[Wuxia] The Duan Family Women Generals (Complete) - 24

Chapter 118 – Xu Youliang Withdraws from the Capital, Wang Yinping is Blocked. Panlong

says that when Xu Youliang carefully considered the deployment of his troops, he felt even more uneasy.
Why was he uneasy? It turned out that in order to seize the capital first, Xu Youliang had both penetrated deep into enemy territory and stretched his battle lines, making the entire battle line vulnerable in many places.
Now, Xu Youliang's million-strong army was spread across a battle line of thousands of miles from Nanling to Yecheng. Nine generals were stationed in Yecheng, Tongzhen, Zhuque, Nanyang Pass, and Hulangyu, as well as in the vast land between Nanyang Pass and Zhennan Pass. The strongest was the main force personally led by Xu Youliang, with three generals. There were two generals in Tongzhen, only one general, Hua Feng, between Nanyang Pass and Hulangyu, and only one general, Feng Ling, between Nanyang Pass and Zhennan Pass. There were no generals in Nanling.
The deliberate concealment of Wang Ke's surrender reveals Feng Qing's ill intentions. The unknown whereabouts of Feng Qing's generals are chilling, especially his Grand Marshal Hua Rong, who has remained silent throughout. Where are they? These forces, if concentrated, could create overwhelming numerical superiority in any part of Xu Youliang's territory, and none of these places are irreplaceable for Xu Youliang.
For example, Tongzhen is a crucial strategic location. If Feng Qing concentrates his forces there, its loss would render Xu Youliang rootless and helpless, facing certain death. Furthermore, the loss of the Nanyang-Hulangyu line would leave Xu Youliang with only Zhuque Pass as his route back to Zhennan. If Feng Qing were to advance through Pingling, this would cut off Xu Youliang's return to his base, leaving him without his last stronghold and utterly helpless.
So, where should Xu Youliang begin his attack on Feng Qing? Xu Youliang couldn't figure it out. Only then did he realize that Yecheng was a complete trap. Whoever got it, him or Feng Qing, would be like someone holding a hard iron bun they could only look at but not eat. This was why Zhang Gui had repeatedly dissuaded Xu Youliang from relentlessly pursuing Wang Bingzheng.
Xu Youliang understood this now, but it was too late. If Feng Qing began to use his troops, his main force might not be able to return in time. However, he couldn't just sit and wait to die. Therefore,
Xu Youliang immediately decided to abandon Yecheng, which he had finally gained, and return his main force to Tongzhen via Nanling Pass. He left without hesitation, leaving Hong Wei in Yecheng to draw Feng Qing's forces, while he led his main force swiftly south, marching through Nanling Pass and heading towards Tongzhen via Baihua City.
Sure enough, Tongzhen almost became a battlefield.
Just hours before Xu Youliang's army arrived, the troops of the three princesses had marched south from Feng County, while Shi Yunqing and Wang Dadao secretly advanced eastward from Huangshi, forming a pincer movement against Tongzhen from the west and north.
Seeing the overwhelming strength of the Feng family army, Zheng Mingde planned to remain secluded and send messengers to Xu Youliang for help. If the two Feng families launched a full-scale attack, Tongzhen would be in grave danger, even with a fierce resistance from Zheng Mingde and his wife, due to the vast disparity in numbers.
Fortunately, Xu Youliang realized his mistake and arrived in time; otherwise, the loss of Tongzhen would have cut off his retreat.
Seeing Xu Youliang's troops return to Tongzhen, Shi Yunqing and Wang Dadao dared not continue their attack and quietly retreated to Huangshi. The three princesses in the north also withdrew their troops to defend Feng County.
Having secured Tongzhen, Xu Youliang's biggest worry now became Hua Feng and Feng Ling. He hurriedly sent Guan Yuqing and his wife back to Hulangyu, transferred Hua Feng back to Nanyang Pass for defense, and went to Zhuque Pass with Shi Wenlong, intending to send Feng Ling back to Zhennan Pass.
Upon arriving at Zhuque Pass, Feng Ling sent someone to report that Wang Yinping, whom he had gained but then lost, had now submitted to Feng Qing and, together with Wang Ke, was planning to launch an attack on Dingnan Pass. Xu Youliang was greatly surprised and quickly inquired about the details.
It turned out that Wang Yinping had volunteered to make a feint, but was unexpectedly released by Cao Yunlong's men.
Upon learning this, Cao Yunlong was filled with remorse and led a large army in pursuit.
Wang Yinping, leading about five hundred men, was chased by Cao Yunlong's army, fleeing like a stray dog or a fish caught in a net, darting into the mountains, seeking secluded places to escape, to avoid being surrounded.
After an unknown period of running, the five hundred soldiers were exhausted; many died of illness, exhaustion, or straggling, losing seventy percent of their strength. Only a little over a hundred remained, including more than twenty female soldiers who were Wang Yinping's personal guard.
One day, the group crossed a small river in the mountains, asked a villager for directions, and learned that it was a tributary of the Panlong River, indicating they had reached the west bank. They then headed north out of the mountains, as it was said that this was Xu Youliang's territory, and Cao Yunlong would not dare to cross the border to pursue them.
Wang Yinping, having left the mountains, didn't know where to go, only that she couldn't return to Cao Yunlong's territory, so she wandered aimlessly westward.
Suddenly, a cannon boomed, and a force of about two thousand men appeared, blocking their path. At the center of the procession, atop a warhorse, sat a stunningly beautiful barbarian woman.
Wang Yinping recognized Feng Ling, the first female general she had encountered upon leaving the mountains.
"Princess Wang, how have you been?" Feng Ling greeted first, her tone teasing.
"How has Princess Feng been?" Wang Yinping replied in a similarly unfriendly tone.
The two had made a deep impression on each other since their first meeting, and both considered each other rivals, not only in martial arts but also in appearance.
"Princess Wang, why are you here instead of being a marquis in your Xiting Pass? And why have you fallen into such a state?"
"Princess Feng, the ways of heaven are fickle. If it weren't for Feng Qing and Cao Yunlong's interference, you would probably be the one in this predicament."
"Princess, don't be so talkative. A wise man doesn't suffer the consequences of looking back. Although you were once incredibly powerful, you are now a stray dog. I heard you are engaged to Cao Yunlong. Out of consideration for our two families' alliance, I won't make things difficult for you today. Just stay here a few days, and when Cao Yunlong arrives, I will arrange for you to consummate your marriage. However, since you broke off the engagement, General Cao no longer wants a formal marriage. He intends to make you his second wife, and the first wife will be someone he finds suitable, but it will never be you."
"Nonsense! That was just a pretense to get through him. How could I, a woman of such low character, marry such a shameless scoundrel?! Princess Feng, you should save your troubles."
"Whether you want to marry or not, is a woman's life a joke? Since you've already agreed to the marriage, you're now a member of the Cao family. If Prince Cao wants to divorce you, so be it. Otherwise, even if you're reduced to ashes, you'll still be Prince Cao's bedmate. Now, I, the Princess Consort, am kindly advising you to turn back as soon as possible and marry Prince Cao, thus becoming a Princess Consort. Otherwise..."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Take you away and give you to Prince Cao as a concubine."
"I'm afraid you don't have that ability."
"Wang Yinping, I have over a thousand soldiers under my command, while you have only a little over a hundred. If we both attack, people will say I'm bullying you. How about this, I'll make a bet with you: a three-hundred-round battle. If you win, you can go wherever you want.
