After Yue Qiong left with his men, only the supplies he had brought remained as a gesture of goodwill to Yan Chi.
Once Yue Qiong departed, Yue Ning relaxed slightly, though a deeper unease settled in.
Despite her disappointment in Yan Ze, she had not escalated the matter further. If Prince Yi's royal residence were to face extermination of nine clans, it was not an outcome she wished to see. Having now informed Yue Qiong of everything, she could only hope he would handle the situation.
Yan Chi sent messengers back to Wuzhou and led a team to survey the Five-Zhang Plains, ultimately deciding on a campsite.
By dusk the next day, Xiao Cheng and others arrived with the main army, while Yang Jia remained in Wuzhou as a precaution.
After a night of rest, the camp was fully established. Yan Chi dispatched numerous scouts to investigate the Rong barbarian camp, and reports streamed back rapidly, heightening tension throughout the base. Qin Guan and Yue Ning grew unsettled by the wartime preparations. Severely wounded soldiers had stayed in Wuzhou City, but some with minor injuries who refused to remain behind joined the march. As soon as the camp was ready, a field hospital was set up. Qin Guan and Yue Ning assisted there, contributing their efforts to the upcoming battle.
On the third day, Yue Qiong indeed arrived at the camp, accompanied by Yan Qi. Though Yan Qi behaved somewhat sarcastically, he showed keen interest in strategizing. Yue Qiong did not interfere, while Yan Chi watched discreetly to prevent Yan Qi from harboring ulterior motives.
"Currently, the Rong barbarian forces are gathered fifty li northeast of the Five-Zhang Plains, here at a place called Black Wind Woods—a hilly area. They’re camped on the mountainside, with watchtowers at the highest points. These past few days, they’ve been sending 50,000 troops daily to attack Fengzhou in rotations, sometimes by day, sometimes by night. Since the distance from Black Wind Woods to Fengzhou City isn’t far, even with only 50,000 men, we can’t risk leaving the city rashly."
After Yue Qiong finished, Yan Chi responded, "Your forces only slightly exceed 50,000, but with the addition of the Northwest Frontier Army, we could swiftly defeat those 50,000 troops."
A glint of hope shone in Yue Qiong’s eyes. "That’s exactly my thought. Since they don’t know you’ve arrived, why not launch a surprise attack? If they send out 50,000 men, let’s ensure none return. By gradually reducing their numbers this way, we can wear them down step by step."
Yan Chi nodded. "If it’s a surprise attack, a night assault would be best. In the coming days, when they attack by day, continue holding the city without engaging. If they send troops at night, we’ll coordinate from within and without. We’ll strike from the southwest and southeast directions. Once they’re attacked from behind, they’ll surely turn around—that’s when you charge out of the city, catching them off guard. The Rong are poor at city warfare; it’s best to disrupt their formation first with archers."
Yue Qiong applauded the idea and discussed further with Yan Chi, finalizing the strategy. When they consulted the officers from both sides, no objections were raised, thus settling the plan. Yue Qiong stayed at the camp to share a meal with Qin Guan, Yue Ning, and the others before returning to Fengzhou City.For the next two days, both sides prepared for battle, yet the Rong barbarians only attacked during daylight hours. After waiting another day, they finally encountered a rainy day. The summer rain poured down heavily, and on this day, the Rong barbarians did not launch an attack. Since they had not fought during the day, the Rong people grew restless by nightfall, and thus, Yan Chi seized the opportunity.
The heavy rain had just passed, leaving the Five-Zhang Plains camp muddy and waterlogged. In the central command tent, Yan Chi declared, "Yu Qi, take thirty thousand troops and ambush the southwestern side outside Fengzhou City. The area is a low hill—our forces will lie in wait there, ready to strike at the opportune moment."
"Gu Ling, you lead thirty thousand troops to ambush the southeastern side outside Fengzhou City. It is a dense forest; hiding there deep in the night will ensure you remain undetected."
