tlefield, although it is not a large scale, it is exceedingly horrifying.”

HongJi raised his sabre and shouted loudly: “Although there are many rebels, they have no fighting spirit. Once we fight another round, they will definitely rout!”

The officers and men in the stockade chanted: “Long live the king, long live the king, long live the king!”

Suddenly a bugle call was heard within rebel ranks, five men slowly rode out to the middle, one of them was holding onto a sheet of sheepskin, and he recited loudly from it, he is reciting the imperial edict from the royal emperor uncle: “YeLu HongJi usurp the throne, his a fake king, now that the royal emperor uncle has assume the throne, he urge the soldiers and officials of Liao Empire to return to the capital and pledge loyalty to him, all of you will be promoted 3 grade.” a dozen archer fire their arrows from the stockade, whizzing sound rang out as it shot towards the announcer . The 4 men by his side raise their shields and protected each other, the man continued to recite aloud, their five horses were shot down but they are still hiding safely behind their shield, finally he finish reciting the edict and they turn around and left.

The Lord of Northern Chancellery saw his officials wavered after they heard the edict, he shouted: “Go out and curse them!” 10 “professional-curser” went out, they had loud voices and thick throat, good enunciation, the first curser started insulting. Words such as treacherous traitors, being buried right here, etc, the second curser took over and carried on insulting, all sorts of vulgarities came spewing. Xiao Feng did not understand most of the curse words as he had limited knowledge on Khitan language, but he saw YeLu HongJi nod his head repeatedly, his expression approving, it seems these “professional cursers” really put up an exciting show.

Xiao Feng looks over at the enemy formation, at a far distance, under the reflection of their yellow hat, he saw two men each riding a fine horse, they were holding horsewhip and directing around. One was clothed in yellow robe and wearing a crown, he had a long gray beard, the other person was wearing gold armour, his face gaunt, but his expression fierce and brave. Xiao Feng thought to himself: “Look at their appearance, this must be the royal emperor uncle and his son.”

Suddenly, the 10 “professional-curser” discuss among themselves for a while, they shouted in unison and revealed the shameful secrets of the royal emperor uncle and his son. It seems the royal emperor uncle is upright and had proper conduct, there isn’t any scandal from him, the 10 men mostly targeted his son the Prince of Chu, they said he raped his father’s concubine and use his father’s power to commit all kinds of evil. These words are obviously meant to sow discord between father and son, the 10 cursers shouted in unison, they cursed the exact same words, the words resonated over a few li and over hundred thousand men all heard it clearly.

The Prince of Chu waved his whip, the rebels howl in unison, they made “Ah Ah” sound and shouted randomly, the noise drowns out the words of the 10 cursers.

The enemy suddenly separated and they push 10 carts towards the stockade, the sergeant drag out over 10 females from the carts, some of them were white-hair grannies, some were youths, their clothes all grand and exquisite. Once these women were brought out, both sides stopped cursing immediately.

YeLu HongJi shouted: “Mother, mother! Son will catch these traitors and dismember them to help you vent your anger!”

That white-hair granny is the current empress dowager, she is YeLu HongJi’s mother Empress Dowager Xiao, the rest are Empress Xiao, concubines and princess. When HongJi went hunting, the royal emperor uncle and his son surrounded the Forbidden Palace and captured the empress dowager and the rest of the royals.

The Empress Dowager said: “You majesty need not be concern about this old lady or your wife and children, do you best and kill these thieves!” a dozen officers draw their sabres and place it against the neck of the females, the young concubines immediately cry out in fear.

YeLu HongJi was furious and shouted: “Shoot down those crying females!” there was whizzing sounds and over ten arrows flew out, the concubines who are crying were all shot dead.

The Empress said: “Your majesty that was well shot! Well shot! The foundation of our forefathers cannot be destroyed by the hands of these traitors.”

The Prince of Chu saw the empress dowager and empress were stubborn, not only would he be unable to coerce HongJi, but it might also shake the morale of his own troops, and he issued the order: “Detain these women on the carts and withdraw.” The soldiers detain the empress dowager and empress in the cart and push it to the rear of the army. The Prince of Chu ordered: “Bring forward the family members of enemy troops!”

