The Road to Glory

Chapter 251: "Liang Camp, Xiao Li."...

Supported by a group of loyal maids and servants, Madam Yang stumbled toward the rear courtyard's side gate under the protection of household guards and garrison soldiers.

The young child, carried by a faithful servant, sobbed in fright, repeatedly reaching out for Madam Yang.

The eldest son, already sensible enough to understand the household was facing a great calamity, tightly clutched a dagger and stayed close to his mother's side.

"No urgent messages came from the city gates—how could the Border Defense Camp be suddenly attacked..." Madam Yang hurried along while anxiously asking the household guard.

"The group that came to report is fraudulent. Whether the Border Defense Camp was truly attacked is uncertain, but they are clearly targeting you and the two young masters. I will first escort you and the young masters to safety!"

As they spoke, the group reached the rear courtyard's side gate. The garrison soldiers at the front had just pulled the door open when a volley of arrows turned them into sieves.

Realizing the rear exit was also blocked, the lead household guard quickly ordered the door shut again. To avoid further casualties from arrows outside, he instructed everyone to take cover by the base of the wall.

The Hawk Hounds outside shouted, "Hand over Yang Shuo's wife and children, and we might spare your lives!"

The household guard yelled back, "Surrender now, you rebels! Our general might still grant you a whole corpse!"

No sooner had he spoken than another dense rain of arrows pierced through the courtyard wall, a clear show of force from the Hawk Hounds outside.

The timid maids and servant women, who had never faced such a life-threatening situation, began weeping softly, despairingly asking, "Madam, are we going to die here?"

Holding the frightened, crying child in her arms, Madam Yang looked at the faces filled with despair and could not utter a word in her sorrow.

The household guard deflected the flying arrows with his weapon and gritted his teeth, saying, "Madam, rest assured. Even if we must sacrifice our lives, we will protect you and the young masters!"However, a blood-soaked garrison soldier soon staggered from the front courtyard, despairingly reporting: "Commander, it's Pei Song!" The one attacking the residence is Pei Song! The front courtyard can no longer hold!"

At these words, not only the servants but even the household guard and Madam Yang turned pale, a chill running down their spines.

In that instant, they fully understood—today's events were aimed at the entire Yang family.

The Hawk Hounds outside the side gate began ramming the door. The household guard and his men pressed against it from inside, fiercely shouting at the garrison soldier, "Hold them back even if you can't!"

Madam Yang had already grasped Pei Song's intention in capturing her and her two sons. She looked down at the sobbing child in her arms, then at her eldest son, who was equally frightened but silent, gripping his dagger. As if resolving herself, she said to the guard at the door, "General Zhou, take Yue'er and escape!"

The household guard exclaimed in shock, "Madam!"

The dagger-clutching youth also urgently cried out, "Mother, I won't leave!"

With tear-filled eyes, Madam Yang reached out to touch her eldest son's face. Knowing that she and the younger child would only be a burden if they stayed together, she said sorrowfully, "Yue'er, you must escape. They are targeting your father. If Tiger Gorge Pass falls, the charge of treason will be firmly pinned on him. You must flee. When you see Princess Han Yang, you must report that your father is no traitor!"Madam Yang spoke these words, knowing this day marked their final parting. Tears streamed down her face as she handed the infant in her arms to a maidservant. Tearing a strip from her skirt, she bit her index finger and began writing a blood-letter on the ground. After detailing everything, she entrusted it to her eldest son, weeping as she said, "Yue'er, you must live on!"

She then bowed deeply to the family guard: "General Zhou, I entrust Yue'er to your care!"

The guard, heartbroken yet aware of the urgency, could only steel himself and reply: "This humble general will protect the young master with my life!"

As the guard led the boy away, the youth struggled until his face and eyes were flushed crimson. Large teardrops fell as he stretched out his hands, still trying to grasp at Madam Yang: "Mother! Mother! Younger brother!"

