Chapter 77: Yutang’s Warriors Remain. Building the Fortress with Integrity and Loyalty!
Translator: Whatsyourissue Editor: ICheah
Yun Yang had made plans for himself. One of them involved sending the Nine Heavens Dictum in search of news on Ji Ling, after he came out to complete eighth brother’s wish. Then he would continue hunting for the Four Seasons Tower’s men, seizing each member in the palace and around the crown prince, searching for the influential military general, and tracking the rest by following the clues. Next would be the war; Yun Yang intended to intervene and contribute in any way possible.
However, he would never have guessed that they would have lost the war after only staying in the Nine Heavens Demesne for only ten days!
“Logically, although it was a small scale war, it’s still not something that could be resolved within such a short time…” Yun Yang was perplexed. “It’s so fast… Could there be problems cropping up?”
He made his way forward, everyone he had seen on the street wore a heavy-hearted expression.
The gray clouds of the lost battle had obviously engulfed the entire Tiantang City.
Horns sounded from every corner. The uniform clip-clop of the horses rang in the streets while incessant drum beats boomed in Tiantang Square.
“Who could have set it off this time?”
Yun Yang changed his direction and headed towards the square, a cloud serenely floating by.
…
On the stage, Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan and another old general with gray hair and beard were both standing straight and tall in their armor; cold radiance glinted from their entire body, resembling two statues of war G.o.ds.
Amidst the thunderous roar of drums, a Golden Dragon sword and a Tiger talisman were held respectively in both old generals’ hands as they pa.s.sed the items to a muscular general in front who was almost two heads taller than an ordinary person.
“Marshal Tie, you will shoulder a huge responsibility at the East’s defense this time. We now pa.s.s the empire’s security into your hands!”
Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan was serious and stern. “Reconquer the Fortress of Resilience, you must. Liberate the empire’s land from Dongxuan’s troops!”
Standing across from him, the muscular man in military uniform answered with a rich, sonorous voice, “This humble general shall not fail the order! The Army of Dongxuan shall have no return! The Fortress of Resilience shall forever be Yutang’s!”
The marshal flag was raised, a large ‘Tie’ character fluttered in the breeze under the crimson sky.
Drum beats roared once more.
Tie Zheng raised his head and met the eyes of Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan, intense emotions reflected in his otherwise sharp gaze where no outsiders could see.
The old marshal looked at his prized disciple, his gaze simultaneously sorrowful and proud.
“This humble general understands!”
Tie Zheng rose slowly, accepting the Golden Dragon sword and Tiger talisman then raising both of them high in the air. He did not speak as his cold gaze scanned the Trinity Battalions. Sword in hand, he raised his arm high. Below him, the battalions suddenly exploded as if reaching a boiling point.
“Victory! Victory! Victory!”
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
The volume was deafening, the voices of one hundred thousand soldiers felt like it would form a crumbling pit in heaven!
It was a wordless action, yet the warriors of the Trinity Battalions immediately responded with a fervor.
This was Tie Zheng’s extraordinary charm, it was also Tie Zheng’s pride that was exclusively his!
The Empire of Yutang’s marshal who had never lost a battle! Tie Zheng was Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan’s most prized disciple, ranked seventh among Tianxuan Continent’s most notable generals. Loyal and resilient, he was the very soul of a military man.
The soldiers and commanders under Tie Zheng were best of the best; they had always been the Empire of Yutang’s defensive military force. Tie Zheng campaigned across the empire, his conquests were legion – there were none that he had never won and none that he could not quash; his military achievements were so abundant that most awards would no longer suffice to reward his merits. It was all the combined effort of Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan and Old General Leng Daoyin to stifle and reign his abilities in, so he had never set off to war in recent years.
Now, it was finally time for this ever victorious troop to charge!
It was as if a lion that had been kept in its cage for far too long was finally taking steps out of its captivity; it was shaking out its fur, gaze already set faraway while its fangs were slowly being revealed.
It had not yet charged but the color of fresh blood had already engulfed the entire prairie!
Below the stage, each and every one Tie Zheng’s officer was dressed smartly and stood proudly; their eyes towards their marshal on stage were filled with pride and respect.
