577. End Of Yan Liang

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Despite the chaos, Yan Liang refused to back down. He rallied his remaining forces and launched a desperate counterattack, hoping to buy time for Ye's defenders to regroup. His bravery on the battlefield was undeniable, but it was not enough to turn the tide. The Zhuque and Xuanwu armies, buoyed by their technological advantage and superior coordination, gradually gained the upper hand.

The clamor of battle raged on as Yan Liang's elite cavalry darted through the chaos, attempting to stabilize the crumbling morale of his forces. His personal bravery on the battlefield was a sight to behold; he was a man who refused to yield, his sword flashing with deadly precision.

But no matter how hard Yan Liang fought, the exhaustion of his elite cavalry began to show. The relentless barrage of Hwachas and the Zhuque and Xuanwu soldiers' discipline left him with dwindling options.

Yan Liang's every effort to rally his troops was met with fierce resistance. His once-proud elite cavalry, the spearhead of his army, started to falter, their numbers whittled down by the onslaught of fire arrows and well-timed volleys from Lie Fan's new weaponry. As his cavalry weakened, Yan Liang could sense the tide turning. Yet his pride and loyalty to Yuan Shao would not allow him to retreat.

Bu Zhi and Zang Hong observed the battlefield from a raised position, their sharp eyes taking in every detail. They knew that despite the weakening of Yan Liang's forces, the battle was dragging on far longer than anticipated. Each moment spent fighting there was a delay in the ultimate goal of taking Ye, and they couldn't afford to lose the initiative.

Bu Zhi turned to Zang Hong. "Yan Liang fights like a lion backed into a corner. If we continue like this, we will win, but it will cost us time and resources we cannot afford to waste."

Zang Hong nodded. "Then we must neutralize him swiftly. Without Yan Liang, his troops would falter. Let us send word to General Taishi Ci and suggest a duel. If Yan Liang falls, the rest will surrender."

The messengers moved quickly through the chaos, reaching Taishi Ci at the frontlines. Taishi Ci, clad in his battle-worn armor and wielding his twin rod hammer, stood amidst the Zhuque soldiers like a rock in the storm. His strikes were ferocious, his presence commanding. When the message reached him, he took a moment to reflect on the weight of the suggestion.

"If Yan Liang must fall for this battle to end, then it is my duty to face him," Taishi Ci declared, his voice cutting through the cacophony. "Prepare my steed. I will challenge him myself."

The soldiers around him cheered, their morale surging at the bravery of their commander. Mounting his horse, Taishi Ci rode to the center of the battlefield. His voice boomed across the plains as he issued his challenge.

"Yan Liang! I am Taishi Ci, Commanding General of the Zhuque Army under Lord Lie Fan. I challenge you to single combat! Face me, and let us settle this as warriors!"

The battlefield seemed to be till for a moment as the soldiers on both sides turned their eyes to Yan Liang. Hearing the challenge, Yan Liang, though bloodied and weary, felt a flicker of pride. A duel was a chance to show his valor and perhaps turn the tide of this battle.

With a nod to his adjutant, Yan Liang spurred his horse forward, parting his troops like a wave. "Taishi Ci, your arrogance will be your downfall! I accept your challenge!"

The two warriors rode toward the center of the battlefield, their forces momentarily holding back to watch the impending clash. The tension was palpable. On one side was Yan Liang, a renowned general of Yuan Shao, his glaive gleaming with a deadly promise. On the other, Taishi Ci, who was known as the fierce but honorable general under Lie Fan, has his twin rod hammer radiating raw power.

The duel began with a clash that sent shockwaves through the battlefield. Yan Liang, despite his fatigue, fought with unmatched ferocity, his strikes swift and precise. Taishi Ci, however, was a warrior forged in countless battles. His twin rod hammer deflected Yan Liang's attacks with calculated efficiency, and each counterstrike carried the force of a storm.

The two generals traded blow after blow, their movements a blur of skill and power. Soldiers on both sides watched in awe, their cheers echoing through the battlefield.

Yan Liang's skill with the blade was unparalleled, but his exhaustion began to show. His strikes grew less precise, his movements slower. Taishi Ci seized the opportunity, pressing the attack.

"You fight well, Yan Liang," Taishi Ci said between strikes, his respect for his opponent evident. "But your time has come. Surrender, and your men will be spared."

"Never!" Yan Liang roared, summoning the last of his strength for a final assault. This caught Taishi Ci off guard. With a swift maneuver, Yan Liang sidestepped Taishi Ci's charge and brought his glaive from the side with devastating force. Taishi Ci used his weapon to block the attack, but the force was so strong that he and his horse had to take several steps back.

Yan Liang's surprising burst of strength had shocked everyone. His ferocious attack moments earlier had forced Taishi Ci and his mount back, a feat that invigorated his troops. Cheers erupted from Yan Liang's army as they saw their commander regain momentum, their morale surging at the sight of his resilience.

The Zhuque and Xuanwu soldiers, however, felt a momentary tremor in their morale. Whispers spread among the ranks, questioning whether their famed general could hold against such power. But their doubts were quickly silenced when Taishi Ci suddenly laughed, a deep, booming sound that cut through the battlefield chaos.

"Well done, Yan Liang!" Taishi Ci shouted, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I didn't think you had such strength left in your battered and tired body! This is turning into a fight worthy of legends!"

