The Road to Glory

Chapter 165: Captured

Wen Yu said, "Then speak truthfully. What exactly happened during the Battle of Majia Liang?"

Dou Jianliang avoided meeting Wen Yu's gaze and replied, "That matter is a long story. Since Your Highness is willing to clear this general's name, if I can successfully rescue Your Highness this time, I will naturally escort you back to Liang Camp. Before the Wei troops arrive, we should set off immediately. If we can escape successfully, that would be ideal. I will explain the details to Your Highness along the way."

Wen Yu gave a cold, mocking laugh. "What do you take Wei Qishan for? Do you truly believe he would only deploy such minimal forces to guard me? Going down the mountain would merely send the men under your command to their deaths for nothing!"

After delivering this firm statement, she glanced disdainfully at Dou Jianliang. "If you don't produce conclusive evidence, how can I believe that you weren't the mastermind behind the Battle of Majia Liang?"

Dou Jianliang urgently responded, "This general is currently on a military mission. The evidence that would convince Your Highness is not with me at the moment..."

Wen Yu's expression turned icy. "Are you deceiving me?"

Dou Jianliang repeatedly denied this. He studied Wen Yu's face again, confirming that aside from concealed anger, there were no other emotions—she didn't seem to be bluffing. He apologized, "After I explain the full story of the Battle of Majia Liang to Your Highness, you will naturally be able to judge for yourself. However, the lives of this general and all the soldiers under my command depend on Your Highness's guarantee. I would still like to know Your Highness's plan first."

Wen Yu scoffed coldly. "You don't trust me?"

Dou Jianliang hurriedly apologized again before saying, "This general only seeks security for the soldiers under my command. I hope Your Highness will understand."

Wen Yu withdrew her gaze. "Very well. Since you care so much for your soldiers, if I insist on not telling you, it would reflect poorly on me."

Dou Jianliang repeatedly expressed that he wouldn't dare.

Wen Yu asked, "Is there anyone in the Wei camp who recognizes you?"

Dou Jianliang pondered the intent behind her question and replied, "This general once served alongside Yuan Fang from the Wei camp during the campaign against Jinzhou."

However, the officers under Yuan Fang's command had all been trapped and killed by him at Majia Liang, with only about a hundred personal guards fortunate enough to escape with him.

Naturally, he didn't dare mention this to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu frowned slightly, as if deep in thought, and said, "Change clothes with one of your personal guards later and hide within the ranks."

Just as Dou Jianliang was feeling puzzled, Wen Yu looked up at him. "When the Wei troops attack, pretend to be soldiers from Chen Jun's forces coming to rescue me. I will threaten to take my own life to force them to let you all leave."

Overjoyed, Dou Jianliang quickly replied, "Your Highness's plan is brilliant! I had long heard of your exceptional strategizing, and today I have witnessed it firsthand!"

As he spoke, he started heading toward the temple gate. "There's no time to lose. Let us set off immediately!"

Wen Yu remained standing in place, showing no intention of moving.

Dou Jianliang turned back to look at her and then feigned sudden realization, slapping his forehead in frustration. "Look at me! I was so overjoyed that I nearly forgot what I needed to report to Your Highness."

Wen Yu remained silent. Gongsun Sanniang brought over the grand tutor's chair, and Wen Yu sat down again, calmly sipping her tea as she waited for his explanation.Dou Jianliang, looking as if he had suffered countless grievances, spoke with profound sorrow: "In the Battle of Majia Liang, this general was truly wronged! The cause was that the Wei army’s provisions were exhausted, but at that time, all the key routes in the northern and southern borders were controlled by Pei Song. Since the northern border couldn’t transport grain supplies, the Wei army sought to borrow provisions from the Liang Camp."

He clapped his hands together heavily and sighed: "Your Highness knows well that the provisions currently supporting the Liang Camp were originally sent by Southern Chen as part of the dowry. Your Highness had also promised that these provisions were only temporarily stored at the Liang Camp and would later be used for the Chen army entering the pass. When Commander Fan discussed this with me, I naturally did not dare to agree to the borrowing of provisions on my own. Just as I hesitated over whether to send a message back to Chen to inquire with Chancellor Jiang about the feasibility, our army’s scouts discovered a Pei Army supply convoy."

