Chapter 239: "Second Brother, Don't Be Reckless!..."
The young officer didn't understand why He Yi had suddenly changed her mind, but dared not ask further. He bowed his head in respectful acknowledgment.
He Yi threw on her cloak and strode out of the tent, her sharp eyes gleaming with determination.
The fact that the Liang cavalry only dared to ambush Niru's troops indicated they were significantly outnumbered. She had ordered Niru to counterattack with thirty thousand soldiers—barring unforeseen circumstances, this should ensure none of the enemy would return alive.
Gole City
Amid the mournful blare of horns, yellow sand and dust filled the air as the Western Mausoleum army advanced toward the city walls like a swarm of ants.
He Yi, clad in brilliant golden armor, sat high upon her warhorse adorned with gilded barding. A matching soft satin cloak trailed long behind her as she lifted her wild, ambitious eyes toward the distant city tower standing over thirty feet tall.
The princess who had rushed from the royal court to this border city stood at the crenellations wearing black and vermilion brocade court robes. Flanking her on either side were the garrison commander Mu Youliang and a female general in Liang-style armor. Behind them, the Black Phoenix banner of Chen and the Azure Dragon Crimson Cloud Banner of Liang fluttered fiercely in the western wind.
The fading sunlight cast its glow upon the banners, burning so intensely it seemed to declare that the fortunes of Liang and Chen had not yet run dry.
The distance was too great for He Yi to clearly discern the princess's features, but the commanding presence and composure made her narrow her eyes.
She would be pleased if the one personally coming to Gole City was indeed Han Yang.
Yet she disliked how the other party appeared to have everything under control with such dignified calm.
Once, to study Han military tactics, she had specially hired a Central Plains tutor.
That tutor disliked her sharp and conspicuous nature, often saying "A gentleman keeps his weapons concealed about his person, waiting for the right moment to act."" When she killed the old man after learning all he could teach, she had still found him annoyingly verbose.
But today, glimpsing from afar beneath the city walls, she suddenly understood what "keeping weapons concealed" truly meant. And precisely because of this understanding, an unprecedented irritation surged through her arrogant heart.
The young princess capable of shouldering the burdens of both Liang and Chen was indeed no delicate flower—perhaps even possessing exceptional skill.
But regardless, it no longer mattered.
He Yi's distant gaze toward Wen Yu shifted from wariness to scorn.
If Han Yang had truly come to Gole City... then the motives behind the Liang cavalry repeatedly harassing Niru's troops weren't hard to guess—nothing more than buying time to secure advantages at Tiger Gorge Pass.
How the Liang woman had so quickly learned about their attack on Tiger Gorge Pass and immediately reconciled with the Xiao Army, He Yi couldn't be bothered to investigate.
She only knew that daring to personally come to this border city was equivalent to tying oneself up and delivering to death!
The blood surged beneath her arms. Her hands tightened and loosened on the reins, every bone in her body screaming with urgent craving for slaughter and baptism by blood.
Staring at the distant city tower, He Yi slowly drew the long sword at her waist: "Attack the city!"
War drums thundered as cries of slaughter surged like tidal waves against the opposing walls.
On the city tower, Mu Youliang immediately shouted: "Crossbowmen, ready!"
Chen soldiers guarding the crenellations loaded arrows into their slots. Gu Xiyun clapped twice, and Liang troops following her up the tower took positions behind the battlements with their crossbows, ready to replace the Chen soldiers when they fell back to reload.Mu Youliang turned and bowed to Wen Yu with clasped fists, saying, "Princess, your presence in Gole City has greatly boosted the morale of our troops. The arrows on the city walls are unpredictable, so please withdraw for now and await news of our victory!"
Wen Yu replied, "Focus on commanding the battle, General. Do not worry about me."
As she spoke, Zhao Bai of the Azure Guard, who had been following her closely, gave Mu Youliang a slight nod.
Wen Yu’s expression remained calm as her gaze swept over the roaring Western Mausoleum Army charging below. Without showing any change in demeanor, she instructed Gu Xiyun beside her, "Xiyun, observe and learn from General Mu during this battle."
Gu Xiyun nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Mu Youliang understood that Wen Yu intended to witness the Western Mausoleum’s tactics firsthand. He clasped his fists toward Gu Xiyun as a greeting.
Gu Xiyun returned the gesture with a respectful bow.
She had arrived with 20,000 reinforcements from Liang territory alongside Wen Yu. To integrate smoothly with Chen Jun’s forces in Gole City and coordinate against the enemy, she needed to familiarize herself with their combat methods and the commander’s directives.
This battle, likely launched by He Yi with the intent to capture Wen Yu alive, was fiercely aggressive. It lasted from sunset until sunrise. Thanks to Wen Yu’s presence reinvigorating morale and the support of Liang reinforcements, Chen Jun fought through the night and narrowly managed to defend the city gates.
The Western Mausoleum Army, employing relentless wave attacks, was equally exhausted by dawn. As He Yi ordered a retreat in the morning light, she turned her horse amidst the receding tide of soldiers and glanced back at Wen Yu on the city wall.
