Chapter 15: I Will Not Enjoy This Glory Alone

“Mu Zi, with our army defeated, what should we do?”

Eight or nine hundred Hu cavalry scattered across the land, unsure where to go.

The city had fallen, the soldiers were routed, and only eight or nine hundred light cavalry remained by his side—yet Wan Ziqizhen felt no despair of being cornered.

Long before he rose in rebellion, he had already planned his escape route.

The Liuzhen Uprising had spread to Jinxibei, and every hill and peak now ignored the court’s orders.

“Jinxibei is in chaos; we can head south to join Suhe Poluanxian, or go north to join the Hulü tribe—either will do!”

Having voiced the plan he had long prepared, Wan Ziqizhen remained calm on the surface, yet shame still surged within him.

He had never imagined he would lose so quickly!

Originally, Wan Ziqizhen believed his talent stood on equal footing with Er Zhu Rong’s.

After this battle, he realized Er Zhu Rong’s strategic brilliance far surpassed his own.

Wan Ziqizhen felt a pang of regret, but the panting of his horse brought him back to reality.

Men were exhausted, horses were worn out!

Right now, whether heading south or north, there was one prerequisite.

They needed enough supplies!

“We’ve been riding all night—why haven’t they returned? Go and check!”

Wan Ziqizhen gave the order and dispatched a dozen cavalry to meet them.

As men and horses were worn out, Wan Ziqizhen ordered his Hu cavalry to rest temporarily.

When they retreated, they fled in such haste they brought almost no supplies.

“Mu Zi, will Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu pursue us?”

“We’ll see how things unfold.”

Wan Ziqizhen couldn’t be certain.

Though time was precious, he had to let his cavalry rest.

High-intensity flight was unbearable even for horses.

Wan Ziqizhen was just about to close his eyes and think through what to do next—

From the nearby dense forest, countless birds suddenly took flight, fleeing toward the distance.

“Something’s wrong!”

Wan Ziqizhen didn’t dare underestimate it; he led his men forward to investigate.

Within the forest lay scattered corpses of Hu men—his own dispatched scouts.

“One spear through the heart; the enemy’s martial skill is formidable.”

Wan Ziqizhen examined the battlefield traces: only one man had fought, yet he had slain his scouts on foot.

His skill was more than formidable!

Wan Ziqizhen had never seen its like in his life!

“Follow and investigate!”

Hundreds of cavalry followed, tracing the battle marks out of the forest, where below the valley lay a small jingguan.

The jingguan was built entirely from the scouts he had sent out last night and just moments ago.

Wan Ziqizhen was furious!

“Who did this?!”

“Only a band of Han refugees are nearby—could it be them?”

Wan Ziqizhen forced down his rage, ordering his men to collect the corpses and bury them temporarily.

Though time was precious, Wan Ziqizhen still spent half an hour performing burial rites according to his tribe’s customs.

He tore half his battle flag and placed it before the grave, solemnly saying:

“Brothers, you followed me into battle, yet you died at the hands of these treacherous Han. Rest assured—I will avenge you!”

Saying this, Wan Ziqizhen drew his blade and roared:

“Raid the nearby Han camps! Take everything—leave not a blade of grass!”

Far away, Li Shuang watched the scene and smiled faintly.

“Hou Jing, it’s done!”

In the temporary camp, Yang Kan stared at the refugees wielding bamboo spears as weapons, utterly exasperated.

Just as he had feared, these refugees were useless.

They had been terrified by the Hu for so long that even hearing they were to fight a defeated enemy—far fewer in number—still left them with not a shred of courage.

In such a short time, Yang Kan could not organize them at all.

Minutes ticked by, and Yang Kan had no idea what to do.

He knew clearly: if Wan Ziqizhen’s cavalry arrived, they would scatter in panic.

With no other option, Yang Kan could only wait for news from Li Shuang.

Finally, a horn sounded—Li Shuang returned with Gao Ang and Hou Jing to the camp.

They brought a tattered, bloodstained battle flag and a Hu man clad in armor.

The Hu man, his mouth covered, was shoved to the ground by Hou Jing.

Li Shuang’s face glowed with triumph as he shouted to the crowd:

“Fellow villagers, do you know who this is?”

At that moment, Hou Jing chimed in appropriately.

“This is Wan Ziqizhen’s battle flag—he is Wan Ziqizhen himself!”

Murmurs spread through the crowd; soon, someone recognized it.

“That’s right—I recognize this flag. When I was a boy, my brother was killed just for looking up at this flag!”

With those words, the crowd’s noise surged louder.

“Fellow villagers, the government offers a reward: a thousand mu of good land for Wan Ziqizhen’s head.”

As Li Shuang finished speaking, the crowd fell silent.

“But I tell you this: I will not claim this glory alone!”

Li Shuang drew his crossblade and, amid the crowd, cut down the captured Hu man in one stroke.

The head rolled, blood splattered.

The crowd’s emotions ignited like gunpowder; Li Shuang roared:

“Wan Ziqizhen’s remnants still hide in these woods—go! Kill those traitors, reclaim your homes and fields!”

Yang Kan saw the refugees’ demeanor transform completely; an unexpected courage surged from them.

Under Hou Jing’s lead, they charged out like wolves!

Yang Kan stared at the Hu corpse on the ground, lost in thought.

“Is he truly Wan Ziqizhen?”

Before Li Shuang could speak, Gao Ang burst into laughter, thoroughly delighted.

“Now, whether he is or not—he must be!”

In the forest, Wan Ziqizhen saw his panicked men racing back from afar, his heart tightening.

“Did Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu come?”

“No, not them—it’s the Han!”

His own men trembled, drenched in sweat, as if they’d encountered a beast.

Hearing this, Wan Ziqizhen exhaled in relief, looking down with contempt at his fleeing men.

“What’s there to fear from Han?”

“These Han are different!”

“How different could they—”

Before Wan Ziqizhen finished speaking, a group of Han surged from the valley, wielding bamboo spears.

Though few in number, these Han dared charge straight at Wan Ziqizhen’s Hu cavalry.

“Mu Zi, we must flee! These Han are madmen—they attack us on sight!”

“Just a bunch of Han—do you want me to run?”

Wan Ziqizhen immediately regretted his words.

As they drew near, he saw the Han’s faces: they looked at him and his Hu cavalry not with fear, but as if viewing prey.

Their eyes even glowed green!

For some reason, as they charged toward him, Wan Ziqizhen swallowed hard.

…