Chapter 545: Bloody Battle Before the Pass

What was meant to come, has come.

When Cheng Anguo saw this group of people appear without hesitation, his heart was undoubtedly filled with sorrow.

Himself.

Had he really become a sacrificial pawn for the Third Prince?

Of course.

This sorrow, for him, was also just a fleeting thought.

A warrior dies for one who understands him!

In ancient times there was Yu Rang, and today there is Cheng Anguo!

Long ago, when Xie Ling was laying out heavy ambushes here, he had spoken to him many times and instilled many principles in him. For instance, whether Liu Zheng could die concerned the stability of Longyan, the smooth succession of the throne, and whether he could seize the imperial crown. In short, this matter was massive; it concerned the group of people who had always followed Xie Ling, it concerned the common people of the world, and it concerned the ancestral temples and the foundation of the state. Things of this nature. Cheng Anguo naturally understood the stakes involved. Since he had always been in Xie Ling's camp, there was no reason to retreat in the face of battle. His family, his everything, and his position—others simply would not allow him to defect to anyone else!

"Kill!"

Fifty thousand death soldiers charged over simultaneously.

Cheng Anguo reacted extremely quickly, turning his head to roar: "Kill!"

As he said this, the long saber in his hand was already swinging, cleaving through the air with the force of a thunderbolt; the direction of that long saber was none other than Liu Zheng's head.

The entire scene was shocked in an instant.

"General!"

"You..."

The garrison troops beside him were also stunned, one by one.

Cheng Anguo had no other Method; it was also the most quick-witted choice he could make at such a juncture. Originally, according to the pre-arranged plan, he would not have needed to take action himself at all. Those fifty thousand death soldiers could have handled it thirty miles away, and he would have at most offered some feigned "assistance" from the sidelines.

However, Liu Zheng's thirty-five-kilometer move had directly disrupted this plan.

Cheng Anguo made a prompt decision to personally assassinate Liu Zheng!

Who would have known.

Liu Zheng, Jiang Xuan, and Pei Qianyun seemed to have known of Cheng Anguo's choice long ago.

Liu Zhen gave a cold laugh: "General Cheng is quite bold, participating in the assassination of a court official!"

"Cut the crap, hand over your life!"

Cheng Anguo glared, his skills truly remarkable; he actually exerted force and leaped straight from his War Horse, his long saber crashing down, already reaching Liu Zheng's face.

"Young Master, watch out!"

"Liu Zheng!"

Many people cried out in alarm.

Who could have imagined that Cheng Anguo's strength would be so formidable!

Those garrison troops were also watching with bated breath. At this moment, their hearts were the most conflicted. Their own general had suddenly turned coat and attacked the Prefect Liu and the Princess; what were they to do? By rights, they should be working with the general. But... this was an act of treason!

And yet.

If Cheng Anguo could kill the Prefect Liu in one blow, this matter might not be impossible to pull off.

Therefore.

Everyone was watching this move to see the outcome.

It would directly influence the entire battle!

"Do not harm my Young Master!"

At this critical, hair-trigger moment, Pei Qianyun roared in fury, his twin hammers smashing down.

No sooner said than done, just as Cheng Anguo's long saber was about to land on Liu Zheng's face, the twin hammers smashed over from the side, and with a clang, they caught the long saber firmly, then vibrated with force, violently knocking it away!

"What?"

Cheng Anguo's expression changed drastically.

He had definitely used his full strength for this strike, and by his estimation, there were few fierce generals in all of Longyan who could withstand his full-force blow! He never expected this unknown young man to catch his offensive so steadily!

"Kill!"

Jiang Xuan also reacted at this time, riding his horse to charge toward Cheng Anguo.

"Kill!"

In one round, Cheng Anguo had failed to finish off Liu Zheng. The fifty thousand death soldiers had already charged down.

Fifty thousand death soldiers!

Enough to challenge the sun and moon!

The mountains and plains were filled with the shadows of these death soldiers, a vast, dark mass; in terms of the scene, they had already won.

The six thousand soldiers on this side did not dare to be the least bit negligent.

"Form up!"

The Prince of Yong's side had also long been prepared, personally leading the army and shouting fiercely.

Long before these six thousand soldiers had gathered and set out, they had already undergone a period of drilling by Jiang Xuan. This was the characteristic and advantage of a regular army: orders were followed and prohibitions enforced, and they were highly malleable. According to the terrain before the pass, their Mandarin Duck Formation shifted again, flexible and versatile. Six thousand men, though still unable to truly clash with fifty thousand, could at least assemble into a barrier. This barrier blocked those fifty thousand people between them and Yang'an Pass.

Fifty thousand people, though many, were limited by the width of the official road before the pass.

It was still very difficult to charge through all at once.

This gave the Liangzhou Army a great chance to catch their breath.

However...

When these death soldiers of Xie Ling charged over, they felt pressure for the first time. These fifty thousand guys, equipped with the most advanced and elite Plate Armor and weapons from Yintan City, and having undergone training by Liangzhou generals, had a combat effectiveness that could already match a regular army. Yet, in terms of mental attributes, they were far stronger than the regular army.

They did not fear death!

They seemed not to fear death at all!

"Kill!"

The first group of death soldiers lunged over, their eyes filled with almost nothing but ferocity.

They almost ignored the tight defensive formation of the Liangzhou Army (we shall temporarily refer to these six thousand soldiers as the Liangzhou Army, as their Weaponry and Equipment were all provided by Liangzhou). Kill! In their minds, there was only one word: kill!