The rising sun from the east was dazzling, preventing her from clearly seeing the Liang princess who, in just over two years, had earned the devotion of subjects in both Liang and Chen.
He Yi was no stranger to defeat. Countless thorns and chasms had once blocked her path, yet she had hacked her way through with blade and axe.
This time would be no different.
This crumbling stone wall that had halted her advance would eventually be reduced to rubble under her weapons and the might of her army!
Gripping the reins tightly, He Yi turned her horse and rode away.
On the city wall, Wen Yu watched as He Yi led her army into the distance. The soldiers around her erupted in cheers.
Having lost all the oases outside Gole City and retreating to the city itself, they had not achieved a decent victory until now. This triumph finally rekindled the fighting spirit that had been shattered before.
Mu Youliang, who had commanded throughout the night, showed no signs of fatigue. Unable to contain his excitement, he clasped his fists and said to Wen Yu, "This victory is all thanks to your presence, Princess…"
Wen Yu, who had also stayed awake all night, had faint redness under her eyes. In contrast to Mu Youliang’s joy, her expression was grave. "General Mu and all the soldiers fought hard through the night, but this is not the time for celebration yet."
Mu Youliang detected something amiss in her tone and tempered his elation.
The morning sun had risen higher when He Yi returned to the Royal Tent. She kicked over a low table, and the guards in attendance held their breath in silence.
Seating herself on a tiger-skin chair, He Yi leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, resting her chin on her hands in thought. After a moment, she declared, "Send word to the royal capital. Dispatch all remaining troops to Gole City."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, recognizing the recklessness of this strategy. One ventured to advise, "Princess…"
He Yi lifted her head, her lips pressed into a sharp, resolute line. "My decision is final. Say no more."
Another guard risked his life to caution, "Princess, we must not act rashly because of today’s defeat. That Liang woman’s presence in Gole City may well be part of some scheme…"He Yi could not conceal her ferocity as she snapped, "The conspiracy is that they are stalling for time, trying to reverse the battle situation at Tiger Gorge Pass!"
Several guards were taken aback, then asked, "Then why are you still..."
He Yi's face tightened, her hand resting on her knee clenched into a fist. On her dark skin, the contours of her muscles were clearly visible. She said, "If they had already informed Tiger Gorge Pass in advance about the traitorous general, and Niru and the consort have been held up for so long, we cannot place too much hope on Tiger Gorge Pass to open the gateway to Liang. But capturing their Liang princess alive can!"
In the council hall of Gole City.
Mu Youliang stared at the strategic map and finally understood why Wen Yu had said those words on the city tower.
"Western Mausoleum currently has 70,000 troops besieging the city. The capital can still deploy about 30,000 more. When 100,000 troops press down on us, Chen's forces in Gole City number less than 10,000. Even with the 20,000 Liang troops accompanying the princess, we barely exceed 30,000..."
Despite his long experience on the battlefield, facing such a disparity in numbers, Mu Youliang's expression showed deep concern:
"Gole City likely cannot be held. But retreating to Gole City left us blind in the desert, failing to detect Western Mausoleum's troop movements toward Tiger Gorge Pass in time. This subject deserves death ten thousand times over for this failure. If we can delay them for even one more day, this subject will use the blood and bones of our soldiers to hold back Western Mausoleum for one more moment..."
A loud clatter came from outside the door.
Mu Youliang shouted sharply, "Who's there!"
Zhao Bai and Gu Xiyun, who were inside with Wen Yu, immediately raised their sharp gazes toward the door.
The door opened, revealing a lean young man outside picking up a helmet and a stack of documents that had fallen from his arm. He replied in a muffled voice, "Father, it's me."
Wen Yu somewhat remembered this youth. He had returned to the royal court the previous year due to delayed military provisions, discovering it was the work of those parasitic aristocratic families. He had even stormed into the residence of Liu Guangling, the remonstrance official who had challenged her at the time, and severely beat him.
Seeing it was his son, Mu Youliang's stern expression softened slightly, though his tone remained harsh: "Why are you outside the door?"
Mu Shaoting entered with the documents in hand and said, "I came to deliver the military report on the casualties among our soldiers."
Not wanting to appear disrespectful before Wen Yu, Mu Youliang refrained from scolding his son and said, "Put them on the table and leave."
After placing the stack of documents on the desk, Mu Shaoting turned to leave but said with his back to them, "This general knows the princess loves her people as her own children. But are only the people of Liang worthy of the princess's care? To save Tiger Gorge Pass, must we use our entire Chen state's Gole City as bait? If Gole City falls, do the innocent people of Chen who will die unjustly not count as lives?"
His final glance toward Wen Yu was filled with red-rimmed eyes—unconvinced and resentful.
He then strode out. Mu Youliang, enraged, shouted for him to stop, but he paid no heed. In the end, Mu Youliang grabbed a bamboo scroll from the desk and hurled it at his back, missing completely.
