[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - 16

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In Chapter 8 of Episode 4

, the female general of the Song Clan stands beneath the walls of Yongzhou. A large army has gathered, ready to attack the fortified city.
The various pacification troops arriving from different prefectures total over 70,000 men, nearly equal in number to the rebels within the city, but far more well-trained than the city's rabble. They are all gathered under Consort Qin's command.
Some generals initially suggested waiting for the pacification troops from the other prefectures to arrive before launching the attack, but news arrived that the rebel leader Hong Sanniang was leading reinforcements. Therefore, Consort Qin decided to attack as quickly as possible; capturing the city before Hong Sanniang's reinforcements arrived would be ideal.
Deputy Commander Li Xiaomin, however, is an amateur when it comes to siege warfare, and can only stand obediently below the walls, watching the expert Consort Qin direct the army's attack.
Yongzhou's high walls and thick fortifications make it much easier for the soldiers to defend. Li Xiaomin watched helplessly as his soldiers pushed siege carts to the moat, dumping sacks of mud into the river to quickly fill it, making it passable.
Once the moat was full, the soldiers braved a hail of arrows to cross, set up ladders, and scaled the walls, engaging the enemy in fierce combat. While they inflicted some casualties, they also paid a heavy price, suffering countless casualties.
After this probing attack, Consort Qin ordered an intensified assault. The brutal fighting and the blood-soaked battlefield were too much for Li Xiaomin to bear. He turned away, gritting his teeth, lamenting that he hadn't yet developed the thick skin and ruthlessness to endure even ordinary battles. Only through more brutal combat could he reach the level of historical generals who viewed human life as worthless.
After a day of fierce fighting, Consort Qin finally ordered a retreat and led her troops back to camp.
In the main camp, the beautiful and valiant female general sat upright on her command throne, her face ashen. She surveyed the generals of the various camps below and said in a deep voice, "You all witnessed today's battle. At this rate, how long will it take us to capture the city? Enemy reinforcements will arrive in a few days. We must intensify our siege to have any hope of capturing Yongzhou before the enemy arrives and securing an invincible position."
Sitting beside her, the deputy commander, Li Xiaomin, upon hearing that they were to continue their desperate assault and fear the countless deaths that would follow, recalled the bloodshed he had witnessed that day. Death struck him, and his throat went dry. He stood up, cupped his hands, and said with a bitter smile, "Marshal, in my humble opinion, this city has high walls and thick defenses, and it's defended by 70,000 troops, roughly the same number as our army. It seems impossible to capture this city quickly. Perhaps we should besiege it and attack the reinforcements. Once we eliminate the enemy's reinforcements, wouldn't the enemy troops in the city be thrown into chaos and surrender sooner?"
Consort Qin raised her eyebrows slightly, glared at him, and said with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "That Hong Sanniang is a veteran of many battles, having followed Song Dajiang as a bandit for many years, and has been with the imperial army..." We've fought many times; how could we fall so easily into your trap of besieging the city and attacking reinforcements! If they arrive and attack from both sides, our army will immediately be at a disadvantage, forced to hold the main camp and wait for reinforcements! Yifu, what are your thoughts on the current situation?”
A young general, about thirty years old, standing in front of the officers, stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, “Yes, Aunt. In my opinion, although there are many bandits in the city, most are newly recruited refugees, inexperienced in battle. Today's attack has already shaken their spirits.” "Panic! If we intensify the siege, the enemy will inevitably reveal a weakness. In my opinion, we should surround the city on three sides, leaving one open for the enemy soldiers to escape. They will lose their will to fight and will soon flee. Then we can ambush and kill them, and victory is assured."
Li Xiaomin observed the newly arrived general Qin Yifu. He saw that Qin Yifu was tall and strong, with a commanding presence. He was indeed worthy of being the son of Consort Qin's elder brother, a tiger cub from a military family, possessing an aura that others could not match. Li Xiaomin nodded in approval.
Qin Yifu was originally the garrison commander of a city in the south of the Tang Dynasty. Upon hearing that his aunt was leading an army on an expedition, he immediately led 10,000 soldiers to support her and served under Consort Qin. Hearing of Li Xiaomin's achievements, and filled with admiration, she was unwilling to fall behind him. Therefore, she loudly requested permission to attack, saying, "Please allow me to attack one of the gates, Aunt. I will surely capture Yongzhou City and relieve your worries!"
Consort Qin nodded with a smile, deeply pleased by her nephew's filial piety.
Seeing the pleased smile on her beautiful face, Li Xiaomin felt a surge of warmth. To please her, he quickly stepped forward and explained his plan: "Reporting to the Marshal, since the morale of the rebel soldiers in the city is unstable, why don't we shoot surrender notices into the city every night, stating that only the ringleaders will be executed, and those who surrender will be pardoned? Then, the rebel soldiers will be too afraid to fight, and our army can capture the city more easily."
Consort Qin looked at Li Xiaomin with a smile and said, "This plan is excellent. Xiaomin, you are our deputy commander, and you made great contributions last time..." "Now it is time to share the nation's burdens. You and Yifu will each lead 20,000 troops to besiege the east and west gates and launch a strong attack. I will lead my main force to attack the north gate. Attack all three gates simultaneously, leaving only the south gate for the bandits to escape. Under such a powerful attack, the bandits will surely collapse, and our victory is assured!"
The tall, beautiful woman stood up, her hand on her sword hilt, her face showing excitement. She said in a deep voice, "Generals, please unite and fight together against the bandits!"
The generals bowed and accepted the order, their hearts surging with excitement at being able to participate in this decisive battle. Only one junior general was troubled, secretly lamenting that he would have to personally lead his troops in a fierce battle.
Beneath Yongzhou City, the large army surrounded the city, launching a strong attack on all three gates. The soldiers on the city walls, seeing the imposing presence of the imperial army outside, all paled with fear.
On the city walls, the battle was fierce. Lin Kui, stationed in the city, listened to the casualty reports coming from all directions, his face flushed and paled, gritting his teeth in deep thought.
He knew the tactic of surrounding three sides and leaving one open. Therefore, although the imperial army had left him a way out, he dared not take it even if it meant death. Moreover, losing Yongzhou and being captured by Hong Sanniang would be another crime. There were quite a few leaders in the mountain stronghold who were outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile. If they plotted against him, he might be bound by Hong Sanniang and taken to the execution ground to be executed for his defeat.
The casualty reports from the east and north gates alarmed Lin Kui. Especially the east gate, where it was said that Qin Yifu, the eldest grandson of the Qin family, was a fierce general who had even personally participated in the siege, shirtless and braving arrows and stones. Seeing their commander's bravery, his soldiers naturally followed him desperately, and the fighting on the city walls was fierce, with countless dead and wounded. The commander of the east gate kept sending out reports for reinforcements, pleading that without reinforcements, the city might not be able to hold out.
The situation at the North Gate wasn't much better. The Imperial Concubine Qin herself led the attack, her command was impeccable, and the soldiers obeyed orders readily. The defenders at the North Gate, facing wave after wave of relentless attacks, were struggling to cope, suffering casualties comparable to those at the East Gate.
In contrast, the West Gate was surprisingly calm. A messenger reported that the eunuch deputy commander was merely ordering his men to wave flags and shout, creating a show of force, but wasn't truly focused on the siege. However, his men were incredibly enthusiastic about building siege equipment, constructing hundreds, even thousands, of pointed wooden donkey carts overnight, extending all the way to the moat, and continuously filling it with earth, almost completely filling in the western moat.
Thinking of that eunuch, Lin Kui frowned slightly. Judging from the reports of the deserters, the eunuch was exceptionally skilled in martial arts, certainly not an ordinary fighter. However, his command abilities were unremarkable. Could it be that the eunuch, inexperienced in siege warfare, was merely going through the motions, testing the waters before launching a full-scale attack?
Although worried that the eunuch deputy commander was trying to lull him into a false sense of security, the urgent plea for reinforcements from the east gate garrison grew stronger. Lin Kui gritted his teeth and dispatched the city's reserves to the east gate. No matter what, he had to hold off the fierce generals and soldiers there first.
Late at night, Li Xiaomin stood outside the city, gazing at the city walls, his face grave, lost in thought.
The moat outside the city had been completely filled in. Even if he sent cavalry all the way to the city walls, it wouldn't matter.
It was already past midnight, and the soldiers guarding the city walls were probably fast asleep. They had truly suffered today. Just before midnight, the troops had returned to their camps and were getting a good night's sleep when suddenly they heard a fierce shouting sound from outside the city. The soldiers, who had been idle all day, rushed back to the city walls, preparing for a real enemy attack. Unexpectedly, the shouting was all bark and no bite; they simply kept the guards from sleeping for most of the hour before finally withdrawing. The guards, filled with resentment, went down to rest, disheartened.
While the guards hadn't slept well, Li Xiaomin's 20,000 troops outside the city were well-rested, hidden far away in their camps, lined up and ready to attack at any moment.
Although Li Xiaomin had sent his soldiers to shout fiercely outside the city walls, most of his soldiers had been soundly asleep in their distant camps. They ate after waking up, and slept again after eating—even on vacation, they had never been so comfortable.
The soldiers waving flags and shouting below the city walls took turns every hour, returning to eat and sleep. They spent most of the day sleeping, and those who couldn't sleep at night would move from the furthest camp to the camp closer to the city walls to prepare for a night raid.