If you lose, you'll obediently marry Cao Qiansui. I'll also have a cup of wedding wine!" "Let's fight then! Who's afraid of you? It's just that the people around you..." "Hmph, breaking your promises for personal gain, that's the virtue of you Central Plains people. I am the Princess of Nanling, how could I be as untrustworthy as you? Bring it on, I guarantee none of my men will dare to come to my aid!" "
In that case, the bet is yours. But..."
What Wang Yinping will say next, let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter 119 – The Two Women Agree to a Victory by Betting on a Victory; Feng Ling's First Battle with Wang Yinping

. It is said that Wang Yinping was stopped by Feng Ling, and the two agreed to a one-on-one duel to determine the winner. If Feng Ling wins, Wang Yinping has no choice; if Wang Yinping wins, Feng Ling will spare her life.
In terms of martial arts, the two are roughly equal, but Feng Ling currently holds the upper hand, having rested and prepared, while Wang Yinping, having been chased for many days without a proper meal, is hungry and weak. She says, "My brothers and I have been without rice for several days. Please, Princess Feng, give us some food so we can fight better!"
Feng Ling said, "What is it?! What's so difficult about that? Commander, quickly send men to prepare food and deliver it to Princess Wang."
"Thank you!" Wang Yinping clasped her hands in thanks.
Soon, the battle meal was ready, and Feng Ling ordered it to be sent to Wang Yinping and the others.
Wang Yinping was indeed hungry; after thanking him, she wolfed down her meal on the battlefield and also fed her warhorse the best grass and fodder.
After finishing her meal, Wang Yinping mounted her horse, removed her spear from its saddle hook, and said, "Princess Feng, please!"
"Princess Wang, please. Your martial arts are greatly diminished now, and I don't want to take advantage of you. So, as a gesture of hospitality, I'll let you make the first move!"
"I'll be sorry!"
Wang Yinping understood that although she had just eaten and her strength had recovered considerably, she had been suffering from hunger and cold for days, and her body was far from its best. Therefore, she accepted Feng Ling's kindness and rode forward.
Feng Ling calmly and unhurriedly parried her with her twin swords.
In terms of martial arts, these two should have been evenly matched, a perfect pair of opponents. However, Wang Yinping was exhausted both physically and mentally, while Feng Ling had been preparing for a long time and was now a fresh force. Therefore, the outcome was quickly revealed.
Wang Yinping understood the gap in their strength, so she attacked with all her might from the start, attempting a desperate fight to the death.
But Feng Ling was not in a hurry, maintaining a tight defense and not giving her opponent any openings.
The two fought for more than thirty rounds, and Wang Yinping's stamina began to wane, her attacks becoming weaker, while Feng Ling began to take the initiative.
In the middle of the fight, suddenly a group of men circled around from behind Wang Yinping, forming a formation behind the hundred or so men, and together with Feng Ling's men, they sandwiched Wang Yinping in the middle. Cao Yunlong shouted loudly, "Princess Feng? Can I lend a hand?" "
Don't worry, Your Highness Cao, I can handle it," Feng Ling said.
"Princess Feng, don't forget our family's agreement. I want her alive."
"Understood."
As she spoke, Feng Ling tightened her grip.
Wang Yinping was already exhausted, and Feng Ling's actions made her clumsy. Hearing Cao Yunlong's voice, she became even more alarmed, and her moves became even more chaotic.
Seeing this, Feng Ling knew her opportunity had arrived. She rushed forward, using her left hand to deflect Wang Yinping's spear shaft while her right hand aimed straight for her neck.
Wang Yinping knew she couldn't dodge, so she closed her eyes and said, "Poor Yinping, I'll die here."
In martial arts, eyesight is paramount. The key is to not blink even when the blade is piercing your eyelid, because blinking might cause you to miss your opponent's moves and suffer defeat.
Wang Yinping, despite her martial arts skills, knew the importance of eyesight, but now she was resigned to death, so she closed her eyes. But in that instant of closing her eyes, Feng Ling saw an opportunity. She stopped wielding her sword in her right hand, switched it to her left, and then reached for Wang Yinping's waist with her free right hand, grabbing the silk sash and pulling her over in one swift motion.
Wang Yinping, now in someone else's hands, knew it was all over; Cao Yunlong would certainly not let her go. So she didn't struggle, letting Feng Ling carry her across the saddle.
"Princess Feng's martial arts are indeed extraordinary!" Cao Yunlong said.
"Enough with the flattery. I've captured her; now I'll hand her over to His Highness." With that, she tossed Wang Yinping into the air.
Cao Yunlong saw this and hurriedly reached out to catch
her. Wang Yinping, true to her nature, suddenly raised two fingers in mid-air, aiming straight for Cao Yunlong's eyes, startling him. However, his initial shock was quickly followed by a natural reaction, allowing him to prepare his defenses in time. He managed to dodge her hands, catch her, and carry her across the saddle as before.
Wang Yinping didn't struggle anymore, resigned to her fate. She thought to herself, "Don't be so smug. I'll endure this for now, becoming a concubine of Prince Cao. One day, I'll make sure you two dogs die by my hand!"
Cao Yunlong looked at the female general before him, her beautiful buttocks exposed through her lower garment. Thinking of the allure between her legs, he was overcome with lust and eager to find a way to vent his desires on her. He threw Wang Yinping to the soldiers to be tied up, then bowed to Feng Ling and said, "Princess Feng, I thank you." He led his men away.
Feng Ling said, "Lord Cao, please wait."
Cao Yunlong reined in his horse and asked, "What are your orders, Princess Feng?"
"These are Wang Yinping's personal guards. Let them go with you, lest you have no one to serve you."
Wang Yinping's original men were at a loss, standing there dumbfounded. Among them, the twenty-odd female soldiers were Wang Yinping's personal guards, now even more helpless.
Cao Yunlong readily agreed, and the female soldiers, dejected, followed behind his troops.
Feng Ling, having captured Wang Yinping, was overjoyed that the vast lands outside Zhuque Pass were finally at peace. She led her men back to camp, preparing to break camp and head to Zhennan Pass.
Just after their battle meal, news arrived that Cao Yunlong requested an audience. Feng Ling was greatly puzzled and hurriedly ordered her men to go out and meet him. Upon
arriving at the camp, she was astonished to see Cao Yunlong, his helmet askew, his armor disheveled, his face covered in dust, and the only thousand or so soldiers behind him, all looking disheveled and as if they had just fought a battle.
"Princess Feng, why have you gone back on your word?" Cao Yunlong demanded an explanation upon seeing Feng Ling.
"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?" Feng Ling was even more perplexed.
"Since Princess Feng gave Wang Yinping to me, why did you send men to abduct her and injure so many of my brothers? What is the meaning of this?"
"Ah? Lord Cao, I'm innocent! I just returned to the camp. How could I have sent men to abduct Wang Yinping? Besides, the Wang family and my family have a deep-seated feud. Since I captured her and gave her to you, why would I abduct her?"
"It was your men who abducted her. I saw it with my own eyes. What else do you have to say?"
"Lord Cao, don't be hasty. This matter is very strange. Please tell me in detail. Perhaps my men don't recognize you and think you are Wang Yinping's accomplice."
"Very well!" Cao Yunlong then recounted the whole story.
To find out who abducted Wang Yinping, please read the next chapter.

Chapter 120—Wang Ziyi disguises himself and crosses Pingling, Deng Xiufu abducts Yinping on horseback.

