[Wuxia] The Duan Family Women Generals (Complete) - 12

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Chapter 46 – Bingzheng Cures Wuli Feng, Zhou Tian Captures Wuli Yue

“Which expert has helped me? I thank you in advance!” Wang Bingzheng shouted first, then added angrily, “That old bastard Hu Da, unable to defeat me on the battlefield, resorts to such despicable means. Men, don’t let the female assassin’s body decompose. Salt it and take it to Xiting Pass to properly humiliate that old man Hu Da.”
The soldiers agreed in unison, immediately dragging Wuli Feng aside. Some went to the street and found two meat-curing workers, offering them a large sum of money to learn the art of curing meat.
Actually, it was quite simple; one could learn it in a day. The soldiers also brought back some salt, saltpeter, and the like.
They placed Ulifeng on a cart and pushed it to the edge of the ditch outside the wall. They laid her face up on the ground by the ditch, and in front of a crowd of soldiers watching the spectacle, they took a dagger and stabbed it into her abdomen above her pubic bone, cutting all the way down to her sternum. They ripped open her abdomen, exposing her heart, liver, and internal organs, and pulled them out piece by piece, leaving only her rectum and vagina intact. They cut off the rest and threw them into the ditch to be washed away. Then they turned the rectum and vagina inside out, exposing them to her anus and vulva. Holding Wulifeng by her ankles, they placed her empty, fleshy body in water, carefully washed it clean, and then put it back on the cart. They then pushed her rectum and vagina back in, and amidst the satisfied murmurs of the onlookers, returned to the mansion. Finding a small water vat, they coiled Wulifeng into a ball, placed her in the vat, filled it with brine made of salt and nitrates, covered it with a wooden lid, and put it on a cart carrying heavy loads. A few days later, when the uprising began, it would be carried by the heavy load convoy.
The three Wulihua sisters hadn't managed to infiltrate the mansion in time, so they didn't know how Wulifeng had been killed until the next day when they were curing her into "beautiful salted meat," at which point they heard the story. The three sisters were furious and secretly vowed to take Wang Bingzheng's life.
On the day of the uprising, Wang Bingzheng arrived at the drill ground, completed his roll call, and the army set off. Wang Bingzheng rode his horse among a group of officers, both high and low. This was a decision made unanimously by the officers to ensure Wang Bingzheng's safety after Wuli Feng's failed assassination attempt.
Meanwhile, Zhou Tian, who had gone to great lengths to secretly kill Wuli Feng to avoid alerting the other three sisters, was inwardly cursing Wang Bingzheng for his foolishness—wasn't this just giving his opponent a warning? However, it was too late for complaining; he had to get down to business.
Looking around to make sure no other martial arts practitioners were hiding in the mansion, he quietly went to the street, disguised as an ordinary wealthy man, to watch Wuli Feng being disemboweled. His eyes were fixed on Wuli Feng, while his ears carefully listened to the crowd, looking for the voices he had heard in the inn that day.
He did indeed hear them—two women whispering on a distant rooftop, clearly two of the sisters.
Zhou Tian dared not startle the world, and besides, he was far away. If he really used his lightness skill to rush there, he was afraid that the other party would have already seen him and fled. So he used his ears to discern the direction while moving closer to that place, wanting to capture the two sisters in one fell swoop.
One said, "That old dog Wang Bingzheng has ruined Eldest Sister like this; we'll never let him get away with this."
Another said, "Fourth Sister, don't be careless. We all know Eldest Sister's abilities. Wang Bingzheng couldn't possibly find her, let alone kill her. We might have encountered a master."
"A master? What master? If you're so capable, show us your skills face-to-face. Why resort to underhanded tactics?"
Zhou Tian chuckled inwardly. "You accuse me of underhanded tactics? Can you even face anyone with your actions?"
Then the older sister said, "Fourth Sister, have you seen Second Sister?"
"No, she uses earth-遁法 (earth-遁法, a technique that allows one to escape into the ground), hiding underground all day. No one can find her." " Not necessarily
. Eldest Sister used water-遁法 (water-遁法, a technique that allows one to escape into the ground), and we still couldn't find her. In the end, we still fell into her trap. There are always stronger people out there. Don't be too arrogant."
"Don't worry, even if he has great abilities, he still needs to fear my poison fire bombs."
"You must be careful in everything you do."
"It's alright."
"Alright, from now on, let's split up and go our separate ways. Let's not let them wipe us out."
"I know."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tian knew they were leaving. He panicked, forgetting his fear of causing a scene, and quickly slipped into a small alley, then leaped onto a rooftop, arriving in the instant where he had heard the sounds.
But the people were already gone. They were all masters of light-footed martial arts, their escape was incredibly quiet; even if they passed right next to you, an ordinary person wouldn't hear them. But Zhou Tian's martial arts skills were not to be underestimated. He could hear what others couldn't. Based on a faint rustling of clothing, he heard two people descend from two deserted alleys in the southeast direction, disappearing into the noisy crowd. Looking around, Zhou Tian could only see a main road to the south due to his position. Following the direction of the sound, he spotted a yellow figure and quickly gave chase.
The yellow figure is Uli Yue, the fourth of the four sisters. Only eighteen years old, her martial arts skills are the weakest among them, but she has two special talents: first, she excels in light footwork, running fast and leaping high; second, she is proficient in two types of firearms.
Her first hidden weapon is a poison fireball, made by mixing yellow phosphorus, gunpowder, and other highly toxic substances into a ball, sealed in wax. When launched, the wax shell is crushed, causing the yellow phosphorus inside to ignite immediately, which in turn ignites the gunpowder, killing the opponent with both fire and poison. The poison is fatal upon contact with blood; unless Uli Yue herself has an antidote, there is no cure.
Her second hidden weapon is also a firearm, mainly composed of yellow phosphorus and gunpowder, but larger. It also contains iron filings and smoke-generating agents. When thrown and ignited, the iron filings produce a shower of sparks, and the thick smoke temporarily blinds the enemy, providing cover for attack or escape. Therefore, they call this the "Fire Escape Technique."
Uli Yue blended into the crowd, initially thinking she hadn't been discovered. But after walking two main streets and preparing to return to her inn, a sudden premonition made her stop.
She turned sharply, seeing nothing unusual, but her rigorous training from childhood told her she had met her match.
Uli Yue thought for a moment; she couldn't let them find her hideout. Since they were bound to meet sooner or later, she might as well be open about it. So, she turned and headed east onto the main street. Once she was out of the city on the east side and in a secluded spot, Uli Yue suddenly used her lightness skill and ran towards a small ravine.
There was a clearing in the ravine, no more than twenty or thirty feet in size. Uli Yue stopped and called out loudly, "Which friend is it? Please come and talk to me."
Zhou Tian couldn't help but secretly admire Uli Yue; she had actually noticed he was following her and had revealed herself to meet him.
