When Yan Xun received the news and rushed to the open ground, the battle had long ended. Zhuge Yue's forces had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only corpses and weapons strewn across the ground. The assassination squad, which had been highly valued by Yan Xun for years, was completely annihilated—not a single one of the five hundred survived. Gazing at the chaotic mess of bodies, Yan Xun felt a throbbing in his temples. The man stood on the snow-covered ground in a black fur cloak, the earth stained crimson around him. He stood amidst it all, exuding a murderous aura that struck fear into anyone who saw him.
"Your Majesty," Cheng Yuan stood slightly bowed at his side, speaking respectfully, "Shall I immediately return to gather our men? They are in our territory—how could we let him escape?"
Yan Xun's gaze was profound as he stared at the corpses, some of which had not yet closed their eyes. He could almost envision the brutal battle that had just taken place. Cheng Yuan, growing anxious, asked again, "Your Majesty?"
"Gather the troops at once."
Seeing that Yan Xun had accepted his suggestion, Cheng Yuan nodded repeatedly with delight and asked, "How many does Your Majesty require?"
"Bring the entire reorganized Black Hawk Army."
"Ah?" Even someone as composed as Cheng Yuan was taken aback, exclaiming in surprise, "Your Majesty, the Black Hawk Army has just finished its rest and recruitment—it numbers over two hundred thousand. Zhuge Yue only brought less than three hundred men. Is... is such a large force necessary?"
Yan Xun let out a faint, cold snort, his eyes fixed on the vast, white snowfield where the invisible enemy lay. His gloomy eyes narrowed slightly as he said icily, "Killing him is equivalent to cutting off half of Zhao Che's head and severing one of Daxia's arms. It would have a greater impact than slaughtering two hundred thousand Daxia soldiers. Tell the soldiers: upon sighting Zhuge Yue, execute him on the spot, regardless of whether he is alive or dead. Whoever cuts off his head, I will reward with a generalship."
"Yes!"
Cheng Yuan responded sharply, then turned and galloped away on his horse. The hooves kicked up flurries of snow across the plain. Yan Xun stood silently, and after a long while, he murmured softly, "This time, I will make sure you have no way to escape."
That day, military movements along the eastern front of Yanbei were highly active. The newly reorganized Black Hawk Army, under General Cheng Yuan's command, was deployed under the pretext of field training, but in reality, they headed inland into Yanbei. The Daxia officials responsible for monitoring the Yanbei Army found this strange and reported it truthfully to Daxia's Military Affairs Department. The civil officials there analyzed the situation for a long time and concluded that Yanbei was likely experiencing a severe snowstorm, causing significant civilian casualties and forcing Yanbei to mobilize troops for disaster relief and suppression. The officials in the Military Affairs Department greeted this conclusion with enthusiastic applause, both delighted at Yan Xun's misfortune and relieved that the eastern front had one less army to worry about. They promptly reported this "good news" to the central camp of Daxia's Northern Expedition Army. However, Zhao Che's military affairs officer deemed the matter trivial. Even without the Black Hawk Army, the current strength of the Northern Expedition Army was insufficient to confront the combined First and Second Armies. Daxia's battle plans had long been set, and everything was to wait until the following spring, after the conflicts in the north and with Biantang were resolved. Thus, he naturally withheld this "insignificant" message, not wanting to disturb the already overburdened Prince Zhao Che.Often, it is these seemingly insignificant individuals and their trivial thoughts that alter the course of history. For instance, at this moment, Zhao Che—the only person aware of Zhuge Yue's journey—had lost this critical intelligence, along with the opportunity to issue timely notifications and dispatch reinforcements for cover.
Yet, despite this, Yan Xun's plan was not proceeding smoothly. A day later, battle reports arrived one after another, nearly driving the assembled generals to fury.
The entire five-hundred-strong Third Squadron of the First Light Cavalry Battalion of the Black Hawk Army was annihilated, with no survivors.
The five-hundred-strong Fourth Light Cavalry Squadron was ambushed and riddled with arrows, their bodies resembling human sieves.
