Chapter 1 He's Really Showing Off

Call it flamboyant if you want, but A'Ming was too lazy to argue. He simply felt that Zheng Fan's sudden fall from his horse was a bit too convenient.

Fortunately, it was night, and the Qiang cavalry were in a hurry, so they didn't bother to check if he was dead or finish him off.

In the eyes of the Qiang cavalry, the two of them looked like lazy fellows returning home after a night of drinking.

Another thing to be thankful for was that Zheng Fan and A'Ming were riding horses from the transport team because they were transporting heads that day.

There are many types of horses, but warhorses are undoubtedly the most expensive consumable. To put it coldly, a warhorse's life is much more valuable than that of an ordinary commoner.

Therefore, it didn't matter if the horses used for transporting goods were used to pull goods and carry people, but it was too much to expect them to be used for charging into battle.

Zheng Fan was indeed lucky today, dodging two waves of murderous intent in a row. Even the old cart horse he rode home was corroborating his identity.

If he had ridden the mighty warhorse of Cui Liu Stronghold, he would not have escaped the eyes of these Qiang cavalry.

"They went to Xinghua Stronghold," A'Ming said.

This trick of shifting the blame was quite clever.

"I don't know if they'll really fight," Zheng Fan joked as he remounted his horse. "Anyway, let's get back quickly."

The Qiang people had suddenly become bold. This Qiang cavalry might only have two or three hundred riders on the surface, but Zheng Fan felt that since they dared to ask where Cui Liu Stronghold was, they must have at least a thousand riders hidden in the shadows, or even more.

Right now, the priority was to return to the stronghold and prepare for defense.

Of course, Zheng Fan would be happy if this Qiang cavalry could help him wipe out Xinghua Stronghold.

Comrades are comrades, and they are all Yan soldiers, but Zheng Fan didn't have much of a sense of prioritizing the big picture.

"Lord, should we go back to the stronghold to mobilize troops?" A'Ming asked.

"Mobilize what troops? Let this Qiang army make a fuss. It's not far from our Cui Liu Stronghold. If they can help us pull out a few strongholds, I don't mind being a scrap collector after dawn tomorrow, collecting the stragglers. Every little bit helps."

A'Ming laughed.

Zheng Fan also laughed, but he immediately whipped the horse's rump. The old horse under him immediately burst out with a burst of equine passion,

And began to gallop for its life.

"Hurry back, and don't get stopped again for directions!"

………

Xinghua Stronghold was in a good location, situated in what used to be the rural fields, with a river behind the stronghold.

Logically speaking, building a military stronghold in such a location was very unreasonable. From a defensive point of view, it was like trapping oneself.

But the pride of the Yan people made them not care much about this. At the same time, the Qiang people's retreat since the start of the war had also fueled this arrogance.

In fact, the most important point was that the Qiang's three border armies had been neglected for a long time. Similarly, before the war, the Yan's Silver Wave County border defense system had long been in name only.

When Zheng Fan led his troops to take office, the first thing he had to do was dig holes and pitch tents.

As a result, when the various garrison commanders and their troops who were stuffed in from other counties later built military strongholds, it was like cramming ducks, with one here and one there, uneven and disorganized.

Those who knew would think it was a cluster of military strongholds with many warlords and a grand scale;

Those who didn't know would think it was a gathering of bandits and mountain kings from all over the place, holding a martial arts conference.

Zhong Tianlang was the youngest son of Zhong Wendao. The old marshal had a son in his old age, so he naturally valued him extremely, which inevitably added a touch of arrogance to Zhong Tianlang.

However, before the real battle, Zhong Tianlang would not have the slightest slackness or carelessness.

He took two personal soldiers and scouted near Xinghua Stronghold.

"This military stronghold……"

Zhong Tianlang had already inherited a lot of the Zhong family's military strategy, otherwise, no matter how much Zhong Wendao loved this youngest son, he would not have allowed him to lead the elite cavalry of the Western Army to fool around.

You know, the Western Army and the Qiang army have a common problem: few warhorses, and naturally few cavalry. Every cavalryman is a treasure.

The Xinghua Stronghold in front of him, in terms of the stronghold's defenses, could be said to be quite……rough.

This was simply unbelievable in the eyes of the Western Army.

The Western Army was initially established to deal with the incursions from the Northwest Qiang in the Qiang Kingdom, and later also took on the task of dealing with the rebellions of the southwestern chieftains.

