Legend of the Female General

Chapter 152: A Glimmer of Hope in a Deadly Situation

The evacuation of the citizens from Jiyang and Xiao Jue’s takeover of the Jiyang City Army occurred almost simultaneously.

The order was personally issued by the Princess, and the people had no choice but to obey. Despite their confusion and doubts, upon hearing of the turmoil in the city, they would temporarily leave to protect their families. Only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled who truly could not travel far remained. For various reasons, they were unable to relocate and unwilling to endure the hardships of the journey, preferring to die in their homeland.

The most challenging group to handle were likely the prominent families in Jiyang, who had long harbored discontent and secret ambitions toward Mu Hongjin over the years. However, Mu Hongjin had always acted decisively and, despite being a woman, had forcefully suppressed all opposition. Yet, with the sudden and overwhelming crisis in Jiyang, Mu Hongjin found herself stretched thin, and these influential families began to stir, seizing the opportunity to make their move.

Mu Hongjin could not leave Jiyang. If she did, she would not only give those secretly opposing her an opportunity but also signal her abandonment of the city and its people. As the Princess of Jiyang, she had enjoyed the love and respect of its citizens, and in such times, it was her duty to shoulder the responsibility.

An inconspicuous, disguised carriage quietly departed from the entrance of the royal residence.

Disguised as a maid, Mu Hongjin stood at the entrance, half-hidden behind a pillar, gazing in the direction Mu Xiaolou had left.

Mu Xiaolou remained unaware of the crisis in Jiyang, naively believing that this departure was merely to attend a feudal lord’s birthday celebration on behalf of her grandmother. She had left happily, promising to bring gifts back for Mu Hongjin. By the time she returned, it would likely be summer, and she had asked Mu Hongjin to accompany her in making sweet iced cheese.

Only when the carriage had completely disappeared from sight did Mu Hongjin withdraw her gaze. Just as she was about to turn and step back into the residence, she caught a glimpse of a figure in white standing across the street and paused to look.

It was a man dressed in white, his features unclear, hidden in the courtyard across the street. Sunlight streamed down from the rooftops, casting a large shadow, and he stood within it, his appearance obscured. Only the long sword at his waist and the qin on his back were clearly visible.

On the wide, bustling street, amid the surging crowds, he slightly raised his head, as if looking at her through the throng, or perhaps not looking at all.

A cargo-laden carriage slowly passed by.

When Mu Hongjin looked again, only the blinding sunlight remained. On the other side of the street, there was no trace of anyone, as if it had all been an illusion.

She stood quietly for a moment before walking away.

...

At night, the oil lamp in Cui Yuezhi’s study remained bright. Large lanterns were placed in all four corners, illuminating the room brightly. Cui Yuezhi’s study resembled an armory more than a place for reading—cold, austere, and rigid. Aside from a few scrolls haphazardly piled on the desk and a black wooden shelf holding books, there was nothing elegant or refined about it.

But then, he was never one who loved reading.

A large map hung on the wall, occupying half of it. In the center was a river, with whirlpools and reefs nearby drawn in clear detail.The room held over ten people, all warriors like Cui Yuezhi. These were Cui Yuezhi's colleagues and subordinates. If the Wutuo People entered the city, these men would serve as deputy commanders of the Jiyang City Army, cooperating with Xiao Jue.

He Yan and Xiao Jue sat to one side, while Fei Nu and Chi Wu stood behind them with arms crossed. Cui Yuezhi held a charcoal pencil, drawing a circle around a prominent spot on the map.

"The canal is most suitable for landing only at this point," Cui Yuezhi tapped the place he had marked. "If they come ashore here, the two armies will clash at this location. The terrain is flat, suitable for deploying the Jiyang City Army's battle formations, but..." He glanced at Xiao Jue, somewhat uneasy. "We don't have enough troops."

Jiyang City simply wouldn't have many soldiers—Emperor Wenxuan would never allow such a thing. In those years, for self-preservation, many feudal lords and generals disbanded their armies. Mu Hongjin did the same. Keeping these less than twenty thousand Jiyang City Army soldiers was already an exceptional act of mercy from Emperor Wenxuan.

