Mo Li

Upon returning to Yonglin City, Xia Shu was indeed busy with several Black Cloud Cavalry commanders reinforcing the city's defenses. Yun Ting, itching to join them, barely spared a greeting for the Princess of the State before rushing off to help. Murong Ting, uninterested in the stacks of documents and maps Ye Li was poring over in the study, had a different idea. She sought out the city's able-bodied youths and nimble-fingered women, organizing them to assist with wounded soldiers and logistics when battle came. Ye Li approved of her initiative, and Murong Ting, long restrained by Murong Shen, left with a bright smile.

Seated in the makeshift study, Ye Li frowned at the map spread before her. She was no genius—at least not in large-scale warfare. As a former special forces soldier, she excelled in pinpoint strikes and tactical operations. But now, facing a siege by over a hundred thousand troops without favorable conditions, merely holding out until reinforcements arrived would be a miracle. The centuries of safety behind Snowbreak Pass had lulled Yonglin into complacency—its walls were ill-prepared for defense, let alone an attack from within Chu. Who could have imagined the garrison would one day face an assault from their own land?

"Greetings, Princess." Xia Shu, Yun Ting, and others arrived, bowing at the door. Without looking up, Ye Li waved them in. "How’s progress?"

Yun Ting, the most straightforward, grinned. "Thanks to the Black Cloud Cavalry, we’ve strengthened the defenses."

A Black Cloud Cavalry commander shook his head. "Yonglin’s foundations are too weak. Even with reinforcements, it won’t hold long." Yesterday’s attack had been a probe—the next would be far harder to repel.

Ye Li lifted her gaze, brows slightly furrowed. "The rebels likely won’t attack these two days, but stay vigilant." Their earlier ruse had misled Mo Jingli, buying time. But once he saw through it, the onslaught would intensify. "Yun Ting, Xia Shu—you know the area. Come examine this map."

Curious, they approached. On the desk lay a large, newly drawn map labeled Yonglin Topography , detailing not just the city but its surroundings within a hundred li , including parts of Snowbreak Pass and the Southern Border.

Yun Ting blinked. "Princess, we have existing maps—even a complete one of Yongzhou at Snowbreak Pass."Ye Li shook her head. Neither she nor the Black Cloud Cavalry were familiar with Yongzhou, and unfamiliarity with the terrain in war was a major taboo. Therefore, she had already sent word to the Black Cloud Cavalry to gather geographical data on the areas near Yonglin while she was still in the Southern Border. It wasn’t until last night that they had finished compiling the information and drawing the map based on the original. However, since she hadn’t personally surveyed most of the areas, the map carried some uncertainties, which was why she wanted Yun Ting and Xia Shu, who were familiar with the region, to take a look.

Xia Shu studied the map intently for a long while, his eyes gleaming with fervent admiration as he murmured in awe, “Did the Princess personally draw this?” Ye Li rubbed her temples and replied, “Although I trust the soldiers of the Black Cloud Cavalry, I couldn’t verify the terrain in person. Please check if there are any inaccuracies in this map.” After scrutinizing it for some time, Xia Shu pointed to a spot on the map marked with a river and said, “Here… if this river were closer to this mountain, it would be just about right.” Ye Li picked up her brush again and asked, “How far is the river from this mountain?” Xia Shu lowered his head, silently calculating before answering, “About three li.” Ye Li raised an eyebrow—that was indeed quite a discrepancy. With maps, even the slightest error could lead to a thousand-mile mistake. She swiftly began making corrections to the map with her brush. Watching her, Xia Shu couldn’t help but marvel, his admiration for the Princess of the State growing even more sincere. If nothing else, even those who had personally traversed every inch of land might not necessarily be able to draw such a map, let alone the Princess, who had only heard descriptions yet managed to depict it almost flawlessly. Compared to their existing maps, this one was at least ten times clearer and more detailed. What did warfare rely on? Aside from strategy and tactics, wasn’t it timing and terrain? Yet not every commander had the chance to thoroughly explore the battleground beforehand. With this map, the area within a hundred li of Yonglin could be grasped at a glance.

“Princess, are we just going to wait for the rebels to attack the city?” Yun Ting asked impatiently.

Ye Li smiled faintly. “What were your original plans?”

Yun Ting looked somewhat embarrassed. Originally, they had no choice but to wait for the rebels to attack—not because they wanted to, but because their limited forces left them with no alternatives. But now, with two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry at their disposal, wasn’t there more they could do? After all, the Black Cloud Cavalry excelled not in defense but in offense, didn’t they? Of course, he himself wasn’t fond of defensive battles either.