The guards on the city walls, though not daring to be negligent, were unable to see the enemy camp's movements in the darkness. Moreover, having just experienced the fright, they were numb from the "wolf is coming" cries, and although they were still keeping an eye on the outside, they weren't paying much attention.
One guard, tired from walking on the city walls, leaned against the wall to rest when he suddenly heard a muffled groan behind him, seemingly from his patrol comrade. Startled, he turned around and was horrified to see a hideous face right in front of him, grinning maliciously!
The guards, terrified, opened their mouths to scream in agony, when suddenly a fierce wind swept over their heads, and a giant hammer formed of spiritual energy slammed down on their heads, smashing their skulls into countless fragments!
At the same time, from the tents where the guards on the city walls were temporarily resting, soft sounds rang out. Fierce spiritual blades slashed fiercely across the throats of sleeping guards, silencing their screams. The night remained quiet, save for the hissing sound of spiritual blades slicing through necks, echoing softly in the darkness.
To avoid revealing his strength to others and to minimize disruption to the ghost guards' spiritual cultivation, Li Xiaomin had only brought one hundred ghost guards this time, and even then, they couldn't reveal their true identities. Now, these hundred-odd ghost guards were inside the west gate, carrying out a brutal massacre of the houses near the gate. Those sleeping soldiers, not yet awakened, were already cut down by spiritual blades, becoming mindless ghosts without a trace.
The soldiers outside the city waited anxiously in the distance. Even after Vice Commander Li gave a signal, leading three thousand elite soldiers with their feet and horses' hooves bound with hemp and cotton, they silently approached the city gate. Yet, not a single soldier on the city wall uttered a warning shout.
The terrified soldiers warily looked up at the city wall, where it remained shrouded in darkness. The guards seemed to be fast asleep, completely unaware of the approaching force under cover of night.
A creaking sound slowly rose, and the drawbridge gradually lowered. Li Xiaomin mounted his horse, turned and waved to the bewildered soldiers, then led his troops across the drawbridge, stealthily advancing into the undefended city of Yongzhou.
The three thousand elite soldiers quickly secured the west gate. The city wall was littered with the corpses of dead guards. Some guards wore blank expressions, while others wore expressions of utter terror, as if they had witnessed something horrific.
The three thousand soldiers, now trusted confidants of Li Xiaomin after receiving generous rewards of money and provisions, were instructed to ignore everything he had witnessed, and to quickly forget what they had seen that day. They were to disregard the corpses, focus solely on guarding the city walls, and be prepared for any enemy counterattack.
The fifteen thousand soldiers, led by their officers, cautiously crossed the drawbridge and entered the wide-open city gates, advancing towards the enemy's distant dwellings.
Li Xiaomin, riding a white horse, led the army. Based on the telepathic messages transmitted by his ghost guards, he knew they were about to leave the area where the enemy had been massacred.
He gestured to several capable officers, quietly ordering them to proceed with the plan, massacring the enemy soldiers in the various houses as quietly as possible, the later the better.
He himself, leading all eight hundred cavalrymen, pointed his spears forward and said in a deep voice, "All cavalrymen, listen up! Charge with me and kill Lin Kui! Everyone will be rewarded!" The
cavalrymen, having slept well all day, were full of energy and focused intently. They quietly followed him, galloping towards the city center.
On the street, a patrol of soldiers, spears in hand, passed by and encountered the army. The bandit general guarding the city saw the approaching mass of dark figures. Although he couldn't make out their armor in the darkness, he sensed something was wrong and shouted, "Who are you? Which general's men are you?"
Li Xiaomin smiled coldly, drew his bow on horseback, and with a whoosh, released the arrow. The bandit leader only saw a flash of cold light approaching, and before he could even cry out, he heard a "thud" as the arrow pierced his throat, reaching the back of his neck. The heavy impact knocked him off his horse, and he fell dead.
The soldiers behind, having seen nothing, watched in horror as their general tumbled from his horse and died. Panicked
, they rushed forward to aid him. The thunderous sound of hooves surged forth. From the darkness, a white-robed general, wielding a gleaming silver spear, his eyes filled with murderous intent, charged forward like lightning. With a single, powerful thrust, he sent the nearest patrolman flying through the air, then flung his body several feet away. Blood gushed from the man's chest, splattering onto his comrades behind him.
The patrolmen cried out in alarm. Shouts of "Enemy attack!" echoed through the street.
Before the cries had even begun, a large cavalry force, like demons of the night, charged in, their steel blades gleaming coldly. They viciously slashed at the heads and faces of the patrolmen. Screams of agony filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, the entire patrol was slaughtered, their corpses lying strewn across the street.
Having already revealed his presence, Li Xiaomin no longer concealed himself. Wielding his blood-stained spear, which he had just used to kill several enemy soldiers, he roared, "Follow me! Kill all the bandits!"
His cavalry, their ferocity ignited by the blood, roared in unison, whipping their horses and galloping forward along the long street.
The bandits, awakened by the screams and sounds of battle, rushed forward, blocking the road. Though their armor was disheveled, their weapons and armor gave them a formidable presence.
Li Xiaomin, however, paid no heed, spurring his horse forward and thrusting his spear wildly. The spear tip always struck at unimaginable angles, piercing through enemy defenses and striking vital points. No enemy soldier or bandit general could withstand his unpredictable spear thrusts; they all screamed and fell, trampled to pieces by the approaching cavalry.
The entire army, like an unstoppable torrent of steel, surged wildly through the street. Any enemy who dared to stand before them was instantly killed by their fierce attacks of spears and steel blades, becoming a stepping stone on their path to victory.
Lin Kui, however, never slept soundly in his room. Although several beautiful women he had abducted from wealthy local families were by his side, he was always somewhat apprehensive, frequently opening his eyes to look at the dark night outside and listen intently for the sounds of battle.
Finally, from outside the dark house came shouts of killing and screams, the clanging of weapons mingling with the thunderous hoofbeats of galloping horses, all piercing Lin Kui's ears.
Lin Kui awoke abruptly, frantically raising his head. After listening carefully for a while, confirming that it wasn't just his imagination, he hurriedly threw on his clothes, ignoring the women huddled and crying in fear on the bed. He grabbed his sword, not even bothering to put on his armor, and rushed outside. As
soon as he stepped out of the bedroom, a chilling wind swept over the back of his head. Lin Kui knew he was in trouble and hurriedly ducked to avoid it. He felt a chilling aura sweep over his head, and several strands of his hair were shaved off.
Lin Kui lunged forward, swiftly drawing his sword. His face contorted with rage, he glared back fiercely, ready to settle the score with the scoundrel who dared to ambush him!
But upon seeing the man, a slight surprise crossed his eyes. He was hidden in the darkness, a faint shadow. The dim light from outside revealed his tattered armor and the blood flowing from his numerous wounds—he looked like a wounded soldier.
Although Lin Kui was astonished that this man was still alive despite so many injuries, and even had the strength to ambush him, he remained fearless. He brandished his sword and roared, "You damned dog! I started out by ambushing people, and you dare to ambush me now! Come here, let me chop off your head and show you my power!"
The shadowy figure sneered, charging forward and extending its neck as if to be beheaded.
Lin Kui was taken aback, never expecting such an obedient enemy. But the man's posture suited his tastes perfectly. Without further thought, he swung his sword, the blade whistling coldly as it swept across the shadowy figure's neck. He was indeed a renowned swift swordsman in the Da Shun army, his decapitations clean and decisive.
Lin Kui sheathed his sword with a cold laugh, but to his surprise, the man's head didn't fall to the ground. Instead, it remained raised from his neck, staring at him with bloodshot, bulging eyes, a terrifying grin spreading from the torn corner of his mouth.
Even Lin Kui, a seasoned veteran who made a living by ambushing and robbing passersby at night, was terrified. Remembering the ghostly friends he'd encountered while working night shifts years ago, he cried out, "You, you're a ghost!"
A cold wind swept in from behind again. This time, still shaken, Lin Kui didn't have time to dodge and was struck hard on the neck by the spirit blade. The person behind him moved with the same ferocity as when he usually beheaded people, swift and even more ruthless.
A massive head, spraying blood, flew into the air, its face still bearing the look of shock, fear, and disbelief.
Behind his corpse, a ghostly guard gradually emerged, disdainfully kicking Lin Kui's head away. He turned to his companion and said, "These kinds of things are everywhere, why bother with them?"
The previous ghostly guard chuckled, offering no explanation, only saying, "Our master is almost here, shouldn't we go greet him?"
A wisp of ethereal soul floated out from Lin Kui's headless corpse, looking at the two powerful ghosts before him. The fear and suspicion on its large face were identical to the expression on the head rolling on the ground.
The previous ghostly guard glanced at him with a cold smile, swung his ghostly fist, sending him flying aside, and leaped out, about to leave.
Behind them, the ghost guard who had killed Lin Kui glared at his companion and sneered, "Youngest brother, have you forgotten again! Master said, 'Eliminate evil completely, cut the weeds at the root.' Do you want this little devil to grow strong enough to seek revenge, or to betray us to the Yinshan demons?"
With that, he pounced, grabbed the terrified newborn ghost, and bit down hard on its throat. In a few swift movements, he shoved the ghost into his mouth and devoured it clean.
After finishing, the ghost guard wiped his mouth, still savoring the meal, and said, "Although its spiritual power is too weak, it's still quite good among these ordinary little devils!"
