Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

"Zheng Qian, don't run away."

Zhang Zhi roared in fury. Zhou Zhu had been killed right under his nose; this was the greatest insult to him.

Zhou Zhu is not only his good brother who has been through thick and thin with him for many years, but also the head of the Zhou family, one of the four great families. He is concerned with the reputation of the family, and even if he is the Grand Marshal of the State, he will be greatly affected.

Po Yue Longqi had 50,000 troops, and their military expenses came from Zhou Zhu's family.

Zheng leaped onto his warhorse, "Haha, Marshal Zhang, I'll be waiting for you up ahead. Let's fight to the death!"

Looking at Zheng Qian's retreating figure, Zhang Zhi wished he could drink his blood, pull out his tendons, and peel his skin off.

Even if he annihilated the Xuanhu Army and the Fenghuo Army, the death of the deputy marshal would still be a failure for him.

However, how could he possibly catch up with Zheng Qian, who was dressed in silk and carrying no weight, when he was wearing full armor and carrying more than 300 pounds of weapons?

The spatial ring on Zheng Qian's hand was very magical; Zheng Qian could put all his things inside without adding any weight.

Cavalry is different from infantry. Zheng Qian was able to massacre the Red Turban Army because they did not have a well-organized cavalry force, nor could they make full use of the mobility of their few thousand cavalrymen. Otherwise, Zheng Qian would not have been able to kill them so easily.

Yan City is 80 li in circumference and is currently defended by four armies: the Xuanhu Army, the Poyue Dragon Cavalry, the veteran garrison of Yan City, and the 30,000-strong Hongfu Army located 80 li away.

The 50,000 Xuanhu Army was divided into three parts. Wang Yue and Li Ying's troops rushed to attack Hongfu Army, while Zhao Long, Zhang Yi and Ma Teng led 30,000 Xuanhu Army to retreat without taking any tents, only one day's rations.

Meanwhile, Zheng Qian, the commander and soul of the Xuanhu Army, was galloping wildly on horseback, followed by the thunderous hooves of 70,000 Poyue Dragon Riders, their momentum overwhelming like a surging tide.

"Giddy up..." Zheng Qian kept cracking his whip as he galloped along the three-meter-wide official road.

After running for a few minutes, the official road was no longer flat, but entered a lush, tree-lined forest.

A figure darted through the shadows, his silhouette appearing eerily strange in the sunlight. Dressed in a black bodysuit, he seemed to blend into the darkness, his gaze fixed intently on the speeding Zheng Qian, before finally disappearing at a bend in a tree-lined path.

Zheng Qian continued running, completely unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.

The black figure seemed to blend into the shadows. As Zheng Qian passed by, he brandished the dagger in his hand, and a sharp killing intent instantly spread out.

Zheng Qian felt the murderous aura and his heart tightened. A black dagger had already reached his carotid artery, as if he had run into the dagger.

Zheng Qian's heart pounded wildly; he knew he was facing a life-or-death situation. In that critical moment, relying on his martial arts experience and reflexes, he reacted swiftly, tilting his head to the side in an inhuman manner, barely dodging a fatal blow.

A flicker of fear crossed Zheng Qian's eyes. He hadn't expected to encounter such a master on this official road. He turned around and saw the mysterious master had reappeared in his sight, his cold eyes fixed on him as if he wanted to devour him.

The mysterious expert vanished in a flash, reappearing before Zheng Qian's horse. His dagger flashed like a cold light, aimed straight for Zheng Qian's throat.

However, Zheng Qian was prepared. He shifted his body and dodged the fatal blow. At the same time, two short swords appeared in his hands, which he swiftly swung out, clashing with the dagger of some expert, producing a crisp metallic clang.

The mysterious expert, having missed his first attack, vanished in a flash. He knew the assassination attempt had failed, and continuing would only reveal his location. Therefore, he decisively retreated, disappearing into the shadows where the sunlight couldn't reach.

"What a brilliant assassination technique," Zheng Qian murmured. He had almost died twice today, both times due to sneak attacks, which served as a wake-up call for him.

Combat effectiveness is not just about head-on confrontation, but also includes assassination, poisoning, and intrigue. As long as you can kill the enemy, that is a manifestation of combat effectiveness.