He omitted the details of how Yu Wenjing, an advisor from the Pei camp, had once sought him out to propose a plan to harm the Wei army, and how he had deliberately leaked information about that supply convoy. Instead, he adopted a victimized tone:

"At that time, the rebel forces of Bandit Pei in Jinzhou were already at the end of their strength. By cutting off their provisions, we could completely trap them and also resolve the Wei army’s urgent needs. Under Commander Fan’s leadership, we devised a strategy that appeared to be a grain raid but was actually an ambush to crush the Pei army in Jinzhou in one fell swoop."

"Commander Fan was to lead the Liang army in a feint attack on Jinzhou, while Yuan Fang would lead the Wei army to raid the grain convoy. This would convince the Pei army in Jinzhou that our true goal was to seize the provisions, prompting them to give chase. I, in turn, would lead the Chen army to ambush them at the Majia Liang pass, cutting off their retreat once the Pei army pursued."

Wen Yu had long been aware of the details following the Battle of Majia Liang from the battle reports sent by the Liang Camp. Tapping her fingertips lightly on the teacup, she raised her eyes impatiently and said, "Why is the General recounting things I already know from the battle reports?"

Just as Dou Jianliang’s expression turned somewhat awkward, she continued, "Since the General cannot focus on the key points, let me ask the questions."

Dou Jianliang’s heart sank. If he were allowed to narrate the events himself, he could at least weave a coherent lie. But with Wen Yu asking the questions, given her sharpness, he might easily be trapped into revealing the truth.

He wanted to say something to refuse, but Wen Yu had already handed her teacup to Gongsun Sanniang and casually posed her first question: "Why did Yuan Fang personally accuse the General of leading the Chen army to lie in ambush on the mountain but never sending troops to assist?"

Dou Jianliang immediately put on a grief-stricken expression, as if on the verge of tears, and said: "This is all because, before the battle, I sent a message reporting the matter to Chancellor Jiang. Chancellor Jiang replied, instructing me to delay the attack during the ambush at Majia Liang, allowing the Wei and Pei armies to inflict heavy losses on each other before intervening. This way, the Wei army could be weakened…"

"Preposterous!" Wen Yu’s voice was cold and stern as she slapped the armrest of her official’s chair. "The great enemy has not yet been vanquished, and yet you engage in such internal strife? How dare the Jiang family act so recklessly!"

Dou Jianliang dropped to his knees, clasping his fists earnestly: "This general… truly only followed orders. I also feared that if the Wei army suffered too many casualties, the Marquis of Shuobian would hold me accountable. Therefore, the moment the Pei army entered the pass, I led the Chen army troops to charge out. But who could have known that all three of our forces had misjudged the Pei army’s strength? We had estimated only twenty thousand Pei troops would pursue, but in reality, fifty thousand Pei soldiers entered the pass…"He lowered his head as if overwhelmed with grief and shame: "Yuan Fang has been completely surrounded by the Pei Army. With the darkness of night, I led twenty thousand soldiers in a fierce charge but couldn't locate him. To prevent further unnecessary casualties among our troops, I had no choice but to order a retreat..."

Wen Yu slightly raised her left arm resting on the armrest of the official's chair. Seeing this, Dou Jianliang stopped his explanation.

Wen Yu asked: "Since you possessed letters from the Jiang faction, why did you abandon your wife, children, and parents without exposing the Jiang Family after the incident?"

Dou Jianliang's expression faltered momentarily before he replied with renewed sorrow: "Your Highness doesn't understand - this letter was delivered personally by the Jiang Prime Minister's attendant. After reading it, I had to burn it in their presence, otherwise it would show disloyalty to the Prime Minister..."

Wen Yu narrowed her eyes: "So you're saying you have no concrete evidence to implicate the Prime Minister?"

Dou Jianliang seemed terrified that Wen Yu might not believe him, hastily responding: "Yes! Yes! Along with the letter came two golden leaf tokens, both bearing the Jiang Family's emblem."

Wen Yu pressed her temples, her expression cold: "It appears General Dou already has a complete plan to escape this situation, hence you dare to mock me like this."

Hearing this, Dou Jianliang panicked, speaking with indignation: "Every word I've said is true! Without the Prime Minister's approval, how would I dare make such decisions on my own?"

He struck his knee with his fist, nearly in tears: "I only regret being forced into the Pei camp. Now even if I claim everything was the Prime Minister's doing, no one would believe me..."

Wen Yu gazed at him calmly and continued: "Was it because you were certain the Prime Minister would use you as a scapegoat after the Battle of Majia Liang that you defected to the Pei camp? And when Marshal Fan led our Liang army in retreat, you injured him with a poison arrow?"

