Chapter 126: Vengeance

Liang He swept in with his forces.

"Break through the Tang army's right flank!" Liang He pointed his long blade, signaling a pincer movement.

He sneered, "After this battle, Chenzhou will be ours."

He dared not dream of completely crushing the Chenzhou army, but he was certain he could carve a massive chunk of flesh out of Liu Qing today. How could a battered and weary Chenzhou stand against them? Once the field was theirs, all those villages and crops would fall—even the city itself would be within reach!

*As one wanes, the other waxes.*

The phrase crossed his mind; he had heard it was a Tang concept. That Tang Empire was too soft, and he despised it. And what he despised, he would shatter.

"Kill!"

The Tang right flank took a heavy blow, the entire formation shuddering under the impact.

"Governor!" Du Hui knew the critical moment had arrived. With an ashen face, he said, "I am going in!"

Liu Qing nodded. "Go."

Du Hui charged forward with his men. The sounds of battle roared from both flanks. Xie Ru ran behind Du Hui, shouting, "Magistrate, Yang Xuan still hasn't arrived!"

Du Hui’s face was grim. "Focus on the enemy for now!"

The right flank was locked in fierce combat.

"My son is truly formidable!" Liang Chao smiled. "Prepare."

He kept several hundred cavalry in reserve, sensing that the decisive moment had arrived. His eyes were fixed on Liu Qing.

Suddenly, a gap tore open in the right flank. Someone screamed, "Governor!"

"Stop wailing!" Liu Qing’s roar shook the battlefield. "I am coming!"

As Liu Qing drew his blade, his men grabbed him. "Governor, you must not!"

Liu Qing cursed, "Let go!"

The official holding him cried, "You are the commander-in-chief, a civil official!"

"Get lost!"

Liu Qing broke free and lumbered forward, still cursing. "A civil official? The Tang has never lacked civil officials who can kill!"

He raised his blade high. "Soldiers, follow me—kill the enemy!"

"Victory!"

The remaining reserves followed Liu Qing as he lunged toward the right flank.

"The time has come." Liang Chao nodded. A minor chieftain dismounted and shouted, "Attack!"

The final reserve force charged. Liang Chao smiled, "It is done!"

Lu Jiao was hacking away, exhausted to the point of collapse. He shouted, "Where is the Taiping Army? Governor, where is the Taiping Army?"

Liu Qing, panting while gripping his blade, looked up with weary eyes. *Have I… have I made a mistake?*

Suddenly, someone in the ranks shouted, "Look!"

Liu Qing looked up, rubbed his eyes, and rubbed them again. A black line appeared in the distance.

"That is..."

Hundreds of cavalry were galloping toward them at breakneck speed.

"Raise the banner!"

The flag bearer was a sturdy man, but the wind was too strong, making it difficult to hoist.

"Second Brother!" Yang Xuan shouted.

"Give it to me!" Wang Lao’er grabbed the flagpole with one hand and hoisted it high with all his might!

"It’s the Taiping Army!" someone cheered. "Reinforcements are here!"

Liu Qing panted, cursing, "That little brat, that dog-brained little brat! I wondered where he had gone—he was waiting for the enemy to commit their final reserves before showing himself! Damn him! Hahahaha!"

Du Hui turned abruptly, staring blankly at the great banner. Under it, Yang Xuan raised his blade. Behind him, over two hundred Taiping cavalry had already formed their ranks. Further back, the infantry were sprinting forward.

Liang Chao’s expression shifted. He had kept his cavalry in reserve as a contingency. When Liu Qing joined the fray, Liang Chao believed the Tang army was on the brink of collapse and had decisively deployed his reserves for the final strike. Given the tight defensive formation, a mounted charge was impossible—his men lacked the ferocity of the Northern Liao iron cavalry. Thus, he had ordered them to dismount and fight as infantry.

His men were currently locked in combat at the front.

But!

Damn it! The Tang cavalry had arrived, ready to strike him from behind!

Liang Chao hesitated for a heartbeat, fearing that if his men retreated, the Tang would seize the opportunity to counterattack, pinning them between two fronts and leading to a crushing defeat. But a second later, he knew that unless he could single-handedly hold off the Tang cavalry, retreat was his only path.

"Fall back!"

Liu Qing raised his blade high, his roar echoing across the field.

"Just two years ago!"

"Over a hundred of our Chenzhou people went out to reclaim wasteland!"

"The villain Liang Chao set his sights on them."

"They plundered everything the people had, and no one sought justice."

"Yet, they cruelly slaughtered those people."

"If it were just the soldiers, so be it!"

"But what sin did the common folk commit?"

"What sin did they commit!"

Liu Qing roared, "What can I do? What can the Tang do?"

"Revenge!"

He was the first to charge out.

"Revenge!"

Revenge was a gene carved into the marrow of the Central Plains people. Years ago, when foreign tribes took advantage of the Chen state’s decline to invade, they slaughtered three cities, leaving not a single living soul. At the time, the warlords of the Central Plains were embroiled in internal strife, but when the news arrived, the wars miraculously ceased. All factions paused, sent envoys to deliberate, and soon, a motley coalition emerged.

