Mo Li

Upon hearing Ye Li's words, Feng Zhiyao and Mo Xiuyao's expressions turned somewhat peculiar. With just one glance at their faces, Ye Li knew exactly what they were thinking—most likely about wanting to see Qingchen Gongzi make a fool of himself or something similar. Unfortunately, this major battle wouldn't be concluded anytime soon, and by the time they returned from the war, Qingchen Gongzi might have already resolved all matters and won the lady's heart. These two were simply lamenting missing the chance to witness the drama of the world's number one gentleman.

Nan Hou coughed lightly, deeply feeling his age as he found himself unable to comprehend the thoughts of these youngsters. "Wang Ye, Third Master Feng, shall we continue with our earlier discussion...?" If Feng Zhiyao kept digging deeper, he might end up saying something that would leave this old man feeling inexplicably awkward.

Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose, suddenly remembering they had been discussing serious matters before Ye Li arrived. Seeing Ye Li return, Mo Xiuyao had long grown impatient with entertaining them. He pulled Ye Li to sit down, hastily issued a few instructions, and then shooed the two men out.

For the first time in his life being kicked out of a room, Nan Hou stood dumbfounded outside the study. Feng Zhiyao, however, was quite accustomed to it. He tugged at Nan Hou with a grin, "Marquis, come, come, how about joining me for a drink?" Finally snapping out of his daze, Nan Hou shook his head helplessly and followed Feng Zhiyao.

After walking a few steps, Feng Zhiyao suddenly paused hesitantly, as if he had forgotten to tell Wang Fei something.

Nan Hou turned back in confusion, "What's wrong? Weren't we going for a drink?"

"It seems there's something I forgot to tell Wang Fei," Feng Zhiyao said.

"Is it official business? Is there anything you know that Wang Ye doesn't?" Nan Hou asked. Feng Zhiyao thought it over—that was true. Mo Xiuyao would surely tell Wang Fei himself, at most... just a little later. Waving his hand, he swaggered off with Nan Hou.

Inside the study, Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li tightly into his embrace, gently nuzzling the top of her head as he murmured gloomily, "A Li, you were gone for so long this time." Ye Li chuckled helplessly, "Two months isn't that long, is it?" A round trip from the north to Jiangnan in two months was already considered fast. But she also knew it was best not to argue with Mo Xiuyao at this moment. "It's my fault. I'll come back sooner next time."

Sure enough, Mo Xiuyao sighed softly, "A day apart feels like three years. Did A Li not miss me at all?" Ye Li flushed slightly, tilting her head up to press a light kiss to the corner of his lips as she whispered, "I missed you too, alright?"

Mo Xiuyao's eyes darkened. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with intensity. Ye Li froze in surprise but was soon swept up in his fervent passion. Her eyes fluttered shut as she lost herself in the tender entanglement of their lips and tongues.

"A Li..." Mo Xiuyao murmured her name in a low voice, and the deep timbre sent shivers down Ye Li's spine, leaving her limbs weak.

"Hmm?" Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, savoring the sweetness of her rosy lips with tender devotion. "A Li...""Father! Father! Is Mother back?!" Mo Xiaobao's voice, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps, came from outside the door, followed by a series of loud knocks. The two, still immersed in their tender moment, snapped back to reality. Ye Li glanced at the door in surprise, "Why is Xiao Bao in Wei City?"

Mo Xiuyao's expression darkened as he coldly glanced toward the door, replying indifferently, "Last time Feng San went back to Li Cheng to handle some matters, he insisted on tagging along. He's not too young anymore; seeing the battlefield won’t hurt." However, this brat dared not disturb his time with A Li!

Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly and flicked his hand toward the door. The bolt inside instantly unlocked, and the door swung open. Mo Xiaobao, who had been leaning against it, nearly tumbled in headfirst. Fortunately, having started martial arts training in the past year or two, he had developed some basic skills. He managed to steady himself just in time, standing firmly at the doorway. Confused, he looked at his parents sitting inside, then at the now-open door. He had pushed so hard earlier—why did it suddenly open?

"Chen'er," Ye Li stood up, smiling at her son. After months apart, he had indeed grown taller.

