With the assistance of Xiuting Mr., the situation in Bian City was far better than they had imagined. After all, in these turbulent times, Bian City was not the only place embroiled in war. Ordinary people would not easily choose to leave their homeland unless driven to desperation. Although Chen Xiufu was not as renowned as Mr. Qingyun, he at least held considerable prestige in Bian City. While some whispered criticisms arose over his submission to Prince Ding's Estate, many citizens, upon seeing the notices he personally penned, chose to return to Bian City.
Ordinary people were relatively easy to placate. Longyang's actions on the city walls of Bian City had given the Mo Family Army a sufficient and easily understandable justification for Mo Xiuyao's previous conduct. Though the citizens were still shaken and somewhat fearful of the Mo Family Army, in the end... the army had not killed a single innocent civilian, had they? The Mo Family Army’s long-standing reputation over generations likely played no small role in this.
After two days spent settling Bian City’s important affairs—including the grand burial of Longyang and Zhu Yan with the honors befitting generals—the wary citizens began to regard the Mo Family Army with greater goodwill. Once these matters were resolved, the army prepared to continue its campaign. Though they trusted Lyu Jinxian to hold Zhennan Wang at bay, preventing his swift return to reinforce his forces, it was still best to conclude the war quickly. Mo Xiuyao left a small contingent of troops and a temporary governor in Bian City, setting out again with the main force on the third morning. Within days, the northwest would naturally send someone to take over Bian City. They couldn’t afford to leave large garrisons along their route, especially since the Mo Family Army’s expeditionary force was already limited in numbers.
Shortly after departing Bian City, Mo Xiuyao received battle reports from Great Chu. To the north, Leng Huai was struggling to hold Zijing Pass against the invading northern forces, while the Northern Rong army from the true north had finally breached Great Chu’s borders. Countless nomadic cavalry poured into the frontier, burning, killing, and pillaging, leaving the people in misery. Meanwhile, a flood of Great Chu refugees surged into the northwest, and Northern Rong scouts frequently appeared near Flying Goose Pass. Though they showed no immediate hostility toward the Mo Family Army, Xu Qingchen had no choice but to remain vigilant.
Yet, within Great Chu’s court, unity remained elusive. The power struggles and political infighting had grown even fiercer than before. As the regent, Mo Jingli did not fully commit his efforts to the war. Instead, he secretly prepared to abandon Chu Jing and retreat to the south if enemy forces advanced too close to the capital.
After reading the newly arrived letter, Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened. He threw the letter onto the table and said coldly, "That fool Mo Jingli!"Seated beside him, Ye Li picked up the letter and glanced over it, smiling faintly. "The Northern Rong and Western Liang at the northern border are both fierce and skilled in warfare. With the combined forces of three nations pressing in, it's no wonder Mo Jingli is already talking retreat before even suffering defeat. Leng Haoyu and the others are likely barely holding on."
Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li to sit beside him, nuzzling against her dark hair as he murmured, "Leng Huai has managed to hold out this long—at least he hasn’t disgraced the reputation he built over half his life. If not for the interference of Northern Rong and Western Liang, and if the Great Chu court had united in support, the outcome might still be uncertain. But alas… fortune is unkind. This is no fault of strategy."
"Does Lei Zhenting truly have no intention of withdrawing his troops from Great Chu?" Ye Li frowned as she scanned the letter.
Mo Xiuyao let out a soft scoff. "With Lü Songxian’s four hundred thousand troops blocking the front, and Great Chu’s several hundred thousand watching from behind, not to mention Nanzhao eyeing them from the south—oh, and let’s not forget Murong Shen marching two hundred thousand northward. Even if Lei Zhenting wanted to retreat, he can’t. If he turns back only to be cut off by Lü Jinxian while Murong Shen catches up from behind, joining forces with Great Chu to encircle him on three sides… the Western Liang’s God of War might very well face total annihilation once again. Most importantly, even if he breaks through Lü Songxian’s defenses and pursues, how many troops would he have left? And then there’s the threat from Nanzhao and the minor kingdoms of the Western Regions. By then… he’d have nothing left."
Ye Li furrowed her brows in thought before asking, "Then, what do you think he’ll do?"
Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples, pondering for a moment. "If he can’t retreat… then he can only advance. If he beats Murong Shen and Mo Jingli to seize Jiangnan… tsk, that would indeed be troublesome." Ye Li had to admit that if Lei Zhenting took Jiangnan, it would be a real problem. If nothing else, the wealth and prosperity of Jiangnan far surpassed anything Western Liang could offer. Once Lei Zhenting secured it, just a few years of consolidation would make him the undisputed ruler of the region, freeing him from his identity as Prince Zhennan of Xiling and giving him far greater power than he currently held. If that happened, it would be hard to say whether this war had been a gain or a loss for them.
"Never mind. Even if it’s a loss, it’s Mo Jingli and Great Chu who’ll pay the price. Western Liang is a territory we must take." Mo Xiuyao’s voice was firm. The northwest had no other options—for the sake of reputation, they couldn’t strike at Great Chu, leaving Western Liang as the only viable target. It wasn’t as if the Mo Family Army could venture beyond the borders to fight the Bei Rong people for territory and become nomads, was it?
Ye Li’s delicate brows knitted together as she thought for a long while before finally smiling. "Perhaps we’re worrying over nothing. Great Chu still has a million troops, after all, and Mo Jingli isn’t foolish enough to let Lei Zhenting take his land so easily. Besides, if things truly go south, we could always have General Lü lend them another hand? Maybe we’ll even make it back in time." They had no intention of occupying all of Western Liang—even weakened, it was still a vast nation. Taking the entire territory would take at least two or three years, even under the best circumstances. As long as they captured Western Liang’s imperial capital in the shortest time possible, everything else would be much easier to handle.Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and pressed a kiss to Ye Li's forehead, saying with a chuckle, "A Li is right. Let me think... Leng Huai's situation is beyond saving now. Have Leng Haoyu return to the northwest." Of course, they would also bring back a renowned general for them. Although Leng Huai was advanced in years, his military prowess was certainly no less than Zhang Qilan or Lyu Jinxian's. The Mo Family Army hadn't fought a war in too many years, leaving them with hardly any seasoned generals, while the younger generation wasn't yet capable of standing on their own. This was why Mo Xiuyao had repeatedly taken command himself. As for how to make Leng Huai willingly work for the Mo Family Army—that would depend on Leng Haoyu's skills.
Setting these matters aside, Mo Xiuyao casually placed the battle report to one side and pulled Ye Li closer to study the map before them. Since Ye Li had trained the Qilin, Mo Xiuyao had to admit that their reconnaissance of terrain had improved significantly. Even the most experienced scouts in the Mo Family Army couldn't have surveyed and drawn such an accurate map with minimal errors before, let alone create a flawless battlefield sand model.
"Now, Lei Tengfeng has retreated to Fengcheng with thirty thousand battered troops. Combined with the original garrison there, their total forces shouldn't exceed a hundred and fifty thousand. It doesn't seem too difficult—let's assign Chen Yun to lead the vanguard for this battle," Mo Xiuyao said, pointing at the location on the map.
Ye Li nodded in agreement but added after some thought, "However, Fengcheng is different from Biancheng. It's a crucial hub connecting the north, south, east, and west of Western Liang. We should be wary of potential reinforcements from surrounding areas. If they encircle Chen Yun, he might not be able to handle it alone." Mo Xiuyao considered this, tilting his head slightly. "Reinforcements likely won't be substantial. Nanzhao has already mobilized its troops, and after news of Longyang's death spreads, the Western Regions will also grow restless. Even if they want to send aid, they probably lack the means. Besides... I don’t believe the Xiling Emperor truly wants Lei Tengfeng to survive..."
"The Xiling Emperor?" A thought flashed through Ye Li's mind. "With Lei Zhenting leading troops abroad and Lei Tengfeng now trapped in Fengcheng, this is indeed the Xiling Emperor's opportunity..." Though the Xiling Emperor was known to be weak and incompetent, such a ruler had managed to stay on the throne for over twenty years without being replaced by Lei Zhenting—he must have some capability. While the current situation was highly unfavorable for Western Liang, if the Xiling Emperor wanted to eliminate Zhennan Wang's estate, this was the perfect chance.
