The gale subsided, the dim light from the torches swallowed by the heavy night, silence enveloping the wilderness.
The soldiers gathered toward the banners without a sound.
Mobi Duo exchanged a few words with the officers, signaling to continue the march. He found Yaoying and rode alongside her, whispering, "The situation is more severe than we estimated... The main force of Wahan Khan's army has disappeared, our scouts have lost their trail. General Ashina captured a Northern Rong scout and interrogated him personally. According to the scout, even they don't know where the Khan's main force has gone. These days, they've been communicating via messenger eagles."
Yaoying immediately asked, "What about Haidu Aling?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Mobi Duo's face: "Haidu Aling has also vanished. Why did you think of him right away, Princess?"
The desert night was bitterly cold. Yaoying tightened her headscarf and said, "Haidu Aling's troops excel at rapid marches, his cavalry moves even faster. He's bold and daring, fond of risky deep penetrations to launch surprise attacks. Wahan Khan is cautious, preferring full preparation before frontal assaults. The Northern Rong army suddenly changing routes feels more like Haidu Aling's style."
Mobi Duo nodded. "The Regent said the same. It might be Haidu Aling, or someone else. Regardless, someone persuaded Wahan Khan to alter their course. That Wahan Khan would listen to others' advice shows his desperation for victory and makes his next moves unpredictable. Our previous plans must change accordingly. The Regent has ordered General Ashina to continue tracking the Northern Rong movements. The Princess and others will first accompany me to Asan City to regroup. We'll await further instructions from General Ashina before deciding our next destination."
They had already left the Royal Court's territory. Asan City belonged to the Asan tribe, a vassal of the Royal Court. The Asan tribe had answered the summons, with their Chieftain leading a thousand men to assist while his son remained to guard the city.
Yaoying nodded in agreement and asked, "Where is the Regent... now?"
Mobi Duo scanned their surroundings warily. "The Regent is with the vanguard. Princess, you must not reveal this—the news of the Regent's survival hasn't been officially announced yet."
Yaoying hummed in acknowledgment.
After concluding their discussion, Mobi Duo took a soldier's torch and held it up to Yaoying, studying her for a moment with concern. "You've endured much hardship these days, Princess."
Yaoying smiled and shook her head. "It's only to be expected."
They traveled through the night out of the desert, continuing across the boundless wilderness. By the next afternoon, low hills appeared on the distant horizon. Below them lay a deep green forest, where a dried-up riverbed wound its way—glacial meltwater had yet to reach it, leaving the channel covered in pebbles. Beside the river stood a stone wall over thirty feet high, stretching for two miles. Before the city gate, a simple watchtower rose, where soldiers stood at height, their waist-length sabers reflecting a cold gleam.
After days of relentless winds, both the city wall and watchtower were coated in dust, appearing gray and faded from afar.
Dusk was falling, half the sky burning crimson while straight columns of cooking smoke rose from the city into the azure heights.
Mobi Duo said, "That is the Asan tribe."The patrolling warriors of the Asan tribe had already lit dried dung piles to signal the alarm upon spotting the approaching army. The chieftain’s son, left in charge of the settlement, led his men out to meet them. After confirming Mobi Duo’s identity, he immediately ordered the city gates opened.
An elder standing behind the chieftain’s son noticed the Wujili Bu warriors among the troops and hesitated, saying, "In response to the Buddha Prince’s conscription, all our able-bodied men have gone to the front lines. The city is now mostly filled with women and children. Could the general’s forces camp outside the city?"
Mobi Duo first surveyed the surrounding terrain, then nodded in agreement.
Before submitting to Tanmoroqie, the tribes had constantly warred with one another, their enmity running deep. Though they had since pledged allegiance to the Royal Court, whenever their combined armies marched and camped together, conflicts inevitably erupted. Overnight, fresh corpses would often appear in the corners of the encampments. With the Asan tribe’s chieftain absent, Mobi Duo, as a prince of another tribe, could not bring all his men inside the city.
Mobi Duo instructed Yaoying to rest while he accompanied the chieftain’s son to inspect the provisions.
After days of arduous travel, Yaoying finally reached a place where hot water was available. She washed away the dust, ate a steaming bowl of mutton soup, and curled up in a wool blanket. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell asleep.
In her drowsy state, she dreamed of standing on a battlefield, surrounded by soldiers clashing with blades. A black horse charged toward her, its rider not clad in armor but in the narrow-sleeved leather coat of an ordinary herdsman, wielding a pair of gleaming golden hammers.
Trembling with excitement, Yaoying ran toward him.
The man’s narrow, phoenix-like eyes fixed intently on her, as if fearing she might vanish. He reached out a hand.
