Chapter 192
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sun Cai was lost for words. He opened his eyes wide in shock, unable to make any noise.
Chu Qiao smirked, as her eyes turned cold. With a cold tone, she warned, “Master Sun, if I misunderstood you today, I will prostrate before you and apologize. Yet, if you intentionally deceived me, be careful about your head.
“Let’s go!” Chu Qiao ordered.
As the army charged past, the hooves of their horses rumbled on the snowy plains like the rolling of a war drum. Before long, a thunderous roar came from behind. Although the explosives were in its most crude forms, as long as enough amounts of it were placed together, it would still be sufficient to break through the layers of ice.
The Moli River was a tributary of the Chi Shui, and would flow extremely fast. Without a day or two, it would be impossible for it to freeze back up. With 300 archers guarding the sh.o.r.e, it would be impossible for the Black Eagle army to quickly get past the river. Regardless of the situation in front, it would still be necessary to head up to take a look.
Chu Qiao set her mind as she squinted. With her gaze sharp and fierce, she was like a leopard that had spotted its prey.
“Master!” He Xiao caught up and rode beside Chu Qiao. After all the years of fighting and working together, their relationship was both that of master and servant, and that of close friends. The handsome general asked, “What happened in front?” With the bellowing wind blowing between them, it was painful when snowflakes. .h.i.t their bare faces. After remaining quiet for a while, Chu Qiao solemnly replied, “Perhaps Chen Yuan revolted.”
He Xiao took a while to think, and finally connected all the dots together. It was truly something that seemed possible. He Xiao scowled, “I knew that guy was not honorable!”
Chu Qiao did not reply and kept her eyes in the front. With a strong thrash of her, the horse sped up. She hoped again and again that her guess was correct, as she really did not wish to think about the other possibility.
That cannot be. It would be impossible. Yan Xun wouldn’t deceive me like this.
“Giddyup!” Chu Qiao snapped, as she suppressed those dark thoughts deep in her heart. The crowd of horses charging on the snowy plains was like a storm, as the sun was gradually covered by the clouds, turning the earth a gloomy grey.
The appearance of Zhuge Yue went completely unnoticed. According to the original plan, they would lead Chu Qiao here, creating the illusion that she was under pursuit. The mobilization at Yuegong was nothing more than an illusion to confuse Zhuge Yue, with the final objective to lure him out of the Mingxi valley and kill him with the 20,000 archers that were stationed before the entrance of the valley. The battle was expected to end before noon, and would not affect the inner territories of Yan Bei, and obviously not Yuegong, such an important city. Yet, when Zhuge Yue suddenly appeared at Yuegong City, the first response that the city gave was to panic. Yan Xun had brought away the last of the Yuegong troops for the ambush at the valley.
Ultimately, Yuegong was still burnt down by Zhuge Yue. When Yan Xun received news of the incident, Zhuge Yue wore his green robe and stood at the Xiema Slope right outside the city. Right before Yan Xun, Zhuge Yue shot the first flaming arrow towards the city walls. Following that, a barrage of over 300 flaming arrows shot towards the city that had been pre-soaked with oil. Even the heavens seemed to favor Zhuge Yue, as the raging wind had ensured that apart from the food stockpiles, even the entire city was caught in the blazing inferno.
The 20,000 strong army witnessing this was in a complete rage. Among them, about half were had been mobilized from Yuegong. Upon seeing that their home had been destroyed, and their families possibly all dead, their sadness turned into rage. Before Yan Xun could give any orders, they roared in sadness and charged up. They headed up in a rush. Without formation, without strategies, they rushed up in a maddened frenzy. Yet, before they could approach, the hundreds of Guards of Yue had already pierced their chests with hundreds of arrows. No flesh and blood could withstand such an a.s.sault. In about 15 minutes, there was no one left between the two forces.
The winds bellowed past the bloodbath, as one could still hear the last breaths of some of the dying soldiers. Yan Xun stood there observing the entire scene. When the Yuegong troops charged up, he did not try to stop them. No, it was more like he could not stop them even if he tried. So he merely looked on as the 10,000 men died to the arrows like weed being mowed down, like a sickle of death. At this moment, his own bodyguards of 10,000 stood quietly behind him like a silent jungle.
This was the first time that Yan Xun and Zhuge Yue had met since the incident in the Tang Empire. Although the war had continued for an entire year, with countless battles between them, and even though Zhuge Yue had led an a.s.sault on Yan Xun’s main tent, they had yet to meet each other in this battlefield. Now, their gazes met, and the tension made it seem as though sparks could be created between the two of them. Even though everything was silent, it seemed like there were strong undercurrents below the facade of serenity. In fact, an onlooker would not be able to see the tension, and only someone who was deeply aware of the entire incident could feel the atmosphere.
Since Zhen Huang City, when they were both young, until now, when they were both grown up, they had so many conflicts. Both of them were people of extreme talent. In terms of authority, they were on different sides, but both held great power. In terms of military prowess, they were master strategists and rivaled each other in terms of military tactics. In terms of politics, they were rivals, and could never come to an agreement. Yet, with a strange twist of fate, they fell in love with the same woman. With such a destiny, they could never settle down to admire each other’s talent and abilities. As long as they met, it would result in certain conflict until one had been defeated and killed.
