Zhi Wei’s army first suffered a crushing defeat. In mere hours, over eighty thousand perished, leaving only slightly more than sixty thousand from the original one hundred and fifty thousand force.
Next, the bridge over the Tianshui River behind the army was destroyed, cutting off their retreat.
Then, their grain and fodder stores were burned.
Finally, Sauron’s griffin cavalry subjected the surviving fifty thousand plus troops to four days and four nights of unceasing aerial bombardment, depriving them of sleep for the entire duration.
Their spirits were utterly exhausted, their bodies on the verge of collapse, and their morale had completely crumbled.
Then, Sauron suddenly unleashed twenty-five thousand cavalry, rested and waiting at ease, fierce beyond measure, charging straight at Zhi Wei’s camp.
Though it was twenty-five thousand against over fifty thousand.
One side had recuperated for more than ten days, their fighting spirit soaring to the heavens, their energy abundant, their soldiers strong and horses robust.
The other side, though numbering over fifty thousand, was utterly exhausted, dispirited and dejected, having not slept properly for four days and four nights, trembling even while standing.
Moreover, to prevent a recurrence of the stampede panic among the warhorses, Zhi Wei had dispersed his more than twenty thousand cavalry among various camps.
Thus at this moment, his fifty thousand plus remnants possessed not a single effective force capable of blocking Sauron’s twenty-five thousand cavalry.
Under the command of Ashi Liren and Yan Naier, the twenty-five thousand cavalry accelerated, accelerated, accelerated…
The defensive fortifications of Zhi Wei’s camp had already been completely bombed into flat ground, now an open plain offering no obstacle to Sauron’s cavalry.
Feeling the ground tremble in waves, Zhi Wei struggled to stand upon the command platform, watching Sauron’s cavalry surge forth like a tide of ferocious beasts, his heart filled with waves of terror.
He clearly sensed that his doom had arrived.
“Rally, rally, form ranks, form ranks…”
His subordinate commanders were unwilling to abandon their final hope, punching and kicking soldiers into formation for one last battle.
Countless soldiers struggled to rise, gripping their weapons tightly, hastily forming defensive positions. Though crooked and askew, it was at least a formation.
Originally, they had wished to gather the cavalry dispersed among the camps to engage Sauron’s cavalry in direct combat.
But clearly there was no time.
Exerting tremendous effort, the elite commanders under Zhi Wei managed to assemble several tens of thousands of troops into formation.
After the previous crushing defeat, Zhi Wei’s army had retreated seven li, then made camp intending to besiege the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Seven li was less than a quarter hour’s ride for elite cavalry.
Twenty-five thousand cavalry, accelerating, accelerating, accelerating…
The warhorses, rested for so many days, fed fine grain, alfalfa, and eggs, were filled with tremendous power.
From the moment the gates of the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line opened, Zhi Wei’s army knew that Sauron’s final attack had begun.
Time was pressing. In less than two quarters of an hour, the utterly exhausted and dispirited fifty thousand plus troops barely completed their final assembly.
Fifty thousand troops arrayed in five square formations, facing the surging tide of Sauron’s cavalry.
“Rumble rumble rumble rumble…”
Sauron’s cavalry drew closer and closer.
Two li.
One li.
Three hundred metres.
Two hundred metres.
One hundred metres.
Facing the ferocious and formidable Sauron cavalry now within arm’s reach, Zhi Wei’s soldiers’ legs trembled uncontrollably. By now they had long forgotten their exhaustion, knowing only boundless fear, icy cold.
Fifty metres.
Thirty metres.
Ten metres…
“BOOM…”
Sauron’s twenty-five thousand cavalry crashed directly into Zhi Wei’s army formation.
A thunderous roar.
Like towering waves crashing against a dam.
The Rouran warhorses, renowned throughout the world, tall and mighty, weighing a thousand catties, brought an incomparable impact force at full gallop.
A brief moment of resistance, then an unstoppable breakthrough.
“Thud thud thud thud thud…”
Upon being struck head-on, Zhi Wei’s army instantly suffered broken bones and shattered sinews, countless corpses sent flying through the air.
The terrifying kinetic energy instantly shattered Zhi Wei’s defensive formation into pieces.
The exhausted Zhi Wei army was completely unable to resist.
The elite Rouran cavalry needed to do nothing but draw their sabres and hold them horizontally.
The sharp sabres, propelled by the astonishing momentum of the warhorses, swiftly sliced through each enemy.
Viewed from above.
Zhi Wei’s fifty thousand plus troops appeared as a dense black mass, their formation stretching several li in length and width after assembly.
Sauron’s twenty-five thousand cavalry gleamed with silver light.
After the collision, they advanced like ploughing a field, crushing everything in their path.
Layer after layer of Zhi Wei’s remnant defensive formations were broken through.
Countless soldiers died beneath the warhorses’ impact, beneath the sabres’ dismemberment.
The expressions of the soldiers behind began to change drastically, filled with utter terror, utter horror.