The whirring call of bamboo whistles were heard, the sound was bleak, the army split apart, there was endlessly clanking of iron shackles, rows after rows of male, female, old and young were all pulled to the front. In an instant their cries shook the heavens. The soldiers from the stockade are personal soldiers of the Liao emperor, YeLu HongJi treated them extremely well and even permit their families to live in the capital, firstly this will make the troops appreciative and they would be willing to fight till death in times of trouble, secondly it also serve to keep tabs on them, they will not dare to revolt during an expedition. He did not expect this arrangement would backfire against him when he went out on the hunting trip. The family members of the soldiers numbered over 200 thousand people, but only 30 thousand people were brought forward, a lot of these people were wrongly arrested but it’s impossible to differentiate them at this moment, some of them were dragging their children and the situation was extremely messy and chaotic.

A general under the command of the Prince of Chu rode out and shouted loudly: “All soldiers in the stockade please listen, all your family members have been arrested, those who surrender will get to reunite with them, you will also be promoted 3 grades, and also receive extra rewards. If you do not surrender, the new emperor has issued a decree, all the people you see here will be killed.” Khitan people have always been cruel and sadistic, if they say “all will be killed”, it’s definitely not empty threat and all these people will really be killed. Some of the soldiers in the stockade recognize their loved ones, “Dad, mom, child, husband, wife!” both sides keep calling out to each other.

Drums roll in the rebel army, 2000 executioners step out, their sabres sparkling. The drums stopped, 2000 sabres were raised, targeting the neck of family members. The general said: “Surrender now to the new emperor, you will be heavily rewarded, else all you family members will die together!” he wave his left hand and the drums roll again.

The soldiers in the stockade knew that if he wave his left hand again, the drums will stop, and the 2000 sabres will chop down immediately. These soldiers have always been loyal to YeLu HongJi, they are not enticed by the promise of riches or promotion, but seeing their family members waiting to be butchered, how can they not panic?

The drums rumble without stopping, the hearts of the soldiers are beating anxiously. Suddenly, someone shouted within the stockade: “Mom, mom, you cannot kill my mom!” abandoning his spear, he ran towards an old lady.

An arrow flew out from the stockade and pierces the back of this solder. The soldier did not die immediately, and he carried on crawling towards his mother. There was endless call of “Father, mother, child”, and hundreds of soldiers ran out from the stockade. The trusted generals of YeLu HongJi took out their swords and chop randomly, but how can they stop the soldiers from running? After these hundred soldiers ran out, they were followed by another thousand. After these thousands, chaos broke out, out of his original 150 thousand troops, around 60 to 70 thousand ran over.

YeLu HongJi gave a long sigh, he knew the situation could not be salvage, taking the opportunity as the soldiers hug and reunite with their families, there was massive chaos as the rebel army separated to make space for the family members, he quickly ordered: “Retreat towards the vast mountains in the north-west.” The main army general secretly pass down the order, with the remaining 80 thousand men, the rear troops became the front troops, they gallop quickly to the north-west.

The Prince of Chu tried to order his cavalries to pursue but they were hindered by the civilians flooding the entire battlefield, the horses cannot gallop past them quickly, by the time they push away the crowd, YeLu HongJi had already led his men and escape far away. The 80,000 troops arrived at the foot of the vast mountain, it is dusk, and the soldiers were hungry and tired, they built a stockade on the top of the slope, occupying the high ground so as to better guard against attacks. Once the stockade is secured, the rice was not yet cook and the Prince of Chu had arrived with his troops and they immediately charge up the slope. Soldiers in the stockade rained arrows and manage to repel the rebel forces. The Prince of Chu saw the situation was unfavourable and he withdraw the troops immediately and set up camp at the foot of the mountain.

During evening, YeLu HongJi stood at the side of the cliff, gazing towards south, he saw the campfire in rebel camp was akin to sparkling stars, in the distant there were 3 fire dragons arriving, but it was actually the rear forces of the rebel army that came to join up with the main army. HongJi was dejected as he was about to enter his tent, the Chancellor of Northern Chancellery came to report: “15 thousand troops under subordinate command rush down the mountain and surrendered to the rebel. Subordinate did not manage his troops well, I deserve to die!” YeLu HongJi wave his hand, shook his head and said: “You cannot be blamed, go back and rest!”