It is said that Cao Yunlong came to Feng Ling to question her, saying that Wang Yinping had been found. Feng Ling hurriedly asked what had happened.
Cao Yunlong, overjoyed at having won Wang Yinping's favor, headed towards the Panlong River. He arrived at the small ferry crossing and was waiting to cross.
Suddenly, a swarm of about four or five hundred men, all bearing the banners of Zhennanguan, appeared from behind him. Leading the swarm were two stunningly beautiful young women, both around twenty years old. One, dressed in white, rode a jade-flowered steed and wielded a bright silver spear; the other, clad in chainmail, rode a spotted leopard and carried a pair of battle axes.
The two arrived at the riverbank and, without a word, charged straight at Cao Yunlong.
Caught off guard, Cao Yunlong hastily raised his spear to meet the attack, asking as he fought, "Where are you two from, and why are you here to ambush us?"
The female general wielding the spear replied, "My name is Zhang San, and hers is Li Si. We are acting on orders from Princess Feng to detain Wang Yinping."
"Don't you know that Wang Yinping was just given to me by Princess Feng?"
"We only know that the Princess ordered us to detain her here; we know nothing else."
Cao Yunlong's questioning yielded no answers, only further enraging the two female generals, who then intensified their attacks.
These two female generals were highly skilled in martial arts, certainly no less than Feng Ling, and their soldiers were also well-trained. They scattered Cao Yunlong's men, seizing the bound Wang Yinping, her horse, and weapons.
Cao Yunlong fought for more than ten rounds, but seeing that he was no match for his opponent, he quickly feinted and jumped out of the circle, saying, "I'll go and seek justice from your princess." He then gathered his scattered soldiers and headed towards the Phoenix Feather Camp.
Feng Ling, upon hearing this, also found it strange and said, "This is odd. I don't have two female generals like this in my army. Who dared to impersonate my women?"
"Princess Feng, don't try such petty tricks on me. You're afraid that if I marry Wang Yinping, I'll oppose Lord Xu, so you're using this method to keep Wang Yinping alive and kill her to prevent future trouble. Don't you think so? Since I, Cao Yunlong, intend to join forces with Lord Xu, how could I risk damaging our harmony over a woman? Princess Feng, please return Wang Yinping to me. I'm willing to write a document stating that if Wang Yinping causes any trouble in the future, I would rather kill her than betray the Cao-Xu alliance!"
"Lord Cao, what are you saying? If I were afraid, why would I have agreed to hand her over first? This matter is indeed strange. Please be patient, Lord Cao, and I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"How long is the time limit?"
"Half a month."
"How can I know that Your Highness isn't going to execute Wang Yinping first and then report later, killing her and then asking me to see her body?"
Seeing that she couldn't reason with Cao Yunlong, Feng Ling became somewhat annoyed and said, "If Your Highness still doesn't believe me, you can come with me to Zhennan Pass. Have Huang Mian thoroughly investigate and summon all the female soldiers for Your Highness to examine. If you find those two female generals, Wang Yinping will naturally be returned to you. I will also send someone to escort her home. What do you think?"
"Very well, I'll do as Your Highness says."
Cao Yunlong then followed Feng Ling to the nearest Zhennan Pass.
Upon hearing that Feng Ling had arrived, Huang Mian hurriedly came out of the pass to greet her and led her into the garrison's residence.
After Feng Ling and Cao Yunlong took their seats as host and guest, Feng Ling went straight to the point, asking Huang Mian, "Master Huang, has Zhennan Pass recently acquired any female generals?"
Huang Mian replied, "We've recruited tens of thousands of soldiers, but we haven't encountered any female generals with exceptional martial arts skills."
Cao Yunlong immediately became anxious upon hearing this and hurriedly described the appearance, armor, and weaponry of two female generals. Huang Mian shook his head, "Lord Cao, don't be impatient. Zhennan Pass has indeed never recruited any such female generals."
Cao Yunlong was unwilling to give up and refused to leave. Feng Ling then ordered a search for the two female generals at the garrisons of Dingnan and Pingnan Passes, but they still couldn't find any women with such martial arts skills.
Several days passed, and not only Cao Yunlong was anxious, but Feng Ling and the other generals were also worried. One day, while they were discussing this, a messenger from the garrison commander of Pingling Pass reported that three young and beautiful women had led a group of soldiers across Pingling Pass and headed west. The three women, their horses, and weapons matched those of Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Yinping, as Cao Yunlong had described.
Upon hearing this, Feng Ling exclaimed, "Oh dear! How could I not have thought of them?!"
"Who are they?" Cao Yunlong hurriedly asked.
"It's Feng Qing."
"Wang Yinping has no grudge against Feng Qing, so why would she rob us?"
"I don't know. However, crossing Pingling to the west, if not to join Feng Qing, then why?"
Having said that, Feng Ling asked the newcomers, "Have you seen them before?"
"These people crossed the mountain pass from west to east last month. At that time, they looked like a merchant caravan, crossing in several groups. For some reason, when they returned west, they started flying the Zhennan Pass flag. When we realized something was wrong and hurriedly tried to stop them, they forced their way through and killed more than a dozen of our men."
It turned out that the Xu and Feng families had always been on good terms, and their border residents had frequent interactions. Therefore, the Pingling Pass was poorly guarded, allowing them to take advantage of the situation.
Beyond the Pingling Pass lay Feng Qing's territory, under the jurisdiction of Xihua Pass.
Feng Ling wanted to pursue them, but without evidence, how could she dare to trespass on someone else's territory? She had no choice but to send men to Xihua Pass to investigate the crime of trespassing and killing.
A few days later, Liu Qi, the deputy garrison commander of Xihua Pass, came to Zhennan Pass to see Feng Ling, saying that they had captured the trespassers. It turned out to be a group of mountain bandits, including several female bandits, all of whom had been beheaded. They sent confessions and the heads for Feng Ling to examine.
When Feng Ling and Cao Yunlong examined the heads, there were indeed five or six hundred, including twenty or thirty headless female corpses. The youngest were only a dozen or so, the oldest no more than thirty. All were naked and barefoot, their anuses and genitals plugged with thick wooden mallets, their names written in vermilion ink on their bellies. They were bound by four horses with their hooves turned upside down. Three of them were said to be female leaders, and their heads resembled Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Yinping.
At this point, both Feng Ling and Cao Yunlong knew they had fallen for Feng Qing's treacherous scheme, but lacking evidence, they could only swallow their anger.
Fortunately, Zhang Gui had secretly planted many spies in Feng Qing's territory. Feng Ling hurriedly sent people to investigate and learned that Wang Yinping had indeed been kidnapped by Feng Qing's men. The
kidnappers were two female deputy generals: Wang Ziyi, riding a jade-flowered horse and wielding a bright silver spear, and Deng Xiufu, riding a spotted leopard and wielding double axes. Wang Yinping had now surrendered to Feng Qing and was assigned as a general under her brother Wang Ke. Wang Ke and Wang Yinping had already met at Panshan Pass and were heading south to Xihua to capture Nanguan and avenge their father's death. Feng Ling
knew that the three passes were currently short of troops. Even if they could barely hold them, it would be difficult to guarantee that the vast fertile land east of Pingling would not be ravaged. East of Pingling was Xu Youliang's main rear base. If it were attacked, there would be nowhere to collect a year's worth of provisions, and then the million-strong army would only be waiting to starve to death. Therefore, he hurriedly dispatched a messenger on an 800-li express route to Xu Youliang, and at the same time, he hastily deployed troops to prepare for a desperate defense of Dingnan Pass, and invited Cao Yunlong to assist in the defense of Pingling Pass.