Dou Jianliang seemed too overcome with grief to speak immediately, breathing heavily before finally saying with apparent agony: "That treacherous Pei sent a strategist pretending to defect to me. I dismissed the man for his lack of talent. But after the Battle of Majia Liang, that villain sent a letter forcing me to kill Marshal Fan and join his camp, otherwise he'd publicly claim I had long conspired with them to eliminate the Wei army!"

Dou Jianliang genuinely wept with reddened eyes: "First the Prime Minister shifts blame onto me, then the Pei villain schemes against me like this... I... I truly can't defend myself anymore, forced to compound one mistake with another!"

Just then, one of Dou Jianliang's personal guards rushed anxiously to the temple entrance: "General, there are Wei troops at the foot of the mountain—"

The guard halted at the open temple door, stunned to see Dou Jianliang kneeling in tears while Wen Yu sat composed in the official's chair. He fell silent, uncertain whether to enter or continue his report.

Seeing his guard witness him in this state, Dou Jianliang felt deeply embarrassed. He wanted to rise but Wen Yu hadn't given permission.

While anxiously studying Wen Yu's expression, he failed to notice Gongsun Sanniang standing behind Wen Yu quietly letting out a relieved breath.

Wen Yu glanced at the hesitant guard outside the temple and said: "Very well, I shall temporarily believe you, General. Today I'll help you escape this predicament. When I return to Southern Chen someday, we'll work together to bring the Jiang family to justice and clear your name. You may rise now."Dou Jianliang hastily rose to his feet, but with Wei troops truly surrounding the mountain below, his safe departure still depended on Wen Yu. He had to maintain the proper formalities, so he bowed with clasped hands and said, "Your Highness has shown me grace akin to rebirth. From this day forward, I am at your command!"

Wen Yu’s expression was grave, looking at him as if making a desperate gamble. "Whether I can leave this place still depends on you, General."

She pulled a golden hairpin from her hair and handed it to Dou Jianliang. "After you depart, take this hairpin to Liang Camp and seek out Chen Wei or Li Xun. They will trust you upon seeing it. Inform them of my trapped location and instruct them to plan meticulously before attempting a rescue."

Dou Jianliang received the hairpin with both hands and hurriedly expressed his gratitude, vowing not to fail the mission.

After leaving the temple, he asked his guard, "What’s the situation at the foot of the mountain?"

The guard stammered in reply, "There... there are large numbers of Wei troops closing in from all sides, surrounding the entire mountain."

Just hearing this made Dou Jianliang’s scalp tingle, yet he secretly rejoiced that his gamble had paid off—he had coaxed a "get-out-of-jail-free card" from Wen Yu.

He glanced at Wen Yu, who merely gave him a calm nod and said, "I will assist you in descending the mountain."

The snowy paths were treacherous, and Wen Yu’s layered skirts were cumbersome. Dou Jianliang ordered his soldiers to cut green bamboo and construct a simple palanquin, carried by four soldiers as they made their way down the mountain trail.

Gongsun Sanniang, acting as Wen Yu’s "maid," walked alongside the palanquin, exerting all her lifelong effort to control her facial expressions and avoid revealing anything unusual.

When they reached the mountainside, they encountered Wei troops hastily ascending.

Looking across the mountain path and bamboo groves, all they could see were masses of armored soldiers holding crossbows. The cold glint of arrows in their slots resembled countless pairs of eyes in a bat cave at night, striking fear into hearts.

The entire descent route was tightly sealed.

Likely because they spotted Wen Yu seated in the lead palanquin, they refrained from firing arrows.

Wen Yu gazed calmly at the Wei troops blocking the path ahead. With a slight lift of her forearm, the Chen soldiers carrying the palanquin carefully set it down on the ground.

Dou Jianliang, disguised as an ordinary refugee, followed behind. One of his guards stood on the other side of the palanquin, pretending to be the leader of this contingent.

Gongsun Sanniang stole a discreet glance at them, diligently playing her role as a maid. She stepped forward to let Wen Yu rest a hand on her arm as she rose, while her eyes scanned the opposing Wei troops, searching for Song Qin and Xiao Li.

Finally spotting Song Qin in the crowd, she began frantically signaling with her eyes toward Dou Jianliang’s position.

Wen Yu, meanwhile, drew the dagger she had been holding all along. She wore only a cloak, without a hood, so when she pressed the blade against her own neck, it was clearly visible to everyone around.

