Chapter 319
More than ten fine horses galloped through the night. Both the horses and their riders had sustained injuries, though none were life-threatening.
"Don't mind me, keep going," Zhan Feiyu shouted, hugging He Nuan's waist tightly. Her small face was hidden within her hood, shielding her from the biting, knife-like cold wind.
He Nuan spurred her horse forward, increasing their speed. Saving someone was like fighting a fire; now that they had broken through the encirclement, they had to find Yang Xu as quickly as possible, lest he meet a dire fate.
Whether it was the bloody battle that lasted for over an hour, the jolting ride on horseback, or the bone-chilling cold of the winter night, Zhan Feiyu was both exhausted and hungry.
Besides a scratch on her cheek from an arrow, her right arm and left shoulder throbbed with pain. Each jolt of the horse sent a fresh wave of agony through her wounds, but Zhan Feiyu could no longer afford to care. The pain had dulled into numbness.
Meanwhile, far behind Zhan Feiyu's group, the barbarian forces launched another frenzied assault on Xiangwu County. However, after being held off by He Sheng, Old Man Tie, and their men for a quarter of an hour, the barbarians' morale had plummeted, and their second attack proved to be a half-hearted effort.
"Just flesh wounds, nothing serious," Old Man Tie's voice boomed. He glanced at his bandaged leg and quickly put on his shoes.
Qiu Zongxi came back to his senses and looked at the unyielding Old Man Tie. "At your age, why push yourself? There's still over an hour until dawn."
Even if dawn arrived, the five people sent out for reinforcements had yet to send back any news. Even if they had miraculously escaped the ambush, time would have been lost. He feared there might be a second wave of ambushes waiting from the Weizhou Camp.
He flexed his injured left leg. Although the bandaged wound still ached, it didn't hinder him much. Moreover, all they needed to do now was defend the city walls. Old Man Tie truly didn't pay much mind to these superficial injuries.
"Once dawn breaks, villagers will surely come to the county town. The old general will definitely rush to our aid upon receiving the news, and the reinforcements from Weizhou Camp will arrive within an hour or two at the latest," Old Man Tie said, not worried about Xiangwu County being breached after the battle that had just concluded.
After all, they were inside the city, with food and hot water provided by the townsfolk. If injured, they had doctors to help dress their wounds, and the injured could rest by the fire in their homes.
In contrast, the barbarians outside the city gates were tired, hungry, and suffering from the cold. Furthermore, their inability to breach Xiangwu County had caused their morale to sink. Out of the three thousand barbarian soldiers, less than half remained scattered and disorganized.
Old Man Tie, having served in the military for many years, knew that with such low morale, the barbarians would launch at most one more assault before dawn. If it failed, they would flee immediately. Otherwise, by the time dawn arrived, they wouldn't be able to escape.
Qiu Zongxi nodded in agreement. He walked towards the city walls with Old Man Tie. The Stone Village also had personal guards of General Yang, and although their numbers wouldn't exceed two hundred, they were all skilled and brave warriors.
If these two hundred guards arrived and formed a pincer movement with Old Man Tie and his men, even though the barbarians still numbered over fifteen hundred, their combined forces would only be about five hundred.
On one side were the terrified barbarians, who had endured a night of freezing cold and fighting. On the other side were General Yang and Old Man Tie, with their troops ready for battle. The outcome of such a confrontation was still uncertain.
In the darkest hour before dawn, looking at the scattered barbarian forces outside the city walls, Qiu Zongxi turned his gaze towards Linzhou Prefecture. "I wonder if Xiao Yu arrived in time."
Old Man Tie, standing beside him, fell silent, his gaze distant and grave.
...
On the other side, thirty li from Linzhou Prefecture towards Xiangwu County, lay Aozi Pass. This mountain pass was narrow and winding, stretching for three to four li.
Aozi Pass was flanked by towering mountain walls. Snow had accumulated during winter, and the cold wind made the place so frigid it could send shivers down one's spine.
It was said that years ago, a merchant caravan, hindered by a snowstorm in the middle of the night, had no choice but to camp at Aozi Pass. That night, a heavy snowfall occurred, and by the next morning, eighteen people had frozen to death.
