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"He is Liu Guanfeng."
"Liu Guanfeng? The one who ambushed Xiahou Zhongtian?"
"Pah, what ambush? That kid couldn't even guarantee a win against me. If he wanted to fight Xiahou Zhongtian, he wouldn't need to ambush; a direct confrontation would only take a few rounds. We were all deceived by Xiahou Zhongtian."
Wu Ta gasped at Jiang Xingshi's words: "Divine Envoy, is that young man really that formidable?"
Jiang Xingshi nodded firmly: "That boy named Liu Guanfeng has an unknown background. His weapon is quite unique, and his techniques are very exquisite. Although the weapon isn't light, he wields it with great agility and has very tricky angles. But if you think his weapon relies on agility, you're mistaken. I competed in strength with him and came up short; it seems I really am getting old."
"Divine Envoy, don't say that. You are still our towering pillar in Huaxing Kingdom. Losing slightly doesn't mean much."
Jiang Xingshi nodded: "I know this. In the future, I must have a good match with that young man."
"Divine Envoy, what do you think we should do next?" Wu Ta asked, as the previous Divine Envoy was also a Grand Marshal of Huaxing Kingdom, just like Wu Ta.
Jiang Xingshi thought for a moment: "Commander, whether you want to hear it or not, I must say this. Given the current situation, we only have one path to take: retreat."
Wu Ta sighed deeply: "Divine Envoy is right; I understand the situation we are facing. Earlier, I was also considering whether to retreat or fight to the death here. But since Divine Envoy has already said it, let's go back."
"Commander, we can't just leave like this." Jiang Xingshi stopped Wu Ta's movement with another statement.
"Divine Envoy, is there something else?"
"Commander, if we leave like this, once the enemy finds out, they will definitely launch a full-scale attack and pursuit. I'm afraid that if that happens, it will be very difficult for us to return to Shining Star City."
"Divine Envoy, what do you mean?"
"That's right, we should sacrifice the vehicle to protect the general. Let a portion of the Injured stay here to hold them off for a while, and in the other villages ahead, we need to implement a series of delaying tactics to prevent their pursuit."
"Divine Envoy, I know what you're saying is true, but how can I bear to leave these Injured behind?"
"Commander, I am willing to stay and hold them off." The speaker was Na Kuang. That day, Na Kuang had been engaged in battle with Copper Bull, and he hadn't gained any advantage in their fight. Just when he was feeling anxious, his faction received the order to retreat, forcing him to feign a few moves and escape from the city wall.
Although he escaped with his life, he was still struck by Copper Bull and sustained serious injuries. Hearing Jiang Xingshi's words today made him realize that he should sacrifice himself; only by ensuring Commander Wu Ta and Divine Envoy Jiang Xingshi's safety could he find an opportunity for revenge.
Wu Ta's expression darkened: "No, you are seriously injured and need immediate treatment. How can you hold the rear for me?"
"Commander, I know you have always cared for me. I can only repay you with my life. Grand Marshal, please allow me to hold the rear for you."
Wu Ta hadn't cried in a long time, but today he could no longer hold back his tears. Na Kuang was well aware of the outcome of this rear-guard action, yet he remained resolute.
Wu Ta nodded: "Na Kuang, remember to come back alive."
"Please rest assured, Grand Marshal."
After arranging for those who would hold the rear, Wu Ta left behind a thousand injured soldiers and quietly departed from Starjoy Village with his people.
In Li Xing Village, Zhong Yi took the initiative to act as the rear guard, and then he began to organize a thousand injured soldiers. However, upon reaching Little Star Village, no one was left behind because Liu Guanfeng's two Fire attacks had completely burned Little Star Village to the ground; even if they had left someone, there would have been nothing they could do.
When Wu Ta returned to Shining Star City with his remaining soldiers, he began to look forward to the return of Na Kuang and Zhong Yi. However, he did not see either general again until the army from Starfall City arrived.
The soldiers of Starfall Kingdom were in high spirits after resting for a day, while the soldiers on the opposite city wall were all injured and dispirited.