The Seventeenth Reconnaissance Unit of the Light Cavalry, comprising seven hundred men, vanished without a trace. Staff analysis concluded that all of them had likely gotten lost in the snowstorm.
Six subsequent reconnaissance squads, each with twenty men, also disappeared without a trace. Not a single signal was sent, nor did anyone return to report.
The Archery Unit entered Songlu Ridge. No one knew why they went in, just as no one knew why they never came out—because the two infantry units sent to search for them also went missing.
Rout, defeat, annihilation, disappearance... The battle reports kept coming, and Yan Xun's expression grew increasingly grim. The assembled officers were all on high alert. One elderly officer tremblingly suggested, "Perhaps... we should consolidate our forces. Splitting up is too dangerous."
"Nonsense!" A Jing, who was also present in the army but held a far lower rank than Cheng Yuan and sat at the very end of the officers' line, retorted coldly, "The enemy has fewer than three hundred men, while we have a full two hundred thousand troops. With such a disparity, you still want to consolidate our forces?"
The old general attempted to argue, "But the enemy's combat strength is formidable—each of them can take on a hundred..."
"I also oppose consolidation," Cheng Yuan interjected. "The inland region is vast and sparsely populated, and with this snowstorm, three hundred men can easily hide anywhere. If we consolidate two hundred thousand troops into one force, we become a larger target, making it easier for the enemy to evade us. Your Majesty, I suggest we encircle and trap them. As long as we block all routes, they will have no choice but to reveal themselves."
"Has General Cheng forgotten the Battle of Caoqiu? You said the same thing back then," A Jing shot him a cold glance and sneered. "Set up barricades on all routes, deploy the entire army, not even sparing mountain paths and trails. At the time, you confidently claimed that not even a mouse could slip past your watch. Yet, a month later, Zhuge Yue was sitting comfortably in Wild Goose Cry Pass, eating and sleeping, while we were exhausted like wretched fools."
Cheng Yuan's face darkened at the remark, but he remained silent and turned to look at Yan Xun. Everyone knew the Battle of Caoqiu was a sore subject for Yan Xun. While Cheng Yuan bore some responsibility, Yan Xun, as the commander whose camp was ambushed, was ultimately accountable. Yet, Yan Xun showed no change in expression, as if he hadn't heard a word. His eyes were cold as frost, calm and unruffled.With a whoosh, A Jing, clad in heavy iron armor, pushed aside the small table and rose to his feet. Taking two steps forward, he spoke solemnly to Yan Xun: "Your Majesty, Zhuge Yue only has three hundred men. It's impossible for him to have inflicted over three thousand casualties on us and retreated unscathed, yet we haven't seen a single Daxia corpse. This means he took all the wounded with him. His numbers were already small, and now with the burden of casualties, their combat effectiveness must be greatly diminished. I request permission to lead a thousand men in pursuit—I will surely accomplish the mission."
Yan Xun's gaze was like dark waves in a vast sea, calmly sweeping over A Jing's face. Outside the tent, fierce winds whipped snow across the wilderness, yet none of it was colder than Yan Xun's eyes. He weighed the matter carefully, like a cunning Wolf King deep in thought.
A Jing? A Jing's capabilities were considerable. The previous suppression had somewhat smoothed his edges. His request to lead the charge was undoubtedly to prove himself. Yet, caution was necessary—after all, he was closely connected to A Chu. What variables might arise if A Chu learned of this?
The tent fell into silence. Everyone watched Yan Xun, awaiting his command. Time ticked by, the sand in the hourglass slowly falling. Suddenly, a warhorse's long neigh pierced the air. A Jing rushed out a few steps to see over two hundred cavalry charging forth. The leading officer, drenched in blood, shouted, "We have captured the enemy commander!"
Instantly, the entire tent stirred. Yan Xun's brow furrowed deeply, his eyes like frozen mirror lakes, concealing turbulent undercurrents raging like tides.
The world was a vast expanse of white, with goose-feather snowflakes swirling wildly, cloaking everything in silver. The first light cavalry unit of five hundred had set out together, but fewer than three hundred returned—a testament to the brutality of the battle. The unit commander, Lu He, covered in blood with an arrow wound in his shoulder, dismounted and knelt on one knee before Yan Xun. "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission. We have captured Zhuge Yue, the Marshal of the Northwest Forces of Daxia."
