The Road to Glory

Chapter 246: Cries of Distress

No one in the hall spoke further. Grand Tutor Yu, seated at the head, lowered his gaze as if in deep contemplation for a long while before finally declaring: "Our Great Liang may dispatch troops to jointly build the Great Wall.

"The Western Frontier will also send reinforcements."

Zhang Huai and the other ministers present all lifted their heads to look at him.

Grand Tutor Yu leaned on his cane with both hands, gazing solemnly at the assembled officials. His aged face bore a desolate expression tinged with solemn dignity: "There's an old saying: 'Do your utmost and leave the rest to Heaven.' How can we speak of submitting to Heaven's will when we haven't yet exhausted our human efforts?"

Sending troops to aid the Western Frontier was like Chen Wei knowing it was already too late yet still leading soldiers to rescue Wen Yu from Southern Chen. Even with only a ten-thousandth chance, they had to exert their final effort in one last attempt.

When their sovereign had already disregarded life and death, what remained for them, as ministers, to fear?

Building the Great Wall to defend against foreign invaders from the Western Frontier was their final measure.

As Zhang Huai had rightly said, if they truly couldn't save Wen Yu nor hold the Western Frontier, they still needed to use their remaining forces to protect the Central Plains' common people.

Only thus would they not betray the breathing space Wen Yu and Xiao Li had bought them with their lives.

All court officials present understood the profound meaning behind Grand Tutor Yu's words. With sorrow coloring their expressions, they slowly turned and bowed in unison: "We all support the Grand Tutor's proposal."

Zhang Huai likewise clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Grand Tutor Yu.

After Zhang Huai and all Liang officials had withdrawn, Grand Tutor Yu coughed weakly into his hand, exhausted from days of mental strain. Li Xun poured tea and handed it to him.

The Grand Tutor accepted the teacup but didn't drink. Gazing at the courtyard beyond the wide-open hall doors, he sighed as if with infinite regret: "This young man carries some shadow of Lord Li..."

Prompted by this remark, Li Xun seemed to recognize certain similarities between Zhang Huai and Li Yao, saying: "He resembles Lord Li in his younger years."

Grand Tutor Yu shook his head again: "But the times wait for no one. Had this young man another eight or ten years of tempering, this old bones wouldn't fear failing the Princess's entrustment..."

Li Xun hurriedly responded: "Grand Tutor must not speak such words! You must still welcome the young princess back to court and await the Princess's safe return!"

Grand Tutor Yu said nothing more, though the trembling of his aged, infirm hands caused the clear tea in his cup to ripple incessantly - telling everything unsaid.

After Zhang Huai left Liang Camp, his subordinate waiting outside immediately approached to ask: "Military Advisor, how went the alliance matters?"

Even Zhang Huai's refined face showed rare traces of fatigue, though his steps remained swift and purposeful: "Great Wall construction continues as planned. Dispatch an additional elite cavalry unit to the frontier to assist the Marquis."

Upon returning to Xiao Army's camp, he spotted a cavalry unit stationed at the entrance from afar.

Approaching closer, he recognized Song Qin - his cheeks noticeably thinner - leading the troops, alongside Tao Kui astride a tall horse shouldering two large hammers.

The entire group was travel-stained, clearly having just arrived from Dingzhou.

Zhang Huai alighted from his carriage and clasped his hands toward them: "General Song, Commandant Tao, it has been some time."

Song Qin had roughly shaved his wild beard before coming, and though scratch marks still marked his face, he appeared less disheartened than during his Dingzhou days.

He nodded at Zhang Huai: "Hearing the Marquis is in trouble beyond the Western Frontier passes, I wish to lead troops to his aid."Zhang Huai did not immediately consent, hesitating briefly before saying, "Huai must first discuss this matter with the generals in the camp before making a decision."

Song Qin called out to stop him, saying, "General Yuan and General Wei Ang are both key commanders in the northern territories. If anything were to happen to the Marquis, we would still need them to oversee the defense against the barbarians beyond the Northern Border. The candidate to lead the troops to reinforce the western frontier must be chosen from among the generals other than these two."

"A-Huan calls me big brother. Now that he's in trouble, as his big brother, I must go and bring him back no matter what."

He no longer addressed Xiao Li as "Marquis," and by saying this, he made it clear that even if Zhang Huai forbade him with a military order, he would defy it and go on his own.

In terms of personal friendship with Xiao Li, no one in the entire Military Camp could surpass him and Zheng Hu.

Zhang Huai was uneasy about Song Qin leading the troops, firstly because Song Qin had been away from the camp for a long time, and secondly because he feared Song Qin might act impulsively.

Hearing Song Qin's words now, Zhang Huai met his gaze for two breaths, knowing well that this mission was likely a one-way trip. He finally closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.

Song Qin said, "Thank you," then glanced at Tao Kui riding beside him and said, "A Niu, go fetch the long halberd the Marquis often uses."

Tao Kui slapped his horse and galloped off in response. Only then did Song Qin continue speaking to Zhang Huai, "This foolish lad is like a half-brother to me and A-Huan."

