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Zhang Junyi's execution served as a wake-up call for Changsun Wuji, indicating that the Sovereign had grown wary of him, which was akin to a warning shot.
Who is Changsun Wuji? Having sensed this subtle crisis, he could not allow it to develop further. Thus, when the Sovereign deployed the battle plan, the current Minister of War, Duke of Zhao Changsun Wuji, took the initiative to volunteer for battle.
The Sovereign was naturally aware of his intentions. Since he was eager to express his loyalty, the Sovereign did not hinder him and ordered Chief of Military Operations Li Jue to lead the Left Vanguard General Xu Zhen and Duke of Guo Zhang Shigui along with fourteen cavalry commanders to set up camp at the western ridge of Anshi City to confront the enemy.
Duke of Zhao Changsun Wuji led twenty-six cavalry commanders including Niu Jinda and eleven thousand elite soldiers to ambush in the northern mountains as a surprise force.
The Sovereign personally commanded four thousand cavalry, stealthily approaching the enemy camp from the northern mountains.
Gao Yanshou and Eulji Nawi, along with Nosa Kohei Shin from Anshi City commanding one hundred fifty thousand troops, would not fear the Tang army. After suffering losses from Tang's incursions, Gao Yanshou and Eulji Nawi were filled with resentment. Now that they had a large army at their disposal, they immediately led their troops to confront the enemy.
Li Jue, well-versed in military strategy, saw the enemy's overwhelming force and ordered ten thousand pikemen to take position at the front to draw fire. Confident Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen saw Tang forces showing weakness and immediately led their cavalry into a charge!
The Tang army had over fifty thousand land troops, but they had suffered significant losses during their campaigns. Excluding casualties and logistical support units, only twenty-five thousand combatants remained. Although their naval forces numbered forty thousand with minimal losses, facing Anshi City's one hundred fifty thousand troops with only twenty-five thousand was an insurmountable disparity. Even with well-equipped and well-trained Tang soldiers, they could not withstand such overwhelming numbers.
The pikemen were specifically deployed to counter cavalry; however, Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen were undeterred and launched four battalions into battle, each consisting of five thousand men—like four sharp daggers or four black dragons charging into the Tang army!
The Tang army held their formation firmly; their shields stood like iron walls while their long spears rose like porcupine quills. The Goguryeo cavalry crashed against layers of shields as if hitting a solid wall, while knights on horseback were pierced by long spears like candied hawthorns!
The Goguryeo army lacked armor and used bamboo spears, which could not compare to the Tang army's long spears. Their charge failed to shake the Tang formation!
Due to both sides clashing against each other, Xu Zhen's Divine Fire Camp could not exert much influence. With her mentor Li Jue stationed in the central army, Xu Zhen led her troops flanking both sides of the central formation, ruthlessly slaughtering and devouring the enemy's formation like wolves gnawing on an elephant.
Ambushing in the northern mountains, Changsun Wuji was eager for merit. Seeing Li Jue and Xu Zhen's formation remain steadfast, he led over ten thousand soldiers under Niu Jinda’s command down like an iron flood crashing into the rear of the Goguryeo army!
Seeing the enemy's lines breaking apart, the Sovereign personally led four thousand cavalry down from the northern mountains. Surrounded on three sides, the one hundred fifty thousand Goguryeo troops were unexpectedly shattered by this assault; their formation fell into chaos as they split into countless small groups, each scrambling for survival while Tang soldiers surged forward in a frenzy of slaughter!
The current Sovereign was unparalleled in archery skills; his Feathered Arrow technique was unique. It was said among common folk that he had won favor through his archery prowess. Empress Wende’s father Zhangsun Sheng was known for his ability to shoot two targets with one arrow, while Gaozu Li Yuan’s family had a legacy of archery skills. The Sage successfully won Empress Wende’s heart through Zhangsun Sheng’s archery tests.
At this moment, as the Sovereign entered the battlefield riding his steed Saluzi like wind and lightning, he drew bows on both sides. The White Feathers whistled through the air as enemy generals fell from their horses in response. When both armies collided, the Sovereign put away his bow and drew twin blades to fight fiercely!
Li Jue, fearing for the Sovereign's safety, ordered Xu Zhen to lead the troops for protection. With a long knife in hand, Xu Zhen charged into the enemy ranks, cutting through them as if they were in an unguarded territory. The Sovereign, witnessing Xu Zhen's bravery, merely sneered and refused to back down. He wielded his dual blades with skill, killing dozens of enemies, his sleeves soaked in blood. The two fought side by side, exhilarated by the battle.
Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen had been suppressing the army but were unexpectedly overwhelmed by the Tang forces. However, relying on their numbers, they remained calm despite their troops' disarray, unable to rally them as they watched the Tang army slaughter their forces.
At a critical moment, Eulji Nawi led a thousand elite cavalry from the rear to reinforce the front lines. Instead of charging at Li Jue's infantry, they seized the opportunity to attack Li Shimin directly.
Eulji Nawi had an exceptionally keen sense of battlefield dynamics; they disregarded their own soldiers' lives, trampling over their own chaotic ranks to reach the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
In this crucial moment, Xu Zhen prioritized protecting the Sovereign. However, Li Shimin was filled with ambition and refused to retreat. As Eulji Nawi's cavalry approached, another force emerged from the side—Gao Renwu leading the Goguryeo Resistance Army.
This resistance army was composed of Gao Renwu's elite troops, equipped with armor and weapons taken from the Tang army, matching Eulji Nawi's cavalry in strength. The two sides collided fiercely.
Wang Jun'e, the Left Guard General of the Tang Dynasty, fearing for the Sovereign's safety, charged out from his formation to engage Eulji Nawi. However, he was struck by a hidden arrow and beheaded by Eulji Nawi.
Eulji Nawi harbored deep hatred for Xu Zhen. Yet at this moment, she was closely guarding the Sovereign. Eulji Nawi attempted to break through but found it impossible to get close. In desperation, he carved a bloody path and drew his longbow, aiming a cold arrow at the Tang Emperor.
Li Shimin was ignited by youthful fervor and was deeply engaged in battle when he failed to notice Eulji Nawi's movements. However, being seasoned in warfare and accustomed to life and death situations, he instinctively felt an overwhelming sense of danger as he turned just in time to see Eulji Nawi release the bowstring.
"Whoosh!"
The feathered arrow shot through the air towards him. Li Shimin's pupils constricted like pinholes as a wave of dread washed over him; he could not evade this arrow. Just then, a tremendous force struck his left shoulder and knocked him off his horse.
Li Shimin was alarmed and raised his blades only to find that it was Xu Zhen who had shielded him!
"Are you unharmed?"
Xu Zhen fought valiantly amidst bloodshed; her body and face were splattered with blood as her long knife burned hot from enemy blood. Now she looked at Li Shimin with concern. A warm feeling surged within him; since he first stepped onto the battlefield as a youth, many loyal followers had protected him from blades and arrows. Now among them were veteran generals Liu Hongji and Wei Chi Jing De, along with those who had passed like Qin Shubao—his most steadfast protectors. Thankfully now there was also Xu Zhen by his side!
Just as Li Shimin was about to respond, Xu Zhen closed her eyes. He hurriedly rose only to see that half of a white feather was embedded in her back!
The generals saw the Sovereign fall from his horse and fought desperately. Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen had no choice but to retreat with the remnants of their troops, while Li Jue and Changsun Wuji led their forces in pursuit, driving the Goguryeo army to Beishan.
Beishan was a strategic location near Anshi City, where Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen took refuge among the mountains. The Tang army was powerless against them; after some fierce fighting, they sounded the retreat.
In this battle, the Tang army surrounded Goguryeo from three sides, inflicting heavy casualties. Over twenty thousand enemy soldiers were beheaded, and the number of wounded was countless.
However, the morale of Goguryeo did not wane because the hero of the Eulji Family had actually shot down the Tang Emperor from his horse!
This news quickly spread throughout Goguryeo, embellished and exaggerated through word of mouth. Almost every Goguryeo person was recounting this event. A few days later, more confirmed reports came in stating that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had been shot in one eye!
The Goguryeo army, originally demoralized and anxious under siege at Beishan, suddenly felt invigorated upon hearing this news. Their spirits were lifted, and they regained their fighting strength.
Li Shimin ordered a halt and set up camp, personally carrying Xu Zhen into the tent. He commanded that she be treated by the military doctors accompanying them. Liu Shenwei, a disciple of Sun Simiao who had been by Xu Zhen's side for two years, skillfully removed the arrow from her wound. Fortunately, the arrowhead was not poisoned and did not damage any vital organs, allowing the Sovereign to feel at ease.
