He actually knew what Tian Heng wanted to do. He knew it from the moment the other party lured the princess away. The other party couldn't possibly want to perish together with the imperial army, because his West Sea Army alone couldn't defeat the imperial army.
The other side wanted to use this opportunity to control the imperial army and kick them out.
The excuse they used would probably be quite legitimate later on. They would say that the Demon Buddha had influenced them and that they had been bewitched, and then they would kick out all the disobedient generals. Even if the princess returned, it wouldn't be so easy for them to regain control of the troops.
Of course, achieving this step is not so easy. First, they must force him and others to surrender. To force the imperial army to surrender, they must either defeat them or subdue them. This method is the most foolish because it will cause considerable casualties, and Tian Heng's West Sea Army does not have this capability.
The second point is to capture the leader of the enemy.
Upon thinking of this, Lan Shang's sneer intensified.
How confident is General Tian in himself?
Or does he really look down on himself as the leader of the imperial army?
Having climbed to where he is today through sheer luck, does he really think he's someone important?
Today, he's going to teach this guy a lesson: never be arrogant!
They both had the same thought, and so they soon bumped into each other.
Neither side set up cover, nor did they deliberately dodge; from the very beginning, they were determined to quickly win the battle through individual combat in order to minimize casualties!
So soon, their weapons clashed for the first time.
The overwhelming power of their respective forces caused their weapons to produce an extremely terrifying metallic roar at the moment of collision, and the shockwave even caused the surrounding dust to explode instantly, forming a visible sandstorm.
This power is already at the limit of a king, the pinnacle of physical ability. In the collision of such power, gaining the upper hand depends on each other's subtle control.
Both of them are now living beyond their time, their strength has progressed too quickly, and their weapons, armor and even mounts have not kept up with their strength. It's okay if they encounter opponents who are much weaker than themselves, but if they encounter opponents of the same level, their power will explode and neither their weapons nor their mounts can withstand it.
At this point, the two players' control abilities become crucial. Whoever has better control can better protect their weapons and mounts, especially in the midst of a chaotic battle. Without mounts and weapons, it's extremely easy to get trapped in the enemy formation.
Bang!
The deafening roar caused the soldiers following behind to instinctively spur their horses backward, and the chaotic sandstorm further obscured the view of the troops behind, though the accompanying troops could still see clearly.
"Commander Tian!!"
Almost instantly, the accompanying lieutenant and personal guard cavalrymen widened their eyes, their gazes almost popping out of their sockets!
Because they saw that the halberd in Tian Heng's hand was shattered by the opponent's broadsword, and the horse he had mounted was also instantly blown into a bloody mess. Tian Heng rolled on the ground in a sorry state, no longer the spirited man he had been just moments before!
Clearly, in this exchange, Tian Heng was at a disadvantage!
This scene was unexpected not only by Tian Heng's personal guards but also by Lan Shang's personal guards.
Lan Shang is a newly promoted general, and there is actually a lot of skepticism about him from the outside world. Even the deputy generals who vaguely know Lan Shang's strength are not very optimistic about him when he faces a veteran powerhouse like Tian Heng.
Unexpectedly, just one dose had such an effect?
"What's wrong, General Tian? Are you still half asleep?"
Lan Shang watched Tian Heng roll away on the ground, creating distance between them, a mocking smile on his face. He didn't even give chase. He was thoroughly enjoying the thrill of the moment. Those high-ranking bloodline experts had always looked down on the Lan Family. If it weren't for the fact that the Lan Family was tied to the Xiao Household, they wouldn't have been qualified to obtain a noble title.
Therefore, the families in the capital who truly obtained their noble titles through military merit and bloodline disdained to associate with them.
That's not all; the Tian Household, a peasant family, can actually enter that circle, but the Lan Family can't!
Even though he has now been promoted by the emperor to become the commander-in-chief of the three armies, there are still a lot of people who are dissatisfied!
He wants everyone to see whether Lan Shang is truly worthy of the position of commander-in-chief!
Tian Heng slowly stood up, his hands trembling slightly. His body covered in blood and gore, he wiped his face and glanced at the spot where his warhorse had died. It was Dragon Horse bloodline had been improved by the academy. His sword was also custom-made by the academy and could now unleash 80% of his power without breaking.
The result was that it was over in a single glance.
Lan Shang certainly didn't have the necessary conditions. The technology in Jiangnan was far superior to that of the imperial court. The blade in Lan Shang's hand was ordinary, and the warhorse he rode was an old-fashioned dragon steed, yet he suffered no damage whatsoever.
This only proves one thing: the other person is far superior to him!
They might be about the same in strength, but his skill and experience far surpass his!
He had also sensed it during their exchange; the subtle, minute force-dissipating technique his opponent used during the collision was extremely skillful. Even now, he couldn't figure out the details. It was definitely a technique honed through countless trials. His opponent, a young martial artist not even thirty years old, even with the blessing of an evil spirit, could never possibly possess such skill.
Indeed, the saying that Buddha's light can awaken abilities from past lives is true!!
Lan Shang was feeling increasingly exhilarated. He relived the skills he had learned in his previous life in the dream. Although he had not yet fully acquired the abilities he had gained in his previous life, his experience and skills were far superior to those of a young upstart like Tian Heng.
However, there was one thing that really bothered him: Tian Heng's current attitude. Even though he had lost his horse and weapons, he didn't seem worried at all.
how?
Do you think you can get away unscathed?
Oh.
Lan Shang sneered. He actually had the chance to kill the other party just now, but he held back because he wanted to enjoy the thrill of the moment. Since the other party still couldn't see reality, he would make him see it properly!
Thinking this, he raised his broadsword, ready to strike, when Tian Heng, who had stood up opposite him, suddenly spoke, "You just missed your only chance to kill me!"
"Oh?" Lan Shang laughed immediately. This guy still hasn't realized his own limitations.
At this distance, even if there's a large army behind him, so what? He can still send his army to block the enemy. Without horses or weapons, he has no chance of escape!
"Let's see if General Tian was careless."
"I was indeed careless." Tian Heng wiped the blood off his face again, and a strange aura slowly rose from his body.
"To be honest, I'm a little scared. I was really overconfident just now. I didn't want to use this power to try and take you down. I thought that even if I failed, there shouldn't be any danger. But I didn't expect you to be this strong. It seems I need to be more careful in the future."
Lan Shang's pupils contracted as he was about to rush over.
He could sense that Tian Heng's demeanor had changed, an indescribable feeling, as if Tian Heng had completely transformed into a different person. The change in his demeanor made him instinctively pause as he dismounted his warhorse.
A sense of crisis, which I had never felt in my previous life, welled up inside me.
This guy... there's something wrong with him!
At this moment, both the eldest princess and the King of Qin, who were watching from afar, instantly became serious.
It's here!!
"It seems it wasn't an illusion. This force is..."