Yan Liang sneered, his lips curling into a smirk. "Laugh while you can, Taishi Ci. That arrogance will lead to your downfall today at the plains of Ye!"

Without another word, the two warriors resumed their battle. Steel met steel in a symphony of violence. Taishi Ci's twin rod hammer struck with incredible force, while Yan Liang's glaive danced with precision and deadly intent. Their movements blurred, and each exchange of blows sent tremors through the ground.

Despite his fatigue, Yan Liang seemed to have the upper hand. His sheer physical strength began to tilt the scales ever so slightly in his favor. Blow by blow, Taishi Ci was forced to defend more often than he could attack. The Zhuque and Xuanwu armies watched with bated breath, their confidence wavering as they saw their general being pushed to his limits.

High on the command post, Bu Zhi and Zang Hong observed the duel intently. Their sharp eyes noticed the subtle shifts in Taishi Ci's movements, the slight hesitation in his attacks. It was clear that Yan Liang's raw power was slowly overpowering Taishi Ci.

The battle, while awe-inspiring, was dragging on longer than they could afford and could have a bad impact on their lord's strategy.

Bu Zhi turned to Zang Hong, his tone decisive. "We cannot allow this duel to drag on any longer. Every moment lost is an opportunity for the enemy to regroup. If Yan Liang continues like this, he could demoralize our forces even if we win."

Zang Hong nodded. "Agreed. We cannot gamble on honor alone. Issue the order to He Qi and Fang Yue to assist General Taishi Ci. Together, they can overwhelm Yan Liang and end this."

Messengers hurried to He Qi of the Zhuque Army and Fang Yue of the Xuanwu Army. The two seasoned generals, known for their strength, cunning, and skill, received the orders and immediately mounted their steeds.

As He Qi and Fang Yue galloped forward, Taishi Ci who was facing Yan Liang noticed them approaching. He raised a hand, initially intending to wave them off. "This is my duel! Stay back!"

But He Qi quickly shouted, "General, this is a direct order from Master Bu Zhi and Master Zang Hong. The battle cannot wait any longer!"

Realizing the urgency of the situation and trusting his strategists, Taishi Ci relented, though his pride bristled at the idea of needing help. "Very well. Let's finish this together!"

The sight of two additional generals entering the fray unsettled Yan Liang's army. Their morale, bolstered only moments ago, began to waver again. Yan Liang's commanders, seeing the situation turn dire, immediately spurred their horses forward to assist their general.

However, He Qi and Fang Yue were ready. As two of Yan Liang's adjutants charged to intervene, the seasoned generals intercepted them with ruthless precision. He Qi's sword flashed, cutting down one of Yan Liang's lieutenants in a swift, brutal strike. Fang Yue, wielding a spear with deadly accuracy, skewered the other before he could even swing his blade.

The swift elimination of Yan Liang's support only served to further unnerve his troops. Cheers erupted from the Zhuque and Xuanwu armies as He Qi and Fang Yue turned their attention back to the duel, now a three-on-one confrontation.

Yan Liang, seeing the odds stacked against him, tightened his grip on his glaive. His face, bloodied and drenched in sweat, twisted in a mix of rage and defiance. "You cowards! You need three men to take me down? Have you no honor?"

Taishi Ci, He Qi, and Fang Yue formed a loose triangle around him, their movements coordinated and deliberate. "This is not about honor, Yan Liang," Taishi Ci replied grimly. "This is about ending a war. Surrender now, and we will spare your men."

Yan Liang roared in defiance. "Never! I will die before I surrender!"

With that, he launched himself into the fight, his glaive spinning like a whirlwind. Despite his fatigue, his attacks were relentless, his movements fueled by sheer determination. The three opposing generals worked in unison to counter his ferocity, their combined efforts slowly wearing him down.

He Qi darted in from the left, feinting with his sword to distract Yan Liang. As Yan Liang turned to parry, Fang Yue struck from the right, his spear grazing the warlord's armor. Taishi Ci used the opening to deliver a crushing blow with his twin rod hammer, sending Yan Liang staggering.

But Yan Liang refused to fall. He roared again, his glaive lashing out in a wide arc that forced all three generals to momentarily retreat. Blood streamed from a wound on his side, but his defiance burned brighter than ever.

The battle reached its crescendo as Yan Liang, with one final burst of energy, charged straight at Taishi Ci. His glaive descended in a powerful overhead strike, aiming to end the duel in one decisive blow. Taishi Ci raised his hammer to block, the force of the impact reverberating through his arms.

In that split second, He Qi and Fang Yue struck simultaneously. He Qi's sword slashed across Yan Liang's back, while Fang Yue's spear pierced his side. The dual assault was too much for the proud warrior. With a final cry, Yan Liang collapsed to his knees, his glaive falling from his hands.

The battlefield fell silent as everyone watched the once-mighty general fall. Taishi Ci dismounted, walking toward the kneeling warrior. Yan Liang looked up at him, his face a mask of pain and defiance.

"You fought well, Yan Liang," Taishi Ci said solemnly. "Yield now, and your men will be spared."

But Yan Liang only smiled bitterly. "I… will never… yield…" With those final words, his head bowed, and he slumped forward, lifeless. The death of Yan Liang broke the spirit of his army. Leaderless and demoralized, many soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered. The Zhuque and Xuanwu armies swiftly moved to secure the battlefield, ensuring no pockets of resistance remained.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0