Summoning from Another World: A Grand Ambition

Chapter 30 Xuanyuan's Divine Might, A Great Victory

Ajige and Feiyangu chose to flee to the sparse area outside the camp. They had only rushed less than a hundred paces when they were despairingly discovered that the black-armored figure they feared most had somehow appeared and was blocking their path like a ghost.

Xuanyuan Tianshang did not spur his horse to pursue, but simply stood still, his gaze indifferent as if looking at weeds.

The two were so frightened they almost fell off their horses and quickly pulled on the reins to turn around.

Xuanyuan Tianshang didn't even bother to say anything more, and with a backhand motion, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, his movements as fluid as breathing.

The crimson phoenix cried out, the bowstring twanged, and the arrow pierced the sky like a crimson meteor, instantly traversing space.

With a "thud," the bullet pierced Ajige's back, and his scream was abruptly cut short as he collapsed from his horse.

Terrified, Fei Yanggu tumbled off his horse, prostrated himself on the ground, and kowtowed repeatedly: "General, spare my life! Spare my life! I surrender! I'm willing to be your servant..."

Before he could finish speaking, the tip of the Golden Phoenix World-Burning Halberd had already touched his forehead, paused slightly, and then passed through his skull without any resistance.

Xuanyuan Tianshang withdrew his halberd, flicking away the blood droplets as if he were merely brushing away a speck of dust.

In his eyes, resistance and begging had no different outcomes.

Only Nurhaci's youngest son, Dodo, who was only twelve years old, was shielded by several loyal and brave soldiers who risked their lives to cover him. He managed to sneak into a burning tent in the chaos and then disappeared. He was lucky enough to be separated from the main force and his whereabouts are unknown.

At the heart of the central army camp, Nurhaci was tightly surrounded by his personal guards beside the relatively intact remains of his royal tent.

Reports of defeat came like snowflakes: the rear camp was lost, the grain and fodder were burned, and important officials such as Fei Yingdong and Eidu were killed in battle. Abatai, Ajige and other nephews were either killed or captured.

Upon hearing that Ao Bai had been killed by Xuan Yuan Tian Shang with a single halberd strike, this powerful figure from the Eastern Barbarians felt his vision go black and his blood rush to his head.

"Ah!" he roared, shoving aside the guards who tried to stop him, drawing his jewel-encrusted sword, his eyes bloodshot.

"The Great Xia has gone too far in bullying me! I, the Khan, will fight them..."

"Father Khan, no!" A still-childish yet resolute shout interrupted him.

Fourteen-year-old Dorgon was covered in blood, his small body standing upright before him. The curved sword in his hand was nicked and chipped. He had just killed a Xia scout who had tried to ambush him. His tender face was flushed from heavy breathing and anger, but his eyes were as fierce as a wounded wolf cub.

"That Xuanyuan Tianshang is beyond human capability! Your son is willing to fight to the death to cover our retreat. I beg you, Father Khan, to flee immediately! As long as you live, Father Khan, our Great Jin will not perish!"

Having said that, without waiting for Nurhaci's response, he charged towards another wave of Xia cavalry approaching, brandishing his sword, shouting, "Protect the Khan! Follow me and kill!"

Nurhaci's body trembled violently as he watched his young son's thin but resolute back as he fought against the Xia army cavalry. In his tiger-like eyes, hot tears finally rolled down his cheeks, mingling with blood.

Having lived a long and successful life, I never imagined that one day I would need my young child to risk his life to protect me and save my own life!

The thought that Xuan Yuan Tian Shang, that god of death, might arrive at any moment filled him with boundless fear and bone-chilling humiliation that nearly consumed him.

"Dorgon!" he cried out in anguish.

"Father Khan, run!!" Dorgon fired a shot, adding another bloody gash to his shoulder, but turned back and roared fiercely, his eyes burning with rage.

Nurhaci bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain temporarily jolting him out of his grief and despair. He knew that any hesitation at this moment would lead to annihilation.

He took one last, deep look at his young son, who was struggling to hold on in the bloody battle, as if trying to etch that image into his soul. Then he wiped the blood and tears from his face and let out a low, blood-curdling roar: "Retreat! North! into the mountains!"

His guards lifted him up, and with the few dozen remaining riders, they smashed through a bloody path and fled for their lives.

Nurhaci turned back on his horse and saw that the camp had been turned into a sea of ​​fire and a mountain of corpses. Dorgon's figure was finally swallowed up by the surging Xuanjia cavalry... He felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out another mouthful of blood, staining his battle robe red. He gripped the reins tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from them.

"Tian Heng... Xuanyuan Tianshang... This shame is etched into my bones! If I, Nurhaci, ever have a chance to breathe again, I will raise up all the people of the White Mountains and Black Waters to pay for this blood debt... to make them pay in blood!!!"

The hoarse oath drifted away on the wind. He spurred his horse and never looked back, disappearing with his remaining troops into the morning mist of the rugged mountain roads in the north.

In the center of the battlefield, Tian Heng had reined in the Snow-Treading Flying Dragon. He did not order the pursuit of the small, fleeing group.

Do not pursue a defeated enemy relentlessly, especially since the mountain terrain is complex and treacherous; venturing too far could lead to an ambush.

More importantly, after this battle, Nurhaci lost all his elite troops and trusted generals, and it would be difficult for him to recover his strength within a few years. He was no longer a major threat.

He stood leaning on his spear, blood droplets slowly dripping from the tip of the Nine Dragons Azure Sea Spear.

