Chapter 153: The Enemy Arrives
A divinatory symbol without a clear ending indicates that there is still a glimmer of hope. As for the person who single-handedly altered the outcome, Liu Buwang did not know who it was. His sect had a rule: divination could only inquire about events, not people. This was based on the saying, "Human determination can overcome fate."
There are those not entirely bound by the will of heaven.
"We have the advantage of terrain," He Yan said to Liu Buwang. "The bottleneck at Jiyang City is our natural stronghold, and the soldiers of the Jiyang City Army have grown up by the water, skilled in swimming and aquatic combat. As for manpower, now that we are here, we will strive to avoid mistakes. The only difficulty now is actually the weather." She continued, "If the wind blows from the southeast on that day, we will win. But if it blows from the northwest, then even heaven will side with the Wutuo People."
The wind direction would determine whether the fire attack strategy could be employed, and the fire attack offered the greatest chance of victory.
"Commander Xiao," Liu Buwang looked at Xiao Jue, "even if the city's residents evacuate, if the Wutuo People attack within a few days and the city falls, the lives of those still inside will be lost, and the evacuated civilians will also be pursued."
Xiao Jue replied, "Therefore, it is better if the Wutuo People delay their attack. If they act quickly, we must hold the city for as long as possible."
"You mean," Liu Buwang seemed to realize, "the only possibility now is to defend the city."
"Not just defend the city," He Yan interjected. "If we want to take the initiative, we can only use fire. But..."
This battle would not only test the commanders and soldiers but also depend on the favor of heaven and sheer luck.
"I understand," Liu Buwang said. "I will think of other methods. Commander, you should also prepare early." His gaze was filled with concern. "At the latest, the Wutuo People will attack within three days."
In truth, everyone understood that the so-called three days was already their most optimistic estimate. To prevent too many civilians from evacuating the city, the Wutuo People would surely launch their assault in a very short time.
This was simply a race against time.
He Yan and the others thought this way, but they did not expect the Wutuo People to be even more impatient. On the second night, loud horns sounded from north of the canal, and thousands of large ships appeared on the water, bringing with them the savage Wutuo People and their long blades.
The enemy was at the gates.
Mu Hongjin sat in the palace hall, surrounded by servants who stood with bowed heads, the atmosphere heavy and tense. Only the woman remained as composed as ever, calmly instructing the servants beside her, "Send the soldiers guarding the palace gates to the city walls."
"Your Highness!"
"If the city walls fall, I will not live alone. Rather than guarding the palace, it is better to guard the people." Mu Hongjin said calmly, "I am their Princess, and this is my duty."
Her attitude was resolute. After a moment of hesitation, the servants finally did as she commanded. Mu Hongjin looked up at the painting on the wall depicting a spring day in Jiyang—the bustling flower market and water market, the lively crowds, so vivid it seemed they might step out of the painting at any moment. As the battle loomed, the Princess remained as beautiful, proud, composed, and strong as ever, showing no sign of panic, as if what was happening outside was nothing more than a minor disturbance. As if, after listening to a piece of music or watching a dance, everything would be resolved.
Father, the woman in red murmured in her heart, your daughter has guarded this city for over twenty years, and from now on, she will continue to guard it just like this.The people of this city are so pure and kind. The Water God will protect them. They... will surely overcome this crisis.
...
Jiyang City had not seen war for many years. Once the conflict began, the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled who had no time to flee were startled awake from their dreams. Some sat quietly in their rooms, awaiting the outcome, while others prostrated themselves on the ground, silently praying for the Bodhisattva's protection.
Cui Yuezhi donned his armor, fastened his long blade at his waist, and left the mansion. The entire Cui household remained calm and composed, with even the servants carrying out their duties without panic. Several concubines, unusually quiet and subdued, stood obediently in their rooms, awaiting orders. Aunt Wei said, "Everyone, attend to your own tasks. Until the master returns, no one is to speak carelessly."
As Cui Yuezhi's family members, they could have evacuated, but they chose to stay, sharing his fate.
If the city fell, these defenseless women would certainly suffer at the hands of the Wutuo People. Therefore, each of them—including the third concubine, who was usually prone to weeping and melancholy—had prepared a white silk ribbon. Their lives belonged to themselves, and if the city fell, they would not allow themselves to fall into the hands of the Wutuo People.