With only twenty thousand troops, it wasn't enough to rebel—they couldn't stir up any significant waves. Similarly, it was insufficient to resist the potentially tens of thousands of fierce Wutuo soldiers. Cui Yuezhi understood this well. Even the most skilled housewife cannot cook without rice. Even with the brilliant General Feng Yun, if you have no soldiers, what can he use to fight? His face?

"It's not about lacking troops," Xiao Jue's gaze fell on the map as he said calmly, "It's about lacking ships."

"Ships?" One of Cui Yuezhi's subordinates looked at him, somewhat puzzled.

No wonder they were confused. Jiyang City had been peaceful for so many years. Aside from older men like Cui Yuezhi, even the slightly younger ones had likely never set foot on a real battlefield.

Xiao Jue lightly tapped the teacup before him. "You explain."

He Yan: "Me?"

Cui Yuezhi and the other subordinates all turned to look at He Yan.

He Yan had now changed back into women's clothing. Everyone present had heard about her defeating Mu Yi on the Martial Arts Field earlier that day. But an exceptionally skilled female subordinate could only protect her master's safety—at most, kill a few enemies on the battlefield.

Deploying troops, analyzing battle reports—these were not things ordinary people could do. Moreover, men generally felt inherently superior to women in military matters. Regarding Xiao Jue's action, they felt a hint of mockery. They thought the rumors weren't entirely accurate—the world said General Feng Yun was cold and ruthless, indifferent to women, but it turned out all false. Now he was so infatuated he'd lost his judgment, letting this female subordinate with whom he had an "unusual relationship" mess around.

For a moment, everyone looked at Xiao Jue as if he were a foolish ruler led astray by a seductive concubine.

Over the years, He Yan had seen countless instances of men looking down on women. Though she wanted to correct their thinking, after a moment's consideration, she didn't refuse. She stood up and walked to the map with a smile.

Cui Yuezhi returned to his seat. The others watched He Yan, wearing expressions of "waiting to see what nonsense she'll spout."

He Yan didn't even glance at the map, facing the crowd instead. "None of that matters."

The others didn't understand.

"In naval warfare, there's no other trick: large ships defeat small ships, large cannons defeat small cannons, many ships defeat few ships, many cannons defeat few cannons—that's all.""You have few boats and few firearms. How you look at it, where you land, how you arrange your formations—none of that matters most. In Great Wei, aside from the imperial guards, firearms are prohibited, so let’s just talk about boats. As long as the Wutuo People have enough boats, they can win."

"To fight a battle where you are outnumbered, you cannot do without boats."

"On water, they have more boats; on land, they have more men. This map is simply not meant to be used this way."

Although those present had not fought in years, they were not fools. They knew perfectly well whether He Yan was speaking nonsense or not. She had pinpointed the crux of the problem, and for a moment, their dismissive attitudes lessened considerably.

"Miss He," Cui Yuezhi said, "but you also know that in recent years, His Majesty has prohibited the private raising of armies, let alone warships. The boats on the canal are meant for transporting goods or carrying passengers on long journeys. Jiyang City dares not establish its own navy, much less mention firearms."

He Yan sighed inwardly. She knew all this, of course. After all, there had been rebellions by feudal lords in the previous dynasty, and since the late emperor ascended the throne, particular attention had been paid to reducing the power of the feudal lords. The current major feudal lords were essentially like powerless nobles in Shuojing City.

"May I ask Commander Xiao," one of Cui Yuezhi’s subordinates looked at Xiao Jue and cautiously inquired, "conservatively speaking, how many troops do the Wutuo People have?"

Xiao Jue replied, "One hundred thousand, if not more."

Everyone gasped.

Such a disparity in forces made it difficult to hold onto hope.

"The city’s residents have already been evacuated by the Little Princess and have left through the rear gates," a deputy soldier said hoarsely. "We... will just do our best to buy as much time as possible."

The implication was clear: everyone was prepared to sacrifice themselves. The evacuated residents and the Little Princess were the preserved seeds of hope. All they could do was buy more time for the people. The fall of the city was only a matter of time.

Xiao Jue’s gaze swept calmly over the group. He straightened slightly, about to speak, when suddenly, a woman’s clear voice rang out.

