Mo Li

Of the 800,000-strong Mo Family Army, only the 50,000 troops under General Zhang Qilan were stationed near the capital. These forces were reportedly tasked with guarding the capital's vicinity, so they couldn't join Ye Li's expedition to the border. Ye Li and Marquis Nan needed to lead their men hundreds of miles from the capital to rendezvous with several armies stationed at various locations before heading to the frontier. This arrangement conveniently eliminated the need for farewell ceremonies or grand mobilization rituals before departure. As Ye Li wasn't particularly fond of such hypocritical pomp, she was quite satisfied with this seemingly hasty arrangement.

Most members of Prince Ding's Estate remained in the capital to fulfill their duties, with only Feng Zhiyao, Zhuo Jing, Yun Ting (who had been thrown into military camp for quite some time), and Xu Qingze (who had somehow convinced Mo Jingqi) accompanying Ye Li to the battlefield. Xu Qingze's insistence on going to the border made Ye Li feel particularly guilty towards Qin Zheng, whom she hadn't seen for quite a while. However, Qin Zheng, who came to see them off, smiled understandingly and simply wished them a safe journey and early return. Additionally, Mo Jingqi unexpectedly added Mu Yang to the expedition at the last moment, claiming that since Prince Ding's return date was uncertain and Marquis Nan was advanced in years, Mu Yang would serve as Marquis Nan's errand runner. Neither Ye Li nor Marquis Nan commented much on this—everyone understood Mo Jingqi's true intentions in sending Mu Yang along. Though Mu Yang was an outstanding young man, the others were no pushovers either. Once on the battlefield, anything could happen. There was no need to antagonize the emperor over such a trivial matter.

The group rode hard and fast, covering the 500 li to the strategic military town of Hengshui in just over a day. Though not particularly prosperous or magnificent, Hengshui was significant because 100,000 Mo Family Army troops were stationed 20 li west of the city. Other armies stationed elsewhere were also converging in this direction, and within days, nearly 300,000 troops would gather here. By the time they reached Hengshui's outskirts, the sun was setting. Ye Li reined in her horse and turned to Marquis Nan: "Marquis, General Sun Yan arrived at Hengshui with his men last night. Let's skip entering the city and head straight to the Hengshui military camp." Marquis Nan looked approvingly at Ye Li, who sat perfectly straight in her saddle, and said, "As the Princess suggests." After riding nonstop for a full day and night, even most men would be exhausted, yet Princess Ding remained composed without showing the slightest sign of fatigue. This earned both Marquis Nan and Mu Yang's surprise and admiration.

The Hengshui military camp was located 20 li west of the city at the foot of a mountain, with endless plains before it and the Hengshui mountain range behind—a natural training ground. When the group was still 5-6 li from the camp, local commanders and General Sun Yan (who had arrived the previous night) came out to greet them. "We pay our respects to the Princess!" Ye Li nodded slightly and asked, "Where is the commander of Hengshui camp?" A vigorous middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with graying hair and beard stepped forward and saluted Ye Li: "This humble general is Lyu Jinxian, currently serving as commander of Hengshui camp. Greetings to the Princess."Ye Li dismounted and raised her hand, saying, "General Lyu, there's no need for formalities. This is Marquis Nan, specially appointed by His Majesty as the deputy commander of the western expedition. And this is Mu Yang, heir of Marquis Muyang and a captain in the army." Ye Li did not introduce Zhuo Jing, Yun Ting, and the others standing behind her, so the assembled officers understood they were her own people and only stepped forward to greet Marquis Nan and Mu Yang. Marquis Nan, being a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, naturally carried himself with ease among these officers, greeting everyone with hearty cheer. As for Mu Yang, despite his status as the heir of Marquis Muyang, his military rank was merely that of a captain—lower than any officer present. Thus, he had little room to speak and simply exchanged pleasantries alongside Marquis Nan. Fortunately, though Mu Yang had grown up sheltered and privileged, he had not developed an arrogant or disdainful demeanor, so the atmosphere remained harmonious and pleasant.

After the greetings, Marquis Nan asked solemnly, "General Lyu, when can the army set out?"

Lyu Jinxian replied without hesitation, "The troops have long been ready for battle. They can march at any moment upon the orders of Princess Ding and Your Lordship."

Feng Zhiyao chuckled, "General Lyu, we’ve had a tiring journey here. Let’s set out tomorrow morning instead."