Yu Qi and Gu Ling both nodded, their expressions far more solemn than before.
Yan Chi continued, "Set out at the second watch. It will take one hour to reach these positions. Once there, lie in ambush and wait. Whenever the Rong people attack at night, they only withdraw just before dawn. We must bide our time until they are exhausted and their energy wanes—then we strike decisively. I will use Signal Flares: a red flare means advance according to the original plan, but if a blue flare rises, it signals retreat."
This was standard procedure for the Northwest Frontier Army, so Yu Qi and Gu Ling needed no further explanation. They acknowledged the orders, and Yan Chi spent considerable time analyzing the battle situation with them. As the hour grew late, Yan Chi concluded, "Tonight will be a fierce battle—there can be no mistakes. Go rest and conserve your energy."
Sleep was out of the question now, so Yu Qi went to muster the troops, while Gu Ling returned to his tent to confer with his junior officers about the night's operations.
When night fell, the first scout reported that the Rong troops had already set out and were heading toward Fengzhou City.
After another half-hour, the second scout arrived, announcing that the Rong forces had reached the city walls and were launching a fierce assault.
Upon hearing this, Yan Chi immediately ordered the army to prepare. By the second watch, the sixty thousand troops slated for the night's operation were fully assembled and ready.
Yan Chi would not be leading the charge personally tonight. He took only a hundred soldiers and positioned himself on high ground south of Fengzhou City, from where he could observe the battle outside the city from a distance. Both Yu Qi and Gu Ling would await his command before launching their flank attacks.
Qin Guan knew Yan Chi was not joining the frontline combat, but she still couldn't shake her worry. In the tent, as she helped adjust his armor, she said, "Even if you're not leading the troops, your position is too close to Fengzhou City. You must be careful."
Yan Chi smiled. "I only have a hundred men with me. If things go wrong, we can retreat unnoticed. Don't worry."
Once everything was ready, Qin Guan wrapped her arms around Yan Chi's waist and whispered, "Remember what I said—not a single hair on your head can be harmed!"
Hearing this, Yan Chi chuckled. "I'll remember."
He kissed her cheek and added, "When I return, I'll kiss you properly."
Qin Guan sighed in resignation, but Yan Chi had already strode out of the tent. Outside, the sixty thousand troops stood in perfect formation. A drumbeat echoed, and under the cover of darkness, the massive army slowly marched out of the camp gates. Qin Guan rushed out of the tent, watching until the troops disappeared into the distance.
Before long, Yue Ning approached and took Qin Guan's hand, reassuring her, "Don't worry."Qin Guan touched her chest. This was the second time, and she didn't feel as worried as the first, yet unease still gripped her tightly.
Qin Guan said with a smile, "Come keep me company tonight and chat with me."
Yue Ning naturally agreed. Later in the evening, she spoke with Qin Guan in the tent.
Yan Chi left with Yu Qi and Gu Ling, leaving Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng in charge of the camp.
Although Qin Guan knew the major battle wouldn't begin until dawn, she couldn't help but pay attention to the movements near the command tent. Tonight, not only was she unable to sleep, but Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng would also be waiting all night in the command tent.
After midnight, Qin Guan finally lay down at Yue Ning's urging, drifting in and out of sleep throughout the night. When it was past the Hour of the Tiger, a swift horse suddenly entered the camp and headed straight for the command tent. Qin Guan, sleeping restlessly, woke at the noise, quickly dressed, and hurried to the central command tent.
By the time she reached the command tent, the scout had already finished reporting. Seeing her arrive, Chu Fei Sheng said, "It has begun."
Qin Guan's heart instantly leaped into her throat!
Outside Fengzhou City, Yan Chi's position was less than a hundred zhang from the Rong barbarian army. Under the night sky, the torches in the Rong soldiers' hands dotted the wilderness outside Fengzhou like stars. Watching the Rong barbarians' formation changes slow and their siege frequency decrease, Yan Chi knew the time had come.