As the black horse drew near and Yaoying was about to grasp his hand, a long spear thrust sideways, piercing the man’s body. Blood gushed forth, and he tumbled from his horse, the golden hammers clattering to the ground.
"Elder Brother—"
Yaoying jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. Before she could fully process the dream, a violent rattling came from the window. She rose, opened it, and the black eagle, General Jin, swooped into the room, emitting sharp, distressed cries.
In the distance, faint but growing clamor echoed: "Enemy attack—"
Yaoying snapped to full alertness. She dressed quickly as her guards and Mobi Duo’s men found their way through the darkness. "Young Master Bayan, the camp outside the city is in chaos!"
"Has the Asan tribe rebelled?"
"We don’t know. Prince Mobi Duo feared a mutiny and rushed to the city gates first. He ordered us to protect you. Do not fear—if the city falls, we will escort you away immediately."
Yaoying tied up her long hair and donned a male-style turban. "First, find the chieftain’s son and stabilize the city. If Mobi Duo cannot hold the line, we can let him retreat inside."
The guards acknowledged the order, shielding her as they evacuated the chieftain’s residence while sending scouts to locate the chieftain’s son.
Soon, a guard reported that the chieftain’s son’s men had blocked the main street leading to the city gates and were advancing toward them, fully armed and bristling with aggression.
Hearing this, Mobi Duo’s men flushed with anger. The moment the chieftain’s son appeared, they surged forward, attempting to seize him without a word.
The chieftain’s son scrambled backward, shouting, "Are you trying to seize the Asan tribe under cover of this chaos?"
With neither side understanding the other’s language, they erupted into a cacophony of shouts and threats, weapons drawn and tensions soaring.Yaoying listened intently for a moment, then signaled to her guards with her eyes. The guards drew their curved blades and struck the uneven earthen wall. With several loud crashes, gravel burst and flew everywhere.
Everyone was startled into silence.
Yaoying stepped forward from the crowd and shouted in the Hu language that both sides could understand: "Are you not the people of the Buddha Prince? Whoever causes chaos betrays the Royal Court!"
The crowd froze, all turning to look at her.
Yaoying turned to the Chieftain's son: "Are the enemy troops outside the city yours?"
The Chieftain's son looked bewildered: "Aren't they Mobi Duo's men?"
Mobi Duo's subordinate flared up with anger and snapped, "How could our Prince attack his own camp?"
Realizing his mistake, the Chieftain's son hurriedly apologized and ordered his men to lay down their weapons. "I was sleeping soundly when I suddenly saw flames raging outside the city. I thought you from Wujili Bu were taking the chance to attack A'Sang Bu!"
Both sides calmed down, cleared up the misunderstanding through questioning, and the Chieftain's son quickly led his men to defend the city walls.
Other advisors rushed over, and Yaoying instructed them to stay in the city while she ascended the walls with the Chieftain's son.
The camp had already descended into chaos.
The soldiers, exhausted from days of travel, had finally reached A'Sang Bu and let their guard down to rest. Suddenly attacked in their sleep, they fought back hastily, allowing the enemy to breach the camp.
"Do not panic!"
Mobi Duo charged into the battle on horseback. War drums thundered deafeningly as soldiers hurriedly rallied toward him.
The Chieftain's son and his men were debating whether to open the city gates when a sharp whistling sound cut through the night.
Several arrows sliced through the air, raining down on the walls like a sudden storm, embedding deeply into the earthen ramparts with a buzzing tremor.
The Chieftain's son stared in disbelief, then roared in fury: "Who shot those arrows? Are you blind? Where are you aiming?!"
Judging by the trajectory, the archers were inside the city!
Shouts of battle rose from below the walls as a blood-soaked soldier scrambled up, yelling: "Enemies have infiltrated the city!"
Yaoying looked down from the battlements.
Chaos reigned below the walls—soldiers kept retreating into the city with loud cries. In the lingering darkness, defenders couldn't distinguish allies from enemies.
The Chieftain's son drew his curved blade, positioned himself by the crenellations, and decisively bellowed: "They're trying to sneak in during the chaos! Close the gates!"
With almost no defenders in the city besides their small group, allowing enemies inside would spell disaster. His command prompted guards to swiftly shut the gates, thwarting the enemy's plans and escalating panic among soldiers below.
The camp had been split into segments. Mobi Duo knew launching a counterattack now was impossible. Staying calm, he regrouped fleeing troops while patiently waiting for an opportunity.
The Chieftain's son escorted Yaoying into the tower, dealt with the infiltrators, and quickly returned to the walls. He hesitated about aiding Mobi Duo outside, fearing further complications.
Dawn gradually broke, a pale glow seeping into the dark horizon.
