Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

An hour.

It was enough for the main force to retreat to the Huai River ferry twenty miles away, enough to organize a river crossing, and enough to escape alive.

But the price is that these 10,000 people will become pawns to be sacrificed.

They became victims of the Chu army's slaughter.

Li Shiming closed his eyes.

He knew Xue Che was right.

This is the only option, and the best option.

Exchanging 10,000 for 30,000, sacrificing some for the lives of the majority—this is the coldest logic of war.

but……

"General Xue," Li Shimin said slowly, "do you know what it means to stay behind to cover the retreat?"

"I will know."

Xue Che raised his head, his face showing no fear, only the resolute determination of a soldier carrying out an order: "It means that this humble general and those ten thousand soldiers may not be able to return."

"Then you still..."

"It is precisely because I know this that I must stay."

Xue Che interrupted Li Shimin, his voice resolute: "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven, the monarch of the Great Tang."

"As long as you are still here, there is still hope for the Tang Dynasty. As for us generals... we are soldiers, and dying on the battlefield wrapped in horsehide is our destiny."

He paused, then suddenly grinned, though the smile aggravated his wound, causing him to wince in pain.

"Moreover, I have followed Your Majesty for twenty years, rising from a lowly captain to the great general I am today. I have enjoyed wealth and honor, and achieved fame and fortune. My life has been worthwhile."

Li Shimin stared intently at Xue Che, at this general whose face was covered in blood but whose smile remained calm, and his throat tightened.

He wanted to say something, to refuse, to order Xue Che to retreat together.

But reason told him that it wouldn't work.

The commander-in-chief of an army and the ruler of a country cannot act on emotion.

“Xue Che…” Li Shiming’s voice trembled slightly.

"Your Majesty need not say more."

Xue Che slowly stood up and took out a jade pendant from his pocket. It was a congratulatory gift from Li Shimin when his daughter was one month old.

He presented the jade pendant with both hands: "Please give this to my daughter in the future, Your Majesty, and tell her that her father died in battle and did not bring shame upon her."

Li Shimin took the jade pendant; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"besides……"

Xue Che paused, then his voice suddenly lowered: "If possible, Your Majesty, please... take care of my family."

He spoke these words so softly that they were almost drowned out by the clamor of the battlefield.

But Li Shiming heard it clearly.

He nodded emphatically: "I promise you, I will treat the Xue family well for three generations."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xue Che bowed deeply, then turned around and mounted his horse.

He didn't turn back, but roared hoarsely, "Rearguard troops—assemble!"

The order was given, and among the retreating Tang army, a force of about 10,000 men began to break away from the main force and turn to form ranks in the direction of the pursuing Chu army.

Most of these soldiers were wounded and their units were in disarray, but their eyes held a calm acceptance of their fate.

They know what they are doing.

I also know what the outcome of doing this will be.

But they did not hesitate.

Because they are soldiers.

Because their general was standing at the very front.

"Your Majesty, take care!"

Xue Che glanced one last time at Li Shiming's carriage, then turned his horse around, pointing his long sword forward:

"All soldiers—follow me to the death!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

Ten thousand people roared, their voices echoing across the desolate wilderness.

This rearguard, destined for a one-way trip, began to charge back against the relentless pursuit of the Chu army.

Li Shimin's carriage, escorted by the remaining 30,000 Tang soldiers, sped off towards the northeast.

He didn't look back.

Don't dare to look back.

Because he knew that with each glance, the rift in his heart would deepen.

Inside the carriage, Li Shiming gripped the jade pendant tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Tears finally streamed down the emperor's face.

Don't cry over failure.

He wept for the soldiers who were willing to die for him.

They wept for this cruel war.

She was also crying because of her own powerlessness.

"Xue Che..." he murmured to himself, "I...I'm sorry."

But war never apologizes.

It only uses blood and fire, life and death, to write the coldest facts.

At this moment, on the wasteland, Xue Che's 10,000-strong rearguard had already collided with the vanguard of the Chu army.

The final, bloody battle has begun.

On the desolate plains, smoke and dust obscured the sun.

Xue Che reined in his horse and stood atop a gentle slope, looking down at the rapidly approaching cloud of dust.

That was the Chu army's pursuing force, at least tens of thousands of cavalry, sweeping in like a tidal wave.

Behind him, 10,000 rear guards were urgently deploying defenses.

These 10,000 people were selected from among the 40,000 defeated soldiers.

They were not elite troops, but rather a relatively well-organized force that still had the will to fight.

Most of them came from Xue Che's personal guard or were veterans who voluntarily stayed in various camps.

At this moment, everyone was wounded and their armor was tattered, but there was an almost numb calm in their eyes.

They knew what staying meant.

They knew that running away might prolong their lives, but ultimately they would not escape the pursuit of the Chu army.

Since that's the case, we might as well fight to the death.

"Soldiers!"

Xue Che galloped back and forth on his horse in front of the formation, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears.

Look behind you—

He pointed his long sword to the northeast, where Li Shimin's imperial carriage was gradually moving away under the protection of 30,000 Tang soldiers.

"His Majesty is still alive! The dragon flag of the Great Tang Dynasty is still flying high! Every moment we hold out here gives His Majesty a better chance of survival, and gives the Great Tang Dynasty a better chance of survival!"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose: "I know you're afraid of dying! I'm afraid too!"

"But some things are more terrifying than death—that is to live, yet have to watch His Majesty perish, watch the Tang Dynasty fall, and watch our wives, children, and elderly parents become slaves of a conquered nation!"

"Would you like to?!"

"No!" Ten thousand people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

"it is good!"

Xue Che reined in his horse and planted his long sword heavily in the ground: "Since you are unwilling, then follow me—and fight the Chu army to the death here!"

"Even if we fight to the last man, we must let the Chu army know that the men of the Tang Dynasty will fight to the death and never surrender!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

Morale was ignited at that moment.

It wasn't a fanatical fighting spirit, but a tragic and resolute determination.

Xue Che said no more and began to make emergency deployments.

Although he was a fierce general, he had followed Li Shimin in battle for twenty years and had become familiar with military strategy through his exposure to it.

“Terrain officer!” he shouted sternly.

“Your subordinate is here!” An officer with a face covered in soot stepped forward.

"Immediately survey the surrounding terrain! How long and wide is this gentle slope? What is its gradient? Can a trench be dug? Is there a water source?"

The terrain officer thought for a moment and said, “Reporting to the general, this slope is about three li long from east to west and about one li wide from north to south. The slope is gentle and the soil is soft, so it is suitable for digging trenches.”

"Behind the slope is a dry stream, about three zhang wide and one zhang deep, which can serve as a natural barrier!"

These words immediately gave Xue Che confidence.