Chapter 436: The Gates of Wuguan Flung Wide Open

Helian Bobo of Wuguan received Si Wushuang's "secret order", as if he had grasped the last straw of salvation, completely unaware that he had already become a discarded pawn.

"Reinforcements are on the way! The Military Advisor truly has not abandoned me!"

He waved wildly with elation, roaring at his subordinate generals, "The Military Advisor has given a brilliant plan! Beijiang's main force is ambushed at Jiankou, the rear will surely be empty!

We will gather all elite troops, slip out of the pass at night to strike Jiankou! As long as we crush that woman Zhang Honghong, we can open the supply route and bite them back!"

The subordinate generals exchanged glances, and one voiced concern, "General, Jiankou's terrain is open; Beijiang must have heavy troops ambushed there. Rushing out could fall into a trap!"

"Nonsense!"

Helian Bobo roared in fury, "The Military Advisor's divine calculations could not be wrong?

Now the provisions are nearly exhausted; holding the fort is death, but a sortie still holds a sliver of hope! Who dares speak of retreat, military law will be enforced!

Prepare immediately! Tonight at midnight, follow me out of the pass to slay the enemy!

The generals dared not object further and simply obeyed.

Helian Bobo has always believed he is not a reckless brute, but rather somewhat clever.

With Si Wushuang's secret order, he naturally dared to fight outside the city; if he were defeated, it would be the Military Advisor's strategy at fault, not Helian Bobo's.

But if he wins?! Then he would be the valiant hero who has already earned great merit for Xiliang's prince.

With a battle where someone else takes the blame, he would naturally dare to fight!

Meanwhile, in Lantian, Tu Fa Yan also received the "accidental" intercepted "secret order".

He pinched the thin slip of paper with one hand, his complexion wavering.

"Helian Bobo, that fool! Si Wushuang wants him to go to his death!" Tu Fa Yan gritted his teeth.

Although he and Helian Bobo belong to different tribes, they are both foreign generals, and he understands the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.

More importantly, if Wuguan falls, Lantian will be directly exposed to Beijiang's troops, becoming an isolated island.

"General, what shall we do? Save or not save?" the Vice General asked.

Tu Fa Yan paced anxiously inside the camp tent.

Save? Jiankou must have an ambush; our few broken troops charging in would likely be like meat buns striking a dog.

Not save? Watching Helian Bobo be wiped out and Wuguan fall, we would also be hard to escape punishment, perhaps even be devoured by Beijiang forces.

"Damn it!"

Finally, Tu Fa Yan slammed a fist onto the desk, "Gather all cavalry! Lightly equipped! Target Jiankou! Not to rescue that fool Helian Bobo, but to provide support!

If we can save, we will; if not... we must still bite off a piece of Beijiang's army! We must not let them easily capture Wuguan!"

He decided to gamble, at least to make Jiang Jinshi know that Tu Fa Yan is not to be trifled with!

At Jiankou, Zhang Honghong was idly tapping the ground with her scabbard; aside from occasional plumes of smoke and scattered fleeing soldiers, Jiankou was otherwise silent.

She was pondering whether to send a squad to scout, when a scout rode in on a swift horse.

"Report! General Zhang! The gates of Wuguan are wide open! Helian Bobo personally leads about five thousand elite troops, racing toward our position! Less than ten li away!"

"What?!"

Zhang Honghong leapt up sharply, both startled and delighted, "That brute really dares to come out? Ha! When heaven has a road you don't take, you storm into hell with no gate! Brothers! Prepare to meet the enemy! Let this defeated foe taste our might!"

She quickly ordered the troops to reconfigure: spearmen at the front, archers at the rear, cavalry split on both wings, forming a strict formation.

In her heart she silently praised Brother Bai for his foresight; indeed Helian Bobo could not keep his composure!

Soon the ground began to tremble slightly, and the heavy hoofbeats grew nearer.

Helian Bobo rode at the forefront, brandishing his curved blade, leading five thousand blood‑shot Xiliang soldiers like a breached flood, charging toward Zhang Honghong's position!

"Loose the arrows!" Zhang Honghong waved her hand grandly.

A dense rain of arrows instantly covered the charging Xiliang vanguard; men and horses toppled, and wails of agony rang continuously.

But Helian Bobo was exceptionally fierce, ignoring casualties, roaring as he kept charging!

"Spearmen! Hold the line!" Zhang Honghong shouted loudly.

"Kill!"

Beijiang spearmen roared in unison, raising their spears to slam hard into the Xiliang cavalry!

Just as both sides were locked in a brutal melee, another scout hurriedly reported, "Report! General! A large Xiliang cavalry force spotted from Lantian! Tu Fa Yan personally leads about eight thousand riders, flanking our side! Less than five li away!"

"Tu Fa Yan?!" Zhang Honghong's heart jolted.

She hadn't expected Tu Fa Yan to dare leave the Lantian stronghold and risk coming to aid!

Eight thousand cavalry! That's no small number!

We are currently entangled with Helian Bobo's five thousand elite, and if Tu Fa Yan breaks our formation from the flank, the consequences would be unimaginable!

A hint of panic flickered in his mind, but fortunately Tang Lin offered a timely plan.

Zhang Honghong naturally trusted Tang Lin and immediately ordered,

"Relay the order! Left-wing cavalry, follow me to engage Tu Fa Yan! Right-wing cavalry, coordinate with the central troops, bite Helian Bobo tightly! Central infantry, hold the ground, not a step back!"

Zhang Honghong vaulted onto her horse, shouting loudly, "Brothers! The Xiliang brats have come to the door! Follow me and kill!"

She led the left-wing cavalry, charging boldly toward the direction of Tu Fa Yan's massive army!

Tang Lin's scheme was risky, but at this moment only an offensive to disrupt Tu Fa Yan's rhythm could buy Bai Ting time to seize Wuguan!

Within Eagle Sorrow Gorge, Bai Ting had already cleared the remaining scattered Xiliang troops, fully controlling the canyon.

When he received the urgent report from Zhang Honghong, his brows tightened.

"Tu Fa Yan is also coming? Eight thousand cavalry... she is under too much pressure!"

He felt anxious, but immediately forced himself to analyze calmly, "Helian Bobo's main force is fully deployed, Wuguan will be empty! This is a heaven‑sent opportunity!"

He made a swift decision: "Relay the order! Third and Fourth Battalions, immediately follow me lightly and dash straight for Wuguan!"

First and Second Battalions, stay behind to clear the battlefield, extinguish residual fires, then rush to Jiankou to support General Zhang!

Tell the brothers, even if they break a leg they must run over! General Zhang's side cannot afford any loss!

"Yes!" the order was swiftly passed down.

Bai Ting inhaled deeply: "He Lianbobo, I'll take your old stronghold! Brothers, target Wu Guan! Charge!"

He led thousands of elite troops, sprinting along the mountain path toward the empty Wu Guan City!

At this moment, Zhang Honghong's left‑wing cavalry had already met the flank of Tu Fa Yan's cavalry army!

The two sides' cavalry collided instantly, blades flashing as flesh and blood flew everywhere!

Zhang Honghong wielded a long spear with transcendent skill, charging left and right, unstoppable, forcefully cutting a gap in Tu Fa Yan's cavalry torrent!

"Tu Fa Yan! How does the taste of a broken arm feel? Still dare to come to your death!"

Zhang Honghong spurred his horse and headed straight for the central army!

Tu Fa Yan, one‑armed, brandished a curved blade. Seeing Zhang Honghong charge, a hint of fear flashed in his eyes, but was quickly replaced by ferocity: "Zhang Honghong! Today we settle both new and old grudges! Surround her for me!"