"Mother!" Mo Xiaobao exclaimed joyfully, immediately rushing into the study toward Ye Li. Mo Xiuyao narrowed his eyes and tapped the desk lightly with his right hand. A wolf-hair brush on the table shot toward Mo Xiaobao like an arrow. With a yelp, Mo Xiaobao dodged nimbly and continued his charge. Mo Xiuyao flicked his fingers again, sending another brush flying. This time, Mo Xiaobao wasn’t as lucky—the brush pinned a corner of his robe to a nearby pillar. His outstretched hand was now just inches away from Ye Li.

Mo Xiaobao glanced back at his trapped robe, then at his mother so close yet so far. His large eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Mother… Father is bullying Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao missed you."

"Xiu Yao…" Ye Li looked at her son’s pitiful, outstretched hands and couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. Mo Xiuyao shot Mo Xiaobao a displeased glare before raising his hand slightly. A surge of energy pulled the embedded brush free, and it landed back in the brush holder on his desk with a soft clink. Mo Xiaobao shrank back, realizing he had chosen a bad time—Father was in a terrible mood. He cautiously sidled closer to Ye Li. "Mother…"

Ye Li reached out and ruffled Mo Xiaobao’s hair affectionately. "Xiao Bao, you’ve grown taller. Have you been behaving well lately?"

Mo Xiaobao’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously. "Xiao Bao has been very good, Mother. I’ve grown up now."

Ye Li chuckled and pinched his little nose. "Grown up? Then why are you still asking for hugs?" She shook her head at his outstretched arms. Due to her frequent absences over the past two years, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel guilty and indulgent toward him. But a child of seven or eight really shouldn’t be carried around anymore—Mo Xiuyao’s eyes were practically spitting fire.Mo Xiuyao stepped forward, grabbed Mo Xiaobao by the collar, and pulled him close, speaking indifferently, "Have you finished the tasks I assigned you?" Mo Xiaobao raised his little face proudly and said, "Of course I have." It was just an hour of horse stance, half an hour of sword practice, half an hour of riding, and twenty pages of calligraphy—such trivial matters could never stop Mo Yuchen.

Mo Xiuyao smirked coldly at the boy’s smug expression. "Good. Starting tomorrow, add another hour of archery and twenty more pages of calligraphy."

Huh? Mo Xiaobao’s face froze. He quickly calculated in his mind: one hour of horse stance, one hour of archery, sword practice, riding, and forty pages of calligraphy… It would take at least four or five hours to complete everything. He’d be exhausted!

"I was thinking… the tasks I gave you must have been too easy, which is why you’ve been so carefree. From today onward, I’ll make sure to discipline you strictly. After all… your father and mother have high expectations for you," Mo Xiuyao said leisurely.

Wuwu… Mo Xiaobao’s face crumpled pitifully as he turned pleading eyes toward Ye Li. Ye Li sighed and looked up at the ceiling, pretending not to see her son’s desperate gaze. She trusted Mo Xiuyao to know his limits. More importantly, the more she intervened, the more Mo Xiuyao would feel compelled to discipline Mo Xiaobao. Matters between father and son were best left to them.

Seeing his plea for help fail, Mo Xiaobao despaired. Now he finally understood—if his father truly lost his temper, even his mother couldn’t save him. With the most innocent expression he could muster, he gazed at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Father… I’ll work hard."

Mo Xiaobao’s puppy-dog eyes were quite lethal. Mo Xiuyao’s lips twitched imperceptibly as he silently looked up at the sky: Was this really his son? He was shameless beyond belief.

"Good boy… Study hard. Your father believes in you." Mo Xiaobao had underestimated his father’s iron will. Mo Xiuyao firmly patted his son’s shoulder, dismissing him. The pitiful act failed again. Mo Xiaobao stood stunned for a moment before finally bursting into tears and running off.

From then on, the city of Wei lost its little tyrant who once swaggered about, and in his place appeared a pitiful child who rose at dawn to train, tied his hair to the ceiling to stay awake, and stabbed his thigh with an awl to keep studying. Mo Xiaobao was clever—studying had never taken him much time. But the tasks Mo Xiuyao assigned couldn’t be solved with intelligence alone. No matter how sharp his memory or how quick his reasoning, he couldn’t turn one hour into half an hour, nor could he reduce forty pages of calligraphy to four. For this, the entire garrison rejoiced.

