Beads of sweat appeared on Huai Zong's forehead, and he hurriedly dispatched his troops, at all costs, not even caring about the threat of Xia Yu, who was only ten steps away from him, and laid a thick unimaginable blocking formation in front of the Black Feather Guard.

Although the Black Lingwei who mixed Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and other more than 20 Han warriors were fierce, they still had no good way to face this wall of human flesh, and the speed of the assault immediately slowed down, seeing that Huai Zong was on the hillside thirty steps away, they could only pour their anger on the meat wall in front of them and slash hard.

"Kill!" Lou Lu lifted his face armor and raised his knife and roared: "Kill Huai Zong, reward 100 cattle!" ”

"Kill!" The Black Feather Guards roared in unison, their momentum was like a rainbow, and their swords danced more urgently.

Seeing that Hei Lingwei's momentum was blocked, Huai Zong finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat on his face, and was very happy. At this moment, he suddenly felt a chill in his back, he was stunned for a moment, the muscles on his back suddenly tensed, he suddenly roared, turned around and slashed with all his might.

With a loud bang, sparks splashed everywhere, and through the sparks, Huai Zong saw a black figure. The man reacted very quickly, and when he saw that the knife of the sneak attack was blocked by Huai Zong, he suddenly opened his mouth and shouted:

"Kill!"

This sound was like thunder rolling by, Huai Zong, who was facing him, only felt dizzy for a while, and took two steps back, and the guards who had just found that someone was sneaking up behind them turned their heads, and they were frightened by this loud shout, and their hearts were restless, just when they were mistaken, two slender figures rushed in, the sword light flashed, and the three guards snorted, covered their necks and retreated sharply.

Huai Zong instinctively waved the war knife in his hand, left and right, blocked Zhang Ming's attack between the intolerable, the war knives hit each other, making a dazzling resonance sound, Huai Zong's left hand in the waist wipe, a short knife burst out, facing Zhang Ming's war knife slashed, "boom", the war knife in Zhang Ming's hand was broken into two.

Zhang Ming was taken aback, his eyes widened, his palms flew over, and he blocked several counterattacks from Huai Zong one after another, and with another "bang", Huai Zong cut Zhang Ming's clothes again, and blood gushed out. Zhang Ming retreated with all his might, his body swept three steps like a fallen leaf, and let go of the electric blow of Huai Zong's right-hand combat knife.

"Hmph, shameless dog, want to sneak attack?" Huai Zong sneered and showed a short blade in his left hand. The blade of this short blade was no more than a foot long, and even the handle of the knife was no more than two feet, and it was barely visible in the palm of the hand, emitting a cold white light in the night.

Zhang Ming was dumbfounded, reached out and touched his chest, it was hot and full of blood, he rolled his eyes, took a long breath, and was about to cast his spell, but Huai Zong seemed to see his plan, and pounced, and the war knife came with the sound of the wind. Zhang Ming didn't have time to react, so he had to take two more steps back, and Huai Zong followed him like a shadow, chasing after him, so that Zhang Ming couldn't spare time to perform at all.

Huai Zong sneered, one long and one short, and the two war knives flew over, rolling Zhang Ming into the sword light. Zhang Ming was embarrassed, he was forced to retreat again and again, there was a cliff behind him, in a hurry, he didn't have time to raise the momentum, even if he had time, he didn't dare, when he jumped in the air, there was only one result waiting for him: he was cut off by Huai Zong.

"Deran, don't make a move!" Zhang Ming shouted.

Huai Zong was stunned for a moment, the sword light was suddenly retracted, his left hand was protected on his chest, and his right hand was pointed out by the sword, waiting for the battle.

With a "whoosh", a feather arrow flew out of the darkness and went straight to Huai Zong's chest, Huai Zong's eyes were sharp, the knife flashed, and he accurately slashed the arrow shaft and cut the feather arrow in two. Just as he slashed the shaft of the arrow, a figure swooped out, and a halberd slashed directly at the war knife in Huai Zong's right hand with the sound of the wind, and the other halberd went straight to Huai Zong's neck.

Huai Zong shouted, threw the war knife with his right hand, grabbed the halberd by the way, and snatched it with all his strength, and the short knife in his left hand slashed towards the other halberd.

"Be careful!" Before Zhang Ming could remind, there was a soft sound of "whoosh", and the short knife cut off the halberd aid like cutting paper, and went straight to Liu Xiu's neck.

