Chapter 410: Empty City Stratagem

Damn it!

Zhong Lifang yanked the rein of the warhorse beside him, and in his haste to mount, the iron plates of his armor clanged together with a chaotic "Clang!"

His face was still dusted with grass clippings from the recent charge, his eyes filled with angry red veins; he raised his hand and struck the horse's back hard, shouting curses: "I've been wanting to slaughter them for a long time, you Zhou Army mudskippers!"

He then drew the curved blade at his waist, its edge flashing a fierce light in the sun, and spat toward the Zhou Army's retreat direction: "This time we must not let them escape!"

These days, the Zhou Army would finish their marauding raids and then flee; he had been stewing in anger for a long time!

This brazen charge now poured oil on the fire, completely igniting his fury…

Su He Gui, one‑handed on the saddle, flipped onto his horse and swung the long bow from behind to the front.

The bowstring stretched straight in the sunlight, his face full of murderous aura.

Ni Luozhou no longer hesitated, patting the warhorse's neck.

He pressed the stirrup and leapt smoothly, the curved blade slanting across his waist.

His gaze solemnly fixed on the Zhou Army's retreat direction.

At that moment, a rapid gallop of hooves approached from afar; Xia Hou Shun, already clad in heavy black‑iron armor, bore a ferocious wolf‑head motif on his shoulder armor.

He halted his warhorse, looking down from his height at the three, a fierce grin curling his mouth, and ordered: "General Zhong, General Su, General Ni, each command a thousand cavalry and, together with the Crown Prince, split into four directions to block the Zhou State cavalry led by Chen Yan without any blind spots!"

Speaking, he raised his hand and traced a large circle with his curved blade.

Xia Hou Shun was incredulous; this time the multi‑directional pursuit and blockade…

could still let Chen Yan and the Zhou Army slip away unharmed?

"Understood!"

"We will make sure Chen Yan and the Zhou Army have no return!"

Zhong, Su and Ni responded in unison, their voices booming, stirring the surrounding dust.

Without exception, all eyes were wide open, anger swirling within.

After all, each harbored a belly of fire, desperate to vent…

And this brazen Zhou Army was the perfect target!

As the words fell, Zhong Lifang was the first to urge his horse forward, the horse whip snapping with a "Whap!"

Su He Gui followed closely, his Long Spear angled toward the sky, the cavalry behind instantly spreading out, racing in one direction.

Ni Luozhou led his troops to turn northeast, the hooves over the rocky ground emitting a rapid "Clop clop" sound.

Xia Hou Shun watched the three cavalry columns disappear, a sinister smile curling his mouth, he brushed dust from his face, and with his legs he forcefully squeezed the horse's belly: "Relay my order, all forces accelerate! Today, we shall make the Zhou Army meet their end beneath the blade!"

Having spoken, he rode ahead toward the center road, with over three thousand Elite Cavalry trailing behind.

The thunder of hooves shook the earth, causing a slight tremor, the rising dust intertwining with the dust clouds of the other three columns.

Four fierce gray‑yellow streaks were drawn across the Wilderness.

An hour later.

Dou Luling, one‑handed on the horse rein, turned his body and glanced back.

On the horizon several miles behind, a gray‑yellow dust plume stretched like a long dragon, rolling toward them.

Though the hoofbeats were distant, they still sounded like muffled thunder, even the ground beneath seemed to tremble faintly.

He tugged at his wind‑tossed helmet, turned to look at the nearby galloping Wang Xiong, a teasing grin curling his mouth, his voice laced with mockery: "Brother Wang, Xia Hou Shun is really pursuing us with extraordinary tenacity!"

Speaking, he raised his hand and pointed toward the front of the dust plume; though faces were obscured, several Tuyuhun wolf‑head banners flapped in the wind, the cavalry beneath them urging their horses desperately, even the warhorse's neigh drifted faintly: "It seems the resentment built up over these days makes him want to devour us whole!"

From afar, the horse whips were being drawn so hard the horses' hindquarters were bleeding…

This fierce, urgent drive felt as if they were strapped with golden ingots.

