Chapter 295: Hill! Eight! Of! Soul!

Great Dou Valley, on E'bao Ridge, a one‑sided battle is ongoing. Flesh and blood fly, and cries shake the heavens.

From the start, the panicked Tufan troops could not form an organized defense.

After the siege began, several Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers looped a rope around the Tufan's wooden palisade repairing the wall and pulled hard. The already wind‑ and sun‑worn palisade collapsed with a snap.

Seeing the wall breached, a dozen Tufan soldiers, still without helmets, rushed to the gap to fill the breach. Immediately, some of them were struck in the neck by incoming arrows and fell dead.

In the Hexi Army, the pair known as Yuanmen Erlong—Wu Cheng'en and Wu Chengci—each brandish a great bow, assisting the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's spearhead units in storming the city. He Changqi swings his blade, cutting down three men in one motion. Behind him, a dozen soldiers cover each other, taking turns to surge into the city.

Encounter a deity, kill the deity; encounter a Buddha, kill the Buddha!

Beside He Changqi, many Yinqiang Xiaojie Army elites fire crossbow bolts to clear a path; Tufan soldiers fall like wheat being reaped, most not even having time to raise a shield. Troops keep pouring out of the city alleys, but their formation is chaotic, like adding oil to a fire, each fighting alone like headless flies crashing about.

E'bao has no real city gate; wooden palisades are everywhere.

Divine Tang troops descend from the heavens, charging through several gaps simultaneously, cutting anyone they see like feral beasts. The armor‑less Tufan, once hit by a bolt, lose all combat ability, and then only face being cut down early or trampled later.

The "chicken thieves" of the Tufan, due to the harsh, variable climate, generally lack armor; in fact, daily patrols cannot be armored. Although the Tufan army has strict regulations demanding armor on duty, in E'bao almost no one enforces it.

Legislators never know the pain of frontline enforcement.

In Great Dou Valley the weather changes wildly; when bitter cold arrives they strip armor, when scorching heat arrives they strip armor, and sometimes within a single day the cold and heat cycle several times, each cycle lasting less than an hour.

Patrolling in armor under such climate can sometimes be fatal.

And for decades no Tang army has attacked E'bao; who among the Tufan would think to guard against bandits for a thousand days?

In the slave‑based Tufan, strict orders often become mere ornaments; if a post sees no long‑term fighting, lax defense is inevitable.

He Changqi leads fifty vanguard of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, cutting his way from the palisade gap to E'bao's city tower; his white sheepskin coat is now completely stained red. His helmet, cheeks, and both hands are covered in blood, dripping to the ground, and he has broken five horizontal swords.

The dozens behind him look much the same—eyes blood‑red, deciding friend or foe solely by clothing; anyone not wearing a white sheepskin is killed outright. It's basically a glance, a reflexive decision to swing the blade.

Only after they have slaughtered through E'bao do their minds calm, hot sweat turning to cold. They stare at the gruesome corpses strewn everywhere, swallowing saliva. Seeing blood streaming into ruts on the ground, they choke down nausea without vomiting.

Many of these soldiers have fought countless battles, but many are seeing combat for the first time. They were chosen for the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army for their health and skill, not because they have personally slain dozens with a blade.

When they charged, they didn't think about it at all, nor know how many lives they held in their hands. After the battle, they realized their unit had become a killing god, and other Yinqiang Xiaojie troops voluntarily covered them with rapid‑fire repeating crossbows.

Not only did He Changqi kill many, his rear squad also did. In just one hour, Yuanmen Erlong fired ten quivers, each holding about fifty arrows; after the fight, both men's arms trembled nonstop.

Under Fang Chongyong's prior high‑pressure order, this thousand‑strong Yinqiang Xiaojie Army vanguard, fearing the enemy's numbers, fought in a mental blank. Even after the Tufan morale collapsed, they still raised their blades and killed the kneeling, pleading Tufan soldiers without a second thought.

In feudal warfare, a 15% casualty rate usually breaks morale; it's rare for one side to wipe out the opponent in one go. The bloodiness of the E'bao Ridge battle lay in the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, despite absolute superiority, refusing to heed the Tufan pleas for mercy.

In short, one word: kill!

Kill until it's over!

They don't kill for pleasure; under tension they unconsciously unleash their full combat power, as if a fixed program were installed, driving them mad.

Unless Fang Chongyong issues a death‑order here, no one can make them stop; even if ordered, they cannot obey.

Guo Ziyi, positioned at the rear of the battle formation, watches the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army slaughter enemies the whole time, not taking part, but silently observing with a few personal guards from the Chishui Army.

He issues no orders.

Guo Ziyi's guards show fear on their faces, yet force themselves to hold it back, their expressions extremely conflicted.