Huai Zong sneered, he was on guard against Liu Xiu when he felt that someone was sneaking up, but he didn't expect that it was another person who appeared at the beginning, and this person also had Taoism, and he almost broke his guts with a loud shout, fortunately, he was no stranger to Taoism, and made the most correct response in the shortest possible time, cutting Zhang Ming's combat knife with a sharp short knife, and regaining the initiative in one fell swoop, but he did not relax his vigilance because of this, he has not yet displayed the most powerful martial arts.

He has been waiting for Liu Xiu.

Now that Liu Xiu has appeared, he no longer has a back hand, and has used the most exquisite martial arts, with the treasure knife that sharpens iron like clay, he will take a halberd in one look, cut off that halberd, and then cut Liu Xiu's neck.

Liu Xiu had no way out, Huai Zong's eyes narrowed, and he let out a silent sneer. He watched Liu Xiu's upper body lean back, his waist was almost broken in two, and the short knife was worthy of slashing in front of him, he sneered, and the arm that was halfway through the wave suddenly sank, and the arm was like an iron rod, smashing towards Liu Xiu's chest, and the short knife in his hand also changed direction, and the tip of the knife was facing Liu Xiu's chest.

Even if he was wearing iron armor, this knife could easily pierce his heart.

Just when Huai Zong was about to cheer for his victory, Liu Xiu held his wrists tightly with both hands, and then flew up and kicked Huai Zong at the base of his thigh silently. A sudden and severe pain made the brave Huai Zong suddenly lose all his strength, tears and snot flowed out together, his legs were weak, he knelt down with a plop, his hand was loosened, the short knife and the halberd he had just snatched were also thrown away, covering his lower abdomen, and he fell to the ground in pain.

Liu Xiu didn't give him any chance to react, picked up the short knife on the ground with his left hand, picked up a handle with his right hand, stepped forward with two feet, and kicked on Huai Zong's thigh that he had broken once before.

Huai Zong couldn't bear the pain anymore, and cried out with a "whoop".

The guards who were killed by Yang Feng and Lan Lan were in a hurry, they gave up Yang Feng and Lan Lan, and rushed over desperately, Zhang Ming, who was stunned by Liu Xiu's fierce and rapid attack, came back to his senses at this time, and let out an angry roar, which shocked the guards to stop in unison, and two even threw their weapons, holding their heads in pain, and staggered to Liu Xiu, and was cut off by Liu Xiu with a knife.

Zhang Ming immediately picked up the war knife and rushed forward, and quickly solved the remaining few guards like Yang Feng and Lan Lan cutting melons and vegetables. At this time, the Xianbei people under the hillside also reacted, and they didn't care that Xia Yu and the others were just a few steps away, and they rushed to rescue Huai Zong.

"Stop!" Zhang Ming bent down, picked up the rolling Huai Zong from the ground and pushed it to his side, put the knife on his neck, and shouted: "Go any further, I will kill him!" ”

The Xianbei people were frightened by Huai Zong's screams, and then looked at the war knife in Zhang Ming's hand, no one dared to run forward again, and the people behind couldn't stand up, and pushed the few Xianbei people who ran in front to the ground, stepped on the ground, and screamed everywhere.

"Huai Zong's head-" Zhang Ming carried enough dantian qi, and roared long, and the whistling sound rolled through the valley.

The battlefield with the sound of shouting and killing suddenly fell silent, and then, Xia Yu immediately ordered to spread the news together, and soon, the Han army and the Wuhuan people broke out with a deafening roar: "Huai Zong confers the head - those who descend will not die-"

The Huai Zong Division, which was sandwiched between the Han army and the Wuhuan people, heard it most clearly, and they heard the screams of Huai Zong at the same time, although the sound was very deformed, but they could still distinguish that they looked at each other, neither dared to lay down their weapons, nor dared to continue to resist, and were stunned in the thunderous roar, trembling and waiting for their fate.

Cracking Storm was stupid, and the war knife in his hand fell to the ground with a "dang", slashing at the top of his own foot, but he didn't know the pain. His mind went blank: Huai Zong was caught again?

The iron wolf was also blinded, he ordered to blow the horn to ask, but after asking several times, Huai Zong did not give an answer, he knew that the big thing was not good, even if Huai Zong was not captured, he was afraid that he would not be in a good situation. After a brief hesitation, he immediately advised Tempest to withdraw from the battlefield.