Wuli Yue glanced at the man opposite her. He was about fifty years old, very thin, with a face like the moon in autumn, and an air of otherworldly wisdom. Knowing that the man's martial arts were far superior to her own, she clasped her hands in a fist salute and said, "Friend, please state your name."
"I am Zhou Tian, also known as the Hermit of Lakes and Mountains."
A name is like a shadow of a tree. Upon hearing the man's name, Wuli Yue felt a chill run down her spine, knowing she was no match for him. She said, "Since you call yourself a hermit, old swordsman, you should be wandering among the mountains and rivers, detached from worldly affairs. Why have you come out to wade into this turbulent water?"
"Hermits have never truly lived in seclusion. Now, Duan Qi is wicked, and the Great True Qi's fate is sealed. Saving him is futile. What I am doing is merely following the will of Heaven, adding fuel to the fire, hoping to end the chaos as soon as possible and allow the people to live in peace. I advise you: people's hearts are now turning against you, and the tide is irreversible. Young lady, do not be so stubborn."
“I know nothing of destiny or power, nor do I care about the general trend or the
general trend. I only know that the Wuli family has been grateful to the Hu family for generations, and we have no way to repay this kindness. To repay this kindness, I am willing to die.” “Young lady, you are young and have a long future ahead of you. Why do you have to go against the will of Heaven and become an accomplice to evil? Since ancient times, some deaths have been heavier than Mount Tai, while others have been lighter than a feather. Serving Duan Qi is not a pity, but you will leave behind a bad name for all time. Please think carefully, young lady.”
"I am deeply indebted to Grand Tutor Hu, and my mind is made up. Old swordsman, you are of advanced age; old age is no longer the time for physical strength. I advise you to return to your secluded mountains and enjoy your twilight years. If you insist on taking up the beam, I fear you will be injured, and people will say I am bullying the old, weak, and women."
"Heh heh heh. Young lady,
you have quite the nerve. This old man would like to see what you've got." "You want to die? Fine, I'll grant your wish. Take this!"
With that, Wuli Yue assumed a stance and leaped forward, her right palm striking down at Zhou Tian. In truth, Wuli Yue knew her martial arts were inferior, so while striking down with her palm, she had already drawn three poisoned fire pellets in her other hand, holding them in her palm. She planned to use the force of Zhou Tian's right hand to launch the pellets from her left hand, catching him off guard.
As mentioned earlier, the rules of the martial world dictate that one should warn others before using hidden weapons, but the Wuli sisters were assassins and didn't care about such rules, so they had no intention of giving a warning.
Zhou Tian neither intervened nor made a move, simply watching her hand as it struck towards her chest.
Wuli Yue's hand had already reached Zhou Tian's head, but seeing he remained unmoved, she realized the vast difference in their abilities. Even if she were to actually strike his head, it would only feel like a tickle, while her right hand would likely be destroyed. So she withdrew her strength, throwing a left punch from under her ribs, preparing to injure her with a poisoned bullet. Just as she made her move, Zhou Tian's shoulder moved, and he had already grabbed her small left hand. Wuli Yue couldn't pull it back no matter how hard she tried.
Zhou Tian held Wuli Yue's left hand like an adult holding a child's hand; Wuli Yue felt excruciating pain in her fingers, as if they were being clamped by iron pincers, unable to pull her hand away.
Zhou Tian said, "You want to injure me with poison fire bullets, don't you? Be careful, if I squeeze hard, I might crush the bullet, and your little hand will be injured. It's not a big deal if you get hurt, but it would be so tragic for a beautiful young woman like you to lose a delicate hand."
Wuli Yue knew he was telling the truth, so she dared not struggle anymore. She secretly reached for the bullet with her right hand, ready to fire again. This time, Zhou Tian didn't grab her hand, but instead poked her shoulder with the fingertip of his free hand. Wuli Yue immediately felt numb all over, and she couldn't lift her right hand. The bullet fell to the ground.
Zhou Tian then pried open her left hand, took the bullet, and pressed another major acupoint on her, making her stand there like a puppet. Then he took the deerskin pouch from her waist, put it in along with the bullet that had fallen to the ground, and threw it far away. The deerskin pouch landed on a large rock and suddenly exploded into pieces with a "boom".
Zhou Tian said, "You have defied Heaven, and I should act on its behalf. However, considering your youth and ignorance, and that this is an act of repaying a debt of gratitude, I will spare your life today. But I will cripple your martial arts, so you can no longer do evil for Duan Qi."
Wuli Yue watched in horror as Zhou Tian's large hand pressed against her head. Then, a surge of fiery heat poured into her Baihui acupoint, splitting into two paths that converged at her Huiyin acupoint along the Ren and Du meridians. In an instant, she felt her entire body's energy blocked, and a stream of hot urine flowed uncontrollably, soaking into her boots and clinging to her wet trousers. She felt extremely uncomfortable. She tried to circulate her energy again, but couldn't muster any strength at all. She knew her martial arts were completely destroyed; now she was only slightly stronger than an ordinary woman, but had no special abilities whatsoever.
She cried.
"Cry. I'm doing this for your own good; otherwise, I would have had to kill you. Go and find an honest family to marry into, and live the life of a country woman. That's better than being driven around and dying on the battlefield. I'm off." Zhou Tian was about to leave when he turned back and released the pressure points on her body before using his lightness skill to leave. He still needed to find the Wulihua and Wulixue sisters. These two were better than Wuliyue in martial arts, especially that Wulihua, who was skilled in earth-walking techniques and was not easy to deal with.
I wonder if the old hermit Zhou can thwart the Wuli sisters' assassination plan. Let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter 47 - Wulixue's head is strangled, Wang Bingzheng plots in the camp

. Wang Bingzheng's army left Fengjun and headed towards Xiting Pass.
They traveled without incident. One day, they were walking in a forest.
Fortunately, it was Zhou Tian that day; if it had been an assassin, the marshal's life would probably be over. And the place where Zhou Tian sent the letter by horseback was precisely such a forest.
Recalling that day's events, the officers became even more vigilant, surrounding Wang Bingzheng tightly and watching the trees on either side warily as they walked, fearing another dart or arrow might fly out.
Fortunately, they had almost passed through the woods, and Wang Bingzheng had reached the edge. Just as he was passing under a sparsely populated tree, two sharp shouts suddenly came from above: "Beware!" "Watch out!" A dark shadow swooped down.
"Oh no! Protect the Marshal!"
Forgetting all formalities, the officers simultaneously thrust more than a dozen weapons towards the top of Wang Bingzheng's head, but all struck empty air.
Wang Bingzheng clutched his head, cried out "Oh no!", and his warhorse leaped forward, jumping more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). When he looked back, he was startled again.
The dark shadow had not fallen but was hanging in mid-air, swaying like a fish on a hook.
When Wang Bing returned to check on his horse, he saw a young girl who looked remarkably like Wuli Feng. She was also naked, her entire body painted with patches of brown, green, and yellow pigment, even her face, hair, and pubic hair were colored. She wore a fine, grass-green net, from which hung many leaves; no wonder he hadn't noticed her even though she was right under the tree, only a few feet away.