He gave the order, "Command the troops to prepare for attack!"
At this command, Bai Feng immediately launched a red firework into the sky.
The firework soared like a shooting star, clearly visible to Yu Qi, Gu Ling, and the several staff officers beside them.
In an instant, the Northwest Frontier Army soldiers, who had been lying in ambush all night, charged from the east and west like ghostly Rakshasas!
The Rong barbarian troops were rotating front and rear lines, and everyone was exhausted from the night's efforts. Those at the very back of the formation had defaulted to sitting on the ground to rest. The sudden appearance of the Northwest Frontier Army was like specters materializing—before anyone could react, Rong soldiers were already falling in droves.
The scent of blood filled the air. It took nearly the time for an incense stick to burn before news of the Northwest Frontier Army's attack reached the general at the front of the formation.
Hearing that the Northwest Frontier Army had arrived, the general's face paled, and he immediately ordered the troops to change direction and counterattack.
The Northwest Frontier Army had the advantage of surprise, and their numbers were nearly equal to the Rong barbarians. By the time the Rong forces reoriented themselves, they already showed signs of defeat. Simultaneously, inside Fengzhou City, Yue Qiong, seeing the Rong troops turning to engage the Northwest Frontier Army, also gave the order to attack!
In that moment, Fengzhou's gates, closed for many days, swung wide open. Fifty thousand Jinzhou Army soldiers poured out of the city, supported by the archers on the city walls who instantly felled a large swath of the rear Rong forces. By the time the Jinzhou Army cavalry charged forward, the Rong barbarians had almost no ability to fight back.
The Rong barbarians had only mobilized a little over fifty thousand troops, while the Jinzhou Army combined with the Northwest Frontier Army totaled a full hundred and ten thousand!
Caught off guard by the surprise attack and outnumbered two to one, what followed was nearly a massacre.
The Northwest Frontier Army harbored deep hatred for the Rong barbarians, and the Jinzhou Army, besieged for half a month, was seething with pent-up fury. Knowing the critical moment had arrived, neither side held back. Moreover, thoughts of Cangzhou City's fall and the massacre there by these very enemies fueled their ferocity even further.When the Rong barbarians were surrounded and attacked by the 110,000-strong army from all sides, Yan Chi relaxed his slightly furrowed brows on the mountain ridge.
"The battle is decided. Send orders to Gu Ling—tell them to finish quickly and not prolong the fight. Have scouts closely monitor movements from the Rong barbarians' main camp."
Bai Feng relayed the commands one by one. Yan Chi waited a while longer on the ridge until many Rong barbarians had been slain and others began surrendering before turning his horse toward Five-Zhang Plains. With only a hundred men, he rode swiftly and returned to camp in less than two hours. At that moment, the first light of dawn had just appeared on the horizon.
Qin Guan had been waiting in the strategy tent. Hearing the guards report Yan Chi's return, she hurried out to meet him.
Yan Chi rode into camp and, seeing Qin Guan clearly hadn't slept, felt a pang of heartache. Dismounting, he said, "We've achieved a great victory. You can rest assured now—they'll return within two hours at most. Prepare the infirmary and make arrangements to receive them."
Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng acknowledged the orders one by one. Yan Chi then headed toward the central command tent, with Qin Guan quickly following.
Upon entering the tent, Yan Chi turned and embraced Qin Guan. "See? There's not a trace of blood on me."
Qin Guan let out a long sigh of relief. "Only when I see you return completely unharmed can I feel at ease."
She helped remove Yan Chi's armor and was about to suggest he rest when he said, "The main forces will return soon—I won't sleep yet. But you should rest. This time, the number of wounded will be several times greater than before. You'll have your hands full."
Qin Guan said no more, simply ordering some food to be prepared for Yan Chi as an early meal before lying down fully clothed to sleep.
She slept for just over an hour before waking to the considerable commotion of the army returning to camp. Hearing this, she immediately rose.
