Chapter 21: The Masterful Pen (5)

“General, I have a bad feeling. How about sending out scouts first to investigate? We can wait for their news for now?”
Lieutenant Lun Chahai rushed over on his horse and respectfully suggested this to A Lun Can.
A Lun Can frowned upon hearing this and said, “What could possibly go wrong? We’re already in a hurry to reach our destination. If we send scouts first, it will only delay things further. Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing should be outside Xuzhou City by now. Could some Tang troops suddenly appear in this desolate place?”
“Well…”
Lun Chahai’s well-intentioned advice was met with rejection, leaving him extremely embarrassed. He lowered his head in frustration and withdrew.
“Pass my order: everyone must work harder to reach Xuzhou by noon tomorrow. Once we defeat the Tang troops, I’ll ask Commander An for permission for everyone to take whatever women they want from Xuzhou City!”
A Lun Can swung his whip fiercely and laughed recklessly. …
“Report! Report! Commander, enemy troops have been spotted two li ahead—about three thousand cavalry!”
A scout rode swiftly to Li Kuo’s side, dismounted neatly, knelt on one knee, and reported respectfully.
“Hmm, I know. You may go now.”
Li Kuo waved his hand and stared intently at the valley in the darkness.
“Pu Da Chui, listen to orders!”
“Here I am, sir!”
“I order you to lead a thousand men to circle around the entrance of the valley and block the rebels’ retreat route.”
“Hehe, just leave it to me, old Pu!”
Pu Da Chui grinned confidently.
“Where is Li Sheng?”
“Here I am, sir!”
“I order you to lead 1,500 archers to hide on the slopes on both sides of the valley, ready to launch a barrage at any moment!”
“Understood!”
Li Sheng clasped his hands in a fist and stepped back resolutely.
“Zhou Wu Crime, Xian Yu Cheng, and Dou Qing, follow me to confront the rebels head-on!”
Li Kuo drew his blood-stained black sword firmly and spoke each word clearly.
Each person did their duty. Though this army, mostly composed of troops trained in the Jianghuai region, was not as combat-effective as the Anxi Army, it shared the same spirit of unity.
They were getting closer. Li Kuo narrowed his eyes, focusing on the light emerging from the valley entrance, then shouted, “Fire!” …
At his command, a thousand arrows were shot simultaneously!

The soldiers who had been preparing on the slopes on both sides of the valley, under Li Sheng’s leadership, quickly drew their bows, nocked arrows, and shot them out without hesitation. They had practiced this sequence countless times in the training ground outside Yangzhou City; countless straw men there had been pierced by their arrows. They didn’t need to think—instinct alone was enough to shoot the arrows.

“Swish!” “Swish!”

In their eyes, those people racing through the valley on a snowy night were rebels who had risen in rebellion against the empire—traitors deserving not a shred of sympathy or pity.

Arrows streaked across the night sky, tracing beautiful arcs as they descended toward the rebels’ heads.

To them, those riders speeding through the valley were the culprits who destroyed the peaceful life of the Tang Dynasty—demons who had invaded their homeland and must be killed without exception!

Only by killing all those barbarians could they survive, and only then could their fellow villagers survive. They had no choice—never had any choice from the start!

Thousands of arrows formed a dense net that covered the rebels completely, leaving no gap.

“Ah!” “Ugh!”

Cries of pain came from the fleeing rebels. The riders at the front fell off their horses, only to be trampled into pulp by the horses behind them.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

Aren Can’s personal guard quickly drew the leather shield from behind to protect their general, shouting loudly while reining in the horse.

“Enemy attack! We’re in an ambush!”

Deputy general Luncaha cried out in despair, “General, it must be the Tang army. Let’s retreat quickly!”

That damned valley resembled an inverted gourd, with extremely unique terrain. If the Tang army had hidden many archers on the slopes, their three thousand troops might be reduced to ashes in an instant. Fortunately, the cavalry hadn’t yet entered the valley. It was better to retreat now and regroup for another battle.

“What’s the rush? Just a few little pests!” Aren Can waved his hand dismissively. “Where’s that messenger? Didn’t he go to relieve himself just now? Why isn’t he back yet? He seems to have had good luck—running into an ambush!”

Hearing this, Luncaha grew even more distressed. “General, that scoundrel hasn’t returned since he pretended to go to the bathroom. We’re probably trapped!”

“What!” Aren Can was shocked, feeling blood rise to his throat. How could that be? That messenger knew so much about the defenses around Luoyang—how could he possibly be a spy sent by the Tang army?

“General, if you don’t give orders now, it’ll be too late!”

Lunchaha saw Alenchan still hesitating and hurriedly urged him, “The Tangs are good at using tricks; we must not give in to their wishes.”
“That damned bitch!”
Alenchan swung his whip in the air before taking a deep breath and ordering, “Pass my command: the vanguard shall become the rearguard, and we retreat along the original route!”
“Hey, hey!”
Lunchaha quickly responded, then glared at the horn player and said, “What are you waiting for? Blow the horn now!”
“Uuuu—uuu—uuu!”
The deep, mournful sound of the horn echoed through the valley, sounding like a dirge for the souls.
“Change formation! Change formation! The vanguard must become the rearguard!”
“Run away, Tang army! We’ve fallen into their trap!”
At that moment, countless torches appeared on the slopes on both sides of the valley. With their light, the Hu soldiers could clearly see Tang soldiers everywhere!
The Tangs held a decisive advantage in terrain, and judging by the number of flags and torches, they seemed to have a larger force as well. It seemed impossible for the army traveling through the valley at night to win.
Upon hearing Alenchan’s orders, the Hu generals, both high and low, felt as if they had been spared punishment. They shouted, urging their troops to retreat.
“Charge out! Don’t hesitate—charge out!”
Alenchan also realized the severity of the situation. Under the cover of dozens of his trusted men, he rushed toward the narrow valley entrance.
“Boom! Boom!”
Suddenly, strange noises erupted in the enclosed valley, leaving the Hu generals terrified and confused.
“Boom! Boom!”
The sounds grew louder and more distinct. The Hu generals raised their torches and stared at the dark slopes on both sides, too shocked to speak.
“It’s…”
Lunchaha turned pale with fear and nearly fainted.
“It’s rolling stones, mountain rocks! Run, run quickly!”