Around the girl's neck was a thin, red woolen rope, the other end held by a gaunt old man dressed in black. The old man's legs were crossed near the treetop; it was astonishing that such a slender tree could support the weight of two people.
The girl was now in the final stages of her life, struggling desperately, her beautiful long legs kicking violently, her eyes filled with despair.
A group of officers were pointing their swords and spears at the old man. Wang Bingzheng waved his hand, "All officers, step back. This old man is a friend, not an enemy."
Wang Bingzheng bowed under the tree, "Are you the great hero Zhou? Please put down this female assassin. I need to find out the whereabouts of the other assassins from her."
Zhou Tian said from the tree, "I am Zhou Tian. Marshal Wang, there's no need to bother asking her. These sisters are assassins by profession, acting alone, and they don't know each other's whereabouts. Since this assassin is already in my hands, let her die. It'll save her some suffering."
Wang Bingzheng knew that Zhou Tian didn't want her to live and be humiliated, so he didn't insist. He watched as the girl's struggles slowed and weakened, and urine began to flow freely. Then, she lost control of her bladder and expelled feces from her brown-painted anus, which fell to the ground.
This girl was none other than the third sister, Wuli Xue. She didn't know that her fourth sister, Wuli Yue, had been crippled in martial arts; she was simply carrying out her own plan.
She already knew that a skilled protector was guarding Wang Bingzheng, so from the very beginning, she was prepared to gamble with her life.
Wuli Xue was adept at wood-based concealment, essentially disguising herself as trees and plants.
The night before, she had scouted this spot along the marching route, removing her ordinary clothes in the forest and applying paint to her body, even coating her sword to avoid detection. Then she perched on the tree, waiting for her
chance to assassinate him. Compared to other trees, this one grew closer to the road, so the soil beneath it was compacted, resulting in poor growth and a sparse canopy. Therefore, most people wouldn't believe someone could hide in such a tree, which was precisely the factor that allowed Wuli Xue to succeed, and she almost did.
She had already noticed Zhou Tian's arrival, as she had arrived first, and Zhou Tian had moved through the forest twice without finding her.
However, Zhou Tian was a seasoned veteran. He was good at thinking in reverse and knew that a skilled assassin would not choose to go deep into the woods where others would pay the most attention. So he focused on the two ends of the woods. Even so, he still failed to discover Wulixue in time.
Until Wang Bingzheng appeared.
When a target appears in someone's mind, their heartbeat involuntarily quickens. This slight change was noticed by Zhou Tian, who was hiding in the treetop.
Zhou Tian hurriedly used his lightness skill to pounce on Wuli Xue, but just as he reached the treetop where Wuli Xue was hiding, she had already launched her attack.
Wuli Xue also saw Zhou Tian rushing towards her, but at this moment, she only had one thought in mind: to pierce Wang Bingzheng's head with her sword before Zhou Tian could kill her. So, without hesitation, she became one with her sword and plummeted straight down from the tree.
But she was still a step too slow. Just when her sword was about a foot away from Wang Bingzheng's head, a sudden force deflected the tip of her sword. At the same time, she felt something around her neck, then pulled upwards, lifting her up to a head-and-feet position, more than five feet higher.
She felt her neck being tightly constricted, felt a terrible suffocation, and knew that someone had tied a rope around her neck and hung her from the tree. She also knew clearly that Wang Bingzheng was safe and sound.
She gazed at the distant sky in despair, her heart filled with resentment towards Heaven for not protecting her, for not even death could save Wang Bingzheng's life. A heavy stone pressed against her chest, her legs flailing frantically, trying to find something to support her, but her feet remained firmly planted on empty ground; only the rope around her neck tightened ever more. She heard
Wang Bingzheng's conversation with Zhou Tian, and in her final moments, she felt a sliver of respect for the man who had ended her life.
Zhou Tian released his grip, tossing the already dead Wulixue to the ground, then jumped down from the tree.
"Elder Zhou, may I ask your name?"
"I am Zhou Tian."
"Ah? Could you be the hermit Zhou, known as the Recluse of Lakes and Mountains?"
"Indeed, I am." "
Oh, it's an honor to meet you."
"Marshal Wang, please don't be so polite." " I am deeply
grateful for your help, Elder Hermit." Wang Bingzheng hurriedly bowed, and Zhou Tian returned the bow.
Hearing the news, Feng Qing also rushed over to meet Zhou Tian.
After exchanging pleasantries, the three began discussing the assassin. Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing were delighted to learn that Zhou Tian had already dealt with three of the four sisters. However, Zhou Tian said, "Now, although only the second sister, Wulihua, remains, she is extremely difficult to handle. I overheard the sisters talking and learned that Wulihua is skilled in earth-moving techniques. While I can go to heaven and water, I cannot go underground, making it very difficult to guard against."
At this moment, a woman's voice said, "What's so difficult about that? Since the assassin comes and goes underground, he must be digging holes and leaving the excavated soil on the ground, just like a rat in the countryside. If we send people to search the entire camp, we might be able to find his entrance."
Everyone turned around and saw a female captain. The girl was only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a face like a peach blossom, white teeth, and red lips.
Wang Bingzheng angrily retorted, "Nonsense! You're ordering the entire camp to search for rats? How are we supposed to sleep?! You're just a junior officer; who gives you the right to speak here?!"
Wang Yinping hurriedly bowed and said, "She is my daughter's captain, newly arrived and unfamiliar with the rules. Please forgive her, Father."
Feng Qing said, "What you said earlier makes some sense. What is your name, young lady?"
"My name is Hua Rong. I dare not flatter you, Deputy Commander. If finding the entrance doesn't work, we can simply dig a deep ditch around the main tent, fill it with water, and drown the assassin who comes from the ground. We can also bury a large urn in the ground and have someone guard its opening. Even if the assassin digs quietly, the sound will be heard inside the urn."
"You've given me too much face! Get out of here!" Wang Bingzheng shouted.
Hua Rong nodded and retreated to the side, looking quite bored.
"This is not the place to discuss this matter. We should discuss it in detail when we set up camp," Zhou Tian said.
"Old Master Zhou is right. Let's set up camp at a suitable place ahead and then discuss the matter further."
The group walked for half a day, then stopped to rest and cook. Zhou Tian, Wang Bingzheng, and Feng Qing dismissed their attendants and discussed the matter carefully. They felt that of the three suggestions Hua Rong had made, only the matter of finding an entrance was inconvenient due to the large number of troops involved; the other two were worth trying.
