The Road to Glory

Chapter 127

"So I said it's a pity..."

The mountain fire burned through the night without extinguishing. As dawn approached, black smoke could still be seen rising from the mountain range in the distance.

Black crows circled and cawed above Chen Jun's marching troops. The soldiers below looked dejected, their steps weary.

Dou Jianliang sat on his horse, his face still smudged with soot from the thick smoke of the mountain fire, his expression gloomy and resentful. Listening to the cawing of the crows in the sky, he furiously ordered his subordinates, "Shoot down those damned birds for me!"

Immediately, soldiers skilled in archery drew their bows. A few arrows whistled through the air, and the black crows fell into the grass beside the official road.

Only then did Dou Jianliang feel somewhat relieved, letting out a cold snort through his nostrils.

In this encounter with the Pei Army, even though they had no intention of starting a fight, the two forces had clashed halfway up the mountain, and bloodshed was inevitable.

Dou Jianliang lost several thousand troops before successfully shaking off the Pei Army. Suffering such unnecessary losses naturally filled him with extreme frustration.

But what made him even more furious and anxious was how suspicious the mountain fires on both sides were.

How did the fire just happen to start behind their ambush spot, forcing them down the mountain and into a clash with the Pei Army's troops?

Was it Yuan Fang's backup plan?

But if Yuan Fang's men could break through the encirclement, wouldn't it be more prudent to protect Yuan Fang and ensure his escape?

What puzzled him even more was that the other side clearly knew their hiding spot inside out. If it wasn't Yuan Fang's backup plan, but a fourth party present, why hadn't they shown themselves?

The more Dou Jianliang thought about it, the more eerie it seemed. Could it be that they had encountered ghosts?

As long as Yuan Fang was dead, even encountering ghosts wouldn't be so terrifying!

Dou Jianliang's eyes sharpened as he asked those around him, "Has Dou Jie returned?"

The generals behind him all turned to look back simultaneously. Not seeing Dou Jianliang's trusted subordinate, whom he had sent to kill Yuan Fang, the closest confidant to Dou Jianliang said, "No sign of him. He probably hasn't returned yet."

Everyone knew all too well that if he hadn't returned by now, he was likely already dead.

Dou Jianliang's expression grew even darker. He didn't care whether Dou Jie had died on the battlefield; what mattered was whether Yuan Fang was dead.

But things had already reached this point, and he could only take one step at a time. He could only hope that the Pei Army hadn't spared Yuan Fang's life.

Given the current pitiable state of his army, it was more than enough to return to the camp and report to Fan Yuan, playing up their suffering.

Dou Jianliang steadied his mind, secretly calculating. As long as he played the part of the accuser first, as originally planned, and pinned all the blame on Yuan Fang, claiming that Yuan Fang's greed for merit had ruined the plan and alerted the Pei Army, and that the Pei Army's numbers were twenty thousand more than expected, he could argue that he had failed to rescue them and withdrew to avoid further casualties. Fan Yuan would have no grounds to punish him.

After all, the discrepancy in the Pei Army's reinforcements was an indisputable fact.

Even if Yuan Fang fell into the hands of the Pei Army and later tried to implicate him, he could firmly insist that Yuan Fang was slandering him to shift the blame!

Having planned all his escape routes, Dou Jianliang finally let out a long sigh of relief on his horse. He ordered, "March at full speed back to the garrison!"

Now, what worried him the most was that dog Yu Wenjing! He must not be allowed to escape!For ease of command, the camps of Liang, Chen, and Wei were situated close to each other. Dou Jianliang hurried back to the Chen camp after a forced march, arriving just before sunrise.

Fuming with rage, he stormed into the central military tent, slammed his horsewhip onto the table, and barked at his attendants, "Bring me that old traitor Yu Wenjing!"

The guards swiftly went to apprehend him but returned moments later in a panic, reporting, "S-sir! Yu Wenjing is not in his tent!"