On the city walls of Yongzhou, the banners of the Tang Dynasty fluttered high. The soldiers guarding the walls were all beaming, thinking of the victory they had won that day and the generous rewards they would receive that night; their mouths watered uncontrollably.
The former city garrison had been converted into the marshal's mansion. Consort Qin stood in the main hall, her beautiful face beaming with excitement. She patted the young man's shoulder forcefully, letting out a hearty laugh from her luscious red lips, and exclaimed excitedly, "Little Minzi, you truly haven't disappointed me! I was already wondering what your plan was when I heard you were bluffing without attacking the city. Now it seems you are indeed a cunning and resourceful general, a rare talent in the court!"
It was no wonder she was so excited. Last night, Deputy Commander Li Xiaomin led a surprise attack, seizing the west gate from the lax enemy forces. Twenty thousand troops stormed into the city, slaughtering the newly awakened enemy soldiers, advancing all the way to the center of Yongzhou City. Deputy Commander Li Xiaomin personally beheaded the enemy general Lin Kui.
The news of Lin Kui's death caused chaos among the enemy forces; they collapsed without a fight, falling into disarray in the darkness, where countless were slaughtered by the well-prepared twenty thousand troops.
Seeing the city ablaze with flames, the two commanders outside the other two city gates were also awakened. They immediately received an urgent battle report from their deputy commander, Li Xiaomin, stating that the city gates had been breached and requesting the two marshals and generals to intensify the attack.
Overjoyed upon receiving the report, the two commanders immediately led their troops to attack the city. Sure enough, the rebel soldiers inside had long lost their will to fight, and the city gates fell in one fell swoop.
Consort Qin, spurring her horse and brandishing her sword, personally led her army into the city, only to find the rebel soldiers scattering and fleeing, with no complete defenses remaining. Large numbers of rebels, following Consort Qin's prior arrangements, fled out of the south gate, only to be ambushed and attacked
by the imperial army lying in wait. Countless were beheaded, and most of the survivors surrendered and became prisoners. The chaotic fighting lasted all night, and by dawn, the outcome was decided. Of the 70,000 rebels, over 20,000 were beheaded, over 30,000 were captured, and the rest fled without a trace. The imperial army's losses were comparatively small, and most of those losses occurred during the daytime siege. This battle, the capture of Yongzhou, can be considered a great victory.
Now, Consort Qin was slapping her beloved general Li Xiaomin's thin shoulder with her jade-like hand, not caring that he was shorter than her and that his small shoulders couldn't withstand her heavy blows.
Li Xiaomin smiled bitterly, cupped his hands in humbly thanks, and said that it was thanks to the Empress's good fortune that they were able to capture the enemy city in one fell swoop. Of course, the Empress deserved the most credit for this battle, and he was just a pawn in the Empress's army.
Seeing that he wasn't arrogant about his achievements, Consort Qin was even more pleased. She placed her hand on his shoulder and laughed loudly, "Little Minzi, you've made such a great contribution! I'll definitely report to His Majesty and ask for additional rewards for you!"
Li Xiaomin smiled obsequiously, but his thieving eyes were secretly taking in her alluring body. He found her high, firm breasts swaying before him quite eye-catching, and couldn't help but think to himself, "Who cares about Li Yu's reward? If he really wants a reward, he might as well give it to me himself!"
Qin Yifu, watching from the side, was envious. Thinking that this little eunuch had made such a great contribution on his first battle, his future prospects were limitless, and he couldn't help but secretly want to recruit him. He couldn't help but admire his intelligence and bravery, and secretly resolved that he must also make many contributions in the future, so that the Qin family's name wouldn't fade in his generation.
The officers of each battalion, watching Li Xiaomin being patted on the shoulder and stroked on the head by the imperial concubine's jade-like hand—such affection and favor were rare in the world—couldn't help but feel envious. Some of the more experienced officers had already begun to consider asking someone to arrange a marriage between their daughters and this promising young talent, but then they suddenly remembered that this deputy commander was a eunuch. They couldn't help but sigh inwardly, even if he was exceptionally talented and skilled in martial arts, he was ultimately just a eunuch and would never amount to anything.
On the main road, dust swirled as an army of tens of thousands marched at a moderate pace northward. The flags in the ranks were scattered, and the soldiers wore various colors of clothing, their marching somewhat disorganized, making them look like a hastily assembled army.
The leader of this army was a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. She wore a light red outfit over a dark red leather armor, a golden crown adorned with pheasant feathers, and had a beautiful, oval face. However, her eyes held a hint of fierceness.
She was none other than Hong San Niang, the widow of Song Dajiang, the bandit leader of Jushan, and a renowned female warrior in the Jiangnan region. Originally a street performer, she was skilled in swordsmanship and possessed great beauty. Over a decade ago, she followed Song Dajiang to Jushan and became his wife. She had led her army to raid villages and kill countless people, making her famous far and wide. Everyone knew that the Jushan hero Song Dajiang had such a beautiful and capable wife.
Hong San Niang reined in her horse and stood by the roadside, looking back at her army. She sighed inwardly. Although her army was said to number 100,000, in reality, the total number was only about 70,000 or 80,000. The title of 100,000 was merely a figurehead. In terms of combat strength, they were utterly pathetic, nowhere near as good as the seasoned veterans of their own mountain stronghold. Their only hope was that the imperial army, too, had been neglected for training and might not be any stronger than their own ragtag troops.
Although the fighting strength of this army was far less than she had hoped for, Hong Sanniang had no choice. Lin Kui of Yongzhou City was, after all, nominally under her command. If she could lead the troops to lift the siege of Yongzhou, her position in the Da Shun army would be secure.
"It's just a pity I have no son..." Thinking of this, Hong Sanniang shook her head, her heart heavy.
Song Dajiang had not left behind a son, a regret shared by all the mountain stronghold leaders. Otherwise, why would they fight tooth and nail for a leadership position, only to let the imperial court benefit? As
Hong Sanniang was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the sound of hooves behind her. A small red horse galloped up, carrying a young girl with red lips and white teeth, delicate and beautiful features. Two small tiger teeth peeked out from her smiling mouth, making her look playful and cute.
The red horse galloped up to Hong Sanniang's side, and the young girl hugged Hong Sanniang's arm, grinning, "Mother, what are you thinking about?"
Hong Sanniang forced a smile, "Nothing. Why aren't you staying in the rear? What are you doing here?"
Her daughter, Song Xixi, pouted and said sweetly, "The ones in the back are all old soldiers, all dirty and smelly, what's the point! It's much more comfortable staying with Mother!"
Hong Sanniang shook her head, "It's dangerous up front, you should go back and hold the fort."
Song Xixi wrinkled her cute little nose and laughed, "What danger could there be on the main road now? This area..." "Isn't this all our Great Shun Army's territory?"
Hong Sanniang frowned. "Logically, that should be the case. There shouldn't be any government troops nearby. But I've sent out several groups of scouts, and no one has come back to report. So I'm wondering what might have happened."
Song Xixi laughed. "That's simple. If they haven't come back, it means nothing's wrong. If something had happened, wouldn't cowards like them have already run back to report?"
Hong Sanniang thought about it and agreed. She had sent out a large number of scouts. Even if there were enemy troops blocking their way, they couldn't kill them all. Someone should have escaped and come back to report.
This army continued to advance.
Suddenly, Hong Sanniang looked up and saw towering mountains ahead. She was secretly alarmed and shouted, "Send out more scouts to scout ahead!"
Several riders galloped out from the army and entered the mountain road. Before long, they raised flags in the mountains to indicate that there were no ambushes ahead and that they could enter safely.
Although Hong Sanniang was puzzled, she had no choice but to follow the army forward.
The vanguard of the army gradually ventured deeper into the mountains. Hong Sanniang looked around and saw that the scouts had already galloped into the depths of the ridges, only their silhouettes visible in the distance. She wondered, "Why aren't they returning to report? Going so deep is a bit too much of a chore!" She
then shaded her eyes with her hand and looked ahead, only to see birds startled and crying out in alarm behind the mountains. Hong Sanniang suddenly jumped in fright and shouted, "Soldiers, halt! There's an ambush ahead! Don't advance any further!"
The army, already on the move, couldn't be stopped anytime soon. The soldiers, unfamiliar with commands, took a long time to stop and slowly turned to move backward.
Suddenly, a thunderous war drum sounded, and a troop of horses charged out from behind the mountains. Leading them was a female general, wielding a long-handled broadsword, clad in armor, beautiful and valiant, yet possessing a terrifyingly fierce aura that chilled the soldiers to the bone.
The female general, riding a magnificent steed, charged forward like the wind, leading a large cavalry force. She laughed loudly, "Hong Sanniang, you've fallen into my trap! Dismount and surrender!"
Hong Sanniang, both shocked and enraged, drew her willow-leaf dagger and shouted sharply, "Soldiers, retreat with me!"
Her troops, mostly newly recruited soldiers, panicked at the prospect of an ambush. Without waiting for her further orders, they fled towards the mountains.
Hong Sanniang, leading her daughter, spurred her horse southward. Although she longed to fight the female general, her army was trapped; escape was the best course of action.
Suddenly, a cavalry force charged out from the front, cutting the Shun army in two. This force was fierce and valiant, wielding swords and spears, cutting down the enemy soldiers and leaving a trail of corpses and blood.
