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墨書 Inktalez
Qibi Helix led the last remaining Eight Hundred Cavalry into a charge, breaking through the gates of Rugged Camp. Along the way, they encountered a scene of rivers of blood and corpses strewn everywhere; Murong Xiao had long since fled to the northwest with the remnants of his forces.
Despite having experienced countless battles, Qibi Helix was still shaken by the horrific sights within the camp. As he approached the Central Army Tent, he saw a Tang General covered in blood, standing with a sword in hand. The color of his armor was indiscernible, as blood and flesh had congealed upon him, making it a sight that could induce nausea.
Behind him were only four hundred soldiers, each bearing heavy injuries yet standing proudly without faltering. Their faces were grim, and their eyes concealed deep sorrow and anger. Although they had slain countless enemies in this battle, the Brothers of Brave Warrior Camp had lost five to six hundred men. Yet the remaining brothers had no regrets; they had witnessed the bravery and fearlessness of Xu Zhen and the ferocity of her troops, as well as the brotherly bond that held them together through life and death.
Upon seeing Qibi Helix's forces arrive, the Brothers' eyes ignited with fury. If they could have decisively attacked earlier, they would not have suffered such devastating losses.
However, as a commander, one must have an overall strategy and be cautious while considering the bigger picture. If Xu Zhen were guarding Zhangye City with only thirty percent of his forces and chaos erupted in the enemy camp, he too would not dare to strike recklessly.
Xu Zhen sighed lightly and then took a few slow steps forward. Though her movements were unsteady, her killing intent remained undiminished; even Qibi Helix's warhorse instinctively took half a step back!
"I am Deputy Commander of the Zhechong Bureau, Xu Zhen. May I ask if you are soldiers under General Qibi Helix?"
Qibi Helix was deeply impressed by Xu Zhen's demeanor, recalling his own youthful self. He had always respected heroes; Xu Zhen had fought valiantly to relieve Zhangye City from siege, which was a tremendous favor and achievement. In contrast, he felt cowardly and lacking in the boldness of his youth. If it weren't for Princess Jinyang's timely arrival, her remaining troops would have perished at the hands of their enemies!
Reflecting on this made Qibi Helix feel an overwhelming sense of shame. Being straightforward by nature, he immediately dismounted and rushed to grasp Xu Zhen's wrist, saying, "I arrived late and nearly allowed your Brothers to perish at the hands of the enemy. I am truly ashamed!"
Seeing the Right Guard General apologize so sincerely made the soldiers feel admiration for him. Although victory or defeat was already decided and the dead could not be brought back to life, it was clear that before the ambush, Xu Zhenbu could not relay any messages. This battle's outcome could only be attributed to divine favor for Murong Xiao.
"General, do not say such things. Serving our country means we must shed blood; as honorable men standing seven feet tall, we must defend our borders. We would rather endure Horsehide Wrapping than allow Barbarians to occupy our pastures. The blood we shed today will surely be repaid a thousandfold in the future!"
"Good! Good!" Qibi Helix repeatedly exclaimed in agreement—not out of pretense but genuinely moved by Xu Zhenbu's military spirit. Many soldiers behind him had heard tales of Xu Zhenzhi's exploits; witnessing how Xu Zhen rose swiftly due to Hou Junji's praise made many old soldiers feel envious. However, what they saw today proved her worthiness beyond doubt, prompting them to assist Xu Zhenbu in cleaning up the battlefield.
Qibi Helix ensured that order was restored within the city and soon saw a general carrying Tu Han's severed head—an imposing sight indeed. Among them was another general wielding Tu Han's infamous weapon, Iron Thorn; he truly resembled a fierce beast!
What shocked everyone even more was a blood-soaked young man crouching beside a silver wolf whose fur was drenched in blood. The wolf still clutched half a severed hand in its jaws while gnawing on it!