A chorus of cheers erupted. Over the past year at Wild Goose Cry Pass, the Yanbei Army had suffered countless losses at Zhuge Yue's hands. This man was a peerless strategist, unpredictable and audacious, with fierce generals under his command and soldiers willing to die for him. He had defeated the Yanbei Army in nine out of ten battles. Moreover, he represented the Daxia nobility's stance toward Yanbei and their support for Daxia, his influence spanning multiple fronts. With him gone, the tide of war would shift dramatically.
Unlike the others' joy, Yan Xun showed no unusual expression. He looked at Lu He and said gravely, "Bring him forward."
"Bring him forward!"
Lu He turned and issued the order. Immediately, a bound man was brought in. Dressed in an expensive sable fur robe, he was wounded in multiple places, with five or six arrows embedded in his right leg, rendering him unable to stand. Upon seeing Yan Xun, he slowly lifted his head, his gaze cold, a faint, disdainful smile curling his lips. "Young Master Yan, it's been a long time."
Yan Xun's eyes twitched sharply, his presence dark and somber. He said slowly, "Yue Qi?"
"Young Master Yan has a good memory. No wonder you could devise so many despicable and sinister tricks against my young master—you must have quite the mind for it." Yue Qi chuckled grimly, a bloody scar slashed across his face, the flesh torn open, stripping away his former handsomeness and charm. His smile was like that of a ghostly fiend.Yan Xun remained unmoved, his voice icy as he said, "Where is Zhuge Yue?"
Yue Qi let out a loud laugh, as if he had just heard the funniest joke, and retorted, "Has Young Master Yan gone mad? How could you ask such a foolish question?"
"Drag him away and execute him."
Yan Xun turned away coldly, his voice low as he gave the order. The imperial guards immediately stepped forward and restrained Yue Qi. From behind, Yue Qi's voice rang out lightly, carrying a carefree laugh as if he were simply going to a meal: "Yan Xun, you are no soldier—you are nothing but a petty schemer who relies on deceit. You are no match for my young master. I will linger a moment longer on the road to the underworld, waiting for you."
"Is that so?" Yan Xun's voice was cold and deep, like a dust-covered bell, as he slowly turned back, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Then wait."
"Sister, take your time walking, ahead lies the mountain gully. Brother waits on the hill, waiting for you to join me..."
Amid the swirling snow, Yue Qi was dragged farther away, his song still echoing in the wind. Yan Xun stood in the snowstorm, his face as cold as frost, gradually enveloped by the wind and snow.
"Your Majesty," Lu He said nervously, "I am guilty. I was careless and deceived by him, but I now know the whereabouts of that dog Zhuge. I will pursue him immediately."
Yan Xun glanced at the sword at his waist and said, "Give it to me."
Lu He was even more startled and quickly untied the sword from his waist, handing it over while sweating profusely. "This is that man's sword. I... I was just about to present it to Your Majesty."
The sword was four feet long, entirely dark green, with faint red patterns on the blade that resembled blood. It was Zhuge Yue's personal sword, Moon Breaker—a weapon Yan Xun was all too familiar with.
"Sun Cai, take this sword immediately and intercept Lady Chu. She should be on her way back to Shangshen. Tell her that Zhuge Yue led troops to attack the grain supplies in Yuegong City, where I happened to be. The imperial guard suffered losses, and I was wounded by the sword. Now I am besieged, and she must bring reinforcements to Yuegong City at once. Remember, take a detour through Nanhe Mountain to create the illusion that you escaped from Yuegong and encountered her by chance. Understood?"
The young general knelt on the ground and said solemnly, "Understood."
"Nian Qing, go to Yuegong City immediately with my oral decree for the garrison there. Tell them they must simulate frequent troop movements within a day to create the appearance of a siege."
"Yes, I will go at once."