Gritting his teeth, Mu Youliang ordered the guards nearby to immediately tie Mu Shaoting and bring him back. He then bowed deeply with clasped fists to Wen Yu: "I beg the princess to calm your anger. My ignorant son has spoken recklessly and offended you. This subject will have him skinned and drawn and quartered!"
Wen Yu showed no trace of anger on her face, nor any sorrow at being misunderstood. She remained so calm it was as if Mu Shaoting's words had not been directed at her: "The young general is deeply concerned for protecting the people under his charge. Having such a general is something this princess should be pleased about."Mu Shaoting stormed out of the council hall, fuming as he strode down the corridor. "That Liang woman is truly a Liang woman—when it comes to making sacrifices, it's always our Chen citizens who bear the cost..."
Suddenly, a leg shot out from the side. Consumed by rage, Mu Shaoting failed to notice it and tripped, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Which blind dog dares to..."
Gritting his teeth as he tried to rise, Mu Shaoting found a pair of military boots stained with fresh blood standing before him.
Looking up, he recognized the female general who served that Liang woman. Feeling mocked and humiliated, he pushed himself up from the ground, but before he could demand an explanation, her cold, sharp gaze sliced through him. Crossing her arms, she said icily, "Do you think your Chen ministers agreed to let the princess bring her army here because they care less for the common people than you do, General Mu?"
Mu Shaoting sneered, "Who knows what favors that Liang woman promised them..."
Before he could finish, he felt a cold edge press against his throat.
Gu Xiyun pointed her spear at his neck. "Boy, I'll spare your life today because of your youth. But if I hear you insult the princess again—"
She slowly turned her head to glare at him, leaving the threat unspoken. With a sudden thrust, she drove her spear deep into a nearby pillar.
Mu Shaoting was stunned by her formidable spear technique and momentarily speechless.
As Gu Xiyun withdrew her spear and turned to leave, she said coldly, "In the entire royal court, no one has done more for your Chen citizens than my princess."
Standing rooted to the spot, Mu Shaoting felt shame and fury surge within him again. He shouted, "Did you not see how many died in yesterday's battle? To protect your Liang's Tiger Gorge Pass, you drew the entire Western Mausoleum Army to Gole City! Our Chen soldiers may fight to the last man, but what will become of the unarmed civilians if the city falls?"
Gu Xiyun halted, leaning on her spear as she looked back at the indignant young man. "The princess risked coming here precisely to protect all the people of Liang and Chen.
"If Gole City falls, it won't just be your Chen soldiers who perish—the twenty thousand Liang troops who accompanied the princess will also be buried here!"
Mu Shaoting understood her meaning: they would not retreat, which meant Wen Yu would not retreat even if the city fell.
His young face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shame, overwhelmed by these conflicting emotions, he pressed on, "What makes the princess think her presence in Gole City can protect the people of both lands?"
Realizing his words still sounded like an accusation, he clenched his jaw and added, "Generals may die on the battlefield, but a ruler should not!"
Gu Xiyun lowered her gaze. "To the princess, the people of both lands matter more than her own life. It's that simple."
Before striding away, she said, "If you wish to protect the people behind Gole City, then defend it—hold it for at least one month."
Mu Shaoting almost retorted that with a hundred thousand Western Mausoleum troops at their gates, holding Gole City for ten days would be a feat worthy of history—how could they possibly hold it for a month?
But having grown up in the military, he had developed sharp instincts.
Exactly one month—no more, no less. Was Princess Han Yang buying time for some other strategy?At the same time, in the council hall of Gole City, Mu Youliang bowed deeply to Wen Yu: "This general understands. I pledge my life that for the next month, the pass shall stand as long as I live!"
When a sandstorm swept across the desert, the sky turned a hazy yellow. Apart from dawn and dusk, it became nearly impossible to distinguish other times of day.
After Zheng Hu finished having the soldiers tie seabuckthorn branches to the horses' tails, he watched the approaching yellow sand in the distance and walked over to Xiao Li, who was contemplating a simple map drawn on the ground. "Youcai sent word—a squad of Western Mausoleum soldiers has taken the bait and is chasing us. This time, we'll make sure those Western Mausoleum barbarians never return!"
Xiao Li asked, "Whose banner are they flying?"
Zheng Hu, aware that Xiao Li's repeated raids on the Western Mausoleum Army had another goal—to kill Pei Song—replied, "It's not the 'Pei' banner, and no Hawk Hounds were spotted. It shouldn't be that scoundrel Pei Song. The coward values his life too much now, always hiding within the main force of the Western Mausoleum Army. We haven't caught a glimpse of him."
Xiao Li wiped away the map on the ground and stood up, saying, "Tiger, go support Youcai and lure that Western Mausoleum unit farther away."
Zheng Hu watched as Xiao Li tore off his outer robe and picked up a set of armor stripped from a previously slain Western Mausoleum soldier. The Wolf Cavalry members with him had already changed into Western Mausoleum Army armor at some point.
Zheng Hu's eyelids twitched, and he urgently said, "Second Brother, don't do anything reckless!"
Author's note: My apologies for the delay. Leave a mark in the comments section, and I'll send out red packets to everyone uniformly~
OpenNovel