The naval battle at Guangzhou commenced.
King Ale personally led his forces to attack. Priding himself on his formidable cavalry, he believed his troops were invincible on land and that the Southern Barbarians' military strength was impervious to Great Wei's assaults. However, on water, soldiers accustomed to years of riding and archery struggled with naval combat, their effectiveness significantly diminished.
This gave Guangzhou a fighting chance.
But was King Ale an ordinary man?
Having commanded troops for years, King Ale enforced strict military discipline. If his soldiers were unskilled in naval warfare, they would train for it. Those who fell ill from discomfort would be abandoned; if they truly could not breach the defenses, they would trade lives for victory.
Yet, after initiating the naval battle, King Ale began to regret his decision.
His original intent for this campaign was to seize Princess Danyang of Great Wei before Guangzhou could react, then use the princess to force Jiannan to withdraw its troops. If Yan Shang refused to retreat, King Ale would threaten Mu Wan Yao's life. However, upon reaching Guangzhou, he found the reality different from his expectations.
First, his troops were unskilled in naval combat; second, Mu Wan Yao had long been prepared, and Guangzhou was ready.
Guangzhou could not be taken quickly.
But having come this far, how could King Ale turn back? Retreat would not only invite ridicule but also leave him bearing the massive losses in provisions and troops incurred during the march—losses that Great Wei's army would not compensate for, and which King Ale could not afford.
King Ale already felt that this year's war with Great Wei was not as easy as he had initially imagined. He had planned Guangzhou as a swift assault, but in reality, it had bogged him down like a quagmire.
The battle for Guangzhou had turned into a war of attrition.
So, King Ale rallied his forces and adjusted his strategy—since he had come this far, no matter how difficult, he must carry out his original plan to capture Mu Wan Yao.
As long as he took Guangzhou, or even just captured Mu Wan Yao, the Southern Barbarians' losses in this battle could be recouped!
On Mu Wan Yao's side, after realizing that King Ale refused to withdraw despite failing to breach the defenses, she had to consider other scenarios. Guangzhou could hold its own in naval battles, but its soldiers were no match for the Southern Barbarians in strength. After observing the battles for several days, she saw that if King Ale continued his tactic of trading lives for victory, Guangzhou would soon fall.
She had to think further ahead.
For instance, how to defend the city if the waterways were breached. Guangzhou did not need to be invincible; it only needed to tie down the Southern Barbarians and buy time for the other two main forces.
Mu Wan Yao began ordering the reinforcement of the city walls.
While soldiers fought outside the city, all the civilians within were mobilized to add an outer layer of parapet walls beyond the existing city walls for protection. The construction method for these parapet walls was "twisted gate opening."
"Twisted gate opening" meant that the inner and outer city gates were not aligned. Even if the enemy captured the outer gate, they would have to detour significantly to find the corresponding inner gate to continue their assault. This misalignment of inner and outer gates prevented enemy archers from attacking directly and increased the difficulty of storming the city.
At the same time, Mu Wan Yao studied the terrain maps with her generals. She noticed that the city had gates leading to land and others for waterways, used for transporting goods. Typically, the land gates were heavily guarded and hard for enemies to breach. Although the water gates were equipped with iron barriers to prevent sneak attacks, they remained weakly defended areas.
Mu Wan Yao ordered, "Block all six water gates with stones."
The general exclaimed, "What?"Mu Wan Yao: "Since the defenses here are inherently weak, it would be better to abandon them entirely. Let us seal off these six city gates and redirect the troops to more critical areas."
After a month of naval battles, the generals had gained a clear understanding of this uncompromising princess. Mu Wan Yao's beauty was captivating, but her heart was even colder and more ruthless.
Had it not been her relentless supervision, driving them to train day and night, how could Guangzhou have withstood the fierce assaults of the Southern Barbarians? No one dared underestimate the princess now—the generals regarded Mu Wan Yao as their pillar of strength, consulting her on every matter. A princess defending a city ought to be the leader.
Meanwhile, Mu Wan Yao maintained constant correspondence with her husband Yan Shang, who was stationed in Jiannan, exchanging updates on their respective battlefronts—
Yan Shang was deeply concerned that Guangzhou might struggle to hold the city, but Mu Wan Yao remained brimming with confidence, urging him not to worry.
