Chapter 409: The Final Battle at Last Arrives

On the barren plateau southwest of Hezhou.

The morning mist had not yet cleared, carrying the chill of early spring, enveloping the makeshift camp.

The earth‑colored tents were scattered sparsely at the foot of the low slope.

The stream of the Huang River's tributary, its water sound mingling with the crisp morning wind, swept over the ground littered with uncollected horse dung and campfire embers.

Over a thousand warhorses, in small groups, lowered their heads to nibble dry hay mixed with bean cakes, and the occasional white breath from their nostrils vanished swiftly in the cool wind.

The garrison soldiers either leaned against the tent poles to nap or polished their sabers and arrowheads, while occasional low murmurs were carried away by the wind.

In the command tent at the center of the camp, Wang Xiong lay on the table, his fingers stabbing heavily into the spread map; his chin bore dense, stiff stubble, his gaze sharp with ferocity, and he lifted his chin toward Helian Shi and He Ba Le:

"Brothers, tomorrow we'll set an ambush here..."

"What if we go after that whole bunch of Tuyuhun, how about it?"

Helian Shi immediately set aside the Horse Whip in his hand and stepped forward; a fresh shallow scar on his cheek marked the recent raid on Tuyuhun cavalry.

He pressed his palm on the edge of the map, squinting at the steep slopes on both sides of the valley mouth, then measured with his index finger the distance from the valley to the stronghold; his Adam's apple twitched, and he broke into a grin: "Good!"

As soon as the words fell, he sprang upright, slamming his right hand hard onto his Leather Armor thigh; the smile on his face vanished instantly, his brows knotted, and he muttered angrily: "That scrawny Xiahou Shun, truly unplayable..."

"If we can't beat them, we can't— and they still call for reinforcements!"

Even with the Crown Prince of Tuyuhun's superior forces, their reckless aid‑seeking behavior hardly merits the title of a grassland eagle?

It's nothing but a spineless quail!

"Exactly!"

He Ba Le cradled a coarse earthen bowl, the white steam of hot millet porridge making him squint; his sand‑streaked face still bore lingering fatigue.

It was the dust from the dawn raid on the Tuyuhun camp, just returned.

He sipped the porridge, yet his ears caught Helian Shi's tirade; when the other reached a peak of ranting, he immediately set the bowl down, splashing a few drops of broth onto the grass litter.

"Useless thing!" He Ba Le wiped his mouth, his voice hoarse and guttural from the hot porridge.

The enemy, originally coping with constant raids and reduced to just over three thousand, had still been handling it with ease...

But who could have imagined that the fellow surnamed Xiahou would, damn it, pull another three thousand cavalry from within Tuyuhun, instantly raising the pressure!

Just as they spoke, a rapid footfall rang outside the camp tent, accompanied by Dou Luling's slightly loud report:

"Brother Wang, this envoy brings the Grand General's urgent order!"

"It is to be handed to you personally..."

The three inside the tent were all startled by the words.

He Ba Le finished the millet porridge in a few mouthfuls, and Helian Shi also halted his muttering, turning his head toward the tent entrance.

The curtain was pulled aside from outside, and Dou Luling, cloaked in a dark mantle, hurried in.

Behind him followed a tall man in dark embroidered robes, the hem and cuffs stitched with fine silver‑threaded cloud patterns.

"The Grand General's urgent order?"

Brother Wang murmured the repeat, then said briskly: "Bring the envoy here quickly!"

Having left them to their own devices for so long, finally a new command arrives...

The embroidered‑clad envoy stepped half a pace forward, bowing slightly: "Honored to see you, General Wang!"

"No need for formalities!" He quickly raised his hand in a feigned support, his fingertips still dusted with charcoal from the map, "Our business is still urgent..."

He spoke a bit faster, his eyes showing a hint of urgency.

The command that could make the embroidered envoy rush here day and night must be of great importance, and cannot be delayed.

Upon hearing this, the embroidered envoy straightened, dropped the courtesy, and immediately produced from his chest a folded Silk Scroll, its edges bound with fine silk thread.

In the center lay a perfectly square vermilion seal, its pattern clear and vivid.

He lifted the Silk Scroll with both hands to Wang Xiong's face.

"Great! Excellent!"

Wang Xiong snatched it eagerly, his fingertips trembling with haste, swiftly unfurling the Silk Scroll; his eyes scanned the characters like torches, moving so fast that even his brows lifted slightly with the words.

His voice brimmed with uncontainable excitement as he raised his hand and slapped his thigh hard.

Speaking, he lifted the Silk Scroll toward the candle flame, glanced again, admiration shining in his eyes: "Truly worthy of the Grand General, truly the soldier‑immortal of Great Zhou!"

"Hahaha!"

Before the words finished, he suddenly threw his head back in a hearty, resonant laugh.

