Mo Li

Before the second watch of the night, the group of young officers had already quietly led their troops out of the camp as instructed by Ye Li. It wasn’t that they truly respected this mysterious military advisor, but rather that if they didn’t follow Ye Li, they wouldn’t get to fight. Since that was the case, they had no choice but to obediently comply.

Whether it was due to their actual competence or General Zhang Qilan going easy on them, the young officers managed to lead their men out of the camp without a single one missing. When they stood before Ye Li, they unconsciously lifted their chins, a hint of pride in their expressions. Ye Li merely smiled faintly and nodded in satisfaction at the assembled force of over a thousand men.

“Military Advisor, what exactly are we supposed to do?” someone couldn’t help but ask.

Under the cover of night, Ye Li spread a map on the ground and crouched down, using the glow of a fire starter to point at several locations. “General Zhang is leading the charge to divert the enemy’s attention ahead. You’ll follow me up these two paths to flank the enemy from behind Jian Tian Cliff.”

Someone frowned. “If you already had a plan, why didn’t you say so earlier? We could have sent scouts to survey the route.”

Ye Li glanced at him with a faint smile. “Scout the route? Do you think General Lü’s men are wooden posts who wouldn’t notice you in broad daylight?”

“But we can’t see anything at night. How are we supposed to navigate?” Though they didn’t know the specifics, they could roughly guess the location of the so-called path from the spots Ye Li had indicated on the map. The terrain here was naturally advantageous for defense, and even in daylight, it looked treacherous—let alone at night.

Ye Li fixed her gaze on the young man who had spoken. “That’s why I said… I can’t guarantee there won’t be casualties. This is a battlefield!”

The group stiffened. Indeed, this was a battlefield. On the battlefield, even if it meant marching blindly in the dark—or even knowingly walking into certain death—they had no choice but to press forward.

Ye Li surveyed them. “If anyone doesn’t want to go, you can turn back now. You have half a quarter-hour to discuss this with your subordinates. But let me make this clear—it’s not just the climb that’s dangerous. Even if we make it to Jian Tian Cliff safely, things won’t suddenly become easy. If anyone causes trouble along the way, military law will be enforced!”

In less than half a quarter-hour, everyone returned to stand before Ye Li. Seeing that not a single person had backed out, she nodded in satisfaction and turned. “Move out!”

Though it was already the second watch, the night was far from quiet. On the nearby slopes, the two armies were locked in fierce combat. Seizing the opportunity, the group, led by Qin Feng and Ye Li, silently ascended the steep mountain path, with Wei Lin bringing up the rear.

What should have been a relatively short distance took them nearly an hour to climb. Ye Li turned to look at the young men under the moonlight—their clothes torn and disheveled, but their eyes shining with determination. She nodded inwardly in approval. Though their uniforms had been shredded by rocks, branches, and thorns, and many bore scratches on their faces, not a single one had fallen behind or made a mistake significant enough to alert the enemy. It seemed the Mo Family Army’s usual training had truly paid off.Since the entire mountain was occupied by enemy troops, their group of over a thousand soldiers was no small number, so they proceeded with even greater caution after ascending. Avoiding enemy patrols along the way, they finally reached their destination by the fifth watch. Just as they arrived and before Ye Li could order them to rest, several shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, startling everyone and prompting them to grip their weapons in full alert.

"Don't be nervous, we're on your side," one of the figures waved and laughed. The fifth watch was the darkest hour before dawn, making it impossible to discern the newcomers' faces, so the group remained wary. Ye Li said calmly, "Feng San." Feng Zhiyao slowly approached, grinning, "I didn't think you'd actually make it here. I was starting to think we'd have to do this ourselves." As he drew closer, everyone recognized him—who else could it be but Feng Zhiyao?

"General Feng, why are you here?"

Feng Zhiyao chuckled, "I've been here all along, waiting for you. Young Master Chu, tough journey?" Ye Li shot him a glare and asked, "What's the situation?"

