The Green Grass Plains were a stretch of wilderness west of Fallen Phoenix Slope, connecting to the mountain terrain and sloping downward from east to west.
Yan Chi, leading fifty thousand troops, lay in ambush amidst the waist-high wormwood covering the plains.
The slightly sloping terrain, combined with occasional undulating mounds, made concealment for the Northwest Frontier Army relatively straightforward. The true challenge lay in how to engage the Rong barbarians head-on once they appeared.
While the Rong barbarians could be caught off-guard in their panic, they were naturally formidable warriors, capable of fighting one against two. Open plains warfare favored them greatly, which was why Yan Chi had dispersed the vanguard, left and right flanks, and central army extensively.
The tall wormwood on the plains allowed for ambush tactics, minimizing casualties whenever possible.
Though arranged in central and flank formations, the Northwest Frontier Army overall formed a vast semicircular front to blockade the Rong barbarians’ path.
By the Hour of Yin, all Northwest Frontier Army troops had taken their positions. At this time, as planned, the Jinzhou Army began setting fires.
It would take at least half an hour for the mountain fire to spread. By the time the Rong barbarians noticed and fled in this direction, at least another hour would have passed. Even so, none of the Northwest Frontier soldiers dared relax.
Yu Qi lay prone atop a mound, his gaze fixed intently on the mountain foot half a li away. Once the Rong barbarians descended, this would be the first spot to sight them. Messages would then relay backward, ensuring Northwest Frontier forces would converge from all directions wherever the barbarians moved.
After staring for what felt like ages, Yu Qi’s eyes grew sore. He shifted position, lying on his back to gaze at the pitch-black sky. Moments later, he glanced sideways and saw Gu Ling motionless, having maintained his watch far longer. Yu Qi tugged at Gu Ling’s sleeve, “Enough, don’t strain your eyes. If the Rong arrive and you can’t tell friend from foe, we’ll pay for it.”
Gu Ling raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Yu Qi stealthily produced a miniature silver flask from his sleeve.
Seeing this, Gu Ling frowned immediately, “No drinking during battle! If His Highness finds out, you’ll face military justice!”
As he spoke, Gu Ling reached to snatch the flask, but Yu Qi nimbly rolled away, putting distance between them. “I know the rules, but have you ever seen me mess up during a fight?”
Gu Ling frowned, knowing arguing with Yu Qi was futile, and sighed, letting the matter drop.
Yu Qi took a small sip from the flask, clicked his tongue softly, and put it away. Watching this, Gu Ling sighed again.
Yu Qi’s drinking wasn’t due to indulgence. Three years prior, during a campaign against the Rong, he had been trapped on the Cold Plains for days. When found, frost coated his face, and he was presumed dead. Miraculously, he clung to life. Though he survived, he was left with chronic chills. Since then, he required constant medication. Later, a physician advised drinking three small cups of wine daily, which led to his habit of carrying a flask.
Gu Ling shook his head, pulled the cloak from his own armor, and tossed it over Yu Qi’s head.
Yu Qi grinned, not bothering with false modesty, and draped the cloak over himself.It was already late summer, and the damp chill of the midnight plains seeped through the air. Yu Qi, wrapped in a cloak, crouched amidst the wormwood grass, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the ridge. Before long, a rustling sound came from behind as someone emerged and said, "Generals Gu and Yu, why is there still no movement—"
The speaker was their deputy commander. After speaking, he pulled out a terrain map and produced a fire starter from his sleeve, preparing to light it.
Yu Qi bolted upright. "Don’t light it!"
The deputy commander jumped in surprise. Yu Qi explained, "A fire here would be easily visible from the mountain. Besides, we’re surrounded by wormwood grass—if it catches fire, we’ll be in deep trouble!"
The deputy commander rubbed his nose, his face flushing red. "Forgive my negligence, General. I was worried we might be in the wrong spot since there’s been no activity."
The map had been drafted under Yan Chi’s orders, and every troop deployment had been predetermined. As part of the vanguard positioned at the northwesternmost corner of the formation, they were the first to spot the Rong barbarians. If they were in the wrong location and missed the opportunity, it would jeopardize the entire battle.
Yu Qi slapped the deputy commander sharply. "How dare you doubt me! I scouted this place two days ago—I’d recognize this slope even if it were ground to dust. Stop worrying unnecessarily. Go to the rear and make sure the men stay alert."
The deputy commander hastily acknowledged and vanished into the wormwood thicket.
Yu Qi turned back toward the ridge with a scowl, glancing at Gu Ling. "Could something really have gone wrong?"
Gu Ling shook his head. "No."
His certainty was reassuring. Yu Qi kept his eyes on the mountain as he remarked, "You’re only two years older than me, yet you’re so composed. Being with you puts me at ease. How about I take a nap while you keep watch?"