Though it was another great victory, facing 50,000 Rong barbarians this time meant the Northwest Frontier Army had suffered even more casualties. Changing into a man's long gown, Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves and went straight to the infirmary to help. Minor injuries were handled by other physicians—she personally attended only those critically wounded and near death.
Some soldiers had fallen from their horses, their limbs crushed beyond recognition by hooves. Others deemed certain to die were saved by Qin Guan amputating damaged limbs. One soldier had been pierced through the chest by an arrow—also considered fatal—yet Qin Guan extracted the arrow from his heart. She worked without pause all day. Among the hundreds of critically wounded in the infirmary, at least half could still be saved. She was so busy she had no time to eat. Officers throughout the camp witnessed this and naturally held her in deep respect.
Yue Ning had been assisting Qin Guan all along. Seeing how many lives Qin Guan saved, she felt immense admiration and spent the entire day helping, exhausting herself alongside her.
Only when darkness fell and Qin Guan could no longer steady her hands to hold a scalpel did Yan Chi forcibly bring her back to the central command tent.
The white gown she had changed into that morning was now stained dark with blood, the front stiffened into a crust—evidence of how many she had saved.
Seeing her hands tremble even while holding chopsticks, Yan Chi made her sit properly and fed her himself. "Eat and rest early. I thought you had eaten at noon—I had no idea you went the whole day without food. If you collapse, who will save you then?"Qin Guan's face was pale as she gave a bitter smile. "I'm not hungry at all, nor do I have time to think about whether I should eat. There are still two arrow-wounded soldiers I haven't treated yet. The other physicians don't dare to handle them - if the arrows were in limbs it would be manageable, but these struck their chests and abdomens, making it extremely dangerous."
Yan Chi frowned deeply, wanting to stop Qin Guan from going back, but thinking of his living soldiers who were injured, he ultimately remained silent. He wordlessly fed Qin Guan until she complained of being full. After this brief respite, Qin Guan had recovered somewhat. After drinking two sips of tea, she returned to the field hospital.
Yan Chi, unable to rest easy, followed her and personally watched as she treated wounds and extracted arrows.
Though they had achieved a great victory that day, between clearing the battlefield, reorganizing the troops, coordinating with Fengzhou City, and monitoring the Rong barbarians' movements, Yan Chi had been busy all day. When he learned Qin Guan was at the field hospital, he hadn't been overly concerned at first, as this had become her routine these days. But when he inquired in the afternoon and discovered she had even forgotten to eat, he grew anxious. Now as Qin Guan treated patients in the tent, Yan Chi stood outside. Other officers witnessing this could only marvel at the princess consort's virtue.
Soon, praises of Qin Guan's medical skill and compassion spread throughout the Northwest Frontier Army camp...
That night, Qin Guan worked continuously until the small hours before finally stopping. By then, all critical soldiers had received treatment, but she was so exhausted she could barely stand, her vision blurring. Yan Chi initially supported her as they walked back, but seeing her genuine distress, he simply picked her up and carried her to their tent. He had Baiying prepare hot water and let Qin Guan soak in the army's only wooden tub, which somewhat relieved her fatigue. Even so, when she finally lay down, she was barely conscious and fell asleep without managing a complete sentence to Yan Chi.
Seeing this, Yan Chi felt heartache. After some thought, he sent messengers to Wuzhou City to request more physicians.
The next day, Qin Guan slept until full daylight before slowly waking. Remembering the field hospital, she tried to get up, but found every part of her body aching, making her laugh wryly at herself. Despite this, she still went to the field hospital, though she dared not stand all day or remain completely focused. When Yan Chi learned she had gone to the hospital, he soon followed. After Qin Guan pleaded her case and made her rounds, she returned with him to the main tent to rest.
That evening, Yue Qiong arrived at the camp with officers from the Jinzhou Army - naturally, to celebrate their great victory.
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