As Xu Zhen looked at the numerous talents and fierce generals under her command, she recalled the contributions of her guard, Your Highness. Qibi Helix had already regarded Xu Zhen as a rising power in the army that could not be underestimated.
At that moment, wanting to return to the city to settle matters, she noticed a couple of hundred naked captives emerging from the forest behind the enemy camp, resembling frightened mice. These were the new recruits who had fled!
Brothers saw this group of cowards and were filled with rage, shouting that they should be executed. If it weren't for these spineless cowards, how could they have lost to Murong Xiao?
The new recruits understood the situation well; if they left like this, they would surely be treated as deserters by Gao Zhensheng's troops heading north to Zhangye, and each one would lose their head.
Duan Zan and Colonel Murong Xiao were still with Xu Zhenbu, and Captain Hou Zhang was also present. They all pleaded together, hoping to avoid death. Even if they became slaves, it would be better than dying at the hands of Gao Zhensheng's Commander.
“ Commander Xu, spare us!”
“ Commander Xu, give us a way out; we are helpless!”
“Colonel Murong Xiao, have mercy!”
Qibi Helix frowned slightly; these new recruits were indeed far from being part of Xu Zhenbu. Zhang Jiunian, knowing Qibi Helix's position in the army and how much favor he had from the emperor, quickly whispered the background of the situation to him. Qibi Helix was filled with anger.
But ultimately, they were still soldiers of Xu Zhen. How to deal with them naturally required Xu Zhen's final decision.
Looking at this group of people, Xu Zhen, like many of her Brothers, felt an urge to kill them quickly out of anger. However, after calming down, she realized that she was also someone who feared for her life. If it were her in their position, without any weapons or means to defend herself, could she really muster the courage to fight against an enemy fully equipped in Armor of Blades? Or would she rather cut her own throat cleanly so that her own troops could sweep away the enemy without restraint?
Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself; if she could not do it herself, how could she force others to sacrifice their lives?
Xu Zhen was not a soft-hearted person. Whether in this world or in Tang Dynasty, she understood the difficulty of survival. She had never hesitated to be ruthless when necessary. However, after experiencing the brutality of cold weapon warfare, she began to cherish life even more.
“General, these are all new recruits facing battle for the first time. It is only natural for them to feel scared. The Barbarians have already killed enough of our Brothers. I do not want to see them die at our hands. Why not let them serve as servants and help repair and defend Zhangye County?”
Qibi Helix was taken aback, seemingly noticing the brilliance of Xu Zhen, and nodded in appreciation. The group continued to bow repeatedly, expressing their gratitude while feeling ashamed of their actions, unable to meet the gaze of the fallen heroes on the battlefield.
Not long after Xu Zhenbu stationed in Zhangye City, Gao Zhensheng from Shandan received military reports from the front. To his surprise, Xu Zhen had dared to launch a surprise attack on Rugged Camp with only two hundred troops and eight hundred from the Brave Warriors Camp. Although there were heavy casualties, she managed to behead Tu Han and break the encirclement of the Tu Han Division, relieving Zhangye from its siege!
Such a significant achievement, if reported truthfully, would surely bring great rewards to Xu Zhen, even if some tried to claim a share of the credit.
Moreover, Qibi Helix had always been straightforward and unyielding, loyal to the Sage. Years ago, he was captured by rebellious tribesmen and forced to join Tiele Xue Yantuo. He refused to yield, facing east and cutting off his ear as a testament to his loyalty to the Sage. Now that Xu Zhen had accomplished such a feat while secretly protecting the Xuanwu Gate Incident, how could Qibi Helix tarnish her contributions?
Gao Zhensheng did not expect that Xu Zhen could subdue the Brave Warriors Camp, nor did he anticipate that they would willingly serve her. Fortunately, with Hou Polu, Duan Zan, and Zhang Shenzhi still by her side, as Xu Zhen rose higher, her influence expanded, proving beneficial for major affairs.
With this in mind, Gao Zhensheng quickly instructed his personal guards to relay orders for immediate military support to Zhangye.