Of course, Mo Xiaobao did gain something from this ordeal. By the time he returned to Li Cheng, Mr. Qingyun and the Xu Family noticed that he had grown taller and healthier. Even his calligraphy, which Mr. Hongyu had once deemed barely passable, had improved significantly—enough to be considered refined.

Though the war raged fiercely at the frontlines, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in Wei City enjoyed relative leisure. As the supreme commander, Mo Xiuyao no longer needed to personally lead charges or arrange battle formations. His role was to oversee the broader strategy and coordinate troop movements—the frontline battles were left to the generals in command. His earlier presence on the battlefield had merely been a warm-up before the real war and a way to pass the time.However, even so, there was a constant stream of messages arriving daily from the frontlines. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao still spent most of their time in the study.

"Lei Zhenting personally led 700,000 troops to attack Ruichang City. He Su and Murong Shen were unable to hold them off," Ye Li read softly from a report that had just arrived by fast horse in the study. Mo Xiuyao remained calm, leaning back in his chair as he remarked indifferently, "No surprise there. He Su and Murong Shen are indeed no match for Lei Zhenting. But... for Lei Zhenting to take the field himself right from the start and commit almost the entire main force of the Western Liang Army—is he trying to force me into action?"

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Once Wang Ye goes to face Lei Zhenting, it’ll give Yelv Ye and Helian Zhen in the north a chance to catch their breath. Who would’ve thought Lei Zhenting would be willing to make such a sacrifice for someone?"

Ye Li shook her head. "This isn’t a sacrifice. If Northern Rong collapses first, Western Liang won’t stand a chance either. By tying Xiu Yao down, Lei Zhenting not only gives Northern Rong breathing room but also prolongs the conflict. In another month or two, the Great Chu’s army will arrive."

Feng Zhiyao frowned. "In that case, we should defeat Northern Rong first and then focus on the threat from the south." Otherwise, being caught between two fronts would be truly frustrating. "By the way, Wang Fei, shouldn’t we be hearing news of Mo Jingli’s ascension to the throne soon?" Feng Zhiyao asked curiously. He hadn’t expected Mo Jingli to actually succeed in claiming the throne—though the means were somewhat... questionable—but at least it fulfilled his long-cherished wish.

Ye Li nodded. "It should be soon. Once Mo Jingli is enthroned, it’ll be time for Great Chu to send its troops."

Mo Xiuyao stared at the large military and campaign map spread across the table, tapping his finger on Northern Rong. "In that case, let’s deal with Northern Rong first. It’s about time we heard from Yelv Hong, anyway."

Nan Hou frowned. "But what about General Murong’s side?"

If Ruichang City fell, the next targets would be Weicheng and Flying Goose Pass. Nan Hou couldn’t help but worry.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Then let me see just how formidable Lei Zhenting, the God of War of Western Liang, really is. Nan Hou, I’ll leave Weicheng to you. With Old General Yuan Pei guarding Flying Goose Pass, I can rest easy. Additionally, I’ll order Fu Zhao and Lyu Jinxian to lead 200,000 troops back as reinforcements."

Nan Hou was startled and said gravely, "If you recall General Lü, what will happen to the northern front?" Without Lyu Jinxian, there would be no senior general left to hold the line against Northern Rong. It was a pity that Zhang Qilan was stationed far away in Western Liang and Leng Huai was in Chu Jing, or they wouldn’t be so short on commanders. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and grinned. "I’ll go meet Helian Zhen myself!" Eighteen years ago, though Mo Xiuyao had never admitted defeat at Helian Zhen’s hands, the Mo Family Army had indeed suffered heavy losses at his hands. This was a matter that needed to be settled sooner or later.Marquis Nan stiffened slightly at the murderous aura in Mo Xiuyao's words, nodding in acknowledgment. "This general obeys your command. However... it is not out of false modesty, but I fear..." Even with so many men, they might not be able to hold back Lei Zhenting. The title of Western Liang's God of War wasn't bestowed upon Lei Zhenting for nothing. Among Prince Ding's Estate's generals, aside from Prince Ding himself, none bore the title of Invincible God of War. For ordinary men like them, victory and defeat were common in warfare. Marquis Nan, a seasoned veteran of countless battles, had tasted his share of defeats.

