vrcanaries Chapter 38: The female army was defeated, but Gu Xiaoxiao was not seen!
Chapter 38: The female army was defeated, but Gu Xiaoxiao was not seen!
"Wait a minute! Isn't this a perfect opportunity? Why should I retreat now?"
Originally still immersed in the frustration of his failed attempt, and preparing to lead the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier back to the Western Frontier to regroup and plan for a future great undertaking, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, saw the army carrying the dragon banner cutting off his rear. His previously gloomy face flashed with a fleeting look of wild joy, as if he had suddenly realized something. Then, the wild joy turned into a ferocious sneer.
"What was I thinking just now?"
"Retreat? Why should I retreat?"
"The reason we had to retreat earlier was because our army couldn't find His Majesty's whereabouts at all, and because I was worried about being surrounded by other troops coming from the capital, so we had no choice but to prepare for a retreat!"
"But now... isn't His Majesty heading this way?"
"Since he showed himself, why should I choose to retreat instead of capturing him directly?"
"As for the army he led..."
"These 'gentlemen's troops' in the capital dare to appear before me?"
…………
After thinking it over, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, immediately drew his sword from his waist, pointing the blade behind him: "Give the order—turn your horses around and follow me to rout the enemy!"
At this moment, Prince Su's eyes were filled with greed and fanaticism.
In his view, this was simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Because, as long as he can take down the "Emperor's Personal Army" behind him and capture its leader, Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao, then whether he can use the emperor to command the princes, or force Gu Xiaoxiao to write an abdication edict... or at the very least, he can kidnap him back to the Western Frontier as a hostage. Wouldn't that be better than retreating in disgrace now?
"Kill! Whoever captures the emperor alive will be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold and granted the title of Marquis with ten thousand households!"
Overcome with excitement, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, immediately roared out.
Then, the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier, like sharks smelling blood, instantly turned their horses around and transformed into a black torrent of steel, charging towards the newly appeared "Emperor's Army"!
As for the so-called "Emperor's personal army," they were currently arrayed on an open ground behind the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier.
This "Emperor's Personal Army" was clearly marked with its bright flags, a forest of swords and spears, and bright yellow dragon banners fluttering in the wind, looking quite formidable.
However, when the overwhelming momentum of the elite cavalry from the Western Frontier swept over them, the army's formation collapsed in an instant!
"Kill! For His Majesty!"
Although the shouts of battle were deafening, the soldiers' steps appeared disordered and unsteady.
When the sabers of the elite cavalry from the Western Frontier came down, they offered almost no resistance, and their formation was torn open like paper!
Yes, you read that right, it's "them"!
Gu Suyue, mounted on his horse, looked down at the scene, his brows furrowing slightly.
He had expected a fierce battle, since the emperor dared to personally lead his army to cut off his rear, so he must have been very confident in the fighting strength of this army. However, the scene before him was a complete surprise.
Those "soldiers" wielding spears and wearing armor were fighting desperately, but their strength and skill were clearly lacking.
When a soldier's helmet was knocked off and a cascade of long hair fell down, Gu Suyue finally saw their true colors!
It was a woman!
Then, after careful examination by Prince Su, Gu Suyue, he suddenly discovered that the army that came to cut off his rear was composed entirely of women!
"Is this what Gu Xiaoxiao meant by 'hidden card'?"
A mocking smile curled at the corner of Gu Suyue's lips.
"Is this the powerful army he boasted about before, the one he trained that had become an elite force, and whose women were just as capable as men?"
…………
As Prince Su, Gu Suyue, watched the women fall like withered leaves in the wind under the onslaught of the Western Frontier cavalry, a sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.
Their courage was commendable; none of them showed any fear, and some even charged forward with a death wish, trying to grab the horse's legs, but alas...
War is cruel!
Courage alone cannot bridge the vast gap between strength and skill!
"This is simply... utterly vulnerable!"
Gu Suyue shook his head, his opinion of Gu Xiaoxiao dropping even further.
"It seems this emperor has no one else to rely on, so he came up with this...absurd idea!"
With this in mind, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, stopped paying attention to the female soldiers being slaughtered.
At this moment, his gaze swept across the battlefield and was fixed on the ornately decorated imperial carriage behind him.
That should be where Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao is!
"Charge! Seize the imperial carriage!"
Gu Suyue took the lead, leading his personal guards like a sharp dagger, piercing straight into the heart of the enemy formation.
Although the female soldiers were fearless, their resistance seemed so pale and powerless in the face of such an absolute disparity in strength.
Wherever the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and screams of agony rose and fell.
In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, this so-called "Emperor's Female Army" was completely crushed!
Gu Suyue reined in his horse and stood on the battlefield strewn with corpses. Looking at the lone imperial carriage before him, an indescribable surge of emotion welled up in his heart.
"Gu Xiaoxiao, you've finally fallen into my hands!"
Prince Su, Gu Suyue, strode forward, the tip of his blood-dripping sword pointing towards the curtains of the imperial carriage.
"Come out! Don't hide inside like a coward! I want to see if your expression is still as haughty as before!"
However, the imperial carriage was completely silent, with no response whatsoever.
Gu Suyue frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
He suddenly swung his sword and lifted the carriage curtain...
The carriage was empty except for a bright yellow dragon robe, which hung quietly on a wooden frame, swaying gently in the wind, as if mocking his foolishness!
"What?" Gu Suyue was stunned, then a surge of anger rushed to his head. "Where is she? Where is Gu Xiaoxiao?"
He turned around abruptly, looked at the female soldiers being escorted, and grabbed one of the women who looked like the leader by the collar.
The woman was dressed in military uniform, and although she was covered in blood, she had a delicate face and her eyes revealed a stubbornness and unyielding spirit—she was Wan'er, a female official by the emperor's side!
"Tell me! Where is Gu Xiaoxiao?"
Prince Su, Gu Suyue, asked through gritted teeth, the blade of his sword already pressed against Wan'er's throat; a mere flick of the wrist would be enough to end her life.
However, Wan'er was not afraid at all. Instead, she sneered and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva: "Gu Suyue, you're a fool!"