Instead, Mu Wan Yao felt Yan Shang’s situation was more precarious: "The Southern Barbarians' cavalry is strong, while Great Wei’s forces are weak. Driven by desperation, they will charge forward without retreat. Even with you and Yang San there, the Jiannan battlefield will be arduous. Moreover, Meng Zaishi’s tactical prowess is beyond ordinary measure—he is cunning and filled with ambition. You must be cautious."
Yan Shang advised: "Guangzhou was never meant to be a battleground. If you encounter difficulties, you must inform me. I’ve heard that King Ale is a hero among the Southern Barbarians, whose leadership even Meng Zaishi admires. You must exercise extreme caution…"
Mu Wan Yao replied dismissively: "Husband, you are mistaken. War and city defense are not the same. Even if they capture the waterways, it does not mean they can take Guangzhou. Warfare requires military strength, but defending a city only requires people."
Yan Shang wrote again: "With you guarding the city, I am at ease. What I wish to remind you is, based on my observations in Jiannan, Yaoyao must watch for two things. Once the enemy captures a city, their first act is to set fires; the second is to violate women. Women suffer the most in urban warfare—you must protect them."
Mu Wan Yao responded: "Understood. Thank you, Second Brother, for the warning. I had only feared the emergence of cannibalism. Has it already become so severe on your side? You must be deeply distressed."
Yan Shang’s next letter did not address whether he was distressed: "No matter what…"
Mu Wan Yao: "No matter what, troops establish authority, and in battle, one fights to the death."
Once war begins, there is no turning back—no room for despair. In battle, one fights to the death, leaving no room for luck—
Two months into the war in Guangzhou, the Southern Barbarians focused entirely on capturing the waterways.
On the Jiannan battlefield, the two sides were deadlocked. Just as Mu Wan Yao had anticipated, after King Ale’s departure and Meng Zaishi taking full command, the Southern Barbarians’ forces grew slightly stronger without a single leader. However, after half a year of familiarity, Yang Si and the soldiers had begun to develop synergy, and Great Wei’s military strength had also improved.
Both Great Wei and the Southern Barbarians had entered their peak periods of strength.
Meng Zaishi did not necessarily need to defeat Great Wei outright; his ultimate goal remained to kill King Ale and negotiate peace with Great Wei. But regardless of his final plan, Meng Zaishi knew that, at the very least, he must win the Jiannan battlefield.
To negotiate peace, one must possess the strength to bargain. He cared not for King Ale’s fate nor the situation in Hexi—in Jiannan, Meng Zaishi was determined to kill Yang Si to establish his authority. A rising commander like Yang Si was, and would continue to be, a threat to him.He intended to eliminate this threat before it fully matured.
Coincidentally, Yang Si shared the same thought. Even if Great Wei were to negotiate peace with the Southern Barbarians, it would be best if their leader were not someone like Meng Zaishi.
As the year drew to a close, Great Wei found itself engulfed in the flames of war. No one was in the mood to celebrate the New Year, and the common people prayed for the conflict to end in the coming year.
Even in Chang'an, situated between Hexi to the north and Jiannan to the south, the Emperor felt the constant threat of imminent danger. The court scholars and eunuchs vied for control over war decisions, leaving the Emperor unable to mediate and increasingly weary.
Thus, the Emperor pressed for the war to end quickly.
Facing pressure from Jiannan, Yan Shang single-handedly bore the brunt of it. The Emperor meddled daily, overstepping his authority, questioning why the battles had not yet begun, why the war dragged on, whether Yan Shang had ulterior motives, and why the Jiannan front showed no progress.
The pressure from the central court was agonizing.
But thanks to Yan Shang's efforts, the generals and soldiers in Jiannan only had to focus on fighting, without having to deal with the court's interference.
In contrast, Hexi was not as fortunate. Being too close to Chang'an, Hexi's open terrain made it an ideal battlefield for the Southern Barbarians, whereas Jiannan's rugged landscape was unfavorable—unless the Southern Barbarians were determined to seize it.
The Hexi front had been deadlocked with the Southern Barbarians, but after Lord Liu's arrival, the troops gained confidence with the support of a central figure in the court.
However, as the Emperor increasingly overstepped his authority in directing the Hexi campaign, chaos ensued.