“The area around Yonglin is all mountainous forests. The cavalry’s effectiveness would be severely limited—they wouldn’t be able to maneuver properly,” Xia Shu said with a frown, feeling frustrated for the first time at the sight of the dense forests marked on the map. If it were open plains, the Black Cloud Cavalry could accomplish far more than this. But he also knew that if it were truly flat terrain, the rebels’ hundred thousand troops would have already surrounded the city, making their situation even more dire.

The Black Cloud Cavalry commander scoffed. “Though we’re called cavalry, our expertise isn’t limited to horsemanship and archery.” Cavalry were primarily meant to counter the Northern Rong, but the horses of Great Chu couldn’t compare to those of the Northern Rong. Though the Black Cloud Cavalry were all elite, engaging the Northern Rong’s iron cavalry head-on would only result in mutual destruction. Xia Shu glanced at the proud Black Cloud Cavalry commander and the silent An Er and An San standing nearby before hesitantly suggesting, “Could we strike first and disrupt their plans?”Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."

Xia Shu picked up a charcoal pencil and began marking on the map as he spoke, "The rebel army is currently camped twenty li from Yonglin. If we launch a surprise cavalry attack, we could catch them off guard."

An Er interjected, "Cavalry movements are too conspicuous. If we prioritize speed, we'll likely be detected before getting close to their camp. Moreover... attacking a camp of over a hundred thousand troops with just two thousand men?" Even the Black Cloud Cavalry might not escape unscaled once trapped amidst thousands of soldiers. Xia Shu shook his head, "We don't need to attack their main camp. Yonglin's terrain ensures they can't and won't concentrate all their forces in one place. If the rebel camp is here, then these two locations must also have garrisons forming a defensive triangle to protect the main camp. The troops stationed at these two spots probably don't exceed ten thousand each. Perhaps... we could create some chaos?"

"Qin Feng?" Ye Li turned to the Black Cloud Cavalry commander with a questioning look.

Qin Feng frowned, "If that's truly the case, by cutting off the left flank's path to the main camp beforehand, we could potentially annihilate this entire unit. Even if we can't, this mountain path isn't very wide—enemy reinforcements wouldn't arrive too quickly, giving us time to retreat safely. However, doing this might make the enemy suspect the Black Cloud Cavalry's main force isn't actually in Yongzhou." Ye Li blinked and asked with a smile, "What if we annihilate both flanks simultaneously?"

All eyes in the study turned to Ye Li. Eliminating one flank was already challenging enough—how could they possibly destroy both at the same time?

"An Er, An San, gather all possible intelligence on Mo Jingli's military camp as quickly as possible," Ye Li ordered.

An Er and An San nodded in acknowledgment and left the study.

For two consecutive days, Mo Jingli had been forced to maintain his position due to the lack of news about the Black Cloud Cavalry. Every time he saw the modest number of Black Cloud Cavalry troops stationed on Yonglin's walls from afar, he suspected that Yongzhou might not actually have many Black Cloud Cavalry members and that Mo Xiuyao wasn't even in Yongzhou. But just as he resolved to attack, he'd feel this might be one of Mo Xiuyao's schemes to lure him into a trap. Mo Xiuyao had always been cunning, making it impossible for him to let his guard down. Thus, even though Nanzhao had long been urging him to attack, he could only keep his hundred thousand troops in a standoff before the small city of Yonglin.

"Your Highness, Nanzhao has urged us multiple times. Should we attack Yonglin tomorrow?" In the command tent, a middle-aged man who appeared to be a strategist asked.Mo Jingli frowned and said, "What's the hurry? If they're so impatient, why don't they try breaking through Snowbreak Pass themselves? After days of fighting, they haven't even scratched Murong Shen!" The strategist gave a helpless, bitter smile and shook his head. "Snowbreak Pass has sturdy walls and has been notoriously difficult to breach since ancient times. It's understandable they haven't succeeded yet."

Mo Jingli hesitated, his sword-like brows furrowing as he looked at the strategist. "Letting the Nanzhao people through the pass... will it really help?"

The strategist was momentarily taken aback. "Your Highness means...?"

Mo Jingli scoffed lightly. "We swept through Yongzhou without any help from Nanzhao. Once we let them into Snowbreak Pass, it might be... easier to invite the devil in than to send him away." Though Nanzhao was cooperating with him now, he knew they weren't entirely trustworthy. If the century-old myth of Snowbreak Pass's invincibility was shattered, these people would likely grow bolder, challenging the pass more frequently and encroaching further into Great Chu's territory.