Gu Ling frowned, as if irritated by such remarks, and replied impatiently, "We don’t need your eyes for this."
Yu Qi chuckled and lay back on the ground. The plains were perpetually overgrown with wormwood, and though most of it was still lush and green, the ground was covered in a thick layer of dry grass. Unbothered by the dirt, he comfortably crossed his legs. "The Rong risked crossing the northern border, only to fail. Truthfully, they’re too unfamiliar with the northern frontier. Besides, this battle isn’t on the Cold Plains, where they’re most at home—they’re at a disadvantage."
Gu Ling gave a noncommittal grunt, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Bored from waiting, Yu Qi sat up again to polish his saber. Even in the pitch-black night, the blade gleamed coldly, a testament to its sharpness. As he worked, Gu Ling suddenly held his breath. Years of battlefield experience sharpened Yu Qi’s instincts—he instantly looked up and spotted faint shadows moving along the ridge ahead.
The mountain silhouette, once serene and undisturbed, now rippled like a calm lake disturbed by a pebble. Yu Qi dropped flat, his earlier laziness vanishing as a fierce intensity hardened his expression. "They’re finally here—"Gu Ling's expression instantly turned grave. He gestured behind him, and in an instant, a low cicada chirp sounded from the tall grass. Cicadas chirping on a summer night wasn't unusual, but as soon as this one called, others quickly responded. Soon, cicada chirps rose and fell across an area spanning several dozen zhang.
The cicada chorus ended as quickly as it began. Within just a few breaths, the slope fell back into silence.
Meanwhile, the commotion on the ridge grew louder. At first, no torches were visible, but soon scattered flames appeared along the ridge. The Rong barbarians, some on horseback and some on foot, surged down the ridge like a tidal wave. Accustomed to wilderness survival, they traversed even the most treacherous mountain paths with ease. In mere moments, some had already reached the mountain's base. Yu Qi stared at the mountaintop and noticed a group of riders had stopped on the ridge.
"What's happening? Why haven't the Jinzhou troops pursued them from behind?"
Gu Ling said grimly, "They're likely pinned down. In mountain combat, the Jinzhou troops hold no advantage. The Rong barbarians can tie them up with just a few men."
If there were pursuers behind them, the forces on the ridge wouldn't have stopped. This showed that although the Rong barbarians were retreating as planned, they weren't as panicked as expected.
Yu Qi tightened his grip on the war blade at his side. "Should we wait?"
"We wait." Gu Ling's response was swift, his expression stern.
The Rong barbarians weren't rushing, and they outnumbered them several times over. Gu Ling said, "We wait to see if they head west or north."
If they went north, they would encircle them from the north. If they went west, they'd walk right into their formation.
Yu Qi and Gu Ling held their breath as they waited. The other soldiers didn't dare move either. After the first wave of Rong barbarians descended and took position, those following slowed their pace. They gradually formed columns as they came down the mountain and began reorganizing at the base. Gu Ling narrowed his eyes, watching for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then said, "At least sixty thousand troops remain."
Sixty thousand... Yu Qi frowned and drew a sharp breath. "The Jinzhou troops aren't very effective at setting fires!"
Gu Ling's eyes suddenly narrowed. "It seems they're heading north."
Yu Qi frowned at this. "They probably guessed we're in the west and don't dare come this way. Better to retreat to Cangzhou."
Gu Ling's expression darkened. "If they go north, the Northern Garrison Army will have to hold the front. We mustn't reveal our position first."
The Northwest Frontier Army and Northern Garrison Army had set up ambushes on both sides to block all escape routes. Now that the enemy was heading north, they'd be caught between both forces. However, with the Rong barbarians still having such large numbers, they needed to launch a surprise attack to minimize casualties and secure victory. Gu Ling gestured, and his deputy immediately approached. Gu Ling said in a low voice, "Quickly send word to the central army. Say the Rong barbarians have descended the mountain with over sixty thousand troops and intend to head north."
The deputy turned and disappeared into the tall grass. Gu Ling continued watching the forces at the mountain's base.
As he watched, he saw the Rong barbarian army slowly begin moving northward. Seeing this, Yu Qi started to rise, but Gu Ling pressed him down. "Don't rush. Don't alert them. We'll follow first and only reveal ourselves after they engage with the Northern Garrison Army."The location was ten li from the Northern Garrison Army's ambush site, requiring nearly half a shichen to march there. Fortunately, the wilderness was thick with wormwood and the night wind fierce—otherwise, covert tracking in the dark would have been difficult. Soon, another cicada chirp echoed through the grass. After a series of responses, everyone began creeping northward.
The Rong barbarians' advance was slow, likely because the Jinzhou army was truly entangled in battle. Thus, Gu Ling and Yu Qi dared not push forward recklessly.
The Northern Garrison Army lay in wait ahead—a surprise the Rong would never anticipate. Once the Northern Garrison Army engaged them, they would strike first to catch the enemy off guard. When the Rong scrambled to respond, the Northwest Frontier Army would launch a sudden assault, ensuring certain victory.