Enraged, Hong Sanniang charged forward, brandishing her sword, and shouted, "Where did this scoundrel come from, plotting such a vicious scheme to harm our army! Leader, come out here!"
A young general in silver armor and helmet thrust his spear, knocking down the enemy soldier in front of him, and rode forward to meet them. His eyes lit up when he saw the beautiful and valiant woman from the martial world, and when he saw the pretty young girl galloping towards them behind her, his eyes flushed with desire, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face. He brandished his silver spear and said calmly, "Greetings, Hong Sanniang! This humble general has been waiting here for quite some time!" (

Episode 5, Chapter 1: Female Generals Clash)

Hong Sanniang looked at the handsome, white-robed young general with clear eyes, white teeth, red lips, and a sly smile. She was both shocked and furious, but knowing she was trapped in an ambush, she dared not linger. She commanded her soldiers to charge forward, determined to fight their way out, for only then would they have a chance of escape.
Li Xiaomin smiled coldly, leading his troops to block the main road and ambush the enemy soldiers, slaughtering them until heads rolled, a scene of extreme carnage.
Having experienced many bloody battles, he was now almost a veteran of the battlefield, and would not show fear in the face of even the most brutal warfare.
Today's battle, however, was one he had devised before Consort Qin, and he personally led his men to intercept and kill the scouts sent by Hong San Niang. With the help of his ghost guards, all the scouts sent in this direction were captured, knocked unconscious, and even had their armor stolen. He found similar-looking people to impersonate scouts of the Da Shun army to lure Hong San Niang into a trap.
Song Xixi glared at the handsome young man, raised her red-tasseled spear, and was about to rush forward to test her spear skills, but her mother shouted to her, leading her and a group of personal guards to charge diagonally. As long as they could get out of danger as soon as possible, they could think of other things later.
Seeing that they were trying to escape, Li Xiaomin was about to lead his troops to block their path and capture the two beauties for some "training" when suddenly, a fierce battle cry rang out behind him.
Turning around, he saw a valiant general wielding a pair of bronze hammers, his eyes bloodshot, charging in with a frenzied roar. Behind him, his soldiers were equally fierce, shouting and fighting desperately, stabbing at the government troops in front of them. It was Song Zhong, Song Dajiang's beloved general
from his previous life, who was utterly loyal to his deceased lord. Now, seeing his mistress in danger, he disregarded the danger and led his elite troops in a fierce charge, hoping to rescue his mistress. The government troops, caught off guard by this fresh force, immediately broke formation and scattered. Taking advantage of the chaos, Hong Sanniang, along with her daughter and a group of personal guards, escaped through a side path. Although Li Xiaomin shouted for his troops to intercept her, he couldn't stop her and could only watch helplessly as she fled.
If he were to use his immortal magic, a single lightning strike could kill Hong Sanniang on the spot; Li Xiaomin could certainly do it. However, firstly, the Five Thunder Orthodox Method consumed a great deal of immortal power, which he was reluctant to use; secondly, he tried to keep his possession of immortal arts a secret from too many people, and the hidden strength of his ghost guards could not be revealed to the world; thirdly, such a beautiful woman should be cherished and loved, not wasted like burning a zither and boiling a crane.
With a slight hesitation, Hong Sanniang had already led her army out of the mountain pass. Although Li Xiaomin led his government troops in pursuit, he could only launch a short attack, killing a large number of bandits, while the beautiful bandit leader still led her army to escape to the south.
Back at the rear, Hong Sanniang immediately ordered her troops to prepare for defense, retreating while resisting wave after wave of attacks from the government troops. Seeing that the Shun army's defenses were formidable and nearly impenetrable, Consort Qin had no choice but to order her troops to intercept and kill the fleeing rebels from all sides, trying to deplete the enemy's strength as much as possible.
The battle raged on chaotically until dusk before both sides finally sounded the retreat.
Back at her camp, Consort Qin tallied the casualties and found that she had suffered considerable losses. Including the soldiers remaining to garrison Yongzhou, she now had only about 50,000 men left.
However, the Shun army suffered even greater casualties. Listening to the reports of her generals' achievements, Consort Qin smiled and nodded approvingly, instructing her scribe to record each general's merits in the merit book. She was especially full of praise and affection for Li Xiaomin, who had devised the plan to intercept the enemy.
As evening approached, the generals, exhausted from a day of fighting, returned to their camps to rest. Only Li Xiaomin remained, dining with Consort Qin.
For a eunuch, dining with the Consort was a great honor. Although Li Xiaomin didn't dwell on this honor, having dinner with such a beautiful woman was still a pleasant experience.
During the meal, Consort Qin constantly served Li Xiaomin food, her loving expression radiating affection. She gently stroked his head from time to time, praising him for his bravery in battle at such a young age, and telling him to eat more to have the strength to fight.
Li Xiaomin returned the favor by placing several exquisite dishes to Consort Qin's liking in front of her, respectfully inviting her to enjoy them. His eyes, however, were secretly gazing at Consort Qin's slender and alluring figure, swallowing hard, wishing he could devour the beautiful woman before him as his dinner.
The Da Shun army suffered heavy losses after this defeat. Even after regrouping, only about 40,000 men remained, causing Hong Sanniang to sigh in anger.
The difference in numbers between the two armies was now roughly equal. Hong Sanniang retreated dozens of miles, setting up camp and confronting the government troops from a distance. Under the command of the two female generals, the two armies secretly gathered their strength, preparing for a decisive battle.
At the suggestion of Li Xiaomin and Qin Yifu, Consort Qin led her army forward, slowly approaching the Da Shun army's camp. She established her camp some distance ahead of the enemy, then led her troops to the enemy camp, directly challenging them to a taunt.
Hong Sanniang, troubled in her tent, suddenly heard a report from the front that Consort Qin had personally led her army to challenge and hurl insults at the enemy. Enraged, she immediately donned her armor and led her troops out of the camp.
At the front of the two armies, a beautiful female general, clad in golden armor that gleamed in the sunlight, stood on horseback, wielding a large sword. Her bright eyes flashed with a chilling light, captivating all who beheld her.
Behind her, a large contingent of government troops shouted and hurled insults at Hong Sanniang, urging her to come forward and fight the imperial marshal.
Hong Sanniang, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and was originally a street performer, later joined a mountain stronghold and led troops in battle. Confident in her swordsmanship, she could not tolerate such humiliation. She immediately spurred her horse forward, her pair of willow-leaf swords flashing coldly as she swung them through the air, aiming directly at Consort Qin.
Consort Qin, growing impatient, was delighted to see
Hong San Niang emerge from the camp to engage in battle. She laughed loudly and exclaimed in a sweet voice, "Well done!" The two horses galloped towards each other. Consort Qin swung her broadsword,
aiming a fierce strike at Hong San Niang's head. Hong San Niang raised her willow-leaf saber, forcefully deflecting the incoming blade. Although she felt Consort Qin's immense strength, she was not afraid. She spurred her horse and circled, wielding her pair of willow-leaf sabers with unpredictable skill, fiercely battling Consort Qin.
The soldiers on both sides watched intently, seeing the two female generals exchanging blows in the center of the battlefield, their exquisite moves flowing endlessly, their blades flashing, entangling the two women in a dazzling display. Such a spectacular duel between female generals was something they had never seen before, leaving the soldiers completely mesmerized.
Li Xiaomin, responsible for overseeing the battle from the rear, watched the two mature beauties, both possessing devilish figures, secretly drooling. He wished he could spur his horse forward, embrace both beauties, and secretly enjoy them back at camp.
Just as he was fantasizing about the beautiful scene of these two valiant beauties kneeling before him, he suddenly saw the sky change, and a torrential downpour began, mixed with hail, falling from the sky and striking the armor of the soldiers with a clanging sound.
The rain poured down on their heads, making it almost impossible for the two female generals fighting on the battlefield to open their eyes, and their warhorses slipped on the ground. Consort Qin was not fighting well and was getting impatient. She brandished her sword and forced Hong Sanniang away, shouting in a sweet voice, "Let's stop here for today, and fight again tomorrow!"
Although Hong Sanniang had met a rare opponent and wanted to fight her to a draw, the heavy rain made it impossible to have a satisfying battle. So she brandished her sword and shouted, "Very well! We'll fight again tomorrow morning!"
Both sides led their troops back to their camps. The government army's camp was almost completed. Qin Yifu stepped forward to urge them on, and finally, before nightfall, the camp was completed. The soldiers ate and rested inside, replenishing their energy, ready to fight the next day.
The heavy rain here came quickly and went just as fast, soon ceasing completely. By the next morning, the ground was dry, the mud quite hard, perfect for a duel between generals.
In the central command tent, Consort Qin sat on the commander's seat, a slight headache on her face. She had caught a chill while bathing the previous night, and her head was now feverish. However, having already made an appointment with Hong Sanniang for today's duel, she couldn't delay, and pondered to herself.
Li Xiaomin, leading his generals, stood below the tent, stealing glances at the beautiful but slightly haggard face of the valiant woman on the commander's seat. He recalled how, the previous night, he had spied on her from a tree while she bathed in the tent, her alluring figure flashing before his eyes—her snow-white body, her jade-like breasts and full buttocks—and couldn't help but swallow hard, deeply worried about her current condition.
