"Feng Ting, assemble one thousand scouts into five squads to operate independently. Utilize the familiar terrain to conduct guerrilla warfare against the enemy's rear forces, and do everything possible to harass the enemy's supply convoys. You must hold the enemy back on the Helan Mountain side for at least two days."
The young officer in military attire nodded and replied, "Yes!"
"Murong, take the two thousand newly recruited militiamen and set up an ambush at Hundred Zhang Cliff. Stockpile boulders and rolling logs, and wait for the supply troops to break through Feng Ting's blockade after two days. By then, Old Mu will join you and provide further instructions."
Two soldiers answered in unison, "We obey!"
With a rustle, the map was spread open. The girl's fingers were slender and pale as she traced a line along the southeastern region and said solemnly, "Wu Danyu, take five hundred archers and hide in the Pine Leaf Forest. Use arrows to harass the enemy's flanks, and retreat immediately if the enemy launches an attack. Under no circumstances are you to engage the enemy head-on. Is that clear?"
The young and handsome Wu Danyu responded firmly. He was not originally part of the Southwest Garrison Commander's forces but was recruited later by He Xiao and others. He was once a notorious bandit in the Helan Mountain area.
"Commander, if possible, I can also try to lure the enemy toward the Thousand Ice Pond. I know the terrain well—once they step in, I guarantee they won't make it out alive!"
Chu Qiao pondered for a moment before looking up and saying, "Act according to the situation. If the opportunity arises, I grant you full authority to take charge."
Wu Danyu smiled. "Thank you, Commander!"
"He Qi, lead the third squad to firmly defend the northern city wall. During the battle, coordinate fully with the first squad to protect Chidu. Commander He Xiao, I entrust the entire defense of Chidu City's walls to you and your brother. All of Yanbei will stand behind you, watching over you."
He Xiao's eyes sharpened instantly. He saluted crisply and, together with his younger brother, declared loudly, "We will not fail your expectations, Commander!"
"The key to this battle is not to annihilate the enemy's forces but to disrupt their morale through continuous small-scale attacks, harass their rear supplies, and weaken their fighting spirit. We must force the enemy to exhaust themselves and delay their assault on Chidu. Everyone, time and patience are our only weapons. If we can hold out for seven days, His Highness's reinforcements will surely arrive!"
Chu Qiao raised her head. The candlelight illuminated her face with an ethereal beauty. The young soldiers gazed at her with steadfast determination, their eyes fixed on this girl who was far younger than them. The room was cramped but brightly lit. Slowly, Chu Qiao extended her hand, holding it over her chest, and spoke in a low, resolute tone, "Everyone, the great battle is upon us, and there is no room for hesitation. Our nation is in peril, and we must uphold loyalty and righteousness. As soldiers, it is our duty to defend our land and protect our people. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, we will have no regrets before the heavens and earth of Yanbei, no regrets before our own conscience, and no regrets before the military flag flying above us! Our survival hinges on this one battle. I wish you all the best!"
"Commander, take care!"
Over a dozen hands clasped together in solidarity. Outside, the northern wind howled, while inside, the fire blazed brightly. Not far beyond the city walls, the enemy was already sharpening their blades. At Chu Qiao's command, the soldiers turned and strode out of the room, heading toward their respective battlefields. From this moment on, no one knew who would return or who would survive.Chu Qiao's slender figure stood beneath the dim lamplight, a massive map spread before her depicting the rugged terrain of Yanbei—every ravine, mountain ridge, and river. She took a slow breath, draped a heavy fur cloak over her shoulders, and stepped out of the room. A small figure suddenly darted forward, asking in a crisp voice, "Where are you going, my lady?"
Du Ping An carried a lantern, his oversized military coat ill-fitting, his cheeks flushed red from the cold. Chu Qiao glanced at him silently before replying in a low voice, "To the military supply factory!"
Though Chidu City had limited garrison troops, its strategic position along the Chishui River made it a bustling hub with over 100,000 residents. After evacuating women and children, the city still retained more than 40,000 newly recruited militiamen. Sending these green recruits against Daxia's forces would be suicide, and Chu Qiao never intended to rely on them for Chidu's defense. Instead, she assigned them to more suitable roles away from the battlefield.
The military supply factory now echoed with clanging noises deep into the night. Countless torches lined the walls, giant bronze furnaces stood everywhere, and men sweated profusely as they pushed carts back and forth, each dedicated to their tasks.
"My lady, what is this place?" the child asked, wide-eyed.
Chu Qiao's gaze was profound, her expression tinged with regret as she slowly replied, "This is Yanbei's hope for revival. It's a pity we have so little time—otherwise, how could we fear mere Daxia troops?"
Someone inside noticed Chu Qiao and quickly alerted others. Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties hurried over. Just two days prior, he had been an ordinary blacksmith in the city; now, he served as chief commander of the Southwest Garrison Commander's weapons forging division.
"My lady, what instructions do you have coming here so late?"
Chu Qiao shook her head. "I'm just here to observe."
"Would you like to come inside, my lady?"
"No," she declined, her eyes fixed ahead. The blacksmith was drenched in sweat, his clothes crumpled and singed. He stared at this young female commander, slightly bewildered.
She was unlike any official he had ever met—youthful, yet her eyes held no trace of impatience or superficiality. She seemed to have witnessed and endured too much, becoming composed and profound like the deep sea, impossible to decipher. He thought to himself, this commander must have suffered greatly to possess such eyes.
The night wind brushed cold against Chu Qiao's face. Dressed in a sapphire-blue fur cloak, fox fur collar framing her pale complexion, she finally said, "Return to your duties. I'll take my leave."
"Ah? Oh—farewell, my lady!"
The old blacksmith instinctively bowed low, nearly pressing his forehead to his knees as he would for any official. When he looked up again, she had already vanished into the distance.
The war erupted that very night. Chidu's original garrison troops trembled with fear, yet the initial clashes were less intense than anticipated. The enemy's reserves seemed constrained, forcing them to divert large forces for rear defense. Their formation fell into disarray, sporadically disrupted by minor disturbances.Chu Qiao knew that Feng Ting's ambush near Helan Mountain had taken effect. The Daxia Army, unfamiliar with the terrain and having received no news of Yan Xun or the Second Army by this stage of the war, would inevitably act cautiously under Zhao Yang's prudent leadership. Her purpose in deploying five guerrilla units was precisely to create indistinguishable misgivings and containment for the enemy.
Yet Zhao Yang was indeed an outstanding commander. Though Feng Ting had sworn a military pledge and Chu Qiao had meticulously planned the offensive, defensive, and tactical maneuvers, the defense at Helan Mountain collapsed by dawn the next day. The originally planned two-day hold didn't even last one day—in just a single night, all one thousand Southwest Garrison Commanders were annihilated, with not a single survivor returning.
Due to Feng Ting's defeat, Murong and Amu prematurely faced the full assault of the Daxia Army. The battle erupted during breakfast and only gradually quieted down by noon. Amu's younger brother escaped back via a small path, announcing the end and failure of the engagement. Over half of the two thousand militiamen were killed or wounded, while the rest were scattered and lost.
The Daxia Army, riding high on momentum, launched a fierce assault on Chidu City's gates but encountered sudden resistance near Pine Leaf Forest. A fierce unit, like a sharp blade, pierced the Daxia Army's flank. With just five hundred men, they exploited the forest's terrain as if it were a no man's land, cutting through the flank three full times. They burned the central banner and set the Daxia Army's main command tent ablaze. The young commander leading them shot an arrow through the temple of the deputy commander; the arrow, attached to a rope, tore off half the Daxia commander's skull upon retrieval.
The Daxia Army was thrown into chaos. The commander's personal guard immediately gave chase, but by the time Zhao Yang tried to stop them, it was too late. That day, Daxia lost eight thousand elite guards, all drowned or frozen to death in the icy waters of Thousand Ice Pond.