The guard tightened his hold, suppressing his grief to hoarsely say: "Eldest Young Master, do not betray your mother's sacrifice. If we remain here, none of us will survive, and the general's wrongful accusations will never be cleared!"

The boy's struggles gradually subsided, but he continued staring fixedly at the distant figures of Madam Yang and his younger brother. Clenching his jaw until the two figures blurred through his tears, he emitted agonized sobs from his throat.

The Hawk Hounds outside finally broke through the door bolt. Just as they prepared to storm in, two horse-drawn carriages suddenly burst forth side-by-side, knocking over several Hawk Hounds before separating at the main street.

Pei Song arrived from the front courtyard, his expression turning icy at the scene.

The Hawk Hound leader responsible for guarding the back door, knowing catastrophe had struck, scrambled up from the ground and half-knelt before Pei Song: "Master..."

Before he could finish, Pei Song kicked him aside: "Incompetent!"

Coldly surveying the two carriages speeding away in opposite directions, Pei Song ordered: "After them!"

The remaining Hawk Hounds immediately split into two groups pursuing the separate carriages.

Meanwhile, the Yang family guard helped Yang Yue—now dressed in servant's clothing—scale the opposite courtyard wall. Perched on the wall, Yang Yue watched the two distant carriages disappearing down the main street, his red-rimmed eyes whispering hoarsely: "Mother..."

The guard urged: "There are still Hawk Hounds searching the residence, Eldest Young Master. We must hurry..."

The pursuing Hawk Hounds soon intercepted one carriage. The driver had been killed by a grappling hook through his neck, his body slumped across the carriage shaft.

When a Hawk Hound lifted the carriage curtain, they found Madam Yang holding her young child inside.

Perhaps having already witnessed bloodshed, Madam Yang showed no fear upon seeing the driver's corpse, instead calmly comforting her five-year-old son.

The Hawk Hounds parted as Pei Song stepped forward: "I merely wished to escort you and your son to reunite with General Yang. Why avoid me so?"

Madam Yang's eyes blazed with defiance, a cold smile gracing her lips: "My husband has no past to recount with a treasonous dog who colluded with the enemy!"

The words struck harshly. Pei Song's slight smile faded momentarily before widening meaningfully: "Perhaps you might guess how I previously crossed the frontier, and why I can safely reenter during active warfare?"

Madam Yang's angry expression faltered slightly.

Pei Song smiled gently, exuding complete confidence: "Do not make this difficult for General Yang."Madam Yang sat motionless in the carriage, one arm half-embracing her young son. As two clear trails of tears rolled down her cheeks, her lips still bore the same cold smile from before. With an utterly haughty demeanor, she declared, "If he truly commits such an act, worse than that of pigs and dogs, then our over ten years of marital ties end here today!"

Pei Song merely thought Madam Yang was being hot-tempered and said, "Madam, you yourself mentioned your over ten years of marital ties. How could it come to this? Why not come with me first? Once you see General Yang, he will explain everything to you."

At this, Madam Yang suddenly laughed. As Pei Song watched in astonishment, blood finally spilled from the corners of her lips as if she could no longer hold it back. She laughed and said, "Too late."

Beside her, her young son lay with his eyes tightly shut, traces of black blood staining his lips—he had already succumbed to the poison.

Pei Song’s expression darkened completely. He braced a hand heavily against the carriage door, crushing the high-quality wood until it cracked, and asked furiously, "You took poison?"

Madam Yang’s face still wore a triumphant smile as she weakly replied, "If he is coerced by you, I cannot allow him to have any lingering concerns. If he truly joins you in your wicked deeds, then my An family will have no further ties with him…"

With that, she slowly closed her eyes, still smiling, and the arm that had been half-embracing her son fell limp.

All his plans were thrown into disarray. Enraged, Pei Song kicked the carriage violently.

Just then, a Hawk Hound galloped up on horseback. As he drew near, he swiftly dismounted along with a bound youth from the saddle, clasping his hands toward Pei Song and reporting, "Master, we have captured the person from the other carriage alive!"