Bang, bang, bang!

Clang, clang, clang!

Finally, the two sides began close-quarters combat.

On one side were the invincible charging death soldiers.

On the other side was a defense as solid as a fortress.

Who would lose and who would win?

It seemed that only fresh blood and corpses could verify all of this!

Xie Ling, at this moment in the mountain forest, watched with flickering eyes as the slaughter began before the pass.

He had to admit that this was likely the most glorious moment of his life.

Fierce!

His death soldiers dealt a massive blow to the Liangzhou Army in the very first round; the first wave of ten thousand men almost tore a gap in the Liangzhou Army's defensive formation, killing nearly two hundred Liangzhou Army soldiers on the spot!

It was a pity, however.

The Liangzhou Army quickly filled that gap.

The first round of the charge.

Xie Ling won completely!

This was combat power!

Xie Ling looked on, feeling quite high-spirited.

When it comes down to it, hard power is the real power, and combat power is the real power!

The Weaponry and Equipment and tactics of this Yintan City were actually so advanced.

Then today, I shall use their own spear to attack their own shield!

Who says the Liangzhou Army is invincible under heaven?

Today, I shall make an exception for you!

"Kill!"

The second wave of the charge had already begun.

"Princess, Princess, you absolutely must not go out, you absolutely must not!"

Before the pass, the battle had already turned into a melee, and the smell of blood permeated the entire field.

Xie Chan was here, watching and itching to join in.

Liu Dahao, Grand Eunuch, and Feng Sanniang hurriedly held her back.

"Liu Zheng, Liu Zheng he... oh my, why does he never practice martial arts!"

Xie Chan was anxious to the point of desperation.

The group of people was speechless.

Governor Liu was busy like a dog every day; how could he possibly have time to practice martial arts?

At a time like this, being bullied in every way by that Cheng Anguo was only natural.

That's right.

Liu Zheng, at this moment, was truly in a sorry state.

After Cheng Anguo's first strike failed to succeed, he did not continue to entangle him. This guy who had been in the military for years was not truly a reckless brute. Instead, he retreated half a step temporarily, then continued to search for Liu Zheng's figure!

Although the garrison troops behind him were caught in a dilemma at this moment and were somewhat hesitant.

But after all, his personal guards were still loyal and devoted.

The four personal guards first stood together with Pei Qianyun to clear an opportunity for Cheng Anguo to strike, after which Cheng Anguo chased after Liu Zheng...

Running all over the field!

"You dog thief, stop hurting my young master!"

No matter how strong Pei Qianyun was, he was ultimately only one man against many; he could only roar in anger, trying to find a Method to break out from the encirclement of these four people.

"Young master, I'm coming!"

Seeing this situation, Jiang Xuan also followed closely by the side of the disheveled Liu Zheng; fortunately, with his help, Liu Zheng managed to turn danger into safety several times.

Too fierce!

This Cheng Anguo was truly too fierce!

Although Liu Zheng had also started to strengthen his body and practice martial arts recently, it was not his forte after all. Having blocked Cheng Anguo's attacks with his sword a few times, the web between his thumb and index finger was already numb, and he could barely hold his sword!

"Pervert!"

Liu Zheng cursed angrily.

This won't do!

He must find a Method to kill this Cheng Anguo!

If he does not die.

The garrison troops behind him will not move!

If he does not die, the situation will not become clear.

If he does not die.

The death soldiers over there will be able to slowly exhaust his Liangzhou Army.

"Jiang Xuan, find a Method to kill him for me!"

Liu Zheng gritted his teeth fiercely in the gap where he was hiding.

How could Jiang Xuan not know that only if Cheng Anguo died could the situation be turned around? But this Cheng Anguo was truly too fierce; he was already struggling miserably just to block him, so how could he possibly counter-kill him?

"Find an opportunity to kill his War Horse!"

Liu Zheng made a prompt decision.

This Cheng Anguo's mounted skills were quite remarkable; he could even achieve a state of unity between man and horse, borrowing force to strike. Wherever he went, the guards around Liu Zheng were all cut down. That was why he had been chased until he was battered and exhausted, with nowhere to hide.

Because at this moment, quite a few of those death warriors were also rushing over to surround and kill Liu Zheng!

Chaos!

The entire scene was in chaos!

"Yes!"

Jiang Xuan received the order and waved his hand, and a row of Crossbowmen appeared behind him.

Who would have thought that as soon as these Crossbowmen appeared, the death warriors not far away would already be charging over at high speed to harvest them!

"Damn it!"

Jiang Xuan's face darkened.

"Prefect Liu, stop thinking about escaping and just surrender obediently!"

Cheng Anguo laughed loudly and spurred his horse to charge over again.

The long saber rose once more.

It swung down.

In the chaotic situation, the long saber locked onto Liu Zheng again.

Damn it all!

Liu Zheng was so terrified that his hair stood on end, and he let out a loud cry.

"I'm coming!"

Just at this moment, a sharp cry rang out; it was none other than Xie Chan, who could no longer hold back and appeared in front of Liu Zheng!

"No!"

"Go back!"

Liu Zheng's expression changed instantly.

However, by this time, it was already too late.

He sensed a murderous aura erupting suddenly from the surroundings; this murderous aura was hidden right among this group of death warriors!

Shi Ke!

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time!