Upon seeing Yan Xun, his heart was at ease. The moment he walked out of Mingxi Valley, he had known that he had been lied to. But what made the difference was whether this incident had been single-handedly plotted by Yan Xun or if Chu Qiao had also been involved. Considering the ruthlessness of the battlefield, such matters were perhaps of no importance to other people. But to Zhuge Yue, he could not ignore the nuance. He could almost be sure that Chu Qiao was not such a person, and could confidently say that to her, he was not merely a pa.s.serby. But he was not able to judge what was his position in her heart, and was not able to say for sure who she would worry about if there was a conflict between him and Yan Xun.
Zhuge Yue smirked in self-mockery. Even if she would not betray Yan Xun for him, she would also not kill him for Yan Xun. This alone was enough for him.
Upon seeing Zhuge Yue, Yan Xun was definitely not as calm as Zhuge Yue. The hatred and distaste spread throughout his heart. This man had caused Yan Xun his first opportunity to escape from Zhen Huang City, and caused him to endure eight years of sufferings. While Yan Xun was suffering from a life that was worse than a livestock, Zhuge Yue was enjoying the luxuries of the upper cla.s.s. While Yan Xun was humiliated and embarra.s.sed, Zhuge Yue merely looked on. While Yan Xun’s family had been decimated and killed, the Zhuge Family rose to power. While Yan Xun had finally risen to power in Yan Bei, Zhuge Yue was the one who had put a thorough stop to his advance into Xia Empire. Not only that, there was also the case about AhChu…
Upon thinking of this, the raging fire started burning in Yan Xun’s heart. The prolonged hatred and rage that had been suppressed within his heart were like a tall volcano. Once it erupted, it would be impossible to control.
Upon dusk, the sun started to set. In the eastern horizon, one could see a black outline drawing nearer. Those were the horses of Yan Bei. Even though they were still far away, one could feel the impending footsteps of war. The incoming troops easily numbered 30,000 to 40,000. Zhuge Yue was silent, without movement. Yan Xun did not talk either. When it came to war, swearing and cursing were too childish for them.
A soldier dashed out from Yan Xun’s formation, and stood before Zhuge Yue, shouting, “Do not shoot!”
The guards of Yue quietly looked on emotionlessly at this courageous soldier. The soldiers licked his lips, and started to talk in a monologue. The contents were plain and ba.n.a.l, and was largely about the ruthlessness of the Xia Empire, and that Yan Bei was a force of righteousness. He continued to talk about how Zhuge Yue’s incursion into Yan Bei territory was taunting his authority, and would not be tolerated. If Zhuge Yue wished to live, he was to immediately lay down his weapons and surrender.
The soldier spoke with all his heart, but was unable to elicit any response. Seeing that he had finished his monologue, Zhuge Yue lightly waved his hand, and mercilessly instructed, “Get rid of him.”
With that, countless arrows were shot out, and the courageous speaker was shot up like a pin cushion. His body crashed straight to the ground, but his foot was still stuck to the saddle. Being shocked by the arrows, his horse dashed away, dragging his corpse all the way, leaving behind a trail of crimson.
The Yan Bei warriors were enraged, as they roared in rage. Tens of thousands of soldiers drew their blades at one. The gleaming blades were like a sea of blades, creating a majestic sight. Staring at each other, the bugle calls of war was finally sounded off. Dust flew up, as cavalries started to charge up in neat formations. The war had finally begun without any prior indication.
With the sun setting, the sky darkened. Although the Zhuge Yue’s troops were few in numbers, they were like a well-polished sword. Their skills with the bow were unparalleled, and no arrows were wasted. They could even fire while charging. After they were done shooting, they could follow up with a slash. All of them were masters in martial arts, and there was not a single one of them who was a normal soldier. The 300 seemed invincible, as they charged through the battlefield unhindered by the ma.s.ses of enemies.
On the other hand, Yan Xun’s troops were not too shabby either. His army was composed of elites that were handpicked, and was issued top quality equipment. All of them were veterans of war, full of experience and courage.
Right at the start of the battle, it was already b.l.o.o.d.y and gory, with blood splattering everywhere, and broken limbs flying through the air. With the warhorses ramming each other, and their hooves trying to trip up each other, the entire battlefield erupted into a thunderous battle that would send chills down one’s spine.
Dark clouds ama.s.sed in the sky, the rain clouds were extremely low, almost as though the clouds could touch their heads. In a makeshift tent, Yan Xun quietly sat in waiting. The fire crackled, and the soldiers around Yan Xun were all restless. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with fear and anxiety.
It had already been one hour. For 10,000 troops to fight against 300 men, such a battle was unfair to begin with. No matter how talented Zhuge Yue was, he should not be able to hold his ground. The arrows of the Guards of Yue should have already been exhausted, with their blades chipped away. Many of them should be grievously injured and their horses dead. They could no longer display the agility they had at the beginning, and could only tighten their formation to fend off the thousands of blades that were pointing at them.