Liu Wenji continuously relayed the Emperor's orders to Hexi: "His Majesty asks why you have rested for several days without launching an attack?"
Lord Liu replied that it had snowed and the troops needed rest.
Liu Wenji retorted, "If it snows in Hexi, your forces suffer, but so do the Southern Barbarians you are fighting. Since both sides face difficulties, you only need to be stronger than them. His Majesty orders you to engage the enemy."
Lord Liu's face turned ashen: "This is not the right time to attack!"
The court envoy sent by Liu Wenji smiled coldly: "It was His Majesty who wanted peace, yet you insisted on fighting. His Majesty, moved by your valor and patriotism, agreed to let you wage war. The court has spared no effort in supplying you with provisions and funds—not so you could sit here drinking in the open."
A general standing behind Lord Liu scowled: "What does the eunuch mean by that? Drinking is to boost morale."
The envoy sneered, "It would be worth boosting morale after a victory. What is there to celebrate without one? In any case, His Majesty urges you to advance. If you refuse, he will replace you with generals willing to fight."
Lord Liu argued, "Changing commanders mid-battle is a grave mistake!"
The envoy replied, "His Majesty has no choice. He lies awake at night, tormented by the war... A loyal subject should share his sovereign's burdens. Do you not understand this, Lord Liu? As a loyal minister, you must ease His Majesty's worries. Lord Liu, launch the attack."
Through gritted teeth, Lord Liu forced out the words: "The timing is not right."
This blunt response was relayed back to the central court. The Emperor remained expressionless and continued to issue urgent military orders. Seeing the Emperor's impatience, Liu Wenji found it convenient to avoid playing the villain himself and simply watched coldly from the sidelines.
Yet Liu Wenji had already foreseen—
With the Emperor pressing for battle day after day, even if Lord Liu remained resolute, could the Hexi troops withstand the relentless pressure from the central court?Troops from Hexi would soon march out.
According to Liu Wenji's private intelligence exchanges with the Southern Barbarians and correspondence with Longyou... Lord Liu would face an arduous battle. If Hexi were defeated and Great Wei ceded territory, wouldn't the outcome be similar to what the Southern Barbarians desired?
Once Liu Wenji resolved the leverage the Southern Barbarians held over him, he could truly secure his position—
It was utterly absurd how personal desires could sway state affairs, yet Longyou still dispatched troops.
Liangzhou in Longyou remained relatively peaceful at present. After hostilities broke out in Hexi, most civilians had relocated to Liangzhou. Longyou's forces were stationed outside Liangzhou, guarding the final strategic pass.
Liu Ruozhu and her husband Lin Dao were also in Liangzhou city. Since her grandfather's arrival in Longyou, the grandfather and granddaughter had finally reunited. Lord Liu felt reassured, and Liu Ruozhu, seeing her grandfather personally taking charge of defense, also set her mind at ease. With her grandfather present, he would never abandon Hexi.
Yet scarcely after the New Year, tensions in Longyou escalated due to pressure from the central government.
That night, after the nanny had coaxed the child to sleep, Liu Ruozhu and Lin Dao exchanged some anxious words about the war before retiring. They hadn't slept long when commotion outside awakened them. With Longyou embroiled in war for half a year, such midnight emergencies were no longer unfamiliar.
Liu Ruozhu and Lin Dao hurried out of their residence to find soldiers mobilizing throughout the city and civilians fleeing in panic.
As she prepared to send someone for information, a soldier rushed over and seized her arm upon sight: "My lady, Prefect! The Lord says we've fallen into a trap—intelligence was leaked. The Southern Barbarians are attacking tonight. Our forces cannot hold and are retreating."
"The Lord orders Prefect Lin and my lady to lead all citizens in retreating inland!"
After delivering Lord Liu's message, the soldier turned to inform others. Liu Ruozhu grabbed him: "What about my grandfather? He's so advanced in years—won't he withdraw with us?"
The soldier replied: "The Lord says as supervising commander, how can he abandon his troops? He orders you to retreat first while his forces cover the rear, preventing the Southern Barbarian savages from harming civilians."
At this critical juncture, further discussion was impossible.
