Chapter 72

Xiang Zongdao, seeing the Tartars' morale wane, proposed to advance the army to strike and dampen their fighting spirit.

Wang Li agreed, despite Bai Pu and Liang Tiande's opposition, ultimately the minority could not prevail over the majority.

The city gates opened, and eight thousand elite Song troops rushed out like the wind, slicing through the retreating Mongol army like a sharp blade. The archers on both flanks released a barrage of arrows, and the Mongols' cries of agony echoed through the sky.

Xiang Zongdao reorganized his troops, the army weaving in and out, shattering a ten-thousand-strong Mongol unit into pieces. Liang Tiande, clad in soft armor, led the charge, his long spear moving like auspicious snow, unstoppable.

Suddenly, the sound of a ram's horn pierced the sky, and the battle below the city changed dramatically. The Mongol army moved swiftly, splitting into two, with Bayan on the left and Ashu on the right, drawing two smooth arcs on the battlefield, instantly separating Xiang Zongdao's eight thousand troops from Hezhou City.

Bayan's bow was full like the moon, and a long arrow shot out, piercing through Xiang Zongdao's chainmail armor and embedding itself in his chest. Although the armor was made of cold-forged steel and extremely hard, the arrow still penetrated four inches, though not fatally. Xiang Zongdao endured the intense pain and was about to break through the encirclement when Ashu broke through the line, thrusting a spear at him. Xiang Zongdao, blood streaming down his face, fell off his horse and was instantly trampled into a bloody pulp by the chaos of the battle.

With the death of the commander, the Song army's morale was in disarray. The Mongol army, like two dragons, moved back and forth, their weapons and arrows cutting through the Song ranks like boiling water on snow. The Song army's formation was completely shattered, and blood and flesh flew everywhere, with countless casualties. The Mongol army's morale soared, the sound of their drums like thunder, and the city of Hezhou trembled, the generals inside losing their composure.

Liang Tiande, holding his spear, galloped forward, drew his bow, and aimed at a thousand-man commander, shooting an arrow that felled him.

Liang Tiande raised his spear and roared, "Follow me!"

The Song army, having lost four out of ten men in the slaughter, the remaining six like headless flies, scattered in all directions. Hearing the roar, they followed Liang Tiande without hesitation. The Mongol troops, having lost their leader, were momentarily disoriented. Liang Tiande galloped forward, firing arrows left and right, killing dozens in an instant. The Song troops' morale soared, and they fought desperately, finally breaking through the Mongol's ironclad formation.

A fierce arrow whistled through the air—Bayan had arrived!

Liang Tiande, as if he had eyes on his back, deflected the arrow with his bow, trapping it on the string. Then, he ducked, and Bayan's second arrow grazed his helmet, sending it flying and his graying hair fluttering in the wind.

Liang Tiande, though startled, did not back down. As he ducked, he used Bayan's arrow to shoot back. Bayan dodged to the side, but before he could counter, three arrows shot like meteors from behind. They were fired by the Xue brothers.

Bayan's arrows were deadly, and the Xue brothers—Xue Rong, Xue Fang, and Xue Gong—fell one after another.

Liang Tiande led the remnants of his army in a breakout, relying on his superb spear skills, charging left and right, repeatedly slaying generals, fighting and retreating. Ashu maneuvered his troops to encircle and intercept, personally leading the charge against Liang Tiande.

Though young, Ashu's spear skills were formidable, his spear moving like a dragon emerging from the sea, unpredictable and deadly, matching Liang Tiande blow for blow.

Seeing the situation, Wang Li led the army out of the city to reinforce, and tens of thousands of troops clashed below the city, the Mongol soldiers being fierce, the Song army gradually retreating.

Wu Lianghetai, the Mongol general, seeing the situation from his position, knew that no further advantage could be gained today. If they pressed on, the city would rain arrows down. He ordered the troops to withdraw.

This battle was devastating for both sides, but the Mongol elite had not yet arrived, and the Song army's eight thousand cavalry had been decimated, truly adding insult to injury.

Li Wuchang quietly stood in a corner of the city wall, watching the bloody battle below, his blood boiling, wishing he could wield a three-foot spear and charge into the fray.

However, he knew the time was not yet right. There would be a time when he would wield his three-foot sword and charge in and out of the battlefield three times.

...

For several days, Ashu continued to challenge outside the city, but the Song army dared not easily engage, holding their ground and refusing to come out.

After some time, the Mongol emperor Möngke arrived at the walls of Hezhou.

Accompanied by Bai Pu, Liang Wenjing ascended the city wall.

In the distance, the Mongol army's banners covered the mountains and blocked the sky, the number of soldiers more than double what it had been before, arrayed like clouds, motionless.

On the great river, warships and battleships sailed down the current, facing off against the Song navy.

In contrast, the city of Hezhou, with its dozens of large pots boiling oil, emitted a suffocating stench. Boulders and logs were piled like mountains.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians in the city were driven out, the able-bodied men manning the walls, while women, children, and the elderly pushed carts and oxen, transporting wood and stones.

The sound of the huqin rose, and the drums beat. The Mongol army let out a roar like a thunderclap, the mountains and rivers trembling.

Hundreds of Mongol warships, loaded with dry wood and oil, set ablaze, rushed down the river toward the Song navy. The ships they collided with burst into blinding flames.

In a short while, the two fleets clashed, the warriors on board staggering, those who remained standing drawing their bows and spears, fighting on the river, blood flowing freely, the water turning red.

The drumming on land grew more intense, the Mongol army's assault relentless, wave after wave being repelled by the Song army, the casualties piling up, the blood flowing like a river.

Shortly after, the Mongol emperor Möngke arrived at the city walls, seeing Bayan's bravery, he bestowed upon him the title of "Divine Archer General," a title previously given only to Jebe, meaning "the Mongol's greatest archer."

"Regardless, these Song people have killed countless of our heroes. When the city falls, I will slaughter every last one, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive."

Watching the fierce battle below, Möngke issued the order to raze the city.

Since Genghis Khan's rise, several generations of Mongol emperors had been extremely bloodthirsty, razing countless cities, drenching the land in blood.

In a secluded corner of Hezhou's city wall, Li Wuchang gazed at the tens of thousands of Mongol soldiers and the white-haired banner in the formation, and sneered, "The Divine Condor Hero became famous for killing Möngke. Why should I be any less?"

In "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Yang Guo killed the Mongol emperor Möngke outside Xiangyang. Although this was in the world of "Iron Blood and Proud," Li Wuchang did not wish to be inferior to anyone.

Of course, this was just a sudden thought that crossed Li Wuchang's mind. Whether he could succeed or not, he was not sure, but he had to try.

Möngke ordered Wu Lianghetai to lead thirty thousand troops to attack the eastern gate. Arrows and stones rained from the sky, and the Mongol soldiers, wielding swords and spears, carrying ladders, launched a fierce assault.

The Song army's arrows fell like rain, and the Mongol army suffered heavy casualties.

Li Hansheng led the troops out of the eastern gate, taking advantage of the chaos to slaughter the enemy. Liang Tiande, leading the charge, killed several men and noticed the glint of silver armor in the distance—it was Wu Lianghetai.

Liang Tiande drew his three-hundred-pound iron bow and fired nine arrows in quick succession.

This move was called "Nine Sons of the Dragon," Liang Tiande's signature skill.

The nine arrows came like a long snake, each with a different force. Midway, they collided, scattering like flowers in the sky, sealing off all of Wu Lianghetai's escape routes.

Wu Lianghetai was hit by three arrows, one of which pierced his right eye, and he fell from his horse...