"When he heard A-Huan was in trouble, he insisted on going to the western frontier. After I leave Dingzhou, no one will be able to restrain him. I was afraid he would venture to the western frontier alone and risk his life, so I brought this foolish lad along."

"But this journey is perilous. Just the cold barrier alone could cost this foolish lad his life. I entrust him to you, Military Advisor. Please find an excuse to keep him detained in the city."

Zhang Huai nodded and said, "Huai will have Colonel Tao assist in supervising the construction of the Great Wall."

Given the precedent of Granny Tao being beaten to death by soldiers under Pei Song's command while building city defenses, Tao Kui's inherently kind nature would compel him to oversee the construction and ensure the laborers were not subjected to harsh punishments. This would effectively keep him occupied.

Song Qin clasped his fists and thanked Zhang Huai.

As Song Qin led the Dingzhou cavalry away from the camp, Zhang Huai cupped his hands and bowed deeply, calling out loudly, "Huai awaits the General's return with the Marquis!"

Song Qin glanced back at Zhang Huai from horseback but said nothing more. He urged his horse forward, leading the troops onward. The forest of banners cast overlapping shadows under the scorching sun.

Ten thousand li away, outside Tiger Gorge Pass, the banners of the Western Mausoleum Army also blotted out the sky.

When the horns blared "woo-woo," the thirty thousand strong Western Mausoleum Army surged forward like streams through the yellow sand and dust, advancing toward the towering battlements of Tiger Gorge Pass.

On a high cliff overlooking the battlefield below, Xiao Li sat astride his horse. Having endured days of hardship traveling through the desert, his face had darkened considerably, making him appear even more stern. The small, diagonal scar across his brow bone accentuated his sharp and fierce demeanor, which was now completely unrestrained.

Zheng Hu, mounted beside him, spat on the ground and said, "We've been eating wind and swallowing sand, rushing day and night, and finally managed to spread the news about the Western Mausoleum spies within the pass ahead of time. Who knows if these Western Mausoleum bastards are just putting on a show with their siege tactics."

Xiao Li stared down at the battlefield and said only, "I'll take three thousand Wolf Cavalry to flank the Western Mausoleum Army from the rear. Tiger, you lead the remaining brothers and adapt to the situation as needed."

With that, he tugged the reins, turned his horse, and headed down the mountain.Zheng Hu hurriedly called out for him to be careful in all matters. When he turned back to look at the Western Mausoleum Army below the cliff, he spat on the ground in frustration: "If I weren't afraid of pushing these Western Mausoleum bastards into a corner, I'd take my men and burn their provisions right now!"

Currently, there was no way to confirm whether there were indeed spies from Western Mausoleum within the pass. If there were spies, and if Yang Shuo was one of them, then given the rumors they had deliberately spread earlier, the enemy would certainly not dare to openly let the Western Mausoleum Army enter the pass at this moment.

To avoid being condemned by the world, they had to put on a show of desperate defense for at least a few days.

Xiao Li took the Wolf Cavalry to harass the Western Mausoleum Army from the rear, also to make the defenders inside the pass aware that they still had reinforcements outside. This was to make Yang Shuo, the defending general, weigh the consequences in his own mind—if he surrendered too easily, the situation would be clearly witnessed by their troops outside the pass.

Since they had managed to harass the Western Mausoleum Army all the way to Tiger Gorge Pass, even if the Western Mausoleum Army later launched a full-scale siege against them, they could retreat and detour to escape back to Liang territory via Hundred Blades Pass. Even if only one person survived to return, they could still clarify the true reason for the fall of Tiger Gorge Pass.

By then, Yang Shuo would become an infamous traitor for all eternity!

If the spy wasn't Yang Shuo, things would be even simpler. To avoid being framed, Yang Shuo would surely conduct strict investigations among his subordinates and exhaust all resources within the pass to mount a desperate defense.

In either scenario, Xiao Li's deployment was aimed at buying as much time as possible for Liang's reinforcements to reach Tiger Gorge Pass.

Burning the Western Mausoleum's provisions now would only strengthen their determination to fight with their backs against the wall and storm the city, while also depriving any spies inside the pass of opportunities to stall for time.

Inside Tiger Gorge Pass, when Yang Shuo received news that the Western Mausoleum army had reached the city walls, he calmly ordered: "Bring me my armor!"

His personal guard hesitated without moving, bowing his head to voice his concerns: "General, the commoners in the city have grown panicked due to messages brought back by merchants who fled into the pass two days ago. There are many private criticisms against you, General. If you personally go to the front lines, I fear the Western Mausoleum side might have some scheme targeting you specifically. Perhaps we should send the deputy general instead?"

Two days earlier, a merchant caravan that had left the pass hurriedly returned midway, claiming they had been robbed by a Western Mausoleum army unit. They abandoned all their goods and fled for their lives on horseback, barely making it back to the pass to report.

Yang Shuo had found it suspicious from the start.

If only one survivor had returned to report, it might indeed have been the work of Western Mausoleum barbarians. But since the entire merchant team and informed herdsmen along the route all managed to return, unless it was some trick, the only possibility was that someone was deliberately spreading messages to the pass.