Suppressing her worries, Liu Ruozhu exchanged glances with Lin Dao. He immediately went out to organize civilians for orderly evacuation, preventing stampedes and casualties among their own people. Liu Ruozhu first directed the nanny to take their child and flee with the civilians, then began gathering the books left in their residence.
When Lin Dao returned, they loaded classical texts and records onto carts. After taking inventory, they began withdrawing from the city alongside the citizens.
Liangzhou's inhabitants were more accustomed to war than central plains folk. Though roused in the dead of night, under officials' direction and knowing even the Chancellor's granddaughter was among them in flight—what remained to fear?
Civilians withdrew first, troops covered the rear, while over a hundred thousand Southern Barbarian troops pressed the attack—blood soaked the continuous city walls—
Leaked intelligence had revealed Liangzhou's military dispositions. Caught off guard, Great Wei's side had no time for deliberation. With the Emperor urging daily combat, they'd borne the pressure until this night when they were forced into battle.
Feet-thick snow hampered both sides' movements.
This was no ideal time for battle, but the Southern Barbarians couldn't wait, and Great Wei couldn't retreat.The civilians were evacuated first, yet Lord Liu, despite his advanced age, still rode on horseback with his blade, advancing and retreating alongside the soldiers. When the horses became trapped in the snow, unable to move forward, the troops struggled against the harsh elements while fending off the relentless pursuers at their heels.
Lord Liu’s voice thundered as he roared, continuously encouraging everyone: “Once we reach the next city, all will be well! We can regroup our forces, join with the city’s defenders, and drive the barbarians back! This is our land—they cannot win!”
It was precisely because of the prime minister’s personal example that this army, ambushed in the dead of night, did not collapse and managed to hold out until now.
From midnight until dawn, they fought and fled in exhaustion. As the distance to the next city grew shorter, the soldiers saw a glimmer of hope and fought with renewed vigor. However, the vanguard encountered difficulties. Lord Liu ordered his men to enter the city, only to find the advance had stalled, with no progress made.
Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Lord Liu’s face abruptly changed. He dared not let the soldiers know the news and instead rode personally to the city walls.
He saw the civilians who had fled ahead of them swarming like ants at the city gate, a dense, chaotic mass, yet the gates remained tightly shut—not a single civilian had been allowed inside.
Furious, Lord Liu spotted figures of soldiers atop the city walls and ordered a message to be relayed: “I am here, bearing the seal of the prime minister! How dare you keep the gates closed? Open them to receive the civilians and join us in battle to resist the enemy!”
After a moment, a rope was lowered from the battlements, with a bamboo basket attached. Inside sat a soldier. This young soldier, head bowed, made his way through the civilians clamoring for the gates to open and delivered his reply to the prime minister: “Our military governor says that your forces were defeated too quickly—there must be spies among you. We dare not let you enter the city, for fear that spies will endanger everyone inside.”
Lord Liu’s beard trembled with rage. “Preposterous!”
Suppressing his fury, he said, “If you dare not let the soldiers in, then at least open the gates for the civilians! Shouldn’t those in authority protect the people?”
The messenger, knowing he would be rebuked and blushing with shame, kept his head lowered. “Our military governor says that these refugees are not under his jurisdiction and are none of his concern. His only duty is to defend this city; the rest have nothing to do with us.”
Upon hearing this, Lord Liu was momentarily stunned.
The general who had accompanied him cursed loudly, never expecting such betrayal from their own side. They had fought for the nation, only to be barred from the city gates now.
A soldier arrived, panting, to report: “General, Prime Minister! The enemy is less than ten li away!”
The enemy cavalry surged southward, unstoppable as a tidal wave.
Lord Liu gazed at the dense, restless crowd of civilians unable to enter the city, then lifted his eyes to the blazing torches on the battlements. He turned to look back at the army following him, at the bloodstains on their uniforms and the anxiety and hope on their faces.
Even the emperor’s daily demands for battle had not brought him the despair he felt this night.
The emperor’s pressure was predictable, but the treachery of human hearts was not.
The general asked in a pained voice, “Prime Minister, what shall we do?”
Lord Liu’s face turned ashen. “Go among the civilians and find my granddaughter and her husband. Tell them this city will not admit the people. They should abandon hope here and lead the civilians further into Guanzhong to escape.”