Pei Song swept a cold glance over the richly dressed youth. The boy had already caught sight of Madam Yang and her son dead inside the carriage and was so terrified his legs trembled uncontrollably, stunned into silence, forgetting even to cry.

Pei Song lifted the youth’s chin with the tip of his sword, his icy gaze almost tangible. "Your wife gave poison to herself and her young son. Why did she not give any to you?"

The youth trembled like a leaf, utterly unable to respond.

By the time the Hawk Hound sensed something amiss, Pei Song’s blade had already slashed fiercely across. Without even a scream, the youth fell to the ground, blood gushing like a fountain.

"Heh." Pei Song let out a cold laugh, his eyes tinged with crimson. "A diversion tactic, is it?"

He flicked the blood from his sword and issued a lazy yet sinister order: "Chase down that little brat and bring him back to me."

The Hawk Hounds hurriedly mounted their horses and gave chase.

One Hawk Hound who remained behind glanced at the deceased Madam Yang and her son in the carriage and cautiously inquired, "Master, what about these two…?"

Pei Song lifted his gaze toward the direction of the city pass, a ferocious glint flashing in his eyes. "Bring them along. We’re going to see Yang Shuo."

"Hurry and flee! The Western Mausoleum forces have broken in!"

"I heard the Border Defense Camp has already been overrun! Several nearby villages were slaughtered, and their heads are all impaled on spikes at the village entrances!"

Someone grabbed a fleeing merchant and argued, "Tiger Gorge Pass’s gates are as solid as iron, and it occupies a natural defensive position. How could the Western Mausoleum forces break in so easily?"

The merchant yanked his bundle back forcefully and cursed, "Solid as iron? Yang Shuo has already surrendered to the Western Mausoleum forces and opened the gates—didn’t you know?"

"Such a thing really happened?"

"Then how do you think those Western Mausoleum troops got inside the pass? Did they grow wings and fly in?"

…

The city had descended into utter chaos. The streets and alleys were filled with families fleeing for their lives, carrying their belongings.Amid the bustling chaos, a rider galloped furiously from the distance, the person on horseback shouting hoarsely, "Make way! All of you, make way!"

The fleeing crowd was forced to scatter to both sides, overturning vendors' stalls that hadn't been cleared in time, sending fruits and vegetables rolling across the ground. Complaints and curses rose among the people.

The Yang family guard, carrying Yang Yue on horseback as they raced desperately, dared not slow down even slightly. Behind him, over a dozen Hawk Hounds were in close pursuit, showing no regard for the civilians. Those who failed to move aside in time were trampled under their horses' hooves.

On the rooftops lining the official road, Hawk Hounds skilled in qinggong dashed along the uneven eaves, occasionally firing cold arrows from hidden crossbows.

The Yang family guard whipped his horse relentlessly, urgently shouting for the people on the official road to clear the path. But ahead, an old man pushing a wheelbarrow—evacuating the city with his family—seemed to have been jostled and overturned his cart, spilling its contents across the ground.

The old man and his granddaughter were gathering the scattered items when they heard the commotion behind them and saw a horse charging straight toward them. Terrified, the old man lunged to shield his granddaughter, who was crouched in the middle of the road picking up flatbreads.

Seeing this, the Yang family guard clenched his teeth and yanked hard on the reins.

This momentary delay allowed the pursuing Hawk Hounds to close in completely.

After shouting at the old man and his granddaughter to retreat, the guard dug his heels into the horse's flank, trying to break away again. But Hawk Hounds from the rooftops swung down on grappling hooks, their curved blades drawn and aimed straight at the horse's legs.

As the horse whinnied and stumbled forward, the guard shielded Yang Yue and leaped from the saddle, rolling on the ground to dissipate the force while dodging a volley of nail-like short arrows fired from hidden crossbows.

However, hampered by protecting the boy, the guard took an arrow in the back. By the time he helped the youth to his feet, his lips were pale.

Seeing the Hawk Hounds converging from behind, the guard raised his blade defensively and said to Yang Yue, "Young master, run! This humble general will hold off these villains here!"

