Qin Jingsu led his army across the wilderness.
Not far ahead lay Shuling.
Although crossing Shuling might offer him a slender chance of survival,
Qin Jingsu also knew that these Jin Kingdom lords were no fools. They would never give him that chance.
Sure enough, before long, the pursuers behind them caught up again.
And ahead, at the foot of Shuling, more Jin soldiers appeared.
Mounted on his horse, Qin Jingsu looked ahead, then behind him.
Only then did he realize that he was caught between two forces.
Yet there was not a trace of panic in Qin Jingsu's eyes, as though he had long since accepted his fate.
"If Your Highness the Crown Prince surrenders now, we can spare your life!"
The Marquis of Qu shouted from before the Jin battle formation.
"Spare me the empty words. Cough, cough, cough." Qin Jingsu coughed several times, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and stared ahead. "Since when did the sons of Qin surrender?"
"What a pity. We do hold a certain admiration for Your Highness." The Marquis of Qu shook his head. "Kill!"
The other lords led their armies in a charge toward Qin Jingsu.
Qin Jingsu gazed ahead, swept his arm forward, and roared in turn, "Kill!"
As his words fell, the horse beneath him surged forward, and his army charged with him!
Soon, the two armies clashed, the cries of battle and the clang of weapons filling the wilderness.
The Qin soldiers fought as fiercely as ever, swearing to die rather than retreat.
But ever since the defense of the city began, every soldier had been severely depleted.
Moreover, throughout their flight from the pursuers, Qin Jingsu's army had not enjoyed a moment's rest. Their nerves had remained taut without respite.
And the enemy's numbers