The Clash of Titans

As the massive army continued its march, it traversed through various provinces and counties, a journey lasting more than a day.

A scout on horseback rushed forward with a message, "The enemy's forces have reached Ji Province. Please issue orders to determine our course of action." Hou Huo immediately ordered the troops to set up camp. 

The scene was remarkable:

To the east, rows of soldiers with bamboo leaf-marked steel spears,

To the south, troops brandishing moon-shaped halberds,

To the west, cavalry wielding Yanling sabers,

To the north, archers holding hard-handle crossbows,

In the center, the troops formed the Wujia battle formation, exuding a fierce aura that spread forty-five miles around.

Below the chariot gate, the nine palace stars were arranged, concealing the Eight Trigrams chart.

Hou Huo had the camp set up, and news of their arrival reached Ji Province.

Su Huo inquired, "Who is leading the enemy forces?"

A scout replied, "It is none other than Lord of the North, Hou Huo."

Su Huo furiously remarked, "If it were any other regional lord, there might be room for negotiation. However, this man has always acted unjustly and cannot be reasoned with. We should seize this opportunity to defeat his army, bolster our military reputation, and rid the land of a menace."

He issued the command, "Prepare the troops for battle!" The generals and soldiers promptly obeyed, each preparing their weapons and marching out of the city. A thunderous cannon blast filled the air, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.

As the city gates opened, the generals and their horses formed a line. Su Huo shouted, "Send a messenger to approach, requesting their commander to answer at the chariot gate!"

A scout swiftly rode to Hou Huo's camp. Hou Huo ordered his troops to assemble.

At the gate, Hou Huo, mounted on a spirited horse, led his generals out of the camp, displaying two embroidered dragon and phoenix flags. His eldest son, Chongying Biao, held the formation at the forefront.

Su Rang saw Hou Huo adorned in his Fei Feng helmet, golden chainmail, scarlet robe, jade belt, and riding a purple roan steed. He also carried a large broadsword strapped to his saddle.

Su Huo immediately greeted him, saying, "Lord Hou, I hope you are well. I am currently wearing armor, so I cannot fully demonstrate the proper etiquette. However, the Emperor is acting unjustly, valuing appearances over virtue. He listens to the slanderous words of others, forcibly taking my daughter as a concubine, indulging in excessive drinking and debauchery. It won't be long before the realm is in turmoil. In response, I have chosen to guard the borderlands separately. Why, Lord Hou, have you raised this unprovoked, nameless army?"

Chongying Biao was furious at Su Huo's audacity and said, "You openly defy the Emperor's decree, inscribing a rebellious poem on the Wu Gate. You are a traitor, and your crimes are beyond pardon. Yet, you dare to play tricks and hold weapons in defense, demonstrating your obstinance. We have come here to uphold justice."

Chongying Biao turned to his subordinates and asked, "Who will capture this rebel?"

Before anyone could respond, a general with a phoenix-winged helmet, golden armor, scarlet robe, and a blue roan steed stepped forward, proclaiming, "Allow me to capture this rebel!" He charged toward Su Huo's forces. 

Upon witnessing the general approaching, Su Huo's son, Su Quanzhong, recognized the leader as General Mei Wu. Su Quanzhong rode out and challenged Mei Wu, saying, "Halt!"

The two generals engaged in combat, clashing repeatedly for twenty rounds. Ultimately, Su Quanzhong thrust his spear, piercing through Mei Wu and his steed. 

Su Huo signaled the retreat by sounding the trumpet and returned to his command post.

He gathered his generals and said, "Although we achieved victory today, the enemy will likely reassemble their forces soon. If we do not act, they will call for reinforcements, putting Ji Province in jeopardy. What should we do?" 

Zhao Bing, one of Su Huo's generals, spoke up, "Lord Su, as the saying goes, 'victories and defeats are common in warfare.' It is likely that Lord Hou will return with a stronger force shortly, and conquering Ji Province will be a walk in the park for him. Lord Su, you should take care."

Hou Huo's army set up camp, and he, feeling embarrassed by the losses, regrouped his remaining forces. Hou Huo was unable to shake off his disappointment and sadness.

