Chapter Seven, Bloodthirst, Nightmare, Male and Female

Traveling at night is not convenient; fortunately, the Southern Xia army only intended to leave the Wild Wolf Gorge and find a sheltered place to camp. Thus, they did not travel far south before stopping, choosing a location that was not easily susceptible to cavalry ambushes for rest. This was also Xu Jing's idea, as experiencing a night raid by the Northern Desert cavalry on their main camp once was enough. Although Chen Qi had already suffered defeat and retreated north, they must remain vigilant.

This sword, she recognizes, is Tang Shaoyi's sword, the one she returned to Tang Shaoyi

Tang Shaoyi cast a worried glance at her, sent someone to inquire about Xu Jing, and then intended to carry A Mai onto the mule cart. However, A Mai reached out to refuse, forcing a smile, stood up on one leg, supported his arm, and said: "No need, just help me over, big brother."

Shang Yizhi looked at Amai and snorted coldly, falling silent. Zhang Sheng, noticing this, hurriedly teamed up with Tang Shaoyi to support Amai and went to find the military doctor behind them. Upon seeing Amai covered in blood, the doctor was momentarily at a loss as to where she was injured and quickly instructed Tang Shaoyi to help her remove her clothes. Although Amai felt a bit faint, her mind was still clear. She reached out to stop Tang Shaoyi and, with great effort, said: "There is no injury elsewhere, only on my leg"

Amai, momentarily at a loss for words and still contemplating whether to tell Shang Yizhi the truth, heard him continue: "In the Southern Xia army, there is a rule: any soldier who captures five enemies is promoted to squad leader; if one captures twenty or more, the squad leader is granted a rank increase. Although you are considered my personal guard, you should still be regarded as a soldier, and thus you should be promoted to the rank of squad leader."

For a moment, the surrounding soldiers from the Northern Desert also began to react. Although they saw Amai suddenly kneel down on the ground, the scene of her desperately fighting just moments ago still intimidated them, preventing any rash movements. They merely circled around, hesitant to approach.

Amai was taken aback, but still obediently climbed into the carriage. Inside the carriage, a small light was lit, and Xu Jing had already laid out Shang Yizhi's cloak as a mattress, sitting on it with her eyes closed, resting against the wall of the carriage. Amai endured the pain and positioned her injured leg, revealing a smooth leg, and casually sat there, asking Xu Jing: "Sir, where are we going? Is the battlefield already cleaned up?"

Tang Shaoyi turned around to look at Amai, smiled slightly with pursed lips, and said resolutely: "Amai, I must leave now. The Tartars will probably arrive before noon, so you should quickly return to the general's side."

How much? "Amai did not understand.

Upon hearing this, the personal guard let out a chuckle, but noticed that both A Mai and Xu Jing were not laughing and did not understand what was happening, so he quickly stifled his laughter, lowered his head, and dared not make a sound

Xu Jing smiled and said, "Since the general can think this way, I am relieved"

The army's speed on the return journey was several times slower than on the way there. Fortunately, they had captured supplies from the Northern Desert, so even though there were no food convoys coming, the army had no issues with food and drink. Amai rested in Xu Jing's carriage for a few days, and her leg injury had mostly healed. The journey by carriage was not too dull; although Xu Jing was difficult to please, he treated her quite well. She asked him some military questions, and he answered them one by one.

Amai felt a twinge of sorrow in her heart, as it seemed that every time they parted, he was always the one to turn away first, leaving without looking back. Amai suddenly forced a bitter smile, shaking her head vigorously to dispel the unwelcome sadness from her mind

A general from the Northern Desert rode forward, swinging his long knife directly at Amai and Tang Shaoyi. Without a weapon in hand, Tang Shaoyi dared not block it head-on; instead, he embraced Amai and leaned back along the edge of the blade. The two warhorses passed each other, and the fierce wind from the knife brushed past Amai's nose. Amai hurriedly raised her knife to parry, and as the two blades clashed, sparks flew. Her entire arm instantly went numb, and she nearly lost grip of the knife in her hand

Xu Jing remained silent, and A Mai was unsure whether he believed his own words. However, it was already a situation from which there was no turning back, so he could only force a couple of laughs and awkwardly said: "Sir, could you please not tell anyone about this? If others find out the reason, won't they just laugh at me? Regardless of anything, I have at least killed a few Tartars and have been injured; if not for any merit, I have at least endured hardship, right?"

Tang Shaoyi habitually stroked the sword at his waist and suddenly asked Amai: "Why must you return the sword to me? I gave it to you sincerely. Moreover, although this sword is issued by the military, it is a personal possession of the officer and can be given as a gift."

Chen Qi! Amai felt a sudden jolt in her heart, and she abruptly realized that the one leading the army from the Northern Desert this time was actually Chen Qi

The military doctor came to change the dressing for Amai. After unwrapping the bandage, he discovered that her wound was healing remarkably quickly. For such an injury, it was already fortunate that she had not developed a fever. No one expected that within just two days, the wound would begin to scab. The military doctor looked at Amai with astonishment, as if he were looking at a monster, and said that if this pace continued, in a few more days, Amai's mobility would not be an issue.

Tang Shaoyi also smiled, but did not respond. He reached out and firmly grasped Amai's shoulder, saying, "Alright, take care of your injury, I have to go now." Tang Shaoyi threw his cloak over Amai, then jumped off the carriage. After taking a few steps, he turned back, lifted the curtain of the carriage, and said, "Wait a moment, I will find a pair of pants for you. Don't keep exposing your legs in front of Mr. Xu."

Amai smiled apologetically and asked, "Really?"

Amai was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. Hearing Shang Yizhi's question, she quickly and cautiously replied: "Amai has no complaints. Thank you, General, for your mercy in not killing me"

Amai's lower lip had already been bitten through, merely to maintain a semblance of clarity in her mind and prevent herself from fainting. She was injured, and if she sought the military doctor for bandaging, it was highly likely that her identity would be exposed, so she had to remain conscious

Amai smiled brightly and patted the curved dagger at his waist, saying: "Brother, I have only learned a bit of swordsmanship, and I handle the knife quite skillfully. I know you sincerely wish to gift me this sword, but it would be of no use to me; instead, it would waste this fine blade. It would be better to hand it over to you to shed more of the Tartars' blood."

It is unknown how the general addresses his own doubts

Shang Yizhi's laughter gradually subsided, and as he gazed at the night sky, he suddenly asked: "What is your view, sir?"

Zhang Sheng held a torch, trailing far behind. Shang Yizhi walked slowly with his hands behind his back, his demeanor relaxed and composed, showing no curiosity as to why Xu Jing had invited him to enjoy the moon. Although the mountain was not steep, it was not easy to traverse at night. Xu Jing, unlike Shang Yizhi, was already slightly out of breath by the time he reached halfway up the mountain. Shang Yizhi stopped, smiling as he looked at Xu Jing. Xu Jing supported himself on his knee, shook his head, and sighed, "I can't go on, I'm getting old, getting old."

Xu Jing smiled slightly, stroking his beard and shaking his head, without paying any attention to the guard. He turned around and walked away unsteadily. He did not return to the mule cart, but walked a short distance towards the mountain, and indeed saw Shang Yizhi coming from the front with Zhang Sheng.

