Your Majesty said that my life is worthless, so why are you crying when I increase my troops?

Cao Sheng never expected that Xia Mingyuan would be so decisive and would take action as soon as he said so.

Before he could react, Wang Gangyi led the cavalry and charged towards the army.

"Quick, form a defensive formation and stop their cavalry!"

Cao Sheng roared angrily, whipped his horsewhip, and rushed forward to fight.

However, the next moment, Wang Gang rushed in front of him at a speed as fast as lightning.

Cao Sheng was horrified and quickly raised his weapon to defend himself. Wang Gang was a first or second rank warrior, so how could he give him a chance?

In just one round, Cao Sheng was caught off guard and was knocked off his horse by a single blow.

The main general was defeated, and the troops in the rear suddenly became chaotic, like loose sand.

Wang Ganger led the cavalry as if they were in an empty land.

"General Cao was killed in battle. We are no match for them. Let's retreat!"

Someone shouted something in the crowd, and the army's morale immediately collapsed. Thousands of infantrymen were frightened and fled in all directions.

Xia Mingyuan held the reins in his hand, standing there expressionlessly. "We are deep behind enemy lines, and we must not reveal our whereabouts. Everyone, listen up! Don't let any fleeing soldiers escape. Capture them all!"

When Wang Ganger heard the order, he immediately roared and rushed forward at a faster speed.

Cavalry versus infantry, without any formation, the entire battlefield became a one-sided massacre almost in the blink of an eye.

The valley was flooded with blood and corpses were everywhere.

Cao Sheng woke up slowly and was brought to Xia Mingyuan, tied up.

Earlier, Wang Gang gathered his strength and swung his knife, cutting off his arm. At this moment, he was grimacing in pain, with cold sweat on his forehead.

"Which army are you from? Where are you going? What is your purpose?"

Xia Mingyuan sat on the horse, looking down at Cao Sheng.

"Humph, you're asking even though you already know the answer!" Cao Sheng's face was cold and indifferent. He said coldly, "I am following the orders of the prefect, Lord Han, to send troops to Hanyang to destroy the rebels and execute you, the traitor."

"presumptuous!"

Wang Gang kicked him to the ground.

"You bastard, you've fallen into our hands, and you still dare to speak so shamelessly here? If you dare to speak rudely to the commander-in-chief again, believe it or not, I will kill you right now."

Cao Sheng's expression changed slightly, but he still turned around and said, "Since I have fallen into the hands of you rebels, I have never thought of returning alive."

"I, Cao Sheng, am waiting here. You can kill me or chop me up as you wish."

Xia Mingyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"I never expected that I would run into another tough guy."

"I know you're not afraid of death, but now that you've fallen into my hands, it won't be that easy to die."

After the words fell, Xia Mingyuan turned around and looked at Wang Gangyi, "Strip off all his clothes, stop the bleeding, take him back to Hanyang, and hang it on the city gate for his colleagues to see."

"This is what happens to the so-called bandit-fighting general when he meets us."

"you……"

When Cao Sheng heard this, his face turned pale and he was so angry that he couldn't speak.

Xia Mingyuan glanced at him coldly and said, "Cao Sheng, judging from your attire, you are a respectable person compared to those in Huaiqing Prefecture."

"This commander will give you a chance. As long as you tell me the real purpose of your trip, I can give you a decent treatment. How about it?"

Xia Mingyuan's words made Cao Sheng look a little hesitant.

He gritted his teeth, raised his head and said, "I've already told you, I'm going to Hanyang to fight the bandits in accordance with the imperial order, and I'm the vanguard."

"Why don't you take the official road, but take the small road?"

Xia Mingyuan continued to ask with a cold face.

"Hmph, taking a shortcut will allow me to kill you thieves as soon as possible!" Cao Sheng roared with a gloomy face at the top of his lungs.

Xia Mingyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He waved his hand gently and said, "Take off his clothes and escort him back to Hanyang."

"Xia Mingyuan, you bastard!" Cao Sheng was furious and struggled hard. "You don't keep your word, and you're considered a hero."

Xia Mingyuan flicked his whip and slowly stepped forward. "Cao Sheng, according to the intelligence I received, the Huaiqing Prefecture army had already set out half a day ago."

"If you were truly the vanguard, you would have set out before the main army. But now you're half a day behind. Could you explain to this commander why you're so anxious?"

Cao Sheng was shocked and looked at Xia Mingyuan in disbelief. "How do you know all this?"

"These are all combat secrets. Could it be that you have planted an informant in Huaiqing Mansion?"

Xia Mingyuan grinned and deliberately spread his hands towards Cao Sheng, "If there were no people under my command in Huaiqing Prefecture, how could we have met by chance?"

Hearing this, Cao Sheng's eyes became even dimmer.

"Tell me, what is your purpose? Why do you have to reach Hanyang before the main army?"

"As long as you tell me, I can consider giving you a way to live."

Cao Sheng's face was struggling. He hesitated for a moment before finally sighing and looking at Xia Mingyuan with a serious expression.

"I originally thought you were just a rioter who didn't know the limits of heaven and earth, but I didn't expect you to even plant informants in Huaiqing Prefecture. It seems like you had this planned long ago."

"Well, if that's the case, I'll tell you the whole story. I fell into your hands today only because the young prince insisted on going with the army despite repeated attempts to dissuade me."

"Lord Han is worried about his safety and has sent me to take a secret shortcut to reach Hanyang ahead of time to eliminate any hidden dangers."

"Little Prince?" Xia Mingyuan looked a little surprised and suddenly asked, "But Xia Lingfeng?"

Cao Sheng was startled and nodded quickly, "Exactly."

"This little prince is only six or seven years old. How could he know how to fight? Yet, Your Majesty sent him here, causing our Huaiqing army to be tied up. Otherwise, how could we have reached this situation today?"

"This young prince bears half the responsibility for this capture."

Xia Mingyuan raised the corner of his mouth and a sneer appeared on his face.

"Xia Lingfeng, if he stays in Huaiqing Mansion obediently, this commander really won't be able to do anything to him."

"I didn't expect that he would be so reckless."

"Well, this also gives me a chance."

Xia Mingyuan's eyes revealed a hint of murderous intent as he looked at Cao Sheng, "Is Xia Lingfeng's mother also in the army?"

Cao Sheng shook his head. "The Queen has been traveling a long way and is feeling unwell. She is now recuperating in Huaiqing Mansion."

Hearing this, Xia Mingyuan nodded slightly and turned to look at Wang Gangyi.

"Kill all the captives and give General Cao a respectable burial."

Cao Sheng's face changed slightly, and he struggled to look at Xia Mingyuan, "Didn't you say you would let me live? Xia Mingyuan, how could you go back on your word?"

Xia Mingyuan sneered and said calmly, "General Cao, you really don't know what's good for you. I'm helping you."

"If you were taken prisoner, it would be no different from being stripped naked and hung on the city wall to be humiliated."

"At this time, only death can save your reputation..."

"How can this be the same?"

Cao Sheng shook his head desperately, but before he could continue speaking, Wang Gang took a step forward, the knife flashed, Cao Sheng's eyes widened, he covered his throat, and fell to the ground with a bang.