The moment their marshal had received the Tiger talisman, everyone’s eyes – from the generals to soldiers, glinted with battle-l.u.s.t.Those eyes were thirsting for blood! To them, the battlefield was for them to obtain glory.
Enemy?
Which enemy in this world could defend themselves against us?
This was the belief and confidence that only belonged to these outstanding battalions!
Tie Zheng’s muscular build turned towards the army, his piercing gaze scanned over them slowly. Without the need for a single word, the Trinity Battalions quietened down.
It was pin-drop silence in the entire square.
Everyone knew that Tie Zheng was about to speak.
Tie Zheng stood up. Under the stare of His Majesty the emperor and beside both the old marshals, he then suddenly howled towards the sky.
His voice was strong and resonant in the air. The murderous intent within his howl was thick enough to chill the .air.
“Let me tell all of you! Our enemy this time is the continent’s G.o.d of war, the best marshal of Empire of Dongxuan, the first among the notable generals – Han Sanhe! All of you, are you afraid?”
“No!”
A hundred thousand militants growled together.
“Let me tell all of you! We’re about to face the Empire of Dongxuan’s ever victorious cavalry, the Dongxuan Shadow Cavalry! Are you afraid?”
“No!”
“Let me tell all of you! Some of you will die in this expedition!” Tie Zheng was hollering with all his might, “Are you afraid?”
“No!” The same might in their voices was reflected from below the stage.
“Tell me! Who are we?”
“The Yutang Steel Cavalry!”
“The Yutang Steel Cavalry, unmatched in the world!”
“The Yutang Steel Cavalry, unmatched in the world!”
“Tell me! Have all of you been defeated in a battle?” Tie Zheng’s voice boomed like thunder.
“We’re undefeatable! Unmatched in the world!”
“We’re undefeatable! Unmatched in the world!”
“Let us tell Han Sanhe together, who am I?”
“Tie Zheng! Loyal and resilient! The soul of the military!”
“Wonderful!”
Tie Zheng shouted once more, “For Yutang!”
A hundred thousand soldiers cheered l.u.s.tily, “For Yutang!”
“For our family!”
“Our family!”
“For us!”
“For us!”
“For glory!”
“Glory!”
“Let us tell the invaders!” Tie Zheng was shouting, “Undefeatable Yutang! Unmatched in the world!”
“Undefeatable Yutang! Unmatched in the world!”
It was like an abrupt roar of thunder, everyone could feel the tremor that went straight to their hearts; each strand of their hair was almost standing from the agitation in the air.
“Yutang’s warriors remain!” Tie Zheng bellowed with his arms spread wide.
“Building our fortress with integrity and loyalty!” the Trinity Battalions roared together at once.
Tie Zheng flew, mounting his horse and roared, raising his sword high, “Depart!”
Deafening drum beats tore the sky as the troops - a hundred thousand men strong - began to move in uniform.
Those at the front moved but those at the back remained still despite their overflowing killing intent; they moved their steeds only when it was their turn.
They were eager and swift.
Smoke rose to the sky, the sound of horse hooves from the soldiers were surprisingly uniform.
The troop then blasted off like a dragon taking flight. It had been only less than an hour before the troop of a hundred thousand men had exited the city and galloped to their battlefield!
…
“It is indeed a joy to watch Tie Zheng lift his troop’s spirits.” Old General Leng Daoyin watched the shrinking silhouette of the army as he smiled, stroking his beard. “Short words and his mighty officers are all roused to an unrestrained blood-l.u.s.t! Old Qiu, your disciple is not all that bad.”
Qiu Jianhan sighed softly, his gaze worried. “Tie Zheng has phenomenal potential indeed but the enemy this time is not to be underestimated! Han Sanhe. He’s our old nemesis… Old Leng, you must know of Han Sanhe’s prowess…”
Leng Daoyin sighed as well, murmuring, “Han Sanhe… we were the lionhearted duo of saber and sword all those years ago and he almost beat us.”
Qiu Jianhan sucked in a deep breath. “If Tie Zheng can’t keep him at bay, Yutang will be in real danger. Once Tie Zheng’s troops lose, it will only be the two of us old bones… If we can’t defend them, I suppose we can only evacuate the capital.”