Cui Yuezhi left the mansion, mounted his horse, and rode to the camp at the Martial Arts Field. As soon as he arrived, he dismounted and saw a figure emerging from the tent—it was Xiao Jue.
Shedding the exquisite robes he usually wore, the young man no longer resembled the refined young master from the capital. Clad in black armor and cloud-patterned boots, his armor gleamed with a cold, imposing light, adding to his authority. His handsome features were matched by a sharp, blade-like aura, akin to the gleaming sword at his waist, making his presence impossible to ignore.
"Commander Xiao," Cui Yuezhi looked into the distance. Soon, dawn would illuminate the sky over Jiyang City, and the Wutuo People's ships would arrive. Time was of the essence. "All the Jiyang troops in the city are gathered here. I will lead a portion of them to set an ambush at Hulu Mouth. You will lead the others aboard ships to confront the Wutuo People head-on. As for the fire attack..." His expression grew grave.
The Astronomical Bureau had spent the previous night observing the celestial signs. There might be no wind today, or there might be a southeast wind. Even if the wind rose, it would likely be in the afternoon. But by then, the Wutuo People might already have landed.
What they could do was wait here for a "possible" southeast wind. For this possibility, they had to prolong the battle, delaying the Wutuo People on the water as much as possible.
Xiao Jue would lead the Jiyang troops to accomplish this difficult task, but an even more challenging mission lay ahead—the one who would set the fire.
To stealthily ignite a fire on the Wutuo People's ships, timing it perfectly, was no easy feat. With so many ships, it was impossible to set fire to each one individually. They needed to observe the ships' positions, identify the most critical ones, and use the flames from those vessels to rapidly spread the fire across all the Wutuo People's ships. This required exceptional strategic vision and keen judgment. In all of Jiyang City, few could achieve such a feat.
Cui Yuezhi was also troubled, but he had no other choice. He waved his hand, and a group of people approached, led by Mu Yi, who had previously sparred with He Yan at the Martial Arts Field."I have selected a group of soldiers to follow Mu Yi's command, waiting for the right moment to board the Wutuo People's ships. When the southeast wind arrives, we will take the opportunity to set fires. It is difficult for us to determine which ships' fires can be controlled, so we can only have Mu Yi burn as many as possible."
The more ships burned, the greater the chance of being discovered, and the likely outcome was that they themselves would also be trapped on the ships. In a way, this group of soldiers tasked with setting fires was equivalent to the Vanguard Battalion—soldiers who had already prepared to sacrifice themselves.
They would use their sacrifice to pave the way for their comrades who followed.
Mu Yi said to Xiao Jue, "Mu Yi will do his utmost."
Everyone now understood just how unfavorable the situation was for the Jiyang Army. Mu Yi was no longer as arrogant as before, his expression much graver.
"Deputy Commander Cui, let me take charge of leading the team to set the fires," a voice interjected. The tent flap was lifted, and someone walked out—it was He Yan.
She was also wearing the robe and armor of the Jiyang City Army, her long hair tied high. With bright eyes and white teeth, she presented a completely different image from her previous red attire. Whether it was an illusion or not, everyone felt that this young woman, dressed like this, was even more striking than in her red attire—utterly natural.
The armor was heavy, yet she walked with ease, her expression calm and composed. She looked at Xiao Jue and said, "Commander, let me handle the task of setting the fires."
"Young Lady He..." Mu Yi tried to dissuade her, "This is very dangerous."
"The Wutuo People have too many ships. Waiting for that uncertain southeast wind might take until the afternoon," He Yan shook her head. "To hide among them without being discovered requires not only skill but also stamina. Moreover, one must understand how to coordinate timing with the Jiyang City Army led by the Commander. Brother Mu Yi, you have never fought side by side with the Commander before. Even if you go to set the fires, it will take more than a moment for the two of you to develop synergy. I am the Commander's subordinate and share a rapport with him. It would be best for me to lead you. Besides," she smiled slightly, "didn't you already spar with me at the Martial Arts Field? Why do you still lack confidence in me?"
Mu Yi's face flushed slightly, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. Since he had lost to He Yan, his skills were inferior, so how could he argue?
He Yan's words were half-truths. The truth was that she could indeed coordinate better with Xiao Jue. Just like during the incident with Yuan Baozhen in Liang Province City, commanders often shared similar ways of thinking. What Xiao Jue could conceive, she could as well. Similarly, her hints could be understood by Xiao Jue. If it were Mu Yi, he might not grasp them. Secondly, she could also see that Mu Yi was determined to sacrifice his life for success. However, on the battlefield, it was a commander's responsibility to avoid unnecessary sacrifices as much as possible. Although she dared not guarantee that she could lead this group to retreat unscathed, at the very least, they would not be completely annihilated.
