Mo Li

Late Night

In the commander's tent of a certain Mo Family Army camp, the candlelight still burned quietly. Mo Xiuyao sat behind the desk, reviewing the reports in his hand, his refined brows occasionally furrowing slightly. Mo Jingqi's determination to destroy the Mo Family Army was indeed not to be underestimated. These days, the 500,000-strong Mo Family Army faced over 800,000 enemies on the surface alone, not to mention those lurking in the shadows—conservatively estimated at around a million. Though Mo Xiuyao was truly a genius in warfare, such circumstances still weighed heavily on him. Not only did he have to divide his forces to counter the armies from Nanzhao, Western Liang, and Prince Li, but he also had to remain vigilant against Mo Jingqi's schemes behind his back. In less than a month, Mo Xiuyao had grown even thinner than during his previous illness.

"Your Highness." A Jin, unseen for a long time, appeared at the entrance, his young face as taciturn as ever.

Mo Xiuyao looked up and asked, "Has the battle report from the northwest arrived?" A Jin nodded and handed over the freshly delivered report. No matter how late it was, the prince always insisted on reviewing the northwestern battle reports before resting. Knowing this well, A Jin had grown accustomed to delivering the reports to him as soon as they arrived. Mo Xiuyao took the report, glanced at it, and frowned. The mention of the Mo Family Army retreating all the way to Hongzhou in the report made his brows knit tightly. This was unlike the Mo Family Army's usual tactics, and the Western Mausoleum Army was far from formidable enough to force such a rapid retreat. Seeing the casualty numbers on the report, Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples. "Was this A Li's idea? A Li, what are you thinking?" After a moment of contemplation, he looked up and said, "Bring me all the battle reports from the past few days, and the map!"

A Jin was startled by the sudden change in his prince's expression as he stood abruptly. He quickly acknowledged the order and hurried off to fetch the requested items.

A Jin worked swiftly, and soon the map and reports were laid out before Mo Xiuyao. He carefully examined each report, pondering every word, occasionally glancing at the map before finally falling into deep thought.

"Your Highness?" A Jin called out worriedly, noticing the prince's troubled expression.

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, his face tinged with bitterness and helplessness. "A Li..." As he looked at the map marked with countless annotations, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He understood Ye Li's strategy and her intentions. But it was precisely this understanding that pained him deeply. His beloved wife, his A Li—who should have been the envied and pampered Princess of the State—was now far away in the desolate northwest, commanding thousands of troops amidst bloodshed and turmoil. All of this... was because of his own inadequacies. "Cutting off the Western Mausoleum Army's connection to their border garrisons and annihilating all 200,000 of them... A Li, A Li..." His heart suddenly felt as though it had been wrenched, the pain so sharp it nearly stole his breath. After barely calming the storm in his chest, a thought struck him. While A Li's plan might be sound, Prince Zhennan of Xiling was no ordinary man. What if he saw through her scheme...?Standing up abruptly, Mo Xiuyao said in a deep voice, "Prepare my horse. I need to go out for a while. The army will be temporarily under the command of the generals!"

A Jin was taken aback, looking at Mo Xiuyao with confusion. It was already the third watch of the night—why would the prince suddenly decide to go out? Glancing at the open files and maps on the table, perhaps something had happened to the princess? A Jin did not immediately obey the order and instead said solemnly, "Your Highness, the full moon is almost upon us. If something happens to you on the way... Moreover, with the urgency of the war, your sudden departure might not be appropriate..." Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, also realizing that today was already the thirteenth day of the tenth month, and there was no way he could reach Hongzhou within two days. The military affairs also required his attention... After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao quickly regained his composure and said, "Tomorrow morning, summon all generals of rank and above to see me. Also, notify Mo Hua to immediately take men to the northwest to ensure the princess's safety. If necessary... spare no effort to remove her from the battlefield. Set off at once!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" A Jin responded and left.

