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Chapter 124 Ambush at Huanghua Valley
There were loud drumbeats and noisy voices among the mountains. Among the trees and rocks on both sides of the valley, countless soldiers in iron armor rushed down like waves.

"Swish, swish, swish..." Arrows rained down in the air, whistling and pouring down wildly.

The sound of raindrops falling on the Shu army ranks was like hailstones falling from the sky, instantly knocking down a large area. Screams continued to ring out, and the Shu soldiers fell down one after another.

The rain of arrows like black dots continued, and countless shouts and roars echoed in the valley.

A row of soldiers on the hillside puffed out their cheeks and blew their huge ox horns with all their might, and the vigorous sound of the horns floated in the wind.

In an instant, the formation of Zhou army soldiers crashed into the crowd of Shu army like an arc of sword light.

The morning mist in the forest was immediately replaced by rising smoke and dust, forming a huge, lingering curtain above the crowd, blocking the view.

Wang Changgong, holding a long-handled broadsword and wearing heavy chain mail, led hundreds of his men in a fierce charge forward. The heavy footsteps intertwined together, like the beating of war drums in their ears, shocking their hearts.

Seeing this scene, the Shu army soldiers were so frightened that they took a few steps back. From a distance, it seemed as if an invisible airflow was forcibly pushing them back.

"kill!"

Wang Changgong roared and swung his long sword with both hands. Suddenly, there was a clang of weapons colliding. He took back the long sword and swung it again.

Along with a sudden scream, a pool of bright red blood splashed onto his face, seemingly still a little warm.

The soldiers following him also roared and rushed into the crowd with their spears in hand. The sound of the spears piercing people's bodies was creepy.

At this moment, the soldiers of Zhou army were like beasts equipped with swords and iron armor. There was only one goal in their minds, which was to hold the spears and lances in their hands and stab the enemy in front of them according to the long-standing training movements.

In Huanghua Valley, three thousand Shu troops were surrounded by the Later Zhou army. Soldiers were fighting all over the mountains and plains, and the two sides had already been caught in a melee.

Wang Changgong led the first commanding force to break through the flank of the Shu army.

Immediately afterwards, the vanguard of the Shu army was also defeated by Li Hanchao and his men. The fierce Zhou army soldiers rushed into the Shu army's formation, and the situation became as boiling as hot oil after cold water was poured into it.

The dust in the sky seemed to be stained with blood, and a layer of red mist mixed with the smell of blood rose up.

The Shu army's ranks remained neat at first, but soon they began to collapse like a dam, and the Shu soldiers were suppressed and gradually retreated.

"Didn't the Zhou army attack Weiwu City? Why is there an ambush here?"

Wang Luan, the dyeing house envoy of Shu State, stood on horseback in the central army column, looking at the front army that was being suppressed by the Zhou army and retreating step by step. He gritted his teeth and had a gloomy face.

However, no one around him could answer his question.

At this moment, the general of the front army came running, shouting as he ran: "General Wang, quickly order a retreat, we have been surrounded by the Zhou army, brothers, we can't hold on any longer, if we don't leave now it will be too late!"

Wang Luan's face turned pale when he heard this and he opened his mouth to say something.

But before he could finish his words, he saw that the front army's formation suddenly dispersed for some unknown reason.

The Shu army soldiers in front were panicked and all turned around and fled backwards, just like a plague that spread over them instantly.

The terrain of Huanghua Valley is steep, and the road at the bottom of the valley is winding and narrow. It is already crowded to accommodate an army of thousands of people. The defeat of the front army swept to the rear almost instantly.

Like a domino effect, word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and the entire Shu army formation was in chaos. The soldiers in the front fled backwards frantically, and the people in the middle and rear followed suit.

As the saying goes, a defeat is like a mountain collapsing. Once an army begins to collapse, there is basically no possibility of rescue. Driven by the desire to survive, the potential that people can unleash is astonishing.