He turned around and saw Xiao Feng preoccupied with a distant place, he said: “Tomorrow morning, the rebels will be victorious, I will definitely become their prisoner. I am the emperor, I cannot be humiliated by these rebels, I will commit suicide to repay my country. Brother, you should take advantage of the darkness and escape. You have strong martial arts, the rebels will not be able to stop you.” As he said this, his expression became sorrowful, he continued: “I intended to make you rich and influential, but as it turns out I can’t even save myself and I even drag you into this mess.”

Xiao Feng said: “Brother, a real man should be adaptable to circumstances, today this battle is unfavourable, I can guarantee your escape, you should go back reassemble you army and fight again.”

HongJi shook his head and said: “I can’t even save my mother and wife, how can I be considered a real man? In the eyes of the Khitan, the victor is the hero, the loser is the rebel. I suffered a crushing defeat, how can I fight again? Forget me, escape by yourself!”

Xiao Feng knew he spoke the truth and sighed: “That being the case, I will accompany brother and fight the rebels till death. We are sworn brothers, you maybe the emperor, or even a lowly commoner, but Xiao Feng only treat you as my brother. When elder brother is in trouble, I should face it with you and we live or die together, where is the logic in running away by myself?”

YeLu HongJi was teeming with tears, he held both his hands and said: “Good brother, I thank you.”

Xiao Feng went back to his tent, he saw AhZi lying curled in the corner of the tent, her big pair of eyes was open, she did not sleep. AhZi said: “Brother-in-law, do you blame me?” Xiao Feng was puzzled: “Blame you for what?” AhZi replied: “It’s all my fault, if I did not insist on coming to this grass plain, you will not get trap in this situation. Brother-in-law, we will really die here correct? ”

The torch’s light outside the tent reflected off her face, a shade of red floated up her pale complexion, she look even more petite and delicate. Xiao Feng felt his pity rising and he said softly: “Why would I blame you? If I did not injure you, we would never have come to this place.” AhZi smiled and said: “If I did not attack you with the poison needle, you will not have injured me.”

Xiao Feng extended his hands and stroke her hair. After being injured for such a long time, AhZi lost more than half of her hair, her hair was sparse and yellowing. Xiao Feng gave a sigh: “You are so young, yet you have to suffer along with me.” AhZi said: “Brother-in-law, originally I did not understand why my sister loves you so much, but now I know.”

Xiao Feng thought: “Your sister treated me with boundless devotion, what would a little girl like you understand. In fact, I don’t even know why AhZhu feel in love with the crude me, how do you even know?” as he thought of this matter, he shake his head in sorrow.

AhZi turn her head to the side and said: “Brother-in-law, have you guessed it, why did I attack you with the poison needle that day? I did not want to kill you, I only wanted to immobilize you so that I can take care of you.” Xiao Feng was curious: “What is so good about that?” AhZi smiled and said: “If you are immobilized then you cannot leave me. Otherwise, since you despise me, you might abandon me anytime and not pay any attention to me anymore.”

Although her words can be considered to be childish, but it also not casual nonsense, he cannot help but be secretly scared, wondering: “Since we are all going to die tomorrow, might as well say a few words to comfort her.” He said: “You are really childish, if you really want to follow me, just tell me, I will not refuse.”

AhZi eyes brightened, she said happily: “Brother-in-law, once I recovered, I still want to follow you, I will never return to my master’s XingXiu Sea again. Don’t you dare abandon me.”

Xiao Feng knew the trouble she stirred up in XingXiu Sect is no small matter, naturally she wouldn’t dare to go back, he smiled and said: “You are the great senior martial sister of XingXiu Sect, if you don’t go back they will be like a group without a leader, then what will they do?” AhZi giggled: “Just let them be confuse. I don’t care.”

Xiao Feng pull a felt blanket and covered her till below the neck, after he tuck her in, he spread another felt and slept at a separate corner of the tent. The flame outside the tent was flickering, he heard faint crying and knew it came from soldiers who miss their family, everyone knew they would not survive tomorrows encounter, but they are loyal to the emperor and refuse to betray him.