"Did you send someone to the Xiling Emperor?" Ye Li asked softly, looking up.
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Fourth Young Master Xu." Among the five sons of the Xu Family, aside from the prodigious Xu Qingchen, the most socially adept and suited for diplomacy was the fourth son, Xu Qingbai. Most importantly, many—including Lei Zhenting—still believed Xu Qingbai was farming in the northwest. Who would have guessed he had secretly traveled to the Western Mausoleum Imperial City to cut off Lei Tengfeng's retreat?
"Isn't that too dangerous?" Ye Li frowned with concern. Their entire plan hinged on the Xiling Emperor being willing to destroy Zhennan Wang's estate at all costs. If the emperor retained his rationality or simply refused, Xu Qingbai would be in grave danger.
Mo Xiuyao toyed with Ye Li's slender hand and reassured her softly, "Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for someone to protect him in secret. Nothing will go wrong."
Ye Li was surprised by his confidence. "Who?""Ling Tiehan, along with a team of Qilin," Mo Xiuyao said with a smile. "Besides, even if the Xiling Emperor were to turn hostile and detain Xu Qingbai, given the current circumstances, he wouldn’t dare kill him. At most, he’d use him as leverage to negotiate with us. Naturally, I’d find a way to bring him back. A Li, I’ve told you—anyone you care about, I’ll protect. I won’t let him take unnecessary risks."
Hearing this, Ye Li’s heart softened, and she gently leaned into Mo Xiuyao’s embrace. To have Ling Tiehan protect Xu Qingbai, Mo Xiuyao must have paid some price—this alone showed his sincerity. Moreover, Xu Qingbai was a grown man with his own ambitions and aspirations. Ye Li couldn’t shield him from everything for the sake of his safety. If he hadn’t been willing to go, Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t have forced him. What irked her was that she had been completely unaware of this arrangement.
"Wang Ye is truly far-sighted… You’ve made so many arrangements without a word?" Ye Li murmured against his chest with a light laugh. After years of marriage, Mo Xiuyao could tell from her tone alone that she was displeased. He chuckled softly, tightening his arms around her. "A Li, don’t you dislike these matters? Isn’t it better to leave what you don’t like to me? Besides, this was decided before the campaign. If you’d known back then, wouldn’t it have put you in an awkward position with Madam Xu?"
"Wang Ye is so considerate. Should I thank you?" Ye Li lifted her head, smiling playfully at him.
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Of course, I’m the most understanding husband. Have you ever met anyone better than me?"
Ye Li rolled her eyes. "A good man? Is there anyone in this world with a darker heart than yours? I should be careful not to be deceived by you one day."
Mo Xiuyao laughed heartily. "If my dear wife can see through my dark schemes, then you’re not so innocent either. Aren’t we a perfect match? I would never deceive you, A Li."
Outside the tent, Feng Zhiyao stood hesitating, unsure whether to interrupt. Who knew what sweet nothings the prince was whispering to his consort? A perfect match? Wang Ye, your shamelessness knows no bounds!
"Feng San, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you going in?" Zhang Qilan, who had caught up, frowned at Feng Zhiyao lingering at the entrance.
Feng Zhiyao coughed lightly and shot Zhang Qilan an annoyed glance before announcing loudly, "Wang Ye, this subordinate requests an audience." Zhang Qilan rubbed his nose in confusion—what had he done to deserve that glare?
"Enter," came Mo Xiuyao’s calm voice from inside the tent.
Upon entering, Feng Zhiyao found both the prince and princess composedly watching him. His earlier awkwardness now seemed misplaced—he really needed to get a grip. Mentally scolding himself, Feng Zhiyao straightened. Ye Li smiled warmly. "Feng San, General Zhang, what brings you here?"Zhang Qilan gave Feng Zhiyao a strange look before reporting loudly, "Reporting to Wang Fei, we are less than twenty li from Feng City. This subordinate requests permission to lead the vanguard." Ye Li smiled and said, "General, your timing is perfect. Wang Ye and I were just discussing this. Let Chen Yun lead the vanguard instead. They are young and lack experience, so this minor task isn't worth your personal involvement." Zhang Qilan, being straightforward and not one to compete for credit, found her reasoning sound and nodded, "In that case, this subordinate will naturally comply."