After breakfast, Liu Guanlei and Liu Guanyu brought a large group of people to the front of Starjoy Village. Copper Bull slapped his Mount and came to the foot of the city wall, pointing up with his hand: "Listen up, General up there, if you surrender and open the gates immediately, we will spare your lives; otherwise, after our army passes, there will be nothing left."
After Copper Bull finished speaking, Na Kuang poked his head out from behind the parapet: "Liu Tongniu, stop boasting over there. As long as I am here, you will not get past."
Copper Bull snorted coldly: "A defeated general dares to come out and act arrogant. Since you are not afraid of death, then come on. Rest assured, your rank is mine."
Na Kuang no longer wasted words with Copper Bull: "Archers prepare."
Seeing the opposing archers readying themselves, Copper Bull immediately retreated back to his ranks: "Commander, they are determined to resist to the death. What should we do?"
"Then there is no other way. Longbowmen cover us, Crossbowmen suppress them, and Siege Engineers set up ladders for us to assault the city," Liu Guanlei immediately issued the order to attack.
The Longbowmen stood neatly at the foot of the enemy's wall, just out of reach. In front of the Longbowmen were the Crossbowmen; since crossbows have a longer range than bows, the Crossbowmen could also target the enemy Archers. Seeing that both Longbowmen and Crossbowmen were ready, Liu Guanlei raised his Wolf Tooth Club: "Archers fire in formation; Siege Engineers advance."
With that command for a formation attack, the Crossbowmen and Longbowmen split into three groups. The combined fire of the Longbowmen's shots and the precise strikes of the Crossbowmen made it so that the Longbowmen on the wall dared not show their heads.
The Shield Soldiers of Starfall Kingdom followed closely behind the Siege Engineers as they charged forward. At this moment, Copper Bull also charged alongside the Shield Soldiers. Once the Siege Engineers set up their ladders, Copper Bull brandished his Double Hammer and was the first to rush up onto the wall, heading straight for Na Kuang who was commanding from above.
Na Kuang also noticed Copper Bull, so he gritted his teeth and charged forward with his Greatsword. Although Na Kuang was slightly more powerful than Copper Bull, he had already been injured in the previous battle, and naturally, he was no match for Copper Bull's strength. Thus, when they clashed, it only took five brief exchanges for Na Kuang's Greatsword to be knocked away.
Copper Bull used the large hammer in his left hand to deflect Na Kuang's Greatsword, then swung his right-hand Hammer to strike Na Kuang in the back. With a scream, Na Kuang was sent flying and fell directly over the battlements below. A member of the Huaxing Kingdom, White Tiger General, thus met his demise beneath the walls of Starjoy Village.
The soldiers on the wall saw their general fall and immediately surrendered. The entire battle lasted less than an hour.
When Liu Guanlei and Liu Guanyu entered the city, they were informed that Wu Ta and his troops had already departed. After capturing a prisoner for questioning, they learned that Wu Ta had left with his men the previous night.
Liu Guanlei and Liu Guanyu immediately led their forces to pursue. Although they pressed on urgently, they were still too late. By the time they reached Lixing Village, there was no sign of Wu Ta. However, on the walls of Lixing Village hung the banner of the Huaxing Kingdom.
Seeing the banner on the wall, the two Grand Marshals pondered: Could it be that Wu Ta was prepared inside? Otherwise, how would he dare to display his banner?
Thus, the two Grand Marshals discussed and organized their soldiers to set up camp and rest. If Wu Ta was indeed in Lixing Village, they would face a tough battle ahead, so their soldiers needed to be at their best.
Zhong Yi cleverly delayed the Starfall Kingdom's army for an entire night, buying significant time for Wu Ta's escape. The next morning, when Liu Guanlei and others returned to Lixing Village's walls, they found large amounts of black liquid at every battlement.
At this moment, someone reported to Liu Guanlei: "General, there is a large amount of Kerosene on the walls and ground of Lixing Village."