Xiao Feng woke up early in the morning, he ask the room attendant to prepare the horses and to take care of AhZi, knowing his end is near, he ate one pound of mutton and drank three pound of wine, he walk to the hillside. It was still dark at this time, not long after, the sun rises from the east, the bungle call from from within the stockade, clanking sound was heard as the men don their armour and took up their weapons. Troops set off from the stockade and guarded the various strategic points. Xiao Feng look into the distance from his high ground, east, south, south-east, the rebel troops came gushing from all three sides. White mist blanket the distant, he can’t even see the end of the rebel’s troop formation.

Suddenly the sun ray emerged from the horizon, ten thousand golden ray penetrated the white fog, the mist slowly disperse, revealing the troops hidden by the mist, suddenly the drums roll and two yellow flag troops came galloping out, followed closely by the royal emperor uncle and the Prince of Chu, they pointed at the mountain with their horsewhip and started discussing their strategy.

YeLu HongJi led his guards and stood by the hillside, seeing such scenario, he was furious, he took a bow and arrow from one of his guard, draw the bow, and shot towards the Prince of Chu. Watching from the mountain top, it may seem they are not separated far apart, but in fact the distance is several times the range of the arrow, the arrow did not even reach halfway before running out of power and dropped down.

The Prince of Chu laughed and shouted: “HongJi, you usurp my father’s throne and spent a lot of time as the fake emperor, it’s time to abdicate the throne. Surrender quickly, my father will spare your life, and he will also be pretend to be benevolent and confer you as the royal emperor nephew, how does that sound? Ha ha ha!” these few words were obviously meant to insult HongJi for pretending to be benevolent by making YeLu ZhongYuan the royal emperor uncle.

HongJi was furious: “Shameless traitor, still flaunting and trying to win dispute.”

The Chancellor of Northern Chancellery shouted: “Subordinate is willing to die for your disgrace! Your majesty has always shown great kindness to me, and today is the day I repay you. I will lead three thousand troops, we will shout in unison and rush down from the hill.” The three thousand troops are all warriors from the Khitan capital, they are ready to fight to the death, one of them is equivalent to ten men, they shouted and rush ahead, immediately the enemy is forced to retreat a few li. The Prince of Chu wave his command flag, tens of thousands of cavalry surrounded the troops, their spear and sabre ready, their war cry shook the heaven and earth, flesh and blood flew in all direction. The three thousand troops were gradually killed off, eventually, all of them were killed. The Chancellor of Northern Chancellery killed several more people before committing suicide. HongJi, generals, ministers and Xiao Feng could see all the action from the mountain top, but they were powerless to save him, all of them shed long tears for the display of loyalty by the Chancellor of Northern Chancellery.

The Prince of Chu rode near the hillside and laughed: “HongJi, are you going to surrender or not? What can you do with that little amount of troops you have? Your troops are all brave warriors of the Liao Empire, why do you want them to accompany you till death? Be a real man, be decisive, surrender or fight, if you know your days is numbered, just commit suicide to thank the heavens, don’t sacrifice your soldiers for nothing.”

YeLu HongJi gave a long sigh and kept his tears, he said: “This beautiful Empire, I will give it to your father. You are right, we are first cousin, linked by flesh and blood, why should not sacrifice the lives of our Khitan warriors.” As he said this, he raised his sabre and directed it towards his neck.

Xiao Feng stretch his arm and seize the sabre, he said: “Brother, if you are an honorable hero, you should die fighting in the battlefield, how can you die by committing suicide?”

HongJi sighed: “Brothers, these soldiers followed me for such a long time, I will die for sure, but I cannot bear to see them lose their life for me.”

The Prince of Chu shouted: “HongJi, you still delay in committing suicide?” he pointed his horsewhip directly at HongJi’s face, his expression arrogant to the extreme.

As Xiao Feng saw him move closer and closer, he had an idea, he whispered: “Brother, distract him and entertain him with words, I will quietly move closer and shoot him with an arrow.”

Knowing his amazing skills, HongJi was overjoyed: “This is extremely good, if you can kill him with an arrow, I will die contented.” Immediately he raised his voice and shouted: “Prince of Chu, I did not mistreat you and your father, your father wants to be the emperor, but he should not kill and injure so many officers and innocent citizens and weaken the Liao Empire.”