The boy, eyes red-rimmed, cried, "We leave together or not at all!"

The nearest Hawk Hounds attacked. The guard threw himself forward to intercept them but was outmatched, his blade pressed back by their grappling hooks as he retreated step by step. Glancing back and seeing the boy still standing there, he roared hoarsely, "Go!"

The boy felt he had shed more tears today than in all his years since birth. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself forward with the same agony he'd felt when abandoning his mother and younger brother to flee the estate, not daring to look back even once.

As he ran, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shot through his calf. He cried out and collapsed, looking back to see an arrow embedded in his leg.

Further behind, the Yang family guard knelt facing away from him, motionless.

A Hawk Hound pulled his blade from the guard's body and, along with the others, advanced toward the boy. Staring fixedly at the kneeling figure of the guard, the boy's vision instantly blurred with tears.

"Uncle Zhou..." he choked out.

Death now seemed the least of his fears. But remembering his mother's final charge—that the entire Yang family might otherwise bear the false accusation of treason—the boy, though knowing escape was impossible, endured the excruciating pain and dragged his wounded leg, crawling desperately toward the end of the long street.

The Hawk Hounds behind him, aware he was at his limit, no longer rushed. They fanned out and closed in leisurely, as if intent on taking him alive.The boy scrambled forward, hurling anything he could grab behind him, sobbing hysterically, "Get away! All of you, get away!"

The encircling Hawk Hounds had lost all patience. Pei Song's orders were to capture him alive, but nothing was said about keeping him intact. Seeing the boy's desperate state, they raised their blades, ready to cripple one of his hands.

As the blade descended, an arrow pierced through the heart of the wielder. The Hawk Hound glared, trying to focus ahead, but his vision blurred into countless overlapping shadows before he collapsed stiffly to the ground.

The remaining Hawk Hounds realized reinforcements had arrived. Glancing up, they saw a rider charging toward them on horseback and immediately split forces to intercept, while the rest attempted to seize the boy.

But the rider drew his bow, the string tensed and released, and arrows shot forth like meteors. Several Hawk Hounds lunging for the boy fell instantly, struck down.

Panic seized the Hawk Hounds as they scrambled to respond, but the rider was already upon them. His long blade unsheathed, cold steel flashed, and wherever it passed, blood sprayed.

By the time the Wolf Cavalry caught up, over a dozen Hawk Hounds lay dead by Xiao Li's blade.

Yang Huo lay prone on the ground, unable to discern their origins from their tattered armor. But seeing they were Liang men and had slain Pei Song's Hawk Hounds, he cast aside further deliberation in this critical moment and urgently identified himself: "I am the son of General Yang Shuo of the Western Garrison! Pei Song attacked the general's residence, seeking to capture my mother and younger brother to coerce my father! I beg you, save my mother and brother!"

With hands scraped raw from crawling, he frantically retrieved the blood-stained letter written by Madam Yang from his robes and handed it to the leader, his eyes pleading with desperate hope—he had already pinned all his hopes on them.

Xiao Li took the blood letter. After reading the heart-wrenching crimson words, his expression grew even colder. Without a word, he folded the letter, returned it to Yang Huo, and said, "I go now to the general's residence. You continue fleeing south. When you meet the Liang reinforcements, explain everything to them."

He then commanded two Wolf Cavalry beside him, "Escort Young Master Yang to rendezvous with the Liang reinforcements."

News of Western Mausoleum's planned assault on Tiger Gorge Pass must have long been relayed to Liang territory by Wen Yu. Even if mobilizing troops from the northern and southern borders was too slow, Fan Yuan had previously joined him deep in the western frontier to hunt down Pei Song. Knowing Fan Yuan as he did, Xiao Li was certain that upon learning he had led the Wolf Cavalry beyond the pass, Fan Yuan would lead Liang troops adapted to the cold barrier deeper into the western frontier to guard against anomalies at Tiger Gorge Pass. This was one reason he had convinced Wen Yu to permit him to lead the Wolf Cavalry to intercept the Western Mausoleum Army.