The losses in this battle were substantial; however, despite being besieged for a long time, there was still strength left in Zhangye. He promptly summoned doctors and servants to tend to the brave soldiers under Xu Zhenbu, while Qibi Helix accurately reported the military achievements. The two hundred new recruits were added to the labor force, working daily on fortifications.
It took Moya and Caesar most of the day to treat Xu Zhen's wounds. Seeing her covered in injuries was shocking. Even Li Mingda, who came to check on her midway through, could not hold back tears. Even Li Wushuang, who usually looked down on her, was deeply moved.
That day she climbed up the Watchtower, witnessing firsthand the brutal battle between both sides. Looking at the nearly lifeless form of Xu Zhen, she could no longer harbor any contempt.
While recuperating, Xu Zhen did not forget to study the classics of Zoroastrianism. She discussed with Moya whether it would be beneficial to practice the Seven Sacred Blade Secret Technique while recovering from her severe injuries. However, Moya firmly rejected this suggestion.
Although there were certain advantages to practicing the technique while injured, enduring such pain was beyond what any human could bear.
After Moya left, Xu Zhen immediately called for Caesar. With many debts and nothing left to lose, she thought it wise to seize the moment.
Unable to withstand both soft and hard tactics from Xu Zhen, Caesar gritted his teeth and assisted her in training. Yet deep down, she could not understand why she treated herself almost self-destructively by insisting on mastering the Seven Sacred Blades.
As far as she knew, training in the Seven Sacred Blades typically began in childhood for those chosen by the sect. They would start practicing before their bones fully developed. Even Moya began training as a child but had to stop when their sect was destroyed and their people scattered during their exile, preventing them from completing their training.
The body of the Xu Zhen has already taken shape. Although she is quite flexible, she is far from being a child. At this age, starting to cultivate the Seven Sacred Blades is almost akin to self-harm.
Qibi Helix often visits her and has developed quite a fondness for the Xu Zhen. She does not dare to hide anything from the General. Since Your Highness is now under the wing of Qibi Helix, this super loyal minister, she speaks frankly and reveals the incident of mistakenly killing members of the Qibi Clan's Cavalry.
Naturally, there is the "contribution" of Hou Polu behind this, and even Hou Junji cannot be absolved of responsibility. However, such matters cannot be stated outright; they must be hinted at. Qibi Helix is not a fool and understands the underlying issues.
In fact, he has already sent a Confidential Report back to Chang'an via the intelligence channels of the Qibi Clan. The information from the Qibi Clan does not travel through Relay Road, so even if someone intends to intercept it midway, they would have no means to do so. Otherwise, he would end up like Li Daozong, unable to send messages back to Chang'an.
After informing Xu Zhenzhi about this matter, the latter breathed a sigh of relief. Carrying a precious princess with him was like having a head on his belt; now he could finally relax.
However, he could not sleep. In fact, ever since that battle, he had not had a single peaceful night. The bloody scenes constantly tormented his mind, preventing him from closing his eyes.
Thinking of the fallen brothers from the Salar Tribe and Rouran Tribe, he could not feel happy at all. A thought suddenly arose in him, and he quickly requested, "General, I have an unreasonable request; I earnestly ask you to help me..."
Qibi Helix did not refuse and placed his hand on the Xu Zhen's shoulder, saying, "Xu Shaojun need not be so polite. If there is something you need, just say it. As long as it is within my ability, I will not decline."
The Xu Zhen felt much more at ease after hearing this from Qibi Helix. After expressing her gratitude, she shared her thoughts: she wanted to relocate the people of the Salar Tribe and Rouran Tribe to Gansu and Liangzhou after this war subsides. This area has members of the Qibi Tribe, ample pastures and farmland, sufficient water sources, and fertile land that can spare the people of both tribes from the hardships of migration while also providing them protection from the Qibi Tribe. It could also serve as a form of compensation for their fallen brothers.
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