This look accompanied her as she dropped her bow and took up her stick, signaling a full-on attack.

A single word came from her mouth.

Even though it was sharp and urgent, Dong Min heard it clearly.

But perhaps he didn’t want to hear this word because what she said was—

“Kill!”

This was the command for the cavalry to launch their attack!

But unfortunately, in front of Dong Min, there was no monster like Dian Wei in the phalanx of protective infantry.

There were only the mostly eliminated archery and infantry units.

So how could they stop this ferocious army, whose momentum had reached its peak after two rounds of attacks?

The most surprising thing was undoubtedly Qiao Yan’s performance.

Her command of the attack was still somewhat basic, but her spear techniques looked smooth and fluid.

In this attack where she used a stick instead of a spear, although it seemed the weapon didn’t quite fit her, it didn’t affect the clear message she conveyed.

She would never be the weak point in this cavalry force!

Furthermore, as the cavalry assisted in breaking Dong Min’s forces into smaller groups, she unhesitatingly rode her horse, wielding her stick and throwing it like a spear.

Just as her earlier attacks had clear targets, her intention to go straight for the commander was equally obvious, leaving no room for doubt!

Faced with this bold and straightforward assault, Dong Min felt a surge of fear in his heart.

He was a man of Liangzhou, skilled in combat on horseback.

But his opponent had proven time and again with her unconventional moves that age was not a barrier to her victory, nor was gender!

Though he didn’t know that this spear technique was called “Remnant Hills and Remaining Waters,” he knew she—

Qiao Yan’s determination to take a life was evident in her demeanor.

For a moment, Dong Min even thought this wasn’t just a restricted duel but a real battle with life and death on the line!

His opponent was treating it as a serious fight.

But he kept reminding himself that he was vying for the position of General of the North, or perhaps another key position as suggested by General He Jin. It wasn’t time to relax yet.

However, as he tried to turn the tide against Qiao Yan, he saw the overlapping shadows of sticks swiftly exploiting his defensive gap.

The moves were smooth yet fierce, appearing to let go but actually gripping the end of the stick for a powerful strike.

In the next moment, his jaw was struck with a thunderous blow.

Qiao Yan had no intention of showing mercy just because Dong Min was Dong Zhuo’s brother.

If anything went wrong, she could always blame it on Liu Hong.

She then tightly gripped the stick and pulled him off his horse, perfectly demonstrating the phrase “strike when the enemy is down.”

But even at this moment, the battle wasn’t over yet.

Dong Min falling from his horse only meant that the commander was forced out of the fight.

There was still another key figure on the battlefield who could keep the soldiers’ fighting spirit up after Dong Min’s fall.

This was different from the previous fight when Wang Kuang was out.

If Xu Rong could stabilize the situation and turn the tide, Dong Min would probably find a way to justify himself.

Dong Min could easily claim that realizing his side was outmatched, he chose to use himself as bait to draw enemy fire, ensuring overall victory in the battle.

But Qiao Yan wasn’t going to give him that chance!

With a wave of her hand, the cavalry soldiers quickly regrouped and reformed their ranks behind her.

It’s hard to say whether it was because of the successful central command action that these cavalry soldiers’ confidence in Qiao Yan soared, but it was clear that as they charged back into battle, they seemed even more in tune with Qiao Yan’s spirit.

It was a fierce spirit, like a fire that once ignited would burn the enemy to ashes.

Seeing this, He Jin, standing under a slightly smaller canopy, couldn’t help but pound his fist on the table next to him.

Wang Kuang’s retreat was within his tolerance, as Wang lacked experience in leading troops and facing someone as exceptionally talented as Qiao Yan, a loss was understandable.

But he couldn’t accept that the combination of Dong Min and Xu Rong, in whom he had placed high hopes, would be directly broken by Qiao Yan leading her troops herself.

He couldn’t understand how, under his command of the Northern Army’s five Division, these soldiers could show such remarkable skill and seemingly limitless capabilities.

Yuan Shao looked at He Jin, feeling it wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking, even if He Jin hadn’t said anything.

But He Jin didn’t realize that if he hadn’t made his intentions so obvious, this battle arrangement wouldn’t have happened.

Yuan Shao didn’t believe that it was a coincidence that Qiao Yan fought Wang Kuang first and then Dong Min.

And he certainly didn’t believe that on the other side it was a coincidence that Jian Shuo’s opponents were of this caliber.

The intelligence Qiao Yan provided him was indeed accurate.

So now, he might as well watch the end of her battle with admiration.

Indeed, it was coming to an end.

While Yuan Shao was contemplating, Qiao Yan had already led her troops to cut off Xu Rong’s retreat.

Perhaps, even without Qiao Yan’s flanking attack, Xu Rong, without Dong Min’s support and facing the psychological pressure of Dong Min’s retreat, wouldn’t stand a chance against a well-rounded team of 400 cavalry and infantry with archers.

With Guo Jia directing, it was indeed a well-coordinated team!

Xu Rong still hadn’t been able to escape from Dian Wei’s relentless close combat!

Xu Rong couldn’t help but think to himself, if only the soldiers he led were the elite cavalry of Liangzhou, if only his partner had been Duan Wei instead of Dong Min, if only…

But there were no more excuses to make.

They had indeed underestimated Qiao Yan’s abilities.

Who would have thought that a child, not yet fourteen years old, could achieve accomplishments in both literary and military fields that even adults struggle to match?

As he thought about this, he suddenly heard chaos in the rear ranks.

Just as he was about to turn and look, he felt an incredible force strike the legs of his horse.

The mighty general, who had already shown his overwhelming strength by disarming him, now gripped the horse’s leg firmly, inspired by seeing his commander succeed.

At that moment, with Xu Rong unable to maneuver in time, Qiao Yan drew her bow and shot an arrow at the helpless target, forcing him out of the fight.

With that arrow, the drums signifying the end of the battle were not far away!

When she finally heard the announcement, “This battle’s victor is Marquis Le Ping,” even though she had prepared well for this moment, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

She pulled the reins, slowing her horse to a stop, and removed her helmet, holding it in her hand.

The back-and-forth cavalry combat had left her forehead covered in sweat, and as she took off her helmet and shook out her hair, the rare winter sunlight illuminated her clearly.

But the glimmer in her eyes outshone the sunlight.

She then dismounted and bowed toward the high platform.

Although the gesture was humble, her gaze made it appear more like a victor’s pride.

No one faulted her for this attitude at that moment.

Even Liu Hong smiled in response.

He understood the underlying message in Qiao Yan’s actions.

She was telling him—

Qiao Yan had fulfilled her duty without fail.