Lyu Jinxian glanced around and smiled, "General Feng is right. This old man was inconsiderate. Princess Ding, Your Lordship, please rest in camp tonight so the soldiers can recover their strength."

By nightfall, the vast camp had fallen into silence. With the march set for dawn, most soldiers had retired early—except for the officers gathered in the central command tent for discussions.

Inside the tent, Ye Li, now dressed in a light cyan robe, sat in the central seat of authority. Below her, arranged by rank, sat Feng Zhiyao, Lyu Jinxian, Sun Yan, and other officers. Marquis Nan and Mu Yang, as deputy commanders, had already been dismissed to rest after the earlier discussions. This was the first time many of the officers had met Ye Li, the mistress of the Ding Royal Palace. Their respect for her stemmed less from her status as Princess Ding and more from the Yazi Jade Pendant hanging at her waist. One officer stood and asked, "Princess, when will His Highness return?" As the supervising envoy, Princess Ding held no direct command, leaving Marquis Nan as the highest authority in the Mo Family Army. Though Marquis Nan had always maintained a neutral stance, his leadership unsettled the officers loyal to the Ding Royal Palace. Ye Li shook her head lightly and replied, "His Highness is far in Northern Rong. Even if he received word now, it would take time for him to return. But the war at the border cannot wait for him. Or… do you mean to say that without His Highness, you no longer know how to fight?"

The officers stiffened at her words. Ye Li continued calmly, "I understand your loyalty to the Ding Royal Palace and His Highness. But I also hope you remember one thing: for what purpose does the Mo Family Army exist?" Her serene gaze swept over them. "It exists for the peace of the Great Chu’s people. Every soldier in the Mo Family Army has parents and children. Protecting Great Chu means protecting your own families."

A heavy silence followed. Lyu Jinxian hesitated before asking, "So… are we truly to follow Marquis Nan’s command?"Ye Li said, "If Marquis Nan and the Mo Family Army share the same objective, why can't we temporarily follow his command? The reality is that His Highness cannot return now. Are we supposed to tell the Western Liang forces that Prince Ding isn't here, so we'll fight another day?" Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present twisted involuntarily. Feng Zhiyao chuckled, "Your Highness, I believe everyone's concern is whether Marquis Nan might turn against us if the Mo Family Army obeys his orders and he gains control over our troops."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Marquis Nan will not gain control of the Mo Family Army. I will accompany him at all times during operations. Though this approach has its drawbacks, it's the only option we have now. That said, as acting commander, Marquis Nan cannot personally oversee every battle. Thus, the responsibility on the battlefield will still fall upon you, Generals."

The officers responded in unison, "We will not fail Your Highness's expectations."

Ye Li nodded. "I leave it to you, Generals. Now, how much do you all know about the current situation at the front?"

At her words, the tent fell silent. Though they harbored reservations about the emperor's appointed officials, it was only because the emperor had spent years relentlessly suppressing the Mo Family Army. Originally, the Mo Family Army was stationed across various border regions of Great Chu. However, Mo Jingqi, distrustful of them, took advantage of Prince Ding's recuperation and the army's weakened state to recall all its forces inland, replacing border garrisons with his own loyalists or generals hostile to Prince Ding's Estate. Now that Western Liang had invaded Great Chu—invading the very lands they had sworn to protect for generations—how could they not feel urgency in their hearts?

Lyu Jinxian spoke gravely, "Western Liang came prepared this time. Zhennan Wang personally leads a central army of 300,000 troops across the border. Reports from the front indicate that tens of thousands alone are besieging Xinyang. The imperial forces sent to reinforce suffered heavy losses in an ambush by Zhennan Wang. After discussing these past few days, we fear... Xinyang cannot be held."

The faces of those present darkened. Xinyang was the granary of the northwest. If it fell, the loss would extend beyond the city itself—the food supplies of the northwestern populace, even military provisions, would be threatened.

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li asked, "Given our marching speed, what is the worst-case scenario?"

Lyu Jinxian replied, "The Western Mausoleum Army could breach Xinyang and seize the entire Qingzhou, then advance toward Jiangxia Town in Hanzhou."

Ye Li arched a brow, and Lyu Jinxian explained, "Jiangxia is garrisoned by 50,000 of our men. The commanding general, Yuan Pei, is a seasoned veteran. By now, he should have already reinforced Xinyang. If Xinyang falls, he will likely retreat to Jiangxia. If we march swiftly, we should arrive in time to reinforce Jiangxia."