Mo Xiuyao tapped his finger on Flying Goose Pass and the garrison city, smiling faintly. "Three months—hold these two locations. Does Marquis Nan foresee any issues?" Marquis Nan fell silent for a moment. Prince Ding intended to subdue Northern Rong within three months?! After a long pause, Marquis Nan rose to his feet and declared firmly, "This general accepts the command. I swear to defend the garrison city with my life."

Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction. "Then I leave it to Marquis Nan."

Sure enough, within two days, news of Mo Jingli's ascension to the throne finally reached the garrison city. Upon receiving the report, Mo Xiuyao didn't even bat an eye, casually tossing the missive aside before standing and extending his hand to Ye Li. She smiled and took his hand—it was time for them to march.

When Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao set out for battle, they didn't send Mo Xiaobao back to Li Cheng. Instead, they brought him along to the army camp. It was customary for boys of the Mo Family Army to begin military training in their early teens. Though Mo Xiaobao was only seven or eight, there was no harm in letting him observe.

Mo Xiaobao was genuinely excited about his first real experience in the military camp. Unfortunately, the mountain of daily assignments Mo Xiuyao piled on him left him no time for mischief.

This time, Mo Xiuyao also abandoned his previous leisurely stalemate with Northern Rong. Tens of thousands of Mo Family Army soldiers advanced like a thunderbolt, striking the cities held by Northern Rong's forces with overwhelming momentum. Northern Rong, being a nomadic people, excelled in long-distance raids and fierce assaults but were at a severe disadvantage in defensive warfare. Within just five days, they lost three cities in succession and were forced to retreat four hundred li before barely regaining their footing.

In the Northern Rong camp, Yelv Ye glared darkly at his generals below and demanded, "Mo Xiuyao has taken two cities in five days. What is your plan?" Helian Zhen replied, "Who would have thought Mo Xiuyao would ignore Lei Zhenting, his greatest foe, and focus entirely on attacking us? In my opinion, he likely intends to deal with Northern Rong first before turning his attention to Western Liang and Great Chu."

Yelv Ye regarded Helian Zhen coldly. "So, General Helian's so-called alliance with Western Liang and Great Chu has completely failed?" Helian Zhen gave a bitter smile. Yelv Ye usually addressed him as uncle, but now he was calling him General Helian—a clear sign of displeasure. With a helpless sigh, Helian Zhen said, "Originally, if Mo Jingli hadn't delayed his troops' deployment, things wouldn't have come to this. As it stands... the plan against Prince Ding's Estate hasn't failed, but neither has Northern Rong gained any advantage."

In other words, they had harmed others without benefiting themselves. While Prince Ding's Estate would indeed face sieges from Western Liang and Great Chu, who could have predicted that Mo Xiuyao would disregard the potential fall of Ruichang, which could threaten Flying Goose Pass, the garrison city, and even the northwest long guarded by the Mo Family Army? Instead, he was single-mindedly determined to deal with Northern Rong first.Originally, the Northern Rong and the Mo Family Army were already at odds, on the brink of conflict. The current situation brought no loss to the Northern Rong—it merely meant months of effort with little gain.

"Princess Ding has been in Jiangnan for the past two months," He Lianpeng, seated below Helian Zhen, suddenly spoke up.

Due to their previous defeat, Yelv Ye had always held He Lianpeng in disdain. However, over the past few months, He Lianpeng seemed to have changed considerably, paying no heed to Yelv Ye’s attitude and quietly focusing on his own tasks, rarely speaking. This had slightly improved Yelv Ye’s impression of him. Hearing him speak abruptly now, Yelv Ye frowned and asked, "Ye Li went to Jiangnan? How do you know?"

He Lianpeng remained silent, his gaze calm as he looked at Yelv Ye. His defeat at Ye Li’s hands had been the greatest humiliation of his life, so it was only natural that he kept a close watch on her movements. However, after those past lessons, he no longer acted impulsively. Moreover, tracking Ye Li’s whereabouts was no easy task. It was only in recent days that He Lianpeng had pieced together clues to deduce this.

