Chapter 186: "So I Let Him Come Personally..."
Reinforcements charged down from the high ground on both sides of the river valley, instantly putting the Pei Army—which had been encircling and attacking along the riverbanks—at a tactical disadvantage.
The Wei troops below, who had been at the end of their strength, regained their fighting spirit upon seeing reinforcements arrive. No matter how fiercely the outer Pei Army assaulted them, they could not break through the defensive ring protecting Wei Qishan and his son.
Pei Yuan turned with a grim expression to Pei Song and asked, "My lord?"
Pei Song stared coldly at the battlefield below, where the Wen Clan's Azure Dragon Crimson Cloud Banner surged alongside the Northern Wei's black flags. A hidden fury seemed to flicker between his brows. Finally, he glanced back at the figure on the opposite cliff and uttered through clenched teeth, "Sound the retreat."
If his forces were completely driven into the river valley, they would meet the same fate as Wei Qishan's beleaguered troops.
Pei Yuan swiftly descended to relay the order.
"Clang—"
"Clang—"
The sound of bronze bells echoed through the valley. The Pei Army, gradually enveloped by the Liang and Wei reinforcements, withdrew like a receding tide. Pei Song, draped in his heavy cloak, also turned and left the high slope.
On the opposite cliff, Wen Yu watched coldly as Pei Song rode away into the distance. Though Zhao Bai held an umbrella behind her, stray snowflakes still drifted sideways in the wind, dusting the front of her robe.
Tiny snowflakes settled on her long lashes, adding a frosty glint to her cold eyes beneath.
This time last year, she had been fleeing across these lands, constantly shadowed by Pei Song's influence.
Now, it was time for roles to reverse.
—
The Wei camp suffered heavy losses in this battle. Before reinforcements arrived, they had been trapped and assaulted in the river valley by the Pei Army for several hours. Nearly half of the Wolf Cavalry transferred from the Northern Border front had been decimated, with troop numbers reduced from thirty thousand to less than ten thousand.
After the Pei Army withdrew, the Liang and Wei camps each dispatched ten thousand troops to pursue the enemy. Fearful that Pei Song might repeat his tactics, they dared not chase too far, wary of him finding favorable terrain to turn and strike again.
Yuan Fang led his soldiers wading through blood-soaked ground, checking each corpse fallen in the muddy snow for any survivors.
After Wei Qishan was carried up on a stretcher, medics briefly bandaged his wounds. Whether due to the severe cold, his grave injuries, or excessive blood loss, his face had taken on a worrisome ashen hue.
Wen Yu alighted from her carriage with Zhao Bai's support, while Tong Que followed half a step behind, holding an umbrella to shield her from the swirling snow falling like willow catkins from the sea of clouds.
"Marquis Wei's reputation thunders far and wide. To meet you today truly lives up to your title as the Pillar of the Northern Border," Wen Yu said gently, stopping five paces from Wei Qishan's stretcher.
Wei Qishan seemed to want to rise, but his injuries were too severe, and the coarse cloth on the stretcher offered no leverage. Yuan Fang, standing nearby, hurriedly helped him sit up.
After a fit of violent coughing, Wei Qishan swallowed back the metallic taste in his throat. Despite his wretched state, his gaze toward Wen Yu showed no weakness, though his speech was labored: "Is the Princess mocking this old man?"
Before Wen Yu could respond, he covered his mouth and coughed softly again: "This humble one thanks the Princess for your timely aid. My trusted general has relayed your conditions. Whomever the Princess wishes to take from my camp, if they are willing to go with you, I shall not stand in the way."Wen Yu quietly observed Wei Qishan for a moment before calmly responding, "The Marquis employs troops with divine skill. Not long ago, your main forces were still in Mozhou, yet today you press upon Luodu, catching Pei Song completely off guard. Were it not for your desperate urgency to save your son, you would not have been forced into such peril. Han Yang's words were genuine praise for the Marquis."
Her words were difficult to decipher.
