The soldiers of Da Qian were uncertain, nor did they care, how many Barbarians there were.
From the moment they set out, they had been determined to recapture Helan Mountain and ensure the safety of Da Qian's northwestern and northern borders.
Upon seeing the Barbarians discard the remains of a hundred thousand martyrs, this determination was now fueled by an overwhelming hatred!
Confirming there was no opportunity for a surprise attack, the Right Virtuous King could only sigh helplessly and ordered, "Go challenge them! Thirty-six generals, prepare yourselves!"
Tu Luotu mounted his prized horse, waved a blue flag, and swiftly rode towards the front of the enemy camp, requesting an audience with Marshal Lu Yi.
Da Qian and Da Liang, inheriting the traditions of Da Heng, had agreed with surrounding nations that during wartime, envoys would signal with blue flags and were not to be harmed.
Lu Yi received the challenge and glanced at it, saying, "Go back and report: the thirty-six generals will duel at noon!"
After Tu Luotu departed, Lu Yi immediately arranged the thirty-six chosen individuals, set their order for battle, and prepared to personally oversee the enemy's actions.
As noon approached, earth-shattering roars erupted from both camps.
Each army dispatched thirty-six riders to the front lines for a standoff. Among them were six of Lu Yi's elite personal guards, renowned for their martial prowess.
Liang Xiao, astride his azure steed, Wan Li Yun Yan, clad in fine robes and a war helmet, brandished his silver spear, surveying the battlefield.
Nan Jiyun, Lu Changhe, and others, draped in their battle attire and mounted on their steeds, possessed sharp, piercing gazes.
This was their first time participating in individual duels before a full-scale battle, an opportunity to showcase the valor of Da Qian's men!
The Barbarians also sent forth thirty-six riders, who surged out from their formation to the front lines, a mile away, exuding an aggressive aura.
These Barbarian generals were the cream of the crop, all clad in armor and war robes.
The Barbarians needed this duel to boost their morale, while Da Qian required it to elevate their own spirits and further suppress the already low morale of the Barbarians.
Therefore, both sides maintained a semblance of order, drawing a line on the ground with soot in front of their respective armies. Thirty-six generals were to be fielded, no more, no less, and no archers from the rear lines were to cross the boundary.
Behind the thirty-six generals, orderly messengers were stationed at ten-zhang intervals, responsible for relaying important dialogues from the combatants at the front to their respective headquarters, ensuring the Marshal remained informed.
The Right Virtuous King was confident that a three-li range would be sufficient to keep the archers of both sides at bay, unable to harm the generals engaged in the central duel.
The thirty-six generals from both sides lined up less than a hundred zhang apart, glaring at each other, eager to fly forward and slay their opponents.
Liang Xiao stood at the very end of the right flank of the formation, a look of utter disinterest on his face.
He had assumed Zhang Yang's identity precisely to be a reserve, ready to step in should the situation turn unfavorable, to prevent excessive casualties for his side.
Nan Jiyun, taking the lead, advanced fifty zhang and roared at the thirty-six generals, "I am General Nan Jiyun of Da Qian, ranked one hundred and eighth in military might! Who dares to fight me?!"
"One hundred and eighth?"
The other thirty-five from Da Qian, hearing Nan Jiyun's boast from afar, curled their lips, unable to help but admire his audacious rhetoric.
The messenger quickly relayed Nan Jiyun's words to the Right and Left Virtuous Kings. The two rulers, catching sight of the magnificent steed Kuang Sha beneath Nan Jiyun, were filled with rage.
"Is that not our Left Virtuous King's divine steed? How is it being ridden by some unknown nobody!"
Even the sharp-eyed soldiers at the front of the Barbarian lines noticed Kuang Sha, and whispers spread through their ranks.
"Capture this scoundrel for me and reclaim the divine steed!!" the Left Virtuous King roared, his eyes bulging with fury.
He had intended to strike Kuang Sha down at the time, but the steed had escaped. Now, Kuang Sha within the Da Qian army was undoubtedly a symbol of his shame.
Nan Jiyun, finding no immediate response from the enemy, was perplexed. He rested his right hand on his spear and scratched the back of his head with his left, wondering if he had boasted too outrageously, perhaps even sickening the enemy generals.
