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Guo Si and Li Jue were discussing strategies in their camp. Guo Si sneered, "Yang Feng and Dong Cheng's forces are nothing but a drop in the bucket. We outnumber them significantly; we can crush them in a chaotic battle, and they will surely be unable to withstand it!"
Li Jue nodded, pointing at the map, "I will take the left flank, you take the right. We will charge across the mountains and let them know what despair truly means!"
The next morning, Guo Si and Li Jue's armies surged from all directions, overwhelming Yang Feng and Dong Cheng's troops. The valley echoed with the sounds of battle cries, and the clashing of armor reverberated around them.
Yang Feng stood at the front lines, wielding his sword and shouting, "Protect the Emperor's carriage! No one is allowed to retreat a single step!"
On the other side, Dong Cheng was locked in fierce combat with the enemy, his body covered in blood as he swept through their ranks with his spear like a tempest. However, the enemy's numbers were overwhelming, gradually forcing them into a perilous position.
"We can't delay any longer!" Dong Cheng shouted to his soldiers beside him. "Cover the carriage's escape with all your might! The rest of you hold them off!"
With Yang Feng and Dong Cheng fighting desperately to protect it, Han Xian Di's carriage finally broke through the encirclement and retreated northward. However, the accompanying officials, palace attendants, documents, and imperial possessions could not be taken along; they were all abandoned on the battlefield. Seeing this, Guo Si laughed coldly and led his troops into Hongnong, beginning a frenzied looting spree. The entire city turned into a hell on earth, filled with cries of anguish.
***
Yang Feng and Dong Cheng escorted the carriage as they retreated towards northern Shaanxi. Along the way, the soldiers accompanying them showed signs of fatigue. Dong Cheng quietly said to Yang Feng, "The Bandit Army is formidable. If we do not receive reinforcements soon, it will be difficult to ensure the safety of the carriage. At this point, we can only ask the Emperor to issue a secret edict to recall the Bai Bo Army."
Yang Feng frowned. "The Bai Bo Army is made up of bandits who once roamed the mountains; if we call them back now, it could lead to endless troubles."
Dong Cheng replied solemnly, "We have no choice at this moment. If we hesitate any longer, the Emperor's life will be at risk."
Yang Feng nodded and promptly submitted a request to the Emperor for a secret edict to summon Han Xian, Li Le, and Hu Cai of the Bai Bo Army back to protect him. Upon hearing this, Han Xian Di pondered for a moment before finally agreeing: "Issue an order that if these three armies come to protect me, I will pardon their past crimes and grant them positions of honor."
***
The Bai Bo Army received the Emperor's secret edict with great excitement. Han Xian laughed heartily and said, "Since the Emperor has promised us positions of power, we shall certainly do our utmost to assist!"
Li Le rose with a flourish of his sleeve, his eyes gleaming with cold light. "In the past, we roamed freely in the mountains because we had no other choice. If today we can achieve merit and clear our old sins while gaining a rightful status for ourselves, what could be wrong with that?"
Hu Cai nodded in agreement, "The Emperor has summoned us; we must hurry to his side!"
The three armies quickly broke camp, gathering their former troops along the way and converging towards Dong Cheng's location. Upon joining forces, their strength significantly increased. Seeing the reinforcements arrive, Dong Cheng's morale soared. He immediately conferred with Yang Feng, saying, "Now that our forces are assembled, we cannot delay any longer. We should take advantage of Guo Si and Li Jue's unsteady position and swiftly reclaim Hongnong, clearing the obstacles for the Emperor!"
Yang Feng raised his hand and pointed into the distance, responding solemnly, "Good! All troops, heed my command! Prepare for battle; we will strike at Hongnong tomorrow!"
The lands traversed by Li Jue and Guo Si were left in ruins. Their armies not only plundered the common folk but also viewed the elderly and weak as burdens to be slaughtered indiscriminately. The strong were forcibly conscripted into the military, becoming part of the front line's "death squads." These civilians were driven to the front lines unarmed, serving only to absorb the enemy's initial wave of attacks.
Li Le led his troops to Wei Yang, where he met with Dong Cheng and Yang Feng, preparing for a decisive battle against Li Jue and Guo Si. At this moment, Guo Si ordered his soldiers to scatter large amounts of clothing and valuables along the road leading to the battlefield.