After lunch, Zhou Tian told Wang Bingzheng to lead the main army ahead, while he used his lightness skill to return to the place where the army had camped the previous night, carefully inspecting the area around the camp. Sure enough, they found a small earthen cave outside the camp, about a foot in diameter, with a mound of earth at the entrance. Zhou Tian found a small tree, broke it into a wooden pole, and used his superb skill to pry open the cave. He saw that the cave had been dug diagonally downwards for more than five feet deep, then turned back towards the camp. The cave was filled with yellow earth, and only because of the uneven color of the soil could it be seen that it had been dug. Zhou Tian was horrified upon seeing this. The assassin had dug a tunnel with no end, like a rat digging a hole and filling the rear with the excavated soil. This way, even if someone discovered the entrance, they couldn't follow it immediately. However, this meant the assassin had to dig in complete airlessness, an impossible feat without specially trained breathing techniques. If this was indeed the case, simply digging trenches and filling them with water wouldn't be enough.
Zhou Tian searched the camp again and found several places he suspected the assassin might have peeked out. What he found made him even more alarmed. The assassin had already made several attempts, but hadn't been able to target Wang Bingzheng's tent.
It turned out that the general's tent location was different each night. There was a science called "Qimen Dunjia" that explained how the general should choose his tent location, and this location was related to the general's birth date and time—something no one else could know.
Zhou Tian searched the camp from the previous night again and found the same situation. It seemed the assassin was very persistent, not letting go of any opportunity at night.
Seeing that it was getting late and fearing the assassin would strike that night, Zhou Tian hurried back.
Whether Zhou Tian could save Wang Bingzheng remains to be seen; we'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter 48 – Wulihua Falls into a Trap and is Captured, Wuliyue Seeks Her Own Death

. Zhou Tian's lightness skill was faster than a horse's, so after searching two camps, he still managed to return to the main camp before nightfall.
Wang Bingzheng had already done what he planned. He had dug a three-foot-deep circular ditch around his own tent, and the soldiers were filling it with water.
Zhou Tian quickly told them to stop, deepen the ditch, and stop filling it. He buried a large urn outside the ditch and then sat guard beside it.
Wang Bingzheng then gave orders for the soldiers searching the camp to deliberately reveal the location of his tent in their conversation, so that the assassin could hear and be lured there.
Zhou Tian's hearing was more than twice as sharp as an average person's, so just after midnight, he had already heard the sound of the earth beneath the ground. The earth moved with surprising speed, almost as fast as the patrolmen. Zhou Tian gave a hand signal, and Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing quietly approached.
The sound slowed down and weakened when it was about five zhang away from the sleeping tent. It seemed the assassin had identified the tent's location and was making a stealthy advance. Zhou Tian couldn't help but smile slightly.
Now that the assassin was close, there was no need for the large earthenware jar. Zhou Tian left the jar, found the source of the sound, and quietly followed, step by step, towards the sleeping tent, until they reached the edge of the ditch. Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing also came closer, squatting by the ditch edge and looking down.
Suddenly, the earth on the ditch edge collapsed, creating a large hole. A human head emerged, looking around in astonishment. Just as it was about to retreat, Zhou Tian flicked his finger, and the head stopped moving.
Wang Bingzheng knew she had fallen for Zhou Tian's trick, so he shouted, and more than a dozen of his personal guards came down into the ditch, grabbed the man by the hair, and dragged him out like a dead dog, pulling out a naked young woman.
The woman was only in her early twenties, and looked exactly like Wuli Feng and Wuli Xue, with a slender figure and delicate skin, except that she had been covered in a layer of dust from the ditch.
She was naked, but had shovel-like iron implements on her hands, feet, knees, and elbows, indicating she had been digging with both hands and feet underground. A thin bamboo tube for blowing darts was attached to her right wrist, and a leather wristband with a dozen or so darts attached around it.
Several soldiers dragged her to the ground, removed the iron implements and darts, leaving her completely naked.
She stared blankly at Wang Bingzheng and the other two, bewildered, not understanding what was happening.
Seeing that her implements had been removed, Zhou Tian pressed his palm against her head, using his internal energy to disable her martial arts, then released the pressure points and handed her over to the soldiers to be bound.
Zhou Tiandao said to Wang Bingzheng, "Marshal Wang, two of the four assassins are dead now, and this one, along with the one we captured earlier, has had their martial arts crippled and can no longer cause harm. I still need to go check out the Panlong Formation. It would be best if we could get the formation diagram, otherwise, at least we can help you observe the formation and explore its mechanisms."
"Bingzheng thanks Elder Zhou for his help on behalf of all the soldiers."
"No need to be polite, Old Qiao is gone."
With that, he vanished without a trace. Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing couldn't help but stick out their tongues and say, "Fortunately, Elder Zhou is a man of great righteousness, otherwise, if we had risked our lives for Duan Qi, our lives would have been in danger!" As
soon as Zhou Tiandao left, Wang Bingzheng ordered the assassin to be brought in. Seeing that the assassin was covered in soot, he quickly ordered the soldiers to fetch water and wash her thoroughly, revealing her beautiful appearance.
Wang Bingzheng said, "You vile wretch, you dared to assassinate me, your commander! What is your punishment?"
Wuli Hua replied solemnly, "When two countries are at war, each serves its own master. I am a servant under Lord Hu, serving
my lord. It is only right that I do so. Kill me if you wish, why ask any more questions?" "Well said! Your two sisters have already been pickled into jerky. When I reach the Panlong Formation, I will hang them on the flagpole to shame that old man Hu Da. Do you want me to hang you up alive as a public spectacle, or kill you and make you jerky in the same way?"
"It is up to you. Since the Wuli sisters are assassins, they care nothing for life, death, honor, or disgrace. Do as you please!"
"Good, you are a hero. I admire you, so I don't want you to suffer any more. I will execute you and pickle you into jerky when we break camp tomorrow morning."
"Hmph! I appreciate your kindness, Wulihua will not be disappointed!"
The next morning, after roll call, Wang Bingzheng ordered the assassins to be brought into the tent. The soldiers, knowing the four assassins were no longer a threat, cheered.
Just as Wang Bingzheng was about to order Wulihua to be taken to the gate and executed, a junior officer reported, "There is a woman outside the camp, claiming to be Wulihua's sister, who has come to surrender."
Upon hearing this, Wang Bingzheng knew it was Wuliyue, whose martial arts had been crippled by Zhou Tian, and quickly ordered her brought to the tent.
Two soldiers escorted in a young girl, only a teenager, who looked exactly like Wulihua. She was completely naked except for a pair of deerskin boots.
Reaching the commander's table, she knelt down: "The criminal Wuliyue has come to surrender herself."
"Fourth sister, how can you kneel before a traitor?!" Wulihua exclaimed in surprise.
"You are Wuliyue. Didn't the old hero Zhou release you? I will not seek you out again. Why have you come to surrender?" Wang Bingzheng said.
“Wuli Yue has come to surrender not to atone for her own sins, but for her second sister, Wuli Hua. She heard that the Marshal has captured her and intends to execute her, so Wuli Yue has come to beg the Marshal to spare her life. As the saying goes, one should be lenient when possible. Her martial arts have already been crippled by the old swordsman Zhou; she poses no threat to the Marshal. Why kill her further?”