Xiao Feng took a hard bow, a few jagged tooth arrows, pulled a horse and slowly guided it to the hill side, he bent down and hide under the horse’s belly, his feet hooked onto the horseback, giving a kick with his toes, the horse rush off. The rebel army saw a rider-less horse, they knew this horse broke from its reins and escape, such matter is very common and no one paid extra attention to it. But after a while the rebel army noticed someone hiding under the belly of the horse and they immediately shouted out.

Xiao Feng use his toes to kick the horse, and it gallop straight towards the Prince of Chu, seeing that he was around two hundred footsteps away from him, he draw his bow from under the horse’s belly and shot an arrow towards him. The personal guard of the Prince of Chu raised his shield and warded off the arrow. Xiao Feng mounted the horse and gallop quickly, he fired arrows in rapid succession, the first arrow toppled the guard and the second arrow went straight towards the Prince of Chu’s chest.

The Prince of Chu deftly waved his whip and strikes the arrow. This art of using the whip to strike an arrow was the Prince’s most proficient skill, but the person who shot this arrow had extremely strong muscular strength, in addition the arrow was infused with internal energy, although the whip hit the arrow’s shaft, it only diverted the arrow slightly, with a “Bu” sound, the arrow plunged into his left shoulder. The Prince of Chu gave an “Ah Yo!” call and he lean on the saddle in pain.

Xiao Feng’s arrow arrived again, this time the distance was even closer, the arrow entered his left side and penetrated out from his chest. The Prince of Chu immediately fell off the horseback.

Xiao Feng achieved success with one attempt, and he thought: “Why don’t I take this opportunity and shoot that royal emperor uncle dead!

When the Prince of Chu was shot and fell off his horse, the rebel army shouted out loudly, a few hundred arrows was shot towards Xiao Feng’s horse, in an instant the horse was hit by two hundred arrow, it became a porcupine horse.

Xiao Feng roll on the ground and slide below a horse ridden by an officer, he executed his cotton softness skill, immediately, from under the horse’s belly he slide to the underside of another horse, he roll on the ground and slide to the underside of yet another horse. The rebel troop was unable to fire their arrows, and they tried to pierce him using spears. But Xiao Feng slide to the east and roll west on the ground, he displayed his skills from the underside of horses. The troops were thrown into confusion, thousand of horses push and trample each other, how can they even pierce him with spears?

The cotton softness skill displayed by Xiao Feng is a common ground fighting skill in the Central Plain. Be it ground-fighting fist, ground-fighting knife, or ground-fighting sword, all these skills require rolling and tumbling maneuvers on the ground, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack an opponent’s underside. Currently his using it on the battlefield, he moved deftly and avoided the trampling of over thousand horse’s hoof. He took this time to determine the location of the royal emperor uncle, he rolled straight at him and sent three arrows whizzing towards him.

The bodyguards of the royal emperor uncle had previously seen the Prince of Chu being shot by the arrow and they made preparations against it, three dozen men raised their shield, packed densely layer upon layer they block in front of the royal emperor uncle, three clanking sound was heard and the arrows were knocked down by the shield, Xiao Feng carried ten arrows with him and he had already fired seven of them, he was left with three, seeing the three dozen shield mutually covering each other, it’s extremely difficult to shoot the down the guards with just three arrows, and there no need to even mention shooting the royal emperor uncle. Currently he had penetrated deep within enemy’s rank, behind him thousands of soldiers pursued with their spears, in front of him is thousands upon thousands of soldiers and horses, he had already fallen into a hopeless situation. Last time when he fought the martial artists of Central Plain alone, the opposing side only had around a hundred martial artists and it was already perilous to the extreme, luckily someone saved him and he was able to escape, but currently his trapped and surrounded by over 10 thousand men, how can he escape?

The situation was desperate and he can only risk his life and go all out, he gave an earth rumbling howl and leaps into the air, with a “Hu” sound, he leap over the three dozen shields, and landed in front of the royal emperor uncle’s horse. The royal emperor uncle got a huge shock, he raised his whip and strikes it towards Xiao Feng’s face. Xiao Feng slanted his body and leap again, he landed on the royal emperor uncle’s horse saddle, his left hand seized the back of the royal emperor uncle and lifted him high up in the air, he shouted: “You want to live or die? Ask everyone to put down their weaponry!” the royal emperor uncle was scared stiff, the words did not register in him.

