The drawbridge came down and the gate opened.

Rumble!!!

The ground shook.

Men and horses came pouring out of the city in their thousands, fierce as wolves and tigers, and the sheer weight of them was enough to cow anyone.

Huang Shao's men were so frightened their legs shook under them.

Yuan Long roared out, "The Ning'an Army is here! Any man who lays down his weapon lives! Any man who resists dies without pardon!"

Huang Shao's face went a ghastly white. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and there was something unwilling in his eyes... He had just become commander in chief. He could not bear to surrender like this.

Anger rose out of his heart and wickedness came up beside his gall. (TL Note: a stock couplet out of the old vernacular novels, used at the moment a man decides on something desperate. The gall bladder is where Chinese medicine puts courage.)

"Eastern frontier army, charge, the lot of you... They have only a handful of men. What is there to fear?"

"Kill, every man of you! Any man who disobeys is beheaded!"

Whssh!!!

The words were barely out of him when an arrow came down from the wall with a sound of tearing air and went clean through Huang Shao's shoulder.

Huang Shao let out a scream, staggered backward and sat down hard, a sorry sight.

Yuan Long gave a cold snort and said sharply, "Ning'an Army, charge with me! Any man who lays down his weapon and surrenders lives! Any man who resists is cut down where he stands!"

The whole mass of horse came on at the gallop, and the earth shook with it.

The Ning'an Army did not even trouble to use their muskets. Against this pack of broken remnants there was no need for muskets at all.

The two sides met, and it was plain at once which was the better.

The Ning'an Army went in like a tiger into a flock of sheep, like a sword driven into the heart of the eastern frontier army.

Blood sprayed and severed limbs flew…