Coroner's Diary

With the battle strategy decided, Yue Qiong headed toward Wei County town.

The Jinzhou army was now stationed in Wei County, and Yue Qiong’s command tent was set up on a training ground south of the town.

Upon entering the tent, Yue Qiong asked, “Has Minister Ge’s letter arrived?”

At this question, his deputy shook his head. “Not yet. Seven days ago, we were informed that the subsequent provisions had been cut off. The main force is now in Yingzhou, and there has been no further news since.”

Hearing this, Yue Qiong’s expression darkened.

When he first learned that the Rong and Man Tribes had merged and invaded, Yue Qiong was deeply shaken, believing a national crisis was imminent. He had urgently dispatched several military reports to Lin’an, expecting reinforcements to arrive swiftly. However, while the promise of aid came quickly, the actual troops were slow to materialize.

They had held out bitterly in Fengzhou for half a month before joining forces with Yan Chi to repel the Rong and Man. Now, nearly a month had passed, and Ge Yang’s forces had gone silent after reaching Yingzhou. The more Yue Qiong thought about it, the more his frustration grew.

A general in the field may not always follow orders from the capital, but likewise, those in Lin’an had never witnessed the brutal ferocity of the Rong and Man, nor seen comrades trampled to pulp under enemy hooves. No matter how fierce the fighting in the northern border, Lin’an remained a city of endless prosperity.

These thoughts sank Yue Qiong’s heart like a stone.

Although Yan Chi and Zhao Shuhua had temporarily agreed to ally with him, Yue Qiong understood it was only a fleeting arrangement.

As he approached his command tent, he saw Yan Qi waiting at the entrance. Spotting Yue Qiong, Yan Qi cupped his hands in greeting. “Marquis, has everything been settled?”

Yue Qiong nodded and entered the tent, with Yan Qi following closely. “How did it go?”

Yue Qiong replied, “In three days, we will lure the enemy. Depending on how the Rong and Man respond—if they send troops in pursuit, we will ambush them. If the pursuing force is too large, we will raid their main camp. Today, we need to send scouts to investigate Fallen Phoenix Slope.”

Yan Qi smiled at this. “Excellent. With our numbers no longer at a disadvantage, we can now confront the Rong and Man head-on.”

Yue Qiong nodded. “I hope everything goes smoothly. If we can drive the Rong and Man out of Azure Dragon Mountain this time, not only the northern border but even Shuoxi will enjoy peace for years to come.”

Yan Qi raised an eyebrow. “Why is the Marquis concerned about Shuoxi?”

Yue Qiong, who had been drinking tea, set his cup down. “The people of Shuoxi are also Zhou subjects. In the face of external threats, all Zhou people stand united.”

Yan Qi chuckled and shook his head without further comment. “The Marquis speaks wisely. In that case, I wish you a decisive victory in the next battle.”

Yue Qiong acknowledged with a smile and said nothing more. As Yan Qi turned to leave, Yue Qiong asked, “Has Your Highness received any letters from Ge Yang?”

Yan Qi paused mid-step and shook his head. “No. If Ge Yang were to send word, shouldn’t it be directed to you, Marquis?”

Yue Qiong smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. It’s just that there’s been no news since they reached Yingzhou many days ago. They mentioned gathering military provisions there, but with no further letters, I wonder if they’ve encountered some trouble.”

Yan Qi’s eyes flickered briefly. “There’s no need for concern, Marquis. The garrison granary in Yingzhou already supplied provisions once before. It’s likely difficult to procure more now. Minister Ge is probably preoccupied with these matters. Since we currently have sufficient troops, our focus should remain on confronting the enemy.”Yue Qiong was naturally not one to neglect the fundamentals in pursuit of trivialities, so he nodded in agreement.

Yan Qi left the main tent with a smile, and his mood improved even further once he stepped outside.

Seeing his triumphant expression, Lu Xiao asked upon returning to his own tent, "What has made Your Highness so delighted?"

Yan Qi replied with a laugh, "Ge Yang will likely not be reinforcing the northern front."

Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow, and Yan Qi continued, "His Majesty holds a deep hatred for the Empress and cannot tolerate Yan Chi either. It seems he has learned of Yan Chi’s arrival to reinforce the north, so Ge Yang’s forces are most likely being redirected westward."

Lu Xiao frowned slightly. "Your Highness means…"

Yan Qi burst into laughter. "Yan Chi is fighting desperately here while his main base is about to fall. Isn’t that laughable?"

Lu Xiao chuckled along but found himself at a loss for words.

Having been besieged for days in Fengzhou, Lu Xiao still felt some gratitude toward Yan Chi for coming to their aid. Clearly, however, his master did not share the same sentiment.

"In that case, Your Highness, we need not take any action?"

Hearing this, Yan Qi’s gaze grew meaningful. "Of course we must act! Even if Ge Yang heads west, if Yan Chi realizes the danger and turns back, the outcome would become uncertain. The best scenario is to ensure Yan Chi and his men remain in the north forever."