Already low in morale, compounded by days and nights without sleep, the remaining tens of thousands of soldiers finally completely collapsed when faced with the arrival of death.
The first soldier suddenly threw down his weapon and began fleeing to both sides, unwilling to resist the madly charging Sauron cavalry.
Then the second, the third…
Finally, the surviving Zhi Wei army completely collapsed.
The barely assembled formation instantly scattered, countless soldiers fleeing madly.
“Surrender and be spared, surrender and be spared, surrender and be spared…”
“Surrender and be spared!”
Sauron’s cavalry shouted in unison.
The fleeing soldiers of Zhi Wei’s army hastily threw down their weapons, clasped their heads in their hands, and knelt upon the ground.
Countless soldiers dodged the cavalry’s charge, darting to both sides to kneel in surrender.
…
Though he had anticipated this scene, when it truly occurred, Zhi Wei still felt his body turn ice cold, his heart wrung with pain.
One hundred and fifty thousand troops. He had spent seven or eight years building this army.
Over these years, the gold coins invested in this army amounted to nearly a million.
An army raised for a thousand days, used for but one day.
Yet when this army was truly put to use, it was completely annihilated.
His seven or eight years of painstaking effort, the soldiers of the entire Southeastern Province, all lost beneath the Wind Thunder Fortress.
One could not blame this army for poor combat effectiveness. In truth, though this army could not be called the finest in the world, both its soldiers and commanders were exceptionally outstanding.
Throughout the entire battlefield, the soldiers feared not death, dared to fight and strike. Even facing terrible circumstances, there were no major mutinies. They only knelt to surrender at the very end.
The senior commanders too were meticulous, committing no errors in command or tactics.
The only one who erred was he, the supreme commander, erring again and again.
First, his vanity and ambition led him to attack the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line without waiting for the arrival of Tu Lingtuo’s army, without even having time to properly encamp.
After suffering the crushing defeat, he refused to accept reality. He should have led his army to retreat and defend Baiyun County City. Though this would have caused tremendous damage to his reputation and prospects, it would at least have preserved the surviving sixty thousand plus troops.
But for his own selfish interests, he made the decision to hold position and besiege the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
Then he allowed Sauron to destroy the bridge over the Tianshui River behind him and eliminate the defenders on the western bank. From that moment, the fate of Zhi Wei’s army was sealed, their retreat completely cut off.
“The soldiers were not wrong, the commanders were not wrong. The only one who was wrong was I, Zhi Wei!”
“The pain is unbearable…”
With a cry of agony, Duke Zhi Wei clutched his chest, his face contorted, a mouthful of black blood spurting forth as he collapsed directly to the ground, his life hanging in the balance.
“Father, Father…”
“Your Grace, Your Grace…”
Dozens of warriors rushed forward to lift Duke Zhi Wei.
“Your Lordship, we must flee immediately. Take His Grace and flee immediately. Once we fall into Sauron’s hands, the consequences will be unthinkable!”
Thus, Lord Zhi You hastily changed his garments. Over one hundred trusted warriors and dozens of dragon archers protected the unconscious Duke Zhi Wei and Lord Zhi You as they fled amidst the chaos of the routed army, escaping towards the southern mountains.
In truth, several days prior, some had advised Zhi Wei to flee immediately, but all were refused.
He was a duke of great standing, he could not afford to lose such face. To abandon tens of thousands of troops and flee before the battle was ended, he simply could not bear such shame.
Yet in the end, he still had to flee, and in such haste and disgrace.
Lord Zhi You’s heart was filled with bitter sorrow. Having been defeated so utterly, even if they escaped, he would likely spend his remaining days as an idle member of the royal house.
Originally, he had wished to inherit his father’s position as Governor of the Southeastern Province, but now that prospect was completely ruined.
For the days to come, he would have to live as a turtle withdrawing into its shell, watching the Tu Ling family strut about arrogantly.
But being able to escape was the most important thing of all.
Protected by over one hundred trusted warriors, Lord Zhi You climbed the mountain with hands and feet alike, his palms and soles soon torn and bleeding.
Exerting tremendous effort, they finally climbed this mountain seven or eight hundred metres in elevation.
Looking down upon the entire battlefield from above.
Truly, a routed army is like a mountain collapsing. The battle below was already in its final stages.
From the moment the first soldier knelt to surrender, the remaining tens of thousands of soldiers, like wheat blown by the wind, all knelt down.
From the cavalry charge to the battle’s end, the duration was probably less than one hour.
One hour. Twenty-five thousand cavalry had completely crushed fifty thousand troops.
Lord Zhi You felt pain in his heart, but also boundless terror.
Nearly two years ago, when he first met Sauron at Gui Xingfu’s Linhai City Lord’s manor, though incomparably handsome, Sauron was like a stray dog with nowhere to call home.
At that time, how could Zhi You have regarded Sauron with even half an eye? He had completely joined forces with Gui Xingfu to bully and humiliate him.