By explicitly mentioning how the Northern Wei main forces were initially in Mozhou but suddenly appeared in Luodu, she made it increasingly unclear whether she was truly praising him or hinting that she had long been aware of the Wei Camp's original plans, warning them not to pretend ignorance while feigning clarity with her.
She continued, "Although I previously obtained a promise from General Yuan, General Yuan's loyalty to Marquis Wei truly commands my admiration. The Marquis's willingness to honor this promise for the sake of your beloved general also moves me deeply. Today's military assistance shall be considered as settling the debt from the previous battle at Majialiang. Dou Jianliang's defection to Pei's camp was unknown to our Liang Camp, and we too have suffered greatly from it. However, it is ultimately because of me that Northern Wei temporarily allied with Southern Chen, only to be betrayed and lose twenty thousand soldiers. I owe Northern Wei an apology."
"After today, our Liang Camp will no longer owe your Wei Camp anything. Since Marquis Wei has betrayed Great Liang to restore Jin, in my eyes, you are a traitor. When we meet on the battlefield in the future, I will show no mercy. As for the person I seek from Marquis Wei, it is Xiao Li, whom you previously adopted as your foster son and who is now imprisoned."
Wen Yu met Wei Qishan's gaze, her eyes clear, deep, and serene. "Our Liang army has already joined forces with General Yuan to capture Fengyang. Next, we will attack Luodu. Apart from my elder sister-in-law and her daughter, as well as the civilians in the city willing to follow me south, I am willing to cede both cities. Does Marquis Wei find these terms sufficient?"
Whether it was Fengyang or Luodu, if the Wei Camp attempted to capture them alone while dealing with frequent barbarian incursions along the Northern Border, the campaigns would undoubtedly be difficult.
Wen Yu's willingness to jointly deploy troops was partly to rescue Jiang Yichu and her daughter, but the Wei Camp also had its own ambitions. For cities captured by both armies, everything within should be divided equally.
This was explicitly agreed upon in writing when the Liang and Wei armies temporarily allied at Fengyang.
At that time, Yuan Fang likely believed that by the time they reached Luodu, Wei Qishan would have successfully eliminated Pei Song and captured the city, allowing the Wei Camp's two forces to pin down her Liang troops and rendering all agreements void.
However, Wen Yu did not believe the Wei Camp's prospects were so optimistic. Firstly, Pei Song was cunning and might not necessarily lose against Wei Qishan; secondly, if the barbarians attacked the Northern Border, Wei Qishan would struggle to manage both fronts.
In that scenario, continuing the alliance with her Liang Camp would be the optimal strategy.
The main forces of Great Liang were not currently at the Northern Border, so even if they acquired cities, they could not hold them. Thus, if Northern Wei desired the territories, they would need to concede a larger share of supplies.
Wen Yu also did not fear the Wei Camp turning hostile, as large-scale conflict between the two armies would only allow Pei Song to profit from their strife.
Gaining some benefit was preferable to fighting her Liang Camp to the death, only to lose everything and let Pei Song take advantage.
Anyone in the Wei Camp with a modicum of intelligence could calculate this clearly.
She used this battle to settle the Liang Camp's past transgressions against the Wei Camp, ensuring they could no longer use the Battle of Majialiang as leverage.
In the future, if the Liang Camp marched against Northern Wei, it would be justified.
This was another purpose of Wen Yu's northern expedition.
Exchanging the supplies her Liang Camp was entitled to from two cities for Xiao Li was undoubtedly a generous offer.Wei Qishan listened, his aged eyes fixed on Wen Yu for a long while, as if gazing through her at an opponent from the past.
The authority and sternness on his face remained undiminished, yet they held no intimidation over Wen Yu.
The woman before him could even be described as slender, but what emanated from her, steeped in the swirling wind and snow, was a tolerance and benevolence as vast as the sky and as solid as the earth beneath her feet, alongside the thunderous power capable of splitting the heavens and nurturing all life.