Yang Huo, frantic about his mother's safety, opened his mouth to refuse, but upon seeing their group numbered barely twenty riders, a shred of rationality returned. All words choked in his throat.

—Pei Song had deployed no fewer than a hundred Hawk Hounds to raid the Yang residence, let alone the unknown number of Western Mausoleum soldiers who had infiltrated the city, slaughtering civilians and sowing chaos everywhere. Panic had seized the military and civilians within the pass, scattering them like loose sand.

With such a disparity in numbers, these twenty-plus cavalrymen were likely marching to their deaths. How could they afford to drag along dead weight like him?

This realization deepened Yang Huo's anguish. Gritting against the searing pain in his leg, he knelt and kowtowed to Xiao Li. "May I ask your esteemed name, benefactor?"

Xiao Li had already remounted his horse. He replied with just four words: "Liang Camp, Xiao Li."Although the flames of war between the northern and southern territories of Great Liang had not spread to the western frontier, the news that after Wei Qishan's death, he had not passed his position to his biological son but instead entrusted the entire Northern Wei to his adopted son had spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Subsequently, the name of Northern Wei's new ruler, Xiao Li, along with his illustrious military achievements, had become thunderously renowned over the past two years.

Yet now, the title he placed before his own name was that of the Liang Camp?

While Yang Yue was still stunned, Xiao Li had already ridden off with his Wolf Cavalry.

Staring at his retreating figure, Yang Yue momentarily forgot his grief and murmured in disbelief, "Didn't Xiao Jun just pass through the pass not long ago? How could he be inside the pass now?"

—

Xiao Li galloped urgently, his jaw clenched tightly.

From the moment he discovered that the tunnel beneath Jiashi Mountain led directly to the Border Defense Camp, he knew Tiger Gorge Pass could not avoid this calamity.

At that time, however, he did not know how deeply Yang Shuo was involved in the matter.

By the time they arrived, the entire Border Defense Camp was engulfed in flames. The garrison troops, caught off guard by the sudden attack and terrified by the appearance of the Western Mausoleum Army inside the pass, believed Tiger Gorge Pass had already fallen. Their morale shattered, they showed no will to fight, ultimately dying or fleeing in disarray.

While descending the mountain with his Wolf Cavalry, Xiao Li captured several deserters. When questioned about the camp's assault, they all claimed Yang Shuo had opened the gates and surrendered, allowing the Western Mausoleum Army to enter.

At that point, Xiao Li could not determine whether this was a staged act orchestrated by Yang Shuo in collaboration with Pei Song or a scheme devised solely by Pei Song.

After all, if it were the former, after Tiger Gorge Pass fell, Yang Shuo could shift all blame to the long-abandoned passageway. He could claim ignorance, insisting that internal chaos in the city had allowed the Western Mausoleum Army outside to seize the opportunity, leading to the pass's capture. He could argue that he surrendered to protect the city's civilians.

Now, after reading Madam Yang's blood-written letter, everything became clear.

Yang Shuo was not Pei Song's ally.

On the contrary, everything Pei Song had plotted was to force Yang Shuo into rebellion!

The Western Mausoleum Army that entered the pass with him slaughtered and pillaged within the city, sowing panic to convince both the garrison and civilians that Yang Shuo had colluded with the enemy, cutting off any retreat for him.

By then, whether Yang Shuo surrendered or not, the defending troops inside the pass would have scattered like loose sand, powerless to resist. The fall of Tiger Gorge Pass would become inevitable!

Pei Song then captured Yang Shuo's family as hostages. At such a point of no return, no one could predict what choices Yang Shuo might make.

Xiao Li felt as if a fire were burning in his chest—searing, painful, and filled with boundless fury.

"Hyah!" He whipped his horse fiercely, his cloak and the stray hairs at his forehead swept back by the wind like a wolf returning from the wilderness seeking vengeance.

Author's Note: Almost there... (furiously typing away)