These two opponents had one characteristic: they were like the wind in their respective territories, extremely good at harassment.

Therefore, the Western Army's camp construction has its own traditions.

Now, under the city of Mianzhou, the 150,000 Western Army's four-sided camp, with chevaux-de-frise, chariot walls, moats, arrow towers, etc., is well-organized. Combined with the distance and troop deployment of the various camps, Zhong Wendao, who is in the center, dares to use this camp to not fear the trampling of 200,000 Yan iron cavalry.

But in Zhong Tianlang's view, the Yan people's camp really seemed like children playing house, too casual.

Although the enemy's laxity is a good thing for one's own side, Zhong Tianlang didn't actually have much happy emotions in his heart. The reason why the enemy is so lax is not because the pressure that one's own side has given here before is too small too small?

Taking a deep breath,

Then today he will tell these Yan people who are rampant to the extreme,

Da Qiang,

Also has sons who dare to go north!

There was no need to look any further, and there was no need to make any more plans. There were too many loopholes in the opponent's defenses. This camp was simply a sieve.

Facing a sieve, you don't need to think too much about anything, just crush it directly. This time he went north, he had 1,000 cavalry from his own personal battalion, plus 1,000 cavalry that he asked his uncles to support him with, and before he set off, his old man allocated another 1,000 elite cavalry to him.

Three thousand cavalry. If he couldn't even crush this military stronghold, then Zhong Tianlang might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself!

Perhaps the people in this stronghold never thought that one day, the Qiang army would dare to go north and launch an attack on them.

Zhong Tianlang shook his head,

And said softly:

"I originally thought you were a character, but I didn't expect you to be nothing more than a conceited barbarian. You really disappointed me, Zheng Fan."

………

In the Yan army, only the personal battalions of the garrison commanders could hang their own flags, which were commonly based on surnames.

Therefore, only the Great Yan Black Dragon Flag was hung above Xinghua Stronghold, and no "Deng" flag was hung.

At the gate of Xinghua Stronghold, there was a small wooden sign with the three characters "Xinghua Stronghold" written on it, but after months of wind and rain, it had long been blurred and no one had repainted it.

And ever since he returned during the day,

Deng Ziliang had entered his tent and had not come out.

He didn't drink alcohol. Deng Ziliang didn't like drinking alcohol, which was considered an anomaly in the military.

However, even though Deng Ziliang didn't drink himself, he couldn't stop his subordinates from drinking either. It was true that the Jingnan Army had strict discipline, but these military leaders didn't have too many disciplinary restrictions.

With a belly full of anger, Deng Ziliang sat in front of the charcoal basin with a military book in his hand. Perhaps because they knew that their adjutant general had returned with anger today, the soldiers in Xinghua Stronghold deliberately moved a little further away from the big tent when they received their wine and didn't dare to make as much noise as usual.

There was wine, but the amount allocated to each person was not enough to make them drunk. It was just a token gesture. However, they could eat as much meat as they wanted.

This was the tradition of Xinghua Stronghold. The day after every victory was a day for the whole army to celebrate.

The way to govern an army lies in this. You have to be good to the soldiers, and the soldiers will be willing to die for you on the battlefield.

He couldn't read the military book any longer.

Deng Ziliang threw the military book in his hand aside and reached out to rub his brow.

At this moment, the tent was opened and a big man walked in.

"Young Lord, is something on your mind?"

Being able to call Deng Ziliang Young Lord proved that this big man was also from the Deng family, a member of the family.

Deng Ziliang shook his head. He was too lazy to repeat the matter at the Garrison Commander's Mansion during the day, but he planned to write a letter tonight to pass the matter back to his family.

The family would have to make the decision on how to deal with it.

"Tell them to keep the banquet moderate."

"Young Lord, don't worry, I've already patrolled once before. Those kids know what's what."

"Mm."

Deng Ziliang nodded and reached out to take his teacup from the side, but suddenly realized that the water in the cup was rippling.

Following that,

There was also the thunderous sound of horses' hooves!

Deng Ziliang immediately stood up,

Although Zheng Fan didn't believe in the saying "arch-enemy for life",

At this moment, Deng Ziliang's reaction was exactly the same as Zheng Fan's when he was robbed for directions:

"How, how dare he!"

Deng Ziliang's first reaction was: Could it really be that idiot Zheng Fan!