Although they achieved a great victory in this battle, the Sovereign had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. The generals felt uneasy about this. Li Jue and others immediately suggested launching a strong attack on Beishan to eliminate the enemy and take revenge. However, the Sovereign only allowed them to besiege Beishan.
Changsun Wuji was puzzled by this decision and dared to ask for clarification. Li Shimin simply replied calmly, "I want to wait for Mr. Xu to recover so we can level Beishan together!"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji felt displeased but did not dare to voice his concerns further.
After several days, Xu Zhen's injuries improved, and the Sovereign gifted her one of his warhorses.
The Sovereign came from a military background and excelled in horseback riding and archery; he was particularly fond of horses. At that time, he had six divine steeds known as the Zhaoling Six Steeds: Saluzi, Fist Mane Horse, Azure Wind Antelope, Shifachi, Teler Biao, and White-hoofed Crow. To honor Xu Zhen's contributions, he bestowed upon her the Azure Wind Antelope, which made Changsun Wuji envious.
Beishan was originally a place where the Sovereign had ambushed with his cavalry; thus he named it Zhu Zhi Mountain. He resolved that after a few days when Xu Zhen recovered from her injuries, they would launch a strong attack on Zhu Zhi Mountain!
In mid-July, the Tang army launched a large-scale offensive. Both sides' morale was high as they fought fiercely. The Tang people charged like dragons and tigers into battle. Colonel Liu Junqiong led his troops into enemy lines but found himself surrounded and unable to escape with no one to rescue him!
As it seemed this thousand-man unit was about to be overwhelmed, Xu Zhenxin furiously led his troops to break through the encirclement but was intercepted by Eulji Nawi's forces. Seeing their enemy face-to-face ignited their rage; Xu Zhen wielded her long sword as she engaged Eulji Nawi in combat amidst a chaotic melee where blood flowed like rivers!
Xue Rengui watched as Liu Junqiong's troops were slaughtered. Enraged, he charged into the enemy ranks, wielding a spear in each hand, dressed in white armor, cutting through the foes with ease. A commander from Goguryeo attempted to block him but was swiftly defeated by Xue Rengui, who decapitated him and hung his head on his horse. He continued to rampage through the battlefield, leaving no one able to stop him.
The Goguryeo army, witnessing Xue Rengui's valor, was struck with fear and dread. Eulji Nawi, sensing a shift in the battle, lost focus and exposed himself, only to be slain by Xu Zhen. She seized a flagpole and impaled Eulji Nawi's head upon it, roaring across the battlefield, forcing Goguryeo to retreat.
After this battle, Xue Rengui gained fame among the Tang army. The Sovereign personally met with him, gifting him a bow and bestowing upon him the title of Colonel Murong Xiao. The morale of the Tang soldiers soared.
Xue Rengui did not forget his gratitude and openly praised Xu Zhenzhi's bravery. The Sovereign recalled the image of Xu Zhen impaling the enemy general's head on the Tang banner and felt stirred, wanting to promote her to Left Guardian General.
Changsun Wuji grew anxious and hurriedly advised against it. Xu Zhen had just been promoted to Left Vanguard General; promoting her again to a third-rank general was inappropriate. Moreover, she was still young, and such a high position was something even seasoned generals struggled to attain. Granting it so easily could incite jealousy.
However, the Sovereign disagreed, stating that wartime circumstances were different from peacetime. Without bestowing great rewards, how could he expect his generals to fight with all their might? Since joining the military, Xu Zhen had always led from the front. On the day Liu Shenwei treated her wounds, the Sovereign had watched nearby and felt pity seeing her covered in scars.
Though Xu Zhen was not very old, she held a high position in court, which bred discontent among some officials. Some even linked her rise to Li Mingda.
Li Shimin understood well that every promotion Xu Zhen received was earned through her own sacrifices and suffering; it was only natural for her to be rewarded appropriately.
Yet Changsun Wuji continued to advise against it, and many generals echoed his concerns. Under Li Jue's subtle gaze, Xu Zhen hurriedly stepped forward to decline the promotion. Even though Li Shimin felt displeased, he did not wish to go against public sentiment and could only take a step back, retracting the title of Left Guardian General and instead granting her the title of Champion General. Although it was merely an honorary position, it still held third-rank status, allowing Xu Zhen to enter the upper echelons of the Tang Army.
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