Chapter 89

After the Jin army's defenses were destroyed, Shi Le did not rush to pursue the fleeing Jin troops. He was more eager to quickly secure control of the Tuanbai Valley. Therefore, he rode slowly, continuously giving orders to his generals, such as sending people to occupy key positions near the pass.

At the moment the flames rose, he had just passed the pass. The heat wave startled his horse, nearly throwing him off. After much effort to control the frenzied horse, Shi Le looked up and saw the surrounding area engulfed in raging flames, leaving him stunned.

Several trusted subordinates rushed through the flames to help him onto the horse, surrounding him as they charged out of the pass. He shouted loudly, "What's happening? Why is there a fire?" However, the intense heat and the fierce wind made it impossible for anyone to hear his cries.

Chased by the flames, these few people tumbled and scrambled for about half a mile. The dangers along the way were self-evident, and the smoke and fire had burned most of their braids, beards, and clothing, turning them black. Fortunately, they stumbled upon a stream flowing through a clearing in the forest. Although the water was scarce, it was a lifesaver at that moment. They jumped into the stream with joy, soaking their entire bodies, and finally calmed down.

Shi Le looked back and saw the pass of Tuanbai Valley engulfed in flames, with huge fires rising amidst the crackling of burning wood. Looking ahead, the forest was shrouded in thick smoke, with numerous fires burning in the distance.

In this situation, how could Shi Le not realize that he had fallen into the Jin army's trap? A moment ago, he was confident and believed he had the battle under control, but now he suffered a severe blow. His heart was filled with rage, and he felt a salty taste in his throat, almost spitting blood. Fortunately, his will was exceptionally strong, preventing him from fainting.

Sitting in the stream, he took a few deep breaths, and the cold water helped him regain his composure. He then stood up, waving his hands and shouting, "Get into the water! Get into the water! Don't run around!"

As he was shouting, he saw a soldier with half his body on fire screaming and breaking through the flames. The soldier didn't run far before stumbling and falling. Shi Le dashed to the shore, dragging the soldier. The flames burned his hands, making a sizzling sound, but he remained undeterred, gritting his teeth and pulling the soldier into the stream.

Seeing the flames around the stream growing more intense, Shi Le roared and rushed back to the shore.

His close general, Liu Zheng, rushed over and hugged him, shouting in his ear, "Brother, brother, it's too dangerous! Don't go back!"

Shi Le pushed him away, cursing, "Nonsense! I, Shi Le, am not the kind of person who abandons his brothers!" Liu Zheng failed to hold him back, and he rushed back to the shore again. In this way, he saved several more people.

With a growing number of people gathered, and with Shi Le, their leader, among them, the group's mood stabilized somewhat. The fire was now even more intense, and the stream's water was noticeably warming. Everyone was gasping for air, feeling as if they couldn't breathe. Shi Le, of course, dared not stay in the fire for long, so he led his men downstream.

The burning forest was not very dense, and there were clearings where soldiers were gathering to avoid the fire. Shi Le continuously shouted and patrolled, gathering his troops. Sometimes, fallen trees blocked the way, and he worked with the men to move them; at other times, he led people into the fire to rescue soldiers. Under his leadership, the group ran along the stream, growing larger like a snowball, eventually reaching seven or eight hundred people.

They followed the stream westward for about ten miles, feeling the terrain gradually lowering, the soil becoming moist, and the trees becoming sparser. They had reached the edge of the forest, and looking out, they could see undulating slopes.

Although the fire was still raging in the distance, it had been left behind. Seeing that their lives were no longer in danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, the group looked extremely disheveled, having lost most of their weapons and armor, and their horses had long fled. More than half of the people had suffered burns of varying degrees. Mentally, they were exhausted to the extreme, and as soon as they relaxed, some collapsed on the ground.

Shi Le, who had risen from a mere escaped slave to become the leader of a band of marauders in Hebei, had his extraordinary qualities. Despite the dire situation, he quickly adjusted his emotions, showing no signs of despair but rather appearing more spirited. He comforted the soldiers following him, describing the current situation in a nonchalant tone, as if all the uncertainties were within his expectations and all the difficulties would be easily resolved.

Among the several hundred soldiers were Xiongnu, Wuhuan, Jie, and even some Xianbei. They spoke different languages and had different customs, and in such a chaotic and panicked situation, they should have fallen apart. However, Shi Le, with his exceptional charisma and leadership, managed to reorganize the group.

What made him particularly happy was that at the end of the line, he encountered Wang Yang, who was burned and blistered, along with Hu Yanmo, Gu Heilüe, Zhang Yue, and Kong Tun. They had led the Wuhuan cavalry in pursuit of Lu Yao but saw the fire behind them. Most of the Wuhuan cavalry scattered, but these few, worried about Shi Le and their sworn brothers, turned back into the burning forest to search for them. The harrowing experiences of that time need not be described, but now, the joy of reuniting was overwhelming.