The bite is truly no ordinary death!

Wang Xiong, hearing this, turned his head, a knowing smile curling his mouth, a sly glint flashing in his eyes, he asked calmly: "Isn't that just perfect?"

He lifted his hand to smooth his wind‑tossed cloak, his fingertips brushing the Bronze Button set in the armor's collar, his voice lowered yet composed: "If he wants to eat, let him eat properly!"

This unrelenting chase hits precisely their deepest desire…

As the top‑tier gourmand, Lord Chen Yan must have prepared a sumptuous feast!

Having spoken, his gaze swept over the undulating terrain ahead, the low hills at the edge of the Fuhan Basin faintly visible in the distance.

The smile in his eyes instantly faded, leaving only a cold, sharp edge.

Wang Xiong said no more, swung his horse whip violently, striking the black horse's haunch hard.

The black horse let out a long neigh, its four hooves kicking up, speed surging instantly, its mane exploding in the wind like a black lightning bolt charging forward.

Wang Xiong lowered his body, clinging tightly to the horse's back, showing no intention to pause, and galloped straight toward Fuhan.

Over four hundred cavalry followed behind, the formation staying compact, without a hint of disorder.

At the rear of the unit, He Ba Le tugged the horse rein, deliberately slowing to fall at the tail of the line.

Creating a half‑arrow distance from the cavalry ahead.

He took down his bow, his left hand steady supporting the bow arm, his right hand drawing three wolf‑fang arrows from the quiver, twirling his fingertips to place the arrows side by side on the string, the motion crisp and efficient.

At this moment, the two most urgent Tuyuhun riders, now within less than thirty paces, brandished their curved blades and shouted angrily, wholly unprepared for what was about to happen…

He Ba Le's eyes darkened, his arms suddenly exerted force, pulling the bowstring to full, the bow bending like a full moon.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh" three arrows flew in rapid succession, the shafts slicing the air with a sharp whistling, heading straight for the two men's faces and chests.

The foremost Tuyuhun rider just raised his curved blade when an arrow pierced his throat; he never managed a scream before flipping off his horse.

The cavalry behind, seeing this, were startled, trying to pull their reins to evade, but it was too late; the arrow struck the horse's belly.

The warhorse, in pain, reared up, throwing him to the ground; before he could rise, oncoming friendly cavalry from behind stepped on him under the hooves.

He Ba Le immediately nocked the bow, seized the chance, clamping his legs around the horse's belly, urging the horse to chase the forward unit.

"Clang!"

That final arrow, its cold gleam cutting the air, when it was only a few feet from Zhong Lifang, his pupils snapped shut, he lunged sideways onto the horse's back, simultaneously swinging his curved blade in a horizontal slash—

A crisp sound rang as the blade's edge precisely struck the arrow shaft.

The arrow was jolted and flew off at an angle, its gilded crown earring scraping and embedding into the nearby soil, while the arrow tail continued to hum with vibration.

Zhong Lifang straightened up, brushed the dust splattered on his cheek, stared at He Ba Le riding away, the red veins in his eyes deepening, and snarled through clenched teeth, "It's that arrow‑shooting ace of the Zhou Army again!"

Immediately, he swung the horse whip hard, striking the horse's haunch; the warhorse whinnied in pain and surged a few strides faster.

"Don't ever let me catch you, or I'll chop off all ten of your fingers…" Zhong Lifang gripped his curved blade, his knuckles whitening from the force, his voice seething with rage.

Both hands are gone; see what he can use to shoot arrows now!

Moreover, Zhong Lifang remembered clearly that many brothers had been broken by his hand; he must torture him to death to vent his hatred.

"Bite down tighter!"

Xiahou Shun leaned forward on his horse, the red tassel on his helmet snapped straight by the gale, his eyes fixed on the silhouettes of the Zhou Army cavalry ahead, pupils narrowed to needle points with fury, his facial muscles twisted into a snarling mask.

One hand clutched the horse rein, knuckles white, the other waved his curved blade, shouting at the cavalry on both sides, "We must not let the Zhou Army vanish again!"