Wei Qishan knew very well that compared to his younger, more impulsive self thirty-five years ago, he now surpassed his former self in every aspect except physical strength.
He had trained the indomitable Wolf Cavalry, nurtured a host of trusted generals capable of holding their own, and gained unprecedented prestige among the common people.
He ought to win.
Yet at this moment, he seemed to see his impending defeat with absolute clarity.
Was the rebel who defied authority thirty-five years later more formidable than before? Or was this slender young girl far superior to Wen Shi'an?
Wei Qishan did not dwell on the answer. He suddenly realized that his desire to use the present to verify another answer from thirty-five years ago was inherently mistaken.
He simply stared at Wen Yu, not answering for a long time. Wen Yu faintly furrowed her brow.
Noticing this, Yuan Fang nearby called out, "Marquis?"
Wei Qishan seemed to regain some composure, covering his mouth as he coughed violently before saying, "My son Huaijin is currently leading the Wolf Cavalry at Yanle Mountain, guarding the Northern Border on my behalf. Since the Princess wants him, my stance remains unchanged: if he is willing to follow you, I will not stand in his way."
Battle reports from the Northern Border were sent directly to Wei Qishan, and Yuan Fang was unaware that Xiao Li had gone to assist in defending Yanle Mountain.
Hearing Wei Qishan's words now, Yuan Fang's expression briefly turned peculiar.
But Wei Qishan was coughing severely. Though he had been suppressing it, he could no longer hold back the metallic taste in his throat and coughed up blood.
Seeing this, Wei Pingjin cried out "Father!" as if his heart were being sliced by a knife, then roared at the crowd with his blood-streaked face, "Step aside! Quickly carry my father back to the carriage!"
"Medic! Where is the medic? Check my father's pulse again!"
He had become a mad dog barking at everyone. Zhao Bai, noticing Wei Pingjin glaring fiercely at Wen Yu as if directing his rage toward her, stepped forward displeased but was stopped by Wen Yu's soft call of "A Zhao."
Wei Qishan's condition was poor, but after coughing, he still raised a hand to halt the flustered Wei camp attendants trying to carry him away and asked Wen Yu, "What does the Princess think?"
Wen Yu frowned and asked, "Huaijin?"
Wei Qishan wiped the blood from his lips, assuming that Wen Yu did not know this courtesy name because she and Xiao Li had not been close during his time in the Liang Camp. He felt somewhat relieved and said, "It is the courtesy name of my son, Xiao Li."
Wen Yu seemed lost in thought, lowering her eyes before replying after a moment, "Agreed."
"However..." She lifted her gaze, her eyes like a shroud of icy mist, impenetrable to others. "Whether he is willing or not, he must come and tell me himself. In the meantime, General Yuan shall remain as a guest in my Liang Camp to discuss our joint campaign against Luodu."
This meant Yuan Fang would be held hostage in her Liang Camp.
Wei Qishan's aged eyes scrutinized her.
So young, yet her cunning and methods were already this steady and seasoned.
After a few low coughs, he said, "As the Princess wishes."
His subordinates quickly carried him back to the carriage.Amid the chaos, Yuan Fang still managed to observe propriety by cupping his hands in salute to Wen Yu. Following Wei Qishan's instructions, he remained at the Liang Camp.
Wen Yu watched the flustered crowd in the Wei camp and said calmly, "Let's return."
Once inside the carriage and away from Yuan Fang, Tong Que remarked, "This servant believes General Xiao Li is serving Northern Wei again for some hidden reason. It might even be that the Marquis of Shuobian is spouting nonsense to deceive you, Princess!"
Wen Yu lowered her long lashes and replied, "That's why I told him to come see me in person."
Yanle Mountain.
Snow was the only color in the vast expanse of heaven and earth, but in the fading daylight, mingled with the trampled slush were streaks of blood seeping from corpses littering the entire stream shallows.
The days-long fierce battle was nearing its end.