Lowering his eyes, He Lianpeng said, "Father should know… about the joint operation between Zhennan Wang’s forces and Prince Ding’s Estate to eradicate the Boundless Mountains."

Helian Zhen nodded. This major event had occurred shortly before his departure for Jiangnan, so he was well aware of it. He Lianpeng continued, "However, after the Boundless Mountains were destroyed, Qingchen Gongzi disappeared for a time. Yet, Li Cheng did not send anyone to handle the matter. During this period, Ye Li also never appeared in public. Therefore, she must have gone to Jiangnan."

A flash of anger crossed Yelv Ye’s eyes as he said coldly, "Once again, Ye Li has interfered with my plans! Mo Jingli’s sudden delay in mobilizing troops must be related to her."

He Lianpeng nodded. "That is likely the case. However… even if Ye Li hadn’t gone, the alliance between the three kingdoms would not have been easily achieved. If Qingchen Gongzi hadn’t disappeared… he would have been the one handling this matter."

The room fell silent. Though this was true, Qingchen Gongzi was at least a known factor—easier to guard against. Now, they didn’t even know what Ye Li had been doing in Jiangnan.

He Lianpeng added, "Prince Ding likely intends to drive our Northern Rong forces out of the Central Plains before the Chu Kingdom mobilizes its troops. That way, he can focus on dealing with Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingli."

Yelv Ye sneered. "Thinking they can drive the Northern Rong beyond the borders so easily? Ridiculous! Speak—how should we deal with Mo Xiuyao?"

The others exchanged uncertain glances. Yelv Ye frowned and said, "He Lianpeng, what do you think?"

He Lianpeng replied solemnly, "Our Northern Rong army excels in direct combat, and our cavalry is unmatched in long-distance raids. However, we are not adept at defending cities." Now that the Mo Family Army held the initiative, as the Central Plains saying went, they were using their weaknesses to attack the enemy’s strengths. Defeat was inevitable under such circumstances.

"Then what do you propose?" Yelv Ye asked.

He Lianpeng answered, "In my humble opinion, we should leverage our strengths and avoid our weaknesses—take the initiative to attack." Apart from the royal court, the Northern Rong had no proper cities to speak of, so their soldiers had never needed to defend one. Now, suddenly shifting from offense to defense left them constrained and ineffective.

After a moment of contemplation, Yelv Ye turned to Helian Zhen. "Uncle, what do you think?"Helian Zhen nodded and said, "Peng'er makes a valid point. I also believe our army is at a disadvantage in defending the city. It would be better to take the initiative and strike first. When it comes to cavalry, even if Northern Rong can't surpass Prince Ding's Estate, we are at least evenly matched. But... we have more cavalry than the Black Cloud Cavalry." Although the Black Cloud Cavalry was once known as the most elite force of the Mo Family Army, it was not the main force. The main force of the Mo Family Army still consisted of ordinary infantry, as the terrain of Great Chu was too complex for cavalry to maneuver effectively. However, Northern Rong was a vast grassland, and its soldiers were primarily cavalry. In a real fight, the Black Cloud Cavalry would definitely not gain the upper hand.

Yelv Ye frowned deeply, his sword-like brows tightening as he calmly looked at Helian Zhen and the others. "This prince agrees with Uncle and General Helian's judgment. We can retreat no further. Based on the recent messages from the royal court, my father is already very dissatisfied with this prince's lack of achievements over the past several months—even losing much of the land we had previously gained. If we suffer another defeat, I fear my father will hardly agree to send us more troops."

Northern Rong itself was a vast land with a sparse population, and mobilizing troops was not as easy as in the Central Plains. The recent continuous losses of Northern Rong's forces had already caused great dissatisfaction in the royal court, further giving Yelv Hong an opportunity to attack him.

"This general understands," the officers replied as they stood up.

Yelv Ye nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good. This time, my uncle and General He Lian will lead the troops. He Lianpeng, do not disappoint me again."

He Lianpeng responded solemnly, "This general understands. Please rest assured, Your Highness."