He sent scouts to investigate, and they indeed found traces of tens of thousands of Western Mausoleum troops marching toward Tiger Gorge Pass. The scouts also brought back news that Pei Song had become the Western Mausoleum prince consort and that he had spies inside Tiger Gorge Pass.

Everyone present was shocked at the time, and Yang Shuo knew perfectly well this was aimed at him.

Although his service under Qin Yi had been brief, merely having been one of Qin Yi's former subordinates had served as a boundary stone suppressing his promotion opportunities for over a decade.

If not for the continuous internal conflicts at court later, the lack of capable personnel in the western frontier, and the fact that Qin Yi's case had become ancient history, the substantial authority as commander of Tiger Gorge Pass would never have fallen to him.Upon learning that Pei Song was Qin Huan, Yang Shuo remained uncertain whether his promotion years ago had involved any manipulation by Pei Song.

Hearing his guard's words now, he cast a sidelong glance with his tiger-like eyes, exuding authority without anger: "The young lord died sixteen years ago during exile. A treacherous minister who brought calamity to the nation, now using the young lord's name to absolve himself—should I, a general, fear his accusations and dare not even meet him at the city tower?"

The guard hurriedly bowed his head: "I never meant…"

Yang Shuo barked: "Fetch my military armor!"

This time the guard dared not refuse, promptly retrieving and helping Yang Shuo don his battle armor.

Tiger Gorge Pass, fortified by its terrain, had rarely seen such large-scale assaults involving tens of thousands in recent years. Fully armored and carrying his sword, Yang Shuo stepped out of his study to find his wife waiting under the eaves with their five-year-old youngest son and eleven-year-old eldest.

Suddenly feeling the weight in his steps, he gestured for the guard to prepare his horse first before approaching his family. After countless unspoken thoughts, he only managed: "Madam…"

Madam Yang stepped forward to adjust her husband's cloak, smiling gently: "Go, General. I and the children will await your triumphant return at home."

Yang Shuo nodded, wanting to say more but only uttering: "These years… you've suffered…"

He then ruffled his younger son's hair and patted his eldest's shoulder: "Take care of your mother and brother at home."

The still-lanky boy gazed at his father with worried yet adoring eyes, nodding firmly.

Yang Shuo strode away from his family. Outside the city, rolling stones launched by catapults arced across the sky, crashing heavily against the outer walls of Tiger Gorge Pass's battlements.

Gole City.

A massive stone struck the city wall's corner. After enduring days of bombardment, the wall finally succumbed, collapsing amid flying debris.

The Western Mausoleum soldiers outside roared like wild beasts, surging madly toward the breach.

When the news reached the battlements, Gu Xiyun had just impaled a Western Mausoleum soldier climbing the siege ladder. Wiping blood from her face, she shouted to Mu Youliang overseeing the defense: "General Mu! I'll lead two thousand troops to plug the gap below!"

In this critical moment, Mu Youliang had no time for deliberation, bellowing: "Granted!"

Gu Xiyun retrieved her spear and rushed downstairs with her guards.

Mu Shaoting, fighting Western Mausoleum troops elsewhere on the walls, glanced down and saw enemy vanguards already scaling the rubble into the barbican. After sweeping several climbers off the ladders, he shouted to his father: "I'm going too!"

Mu Youliang's response remained: "Granted!"

As Mu Shaoting descended, a deep, resonant horn suddenly sounded from the Western Mausoleum forces spreading like dark iron tide below. A previously resting black-armored formation began advancing, turning every face on the walls pale.

These past days, the Western Mausoleum Army had employed attrition warfare. Under the overwhelming force of 120,000 troops, even their defensive rotations became desperate life-and-death struggles. Now, after continuous catapult bombardment, even the city walls could no longer bear the strain.Mu Youliang gazed at the moving black iron square formation, his expression somber. After a long while, his short beard, dusted with ash, twitched as he ordered: "Escort the princess to retreat!"

...

Black crows cawed as they swept across the courtyard. Zhao Bai hurried through the courtyard and entered the council hall.

Memorials piled like mountains on both sides of the long table. Wen Yu sat calmly at the very center, holding a vermilion brush with a serene expression, still processing the accumulated petitions.

Zhao Bai dropped to one knee, bowing his head as he reported: "Your Highness, a section of the western wall has been breached. Though General Gu and Young General Mu have led troops to block the gap, the Western Mausoleum Army has launched a new round of fierce attacks. The situation is dire. General Mu has ordered us to evacuate you from this place immediately!"

Author's Note: I've said "sorry" to you all too many times while writing this book - so often that later I could only feel constant remorse and self-reproach, feeling I could no longer utter these two words to you. But now I still want to say sorry once more. I've failed you all, making you wait so long. I'm ashamed and humiliated, yet also filled with gratitude toward you.

During my confusion in wielding words, during my periods of creative drought, you were still willing to wait for me and offer comfort. This I shall always remember. Thank you for your patience and passion, which helped me endure the most difficult period and prevented me from completely losing faith in writing. All I can offer in return is to deliver the most brilliant ending I'm capable of creating. I sincerely thank you for your companionship and support, and for walking this path together with me (bows).