Xiahou Lan didn't have time to think; he spurred his horse forward. Just then, a squad of swordsmen charged out from the camp, blocking his path.
The leader, a man eight feet tall with a face like a xiezhi, was powerfully built. He stepped forward to block Xiahou Lan's path and roared, "Little thief, quickly accept death!"
Seeing that the man was merely a squad leader in the army yet dared to speak so arrogantly, Xiahou Lan couldn't help but feel anger surge. Without a word, he thrust his spear forward.
Seeing this, the man raised his saber to meet the attack.
Xiahou Lan had expected to pierce him under his horse with a single thrust, but to his surprise, the man parried it with his saber. With this single strike, Xiahou Lan felt his arms go numb and couldn't help but be secretly startled.
This man actually possessed such strength! Could it be that even the Soldiers in Zhang Chen's army were this valiant?
How could I be an enemy of such a person!
Perhaps, Zhang Chen is the wise Lord I am seeking? But now we are opposed; there's no way. I can't stay in Ji Province; I can only leave first and seek refuge elsewhere.
Zhang Yan, you have truly misled me!
At this moment, Ju Shou was ordering the Soldiers to repel the enemy.
These cavalrymen clearly lacked Xiahou Lan's skill. One by one, they couldn't even charge through the camp gate and were shot down by archers and crossbowmen. A few who managed to reach the front of the camp were also impaled by spearmen who were waiting behind the palisades.
In just a moment, more than half of the five thousand cavalrymen had been lost!
Ju Shou had originally held no hope of stopping Xiahou Lan, but looking back, he was surprised to find that he was being held up by a squad of Soldiers, and a squad leader at the forefront was actually fighting him to a standstill!
Who is that man? When did the army get such a fierce person?!
Ju Shou was overjoyed. That squad leader, and the spearmen from earlier, were clearly skilled in martial arts and possessed the talent of Generals!
Having gained these two Generals today, even if Xiahou Lan escapes, the Lord will definitely not blame me.
Just as Ju Shou was in good spirits, a series of rapidly approaching hoofbeats reached his ears.
Ju Shou's expression changed, and he quickly turned to look. He saw a dense mass of troops approaching in the distance, kicking up countless clouds of dust.
Not good! The Black Mountain Army's main force has arrived! From the looks of it, there are at least twenty to thirty thousand of them!
What's going on? Did Zhang Yan really not break out through the West Gate, but instead sent his entire army charging towards me?
Thinking of this, Ju Shou's face instantly turned ashen.
It seems we will have to fight a tough battle!
Just then, Xiahou Lan's spear sent two Soldiers flying. Using his old trick, he feigned an attack, reined in his horse, and galloped towards the camp gate.
Xiahou Lan finally broke through the camp and escaped.
"No need to pursue! Let him go!" Ju Shou shouted loudly, "All troops, be on alert and prepare to face the enemy!"
A sharp glint flashed in Ju Shou's eyes.
Zhang Yan, since you dare to come, today I will show you how formidable we are!
Ju Shou then descended from the camp tower, pointed at the spearman from earlier and the squad leader who had fought Xiahou Lan, and said to his personal guards, "Go and summon these two men."
The personal guards followed the order and brought the two men over shortly.
The two immediately bowed. Ju Shou called them to rise and observed them closely, seeing that they had imposing appearances, unlike ordinary men.
Ju Shou bowed and said, "Both heroes are exceptionally brave. I saw clearly how you fought that enemy General just now. If not for fighting on foot without a horse, you would have already slain him. May I know the names of you two heroes? I will definitely report to the Lord and recommend you for important positions!"
The two seemed to know each other and exchanged a glance. The saber and shield squad leader stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord. My name is Yan Liang, and this is my sworn brother, Wen Chou. We have long admired the Lord Envoy's reputation and wished to follow him and achieve great deeds, but our humble origins left us with no way to recommend ourselves. Therefore, we decided to join the army, hoping that with our martial prowess, we could eventually achieve success on the battlefield!"
"Good! Excellent! Heaven has been kind! To see you two Generals today ensures that your talents will not be buried!"
Ju Shou was overjoyed and added, "Generals, Zhang Yan's army is not far and will arrive in a moment. Are you willing to help me defeat the enemy?"
Yan Liang said, "Please grant me a mount, General, and allow me to go out and defeat the enemy. If I fail, I am willing to accept military law!"