Mo Xiuyao added, "The terrain around Feng City is complex, and Chen Yun and the others are still young. You should oversee them from behind to prevent them from falling into an ambush and suffering unnecessary losses."
Zhang Qilan nodded solemnly, "Wang Ye need not worry. This subordinate understands." Mo Xiuyao nodded in return, then glanced at Feng Zhiyao beside him. Zhang Qilan had come to request battle—what was Feng Zhiyao here for?
Feng Zhiyao had also come to request battle, but he had been momentarily stunned by the conversation he had overheard from Mo Xiuyao, causing him to hesitate and let Zhang Qilan speak first. Now that Mo Xiuyao had denied Zhang Qilan's request, there was nothing left for him to say. To avoid Mo Xiuyao settling scores later, he quickly followed Zhang Qilan out.
On the border between Da Chu and Western Liang, the two armies were locked in a stalemate. Over the past century, such standoffs between the two nations' armies were not uncommon. But this time was entirely different. The Mo Family Army, which should have been defending Da Chu, now stood on Western Liang's border, while the Western Mausoleum Army, once eyeing Da Chu covetously, stood on Da Chu's soil, desperate to break through the Mo Family Army's defenses and return to Western Liang. However, neither the Mo Family Army nor Lyu Jinxian were pushovers. Even though Prince Zhennan of Xiling was renowned throughout the world, breaking through a blockade of 400,000 troops was no easy feat, especially since Lyu Jinxian had made it clear his goal was defense, not annihilation. Nearly half a month had passed, and the Western Mausoleum Army had yet to push the Mo Family Army's defensive line back even a single li. Meanwhile, Murong Shen's 200,000 troops, advancing north from the south, were drawing closer day by day.
"Wang Ye, a battle report from Western Liang," a soldier hurried into the tent, presenting a letter with both hands before withdrawing.
Prince Zhennan opened the letter, and his face, which had been gloomy for over half a month, darkened further, as if about to drip with fury. The officers gathered in the tent quickly asked, "Wang Ye, what has happened in Western Liang?" Prince Zhennan frowned and replied calmly, "Zhu Yan and Longyang have fallen in battle. Teng Feng is trapped in Feng City."
The room erupted in shock. Zhu Yan and Longyang were no ordinary men. Before Lei Zhenting, they were Western Liang's most famous generals, and their era represented the peak of the Western Mausoleum Army's strength. Even Lei Zhenting, known as the God of War of Western Liang, had to admit that after losing Zhu Yan and the others, the Western Mausoleum Army's combat effectiveness had declined. After all, no matter how formidable Lei Zhenting was, he was only one man, tasked not only with leading the Western Mausoleum Army but also managing political affairs. No one could excel at everything.
And now, in less than a month, Western Liang had lost four or five cities and even two of its most celebrated generals. Just how formidable were the Mo Family Army—or rather, Mo Xiuyao?"How is this possible? Mo Xiuyao took Bian City in less than ten days?" someone exclaimed in shock.
Lei Zhenting said solemnly, "To be precise, six days. In six days, he not only captured Bian City but also annihilated the over 100,000 troops Zhu Yan had hidden near the city." Although Lei Zhenting was equally furious that Zhu Yan had secretly amassed such a large force, now that Zhu Yan was dead and the Pacification Army had been completely wiped out, dwelling on it was pointless.
Hearing this, everyone present gasped in astonishment.
"Wang Ye, what should we do now? The young master..." Other matters aside, the fact that Lei Tengfeng was trapped in Feng City was a major problem. Should they rescue him? If so, who would go and how? If not, Zhennan Wang had only one son—how could they not save him?
Lei Zhenting took a deep breath and said firmly, "Dispatch the Gold-Clad Guards immediately. No matter what, they must bring Teng Feng out of Feng City!"
"Wang Ye, what about Feng City...?" a general asked cautiously. Lei Zhenting lowered his gaze, his fists clenched tightly beneath the table. He said grimly, "We can't worry about that now. At dawn tomorrow, we turn our forces south!"
