The setting sun was as red as blood. Hua Ying, the vanguard general of the Northern Battlefront Army of Tang, stood in the howling wind and looked at the fading dust. He finally relaxed and was supported by Situ Yilan.
Blood and corpses were everywhere in the field hundreds of miles away from Guhe. The strong wind from the north had been blowing for a whole day, so the smell of blood was not so strong. But the world was still red.
The preparation for the war started in the early morning and the cavalry started to fight before noon. They fought until dusk. Of course, the Tang army was the final winner.
The cavalry of the Golden Tribe Royal Court suffered heavy casualties. Chanyu was in a coma. Several high priests sent to the front line died in the melee. At the last moment, the young slave, A Da, was summoned back by the Nation Master. He escorted the badly wounded Lebu and retreated with the remaining soldiers. That was how he escaped the fate of being crushed by the cavalry.
General Xu Chi had prepared 700 black armored cavalrymen for this young slave. They had been waiting at the edge of the battlefield for this young slave to kill him when he brought up the rear.
The Golden Tribe Royal Court retreated to the north. The Tang army started to chase after them and the Tang army started to clean up the battlefield.
This was the fiercest battle in a thousand years, so it naturally created the most tragic battlefield. Arms were cut off by podaos, bodies were disemboweled, pools of black blood were everywhere, annoying mosquitoes and flies were everywhere, and painful moans were everywhere.
The medical team of the Tang army kept moving in the field. The cavalrymen carried stretchers with excellent horsemanship and sent the injured comrades to the barracks. The most seriously injured soldiers would be dragged back to the Guhe Military Village by carts for further treatment. They were fighting against time to save as many people as possible.
Apart from treating their comrades and collecting weapons and armors, there was another important task, which was to accept the surrender, collect the captives and the wounded soldiers who could no longer fight. Hundreds of Tang soldiers walked in the field with their horses, but strangely, they did not see any captives.
A grassland barbarian was lying in the wild grass, staring at the gray sky with despair in his eyes. His slightly rising and falling chest showed that he was not dead yet. His pale face was covered with blood.
A shadow fell on his face, followed by the blade of the knife.
A cavalryman of the Golden Tribe was pinned down by the corpse of his mount. His lungs were pierced by his broken ribs. Blood kept spurting out from his lips. He could not die immediately and kept howling in pain.
When he saw the Tang soldiers walking over with blood-stained podaos in their hands, he showed no fear or despair. Instead, he showed a joyful expression and shouted something in the language of the prairie, full of begging.
The common soldiers of the Northern Battlefront Army could understand the barbarian language, so the Tang soldiers understood it. They looked at each other and hesitated. At this moment, Wang Wuyi limped over. He raised his saber and killed the dying cavalryman of the Golden Tribe. He also cut off his head.
A Tang soldier said, "We just don't want to give him a quick death."
"Whether he's in pain or not has nothing to do with us. I didn't chop off his head to show my benevolence. It's just that … there are still so many heads to chop off. I don't have time to wait for you."
After saying that, Wang Wu led his warhorse and walked towards the meadow where there were even more corpses. Behind him, there was a cart full of grassland barbarians' heads.
Wang Wu and his comrades did not want to give those wounded grassland barbarians a quick death. They did it not because of humanity, but because they needed those heads.
They wanted the heads of the grassland barbarians, not because of the merit. It was purely because the General's Mansion had issued an order that all the heads of the grassland barbarians must be chopped off and collected.
As for taking captives … there were no captives on the battlefield today.
Hua Ying's pale face showed a satisfied smile as he looked around the wilderness, the setting sun and the blood-red world. Then he coughed and his beard was splashed with blood.
As the vanguard general, he had made the most contribution today. But he really did not care about it. And he knew that he did not need to care about it anymore.
"You should know why I've been suffering in the frontier all these years."
Hua Ying's voice was a little intermittent. He seemed very tired, but his voice was clear and energetic.
Situ Yilan did not say anything. She helped him sit on the meadow.
The Hua family was loyal to Li Yu. They had played a dishonorable role in the battle for the throne a few years ago. But they were suppressed by Ning Que and the late Empress. Hua Shanyue died and the Hua family quickly declined.
They believed that after this battle, they would forget about the past.
But it was hard for Hua Ying to forget about the past.
"The Academy … or Mr. Thirteen, is really a cold-hearted man."
Looking at the tragic scene around him, he thought of the Hua family's miserable experience and the dozens of Gushan Commandery soldiers who were sent to the frontline to die. He shook his head.
"If he had let the Northern Battlefront Army take those wild horses in advance, or even if he had just told the General or me, I don't think so many people would have died in the past three years."
Situ Yilan did not say anything.
As a student of the Academy, a former friend and a current follower of Ning Que, she did not agree with Hua Ying. But she could not defend herself at this moment. Because the Tang army had paid too much for the lack of warhorses in the past three years. Too many people had died today.