Feng Zhiyao replied, "Lyu Jinxian plans to defend Jiantian Cliff to the death. He currently has about thirty thousand troops, with no more than two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry." Jiantian Cliff's treacherous terrain made it unsuitable for the Black Cloud Cavalry to maneuver effectively, so keeping too many here would be wasteful. Feng Zhiyao glanced at the troops behind Ye Li and frowned, "Why so few?"

Ye Li said, "Do you think bringing men up here is easy? This is the maximum we could manage. If we delayed until dawn, we'd definitely be spotted. Even with some camouflage, the enemy might still notice traces of our ascent by daylight." With a group of new recruits, their concealment efforts along the way couldn't have been flawless. If the enemy patrols were sharp-eyed, they'd likely detect signs of a large group passing through.

Feng Zhiyao knew he was asking too much. He looked at Ye Li and asked, "I only have three thousand men here. What do we do now?"

Ye Li smiled, "Simple. Take advantage of the darkness to set a fire behind them. If General Zhang seizes the opportunity, he should be able to charge up."

Feng Zhiyao nodded, "Let's do it." Ye Li turned and scanned the troops behind her, ordering, "Rest here for half an hour, then we move out."

A young officer behind her protested, "Strategist, we're not tired. We can attack now!"

Ye Li gave him a cool glance, "Who cares if you're tired? General Zhang and his men still have a battle ahead. We'll strike just before dawn, create chaos, and withdraw before full daylight." The young officer flushed in embarrassment and awkwardly sat down to rest.

Feng Zhiyao stood to the side, amusedly watching the group of youngsters behind Ye Li, teasing, "Seems even Young Master Chu has trouble winning everyone over?" His experienced eyes could tell these young officers weren't entirely convinced by Ye Li's authority. Ye Li couldn't even be bothered to roll her eyes. She walked to a large tree, sat down, and leaned against it to rest. "Not everyone can command instant awe and submission. Sorry to disappoint you, Third Master Feng."

Sensing Ye Li's less-than-cheerful mood, Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and wisely turned away to find a spot to close his eyes and rest.In the temporary tent outside Jiantian Cliff, Lyu Jinxian sat in a chair with his eyes closed, resting. The generals beside him wore expressions of indignation. "These nightly ambushes—do they even let anyone sleep?"

Not only were Zhang Qilan's subordinates feeling stifled these past few days, but Lyu Jinxian's side wasn't having it easy either. Holding the high ground gave them a significant advantage—the Eastern Army had to sacrifice at least five or six men to wound one of theirs, and Zhang Qilan certainly wouldn't risk a decisive battle here. The days were manageable, but once night fell, the enemy would start their relentless harassment. In the darkness, it was easy for them to sneak close unnoticed, forcing the stationed soldiers to remain on high alert. After all, no one could tell whether each attack was merely a probe or a full-scale assault. After several days, both sides had grown increasingly agitated.

"General, a letter from Wang Ye, delivered by fast horse," a soldier reported from outside the tent.

Lyu Jinxian opened his eyes and swept a glance over the grumbling crowd before saying gravely, "Enter."

A soldier entered and presented a letter with both hands. After reading it, Lyu Jinxian slowly furrowed his brows.

Seeing their commander's change in expression, the others quickly asked, "General, what orders does Wang Ye have?"

Lyu Jinxian handed the letter to a deputy general beside him. The deputy, after reading it, was momentarily stunned and looked at Lyu Jinxian in confusion. "Wang Ye warns you to be cautious of Wang Fei?"

The letter was passed around, and Lyu Jinxian frowned. "Now that you mention it, Wang Fei hasn't made a single appearance in the camp these past few days." At the mention of Wang Fei, even these battle-hardened generals showed respect. It wasn't just because of her exceptional military acumen, uncommon for a woman, but also because of the many contributions she had made to the Mo Family Army over the years—whether in promotions, soldiers' pay, arrangements for the wounded, or even effective military reforms. In their eyes, Princess Ding was far from an ordinary royal consort; she was one of the true leaders of the Mo Family Army.