"General, there are garments scattered everywhere; what does the Bandit Army intend?" a deputy commander rode closer to Li Le and asked quietly.
Li Le's gaze was stern as he waved his hand to issue orders, "This must be a trick; do not let your guard down! No soldier is allowed to take anything!"
However, when the soldiers saw those luxurious garments and gleaming treasures, they could hardly contain their greed. Many strayed from formation to pick them up, and some even shoved each other in a scramble for the items, causing chaos within their ranks.
Seeing this, Li Le shouted angrily, "Who dares to act out of line! Return to your ranks!" But it was too late; morale had plummeted, and they could not regroup.
At that moment, Li Jue and Guo Si's armies surged forth from all directions with a thunderous roar. Both sides had been lying in wait for this very moment.
"Charge! Annihilate Li Le in one fell swoop!" Guo Si pointed his blade forward as the Bandit Army rushed in.
Li Le's forces were thrown into disarray; soldiers fled in all directions, suffering heavy casualties. In the distance, Yang Feng and Dong Cheng saw that the situation was dire and quickly directed their soldiers to cover the Emperor's retreat.
"Protect the carriage! Retreat north!" Yang Feng shouted urgently while wielding his spear.
The carriage fled northward, but the pursuing Bandit Army closed in relentlessly, their shouts echoing like shadows. Li Le galloped alongside the carriage, his face filled with anxiety as he said to Han Xian Di, "The situation is critical! Your Majesty must mount quickly and escape at once!"
Han Xian Di pulled back the curtain of the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the disheveled officials accompanying him, and his brow furrowed tightly. He spoke in a low but resolute voice, "I cannot abandon my officials to seek survival alone. They have shared both joy and hardship with me; how can I leave them in times of danger?"
Upon hearing this, Li Le's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the reins, saying solemnly, "In that case, I will vow to protect you with my life and will not retreat!"
The shouts of the chaotic army grew closer, enveloping the surroundings in confusion and fear. Han Xian Di's carriage could no longer move forward, and the soldiers guarding him wore anxious expressions. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng helped the emperor down from the carriage, pointing towards the bank of the Yellow River not far away, shouting loudly, "Your Majesty, there is a river ahead! Abandon the carriage and walk; we must leave quickly!"
With great difficulty, Han Xian Di and Consort Fu moved toward the Yellow River with everyone's assistance, while behind them, the officials followed, each face filled with terror and cries echoing around them. Just then, the chaotic army caught up suddenly; Hu Cai was unfortunately struck by an arrow and fell to the ground with a cry, never to rise again.
The group struggled to reach the riverbank but found it steep and the water below rushing violently. The only small boat floated on the surface but was difficult to approach. Yang Feng was sweating profusely with anxiety as he shouted sternly, "Use horse reins to pull it in! Quickly, tie it around His Majesty's waist and send him down first!"
As the soldiers hurriedly untied the reins, one person pushed through the crowd—it was Prince Fu De. Holding a roll of white silk, he called out loudly, "I found this white silk among the chaotic army; we can use it to connect and lower the carriage!"
Shang Hong quickly stepped forward to assist in wrapping Han Xian Di and the Empress in white silk before securely tying it with ropes. Together, they slowly lowered Han Xian Di to the riverbank and onto the small boat. The Empress followed closely behind; Fu De personally carried her step by step into the boat.
At the bow of the boat, Li Le held a long sword, his gaze sharp as he scanned their surroundings. Standing at the front of the boat, he shouted at the pursuing soldiers on shore, "Anyone who dares to approach will be killed without mercy!"
Seeing that the boat was full, officials and palace attendants rushed toward its edge, desperately grabbing hold of ropes; some even attempted to jump onto the boat recklessly. Without hesitation, Li Le swung his sword to cut the ropes, sending those who crowded onto it tumbling into the water. A piercing scream erupted on the river surface as splashes flew everywhere amidst cries that shook the heavens.
"Row quickly!" Li Le commanded the boatman as he turned back with a determined gaze. The boat soon left shore, escorting Han Xian Di and the Empress across the Yellow River. He stood at the bow throughout their passage like a statue, his long sword never lowered for a moment.
After safely transporting the Emperor and Empress across, the small boat turned back again to begin ferrying accompanying officials and soldiers. Still many people fought to board; chaos ensued as numerous individuals were injured in their struggle—some even lost fingers amidst cries of pain that filled the air.
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