"Good!" Ju Shou was delighted and immediately ordered his personal guards, "Lead my horse over and present it to General Yan!"
Shortly after, the personal guards led the horse over. Yan Liang cupped his fists in salute, mounted the horse with his saber, and galloped towards the camp gate.
At this time, Zhang Yan arrived with his army. Seeing corpses strewn everywhere before the camp and no sign of Xiahou Lan, his heart sank.
Could it be that A'Lan has already met a terrible end?
Didn't they say there were no great Generals in Ju Shou's camp? With A'Lan's martial skill, how could this happen?
Zhang Yan was still hesitating when he suddenly saw a General leap out from the camp on horseback. He saw that the man was powerfully built with an imposing face, but wore the armor of an ordinary Soldier.
The General stood firm on his horse, radiating authority without anger, and shouted, "Yan Liang, Squad Leader of the Swordsmen Camp, is here! Shameless rebels, quickly come and accept death!"
Swordsmen... Squad Leader?
Before Zhang Yan could react, a deputy General beside him burst into laughter and said, "A nameless nobody dares to act wildly before the formation! Wait for your grandfather to capture you!"
With that, the General patted his horse's back and charged forward, bringing his saber down.
Yan Liang sneered. Before the other's saber could fall, his own saber had already shot out, directly piercing him.
The General's face was filled with shock. He stared in disbelief at the long saber embedded in his chest, and the great saber in his hand fell to the ground.
Yan Liang let out a deep roar and lifted his arms, actually lifting the entire man into the air. Then, with a forceful swing, the deputy General was flung into the air and fell to the ground, a bloody mess!
Seeing this, the Black Mountain troops were greatly terrified.
At this time, four more Generals galloped out from the formation and shouted, "This villain killed our comrade! We must have revenge!"
With that, the four charged forward together, wielding their sabers and spears, and attacked Yan Liang. However, after only a few exchanges, all four were cut down from their horses.
Immediately, the army's morale soared.
Zhang Yan was furious. He spurred his horse forward and engaged Yan Liang in battle.
Zhang Yan's saber technique was nimble, like falling flowers and shadows, leaving one overwhelmed. Yan Liang's saber movements, however, were steady and powerful, truly embodying the principle of a single force overcoming ten techniques.
In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but be startled, thinking to himself that Zhang Chen's army was indeed full of hidden talents. A mere minor Soldier actually possessed such skill!
Seeing this, Zhang Yan knew he couldn't prolong the fight; breaking through was paramount. So, he feigned a saber strike, reined in his horse, and returned to the formation, shouting, "Kid, your grandfather won't engage in a brute's fight with you today! How can you, a single man on horseback, withstand my tens of thousands of troops!"
With that, Zhang Yan ordered, "All troops, listen to my command! Charge!"
With a single command, twenty thousand Soldiers charged forward. Ju Shou observed the battle from the camp tower. Fearing for Yan Liang's safety, he quickly ordered the gongs to be sounded, signaling the troops to hold their positions.
The chevaux de frise in front of the camp had been completely destroyed during the previous charge. Now, they could only rely on the strenuous fighting of each camp to resist. Fortunately, the traits 【Overseeing Internal and External Affairs】 and 【Terrifying the Three Armies】 that Ju Shou possessed came into play at this moment. The morale of the three armies' Soldiers was soaring, they fought without fear of death, and fiercely defended the camp.
However, under the influence of Zhang Yan's 【Upper Divine Envoy】 trait, the Black Mountain Army was also like divine aid at this moment, launching wave after wave of fierce attacks, vowing not to retreat.
For a time, the battle entered a white-hot stage.
At this moment, Zhang Yan, seeing this situation from his horse, threw aside the long saber in his hand and took out the twin sabers from his back.
Immediately after, he tapped his toe, and his entire body sprang into the air, executing his peerless light skill. Like a swallow in the air, he flew into the camp.
The twin sabers in his hands were like two flood dragons, swirling in all directions, and the surrounding Soldiers all died under his blades.
Seeing this, Yan Liang and Wen Chou roared and engaged him with their respective weapons, and for a time, they fought to a standstill.
Meanwhile, the main gate of the camp was thrown wide open and was finally breached by the Black Mountain Army, who charged in.
The battle descended into chaos, completely out of control!