They have never seen such ferocious fighting; He Changqi's style is as if it were the last moment of life, so he just lets loose!

Although his face remained impassive, this elite‑select training method, point‑break battlefield tactic, and ruthless one‑sided slaughter gave Guo Ziyi a huge shock.

What broke the Tufan morale were the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's well‑organized spearhead units, numbering fewer than a hundred. In the small‑scale defense of E'bao, this sub‑hundred spearhead terrified the Tufan, producing a remarkable effect.

More than half of the Tufan soldiers were cut down by the charging Yinqiang Xiaojie troops after their morale collapsed, like slaughtering chickens. Their combat intensity was actually low, because the Tufan morale had already been broken.

An hour later, with blood still wet and his sheepskin coat almost unrecognizable, He Changqi carries a severed head to Guo Ziyi, crudely hurling it onto the ground and saying, "This is the head of a Tufan defender from E'bao. I just counted; the E'bao garrison has fewer than two thousand men, far fewer than expected."

According to prior estimates, Fang Chongyong believed the Tufan troops on E'bao Ridge should number at least five thousand. Supplying here is difficult, but compared with the Tang forces in the Hexi Corridor…

The Tufan can easily sustain five thousand men to defend the crucial point of Wei Yuan. After all, Wei Yuan is the Tufan's logistical base, and E'bao Ridge is practically adjacent to it.

"The Tufan are urgently attacking Shibao City from Shanzhou, needing to gather forces; perhaps a main Tufan contingent originally near Wei Yuan has already moved south from Wei Yuan."

The elite troops of E'bao Ridge were probably also redeployed.

Guo Ziyi crossed his arms and said thoughtfully, having thought of something extremely terrifying.

If it is indeed as he suspects, it would only mean there is a Tufan spy within the Tang central command, or a high‑ranking minister colluding with the Tufan.

This person knows the Tang central command's military strategies intimately, also aware that the Hexi Army will campaign into the Western Regions and cannot send troops to support Longyou, so the Tufan relaxed their defense of Hexi Town, moving the northern main force north of Shanzhou to prepare a north‑south pincer on the Hehuang Valley, aiming for Shibao City.

Troop redeployment takes time, especially since the Tufan's logistics are far weaker than the Tang's, requiring even longer preparation, so they need to plan ahead.

Thus the Tufan likely learned very early that the Hexi Army would campaign into the Western Regions and began preparations long before.

That's why they now have this strategic deployment and hold the advantage within the Longyou Military Governor's defense zone!

Ordinary Tang border generals could not possibly know in advance the Hexi Army's Western Regions expedition.

Even if they knew, it would be recent; the Tufan clearly knew long before.

So who is the one betraying Tang's military plans?

His position must be very high, right?

Is he in the Ministry of War, or… beside a saint?

Guo Ziyi, thinking of this terrifying matter, dared not think further.

"Go set up defenses; Fang Jiedushi will be here in half a day."

Guo Ziyi let out a light sigh.

"Hmm."

He Changqi gave a slight nod, a hint of disdain on his face, then turned and left.

"Guo military envoy, this Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is so unruly and ferocious, will they ever…?"

"Who can restrain them?"

A personal guard leaned in and whispered.

"There is no first in literature, no second in martial arts; surely those who should manage them will do so—what the hell are you worrying about."

Guo Ziyi, exhausted, waved his hand, too lazy to argue with a guard.

……

At the highest point of Ebao Ling, more than a thousand Tubo soldiers' heads were fashioned into a head display and placed together. Vultures and other carrion birds constantly circled in the sky, seemingly humbled by the display's aura and daring not to descend.

Fang Chongyong, expression speechless, stared at the smug He Changqi before him, then glanced at the Tubo soldiers' heads used for the cityhead display, suppressed his inner anger and asked, "How many heads are in this display?"

"Reply, Jiedushi, 1,845 heads! Not a single one missing! Not a single Tubo soldier escaped!"

He Changqi's face was almost as if it read "Praise me quickly"; if he had a tail, his tail could be raised to the heavens.

"Are you saying this number of heads is too many or too few?"

Fang Chongyong continued to press, expression blank, already on the brink of exploding.

He Changqi recalled the pre‑departure meeting scene, reluctantly said, "It's far fewer than expected."

"Right, you also know it's fewer than expected, so what does that indicate?"

Fang Chongyong retorted.

"It indicates… the Tubo don't value Ebao Ling?"

He Changqi asked in confusion.

"Fool! This shows Wei Yuan is empty! The Tubo main force has already been redeployed!

You riding a horse, how could you not know to charge the troops into Wei Yuan! Still waiting for me to arrive, what the hell are you waiting for!