The general acknowledged the order.Seeing Lord Liu so composed, the general also gained confidence. Wiping the blood from his face, the general stared intently at this aged yet vigorous old man: "Then what should we do?"
Lord Liu countered: "General Guo, are you afraid of death?"
The general froze.
Lord Liu lifted his head, gazing at the boundless sky as he murmured: "I was born into a noble family, entered court through recommendation, initially at just sixteen, and now I am seventy-six... From the time I began my education, a full sixty years, I have served in the court. Fulfilling my duties to the sovereign, loyal to the sovereign's wishes.
"I witnessed the great mansion collapse, witnessed the wild geese flying south, witnessed the bloody sunset... In my twilight years, every single thing has been in vain.
"I thought my strength would be wasted, waiting only to retire and enjoy a peaceful life. The future of Great Wei, the affairs of the court, what could I do... Now, now... this is just as well!"
The wilderness was desolate, silent as death.
The general stared at him blankly, the flames illuminating the old man's clear eyes filled with tears. The general didn't know what to say as the old man stepped past him, approached the soldiers, and shouted: "Order the three armies to fight to the death tonight! Any deserters will be executed immediately!"—
When Liu Ruozhu and her husband received Lord Liu's message, they knew something was wrong. They helped evacuate the civilians, but by this time, the civilians had also noticed something amiss. Discovering that officials weren't allowing them into the city, the people began to panic one by one, shouting: "The court has abandoned us! The court is withdrawing troops! We're going to die!
"The Hexi region is lost, we'll all die here, everyone run!"
Liu Ruozhu shouted: "No! The court hasn't abandoned us, don't panic..."
But no matter how loud her voice was, it was drowned in the crowd like a wave in a flood. No one listened to her, no one believed her. The people fell into chaos—some wept and beat against the city gates begging to enter, some turned and fled frantically into the distance without regard for their lives, while others went the wrong direction and stepped into areas within range of enemy arrows...
Seeing them flee in panic without choosing their path, Liu Ruozhu wished she could personally show them how to escape. But with thousands of civilians in chaos, even with her voice growing hoarse, she couldn't make anyone listen to her.
Lin Dao placed a hand on her shoulder: "Ruozhu, that's enough... We've done our best, we need to escape too... We've already warned the people to flee, we can't lose our lives here either. We still have books to protect, and children... Ruozhu, let's go too."
Though her heart was full of reluctance, Liu Ruozhu could only nod. Steeling herself, under the protection of the mansion guards, she and her husband escorted several carts of books and fled toward the inner passes—
Dawn broke in the sky after a night of terror.
When there was a bit of light, Liu Ruozhu and Lin Dao stood on a high sand dune and saw civilians scattering everywhere like mud. She and Lin Dao looked back toward the direction they had fled from the city. There, the flames of war raged fiercely, burning throughout the night without ceasing.
Liu Ruozhu stared blankly, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
In her heart, she knew her grandfather would die there—he wouldn't retreat. Her grandfather was the current Lord Liu, prime minister of two dynasties, who should have retired, who should have been enjoying his twilight years! Yet, yet...She looked again at the scattered commoners, seeing that enemies had already caught up with them, arrows flying in clusters, iron hooves trampling one another. She and Lin Dao were walking along the safe path opened by the government, while those commoners had scattered in panic and were being hunted down by the cruel enemies...
All of this sent a chill through her entire body.
Lin Dao held her trembling hand: "Don't look anymore, Ruozhu, let's go."
Liu Ruozhu suddenly covered her face and wept, choking back sobs: "It can't be like this... It can't be like this!"
"We cannot let everyone die so unjustly, nor can I flee alone knowing they will perish. If all the common people die, what meaning is there in us escaping to safety?"
Liu Ruozhu raised her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Through her blurred vision, she gazed at the books she and her husband had protected throughout their journey. She and Lin Dao had traveled from Chang'an to Hexi, then from Hexi to Liangzhou, and from Liangzhou to here—all for these books! Years of effort, thousands of days and nights, all to preserve these texts!
Yet... yet!
Suddenly, Liu Ruozhu snatched a torch from a soldier beside her. She strode toward the oxcart laden with books, her hand trembling as she gripped the torch. But she still released it, pouring the flames downward to ignite the books.