Xu Youliang's letter requesting Feng Ling to come to the capital to become Empress was not unreceived, but Feng Ling simply had no time to think about becoming Empress.
Upon receiving Feng Ling's urgent report, Xu Youliang knew that Feng Qing had long been scheming. Wang Bing was dead at his hands; how could Wang Ke and Wang Yinping not avenge their father's death? Therefore, Feng Qing's intention to use these two as cannon fodder was clearly malicious.
Hearing that Wang Ke was going to attack Dingnan Pass, he knew that a life-or-death battle with Feng Qing was about to begin, and dared not delay any longer, he hurriedly went to Zhennan Pass with Shi Wenlong to help Feng Ling strengthen the defense.
The great battle between Xu and Feng is about to begin; to find out what happens next, please read the next part.
This concludes the previous section. We await Master Shi Yan's continuation of the second part of the Empire, Chapter 121 – Feng Ling's Second Battle with Wang Yinping, Siblings' Rebellion at Qinglong Pass. It is said that Feng Ling, upon hearing the news that Wang Ke and Wang Yinping had left Xihua Pass and were heading towards Dingnan Pass to seize the three southern passes, sent a messenger to Xu Youliang and ordered Huang Mian to guard Dingnan Pass, forbidding any attack. He himself led 20,000 troops to defend Pingling Pass.
Cao Yunlong, focused solely on Wang Yinping, volunteered to assist Feng Ling. Feng Ling, lacking a capable general, readily agreed and accompanied Cao Yunlong to Pingling Pass.
Upon arriving at the pass, they were greeted by soldiers who had been guarding it for years. Entering the fortress, more guards reported that Wang Yinping's vanguard had set up camp twenty li away and sent men to challenge them to battle.
Feng Ling said, "You've come at the perfect time! I was just about to settle things with Wang Yinping. Go and report back quickly, telling her that tomorrow at dawn, each of us will lead two thousand men to fight in the open area ten miles outside the pass. Tell Wang Yinping not to break her promise!"
The next day at dawn, after breakfast, Feng Ling mustered her two thousand men and asked Cao Yunlong to observe the enemy's formation. The two generals, surrounded by soldiers, headed west towards the pass.
Once outside the pass, they found themselves on flat ground. At the Shili Pavilion, they saw Wang Yinping's troops also arrayed.
The soldiers on both sides were arranged in a wedge formation, with archers holding down the line. As the gates opened, the main and deputy generals of both sides rode out.
The two female generals immediately clashed, starting with a verbal battle.
Feng Ling said, "You are a defeated general, how dare you speak of bravery?"
Wang Yinping said, "You took advantage of someone's misfortune, what can you do?"
Feng Ling said, "If you are not convinced, let's fight again."
Yinping said, "If we fight again, I'll beat
you until your shit comes out!" Feng Ling laughed loudly, "What big words! Aren't you afraid the wind will blow your tongue away? Come forward and watch me stab out your bladder!"
The two cursed each other for a while, and their tempers flared up. They each drew their weapons and started fighting.
After fighting for over twenty rounds, neither gaining the upper hand, Cao Yunlong hurriedly ordered the drums to be sounded to encourage the battle. Hearing this, the opposing troops also began to beat their drums. Both sides shouted encouragement, and the two generals, roused to their feet, intensified their attacks.
The two women, their faces flushed with anger and their jade-like features showing resentment, shouted and yelled, fighting to the death. From a distance, they looked like two colorful butterflies, fluttering and dancing, a truly beautiful sight.
The battle lasted until noon. The two agreed to return to their respective camps, eat some dry rations, drink some cold water, and then mount their horses to continue fighting.
As night fell, their fighting spirit grew even stronger. They made a death pact, each ordering their men to return to their camps to cook and bring the food to the front lines. After eating and drinking, they fought by lamplight through the night.
The two female generals fought on the battlefield for a day and a night, neither gaining the upper hand.
The battle raged into the second day, the sun high in the sky. Wang Yinping thought to herself, "Fighting like this will likely end badly. Why not use my ultimate move to defeat her?" With
that thought, she turned her horse, feigning defeat, and said, "Feng Ling, do you dare to pursue me?"
Feng Ling replied, "You're using a counter-attack, I'm not afraid!" She spurred her horse, brandishing her sword, and gave chase.
Seeing that the pursuit was close, Wang Yinping first turned to the left, drawing Feng Ling's sword to the left, then turned to the right, thrusting her sword back.
This move had once defeated the veteran general Wang Duo, and Feng Ling was not immune to its deception.
In combat, one must watch the eyes when facing the enemy and the shoulders when behind. Feng Ling knew Wang Yinping was about to use a counter-attack, so she focused her eyes only on her shoulders. Seeing her shoulders move, she knew she was about to attack, and she slashed her sword in the direction
Wang Yinping was turning, while turning her body to the right to dodge the thrust. This move would have worked perfectly with an ordinary counter-attack, but Wang Yinping's counter-attack was her own creation, exactly the opposite of the usual technique.
Just as Feng Ling's blade was about to touch his clothes, Wang Yinping turned to the right, narrowly avoiding the attack. However, the spear thrust from the right, precisely in the direction Feng Ling had dodged.
Feng Ling's blade missed its mark, and realizing the danger, he knew he couldn't dodge. So, without changing his stance, he accelerated to the right, his right hand releasing his blade.
Wang Yinping thrust his spear towards Feng Ling's heart. Since the target was behind him, he relied on estimation, but against a skilled opponent, it was still fairly accurate. Besides, most people, seeing a spear coming from the right, would instinctively dodge to the left, making it impossible to avoid.
However, Wang Yinping hadn't anticipated Feng Ling's continued rightward fall from his horse, so his attack wasn't entirely successful.
Even so, Feng Ling still couldn't completely dodge, the spear piercing his left ribs, missing his heart by an inch. Nevertheless, he cried out in pain and fell from his horse.
Wang Yinping hadn't expected Feng Ling to retaliate even in the midst of danger. Her right-handed sword struck, piercing Wang Yinping's right ribs. "Ah!" she cried, falling from her horse.
Cao Yunlong, seeing this, immediately spurred his horse forward. A deputy general from the opposing camp also rushed out, each leading several female soldiers, to the two fallen generals to protect their commanders.
The two female generals lay on the ground, bleeding profusely, both seriously injured. The female soldiers rushed over, each surrounding their commander, carrying them on stretchers and fleeing.
Cao Yunlong looked at one, then at the other, neither wanting them to die.
The two female generals, Feng and Wang, fought a second time, both returning wounded. On the surface, it seemed like a close contest, but in reality, Feng Ling was still a step ahead of Wang Yinping. Only because Wang Yinping had proactively used her ultimate move, fighting with an absolute advantage, did she manage to fight to a draw. This showed that Feng Ling's adaptability was superior to Wang Yinping's.
With their commanders wounded and unable to fight further, both returned to their camps to treat their wounded generals.
Two days later, with the two female generals still struggling on the brink of death, Wang Ke's army arrived and challenged the enemy at the pass, seeking revenge for his sister. Cao Yunlong, seeing the enemy's superior numbers, dared not engage easily and thus refused to fight, remaining behind closed gates.
Wang Ke continued to taunt them for days, but no one responded, leaving him helpless.