The thunder of hooves made the ground tremble; his roar cut through the howling wind, striking each soldier's ear, "Anyone who captures Chen Yan alive will earn ten thousand taels of silver, a thousand heads of cattle and sheep, a hundred slaves, and fifty beautiful concubines!"

Before the words finished, Xiahou Shun again whipped his horse hard, striking the haunch; the warhorse whinnied in pain, its four hooves kicking up, and instantly closed the distance a bit more.

He stared at the wavering flags at the rear of the Zhou Army column, a cruel smile curling his mouth, "They won't run far; ahead lies the Bofhan Basin, a dead end!"

"So many rewards?!"

The Tuyuhun cavalry on both flanks, hearing such a heavy bounty, froze in astonishment, eyes wide with shock, even their urging of the horses paused for a beat—

Such a reward is something they might never earn after ten years of fighting on the grasslands!

In the next instant, someone let out a roar, "Charge! Capture Chen Yan alive!"

In an instant, all the cavalry surged like a horse whipped hard, greed and frenzy blazing in their eyes.

They leaned onto their horses, one hand gripping the rein, the other biting the curved blade, urging the warhorse with all their strength, the hooves striking the ground so hard that dust rose half a foot high.

The hoofbeats pounded densely, like a torrential rain striking the earth.

Roars, the crack of the whip, and the warhorse's whinny blended together.

Even the wind was swept forward by this frenzy.

After an unknown stretch of frantic gallop, the setting sun sank behind the western peaks, painting the horizon in golden‑red.

"Hoo— Hoo—"

Wang Xiong tightened the horse rein, his chest heaving from rapid breaths, beads of sweat trailing down his jawline and splattering onto the saddle, leaving a small damp stain.

He raised his hand to wipe his face, his gaze piercing the dusk, pointing at the faint outline of the city tower ahead, his voice hoarse yet powerful, "Bofhan City is right ahead!"

"Soldiers, we are about to fulfill the Grand General's command!"

"Charge forward in one surge!"

Though the city tower was vague in the twilight, it acted like a tonic, instantly igniting the troops' morale.

The over four hundred cavalry, previously slumped from the long chase, straightened their hunched backs, their eyes rekindling with light.

Some brushed fatigue from their faces, others patted their warhorses' necks, whispering encouragement; even the panting warhorses seemed to sense hope, their steps lightening.

"Charge!" someone shouted first, followed by a wave of uplifting cries.

Wang Xiong and Dou Luling suddenly squeezed their horses' flanks, the warhorses whinnying, and led the charge toward Bofhan City.

The cavalry behind them followed closely, the previously scattered formation instantly reformed.

The hoofbeats became dense and resolute again, like a black torrent racing toward the city tower.

Over four hundred riders galloped to the foot of Bofhan South City.

The hoofbeats thundered across the open city gate.

Wang Xiong first tightened the horse rein; his warhorse reared, its front hooves kicking up dust.

The massive city gate stood wide open.

He furrowed his brow, sharply lifted his gaze toward the city wall, and saw a figure standing by the rail in the light, "Someone's on the wall!"

Dou Luling gasped, her voice full of astonishment, pointing straight at the figure, "Is that the Grand General?!"

Chen Yan's robe fluttered slightly in the night wind, his face expressionless as he swept over the crowd below, raised his hand to brace the battlement, and shouted, "Enter the city gate directly, do not stop, head for the North Gate!"

"Understood!"

Wang Xiong answered, then without hesitation squeezed his horse's flank, the warhorse whinnying, and led the charge into the open city gate.

The over four hundred riders behind him followed, hooves clattering over the Qingshi slab road, producing a rapid "da‑da" that echoed through the empty street.

The formation pressed on without pause through the city's alleys, not seeing a single civilian along the way…

Wang Xiong led the cavalry toward the North Gate.

At that moment, General Wu, eyes narrowed as he stared ahead, suddenly raised his hand and signaled, "That person up ahead looks oddly familiar…"

Not far away stood a rider on a horse, his silhouette thin in the dusk yet firmly blocking the path.