Since then, anyone traveling between Linzhou Prefecture and Xiangwu County avoided Aozi Pass at night during winter. The biting wind could easily blow people off their horses, and the cold was so severe it could kill a person even by a campfire.
"Young Master Xu, you and Old Fifth go immediately!" In the darkness, the howling wind carried traces of blood. Whether it was from killing too many people, causing his wrist to lose strength, or from the constant cold that stiffened his limbs, the seven or eight remaining men, leaning against the stone walls for support, were barely holding on. If this last bit of strength failed, they would likely lose the ability to even grip their swords.
Yang Xu wiped the blood splattered on his face. His dark complexion was numb. Listening to the whistling wind, he seemed to hear the sound of long swords piercing into bodies.
He stiffly turned his head to look beside him. Out of the twenty people who had set out, more than half were now dead. Including himself, only eight remained alive.
Especially thinking of the three who had used their bodies to block the enemy's sharp blades to save him, Yang Xu believed his heart had become numb, but the memory still brought a tearing pain.
"Young Master Xu, you did nothing wrong. Xiangwu County is besieged, and we must rush back to rescue them." Lin Jiang, the leader, patted Yang Xu's shoulder forcefully. His right hand held a blood-stained long sword, while his left arm hung limply, its tendons injured. Even without seeing a doctor, Lin Jiang knew this arm was crippled.
"I..." Yang Xu opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. In the face of death, any words seemed too pale.
Upon receiving the news that Xiangwu County was besieged by three thousand barbarian enemy troops, Yang Xu's first reaction was to rush back for reinforcements. But Brother Lin had said it might be a trap.
However, Yang Xu thought, what if it was true, even if it was a trick?
Xiangwu County was besieged, and the message couldn't be sent out. Once the city was breached, all the civilians in Xiangwu County would be slaughtered by the barbarians. Therefore, Yang Xu had no choice.
They had also sent a signal before leaving the farmstead where they were temporarily staying. Unfortunately, no signal was received until they reached Aozi Pass. Yang Xu and the others knew that Xiangwu County was indeed besieged, and the enemy had set up a deadly trap at Aozi Pass.
Thirteen of the twenty men had died in the bloody battle. Yang Xu looked into the pitch-black night, unsure of how many more enemies lay ahead, but he knew they were still closing in. It was only because of Aozi Pass's treacherous terrain that they had managed to delay the enemy. "Old Fifth, you take Young Master Xu and climb up the right mountain wall. We'll cover your retreat." Lin Jiang straightened his body, preparing for battle once more.
Whether it was the path ahead or the path behind, there were likely enemy ambushes. Thus, the only options were up or down. But in the darkness, with the treacherous mountain terrain, going down the mountain wall was too dangerous. Therefore, they could only choose to climb upwards. As long as they escaped the enemy's encirclement, Young Master Xu would be safe.
"Yes." Old Fifth was not tall and appeared thin, but he was the most agile among the remaining seven, and also the least injured.
Looking at the unmoving Yang Xu, Old Fifth grabbed Yang Xu's arm and said in a hoarse voice, "Young Master Xu, don't let your brothers die with regrets!"
They might die at Aozi Pass tonight, but as long as Young Master Xu was safe, their deaths would be meaningful!
His throat felt as if it were choked with cotton. Yang Xu's lips trembled twice. He tightly gripped the sword in his hand and said, "Let's go!"
Darkness was the best cover, and the enemy dared not act rashly, which gave Yang Xu an opportunity to leave.
"Wait!"
Just as Yang Xu was about to climb the mountain wall with Old Fifth, the howling wind carried the sound of clashing swords and blades. Yang Xu leaped down from the half-meter-high rock. "Brother Lin, is that reinforcements arriving?"
The sound of fighting came from ahead of Aozi Pass. About ten li further past Aozi Pass was Xiangwu County.
After listening carefully, Lin Jiang said hesitantly, "It might also be a trap by the enemy, trying to lure us over."
Dawn was approaching. Once it was light, Yang Xu and the others would be able to see the path clearly, making it easier to shake off the intercepting enemies. Similarly, once dawn broke, if Xiangwu County was not breached by the barbarians, the Yang family's reinforcements might also arrive to provide support.