This coalition plunged into the enemy’s territory, destroying five cities in half a month, leaving nothing in their wake. The foreign tribes were enraged and gave chase, sending their light cavalry ahead, assuming the coalition would scatter. Instead, the coalition waited silently at a vital pass.

That battle turned the rivers red with blood. Not a single soldier retreated. As wave after wave of enemy reinforcements arrived, the coalition soldiers stood in rags, starving and emaciated, yet their hollow eyes burned with fire—like wildfires, no, like the flames of wrath!

Only when the last soldier fell did the battle end. The enemy commander approached a dying soldier and asked, "Why fight to the death and not retreat?"

The soldier smiled grimly. "To let you know: the people of the Central Plains pay blood with blood and teeth with teeth!"

The commander asked again, "Since you had your revenge, why not flee?"

The light faded from the soldier’s eyes. "We agreed... rather than go home and kill each other... it is better to... to strike terror... into the hearts of the foreigners... here on their own soil!"

From that day on, no foreign tribe dared to massacre a city in the Central Plains.

Today, Liu Qing raised his blade and shouted the cry once more. Everyone fought with desperate courage. Du Hui ran like a madman, hacking at every enemy he reached; the gloomy, reticent man was nowhere to be found. Even Lu Jiao panted as he followed, finishing off any wounded enemy in his path. Everyone—even the cooks—wielded blades and charged.

"Revenge!"

Yang Xuan and his two hundred riders slammed into the fray. The bandits who had just remounted were scattered by the impact. Liang Chao, with a few dozen riders, struggled to move through the chaotic sea of men.

"Gather up!" he shouted.

"Liang Chao is there!" someone pointed and yelled.

Liu Qing roared, "Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

The crowd ignored all tactics and surged forward in a frenzy.

"Run!"

Liang Chao was swept along by the rout, unable to control his direction.

"Father!"

Liang Chao looked up and saw Liang He. He shouted in anger, "Why did you come back? Run!"

The battlefield was in total disarray, slowing Liang He’s rescue attempt. He watched in despair as the Tang army closed in on his father.

"Go!"

Liang Chao, who had been fleeing, turned back without hesitation, leading his dozen loyalists against the tide.

"Son, go quickly!"

Liang Chao dismounted, his blade swinging wildly against both fleeing bandits and Tang soldiers alike. He panted, shielding the retreat. His life flashed before his eyes. He was a Tang man. His father had committed crimes in the Tang and fled to the grasslands to seek foreign protection. They had served the Washe tribe, constantly raiding Chenzhou. Then, power shifted in the Washe tribe, and Huazhuo took control. Life had become harder, but he still had over three thousand riders—enough to roam for a time. But after today... no, there was still his son!

Liang Chao felt a weight lift from his heart.

"Father, mount up!" Liang He’s voice came from behind.

Liang Chao’s expression changed. "Unfilial son! Unfilial son!"

Liang He hauled him onto the horse.

"Unfilial son, why didn't you go?" Liang Chao roared.

Liang He deflected an arrow for him, panting, "I couldn't leave you behind, Father!"

In an instant, Liang Chao was bathed in tears. He choked out, "Go. Father will lead you through the breakout."

He turned to charge with his son. Ahead, a great banner fluttered. Under it, Yang Xuan said calmly, "Encircle them!"

Liang Chao and his son, with their hundred riders, pushed and shoved, but the area was already sealed tight. Seeing his men dwindling, Liang Chao smiled bitterly, "My son, today I have failed you."

He did not fear death, so long as his son was safe. Liang Chao dismounted, knelt, and shouted, "I am willing to surrender! I am willing to be torn to pieces, just spare my son!"

Liang He cried, "Father, get on the horse! Let’s break out!"

Liang Chao did not answer, staring only at Yang Xuan. "I could have defeated the Chenzhou army today. I considered that Liu Qing might have a trick, but his forces were on the verge of collapse, and no reinforcements appeared, so I committed my reserves. I never imagined you could be so patient—holding back until I had committed everything."

"Who are you?" Liang Chao asked. He believed his command had been flawless; he simply hadn't been as patient as this man.

"Magistrate of Taiping County, Yang Xuan!"

Yang Xuan dismounted and walked toward the scowling Liu Qing, saying casually, "Finish them."

"No!" Liang Chao shouted. "I am willing to be your slave!"

Nan He raised his hand. The archers drew their bows.

"Son!" Liang Chao shielded the dismounted Liang He, spreading his arms wide.

A rain of arrows poured down.

"Father!"

Nan He raised his hand again. The archers drew their bows.

"Fire!"

The volley of arrows engulfed the father and son as they clung to each other. The warhorse let out a soft whinny, bowing its head to lick the pair as large, heavy tears fell.

Ahead, Liu Qing kept a cold face and reached out. "Give me my blade!"

*You already have your blade, sir?* The men thought the Governor was senile, but they handed it over anyway.

Liu Qing cursed, "I said the scabbard!"

His aide rolled his eyes, detached the scabbard, and handed it over. Yang Xuan happened to arrive, bowing with a grin. Liu Qing took the scabbard and struck Yang Xuan across the shoulder with it.

The familiar roar once again echoed over the battlefield.

"You incorrigible brat!"