Fire Captain

Chu Qiao rode on horseback, commanding the Jiangzuo League members to resist the pursuers. Although each of the Jiangzuo League brothers could fight ten enemies at once, they were fewer in number after all. So Bai Ziyang had discussed with Chu Qiao at the beginning that they should make full use of the terrain to launch guerrilla warfare. Chang'an City had many alleys, which was not conducive to the human wave tactics where more people would lead to defeat, but was instead conducive to martial arts masters. In addition, the poisons and drugs prepared by Bai Ziyang allowed Chu Qiao and others to gain the upper hand for a while.

"Achu, the prince and his men have left the city safely. Let me tell you to retreat as soon as possible!" Zhong Yu, who was beside Yan Xun, hurried over at this time.

"Okay!" Chu Qiao looked at the situation and said, "I'll go inform Xiu Lijun and the others!"

Zhong Yu stopped her and said, "No need, the prince has already sent someone to notify them, you lead them to retreat quickly!"

Chu Qiao immediately said, "Zhen Ping, tell everyone to stop fighting and retreat as soon as possible!"

Zhen Ping accepted the order and said, "Yes!"

After Chu Qiao led everyone to reunite with Yan Xun, she glanced around and asked in surprise, "Yan Xun, where are the Xiu Li Army?"

Yan Xun said nonchalantly, "I think they were delayed for a moment, they should be here soon."

With Chu Qiao's intelligence, how could such words be hidden from her? Chu Qiao immediately understood what was going on and stepped onto the horse's back. Yan Xun had a bad feeling when he saw this and asked hurriedly, "Ah Chu, where are you going?"

Chu Qiao said: "We promised to take them back to Yanbei! We must keep our promise..."

Yan Xun said angrily: "I never promised to bring the Xiu Li Army back to Yanbei. They are rebels, and rebels need to be punished!"

The later the Xiuli Army was, the more danger it would be in. Chu Qiao had no intention of arguing with Yan Xun. She only said, "The rebels need to be punished, but the Xiuli Army is not guilty of death. They have never forgotten Yanbei over the years, and this time they are sincerely helping you get out of the city... Well, we have an agreement in advance. After you get out of the city safely, the Xiuli Army will no longer be under the command of Yanbei, and their life and death have nothing to do with you. I am going to fulfill my promise... Go!"

Zhen Ping, who had been following Chu Qiao, immediately rode up and said, "Miss Chu, I will go with you!"

Chu Qiao shouted as she rode her horse at full speed, "Go back. It's too dangerous. I can go alone."

Zhen Ping said, "We in the Red Flame Army will never abandon our comrades. Besides, I promised Master Bai that I would keep you safe. How can I explain to Master Bai if anything happens to you?"

Chu Qiao turned around and saw that there were indeed some brothers from the Jiangzuo League chasing after Zhen Ping. Chu Qiao had heard from Bai Ziyang a long time ago that there were several hundred people from the Jiangzuo League who were originally from the Red Flame Army. She didn't expect that so many of them would come this time.

When Chu Qiao arrived at the city gate, she saw a man riding a horse. The two arrived at almost the same time. "Whoa..." The man stopped his horse. It was Bai Ziyang. He said to Chu Qiao, "I knew you would come back."

Seeing this, Chu Qiao also said: "You came at the right time..."

The city gate had been completely blocked by Yan Xun. The two cut the ropes and opened the gate. Chu Qiao rushed into the city first. The gate was full of dead and wounded Xiuli soldiers. He Xiao was leading the remaining Xiuli soldiers in a bloody battle with the Wei army. The situation was critical. If there was no reinforcement, the Xiuli army would not be able to hold out for much longer.

To others, the opening of the city gate was just the opening of a door, which was at most a little bigger. But in the minds of the Xiuli Army who were fighting bloody battles, it was the opening of the door to their hope, the door to their lives. Nothing could be more exciting than this. "Tramp... Tramp..." Every sound of horse hooves seemed to fall directly on their hearts. The fighting soldiers of the two armies stopped their actions at the same time and looked at the petite and weak figure riding towards them.

Chu Qiao leaned over her horse and picked up the military flag. She walked to the front, stopped her horse, and shouted: "Soldiers of Yanbei, Yanbei has not abandoned you. Listen to my orders and follow me. I will take you home!"

After a moment of silence, a huge shout broke out in the Xiuli Army: "Go home! Go home! Go home!!!"

Bai Ziyang led Zhen Ping and others to stand outside the city gate. It was not the time for him to go in. An army only needed one belief. Chu Qiao won an armed force that belonged only to her. From now on, this team would sweep across this land with Chu Qiao, loyal and faithful, and swear to die.

After Yan Xun rebelled, the emperor urgently summoned all the major families to attack Yan Xun. The seventh prince Yuan Che on the border of Daliang also received the order and immediately abandoned the battlefield on the border, rushed back to the city to rescue the emperor, and then rushed to Hongchuan City to attack the rebels.

Yan Xun and his men built a bridge over the water and took a shortcut back to Yanbei, but the bridge was destroyed later. Chu Qiao had to take a detour with everyone, and the journey was extremely difficult as the Wei army was pursuing them along the way. Bai Ziyang disbanded the Jiangzuo League, and only Zhen Ping and some people stayed voluntarily. Bai Ziyang suggested that Chu Qiao could fight to survive, and as Chu Qiao and the Xiu Li Army cooperated more and more tacitly, they seized more and more supplies. At this time, they finally arrived at Hongchuan City in Yanbei, but what greeted them was the closed gate of Hongchuan City.