Thinking that this beautiful woman had disregarded her illness and stripped naked in the tent so he could feast his eyes on her, Li Xiaomin felt a surge of heroic spirit despite the cold night under the tree. Not wanting to trouble her, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Marshal! Since Your Excellency is unwell, I, your humble servant, am willing to go into battle in your place, capture Hong Sanniang, and hand her over to Your Excellency for judgment!"
He bowed deeply, placed his hand on his sword hilt, and left the tent, his heart burning with desire. He thought that if he could capture Hong Sanniang, he would secretly have someone bring her to his tent to serve him in bed, letting her taste his power!
Consort Qin, her head slightly fuzzy from supporting her forehead with her hand, looked up blankly after hearing his words, only to see that Xiaominzi had already left the tent. She tried to call him back, but it was too late. Watching his spirited and dashing figure, she was deeply moved, thinking to herself, "What a caring child! It's no wonder I've doted on him!"
Thinking about it, inside and outside the palace, probably no one but her daughter cared for her like this. She couldn't help but sigh. Xiaominzi was such a good child, even more filial than her own son. Although he refused to become her adopted son, which was a slight regret, he was her daughter's sworn brother, no different from her own adopted son. She felt a surge of warmth in her heart and secretly resolved to cherish him dearly in the future.
Li Xiaomin rode out of the camp, watching in the distance as a troop of soldiers emerged from the enemy camp. A beautiful female general, leading the troop, stood at the front of the army, gazing intently in their direction.
Li Xiaomin spurred his horse to the battlefield, bowed, and smiled, saying, "Greetings, Hong Sanniang! My marshal is slightly ill and may not be able to fight today. I can only take his place and learn from your skills, Hong Sanniang."
Hong Sanniang was very curious about the imperial concubine who had been able to hold her own for over a hundred moves without being defeated. She felt a sense of mutual respect and wanted to test her skills to see who was the greatest female general of the Tang Dynasty. However, the concubine had feigned illness and was unable to come, which made her anxious and displeased.
Looking at the young eunuch in front of her, and thinking of how several of her generals had been killed by him, she felt a surge of anger. Gritting her teeth, she sneered, "I, Hong San Niang, have fought countless battles. I can fight men and women one-on-one, but I will never fight a eunuch who is neither male nor female!"
Li Xiaomin, who was leering at her with lustful eyes, suddenly heard this and was instantly enraged. He raised a trembling hand, pointing at her, but couldn't utter a word. He could only curse inwardly, "You haven't seen my body, how do you know I'm a eunuch? I'll catch you and rape you to death, let you know how well-endowed a eunuch is!"
Hong San Niang's voice was loud enough for most of the battlefield to hear. The Da Shun soldiers began to clamor, pointing at Li Xiaomin, laughing and cursing the government army for sending a eunuch to fight, saying it was a disgrace to the Tang Dynasty!
On the government army's side, however, they were utterly humiliated. Looking at Lieutenant Commander Li's lonely and desolate figure, they sighed inwardly. Lieutenant Commander Li was excellent in every way—witty, skilled in martial arts, and a top figure in the Tang army—but unfortunately, he lacked one thing. No matter how powerful he was, he would still be ridiculed on the battlefield.
The Shun soldiers, while laughing and cursing the eunuchs for fighting, also cursed Consort Qin for being untrustworthy, cowardly, and unwilling to fight, actually sending her trusted eunuchs into battle—a utterly shameful act.
These soldiers, mostly former bandits and vagrants, were accustomed to using foul language and, inheriting the excellent tradition of rich imagination among the Chinese people throughout history, one of them pointed at Li Xiaomin and loudly laughed and cursed, "Look at this little eunuch, so handsome, he must be one of the imperial concubine's lovers!"
Immediately, others chimed in, their faces full of suspicion, and asked loudly, "Since he's a eunuch, he can't be considered a real man, how can he be a concubine's lover?"
The first man then laughed smugly, "You don't know, in the emperor's harem, there are 'bed-sleeping eunuchs'. To comfort their lonely hearts and bodies, the imperial concubines find some handsome young eunuchs and bring them to bed..." "You've never heard of such palace secrets, teaching them to satisfy themselves!"
Someone else questioned, "What are eunuchs anyway? How can they satisfy the imperial concubines?"
The knowledgeable man laughed loudly, "That's easy! Let me tell you, that eunuch deputy commander uses his tongue, fingers, and maybe even toes to satisfy that Qin Guifei with her enormous breasts and seductive charm!"
Hong Sanniang had long been accustomed to such vulgarities in the mountain stronghold. Although their words became increasingly obscene, Hong Sanniang did not stop their clamor. She simply smiled as she looked at Li Xiaomin, secretly pleased that he could use such methods to demoralize the enemy.
Meanwhile, within the Da Shun army, the discussion was in full swing. They had already discussed the exact positions Qin Guifei and Xiaominzi used in their lovemaking, and the laughter grew louder and louder. The government troops here, hearing this, felt both ashamed and angry, yet they couldn't help but glance at Li Xiaomin, wondering suspiciously if he really had such a relationship with Qin Guifei. If so, it was no wonder he received such special favor.
Li Xiaomin was already furious, spurring his horse and charging towards Hong Sanniang with his spear. However, Hong Sanniang stood before the Da Shun army, and with a wave of her hand, a rain of arrows rained down on Li Xiaomin, overwhelming him.
Li Xiaomin deflected the arrows with his spear while carefully observing the situation. Seeing the enemy's tight defenses, he couldn't get close. Helpless, he had no choice but to turn his horse back, his face darkening, silently seething with anger.
Suddenly, the camp gates opened, and Qin Guifei personally led her troops out of the camp, her beautiful face slightly flushed, seemingly ashamed and angry at the insults from the enemy soldiers opposite.
She spurred her horse forward, charging into the enemy ranks. Standing before the two armies, she shouted, "Hong Sanniang, don't resort to such despicable tricks! If you have the guts, come out and fight me like soldiers!"
Hong Sanniang's eyes lit up at the sight of her. She spurred her horse forward, brandishing her sword. Her pair of willow-leaf blades flashed in the wind as she roared, "Well done! It's better than that androgynous monster on the battlefield!"
Without another word, she swung her blades against the wind, aiming for Consort Qin's delicate body. The blades gleamed, chilling to the eye.
Consort Qin, despite her illness, fought back fiercely, wielding her sword against Hong Sanniang. She was seething with anger at the enemy's insults, and in her fury, she exerted great force, her sword flashing fiercely as she slashed down at Hong Sanniang. This beautiful woman, having endured so much humiliation, attacked Hong Sanniang like a raging lioness, wishing she could cleave her in two with a single blow to avenge her for allowing her subordinates to insult her.
Seeing her overwhelming momentum, Hong Sanniang was surprised. Although she used all her strength to defend herself, she had already lost the battle of wills. Even though she swung her willow-leaf sabers everywhere to protect herself, she was only barely holding on.
In the Da Shun army, the commotion gradually subsided. The bandits, seeing Hong Sanniang being suppressed by Consort Qin's broadsword, were filled with fear. They feared that if Consort Qin killed her, their side would collapse, and if Consort Qin sought revenge later, none of them would escape. In their panic, no one dared to utter another word about the suspiciously close relationship between Consort Qin and the little eunuch.
Li Xiaomin stood at the front of the battle line, coldly watching Consort Qin and Hong Sanniang duel. Although he hated her for her venomous insults, he couldn't bear to see her killed on the spot by Consort Qin. He could only secretly pray that Consort Qin wouldn't kill her, but at most knock her down and capture her, so that he would have a chance to take righteous revenge on this beautiful female prisoner! Just
as he was secretly plotting how to legitimize his actions, he suddenly saw a girl in a pink dress gallop out from the enemy Da Shun army formation, shouting in a sweet voice, "You wicked woman, stop your arrogance! I'll take you down!"
Li Xiaomin looked into the distance and recognized the pretty girl as the one he had seen on the battlefield before, Hong Sanniang's daughter. Seeing that she dared to disregard the rules of one-on-one combat and wanted to fight Consort Qin with her daughter, he was filled with righteous indignation. He gritted his teeth and thought, "Consort Qin's son is locked up at home because he read forbidden books, and her daughter is also in the palace and not with the army, but there is still me, her son-in-law." "How can we allow you and your daughter to be so arrogant here!"
He turned to Qin Yifu and greeted him, telling him to keep watch. He then spurred his horse forward, brandishing his gleaming silver spear, and shouted, "Girl over there, don't break the rules! Watch me fight you!"
Hong Sanniang was slightly anxious when she saw her daughter charge out despite her orders. But she remembered that she had personally taught her daughter martial arts, and that among the boys of her age, there was no one in the stronghold who could rival her. She felt a little calmer and focused on facing Consort Qin's thunderous and fierce blade strikes. She defended herself while launching a relentless, tidal wave of attacks in return.
Li Xiaomin, riding swiftly, intercepted Song Xixi in the midst of the battle, shouting, "Don't you know the rules? Two generals are fighting, and you're just meddling in! What kind of behavior is that! If you want to fight, come with me!"
Looking at this filthy eunuch who had an intimate relationship with the imperial concubine, Song Xixi frowned slightly, her face full of disgust as she cried out, "Disgusting! You androgynous dog eunuch, doing such filthy things with that slut! Stay away from me, don't let me see you!"
Li Xiaomin was so angry he almost fell off his horse. He hadn't expected her sharp tongue to be even more formidable than her mother's. Even the most vicious online novelists would have to admit defeat in front of her.