At this moment, it wasn't the right time to build camaraderie. Wang Yang, anxious, immediately asked, "Brother, the Jin people are treacherous, setting such a trap. How should we respond?"

Shi Le laughed loudly, deliberately answering loudly, "What are you worried about? We have already won this battle! The Jin army is just acting out of desperation!"

When the surrounding soldiers' attention focused on him, he continued, "You all saw that the Jin army in Tuanbai Valley had only three or four hundred troops. They were easily defeated by our brave warriors, and most were killed. Some fleeing Jin soldiers, fearing pursuit, set the forest on fire, causing some trouble."

"Let me tell you, you were all scared. The forest is sparse, and the fire can't spread much. I bet this fire will only cause a loss of three or four hundred people..." Shi Le looked around at the soldiers, mockingly, and then raised his voice even higher, "Brothers! The governor of Bingzhou, Liu Kun, is currently fighting the Great Chanyu in the west, leaving Jinyang City defenseless! Now, take a break, and then gather your strength. We won't wander in the wilderness anymore. We will go to Jinyang City, to plunder money, food, and women!"

Shi Le knew in his heart that most of what he said was a lie. First, this fire was clearly a premeditated act by the Jin army; second, their losses were far more than three or four hundred people; third, even if Jinyang City was defenseless, it was not something they could capture in their current state. However, in this situation, such words were necessary to boost the soldiers' morale. Fortunately, the barbarian warriors were crude and simple-minded, and they believed him, becoming more spirited.

Shi Le sighed imperceptibly, pulling Wang Yang to a less crowded area, "Brother Wang Yang, this fire has truly devastated us. Judging by the state of the troops, it will take more than a day or two to regroup. However, the Jin army from Qishan and Jiefang Mountain will surely come to the rescue. In our current state, we can't withstand a battle. The fire at the pass is gradually dying down. You go and select some capable soldiers, find a way to cross the pass and meet up with Xie An. Xie An still has five hundred intact elite soldiers. You two must work together to intercept the Jin army and prevent them from taking advantage of the situation..."

As he was giving instructions, he suddenly heard the sound of drums in the distance.

Shi Le and Wang Yang turned around together.

Beyond the sparse forest, a troop of soldiers was advancing with the drumbeat. This force had clearly been hiding on the other side of the slope and only appeared now. They numbered about five or six hundred, forming a dense formation. The main force was composed of spear-wielding soldiers, supported by shield and sword-wielding soldiers. Archers lined the front, and several cavalrymen patrolled the flanks.

Shi Le had seen such a well-trained army before. A few days ago, this very army had launched a night raid on the camp, killing the famous General Qiao Xi. The next morning, they launched another fierce attack, causing heavy losses to the Xiongnu army.

What surprised Shi Le even more was that the Jin army general who had caught his attention, the brave general who had single-handedly charged into the Xiongnu army at the Tuanbai Valley pass, was now leading the formation. He waved his hand, and a tall and strong soldier raised the military flag high and then forcefully planted it into the ground. The pure white flag was blown open by the wind, revealing a large "Lu" character.

Shi Le suddenly felt dizzy, taking a half-step back and steadying himself with the help of a bodyguard. His eyes widened, and his teeth clenched, "This person... this person is Lu Yao from Wucheng!"

Voices of confusion and shock came from around him. Some exclaimed, "Isn't Lu Yao stationed at Qishan?" Others asked, "Why is there another Jin army here?" Shi Le ignored these voices, his face alternating between anger and despair. His shrewd and decisive nature made him realize that his plan had been seen through by Lu Yao. What he thought was a weakly defended Tuanbai Valley had turned out to be a trap set by the Jin.

At this point, further contemplation was futile. Shi Le drew his sword, ready to fight to the death, but was held back by Wang Yang.

Wang Yang shouted, "This is a moment of life and death. Brother, you are a hero of the world, not to be compared with common soldiers. You few take Brother and follow the stream upstream into the fire. If the gods truly protect us, we might find a way out! I will hold off the Jin army and buy time!"

With that, he lifted his spear and marched forward. Many barbarian soldiers, inspired by him, launched a fierce charge.

******

Thank you to friends like Gongdi, Hun Dun wjy, and Huakai le ya for your guidance and help. Thank you to Lord Guixie Mishan and Lord Nai Ping Jian Ji for your support. Lord Nai Ping Jian Ji's masterpiece, "New WWII: Eagles Strike the Sky," is truly impressive, and I am in awe.

The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will strive to seek and explore... Yes, I mean, I am seeking clicks, red tickets, and collections. I bow deeply.

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