The hustle and bustle among rebel troops was deafening, thousands of soldier draw and raised their bow, pointing it at Xiao Feng, but with the royal emperor uncle in his hand, nobody dare to act rashly.

Xiao Feng gathered energy into his dantian and shouted: “The royal emperor’s orders, all soldiers lay down your weapon and listen to his edict. The emperor is gracious, he will pardon all soldiers, no one will be held accountable.” His few words overshadowed the disturbance made by over 10 thousand troops, more than half of the 10 thousand soldiers in front and behind the mountain heard him clearly.

Xiao Feng have experience in such matters as he was betrayed by members of the Beggar Clan, he understood the thoughts of rebels, once adversity is over, the most important thing is to exempt all crimes, he only need to guarantee that he will forget past grievances and not pursue the matter, the rebel’s will to fight back will then disappear. At this moment the rebel army had overwhelming numbers, YeLu HongJi only had around seventy to eighty thousand troops, it’s a miserable minority against an overwhelming majority, definitely not a match against the rebel army, the situation was critical and he did not have time to consult HongJi, and thus he said those few words to make the rebels stop worrying.

Once the words transmitted across the battlefield, the clamour of the rebels quieten down immediately, they looked at each other, everyone was apprehensive and undecided.

Xiao Feng knew the situation was dangerous, if one person from the rebel army voice out his refusal, countless men would blindly follow and the situation would change radically, the situation really does not allow for a moment of delay, he quickly shouted: “The Emperor’s decree: Regardless of your rank in the rebel army, all of you are innocent, the emperor is merciful, he will not pursue this matter. All soldiers will be restored to your former post, quickly put down your weapons now!”

Silence ensues, suddenly there was a few “Clank” “Clank” sound, and several men threw down their spears. This sound was infectious, immediately, the “Clank” “Clank” sound grew louder as over half of soldiers threw down their weapons, the remaining soldiers that held onto their weapons were still hesitating.

Xiao Feng lifted the royal emperor uncle high up in the air with his left arm and his horse move slowly up the mountain, none of the rebels dared to block him, wherever his horse went, the crowd will part and allow a path through.

Xiao Feng rode his horse and arrived halfway up the hill, two troops from the stockade came to greet him, drum beat and music can be heard from the mountain peak.

Xiao Feng said: “Royal emperor uncle, order your subordinate to surrender and throw down their weapons, we will then spare your life.”

The royal emperor uncle quivered: “You will really spare my life?”

Xiao Feng looked down the hill, he saw countless rebels still holding onto their bows and spears, the troop’s morale was uncertain, the danger had not yet past, he pondered: “Our top priority is to reassure the troops. The royal emperor uncle life and death is of no concern, we only need to send guards to watch over him strictly, he won’t be able to commit any evil in the future.” He replied:” This is the only opportunity for you to redeem yourself. His majesty knows this incident is caused by your son, he can pardon your life. ”

The royal emperor uncle originally did not have any intention to seize the throne, it was all because of his son, the Prince of Chu’s wild ambition that led to the current misfortune, since his already captured he can only hope that his life would be spared, he replied: “Ok, I will do as you say!”

Xiao Feng let him sit comfortably on the saddle, he said loudly: “All troops please listen, the royal emperor uncle has something to say.”

The royal emperor uncle said loudly: “The Prince of Chu brought about this disaster, now his dead. The emperor is gracious, he will forgive everyone’s sin. All of you quickly drop your weapons and ask the emperor for forgiveness.”

Since the royal emperor uncle said it, the rebels were left without a leader, although some troops are still fiercely stubborn, they do not dare disobey his orders, there were “Clanking” sound and all the rebels cast down their weapons.

Xiao Feng brought the royal emperor uncle up the mountain. YeLu HongJi was overjoyed, it was as if his dreaming, he quickly rush beside Xiao Feng, holding both his hands he said: “Brother, brother, elder brother’s country, I will share it with you together.” He was in a very agitated state, tears flow freely.

The royal emperor uncle knelt on the ground and said: “The dissident ask your majesty for forgiveness and seek your majesty’s pity.”

YeLu HongJi was in an extremely good mood, he said to Xiao Feng: “Brother, what is your opinion?” Xiao Feng replied: “The rebels have overwhelming numbers, the priority now is to stabilize the troop’s morale, I beseech your majesty to pardon your uncle so