“Fourth sister, I don’t need your pleading! We have received immense kindness from Grand Tutor Hu, and we have no way to repay him. Our assassination attempt failed; only death can repay his high expectations. How can you bow and scrape to the enemy? You are not a descendant of the Wuli family!” Wuli Hua roared angrily.
“Marshal Wang, please forgive my second sister’s ignorance,” Wuli Yue said.
"Not at all, not at all. I've always admired heroes. Your sisters dared to assassinate me; they are heroes too. How could I blame them? Get up quickly, and I'll spare your second sister."
"Marshal, be careful!" Wang Bingzheng stepped down from his desk, intending to help Wuliyue up, when suddenly a figure darted past him, kicking Wuliyue to the ground and pinning her down.
This startled everyone. When Wang Bingzheng looked, he saw it was Yue Ling, the female general beside Feng Qing.
"General Yue, what is the meaning of this?" Just as Wang Bingzheng was about to ask, Wuliyue gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "You vile woman, you ruined my plans! I won't let you go even in the underworld!" Seeing Wuliyue's face, Wang Bingzheng knew something must have happened, but he didn't know what it was.
Yue Ling, holding Wuli Yue down, ordered the soldiers on either side, "Quickly untie her boots and take them off, be careful." She reached into her hair and pulled out a small bamboo tube. Pointing it towards the ground, she pressed a small bump at the back of the tube. With a "pop," something emerged from the tube and burrowed into the soil, kicking up a small cloud of dust. The soldiers carefully removed the girl's two boots and, following Yue Ling's instructions, examined them closely. Sure enough, they found two even smaller bamboo tubes hidden in the pom-poms at the toes, each containing a tiny bamboo arrow. The bluish tips of the arrows clearly indicated they were poisoned.
Only then did Wang Bingzheng realize that Wuli Yue's surrender was a ruse; her true intention was assassination. To convince others that she meant no harm, she had come naked, revealing all her secrets, making herself appear completely innocent. The plan was somewhat successful, as most of the male generals were drawn to her body, while most of the female generals were too disgusted to look at her. If Yue Ling hadn't seen a hint of malice in Wuli Yue's eyes, Wang Bingzheng might have fallen for it.
Only then did Wuli Hua realize her mistake, saying, "Fourth sister, I misunderstood you earlier. Please forgive me."
Wuli Yue, pinned to the ground by Yue Ling, turned to Wuli Hua and said, "Sister, how can you let your sister be fooled, and how can you let a rebel be fooled?" She
then turned to Yue Ling and said, "This female general is brave, resourceful, and meticulous. Wuli Yue has no excuse for her defeat. In that case, please, Marshal Wang, execute both of us."
Yue Ling got up from her, and a group of axemen bound Wuli Yue as well, forcing both sisters to kneel on the ground of the tent.
What will become of the two sisters? We'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter 49 – The Wuli Sisters Suffer Together, Feng Qing Cleverly Breaks Through the Pass.

Wang Bingzheng said, “I originally did not wish to execute you two, but you have repeatedly refused to mend your ways, so I have no choice but to kill you. However, considering your loyalty to your master, I will grant you a complete corpse. Men, bring peacock gall and send them on their way.”
Feng Qing’s heart stirred, but he said nothing.
Why?
It turns out that “peacock gall” and “arsenic” are not only the most poisonous substances in the world, but also drugs used by the emperor to execute ministers and concubines. Ordinary officials were not qualified to possess them. Wang Bingzheng’s use of peacock gall to kill people shows that he has long harbored rebellious intentions, and he secretly plotted his scheme.
"Thank you, Marshal Wang, for your kindness. We have one more request before we die."
"What is it?"
"Could you allow us to see the remains of our deceased sisters, so that we may die without regret?" "
I grant your request. Men, take them to the rear camp to see the bodies of those two assassins."
The two sisters were escorted by their comrade, passing through the lustful gazes of the soldiers in the camp, to the rear camp. The soldiers lifted them onto two carts carrying large earthenware urns, opened the lids, and showed them the two naked female corpses inside.
The two sisters looked at them, but neither cried nor cried out. They only said, "Eldest sister, third sister, you two go slowly. Wait for us to go with you, so that the road to the Yellow Springs will not be lonely."
Wang Bingzheng and the other generals also came along and immediately forced the two sisters to drink peacock gall. The two sisters immediately bled from their seven orifices, fell to the ground, kicked their legs a few times, and then curled up on the ground, dying a violent death.
The soldiers immediately disemboweled Wulihua and Wuliyue, removed their internal organs, and cleaned them thoroughly.
However, they hadn't prepared large urns. Seeing that the two urns were large enough, a soldier retrieved Wulifeng and Wulixue, found four tree branches a foot long and an inch thick, and used them to insert Wulihua's head into Wulifeng's crotch, one end of each branch into Wulihua's mouth, and the other end into Wulifeng's vulva, placing their lips together. They then clamped Wulihua's legs around Wulifeng's head, similarly inserting branches, creating a "69" pair, and placed them back into the urn, which fit perfectly.
They then did the same with Wuliyue and Wulixue, placing them in another urn.
The entire army was overjoyed at the capture of the assassins, but Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing remained cautious, fearing another assassin might visit.
After marching for more than half a month, the army arrived at Xiting Pass.
As mentioned earlier, Xiting Pass was a pass on a plain. Although there were original city walls around the pass itself, they were too long and severely damaged. Furthermore, Emperors Duan Qiao and Duan Qi neglected state affairs, leaving the national treasury empty and unable to afford repairs. Therefore, the walls were essentially useless.
However, Xiting Pass was located on a major east-west thoroughfare, only a few dozen miles from the mountains to the north and south. Therefore, bypassing Xiting Pass risked attacks from the flanks and rear by the troops inside. Thus, even without capturing Xiting Pass, a sufficient army was needed to defend it. However, leaving troops there would not guarantee enough strength to attack the Panlong Formation. Therefore, Wang Bingzheng decided to attack Xiting Pass.
On that day, the central and left armies advanced simultaneously, arriving at the pass. They then divided their forces to widen the gaps in the north and south walls, entering the pass and surrounding it on three sides, leaving only the east and west gates open.
Nearly a million troops marched in a mighty army, surrounding Xiting Pass. The generals guarding the pass were He Fengwu, the garrison commander, and Qi Shuyan, the deputy garrison commander. The two were sworn brothers and brothers-in-law, both wielding the Overlord Halberd and possessing immense strength.
Seeing Wang Bingzheng's army arrive and set up camp, the two conspired to take advantage of the enemy's initial arrival, opening the gates and launching a surprise attack. With this in mind, they mustered ten thousand men, led two deputy generals and eight lieutenant generals, and quietly opened the west gate, rushing out and charging straight into Wang Bingzheng's camp, their battle cries shaking the heavens.