Having attacked with two hundred thousand troops only to suffer such a defeat, the Daxia Army was enraged. Even Zhao Yang couldn't suppress the calls for revenge within the ranks. Forced to slow their advance, he turned their focus toward the guerrilla forces outside the city. However, Wu Danyu's small, highly mobile unit, familiar with the local terrain, managed to conduct guerrilla warfare for two days against the Daxia Army's carpet-style sweep with just five hundred men, still retaining combat effectiveness and buying precious time for Chidu's city defenses.
Yet two days later, Zhao Yang suddenly halted all offensives. Just as the Yanbei Army grew puzzled, the Daxia Army ordered a full-scale lumbering operation. Two hundred thousand troops mobilized, and within half a day, the vast Pine Leaf Forest was completely cleared. Wu Danyu's five hundred guerrilla fighters were completely exposed under the enemy's eyes.
Standing atop the high city tower, Chu Qiao watched helplessly as Wu Danyu and his five hundred men were swallowed by the gray-armored ocean of the Daxia Army like a pebble. The thundering hooves calm the small ripple in just one charge.
"For freedom!"
Scattered shouts echoed from afar. The entire city wall of Chidu fell into a deathly silence. Soldiers removed their helmets, gazing at their comrades fighting outside the city. Many seasoned veterans quietly shed tears.The setting sun blazed like fire. After three full days, the Daxia Army had finally completed their first encirclement of Chidu City. Situ Jing stood beside Zhao Yang and reported respectfully, "Your Highness the Fourteenth Prince, we have confirmed from captured laborers that the defending forces in the city are the empire's traitors—the Southwest Garrison Commander. Their commanding officer is a woman, also a traitor to the empire, named Chu Qiao."
"Chu Qiao?"
The name was uttered calmly from his lips. Zhao Yang slowly narrowed his eyes, suddenly recalling a distant rainy dusk—blue stones and red tiles, winding corridors, an accidental collision, scattered scrolls, and a stubborn prince kneeling rigidly under the eaves, mocked and insulted by his brothers. From afar, the faint scent of ink drifted over as a young woman in blue climbed onto the roof to repair the leaking tiles. A gentle breeze brushed against her slender back, her skirt fluttering, her black hair like ink, and the edges of her white embroidered shoes stained with faint moss...
Though barely a year had passed, it felt like an eternity to Zhao Yang. He still remembered the words Zhao Che had spoken while pointing at that figure the night Yan Xun fled Zhenhuang. His seventh brother possessed brilliant talent but lacked flexibility and political cunning. Such a man could forge an unparalleled legacy in times of chaos, yet he would never find footing in the imperial court. Still, Zhao Yang had to admit that Zhao Che possessed keen insight—his prophecy that day had ultimately come to pass.
"Your Highness? Your Highness?"
Situ Jing whispered, "Please issue the military order."
The path had been arduous. Throughout his years in the palace, no one had ever extended a helping hand, not even for a fleeting moment. He had witnessed and endured too much of the world's fickleness and coldness.
The memories faded gradually. Zhao Yang's eyes turned profound as he slowly declared, "Launch a full assault. Once Chidu falls, massacre the city and offer their blood to our banners."
With a sudden roar, a fierce wind whipped the army flags, making them snap and flutter in the cold air.
Leaning faintly against the partially burned central command tent, Zhao Yang vaguely recalled an oath he had sworn before departure:
"I swear, in this lifetime, I will never again follow in anyone's wake."
Let everything blocking the path be swept away! Cities, armies, enemies, kinship, weakness, hesitation, and... conscience!
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the Daxia Army launched their first full-scale assault on Chidu City. Thousands upon thousands of troops spread across the plains, their numbers too dense to count. Hoofbeats thundered like drums as cavalry regiments, clad in uniform military attire, charged forth. Their spurs gleamed, their war blades glinted coldly, and their armor shimmered with a blood-red hue under the twilight. The War Eagles of Yanbei screeched across the sky, while icy winds swept up swirling snow, shrouding the world in an eerie white mist. The massive army, concealed within the fog, emanated an even more formidable aura!
"Slay the enemy!!!"A deafening roar of battle cries suddenly erupted as Daxia's buglers sounded the charge. Soldiers of the First Cavalry Regiment drew their sabers and brandished them overhead, charging like wolves and tigers toward the low city wall. The heavy armored cavalry followed closely behind, with infantry spreading out on both flanks. Archers advanced under the protection of shield-bearing soldiers, crouching in trenches ready to attack. As far as the eye could see, there were enemy horses and armor everywhere, sabers bearing the forging marks of Daxia's military workshops everywhere. Soldiers roared, and the earth trembled uncontrollably. The ground shook and mountains quaked as shouts merged into a roaring ocean.
In contrast to the Daxia soldiers' roar, Chidu City's walls were as silent as a grave. Soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander stood guard on the battlements, holding their weapons, quietly awaiting the order to attack.
Commander He Xiao slowly drew his powerful crossbow, squinting one eye as he pulled the bowstring taut like a full moon, then suddenly released the arrow!
With a sharp "whoosh," the foremost Daxia cavalryman was immediately thrown from his horse. The arrow's force was so tremendous that the man tumbled four or five times after falling before finally coming to a stop.
The Daxia Army momentarily froze, all startled by He Xiao's terrifying strength. But they quickly realized such individuals were one in ten thousand, immediately regaining their courage to charge.
"Ready!" He Xiao coldly shouted, raising his hand: "Fire!"
The setting sun seemed suddenly obscured, plunging the world into darkness. The Daxia cavalry felt as if they were in a nightmare as dense clouds of arrows swarmed through the air like locusts, blotting out the sky and covering the earth with astonishing speed. The empire's cavalry, once invincible across Ximeng Continent, now found themselves trapped in an endless nightmare. Frontline soldiers were pierced by random arrows, flung from their horses like projectiles that crashed into three or four cavalrymen behind them. Warhorses reared and fell amid screams and wails as cavalrymen became veritable targets and porcupines. Fresh blood stained the white snow on the ground, creating a glaring crimson expanse.
Zhao Yang frowned deeply, urgently ordering heavy armored cavalry and shield bearers to rush forward for protection. However, before they could get close, another wave of arrows came whistling through the air. Daxia soldiers laughed heartily, with heavy infantry waving their massive armor while mockingly deriding the Yanbei Army's overestimation of their capabilities. Yet before their laughter faded, arrows pierced their armor with terrifying force. Amid the fierce metallic onslaught, they didn't even have time to cry for help. Panicked soldiers and horses trampled each other in the chaos—death, screams, blood, and corpses everywhere. Faced with such fierce and dreadful attacks, no one dared advance, and the front lines immediately collapsed. Daxia officers had to execute over ten soldiers before barely containing the troops' retreat and flight.
"Charge! Follow me!"
A commander on horseback boldly slapped his chest armor with his saber, but before he could finish his inspiring battle cry, a sharp arrow "whooshed" through his head. Blood trickled down, flowing along the grooves of his iron armor like a small stream.
"Those who retreat will die! Those who retreat will die! The enemy has less than ten thousand men! Charge past this position, and you'll all be battle heroes!"The officers roared hoarsely, and the soldiers were roused to a bloodthirsty fervor. After all, they were the empire's regular troops, and even under such a fierce assault, their momentum remained undiminished. They continued to charge forward on horseback, their massive formation surging like an unstoppable mountain flood.
He Xiao repeatedly waved his hand, urging them on: "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot those bastards dead!"
"General! General!"
A messenger rushed forward, shouting loudly: "Orders from the commander! Prepare the catapults!"
A row of catapults over three meters tall was pushed onto the city walls. However, these were no ordinary battlefield catapults—they were larger, thicker, and more powerful, with three additional axles for support. Propelled by mechanical springs and rotating over twenty times, once launched, they could reach a distance of more than four hundred paces, twice the range of normal catapults.
Wang the blacksmith stood atop the city wall, his forehead drenched in sweat, yet his eyes burned with a feverish anticipation. Gripping a short blade, he suddenly let out a fierce cry and slashed the rope.