Half a month later, Xu Youliang had led his men to Dingnan Pass and redeployed the defenses. Meanwhile, Feng Ling's injuries had stabilized, though she was unable to fight for the time being.
Wang Ke faced a similar situation; Wang Yinping's injuries were comparable to Feng Ling's, and their attack on the three southern passes had failed, so they temporarily retreated to Xihua Pass.
Xu Youliang ordered his men to gather intelligence, secretly wondering: Why did Feng Qing send Wang Ke to attack Dingnan Pass? Was Dingnan Pass easy to capture? After much deliberation, feeling uneasy, he summoned Cao Yunlong for a discussion: "Lord Cao, in my opinion, given the current situation, Feng Qing must be plotting something big. We must be on guard at all times. The Nanling Mountains have been ravaged by war, and supplies cannot be sustained for long. We will probably have to rely on the vast fertile fields southeast of Qinglong Pass. Lord Cao has been in Pingling for a long time, and Qinglong is without a leader, so things are bound to change. In my opinion, Lord Cao should return to Qinglong Pass for the time being. We should be patient for now and manage our respective fiefdoms well to avoid giving Feng Qing an opportunity."
Cao Yunlong also knew that being away from his post for too long was not a good solution, but he couldn't stop thinking about Wang Yinping, so he agreed verbally but hesitated to leave.
Several months passed peacefully, until one day a scout reported that starving people outside Qinglong Pass had rebelled, killing the prefect and the county magistrate, and the rebellion was raging.
The murdered prefect, Hu Qi, was Cao Yunlong's cousin. Cao Yunlong panicked, bid farewell to Xu Youliang, and hurriedly returned to Qinglong Pass.
Upon entering his fiefdom, news of the uprising poured in. By the time he reached his own palace in Qinglong Pass, the famine rebellion had spread to three prefectures and eleven counties.
Inquiring with his subordinates, he learned that the rebellious famine victims were led by a brother and sister, both hunters from the mountains. The brother, Liu Heiling, was about twenty-five years old, and the sister, Liu Yue'e, was about twenty. They had five powerful followers—four men and one woman—named Wang Dapeng, Ge Delong, Fang Tianhua, Lü Cheng, and Ge Xiancao, all in their twenties. They were skilled in martial arts from childhood, extremely brave, and the officials and commanders of the three prefectures and eleven counties could not withstand them and were all killed.
Cao Yunlong quickly gathered his generals to discuss how to quell the rebellion.
How Cao Yunlong quelled the uprising remains to be seen; stay tuned for the next chapter. Chapter 122
of the Lower Empire : A Corrupt Magistrate Drives the People to Revolt, Seven Heroes Rise in Rebellion . How did these starving people rebel? It turns out that Cao Yunlong himself was not a virtuous man, and his subordinates were all unscrupulous and greedy. Cao Yunlong was lax in his control over them, and since he was not in Qinglong, these people became increasingly unscrupulous, levying exorbitant taxes and committing all sorts of evil deeds. Qinglong Pass was originally the granary of the land, always blessed with good weather and abundant harvests, with officials and people living in prosperity. In recent years, there had been no natural disasters, so where did these starving people come from? It was all because the prefect of Guoting Prefecture, Cao Yunlong's cousin Hu Qi, was greedy and licentious, colluding with his brother-in-law Wang Shoudao, who was also the prefect, to rob men and women, committing all sorts of evil deeds, turning the once prosperous Guoting Prefecture into a place of chaos and devastation. The land, once rich and prosperous, was now littered with corpses of the starving, and the people were displaced. In the county seat of Tingshan County, Guoting Prefecture, there was a blacksmith's shop. The blacksmith, named Ge Delong, was renowned far and wide for his exceptional skill in forging iron. He had a younger sister named Ge Xiancao, a beautiful young woman of sixteen, with a face as lovely as jade and a figure as graceful as a willow. One day, Wang Shoudao saw her on the street and sent someone to propose marriage, wanting to take her as a concubine. Ge Xiancao had been betrothed by her father to Liu Heiling, a hunter in the mountains, since childhood, and they were about to be married. Both brother and sister were well-mannered and refused to break off their engagement. Wang Shoudao, relying on his position as the county magistrate, insisted on forcing her into marriage. When the Ge siblings refused, he imprisoned Ge Delong, subjecting him to torture and leaving him on the verge of death. Ge Xiancao, having nowhere else to turn, had to go up the mountain to seek help from her fiancé. Upon hearing this news, Liu Heiling was enraged and summoned his sworn brothers, Wang Dapeng, Fang Tianhua, and Lü Cheng, to discuss how to rescue her. After some discussion, everyone agreed that it would be better to go to the prefectural government to file a complaint. Liu Heiling and Ge Xiancao then headed towards the prefectural government together. However, Hu Qi, being Wang Shoudao's brother-in-law, naturally sided with his brother-in-law. Not only did he refuse the complaint, but he also wanted to give Liu Heiling forty strokes of the cane and to tie up Ge Xiancao and send her to Wang Shoudao for his marriage. At this moment, Liu Heiling's sister, Liu Yue'e, and her three sworn brothers were mingling in the hall, gathering information. Yue'e couldn't contain her anger and rushed into the hall, shouting, "Hu Qi, you corrupt official! You officials protect each other, forcibly taking women from the people. Is there no law left?"

"The law? I am the law!" Hu Qi said, "In Guoting Prefecture, I can do whatever I want! You audacious scoundrel, if you dare to say another word, be careful, I'll pull down your pants and parade you through the streets, making you wish you were dead!"
"You dog of an official! How dare you!" Liu Yue'e was furious, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Men, seize her!"
It turned out that Liu Yue'e was also very beautiful. Hearing the order to seize her, the constables on both sides rushed forward to grab Liu Yue'e, hoping to take advantage of her. However,
although Liu Yue'e was a woman, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and was agile. Seeing the constables rushing towards her, she used her fighting style and with a few punches and kicks, she beat more than a dozen constables, sending them tumbling and crawling.
"Rebellion! Rebellion! Constables, quickly seize this rebellious woman, dead or alive!"
The common people of China were used to being bullied by officials. Liu Heiling had originally hoped to endure a few lashes to find a more acceptable solution, such as paying some money to reach an agreement with Wang Shoudao, but things had turned out this way.
Seeing his fiancée about to be forcibly married, and his sister about to be humiliated in the hands of the officials, he was at his wits' end, waving his hands wildly, shouting, "No, no, you can't hit her!"
Wang Dapeng, seeing this, jumped in and shouted, "Brother, what's the point of talking to this kind of corrupt official? This corrupt official is usually tyrannical and oppressive, incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. This is a case of officials forcing the people to rebel; they have no choice but to rebel! Let's rebel now!" Fang
Tianhua and Lü Cheng, hearing this, also came out and shouted, "That's right, let's rebel!" and rushed into the hall.
Upon seeing this, Hu Qi shouted even louder, "Guards! Guards! Seize these rioters and take them down with you!"
A constable, brandishing a knife, was originally heading for Liu Yue'e, but instead went for Wang Dapeng, who was closer. Wang Dapeng, unarmed, was forced to retreat repeatedly.
Liu Yue'e, who was quite fond of Wang Dapeng, saw this and, with a flick of her foot, picked up a fire-and-water stick that she had knocked over and discarded. She rushed forward and struck the constable on the back of the head, sending a commotion through the air. He collapsed dead.