He addressed his generals, saying, "I have led campaigns for many years and have never faced defeat until today. Losing General Mei Wu and a significant portion of our army is a great shame. What should we do?"

General Huang Yuanji advised, "Lord Hou, you surely know the saying, 'victories and defeats are common in warfare.' We can assume that Lord of the West will arrive shortly, and conquering Ji Province will be effortless for him. Lord Hou, please do not let this trouble you. You should prioritize your well-being." 

Hou Huo organized a banquet for his generals, and they celebrated their camaraderie. To commemorate the events, a poem was composed:

"Lord Hou, leading a distant expedition,

Outside Ji Province, his banners unfurl.

Three thousand iron riders, victorious and fierce,

Proving once more his formidable reputation."

Furthermore, Su Huo secretly mobilized his troops, preparing to ambush the enemy camp. By the time they reached midnight, they had covered a distance of ten miles. A scout horse delivered the message to Su Huo, who immediately ordered the signal cannon to be fired. With a thunderous roar that shook the heavens and the earth, three thousand iron cavalrymen raised their voices in unison and charged into the enemy camp. The chaotic scene unfolded as follows:

In the dim twilight, the enemy arrived, and as the dark night descended, their forces closed in. The twilight troops arrived, breaking the formation with an unstoppable force.

The approaching black-night army crashed through the camp gate, leaving it no chance to stand. People heard the war drums and scattered in panic, while horses heard the booming cannons and couldn't distinguish their directions.

Blades and spears clashed indiscriminately, with soldiers unknowingly fighting their own comrades. Exhausted troops ran aimlessly through the dark night, and those not yet awakened had no time to put on their helmets.

The leading officers couldn't find their horses in the chaos, and the central army's commander went barefoot without shoes. Soldiers stumbled over each other from east to west, and horses fled north and south.

The formidable attackers in the camp fought like ferocious tigers, while the defending soldiers were like relentless dragons. Those wielding swords slashed through armor, while others wielding axes cleaved through heavens.

Soldiers collided with soldiers, trampling one another, and horses ran into horses, leaving a trail of corpses. Wounded soldiers moaned in pain, and those struck by arrows grieved silently.

Gold, drums, flags, and banners littered the ground, and the burning grass and straw colored the surroundings red. They had set out to follow orders in battle, never expecting that not a single piece of armor would remain.

The gloomy clouds ascended to the ninth heaven as a defeated army scattered across the land, leaving trails of chaos behind. Three separate groups of elite soldiers emerged, each one daring and fierce, racing to take the lead.

The clamor and cries filled the air, breaking through the seven layers of besieging forces and toppling the eight sides of wolves and tigers.

Now, turning to Su Huo, he led a single horse and a single spear straight into the chaos, capturing Chonghou Huo.

Shouts resounded as he entered the enemy camp, and when Chonghou Huo heard the commotion from his slumber, he hastily donned his robe and mounted his horse with a drawn sword, charging out of his tent. In the dim light, he saw Su Huo wearing a golden helmet, golden armor, a scarlet robe, a jade belt, riding a green roan horse, and brandishing a fiery dragon spear.

Su Huo shouted, "Chonghou Huo, cease your escape! Dismount and surrender!"

He thrust his spear with full force. Chonghou Huo, caught off guard, countered with his sword. The clash of their horses was fierce, and in the heat of battle:

The cold wind howled like a bitter frost,

The swirling dust flew in a purple haze.

Horses galloped vigorously, their hooves striking,

Armor clanged, and robes rustled.

Both sides slashed their way through, striking at the golden armor and the intertwined chainmail. They fought under the moon's watchful eye, the battlefield illuminated by countless torches and lanterns.

In the midst of the battle, the clash of weapons sounded like roaring waves, and the ground was covered in the bodies of fallen soldiers and horses. The horses trampled each other as the warriors fought valiantly. The small commanders waved their flags while the young drummers struck their drums relentlessly.

Two warriors fought fiercely, and neither gained the upper hand. Sun Ziyu charged forward, wielding a pair of spears, and faced off against Su Quanzhong.