The sound of the mechanical springs engaging rang out immediately, and the catapult spun violently, followed by a sharp crack. As everyone stared in stunned disbelief, a massive stone—the size of a millstone—soared from the city wall. With a thunderous crash, it smashed squarely into two cavalrymen. A piercing scream tore through the air, and all turned in panic to see not only the riders but even their horses shattered into a bloody pulp.
"Hooray! Long live the commander!"
A terrifying cheer erupted from the walls of Chidu City. For the first time since being besieged by the Daxia Army, the thought that they might actually win began to take root. Under the terror of such a fearsome weapon, no one could help but tremble in fear. The Daxia soldiers looked around in confusion, forgetting to charge. Yet, at that very moment, the true nightmare began—countless catapults fired simultaneously, raining down thousands of massive stones.
The scene was horrifying. What the catapults launched were not ordinary rocks—some were household millstones, others were roof beams, and still others were countless broken tiles. Just moments before, over a dozen soldiers had been crushed simultaneously by a heavy object. Survivors on either side looked closely and realized it was a majestic stone lion that once stood guard at the entrance of a grand estate!
No armor or shield could withstand such weapons. War blades were smashed into useless scraps of iron, spears turned into firewood, flesh and blood were pulverized into mud, and brains splattered everywhere. The Daxia soldiers fell like harvested wheat, collapsing in pools of blood, row after row!
Zhao Yang's eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed the collar of the Director of Weapons Manufacturing, roaring furiously: "What kind of weapon is that? What kind of bow and arrow? How can it shoot so far? Why is it so fast? Speak!"
The gray-haired director, his face deathly pale and struggling to breathe, cried out: "Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! I truly do not know!"
"Useless fools!"
"Your Highness! Let the soldiers retreat! There's no way to get close like this!" Situ Jing pleaded with a grief-stricken face.
"No retreat!" Zhao Yang's gaze was resolute as he coldly declared: "Anyone who takes a single step back will be executed without mercy!"
"Kill the enemy!!!"
The Daxia Army let out a desperate, frenzied roar, as if facing certain death. Nearby, arrows flew with deadly precision, while in the distance, the thunder of rolling stones echoed. The world seemed vast and desolate, filled with the agonized cries of the dying. Stones and arrows blotted out the sky, sweeping across the battlefield like a violent storm!Chu Qiao sat in the central command headquarters as battle reports fell like snowflakes.
"The enemy has suffered heavy casualties, but their assault continues unabated. They've advanced to within two hundred paces of the city defenses."
"The First Battalion has eliminated nearly ten thousand enemies, but arrow supplies are critically low with less than three thousand bundles remaining."
"Stone ammunition is rapidly depleting. Three catapult crossbows are damaged and no longer functional."
"The enemy has deployed forty thousand additional cavalry and three reserve legions. The left city defense is about to collapse."
"The Third Squad is beginning to sustain casualties. Enemy arrows are raining fiercely on the western defenses."
...
Chu Qiao maintained a calm expression as she quietly reviewed all the reports and issued responses one by one.
"The Weapons Forging Division must immediately deliver all remaining arrow supplies to support the First Battalion."
"Quickly dismantle and repair the damaged catapults. Deploy the second batch of catapults to the front lines."
"The Second Squad must rapidly reinforce the left barbican. Have Ling Xiao lead three thousand militia troops."
"Transfer city garrison forces to the Third Squad. They must defend the western fortifications at all costs, preferring death over retreat."
"My Lord!" A sudden flurry of footsteps echoed as Wang the Blacksmith, newly promoted to Director of the Armaments Department, hurried in and asked gravely, "My Lord, what do you require?"
Chu Qiao remained silent for a long moment before slowly lifting her head. Her eyes were calm, her expression carrying a trace of solemnity as she said steadily, "Use the Flaming Comets."
Wang the Blacksmith was momentarily stunned, then his face lit up with joy. He immediately rushed out. Chu Qiao slowly rose to her feet and gazed outside, her expression gloomy and inscrutable.
Later generations often wondered how King Xiuli had managed to withstand two hundred thousand elite troops of the Daxia Army with merely ten thousand soldiers and even gained absolute superiority in the early stages. However, only the high-ranking military commanders within the empire knew the reason. Though King Xiuli was young at that time, the weapons used by the Southwest Garrison Commander during that era were all groundbreaking marvels of military technology—the Sky-Piercing Crossbow, the Stone-Hurling Catapult, the Rolling Wolf Gate, the Thunder Cannon, the Flaming Comets, and more. The internal structures of these weapons would not be deciphered until many years later, and the secrets of the Flaming Comets would not be unveiled until the second technological revolution over thirteen hundred years later.
These mysterious weapons emerged dramatically during the Defense of Chidu and quickly spread throughout the Yanbei Army, playing an immeasurable role in several Northern Expeditionary Wars and the subsequent Defense of Ximeng. Wang Dezi, the Director of the Armaments Department of the Southwest Garrison Commander, earned the reputation as the "Father of Divine Weapons." Yet, paradoxically, this very man repeatedly stated throughout his life, "My wisdom is not even one ten-thousandth of His Highness's," and with his dying breath at the age of one hundred and seven, he shouted, "Long live His Highness!" before passing away.
The future history had yet to arrive, and the great figures of that future history were still trudging through the mire at this very moment.
After suffering over thirty thousand casualties, the Daxia Army finally struggled to the city walls. But just then, the hail of arrows and massive stones from the battlements abruptly ceased. After a brief silence, countless small, silvery-white objects clattered down upon them.
Upon closer inspection, the Daxia soldiers realized they were chunks of ice, and a wave of mocking laughter rippled through their ranks.
Had the Southwest Garrison Commander gone mad? With no more arrows or stones, did they plan to kill people with shards of ice?
But at that moment, a sudden "boom" erupted as a piece of shattered ice exploded. The force of the blast was not immense, but the sharp fragments flew in all directions, embedding themselves like knives into the soldiers' bodies. Those struck in vital spots died instantly, while the wounded elsewhere lost their combat capability immediately. Chaos erupted at the foot of Chidu City as soldiers and horses tumbled in disarray. On the walls, the troops of the Southwest Garrison Commander roared with laughter. The Flaming Comets, simple in construction and abundant in number, were terrifying weapons for close-quarters combat. In an instant, agonized screams filled the air, and a white mist of smoke spread everywhere. The Daxia soldiers wailed in misery, horses neighed in panic, and crimson liquid flowed freely. Whether infantry or cavalry, they clustered together like a pot of boiling water.
With a "splash," large basins of scalding oil were poured down. The moment the oil touched the ground, sparks from the Flaming Comets ignited it, instantly setting a massive fire ablaze below the walls.
Snow melted under the raging flames above, while the chilling cold of the snow beneath remained. The Daxia soldiers finally collapsed like a landslide, and with a unified cry, they turned and fled in retreat!The soldiers and civilians atop the walls of Chidu City could hardly believe their eyes. Watching the Daxia Army retreat in a panicked, overwhelming tide, the people of Chidu and the officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Command wept with joy, embracing one another amid cheers.
"The Daxia soldiers have retreated! The Daxia soldiers have retreated!"
A massive wave of celebration swept across the city walls. Inside the central command headquarters, Chu Qiao was drafting an attack order when she suddenly heard the news from the front. The young woman, who hadn't slept for three days and nights, froze in place. Sitting upright, she remained motionless as the blazing sunset outside cast blood-red light across the land, its crimson glow falling upon her face and making her appear ethereal and unreal.
"Commander! Commander! The Daxia soldiers have retreated! We've won!"
Ping An, dressed in a messenger's uniform and waving a battle sword nearly half his height, rushed in excitedly, only to stop short at the doorway. There he saw the young woman sitting quietly at her desk, her expression calm, yet a single glistening tear traced a path down her cheek.
"Commander! Commander!"
The officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Command soon came running. Chu Qiao swiftly wiped away her tears and stood up, transforming back into the sharp and decisive military commander. Striding out of the room, she was met with thunderous cheers as both civilians and soldiers gathered around her, eagerly reporting the battle's progress.
She didn't blame them for their excitement, for such an achievement was truly worthy of anyone's pride. With ten thousand irregular troops against two hundred thousand elite enemy soldiers—aside from the three thousand five hundred previously dispatched—they had suffered fewer than two hundred casualties while annihilating over fifty thousand enemy troops and repelling seventeen enemy assaults.
Henceforth, the Southwest Garrison Command would be ranked among the continent's elite forces. The Battle of Chidu would be recorded in history as the great turning point in the first Northern Expeditionary War!
That evening, as both armies temporarily ceased hostilities, Chu Qiao didn't share the excitement of the mid-level officers. She knew Zhao Yang had lost to her today only because he was unfamiliar with her combat methods and advanced attack techniques, caught off guard by her assault. In tomorrow's battle, he would surely adjust his strategy, making another easy victory impossible.
Moreover, Chief Wang reported to her that during today's battle, three hundred repeating crossbows—a full three-quarters of their total—had been damaged, and most of their arrows had been expended. Although the catapults could be repaired, the city was now reduced to rubble and scorched earth, with giant stones and rolling logs nearly depleted. Aside from the fire projectiles, they had very little offensive materiel left.
Chu Qiao rubbed her temples, frowning as she studied the military map and repeatedly deliberated over several defensive plans. Ping An quietly entered, replaced the teapot, and noticing the charcoal fire had gone out, busied himself with preparing a new basin.
"Ping An, what time is it now?"
The child looked up and replied, "It's already the second watch, Commander. You should rest now—you haven't slept for days."
Chu Qiao's eyes were bloodshot, and she could barely keep them open. Leaning over her desk, she said, "Wake me at the third watch."
"Understood."
It seemed she had just fallen asleep when soldiers outside requested an audience for urgent documents. Ping An whispered impatiently, "The Commander just fell asleep. What is so important that it can't wait until dawn?"
"Ping An, let them in.""Lord Chu!" Four young soldiers, led by Ping An, entered the room. The one at the forefront stepped forward and said, "We are Miss Yu's subordinates. Miss Yu received your letter and sent us with an oral message."
"Miss Yu received my letter?" Chu Qiao was overjoyed, immediately standing up with a face full of pleasant surprise. "What did she say? When can she provide support? Are there detailed strategic plans?"
"My lord, Miss Yu did not specify. She only said you must go to Blue City immediately, as she has important matters to discuss with you."
Chu Qiao frowned upon hearing this and slowly said, "What did you say?"
"My lord, Miss Yu said you must go to Blue City immediately, as she has important matters to discuss with you," the soldier carefully repeated.
Chu Qiao nodded and said, "Did Miss Yu say anything else?"
The soldier replied, "No, my lord."
"Oh, alright. Wait a moment while I pack some belongings." Chu Qiao nodded and said to Ping An, "Ping An, come here. Bring me the heavy fur coat from the room."
Ping An frowned slightly. The clever child said nothing and immediately turned to walk toward the inner room.
At that moment, a soldier who had been kneeling on the ground suddenly grabbed the child's hand. Looking up, he said, "My lord, there's no need for trouble. We have everything prepared. Let's go now."
A cold glint flashed. Quick as lightning, Chu Qiao raised her hand, and an inkstone flew swiftly through the air, striking the soldier's wrist with a thud. A crisp crack sounded as the soldier's hand bone snapped. Despite the severe injury, the soldier, a tough man, did not utter a sound. Ping An, quick-witted, rolled on the ground to evade the attackers' assault and leaped out through the window!
"Capture her!"
Seeing their plan exposed, the leader no longer concealed his intentions. The men lunged at Chu Qiao, each one a skilled combat expert.
Chu Qiao moved swiftly. A cold gleam flashed in her hand as she shook her arm, and a dagger strapped to her forearm slid down. A cold light shimmered in the lamplight, and a man grunted. Fortunately, his reflexes were sharp, and he only suffered a shoulder wound. Chu Qiao braced her hands on the desk, swept her leg sideways, and kicked one of the assassins in the abdomen. The man flew backward, crashing into a bookshelf and shattering two vases on the floor with a clattering sound.
Just then, the door burst open, and over thirty guards rushed in, quickly subduing the assailants.
These were the personal guards Yan Xun had left for Chu Qiao before his departure, tasked with her close protection. Captain Song Qifeng stepped forward and asked in a low, tense voice, "My lord, are you alright? Were you injured?"
"I'm fine," Chu Qiao shook her head and said gravely, "They didn't intend to kill."
Chu Qiao took two steps forward and asked the leader of the assassins, "Who sent you?"
The man gave a bitter smile. "I’d long heard of your exceptional skills, my lord. Seeing them today, you truly live up to your reputation."
"Tell me the truth, and I will spare your life."
"My lord, every word I’ve said is true. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do."
Chu Qiao frowned slightly, her mind racing with fragmented thoughts too fleeting to grasp. She turned to Song Qifeng and asked, "Who allowed them into the city?"
Song Qifeng’s expression turned peculiar as he replied in a low voice, "I do not know, my lord."Chu Qiao glanced around and suddenly asked, "Where's Ping An?"
"Ping An," Song Qifeng replied, "I haven't seen him."
"You haven't seen him?" Chu Qiao's sharp gaze fixed on Song Qifeng. Suddenly, she smiled gently and said, "Oh, he probably went to call for reinforcements, likely to the Southwest Garrison Commander. You must have missed each other. Let's go out and check."
With a swift "shing," over a dozen gleaming blades were suddenly pressed against Chu Qiao's neck. Song Qifeng smiled bitterly and said, "Since you've already guessed, there's no need for me to keep up the act."
Chu Qiao's face turned icy as she watched Song Qifeng untie the four men, her eyes cold and piercing like arrows.
"My lady, I apologize. I am only following orders. I beg your forgiveness for any offense."
Chu Qiao remained calm, her voice cold. "Who do you serve? The Great Alliance Society? Or Daxia?"
Song Qifeng bowed respectfully. "You will know when we arrive."
The man stepped forward. "I know you are highly skilled, my lady. We have no choice but to take these measures. Please cooperate."
With that, they tightly bound Chu Qiao, blindfolding and gagging her.
"Move out!"
At Song Qifeng's command, the group quickly left the room. Soon, a carriage arrived, and Chu Qiao was loaded inside. The carriage sped north.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
Song Qifeng, seated on his horse, replied, "I am the lady's personal guard captain. This is a messenger from Miss Yu of Blue City. We must hurry to Blue City immediately. Here is the lady's command token."
The soldier, recognizing Song Qifeng, immediately became polite. "So it's Commander Song. Please wait, I'll open the city gate right away."
The north gate was not a battlefield, and the guards were the original defenders of Chidu City. Song Qifeng asked, "Aren't you going to inspect the command token?"
"With you here personally, Commander Song, there's no need to check that."
"Haha, thank you, brother."
Chu Qiao's last shred of hope vanished. The horses galloped, and the wind outside the fortress was bitterly cold. Chu Qiao felt a profound sorrow in her heart, as if a knife had been thrust deep. Without her, what would become of Chidu City? Would the officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander think they had been abandoned once again? And what would happen to the citizens who had trusted her so completely?
The sky gradually lightened, marking the end of a long night. At dawn, Chu Qiao was helped down from the carriage and led into a sheltered tent. Once untied, she tore off the blindfold and was startled to see Miss Yu standing gently before her, offering a warm towel.
"Wipe your face," Miss Yu said softly. "You've had a hard night traveling."
"Miss Yu?"
Miss Yu wore a simple white cotton robe. Her face was thin, her eyes sunken, with faint crow's feet at the corners. "It's me."
Chu Qiao's expression shifted from shock to disbelief. Frowning, she asked in a low voice, "Why?"