Leng Daoyin remained quiet.
Much later, he said, “What did you tell this prized disciple of yours before he set off?”
Qiu Jianhan kept silent for a long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and enunciated word by word, “If the fortress remains then you shall too, should the fortress perished then you shall as well!”
A tremor ran through Leng Daoyin.
“Did Tie Zheng have any other request?” he asked.
“Tie Zheng has only asked me, ‘Are the Nine Supremes still here?’.” A bitter smile appeared on Qiu Jianhan’s face.
Leng Daoyin was stumped.
“Tie Zheng doesn’t have the certainty to win this battle. He doesn’t have the confidence to win… This is bad.” Leng Daoyin’s hands shook, pulling a few strands of his white beard along with it.
“Who would dare to a.s.sert their victory when facing Han Sanhe?” Qiu Jianhan sighed.
“Tie Zheng leaving this time…” Leng Daoyin looked at the smoke rising valiantly far away and asked, ”What else did he say?”
Qiu Jianhan’s expression was crestfallen. “He asked me one more thing, Why did we allow the Nine Supremes to be gone just like that? He holds a strong grudge regarding this. When the Nine Supremes’ incident first happened, Tie Zheng brought his janissaries and almost surrounded the palace, demanding an explanation.”
Leng Daoyin could not help but chuckle, “This child’s temper is something indeed.”
Qiu Jianhan replied with a bitter smile. “Two of the five best cavalries in the entire Tianxuan Continent, Shadow Cavalry and Steel Cavalry are finally meeting head to head in battle.” Leng Daoyin murmured.
…
Outside the city, the army was on its way.
Tie Zheng was stoic, his muscular body still on the horse as if a quiet mountain. Throughout his military life, throughout so many of his battles, this was the only time he had not one ounce of confidence or certainty!
“If the fortress remains then you shall too, should the fortress perished then you shall as well!”
“The officials of Yutang…” Tie Zheng thought in his heart, “If we come back victorious this time, even if I am rid of all meritorious t.i.tles, they still need to be scoured off the face of this earth!”
“If we’re defeated this time, we still need to go on one last ma.s.sacre!”
“War torn empire of chaotic times, the souls of militants must never be gone!”
Beside him, the hundred thousand militants, from the generals to soldiers, shared the same expression – they were all stoic and emotionless but their eyes were heated and murderous!
“What do I, Tie Zheng, have to be scared of!”
Tie Zheng chortled against the sky and spoke aloud, “When we come back from this battle, your father will buy everyone drinks for my wedding!”
With a loud roar, the entire troop exploded in cheers.
“We shall congratulate marshal with unbeatable merit in this battle!”
An a.s.sistant general cheered with his arms spread out wide, his face flushed with excitement.
“We shall congratulate marshal with unbeatable merit in this battle!”
The hundred thousand men roared at the same time.
Tie Zheng’s laughter was bold and unrestrained.
The troop picked up their speed, the sounds emitted were uniform and resonated with force as they galloped away.
“We are the first line of defense! Do we still want to attend marshal’s wedding?”
“Send another division of scouts! Scouts from all ten divisions, I want to know what’s coming up from the six hundred miles in front!”
“Quick, quick, quick!”
“Soaring Eagle Squad, follow the scouts!”
“Dark Night Platoon, a.s.sist Soaring Eagle! Relay in secret at any point you are able to..”
“Saber Edge Squad, prepare for the enemy!”
“Mystic Archers, get ready!”
“s.h.i.+eld Camp, a.s.sist the Mystic Archers!”
“Everyone, follow Impedimenta Division closely, be ready to retreat at any time!”
Orders after orders ran through the entire troop using the extraordinary communication method that belonged only to Tie Zheng.
…
Yun Yang watched Tie Zheng’s troop set off until the city gate, still hovering as a cloud.
He knew the cruelty and danger of this battle.
Although Tie Zheng was mighty, his enemy was none other than Han Sanhe, the continent’s G.o.d of war!
Tie Zheng might not be able to hold on for long; Yun Yang could feel an increasing sense of urgency.
Can I still make it in time?
“Hold on, Tie Zheng.”
“Wait for me!”