Amid the battle cries, resonant horn blasts suddenly echoed from the distance, startling birds into flight and making the ground tremble.
Everyone on the walls turned to look.
Faint dark shapes undulated at the skyline like rolling waves. As they drew nearer, the Chieftain's son exclaimed in delight: "It's the Royal Court's central army!"
A central army unit swept toward the camp like a whirlwind.
At their forefront rode a general, his robes flapping fiercely in the wind.Just as a ray of morning light pierced through the layers of clouds, it poured down, enveloping him and outlining his tall, imposing figure. Clad in a snow-white battle robe with a headscarf, he held a blade in his hand. Alone on his steed, he charged ahead of the formation with overwhelming momentum, as if fearless of swords and arrows.
Behind him, a troop of three to four hundred soldiers stood in a strict formation, like a ferocious beast baring its fangs.
Though their numbers were not large, the soldiers fighting in the camp were invigorated at the sight of them, roaring with excitement.
Mobi Duo cut down an enemy with a single stroke, wiped the blood from his face, and raised his blade, shouting, "The central army has arrived! Follow me into battle!"
The soldiers' morale surged instantly as they launched a counterattack. The central army struck from the south, and the two forces quickly formed an encirclement, trapping the defeated enemy troops. The battle was over in less than two hours.
The Chieftain's son ordered the city gates opened and went out to welcome them, escorting Mobi Duo and the central army generals into the city.
Advisors led the remaining troops in clearing the battlefield and interrogating the captives.
Yaoying did not follow them. Instead, she returned to her quarters with her personal guards, took stock of her personnel, sent the injured guards to tend their wounds, and assisted with handling documents that did not involve Royal Court secrets.
...
She remained busy until evening, when a few knocks sounded at the door. Yaoying immediately walked over and opened it.
Mobi Duo stood outside, having changed into a clean lapel robe. The aura of battle had faded, and his bright smile revealed the cheerfulness of youth. He held a tray of naan bread and roasted lamb, saying, "I heard from my subordinates that you haven’t had dinner yet, Princess? I apologize for the fright last night."
Yaoying took the tray and placed it on the table. "Thank you, Prince... Were the attackers last night Northern Rong? Why did they attack Asan Bu?"
Mobi Duo shook his head. "It wasn’t Northern Rong, but a coalition of tribes that have submitted to them. They’re not just attacking Asan Bu—they’re targeting other tribes as well."
A flash of insight crossed Yaoying’s mind.
"How ruthless."
Mobi Duo’s expression turned grave as he nodded. "Exactly. Northern Rong isn’t showing their hand directly. They’re using the tribal coalition as their vanguard to harass small countries and tribes. First, they can test the Royal Court, gauge its strength, and sow discord. Second, they weaken the Royal Court so that when they launch a full-scale attack, the Royal Court will have lost tribal support. In these wildlands, tribes are indispensable—they know the terrain well. Third, they aim to lure the Royal Court into deploying troops, forcing it to disperse its forces."
Yaoying continued his line of thought, "There’s another point: if they force the tribes to rebel, those tribes might suddenly switch sides on the battlefield."
Such tactics were not uncommon. In the midst of battle, if one side held the relatives of the other side’s vassal tribes hostage, those tribes would immediately withdraw, leading to a catastrophic defeat.
Mobi Duo sneered, "Fortunately, we dispatched troops... It’s hard to guard against every threat!"
Thinking of Wujili Bu, Yaoying reminded Mobi Duo, "Does your tribe have forces stationed there, Prince?"
Mobi Duo sounded surprised, "Wujili Bu is far from here..."
Yaoying shook her head. "You mustn’t let your guard down, Prince. Precisely because no one would expect an attack on Wujili Bu, Haidu Aling would target it."
Mobi Duo broke into a cold sweat. If his family were captured and he faced such a dilemma on the battlefield, what choice would he make?
"Thank you for the warning, Princess."
Mobi Duo clasped his hands in gratitude to Yaoying and summoned his trusted aide, ordering him to return to Wujili Bu to deliver a warning.
The personal guard whispered, "Prince, the general has already issued orders. Warning letters to all the tribes are already on their way."Mobi Duo breathed a sigh of relief.
Yao Ying’s brow twitched slightly as she asked, “Is he the general of the central army who led the troops to break the siege this morning?”
The man had kept his headscarf on, never revealing his face. After entering the city, he immediately gathered his advisors for discussions, so no one knew his exact rank.
Mobi Duo nodded. “Last night, he led a team to track down a scouting unit, hoping to locate Wahan Khan. By chance, he discovered that a tribal alliance was planning to attack Asan Tribe, so he brought his troops here.”
As they spoke, a guard approached carrying a fur coat. Mobi Duo stopped him, took the coat, and handed it to Yao Ying.