"Your Highness, once the arrow is loosed, it cannot be taken back," the strategist advised. "If we break the agreement, Nanzhao will likely withdraw their troops immediately. Then Murong Shen will turn his forces against us. And once the imperial reinforcements arrive... the consequences would be disastrous. So, Your Highness, it's best to act swiftly."

Mo Jingli nodded—he understood this logic all too well. "Tell me... why did the Black Cloud Cavalry arrive so quickly?"

The strategist hesitated. "Prince Ding has always been far-sighted. For the past two days, we haven't been able to trace the movements of this Black Cloud Cavalry unit. It's likely a hidden force Prince Ding planted here long ago." The thought made the strategist clench his fists in frustration. If not for this Black Cloud Cavalry, Yonglin City would already be in their grasp—perhaps even Snowbreak Pass would have fallen by now.

"Are you saying Mo Xiuyao anticipated the Southern Border uprising?" Mo Jingli's expression darkened.

The strategist didn’t dare confirm it outright. "Perhaps Prince Ding merely left them here as a precaution against Nanzhao. After all, he fought fiercely in the Southern Border back in the day." If the imperial family hadn't feared the young general of Prince Ding's Estate was gaining too much fame and military prestige, forcing his withdrawal, Nanzhao might not even exist today. Nanzhao's hatred for Prince Ding went without saying, and Prince Ding surely viewed the resurgent Nanzhao as a thorn in his side.

Mo Jingli curled his lip in disdain. "Mo Xiuyao claims to be a peerless strategist, yet he fought for a year without pacifying the Southern Border. I swept through Yongzhou in just half a month. At most, in another six months, the entire region south of Yunlan River will be ours!"

"Your Highness is truly wise," the strategist said with a smile, discreetly wiping sweat from his brow. Their current success was largely due to sheer luck. Ever since Murong Shen took command of Snowbreak Pass, the emperor had used every means to weaken Yongzhou's defenses, and the Prefect of Yongzhou had spared no effort in making trouble for Murong Shen. That was why Yongzhou's defenses were so vulnerable. Their sudden, unexpected attack had allowed them to advance smoothly—but once the court reacted, things wouldn't be so easy. Still, as Mo Jingli said, once they eliminated Murong Shen at Snowbreak Pass, the lands south of Yunlan River would indeed fall into their hands."Your Highness, the western camp is under attack!" A soldier outside the tent urgently reported. Mo Jingli froze for a moment before abruptly standing and stepping outside to look into the distance. Sure enough, flames were rising from the western side. "Bastards! How could Yonglin City possibly spare any troops for a sneak attack?" The strategist followed him out and was equally stunned by the sight. He quickly advised, "Your Highness—" Mo Jingli coldly ordered, "Send reinforcements immediately!"

"Your Highness, look over there!" The generals who had rushed over exclaimed in alarm. The eastern camp was also ablaze with fire. One officer gasped, "The eastern camp is under attack too!"

The strategist's eyes flashed as he said gravely, "Your Highness! Yonglin City doesn't have many troops to begin with. If they're attacking both flanks simultaneously, the city must be undefended. If we seize this chance to assault the city now—" Mo Jingli sharply turned and glared at him. "Do you really think those two brats from Yonglin would dare empty the city for a night raid?" He wasn't very familiar with Yun Ting and Xia Shu, but he knew they were the youngest captains under Murong Shen. Two captains barely in their twenties wouldn't have the guts to abandon Yonglin for such a reckless gamble. Besides, anyone with half a brain knew that even a successful night raid wouldn't repel an army of over a hundred thousand—it would only waste Yonglin's defensive strength.

"Then Your Highness means…" the strategist frowned.

"Send scouts to investigate! Generals Zhang and Li, reinforce the eastern and western camps!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

On a mountain peak not far from Prince Li's camp, Ye Li looked down with satisfaction at the chaos below—flames lighting up the night and the clamor of battle rising from all directions. Xia Shu, An Er, and An San stood beside her, observing the scene. "Reinforcements are coming!" Xia Shu pointed at a group of soldiers swiftly moving toward the western camp along the mountain path. Ye Li smiled faintly. "The western camp should be wrapping up soon. Have someone lead them in circles for a while." Xia Shu grinned. "Of course. When it comes to terrain, we locals who've been stationed here for years know it better. The eastern flank probably won't hold much longer." Ye Li replied, "Leave that side to them. Have the shadow guards prepare—I don’t want Mo Jingli sending any more reinforcements." Overeating could choke a man to death. An San chuckled. "Don't worry, Princess. Shadow guards may not be great at fighting, but causing chaos is our specialty!"