There was really nothing to say to such a woman. Li Xiaomin didn't reply, but with a flick of his silver spear, he thrust it towards her shoulder.
Seeing that this eunuch dared to attack her, Song Xixi, though disgusted, had no choice but to raise her spear and parry.
The two spears clashed, producing a loud thud. Song Xixi's arms went numb from the shock, and she was horrified: "They say eunuchs are weak, but how come this eunuch is much stronger than all the leaders in the mountain stronghold!"
The two men spun around on horseback, locked in battle. Although Song Xixi had practiced martial arts since childhood and her moves were exquisite, she was no match for Li Xiaomin. He relentlessly attacked her, leaving her flustered and openings in her defenses.
Li Xiaomin, however, didn't want to hurt her. Seeing her lose her composure, he secretly sneered, intending to create an opening for her to attack.
Song Xixi's combat experience was ultimately insufficient. Seeing Li Xiaomin expose a huge weakness, she didn't hesitate and thrust her spear forward. Although she found the eunuch's blood disgusting, she didn't care about anything else as long as she could escape his clutches.
Li Xiaomin deftly dodged the thrusting spear tip on his horse, grabbed the shaft, and pulled hard, propelling his white steed forward to Song Xixi's side. With a swift movement, he grabbed the girl, who had lost her balance due to excessive force, and dragged her onto the saddle.
Song Xixi was terrified, screaming and struggling, but Li Xiaomin held her down, striking her buttocks hard with the spear shaft. She cried out in pain, feeling a heavy hand pressing down on her back, rendering her immobile. Knowing she couldn't escape, she dared not move again.
Li Xiaomin hung the silver spear on his horse's neck, spurred the horse back, and swiftly untied Song Xixi's belt, binding her tightly behind her back with her hands behind her back.
He rode back to his camp, gently set her down, and ordered his men to take her into custody.
Seeing sharp spearheads pointed at her from all sides, Song Xixi sobbed, knowing she had been captured alive by the eunuch and taken prisoner. He had even forcibly removed her belt, filling her with shame and resentment. Fortunately, her armor was tight, and the armor sash held her trousers together, preventing them from falling down and being exposed to everyone.
In the center of the battlefield, Hong Sanniang saw her daughter being grabbed by the young eunuch and cried out in despair. She dared not slacken her efforts, fighting desperately against Consort Qin. She feared that if she lost her composure and her attacks faltered, she would be defeated and killed by Consort Qin, and her daughter would truly be doomed.
Consort Qin, seeing the young eunuch capture Hong Sanniang's daughter, felt a sense of relief. Her anger subsided, and the momentum that had sustained her vanished. The chill in the wind made her limbs weak and feeble.
Hong Sanniang's moves suddenly became disorganized. She feinted with her willow-leaf dagger in front of Consort Qin, then turned her horse and rode away, shouting, "You wicked woman! Don't think I'll be afraid of you just because your lover has kidnapped my daughter! If you adulterers dare to lay a finger on my daughter, I will never let you get away with this!"
Consort Qin felt a sense of relief as she saw her retreat, her mind slightly foggy. Suddenly hearing this insult—"lover," "adulterer"—she was enraged. She spurred her horse and brandished her dagger, wanting nothing more than to cleave this venomous woman in two with a single stroke, to avenge the insult!
Hong Sanniang spurred her horse forward, hearing the rapid hoofbeats behind her. A cold smile appeared on her face. She hung her willow-leaf dagger around her horse's neck, suddenly turned around, and shouted, "Take this!"
Two cold beams shot from her hand, flashing towards Consort Qin!
Consort Qin, suffering from a headache and fever, was delirious and forgot the principle of "never pursuing a desperate enemy." Driven only by a surge of anger, she continued her pursuit of Hong Sanniang. Suddenly, she saw a flash of cold light and was startled. In her panic, she swung her sword, but her aim was off by the illness. She only managed to deflect one flying knife, while the other struck her chest, embedding itself in her breast!
Consort Qin cried out and collapsed onto her horse's neck, blood gushing from her chest.
Hong Sanniang, seeing this, was overjoyed. She grabbed her willow-leaf knife and turned to attack Consort Qin, intending to capture the enemy commander and exchange her for her daughter!
Just as she spurred her horse to Consort Qin's horse, about to seize her, a sharp shout rang out: "You audacious woman, don't harm my lady!"
A bowstring twanged like thunder, and a cold arrow pierced the air, heading straight for Hong Sanniang.
Hong Sanniang looked up and saw the arrow's powerful momentum, as if it had the force to tear the sky apart. Startled, she raised her sword to block.
The arrow struck the willow-leaf sword with a loud thud, and Hong Sanniang's arms trembled violently. She thought to herself, "What immense strength! How can there be such a divine archer among the imperial army?"
Looking up, she saw a young general galloping towards her, firing a rapid-fire barrage of arrows at Hong Sanniang. It was the eunuch who had just kidnapped her daughter.
Li Xiaomin's rapid-fire archery technique was something he had recently mastered through diligent practice. Although he didn't intend to kill Hong Sanniang, he still managed to keep her busy and flustered. He rode his steed swiftly to Consort Qin's side, reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Concerned for her safety, he didn't engage Hong Sanniang in battle and rode away.
Hong Sanniang rushed forward, only to find the young eunuch already far away. Gritting her teeth, she drew her sword and fired an angry shot. The flying dagger
flashed through the air, striking Li Xiaomin in the back. Hearing the whoosh behind him, Li Xiaomin didn't turn back. He swung his longbow backward, the iron-tipped tip striking the flying dagger and knocking it away. He spurred his horse, and it galloped back towards his own lines.
Hong Sanniang led her troops in pursuit, but was driven back by a hail of arrows. Seeing her daughter weeping under the guard of government soldiers in the distant enemy camp, she felt a pang of pain, but could only watch helplessly, unable to break into the enemy camp to rescue her.
Li Xiaomin, carrying the unconscious Consort Qin, spurred his horse into the camp, rushing to her tent. He dismounted, grabbed her, and stormed inside, ordering the female soldiers to leave and attend to her, forbidding them from getting in the way.
The female soldiers were startled. Seeing the furious Li Xiaomin and the pale-faced, blood-soaked Consort Qin, they dared not argue with him and hurriedly left the tent. Although one of their duties was to monitor imperial concubines leaving the palace and not allow them to be alone with men, Li Xiaomin, being a palace eunuch, was often alone with Consort Qin in the palace and was therefore exempt from this rule.
Li Xiaomin mentally summoned Yue Niang, ordering her to set up a barrier in the tent to prevent anyone from entering. He also asked her to fetch a basin of warm water to help him wipe away the blood from Consort Qin.
He frantically removed Consort Qin's armor, cutting open and splitting it with scissors before removing the armor. Seeing a sharp knife embedded in her smooth, jade-like breasts, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Upon closer inspection, he realized the knife hadn't penetrated very deeply, only half an inch into the flesh. It was probably thanks to the thick armor Consort Qin wore that the knife hadn't pierced her heart and lungs. Consort Qin's unconsciousness was most likely due to a cold, fever, and excessive fright.
Li Xiaomin felt slightly relieved. He carefully pulled the flying knife, its tip barely visible beneath her right breast, applied medicinal powder, and, with Yue Niang's help, bandaged her wound. He then carefully wiped the bloodstains from her chest with a towel soaked in warm water.

Episode 5, Chapter 2: Capturing a Beauty.

The army marched at night, quietly making its way towards the enemy camp.
Hong San Niang, leading her warhorse whose hooves were wrapped in hemp cloth, carefully walked among the troops, cautiously looking ahead. She saw the government army camp completely dark, with only a few flickering lights and shadowy figures moving within, as if beating a clapper to report that everything was safe.
Safe? Would her daughter be safe? Thinking of this, a worried, bitter smile appeared on Hong San Niang's beautiful, mature face.
According to the rules of warfare in chaotic times, once a woman is captured in battle, she will immediately be gang-raped by enemy soldiers, suffering torture and abuse. Sometimes she will not get rest for days and nights, and can only cry as she endures the men venting their lust on her. She only hopes that the government army will spare her because she is her daughter and wants to use her as a threat, and will not do anything too outrageous to her.
This time, Hong Sanniang was anxious to save her daughter, and she also heard from her scouts that the enemy commander, Consort Qin, was seriously injured and could not recover. Therefore, she risked her life to lead a large army to raid the enemy camp. If she could rescue her daughter, it would be a blessing, even if she had already been gang-raped and ravaged beyond recognition. As long as she could survive, that would be enough. In this chaotic world of armies, how could one expect to remain chaste forever?
The large army of the Da Shun army slowly approached the enemy camp. Seeing that the enemy camp was still silent, Hong Sanniang was secretly delighted and waved her hand to order her subordinates to prepare for the charge.
Suddenly, someone in the camp seemed to spot the dark figures outside and shouted, "Who's there? Give us the password!"
Seeing that the enemy had discovered them, and thankfully her army had already reached the best assault position, Hong Sanniang leaped onto her warhorse and roared, "Men, follow me! Capture Consort Qin, and slaughter all those corrupt officials!"
The Da Shun soldiers roared in unison, relying on their superior numbers and the advantage of surprise, brandishing their weapons and charging into the enemy camp with overwhelming momentum. They burst through the tents, ready to slaughter the panicked soldiers, but found nothing. The entire camp was empty; even the sentries who had shouted earlier were nowhere to be seen.