Her gaze fixed on a spot deep within the bamboo grove as she declared in a clear, resonant voice, "I know I cannot escape the Wei forces today. Allow the soldiers who came to rescue me to return safely. Otherwise, I will take my own life here and now. Let us see how the Marquis of Shuobian will explain this to the world someday!"

Song Qin’s eyes seemed to shift slightly toward a specific area in the bamboo grove before he finally raised a hand, signaling his soldiers to lower their crossbows. They cleared the mountain path and retreated to the bamboo groves on either side.

Wen Yu kept the dagger pressed to her neck and ordered the Chen troops behind her, "Go."

Her gaze, however, remained fixed on Dou Jianliang.Dou Jianliang understood that Wen Yu was reminding him to keep his word. Seeing that the leading Wei army general opposite him looked unfamiliar, he assumed the other party wouldn't recognize him either, which put him somewhat at ease.

As he passed by Wen Yu's side, he lowered his voice and said, "Troubling Your Highness to accompany us and see us off to the foot of the mountain."

Wen Yu calmly lowered her eyes halfway, pressing a dagger against her neck as she followed them down the mountain.

Dou Jianliang trailed a few steps behind her, his eyes fixed on Song Qin's movements while constantly scanning the bamboo grove. His ears were strained to the utmost, ever alert for the sound of bowstrings being drawn taut in the woods.

At this distance, he wouldn't arouse suspicion, yet if anything went wrong, he could instantly seize Wen Yu.

When passing by the mounted Song Qin, Dou Jianliang was so vigilant that every hair on his body seemed to stand on end.

Just as he managed to get past and hadn't yet had time to relax, the faint vibration of a released bowstring from the bamboo grove and the whistling sound of a swift arrow immediately spurred him to form his fingers into claws and lunge at Wen Yu, intending to seize her by the throat.

But it was already too late.

The goose-feathered arrow, carrying a chilling whistle like a shooting star in broad daylight, slammed fiercely into him.

The tremendous force made it impossible for him to steady himself. He felt as if struck by a sharp meteorite, and when he was pinned to the ground, only the fletching of the goose-feathered arrow—far longer than an ordinary arrow—remained visible outside his chest.

The arrowhead had pierced through his back and embedded itself into the iron-hard frozen soil of the mountain path, nailing him down like a fish tail.

All this happened in an instant. When Dou Jianliang's personal guards reacted, they split into two groups: one rushed to rescue him, while the other moved to capture Wen Yu. However, the unusually tall maidservant beside Wen Yu directly snatched a blade from one of his guards and cut down men as effortlessly as slicing melons and vegetables.

Wei soldiers emerged from both sides of the bamboo grove, surrounding them in a pincer movement.

Song Qin, seizing the moment before Dou Jianliang's guards could rescue him, rode over and pressed his blade against Dou Jianliang's neck, shouting, "The rebel leader is captured! Cease your futile resistance!"

Seeing their leader seized, Dou Jianliang's personal guards dared not act recklessly. The soldiers below, now leaderless, dropped their weapons in panic at Song Qin's command.

Dou Jianliang, still reeling from the piercing pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, stared fixedly in the direction from which the arrow had flown in the bamboo grove.

Then he saw the black-armored soldiers in the bamboo grove part to make way as a tall, exceptionally imposing figure strode slowly against the light. Military boots stained with mottled blood, armor splattered with large patches of dark blood, the man carried an iron great bow in his prominently veined hand.

When Dou Jianliang's gaze shifted upward to see the man's face, he felt as if the chill of the boundless ice and snow had seeped into his lungs along with that arrow. Struggling with rage, he laboriously raised a finger and pointed at the man: "It's you..."

When Pei Song attacked Wa Yao Fort, he had sent Dou Jianliang to clear out the miscellaneous troops, and Dou Jianliang had crossed blades with this man before.

But the other paid no attention to him, not even a sidelong glance. His wolf-like eyes, fierce and filled with malice, remained fixed intently on one spot from start to finish.

Following his gaze, Dou Jianliang saw Wen Yu, whose snow-white cloak had been splattered with a few drops of blood during the earlier chaos.That Princess of Liang truly lived up to her reputation as the number one beauty. Standing in the pool of blood spreading from his fallen personal guards, the wind tousled her hair and robes, making her resemble an ice blossom blooming amidst this crimson scene.

She clearly knew that man and was also gazing at him.

Author's Note: Dou Jianliang: Got scammed while trying to run a scam...