The Cracking Wind came back to its senses, did not dare to linger any longer, and quickly left the valley.

Immediately afterwards, the surrounded Xianbei people laid down their arms and surrendered to the Han army.

Xia Yu was overjoyed, and on the one hand ordered to light torches, clean up the battlefield, and gather the prisoners, and on the other hand, he sent someone to inform the nearest Macheng County to prepare for the reception. He looked at the dark and steep cliff behind the hillside where Huai Zong was standing, and shook his head with a smile: "I knew that it would only be you who would strike a fatal blow in the end, but I didn't expect you to appear from here." ”

Liu Xiu smiled, and pushed Zhang Ming in front of Xia Yu, and said: "My lord, this is all your ingenious arrangement and Zhang Yuan's skillful Taoism, without you as bait, we can't force the Xianbei people to abandon their strengths and weaknesses, and fight with us on foot, without Zhang Envoy, we can't sneak on such a steep hillside, let alone succeed in a single blow." He smiled and said, "Of course, with the strong combat power of the adults, they can still defeat Huaizong in the end, but the casualties are much more." ”

Xia Yu raised his eyebrows, glanced at Liu Xiu with satisfaction, and didn't say anything more. This time he was greedy for merit, so he fell into the ambush of the Xianbei people, but since Liu Xiu was willing to give him the credit, he would not expose his ugliness, saying that he had fallen into someone else's scheme.

"Thank you Zhang for your help."

"Don't dare, as a big Han citizen, you should do your best for the country." Zhang Ming was also very happy and hurriedly returned the salute. In fact, it was Liu Xiu's idea to sneak over from the mountain road to attack Huai Zong in the twilight, and it was also Liu Xiu's arrangement to mix Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and others in the Black Feather Guard to attract Huai Zong's attention, and it was Liu Xiu who locked the victory in the end, if it weren't for Liu Xiu's inexplicable kick that directly hit Huai Zong's vital point, the three of them were afraid that they would not be able to escape death.

"My lord, the warriors of Shanggu Wuhuan this time are also heroes." Liu Xiu pulled Lou Lu, who was smiling from ear to ear, in front of Xia Yu and praised loudly: "If it weren't for the young master of Lou Lu and his Black Feather Guard who attracted Huai Zong's attention, we wouldn't have succeeded. ”

"Thank you, young master, after this battle, Yu will definitely report your merits to the court." Xia Yu said politely. Although he has always looked down on the Wuhuan people, but now that the Wuhuan people have helped him a lot and saved his life, he has to give some face.

Liu Xiu pulled Xia Yu aside, and told Lou Lu about the fifty sets of Xuanjia he promised, Xia Yu frowned at first, a little displeased, thought about it, and knew that if Liu Xiu didn't give some sweetness, probably Wuhuan people would not be so desperate, and he didn't say anything at the moment, and promised in front of Lou Lu that he would honor Liu Xiu's benefits as soon as he arrived in Ningcheng, and Lou Lu was so happy that he jumped three feet high.

Liu Xiu whispered a few words in Xia Yu's ear, and after Xia Yu listened, he reluctantly agreed. Liu Xiu suggested that he reward Loulu more for these Wuhuan people in Shanggu, and even give the main military exploits of capturing Huaizong to the Wuhuan people, although he is a little reluctant, but he is not stupid, Liu Xiu is not the kind of person who gives benefits to people in vain, he does this is nothing more than to confirm the fact that the Wuhuan people have a close relationship with the Han people, and at the same time push the Wuhuan people to the opposite side of the Xianbei people, so that it is not so easy for the Wuhuan people in Shanggu to hook up with the Xianbei people.

Xia Yu is the kind of person who either doesn't do it, but does it thoroughly, he not only praises Lou Lu and his Black Feather Guard for their bravery and good fighting, and is as powerful as a bamboo, but also praises Lu Pofeng and others, saying that he is worthy of being the first warrior among the Wuhuan people, without their help, it is impossible to catch Huai Zong this time.

By the time he arrived in Macheng, these words had already turned into Lou Lu's arrow killing Huai Zong and setting the tide of the battle. Lou Lu was a little silly with joy, he couldn't remember when he shot Huai Zong with an arrow, but the arrow that pierced Huai Zong's throat was indeed his, coupled with Liu Xiu and the others' ulterior motives on the side, Lou Lu finally believed that it must have been an arrow he inadvertently shot to kill Huai Zong's surname.