The Da Shun soldiers looked around in disbelief. Although Hong Sanniang was also surprised, she had already guessed that they had fallen into an enemy trap. Her face turned pale, and she shouted loudly, "Retreat quickly!"
Outside the camp, war drums thundered from all directions, and shouts of battle rose up, shaking the heavens and the earth. From all directions, large numbers of government troops charged forward, shouting and brandishing their swords, scattering the panicked Da Shun army and quickly plunging them into a desperate situation.
Hong Sanniang wielded her willow-leaf saber, hacking and slashing in all directions, cutting down a government soldier who was charging at her. Looking around, she saw torches lit up the fields in the darkness, and enemy soldiers were charging towards her from all sides. Her own men were being slaughtered and were fleeing in all directions, no longer able to fight back. She couldn't help but sigh, knowing that she had fallen into an ambush, surrounded by the enemy, and that defeat was inevitable!
Given the situation, Hong Sanniang knew her daughter had been moved by the enemy and wouldn't remain in the camp. Without hesitation, she shouted, "Soldiers! The government troops are powerful! Let's fight our way out! Don't become their prisoners and be executed by slow slicing!"
The bandits, fearing death and even more afraid of being branded traitors, drew their weapons and charged out with Hong Sanniang, risking their lives.
Amidst the chaos, the government troops shouted, "Surrender and you'll be spared!" They surrounded the bandits and slaughtered them mercilessly. Screams of agony echoed everywhere. In the darkness, countless people were hacked to the ground, their horrific deaths shrouded in the night.
Some bandits, surrounded by the government troops, were forced to kneel and beg for their lives. Others, however, refused to believe the government troops and followed Hong Sanniang, fighting desperately to break through the encirclement and escape towards their own camp.
Halfway there, they saw their own camp ablaze. Hong Sanniang was horrified. She led her soldiers forward and saw Qin Yifu leading a large number of government troops, standing atop the camp, holding aloft a bloodied head and shouting, "The rebel general's head is here! If the rebels do not surrender, they will be wiped out and executed without mercy!"
Hong Sanniang looked up and saw that the bloody head, with its features vaguely discernible in the firelight, was none other than Song Zhong, the general in charge of guarding the main camp. Her heart trembled violently, and she nearly fell off her horse.
However, the screams and sounds of battle in the chaos quickly jolted her awake. She heard the shouts of battle approaching from behind, as if pursuers were coming from the enemy camp. Hong Sanniang gritted her teeth and spurred her horse to flee.
The Da Shun army's attack on the camp this time fell into an enemy ambush, resulting in a crushing defeat. Meanwhile, the remaining troops were counter-attacked by Qin Yifu's army, who, taking advantage of the Da Shun army's main force being out of position, seized the enemy camp in one fell swoop, leaving the Da Shun army without its stronghold. The government troops, like wolves and tigers, pressed in from all sides, and the rebels cried and screamed as they fled in disarray, only to be swiftly caught by the pursuers and slaughtered one by one in the wilderness.
Behind them, Consort Qin, fully armed and wielding a large sword, personally led her army in pursuit of the defeated soldiers. Li Xiaomin, in silver helmet and armor, wielding a gleaming silver spear, followed closely beside her, carefully protecting her safety, determined not to let her perish in the chaos before he could devour her.
Seeing his unwavering loyalty, Consort Qin was delighted. Leading her troops in pursuit of the enemy, she encouraged him, saying, "Little Minzi, we owe you a great debt this time. If it weren't for your plan to claim the enemy would raid our camp, how could our army have so easily defeated them! It's just a pity that the assassin you left in the camp to mislead the enemy is likely dead."
Li Xiaomin thought to himself, "That assassin has been dead for three hundred years. One more death wouldn't matter. It's you who have gone to so much trouble." But he said aloud, "That man was my trusted confidant
. His family was massacred by the enemy soldiers, and he long ago intended to die for his country. Your Majesty should simply reward him to comfort his loyal soul." Consort Qin nodded in praise, commending the loyal soldier.
She raised her beautiful eyes, gazing at the fleeing soldiers ahead, and gritted her teeth softly, saying, "I only hate that bandit leader, Hong Sanniang, who escaped in the chaos. If she escapes and returns to Jushan to lead her bandits against the imperial army, not only will our attack on the mountain be more difficult, but I will also find it hard to quell my hatred!"
Li Xiaomin secretly glanced at her high, firm breasts, thinking of how that flying knife had almost left him unable to touch them, and he was filled with righteous indignation. He cupped his hands and shouted, "That vile woman is so hateful! This humble general is willing to lead an army to pursue her and we absolutely cannot let her escape so easily!"
Consort Qin fought for a while, feeling a fragrant sweat... Lin Li's illness seemed to have subsided somewhat, but he was still exhausted and unable to continue the pursuit. Hearing Xiao Minzi's request to pursue the enemy was exactly what he wanted. He was filled with admiration and gratitude for this considerate young man, nodding and smiling, "It's good that you're willing to go. With your skills, the enemy can't do anything to you. However, in the chaos of war, dangers arise everywhere, so you must be careful!"
Li Xiaomin respectfully bowed and accepted the order. Seeing that the situation was largely settled, the enemy was only concerned with fleeing and unable to retaliate, and that the guards around Consort Qin were all carefully protecting her, he felt relieved and led his troops away. Before leaving, he left a few ghost guards to secretly protect Consort Qin, making sure nothing happened to her.
Ahead, Hong Sanniang led her defeated troops in a chaotic retreat, fleeing south in panic. Behind them, however, the sounds of battle continued, echoing in the distance, as if the government troops were still pursuing the defeated army.
As dawn approached, Hong Sanniang reined in her horse and looked back. She saw only a dozen or so remaining soldiers, all on horseback, enough to keep up with her.
Her horse had been swift, and she had fled a considerable distance, assuming the government troops wouldn't pursue. She relaxed her pace and was about to dismount to rest when she suddenly heard the sound of hooves approaching from afar. Startled, Hong Sanniang turned back and saw a cloud of dust rising, with a large banner bearing the enormous character "Li."
Hong Sanniang was both shocked and furious, guessing that it was the dead eunuch who had captured her daughter. Although she was determined to fight to the death, she was outnumbered and unable to resist. She could only spur her horse and flee south along the main road.
Li Xiaomin led a cavalry unit, following the direction indicated by the ghost guards, and pursued them relentlessly. Upon seeing Hong Sanniang's figure in the distance, his spirits soared. He brandished his spear and shouted, "Hong Sanniang, don't run! Watch me, Li Xiaomin, capture you!"
The bandits behind Hong Sanniang were mostly her trusted confidants, who had protected her until this point. Seeing the government troops approaching, they risked their lives to hold them off.
Li Xiaomin, riding with lightning speed, charged into the bandits, his gleaming silver spear flashing, sending one enemy soldier flying. Seeing that these were all fierce men, with no beautiful female soldiers, he felt a slight disappointment. He turned back and shouted, "Kill them all! Leave no survivors!"
He left his personal guards to surround and kill the bandits, while he, relying on his skill and courage, single-handedly charged after Hong Sanniang's fleeing figure.
Hong Sanniang, in her panic, fled without thinking. Hearing the approaching hoofbeats, she grew increasingly anxious.
Suddenly, a large forest appeared in the desolate wilderness ahead. Hong Sanniang gritted her teeth, thinking to herself, "If I charge into the forest, I won't be afraid of him chasing me!"
She cracked her whip, spurring her horse forward with all her might, and charged into the woods before finally stopping to catch her breath. Looking back, she saw only one person chasing her—a handsome young man in silver armor, who looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, yet incredibly brave and spirited. It was none other than the eunuch deputy commander, Li Xiaomin.
Seeing him relentlessly pursuing her, old and new grudges surged into Hong Sanniang's heart. Hong Sanniang's mind raced: "Since he won't let me go, I might as well turn the tables on him. If I can capture this dog of a eunuch and exchange him for my daughter's life, that would be just as good!"
A fierce glint appeared on the female bandit leader's face. She quickly jumped off her horse, whipping it until it galloped wildly in pain, while she herself used both hands and feet to swiftly climb to the treetops, throwing a knife in her hand, waiting for Li Xiaomin to chase her into the woods.
As the saying goes, "Never enter a forest," and Li Xiaomin naturally knew this principle. He spurred his horse to the edge of the woods, and in the distance, hidden by the trees, he saw what appeared to be a fine horse fleeing into the depths of the forest. Just as he was about to give chase, a thought struck him, and he reined in
his horse, waiting outside the woods for news. In an instant, a ghostly guard floated out of the forest, whispered in his ear, and reported Hong Sanniang's current location.
Li Xiaomin chuckled inwardly, only wanting to toy with this fierce beauty, and without even looking up at her comical figure perched on the tree, he spurred his horse into the woods, following the hoofprints.
Hong Sanniang, perched on a treetop, watched him intently. Seeing that he had fallen for her trick, she was secretly delighted. She watched as he galloped past the tree she was sheltering from, his strong legs wrapping tightly around the trunk, and with a powerful wave of his delicate hands, he silently shot two beams of cold light towards Li Xiaomin's back!
To avoid fatally wounding Li Xiaomin, the two knives were aimed at his right shoulder and buttocks; incapacitating him was all that mattered. Hong Sanniang was determined to succeed this time, her movements precise to the extreme. She had used all her strength to throw the knives, knowing she would not miss!