"Cheng Yuan, immediately gather the Black Hawk Army and divide it into five routes heading to Yuegong. Follow behind Lady Chu, keeping a low profile but giving the impression of pursuit. Do not engage in direct combat. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Qi Zhi, accompany Nian Qing to Yuegong. Along the way, instruct all prefectures and counties to close their gates, deploy troops, and set up defenses to block the enemy."
"Yes."
"Huo An!"
"Your servant is here." A soldier in Xiuli Army uniform stood to the side, head bowed, his features obscured, and replied respectfully, "Your orders, please."
"Follow Lu He immediately. When you see Zhuge Yue, you know what to say."
Huo An knelt on the ground, his voice low as he said, "I understand. I will not fail Your Majesty's trust."
As the various troops departed one after another, Yan Xun remained standing in place and said slowly, "A Jing."
A Jing quickly stepped forward, excitement in his voice, and said, "Your servant is here. Your orders, Your Majesty.""Go to Huai Song. Check on the military provisions for next spring's campaign."
A Jing froze in disbelief, raising his voice incredulously. "Now?"
"Yes," Yan Xun turned around, his gaze sharp and his lips cold as he enunciated each word clearly, "Now."
The wind grew increasingly fierce. Yan Xun stood unwavering in the cold, clad in a black fur cloak. The sun was shrouded by dark clouds, casting a bleak, pale gloom over the surroundings. The harsh winter was desolate, and the shadow of war loomed.
——
A heavy snowstorm was forecast for that night. Just as Chu Qiao had finished setting up camp, the sound of urgent hoofbeats came from due north. He Xiao led his troops forward and soon returned with a young officer. The man was covered in blood, his hair disheveled. Upon seeing Chu Qiao, he threw himself at her feet as if she were a savior and cried out, "Thank heavens! Commander Chu, you’re here! Please lead your troops to rescue His Majesty at once—there’s no time to lose!"
Clang!* Chu Qiao’s Lingering Crimson Sword fell to the ground. Her eyes widened as she stepped forward and demanded coldly, "What did you say? Repeat it!"
"The Daxia dog Zhuge Yue secretly infiltrated Yanbei and set fire to the winter provisions in Yuegong City. His Majesty happened to be nearby and, unaware of the danger, took only two thousand men to rescue Yuegong. But he was ambushed by that Zhuge dog, struck by multiple sword wounds, and can no longer mount his horse. Now, fifty thousand Daxia troops have surrounded Yuegong, and His Majesty is trapped inside. I led three hundred men in a desperate breakout to deliver this message, but they all died along the way. I’m the only one who made it out."
Chu Qiao frowned deeply and said gravely, "How could fifty thousand Daxia troops enter Yanbei without a sound? Explain clearly!"
The young man, his face covered in dust, cried out in grief and fury, his eyes red, "I don’t know either! It’s as if they dropped from the sky! That Zhuge Yue’s swordsmanship is exquisite—with one thrust, he pierced His Majesty’s chest. If not for A Jing’s desperate protection, it would have been a tragedy. That officer named Yue Qi charged the city gates three times and slaughtered all our brothers..."
As Sun Cai spoke, tears streamed down his face. He drew the sword from his waist and presented it, saying, "This is the sword of that Zhuge dog. He used it to stab His Majesty, and it got stuck in His Majesty’s shoulder blade, so he couldn’t pull it out."
Chu Qiao was stunned. Slowly, she took the sword. It was ancient in design, stained with blood—unmistakably, it was the Moon Breaker Sword. She gripped it tightly, suppressing the urge to tremble violently. Her eyes seemed to freeze over, as if they might melt into icy water.
Zhuge Yue—how could he? He had personally assured her that he had not come for war. How could he burn Yuegong’s provisions and attempt to assassinate Yan Xun?
But if not, then what was this? Whose blood stained the blade of the Moon Breaker Sword?
"Commander! Please hurry! There’s no time to lose!"
Sun Cai knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly in desperation. Chu Qiao took a deep breath, feeling a chill seize her heart and veins. If anything happened to Yan Xun now, wouldn’t it be her fault? She swiftly mounted her horse and commanded her troops coldly, "Break camp! To Yuegong!"