"This place isn't safe. Beishuo doesn't have much time left. Without you, it's uncertain whether Chidu can survive today. Come with me first, and I'll explain everything on the way."
"Tell me now. Why?"Chu Qiao’s eyes were icy as she stared coldly at this key figure of Yanbei’s armed forces, enunciating each word deliberately: “You knew all along about the situation in Beishuo? You knew how recklessly those inside were acting?”
Miss Yu nodded, her tone calm as she replied, “Yes, I knew.”
“And that Daxia split its forces, forced their way through Helan Mountain, and attacked Chidu City—did you know that?”
“I knew,” Miss Yu said calmly.
“In Beishuo City, Cao Mengtong is conscripting troops on a massive scale, using militia as human shields and brutally harming the people of Yanbei.”
“I knew.”
“The people of Chidu, displaced from their homes, are heading toward Blue City Fortress, with countless freezing or starving to death along the way.”
“I knew.”
“Once Daxia breaks through Chidu, they can attack Beishuo from two fronts. Millions of soldiers and civilians in Beishuo will be left with no place to bury their dead! The entire eastern territory of Yanbei will fall into Daxia’s hands, their military might pressing straight into Yanbei’s heartland. All civilians east of Sunset Mountain will face slaughter by the Daxia Army!”
“I knew.”
From beginning to end, Miss Yu’s expression remained placid. She listened quietly, as if they were merely discussing trivial matters like the daily weather, showing no trace of surprise or fluctuation.
Chu Qiao’s chest heaved, her fists clenched, and she frowned deeply as she asked in a low voice, “Why? Since you knew everything, why didn’t you stop it? Why stand by and watch a favorable situation deteriorate into the chaos of war?”
Miss Yu gazed quietly at Chu Qiao, her eyes gentle and wise, her tone as calm as a flowing stream, as she slowly replied, “A Chu, don’t you understand yet?”
Chu Qiao froze instantly, a terrifying thought slowly rising from the depths of her heart, striking her fragile nerves like a butcher’s blade.
Miss Yu gave a faint smile. “Blue City currently has not a single soldier; all troops from the Sunset Mountains have been withdrawn and redeployed. Not just Blue City—there isn’t a single soldier left in the entire Yanbei heartland. The interior is now an open field; any Daxia soldier who enters would essentially win. I have no power to stop General Cao, nor am I authorized to do so. My mission here is only to take you away. Beyond that, I have received no orders for any other action.”
It was as if she had been suddenly thrown into an icy wilderness. Chu Qiao staggered, nearly collapsing. Her heart tightened as if encased in solid ice, each beat a bloody agony. She took a deep breath but felt her chest blocked. Opening her mouth, she frowned as all the clues gradually connected, forming a terrifying pattern.
“Yan Xun…”
“His Highness is not at Meilin Pass either.”
Those few words shattered all of Chu Qiao’s convictions in an instant. Every thought turned into barbed arrows, piercing deep into her flesh, the pain so intense she could neither speak nor make a sound. She swayed, grabbing a tent pole for support, her chest heaving violently as she gasped for breath, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.
Miss Yu said quietly, “Before His Highness left, he instructed me to take you away. I waited for you in Blue City for a long time, but you never came. Later, I learned there had been trouble on the road, and the Beishuo army was causing chaos. I had no choice but to bring you here this way. I hope you will forgive me.”"You're insane!" A low voice slowly sounded, interspersed with heavy, beast-like panting. Chu Qiao straightened up from her bent position, her eyes bloodshot as she coldly stared at Miss Yu, continuously shaking her head and saying, "This is too insane!"
"Though insane, it's highly effective. His Highness' army has already broken through Changting Province, and over thirty northwestern provinces and commanderies have all submitted. The old Batu family has become history. Currently, Daxia's main forces are all gathered within Yanbei territory, while several border defense armies are concentrated at the borders with Biantang and Huai Song. Their internal military strength is shockingly depleted. Huai Song is already cooperating with us, conducting several large-scale military exercises at Daxia's border to attract the attention of the Xia troops. At this moment, as long as we lure Daxia's forces into Yanbei territory and use the heavy snow and scout troops to cut off their communication channels, speed is crucial in warfare. Within half a month, we can march into Zhenhuang City! Even if the Northern Expedition Army reacts afterward, most of Daxia will already be in our hands. By then, if they attempt to counterattack, they'll surely be blocked outside Yanbei Pass!"
Miss Yu stepped forward, gently brushing away the stray hairs from Chu Qiao's forehead, and said quietly, "A Chu, His Highness knew you wouldn't agree with this proposal, which is why he kept it from you. But that doesn't mean he doesn't trust you. Daxia is attacking with its full national strength - we can withstand one assault, but not a second. The harsh, cold climate of Yanbei severely limits our development. No matter how hard we try, we cannot compete with Daxia's inland regions. Moreover, we have an inherent weakness - the constantly invading Quanrong People. Therefore, only by launching a surprise counterattack and reversing our positions can we establish an invincible stance and completely turn the situation around! You're his closest person - you should understand him."
"So for the sake of this complete strategic shift, you're willing to sacrifice millions of Yanbei soldiers and civilians as your bait and cannon fodder?"
Chu Qiao's voice was icy and weary. She slowly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot, as days of hard work and expectations instantly turned to rubble.
She had once suspected - suspected that Yan Xun's campaign against Meilin Pass was meant to deplete the Second Army's main forces and consolidate his position in Yanbei. But she had never imagined that Yan Xun's ambitions didn't lie in Yanbei at all. Using millions of Yanbei soldiers and civilians as bait, he had set up a massive trap at Beishuo City to draw in all of Daxia's forces. Then, defying all conventions, he led the First Army and elite troops from the Blue City and Sunset Mountain area, sweeping into Daxia's heartland with lightning speed, using rapid military movement and snowstorms to block communications, forcefully invading Daxia's interior and seizing Daxia's territory.
Heh, what an imaginative and insane plan. It would be like Iraq abandoning its homeland to occupy the United States while America was attacking Iraq. When the American expeditionary forces declared victory and turned back, they would find their homeland completely occupied. Such a huge advantage is truly once in a millennium.No wonder he insisted on dividing forces to attack Meilin Pass before the major battle. No wonder he didn't keep me by his side. No wonder he assigned a fool like Cao Mengtong to defend Beishuo and supported Cao Mengtong's suicidal garrison expansion and conscription—all to create the illusion of Yanbei's full-scale counterattack to attract Daxia's attention. No wonder, no wonder, my distress letters vanished without a trace, my guards were all Yan Xun's most trusted confidants, and Blue City raised no objection to Beishuo's reckless actions!
Such profound cunning, such deep scheming, such a terrifying yet meticulous plan—he had arranged everything, leaving no detail overlooked. Such a thorough and detailed battle strategy, such unrestrained imagination, with tightly woven layouts, interlocking steps, and ruthless execution—even she, a highly trained modern military commander, couldn't have conceived it. Yan Xun was truly formidable.
"Miss Yu, do you remember what you said to me when we first met?"
Miss Yu froze, her face turning a shade paler, but she replied slowly, "I said I hoped that one day, there would be no orphans like you left in Yanbei."
"Yes," Chu Qiao smiled bitterly. "You've done an excellent job. Once this battle is won, there will be no orphans like me left in Yanbei—because all the people of Yanbei will be dead."
The woman in white grew somber. After a long silence, she finally murmured, "A nation's path to freedom always comes at a cost."
Chu Qiao shot her a disgusted look and said coldly, "Very well. Let the entire nation of Yanbei perish, and you'll gain wealth and glory, ascending to the pinnacle of power. This is the price the people of Yanbei pay for their desire for freedom!"
"A Chu!" Miss Yu grabbed Chu Qiao's arm urgently. "Don't be so extreme. Strategically, there's nothing wrong with this plan. It's a monumental feat—can't you see that? The gates of Daxia will be thrown open, and the Holy Gold Palace will tremble before the Yanbei cavalry!"