"The rebels would never expect their own men to attack from behind." In the pitch-black night, being ambushed from the rear would force them to turn on each other in confusion. Thanks to Prince Li not having had time to change their uniforms, the rebels' weapons and clothing were nearly identical to Yonglin's defenders. As for whether they could spot Prince Li's insignia in the dark valley—well, that would depend on their luck.

Ye Li nodded in approval. "Let's go take a look." The four mounted the horses waiting nearby and silently rode toward another mountain peak under the cover of darkness. It was certain that an even more spectacular battle would unfold there.That night, no one was spared. It wasn't until dawn approached that the battle gradually subsided. The outcome left Mo Jingli's already gloomy face as dark as ink. Nearly seventy to eighty percent of the nearly thirty thousand troops deployed on the eastern and western flanks, including reinforcements, were lost. Yet, the enemy had left behind fewer than three thousand corpses. As for the valley behind the eastern camp, it was almost entirely filled with their own men. If he couldn't figure out what had happened by now, he'd be an utter fool! Losing over twenty thousand troops in a single night, along with the deaths of the commanders of both the eastern and western camps and the two generals sent as reinforcements, dealt a staggering blow to the previously high morale of Prince Li's army. Before anyone realized it, whispers began spreading among Prince Li's ranks that King Ding and his Black Cloud Cavalry were in Yonglin City. Almost every soldier couldn't help but feel a surge of fear. The Ding Royal Palace and the Black Cloud Cavalry held an unshakable, eternal deterrent in the hearts of every soldier.

Meanwhile, Yonglin City was brimming with joy. This great victory had Yun Ting practically floating on air.

"Don't celebrate too soon. Once Mo Jingli figures out the truth, no one will be able to stop his army," Ye Li said helplessly. Yun Ting excitedly suggested, "How about we launch a few more surprise attacks?" Xia Shu shot him an exasperated look. "Do you think Prince Li's men are all idiots? After being ambushed once, they'd just let you succeed again? They're probably waiting for you to walk right into their trap now." Ye Li nodded. "Xia Shu is right. This time, we truly took a risky move. If Mo Jingli reacts and directly attacks Yonglin, even if we manage to kill another twenty or thirty thousand rebels, it won't make a difference." Yun Ting gradually snapped out of his excitement, anxiously biting his fingers. "Then what should we do? Damn it, when will the imperial reinforcements arrive?"

"Your Highness," An San entered with a letter in hand. Ye Li nodded to the two men. "You may go attend to your duties now."

Yun Ting and Xia Shu bowed respectfully and withdrew. Ye Li took the envelope from An San, opened it, and read its contents. Her expression first lit up with joy but quickly darkened. An San watched her shifting emotions with curiosity, wondering what the letter contained to unsettle the usually composed princess consort so much. After a long pause, Ye Li finally slammed the letter onto the table and declared, "Issue the order—from today onward, the entire army is to be on high alert!"

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Ye Li replied, "Mo Jingli will likely launch a full-scale assault on Yonglin within the next two days."

An San was puzzled. According to their estimates, the rebel army shouldn't be taking any action in the coming days. Ye Li glanced at the letter on the table. "Reinforcements will arrive at Yunlan River within three days. It won't be long before Mo Jingli learns of this. If he doesn't strike now while he still can, he'll have no chance once the reinforcements arrive." An San nodded. "So... as long as we hold out for these three days..."

"I'm afraid these three days won't be easy to endure."In Prince Li's army, Mo Jingli glared at the secret letter he had just received as if he could burn a hole through it with his gaze. After a long silence, he finally roared in anger, "Fine... fine indeed, Black Cloud Cavalry! I’d like to know just what kind of mastermind is hiding in Yonglin City!" The letter stated clearly that Mo Xiuyao had entered the palace to meet Mo Jingqi just ten days prior. Even if he had left the capital immediately afterward, it would have been impossible for him to reach Yongzhou in such a short time. Therefore, the force obstructing his advance these past few days couldn’t possibly be that cripple Mo Xiuyao. As for the Black Cloud Cavalry... apart from the two thousand stationed in Yonglin City, not a single trace of them had been found despite scouring all of Yongzhou.

"Your Highness, now..." The strategist's expression was grave. "The reinforcements are arriving far too quickly. They will cross the Yunlan River in three days at most. Please make a decision soon." Whether to withdraw the army and attack eastward or continue westward to break through Snowbreak Pass and join forces with Nanzhao's troops.

"Spare no cost—storm the city!"

