Chapter 17: The Five Generals Slain, the Chu Army Breaks Through the Wei Formation, Beheads the Rhinoceros General, and the King of Wei Escapes to Mount Niu

  On this side, Zhao Ying and Xi Shou clashed, their weapons flashing in the sunlight. Xi Shou was a top general of Wei, wielding a massive rhino-headed sword. In the tenth year of Chu's King Wu, when the Chu army invaded Wei, the king of Wei sent Xi Shou to lead an army against them. The two armies met at Lu Mountain, where Xi Shou beheaded three brave generals of Chu in succession. No one in the Chu army could match him, and King Wu was forced to retreat back to Fangcheng.

  That year, Xi Shou was only twenty-two years old; now he was thirty-eight, a year older than King Hui of Chu, in his prime and at the height of his strength. His swordsmanship had improved even further since sixteen years ago.

  Just then, King Hui shouted, "Zhao Ying, retreat!" He spurred on his horse, which galloped towards Xi Shou with incredible speed. The long spear flashed in the sunlight as it struck Xi Shou's head. Xi Shou saw that the king of Wei had fled and two generals were killed instantly; earlier, when he charged forward, he had also received a blow from King Hui's spear. He knew that King Hui's strength was greater than his own, and his martial arts skills surpassed those of Zhao Ying.

  Now, seeing King Hui's spear strike, Xi Shou naturally did not dare to be slow. With both hands, he swung his sword to block the blow. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air as sparks flew everywhere. The spear struck the blade with incredible force, creating a dent in the sword's edge. Xi Shou's body involuntarily retreated, and his massive sword was knocked askew by a foot. His hands felt numb.

  King Hui saw this and struck again with all his might. Xi Shou hastily raised his sword to block the blow. The impact was like a thousand pounds of force, striking Xi Shou's left hand downward and his right hand upward. His massive sword tilted, and he retreated a step along with his horse. King Hui struck again, this time at an angle to the left. Xi Shou raised his sword to block the blow at an angle, but it was knocked askew once more.

  King Hui struck again, this time with incredible force to the right. Xi Shou's massive sword was knocked aside, and he could no longer block the powerful blow. He desperately leaned back to the right, but a loud crash echoed through the air as the spear struck his horse's body. The horse let out a pained whinny as it fell to the ground, throwing Xi Shou off its back. The massive sword also fell to the ground.

  It turned out that the horse's backbone had been broken, and it collapsed. As the horse fell, its hind legs kicked wildly several times before it died. The Chu army erupted in cheers, their morale reaching a fever pitch. The Wei army saw this and five of their top generals charged out of their formation, rushing towards King Hui and Xi Shou's location in an attempt to rescue their commander.

  But they were too late. King Hui swept his spear downward, striking Xi Shou with incredible force. A loud crash echoed through the air as Xi Shou was thrown a zhang away, dying instantly on the spot.

  The Wei general, with five riders, charged forward, shouting loudly. Chu Huai Wang saw the three Wei generals charging and clamped his legs together, urging his horse to gallop forward. He swung his spear horizontally, striking down two of the Wei generals who were approaching him from the front and back. The first Wei general tried to block with his spear but was knocked off his horse and landed on top of the second Wei general who was charging from behind, killing them both.

  The third Wei general turned around and fled, but Chu Huai Wang chased after him, his horse galloping like lightning. In an instant, he caught up and stabbed the Wei general in the back with his spear, piercing through to the front of his armor. Chu Huai Wang lifted the Wei general's body off the ground and flung it into the midst of the Wei army, striking down two riders.

  The two Wei generals who were fighting against Zhao Yu saw this and did not dare to continue fighting, hastily retreating on horseback. Chu Huai Wang drew his sword and led the 60,000-strong Chu cavalry in a swift charge against the Wei cavalry, while the 140,000-strong Chu infantry surged forward like a mad tide.

  Chu Huai Wang rode at the forefront, charging towards the Wei army with his spear in his left hand and his sword in his right. Zhao Yu followed closely behind him, charging into the fray. The Wei king saw Chu Huai Wang approaching and hastily retreated, but the Wei army was thrown into chaos.

  The Chu generals also charged forward, killing many of the Wei soldiers. Chu Huai Wang struck down the Wei king's charioteer, killed the Wei general Xī Shǒu, and slew five other high-ranking Wei generals. The Wei army had lost its commanders and could not withstand the onslaught of Chu Huai Wang and Zhao Yu.

  The Wei cavalry fell one after another, and a path was cleared through the chaos. The Wei generals shouted for the Wei king to flee quickly, but the Chu generals charged forward, killing hundreds of riders in an instant. Chu Huai Wang swung his spear and sword, while Zhao Yu swept his long spear horizontally, striking down anyone who dared to resist.

  The Wei king fled in panic, with Chu Huai Wang hot on his heels, wielding his spear and sword. The Wei cavalry surrounded the Wei king, trying to protect him as they retreated towards the edge of the battlefield. But the Chu generals and cavalry charged forward fiercely, scattering the Wei cavalry and sending them into disarray.

  Zhao Yu and the other Chu generals took advantage of the lack of high-ranking officers in the Wei army, striking down anyone who stood in their way. They charged forward with abandon, as if they were entering an empty territory. Chu Huai Wang swung his spear and sword back and forth, cutting down anyone who dared to resist.

  The Wei army's cavalry gradually decreased, and the chaotic battle had been going on for half an hour. The 50,000-strong Wei cavalry was reduced to 20,000, while the Chu army still had more than 40,000. How could there be such a huge difference? Isn't this just the difference between having a commander and not having one? The Wei generals were all killed by King Hui of Chu as soon as they engaged in battle, and the Wei army immediately lost its morale. When the king of Wei saw King Hui, he fled, and how could the Wei army's morale not be chaotic? Without their commanders, how could the soldiers withstand the attack of the great generals of the Chu army? It would be strange if they didn't suffer heavy casualties and defeat! At this time, King Hui of Chu reined in his horse, surveyed the situation, and then said to Zhao She: "You lead 15,000 cavalrymen, divide them into three routes, and attack the Wei army's infantry from the sides and rear." Zhao She ordered two generals to each lead 5,000 cavalrymen, and the three routes charged at the Wei army's infantry. Suddenly, the three routes of Chu army cavalry launched a fierce attack on the Wei army's infantry from the sides and rear. The 150,000-strong Wei infantry was already disheartened due to low morale and had been unable to withstand the attacks of the 15,000-strong Chu army. When they were attacked by the three routes of Chu cavalry, they immediately fell into chaos, and in an instant, they were all routed. As soon as this happened, the 150,000-strong Chu army on the front line charged forward like a raging torrent, killing and wounding countless Wei soldiers. Before long, more than half of the Wei army had been killed or wounded.

  The King of Wei fled the battlefield, looking back and ordering his troops to retreat. The Chu army took advantage of the momentum and pursued them for a mile before stopping. The Wei army escaped towards Mount Xian, abandoning countless grain and supplies.

  In this battle outside the ancient city, the Chu army killed over 120,000 Wei soldiers (over 30,000 cavalry and 90,000 infantry), captured 30,000 warhorses, and seized 120,000 sets of armor and weapons, as well as countless grain and supplies. The Chu army lost 50,000 soldiers (10,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry), but gained 30,000 warhorses, increasing their cavalry to 70,000.

  King Hui of Chu ordered his troops to cook meals and rest on the spot. An hour later, the army set off rapidly towards Mount Xian, pursuing and killing the Wei army.