frightfiction Chapter 616: Zhang Xun is terrified when he is killed in battle
Chapter 616: Zhang Xun is terrified when he is killed in battle
Once the army had barely managed to stabilize its position, Yuan Yin was eager to deploy his forces and challenge Ma Chao. Seeing this, Zhang Xun, feeling uneasy, rushed forward to intervene. "Master Yuan, this is absolutely unacceptable!" Zhang Xun's brow furrowed, his expression anxious, his tone filled with earnestness. "Ma Chao has just won a battle, and his morale is high. Challenging him now is a long shot. Furthermore, our army was ambushed, and morale is unstable. We'd better take a long-term approach."
Yuan Yin refused to listen. He glared at Zhang Xun fiercely and shouted, "Shut up! You coward! When have I, a member of the Yuan family, ever suffered such humiliation? Ma Chao, this treacherous man, must be punished. Today I will make him give me an explanation!" After that, he shook off Zhang Xun's hand and strode forward.
Zhang Xun tried to persuade him again, but Yuan Yin's aura overwhelmed him. His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, finally dropping helplessly. He silently groaned, knowing Yuan Yin's noble status made it impossible for him to stop him. Yuan Yin arrived at the battlefront and, facing Ma Chao's camp, he unleashed a barrage of curses at the top of his lungs: "Ma Chao, you treacherous villain! We kindly offered you peace talks, delivered supplies, and agreed to a truce, yet you went back on your word and launched a surprise attack at night. What kind of hero are you?" His voice, hoarse with anger, echoed across the empty plains.
"You are unworthy of the respect of the world for your behavior!" Yuan Yin became more and more excited as he cursed, waving his hands in the air, and the anger on his face became more and more intense. "Today, if you still have a trace of shame in your heart, come out and fight me in an upright battle. Don't do such sneaky things!" Zhang Xun beside him was helpless and could only pray secretly that this challenge would not lead to a greater disaster.
Ma Chao's army, like a surging tide, unfurled with immense force and grandeur, the scene was awe-inspiring. Military flags clamored and fluttered in the wind. Soldiers stood tall and vigorous, their eyes gleaming with triumph, their bodies radiating an unstoppable aura. Ma Chao, atop a sturdy, towering steed, led his army of warriors with a majestic presence to the battlefront. The sunlight bathed them, outlining their resolute and heroic figures, like heavenly soldiers and generals descending from heaven.
When Yuan Yin saw Ma Chao emerge, his long-suppressed rage instantly burst through his rational dam, igniting fiercely. He took a sudden step forward, pointed a trembling finger at Ma Chao, and roared at the top of his lungs, "Ma Chao, you shameless wretch! How dare you break your promise and launch a surprise attack on our army? Today, I will exact revenge on you with blood!" His voice, brimming with endless hatred, seemed to ignite the very air, echoing across the empty battlefield.
Xu Shu sat steadily on his horse, his expression calm, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly in a confident smile. He rode forward unhurriedly, his voice clear and resonant, echoing over the battlefield like a mighty bell: "Deception is permitted in war; it is commonplace in the military. On the battlefield, victory is achieved through strategy. Why are you so angry?" His tone was calm and clear, each word imbued with irrefutable truth, like a bucket of cold water, attempting to quench Yuan Yin's rage, but instead only intensifying it.
"You... you're just making up stories!" Yuan Yin's face flushed red with anger, veins popping out of his forehead, his whole body trembling violently, hatred surging in his heart like a raging wave. He completely disregarded his image and continued to curse, those unbearable obscenities constantly spewing out of his mouth, as if only this could vent a little of the rage that was erupting like a volcano in his heart.
Xu Huang was naturally short-tempered, his character fiery. Listening to Yuan Yin's relentless rants, the rage within him could no longer be suppressed, instantly igniting into a raging flame. His eyes widened, his glare burning with a scorching intensity, and he roared, "Shut up!" The sound was like thunder, shaking the air around him. He then raised his bloodstained axe and charged forward like an arrow. The axe, gleaming in the sunlight, emanated a chilling aura, the blood stained on the blade betraying the bloody battle it had just endured.
"Who dares to fight me?" Xu Huang's voice resounded across the battlefield like a mighty bell, its waves resounding, jarring the eardrums and threatening to shake the entire battlefield. These provocative words, like a sharp spear, pierced the heart of Yuan Yin's camp.
In Yuan Yin's camp, two lieutenant generals exchanged glances, their fighting spirit ignited by Xu Huang's blatant provocation. A fierce determination to resist defeat surged within them, their blood boiling. Without hesitation, they spurred their horses forward, shouting, "Don't be so arrogant! I'll kill you today!" Their voices rang with determination and courage, yet they perhaps hadn't anticipated the brutal battle they were about to face.
The three of them instantly engaged in a chaotic battle, a flash of swords and sabers that was dazzling. The rapid and chaotic sound of horses' hooves and the sharp and piercing clash of weapons intertwined to create a battlefield symphony filled with blood and slaughter. Xu Huang possessed immense strength, wielding his axe with ferocious force. Each blow carried a tremendous force, as if it could split mountains and shatter rock. Though the two generals fought back with all their might, they gradually lost strength under Xu Huang's ferocious onslaught, their attacks becoming disorganized.