In an instant, the spears were like reeds, and the arrows flew like locusts... Thousands of cavalry from the Northern Desert fell from their horses, and these runaway steeds scattered in all directions, causing even greater chaos among their ranks

Xu Jing returned from washing her face outside and glanced at the pants in A Mai's hand, asking: "Who gave them to you?"

Kema, I truly have no strength left

Shang Yizhi did not speak, but merely nodded gently

Chen Qi smiled gently, not rejecting the goodwill of his subordinate. The bodyguards beside him, fearing that their commander might be at a disadvantage, silently shifted their positions, discreetly protecting Chen Qi in the center.

A-Mai looked at Tang Shaoyi's slightly flushed face, fell silent for a moment, and suddenly asked: "Elder brother, do I really look like a woman?"

Shang Yi was taken aback for a moment, staring blankly at Xu Jing for a while. Suddenly, he let out a sneer, and then his laughter grew louder and louder, eventually causing him to fall to the ground in uncontrollable laughter. Lying on his back on the hillside, he laughed and said: "He who knows me, is indeed a true gentleman."

Before Amai could react, Tang Shaoyi had already arrived in front of her, bending down to scoop her up onto the horse's back, urgently shouting: "We are leaving!"

The effect is surprisingly good

Xu Jing had no mind to pay attention to her, casually waved his hand, ignored her completely, and left without looking back. A Mai stared blankly in the direction Xu Jing had departed, feeling that something was amiss. Although Xu Jing had just left in a hurry, she did not see a trace of panic on his face; instead, his eyes shone with brilliance, as if something he had been waiting for a long time had finally happened

Am I really going to die like this? Amai finally gave up the thought of standing up again, kneeling on the ground, looking into the distance through the crimson haze, where the handsome flag was still fluttering in the wind. The blood blurred her vision, making it difficult for her to see the people below. The knife wind, carrying a metallic scent, had already brushed against her face, yet she suddenly felt at ease, devoid of fear, devoid of resentment

Oh," Xu Jing was also unceremonious, taking the cloak and shaking it. Seeing that it was quite thick, she nodded and shouted towards the car, "A Mai, hurry up and crawl out, wash your head first.

Shang Yi asked again: "I heard that you killed twenty-three Tartars?"

Yelaogou is located at the top of the Jiangzhong Plain. Although it is called a gully, it is actually a narrow plain. To the west lies the foothills of the main peak of the Ulan Mountains, while to the east are some undulating hills. That night, the cavalry of Chang Yuqing from the Northern Desert charged down from the western slope, invading the camp of the sleeping Jingyang reinforcements, slaughtering the 150,000 troops without mercy, and then dug several large pits on the gentle slope to the east to bury them. Perhaps they were buried too shallowly, for ever since that night, at midnight, some faint blue flames have been seen flickering on that gentle slope, resembling the souls of the wrongfully dead. Originally, there were some farming families and hunters living nearby, but they all moved away after that, leaving Yelaogou even more desolate.

Amai nodded, setting her pants aside, planning to put them on after the military doctor came to change the dressing on her wound. Xu Jing smirked and said sarcastically, "You two have such a good relationship, it's as if you share the same pair of pants."

At noon, the cavalry of the Northern Desert entered the Wild Wolf Valley and indeed saw the infantry of Southern Xia arrayed within the gorge. Fu Chong was unconcerned and aimed to conclude the battle before the arrival of the reinforcements, thus he ordered the cavalry to charge. The Northern Desert cavalry did not notice the archers on the flanks of the Southern Xia army and directly attacked the central formation. Thousands of cavalry surged forward in a tight formation, as if even the main peak of the Ulan Mountain nearby was trembling faintly, with the yellow earth being kicked up by millions of hooves, obscuring the sky and blocking the sun.

A-Mai lightly smiled and nodded, and Tang Shaoyi couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth in response. He became somewhat entranced by A-Mai's smile, then suddenly snapped back to reality, dropped the car curtain, and turned to leave. He only stopped after walking a distance away from the vehicle. Tang Shaoyi stood there in a daze for a moment, then suddenly slapped himself across the face. The sound was crisp and echoed far into the night, startling him as well. After glancing around to ensure no one was paying attention, he muttered a few curses under his breath and strode back toward his camp.

It is now early winter, and marching in the wild, wearing only a single pair of trousers, one can imagine how uncomfortable it must be, especially since Tang Shaoyi had even left his cloak for her. The cold wind must be quite unpleasant. A-Mai fell silent for a moment, then thought it over and instructed someone to return the cloak to Tang Shaoyi, conveying the message that it was unnecessary in the carriage and should be used by him instead

Amai stood on the hillside behind the merchant Yi, observing the battle situation. He saw that after a moment of chaos in the infantry formation of the Northern Desert, it quickly regained its composure. Under the command of the officers, they began to widen the gaps in their ranks to allow their cavalry to pass through, realizing that there were individuals within the Northern Desert army who were stabilizing the formation.

Xu Jing smiled again and said, "The general should take good care of this rabbit; I believe that with proper feeding, it will one day grow into a fierce tiger."

Amai let out a cry, her body stiffened and she fell off the horse as if in a state of collapse. Tang Shaoyi hurriedly supported her, noticing that her jaws were tightly clenched and cold sweat mixed with blood was flowing down her face

"Sir? What brings you here?" Shang Yizhi was somewhat puzzled. After inspecting the main camp, he had gone to check the outpost in front of the mountain. He did not expect to encounter Xu Jing here, and even more so, he was surprised that Xu Jing was not resting in the mule cart but had come this way in the middle of the night for some reason

A-Mai was taken aback, looking at Xu Jing in confusion. Xu Jing blinked her small eyes and explained: "Due to the scarcity of supplies in the army, ordinary soldiers are only issued with trousers, while only officers of the rank of school lieutenant and above have an additional layer of trousers over their trousers, primarily for warmth and aesthetics. During this expedition, soldiers are not allowed to bring any extra items, so each soldier is only wearing a complete military uniform. There are no villages within dozens of miles around here, and this is also the military style. Where do you say your trousers came from? During this expedition, soldiers are not allowed to bring any extra items, so each soldier is only wearing a complete military uniform. There are no villages within dozens of miles around here, and this is also the military style. Where do you say your trousers came from? It is highly likely that Tang Shaoyi took off the trousers underneath from you. If you don't believe it, go check the cuffs of his trousers; there must only be a single pair left."

Seeing A Mai boast, Tang Shaoyi revealed a rare smile on his face. His gaze swept over A Mai, flashing a hint of tenderness, before he turned his head to quietly look down the mountain. Suddenly, he asked softly: "A Mai, are you afraid?"