The silver armor, stained with the blood of the enemy, gleamed with a dark red luster in the gradually brightening morning light. Far from appearing filthy, it added a touch of awe-inspiring domineering power, as if it had been born from bloodshed.

His gaze swept across the four directions where the fighting was gradually subsiding and the battlefield was beginning to be cleared, his composure as firm as a mountain.

After finishing their respective battles, Xuanyuan Tianshang, Huangfu Gong, Zhanlong Huang, Hu Shatian, and the other generals rode up to Tian Heng's side, cupped their hands in greeting from their horses, and their voices echoed across the battlefield.

"Your Highness, we, your humble servants, offer our congratulations! The great victory at Beique Pass has routed the Eastern barbarians! Your Highness is truly awe-inspiring!"

Xuanyuan Tianshang, clad in black armor, exuded a chilling aura. His Golden Phoenix World-Burning Halberd pointed diagonally at the ground, while the Crimson Phoenix Bow rested on his back. His expression remained cold and stern, and the chill emanating from his body lingered. The slaughter he had just witnessed seemed to be nothing more than a casual flick of the wrist.

Huangfu Gong's red armor was deeply stained, and the bloodstains on his spear were still wet. His eyes were filled with a mixture of the joy of avenging his great enemy and the exhaustion after the fierce battle.

Zhanlonghuang and Hushatian still exuded murderous intent, their eyes burning brightly.

Tian Heng nodded slightly, his voice clear and authoritative, echoing above the battlefield strewn with corpses:

"The success of this battle lies primarily in the bravery of our officers and soldiers, and the wisdom of our entire army! The generals fought valiantly, and the soldiers gave their lives, which is why we have achieved this victory!" He paused, his gaze sharp as lightning, and then issued a series of orders:

"General Huangfu Gong!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Immediately divide your forces and take over the entire defense of Beique Pass! Inventory the casualties within the pass, comfort the defending troops and civilians, repair the city's defenses, and guard against sporadic raids by Eastern Yi deserters or other groups!"

"Battle Dragon Emperor, Tiger Demon Heaven!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Command the vanguard and surrendered soldiers to thoroughly wipe out all remaining strongholds and cavalry of the Eastern Barbarians within a radius of twenty li! Confiscate all military equipment and supplies, and register them!"

"General Xuanyuan."

"Your subordinate is here."

Xuanyuan Tianshang raised his hand.

"I entrust the task to the General to oversee the central army, reorganize the various units, deal with surrendered prisoners, identify leaders, and maintain order in the camp. Anyone who shows any dissent will be executed on the spot!"

"This subordinate obeys the order," Xuan Yuan Tian Shang replied succinctly.

The generals responded with a resounding roar, their voices echoing across the fields. They then led their troops with perfect coordination, moving swiftly into action.

By this time, the dawn had completely dispelled the darkness, and golden light shone everywhere. The majestic city gate of Beique Pass, weathered by war, slowly opened in the sunlight.

The garrison commander Tian Rangju led his remaining thousand or so soldiers, dragging their weary and wounded bodies, out of the pass in formation. Their armor was tattered, their faces were pale, and many had blood-soaked bandages wrapped around their bodies, but their eyes shone with an astonishing light.

Seeing the Great Xia royal army below the pass, their black-armored soldiers standing like a forest, their red banners waving, especially the Nine Dragon King Banner standing at the front of the formation, symbolizing Tian Heng's identity, and the silver-armored figure beneath it, stained with blood yet unyielding and imposing, and the black-armored general beside him who resembled a god of war,

Tian Rangju and all the garrison soldiers involuntarily collapsed to their knees like a mountain of gold and jade pillars falling, choking back tears as they cried out:

"We, your humble servants, respectfully welcome Your Highness! We kowtow in gratitude to Your Highness and the royal army for their swift and decisive rescue! Long live Your Highness! May Great Xia be victorious!"

The roar, filled with the excitement of surviving a catastrophe and heartfelt reverence, soared into the sky.

Upon seeing this, Tian Heng spurred his horse forward a few steps until he reached the front of the army, whereupon he dismounted.

He strode to the kneeling Tian Rangju, gently helped him up, and then, his gaze sweeping over the wounded but resolute guards behind him, spoke softly.

"Generals and soldiers, you have worked hard! The fact that Beique Pass has been able to hold out until now is entirely due to your bloody battles and commendable loyalty and bravery! On behalf of the court and the people of Youzhou, I thank you all!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every soldier, carrying an undeniable sincerity and reassurance:

"The vanguard of the Eastern Barbarians has been defeated, but the great enemy has not yet been pacified. The imperial army will arrive soon, and the heavy responsibility of defending the pass will henceforth fall on us all."

"The fallen soldiers will be generously compensated by the court; the wounded will receive utmost medical treatment; and those who have rendered meritorious service will be rewarded without hesitation! For now, I request that you all return to the pass to rest and recuperate, and treat the wounded. The defense of the pass will be temporarily entrusted to General Huangfu."

Upon hearing this, Tian Rangju and the other defenders were all moved to tears. The sorrow of days of bitter fighting and the deaths of their comrades seemed to find solace in this moment. They bowed deeply once more: "We are willing to die for Your Highness! We are willing to be loyal to the Great Xia!"

The sunlight fully illuminated the pass. The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the stench of blood was still strong, but the Great Xia Dragon Banner had been replanted on the city wall of Beique Pass, fluttering in the morning breeze, proclaiming the end of this fierce defensive battle and the beginning of a new era.

Standing beneath the banner, Tian Heng, his silver armor gleaming, gazed upon the distant land of Youzhou and the turbulent imperial court.