Liu Xiu said seriously, this is an unintentional arrow, it is you who pierce Yang in a hundred steps, and kill with one arrow.

Lou Lu blinked his eyes and nodded stupidly.

Xia Yu counted the results of the battle in Macheng, this battle can be described as a brilliant result, the results of the raid outside the Saiwai are unknown, only the results of the battle under the Liangqu Mountain are also very gratifying, judging from the corpses in the valley, the Xianbei people killed at least more than 2,000 people, and more than 3,000 people were captured, the Wuhuan people died more than 800 people, and the Han army lost only more than 500 people, but the loss was the smallest.

Looking at Liu Xiu, who was surprised, Xia Yu disagreed: "This is still because we were ambushed, if it weren't for those stones, our losses would have been reduced by at least half." ”

"So our Han army is so strong?" Liu Xiu couldn't believe his eyes, he instinctively thought that there was something wrong with this number.

"It's nothing, at the beginning, Lord Duan took us to conquer Qiang, and we fought for more than a year, and there were more than 180 battles, but more than 400 people died." Xia Yu said with some embarrassment: "I lost more than five hundred in the first battle, if Tian Yan's shaft knew about it, it would definitely be said that I was not a weapon and lost the face of an adult." ”

Liu Xiu looked at Xia Yu with suspicious eyes, and even had some contempt. You brag, you brag, after more than a year, one hundred and eighty battles, only four hundred people died, and an average of just over two deaths per battle? I know that the Han army is well equipped and can fight, but it is not so strong, do you think they are all terminators or transformers who can't be killed?

"Don't believe it, if you have the opportunity to go to Luoyang, you go and ask Captain Duan in person to see if I am lying." Xia Yu smiled slightly, and did not argue, he thought about it, and looked at Liu Xiu with a smile: "Deran, I think you are a general, dare to take risks, but you are thoughtful, and you have the shadow of Lord Duan, how about going to my mansion to be a Sima?" ”

Liu Xiu smiled and shirked: "I have received my lord's wishes, but I still have to go back and ask my senior brother's opinion." ”

Xia Yu scratched his head with some disappointment: "Alas, I know that you are a teacher under Lu Jun, and your career in the future will be very wide, and you may not be able to look down on a martial artist like me." I don't blame you, and I can't delay your bright future. Well, if you want to join the army anywhere, feel free to come to me. ”

"Thank you, sir." Liu Xiu hurriedly thanked him. He didn't look down on Xia Yu, although after this period of getting along, he was not very interested in Xia Yu's greedy temper, but on the whole, he felt that Xia Yu was still very good, experienced, brave and good at fighting, as a captain of 2,000 stones, but he refused to live in the city, and he had to take the lead in fighting with the Xianbei people, although he was suspected of being greedy for merit, but it was already very rare, and everyone could not be required to be a sage.

He didn't agree to Xia Yu, because he didn't want to implicate Lu Min, Lu Min was forced to enter the school captain's mansion, this battle has been fought, Lu Min will definitely resign, and Lu Min's junior brother next to him will of course advance and retreat with Lu Min - although he actually doesn't care about Lu Zhi as a teacher.

In the first battle of Liangqu Mountain, Huai Zong failed to fight the tiger, but was injured by the tiger, life and death are unknown, more than 4,000 people were exhausted, and the wind was wandering, so they had to garrison the troops in the city and send people to report to the Danhan Mountain.

After Xia Yu sent someone to inquire about the news outside the Saiwai, he returned to Ningcheng with the prisoners and booty, and at the same time reported the news to Liu Yu, who originally protected the Wuhuan Captain's Mansion and did not belong to Youzhou, let alone be responsible for Youzhou Assassin, just report directly to the court, but now that the authority of the Assassin is getting bigger and bigger, Xia Yu still gave Liu Yu enough face.

As Liu Xiu expected, as soon as they returned to Ningcheng, Lu Min submitted his resignation to Xia Yu, saying that he would return to his hometown with the remains of the soldiers of Zhuo County for burial. In this battle, there were many casualties among the people from Zhuoxian, most of which were caused by Xia Yu's refusal to use his main force to let the recruited soldiers go into battle because he wanted to preserve his strength. Although Lu Min is not good at accusing Xia Yu of anything, he has a lot of opinions, the battle of Ningcheng has been completely won, and he is worthy of Xia Yu and can leave.

