Chapter 1044: with translation of title

He runs, he pursues, he has nowhere to hide.

The Uyghurs really went all out this time.

They seem to have received a death order; they will not withdraw until they take Chen Wuji's head.

Chen Wuji led the Jīnwèi yíng and galloped over sixty li in one go, yet the Uyghur cavalry clung tightly behind, showing no sign of letting up.

"Marquis, something seems off; I'll take men to check the rear!" Lu San ye rode over, his face somewhat solemn.

Chen Wuji was quite calm: "San ye, go take a look; there's nothing to worry about. The pursuing force behind us is just a single rider, they can't keep this up for long."

The mounts of the Jīnwèi yíng are carefully selected fine Qiang horses; after a forced march of over sixty li they're already straining, and the Uyghur warhorses are surely no better.

The Jīnwèi yíng operates with one rider and two horses; even if a horse reaches its limit, they can switch mounts and keep fighting, but the Uyghur troops lack this condition—the harder they bite, the easier the upcoming battle will be for us.

The only question is why they are pursuing so desperately.

But the reason is easy to find.

If we could kill Chen Wuji, sacrificing this cavalry would be well worth it.

"I'll still take men to have a look, and meanwhile check the situation on the other routes!" Lu San ye said.

When Chen Li was arranging tactics, he didn't offer a single unnecessary opinion.

But this old man has a plan in mind.

He is like an old Family Head who no longer concerns himself with household affairs; he doesn't make any decisions, yet he keeps every matter in mind.

"San ye, be careful!" Chen Wuji said.

"Yes!"

After Lu San ye turned back, he instructed Lu Daye to protect Chen Wuji, quickly summoned Yuan Lao Liu and several clan youths to abandon their horses, plunged into the woods, and turned back to rush toward the rear.

Chen Wuji led his men onward another ten-plus li, and the horses reached their limit.

If they kept going, these horses would likely break down.

"Change horses! Form up to meet the enemy!" Chen Wuji ordered in a deep voice.

The command flag fluttered swiftly.

The Jīnwèi yíng troops swiftly swapped mounts in unison, turned their horses, and faced the still-unknown-numbered pursuers hanging behind them.

After just running that ten-plus li of mountain road, the pursuers' speed noticeably dropped, the distance opened to several li, and Chen Wuji's forces took a brief respite on the spot before this pack of mad dogs, clinging desperately, arrived.

The moment the enemy came into view, Chen Wuji slapped the warhorse's forehead hard.

This warhorse, which he had originally begged and cajoled from Qin Zhanhong's hands, had followed him through southern and northern campaigns, from Xishan Village all the way to now—an old comrade—instantly grasped Chen Wuji's meaning, its forelegs leapt up, then its hind legs thrust forward explosively, shooting forth like an arrow released from a bow.

Without command flag or bugle, as Chen Wuji's horse moved, the troops surged forward in a rush.

The Jīnwèi yíng soldiers instantly seemed to unlock some genetic code, howling as they sprang from Chen Wuji's flanks, like a pair of scissors with blades opened wide, they clamped down on the enemy troops that had just appeared.

They were thrilled, as if they'd taken stimulants, the corners of every mouth twisted into a fierce grin!

Even they couldn't recall how long it had been since they fought in this manner.

This feeling of entrusting their lives to their lord Chen Wuji is more invigorating than any chicken soup, more effective than any form of supervision; there's no reason, no logic—it's pure inner excitement and fervor.

As Chen Wuji's stature kept rising, regardless of whether he himself wanted it, those around him no longer wished for him to personally charge into battle.

But as soon as that silhouette moved,

No bugle, no command flag needed; the soldiers knew exactly how to fight this battle and where to go.

……

Song Bo has made many decisions in his lifetime and issued countless military orders.

Yet the sum of all his decisions in this life does not make him regret today's decision as much.

In the first thirty li, failing to latch onto Chen Wuji's tail, he ought not to have continued the pursuit.

But his mind slipped, recalling the military order he had sworn before the great king, and he threw caution to the wind and kept chasing.

The outcome is easy to imagine, and plainly visible.

Chen Wuji executed a Revolving Horse Spear!

That was inevitable.

When Song Bo saw Chen Wuji's forces, he knew this bandit leader would surely do that; the pursuing force was a single rider, even though its numbers were double theirs, the problem was that it was just a single rider.

The advantage of double the forces vanished after an eighty-li raid, leaving no advantage at all.

What good is a double force when men and horses are exhausted?

It merely lets the enemy hack a bit longer!

"Brothers, this is our last chance to turn things around and earn merit; if we take Chen Wuji's head, beauty, wealth, status—everything you've ever longed for will come true!" Song Bo slowly raised his curved blade, his cheeks strained from overexertion, as if only a tight skin remained.

"Do not hesitate, do not fear—just kill! Kill!!"

"That head up front is what the great king personally demanded; he is our land, our beauty and treasure, the resource for our promotion and enrichment!"

The originally exhausted soldiers' eyes instantly gleamed with renewed spirit at those words.

Those who had been slumping suddenly sat upright, gripping their weapons tightly.

The previously disordered formation gradually coalesced.

No one remembered anything Song Bo had said.

They turned that long-winded, foul nonsense into a simple phrase they could easily grasp.

That person is the one the great king personally demanded; as long as you bring back his Head Trophy, the great king will surely reward you handsomely.

"Kill!!"

Song Bo's howl sounded like wind across the plain, mouth wide open, voice strained, eyes glaring fiercely, radiating killing intent and unmatched courage.

This is the method they most often used when encountering beasts in the mountains and wilds; later, this howl was brought onto the battlefield, becoming the most habitual and favored way for commanders to issue orders to their subordinates.

They had bugles and also learned command flags.

But they weren't accustomed to using them; still, this most direct howl had greater deterrent power.

"Kill!!!"

The countless soldiers drove away the fatigue from running, likewise they opened their mouths to the maximum, stretched their throats to the limit, strained to glare, glaring out killing intent, glaring out fearlessness!

Warhorses galloped up, their chaotic and heavy hooves pounding the earth.

The distance between the two cavalries closed in the blink of an eye, close enough that both sides could clearly see each other's expressions.

One side looked frenzied, their features forced into a fierce 'kill' character.

The other side clenched their faces, like blocks of stone, their gazes as heavy as steel spears.

Song Bo waved his Curved Blade, already prepared for a mounted duel.

But the cavalry that had stiffly charged straight at them suddenly changed direction, like water encountering a stone, smoothly sliding past their flanks.

Immediately afterward, he saw a sight that made eyes almost burst.

Those cavalrymen all reached toward their horses' bellies and drew out a crossbow.

One push, one pull, one twist!

Arrow Rain poured down upon them from the sky.