Chapter 221: Emperor Wu of Han Ambushed

Howling winds, yellow sand filling the sky, on the vast desert battlefield, the Han Army fiercely clashed with the Roman-Parthian allied forces.

The Han Army's red battle flag snapped in the wind; beneath it, Huo Qubing and Li Guang wore heavy armor, gripped their spears, eyes blazing, fixed firmly on the enemy ahead.

The Roman legion formed the classic tortoise-shell formation, soldiers tightly locked, shields interlocking to create an impregnable line, slowly advancing on the Han Army.

The Parthian cavalry, like agile wolves, maneuvered on the flanks, seeking gaps in the Han Army's lines, continually firing arrows that fell like rain.

Huo Qubing bellowed: 'Soldiers, follow me in charge!'

Having spoken, he spurred ahead, leading elite cavalry to charge the Parthian horsemen.

The Han Army cavalry followed close behind, like a sharp blade thrusting into the enemy's flank; seeing this, the Parthian horsemen quickly scattered, using their mobility to engage the Han cavalry.

For a moment, shouts of killing shook the battlefield, blades flashed, soldiers from both sides fought bravely, and blood stained the yellow sand.

Li Guang, meanwhile, led the infantry in a frontal clash with the Roman legion.

Han Army infantry wielded spears, attempting to breach the Roman legion's defenses.

However, the Roman legion's tortoise-shell formation was impenetrable; each Han Army charge was repelled.

Roman soldiers seized the moment to hurl javelins; the sharp javelins whistled through the air, pierced the Han Army's lines, and many Han soldiers fell.

Although Huo Qubing and Li Guang fought bravely and the Han Army soldiers resisted desperately, the allied forces outnumbered them and coordinated well, gradually putting the Han Army in a dire situation of being few against many.

The soldiers were exhausted, casualties kept rising, and the line began to waver.

Huo Qubing watched comrades fall around him, his heart burning with anxiety.

He brandished his spear again, shouting: 'Soldiers, do not retreat! For the glory of the Han, kill!'

Yet under the allies' fierce assault, the Han Army's resistance grew ever harder.

Li Guang, anxious, tried to organize another charge to break the allied encirclement.

But the Roman legion and Parthian cavalry cooperated, continually shrinking the Han Army's space to survive.

The Han Army fell into multiple layers of encirclement; the situation was perilously critical.

Under the fierce onslaught of the Roman-Parthian allied forces, the line collapsed utterly; soldiers discarded helmets and armor, fleeing in panic into the territory of Mo Jie Tuo Kingdom.

Huo Qubing and Li Guang, drenched in blood, led the remaining elite troops, fighting while retreating, trying to block the allies' pursuit.

'Withdraw! Withdraw quickly!'

Huo Qubing brandished his spear, fiercely cutting down the enemy rushing forward, shouting loudly.

His armor was covered in sword cuts; blood continually seeped from his wounds, staining his battle robe red.

Li Guang, meanwhile, held a strong bow; his arrows never missed, each shot felling an enemy.

But the allied forces surged like endless waves, and the Han Army's resistance grew increasingly futile.

At that moment, on a hill behind the allied forces, Roman consul Ma Lue, clad in shining golden armor, rode a sturdy tall horse; beside him was Parthian King Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi.

Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi wore a crown set with a large ruby, draped in a splendid purple cloak that snapped in the wind.

Ma Lue looked at the Han Army's sorry flight, his face breaking into a triumphant sneer, laughter echoing across the battlefield: 'Haha, the so-called Han Army is nothing special! Under the joint attack of my Roman legion and Parthian warriors, they are utterly helpless!'

Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi stroked his neatly trimmed beard, laughing along, he waved his emerald-inlaid riding crop, pointing at the retreating Han Army and said:

'These Han troops have long lost their former might; this time I will make sure they have no return! Let the Han know the consequence of offending Parthia!'

After suffering heavy casualties, the Han Army finally retreated into Mo Jie Tuo Kingdom's territory.

The king of Mo Jie Tuo Kingdom, hearing of the Han Army's defeat, though his face showed reluctance, still agreed, out of awe of Han prestige, to let the Han Army temporarily garrison the border fortress.