"You scoundrel! You dare kill an official? Kill him! Kill him without mercy!" Hu Qi shouted. His brothers, seeing that they had already killed an official, figured killing one more or one less wouldn't change the outcome, so they all rushed forward, grabbing weapons and fighting the constables. Liu Heiling, seeing that things had come to this point, decided to fight regardless, so he grabbed the iron chain the constables were preparing to use on Hu Qi, leaped to the judge's desk, and smashed Hu Qi's head to pieces with a single blow. Just then, a constable was about to attack Ge Delong, who was lying on the ground injured from the torture. Liu Heiling turned and struck the constable with his chain, sending him flying against a pillar, instantly dead.
Ge Xiancao, who had originally planned to end her life after seeing Hu Qi intend to tie her up and take her to the bridal chamber, changed her mind. She grabbed a fire-and-water stick and ran over to join Liu Yue'e in fighting the constables. It turned out that the constables here were nothing more than a bunch of local thugs, who usually acted arrogantly but were actually quite incompetent in a real fight. In less than fifteen minutes, they were all wiped out by the six men. Wang Shoudao, seeing the situation was dire, tried to escape in the chaos, but Ge Xiancao struck him in the lower back with a stick, breaking his spine. Another blow to the head left him lifeless.
The six men, carrying Ge Delong and taking the constables' weapons, fought their way out of the prefectural government office like a pack of mad tigers, heading towards the city gate.
Seeing groups of starving people along the way, Liu Heiling shouted, "Fellow villagers, the officials are forcing the people to rebel! Anyone who doesn't want to starve to death, follow me!" Immediately, several hundred people followed, and the number kept increasing. After walking two streets, Ma Rong, the commander of the Guoting garrison, led a hundred soldiers to block their path.
Upon seeing the government troops, the starving people shouted and yelled, but ultimately dared not approach. Liu Heiling, realizing that if they couldn't get past Ma Rong, they would all be torn to pieces, steeled his resolve and charged forward, wielding his single-edged sword to strike Ma Rong's head.
Ma Rong hastily parried with his broadsword, attempting to counterattack.
Ma Rong, being a mounted general, initially held a significant advantage, but his martial arts skills were mediocre. Liu Heiling, though tall and imposing, was remarkably agile. Seeing the sword coming at him, just as the two blades clashed, Liu Heiling slightly shifted his blade, slicing along the shaft towards Ma Rong's wrist. The blade came incredibly fast; Ma Rong was startled and hastily pulled his hand back, but Liu Heiling had already leaped onto his saddle, slashing at his neck.
Ma Rong could no longer dodge; with a "crack," half his neck was severed, connected only by a piece of skin, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
Ma Rong, the head of the military officers in the prefecture, was killed in a single move. The remaining soldiers dared not advance and fled.
Upon seeing Ma Rong killed, Hu Qi, no longer in a hurry to leave, led the starving people back to the prefectural government, seized the city, opened the granaries to distribute grain, and took the opportunity to recruit soldiers and horses. They wore black turbans and established the Black Turban Army.
Within a few days, surrounding prefectures and counties responded in unison, and the number of men had grown to over 30,000.
Liu Heiling proclaimed himself King of Fairness, and his brothers were all appointed Grand Generals. More than ten leaders of the uprisings in the surrounding prefectures and counties were also appointed Generals. They opened the armory, took out swords and spears to arm their troops, and started forging iron to produce weapons.
The generals were all from humble backgrounds, and their weapons were the same tools they used for making a living: Liu Heiling and his sister were originally hunters, each wielding a three-pronged steel fork; Wang Dapeng was a small-time trader, so his weapon was a meteor hammer, the head of which was actually a weight used for selling goods; Ge Delong was a blacksmith, wielding a large hammer; Fang Tianhua was a farmer, wielding a nine-toothed rake; Lü Cheng was also a farmer, wielding an iron hoe; and Ge Xiancao used a single-edged sword obtained from a constable.
Upon hearing this, the officials of the surrounding prefectures and counties panicked and hastily mobilized their troops to suppress the rebellion. However, the commanders were all incompetent and easily routed, and the Black Turban Army seized the opportunity to capture three prefectures and eleven counties, killing the officials and declaring themselves kings.
Meanwhile, Cao Yunlong returned to Qinglong Pass and listened to his subordinates recount the events. These subordinates, naturally protecting each other, and especially since Hu Qi was Cao Yunlong's cousin, concealed the officials' misconduct and embellished the story, placing all the blame on Liu Heiling and his gang. It was said that if such rioters weren't wiped out completely, the world would never be at peace.
Cao Yunlong then ordered the mobilization of 100,000 troops, led by Gu Feng, the garrison commander of Huanglong Pass, along with ten deputy generals, to suppress the rebellion.
Whether this mission would quell the uprising remains to be seen; find out in the next chapter,

Part 2, Chapters 123 and 124. Chapter 123 – Gu Feng's Army Advances to Guoting Pass, Xiancao's Scheme Defends Zhuma Prefecture

. It is said that Gu Feng, the garrison commander of Huanglong Pass, led 100,000 troops, swaggering towards Guoting Prefecture.
According to Gu Feng's thinking, this mob was nothing but a rabble, numbering only 30,000. How could they possibly contend with 100,000 government troops? Therefore, he was arrogant and urged his men to march quickly, eager to quell the mob's rebellion as soon as possible so he could report his achievements to Cao Yunlong.
When they reached Zhuma Prefecture, which bordered Guoting, they saw a small mountain to the north of the road, surrounded by forests. Suddenly, a whistle rang out, and 500 militiamen rushed out of the forest, each wielding a knife, spear, hoe, and rake to block their path.
Gu Feng stopped his horse to observe. He saw that there were three leaders, the middle of whom was a woman of sixteen or seventeen years old. She possessed a beauty that could rival the most beautiful women in the world. She wore a short, emerald-green jacket with sleeved sleeves, a green veil over her head, and small boots. She carried a single-edged sword, and behind her was a large banner embroidered with a huge character "Ge". On either side of her were two generals, also foot soldiers, dressed in short jackets. One wielded a spear, and the other a fork. Their banners bore the names "Liu" and "Chen" respectively.
Gu Feng rode forward and shouted, "Who are you, daring to block my path? Get out of my way!" He had guessed this was Ge Xiancao.
Ge Xiancao stepped forward and said, "I am Ge Xiancao, a general under the command of Prince Gong. Are you Gu Feng?"
"Indeed, it is your garrison commander. Ge Xiancao, seeing your young age, instead of staying home to uphold the virtues of a wife and mother, you are here brandishing weapons, plotting rebellion. Aren't you afraid of death?"
"As the saying goes, when officials force the people to rebel, the people have no choice but to rebel. You officials have squeezed every last drop of blood from the earth, sucking our marrow dry, leaving us with no way to survive. Whether we rebel or not, we'll all die eventually, so we might as well rebel and risk everything. Gu Feng, did you come here to die?"
"Hmph, you're just a greenhorn, yet you speak so arrogantly. It's laughable. Quickly put down your weapons and kneel down to surrender. I might spare your life out of your youth and ignorance. Otherwise, if I capture you, I'll strip you naked, expose your chest and buttocks, and tie you to the execution ground to suffer the torment of being cut into a thousand pieces!"
"Gu Feng, your girl isn't easily frightened. If you have the guts, let's fight it out with sword and spear. If I capture you, I won't cut you into a thousand pieces. I'll just paint you up, tie you up and parade you on Guoting Street, and then I'll cut you in two!"