Wang Bingzheng was caught off guard; his troops were routed, his unfinished camp was shattered, and half of his camp's equipment was burned. By the time he gathered a few generals and a small force to fight back, the enemy had already retreated to the city, enraging him.
The next morning, after roll call, Wang Bingzheng ordered his vanguard officers, Wang Ke and Wang Jun, to lead two thousand troops to challenge them at the pass.
He Fengwu and Qi Shuyan went into battle together. Qi Shuyan fought Wang Jun fiercely for seventy rounds without a clear victor, and both sides sounded the retreat.
Back in the city, He and Qi discussed the situation. They worried that Wang Bingzheng had a large and powerful army, and if a mass attack came the next day, their own deaths wouldn't matter much, but the loss of the city was a serious concern. So they ordered a no-battle sign to be raised, refusing to engage in battle.
They challenged the enemy for several days, but the city refused to fight. Wang Bingzheng had no choice but to send
troops to attack the city. He and Qi, having been in the army for a long time, were very skilled in attack and defense. With the high walls and thick fortifications, they were completely unafraid. Wang Bingzheng attacked for three days, suffering more than ten thousand casualties, but still couldn't break through the city.
This infuriated Wang Bingzheng, who cursed all day long. Although Xiting Pass didn't block the way like Baihu Pass, it was like a scab on his body, causing him great frustration. Wang Bingzheng was caught in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to attack or besiege the city. Another half month passed, and his attacking forces had suffered losses of 30,000 men, yet he still hadn't captured it.
Finally, Wang Bingzheng lost patience. He ordered the central army to leave Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao behind, while the left flank army, led by He Yuanlong and Yue Ling with 50,000 men, guarded Xiting and protected the supply lines. He himself, along with Feng Qing, led the main force to break camp and head straight for Fengcheng Pass.
Xiting Pass was over 700 li from Fengcheng Pass, a journey that would take more than ten days.
He Fengwu and Qi Shuyan were secretly pleased to see Wang Bingzheng's army leave.
Qi Shuyan wanted to go out of the city and ambush him, but He Fengwu, fearing a trick, decided to ignore him.
After seven or eight days, one evening, He Fengwu saw dozens of carts approaching from the west and stopping at Wang Yinping's camp. The carts were loaded with large and small bags, seemingly containing provisions. He and Qi Shuyan then discussed how to raid them.
After discussing it, the two decided that while they could seize the grain, they had to ensure the city's survival first. Therefore, Qi Shuyan would defend the city, while He Fengwu would personally go to seize the grain.
After midnight, He Fengwu mustered five thousand soldiers, each carrying sulfur and saltpeter, their horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, and everyone gagged. They quietly opened the gates and slipped out of the city, reaching Wang Yinping's camp. They shouted, broke through the palisades, and rushed into the camp. He Fengwu used his halberd to puncture a sack, finding it full of grain. Overjoyed, he immediately ordered his soldiers to take what they could and burn what they couldn't. Instantly, the camp burst into flames, filled with cries of despair.
Seeing the fire had started and his soldiers had looted a considerable amount of grain, He Fengwu ordered a retreat. Suddenly, a cannon fired, and a troop of soldiers blocked their path. A female general, wielding a five-hooked, gleaming silver spear, was unparalleled in beauty and exuded a murderous aura—it was none other than Wang Yinping, the vanguard of the central route.
He Fengwu had never fought Wang Yinping, but he had heard of her and felt somewhat intimidated. However, he couldn't show weakness at this moment. He quickly spurred his horse forward, swung his halberd, and smashed it down. Wang Yinping used her spear to parry upwards, sending her horse staggering back several steps. Her face showed surprise. He Fengwu was secretly pleased. He spurred his horse forward, his halberd attacks becoming increasingly swift. Wang Yinping barely managed to withstand seven or eight blows before suddenly losing her focus and having her helmet knocked off by the halberd. Startled, she turned her horse and fled. He Fengwu didn't pursue, leading his army back into the city. He thought to himself: "Wang Yinping is, after all, a woman; she's nothing special."
The next morning, Wang Yinping, Wang Xiaojiao, and Yue Ling challenged the three female generals at the city walls. He Fengwu told Qi Shuyan to observe from the city walls while he personally went into battle, fighting all three female generals to a draw. The battle lasted until noon, when both sides withdrew. The three female generals did not return.
A few days later, even more grain supplies arrived at Wang Yinping's camp. Judging from the banners, it seemed that two deputy generals had also come to escort the supplies this time.
He Fengwu sent men out of the city to investigate, and sure enough, a large amount of grain supplies had arrived. It seemed that Wang Bingzheng was already running out of supplies and was afraid of losing them, so he had transferred two deputy generals to assist him. He had also gathered all the troops of the three female generals to prepare to protect the grain supplies as they passed through the pass.
He Fengwu laughed, "Even if she gathers all her troops together, it's only 50,000. As long as we defeat these three wretches and set fire to the grain supplies, burning just a third of them will be enough to keep Wang Bingzheng's nearly one million-strong army afloat for more than a few days."
That evening, scouts reported that the grain supplies had already quietly left the camp and were heading towards the breach in the southern city wall. He Fengwu exclaimed, "Good, good, good! That breach is only wide enough for one grain cart to pass through. As long as we prepare strong bows and crossbows and fire arrows from afar, they won't be able to get through."
So, he still ordered Qi Shuyan to defend the city, while he himself led two deputy generals and 10,000 troops, splitting into two groups. One group, led by the deputy generals, prepared fire arrows, sulfur, and other ignition materials to bypass the breach to the south. He himself led the other group to attack from the north of the breach first, drawing the enemy's attention there, and then the deputy generals would set fire to it.
Two groups of soldiers quietly opened the south gate and approached the breach. A mile away, they saw large wagons approaching from the city gate. A group of men blocked their path; it was Wang Yinping. He Fengwu assumed Wang Yinping was merely guarding the supply route and didn't know her true target was him. He hastily ordered a cannon salute and a charge. As
soon as the cannons fired, He Fengwu charged ahead, heading straight for Wang Yinping.
Wang Yinping calmly met the attack with her rifle. The two engaged in a fierce battle for the time it takes to eat a meal. Suddenly, flames erupted from the south as rockets rained down on the supply wagons, instantly igniting a raging fire that illuminated half the sky.
He Fengwu said smugly, "Wang Yinping, your grain supplies have been robbed by me again, ruining Wang Bingzheng's important business. I'm afraid you'll be beheaded when you get back. Why don't you surrender now and come back to the pass with me? I can guarantee your life."
Wang Yinping suddenly burst into laughter and said, "He Fengwu, you've been tricked. You only burned a few broken carts, and they were loaded with stones. Your vanguard officer just lured you out to die."
He Fengwu was taken aback, pondering silently. He was still somewhat skeptical, but one thing made him believe it: Wang Yinping's martial arts skills were far from as weak as before, barely matching his own.