As the troops drew nearer, the figure's outline sharpened—

He wore familiar armor, a snow‑white horse beneath him, and a ring‑pommel sword hanging at his waist.

"It's Kou Luo!" Wang Xiong's eyes lit with recognition; he immediately eased the rein, the warhorse slowing, and the over four hundred riders behind also reduced speed, the line halting neatly at the roadside.

"Everyone, the Grand General has ordered me to rendezvous here!"

Kou Luo bowed respectfully to Wang Xiong, Dou Luling and the others, his tone urgent yet steady, "Follow me quickly!"

Having said that, he pointed toward the North City Gate.

"A Luo, what about the Tuyuhun cavalry pursuing from behind?" Dou Luling urged her horse forward a step, brow furrowed, asking anxiously.

Kou Luo, hearing this, glanced sideways toward the direction of the South City Gate—

In the dusk, faint plumes of smoke could be seen in the distance.

A knowing smile curled his lips, and he patted the scabbard at his waist, "The Grand General has long prepared a countermeasure!"

Just as a incense stick burned out.

From the distant Wilderness beyond the South City Gate, a deafening sound of horse hooves came.

More than six thousand Tu Gu Hun pursuers, wrapped in swirling dust, raced forward.

"They've entered the city...."

"Damn it!"

Xia Hou Shun spurred his horse, standing at the front of the formation, staring at Fouhan City, fuming, and cursed, "Damn it, Chen Yan escaped again!"

Zhong Lifang, in a hurry, was flogging his horse's belly with a Horse Whip; when his gaze swept ahead he suddenly froze, pointed toward the gate and said, "Hey, the gate ahead is still open?!"

The others looked in the direction of the voice and indeed saw the massive city gate still ajar, its dark opening like a silent mouth.

At that moment, a melodious qin sound drifted suddenly from the city wall.

The music was clear and bright yet carried a chill, standing out sharply in the quiet night, utterly at odds with the earlier tension.

Su He Gui shouted suddenly, raising his voice, "Look, there's someone on the wall!" and pointed upward.

On the wall, Chen Yan wore no armor; a moon‑white robe fluttered in the night breeze, making his figure even more upright and graceful.

He sat upright at a low table, a seven‑string qin laid across his knees, his fingertips gently gathering and twisting the strings.

His expression was focused, as if the surrounding clamor of weapons mattered not to him.

A plain‑clothed maid stood beside the table, head bowed and eyes lowered.

The strings trembled under Chen Yan's fingertips, and the melodious sound poured out like flowing water—

At times it rang clear as birdsong in a hollow valley, at others it flowed gentle as a moonlit stream, spreading through the quiet dusk and even dampening the horse‑hooves and clamor below the city.

"Who is this person?"

"He's still playing the qin there..."

Zhong Lifang, not understanding, asked in confusion.

"Crown Prince, shall we enter the city?"

Su He Gui spurred his horse forward, came to Xia Hou Shun's side, and inquired.

"Enter!"

"Why not enter!"

Xia Hou Shun heard this, his brows sharply lifted, a disdainful sneer curling his mouth, and his restrained warhorse pawed irritably.

He raised his hand toward the wall and, with a mocking tone, said, "Isn't this just the Central Plains' empty‑city stratagem?"

"Do you really think this Crown Prince hasn't read any military texts?"

As the Crown Prince, Xia Hou Shun was also well‑versed in music; from the qin on the wall he sensed panic…

He could be sure this was a feigned‑troop stratagem, the Zhou Army's strength must be stretched, intending to force them to withdraw!

"Crown Prince, the gate is wide open; be wary of a trap!"

Ni Luo Zhou hurried forward, full of worry: "Never rush in!"

"Being able to employ an empty‑city plan shows that Chen Yan has run out of options!"

Xia Hou Shun shoved Ni Luo Zhou aside from in front of his horse, his eyes brimming with arrogance, and said, "Watch as this Crown Prince sees through his pretended mystique!"

He tightened his warhorse's reins, brandished his curved blade toward the gate, his voice suddenly rising as he ordered, "Enter the city!"