"Kerosene?"
At this time, Zhong Yi poked his head over the wall: "Starfall Kingdom's troops, anyone who isn't afraid of death can come up! I'll be waiting for you here. Ha ha... ha ha!"
"Longbowmen, prepare your rockets; we will set this place ablaze for them."
All the Longbowmen ignited their arrows: "Ready, fire!"
Flaming arrows traced beautiful arcs in the sky before landing on the city wall, instantly igniting a fire on the wall and the ground. The walls of Lixing Village had transformed into a fiery barrier that warned intruders to stay away.
Zhong Yi let out a cold laugh: "Since you want to light my way, let's go to Little Star Village and wait for them."
At this moment, Liu Guanfeng arrived in front of the fire wall, frowning deeply: "Brother, we've been tricked."
"Tricked? What do you mean?"
"If I'm not mistaken, Lixing Village is now completely deserted."
"What about their banner?"
"It's just a decoy. With the banner up, we would think Wu Ta is still in Lixing Village, which would make us prepare seriously, giving them time to escape."
"What should we do now?"
"Use the crossbow carts to break open the city gate. Iron Bull, lead your Golden Hammer Squad to charge in and pursue Zhong Yi once the gate is opened. We must catch up with them, regardless of life or death."
"Third Brother, shouldn't we capture them alive?"
"That's pointless. Brother, if Wu Ta really has Na Kuang and Zhong Yi blocking us here, then he must be making a full escape back to Hua Xing. As long as we reach Shining Star City, we will see him. So there's no need to ask anything further. We won't catch up with Wu Ta; according to the timeline, he has already passed Little Star Village."
"Then why pursue Zhong Yi?"
"If we don't chase him, he will definitely continue to obstruct us at Little Star Village. I don't want any unnecessary casualties."
The crossbow cart fired over a dozen arrows before breaking through the city gate, but the area at the gate was still a Blazing Sea. However, Iron Bull did not wait; he brandished his Twin Blades and shouted, "Brothers, charge with me!"
All the soldiers of the Golden Hammer Squad rode their Mounts and waved their golden hammers as they rushed through the city gate, chasing after Zhong Yi's retreating figure.
When the fire at the city gate was extinguished, Liu Guanlei led his army into Lixing Village. From a distance, he saw Iron Bull leading his Golden Hammer Squad rushing in through the west gate. Copper Bull approached Liu Guanlei and tossed a severed head at his feet. Liu Guanlei examined it closely and recognized that the head belonged to Zhong Yi.
Zhong Yi's head bore a surprisingly smiling expression. Liu Guanfeng stepped forward and said to Iron Bull, "Immediately send someone to find Zhong Yi's body, then sew the head and body together. Place them in a coffin along with Na Kuang's corpse for transport."
When Liu Guanfeng had initially prepared Na Kuang's body for burial, both Liu Guanlei and Liu Guanyu were quite puzzled. Today, Liu Guanyu finally asked, "Third Brother, why did you embalm both of their bodies?"
"Second Brother, both Na Kuang and Zhong Yi were honorable men. They were also very loyal; willing to sacrifice themselves to delay our advance for Wu Ta's escape. Such individuals deserve to be treated well, don't they? They have already died far from home; we have an obligation to return these loyal generals' remains to Hua Xing so they won't be lost forever."
After resting for a day, the troops resumed their march. By the time they reached Little Star Village, there were no more obstacles. Passing through Little Star Village, Liu Guanlei and Liu Guanyu led twenty thousand soldiers from Starfall Kingdom to a location three miles away from Shining Star City.
Finding a flat area with a water source, Liu Guanlei announced that they would set up camp and prepare meals. In less than a week, they had completely recovered the three villages lost during over a month of fighting.
Wu Ta led his men on Starfall Kingdom's territory, sacrificing over two hundred thousand soldiers before returning to Shining Star City. The initial roles of offense and defense had switched; now it was Starfall Kingdom preparing to attack Huaxing Kingdom's cities.
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