The sunlight during the day greatly limited the mysterious master's assassination skills, but he still demonstrated amazing strength. If it were night, his assassination ability would be even more formidable.

We must be careful of this person during tonight's operation.

The sound of hooves echoed from below the mountain, with Zhang Zhi hot on his heels. Zheng Qian took a deep breath, pulled on the reins, and the horse let out a long neigh, continuing its headlong gallop. He couldn't chase after the mysterious expert; otherwise, being surrounded by the Broken Mountain Dragon Riders would put him in even greater danger.

The mysterious expert left decisively. Zheng Qian had just exchanged a sword strike with him, and the power was beyond his imagination. He had no confidence to fight Zheng Qian head-on.

Lanting Slope is not only a unique scenic spot outside the south gate of Yancheng, but also a strategic location on the way to various prefectures. Located ten miles from Yancheng, it was the perfect resting point for marching troops. An ancient and solemn pavilion—Lanting—stands quietly on this open land, witnessing countless historical changes with its steadfast posture.

The terrain of Lanting Slope is flat yet unique. One side borders the rocky city, appearing slightly low, while the other three sides are relatively high, acting as a natural barrier to protect this land. Even more remarkable is that three official roads converge here, like three giant dragons winding forward, stretching to the distant horizon. These roads were not only links connecting various regions but also the cornerstone of the nation's prosperity and stability.

The three deputy commanders, Zhao Long, Zhang Yi, and Ma Teng, stood like three majestic mountain peaks on their respective posts along the official road. Their gazes, like the brightest stars in the night sky, pierced the darkness, vigilantly capturing every movement in the distance.

Behind them was the dark, imposing array of the Xuanhu Army, resembling a boundless, dark ocean, its waves surging and unfathomable.

Zheng Qian's arrival shattered the tranquility. He stood in the center of the official road, gazing into the distance towards Yan City. His brow was furrowed, as if he were pondering some important strategic issue.

Soon, Zhang Zhi led his elite cavalry, the Broken Mountain Dragon Cavalry, in a whirlwind attack. Riding tall warhorses and wielding sharp weapons, they advanced with overwhelming force, heading straight for Lanting Slope.

Zhang Zhi, wielding a crescent-shaped blade, looked dashing and heroic. When he was about two kilometers away from Zheng Qian, he pulled his horse to a stop, his eyes solemn as he observed the situation ahead.

"Surrounded by iron cavalry," Zhang Zhi said in a deep voice.

This tactical term resonated across the battlefield like thunder. "Iron Cavalry Encirclement" is a tactic of attacking the enemy from three sides with heavy cavalry. Once deployed, it's like an impenetrable wall, leaving the enemy nowhere to escape. And on this terrain, the Xuanhu Army, occupying the high ground, can launch even more ferocious dive attacks, maximizing the advantages of their heavy cavalry.

Upon hearing Zhang Zhi's words, Zheng Qian's face broke into a smug smile. He called out to Zhang Zhi, "Marshal Zhang, what do you think of this terrain?"

Zhang Zhi snorted coldly and replied disdainfully, "Zheng Qian, do you think you can win this war just by virtue of the terrain? War is a contest of wisdom and courage, not simply a comparison of troop strength. Your Xuanhu Army may be powerful, but if it lacks military strategy and cannot command its troops in battle, it will ultimately suffer a crushing defeat!"

His words were like a sharp sword, aimed directly at Zheng Qian's weakness, and used his momentum to suppress Zheng Qian.

Zheng Qian had never led an army, nor had he had any experience in commanding tens of thousands of people in battle. He also did not understand the fighting methods of the Xuanhu Army and the Poyue Dragon Cavalry. As long as his command made a mistake, Zhang Zhi could magnify it little by little until the Xuanhu Army was wiped out.

Zhang Zhi, he has that confidence.

A hint of mockery flashed in Zheng Qian's eyes. "Marshal Zhang, everyone knows who is stronger and who is weaker in this terrain. I promised a friend I would let you go three times. This is the first time. You still have two more chances. If you are not afraid of death, I, Zheng Qian, will be waiting for you ahead. Let's fight to the death."

Zheng Qian turned his horse around and galloped off in Zhao Long's direction, issuing orders at the same time.

"Xuanhu Army, listen to my command, retreat ten miles."