With their strategy settled, Gu Ling and Yu Qi remained composed. Meanwhile, four li away in the central army formation, Yan Chi received the report. He declared, "Follow your two generals' orders. Our central army and flanks will swiftly converge with them."
The deputy swiftly acknowledged and vanished into the darkness to catch up with Gu Ling and Yu Qi.
Yan Chi promptly issued commands to the left and right flanks. Upon receiving orders, Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng moved toward the central army. The processes of relaying orders and reorganizing troops took time, temporarily widening the gap between the main force and the vanguard. To maintain cover, the ten-thousand-strong vanguard consisted of five thousand archer infantry and five thousand spear infantry, while the central army and flanks combined infantry and cavalry formations. Fearing complications from the distance, Yan Chi ordered the infantry to advance at full speed, with the cavalry following one li behind.
Seeing this, Xiao Cheng immediately led his left-flank infantry in pursuit. Though the clash between the Rong and Northern Garrison Army was still some time away, and though Gu Ling and Yu Qi had vanished from sight, Yan Chi remained largely confident in the battle's outcome. But just as Xiao Cheng's troops had covered three li, a blaze suddenly erupted across the northern wilderness, instantly illuminating the prairie night sky.
The southwestern wind showed no sign of abating, and the fire spread like wildfire toward the northeast—precisely where Gu Ling and Yu Qi were supposed to be lying in ambush. Xiao Cheng stood stunned, bewildered by the sudden conflagration. He turned back to seek Yan Chi, only to encounter him galloping forward on horseback midway.
Yan Chi had clearly detected the anomaly and rushed ahead urgently. "Send scouts immediately to determine the fire's origin!"
Xiao Cheng dispatched riders as ordered. Yan Chi watched the flames with deepening frowns. "This is bad—trouble approaches! Order the central army, infantry and cavalry alike, to advance at full speed now!"
No sooner had the command been given than the rear cavalry sprang into action. Within moments, Chu Fei Sheng led the cavalry forward. Yet by then, the wildfire ahead raged uncontrollably. Even from a li away, the acrid scent of charred grass and wood filled the air.
Chu Fei Sheng exclaimed urgently, "Your Highness! This fire is sinister! Gu Ling and his men would never be so careless!"
The plan had long been set—whatever moves the Rong made, they had countermeasures prepared. This was not the time for the Northwest Frontier Army to reveal itself, yet the fire's origin point had struck Gu Ling's position first.A fierce glint appeared in Yan Chi's eyes. "Once the fire spreads, the Rong barbarians will surely turn back. They have over sixty thousand troops—how can Gu Ling and the others hold them off? And with the raging fire at their backs..."
As he spoke, Yan Chi tightly gripped the long spear beside him. "We set off immediately! Detour around the burning plains!"
His voice carried rare urgency, and Chu Fei Sheng and the others also visibly paled. Yan Chi's words had laid bare the critical stakes—if they arrived too late, Gu Ling and Yu Qi might perish here. Chu Fei Sheng grew anxious at once and took the lead, charging ahead.
However, no one had anticipated that the wildfire sweeping across the plains would spread even faster than a mountain blaze, with destructive power no less formidable. The scale of the inferno far exceeded everyone's expectations. Yan Chi relentlessly whipped his horse onward, but circumventing the burning plains would require a much longer route. Just then, the scouts at the forefront returned.
"Your Highness! The fire stretches for two li ahead. To detour would take five times longer than planned. Moreover... at the southern edge of the blaze, we discovered two half-burned barrels of fire oil..."
Yan Chi's pupils trembled violently. Barrels of fire oil?!
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Recommending a friend's novel, Transmigrating into the 80s as a Fierce Wife / Qing Buyan
An exhilarating time-travel story, incredibly satisfying. The female lead is a seductive, sharp-tongued vixen who fights with both words and fists.
Synopsis:
Tong Hua, a third-tier starlet with stunning looks and a curvaceous figure, had A-list actors as her supporting cast and could pick any leading role in blockbuster films. Despite having resources everyone envied, she never made it big—and she couldn’t care less.
Because her family owned mines.
Her father ranked among Forbes' top ten wealthiest, her mother swept major film awards as an acclaimed actress. Tong Hua was the untouchable dragon in the entertainment world, entering the industry purely for fun.
Tong Hua: Hehe.
But one day, she time-traveled... to the 1980s? Becoming the daughter of a notorious impoverished family in the village?
Tong Hua: Damn you to hell! Which bitch cursed me?!
With a house on the brink of starvation and a horde of greedy relatives circling like vultures, Tong Hua cracked her knuckles.
Being a dragon wasn’t just about family wealth—a wolf from the 21st century remained a wolf, even in the '80s.
OpenNovel