"Don't touch me!" Chu Qiao snapped, her eyes sharp as icy blades. "Strategically flawless, yet you've abandoned the people who supported you! Betrayed the citizens who stood by you unwaveringly in your darkest hours! You've failed their expectations, deceived the trust of millions, and pushed them into a pit of fire! For your own wealth and selfish ambitions, you'd sacrifice tens of millions of lives!"
"Miss Yu!" Chu Qiao's eyes reddened, tears streaming down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard and said slowly, "Why? What's happened to all of you? Have you forgotten everything you once said? All this time, no matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how desperate the situation, I believed you would come to save me. Even traitorous forces like the Southwest Garrison Commander knew to protect the people in such times—why would you abandon them? Do you know? In Chidu City, every household enshrines longevity tablets for you and Mr. Wu. They offer incense three times daily, praying for your long lives. They call you the guardian deities of Yanbei, believing that as long as you exist, there's still hope for Yanbei. They fled their homes displaced, heading to Blue City, unable to even bring food, yet they still remembered to carry your tablets. Go and see how many incense sticks along the road are burning for you. Do you deserve their devotion?"
Miss Yu took a deep breath, her delicate brows tightly furrowed, and said with difficulty, "I do this for the greater good of all under heaven."
"Heh," Chu Qiao sneered coldly, turning away, her back weary and frail. "You can't even protect one region, yet you speak of the greater good for all under heaven? How laughable."Chu Qiao threw open the tent flap and turned to leave. Miss Yu frowned, quickly following her out and saying gravely, "Chu Qiao, are you leaving?"
"Yanbei is not my homeland, but it has always been the faith of my life. If you abandon it, I will protect it. Tell Yan Xun that if Chu Qiao dies, he should not seek revenge for her. She did not die by another's hand—she died by his."
"Stop!" Miss Yu said sternly. "I won't let you go!"
Chu Qiao turned back, smiling coldly. "You can kill me. Unless I am a corpse, Chu Qiao will never take a single step beyond Yanbei."
Drawing a dagger from her boot and pressing it against her neck, Chu Qiao gave a bitter smile, then slowly walked to her horse and mounted it.
"The great mistake has not yet been made. It is not too late to turn back now. Tell him I will be waiting for him atop the walls of Beishuo City! Giddy up!"
The girl's fur cloak billowed in the wind as her horse's hooves trod through the snow, disappearing into the distance in an instant.
Song Qifeng stepped forward anxiously. "Miss, how could you let Lady Chu leave? His Highness repeatedly warned us not to tell her about this..."
Miss Yu smiled faintly, her expression detached. She slowly raised her head, the morning sunlight illuminating her face, which was as pale as paper, almost translucent.
My beloved Yanbei, Zhong Yu is powerless. All I can do is this.
"Send a message to His Highness: Beishuo is in critical danger. Lady Chu is holding fast at Chidu. If reinforcements do not reach Beishuo within five days, Yanbei will surely fall, and no one will be spared."
—————*—
At this moment, Chidu City was eerily silent. The people had searched the entire city but found no trace of Lady Chu. Finally, from the guards at the north gate, they learned that last night, her personal escort had accompanied a carriage out of the city.
A desperate thought flashed through everyone's minds. A soldier in tattered clothes, trembling in the heavy snow, stammered, "Could it be that the Lady has abandoned us?"
Before he could finish speaking, a soldier from the Southwest Garrison kicked him to the ground! He Xiao's younger brother, He Qi, said coldly, "The Lady would never abandon us! Back in Zhenhuang City, even in such dire circumstances, she never gave up on us. She won't now!"
"Then where has she gone?" a Chidu City supply officer cried out tearfully. "Officials are all the same!"
The militia in Chidu City grew restless, with some echoing the sentiment: "It must be true! She saw we were about to lose and sneaked away!"
"I told you, you can't trust what officials say, especially a woman!"
"Heavens! Has the Lady really abandoned us? What are we going to do?"
The crowd grew more agitated, and some began to weep in despair. Dark clouds churned on the horizon, and the fierce wind whipped up the snow on the ground, like paper money scattered over a grave.
"What are you all doing standing here? The enemy is about to attack!"
Commander He Xiao suddenly strode over, his face dark as he shouted sternly.
"Commander He!" someone ran up to him and said. "The Lady has abandoned us and run off on her own!"
"Impossible!" He Xiao cut him off coldly, his voice firm. "I don't believe it, and none of the soldiers of the Southwest Garrison believe it. The Lady is not that kind of person."
"But...""I only want to hear such words once. If I hear anyone slandering the Commander and tarnishing her reputation again, they will become the enemy of our Southwest Garrison Command!"
The man drew his waist saber, its gleaming blade shimmering in the air.
"What are you still standing around for? To the battlements!"
After a night's rest, the Daxia Army no longer charged as recklessly as the day before, while the Southwest Garrison Command had lost their previous fierce offensive momentum. Arrows and rolling stones were gradually depleted, and by afternoon, the fire grenades were completely exhausted. By noon, Daxia soldiers had begun breaching the battlements. The Daxia Army built human ladders, fearlessly scaling upward. Archers provided dense covering fire, their arrows darkening the sky like torrential rain. The walls were in disarray, with soldiers constantly falling to arrows.
A young soldier, struck by over a dozen arrows in vital areas, leaned against the wall when comrades tried to relieve him. He smiled innocently, his teeth white and eyes bright. Waving them off, he said, "When the Commander returns, tell her our entire battalion had a crush on her." With that, he leaped from the wall, using his body as a rolling stone to crash onto the Daxia human ladder. Cries of despair rose like a hopeless battle hymn.
Close-quarters combat erupted as enemies swarmed the battlements. The first defensive line completely collapsed, with chaotic archery and arrows flying everywhere. The walls echoed with clashes and shouts, every section in critical condition, littered with corpses and carnage.
More Daxia troops poured in, blood staining the entire wall and every brick. Even the militia now rushed to the battlements—no longer trembling with fear, for death was imminent. Whether they laid down arms or fought, death awaited, but at least they could buy their families precious moments to flee. They hacked with blades, stabbed with swords, smashed with bricks, and bit with teeth—no method was spared. The brutality of war was fully revealed. Situ Jing watched from below, his eyes wide with shock as he asked his subordinate, "Are you certain those are just militia up there?"
That day, the river at Chidu thawed in deep winter. Layers of hot blood covering the icy surface actually melted the river's top layer, though it quickly refroze.
Heaven and earth turned crimson, strewn with mangled corpses. A soldier whose legs were severed picked up his own severed limbs and hurled them down the wall. A Daxia soldier climbing up was so terrified he froze, then plummeted straight down onto the frozen snowfield.
The entire seventh squad of the Southwest Garrison Command had perished, leaving only one messenger. He stood on the battlements, using his comrades' corpses as weapons to smash against climbing Daxia soldiers. When no bodies remained, he himself suffered multiple wounds. The young warrior shouted, "Long live the Commander!" before embracing a Daxia soldier and leaping off the wall.
The battlements were repeatedly captured and retaken. He Xiao, wounded multiple times, fought on stubbornly. Standing atop the wall, he roared, "Brothers! Don't disgrace the Commander! Even if we die here today, she will surely avenge us! Charge!"The soldiers' fighting spirit was ignited. They abruptly rose to their feet, their faltering bodies suddenly filled with strength once more, brandishing their war blades as they clashed with the enemy.
Heaven and earth merged into a chaotic yellow haze. A fierce wind swept snowflakes down in flurries, the scent of bloodlust permeating the entire battlefield. The Daxia Army continued to pour in relentlessly. The battle raged from dawn till noon, and from noon till dusk. Standing on the high slope, Zhao Yang gazed into the distance and could not help but sigh, "The Southwest Garrison Commander truly is an army of tigers and wolves!"