"Morale being this low is not a good thing. You must remember, we have a renowned general here. Do you know what a renowned general is?"

Everyone was taken aback.

"A renowned general does not lose battles that should not be lost and finds opportunities to win battles that seem unwinnable. That is what a renowned general is," He Yan declared, raising her eyebrows. "Even when defeat seems inevitable, a renowned general can find a breakthrough to turn the tide. With a renowned general here, capable of turning the situation around single-handedly, how do you expect him to feel with you all like this?"

She thought to herself, there wasn’t just one renowned general here—there were two. Both of Great Wei’s most famous generals were present. If they could still lose, they might as well give up on life.

Unaware of her background, the others looked at Xiao Jue, thinking to themselves that Xiao Jue’s subordinate spared no effort in praising him. To believe that even in such a hopeless situation Xiao Jue could turn defeat into victory—how deeply must she admire him?

After a moment of silence, Cui Yuezhi asked Xiao Jue, "So, Commander Xiao, how should we turn defeat into victory?"

The world did not know that Xiao Jue’s water attack battle had been a victory against the odds. To outsiders, Xiao Jue had led the Southern Garrison Troops to a great victory in Guo City with one hundred thousand soldiers. But back then, he had flooded the city—it was an offensive, not a defensive battle. Moreover, Jiyang and Guo City were fundamentally different environments. Jiyang was a water city, and although both involved water attacks, the circumstances were worlds apart.Xiao Jue leaned back in his chair, the knuckles of his left hand slightly protruding as he stroked the teacup lid. He looked at He Yan, his beautiful eyes filled with countless deep emotions, and said, "You speak."

He Yan frowned slightly.

He said, "You have fought against the Wutuo People and understand their methods better than others."

The methods of the Wutuo People were brutal and direct, which was related to their own way of doing things. For so many years, they had hidden in the shadows, occasionally testing and harassing, both arrogant and insecure. This time, after long planning and choosing Jiyang City as the first battle for military merit, they would surely make this battle grand and spectacular.

He Yan said, "Water overcomes fire, and fire and water are incompatible. Why not use a fire attack?"

For a moment, no one in the study spoke.

"Please, Miss He, explain more clearly," Cui Yuezhi said.

His attitude toward He Yan was becoming increasingly respectful. He felt that this girl was quite different from other women and also different from Xiao Jue's other subordinates. For example, Fei Nu and Chi Wu were also subordinates of Xiao Jue, but they only followed Xiao Jue's orders to act. Xiao Jue did not ask them to express their opinions as he was doing now. Although He Yan had always seemed respectful to Xiao Jue, upon closer inspection, it did not seem like a superior-subordinate relationship. Cui Yuezhi was broad-minded and couldn't tell whether it was love or not, but he could sense that He Yan regarded herself as being on equal footing with Xiao Jue.

If she were a man, she would probably be more like a brother or friend to Xiao Jue rather than a master and servant.

"The ships used by the Wutuo People might be very large. At the very least, they are not like the small boats in the Jiyang City Army used for transporting goods or carrying people. The Wutu Kingdom is far inland, surrounded by land without seas, so they likely are not as skilled in water as the people of Jiyang City. I believe the most likely scenario is that they will come to the edge of Jiyang City on large ships. They will land at the place marked earlier by Commander Cui," she pointed to the spot Cui Yuezhi had marked earlier. "If... if their ships are close to each other, we can use a fire attack. Once the fire spreads, Jiyang's small boats can quickly sail away, but the Wutuo People's large ships cannot. We can take the opportunity to eliminate the main force of the Wutuo People."

Using a fire attack on water was a method no one had tried before. For a moment, everyone was silent, but He Yan's words suddenly enlightened them, stirring excitement in their hearts as they secretly considered the feasibility of this plan.

"The Wutuo People have far more troops than we do, and they know that Jiyang has been peaceful for many years and is no match for them. They must be proud, and pride leads to shortsightedness—this is their weakness and our strength."

As she spoke, her voice was gentle yet firm, clear and logical. Word by word, it seemed to give people endless confidence. Those who had just thought this battle was unwinnable now felt, just from hearing her words, that perhaps they could create a battle in history where the few defeated the many, admired by the world.