Xiao Li tripped the barbarian commander—who stood half a head taller and was built like a mountain—into the shallow stream coated with thin ice. Before he could thrust his long blade down, the commander choked on water, grabbed one of Xiao Li's legs, and threw him into the bloodied stream. Pulling a dagger hidden in his military boot, the commander aimed for Xiao Li's throat.
Unable to dodge, Xiao Li blocked the descending dagger with his steel vambrace and slammed a fist into the commander's temple with his other arm.
Despite having fought relentlessly for two days and a night, with everyone exhausted, his punch still sent the barbarian commander staggering back into the rushing stream, splashing water everywhere.
Dizzy and choking on water that felt like icy needles stabbing his lungs, the barbarian commander was slow to rise. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Li—not even bothering to retrieve his long blade—pushed off the ground and lunged forward. He gripped the commander's neck, forcing him back into the deeper water.
Blood and icy stream water dripped from Xiao Li's jaw and hairline as he breathed heavily, his gaze fiercer than a wolf's.
On the bank, the bodies of fallen soldiers lay strewn like another kind of shore rock—barbarians, righteous army troops, and Wolf Cavalry among them.
This battle had been unprecedentedly brutal.
After Wei Qishan withdrew troops southward, Yanle Mountain's defenses weakened. The barbarians launched a full-scale assault, and before Wei Ang could return to Yuzhou to seek reinforcements, the Yanle Mountain defense line had already collapsed.
Liao Jiang's head was hung from this barbarian commander's saddle and brought into the massacred village below the mountain.
Thirty thousand righteous army troops were thrown into the fray, alongside the reassembled Wolf Cavalry. After days of fierce combat, they had only managed to drive the main barbarian force back into the snow-covered Yanle Mountain.
Countless smaller barbarian units still roamed the Northern Border, pillaging and killing wherever they went, much like when Pei Song had withdrawn from the north.
The entire Northern Border was in chaos.
Wei Ang had no time to seek instructions from Wei Qishan by letter. He ordered the blockade of key passages and commanded garrison troops in various prefectures to clear out the barbarian forces within their borders.
If they could repel this main barbarian force, Northern Wei could recover and deal with the scattered barbarian units rampaging through nearby prefectures—like beating a dog behind closed doors.
But the cost of reversing their defeat and driving back this barbarian army had already been devastating.
The barbarian commander flailed in the water, grabbing the hand locked around his throat. Despite using his once-prized strength to pry at it, digging into the wound where Xiao Li's vambrace had been previously gashed, his fingers nearly embedding into the flesh, he couldn't loosen the arm pressing down on his neck an inch.It was as if... it had become a mountain even more insurmountable than Yanle Mountain.
The icy water continuously flooding his mouth and nose brought a suffocating sense of approaching death.
At this moment, the barbarian commander no longer felt resentment or rage.
He had far surpassed his ancestors, leading the barbarian warriors across Yanle Mountain—defended by the Wei Clan of the Northern Border for over thirty years—yet he and his warriors were still forced back step by step.
The one he faced this time was a true alpha wolf: young, ferocious, and unrelenting unto death.
The vast lands beyond Yanle Mountain now had a new guardian.
The raging currents swept through the barbarian commander’s disheveled hair, and the hands gripping Xiao Li’s arms lost their strength.
Two bloody holes had been gouged into the wounds on Xiao Li’s inner arms. His chest heaved as he drew his blade, severed the enemy’s head, and waded ashore through the blood-stained stream. On the bank, he reached out and closed the eyes of a righteous army soldier—whose chest had been pierced and who had died with eyes still wide in fury.
The urgent sound of hoofbeats approached as Wei Ang and Song Qin arrived with reinforcements, all drenched in blood.
The fresh blood on Wei Ang’s face had frozen into crimson frost in the biting wind during their rushed journey. Dismounting, he saw what Xiao Li handed him, took it, and choked back a sob: "Thank you!"
Then, raising his arm high to the Wolf Cavalry behind him, he cried out: "General Liao’s vengeance has been avenged!"
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