Shang Yizhi nodded in agreement, saying no more, and deployed the troops according to the established plan. Over 20,000 Southern Xia soldiers formed a strong square formation in the Wild Wolf Gorge, completely blocking the gorge, with 5,000 archers on each flank providing cover. The two flanks extended forward, sloping down to the hills on either side. If the Northern Desert cavalry charged into the center, they would not only miss their target but also be surrounded by archers on both sides, exposed to a rain of arrows. To protect the archers, Shang Yizhi drew 2,000 of the only 3,000 cavalry in the army to position behind them, with 1,000 on each wing. Beyond the small hill on the right flank, following Tang Shaoyi's advice, an additional 1,000 cavalry were placed as assault and pursuit forces, ordered to charge into the rear of the Northern Desert infantry as soon as they began their advance.

Standing there is a tall young man, dressed in a traditional black battle robe of the Northern Desert, with one hand resting on the sword at his waist, gazing indifferently at the cavalry of the Southern Xia charging out from behind the formation

Xu Jing stroked his beard in silence, and a glimmer of brilliance emerged from his small eyes, which made A Mai's heart tremble slightly. Only then did he avert his gaze and let out a faint "oh".

A sudden commotion arose on the western side of the battlefield, prompting Chen Qi to turn his gaze westward. He saw a soldier from the Southern Xia force had already penetrated deep into his own ranks, resembling a fierce demon that had just emerged from hell. Wherever he went, the Northern Desert soldiers were alarmed and retreated, allowing him to advance step by step towards the central army. Chen Qi furrowed his brow slightly, and a nearby general, noticing this, quickly said: "Let me deal with that Southern barbarian!" Without waiting for Chen Qi's command, he spurred his horse and rushed forward.

Tang Shaoyi is not a fussy person. After hearing Amai say this, he paused for a moment and then asked with concern, "Is the knife usable now?"

Turning his head, he noticed Shang Yizhi looking at him with some surprise. Xu Jing stroked his beard, squinted his eyes, and said with a serious expression: "The general is thinking, how wonderful it would be to have a beautiful woman by his side on such a charming night view; that would truly be a match of chivalry and tenderness! Why is it that I am sitting next to an old man instead? What a pity, what a pity indeed!"

Amai's legs are long and strong, with almost imperceptible fine hair, giving her skin a delicate and smooth appearance, unlike what one would expect from a man. Tang Shaoyi, for some reason, felt his face flush and dared not look at Amai's thighs any longer, instead directing his gaze to her wound.

Shang Yizhi paused for a moment and then continued, "However, you have disobeyed military orders by going to the battlefield without permission, which, according to the law, warrants execution. Our army achieves victory through discipline, with clear rewards and punishments. Considering your significant contributions, I can spare your life, but you must still face punishment. Therefore, I will demote you by one rank and make you a squad leader. How does that sound? Do you have any objections?"

"Everything is ready." A-Mai said as he bent his bow.

Amai was both surprised and delighted, while Xu Jing remained quite indifferent, casting a glance at Amai that carried a hint of deeper meaning

Amai was stunned, momentarily speechless, holding a stick and forgetting to add fuel to the stove. She had only rested for a few days in Xu Jing's vehicle, yet unexpectedly, she had become a heroic figure in the Southern Xia army. Killed twenty-three? Although she did not remember exactly how many Beimo people she had killed, it certainly did not reach the number twenty-three. Twenty-three? These people really dare to spread such rumors, with exact figures and all. Do they think the Beimo people are cabbages? So easy to chop? Moreover, why is she called "Jade-faced Yanluo"? Yanluo is just Yanluo, why add the words "Jade-faced"? It sounds just like the chaotic characters in the stories her mother used to tell.

However, Xu Jing at the back began to show some impatience, and A Mai felt that he was waiting for something, which made him somewhat anxious

He had not made such a gesture of rolling his eyes for a long time, and now, as he did it, A Mai surprisingly felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had returned to the road to Qingzhou together. At that time, Xu Jing always loved to roll her eyes at her, speaking to her in that ambiguous tone.

Zhang Sheng was leading two personal guards in preparing a fire and cooking. Upon seeing A-Mai approach, he was quite pleased and tossed the firewood in his hands into the arms of one of the guards, stepping forward to greet her. However, when he opened his mouth, he found himself at a loss for how to address A-Mai. It was no longer appropriate to call her A-Mai, but what else could he call her? She currently held no official title, so he could not refer to her as "Sir." Calling her "Brother Mai" also seemed inappropriate, as she was clearly younger than him. Zhang Sheng closed his mouth and, feeling somewhat awkward, smiled and said, "A-Mai, what brings you here? Is your leg injury better?"

Amai was stunned, reaching out to touch her hair. The bun that was originally tied at the top of her head had long since come undone, and there were bloodstains smeared in her hair, which fell down in disarray, with the ends already past her shoulders. She felt a surge of panic, fearing that someone might notice the flaw. She had always been reluctant to grow her hair long, having even shaved her head once a few years ago. After the turmoil in Hamburg, although she had not cut her hair again, she had never let it down in front of others. She did not know when her hair had come undone, only remembering that it was still tied up before she got on the mule cart. Amai rummaged through the compartment and indeed found the hair tie, hurriedly retying her hair.

Amai wanted to stand up while supporting herself with a knife, but each time she attempted to move, the excruciating pain in her legs brought her back down, causing her to kneel heavily on the ground

Tang Shaoyi galloped over from a distance, just as it seemed that Amai was about to lose his head. In a moment of urgency, with no time to draw an arrow and string the bow, he threw the sword he was holding like a dagger, barely saving Amai's life

There was some unusual movement in the Northern Desert's central army behind him. Tang Shaoyi turned around and saw that the Northern Desert troops, who had initially stabilized their formation, were now in disarray again. He couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled, but at this moment, he had no time to think deeply. He only wanted to quickly send Amai back to Shang Yizhi, for it was only there that a military doctor could be found

Upon hearing this, Amai hurriedly moved her injured leg aside with her hands, clearing a large space for Xu Jing, and sat leaning against the side of the carriage

The battle continued until the afternoon, when the Southern Xia troops began their offensive. The vanguard of the Northern Desert, General Fu Chong, was shot dead, and the Northern Desert cavalry had no strength left to resist, immediately retreating. When the Northern Desert infantry reached the Wild Wolf Gorge, they unexpectedly collided with the fleeing Northern Desert cavalry. The infantry had no time to widen their ranks to allow the cavalry to pass, resulting in a chaotic collision where men and horses fell in disarray, with countless Northern Desert soldiers trampled to death by their own cavalry. Following closely behind the Northern Desert cavalry, the Southern Xia army had already surged forward.

Her mind was a blank, her body instinctively dodging the swords and knives that were swung at her from the side, and then she wielded the knife in her hand, step by step moving deeper into the Northern Desert Army.

With a nod from Shang Yi, the two found a gentle hillside and slowly made their way up. Although there was no bright moon tonight, the stars in the sky were brilliant, twinkling and illuminating the night sky between the mountains, transforming it from a heavy black to a rich deep blue, resembling a fine piece of velvet hanging in the heavens, casting a faint glow that spread downwards, enveloping the mountains in a delicate veil, creating a hazy yet clear view.

Xu Jing looked around and pointed to the hillside behind the military camp, saying: "How about over there?"