Mo Xiuyao slumped weakly back into his chair, murmuring softly, "A Li... you must stay safe..."

The war in the northwest, as if suppressed for too long, finally erupted in an instant. After entering Hongzhou, Zhennan Wang quickly noticed that the Mo Family Army's attacks were growing fiercer with each assault, and their own advance was slowing down. Gazing at the distant silhouette of Hongzhou City, Zhennan Wang's gloomy expression never brightened. He knew he had fallen into Ye Li's trap, lured deep into the northwest. But so what? Even if the Western Mausoleum Army suffered heavy losses, the Mo Family Army couldn't be faring much better. He absolutely refused to believe that, with equal forces, he could lose to a woman. Moreover, time did not permit him to halt and wait for reinforcements from the Western Liang border. He had to capture Hongzhou City as quickly as possible, control the entire northwest to pave the way for the incoming reinforcements, and also prepare for entering the Great Chu territory.

"Your Highness, the main force of the Mo Family Army has retreated into Hongzhou City, likely preparing for a last stand."

Zhennan Wang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I thought Ye Li had some brilliant strategy. A last stand in Hongzhou... Can she hold out for ten days or half a month? Once our eastern expeditionary force arrives, how long can she possibly defend a mere Hongzhou City?" A subordinate general advised, "Your Highness must not underestimate her. Ye Li once held Yonglin with only twenty thousand troops at Snowbreak Pass—she is not to be taken lightly." Zhennan Wang's smile faded as he replied calmly, "I naturally won't underestimate Ye Li. Take Hongzhou City at the fastest possible speed!" Of course, he wouldn't underestimate her—that was why he would use his full strength to break Hongzhou. Complacency was not a mistake a man of his age was prone to make. Thinking of that seemingly gentle and elegant woman, he couldn't help but wonder: when he finally breached Hongzhou and stood before her, would she still maintain that same composure?On the thirteenth day of October, the Western Mausoleum Army finally arrived at the city walls, launching an unprecedented fierce attack on Hongzhou City. Yet, they encountered equally unprecedented resistance. From the battlements, arrows from the Black Cloud Cavalry rained down like a storm upon the invaders below, while the enemy soldiers advanced relentlessly, undeterred by death. Zhennan Wang sat astride his horse at the rear of his army, faintly discerning a woman in green robes seated serenely at the highest point of Hongzhou’s city tower, calmly observing the carnage below. Behind her stood several tall, upright men with their hands clasped behind their backs, also watching the battle unfold. Even from a distance, Zhennan Wang recognized the striking figure in red among them—Feng Zhiyao, Prince Ding’s trusted confidant. Seeing his opponent so leisurely seated upon the high platform, Zhennan Wang’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. He laughed in cold fury, "What a fine Princess of the State!"

Upon the platform, Ye Li also gazed into the distance, her eyes fixed on a certain point behind the Western Mausoleum Army. Turning to Feng Zhiyao, she smiled and said, "Feng San, isn’t this our first time facing Zhennan Wang head-on?" Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes in boredom. "Indeed. Before this, it was all schemes and retreats. If we keep fighting like this, people might start thinking the Mo Family Army only knows how to retreat." Listening to his grumbling, Ye Li chuckled lightly. "In that case, we ought to celebrate properly..." With that, she turned and took a pipa from Qin Feng behind her. Her fingers lightly brushed the strings, producing a crisp, clear note. A faint smile touched her lips as her fingers danced nimbly across the pipa, the melody swelling from soft to grand, gradually filling the battlefield.

The soldiers embroiled in battle had no time to appreciate the majestic music—on the battlefield, even a moment’s distraction could cost them their lives. Yet the haunting yet stirring notes reached every soldier’s ears. The warriors of the Mo Family Army seemed to recall the glorious days of old, as if witnessing the valor and dominance of past generations of King Ding leading them into battle.

"Drive out the invaders! Revive the spirit of the Mo Family Army!" someone shouted, and the battlefield erupted with bloodthirsty roars. "Kill!"