Lin Dao’s eyes widened in horror as he lunged forward from behind, trying to save the books, but Liu Ruozhu grabbed him: "Husband! We cannot keep these books any longer!"
Tears welled in her eyes as she cried, "My grandfather may already be dead, and the common people are being slaughtered before our eyes. We must save them! We must burn the books, use this great fire to draw the enemy’s attention, to divert them from the innocent! We can flee, but we must buy others a chance to live!"
Lin Dao stared at her, his voice hoarse: "But this is the legacy of our ancestors, preserved for over a thousand years..."
Liu Ruozhu raised her voice: "But it is not worth human lives! Not worth human lives!"
Holding the torch high, she looked at the weary guards around her, and through the flames, she seemed to see her grandfather, trapped in the inferno and slain in battle. She saw the scattered common people... Liu Ruozhu hurled the torch completely into the sea of books.
She ignited the books, and the fire, fueled by the wooden materials, blazed fiercely, its flames shooting skyward, illuminating the land.
She collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly. She watched as thousands of days and nights were destroyed by her own hands, as all the hopes she had vowed to protect since her teens were consumed by flames... The desert, the raging fire, and the sky’s light cast upon her frail, trembling form.
Her sobs were heart-wrenching, but she forced herself to rise, leading the others forward. Longyou had fallen, Liangzhou had fallen. Her hopes could be shattered, her years of sacrifice discarded... but the common people must live.
People must survive.
Tears also welled in Lin Dao’s eyes as he knelt beside her, watching the legacy of their ancestors perish in their hands.
Heaven and earth grieved, but what could mortals do?
The naval battle at Guangzhou City ended as King Ale sacrificed many soldiers and led his troops ashore.
Mu Wan Yao led her officers to observe the battle. Seeing the enemy forces finally landing and realizing the situation was beyond salvage, she did not linger. Escorted by her soldiers back to the city, she ordered, "From now on, we will implement a scorched-earth policy. Close the city gates and prepare for the siege!
"From this day forth, no one is to step beyond the city gates!"
The scorched-earth policy meant all civilians outside the city were to return, and no one would be allowed to leave again. Guangzhou was to begin its defensive siege, closing its gates. The true battle for the city had only just begun.
The officers relayed the princess’s orders and hurried back into the city. Meanwhile, the enemy forces, having just landed, eagerly pressed their attack. Though the main enemy troops were still adjusting to being ashore, King Ale had already dispatched vanguard units, using them as harassers to target the retreating soldiers of Great Wei.Mu Wan Yao was escorted back to the city under protection. As a princess who had been issuing commands continuously, she stood out as an obvious target. In the darkness, several figures suddenly emerged from the shadows and lunged toward Mu Wan Yao.
These barbarians coordinated seamlessly—some attacked the soldiers guarding Mu Wan Yao while one brandished a blade, pouncing on her and pinning her to the ground as he raised his weapon. Just as he swung downward, a glint of light flashed upward! A sharp clang rang out as metal met metal.
The barbarian glared furiously, realizing that the beautiful princess pinned beneath him held a dagger. Her strength was no match for his, and as he pressed his weapon downward, the dagger in Mu Wan Yao’s hand cut into her own palm, blood streaming down. Yet, by gripping the dagger tightly, she had blocked a fatal blow.
Enraged, the barbarian cursed in the Southern Barbarians’ crude tongue.
Pinned beneath him, Mu Wan Yao’s gaze remained bright and cold, devoid of any trace of panic.
The barbarian seized her wrist, wrenching the dagger from the delicate maiden’s grasp. Mu Wan Yao struggled desperately, blood gushing from her wound, refusing to let go even at the cost of her life.
At that critical moment, Fang Tong, having dealt with the other attackers, turned and saw the princess pinned down. His blood ran cold, and with a furious roar, he leaped forward, striking down with his palm: "How dare you harm Her Highness—!"
Helping the coughing Mu Wan Yao to her feet, the group easily subdued the remaining ambushers and gathered around to check on her.
Coughing and clutching her bleeding palm, Mu Wan Yao gasped, "Leave them for now. Into the city."
She wondered why the enemy would attempt such a reckless move—they couldn’t possibly harm her right under their noses. Truly, the Southern Barbarians were simple-minded and laughable.
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