“This is a snow fox fur coat, pure white without a single blemish. It’s light and warm—perfect for Your Highness to wear during nighttime travels, much more convenient than other coats.”
Yao Ying smiled and shook her head. “Keep it for yourself, Prince.”
Mobi Duo scratched his head. “This is women’s clothing. It’s of no use to me. Please, Princess, you must accept it.”
Yao Ying smiled gently, her tone soft but firm. “I am currently accompanying the army under the identity of Bayan. It wouldn’t be appropriate to dress too conspicuously. I appreciate your kindness, Prince.”
Wearing such a rare white fox fur coat would make her stand out like a crane among chickens—it would be impossible to keep her identity hidden.
Mobi Duo exclaimed, “I hadn’t thought of that... What about a coat with mixed fur? I can assure you, there’s not a trace of white! Black, red, gray—you can choose any color.”
Yao Ying chuckled but still declined.
Mobi Duo smiled, took back the snow fox fur coat, and pointed to the roasted lamb. “The lamb is getting cold. I won’t disturb Your Highness’s meal any longer.”
Yao Ying stood at the door, watching him walk away before turning back into her room. Her gaze swept over the passage beneath the earthen wall, and she paused in surprise.
A tall, straight figure had flashed past.
After a moment’s thought, she hurried out of her room, crossed the narrow path, and chased after him. “General!”
The courtyard was empty, with no one in sight.
Yao Ying searched all the way to the front courtyard but saw no trace of the fleeting figure. She had no choice but to return to her room. The lamb on the plate had indeed cooled. She asked a guard to fetch a bowl of hot broth from the kitchen and finished the bread and meat with it. She then instructed the guard to prepare another portion of broth and deliver it to the general of the central army.
A while later, the guard returned and reported, “The meal was delivered, and the general accepted it.”
Yao Ying nodded.
...
As the sky gradually darkened, Yao Ying sat at her desk, copying documents.
Hurried footsteps sounded outside her door, and a guard knocked. “Princess, we must set off. Prince Mobi Duo says the central army has arrived and is not far from Asan City. We’ll break camp tonight and join them as soon as possible to avoid complications.”
Yao Ying acknowledged, quickly packed her belongings, and left the room surrounded by her guards. Several knights from the central army came to escort her and were surprised to find her already prepared. They escorted her out of the city.
The city had returned to calm, but the area outside the walls had not yet been cleared. In the darkness, scattered blue specks of fluorescence glimmered, eerie and chilling—wild beasts drawn by the scent of blood.
Yao Ying and her group caught up with the main force and traveled for two hours. They crossed a shallow river in the dark and climbed a slope. On the plains below the towering shadows ahead, thousands of hazy lights flickered—the camp of the central army led by Ashina Bisha.
Mobi Duo first sent a messenger to the camp to inform them of their arrival. Then, he slowly approached with Yao Ying and the advisors, entering the main camp while the others set up camp on the outskirts.
Bisha came out of the main tent to greet them. After exchanging a few words, everyone returned to their respective tents.The night was deep, and the torches flickered brightly.
Yaoying was settled into a clean and tidy tent to rest. After blowing out the candle, she lay down on the felt rug but did not close her eyes, her gaze fixed intently on the tent entrance.
A long while later, shadows shifted outside the tent, and hushed voices could be heard.
Yaoying’s eyes darted thoughtfully. She threw on her outer garment, rose, lifted the Felt Curtain, and scanned the surroundings. Sure enough, she spotted a tall, straight figure.
"General!"
She called out, her brows curving slightly.
Outside the tent, several torches blazed fiercely. The man in a blue robe and white gown, his face veiled with a headscarf, cast a calm glance her way.
Yaoying smiled at him, shifting aside to make room and gesturing for him to enter the tent to talk.
The man studied her for a moment before stepping inside.
Yaoying lit the candle, moved to the low table, and sat cross-legged, saying, "General, I knew it was you!"
Tanmoroqie watched her bustling about, his voice low. "How did you know it was me, Princess?"
Yaoying asked, "When I saw the general leading the troops to our aid, my intuition told me it was you. You’re dressed as a central army cavalryman now, without your personal guards. Is it because you can’t reveal your identity yet?"
He nodded and gave a quiet hum of agreement.
"It will take a few days."
Understanding, Yaoying patted an untouched section of the rug in front of the table and said, "Then you can rest in my tent these next few days, General. I’ll cover for you. General Ashina is the commander now, and there are too many people coming and going around him. Besides, I happen to have some matters I’d like to consult you about."
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze to look at her.
Yaoying met his eyes, her expression sincere.
After a moment of silence, he gave a slight nod and another soft hum of agreement.
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