower his head, causing the soldiers to roar with laughter.
After two exchanges, the jeering laughter reached Solanke's ears. The Turkic warrior could no longer bear it. Raising his saber, he angrily roared, "Crafty Solanke, if you have the guts, then don't run!"
"Cowardly Solanke, if you have the guts, then don't chase!" The laughter of the Chinese soldier sounded abnormally relaxed.
Solanke finally could no longer bear it. He used all his strength to slap his horse. As the Turkic horse galloped forward, white foam appeared in its mouth and its body was covered in blood.
Solanke's desperate struggle brought the distance between the two sides closer and closer. Thirty feet, twenty feet, gradually, even the hairs on the Chinese soldier's face could be seen.
"Watch my spear!" Lin Wanrong suddenly turned his head and angrily roared. Solanke had been threatened many times, but this time, he was no longer afraid. Not only did he not dodge, his face even more ferocious. "Hyah!" He cracked his whip on the horse's rump. The Turkic horse weakly whinnied, and with a rumble, it fell forward. Solanke's body was instantly sent flying like a straight stone.
Bang! Solanke crashed to the ground, a large bloody hole in his forehead. His eyes were wide open, and he had died with regrets!
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