Hearing the whoosh of the wind, Li Xiaomin whirled around, a soft sword already in his hand. He swept it swiftly, knocking the knives to the ground with two loud clangs. He reined in his horse in the woods, raised his head, and sneered, "Hong Sanniang, you were a beautiful woman, why did you turn into a monkey, perched in a tree?"
Hong Sanniang, already shocked by the missed attacks of her two sure-fire strikes, was further astonished by these words. Realizing her posture while perched on the tree was indeed unseemly, she was filled with shame and rage. With lightning speed, she unleashed two throwing knives at Li Xiaomin.
Li Xiaomin swung his soft sword, deflecting the knives. He then admired the beautiful woman's graceful figure, her legs wrapped tightly around the tree trunk like an acrobat, while simultaneously mocking her and trying to confuse her.
Hong Sanniang swung her hands rapidly, sending her throwing knives flying like arrows, but he deflected them all. Enraged and shocked, she knew she was doomed, but unwilling to surrender, she leaped lightly to the ground. With a flick of her wrists, she drew her willow-leaf dagger from her waist, its blade gleaming white, pointing it directly at Li Xiaomin. She shouted, "You thieving eunuch, today it's either you or me who dies!"
Li Xiaomin shook his head and sneered, "Don't worry, you won't die, and I certainly won't! Hehe, I wouldn't even want to kill you!"
Hong Sanniang's cheeks flushed red, and she cursed, "You glib-tongued eunuch!" She then attacked Li Xiaomin with her dagger. A
barrage of exquisite techniques surged towards Li Xiaomin as the willow-leaf dagger rose. Li Xiaomin, however, did not engage her. He turned his horse and galloped into the forest.
Hong Sanniang was startled, then realized that he intended to chase after her while she was escaping, toying with her like a cat playing with a mouse, and then easily capture her when she was exhausted. She was filled with shame and anger, her twin swords protecting her chest, standing motionless, coldly staring at him.
Seeing that she wasn't pursuing, Li Xiaomin had no choice but to spur his horse around to her north, dismount, and slap his horse's rump, letting it gallop away. He mentally ordered his ghost guards to attend to the horse, leaving himself alone to confront Hong Sanniang.
The two faced each other coldly, remaining silent for a long while. Suddenly, Li Xiaomin strode forward, his gleaming blade flashing, his entire being becoming one with the sword, shooting towards Hong Sanniang like a swift arrow!
Seeing the eunuch's fierce yet incredibly agile attack, Hong Sanniang's heart trembled. She wildly swung her twin swords, aiming directly at his sword tip!
Sword and blade clashed, the two powerful forces collided heavily, creating a deafening roar. Hong Sanniang was sent flying backward, her clothes fluttering gracefully.
This time, she used the force of the blow to escape, inwardly horrified: even with both swords drawn, she couldn't withstand the power of his single blade. This young eunuch's strength far exceeded what one should possess for his age.
Li Xiaomin, seizing the opportunity, charged forward. As soon as Hong Sanniang landed, he unleashed a storm of sword strikes, forcing her to retreat frantically into the depths of the dense forest.
Hong Sanniang desperately resisted his relentless onslaught, inwardly groaning, but could only retreat step by step, until she was a hundred paces back, utterly helpless against his sword's onslaught.
Seeing her swordplay gradually become chaotic, Li Xiaomin sneered inwardly. His crystalline blade shot out like lightning, entangling the twin blades. With a forceful twist, the pair of willow-leaf blades were sent flying into the air, soaring far across the sky before embedding themselves heavily in a distant tree with two soft thuds, the blades deeply embedded in the trunk.
Hong Sanniang cried out in alarm. Seeing the willow-leaf blades too far away and in the tree, clearly out of reach, and seeing Li Xiaomin grinning maliciously as he approached with his sword, she turned and fled in
terror. She was originally a street performer, her body light and graceful, her running still possessing a beauty that stirred Li Xiaomin's heart. Remembering the image of her daughter struggling and moaning beneath him, he swallowed hard and chased after her.
In the woods, a beautiful woman in a tight-fitting outfit fled in terror, a white-robed youth chasing after her with a sinister grin, sword drawn. The scene was chilling.
Hong Sanniang knew her chances of survival were slim, and she would likely die here, her head severed to claim credit. As she ran, she cursed, "You dog eunuch, you bullied a widow! You deserve to die a horrible death! For such an evil deed, may your descendants be eunuchs for generations to come!"
Li Xiaomin was enraged. He thought, "Being a eunuch is bad enough, but what if I have children with a princess or imperial concubine and still have to become a eunuch? Such a vicious curse! If I don't retaliate, I'll have wasted my skills!"
Although Hong Sanniang was a martial arts heroine with good lightness skills, Li Xiaomin was faster. He caught up in a few steps, his crystalline blade slashing at her waist, the tip flashing past her slender waist.
Hong Sanniang ran a few steps when she suddenly felt something amiss. Looking down, she saw that the silk sash binding her waist armor had somehow broken, leaving her light armor hanging loosely and awkwardly.
Since she only needed to escape lightly equipped, and the armor wouldn't protect her from a sharp blade anyway, she simply unfastened the light armor and threw it on the ground, making her run much easier.
After a few more steps, she felt a sudden lightness around her waist and realized with a start that the handkerchief wrapped around her waist had come undone. Looking down, she saw the sword mark clearly visible where it had been broken, and realized that Li Xiaomin was responsible. A surge of hatred welled up within her. With
the sash now undone, Hong Sanniang's light green silk trousers, which had loosened after running for so long, fell down in an instant. Unable to catch them in time, she exposed her lower body, but fortunately, she was still wearing her pink undergarment, preventing a public embarrassment.
The pale green silk trousers fell down to her calves in an instant. Hong Sanniang, panting heavily from running, tripped and fell to the ground, her delicate body landing on the ground. Fortunately, it had rained a couple of days ago, and the soil was soft, so her jade-like hands were not scratched.
Behind her, Li Xiaomin grinned maliciously, raising his sword and approaching, muttering through gritted teeth, "Dare to curse me, a eunuch, to give birth to a child and still be a eunuch? Hmph, today I'll make you give birth to a child for a eunuch!"
In the central command tent, Consort Qin sat high on the commander's seat, in good spirits, seemingly completely recovered from the cold she had caught the other day.
The generals were also full of excitement and joy, each stepping forward to report their merits, saying how many enemy soldiers their troops had killed and how many prisoners they had captured. Apart from one or two unlucky souls who died in the chaos, the rest had all made great contributions.
Consort Qin smiled and nodded, praising their merits, but her gaze was always looking outside, waiting for Xiaomin's arrival.
Seeing that he hadn't arrived for a long time, Consort Qin couldn't help but worry and became sullen. She ordered someone to investigate the whereabouts of Deputy Commander Li and report back immediately if anything was found.
The generals watched this with trepidation, exchanging glances and wondering, "Consort Qin is so concerned about Deputy Commander Li, could their relationship really be as those bandits have said?"
Consort Qin noticed their strange expressions and suddenly understood. She felt ashamed and indignant and dismissed them. Turning back, she summoned her trusted junior officers and ordered them to search among the prisoners. If they found the bandit who had insulted and injured her that day, they were to behead him and report back.
The officers obeyed and left. Consort Qin walked listlessly back to her tent, thinking of Xiao Minzi's charming and handsome appearance. She sat down at the table, propped her cheek with her hand, and stared blankly into space.
Just as she was feeling down, she suddenly heard a female soldier enter the tent and report, "Vice Commander Li has returned and is requesting an audience outside!"
Consort Qin was overjoyed and jumped up, saying, "Quickly, let him in!"
The female soldiers also noticed the strange look on their faces, but they thought that Li Xiaomin was a eunuch, and even if he and Consort Qin had a past relationship, it was something that had happened in the palace and couldn't be blamed on them. So they didn't dare to meddle and went out to invite Li Xiaomin in.
Li Xiaomin entered the tent, his face filled with shame. He bowed deeply to the ground and said in a flustered voice, "I went to pursue Hong Sanniang, but she escaped and I failed to catch her. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
Consort Qin was already pleased to see him return. Seeing him covered in mud and fallen leaves, with a few tattered leaves clinging to his head, looking travel-worn, she couldn't help but feel sorry for his hard work. She patted his shoulder and smiled, "You've worked hard. Go and rest for a while."
Li Xiaomin responded and was about to leave when he suddenly heard Consort Qin cough a few times. Concerned, he carefully asked, "Your Highness, is your cold still not better?"
Consort Qin nodded and said, "Last time you used your magic to cure me, I was much better, but after a night of traveling and being exposed to the cold wind, I've started coughing again."
Li Xiaomin quickly said, "It's alright, I can use my magic to cure Your Highness again. Shall we begin now?"
Consort Qin shook her head and smiled, "No need. I'm fine now, I'll just take my medicine first. But you, you've been traveling so much, you should go and rest, and take a bath, so you don't look so disheveled."
Li Xiaomin looked down, his face flushed, and he chuckled sheepishly, "Yes, I'm sorry for soiling Your Highness's body. Tonight, after I bathe and change, I'll come back to serve Your Highness."
He bowed respectfully to Consort Qin and withdrew.
Consort Qin watched the handsome young man leave, recalling his words, which seemed to have a hidden meaning, and a slight blush rose to her beautiful face.

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