The army set off swiftly, soon disappearing into the vast, snowy wilderness. Before long, the tracks of other cavalry would cover the chaotic snowfield. Tonight was not a night for peaceful sleep.When Huo An met Zhuge Yue, it was already past midnight. In the Mingxi Valley, their original three hundred men had dwindled to less than two hundred, yet they still maintained high vigilance and combat effectiveness. The entrance to Mingxi Valley was narrow, easy to defend but hard to attack. The valley was rich in game, so provisions were no concern at all. If they could hold out for three days, Zhao Che would surely notice the reduced numbers of the Yanbei Army at Wild Goose Cry Pass. Seizing the opportunity to launch an attack then, Yan Xun would have no choice but to return for reinforcement, and that would be Zhuge Yue's perfect chance to escape.
With just one glance, Huo An understood the brilliance of Yan Xun's strategy. Given such terrain and military strength, even a forceful assault would come at a great cost.
"General Zhuge, I am Huo An, commander of the Xiuli Army and subordinate of Lord Chu. I have urgent matters to convey to you."
Zhuge Yue remained impeccably dressed, his expression as sharp and aloof as ever. Even in flight, he showed no trace of panic. He glanced at Huo An indifferently and said slowly, "If I recall correctly, the commander of the Xiuli Army should be He Xiao."
"Commander He Xiao has fallen in battle. I have now taken over his duties," Huo An replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yue's brow lifted slightly, but he did not press further. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Huo An, sharp as a blade, as if trying to bore a hole through him. Steadying his mind, Huo An said firmly, "My lord says your whereabouts have been exposed. Whatever your plans, you must leave immediately. She has arranged a secret passage for you in the Helan Mountains. If you trust her, you can escape Yanbei via Biantang. If you have another way out, please depart quickly as well, for His Majesty has dispatched a large army to surround you. If you don't leave now, it may be too late."
"What has happened to your lord? Why did Commander He Xiao fall in battle?"
Huo An's expression shifted slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, "My lord only instructed me to deliver the message I just gave you. As for the rest, I beg your pardon, but I cannot say more."
With that, he turned to leave. Zhuge Yue said, "Stop."
But Huo An did not halt. A sharp hum echoed as a young swordsman swiftly drew his sword, its cold edge resting against Huo An's neck. "Didn't you hear my young master calling you?" he said coldly.
Huo An turned to look and saw a young man of only eighteen or nineteen, his eyes carrying the chilling intensity unique to swordsmen.
"Yue Jiu, don't be reckless."
Zhuge Yue's voice was stern. The young swordsman lowered his head and stepped back. Huo An turned to face Zhuge Yue's calm gaze and said slowly, "General, there was a traitor among my subordinates. They harmed you and harmed my lord. His Majesty ordered my lord to kill you, but she refused. She even dispatched troops to intercept the forces His Majesty sent to hunt you down. Now she has broken with the army. I have no face to return and beg for her forgiveness. I only hope you will heed my lord's words and leave quickly. Otherwise, the nine thousand soldiers of our Southwest Garrison will have died in vain, and my lord will have sacrificed herself for nothing."
With those words, Huo An drew his sword and slashed it across his own neck. Zhuge Yue moved swiftly, deflecting the blade with his own sword, but it was too late. A bloody gash appeared on the man's neck, blood streaming down.
Meng Feng immediately crouched down and, after a moment, looked up and said, "No need to worry. He won't die."Zhuge Yue’s expression was grim as he stared silently at the vast, empty snowfield. His subordinates watched him intently, and one of them spoke up: “General, we cannot fully trust what that person said.”
Zhuge Yue nodded and said, “Scout it out.”
“Yes!”
At daybreak, a scout rushed back and reported gravely, “General, we have confirmed it. Civilians have seen Lord Chu’s forces heading swiftly toward Yuegong City. They were moving at great speed and passed by just an hour ago. I carefully examined the hoofprints—they were extremely chaotic, indicating panic. However, we have yet to receive any official warrant for Lord Chu’s arrest throughout all of Yanbei.”
Zhuge Yue nodded but remained silent, his mind racing at high speed.