Shang Yi looked at A Mai with a cold expression, and A Mai anxiously waited for quite a while before hearing him coldly snort and say: "With your hair disheveled, what do you look like!" After saying this, he threw down the curtain of the carriage and turned to leave

Shang Yi's eyes sparkled as he smiled and waved Zhang Sheng away, then turned to Xu Jing and said, "Since you have invited me, I can only accompany you. May I ask where you would like to go to enjoy the moon?"

Having said that, Xu Jing lifted the curtain of the carriage and climbed in, calling out: "Make way, move your leg aside, and give this old man some space."

Shang Yizhi turned his head to look at Xu Jing and said with a relaxed smile, "Even so, I am still somewhat curious. After all, it is rather strange that the male looks somewhat like the female. What do you think, sir?"

Tang Shaoyi lowered his eyelids slightly and said in a low voice, "Be careful yourself." After saying this, he spurred his horse and galloped down the mountain.

Throughout the journey, Xu Jing remained silent, and A Mai did not dare to speak either, merely closing her eyes to doze off. In November, the temperature in the wilderness at night had already dropped significantly, and she was only wearing a light jacket, with one of her pant legs completely missing. Although she had avoided some of the cold wind inside the carriage, A Mai was already feeling extremely cold, especially in her injured leg, which had nearly gone numb. When the vehicle came to a stop, Xu Jing, as usual, climbed out to stretch her legs, leaving A Mai alone in the carriage. She quickly pulled out Shang Yizhi's cloak and wrapped it around herself.

Amai was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but soon smiled and said: "Sir, your question is rather strange; Amai naturally wishes to capture and kill the Tatar commander Chen Qi."

Xu Jing lowered her eyelids and said, "Anyone who can emerge from a wolf's den, regardless of how they look, can only be a male. If it were a female, how could it possibly survive until now"

Shang Yizhi did not go to comfort him; instead, he found a flat area, pulled some dry grass from around, spread it on the ground, and after sitting down, he looked up and smiled at Xu Jing, saying: "Sir, come sit here for a while; enjoying the moon does not necessarily require going to the mountain top, I think this hillside is just right."

Xu Jing was eating outside the car when he saw the cavalryman galloping by. He stood up, momentarily stunned, his expression shifting unpredictably. Suddenly, he threw the steamed bun in his hand onto the ground and strode quickly towards Shang Yizhi.

Amai paused her hands and looked up to Xu Jing, asking, "Sir, what should we do? Why don't you lend me the general's cloak for the time being? At least I can wrap myself up; it wouldn't be proper to stand before you bare-bottomed, would it?"

The large flag inscribed with the character "Chen" drew closer to her, as the person in front of her had their throat cut by her knife, blood gushing from the wound like a fountain, splattering onto her hair, then flowing down her forehead, blinding her eyes. She seemed to catch a whiff of the metallic scent of blood, reminiscent of her father's blood from that night, reflecting the blinding flames, possessing a different shade of red

A-Mai recalled the scenes along the way, her movements paused, and she looked up innocently at Zhang Sheng, asking: "Brother Zhang, how is this speaking? A-Mai did not understand in her heart"

Amai was taken aback, lifted her arm to sniff the scent, and then heard Xu Jing outside the car shouting to her bodyguards: "Hurry up and bring her a basin of water to wash her hair, and also, get rid of the car cushions, just take them out all at once!"

Xu Jing's gaze swept around A Mai's face, and then she said somewhat impatiently: "Forget it, forget it, just throw out the dirty clothes from outside."

At this moment, Tang Shaoyi dared to approach Amai, only to see that she had been struck by an arrow in her right thigh, with blood having soaked through one of her pant legs. He did not dare to recklessly pull the arrow out, so he could only say with a heavy heart, "Endure it!" Without waiting for Amai to respond, he swiftly used a knife to cut off the shaft of the arrow, leaving only the arrowhead embedded in her leg.

But... will there be Brother Chen Qi there?

After a while, the carriage sank slightly, and someone lifted the curtain to get on the carriage. A-Mai thought it was Xu Jing returning, so she hurriedly spread the cloak back on the carriage. To her surprise, when she looked up, it was Tang Shaoyi.

Amai smiled and suddenly reached out to pat Xu Jing's shoulder, disregarding his astonishment, and jumped out of the car. She decided to report to Shang Yizhi first, after all, she was still his personal guard. Now that her injury had healed, it was only natural to inform the commander. It was already past noon, and the army had come to a halt, with soldiers from various camps setting up stoves to cook. As Amai walked by, the soldiers she encountered stood up respectfully and saluted her. Amai was surprised and did not dare to ask why they were saluting her, so she suppressed her questions and calmly nodded in return. It was already past noon, and the army had come to a halt, with soldiers from various camps setting up stoves to cook. As Amai walked by, the soldiers she encountered stood up respectfully and saluted her. Amai was surprised and did not dare to ask why they were saluting her, so she suppressed her questions and calmly nodded in return.

"What are you looking at?" Xu Jing deliberately asked

Xu Jing felt a bit reluctant, her arched eyebrows twitching as she advised Shang Yizhi: "General, Ah Mai has lost too much blood; it would be better to let the military doctor bandage Ah Mai's wounds before we inquire further."

Amai Yingnuo hastened towards Tang Shaoyi's cavalry ambush. Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Wild Wolf Gorge, he saw the rear of the Northern Desert Army suddenly fall into chaos, as Tang Shaoyi had already led a thousand cavalrymen into the enemy's rear. Amai smiled, knowing that he no longer needed to go, and turned his horse around to return to Shang Yizhi to report. However, as he turned, he suddenly saw a large flag raised among the Northern Desert Army, on which the character "Chen" was prominently displayed.

Amai was unable to speak, merely dragging her legs and lying on the ground. The scenery before her had begun to blur, and Shang Yizhi's voice seemed to come from a distant place, sounding somewhat indistinct.

Xu Jing smiled and walked over to sit beside him. The two of them gazed at the night sky in silence for a while, until Xu Jing suddenly said with a smile: "I know what the general is thinking."

Just die like this, for in death everything will be liberated, no more fleeing for life, no more wandering, no more pretending to be a man, and no need to ask why... She can see her father and mother... Will her father lift her high and playfully poke her cheek with his beard? And her mother? Will she still chase her with a bamboo stick? Chase her, it doesn't matter, she knows her mother has always just been scaring her, how could she bear to hit her... Will her father lift her high and playfully poke her cheek with his beard? And her mother? Will she still chase her with a bamboo stick? Chase her, it doesn't matter, she knows her mother has always just been scaring her, how could she bear to hit her.

Upon seeing him like this, A Mai scratched his head in embarrassment and chuckled awkwardly, saying: "I knew I couldn't fool you, sir. Let me be honest! You may not know my temperament; naturally, I avoid danger. The general asked me to deliver a message, and halfway there, I saw that Colonel Tang had already taken action, so I intended to return quickly. Unexpectedly, just as I turned my horse around, an arrow shot out from somewhere, startling my horse and sending me charging towards the enemy's flag. I had no choice but to stay on; I was so scared I almost wet my pants. Later, when the enemy intercepted me, I became so frantic that I forgot my fear."