He Fengwu thought, whether he'd been truly tricked or not, a true man doesn't act rashly. He'd accept it as a trap and head back to the city first. So he feigned defeat, turned his horse, and rode away. But then a cannon fired, and his return path was blocked by Wang Xiaojiao. Only then did he realize he'd truly been tricked. There was no way to escape now; he had no choice but to fight for his life.
With Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao attacking together, He Fengwu was no match for them. He could only parry, unable to retaliate. Just as he was struggling to hold on, Yue Ling rode in from the south, shouting, "Vanguard Wang, I have killed the two traitorous lieutenants who set the fire. Not a single enemy soldier escaped. I have come to help."
"Perfect timing. Take this bastard down with all your might."
He Fengwu was filled with regret. He mustered his spirits and fought three more rounds, but he could not withstand the onslaught. He tried to escape, but was surrounded on three sides. He couldn't help but sigh, "Poor Fengwu, dying at the hands of three women." He closed his eyes and was struck by three weapons at once, each blow fatal. He died instantly on the ground.
Meanwhile, Qi Shuyan watched from afar on the city wall. He heard the deafening roar of cannons and the shouts of battle, and saw the fire. He assumed the grain supplies had been burned and was secretly pleased. After listening for a while, the shouts of battle gradually subsided. In the darkness, a group of men dressed in government army uniforms and carrying He Fengwu's banner came, escorting more than a dozen grain carts. When they arrived at the city, they shouted loudly, "We have successfully raided Lang, open the city gates at once!"
Qi Shuyan looked through the torchlight below and, seeing no He Fengwu, asked, "Where is your garrison commander?"
"Block the pursuers from behind! Open the city gates quickly!"
Qi Shuyan, without suspicion, hurriedly ordered the gates opened and let the people in. He saw a massive, dark mass of about ten thousand men following behind the main force. Suspicious, he shouted, "Who's behind us? Stop right now, or they'll shoot arrows!"
Before he finished speaking, a cannon fired from outside the city. Those already inside suddenly shouted and began to fight, drawing their weapons. Lanterns and torches lit up, and in their light, three female generals charged straight towards the city gate. Qi Shuyan was terrified. He ordered his soldiers to close the gates while he ran down the slope, mounted his horse, and charged to the gate. The three female generals had already stormed into the city.
Then, a junior officer on horseback from the group of government troops who had entered the city shouted, "Qi Shuyan, look who I am!"
Qi Shuyan looked and saw it was Feng Qing. He inwardly groaned, but had no choice but to steel himself and charge at Feng Qing.
Feng Qing did not engage in battle, but instead directed his two female generals to defeat the government troops at each city gate, leaving only Wang Yinping to fight Qi Shuyan. Upon exchanging blows, Qi Shuyan realized that his opponent's martial arts were evenly matched with his own, understanding that she had been feigning weakness to deceive them, her aim being to trick them into opening the city gates.
Knowing that the situation was hopeless and further fighting was futile, Qi Shuyan seized an opportunity, jumped out of the encirclement, and headed towards the city gate.
Whether Qi Shuyan could escape remains to be seen; we'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Fifty—Grand Tutor Hu sets up a wondrous formation; two female generals break through

and are captured. Qi Shuyan, attempting to escape, is stopped by a female captain, young and beautiful, riding a peach-blossom horse and wielding a golden dragon spear—it is Hua Rong.
Qi Shuyan, assuming a mere captain couldn't possess much skill, spurred his horse forward, thrusting his halberd straight at Hua Rong's heart. Hua Rong, unperturbed, deflected the spear with his own, and casually thrust his own spear towards Qi Shuyan's face. Qi Shuyan, startled, turned his head to dodge the spear, but found the spear still aimed at his face, like a shadow. He cried out in alarm as the spear pierced his left eye and then the back of his head. Without a sound, he fell from his horse, dead.
The thrust was clean and swift. Feng Qing, observing the battle, exclaimed, "Excellent spear technique!"
Hua Rong was extremely pleased, while Wang Yinping's face was grim.
The battle raged until dawn, annihilating the defending army, capturing tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers, and reviewing the spoils. The three female generals together beheaded He Fengwu. Wang Yinping presented Qi Shuyan's head, saying, "Wang Yinping and her subordinate, Colonel Hua Rong, jointly beheaded the enemy general Qi Shuyan."
Feng Qing glanced at Hua Rong, a hint of resentment on his face, silently noting it down and secretly calculating.
Having breached Xiting Pass and secured the supply route, Wang and Feng's army would have no worries about their rear and could advance with peace of mind.
Feng Qing sent his deputy to guard Xiting Pass while he led three female generals towards Fengcheng Pass.
Upon arriving at Fengcheng Pass, they found Wang Bingzheng had already led his army there for several days. The two armies joined forces, and Feng Qing reported the capture of Xiting Pass, much to Wang Bingzheng's delight.
Feng Qing asked, "How is the battle going on Vice Commander Xu's side?"
Wang Bingzheng replied, "Scouts have reported that Ju Xin and Zhan Biao, the commanders and deputy commanders of Nanling Pass, are both brave and resourceful. Vice Commander Xu has been attacking for many days but has not been able to break through the pass."
"Why not send a force to attack Nanling Pass from the flank and rear? That might be enough to break through." "
No need," Wang Bingzheng said. "Vice Commander Xu has a strong army and Zhang Gui assists him. He will surely report a victory within a few days. Hu Da here has many soldiers and generals, and is also cunning. If we divide our forces, we may be taken advantage of. Besides, we have traveled a long way and have been on a long expedition for many days, consuming a lot of food every day. It would be better to concentrate our forces, open Fengcheng Pass, and march straight to the capital. This way, we can end the war as soon as possible and allow the people to live in peace and prosperity."
This was said in a high-sounding manner, and Feng Qing had nothing to refute. However, he knew in his heart that Wang Bingzheng hoped that Xu Youliang would exhaust his military strength at Nanling Pass.
After Feng Qing's arrival, everyone rested for several days, and food supplies were continuously transported from behind, preparing for battle.
Because it was a plain with a lack of high ground, Wang Bingzheng ordered his men to pile up earth in the camp, creating a mound several dozen feet high. On this mound, they then built a three-foot-high tower. He, Feng Qing, and the other generals climbed the tower to observe the formation.
What they saw terrified them. What they saw was the Seven Stars Coiling Dragon Formation, covering a hundred li from east to west and more than twenty li in depth, winding like a long river. Within this long, narrow formation were seven sub-formations arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper. According to the names of the seven stars, they were: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang, hence the name Seven Stars Coiling Dragon Formation. Dust and smoke billowed within the formation, and a murderous aura filled the air, as if millions of troops were hidden within. How could this not be terrifying?
Back in the main tent, the generals looked at each other, none uttering a sound.
Only the female generals Qi Qiaoyun and Hua Mingyu couldn't help but shout, "Marshal, is such a simple formation enough to stump us all? Let my sister and I fight it, and we will surely win!"