Dou Jianliang, who had just taken a cup of cold tea from a servant, glared furiously and smashed the cup, roaring, "Incompetents! I ordered you to keep him confined to his tent!"

Dou Jianliang, sent by Southern Chen to lead the frontlines in Liang territory, was no fool. He had always been skeptical of Yu Wenjing's overtures of goodwill. His decision to eliminate the Wei army that night was based on what he believed was sufficient grounds for action.

Yet, before the troops set out, he had still ordered his subordinates to place Yu Wenjing under house arrest in his tent.

In the world of power, it was common for people to appear congenial and hit it off on the surface while secretly guarding against each other.

As long as he succeeded in seizing the supplies and ambushing the Pei and Wei armies that night, earning the highest merit, he could return and treat Yu Wenjing with courtesy afterward. Regardless of Yu Wenjing's private intentions, at least publicly, he would still show Dou Jianliang respect.

Dou Jianliang grabbed his sword from the weapon rack and stormed toward the tent where Yu Wenjing had been confined. As he flung open the tent flap, he snarled, "The camp is heavily guarded. How could an old man like him vanish into thin air?"

When he saw the man-sized slit cut open by a sharp tool at the back of the tent, his fury intensified. He kicked the guard responsible for watching the tent squarely in the chest, cursing, "Worthless!"

A guard inspected the tent and found an unsealed letter on the table, which he handed to Dou Jianliang. "Sir, the traitor left a letter for you."

Still seething, Dou Jianliang unfolded the letter and skimmed through it rapidly. The further he read, the more his face twitched, his expression growing so dark it seemed he might devour someone.

By the end, he crumpled the letter violently, overturned the long table in the tent, and bellowed, "That dog! That old dog Yu Wenjing!"

The guards had never seen Dou Jianliang so unhinged. One of them cautiously glanced at the torn letter discarded on the ground and saw the first few lines read:

"Thank you for your generous treatment, Dou Gong. I have returned to the Pei camp. My master holds you in high esteem. Should you be willing to serve him, he will surely value your talents. If you remain steadfast in your loyalty, my master will deeply regret losing you and will have no choice but to disclose all our dealings to Liang..."

Dawn had broken, though the red sun had yet to rise.

The gate tower of Jincheng was pockmarked with dents from catapult stones and stray projectiles. Although Liang's assault that night was merely a feint, they had to make it convincing. Any obvious lack of effort might arouse suspicion among the Pei troops inside the city.

Black smoke billowed from the city walls, and the open ground below the tower was scarred with dark craters from the Pei army's counterattacks with catapult stones.

These projectiles, launched by catapults, were wrapped in rope nets coated with a layer of dark oil. Igniting the outer net upon launch, they soared over the gate tower with intimidating force.

Any soldier struck by these stones or injured by flying shrapnel faced not only the immediate danger but also the risk of fatal infection from their wounds, a second brush with death.Pei Song stood atop the city tower, gazing down at the Liang army formations arranged like black ants below. His eyes swept toward the commander’s position, tightly encircled by Liang troops at the rear, and a faint, cold smile curled at his lips. “This Liang general—I’ve never heard his name before, but his tactics are commendable. A pity.”

Han Qi, the martial general in charge of defending the city, followed Pei Song’s gaze and cast a glance toward Fan Yuan’s position before speaking. “His name is Fan Yuan. He was previously stationed in Pingzhou by Changlian Wang, overshadowed by Chen Wei’s reputation, which is why he remained obscure. Over the past few months, I have engaged him in more than a dozen battles, large and small. He is extremely cautious in his strategies—one could say he never fights a battle he is not confident of winning.”

The curve of Pei Song’s smile deepened slightly. “That is precisely why I said it’s a pity.”

Han Qi observed Pei Song’s smile, then looked back at Fan Yuan on the battlefield and frowned as if about to speak. But just then, a subordinate approached to report, “Minister, Sir Yu has returned.”