The battle resumed, fiercer than the assaults of the previous days. Mo Jingli spared no expense, deploying his most elite troops in a frenzied siege. Though the defenses of Yonglin City had been significantly bolstered with the aid of the Black Cloud Cavalry, the relentless and unyielding onslaught left the defending soldiers exhausted and suffering heavy casualties. By nightfall, the rebel forces gradually retreated but remained stationed less than five li away, maintaining their siege. By the end of the day, nearly half of Yonglin’s defenders had been killed or wounded. Even at night, they could not rest peacefully, forced to remain vigilant against potential sneak attacks.

Ye Li frowned at the dire situation before her. With a wave of her hand, she ordered the Black Cloud Cavalry to take over the watch on the city walls that night, allowing the exhausted defenders a brief respite.

"A Li, can we really hold Yonglin City?" In the deep of night, Murong Ting stood atop the city wall, gazing down at the distant rebel camps—a dark, oppressive mass that weighed heavily on her heart. Ye Li turned to her with a faint smile. "Are you scared?" Murong Ting pouted, indignant. "Who's scared? It's just... I've never seen so many dead before. Father always said I was naive, and now I realize how right he was. I used to think spending a few years at the border with him made me more experienced than others. But the truth is, I’ve never truly witnessed war."

Ye Li softened her voice in reassurance. "You’ve done very well." Murong Ting had been tirelessly busy all day, assisting the medics with the wounded, organizing supplies, and transporting arrows and grain. The exhaustion showed on her face. "General Murong would be proud of you."

Murong Ting laughed sheepishly. "I haven’t done much. A Li, you’re the truly remarkable one. If you were Father’s daughter, he’d be so happy he’d wake up laughing in his sleep."

Ye Li chuckled quietly. "Shall we ask General Murong later if he’d be willing to swap us?"

"No way! Father loves me best."

Ye Li smiled faintly, murmuring, "Don’t worry. We’ll all be fine."

Murong Ting paused, then sighed. "I’m not afraid. If the rebels break in, I’ll kill one for every one that comes, two for every pair!" Watching her feigned bravado, Ye Li couldn’t help but laugh. Yet as she sighed and lifted her gaze to the crescent moon, a trace of worry gradually shadowed her delicate features.

At a corner of the wall, Xia Shu and Yun Ting stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the slender figure in the distance. Ye Li wore a moon-white men’s robe, her dark hair loosely tied with a pale ribbon rather than pinned. Under the moonlight, her luminous face was bathed in a soft silver glow, carrying an air of quiet melancholy. Her serene, lotus-like grace and orchid-like elegance outshone even the fiery red-clad girl beside her.

"If I survive this, I’m joining the Black Cloud Cavalry!" Yun Ting declared firmly. It had always been his dream, but now his resolve was steeled.

"If the city falls tomorrow, you must escort the princess consort to safety. Head north across the Yunlan River—reinforcements should meet you there," Xia Shu said calmly.

Yun Ting glared at him. "Do I look like the kind of man who flees battle?"

Xia Shu gave him a cool glance. "Do you not understand the relationship between the princess consort and Prince Li? What do you think would happen if she fell into his hands?" Yun Ting stiffened, his gaze drifting back to the woman standing against the wind. Scratching his head in frustration, he muttered, "I don’t have the skill to escort her. You do it—you’re better at persuasion. She doesn’t seem the type to abandon Yonglin City. Honestly, I’ve never met a princess consort like her before."Xia Shu nodded in agreement. Though they had only interacted for a few days, this Princess Ding who was younger than them had completely overturned their perception of what a princess should be. Outwardly delicate but inwardly stronger than any man, coupled with astonishing intellect, the keen decisiveness of a commander, and physical prowess surpassing many. Often, Xia Shu felt this woman was no pampered princess, but rather a battle-hardened soldier.

"If we all survive this, do you think Princess Ding would agree if I begged her to let me join the Black Cloud Cavalry?" Unable to solve the current problem, Yun Ting reverted to his habit of fantasizing about brighter futures, tilting his head as he did so.

After some thought, Xia Shu replied with a faint smile, "You could always ask Princess Ding directly whether the Black Cloud Cavalry is still recruiting."

Ying Ting's eyes lit up as he gazed at the moonlit figure in pale robes conversing with Murong Ting, visibly tempted. Shaking his head helplessly, Xia Shu turned to descend the city wall, remarking, "Let's get some rest. Don't forget we have a fierce battle tomorrow."

Yun Ting nodded absently, still debating whether to approach Princess Ding. After all, not everyone got the chance to meet the leader of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Glancing once more at that gentle silhouette under the moonlight, he finally turned to follow Xia Shu down the wall. If they survived tomorrow, he'd beg Princess Ding to take him into the Black Cloud Cavalry if he had to!

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Alright... tomorrow~