Yet in less than two short years, Gui Xingfu had become the stray dog, his Linhai City occupied.
And he, a royal scion, the future Duke of the Southeast, was also fleeing like a stray dog.
Truly, fate is a cruel trickster!
Now all hope could only be placed upon Duke Tu Lingtuo.
Compared to his father Zhi Wei, Tu Lingtuo was a seasoned and wily veteran of the battlefield. He held two hundred thousand troops, three times Sauron’s number.
Moreover, Sauron’s army, having fought two major battles in such a short time, was already weary. They would surely prove no match for Tu Lingtuo’s two hundred thousand troops.
Perhaps the fall of Tianshui City was still an unavoidable outcome.
Only, all the merit and glory would belong to Tu Lingtuo alone.
His father Zhi Wei would become that pitiable stepping stone.
…
By now, the over one hundred trusted warriors protecting Zhi You and Duke Zhi Wei had already travelled far from the battlefield, on the verge of escaping to safety.
Lord Zhi You said, “They all say Sauron is unmatched in cunning and strategy. I see he is nothing special. We have escaped this far, yet he has not even sent anyone in pursuit!”
The marching secretary beside him smiled, “After Your Lordship escapes, do not go to the royal capital. Go directly to Duke Tu Lingtuo’s army. Report everything that happened here in detail to Duke Tu Lingtuo, then assist him in destroying the Sauron clan. At that time, there will still be merit for Your Lordship.”
Lord Zhi You’s eyes brightened, “Excellent. When that time comes, I shall certainly flay Sauron alive, pull out his tendons, and grind his bones to dust!”
At this moment, suddenly a top expert of the Black Ice Residence changed colour, “Someone!”
Before the words had finished.
“BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM…”
Waves of earth-shaking explosions.
“Protect the Duke, protect the Lord…”
Dozens of warriors used their own living bodies to shield Duke Zhi Wei and Lord Zhi You.
In this narrow valley, explosions erupted everywhere, rubble flying in all directions.
To protect Zhi Wei’s safety, to prevent him from being slain by Gao Yin with the Divine Dragon King’s staff, Zhi Li had dispatched dozens of dragon warrior level experts for protection.
And now, amidst these heaven-shaking explosions.
Even dragon warrior level experts could not avoid being torn to pieces, their hands and legs severed.
Had this been any other open area, these experts could have dodged at the fastest speed.
But here the terrain was perilously narrow, with nowhere to dodge, high cliffs blocking both sides.
“BOOM BOOM BOOM…”
The earth-shaking explosions rose and fell in succession.
Massive boulders flew through the air, the cliffs on both sides collapsing one after another.
These warriors, needing to protect Zhi You and Zhi Wei, simply could not flee.
In the blink of an eye, they were buried beneath countless collapsing boulders.
Moments later, Sauron, Zhi Yan, Zhuang Zhixuan, and dozens of Shadow Pavilion experts emerged.
Looking at the blasted and ruined canyon cliffs, Zhi Wei, Zhi Li, and many warriors were already buried beneath countless massive boulders.
They had fled quickly, but still could not escape Sauron’s grasp.
He had long since laid a dragnet here, burying an astronomical quantity of gunpowder.
How did he know that Zhi You and Zhi Wei would certainly flee along this path?
Very simple. On the opposite bank of the river was Yan Yan’s army.
The northern mountains were blocked by the Nu River, nowhere to go.
The southern mountains led directly to the southern border, where they could rendezvous with Tu Lingtuo’s army. Thus, in such haste, Zhi You and the others would certainly flee in this direction, and here there was only one perilously narrow mountain path, a place they must pass through.
Of course, as a precaution, he had also placed explosives along the northern mountain path and ambushed Shadow Pavilion experts there.
But the focus remained on these southern mountains. As expected, Zhi You and the others had voluntarily stepped into Sauron’s trap, delivering themselves to his door.
Seeing Zhi Wei, Zhi You, and over one hundred warriors buried beneath the rubble.
Sauron first produced a toxic smoke agent, pouring it through the gaps between the buried stones.
This was a potent anaesthetic. After inhaling it, one’s consciousness would become muddled, one’s body limp and weak.
Now the people inside were buried, the space cramped, pressed beneath tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of catties of boulders, unable to turn over. They would inevitably inhale this anaesthetic toxin.
Once their combat ability was lost, these people could only be completely captured, left to Sauron’s mercy.
…
Heaven knows how many hours passed.
Duke Zhi Wei faintly awoke, his entire body numb, in agony, icy cold.
Struggling to open his eyes, the first thing he saw was… Sauron!
He thought he was dreaming, and shook his head violently, opening his eyes once more.
This time he saw clearly. It was still Sauron!
The most terrible thing had happened. He had been captured.
The Governor of the Southeastern Province, the right arm of His Highness Zhi Li, Duke Zhi Wei, had been captured by Sauron!