Moments later, an elderly man in russet robes was escorted up to the tower.

Pei Song greeted him with a slight bow and a faint smile. “You have worked hard on this journey, sir.”

Yu Wenjing promptly returned the courtesy. “To serve my lord is this humble one’s honor.”

Pei Song then turned to Pei Shiwu, who had accompanied the elder, and asked, “Was the gentleman harmed?”

Pei Shiwu clasped his fists. “The mission was accomplished without fail.”

Touched by Pei Song’s concern for his safety, Yu Wenjing felt even more that the risky trip to the Chen camp had been worthwhile. “I left a letter for that young Dou brat. Once his main force returns to camp, the Liang Camp will be in an uproar.”

Pei Song’s gaze returned to the battlefield below, his smile light and detached. “This minister awaits the spectacle with anticipation.”

Han Qi, who had been holding back his words since Yu Wenjing’s return, showed a flicker of inner struggle before finally stepping forward with a fist salute. “I beg the Minister to grant me permission to lead troops and confront Fan Yuan. I will surely bring back his head.”

Pei Song did not respond directly. Instead, he raised a hand and pressed it on Han Qi’s shoulder. “I know you wish to test your mettle against these martial generals, but this one is not worth your personal involvement. Rest assured—I have reserved an opponent worthy of the Han Family Spear Technique’s nineteen forms for you later.”

Han Qi’s eyes widened in surprise. “There is such a master in the Liang Camp?”

Pei Song’s mind drifted back to that moonlit night in Yongcheng—the long blade that had nearly cleaved his face, and those eyes that gleamed like a demon’s from the depths of hell. His expression remained calm, but the smile at his lips faded slightly. “You will know when you meet him.”

Pei Shiwu, of course, knew exactly whom Pei Song was referring to. Pei Song had ordered him to personally escort Yu Wenjing back, with the covert intention of scouting the Liang Camp to see if Xiao Li was being hidden as their trump card. After all, it was Xiao Li who had rescued Zhou Sui in Yongzhou—clear evidence that their previous attempt to sow discord had failed.

Yet since then, Xiao Li had seemed to vanish without a trace. Despite planting numerous spies in the Liang Camp, they had uncovered no information about him. The situation was undeniably strange: why would the Liang Camp keep such a capable general hidden away?

If they were not plotting something in secret, then some unforeseen incident must have occurred without their knowledge.

Pei Shiwu’s covert visit to the Liang Camp had yielded nothing, and he knew all too well that this was far from good news. Without knowing Xiao Li’s whereabouts, they remained at a disadvantage against the Liang Camp.Thus, when Pei Song's gaze swept over as indifferently as usual, Pei Shiwu imperceptibly shook his head.

Pei Song's expression remained unreadable as ever as he said to Han Qi, "Let's enjoy the current spectacle."

Liang Camp.

The lingering intensity of this year's autumn heat refused to abate, with only the early mornings offering a hint of coolness.

The entrance to the central military tent of the Liang Camp was wide open. Inside, Li Xun and his advisors waited anxiously—some craning their necks, others resting with closed eyes, while the more impatient ones paced back and forth in agitation.

The Chen and Wei forces had gone to ambush the supply convoy and set a trap to annihilate the Pei Army, while Fan Yuan led the main Liang troops in a feigned attack on Jin City as cover. To receive updates from both fronts as soon as possible, none of them had dared to sleep through the night.

One of the advisors watching outside for news couldn't help but say, "Old He, take a rest! Your pacing is making me dizzy!"

The pacing advisor clasped his hands and replied, "I can't stop—my legs won't listen to me!"

Another advisor, pressing his twitching eyelid, remarked, "This is bad. My eyelid has been twitching all morning. I hope nothing's gone wrong?"

His words immediately drew scolding from the others: "Enough of that! Don't talk nonsense! Can't you say something auspicious?"