Ye Li nodded. This analysis aligned with what she and Feng Zhiyao had previously deduced. Rubbing her temples, she asked, "You’ve only mentioned the central army of Western Liang. What about their southern and northern routes?"

Lyu Jinxian answered, "The southern and northern routes each have at least 150,000 troops, attacking Jiayi Pass in the south and Tianyun Pass in the north. Though the border generals are resisting fiercely, the situation is far from optimistic."

"Who commands the southern and northern routes?"Lyu Jinxian shook his head, and Sun Yan reported, "Your Highness, the southern route is reportedly led by Zhennan Wang Shizi, Lei Tengfeng. This man was taught by Zhennan Wang from a young age and showed remarkable talent when he first entered the battlefield against Northern Rong at the age of nineteen. He is truly not to be underestimated. The northern route is commanded by Western Liang's veteran general Shangguan Yi. While he has no particularly outstanding achievements and is already over sixty, he was the military strategy teacher of Prince Zhennan of Xiling." Ye Li nodded, pondered for a long while, then finally looked up and said, "You've all worked hard today. We set off early tomorrow morning, so please rest for now."

The officers rose to bid Ye Li farewell and left the tent. Only Feng Zhiyao, Zhuo Jing, and Xu Qingze remained. Feng Zhiyao smiled at Ye Li's furrowed brow and teased, "Western Liang is coming in full force—is Your Highness feeling the pressure?" Ye Li sighed wryly, "How could I not?" She was no peerless genius, and frankly, she lacked experience in large-scale warfare. When it came to small-unit special operations, she was confident enough to stand above the rest, but in matters of troop deployment and grand strategy, even with Mo Xiuyao's guidance, she couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy.

Feng Zhiyao said, "It's certain that Western Liang has mobilized at least six hundred thousand troops this time. With such numbers and the reputation of Prince Zhennan of Xiling as the God of War, even seasoned generals would be worried, let alone Your Highness." Though Prince Zhennan of Xiling had once been defeated by the late Regent of Chu, Mo Liufang, Mo Liufang was dead, and he was still alive.

"A Li, you're doing well," Xu Qingze said calmly, his usually indifferent eyes carrying a faint warmth.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Second Brother, don't praise me. I may look composed on the surface, but inside, I'm a mess."

Xu Qingze replied, "Don't stress too much. Just do what you can. If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."

Ye Li nodded. "Thank you, Second Brother."

Meanwhile, far in Northern Rong, Mo Xiuyao's heart was cold. Gazing at the moon in the sky, he couldn't help but recall the past year. After the incident, he had never imagined his life could still hold such contentment and joy. From being as close as family and friends to working hand in hand, and then to deep affection—somehow, A Li's every smile and frown had etched themselves into his heart, impossible to erase in this lifetime.

"Your Highness," a shadow guard appeared silently behind him.

"Any news?"

The shadow guard reported, "We've identified the masterminds behind the assassination attempt on Her Highness. Also, since Western Liang's invasion, the Emperor has repeatedly summoned Her Highness to the palace, seemingly trying to seize control of the Mo Family Army from her. However, he has not succeeded."

A dark tide surged in Mo Xiuyao's eyes. He sneered, "He will never learn to distinguish priorities. Inform Ronghua Princess that no matter what, we must depart by tomorrow."

The shadow guard hesitated. "Ronghua Princess may not have that much influence over Yelv Hong."

Mo Xiuyao said coolly, "If Yelv Hong wants to defeat Yelv Ye, he knows what to do. Make the preparations. We leave tomorrow."

The shadow guard bowed. "Understood!"Dismissing the guards, Mo Xiuyao raised his head to gaze at the bright moon overhead, his expression gradually softening. "A Li... Xiu Yao always ends up making you suffer... One day... one day I will lay all the finest things in this world at your feet. As for those who wish to harm you... this prince will never let them go!"

Originally, upon receiving news of Western Liang's border incursion, Mo Xiuyao should have immediately set off for the capital. However, the Northern Rong king's attitude was uncharacteristically firm, insisting that Mo Xiuyao stay for the crown prince's grand wedding—even hinting at veiled threats. Mo Xiuyao was unafraid of his threats, but if he were to leave abruptly, the Great Chu might face attacks from two nations simultaneously.

The Northern Rong king was not yet prepared to annex Great Chu, but he had no qualms about delaying Mo Xiuyao—the renowned young God of War—on Western Liang's behalf, perhaps even profiting from the situation.

So... he too deserved to die!