If I were to spend a whole day relieving myself on the road, would you wait a whole day too?"

Fang Chongyong roared at He Changqi, and every officer and soldier within dozens of meters heard him clearly, yet none dared to laugh.

"This time, this Jiedushi brought two thousand Yinqiang Xiaojie, each man with two horses.

Now, leave fifty men to guard Ebao Ling; the rest, follow this Jiedushi to charge Wei Yuan.

He Changqi, if you dare delay the operation again this time, this Jiedushi will cut off your head and use it as a banner!

Go! Leave now!

The horse riders, you have time to make the head display but no time for battle; it infuriates me!

Fang Chongyong drew his Swift Wind Illusion Blade, pointed at the Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers nearby who were stuck in a daze, and scolded, "Look, you bastards, all of you go prepare; after a single incense stick's time we set out! You think taking Ebao Ling means we've won, truly not afraid of the Tubo counter‑strike, so hurry up and get ready to depart!"

Hearing this, the officers scattered like birds and beasts; they had never seen Fang Chongyong so enraged.

"Jiedushi Fang, should we wait for Liu Junshi to bring the main force of the Great Dou army before acting? Right now Ebao has fewer than three thousand soldiers…"

Guo Ziyi walked up to Fang Chongyong and whispered a suggestion.

Holding Ebao Ling already places us on unassailable ground. Yet sending the vanguard before the troops and horses are assembled would cause us to gain and then lose Ebao Ling, creating a huge strategic disadvantage.

The current mission should be to hold this crucial battlefield node!

Guo Ziyi's suggestion is, in fact, very sound.

"The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is the emperor's personal troops.

Only the Tubo fear us; we do not fear the Tubo.

Now the heavens, the terrain, and the people are all on our side; if the Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers still dare not charge, then this army has no reason to exist.

An army without a martial spirit does not deserve to be elite.

Let the Guo military envoy guard Ebao; Liu Junshi (Liu Gong) should already have set out with the Great Dou army, and this Jiedushi has long sent a swift horse to inform him to bring his troops over.

"Jiedushi Fang… if our two thousand‑plus Yinqiang Xiaojie could sweep through Wei Yuan, what purpose would there be in bringing the Great Dou army over?"

Guo Ziyi, quick‑witted and versed in military strategy, posed a soul‑piercing question to Fang Chongyong.

If Liu Gong were to come, it would surely mean insufficient troops; lacking troops, we shouldn't set out to attack Wei Yuan now.

If the decision to depart has already been made, then the troops and horses are sufficient, and there's no need for Liu Gong to bring the Great Dou army for a "tour."

What on earth is Fang Chongyong trying to cause?

Guo Ziyi was deeply puzzled.

"This… the Jiedushi himself doesn't know.

Anyway, we'll just charge wherever; what if we break through the Tubo forces on the northern front?

The Jiedushi only knows that the Yinqiang Xiaojie is the emperor's personal army, capable of fighting to the last man, returning wrapped in horsehide.

Just don't be afraid of wolves in front or tigers behind; once we leave, we'll meet again at Wei Yuan.

Fang Chongyong flipped onto his horse and waved at Guo Ziyi.

The current Guo Ziyi still doesn't know that, in the future, when he seeks a livelihood in Great Tang, the only thing he can rely on will be the knife in his hand!

A great opportunity lies before us; how can we abandon sharpening the blade?

Fang Chongyong silently complained in his heart, but would not voice those words.

He actually wishes to be a smooth‑talking civil official, roaming carefree, yet reality forces him to be strong, forces him to be martial.

When the environment cannot adapt to you, you can only adapt to the environment, either actively or passively!

This is the choice of life!

Fang Chongyong sheathed his Swift Wind Illusion Blade, his gaze steady on the green meadow below the mountain.

To be able to subdue the Yinqiang Xiaojie and these lawless hill bandits, the commander must not be cowardly! After the splendor of Great Tang fades, cowards have no right to live.

In this battle, Fang Chongyong will make the name of the Yinqiang Xiaojie a taboo among the Tubo forces, causing them to turn pale at its mention! It will become the irreplaceable trump card beside Ji Ge, becoming his own killing‑blade to stand in Great Tang!

What is fear? Fang Chongyong's mouth curled into a cold smile.

The Yinqiang Xiaojie soldiers, in orderly fashion, began shedding their sheepskin coats and other cold‑weather gear, packing them into their packs and hanging them on their horses.

Then they donned leather armor, preparing to ride out.

The next target is the Tubo northern‑front logistics base: Wei Yuan!

The ignorant world still does not know that the legend of the Yinqiang Xiaojie begins here.

(End of chapter)