He laughed, leaning forward and back, one hand pressing the map to steady himself, the other still clutching the order, his dark stubble trembling with each grin.

Helian Shi rubbed his hands, stepped forward, and patted Wang Xiong's arm, his face urgent: "Brother Wang, stop laughing!"

"What does the Grand General's urgent order say? Tell us quickly!"

He said, then leaned forward to peer at the Silk Scroll, but the characters were too small and distant to read, making him impatiently smack his lips.

He Ba Le stepped close, nodding repeatedly: "Indeed!"

He scratched the back of his head, his face full of uncontainable curiosity.

His heart felt like a rabbit in a pocket, thumping rapidly.

What could it be that makes someone laugh so heartily?

The two, one on each side of Wang Xiong, stared fixedly at the order in his hand, their breathing a few beats faster than usual.

Wang Xiong, still smiling, handed the Silk Scroll forward to the two, his fingertips still trembling—

It was uncontainable excitement.

His voice rose a few pitches with excitement, eyebrows animated as he patted the map: "The Grand General has crushed the Liuren rebel army, beheaded the Tongtian Society leader at Fenglin!"

"Killed eight thousand enemies, captured over thirty thousand!"

"A great victory!"

His eyes shone like blazing flames.

What does the Liuren rebels' annihilation mean?

It means they can concentrate superior forces and go after that damn Tu Gu Hun Crown Prince!

Helian Shi seized the Silk Scroll with both hands, brought it close to the candle, squinting as he swiftly scanned, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the characters, then suddenly slapped his thigh, threw his head back and burst into a hearty laugh, shaking the horses outside the camp to neigh twice: "It still has to be the Grand General; if he doesn't act, that's fine, but once he does, it's a feat that shakes the heavens!"

"This time we can finally wipe out the Tongtian Society completely..."

As he spoke, his laughter grew more intense, and his hand gripping the Silk Scroll couldn't help but tremble.

His knuckles whitened from the strain, and even the shallow scar on his cheek flushed red.

At that moment, Helian Shi finally understood why Wang Xiong was grinning so broadly...

This truly is a tremendous piece of good news!

Dou Luling stood nearby, his eyes and eyebrows already brimming with amusement; at this moment he couldn't help but step forward, gazing at the Silk Scroll, his face full of unabashed reverence, sighing: "That is the Great Zhou's soldier‑sage; in the blink of an eye, the Tongtian Society and the rebels were reduced to ash!"

Originally, Dou Luling thought that this Tongtian Society, dragging the Liuren along, was a raging force; even with Lord Chen Yan's abilities, it would at least take a month or two to deal with...

Who could have expected the good news to arrive so swiftly?

The direct grandson of the war god Chen Hu Lao Zhuguo is probably surpassing his predecessor!

Wang Xiong's smile gradually faded; he retrieved the crumpled Silk Scroll, lifted his hand and gently smoothed it, pressing his palm over the seal imprint, his tone instantly turning solemn and unusually serious: "Back to business, the Grand General orders us to lead the Tu Gu Hun army to Fuhan!"

The laughter inside the camp fell silent, and Helian Shi and He Ba Le's excitement faded, replaced by solemn expressions.

Dou Luling's eyes suddenly brightened; the hand that had been hanging at his side clenched into a fist, a feeling of relief flooding him as he exclaimed: "We've been suppressed for so long, and now we finally don't have to 'escape' endlessly!"

The final decisive battle is finally about to begin...

Wang Xiong's smile vanished completely, a chilling ruthlessness flashing in his eyes; he glanced at Dou Luling, Helian Shi, and He Ba Le, his voice low and ominous like a Dark Hawk: "Brothers, for this final deployment against Tu Gu Hun, I'm going to give that Xiahou Shun brat a harsh one!"

Having said that, he pulled the three toward the map and whispered in a voice only the four of them could hear.

"Fine, let's do it that way!"

Helian Shi, after hearing that, sprang to his feet and punched his own palm.

His face radiated uncontrollable excitement, his breathing grew heavier, and his hands kept rubbing in front of him, clearly unable to suppress the inner restlessness.

"I've been holding it in for so long, and now my hands are itching!"

He Ba Le snatched the curved sword leaning against the edge of the camp, the rope‑wrapped hilt creaking as he gripped it.

Having said that, he swung a slash, the blade cutting through the air with a light "whoosh", his eyes filled with eager ferocity.

There's no way around it; we've always followed tactics, killing without pleasure, without a thrilling, exhilarating fight.

On the sunlit slope.

The Tu Gu Hun army camp stretched out, its domed canopy glinting oily under the scorching noon sun.

Inside the main camp, a low table at the center displayed a sheepskin map, its corners weighted down with copper paper, and the general movements of the Zhou Army were sketched in ochre.