The fact that Wang Ye had gone out of his way to send a warning only deepened their regard for Princess Ding. But now... they had no idea what she was up to. It was only then that Lyu Jinxian realized he had overlooked a crucial figure. Not that he believed Ye Li was a better strategist than Zhang Qilan—after all, he and Zhang Qilan had worked together for over a decade and understood each other well. But Princess Ding was an enigma to them. Their only knowledge of her came from the battle years ago where she had defeated Zhennan Wang. That alone was enough to earn any general's admiration. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated." For some reason, Lyu Jinxian felt an inexplicable unease creeping in.

Just as he lowered his head in thought, the distant clamor of weapons and battle cries reached them. Soon, a soldier rushed in to report, "General, the enemy is launching another ambush."

"Drive them back! Remind the frontlines not to let their guard down." Lyu Jinxian slammed the letter onto the table and strode out of the tent.Not far from the distant Jian Tian Cliff, Ye Li stood high above, gazing down at the faint flicker of flames in the distance and the still tranquil Jian Tian Cliff behind her. A faint smile curled at her lips as she said in a deep voice, "Begin."

"Yes."

Before long, flames soared into the sky over Jian Tian Cliff. The once peaceful place gradually erupted into chaos.

"General, look!" Lyu Jinxian, who had just stepped out of his tent, turned to see the towering flames rising from Jian Tian Cliff. His heart sank. He thought he knew where Princess Ding had gone.

"General, it's Jian Tian Cliff... Are we under attack?!"

"Damn it, how did they get around there?!" The camp buzzed with noise before the battle. Lyu Jinxian frowned and said sternly, "Silence! The deputy will hold this position. I will lead troops back to reinforce." Uncertain of the enemy's numbers at Jian Tian Cliff, Lyu Jinxian dared not take risks and decided to personally lead reinforcements. Of his thirty thousand troops, only six or seven thousand remained at Jian Tian Cliff. If it fell, their defense here would be meaningless. No one dared argue further, quickly acknowledging orders and mobilizing their forces.

At the foot of the slope, Zhang Qilan also saw the distant flames—though not from Jian Tian Cliff, but a signal deliberately sent by Ye Li. A rare smile appeared on his steadfast and resolute face as he shouted, "Beat the drums!" Before dawn, the thunderous sound of drums echoed through the dark night, accompanied by battle cries as soldiers surged up the slope like a tide. Lyu Jinxian, galloping back on horseback, heard the clamor of battle behind him and smiled wryly. The prince's warning had come too late. A single misstep...

Jian Tian Cliff was now in utter chaos. Soldiers roused from sleep scrambled to counter the enemy, no match for those who had been waiting eagerly to strike. Moreover, these attackers had no intention of engaging in prolonged combat—setting fires before fleeing, fighting only when they could and retreating otherwise. The groggy defenders were left fuming but disoriented, forced to fight blindly amid the confusion.

From a high vantage point near the battlefield, the scene was clearly visible by the firelight. Feng Zhiyao stood beside Ye Li, watching the soldiers below with amusement. "These lads aren't bad. If only they could fight this fiercely in real battles."

This exercise involved not only young junior officers but also mostly new recruits who had joined the Mo Family Army in recent years. Veterans of the Mo Family Army, though not all battle-hardened, had at least seen combat before, making such drills far less critical for them than for the newcomers.

Under the firelight, some soldiers clashed with blades and spears, while others had already resorted to wrestling on the ground. Some even employed tactics like choking and ear-biting, much to the delight of the usually battlefield-dignified Third Master Feng, who couldn't help but laugh.

Ye Li observed the scene calmly. "At least this will give them some familiarity, so they won't panic when they face real battles. The first to die on the battlefield are always the new recruits."Feng Zhiyao suppressed his smile and nodded, "Wang Fei is right... General Lü has returned." A strange whistling sound pierced the night sky, causing Feng Zhiyao's expression to turn grave as he spoke solemnly. Ye Li nodded and glanced at the sky, saying, "It's getting late. Let's withdraw." Feng Zhiyao frowned, "But General Zhang's side..." Ye Li replied, "Lyu Jinxian will recall at least half his troops. If General Zhang still can't break through, there's nothing more we can do. Once General Lü's men arrive, we won't be able to escape. To the mountains." Feng Zhiyao had no choice but to acknowledge the truth in Ye Li's words. Reluctantly, he signaled the retreat.