"But … I like it very much." Hua Ying suddenly laughed.
Full of admiration and emotion, he continued, "The Golden Tribe is really powerful … His method should have the least casualties … But in the process, he had to be ruthless to the end. Only by doing so could he win the war with the least cost. I admire him and sympathize with him."
It was complicated and even illogical, but Situ Yilan understood it.
Hua Ying looked at the grassland in the distance under the twilight. He looked at the dust, the enemies who were running in panic, and the soldiers of the Northern Military Camp who were not far behind. He finally closed his eyes.
He still had a smile on his face, a satisfied smile.
Defeating the cavalry of the Golden Tribe Royal Court and watching the talented and bold Chanyu and the unfathomable Nation Master run away like dogs was undoubtedly the best thing for a future Tang general.
He could finally rest in peace after seeing this scene.
Situ Yilan put her hand in front of his nose and paused for a long time. Finally, she let go of his hand and put the body on the meadow. She signaled the military doctor who had been waiting for him to handle the body.
She stood up, still in the wind.
Part of the flag of the Tang Empire was burnt in the fierce battle. It was black and ugly, but the golden thread inside was still dazzling in the twilight, as if it would last forever.
She looked around with the broken flag and then to the north.
The remaining forces of the Golden Tribe Royal Court were running north at full speed.
The Northern Battlefront Army had defeated the main force of the Royal Court, but it did not mean that they were completely wiped out.
Hua Ying did not remind her anything before he died. He did not tell her that she could not let Chanyu escape. He knew very well that the Golden Tribe Royal Court would not be able to survive this time.
Because the grassland people had gone south to the Tai Nan.
If the grassland people had stayed at the front line of the Seven Stockaded Villages instead of attacking like wildfire, even if they were defeated, they would have a great chance to escape to the depths of the grassland, just like they had done hundreds of years ago.
The grassland was so vast that it would be difficult to fight or find them in summer. By then, it would be difficult for the Tang army to wipe them out. But now the grassland people had gone too far south and even passed through the Xiangwan Plain. How could they escape?
Situ Yilan did not think the grassland people could escape, and she would not allow them to do so.
She looked at the messy dust in the north and said, "Take a rest and get ready to chase."
…
…
It was noisy in the vanguard camp of the Northern Battlefront Army. The smell of Numbing Powder was everywhere. In the iron furnace room on the east side, the sound of hitting weapons could be heard, but not many people were talking.
After a whole day of bloody battle, the generals and soldiers were exhausted to the extreme. The Tang army also paid a terrible price. Even General Hua Ying died of blood loss and exhaustion. The atmosphere in the barracks was good, but it was quiet because they had regained hope in a desperate situation and then defeated the strong enemy.
The flatest meadow behind the vanguard camp had been isolated. It was even quieter than the camp. Even the sound of the black donkey chewing grapes could be heard clearly.
Fourth Brother walked to the shabby sedan and pointed at his Younger Brother and Younger Sister. He introduced them to the black donkey, "They are Sixth Brother and Seventh Sister. I entered the school earlier than them, so I am the fourth."
The black donkey was still very reserved. He nodded and said nothing. But he was thinking that it was lucky that they were not Third or Third Brother. Otherwise, he would have to greet them first if he entered the school earlier.
The Big Black Horse shook his head and ran over excitedly. He looked around but did not see the familiar figure. He suddenly lowered his head and looked a little disappointed.
"I don't know where Youngest Brother is." Fourth Brother explained, "… In fact, no one knows where he is since he left Chang 'an."
The mysterious national master did not participate in this bloody battle. He helped Chanyu from the beginning and led the most elite and loyal Duoer Cavalry to retreat to the north quickly.
Perhaps it was because of this that Ning Que did not participate in the battle. He did not appear after the battle. No one knew where he went. Just like the past spring, he disappeared again.
The Big Black Horse was a little disappointed. He walked to the top of the meadow and looked at the sun that was gradually being swallowed by the ground. He was silent. He knew that the sun was actually swallowed by the black sea in the north.
…
…
The sun that never sets on the grassland was the emperor of the Desolate Man Empire. Then it was the Great Divine Priest of Light who founded the Devil's Doctrine. Then it was Chanyu of the Golden Tribe Royal Court.
Chanyu had always thought that he was the sun. Even if he set, he would still rise again tomorrow. But today he felt that it would be difficult for him to rise again.
The most loyal Duoer Cavalry escorted him to the City of Wei. General Lebu's injuries were stabilized and he recovered quickly with the help of the High Priest. When the young slave A Da stood silently in front of his bed, he still had enough power and enough powerhouses. He still had the national master.
But he still felt that he was struggling at the bottom of the cold sea and would suffocate at any time.
Because he was very afraid.
…
…
(This chapter has been edited.)
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