Standing beside Ye Li, Feng Zhiyao’s expression shifted slightly. "This is... King Yue's Battle Array Melody ..." Ye Li did not respond, her fingers flying across the pipa, weaving a melody both majestic and fierce. Raised under the tutelage of Xu Shi and the Xu family, how could she truly lack musical knowledge? She simply disliked it. This battle array melody was originally composed for the guqin—grand, vigorous, and elegant, carrying the ancient style. Yet Ye Li believed it was better suited for the pipa, much like Ambush from Ten Sides in her past life. Other instruments might play it, but none could match the pipa’s effect. The pipa’s fingering techniques and range were perfect for such a fierce and majestic composition. Feng Zhiyao clearly didn’t expect an answer, murmuring instead, " King Yue's Battle Array Melody has been lost for over two hundred years. Only the Xu family would still possess such an ancient score."On the battlefield, it is said that when two armies meet, the brave one prevails. As the Mo Family Army soldiers were brimming with murderous intent due to their princess, the morale of the Western Liang soldiers paled in comparison. In the distance, the banners of the Western Mausoleum Army fluttered as Zhennan Wang stared intently at the figure in green, his eyes gleaming with intensity. A general beside him whispered cautiously, "Your Highness... The Mo Family Army's momentum is at its peak. Perhaps we should... avoid their edge for now?" It had to be admitted—the Princess of the State was indeed a remarkable talent. With just a few notes from her pipa, she had elevated the entire Mo Family Army's fighting spirit.

Zhennan Wang threw his head back and laughed heartily, pointing his horsewhip toward the highest point of the city walls. "Now this is the kind of woman worth conquering! Compared to her, all the beauties in the world are worthless! Haha... Anyone who dares retreat will be executed without mercy. This woman... I shall claim her!"

The general beside him could only murmur an acknowledgment, not daring to advise further. Zhennan Wang smirked. "I’ve heard Mo Xiuyao is a genius in military formations. But with him absent from the battlefield now, does the Mo Family Army still have anyone capable of breaking formations?" He had clearly recognized the earlier melody as King Yue's Battle Array Melody. Western Liang and Eastern Chu had shared the same roots a millennium ago, and though their cultures had diverged, many similarities remained. With a wave of his hand, war drums thundered behind him, and soldiers waved small red flags. Soon, the Western Liang army’s formation began to shift—a change that naturally did not escape the notice of Ye Li and the others watching from above.

Feng Zhiyao frowned as he observed the transformation below. "The Six Blossom Formation... No, something’s different..."

Beneath the city walls, the Western Liang soldiers swiftly arranged themselves into a massive formation—circular within, square without—and within this grand array nested countless smaller formations. The Mo Family Army, already outnumbered, now seemed like a drop of water in an ocean as they entered the enemy’s formation.

Feng Zhiyao snorted and raised his hand. A green flag unfurled atop the walls, and the Mo Family Army’s formation shifted in response—a colossal black dragon coiled across the battlefield, its domineering head formed by the elite Black Cloud Cavalry, unstoppable wherever it struck. When the dragon lashed its tail, the enemy’s formation crumbled into disarray.

From the rear of the Western Mausoleum Army, black flags rose, and the Six Blossom Formation morphed once more—this time into a giant roc, its talons swiftly tearing into the black dragon’s body, severing it in two.

"Damn it!" Feng Zhiyao cursed under his breath. The flags on the walls changed again, and the severed dragon transformed into countless black arrows, surging toward the enormous roc.

Ye Li stood and observed the battle below. In modern warfare, formations like these had long been lost to time and were no longer necessary. Thus, she was unfamiliar with them—though she had read about them in military texts, practical application was entirely new to her. Watching Feng Zhiyao command the army’s formations, she finally grasped the concept more concretely. Lowering her gaze, she began contemplating ways to break the enemy’s formation.