Chapter Thirteen: The Wolf Pack (Part Two)

  After everything was ready, Zhe Yan-chong led his troops to rush out of the east gate. Ou Yang-shi killed a few horses and threw them outside the west gate of the earthen city to attract wolves to eat, and left some horses inside the earthen city to feed the wolf pack. After the troops retreated, Ou Yang-shi blocked the east gate of the earthen city.

  At this time, the wolf pack was still concentrated in the west. As soon as the western gate of the earth city opened, a large number of wolves rushed in. Ouyang Yi led people to kill the remaining wolves on the east side. Yang Kaiyuan led people to pile up some dry firewood at several zhang outside the eastern gate and set it on fire to prevent the wolf pack from rushing over. Zhe Yan-chong and Cao Guang-bi respectively led people to sprinkle two black fire water lines in the south and north of the earth city, ignite them, and scare away the wolves that intended to attack from both sides of the earth city.

  Ferocious and timid - ferocious when facing rabbits, timid when facing tigers. At this time, several directions were surrounded by fire and arrows, while the only gate without fire, the west gate of the earthen city, was full of temptation, and their greedy nature was stimulated, rushing into the earthen city.

  In an instant, a mournful sound arose from within the earthen city. Cao Guangyin was also a lover of horses and found it unbearable to listen to, but Ouyang Shu seemed unperturbed.

  The pack of wolves outside the west gate of the earthen city was getting smaller and smaller. Zhe Yan said, "It's almost done." The two wings closed in from north and south, either shooting arrows or throwing burning cloth balls soaked in black fire water to force the remaining wolves outside the city into the city.

  Yang Yingqi saw that the black fire water was almost gone, and the flames outside the east gate were also gradually dying down. He hurriedly shouted: "Take action!"

  Xiao Tienu, who had been inactive all along, shouted: "I'll go!"

  Ouyang Zidao said: "You're injured like this! How can you draw a bow?"

  Xiao Tienu hummed, took out an arrow wrapped in oilcloth and lit the arrowhead, biting it in her mouth. With her right hand holding the bow, she used her teeth to hold the string, drawing it back like a crescent moon. One arrow shot out, hitting the fuse directly, and the flames spread rapidly. In an instant, the earthen city turned into a sea of fire, not only burning the wooden structures inside the city, but also the wolf pack that had been drenched in black firewater on the ground, as well as the city walls mixed with dry grass. The flames reached the center of the earthen city, causing the barrels of black firewater stored there to explode, and the two-story main building inside the earthen city collapsed with a loud crash.

  Wails rose from within the earthen city —— but at this moment, Zhao Yun and others didn't have time to feel sentimental about these things. Instead, they separately led their men in charging and killing off the remaining wild wolves outside the city and those attempting to escape from inside!

  The battle of encirclement and annihilation lasted until the east gradually brightened before it was completely over, the earth city had become a ruin, and waves of burnt smell floated out of the city, drifting far away with the morning wind on the plateau.

  Zhe Yan Chong Zheng let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly heard the sound of horseshoes echoing from afar. From the northwest, an unknown number of soldiers and horses were rushing towards them!

  Zhe Yan Chong and Cao Guang Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing the fear in each other's eyes. They had been fighting all night without sleep, most of them were already dozing off on their horses, and there were less than fifty people who could still sit upright on their horsebacks. At this moment, if the enemy army came, everyone wouldn't even have the strength to escape.

  Xiao Tienu said: "Judging from the sound, there may be four or five hundred people."

  Yang Yingqi said: "No matter who it is, hide first."

  Zhe Yan shook his head and said, "There's no terrain here to take cover. We're exhausted and can't escape far. It's better to boost our morale and use a feint - after all, we don't know what kind of people are coming from the front!"

  Cao Guangyi said: "Right!" Several leaders urged the warriors to cheer up, the strong in front and the weak behind, waiting for the incoming cavalry.

  Before long, the group of horses finally appeared in Zhe Yan's line of sight, majestic and powerful, with an untamed wildness that was hard to describe.