"Wang Ye! What about Western Liang...?" After all, they were still Western Liang's generals. It was impossible for them to remain indifferent knowing Western Liang might fall to the Mo Family Army. Their expressions were conflicted as they looked at Lei Zhenting. Lei Zhenting frowned and said gravely, "We've fallen into Mo Xiuyao's trap. Logically and emotionally, Mo Xiuyao couldn't act against Great Chu, so he lured us into attacking Great Chu while he seized the opportunity to strike Western Liang. There's no turning back for us now. If we get bogged down fighting Lyu Jinxian's forces for too long, Murong Shen and the Great Chu army behind us will close in, surrounding us from three sides. By then, how many of us would even make it back to Western Liang?"
The faces of those present darkened. "Wang Ye, what should we do then?"
Lei Zhenting said calmly, "Since we can't retreat, then... we must advance. We'll march south and conquer Great Chu's southern territories. Now that Murong Shen is heading north, we'll move south and avoid him. At worst, we'll hold the Cloud Ripple River and divide Great Chu along the river. For the foreseeable future... Great Chu won't have the strength to challenge us in the south—they'll be too busy with the northern borders and the Northern Rong. As for Western Liang, Mo Xiuyao won't be able to occupy all its lands in such a short time. At most... he'll stop after reaching the capital. By then, we can still coordinate with Western Liang from afar. If... Teng Feng can stabilize the situation there..."
The room fell silent. No one dared to ask what would happen if the young master failed to control the situation.
At the very least, Lei Zhenting had given them a seemingly viable path forward. Occupying Great Chu's prosperous southern lands—the fertile region they had dreamed of for generations—was the very reason they had clashed with Great Chu for centuries. Why should Great Chu enjoy such wealth and abundance while they were left to endure the harsh winds and dust of the northwest?
After exchanging glances and murmuring among themselves, the group finally declared in unison, "We shall obey Wang Ye's command."Lei Zhenting nodded in satisfaction. Although he had inadvertently fallen into Mo Xiuyao's trap this time, he knew in his heart that even if given another chance, he would still choose to do the same. With Mo Xiuyao and the Mo Family Army stationed in the northwest, breaking the existing stalemate required taking risks. Moreover, the lands of Western Liang were far too barren compared to those of Great Chu.
"Now, Deputy General, I grant you command of three hundred thousand troops. March north and join forces with Northern Rong to attack Flying Goose Pass! The rest will follow me south!" After organizing his thoughts, Lei Zhenting swiftly issued his orders.
The deputy general was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion, "Wang Ye, isn’t provoking Prince Ding’s Estate at this time a bit..."
Lei Zhenting snorted lightly and said, "No need to worry. There’s no need to actually breach Flying Goose Pass—just make a show of a fierce assault. Once I lead the troops south, ensure Lyu Jinxian has no opportunity to cause trouble for me!" Only then did the deputy general grasp Lei Zhenting’s intent and couldn’t help but ask, "If we attack Flying Goose Pass, will Lyu Jinxian withdraw his forces to reinforce it? If so, could we break through the Mo Family Army’s blockade and return to reinforce Western Liang?"
Lei Zhenting shook his head. "Lyu Jinxian isn’t that foolish. If we try to return to Western Liang, he’ll stop at nothing to obstruct us. But if we head south... in his eyes, the northwest is far more important than the Jiangnan region controlled by Mo Jingli."
The deputy general bowed in submission. "Wang Ye is wise. This general’s considerations were lacking. I shall obey your command."
Lei Zhenting nodded and said, "Go ahead, but be careful not to act rashly. This prince has already sent someone to contact the commanding general of Northern Rong. We should receive news soon. Once Northern Rong and the Mo Family Army in the northwest engage in battle, you can act according to the situation."
"Understood, my lord."
After dismissing the generals, Lei Zhenting gazed absentmindedly toward the northwest. After a long while, he sneered and muttered, "Mo Xiuyao, you've won half a step this time. But once this prince takes control of Jiangnan..."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Mo Jingli is about to have some bad luck. If I were him, I wouldn’t go to the capital to fight for titles like Regent or Emperor. Staying in the wealthy Jiangnan region, far from the emperor’s reach, would be much better. Once his forces are strong enough, he could crush them all one by one.
Oops… seems like that’s what I wrote. Prince Li, my apologies…
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