The young officers, who had been thoroughly enjoying the battle, were forcibly recalled, restless as untamed colts.

By the time Lyu Jinxian rushed back to the main camp at Jiantian Cliff, dawn had fully broken. The once orderly camp now resembled a scene ravaged by fire and pillaged by bandits. Surveying the vast clusters of fallen soldiers gathered at the camp's center, Lyu Jinxian's already exhausted face darkened further. "Who is your commanding officer? How many men do you have?" he demanded sternly, fixing his gaze on an Eastern Army soldier chatting casually among his own troops.

The soldier blinked in surprise before promptly answering, "Reporting, General! This humble one has already fallen in battle!" Dead men tell no tales.

Lyu Jinxian's face twisted involuntarily. With a cold snort, he turned on his heel and strode away. The soldier frowned in concern, utterly bewildered—had he said something to anger General Lü?

Twenty li away, a fierce battle for position raged on the slopes. But with their numbers suddenly halved, the defending forces gradually began to falter. Meanwhile, Jiantian Cliff presented an entirely different scene. The Eastern Army launched intermittent assaults, retreating when repelled by the Western Army without stubborn persistence—only to return after resting and resume the fight. On open plains, such provocative tactics would be suicidal. But on the treacherous terrain of Jiantian Cliff, with its jagged rocks and winding paths, the difference between ten thousand and three thousand men often meant little.

By the time Lyu Jinxian fully grasped that the enemy forces—excluding those who had "fallen in battle" yet lingered in his camp freeloading—numbered fewer than four thousand, it was too late for regrets. These four thousand men tenaciously held the critical passage for external reinforcements. Tens of thousands of his troops could only watch helplessly as their comrades twenty li away were slowly annihilated.

Frustrated beyond measure, Lyu Jinxian vowed to exterminate these foes on Jiantian Cliff. Thus began an intricate battle of position on the cliffs. With the narrow passageway preventing either side from deploying their full forces, the Western Army would seize the path, only for advancing Eastern troops to ambush any reinforcements before they could leave the pass. When the Eastern Army took control, within half a shichen the Western forces would counterattack. Countless fell on both sides, yet the most peculiar aspect was this: while fighting, they employed every ruthless tactic in a life-or-death struggle.

But once officially "fallen," they became brothers again—sitting peacefully together, cheering on their still-battling comrades.The battle for control raged on until the afternoon. The small mountain pass changed hands four or five times between the two armies, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao's original force of four thousand troops had dwindled to less than two thousand, while Lyu Jinxian's side had also lost nearly three thousand soldiers. However, if Zhang Qilan couldn't break through the enemy's front by tomorrow morning, all their efforts would be in vain and they would face total annihilation. So when they saw Zhang Qilan's signal flare, Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao both heaved a long sigh of relief, while Lyu Jinxian's face darkened with frustration. With the front pass already breached, stubbornly holding this mountain crossing became meaningless. With a cold snort, Lyu Jinxian withdrew his troops back to camp with a grim expression.

Watching Lyu Jinxian's retreating figure from afar, Feng Zhiyao sat on a smooth boulder and burst into laughter.

Ye Li glanced at him from the side and asked, "What has Third Master Feng so amused?"

Feng Zhiyao sat up straight and replied, "What else? Didn't Wang Fei see Lyu Jinxian's expression? Haha... That fellow always boasts about being the Mo Family Army's top strategist after Wang Ye himself, only showing some respect to Zhang Qilan. And yet right now, General Zhang is still twenty li away. After fighting all day without even knowing who his opponent was, do you think he'd look pleased?"

Ye Li shook her head helplessly. "This was pure luck. If General Zhang had been delayed by a few more hours, Third Master Feng, you and I might have ended up as General Lü's prisoners by now."

Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and complained, "Why didn't Wang Fei deploy the Qilin unit?"

Ye Li smiled at him. "This is a military exercise. Using cheat codes in an exercise would make it no different from theater acting."

Cheat codes? What's that?