The Road to Glory

Chapter 108 Enemy Attack

Tong Que immediately realized she had broached an unfortunate topic. Though feeling guilty, she struggled to find a way to change the subject. Just as she was distressed, sudden commotion erupted from the outer perimeter of the military formation.

Before anyone could react, a massive fireball wrapped in an oil-soaked iron net arced over the camp and crashed directly into the central tent where Wen Yu resided.

The military tent, constructed from oilcloth and hardwood, instantly disintegrated into splinters and dust amid the explosion. Tong Que and several Azure Guard members nearby immediately threw themselves toward Wen Yu, forming a human shield with their bodies to protect her from the flying debris and shrapnel.

The sudden assault threw the entire camp into chaos.

Fortunately, the well-trained Azure Guard maintained discipline. Upon realizing it was an enemy attack, regardless of their distance from the main tent, their first instinct was to drop whatever they were doing, draw their weapons, and converge around Wen Yu to form a defensive perimeter.

Zhao Bai, who had been patrolling the camp after securing the tents, soon came galloping back in disarray. Only when she saw Wen Yu safely protected within the Azure Guard circle did she relax, dismounting and approaching Wen Yu: "Your Highness, we're under attack! Please follow us to safety!"

As she spoke, she handed Wen Yu a dark cloak to wear. Meanwhile, a female Azure Guard of similar stature to Wen Yu changed into the wedding gown Wen Yu had previously worn, intending to divert the attackers' attention.

When Tong Que and others had pushed Wen Yu to the ground, her back had struck the gritty soil, likely sustaining bruises. A burning pain lingered, but fortunately, during her time in Pingzhou, Wen Yu had begun practicing martial arts for half an hour daily to strengthen her body while managing governmental affairs. Minor injuries like these couldn't hinder her mobility now.

Helped onto horseback by Zhao Bai and others, Wen Yu calmly grasped the reins and asked amid the chaos: "What about Chen Jun's forces?"

Zhao Bai tugged the bridle to turn the horse, replying: "Unknown. The camp is in complete disarray right now. I haven't had time to seek out Commander Jiang from Chen Jun's side."

Flames and clashes erupted from the nearby camp as the group hurriedly escorted Wen Yu away. Suddenly, hoofbeats approached rapidly from behind. Zhao Bai and the Azure Guard immediately drew their blades, assuming defensive formations. The approaching rider raised his sheathed sword from afar to signal peaceful intentions.

As horse and rider drew nearer, they recognized Jiang Yu astride the mount. His visible relief upon seeing Wen Yu was evident: "The Western Mausoleum Army is attacking! This general will immediately arrange an escort to take Your Highness to safety!"

Wen Yu tightened her cloak, brow furrowed: "Western Mausoleum?"

The sounds of battle intensified in the distance. Jiang Yu wiped blood and sweat from his face with his arm: "There's no time for details now. This general will explain everything to Your Highness later."

He then placed two fingers to his lips and emitted a piercing eagle whistle. The assault troops who had broken through the camp and were giving chase found themselves suddenly engaged by Chen Jun forces emerging from unexpected directions.

Jiang Yu summoned a junior soldier from Chen Jun's ranks, gave him instructions, then told Wen Yu: "This is the finest scout in my army. He'll lead Your Highness to Halfmoon Bay first. After covering the retreat, this general will rendezvous with you there."

The scout promptly bowed deeply toward Wen Yu.

Understanding the urgency of the situation, Wen Yu offered no further discussion, saying only: "We appreciate Commander Jiang's efforts. Please take utmost care of yourself."After giving Wen Yu a hurried salute with clasped hands, Jiang Yu turned his horse around and headed toward the camp where the fiercest fighting was taking place. Meanwhile, the two civil officials, Fang Mingda and Sikong Wei, were escorted by a small contingent of Chen troops to join Wen Yu for the initial evacuation.

Sikong Wei, an elderly man, was naturally terrified by the ordeal. A night of jolting escape had nearly shaken his old bones apart.

Fang Mingda had managed relatively well on the journey, but due to the urgency of their flight, he had to share a horse with Sikong Wei. As the younger of the two, he felt obliged to look after the older man. By the time they reached Half-Moon Bay, Sikong Wei had vomited all over him.

As Wen Yu was helped off her horse by Zhao Bai, Fang Mingda was by the water’s edge, washing his soiled outer robe—too resentful to complain openly, too angry to vent his frustration. Sikong Wei, pale as a ghost, leaned against a large rock with a bundle beneath him, trying to recover.

The young soldier from the Chen army clearly had no idea how to care for the elderly man. Holding a water flask he had just filled, he softly asked Sikong Wei if he would like a drink to settle his stomach.