For both public and private reasons, it was better for her to undertake this dangerous task than for Mu Yi to do so.Cui Yuezhi hesitated slightly. During the discussion on fire attack tactics that day, he had already realized that He Yan was no ordinary person—not to be underestimated and far more capable than Mu Yi. However, he was not particularly familiar with He Yan, and it remained uncertain just how much she could accomplish. Moreover, He Yan was not under his command; even if he agreed, it would be futile if Xiao Jue did not consent. Thus, he also turned to look at Xiao Jue and said, "I certainly believe in Miss He's abilities, and I would feel quite at ease entrusting this task to her. However, I wonder what Commander Xiao thinks?"
Xiao Jue looked at He Yan, and she met his gaze in return. Her eyes were clear and vibrant, full of life. The armor she wore accentuated her heroic spirit and confident demeanor, illuminating her entire face. She resembled the young warrior who had shone brilliantly on the Martial Arts Field of the Liangzhou Guard, moving with the agility of the wind.
A free wind should not be confined to a narrow space. He tugged slightly at the corner of his mouth and said calmly, "Go ahead."
He Yan replied, "Thank you, Commander!"
She had originally thought Xiao Jue might disagree and had been considering how to persuade him, but she hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward today. However, it was likely that Xiao Jue could also see that she was a better choice than Mu Yi. As the commanding officer, every decision he made had to be fair.
"Stay safe," Xiao Jue added. "There's no need to charge recklessly. If the situation turns unfavorable, retreat. I have other methods."
He Yan responded, "Understood!"
...
He Yan led Mu Yi and the others forward. Including herself, there were fifty people in total.
These fifty were the most skilled fighters in the Jiyang City Army. Since they would be lurking in the shadows, carrying out ambushes, hiding, setting fires, and retreating—and possibly engaging with some Wutuo People—even the slightest weakness in skill was unacceptable. As He Yan looked at them, she recalled the Vanguard Battalion she had once served in. Within that battalion, there were a dozen or so soldiers who charged at the forefront in every battle.
However, those dozen or so soldiers were never the same individuals each time, as most of them never returned. Yet, it was precisely because of them that victory became possible for the army that followed.
Cui Yuezhi led his troops to guard the Hulu Pass, while Xiao Jue took the main force by boat to engage the approaching Wutuo People on the Jiyang City canal. Before departing, Xiao Jue had given her no specific instructions for the operation, meaning that from this moment on, the initiative for their covert fire attack lay entirely in He Yan's hands.
"Miss He," Mu Yi looked at her, "what exactly should we do?"
Time was gradually passing, and dawn was approaching. There was little time left for hesitation. Although Mu Yi knew that He Yan was highly skilled, he had little confidence in her ability to command a surprise attack. He was unaware that the fire attack strategy had been proposed by He Yan and assumed that her plan was the same as his—relying on her skills to infiltrate the Wutuo People's ships and set them ablaze.
"Should we prepare the grease oil now?" Mu Yi asked, thinking she hadn't yet devised a plan and offering a reminder. "We could hide the grease oil along the shore and find a way to transport it onto the Wutuo People's ships. What do you think?"
"No need," He Yan raised her hand and said, "Prepare ten small boats."
"Ten small boats?" Mu Yi frowned. "Most of the boats have already been given to Commander Xiao. We don’t have many boats left—what do we need so many for?"He Yan said, "I've thought it over. Trying to burn their ships one by one is much harder than burning our own. It would be better to use our own ships."
Mu Yi was taken aback, and the dozens of people behind him didn't quite understand. Someone asked, "What does that mean? Could you explain it more clearly?"
"I need ten small boats. Divide all the grease oil you've prepared among these ten small boats, then pile them high with dry grass to make them look just like the other warships. When the two sides engage, the Wutuo People will think these small boats loaded with grease oil are the same as the Jiyang City Army's ships. We can pretend to engage with them when the southeast wind picks up and get close to the Wutuo People's large ships."
"At that moment, we just need to set our own boats on fire."
"This is the only way with the greatest chance of success. You can also jump into the river to save yourselves as much as possible," she said.
(End of Chapter)
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