After the city walls were breached once again, an aura of despair finally spread over the battlements of Chidu City. A young soldier charged at the enemy with his blade. He was already completely exhausted—this was a suicidal last stand. But just then, a flash of sword light suddenly gleamed before his eyes. A fierce figure rushed forward abruptly, slicing off the head of that Daxia soldier with a single stroke. Blood spurted out like a fountain.
The soldier seemed dazed, only snapping out of it when the figure ahead turned around and roared, "What are you standing there for? Charge with me!"
"My lord?" The soldier let out an incredulous cry. "My lord! The lord has returned!"
All the exhausted officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander turned around in unison. Amid the chaotic crowd, they saw a young woman holding a sharp sword, her posture upright and her moves fierce. Who else could it be but Chu Qiao?
"The lord has not abandoned us!"
No one knew who shouted it first, but in an instant, the entire battlements of Chidu City erupted in jubilation. The soldiers, who had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly rose with renewed vigor, as if they had gained boundless strength in an instant.
The lord is still here—we will not lose!
This thought swept over them like a tidal wave. The Daxia Army watched in horror as these men seemed reborn in an instant, charging forward with their war blades, roaring like wolves and tigers, with none of the exhaustion they had shown moments before.
"Brothers! Charge with me!" He Xiao bellowed, cleaving the head of a Daxia soldier with a single stroke. "Long live the lord!"
"Long live the lord!"
"Long live the lord!!!"
Deafening cheers erupted like a tidal wave. Watching the defeated soldiers retreat like a receding tide, Zhao Yang slowly raised his head, finally forced to acknowledge this terrifying reality.
"Your Highness," Situ Jing said with a furrowed brow, "if we fail to capture this place, we will have a hard time explaining it to the Third Prince."
"Do you think I don't want to capture it?"
Zhao Yang sighed deeply. Gazing at the not-so-tall Chidu City, he suddenly felt as if it were an insurmountable fortress.
"Chu Qiao..."
Night finally fell. The Daxia forces gradually withdrew. In the granary, Chu Qiao found Ping An tied up in a bundle. The little fellow had actually fallen asleep and, upon waking up and seeing Chu Qiao, cheered with delight.
The day's battle had taken a heavy toll on Chidu City. Over two thousand soldiers of the main force, the Southwest Garrison Commander, had fallen in battle. Combined with the previous fifteen hundred casualties, the Southwest Garrison Commander's ranks now numbered fewer than three thousand, with less than two thousand still combat-ready. The militia suffered the heaviest losses, with more than twenty thousand casualties. The city walls were severely damaged. If the enemy had large-scale siege weapons like catapults, they could likely shatter the entire wall in less than a day.The air was thick with the scent of blood, and corpses lay everywhere. Medical supplies in the city had long been exhausted, leaving wounded soldiers with nothing but water and coarse cloth. At night, the ground echoed with horrifying screams and moans of pain. On a side street farther away, rows of motionless, silent bodies lay neatly arranged, their young faces covered by yellow burlap sacks.
With each step, Chu Qiao’s feet grew heavier. Above, the dark sky was filled with the mournful caws of crows carried by the northern wind, their cries chilling to the bone.
Never in her life had she felt so isolated and unsupported, so utterly adrift. All her hopes and dreams had shattered, yet she had to stand tall for the soldiers who looked to her. She had to show them that their leader remained resolute, that she was still holding strong, that she would lead them to a path of survival.
The cold wind whipped through her thin frame. From afar came the low, somber tunes of the soldiers, like wind whistling through a pipe, carrying a sorrowful tone. Following the sound, Chu Qiao turned a corner and saw a young soldier with a severed leg. He was a handsome lad, still beardless, his delicate features resembling those of a scholarly youth. One of his legs was gone below the knee, yet he sat there without a cry of pain, a faint smile on his face. His eyes were clear and bright, as if recalling happier times. Softly, he sang:
"Farewell, my dear maiden, I take up arms to defend our home.
The enemy’s blade hangs over our heads,
I must protect you and our paradise.
Perhaps I’ll never see your beautiful eyes again,
Perhaps I’ll never hear you sing by my ear.
But believe me, I’ll always remember our homeland,
Where you stood beneath the blooming azaleas,
Waving and smiling, whispering, 'Return soon.'"
Chu Qiao stood silently for a long time, until the soldier’s voice gradually faded away. Snowflakes drifted down, settling on his face without melting, slowly accumulating.
The wind tugged at her robes like a swaying old dream. The sky was vast and desolate, the world so large, yet they seemed abandoned by all of it. Chu Qiao thought of many things—the aspirations of her youth, the convictions she held, the fervent hopes and expectations. She remembered, years ago, in a cold, dark prison cell, how a young boy had tucked her hand into his embrace, warming her. Yan Xun, with his bright eyes, had told her so much about Yanbei—the white snow, the green grass, the herds of horses, the Huolei Plain, the Huihui Mountain, the hardworking and kind-hearted people. A land free from war, peaceful and tranquil, like a hidden paradise.
Yanbei, Yanbei…
Chu Qiao slowly raised her head, a single tear tracing down her cheek. Her back remained straight as a spear, while the heavy snow drifted down, settling on her shoulders.
If no one else will protect you, then I will. Together, we will wait for their return.No one had expected Beishuo City's collapse to be so swift and so utterly devastating. In less than five days, Beishuo had been completely routed under Zhao Qi's ferocious assault. Had it not been for the defensive measures Chu Qiao left behind, the golden dragon banners of Daxia would surely be flying over Yanbei's city walls by now.
At this moment, Cao Mengtong stood atop the battlements, watching the Daxia Army swarm forward like locusts, feeling as if heaven and earth were trembling. He couldn't comprehend where his million-strong army had disappeared to. How could he, holding such a formidable fortress, suffer such a complete defeat? But there was no time left for such reflections. Lu Zhi rushed up and shouted, "General, we must flee! If we don't go now, the Daxia Army will breach the walls!"
"Flee?" Cao Mengtong turned slowly, his expression dazed. "Flee?"
"Yes!" Lu Zhi cried. "Even Xia An has fled with the Beishuo troops. I've heard Chidu City hasn't fallen—that girl named Chu Qiao is holding it with her forces. We can escape to Blue City from there. My lord, hurry! Any later and it will be too late!"
"Flee?" Cao Mengtong responded sluggishly. In just a few days, his hair had turned completely white. He murmured, "No, I cannot flee."
"General! That old coward Xia An has already run. He was the garrison commander of Beishuo! If he's fled, why should we remain here?"
Cao Mengtong sighed bitterly, his aged eyes meeting Lu Zhi's. "He may flee, but I cannot. Lu Zhi, I am the supreme commander resisting the Daxia northern expedition. If I escape, Beishuo City is finished."
"Whether you go or not, Beishuo is done for, General! Don't be stubborn!"
Cao Mengtong shook his head. "No, Lu Zhi. You go if you must."
Lu Zhi stared in disbelief, then exclaimed, "My lord, are you truly not leaving?"
"Truly not," Cao Mengtong affirmed.
"Then I won't leave either!" the rough-mannered man roared. "What is death? You promoted me, cared for me, like a father to me. If we die, I'll die fighting alongside you!"
Tears welled in Cao Mengtong's eyes, moved. He clasped Lu Zhi's shoulder. "Adversity reveals true loyalty. Lu Zhi, I did not misplace my trust in you."
"My lord, grant me twenty thousand troops! I will charge out and engage the enemy in a decisive battle!"
"Good!" Cao Mengtong declared with fervor. "I give you my personal guard—the most loyal in Yanbei and the finest of the Second Army. Lu Zhi, do not disappoint me!"
"I will not fail your trust, General!"
Half an hour later, the northern gate swung open. Lu Zhi led Cao Mengtong's personal guard, laden with the city's gold and treasures, and fled in panic. Watching his beloved commander abandon him from the tower, Cao Mengtong coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the battlements.