Xu Huang roared, his muscles tensing, veins bulging. He gripped the axe handle tightly with both hands, leaped high, and, using the strength of his body and the axe's inertia, slashed down with a fierce blow. One of the lieutenants was unable to dodge and was knocked off his horse by the fierce blow. Blood splattered everywhere, spreading across the ground in a shocking sight. Seeing this, the other lieutenant was startled, a flicker of fear in his eyes, and his attack faltered. Xu Huang seized this fleeting opportunity, advancing, and with another powerful blow, he also felled him.
After beheading the two, Xu Huang lifted his head and laughed heartily, a laugh resounding and heroic, filled with the triumph of a victor. He brandished his great axe and raced around the battlefield, the wind whipping up from it whirring and swaying as he lashed out at the enemy. "You think you can challenge me, Xu Huang? You are truly overestimating yourselves! Today, I will show you that the reputation of my lord is not something you can challenge!" His voice echoed across the battlefield, each word carrying immense power, striking fear into the enemy's heart and boosting the morale of his own troops.
Yuan Yin's face turned pale as paper as he watched this scene, his legs trembling uncontrollably. He was never one for fighting, and facing the fierce and imposing Xu Huang, he was filled with fear, a wave of dread that washed over him. He dared not order a fight, and could only watch helplessly as Xu Huang displayed his might.
Xu Huang returned to the camp triumphantly, and Ma Chao and the others applauded and cheered. Morale on his side was high, and the soldiers' eyes gleamed with excitement and pride, as if they had already seen the dawn of another victory. Meanwhile, Yuan Yin's side was demoralized, and every face was filled with fear, as if shrouded in a gloom, filled with despair about the future of the war.
Yuan Yin watched Xu Huang's triumphant return to the camp, his fury blazing, nearly uncontrollable. He turned sharply to look at Zhang Xun, his eyes filled with resentment and anger, and demanded, "Are we just going to let them run wild like this? Are we just going to swallow our anger like this?" His tone was as if he was going to devour Zhang Xun alive, and his saliva flew out.
Zhang Xun sighed helplessly, his face filled with bitterness and helplessness. He shook his head slightly, his tone sincere and tinged with worry. "Mr. Yuan, you don't understand. Ma Chao and his generals are all valiant and skilled fighters. Take Xu Huang, for example. He's incredibly strong and skilled in martial arts, and our men are simply no match for him. A rash attack would only lead to even greater losses." As he spoke, Zhang Xun raised his hand and pointed at the bodies of the two generals on the battlefield, his eyes etched with a trace of grief and regret.
But Yuan Yin simply wouldn't listen. His brows were twisted into a knot and he roared angrily: "Then let's push all our troops forward. I don't believe that with so many of us, we can't defeat them!" The voice was sharp and piercing, with a kind of desperate madness.
Zhang Xun groaned inwardly, thinking this fellow had no strategic understanding and only knew how to act recklessly. But Yuan Yin's status was noble, and he couldn't say it directly. He could only patiently plead, "Master Yuan, don't be impulsive. Our army has just suffered a surprise attack, and morale is unstable and low. A blind attack at this time is a serious military taboo. We should first stabilize our position and take a long-term view." Zhang Xun spoke, bowing his hands, his attitude extremely sincere.
Seeing Zhang Xun's reluctance to give the order for an attack, Yuan Yin found no outlet for his fury. His face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. Pointing a finger at Zhang Xun's nose, he angrily shouted, "You're a coward! You're so timid, you dare not attack! I see you've been frightened by Ma Chao and his men!" His words pierced Zhang Xun like sharp blades.
After saying this, Yuan Yin angrily swung his sleeves, turned around, and strode towards his own camp. His back was distorted by anger, and his footsteps were quick and heavy, as if he was going to step into deep pits in the ground.
Zhang Xun looked at Yuan Yin's departing back and shook his head helplessly. He knew he couldn't afford to let things get chaotic anymore, so he quickly ordered, "Order the entire army to hold the camp tightly and strengthen vigilance. No one is allowed to go into battle without permission. Also, immediately count the losses, calculate the number of casualties and material losses, and report back to me immediately!" The soldiers took the order and left. The camp immediately became busy, and a tense post-battle inventory and defensive deployment began.
By the time the inventory was complete, dusk had already fallen. The setting sun, a blood-red hue, cast a shadow over the battlefield, freshly ravaged by bloodshed, adding a touch of desolation and poignancy. Zhang Xun clutched the battle report, his hands trembling slightly, his face etched with solemnity and bitterness. In this single day's battle, over 6000 of his troops had been killed. Inside and outside the camp, the agonizing groans of the wounded echoed endlessly, the scene a horrific sight.
Zhang Xun, fully aware of the gravity of this matter, dared no longer consider Yuan Yin's reputation. He knew that if he failed to report the battle truthfully, the consequences would be disastrous if Yuan Shu learned the truth. So, he immediately summoned his messengers and solemnly instructed them, "You must swiftly deliver this battle report to our lord overnight. There must be no delay, and no concealment. You must fully inform our lord of the details of this battle." The messengers, upon receiving the order, quickly mounted their steeds and sped off in a cloud of dust.
After sending off the messenger, Zhang Xun returned to his tent alone and slumped in a chair, his expression exhausted and anxious. He knew that Yuan Shu would be furious upon learning of such a devastating loss. The thought of Yuan Shu's fury made Zhang Xun shu shudder, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. But at this moment, he had no choice but to wait quietly, to accept Yuan Shu's wrath, to await the judgment of fate. Inside the tent, the flickering candlelight stretched Zhang Xun's figure, and in the silent night, he seemed particularly lonely and helpless.