At this moment, the big man opened the tent and saw that on the east side of the camp, dozens of knights had already thrown out grappling hooks, hooked them onto the fence, and then began to accelerate to both sides.

The fence, which wasn't buried very deep in the ground, was directly pulled down,

Immediately afterward, the cavalry behind them charged in without the slightest hesitation!

The military stronghold was in chaos for a time.

"Young Lord, enemy attack!"

But Deng Ziliang had already pushed him away. He hadn't removed his armor in the first place, and directly went out with his bow in hand.

The next moment,

He drew his bow and shot an arrow. In front of him, a Qiang knight was directly shot in the face and fell off his horse.

Deng Ziliang had no joy and directly shouted to the big man beside him:

"Pass down the order, each unit break out on their own!"

Deng Ziliang didn't order the troops to gather. It was impossible to gather any troops at this time. In any night raid, once the other side gets the upper hand, it is often difficult for the attacked side to reorganize into an organized formation. It was better to just break out and fight their own battles.

The battle of cavalry is not about the gains and losses of a city or a place. As long as they can regroup their troops and kill their way back!

At this moment, a cavalryman rushed out from behind the big tent, the long spear in his hand directly stabbing at Deng Ziliang.

Deng Ziliang took two steps back, dodging this quick strike, and then quickly drew his bow and shot an arrow at the knight's back.

Qi and blood were poured into the arrow, and its force was extremely terrifying, directly piercing the opponent's armor. The knight fell off his horse.

Deng Ziliang stepped forward quickly, glanced at the armor on the other party's body, and frowned slightly,

Not Yan army armor,

This is……

Qiang people!

"Heh!"

These Qiang people actually dared to go north?

And even sneak into his home?

Deng Ziliang's heart was filled with anger. He had originally thought that it was Zheng Fan of Cui Liu Stronghold who had launched a night raid on him. That guy who even dared to depose a prince didn't seem to be strange to do such a thing.

But it wasn't him.

Deng Ziliang drew his bow again and shot dead three Qiang knights in a row. For a time, the area near his big tent was empty. However, just as Deng Ziliang was planning to lead his horse to other parts of the military stronghold to summon his subordinates, suddenly, more than ten cavalrymen rushed over.

This Qiang cavalry is not simple!

In any night raid, it is not only the attacked side that is flustered, but also the attacking side. He had just continuously shot and killed Qiang cavalry near the big tent. In theory, the other Qiang cavalry nearby could not have failed to notice. Ordinary soldiers would probably not dare to approach here again in this situation, especially in the dark.

The night is the coward's best camouflage.

However, these Qiang cavalry stubbornly rushed over again.

Ten riders charged together. Even Deng Ziliang, who thought highly of himself, did not dare to stand still and take them head-on, and had to turn around and run backward. Before the Qiang cavalry's long spears could stab him, he burrowed into his big tent.

More than ten Qiang cavalry did not rush in, but instead threw the torches in their hands towards the big tent.

"Swish! Swish!"

Unexpectedly, after waiting only for the fire to gradually rise, two more arrows shot out from inside the tent, hitting two Qiang cavalry.

The remaining cavalrymen dared not wait any longer and directly forced their warhorses to rush into the military tent.

"Boom!"

The big tent directly collapsed.

Deng Ziliang, who had already changed his hard bow for a long saber, lunged forward, like a dragon emerging from the sea, directly leaping onto a Qiang cavalryman's horse, cutting downwards with his saber, cutting into the other party's neck, and then pushing him off his horse with his palm.

Killing and seizing a horse, all in one go.

However, before Deng Ziliang could remount his warhorse, two broadswords slashed over directly. Deng Ziliang leaned his upper body back directly, barely dodging the two broadswords, while his own broadsword slammed hard against the horse's rump, and the warhorse under him, in a burst of pain, darted forward.

Deng Ziliang then stood up again, holding the saber in his right hand and grabbing the reins with his left.

The remaining Qiang cavalry immediately chased after him. Whether it was the red armor on Deng Ziliang's body or the martial arts he had displayed before, they were all telling them that this was a big fish!

Most likely, this was the person that their general wanted to kill on this trip north!

The Qiang cavalry behind him were biting too fiercely, and Deng Ziliang had no time to summon his subordinates. Moreover, there were Qiang cavalry everywhere within the military stronghold.