The Wei Emperor's army is on the way to Hongchuan City...

After everyone used a trick to enter Hongchuan City, Chu Qiao and others discovered that Yan Xun was not in Hongchuan City, and there were no guards in the city. When they were about to investigate, they heard someone report that Zhong Yu wanted to see him.

When Zhong Yu saw Chu Qiao, he said, "Ah Chu, you guys are finally back?"

Chu Qiao asked directly: "Where is Yan Xun?"

Zhong Yu said, "I was just about to tell you that the prince is waiting for you in Lancheng."

Chu Qiao looked at Zhong Yu suspiciously and asked doubtfully, "Lancheng?"

Bai Ziyang stepped forward and said with a smile: "Okay, we got it, Miss Zhong Yu has worked hard, go and have a rest!"

Zhong Yu glanced at the two of them, and finally turned and left without saying anything.

After Zhong Yu left, Chu Qiao asked Bai Ziyang in confusion, "Is Yan Xun really in Lancheng?"

Bai Ziyang suppressed his smile, shook his head and said, "Yan Xun is outside Meilin Pass!"

Chu Qiao asked, "Meilingguan? What is he doing there?"

Bai Ziyang found the map, pointed it at Chu Qiao and said, "There have been no major battles in Meilin Pass in the past few years, so the troops are empty. With the troops Yan Xun has now, he can capture it in less than half a day. After taking Meilin Pass, you see... Yan Xun can lead his troops to Chang'an City in less than two days after he goes all out. The troops in Chang'an are all outside Hongchuan City. By then, it will no longer be a dream for Yan Xun to capture the Emperor of Wei alive!"

Chu Qiao looked at the map and couldn't help but gasp at Yan Xun's ambition. She said, "Yan Xun actually used Hongchuan City as bait?"

Bai Ziyang said: "In Chang'an, he gave up the Xiu Li Army, and now he has given up Hongchuan City. I really don't know what else he can give up in the end?"

Chu Qiao frowned and looked at the map and said, "The Wei Emperor's 50,000 troops will arrive soon. What should the people of Hongchuan City do now?"

Bai Ziyang said mysteriously: "Don't worry, believe it or not, Yan Xun will be back within three days!"

Chu Qiao asked: "Why?"

Bai Ziyang shook his head and said, "My trump card will come in handy now!"

After that, he sent someone to call Zhong Yu, took out a box and handed it to her, saying: "Miss Zhong Yu, please give this to Prince Yan and tell him that we will live and die with Hongchuan City!"

Zhong Yu took the box in confusion, but he didn't open it. He just nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir. Zhong Yu will bring it to you."

During these three days, the Wei army launched an attack on Hongchuan City. Under Chu Qiao's call, all the people in Hongchuan City became soldiers, and with the bravery of the Xiuli Army, they successfully repelled the Wei army. When the three days came and the Wei army was about to launch a second attack, Yan Xun arrived with his army and repelled the 50,000 troops of the Wei army.

Bai Ziyang did not open the gate of Hongchuan City this time. At the same time, he asked Yan Xun to station his army outside the city and only allowed Yan Xun to lead a few men into the city. With such harsh conditions, Yan Xun actually agreed to it?

After Yan Xun entered the city, the first thing he said when he saw Bai Ziyang was: "Where are my mother and sister?"

It was only said that when Zhong Yu handed Bai Ziyang's box to Yan Xun, Yan Xun opened it and found two jade pendants inside. He was shocked when he saw them. He also had one such jade pendant. He took out his own and put the three together. It was obvious that they were made by the same person. Yan Xun's piece was given to him by his father and was carved by Yan Shicheng himself. The other two pieces belonged to his mother Bai Sheng and his sister Yan Hongxiao respectively. Yan Xun never thought that he would see them here now.

Yan Xun couldn't help but wonder, could it be that his mother and sister were in Bai Ziyang's hands? But how was that possible? He had seen his mother commit suicide on the Jiuyou Terrace with his own eyes, hadn't he?

Yan Xun asked Zhong Yu, "Did he say anything when he handed this thing to you?"

Zhong Yu had the same question as Yan Xun after seeing the jade pendant, and said, "Mr. Bai said that they will live and die with Hongchuan City!"

Threat, this is a naked threat! Yan Xun really wanted to split himself in half, one half led the troops to attack Chang'an, and the other half immediately returned to Hongchuan City to ask for clarification, but at the moment he could only hold the jade pendant tightly in his hand, and finally said: "Return to Hongchuan City!"

"Yes!"

At this time, after hearing Yan Xun's question, Bai Ziyang said directly: "They are naturally guests in my house..."

Yan Xun asked excitedly: "Are they really still alive?"

Bai Ziyang said: "Of course!"

Yan Xun doubted: "How is this possible? I saw my mother with my own eyes that year..."

Bai Ziyang said, "What you saw was just your mother hitting the tripod and falling to the ground. As for whether she was dead... At that time, my people ejected a hidden weapon when your mother hit the tripod, which released your mother's strength and blocked her qi points. Strictly speaking, your mother just hit her head and fainted. Later, when we checked the body, your mother had no breath, so naturally everyone thought she was dead... The Emperor of Wei has already ordered a grand burial, so who would care about a 'dead person'? As for your sister, that's even easier to say. When the Wei army entered the city, we had already taken her away. What the Wei army saw was just Yan Hongxiao's 'corpse'... Hey! Speaking of your sister, I heard that she gave birth successfully. I'm also giving you a nephew. Are you happy?" Bai Ziyang said to Yan Xun with a grin.