Xiahou Shun leaned against a fox‑fur padded seat, his silver‑gray battle armor over a woven‑gold vest, his fingers tracing the map, his tone dripping with unabashed arrogance:

"Now we have reinforcements; with overwhelming superior forces, we can finish that wretched Chen Yan brat in a single battle..."

He sat up abruptly, his fingertips jabbed heavily on the map, marking the location of "Black Pine Gorge"—

That spot was the mandatory route for the Zhou Army's southeast retreat, flanked by sheer cliffs that allowed only a few riders side by side.

"I, the Crown Prince, intend to set an ambush here first, then encircle from all sides!"

All this time with no results, being led in circles, even suffering notable losses, Xiahou Shun despised Chen Yan.

Now with favorable heaven, earth, and people, we can lay a net of heaven and earth; I doubt he can still escape!

Several Tu Gu Hun generals inside the camp leaned forward, eyes fixed on the map.

"Good plan!"

Su Hegui nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing, saying: "They certainly won't let any chance to harass us slip..."

After such a long pursuit, they have already grasped the Zhou Army's habits.

Xiahou Shun's arrogance faded entirely, replaced by twisted ruthlessness; a fierce hatred surged in his eyes, his voice hoarse from gritted teeth: "Others can be killed, but Chen Yan must be captured alive!"

"I, the Crown Prince, will slice him piece by piece!"

Saying that, he clenched his fist hard and smashed it onto the sheepskin map.

Only by carving that Chen bastard a hundred thousand cuts can Xiahou Shun's hatred be satisfied...

"Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack!"

"The Zhou Army is coming again!"

Outside the camp, a sudden burst of urgent shouts erupted, accompanied by soldiers' cries and clanking armor, instantly shattering the camp's tactical atmosphere.

Immediately after, a sharp "woo—!" of a cattle horn blared.

The sound was shrill and urgent, echoing over the camp, its penetration extremely strong.

It was evident that, faced with relentless assaults, the Tu Gu Hun great army had already been worn out...

Helian Shi surged forward on his Warhorse, the crimson‑brown steed's four hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

Clad in armor that glimmered coldly under the blazing sun, his right hand gripped the Zhangba Horse Spear, its tip flashing a chilling light as he swung it fiercely at the panicked Tu Gu Hun soldiers—

A Tu Gu Hun soldier who had just drawn his curved blade couldn't dodge in time, and the spear thrust him into the air, blood splattering everywhere.

"His mother—!"

"It's been ages since I've killed so enjoyably!"

Helian Shi's warhorse vaulted over the low fence at the front of the camp, the spear sweeping left and right, cutting down three or four enemies still strapped in armor.

Behind him, over four hundred cavalry followed closely, their formation like a sharp wedge, thrusting through the gap in the camp gate, hooves trampling tent ropes and collapsing several tents.

That charging momentum was unstoppable.

Each thrust of the spear sent a spray of blood, the army surged straight into the camp's depths, toppling stacked piles of Provisions, cutting the reins of horses, and the entire Tu Gu Hun camp descended into chaos.

In less than half a incense stick's time, Helian Shi, He Ba Le and the others led over four hundred cavalry through the opposite side of the camp, leaving behind a scene of devastation...

"Before there were only about a hundred riders, harassing and shouting from afar with bows and arrows....."

"This time not only changed formation, but also came in such numbers, at least several times more!"

Ni Luozhou, who went out first, leaned on his curved blade at the camp gate, dust still clinging to his beard, watching the cavalry's distant backs, keenly noticing a clue; his eyes were full of doubt, his brows knotted, and he muttered to himself.

Something's off, very off!

This is vastly different from the Zhou Army's usual tactics......

Xiahou Shun strode out, his curved blade at his waist still swaying slightly, his face full of irritated anger; he looked toward the Zhou Army's receding smoke, then scanned the disordered camp, and quickly judged, "It must be a full‑scale breakout!"

Immediately, without hesitation, he drew the curved blade at his waist, its edge pointing to the heavens, a long‑suppressed ferocity swirling in his eyes, and he bellowed, "Come on, troops, assemble!"

"Follow the Crown Prince to annihilate the Zhou Army and capture Chen Yan!"

The personal guards outside the tent immediately took the order, turned to deliver it, and the sharp horn sounded again, this time bearing the authority of a rally.

Although the soldiers of Tugu Hun had just endured the chaos of a surprise attack, they still swiftly hauled the Warhorse, leapt onto it, and the saber gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Xiahou Shun stared fixedly at the direction where the Zhou Army vanished, his eyes filled with a killing intent determined to succeed!

——

PS: A family member is critically ill; I probably won't be able to post updates these days. Evening Breeze will try to ensure a steady 4,000 words per day, sorry for the inconvenience, dear seniors.