Amai let out a muffled sound, and Tang Shaoyi helped her sit up. There was no time to ask how she was; he simply urged the horse to charge outward. Groups of Northern Desert soldiers surged forward. Amai handed the knife to Tang Shaoyi behind her, then deftly bent down to tightly embrace the horse's neck. With a knife in hand, Tang Shaoyi felt invigorated, and how could these Northern Desert infantrymen possibly stop him? After several slashes, they had already reached the edge of the battlefield, on the hillside to the west.

"Tang Shaoyi?" Xu Jing raised her eyebrows and asked

Amai was at a loss for words; she only thought that they were ambushing the Northern Desert army here. Who would have thought that they would end up fighting face to face, and that they would also need to find a way to make the Northern Desert cavalry actively attack their own infantry formation. She couldn't help but recall that her father had once mentioned the respective strengths and weaknesses of infantry and cavalry, which was somewhat similar to what Tang Shaoyi had said.

Ah? Zhang Sheng called out to A Mai, who had been silent for a long time. Only then did A Mai come to her senses and forced a smile at Zhang Sheng, saying, "Brother Zhang, to be honest, I have indeed taken down a few Tartars, but even doubling that wouldn't reach twenty-three."

Shang Yizhi and Xu Jing exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of excitement and thrill in each other's eyes, along with a subtle trace of tension. Xu Jing said: "Heaven helps us; we still have time for the army to rest for a night. Chen Qi is at the small station, and he will surely deploy his cavalry in the front and the supplies in the rear by dawn. Once we enter the Wild Wolf Gorge, Chen Qi's cavalry will find it difficult to be of use. As long as we can confuse his cavalry, the infantry behind them will pose no threat. We have fewer cavalry and cannot take advantage of the favorable terrain, so we can only rely on the infantry to fight!"

On the morning of November 4th, the Northern Desert army broke camp from the small station. Indeed, the cavalry led the way, followed by the infantry, with the supply train bringing up the rear. When they were twenty li away from the Southern Xia army, the scouts of the Northern Desert discovered a small group of Southern Xia cavalry in front of Wolf Valley and reported this to the vanguard commander, Fu Chong. Fu Chong hailed from a prominent military family in the Northern Desert and was known as one of the twin talents of the military alongside Chang Yuqing. He was a proud and solitary individual, especially after Chang Yuqing gained fame for his long-distance raid against the Southern Xia reinforcements. Feeling quite unsettled in his heart, upon hearing the scouts report the discovery of Southern Xia cavalry, he was not alarmed but rather pleased, ordering the vanguard cavalry to continue advancing without reporting the news to the central army's commander, Chen Qi.

Shang Yizhi furrowed his brows and, after inquiring with his gaze at Xu Jing, said in a deep voice: "Go tell Tang Shaoyi to take action in advance and strike at the rear of the Northern Desert infantry."

In the army, it is said that you killed a total of twenty-three enemies that day, and the news has spread wildly. You are now the number one hero in our ranks, and anyone who hears it can't help but give a thumbs up. You even have a title now—"The Jade-faced Yama," said to be one who kills when encountering a person and slays a Buddha when encountering one.

Although she had always been by Shang Yizhi's side, it was not permitted for personal guards to be present during military meetings convened by Shang Yizhi. Furthermore, given the highly confidential nature of this operation, all the generals kept their mouths tightly sealed, which is why A Mai was completely unaware that Chen Qi was leading the troops southward

However, since it is a moon-viewing occasion, there is naturally no need for torches

As she spoke, Amai's voice began to tremble, as if those events had truly occurred in her life. She was unafraid of performing, for in the preceding years, this had been her means of survival. Thus, her words came forth with an undeniable authenticity, as if each one was imbued with the bitter tears of hardship

Her injured leg was exposed again, and Tang Shaoyi quickly averted his gaze, saying: "Your wound needs to be kept warm, I am fine"

The question of commerce: "What doubts do I have in my heart?"

Amai smiled apologetically, nodded, and seeing Zhang Sheng go back to cook, she followed him and squatted by the stove, casually saying: "Brother Zhang, let me help you with the fire." Unexpectedly, Zhang Sheng quickly waved his hand and said: "I cannot accept being called 'brother.' If you don't mind, just call me Lao Zhang."

"It's no big deal," said Amai, turning to glance around.

She looked down and saw an arrow, shot from an unknown source, had struck her thigh, the arrowhead embedded deeply in the flesh, while the fletching still quivered slightly

In the night, the officers and soldiers of the camp walked silently between the tents, holding torches, resembling a silent dragon gliding through the military encampment, occasionally producing the faint sound of metal armor clashing.

Amai said happily: "It was Brother Tang who sent it over. This is great, I finally don't have to wear pants with one leg anymore"

At this moment, Amai is no longer Amai; Amai has become a knife for killing

She is going to find him, she is going to ask him why

Xu Jing opened her eyes and casually glanced at A Mai before closing them again, saying in a neutral tone: "Where to? Naturally, we are going back to Yuzhou. Chen Qi has led the defeated troops back to Jingyang, so what? Do you still dare to chase after them to Jingyang? You have been in a deep sleep for a whole day and night, and the battlefield has long been tidied up."

Shh! When Zhang Sheng saw that A Mai had actually revealed the truth to him, he felt genuinely moved, realizing that A Mai truly regarded him as a good brother. He immediately began to sincerely plan for A Mai and quickly stopped him, lowering his voice to say, "A Mai, you are too honest. How can you casually say such things? This is precisely your opportunity to make a name for yourself; who would be foolish enough to expose this themselves?"

That smile, piercing through the blood-rain-soaked sky, cutting through the sounds of countless battles, was like an incredibly sharp arrow that instantly shot through Chen Qi's heart. Ah Mai! This is Ah Mai! Although she was dressed as a man, although she had grown much taller, although her face was covered in blood, this smile belonged to her, just like the radiant smile he had seen many years ago when he first met her, illuminating the sky behind him in an instant. He felt a sudden tightness in his heart, as if his chest had been forcefully squeezed, leaving him unable to draw in even a breath of air. He wanted to stop the knife that was falling towards her, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out, and his whole body froze, leaving him to sit on his horse, helplessly watching as the knife inched closer to the top of her head.

Before Amay could reach Xu Jing's carriage, he heard a commotion ahead. A cavalryman was galloping from a distance, disregarding the rules of the camp, relentlessly urging his horse forward, heading straight for the central army of Shang Yizhi. Amay furrowed his brow, as "galloping within the army" was a violation of military law. He wondered what had happened to make that cavalryman so anxious.

Amai gritted her teeth, her hand holding the knife trembling slightly as she took a step forward, forcing the northern desert soldiers to retreat a step in response. Looking at the quivering gun muzzle before her, Amai curled her lips into a cold smile; they were afraid of her. Although she was now exhausted from killing, they had been frightened by her actions. With a cold smile, she stepped forward again, but suddenly her right leg gave way, and her body uncontrollably fell forward.

Xu Jing squinted her small eyes, waved her hand and said, "Alright, hurry up and go in, you look like a drowned chicken from the cold." After saying that, she inexplicably pulled out a towel from somewhere and threw it to A Mai, "Wipe your hair with this, let’s first get the bedding changed."