But Sikong Wei was dizzy and nauseated, unable even to open his eyes without feeling the world spin. The mere thought of speaking made him retch, so he weakly waved his hand to decline.

Noticing this, Wen Yu said to Tong Que beside her, "There should be some Qingxin Pills in my personal bundle. Fetch one for Minister Sikong."

Tong Que quickly retrieved the medicine and delivered it. Supported by the soldier, Sikong Wei swallowed the pill and gradually began to recover. Weakly, he looked at Wen Yu and said, "I apologize for embarrassing you, Your Highness."

Wen Yu replied, "You’ve been through a shock, Minister. However, I am puzzled: the Western Mausoleum is far from Hundred Blades Pass. How could their troops, complete with heavy supplies, appear in the desert?"

From the moment the first fireball struck above her tent, she had sensed something amiss.

She had anticipated obstacles from various small states and tribes on her journey to the Chen royal court for the marriage alliance, but she never expected an assault force to bring full supply trains.

The fact that the enemy had accurately pinpointed her tent’s location and bypassed the Chen army’s scouts to launch a surprise attack seemed utterly inexplicable.

At Wen Yu’s question, Sikong Wei’s already ashen face flushed with shame. Clutching the water flask, he said, "Our state of Chen and Western Mausoleum have long-standing grievances. When the usurping traitors of Former Jin drove our Chen monarch and officials beyond the pass, Western Mausoleum was far less powerful than it is now. With many small states and tribes between our two lands, we maintained a peaceful coexistence. But the Former Jin traitors, enriched by our Chen’s national treasury, militarized aggressively and squandered resources, repeatedly coercing neighboring states and tribes into paying tribute. Witnessing this, the barbarians of Western Mausoleum inevitably developed similar ambitions."

Sikong Wei’s words were filled with sorrow. "Former Jin exhausted the treasury and then extorted wealth from the people to sustain court expenditures. Yet, the provisions and pay for the border garrisons dwindled year after year, ultimately weakening frontier defenses. Neighboring states and tribes not only ceased offering tribute but frequently invaded to plunder our people. Internally, Former Jin had already collapsed amid widespread public discontent, leaving it powerless to wage war. Seizing this opportunity, the new emperor of Western Mausoleum conquered many surrounding states, intimidating all the tribes in the desert. Since then, Western Mausoleum has emulated Former Jin, demanding tribute from the neighboring states and tribes.""Our King Chen's predecessor, Emperor Xiaoping, who relocated beyond the pass, once married a princess of the Huiyan tribe from the Gobi. To prevent Western Mausoleum from oppressing neighboring tribes, he allied with the Huiyan and other clans to resist Western Mausoleum, a situation that persists to this day. But as Western Mausoleum grew increasingly powerful, several years before our current king ascended the throne, they launched a massive invasion of Chen's borders, demanding we become their vassal state. The late king, unwilling to endure such humiliation, decreed that whichever prince could decisively defeat Western Mausoleum would inherit the throne."

Sikong Wei didn’t elaborate further, but Wen Yu already understood—that was when King Chen had rushed to the Central Plains to borrow troops from her father.

Sikong Wei pleaded earnestly, "Western Mausoleum’s wolfish ambition has never ceased its encroachment upon Chen. Seeing our king’s marriage to you, Princess, they fear Chen and Great Liang will become mutual shields and spears—no longer fearing Western Mausoleum but instead launching campaigns against them. Thus, they’ve resorted to every means to eliminate you, Princess, to cut off future troubles…"

Zhao Bai’s expression turned cold upon hearing the last sentence.

Wen Yu, however, remained calm and showed no intention of interrupting Sikong Wei.

When Sikong Wei spoke of Chen’s hardships, he wept bitterly: "Western Mausoleum constantly sends persuaders to lobby the tribes in the Gobi. The danger you encountered tonight, Princess, was likely from a tribe formerly loyal to Chen that has now been swayed by Western Mausoleum."

Wen Yu’s face betrayed neither anger nor calm. She simply took a handkerchief offered by an Azure Guard behind her, handed it to Sikong Wei, and stood up. "Your state of Chen should have informed me of this earlier. After all, when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, won’t they?"

To secure the initial negotiations, Chen had concealed its conflicts with Western Mausoleum entirely. Having never ventured beyond the pass, Wen Yu was unaware, and the generals in Pingzhou, relying on the natural barrier of Hundred Blades Pass, had not penetrated deep into the Gobi. Thus, they knew nothing of how intense the strife between Chen and Western Mausoleum had become.

As for Western Mausoleum and Great Liang, separated by Chen and numerous small states and tribes, the two nations had never interacted.

