Chapter 73

The atmosphere in the Wusun palace was extremely tense.

The cold wind howled beneath the overcast sky.

The army of Wusun King Lie Jiaomi, like a tide, repeatedly struck the Han Army's final defensive line, with deafening battle cries.

Although Li Guang and Liuche led the soldiers in a desperate resistance, the enemy forces surged forward and the defensive line was on the verge of collapse.

The palace walls were covered with sword and blade scars, as if narrating the brutality of the battle.

"Charge! Capture Li Guang and Liuche alive, and there will be generous rewards!"

Lie Jiaomi rode on his warhorse, his eyes flashing with madness and triumph, he brandished his saber and shouted hoarsely.

Under his command, the Wusun soldiers, disregarding casualties, madly surged toward the palace gate.

Inside the palace, the Han Army had already fallen into despair; even the usually composed Emperor Wu of Han showed determination on his face, and Li Guang's every sword swing seemed to expend his last strength, striving to take down an opponent with him.

At the moment when the Wusun and Xiongnu kept charging, the Han Army was at its most desperate.

Bang bang bang!

Only the sounds of handgun fire and thunderbolt bomb explosions could be heard coming from the distant palace gate.

Moments later, dust rose as a cavalry unit swiftly approached like a gust of wind.

Lie Jiaomi's heart jolted; he turned his head, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

And inside the palace, Li Guang and Liuche exchanged a surprised glance.

"The reinforcements have arrived!"

Li Guang immediately understood that it was the emperor's reinforcements that had arrived.

The Han Army, which had just been despairing, instantly revived and organized a counterattack in an orderly manner.

Under attack from both sides, the Wusun and Xiongnu forces quickly collapsed and could not form an army.

"Make way, Your Highness! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

At that moment, a loud shout came from the crowd.

All one saw was Huo Qubing, clad in black armor like a war god, charging ahead with his long spear waving; wherever he went, enemies fell from their horses.

"Old general, don't panic, Huo Qubing is here!"

Under Huo Qubing's command, the Han Army's cavalry was like a sharp blade, instantly piercing the Wusun and Xiongnu formations and throwing them into chaos.

"Damned Han Army, damned Huo Qubing!"

Lie Jiaomi kept roaring, filled with resentment; he never imagined that the Han Army would actually pursue him all the way to the Wusun capital.

Whether it was the initial invasion of Han territory or his current sorry flight, he for the first time witnessed the terror of the Han Army, which seemed relentless.

Even during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Han Army had never been this radical.

He let out a long sigh, seeing the situation was dire, he turned his horse to flee, but Huo Qubing locked eyes on him.

Huo Qubing squeezed his legs against the horse's belly and chased after him like an arrow released from a bow.

After a few rounds, Lie Jiaomi was captured alive by Huo Qubing, like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Meanwhile, the distant Xiongnu prince, seeing Lie Jiaomi captured, was greatly alarmed, dared not linger in battle, and fled with his remnants in panic.

By this point, the Han Army's crisis was completely lifted; other Wusun people, seeing Lie Jiaomi captured, also fled in panic or simply laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Huo Qubing brought Lie Jiaomi into the palace, and when he saw the figure sitting on the throne, lightly holding his arm wound and gazing at him, he couldn't help but stare.

His heart, which feared nothing and looked down on all under heaven, also involuntarily clenched tightly, and his whole body began to tremble.

"Your Majesty, is it you?"

Huo Qubing's voice trembled slightly; he could not believe what he saw before him.

Emperor Wu of Han slowly rose to his feet, his eyes filled with complex emotions: relief, guilt, and above all, the excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

He stepped down from the throne step by step, each step bearing the majesty and vicissitudes of an emperor.

"Zimeng, it is I."

The voice of Emperor Wu of Han, though weary, remained firm and strong.

Huo Qubing's eyes instantly reddened; his knees gave way and he fell with a thud to the ground, dropping Lie Jiaomi like a rag doll.

"Your Majesty, you… you are not… why are you here?"

Huo Qubing's voice carried a hint of choking, his tone full of doubt.

Emperor Wu of Han walked up to Huo Qubing, gently helped him up, clasped his shoulders tightly with both hands, his eyes full of admiration and emotion.