The bodyguard responded and left. After a while, he brought a basin of water to the front of the carriage and said to Xu Jing: "Sir, the quartermaster did not bring any bedding either. General Shang knew about this and took off his own cloak to give to me, saying it should be used as bedding for you first, and we will find you some proper bedding once we reach a village."

Such a Amai, where is the original Amai now

Chen Qi deliberately raised the commander’s flag to attract the Southern Xia cavalry that had suddenly emerged behind the Northern Desert Army. Seeing that the cavalry indeed charged towards him, he smiled faintly, but the smile did not reach his eyes before it faded away. He merely stood there, regarding the surrounding chaos as if it were nothing, quietly watching the enemy cavalry in the distance attempting to break through his own cavalry to come this way

Amai smiled and said, "Well, Zhang Sheng is a good teacher; he teaches very carefully. Moreover, I am quite intelligent, so of course I learn quickly"

Finally, an enemy soldier beside her attempted to take a step towards her, slowly raising the long knife in his hand

Tang Shaoyi was taken aback by her question, as if someone had suddenly exposed his innermost thoughts, and he looked at her with a flushed face and ears.

Amai closed her eyes, and although she harbored the thought of certain death, her arm instinctively lifted to meet the descending blade. After waiting for a while, the blade did not fall. Amai opened her eyes in confusion and saw that a sword was plunged into the chest of the enemy soldier, who then fell backward with a thud

Xu Jing glanced at Zhang Sheng, who was lighting a torch for Shang Yizhi, pursed her lips, and smiled: "I couldn't sleep at night, so I came out to enjoy the moonlight. I wonder if the general would be interested in appreciating the moon together?"

Two days later, Amai's leg injury had significantly improved, and she was unwilling to continue riding with Xu Jing. Her warhorse had long since perished in the Wolf Valley, and there were no spare horses available in the army for her. If she dismounted, she would have to walk alongside the soldiers. Xu Jing had been in a noticeably bad mood these past two days. Upon hearing Amai's intention to dismount, she rolled her eyes and said in a tone that was neither warm nor cold, "Amai, you need to think this through. Why would you choose to walk when you could ride comfortably in the mule cart? Be careful that your wound doesn't reopen, and then you'll really be in trouble."

After hearing him say this, Amai fell silent, lowering her head as if lost in thought. It turned out that she had actually fallen into a deep sleep for a day and a night; when she awoke, it was already the evening of the following day. Shang Yizhi not only cleaned up the battlefield but also erected a monument on the hillside of the Wulan Mountains in honor of the soldiers of Nansha who died here.

Shang Yi observed that Ah Mai was tense, raised the corner of his mouth, and said: "That's good, Lu Gang is just in need of a squad leader; you can go find him to fill the position. You are already familiar with the person, so it will be easier to work together"

Tang Shaoyi brought Amai over, and the two of them fell off the horse together. The bodyguards hurriedly helped them to stand before Shang Yizhi. Upon seeing Amai, Shang Yizhi's eyes lit up with joy, but soon they were clouded with gloom. With a serious expression, he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Amai, coldly saying: "I sent you to deliver a message, who told you to play the hero?"

Shang Yizhi and Xu Jing exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. Their hearty laughter startled the small nocturnal creatures nearby, causing them to drop the seeds they were holding in their claws and turn to look in this direction. Even Zhang Sheng, who was holding a torch in the distance, couldn't help but feel puzzled upon hearing the laughter, wondering what his general and Mr. Xu were discussing that could elicit such hearty amusement.

A-Mai smiled and settled back into the car, but accidentally bumped her injured leg. Fortunately, it had already gone somewhat numb from the cold, so it wasn't very painful. Tang Shaoyi, however, sensed something was amiss. Under the dim light, he scrutinized A-Mai, his brows furrowing tightly as he said, "Why are you dressed so lightly? Where is your military uniform?"

It is Shang Yizhi, behind whom there is a glow of fire, casting his shadow forward, yet obscuring his facial features, making it difficult to see him clearly. One can only sense that he is gazing at A Mai, as if he has been looking for quite some time.

Zhang Sheng poured some water from the water bag, intending to wipe the bloodstains off Amai's face. Amai's hands trembled as she cupped the water in her hands and splashed it on her face. Only after that did she lift her head to look at Tang Shaoyi and, with a voice that had already changed in tone, said: "I am very tired and would like to sleep for a while. Could you please help me ask Mr. Xu if I could borrow his mule cart?"

A-Mai swung her knife towards a Northern Desert soldier in front of the horse. The impact of the horse caused her knife to embed deeply into the man's body. She could no longer hear the man's cries of pain; everything was merely a silent tableau before her, each scene replaced by another, each featuring a face of suffering. She had just exerted effort to pull the knife out of the man's body when, before she could strike another person, she suddenly felt a dip beneath her. The horse beneath her had been stabbed in the neck, its robust body crashing to the ground. A-Mai's reaction was no longer processed by her brain; she instinctively curled up and rolled to the side, while simultaneously using her knife to chop off half of the enemy soldier's foot in front of her.

Amai lowered her head and subtly moved the corners of her mouth, calmly fastening the collar of her jacket before plunging her head into the basin of water held by the soldier. Only then did she untie the hairband that bound her hair. It was already winter, and the weather had turned cold; as soon as Amai's scalp touched the water, it sent a shiver down her spine. The soldier in front of her said apologetically, "I truly apologize, but we really cannot find any hot water at this moment"

Tang Shaoyi's complexion changed from red to white, and then gradually turned blue. "Don't say anything more! Amai." He supported Amai's slightly trembling shoulders, unable to speak for a long time, only tightly pursing his lips and looking at Amai with a pale face.

Amai chuckled self-deprecatingly; she was now merely a junior officer, and there was no place for her to participate in the major affairs of the military. She might as well do whatever she was supposed to do. She shook her head with a smile, exchanged a few words with the guard beside Xu Jing, left a message for Xu Jing, and then reported to the infantry battalion.

The speed of the cavalry has reached its peak, and stopping is no longer possible. The northern desert cavalry can only watch helplessly as their mounts charge into the thicket of spears. Some are directly impaled by the long spears, while others manage to evade, only to have their horses pierced through, causing them to fall and be violently thrown off, either dead or injured. However, those who are injured will only suffer temporarily, as soon a bright blade will come crashing down. The cavalry on both sides are not faring any better, as many have been shot down by the archers deployed by the Southern Xia on the flanks.

Amai happened to return just as she ran into Xu Jing. "Sir!" Amai called out

Xu Jing chuckled twice without giving a clear answer, then leaned back against the carriage and closed her eyes to rest.

"Nonsense!" Tang Shaoyi scolded, hurriedly taking off his cloak to cover Amai, and admonished, "Is it possible to fight a battle without shedding blood? If everyone were like you, we might as well all go back naked!"

Amai nodded, suddenly struggling to kneel up from the car with his injured leg, and bowed his head to Tang Shaoyi, saying, "Amai thanks Brother Da for saving my life"

Amai felt a sudden chill in her heart, and she quickly took a large step forward with her left leg, using her hand to brace the knife against the ground, barely managing to halt her forward momentum; however, she ended up kneeling on the ground.