Before long, another scout returned and reported, "General, we have confirmed that the Black Hawk Army, led by Cheng Yuan, has split into five routes, all following behind Lady Chu to capture her. Their numbers are estimated to be over a hundred thousand."
"Young Master, the counties and prefectures along the route to Yuegong City have all increased their troops and set up roadblocks. Militias are conducting inspections everywhere, and Yuegong City itself is frequently mobilizing troops. The situation is not good."
"General, Yan Xun is also heading toward Yuegong."
The wind howled fiercely, leaving the world desolate and bleak. The snow lay pure white, dressing everything in silver. Zhuge Yue, clad in a gray fox fur coat, stood tall and straight. Suddenly, he walked to his warhorse and said in a low but firm voice, "To Yuegong."
"General!" Meng Feng grabbed Zhuge Yue's horse reins, blocking his path, and said gravely, "You cannot go."
Zhuge Yue lifted his gaze calmly but did not speak. Meng Feng knew all too well the meaning behind that look and, unusually serious, said firmly, "There are many suspicious points in this matter. Even if it were true, with our current strength, we should not act rashly."
"That's right, General," said Shen Ru, Zhuge Yue's deputy commander. Shen Ru had once been a horse groom under him but possessed exceptional military talent. Zhuge Yue had freed him from slavery and promoted him to deputy commander. Shen Ru spoke earnestly, "I also find this matter highly suspicious. If it were a secret operation, why would the intelligence be so easily obtained by us? And why does the timing align so perfectly?"
Yue Jiu frowned and said, "Young Master, I too believe there is reason for doubt."
"General, this is far too coincidental. If it is true, how did this Huo An manage to find us? And if he could find us, does that mean Chu Qiao has been tracking us all along? It's wise to be cautious of others. I also think it's best to stick to the original plan and withdraw immediately."
"You are all correct." Zhuge Yue nodded slowly. Everyone's faces lit up with relief, thinking he had finally listened. But soon, Zhuge Yue frowned and looked at them seriously, saying in a deep voice, "But what if what he said is true?"
Everyone froze. Yes, if it were true, then given Yan Xun's actions, wouldn't Chu Qiao be doomed? If such a thing really happened, what should they do?
Zhuge Yue did not wait for their response. Instead, he swung himself onto his horse. Startled, they rushed forward to stop him again. Meng Feng pleaded earnestly, "General, I believe this is ninety percent likely a trap, a ploy by Yan Xun to lure you in..."
"If it's ninety percent false, what about the remaining ten percent?"
Meng Feng was left speechless.
"Is that ten percent worth risking your life for?"
Zhuge Yue did not answer, only shook his head quietly and said softly, "We still cannot be entirely certain..."
He did not finish his sentence, nor did he specify what he was uncertain about. His expression grew somewhat distant as he quietly lifted his head and gazed at the swirling snow in the distance. Suddenly, he curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "Besides, if Yan Xun wants my life, it won't be that easy."
"Yue Jiu," Zhuge Yue's eyes turned icy, flashing with a ruthless determination to burn his bridges, "Notify Yue Da. Plan Two is to begin."Plan Two? A flicker of confusion passed through Yue Jiu's eyes, but in the next instant, his spirits lifted. He responded promptly and mounted his horse with practiced ease.
The sound of hoofbeats gradually faded into the distance. Seated on his horse, Zhuge Yue narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze appeared calm on the surface, yet beneath it, undercurrents slowly swirled. He contemplated every possibility, envisioning the worst outcomes, when suddenly it seemed as if he saw someone waving to him from afar across the vast snowy plains.
If all of this were true, would there be a glimmer of hope? She had turned against Yan Xun for his sake—didn't that prove he held some place in her heart?
Zhuge Yue couldn't help but entertain these dark thoughts, then shook his head with a wry smile. Once again, someone had found his weak spot.
Hooves kicked up dust as they galloped toward Yuegong City in the distance. The sun rose but was obscured by gloomy clouds, casting the world into dim darkness. Yuegong—Yanbei's granary city—welcomed yet another tumultuous day in its history.
————Divider————
Update tomorrow at 5 PM sharp.
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