Su Quanzhong let out a mighty shout and pierced Sun Ziyu through while on horseback. Su Quanzhong then turned to face Chonghou Huo and fought fiercely with him. The father and son fought valiantly, holding their ground against Su Quanzhong.

Su Quanzhong displayed his might like a fierce tiger or a ferocious dragon, taking on three formidable opponents. While they battled, Su Quanzhong left himself vulnerable, and Chonghou Huo managed to strike off half of his leg armor.

Startled, Chonghou Huo urged his horse forward and broke free from the encirclement, fleeing from the battlefield. Seeing his father retreating, Chonghou Huo's son, Chongying Biao, panicked and acted rashly, failing to anticipate Su Quanzhong's strike.

As he attempted to evade, Su Quanzhong's spear caught his left arm, causing blood to stain his armor. With great effort, he managed to escape on his horse.

The men from Ji Province, fierce as tigers and cunning as wolves, left corpses strewn across the fields, and blood flowed like rivers. In their haste, they fled into the night, unable to recognize their path but determined to preserve their lives.

Su Huo pursued Chonghou Huo and his defeated forces for over twenty miles before ordering the signal to retreat. Su Huo achieved a complete victory and returned to Ji Province.

Meanwhile, Chonghou Huo and his son led their defeated troops in a disordered retreat. They were pursued by Huang Yuanji and Sun Ziyu, who rode hard and fast.

Chonghou Huo lamented his misfortune, feeling ashamed of his defeat. He addressed his generals, saying, "Since I began leading armies, I have never suffered such a defeat. Today, those treacherous rebels ambushed our camp in the dead of night, catching us completely off guard. As a result, we suffered significant losses in both troops and commanders. How can we not seek vengeance for this grievance? I thought that Ji Chang, Lord of the West, would remain passive and observe the situation, but he went against orders, holding his forces in reserve. He watched our success and failure from the sidelines, which is truly unforgivable!"

His eldest son, Chongying Biao, replied, "Our army has just suffered a defeat, and our morale is low. Instead of taking immediate action, we should hold our ground and send a messenger to urge Lord Ji Chang to mobilize his forces and come to our aid. We can then consider our next steps."

Chonghou Huo agreed, saying, "You have a clear understanding of the situation, my son. When daylight breaks, we will gather our forces, and then we can discuss our strategy further."

Before finishing his sentence, a signal cannon sounded, accompanied by cries demanding Chonghou Huo's surrender.

Chonghou Huo cursed loudly, saying, "You wretched traitor! Your father and son have committed treason, defying the court's authority. You have killed the court-appointed officials and harmed the imperial troops, accumulating mountains of guilt. A mere beheading is insufficient to atone for your sins. Now, you have resorted to night attacks and hidden ambushes, boasting about your military prowess while displaying arrogance without shame. When the imperial army arrives in the near future, there will be no place for you and your father to hide. Who will capture this rebel with me?"

Huang Yuanji spurred his horse and wielded his sword, directly challenging Su Quanzhong. Su Quanzhong, holding his spear, faced him head-on. The two horses collided, and they engaged in a fierce battle:

The howling wind and flying snow,

A tempestuous battlefield where chaos grows.

Fierce horses trampled, a gate unfolds,

People heard war drums, a disarray it sowed.

Both warriors fought bravely,

Blades clashed under the moon so brightly.

Spears and swords flashed with might,

Battles waged into the heart of the night.

As the battle raged on, Su Quanzhong exploited an opening, and with one thrust, he pierced Chonghou Huo's leg armor, causing it to fall to the ground. Startled, Chonghou Huo urged his horse to escape the encirclement and fled from the battlefield.

Chongying Biao, seeing his father's retreat, panicked and acted recklessly, failing to anticipate Su Quanzhong's attack. As he attempted to evade, Su Quanzhong's spear pierced his left arm, and blood stained his armor.

Only with the support of his subordinates did he manage to escape on his horse. Su Quanzhong considered pursuing them further but was concerned that it would be imprudent in the darkness of the night.

He decided to withdraw his troops and return to the city. As dawn approached, he reported the victory to Su Huo, who commended his efforts and ordered him to rest.