Xia Yu tried his best to keep it, but Lu Min refused to stay. As soon as he left, Liu Xiu and the others naturally accompanied him, and Zhang He, Zhao Yun and others had no intention of staying in the school captain's mansion, and left Ningcheng one after another. He knew that Zhang He and Zhao Yun didn't come for his face, and if he couldn't keep Lu Min, he didn't want to keep talents like Zhang He and Zhao Yun - although they were all generals, they were bent on taking the path of Confucianism, and they couldn't go by themselves, and they also wanted to be a great Confucian, but they looked down on him as a martial artist.

At the end of October, Liu Xiu and others who passed through Juyong Pass met with Li Ding, the envoy sent by Liu Yu, Liu Yu sent him to Danhan Mountain, and formally negotiated with the Xianbei people, and at the same time he also told Lu Min and Liu Xiu that today the Xianbei people invaded more than ten counties on the border, and Huaizong was the main force along the way, but it was also the most defeated road, and Liu Yu had written to ask for credit for Lu Min.

"Go home and rest for a while, and then get ready to go to Beijing." Li Ding said to Lu Min with some envy: "Your father has brought the whole family to Jingshi, and it is estimated that you will soon go to meet them." I don't know when you will come back, maybe it is possible to settle in Luoyang in the future. He said to Mao Yan and Mao Zong: "Your father didn't know how much money he spent to move to Neijun, so why bother so much if he knew this." ”

Mao Yan was ashamed and happy, glanced at Lu Min, and hid in the inner room. The Han Dynasty has a law, people in the border counties are not allowed to move inward at will, the Mao family in order to avoid this place of war, up and down a lot of money, now Lu Min is expected to enter the court as an official, she can leave Zhuo County with Lu Min, it is a very rare opportunity. As long as Lu Min has a firm foothold in the court, Mao Zong's career will suddenly become clear.

"Zixing, it is said that you have a junior brother like Deran to accompany you, so you don't need me to talk too much." Li Ding said a little embarrassed: "But my unsuccessful son wants to follow Zixing to read the scriptures, if it is convenient for you, I hope to give me a little thin noodles." ”

Lu Min smiled slightly, and didn't even dare to say it.

Li Dingxin was satisfied, and turned to Liu Xiu and said, "Deran, I used to really look away, but I didn't expect you to be a jade, I'm really ashamed." If you follow Zixing into Beijing this time, then naturally there is no need to say much, if you still want to stay in Zhuo County to work for Xiangzi, whether it is the county temple or the Thorn Mansion, I can still speak, you just come to me. I have been friends with your father for many years, so you don't have to be polite. ’

"Thank you." Liu Xiu smiled slightly, his heart is rising, now I am also a talent, in the past, it was rare for you to enter my house when you came to us, every time you only mentioned Liu Bei, there was never me in your eyes, but now you don't even mention Liu Bei, the so-called celebrity, it's just that.

…… In winter, Li Ding returned from the envoy of Danhan Mountain, and the Xianbei king Tanshi Huai was furious when he heard that Huai Zong had died in battle, but he had no choice but to redeem Huai Zong's body with heavy money, and at the same time sent people to Zhuo County to discuss with Liu Yu about the redemption of the wind crack. Liu Yu treated people with kindness and asked Xia Yu to release the wind crack, Xia Yu was furious and refused to listen to Liu Yu's arrangement, and the two of them each wrote to accuse each other, but neither of them would give in. The situation is getting bigger and bigger, the contradiction between the two intensifies, Liu Yu accused Xia Yu of being reckless and provoking trouble, Xia Yu accused Liu Yu of abusing his power, being too weak to the Xianbei people, and unwilling to actively cooperate with his counterattack, resulting in the border counties except for the great victory of Ningcheng in the first battle, the others are lackluster, and he was angry, and wrote to impeach Liu Ji, the Taishou of Liaoxi, and the Taishou Gong Shafu of Shanggu, who feared the enemy and feared the enemy, and humiliated the country.

Liu Xiu, who was resting at home, was living a leisurely life with Zhang Fei, Liu Bei and others, while waiting for the reward from the imperial court, but he didn't know that around the victory in Ningcheng, Liu Yu and Xia Yu had become a fire and water, until Zhang Wu and Liu He came forward in front of him at the same time.

"What are the two of you?" Liu Xiu was puzzled.

"My lord, I want to invite you and Lu Jun to Beijing to repay your merits." Zhang Wu and Liu He said in unison, and then glared at each other unconvinced.

(End of Volume 1)

(To be continued)