The small states that once paid tribute to the former Jin dynasty switched their allegiance to Western Mausoleum after Jin’s collapse. However, the Liang emperor, who unified the Central Plains, recognized that the root of Former Jin’s downfall lay in its militarism—exhausting the national treasury through warfare and provoking rebellions by imposing heavy corvée and taxes. Thus, he focused on recuperating and replenishing the treasury, strengthening border defenses without intimidating neighboring states into tribute.

Unexpectedly, before Great Liang could fully recover, the emperor’s late-life centralization of power and suspicion sowed the seeds of future turmoil in the Central Plains.

Hearing Wen Yu’s words, Sikong Wei’s face flushed with shame, unable to muster a response.

His intended excuses for Chen’s actions and appeals for solidarity, now voiced by Wen Yu, only highlighted their prior concealment as dishonorable, leaving him deeply embarrassed.

Fang Mingda, shrewd as ever, pretended ignorance and busied himself washing his clothes, avoiding the role of scapegoat.

In the end, Wen Yu dismissively advised Sikong Wei to rest well, then took Zhao Bai, Tong Que, and others to the opposite riverbank to recuperate.

Tong Que, never one to hold back, grumbled while massaging her stiff legs from riding: "These Chen people are full of schemes like a hornet’s nest! With their own mess unresolved, how dare they put on airs during negotiations in Pingzhou?"

Wen Yu remained composed. "A situation unfavorable to Chen on the grand scale may prove more advantageous for us."Tong Que looked utterly bewildered: "Aren't we supposed to borrow troops from Chen? Chen itself is like a clay idol fording a river—barely able to survive. How can they help us fight Pei Song?"

Zhao Bai fetched cooled boiled water for Wen Yu and explained on her behalf: "Chen still faces the threat of Western Mausoleum. Allying with us is their safest option."

She took flatbread from her pack, tore off half and handed it to Tong Que, continuing: "It's like two hyenas. Even if Western Mausoleum is stronger than Southern Chen, they can't devour Chen immediately. By allying with our Great Liang, Chen gains significant support. After we eliminate Pei Song and confront Wei Qishan, Chen will still have that external enemy and won't dare betray us."

As they spoke, hoofbeats suddenly sounded in the distance. Zhao Bai peered out and told Wen Yu: "Princess, that Jiang fellow has returned."

Moments later, Jiang Yu reined in before Wen Yu. Dismounting covered in dust, his handsome features only accentuated his stern demeanor. Holding the reins with one arm crossed over his chest, he bowed: "This humble one apologizes for frightening Your Highness tonight."

Seeing her entourage carriages and hundreds of dowry wagons returned with the troops, Wen Yu knew Jiang Yu must have repelled the Western Mausoleum Army. She lifted the corners of her eyes slightly, her dark pupils profound as the boundless desert night, remarking ambiguously: "This princess has experienced numerous assassination attempts. Fear is hardly the concern. The question is how many more secrets your Chen state keeps from me."

Though Jiang Yu maintained his composure, his fist clenched tightly where it rested on his shoulder during the bow, his gaze instinctively sharpening toward Fang Mingda.

Fang Mingda hurriedly shot Jiang Yu a look and stepped forward with a jovial laugh: "Your Highness, how can you say that? Our Chen state has shown you all our cards! How could we hide anything? Tonight's surprise attack by Western Mausoleum forces occupying nearby tribes was completely unexpected! Look at Minister Sikong—he nearly lost his life..."

As he rambled on, Zhao Bai glanced at Wen Yu and understandingly interrupted: "My princess hasn't slept all night and is weary. Let us set up camp first."

Fang Mingda immediately agreed, and Jiang Yu ordered his officers to pitch camp on the spot.

After Wen Yu left with the Azure Guard, Jiang Yu instructed subordinates to take Sikong Wei to rest in a tent. Only when alone did he confront Fang Mingda with a darkened expression: "You didn't let slip anything you shouldn't have, did you?"

Fang Mingda scanned their surroundings and protested: "Before you arrived, I hadn't spoken a word! What could I possibly have revealed?"

Jiang Yu's expression eased slightly, but he still warned before leaving: "Since you've chosen to serve my aunt, keep your head firmly on your shoulders by guarding your tongue."

Author's Note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2024-07-07 23:58:36~2024-07-13 23:59:30~

Special thanks to jenniferCA for throwing the landmine!Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: Pumpkin Tree, Lu Tang, Jishishu 10 bottles; Won't Be Hungry After Eating Full 6 bottles; Please Eat Lettuce, Warm Sun, The Great Sage's Mother Is Stone 5 bottles; kfpy_L 3 bottles; Change Your Name, Will Love Eating Bamboo From Now On, Successful Career Third Miss, Mingyun, Stella 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!