The commander's hope of reining in the rebellious soldiers was simply wishful thinking. After the Shu army's formation collapsed, many soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, and the battlefield was in ruins. Many soldiers were trapped with nowhere to escape and could only kneel down in surrender in a hurry.

Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Wang Luan knew that if he didn't leave, he would be defeated. Even though he was unwilling, he had no choice but to order a retreat.

After all, while the main force of the army has not been lost, there is still a chance to gather the remaining troops and retreat to Tangcang Town. If they delay any further, the more than 3,000 people will probably be wiped out by the Zhou army.

In a blink of an eye, the Shu army's rear army became the front army and retreated in panic towards the entrance of Huanghua Valley.

"kill!"

The deafening shouts echoed through the valley. The army of the Later Zhou Dynasty pursued the Shu army all the way to the fork in the road leading to Tangcang.

However, after receiving instructions from Li Yi, Li Hanchao hurriedly sounded the retreat and strictly ordered his troops not to pursue the Shu army.

Wang Changgong, still feeling unsatisfied, went to Li Hanchao in his bloodstained armor and complained, "The Shu army has been frightened out of their wits. We should have chased them down and captured them all. Why did we let them escape?"

Li Hanchao glanced at Wang Changgong. This guy fought like he didn't care about his life. He rushed forward and killed countless people. His whole body seemed to be washed with blood. The blood stains on his face were mixed with dust, like a layer of red mud.

Li Hanchao shook his head and said, "Commander Wang, don't you know the principle of not pursuing a desperate enemy? Besides, our soldiers just fought fiercely and are exhausted. They are all infantry. How can we pursue them?"

"Besides, Li Du Yu Hou has also issued an order. We are only responsible for ambushing the Shu army in Huanghua Valley and forcing them back to Tangcang Town."

He frowned slightly as he spoke, "Don't blame me for not warning Commander Wang. Your earlier rash advances were excused by Li Duyuhou, considering your meritorious service in the first battle. But if you do it again now, no one will be able to protect you."

"Oh, I just said that casually."

Wang Changgong chuckled, then said enviously, "Li Pai Zhen Shi is truly highly regarded by Li Du Yu Hou, to have given you such a good assignment. Upon returning to Tokyo, Li Pai Zhen Shi will surely rise several levels."

After hearing this, Li Hanchao neither admitted nor denied it, but he felt a little proud in his heart, and couldn't help thinking: You think I am just respected, but you don't know that Li Du Yuhou and I are sworn brothers.

My eldest brother is in a high position and has great power, and I, as his brother, can benefit from it as well. Is this a benefit that ordinary people can only dream of?

Of course, Li Hanchao only thought about these words in his mind.

He said modestly, "We are all the same. Li Du Yu Hou sees who has made contributions and who has made mistakes. It won't be a matter of a word from him. Li Du Yu Hou will help everyone to get credit. We just need to fight hard."

Wang Changgong said hurriedly, "Li Paizhenshi is right. We have definitely made a great contribution this time. If Li Duyuhou hadn't recommended us for the credit, who would we go to brag about it?"

While the two were talking, the battlefield was still in chaos.

Screams and cries of pain could be heard everywhere, and the valley was littered with corpses and wounded soldiers. Groups of Shu soldiers laid down their weapons and knelt on the ground, while the Zhou army shouted at them to gather together.

This ambush lasted only half a day from start to finish, but the results were remarkable. After a rough inventory.

There were nearly a thousand Shu soldiers killed, wounded or captured!

Li Hanchao did not care about the delay. He arranged half of his men to send the Shu army prisoners and spoils to the rear, and then he took the remaining half of the men and marched faster towards Weiwu City.

According to the instructions Li Yi gave him before leaving, the ambush in Huanghua Valley was just an appetizer and the main event was yet to come.

Now that the Shu army has left Tangcang Town, it won't be easy to return...

(End of this chapter)