Therefore, at this moment, Lin Jiang and his men were fighting and retreating, using the darkness and terrain to delay. Thus, even upon hearing the sounds of battle, no one could be sure whether it was friend or foe.
As Lin Jiang and the others hesitated, a wolf howl echoed. Yang Xu, after his initial shock, exclaimed, "It's Brother Qiu! This is Brother Qiu's wolf howl; he taught me before!"
Upon hearing the name Qiu, Lin Jiang immediately thought of the solitary fisherman, Qiu Zongxi. Years ago, when the General's Mansion was accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, the old general and the general were almost exiled to the barren borderlands. It was Mr. Qiu who, using his past life-saving grace towards the Emperor, had settled the old general and his men in Stone Village.
And over the years, it was due to Mr. Qiu's overt protection, and the Yang family's old subordinates lying low in the shadows, that the safety of Old General Yang and Yang Shouchang was ensured, allowing them to live in peace for eight or nine years.
"We'll fight our way over!" Lin Jiang said sternly. Letting Old Fifth take Young Master Xu away was a last resort. If there were still enemies ambushing in the mountains, then Young Master Xu would be in danger.
Now that Qiu Jinyu had brought reinforcements, Lin Jiang changed his strategy. He decided to lead Yang Xu and the others to charge forward, creating a pincer attack from front and back.
In the darkness, besides the sound of the wind, there was the sound of swords clashing. In this life-or-death struggle, no one felt the cold of Aozi Pass, only the continuous swinging of long swords, reaping enemy lives.
"Father, the third branch of the Qiu family has truly gone to great lengths to align themselves with the Yang family this time." On a nearby hillside, although the darkness obscured the battle at Aozi Pass, the sounds indicated the intensity of the fighting.
The wind howled, and battle robes fluttered. In the darkness, Zhu Xiao, the heir of the Zhenbian Marquis, spoke coldly.
...
The sounds of fighting came from ahead of Aozi Pass. About ten li further past Aozi Pass was Xiangwu County.
After listening carefully, Lin Jiang said hesitantly, "It might also be a trap by the enemy, trying to lure us over."
Dawn was approaching. Once it was light, Yang Xu and the others would be able to see the path clearly, making it easier to shake off the intercepting enemies. Similarly, once dawn broke, if Xiangwu County was not breached by the barbarians, the Yang family's reinforcements might also arrive to provide support.
Therefore, at this moment, Lin Jiang and his men were fighting and retreating, using the darkness and terrain to delay. Thus, even upon hearing the sounds of battle, no one could be sure whether it was friend or foe.
As Lin Jiang and the others hesitated, a wolf howl echoed. Yang Xu, after his initial shock, exclaimed, "It's Brother Qiu! This is Brother Qiu's wolf howl; he taught me before!"
Upon hearing the name Qiu, Lin Jiang immediately thought of the solitary fisherman, Qiu Zongxi. Years ago, when the General's Mansion was accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, the old general and the general were almost exiled to the barren borderlands. It was Mr. Qiu who, using his past life-saving grace towards the Emperor, had settled the old general and his men in Stone Village.
And over the years, it was due to Mr. Qiu's overt protection, and the Yang family's old subordinates lying low in the shadows, that the safety of Old General Yang and Yang Shouchang was ensured, allowing them to live in peace for eight or nine years.
"We'll fight our way over!" Lin Jiang said sternly. Letting Old Fifth take Young Master Xu away was a last resort. If there were still enemies ambushing in the mountains, then Young Master Xu would be in danger.
Now that Qiu Jinyu had brought reinforcements, Lin Jiang changed his strategy. He decided to lead Yang Xu and the others to charge forward, creating a pincer attack from front and back.
In the darkness, besides the sound of the wind, there was the sound of swords clashing. In this life-or-death struggle, no one felt the cold of Aozi Pass, only the continuous swinging of long swords, reaping enemy lives.
"Father, the third branch of the Qiu family has truly gone to great lengths to align themselves with the Yang family this time." On a nearby hillside, although the darkness obscured the battle at Aozi Pass, the sounds indicated the intensity of the fighting.
The wind howled.
...