"Afraid?" Amai was taken aback for a moment, then smiled again, shook his head, and said, "I am not afraid, I am not afraid."

On the morning of the second day, before breaking camp, Tang Shaoyi surprisingly had someone deliver a pair of trousers to Amai, which turned out to be in the style of the Southern Xia army. Amai was overjoyed as she examined the trousers in her hands; although they were not brand new, the quality was quite good. She compared them and found them a bit long, but that was not an issue, as she could simply roll up the cuffs.

Amai bit her lower lip and then said: "When I was in the camp, I was bullied for this. They all said I was too feminine. Being slender was one thing, but to make matters worse, I have a face like this, and not a single hair grows. There were some despicable people who even forced me to undress so they could see if I had any male attributes..." There were some despicable people who even forced me to undress so they could see if I had any male attributes..."

Amai nodded in silence

Saying this, she attempted to tear the fabric of her pants on her injured leg, but helplessly found that she had no strength in her hands, trembling so much that she could not even grasp the cloth. Tang Shaoyi removed Amai's hand, grasped her pant leg with both hands, and with a strong pull, tore one pant leg off from the top of her thigh.

A-Mai took the towel and casually placed it on her head, covering her face as she slowly wiped her damp hair. After a considerable amount of time, she finally pulled the towel down and smiled at Xu Jing, saying, "Sir, could you at least go find me a pair of pants? I can no longer make do with just this one leg of pants; otherwise, I would truly be disrespectful in front of you."

A-Mai? The God of Commerce, Shang Yi, glanced at her with a calm expression, washed his hands with the water poured by the guard, and casually asked, "Are your injuries healed?"

There are those who accompanied her in play and grew up with her, and there are those young men who would blush and tap her forehead... At this moment, as death approached, A Mai suddenly laughed lightly, revealing a set of white teeth that were strikingly incongruous with her complexion

"It's nothing," Ah Mai said, lowering his head. He rubbed his hair with his hands, hastily washing off the bloodstains on the surface. He quickly raised his head, wrung out the water from his hair, and carelessly tied it up with a hairband. Then, he shook his body and looked towards Xu Jing beside him

It was not until she lay down in the mule cart that Amai let out a long sigh of relief, allowing her consciousness to sink into the depths of darkness. At the moment her awareness faded away, she surprisingly felt that losing consciousness could be such a blissful experience

Amai's arm felt weak and powerless, and she collapsed again after barely holding herself up for a moment. The back of her head hit the floor of the carriage with a thud, causing some pain, but it also brought her senses back to clarity. Shang Yizhi, Shang Yizhi was looking at her! What was he looking at? Amai's heart tightened, and she instinctively reached for her collar, which was intact. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then propped herself up to sit in the carriage, carefully looking at Shang Yizhi, and said: "General, Amai has an injury on her leg and cannot pay you my respects."

Xu Jing noticed that A Mai had fallen silent, and couldn't help but open her eyes and curiously ask: "A Mai, why did you charge towards the Northern Desert Commander yesterday? What were you trying to accomplish?"

The Qingyu Allied Forces arrived at Yelanggou on the 3rd of November, indeed ahead of the Northern Desert Army. Scouts reported that the Northern Desert, led by General Chen Qi, had 20,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry, advancing south from Jingyang, and had already reached Xiaozhan Town, which is 50 li north of Yelanggou, where they were stationed.

Xu Jing, however, did not smile; she simply gazed quietly at Shang Yizhi

Shang Yi's response to Xu Jing was noncommittal, and then he asked: "What is the question in your mind, sir?"

"Using a spear formation against cavalry?" Ah Mai looked at the infantry formation below and asked Tang Shaoyi beside him

Xu Jing replied: "Two hares run side by side on the ground, how can one distinguish between male and female?"

If one falls, it will result in being hacked to pieces by chaotic blades, leaving no place for burial!

Xu Jing's beard twitched as he said irritably, "In this pitch darkness, where am I supposed to find you some pants? Just make do for now." Saying this, he climbed onto the vehicle beside A Mai and urged, "Hurry up, we are about to leave, get in quickly."

Shang Yi smiled slightly, pulling at the corners of his mouth, and softly asked, "What brings you to seek me, sir?"

Is it better now? asked Tang Shaoyi

Amai chuckled softly, returned the cloak to Tang Shaoyi, and said: "Elder brother, I am in the carriage, it's not too cold for me, you should take it, it's cold outside at night"

Amai smiled at him, then turned to see Xu Jing staring at him without saying a word. He simply took off the soft armor soaked in blood from his upper body and threw it on the ground. He then reached to remove his outer clothing and noticed that the inner garment was also speckled with blood. Amai frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then began to unfasten the buttons of his clothing. The bodyguard, seeing this, awkwardly said, "No one brought any spare clothes, so let's not change the inner garment. Brother Mai, please bear with it for now."

Seeing the Southern Xia cavalry gradually approaching, the personal guards behind Chen could not help but feel a bit anxious. They led Chen's steed forward and advised, "Marshal, it would be better to mount your horse."

Xu Jing usually stretched his arms and legs casually around the mule cart when he got off, but today his range of activity was somewhat broader. He first wandered over to Shang Yizhi's tent. Noticing that Shang Yizhi was not in the camp, he did not inquire further but casually asked a guard at the entrance where Zhang Sheng had gone. Someone informed him that Zhang Sheng was accompanying the general on a patrol. Xu Jing nodded, then strolled back with his hands behind his back. The guard, seeing that he did not even raise a torch, was very eager to light one for him. Xu Jing shook his head in refusal, mysteriously pointing a finger at the sky. The guard was somewhat confused, looking in the direction Xu Jing pointed at the night sky, then looked back at Xu Jing with a puzzled expression.

This smile... is unexpectedly radiant, unlike any that has ever been seen before

The general had doubts in his heart, and Xu Jing also had doubts in her heart Xu Jing replied

It hurts, it hurts to the core, I want to cry out loud, I want to weep freely. A-Mai's mouth opened and closed several times, yet in the end, no sound came out. Ultimately, she still tightly shut her mouth.

Hearing her say this, Tang Shaoyi's expression softened. He playfully punched her shoulder and laughed, "Silly boy, why are you daydreaming? Thinking about a wife already? How old are you! Wait a few more years until you grow up and strengthen your body; who would dare to say you are effeminate? With your looks and not being short, if you gain a bit more weight, you will truly be handsome and imposing, and matchmakers will be breaking down your door. Don't worry, silly boy, you will definitely be able to find a wife!"

The speed of the Northern Desert cavalry was increasing, drawing closer to the phalanx. The cavalrymen at the front had already raised their curved sabers, but just as they were about to charge into the enemy formation, the infantry in front of them suddenly crouched down, followed by the sharp spearheads coming straight at them.

Unexpectedly, Xu Jing suddenly stopped, sniffed with her nose, her expression becoming quite strange. Then she turned around, sticking out her backside, and called out while pinching her nose: "A Mai, you are truly going to suffocate me. Hurry up, quickly wash your head and throw away all the clothes on you!"