Damn it, what medicine did these Qiang people take? They actually dared to make such a big move to launch a sneak attack!

In front of him, a cavalry force suddenly charged out, led by a captain under Deng Ziliang.

The two sides immediately separated, and this cavalry force directly helped Deng Ziliang block the Qiang cavalry chasing behind him.

Only then did Deng Ziliang get a chance to catch his breath and began to scan the military stronghold. However, before Deng Ziliang could see the situation clearly and issue orders, a silver-armored general suddenly charged out from the military stronghold in front of him.

This was a night raid, this was chaos. It was not uncommon for enemies to charge out from anywhere or to meet friendly troops anywhere.

Deng Ziliang did not hesitate at all, and did not even plan to take the silver-armored general's long spear head-on, but instead galloped forward while shouting:

"Withdraw!"

The situation was already irreparable. At this time, the natural thing to do was to withdraw as many troops as possible. If the troops were scattered, they could be regrouped tomorrow. If they were all wiped out, there would be nothing left!

The Yan people were fierce, and their horsemanship was indeed first-class, but the problem was that these warlords, including Deng Ziliang, were actually more like warlords.

They were more concerned with how to preserve and develop their own strength than with using the lives of their subordinates for meaningless consumption.

At this time, if the troops stationed here were the Northern Garrison Army or the Jingnan Army, this situation would definitely not have occurred.

In fact, before Deng Ziliang issued the order to retreat, many of Deng Ziliang's subordinates had already seized their horses and began to rush out in the face of this night raid.

Of course, there were also many who did not have time to find their warhorses or even put on their armor and were cut down by the Qiang cavalry who charged in.

When Zhong Tianlang saw that the red-armored general completely ignored him and even took the initiative to gallop towards the outside of the camp, he was both angry and amused,

This Zheng Fan,

Is that all the courage he has!

Zhong Tianlang did not plan to let "Zheng Fan" go and continued to pursue him on horseback.

The horse under him was originally a Northern Qiang divine steed, while Deng Ziliang was just riding a warhorse that he had just seized, so in the short pursuit after the two generals charged out of the camp, the distance between the two sides had rapidly narrowed!

Suddenly, a team of Qiang cavalry rushed out of the forest in front of them!

Deng Ziliang was immediately shocked,

The Qiang commander had actually set up an ambush on the west side. The Qiang soldiers had launched a camp-breaking charge from the east side earlier, and most of the Yan cavalry who wanted to escape naturally went to the west side, which just happened to fall into the Qiang people's pocket!

Deng Ziliang immediately reined in his horse, and turned his horse around.

The silver-armored general behind him had already charged over, with a long spear in his hand, as if transformed into a dragon.

Deng Ziliang waved his broadsword, but who would have thought that the long spear contained an extremely fierce force.

"Clang!"

Deng Ziliang's tiger's mouth ached, but he still gripped the hilt tightly, but the upper half of the broadsword actually broke off directly.

Damn it!

The long spear thrust forward like a hot knife through butter,

Deng Ziliang leaned his body forward, barely dodging the spear thrust, but the silver-armored general shook his wrist, and the spear shaft suddenly slapped horizontally!

"Bang!"

Deng Ziliang was hit and was knocked off his warhorse.

At this moment, the surrounding Qiang cavalry swarmed over, tightly surrounding him.

They wanted to capture him alive!

A battle can be lost!

But as a member of the Three Stones Deng family, how could he tolerate being captured alive and disgrace the family?

Immediately, he held the broken saber in front of his neck and shouted:

"Qiang dogs, when my Great Yan Iron Cavalry truly goes south, I'll wait for you to come down and accompany me!"

After saying that,

He cut the broken saber into his neck, and blood spurted out.

The surrounding Qiang cavalry retreated, and the silver-armored general rode closer.

At this time, Deng Ziliang glared at him, he could feel that his blood was gurgling out and his vitality was constantly disappearing.

He was unwilling, he hated it,

His life had only just begun!

He had caught up with this national war, which was the time to ride the east wind in a chaotic world, but he had to commit suicide here!

The silver-armored general took off his helmet, revealing a face that seemed not to have completely shed its childishness, and looked at Deng Ziliang, who had already committed suicide and was about to die,

And said:

"This point, at least, hasn't disappointed me too much. You still have some backbone after all, Zheng Fan."

"…………" Deng Ziliang!!!