Just then, a dark silhouette shot out from the Barbarian contingent of thirty-six generals. Clad in black robes and riding a black horse, wielding a long black-hafted saber, he was tall and imposing, his eyes wide like bronze bells.
"Barbarian General Hu Yan Shura, here to claim your dog's life!"
They stopped about twenty zhang apart. Nan Jiyun, in his white robes and white armor, holding his finely forged spear, finally breathed a sigh of relief: someone was finally willing to fight!
Lu Changhe and the others changed their expressions, "Big Brother (General Nan), be careful!"
Nan Jiyun remained outwardly calm, but internally, he was extremely vigilant.
At the front, Lu Yi had already analyzed the likely generals the Barbarians might field.
This Hu Yan Shura, ten years ago at the Battle of Helan Mountain, had been the second highest contributor after the Marshal, slaying twelve Da Qian generals during the fierce engagement. He was exceptionally brave!
Before the battle commenced, Hu Yan Shura also meticulously observed Nan Jiyun, narrowing his eyes.
The Barbarians, of course, had also analyzed the potential thirty-six generals Da Qian might send. They had expected Lu Changhe to be the vanguard.
After all, Lu Changhe had participated in the Battle of Helan Mountain. Though just a youth then, he had slain four Barbarian generals and broken a siege on his allies!
This Nan Jiyun, they only knew of his high rank due to the victory at Yan Province, but he had no record of slaying generals on the battlefield.
Confirming the opponent was Hu Yan Shura, Lu Yi's expression also became solemn, and he personally struck the war drum.
The Right Virtuous King also personally beat the drum to cheer on Hu Yan Shura.
As the drumbeats began, war drums sounded from all four directions. The armies roared, shaking the heavens and earth!
Without a word, Nan Jiyun spurred his horse, spear held high, and charged towards Hu Yan Shura.
Hu Yan Shura's steed, also weighing over a thousand pounds, matched his momentum. With a roar, he charged forward.
Since the center of the duel between the thirty-six generals from both nations was a low-lying, flat area, the soldiers of both armies could see clearly.
In a flash, the two men crossed paths. After their weapons clashed, Hu Yan Shura reversed his saber, executing a sweeping horizontal cut in the opposite direction!
At the last possible moment, Nan Jiyun dodged the fatal blow by leaning back, then thrust his spear towards Hu Yan Shura's abdomen. Hu Yan Shura blocked it with the shaft of his saber.
The two horses galloped past each other, and the generals completed their first exchange.
"This man's reaction is extremely swift, and his strikes are precise!" Both men felt a chill and simultaneously held a high evaluation of their opponent.
The Right Virtuous King frowned.
The first round was a draw?
The Barbarian soldiers also seemed slightly surprised by this.
Hu Yan Shura was, by common consensus among the Barbarians, a fierce general whose prowess had surpassed even the Left Virtuous King in his youth!
The two men turned their horses and initiated another life-or-death charge.
With saber and spear, they crossed paths again. Thirty consecutive rounds passed, with no clear victor!
"Da Qian actually has such a formidable general..." This time, even the Left Virtuous King knitted his brows.
During the Battle of Helan Mountain, even Lu Changhe had been forced to retreat by Hu Yan Shura after ten rounds, although Lu Changhe had already expended considerable energy by slaying four generals.
Yet this Nan Jiyun, capable of withstanding Hu Yan Shura for thirty rounds without faltering, possessed martial strength no less than any Da Qian general of the past!
The Right Virtuous King stated confidently, "Rest assured, given Hu Yan Shura's stamina and strength, this lad certainly won't last much longer!"
Just then, distant roars thundered.
Everyone fixed their gaze and saw Nan Jiyun and Hu Yan Shura locked in combat on the spot. Saber and spear, under the sunlight, resembled two flashing dragons, a dazzling spectacle.
Engaged in a fierce struggle, Hu Yan Shura narrowed his eyes, adjusted his saber, and used its reflective surface to cast a glare into Nan Jiyun's eyes.
Taking advantage of Nan Jiyun's momentary blindness, Hu Yan Shura leaned forward and swept his saber horizontally, intending to cleave Nan Jiyun in two at the waist!