"You arrogant and ignorant fool! Watch me teach you a lesson!"
Gu Feng shouted, raising his spiked club and aiming to strike Ge Xiancao over the head. Ge Xiancao was agile and disappeared in a flash. As Gu Feng looked for her, he heard a whoosh behind him, realizing that she had jumped onto the hill behind his horse and was about to strike him on the back of the head. He quickly ducked, dodging the blow, and reached back to grab Ge Xiancao's ankle. If she were caught, she feared she would be thrown to her death. Ge Xiancao quickly jumped off her horse. The horse was most afraid of someone behind it, and instinctively reared up, kicking at Ge Xiancao. Ge Xiancao was prepared and leaped backward, dodging the hoof. Gu Feng had already turned his horse around and was striking at Ge Xiancao with his club again.
The two engaged in a fierce battle on the battlefield. It was then that Gu Feng realized his opponent was no pushover. After more than twenty exchanges, Gu Feng realized this couldn't continue. Suddenly, he raised his staff and shouted, "Kill!" The vanguard of his troops charged towards the enemy's five hundred men.
The government army numbered one hundred thousand, with two thousand in the vanguard, while the rebels numbered only five hundred. Outnumbered and outmatched, they were easily routed and fled into the woods.
Ge Xiancao, seeing this, also fled into the woods with two other leaders.
Gu Feng, eager to claim them as a reward, was unwilling to let them go and spurred his horse in pursuit.
As the saying goes, "Never enter the woods!" Many know this, but few follow it, because greed often prevails.
Gu Feng, too, succumbed to this greed and was thus tricked.
Ge Xiancao and her companions, being native to the area, were very familiar with the terrain and roads. They entered the woods and began their ascent up a small hill. Although Gu Feng's horse was fast, it wasn't good at climbing mountains, so he could only watch helplessly as others ran ahead, always leaving a gap of more than half a mile.
After crossing the small hill and descending into the ravine, Ge Xiancao and the others climbed the bare, rocky mountain opposite.
Gu Feng finally managed to rush down the mountain and was about to continue the chase when suddenly a loud bang was heard, and countless fire arrows rained down from both sides of the mountain.
It turned out that the ravine was filled with fallen leaves, knee-deep in thickness, and had been pre-mixed with sulfur and saltpeter, making it easy to ignite. Moreover, the fire spread rapidly under the leaves, as fast as the wind, and with a loud bang, the entire ravine burst into flames.
Gu Feng, riding his horse, heard the gong and, seizing the opportunity, spurred his horse across the ditch and charged up the hillside. Even so, his beard was singed clean. The soldiers who chased him into the ditch were not so lucky. Hundreds of them were instantly burned in the ditch, with no way to escape. The fire continued to spread from the fallen leaves in the forest, burning back towards the government troops. The soldiers screamed and howled in agony.
Gu Feng, leading only seventy or eighty men and four or five generals, crossed the ravine. He then attempted to retreat, but the fire blocked his way. When he tried to advance, he was outnumbered and outmatched. Ge Xiancao, seeing the fire on the hillside, whistled and turned back to attack, terrifying Gu Feng. He fled along the burning ravine, but his seventy or eighty men, without horses, could not keep up and were all killed. Only Gu Feng and his few generals remained. One of them was killed by arrows from ambushes on both sides, and another fell into the fire. By the time they reached the ravine, only four men remained, and they were surrounded and attacked by the rebels, forced to flee for their lives. The fighting
lasted for half a day before the main force of the government troops finally arrived from outside the mountains and rescued the four trapped men. Seeing the government reinforcements arrive, the rebels did not linger, whistled, and retreated into the forest, disappearing without a trace.
Gu Feng inspected his troops and found that he had lost over 7,000 men, including the dead and wounded, and three officers had also perished. He was utterly humiliated.
Gu Feng immediately set up camp outside the mountains and sent men to inquire about the rebel army.
The next day, a scout reported that Ge Xiancao had secretly left the mountains under cover of night and was heading towards Guoting via a side path.
Gu Feng, whose once handsome beard had been burned off, now looked like a eunuch. Enraged, he quickly broke camp and gave chase, also selecting another 1,000 cavalrymen to detour directly to the Lotus Bridge, the only bridge
across the Guifei River to Guoting. This Lotus Bridge spanned the Guifei River and was the only bridge within a hundred miles. Gu Feng's intention was to get ahead of Ge Xiancao, block her path, and then launch a pincer attack with his main force to capture her and vent his anger.
When he arrived at the riverbank, the stone bridge looked like a white dragon across the river. Gu Feng looked around and saw only a few dozen men guarding it. He gave the order, and all his cavalrymen charged towards the stone bridge.
The bridge guards were all infantry, and dared not engage the cavalry, so they all fled to the other side of the river. Gu Feng was the first to
flee, but just as he reached the bridge, suddenly, with a loud "boom," he and his horse tumbled into a pit. A cloud of lime dust rose several feet high, instantly blinding Gu Feng. Fortunately, the rebels had all fled, and no one was guarding the pit; otherwise, with grappling hooks on either side, Gu Feng could have been captured alive.
Several of his personal guards quickly dismounted, rescued Gu Feng, and helped him back onto his horse, but they could see nothing.
Just then, they heard the sound of ropes being tied, and countless archers appeared all around, firing in their direction. The rebels who had crossed the bridge also returned, drawing their bows and firing at the cavalry, instantly killing dozens of them.
Gu Feng, blinded and unable to open his eyes, was unable to fight. His soldiers could only escort him back the way they came. Just then, Ge Xiancao led her army to attack. The soldiers dared not engage and fled along a side path, only to be ambushed and slaughtered by the rebel army, losing five or seven hundred men before finally breaking through the encirclement and fleeing in panic. From then on, Gu Feng dared not underestimate the rebel army, always being cautious, preferring to miss opportunities rather than act rashly.
Meanwhile, Gu Feng, who had planned to attack from both sides and capture Ge Xiancao alive, fell into an ambush and nearly lost his life. He barely escaped back to his camp with the help of his men.
He hurriedly sought a doctor; his eyes were covered in blisters from the lime burns, and it took more than a month to heal. During this month, Liu Heiling had made thorough preparations, deploying troops along the route of the Imperial Concubine's residence, ready for battle.
Once his eye ailment had healed, Gu Feng was eager to capture Ge Xiancao for revenge. He mustered all his men and charged towards Lianhua Bridge a second time.
Five li from the bridge, he saw the rebel army's camp, guarding both ends. Judging by its size, it numbered over two thousand. Upon seeing the government troops, the camp erupted in cannon fire, and a troop charged out, led by a strikingly similar male and female commander. Gu Feng recognized the woman as Ge Xiancao, while the man wielded a large iron hammer, giving him an odd appearance. He learned he was Ge Xiancao's brother, the blacksmith Ge Delong.
Gu Feng observed the rebels: unarmored, dressed in various styles, their ranks scattered and noisy—even more chaotic than the one he had seen at the forest edge that day. Gu Feng felt indignant; he had repeatedly lost to such a rabble, a humiliating defeat. He secretly vowed to reclaim his lost face this time.
What will be the outcome of this battle? Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Chapter 124 – Siblings Dig a Bridge to Lure the Enemy, Gu Feng is Trapped

. It is said that Gu Feng arrived at Lotus Bridge, where he was met by the Ge siblings.
Desiring revenge for repeated humiliations, Gu Feng introduced himself to Ge Delong and charged forward, engaging Ge Delong in battle.