But... Cui Yuezhi looked at He Yan with doubt. In such a short time, she had come up with a way to deal with the situation. Although not without flaws, it was innovative and pinpointed the key to victory. Could an ordinary woman really achieve this? Not to mention a woman, even a man, a commander with many years of experience in the army, might not react so quickly. After all, being a general requires not only experience but also a bit of talent and unique insight. But how old did He Yan look? He heard she was only seventeen. A seventeen-year-old girl, already so capable?Xiao Jue's subordinates were all so formidable; the Nine Banners Battalion must indeed be filled with hidden talents. A faint chill crept into Cui Yuezhi's heart.

"I'm merely proposing this idea," He Yan said. "Whether it can be implemented, and how, is beyond my grasp." Aware she had spoken too much, He Yan deliberately passed the conversation to Xiao Jue. "Whether this plan is feasible depends on the Governor's decision."

She could have kept these thoughts to herself, but taking every battle seriously was the duty of every commander. Moreover, Jiyang was a fine city, its people warm and sincere. She could not bear to see this idyllic paradise destroyed by the Wutuo People. After all, if the Wutuo People captured Jiyang, they would march northward, and the entire populace of Great Wei would suffer.

She would fight to the end.

Everyone turned to Xiao Jue. His gaze swept over He Yan as he stood up and walked to her side.

He Yan lowered her head, avoiding his contemplative look, and returned to her seat.

He picked up the charcoal pencil that Cui Yuezhi had set aside earlier and, in front of the mark Cui Yuezhi had just made, drew a new circle, creating a fresh mark.

The new mark was positioned ahead of the old one—a narrow outlet in front of Jiyang's shore. This was where the canal met the river inside Jiyang, resembling the slender neck of a gourd. Only after passing through this "gourd neck" could one reach the true canal.

"A fire attack is feasible. We can set an ambush here. This passage is narrow; large ships cannot enter, but small boats can navigate through."

Cui Yuezhi's eyes lit up. Xiao Jue had a sharp eye; this location was perfect for an ambush.

"As for how to execute the fire attack," Xiao Jue continued, "it depends on wind direction and terrain."

"The city has specialists from the Astronomical Bureau who observe celestial phenomena and wind patterns!" a Jiyang soldier interjected. "They usually assist with scheduling sowing for farmlands and paddy fields."

Another person hesitantly asked, "But what if the wind direction is unfavorable on that day?"

"Then a fire attack won't be possible," Xiao Jue replied. "After all, warfare hinges on favorable timing, geographical advantages, and human unity."

He Yan thought to herself, that was indeed true—all three were indispensable. Of course, Xiao Jue hadn't finished his thought. If the wind direction was unfavorable, there would naturally be other methods.

However, warfare inherently involved an element of luck. If fate was not on your side, history was filled with examples of near-successes turning into failures. What they needed to do was minimize these uncertainties as much as possible.

The discussion about the water attack lasted until midnight before everyone dispersed. From the initial listlessness and pessimism to the later enthusiasm and high spirits, it was all because of the "absurd" idea He Yan had proposed.

Lin Shuanghe noticed the stark difference in the group's demeanor as they emerged and asked in surprise, "What happened? What did you do inside? Why are they so cheerful?"

He Yan yawned. "We simply reasoned with them and appealed to their emotions."

"That shouldn't have such an effect," Lin Shuanghe muttered. "Anyone would think you'd been drinking and carousing inside."

He Yan: "..."

"It's getting late," she said. "I'll rest now. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

Lin Shuanghe nodded. "Alright."He Yan returned to her room, feeling utterly exhausted from correcting the Jiyang City Army's battle formations on the Martial Arts Field during the day and discussing the map late into the night. After washing up, she stepped out and saw Xiao Jue still seated at the desk in the inner room, writing something with a brush.

He Yan moved closer to look. He had somehow obtained a smaller copy of the map Cui Yuezhi had just hung on the study wall earlier. He placed it alongside the copy of the Wutuo People's military defense map Chu Zhao had given to Mu Hongjin, comparing the two.

