Translator: Antonia
Fang Junqian narrowed his eyes and looked into the deep distant sky. The setting sun, red as blood, dyed the curving clouds into millions of golden snakes spitting flaming tongues, making a unique scene. He slowly walked down the tower and merged into the troops, yet the silver armor and red scarf among armors and weapons could be seen at first glance! Whenever, wherever and no matter how many people were around, he was always the first to be seen— Probably, this was what an emperor carried naturally with him.
The evening breeze blew gently. Xiao Qingyu, in the wheelchair, wore white clothes, the corners of which flapped to the wind, as if the next moment, he would melt away with the setting sun.
Fang Junqian"s eyes were firm and frosty cold. Where his gaze reached, the soldiers couldn"t help squaring their shoulders, face flus.h.i.+ng due to excitement.
The youthful faces of the young soldiers gave Fang Junqian no glory but only pressure on him. He had no idea how many of them could be taken back after this journey.
The steeds were all, swords sharp, soldiers disciplined and morale high. Bafang Army was ready to set off and give Xiongye a fatal blow!
“Have wine before we go!” Fang Junqian"s clanking voice was tinted with killing.
The captains of each formation stood up and poured spirit for every soldier.
Fang Junqian, Xiao Qingyu, Jia Muqi, Li Shenghu, Tai Yan, Yu Bin, Qi Wuyou, Gao You… The generals on the oath stage all raised the bowls.
“Advisor Qi, and General Gao! Bafang will be entrusted to you!”
Qi Wuyou and Gao You looked dignified, “We"ll perform our duties! We wish Duke and Bafang Army great luck and returning with victory!!”
The generals smiled, raised their heads and drank up the wine in their bowls! Instantly, they felt a heated stream of liquid flowing down into their stomach, and the heat surged up to burn bodily.
All the general neatly displayed their bowls—not a drop left!
At once, there was voice of discussion and praise: It was nothing for the generals. They didn"t expect the scholarly-looking Xiao Qingyu and Qi Wuyou also had such spirits!
Fang Junqian shattered the bowls into pieces, shouting in good feather, “Invincible Bafang!!”
The millions of people drank the wine and smashed the bowls at the same time, the sound of which lasted long.
Suddenly the whole army was in high morale, roaring as loud as thunder, “Invincible Bafang!!”
The expedition was to begin!
“Get on horse. Set off!”
In clanking of the horses, the troop advanced onto Xiongye along Bafang"s moat.
The cavalry galloped speedily at the foremost; the long team of grains carriages were pushed in the middles; the infantry carrying weapons marched vigorously on the back. The soldiers formed an endless stream.
The desire of riding the whirlwind took root in Fang Junqian"s heart. The blood of the son of heroes was waking up.
He looked down at the man in white next to him.
Wasteland. Setting sun. Drum thunders. Equipped soldiers. Weapons and battlefield. There were fierce fights between famous commanders, between the elite troops of Bafang and Xiongye, grander and spectacular as shooting meteors.
Born into this troubled age and fighting with a beloved one against the most powerful cavalry in this world— No regrets in this life!
In the year 325, Duke Yingwu Fang Junqian took the imperial edict and went on an expedition against Xiongye, taking with him personally a total of a million soldiers, including two hundred thousand cavalries and eight hundred thousand infantries, and marching to the north!
The series of battles between Bafang and Xiongye were later called “Kuanglan Battle”. The fame of “the Peerless Duo” for Fang Junqian and Xiao Qingyu was also known to the world after this battle!
Probably Duke Fang was blessed by heaven. On the fourth day after Bafang started attacking, the Xiongye King, Murong Zhan, who had been injured, finally died, even without leaving words about the heir.
His several sons scuffled for the throne, pus.h.i.+ng the rule at stake! The Xiongye Dynasty was precarious!