Wang Bingzheng retorted, "What do you two know? This formation is extremely powerful. Without someone knowledgeable in formations, it's like lambs entering a tiger's den—a certain death."
"We martial artists, who among us doesn't study formations? This formation is merely a variation of the One-Character Long Snake Formation. What's so difficult about it? Why are you so afraid, Marshal? My sister and I are not afraid at all."
"How dare you! You two have insulted me with such vile words! What is your punishment?" Wang Bingzheng was enraged by their words.
"Marshal, kill us if you wish, but my sister and I have a request."
"Speak."
"A general would rather die on the front lines than on the rear. Since the Marshal is so afraid of this formation, why not send my sister and me to try? If we win, you won't have to hesitate like this." "
And if you lose?"
"We're willing to stand by our orders!"
"Words are meaningless."
"We're willing to sign a pledge!"
"Alright, Military Affairs Department, make them sign a pledge."
Feng Qing hurriedly tried to persuade them, but the two female generals wouldn't listen. They signed the pledge on the spot, obtained a command, and led two thousand soldiers straight towards the Panlong Formation.
Wang Bingzheng ordered Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao to observe the enemy formation for them, and then led the generals to the high mound to observe.
They saw the two female generals leading their troops towards the Tianquan Formation at the base of the handle of the spoon in the center of the Panlong Formation.
Before they even reached the front lines, a group of men, exuding murderous intent, blocked their path. Leading them were two generals: one riding a spotted leopard wielding a steel halberd, Zhang Haitao, the garrison commander of Longbei Pass; the other riding a jade-flowered steed wielding twin spears, Liu Ziyu, the garrison commander of Qinglong Pass. These four generals had met outside Fengjun City; their martial skills were evenly matched. Without exchanging names, they immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
The four generals fought for over ten rounds, neither gaining the upper hand. Zhang Haitao pressed his iron halberd down, pinning down Qi Qiaoyun's steel spear, and said, "Do you dare follow me into the fray?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Then follow me." Zhang Haitao turned his horse and rode off. Qi Qiaoyun, unaware of the danger, gave chase.
Seeing this, Liu Ziyu also turned his horse and returned to his formation. Hua Mingyu, eager to gain merit, followed closely behind.
In the blink of an eye, the four horses entered the Tianquan Formation. Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu turned around and vanished without a trace, along with their troops. All that remained was a flat expanse of yellow earth, several miles in diameter, except for the flagpole at the very center of the formation.
Qi Qiaoyun, completely disoriented within the formation, couldn't even find the entrance when she tried to turn back, and was greatly alarmed.
Qiaoyun looked at Hua Mingyu and said, "What should we do?"
"That's the formation's core. The soldiers in the watchtowers on the flagpole are there to guide the way. If we cut down the flagpole, the enemy will be like blind men, in complete chaos, and we can break the formation."
"In that case, let's go and take the core."
"Exactly!"
The two female generals spurred their horses straight towards the flagpole. Before they had gone half a mile, a cannon suddenly roared, and shouts of battle filled the air. Countless government troops emerged from the ground, brandishing swords and spears, charging towards the two women. They quickly raised their weapons and fought off the soldiers. The two generals, like tigers and wolves rampaging through a pack, slaughtered the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. However, the enemy outnumbered them, and wave after wave attacked. In the blink of an eye, their soldiers were almost entirely wiped out, and two-thirds of their hundred female personal guards were also dead. The rest were all captured alive, leaving only Sheng Qi and Hua to desperately hold out.
Only then did the two realize the ferocity of their formation, but it was too late.
Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao, outside the battle formation, heard the shouts of battle from within but knew nothing of the situation. Their hearts were burning with anxiety. Suddenly, Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu emerged from the formation and said to them, "Two female generals, if you wish to rescue your comrades, you may follow me into the formation." Just
as the two were about to enter, they heard a loud gong sound from their own camp. Reluctantly, they turned their horses back to their camp. Reaching the high ground, they saw enemy soldiers, under the command of the signal flags on the watchtowers, completely surrounding Qi Qiaoyun and Hua Mingyu. They fought to the east, and the enemy surrounded them to the east; they fought to the west, and the enemy surrounded them to the west. They could not escape. Only then did they understand why Wang Bingzheng had sounded the gong—because if they had gone in, they would have been trapped in the same way.
As they watched, Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu appeared from nowhere and joined the two female generals in battle.
Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao felt a pang of pain in their hearts. After all, they were generals in the same camp, and both women, they knew the fate of female generals who fell into enemy hands.
How could Qi Qiaoyun and Hua Mingyu not know this? But by this time, they had been fighting for an hour, their arms aching from exhaustion. Hearing the retreat gong from their own camp, they knew they had been abandoned. Completely worn out, they had no strength left to fight. Seeing two enemies charging at them, they hastily tried to draw their swords to kill themselves, but it was too late. Their swords were only half-drawn when their opponents were already upon them, reaching out to seize them. Helpless, they could only lower their swords and raise their blades to meet the attack. Both were fighting desperately, seeking only death, unwilling to be captured, but alas, their will was not enough.
Qi Qiaoyun, having no other choice, seized an opportunity. Seeing Zhang Haitao thrust his halberd, she didn't defend, but instead lowered her spear tip downwards, meeting the blow with her chest. She closed her eyes, hoping for a sharp pain in her heart, and her death. But Zhang Haitao was a master of martial arts, and he wouldn't allow her to do that. Seeing her close her eyes and beg for death, he brandished his halberd, using the small fork on it to hook her spear, preventing her from retaliating. Then, with a swift movement, he grabbed Qi Qiaoyun by the chest and pulled
her onto his horse. Zhang Haitao held Qi Qiaoyun face-to-face, making her ride backwards on his horse. Qi Qiaoyun suddenly realized what was happening and tried to resist, but her spear had already fallen to the ground. When she tried to draw her sword, her hands were grabbed and twisted behind her back. Sitting chest-to-chest with him, she felt her lower body pressed against his, a hard object pressing against her lower abdomen. She blushed deeply with shame. But she knew that all this humiliation stemmed from her own arrogance, so she didn't resist anymore. She simply closed her eyes and let Zhang Haitao hold her as he ran two or three hundred paces through the ranks before turning back on his horse. She was thrown to the ground, and immediately a group of soldiers surrounded her, pinning her down. They removed her armor and boots, leaving her only in a bodice and undergarment, and then bound her legs into a ball.
Meanwhile, Hua Mingyu was still struggling to hold on, seeking an opportunity to commit suicide. Seeing Qi Qiaoyun captured, she panicked, her swordsmanship deteriorating further. She then caught sight of Zhang Haitao charging towards her after dealing with Qi Qiaoyun. In her haste, she lost focus, and Liu Ziyu had already smashed her broadsword to the ground with his spear. He rushed forward, grabbed her by the arms, pulled her onto his horse, and captured her on horseback.
Wang Bingzheng and the others watched from the earthen hill, their hearts filled with even greater shock.
What became of Qi and Hua? To be continued...

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