"Exactly! We've rehearsed this plan to ambush and trap the Pei Army countless times. What could possibly go wrong?"

Seated in the host position at one side of the long table, Li Xun listened to the advisors' bickering and could only sigh. Raising his voice slightly, he chided, "Enough arguing. Let's just wait for news."

The advisors returned to their seats and quieted down for a moment. Recalling how the Southern Chen had previously obstructed their attempts to lend provisions to the Wei army with unreasonable stubbornness, they couldn't help but ask Li Xun, "Lord Li, when will the Lord Councillor arrive at the camp? With him stationed here in the future, the Chen Camp should hopefully calm down a bit."

Although Liang and Chen had formed an alliance, to guard against contingencies, Chen Wei had to remain in Pingzhou to secure the crucial Hundred Blades Pass. Moreover, his presence was essential for managing the three provinces and one commandery effectively. Once war broke out, no one knew how long it would last—military provisions and funds were a bottomless pit. Without sufficient logistical support from the rear, the frontline battles would be unsustainable.

Before the Great Liang's collapse, Fan Yuan hadn't been a prominent general in the court. His selection as commander of the allied forces was primarily because neither the Chen nor Liang factions wanted the other side's personnel to lead the Southern Border alliance, so they unanimously settled on Fan Yuan as a compromise.

At least Fan Yuan and Yuan Fang of the Wei army had served together in the former court, fostering a camaraderie that allowed them to trust each other's backs when facing external threats.

In contrast, Dou Jianliang, the commanding general of the Chen army, was a troublesome figure who had given Fan Yuan and Li Xun countless headaches.

This was partly why Li Yao had decided to come to the Jinzhou frontline.

Li Xun explained, "The Lord Councillor mentioned that he recently uncovered traces of an old friend and has gone to invite him out of seclusion."

For some time, Li Xun had been unable to track down Xiao Li's whereabouts. Though he had a vague suspicion about Tongzhou, he remained uncertain and had only dispatched agents to secretly monitor the area, intending to report to Li Yao once he had concrete information. Meanwhile, Li Yao had learned of his old friend's traces and set off to visit him first.

The advisors were well aware of Li Yao's stature in the former court—the once-titled "Secretariat Chancellor" was no empty honor. Had he not become utterly disillusioned with the court and retired to seclusion, Grand Tutor Yu might never have risen to prominence later.However, having been away from the court for many years and never having taken on disciples, his reputation paled in comparison to that of Grand Tutor Yu, who enjoyed immense popularity among scholars due to his extensive recruitment of disciples to suppress the Party of Ao.

Only shallow individuals would presumptuously compare the two, spouting shortsighted remarks that were revered as dogma by those equally hollow in both intellect and insight.

Thus, when Li Xun mentioned being an old friend of Li Yao, the advisors couldn't help but beam with joy and eagerly asked, "For the Lord to personally invite someone, he must be no ordinary figure. Do you know who it is, sir?"

Li Xun, however, kept them in suspense, saying, "He's been retired for many years—whether he'll return to service is uncertain. But if he agrees to come out of retirement..."

Li Xun smiled, his nerves strained from the night finally easing slightly, and added, "After dealing with Pei Song, defeating Wei Qishan would no longer be a challenge."

This successfully piqued the curiosity of all the advisors, who exclaimed in surprise, "So it's an old general?"

"An old general who was friends with the Lord... he must be someone who fought alongside Emperor Mingcheng in his rise to power!"

The advisors grew even more excited and were about to ask for more details when a soldier hurried into the tent: "Report—Chen Jun's army has returned to camp!"

Li Xun immediately rose from his seat and asked, "What about Northern Wei's forces?"

"Report—"

Another messenger rushed in, holding a blood-stained cloth: "Sir, someone shot this into the camp!"

Li Xun's heart skipped a beat, and he urgently said, "Quick, bring it to me!"