Chapter 181: Slaying Generals, Seizing Banners

On the battlefield, under the gaze of countless soldiers from both sides,

Jia Jing let out a cold snort, spurred his horse forward at a gallop, and nocked an arrow, the bowstring drawn like a full moon.

The ten‑stone Overlord Bow was easily pulled into a full‑moon shape by him.

The bow creaked, the sound of the limbs bearing their limit load.

The arrow tip aimed straight at a point five hundred steps away—not at the catapult itself, but at its cable.

Those taut hemp ropes, thick as arms.

Swoosh…

The bowstring quivered violently, and the specially‑made, two‑jin iron‑cluster armor‑piercing arrow burst from the bow.

The arrow sliced through the air, producing a sharp whistling sound.

The sound was piercing and ear‑splitting, like a ghost's wail, like a dragon's roar, cutting through the battlefield clamor and heading straight for the first catapult.

At five hundred steps, the arrow flew less than two heartbeats through the air.

Bang!

A crisp sound rang out, and the first catapult's cable snapped.

The catapult's long arm snapped back, and the stone that had just been loaded in the sling failed to be hurled.

Instead it fell backward—crashing into the Northern Yuan crew operating the catapult, killing seven or eight on the spot.

Second arrow.

Bang!

The second catapult's cable broke.

Third arrow. Fourth arrow. Fifth arrow…

Jia Jing fired thirteen arrows in succession.

Each arrow struck the cable five hundred steps away with precision, rendering a catapult instantly inoperable.

After the thirteen arrows, all catapults were silenced.

Some cables snapped, and the long arms recoiled;

Some were hit at such a delicate spot that the entire frame collapsed;

And for two catapults, the stones had just been flung from the sling when the cable broke, sending the stones careening into the nearby Northern Yuan troops, carving a bloody trail.

At this moment Jia Jing was less than five hundred steps from the Northern Yuan's central great banner, and Tuo Tuo Bu Hua's astonished face clearly appeared in his view.

Jia Jing's aura surged in that instant, an invisible killing intent sweeping ten zhang around him, causing the Northern Yuan soldiers to retreat in terror.

The Overlord Bow then nocked another jet‑black iron‑cluster armor‑piercing arrow, its tip aimed straight at Tuo Tuo Bu Hua on the high platform.

Tuo Tuo Bu Hua felt as if an invisible force locked onto him, his heart sank, and he sensed himself falling into an icy abyss as cold sweat poured down!

In that instant, Tuo Tuo Bu Hua tried to leap down the platform rapidly, but the timing was too late.

The moon‑shaped bowstring in Jia Jing's hand quivered again, a thunderous howl rang out, and the iron arrow turned into a flash of lightning, streaking past.

In the next instant, it appeared on Tuo Tuo Bu Hua's chest as if by teleportation.

The jet‑black long arrow thrust Tuo Tuo Bu Hua's body backward, then nailed him high onto the thick wooden post that supported the great banner behind.

Tuo Tuo Bu Hua's eyes widened, still filled with panic, terror and resentment, as if refusing to close in death.

At that moment, both Northern Yuan troops and the Han Army trembled together!

Northern Yuan soldiers stared in stunned silence at Tuo Tuo Bu Hua nailed beneath the great banner, bright blood streaming continuously from his chest and mouth.

Seeing the scene, the Northern Yuan soldiers felt as if their brains were about to explode!

Their scalp tingled with a sudden numbness!

Commander of Ten Thousand Households!

Grand Marshal!

General!

…

The bodyguards clustered around Tuo Tuo Bu Hua roared, their eyes blood‑shot, momentarily unable to comprehend.

Their commander is dead; they cannot survive!

Meanwhile, ordinary Northern Yuan soldiers saw their morale plunge again; the army already shaken by Jia Jing now completely collapsed.

The Northern Yuan troops could no longer maintain formation or fight, discarding helmets and armor, scattering in a frantic retreat.

Some young Northern Yuan soldiers looked on with despair and gloom, their gazes at Jia Jing filled with terror, as if staring at a demon!

They believed that after this battle, they would never again face Jia Jing's daring.

Some veteran Northern Yuan soldiers might still vow to fight to the death for Tuo Tuo Bu Hua's revenge, but against the tide they seemed insignificant.

Soldiers, what are you waiting for! The Northern Yuan chief commander is dead! The time to achieve glory has come! Stop hesitating and kill!

Jia Jing, mounted on the Red Hare Horse, fired another arrow, bringing down the Northern Yuan great banner.

Still gripping the humming Overlord Bow, he let out a great shout that echoed through Yu Lin Wei Cheng inside and out.

In the next moment, Zhu Que, Niu Jizong and others snapped out of shock, their blood boiling as they charged toward the Heavenly Spirit Canopy, spears pointed forward, coldly shouting:

"Cavalry camp! Follow me, charge!"

Having spoken, Zhu Que, Niu Jizong and the others surged forward with invigorated faces.

Cutting generals and seizing banners, the enemy forces have completely scattered!

If we don't charge now, when else? This is a free‑picked military credit!

And watching Jia Jing single‑handedly charge fifty thousand, shatter the enemy formation, and slay the enemy commander, the Han Army soldiers who had been on the sidelines roared with excitement, charging forward!

In their hearts they regarded Jia Jing as a deity descending, feeling a sincere reverence for him.

He is the army's courage! He is the army's soul!

With such a brave and invincible commander leading them, what else have they to fear!

Charge and it's over!

Ma Guocheng roared, "Northern Yuan Tartars, I'm early eight," then leapt forward on his horse, leading the charge into the shattered formation of Northern Yuan soldiers, and drove his spear into a Northern Yuan soldier's chest.

When he withdrew his spear, blood spurted, and the Northern Yuan soldier who lagged a bit became the first lost soul under his spear.

"What a thrill! I've never fought such an easy battle in my life!"

Ma Guocheng laughed up at the sky, his blood‑stained face like a demon, and then, without pausing his horse, pursued the other Northern Yuan soldiers.

At the same time, Niu Jizong, Feng Tang, Han Wu, Zhu Que and others each led two thousand Han elite cavalry, spurring their horses to chase the fleeing Northern Yuan troops.

Facing the demoralized Northern Yuan soldiers, Han soldiers drew swords and spears in unison and charged ferociously.

At this moment, not only the two thousand light cavalry of Ba Shang, fighting as if on adrenaline, but also the Yulin garrison that had been bleeding beneath the South Gate were suddenly swept up in the fervor.

One by one they summoned their remaining courage, and under the leadership of Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong they surged outward to strike.

The Northern Yuan army that had originally blocked them had already been crying out in panic, scrambling in all directions, cursing that their parents had given them two fewer legs.

On the battlefield, the Northern Yuan soldiers in retreat were smashed by the two Han forces, falling back step by step with no will to resist.

Nevertheless, even as the Northern Yuan soldiers fled desperately, under the high‑spirited Han soldiers' swords and spears they fell in sheets, each clash costing thousands of casualties.

At this moment, the defeat truly came down like a mountain collapsing!

"Retreat! Quickly retreat! Follow the Crown Prince's retreat!"

At this time, the Northern Yuan Crown Prince Ba Ya'er, shielded behind a massive cowhide shield, was already terrified to the core.

Having watched Tuo Tuo Bu Hua shot dead by Jia Jing, he felt a chill run through his body; even hidden behind the shield he felt no safety, and he kept urging his nearby bodyguards to withdraw.

Ba Ya'er barked orders repeatedly while yanking a nearby reins, turning his horse's head and fleeing backward.

"Run fast! The devil is coming!"