Another wave of the Daxia Army's assault began. Panic swept the city as people scrambled in all directions. The northern gate was sealed by military law officers dispatched by Cao Mengtong, barring any further escape.Tumbling, roaring, battle cries—blood saturated the entire city. Daxia's army had advanced to within two hundred paces of the city walls. They set up ladders and began climbing once more. The sun gradually set, staining the world crimson. This was the final assault of the day, as the enemy sounded the charge, rallying their soldiers to capture Beishuo City today!
"Surrender! Those who surrender shall live!"
Daxia dispatched over three hundred soldiers with booming voices to shout these words repeatedly beneath the city walls. From time to time, some civilians in Beishuo City attempted to open the gates and surrender, but they were all executed by officers from the military law division. Screams and the clamor of battle drew nearer, so close that one could almost smell the blood on the Daxia soldiers.
"General! General! The Third Division needs reinforcements!"
A blood-soaked officer scrambled forward, stumbling and crawling. Cao Mengtong looked at him and slowly shook his head. The elderly general drew his sword and took two menacing steps forward. How many years had it been since he last fought on the battlefield? For so long, he had been mocked and called the "fleeing general." Yet the one time in his life he wanted to be brave, he had made a catastrophic mistake. He couldn't help but think: if only he had listened to that girl named Chu Qiao from the start. But then he shook his head with a bitter smile—what use was it to think of that now? He said slowly, "I am the last reinforcement."
"General!"
The officer froze, tears suddenly streaming down his face as he sobbed, "For a general of sixty years to take up arms himself—it is my failure!"
The old general raised his arm and said gravely, "Let us die together!"
"Yes!"
At that moment, a sharp sound erupted outside the city. Urgent drumbeats echoed from the Daxia Army camp. The Daxia soldiers below the walls paused in confusion, then turned back in panic.
Cao Mengtong and the officer from the Third Corps were also stunned. Lifting their heads, they saw a dark shadow emerge on the distant horizon. That shadow soon swelled into a stream, spreading from a point to a surface, growing and expanding until, abruptly, the black-armored legion surged over the horizon. They charged forward with thunderous speed, a white banner with red clouds fluttering above them like a blazing flame!
"Reinforcements are here!"
Deafening cheers erupted from the walls of Beishuo City. Soldiers wept with joy, shouting loudly.
"It's our troops! Our reinforcements have arrived!"
"The Southwest Garrison Commander! It's Staff Officer Chu!"
"Lady Chu is here! We're saved!"
Instantly, the black-armored cavalry let out a earth-shaking roar: "Fight for freedom!"
With disciplined ranks and swift assault speed, accompanied by a low rumble like distant thunder, their numbers swelled—twenty to thirty thousand strong, all mounted on fast steeds. They held their sabers at an angle, controlling their horses with their legs alone. Bathed in the twilight glow, thousands of warriors galloped forth in dense formations, sweeping forward like a storm!
"The Southwest Garrison Commander! It's the rebel Southwest Garrison Commander!"
In contrast to the cheers from Beishuo's walls, the Daxia Army erupted in cries of despair. Their massive ranks, caught off guard by a rear assault, had no time to reorganize. Moreover, the Southwest Army led by Zhao Qi was far less combat-effective than the Northwest Army under Zhao Yang, and the Southwest Garrison Commander's reputation was formidable. Instantly, their rear lines collapsed into chaos and disarray.
"Long live Lady Chu!"
Soldiers on Beishuo's walls cheered wildly, many embracing each other, tears streaming down their faces.
"My lady!" He Xiao rushed forward, shouting, "The enemy outnumbers us! We shouldn't engage head-on!"
Chu Qiao shook her head coldly and said firmly, "We are fresh troops, striking with surprise and unstoppable momentum. The Daxia Army doesn't know our strength—this is a heaven-sent opportunity. If we don't win this battle, we'll never have another chance to prevail!"The army surged forth with overwhelming momentum. Before the central command tent of the Daxia Army could relay orders to the rear, their nearly hundred-thousand-strong rear forces were already thrown into disarray by the enemy’s first assault, with soldiers and horses tumbling in chaos. Chu Qiao gave the order: ignore the scattered troops, focus the entire army’s charge on shattering the central camp!
The nightmare for the Daxia Army had begun. Though numbering only tens of thousands, this force was distinguished by clear banners, high morale, and astonishing speed. They moved like lightning, their blades flashing, displaying incredible agility and swiftness. Wherever they passed, panic and disorder spread like wildfire.
“Maintain formation! Charge with me!”
He Xiao led the charge, a standard-bearer close behind him, hoisting the white banner adorned with red clouds. Chu Qiao, positioned within the army, spurred her horse forward. The soldiers, casting aside all fear of death, unleashed the long-suppressed silence and frustration that had burdened them. The army roared like a dragon, sweeping through the Daxia formations.
“Counterattack! Reform the ranks!” Zhao Qi, mounted on his horse, shouted desperately. Striving to stabilize his troops, he disregarded the warnings of his personal guard and advanced to the battlefield’s edge. Just then, an arrow, as if guided by eyes, shot toward him. A guard threw himself in front of Zhao Qi, but the arrow pierced through his chest in a spray of blood. Stunned, Zhao Qi tumbled from his horse, narrowly escaping death in a disheveled state.
The enemy army advanced with lightning speed. Recognizing Zhao Qi, Chu Qiao—her gaze sharp—leapt from her horse. With a swift stroke of her sword, she planted her foot on the man’s back and, in a flash of silver, severed his head before he could even cry out!!!
“Zhao Qi is dead! Surrender now!”
“Boom!”
Like a thunderclap erupting on flat ground, the forty-thousand-strong guard force crumbled under a single enemy assault. Chu Qiao, slender yet imposing, sat tall on her horse, holding Zhao Qi’s head aloft. Her eyes were piercing, her back straight.
They had marched a hundred li in silence, swift as the wind, fierce as wolves. Charging through enemy lines, breaking formations, seizing the commander’s head from amidst tens of thousands—such audacity marked her as the greatest general of the era!
The Daxia Army fell into utter chaos. From the city wall, Cao Mengtong witnessed the scene and decisively shouted, “Open the gates! Open the gates! All troops, charge!”
The gates of Beishuo City swung open at last. Soldiers who had once lacked the will to fight now poured out in unison. In that moment, the Daxia Army’s defeat was sealed.
On October 27th, Chu Qiao abandoned Chidu, setting the city ablaze. The flames halted Zhao Yang’s advance, forcing him to watch helplessly as Chu Qiao led her fewer than ten thousand troops away. On the road, however, Chu Qiao encountered General Lu Zhi, who was fleeing Beishuo in haste to reach Chidu. Upon learning of his betrayal, Cao Mengtong’s personal guard mutinied on the spot, cutting Lu Zhi to pieces. The twenty-thousand-strong guard force then joined the ranks of the Southwest Garrison Commander.
Under Chu Qiao’s leadership, they circled behind the enemy and launched a surprise attack on the Huolei Plain before the gates of Beishuo, dealing a heavy blow to the arrogant Daxia Army.In this battle, over seventy thousand enemy troops were annihilated, with the majority trampled to death by warhorses during their retreat. Thirty thousand were captured. Chu Qiao, commander of the Southwest Garrison, personally slew the enemy's supreme commander—Zhao Qi, the Third Prince and a formidable contender for the Daxia throne—dealing an immeasurable blow to the Daxia Army.
Exactly eight years had passed since the Battle of Huolei Plain. Witnessed by all of Yanbei, Daxia now paid a devastating price for its actions that day.
That very night, the Fourteenth Prince of Daxia, Zhao Yang, led reinforcements to regroup the remnants of the Southern Army. Mobilizing five hundred thousand troops, he once again laid siege to Beishuo City.
Meanwhile, in Menglai Province deep within Daxia's heartland, Yan Xun finally received a carrier pigeon message from Miss Yu. After reading the letter, he gazed profoundly toward the no-longer-distant ancient capital of Zhenhuang, standing alone for a very long time. Eventually, he returned to the central command tent and issued an order that stunned everyone:
"Break camp tonight and return to reinforce Beishuo!"
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