…

Upon returning to his own camp, Yan Chi first meticulously explained the battle strategy to his officers. Soon after, he received a letter from Master Qi, which assured him that everything in Shuoxi remained normal and urged him not to worry. The letter also guaranteed that military provisions and other supplies would not be disrupted. Reading this, Yan Chi felt reassured.

Shuoxi was his second homeland and now served as his crucial rear base. If anything were to happen there, he would be stretched thin and forced into a passive position.

With these thoughts, Yan Chi frowned slightly. He was aware of the court’s plan to dispatch reinforcements—in fact, he likely understood the situation even better than Yue Qiong. Yet, despite this, Ge Yang, the commanding general, had not arrived even after such a long time.

Yan Chi summoned Yu Qi and asked, "Any unusual movements in Wei County?"

Yu Qi promptly replied, "None. Today’s alliance meeting proceeded as usual, and everything in the county town was normal. I even sent scouts to inspect the city. The Jinzhou army is well-trained and orderly. Although they are on alert, they continue their drills. Most of the officers in the camp are veterans trained by the Anyang Marquis, which is quite reassuring."

Yan Chi nodded. While he trusted Yue Qiong, he did not trust the Northern Expedition army under his command. The complex balance of interests meant that even as commander, Yue Qiong could not exercise full control. Thus, Yan Chi remained vigilant. After a pause, he added, "Any news from Ge Yang’s side?"

Yu Qi shook his head. "They set out over half a month ago but encountered problems soon after. The military provisions provided by the Luozhou Garrison Granary were moldy grain stored for years—completely inedible. As a result, half of the prepared provisions were lost. Ge Yang halted the main force in Yingzhou and continued liaising with the court for grain supplies while negotiating for provisions locally. However, when the Anyang Marquis headed north, Yingzhou had already contributed provisions once. Now, neither Yingzhou City, the Garrison Granary, nor the surrounding towns have any surplus grain. This has caused delays for Ge Yang. The latest report, from three days ago, stated they had only managed to gather twenty thousand dan."Yan Chi's brow furrowed immediately. "Ge Yang commands seventy thousand troops yet only has this meager amount of provisions. Naturally, he wouldn't dare advance north recklessly."

Yu Qi nodded. "Afterwards, the court allocated fifty thousand dan of grain from Yuzhou to be delivered to Yingzhou. At the latest, Ge Yang won't set out northward until four or five days from now."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Keep a close watch on Ge Yang's movements. His constant delays suggest he intends to let us and the Northern Garrison Army suffer losses at the frontlines. By the time he marches north days later, the Rong barbarians will have been significantly weakened by our efforts. Then, it's hard to say who Ge Yang's true target will be."

Upon realizing the possibility Yan Chi described, Yu Qi broke into a cold sweat and promptly responded, "Understood. I will maintain strict surveillance."

Only after this exchange did Yan Chi feel somewhat reassured. As long as Ge Yang remained in Yingzhou, he could temporarily set aside concerns about threats from the rear.

With their strategy confirmed, Yan Chi took no chances. He drilled his troops for two consecutive days, only allowing rest on the third day. On that third day, as scheduled, Yan Chi personally led thirty thousand soldiers north toward Fallen Phoenix Slope.

Simultaneously, Zhao Jing and Cheng Wei also marched north with thirty thousand troops from the Northern Garrison Army.

For this operation, the Jinzhou Army contributed thirty thousand soldiers as bait, while Yan Chi and Zhao Shuhua each dispatched thirty thousand troops to attack from the flanks. If successful, they could annihilate the entire Rong barbarian force that took the bait.

At noon, the Jinzhou Army arrived before the Rong barbarians' main camp. A fierce general named Li Changyuan stepped forward to issue a challenge!

Though ethnically Zhou, Li Changyuan had once sheltered a Rong tribesman and thus knew some phrases in their tongue. He alternated between Zhou language and Rong dialect, hurling relentless insults at the enemy lines. The Rong chieftain, infuriated by the provocation, immediately sent troops to engage—thus successfully springing the trap.

Flush with confidence after their massacre in Cangzhou, the Rong barbarians had grown arrogantly self-assured. But in Wuzhou, they not only lost their anticipated victory but also suffered over twenty thousand casualties. Forced to abandon Wuzhou and retreat to Fengzhou, they now faced an unexpected alliance between the Northwest Frontier Army and Jinzhou Army. Having lost tens of thousands of soldiers in subsequent clashes, they were seething with pent-up rage. Learning that the Jinzhou Army had brought only thirty thousand men, the Rong commander immediately dispatched fifty thousand troops in pursuit!