Ge Delong's dancing skills seemed inferior to his sister's, simply because, though both were infantry generals, he lacked agility. Whenever Gu Feng attacked with his spiked club, he barely managed to dodge, but always ended up in a sorry state. Seeing this, Ge Xiancao brandished her sword to aid her brother. Two of Gu Feng's lieutenants charged forward, fighting Ge Xiancao two-on-one.
Although Ge Xiancao was exceptionally skilled, she was no match for so many opponents and was clearly struggling.
Ge Delong said, "Sister, we can't win like this. Let's go."
With that, he jumped out of the circle and ran. Hearing this, Ge Xiancao feigned an attack, deflecting the lieutenants' weapons, and followed her brother, running towards the bridge.
Seeing their commander defeated, the rebel army shouted and turned to flee.
Gu Feng was about to give chase, but then remembered their previous trap and dared not act rashly. He quickly halted his army, stood on his horse, and carefully observed the situation on the other side.
Both banks of the river were covered with reeds. Apart from the camp guarding the bridge, there were no other soldiers or officers in sight. However, Gu Feng, having suffered a series of defeats, was filled with suspicion and remained uneasy, hesitant to cross the river.
Meanwhile, the Ge siblings, having retreated to their camp, did not stop but continued running north across the river. The rebel army also abandoned their camp and crossed.
After a while, forty or fifty men emerged from the camp on the opposite bank, each carrying shovels and pickaxes, and began digging at the stone bridge.
Gu Feng was greatly alarmed. This Lotus Bridge was the only passage across the river, and judging from Ge Delong's intentions, he clearly wanted to destroy the bridge to prevent him from crossing. If he were to destroy the stone bridge, crossing the river would become even more difficult.
Thinking this, Gu Feng quickly mounted his horse and dispatched his lieutenants Hu Neng and Hua Tieli with a hundred cavalry to seize the Lotus Bridge.
The two lieutenants received their orders and rode off. They soon reached the bridge. The rebels who had been digging the bridge, seeing the fierce approach of the cavalry, tried to flee but could not escape the horses' legs and jumped into the river. The river was deep, and they disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Seeing that his lieutenants had captured the bridge and there was no ambush, Gu Feng led his army forward.
Gu Feng stood at the bridgehead, directing his army to cross the river. On the opposite side, the Ge siblings led their two thousand rebels out of their camp, attempting to retake the stone bridge. Hu Neng brandished his large iron sword, and Hua Tieli wielded his steel spear, charging across the bridge. They encountered the Ge siblings. After only a few exchanges, Hu Neng was decapitated by Ge Xiancao, who leaped onto his horse's back. Hua Tieli's horse was also struck down by Ge Delong's hammer, breaking its leg, and both horse and rider fell into the river.
After a brief victory, Ge Delong and his sister charged onto the bridge, routing the cavalry. They then ordered their soldiers to expedite the digging.
Gu Feng, seeing the narrowness of the bridge and the difficulty of maneuvering with too many men, knew sending his men up would be suicide. He had no choice but to wield his mace, mount his horse, and charge at Ge Delong.
Although the Ge siblings were skilled warriors, the narrow bridge made it difficult to coordinate. After a dozen or so exchanges, they were no match for Gu Feng and were forced to retreat while fighting, eventually being driven across the bridge.
Gu Feng, having crossed the bridge, continued to fight the Ge siblings while shouting, "Cross the river!"
His lieutenants and generals, seeing this, rushed across the bridge. Ge Delong, realizing he was outmatched, had no choice but to abandon the bridgehead with Ge Xiancao, and they were defeated.
Gu Feng was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered his men to cross the river. Only a thousand men had crossed when, with a loud crash, the stone bridge, which couldn't be dug up even with shovels and picks, suddenly collapsed.
Gu Feng was puzzled, but upon closer inspection, he realized he'd been tricked. The bridge had been deliberately sabotaged; it had only been supported by huge logs underneath. Digging from above was impossible, as the stones were too solid. But the bridge diggers jumped into the water, swam to the bottom, and pulled down one of the logs, causing the bridge to lose its balance and collapse.
This collapse was significant. Gu Feng, along with a dozen or so lieutenants and the thousand-plus men who had crossed, remained on this side of the river, leaving the 100,000-strong army on the opposite bank.
The rebel army, feigning defeat, seeing the bridge broken, returned under the leadership of the Ge siblings, forming ranks on the north side. Now, seeing the rebels in their varied clothing, their ranks were orderly and their demeanor composed, a far cry from the earlier chaos. They realized the enemy had deliberately misled them. By then, it was too late for Gu Feng to regret his actions.
Looking back, Gu Feng saw that he still had many generals under his command, while the enemy consisted only of the Ge siblings. If he could hold out for a while, the enemy might be able to cut down trees and build a bridge to rescue him. Just then, he heard a series of cannon shots, and countless rebel soldiers charged out from all sides, surrounding Gu Feng and his men. To the east were two infantry generals, a man and a woman, both wielding tridents; they must be Liu Heiling and Liu Yue'e. To the west was
a general wielding an iron hoe; it was likely Lü Cheng. Looking across the river, another rebel army, numbering four or five thousand, was attacking from the east. Their leader, wielding a nine-toothed rake, charged into the government troops like a tiger.
Without their commander, the government troops were no match for these beasts and immediately fell into chaos, abandoning their armor and weapons and fleeing in disarray. In no time, the 100,000-strong army had vanished without a trace.
Gu Feng had never felt such despair. He, a dignified garrison commander, was trapped here by a bunch of peasants.
"Gu Feng, you're cornered now! Dismount and surrender!"
"Liu Heiling, I am an official of the court. I've fallen into your ambush; death is my only fate. I will not surrender! If you want my life, you'll have to defeat my spiked club first!"
"Good, that's it! Brothers, kill!"
At Liu Heiling's command, the rebels charged towards Gu Feng.
Gu Feng, now fighting desperately, swung his spiked club, aimlessly striking at Ge Xiancao, who was charging ahead. However, this time the area was more spacious, and Ge Delong couldn't just watch his sister fight. The two of them fought Gu Feng together.
Gu Feng then realized that Ge Delong was also a skilled actor; his earlier display of weakness was a complete act. Now, his agility was no less than Ge Xiancao's.
Gu Feng had no other choice but to lead his men in a desperate charge, trying to kill... They fought desperately to escape with their lives. Though cornered beasts struggled, they were ultimately outnumbered.
The two sides fought fiercely by the river for a full day. After suffering nearly a thousand casualties, the rebel army finally slaughtered the trapped government troops one by one, leaving only Gu Feng as the lone commander.
Looking at the rebel army surrounding him, Gu Feng knew he was doomed. Thinking of the humiliation he would suffer if captured, he sighed deeply and shouted towards Qinglong Pass: "Your Excellency Cao, I, Gu Feng, am incompetent, suffering repeated defeats. I cannot repay even a fraction of Your Excellency's kindness. I will die for my country!"
He slammed the spiked club against his forehead, smashing it until his face was covered in bruises, his skull shattered, and he fell dead from his horse.
When the news reached Qinglong Pass, Cao Yunlong was stunned and speechless for a long time. Gu
Feng was also a renowned general at Qinglong Pass, having suffered three defeats and lost his life. It seemed these rebels were not to be underestimated; he had to personally lead the attack.
To find out how Cao Yunlong would suppress the rebel army, stay tuned for the next chapter.

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