Then he briefly explained what had recently happened, leaving Huo Qubing shocked yet also filled with helplessness, sorrow, and other complex emotions.

He raised his head, looking at the familiar yet somewhat weary face of Emperor Wu of Han, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The Emperor Wu of Han before him was a paternal uncle who had shown him the kindness of a benefactor and had once favored the Huo clan without equal;

but also the emperor who maneuvered laterally and vertically, kept power under tight control, and for the sake of securing his realm did not hesitate to fake his death and set a trap, plunging everyone into a vortex of political intrigue.

But Huo Qubing knew that without Emperor Wu's recognition and cultivation, he would merely be an unnamed horse servant in the Princess Pingyang's mansion, and how could he have achieved the glorious feats of sealing the Wolf's Rest and become the renowned Champion Marquis?

This gratitude, as weighty as Mount Tai, filled him with deep appreciation and loyalty toward Emperor Wu of Han.

However, this time Emperor Wu's ploy of feigning death to test everyone's loyalty inevitably left Huo Qubing with a sense of helplessness and bitterness.

He does not fail to understand imperial tactics, but in this cold game of power, countless soldiers' blood and loyalty were treated as chips, which caused him a faint ache in his heart.

Yet Huo Qubing's heart still held more understanding and support for Emperor Wu of Han.

He understood that, occupying the imperial throne, one bears the heavy responsibility for all under heaven, and every decision concerns the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the Great Han.

Emperor Wu of Han devoted his life to expanding territory, driving out the Xiongnu, and seeking a prosperous age for the Han people; this grand talent and lofty ambition is sincerely admired by Huo Qubing.

But now, his paternal cousin, the more illustrious and martial Liu Ju, has become the new emperor of the Han, and the Han is steadily advancing toward a bright future.

And Emperor Wu of Han has reappeared here, obviously still attached to his former realm and power, unwilling to relinquish them.

This again places Huo Qubing in a dilemma.

"I feigned death, truly a helpless measure, merely to test the loyalty of all sides and secure the Han realm. I have caused you suffering."

At this moment, Emperor Wu of Han let out a long sigh, sighing endlessly.

Although his heart was filled with complex emotions, Huo Qubing deeply understood that his fate had long been tightly bound to the Han, to Emperor Wu of Han, and to the new emperor Liu Ju, tightly bound.

Furthermore, although emperors are ruthless, they are ultimately family bound by blood.

Thus, Huo Qubing took a deep breath, the light of determination reignited in his eyes, he again knelt on one knee, and solemnly said:

"Your Majesty, no matter what the road ahead holds, I will continue as before, serving you with my utmost effort, and for the Han's eternal prosperity, I will devote myself completely!"

Emperor Wu of Han nodded heavily, looking at this nephew whom he himself had raised, who had earned great merit for the Han, who still devoted himself to the Han, who had saved him from danger like a heavenly soldier, the Han's Prince Who Spreads Prestige, his eyes involuntarily moistened.

Huo Qubing likewise felt the same, saying: "No matter what, Your Majesty still lives; you will surely preserve the Han's eternal realm. As long as Your Majesty is safe and sound, all the hardships I have endured amount to nothing."

"Zimeng, I understand you; we two need say no more. Alas, if it weren't for your timely arrival, I and the old general would likely face more misfortune than fortune today."

Speaking, Emperor Wu of Han turned his head to look at Li Guang beside him; Li Guang nodded slightly, his eyes likewise filled with emotion.

Although in earlier years the Li and Huo clans, due to Liuche's meddling, had repeatedly produced grudges, but later they were reconciled through Liu Ju's mediation; now he feels only mutual appreciation for Huo Qubing and gratitude for his coming to the rescue.

He helped Emperor Wu of Han back onto the throne, then said to Huo Qubing: "Zimeng, where is the emperor's carriage?"

Emperor Wu of Han's expression tightened; the scene of his parting with Liu Ju remained vivid in his mind, and suddenly a sense of unease arose in his heart.

Huo Qubing said: "They are already stationed outside the city, awaiting my return to deliver the victory report."

Having said that, he and Li Guang simultaneously turned their gazes toward Liuche.

Liuche took a deep breath, his gaze toward the outside of the palace.