Li Changyuan initially directed his forces to engage the Rong barbarians. Seeing the enemy gaining momentum, he promptly ordered a retreat. The Rong barbarians, eager to avenge their humiliation, gave chase. They pursued from Fallen Phoenix Slope to a location called Lion Ridge, where they were ambushed by the Northwest Frontier Army positioned along the mountain ridges. Expert in mountain warfare, the Northwest Frontier Army swiftly forced the Rong troops to retreat eastward. At that moment, the Northern Garrison Army emerged from the eastern forests, while the Jinzhou Army turned back to counterattack. The remaining Rong force—now reduced to under forty thousand—was instantly surrounded by ninety thousand allied troops. The battle raged from noon until nightfall, with the three armies coordinating to eliminate nearly forty thousand Rong barbarians. Although over a thousand managed to escape, the allies did not pursue them. After clearing the battlefield, they quickly withdrew to their respective camps.In this battle, the Jinzhou Army took the lead as bait and suffered the most casualties. However, since they were the main force to begin with, these losses were far more manageable than if they had fought alone. The Northwest Frontier Army, lying in ambush in the mountain ridges and possessing exceptional combat strength, incurred the fewest casualties. Meanwhile, the Northern Garrison Army, trained by Zhao You as elite troops, also avoided devastating losses. After the battle, the three armies demonstrated seamless coordination and achieved a great victory, significantly easing the tensions among the commanders and bringing smiles to the soldiers' faces.

Despite the victory, Yue Qiong remained cautious. The Rong barbarians were a fierce and courageous tribe, and having suffered this defeat, they were likely to retaliate immediately. Yue Qiong delegated post-battle matters to his officers and promptly dispatched envoys to summon Yan Chi and Zhao Shuhua for a second alliance meeting.

During the first alliance, Yan Qi had shown disdain and refused to participate. But by this second meeting, having tasted the benefits of the three armies' combined efforts, he surprisingly requested to join. Had he been enthusiastic from the start, Yue Qiong might have been suspicious, but under these circumstances, he had no doubts and naturally granted the request.

On the day of the second alliance meeting, Qin Guan did not accompany Yan Chi. Upon arriving at the meeting site, Yan Qi lavished praise, saying, "Yan Chi, you truly live up to your reputation. Although the Jinzhou Army took the lead this time, your Northwest Frontier Army executed the second wave most brilliantly. I heard you took the Rong chieftain's head with a single arrow, throwing their forces into disarray and allowing us to scatter them in one fell swoop. Yan Chi, in warfare, besides experience, talent is essential—and in that regard, I truly envy you, brother."

Yan Chi interpreted Yan Qi's enthusiasm as gratitude for the Northwest Frontier Army rescuing the Jinzhou Army from a tight spot, sparing him, as a participant, the shame of defeat.

Yan Chi responded casually, focusing instead on the next battle strategy. He was not there to help anyone in particular but solely to annihilate the Rong barbarians. He was quite satisfied with the recent battle's outcome. While the Northwest Frontier Army alone could have achieved similar results, he had his own considerations: sharing the casualties among three armies was far better than bearing them alone.

With the great victory, Zhao Shuhua felt relieved, and Zhao You's health improved significantly as a result. His guilt over the fall of Cangzhou had weighed heavily on him, but with each Rong barbarian slain by the Northern Garrison Army, his remorse lessened. A lighter heart naturally sped his recovery.

In the alliance tent, Yue Qiong stated, "Our strategy of luring the enemy this time was one the Northwest Frontier Army had used in Wuzhou. What works once or twice may not work a third time. Moreover, the Rong barbarians have suffered consecutive losses and will likely take the initiative next. Within the next couple of days, we might face a fierce assault, undoubtedly targeting the Jinzhou Army. However... as you all know, Wei County lacks sturdy outer walls. If the Rong barbarians break through, we would be at a disadvantage."

Yan Chi appeared indifferent, but Zhao Shuhua and Cheng Wei frowned. Cheng Wei asked, "Marquis, since we cannot defend from within Wei County, are you suggesting we engage the Rong barbarians north of the county?"

Yue Qiong nodded, and Cheng Wei continued, "But the area north of Wei County is all plains. We have no way to set an ambush, and in a head-on clash with the Rong, we would suffer heavy losses."

The Rong were formidable in both blade combat and close-quarters fighting, capable of taking on two opponents each. In a frontal charge on open plains, the Zhou people would be at a disadvantage from the start due to their inferior physical stature and strength.Yue Qiong also said, "I've considered that point as well. However, if we set an ambush at Lion Ridge, the Rong barbarians would hardly fall for it again."

From Wei County to Fallen Phoenix Slope, only the Lion Ridge area had mountainous terrain suitable for ambushes. Yet the previous battle had taken place precisely at Lion Ridge. Now, employing the same tactic again—how could the Rong barbarians easily take the bait?

At these words, the discussion reached an impasse. For a moment, no one spoke, and the lower-ranking officers grew particularly silent, not daring to make a sound.

Suddenly, Yan Chi chuckled. "Although Wei County lacks outer walls, its interior is crisscrossed with intricate streets and marketplaces. Since we cannot defend through conventional means, why not invite the enemy into our trap?"