Amai repeatedly agreed, seeing Shang Yizhi begin to lower his head to eat, showing no intention of addressing her further. She hurriedly apologized and withdrew, planning to first return to inform Xu Jing, and then report to Lu Gang. She could not fathom Shang Yizhi's thoughts, nor did she understand why he would treat her in such a manner of apparent promotion yet actual demotion. At this point, she could only take it one step at a time. The mere thought of returning to the infantry camp made Amai feel somewhat apprehensive, but fortunately, this time she would no longer be the lowest-ranking soldier. Although the squad leader was the lowest officer, at least it carried the title of "officer"; the situation could not be too bad.

The soldiers of the Southern Xia and Northern Desert have already engaged in fierce combat, creating an extremely chaotic scene. Amai charged down the hillside on horseback, unexpectedly penetrating the area where soldiers from both nations were entangled in battle, heading straight into the depths of the Northern Desert army. She swung the military saber in her hand, occasionally leaning down from her horse to strike down nearby Northern Desert soldiers, splattering blood onto herself and staining the gray-white horse beneath her with red. She had never killed so many people before, nor had she realized that her horsemanship was this exceptional. She swung the military saber in her hand, occasionally leaning down from her horse to strike down nearby Northern Desert soldiers, splattering blood onto herself and staining the gray-white horse beneath her with red. She had never killed so many people before, nor had she realized that her horsemanship was this exceptional

Amai's jaw was tightly clenched, her face devoid of color, and her hands gripping the reins had turned slightly pale. In her eyes flickered two small flames. Suddenly, Amai forcefully squeezed her legs against the horse's belly, shook the reins, and charged into the northern desert army.

Her strength was finally running out, yet no one dared to stop her. A-Mai, drenched in blood, exuded a chilling aura of killing intent, and thus she resolutely advanced step by step towards that large flag.

Many years later, the textbooks of the military academies in the Southern Xia emphasized the adventurous nature and the element of chance in the Battle of Wolf Valley. The interception of 20,000 infantry against 20,000 cavalry from the Northern Desert was deemed perilous; the fact that the cavalry commander was the arrogant Fu Chong was considered a coincidence. Both elements were indispensable to the victory in the Battle of Wolf Valley

One by one, the generals received their orders and, after a night of rest, the Southern Xia army arranged themselves into different formations according to their respective branches. The main force of the infantry formation in the center was composed of the Qingzhou army led by Shang Yizhi, with each soldier holding a spear, standing in a well-organized line.

Shang Yizhi focused intently on the battlefield below and noticed that Chen Qi seemed to have suddenly lost control over his troops. The Northern Desert was already showing signs of defeat, and victory was within reach. Shang Yizhi's hands could not help but tremble slightly, fearing that others might notice, so he could only clench them tightly into fists

Shang Yi fell silent for a moment and said softly, "What does it matter to me whether it is male or female?"

Zhang Sheng, upon hearing what A Mai said, did not pick up on her cue. He merely glanced around and leaned in to ask quietly: "A Mai, did you really kill that many Tartars in Wolf Valley that day?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Amai had already poked his head out of the car, using both hands to move his injured leg out. Seeing this, the bodyguard hurriedly approached with a basin of water and said, "Brother Mai, you don't need to get down; I'll hold the basin for you, just lower your head and wash up."

Tang Shaoyi was taken aback and quickly helped Amai to his feet, saying, "Amai, do we really need to say this between brothers?"

Today is only the 5th day of the lunar month, and the shape of the moon in the sky is quite predictable. Coupled with this desolate wilderness, and the fact that it is early winter, everything is bleak. Even during a full moon, there is little to appreciate, let alone this newly emerged crescent moon

A-Mai's expression was somewhat hesitant, and it seemed she still wanted to argue with Zhang Sheng for a few more moments. Just as she stretched her neck to speak, she heard Zhang Sheng say: "Even if someone asks about it in the future, you just need to smile and remain silent. Neither admit nor deny it, and when the time comes, even if a problem arises, it won't fall on you."

Zhang Sheng responded and quickly took out the food that was warming in the pot. Shang Yizhi's diet was very simple, consisting of the same mixed flour steamed buns as the soldiers, with the only additional item being a small dish of pickled vegetables. Amai stood up with Zhang Sheng, turned around, and saluted Shang Yizhi, saying: "General"

"Big Brother!" A-Mai looked at Tang Shaoyi with red-rimmed eyes, then averted his gaze, swallowed hard, and said hoarsely, "I really hate myself for looking like this. Sometimes I even think about just scratching my face to pieces, to avoid being bullied because of it. Besides, how am I going to marry a wife in the future? The girls will definitely dislike me for looking too feminine, not manly enough. Also, Big Brother," A-Mai suddenly looked up at Tang Shaoyi again, his face filled with anxiety as he asked, "I am already nineteen, and I don't have a single beard. What if I never grow any facial hair? Wouldn't that make me just like the eunuchs in the palace?"

When she woke up, the sky was already completely dark, and there were torches flickering outside. The curtain of the mule cart was lifted by someone. A-Mai's consciousness had not yet fully awakened, and she instinctively propped herself up to look outside, where she saw a figure standing in front of the cart, silently watching her

Tang Shaoyi's face bore no expression, yet it made Amai feel a strange and chilling aura emanating from him. He calmly replied: "People say that the cavalry of the northern nomads is invincible in the world, yet they do not know that my Duke of Jingguo stated over twenty years ago that as long as certain strategies or tactical means are employed to make the cavalry attack the front of my well-ordered infantry formation, the infantry will possess a significant tactical defensive advantage"

Amai lowered her head slightly and said softly, "It's all stained with blood, throw it away"

Zhang Sheng, noticing the expression on A Mai's face, understood that she was looking for Shang Yizhi. He smiled and said, "Are you looking for the general? He mentioned he would go ahead to take a look and will be back shortly. Please wait a moment."

"Amai, bear with it a little longer; I will take you to General Shang soon," said Tang Shaoyi

The curtain was suddenly pulled aside again, revealing Xu Jing's gaunt face. He squinted his small eyes to size up A Mai, then chuckled and said: "A Mai, A Mai, I told you long ago to sit with me in the mule cart, but you stubbornly refused. How about now? You've ended up on my mule cart, haven't you?"

Seeing that Zhang Sheng had good intentions, A Mai could only nod in agreement. She thought to herself that she had no objections to the number 23; her only concern was with the title "Yumian Yanluo." Just as she was pondering this, she suddenly heard Shang Yizhi's voice from behind, "Zhang Sheng, is the rice ready? Hurry up and bring it here."

Amay exerted all her strength to deflect the spear that was thrust at her from the side, but there was no time to strike the enemy again before he retreated. Then another spearhead was aimed at her. So many people, an endless stream of them; for every one she felled, another would emerge. There were always brave soldiers from the Northern Desert stepping forward from the retreating crowd, making it impossible for her to finish them off.

The arrow was embedded deeply, nearly to the bone. Just a moment ago, during the clash with the northern cavalry, I was struck again, causing the wound to tear even larger, leaving a ghastly sight. The military doctor used a small knife to widen the wound slightly, removed the arrowhead, applied a healing ointment, and then bandaged the wound.