He was jotting down the various aspects He Yan had just raised regarding the fire attack that might require attention. For instance, how many ambushes should be set up at the bottleneck, the wind direction on the day, and the arrangements for the city gates and guards. Since the Jiyang City Army was severely understaffed, even the deployment of a single soldier had to be handled with extreme caution.

It was almost like a frugal housewife meticulously managing the household budget.

He Yan said, "Commander, aren’t you going to sleep?"

"You go ahead," Xiao Jue replied without looking up.

He Yan sighed inwardly, thinking that being the top student in one’s youth required exceptional talent—even sleeping through classes could still land you first place. But maintaining that position for years wasn’t just about talent. Back in her days with the Pacify Yue Army, she had seen the moon at midnight, the early hours before dawn, and the break of day.

With this in mind, she said, "Commander, let me help you."

Just as she spoke, there was a knock at the door. It was Liu Buwang: "Ah He, are you asleep?"

Why would Liu Buwang come looking for her so late? He Yan exchanged a glance with Xiao Jue and replied, "No, Master. Just a moment."

She threw on an outer robe and opened the door. Liu Buwang stood outside, having just returned from outside the manor. His clothes still carried the chill of the night dew. He Yan glanced beyond the doorway and said, "Come in and talk."

Liu Buwang entered and, upon seeing Xiao Jue, gave a slight nod in greeting. His gaze fell on the scroll in front of Xiao Jue, pausing briefly before he asked, "Commander, have you devised a strategy for the battle at Jiyang?"

"Just a little," He Yan replied.

"What are the odds of victory?"

He Yan: "At best, fifty percent."

Even under the best circumstances, it was a toss-up.

Liu Buwang fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Wutuo People may act soon."

Xiao Jue looked at him: "What have you uncovered, Master Liu?"

"The Wutuo People I’ve been tracking are now heading in one direction. Some have gone outside the city, while others have disappeared. They’ve noticed my movements, and the news of Princess evacuating the civilians can’t be kept secret either." Liu Buwang said, "The Wutuo People’s ships haven’t arrived yet. Now, it’s a race against time."

"In the shortest time possible, the civilians of Jiyang must evacuate as far as they can. But there are still those in the city who cannot leave." Liu Buwang’s voice grew heavy.

He did not want civilians to become lambs for the Wutuo People to slaughter.

"Master," He Yan said, "You practice planchette writing and divination. Have you divined whether this battle will be won or lost?"

"Unresolvable."

He Yan: "Unresolvable?"

In truth, long ago when Liu Buwang was still a youth, he had once divined the fortunes of Jiyang City for the coming decades on the mountain. The divinatory symbol revealed that decades later, the city would face a great calamity—corpses piled high, not a chicken or dog left alive. The same would befall Great Wei, its dynastic vitality gradually fading. He wanted to see more, but Yunji Daoren, who happened to witness it, struck the tortoise shell with his palm, shattering it, and scolded, "The ways of heaven are unpredictable. How dare you presume to glimpse its secrets?"

The matter was left unresolved.Many things happened later, and he came to understand the impermanence of the world, realizing how insignificant human effort is compared to the will of heaven. Liu Buwang had not practiced divination for many years, but ever since he met He Yan this time and learned that Jiyang City might face war, and that the Wutuo People were coming with ill intentions, he could no longer remain aloof. Thus, he secretly performed a divination once more.

The divinatory symbol never reveals the cause or the process—only the outcome. He still remembered the result from his divination many years ago, yet after several decades, the symbol had completely changed.

This was originally a dead end, a situation with no way out, yet he still saw the same scene as back then. But in this vision, there was an additional pair of blurred shadows. The shadows gleamed with golden light, as if imbued with boundless merit, majestic as the heavens, like two brilliant golden rays illuminating that lifeless divinatory symbol.

A dead end, because of this pair of blurred shadows, turned into "unknown."

He could not see the outcome.

The fire attack drew inspiration from the Battle of Red Cliffs and the Battle of Poyang Lake, while "big ships defeat small ships" originated from Qi Jiguang.

I'm not good at writing battle scenes, so I just winged it. There are probably many plot holes, but don't mind them—it's just mindless wish-fulfillment fiction~

(End of Chapter)