  Cao Guangyi said in a low voice: "It should be the Sui people, but I don't know which department."

  The group of people came closer, looking at the neat formation of Zhang Yan-chong and others, then looked at the burnt ruins of the earthen city, their faces full of surprise. A few of them rushed into the ruins to take a look, and then returned to report, saying something that Zhang Yan-chong couldn't understand, but the astonishment in their tone was evident.

  Xiao Tienu suddenly said: "These people are from the Mongolian department."

  Zhe Yan Chong and Yang Yingqi had been in Liao territory for a long time, they understood the Khitan language, also roughly conversant in Jurchen, but this Mongolian language was not a single sentence that could be understood.

  Zhe Yan Chong said to Xiao Tie Nu: "You help us negotiate, ask them what they are doing here."

  Xiao Tienuo snorted and said: "Aren't you afraid that I'll play a trick on you?"

  " You're not that kind of person!"

  Xiao Tienuo burst out laughing and rode his horse two steps forward. A young man also walked out from the group of Mongolians, seemingly their leader.

  Xiao Tienu thought to herself, "This person seems familiar." She said loudly, "Which Mongolian hero is it that stands before us?" He was seriously injured and among all the people, he was also one of the most exhausted, but at this moment, he straightened his back as if nothing was wrong.

  The man opposite replied: "I am a descendant of Borte Chono and Khubilai!"

  Xiao Tienuo thought to herself: "So it's him!" When He Bu'er asked her who she was, she replied calmly: "I am Xiao Tienuo!"

  Many Mongolians let out a surprised "oh" upon hearing this name.

  "Ha! So it's you, you wild wolf! Are those people behind you your underlings?"

  Xiao Tienuo said: "No." He hesitated for a moment, turned his horse sideways and pointed at Zhe Yan Chong: "He is... the leader of our group."

  Among the Mongolians, there were many people who exclaimed in surprise, with an even greater tone of astonishment than just now.

  Zhe Yan Chong and others did not understand what the Hulun people were saying, but from their reactions, it seemed that they were surprised and admiring. Ouyang Shi said: "Who is this person? What did you say to them?"

  Xiao Tiennu said calmly, "This Mongolian is Hebu Nale, the son of Temujin Khan, a great hero among the Mongolians. I just told them that I am Xiao Tiennu and Zhuo Yanzhong is our leader."

  "What did they say?"

  Yang Yingqi hesitated and said, "Have you forgotten what Mr. Di told us about his life? Xiao Tienu is probably quite famous among the Mongolians. Head... huh, Xiao Tienu, are you saying that Zhe Yan Chong is 'our' head?"

  Xiao Tienu did not speak, but Zhe Yancong had already ridden his horse a few steps forward.

  "What tribe does this hero belong to?" asked Hubulai.

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "We are descendants of the Han family!" Their conversation was naturally translated by Xiao Tienu on the side.

  "Are you Han people? How long have you been here? What's going on with these wolves?"

  Zhe Yan Chong said, "We have some business to attend to here and were delayed for a few days. Last night, the wolf pack attacked, so we exterminated these pests that harm humans and livestock! And you? What brings you here?"

  The Mongols, upon hearing that they had annihilated the large wolf pack with over a hundred people, let out their third cry of astonishment. Hebu Nuo said: "We were also chasing after this pack of wolves! We didn't expect to be annihilated by you! How many men did you mobilize last night?"

  Yang Yingqi and others heard that they came for the wolf, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. Zhe Yan-chong said: "Those who participate in the battle are just us!"

  He Bu Le was shocked and somewhat disbelieving. Xiao Tie Nu briefly explained the situation from last night, He Bu Le exclaimed in surprise: "Incredible! It's said that Han people are weak, but it seems to be a misconception! Zhe Yan Chong, incredible! I want to make friends with this intelligent and brave person!"

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  Note: Borte Chono was the ancestor of the Borjigin clan. In Yang Yi's "Dream" in that historical period, Khonkhoor will have a grandson named Yesugei Baatar, and Yesugei Baatar will have a son named Temujin.