After the Han Army entered the fortress, they immediately began constructing defensive works.

The soldiers, dragging their weary bodies, hauled massive stones, dug trenches, and set up anti-cavalry obstacles and abatis around the fortress.

Huo Qubing and Li Guang, with no time to rest, personally inspected the lines, boosting the soldiers' morale.

'Soldiers, although we have suffered a temporary defeat, we are sons of the Han and cannot easily give up! As long as we hold this position, we still have a chance to counterattack!' Huo Qubing's voice echoed in the fortress; hearing it, the soldiers' eyes reignited with fighting spirit.

However, the allies gave the Han Army no chance to catch their breath.

A few days later, the Roman-Parthian allied forces pursued to the border of Mo Jie Tuo Kingdom and surrounded the fortress where the Han Army was stationed.

The allies set up camp outside the fortress, built siege engines, and prepared to launch a new round of attacks.

Ma Lue and Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi rode their horses, patrolling around the fortress.

Ma Lue pointed his riding crop at the fortress and said to Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi: 'Once we take this fortress, I will make Emperor Wu of Han know the fate of opposing us!'

Mi Te Li Da Ti Er Shi nodded firmly, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes: 'Exactly! This time I will severely wound the Han's vitality, so they dare not enter our lands again! Parthian territory—how could we allow them to intrude at will!'

Faced with the allied encirclement, the Han Army fell into difficulty.

Food and water grew scarce, soldiers were many sick and wounded, and combat effectiveness plummeted.

Even so, the Han Army soldiers held their posts, refusing to yield.

With their flesh and blood, they erected a solid line, resisting the allies' repeated assaults.

The raging wind carried yellow sand, ravaging the desert battlefield.

The Roman-Parthian allied forces, like a surging tide, launched an even more fierce offensive against the Han Army.

Ma Lue, clad in gleaming golden armor, rode a jet-black warhorse, spurred ahead, shouting loudly: 'Roman warriors, follow me in charge! Crush these Han troops!'

The heavy Roman sword in his hand flashed cold light in the sun; each swing flung a spray of blood, and wherever it passed, Han soldiers fell.

Li Guang and Huo Qubing, anxious, led the remnants of the Han Army, trying to block Ma Lue's advance.

Li Guang nocked and drew his bow; the sharp arrow whistled as it flew toward Ma Lue.

However, Ma Lue reacted with extreme agility, deflecting each arrow with his sword, and continued charging deep into the Han Army.

Seeing this, Huo Qubing spurred forward to meet him, his spear thrusting like a swimming dragon at Ma Lue. Ma Lue bellowed, raising his sword to meet it; with a resounding 'clang,' sparks flew, and a powerful shockwave burst from their clash.

After a fierce battle, Ma Lue, relying on rich combat experience and extraordinary strength, gradually broke through the Han Army's defenses, scattering the forces of Li Guang and Huo Qubing.

Afterward, he led a detachment of elite cavalry straight for Emperor Wu of Han's marching tent.

Inside the tent, Emperor Wu of Han wore a solemn expression, hearing the shouts of battle outside, he gripped the sword at his waist.

Just then, Ma Lue, like an angry male lion, kicked open the tent flap and charged in with his cavalry.

Ma Lue's eyes were like torches, locked onto Emperor Wu of Han, and he laughed wildly: "Lowly Han emperor, today is your doom! Surrender obediently, maybe you can still save your life!"

Emperor Wu of Han showed no fear, stepped forward, and coldly stared at Ma Lue: "Ma Lue, don't be arrogant! My Han will never submit to you!"

As his words fell, the guards inside the tent quickly surrounded him, protecting Emperor Wu of Han in the middle, and engaged in a death struggle with Ma Lue and his men. Blade light and sword flashes flickered, shouts of battle and clashing weapons intertwined.

Ma Lue wielded his heavy sword, lunging left and right, trying to break through the guards' defense and seize Emperor Wu of Han. But the guards resisted desperately; for a moment, Ma Lue could not even get half a step closer to Emperor Wu of Han.