After a night of rain in the darkness, the mountain paths on both sides of Guiyun Mountain were drenched into muddy disarray.

The heat that had accumulated overnight finally dissipated. Zhu Nanxian wore a straw rain cape, prostrate with several thousand Nanchang soldiers behind him at the back of the mountain, holding his breath and concentrating as he stared at the mountain pass on the eastern side.

If his calculations were correct, in half an hour, the Fengyang Army’s advance guard would pass through the mountain pass.

This was already late June of the twenty-fifth year of Jingyuan.

Over three months ago, Zhu Nanxian escaped from the palace and encountered pursuit by Imperial Forest Guards. At the most critical moment, he happened to run into the pursuing troops led by Zhu Yiheng.

Zhu Yiheng wounded himself with a blade to help divert the Imperial Forest Guards elsewhere. Only then was Zhu Nanxian able to completely escape, returning to Nanchang with his few guards to rendezvous with Zhu Min’er. After resting for only half a day, he assembled the Nanchang Army, took the route through Huguang, and rushed directly to Guiyun Mountain to intercept the Fengyang Army heading to Anqing to claim horses.

By this time it was already dawn. The morning sun was hidden behind clouds, and rain water everywhere drenched the majestic mountain ridges into chaos.

Zhu Min’er lay prostrate beside Zhu Nanxian, still asking uneasily: “Thirteenth Brother, why hasn’t the Fengyang Army arrived yet? Could they have discovered our ambush?”

After a while, he asked again: “Should we send another scout?”

Zhu Nanxian glanced at him and laughed: “If everyone were as impatient as you, even unprepared enemies would be alerted. “Then he lowered his voice, eyes fixed directly on the mountain pass direction. “Wait. They’re about to come.”

This was a narrow path between two mountains, the closest route from Fengyang to the Anqing garrison.

Two months ago, reports from the capital said that three thousand warhorses purchased at the northwestern horse market earlier in the year had been transferred to the Anqing garrison due to exhausted provisions, ordering the Fengyang Army to claim the horses.

Zhang Yi, commander of the Fengyang Army, upon learning this news, found it suspicious—if the horses were transported from the northwest, why transfer them first to the more southern Anqing garrison?

At this very moment, Zhang Yi looked at the mountain pass before him, his sense of unease growing even stronger.

Perhaps it was instinct accumulated from years of commanding troops—the terrain of Guiyun Mountain made him uneasy. Beyond the pass was a narrow path between two mountains, and before the pass was a rushing river. There was only one way to cross the river—traverse a suspension bridge erected between the two banks.

“Commander, is something wrong up ahead?” asked a soldier following beside him.

This was within Great Sui territory. Who would attack an advance guard merely claiming horses?

Zhang Yi shook his head, thinking perhaps he was overthinking, and said: “Have those behind follow.” He led the way through the pass first.

Summer rains come quickly and leave quickly. By the time all three thousand of the Fengyang advance guard had entered the mountain path, the rain was no longer as torrential as initially.

Sunlight was about to break through the clouds. Zhu Nanxian’s gaze at this moment was especially calm.

He knew that the three thousand Fengyang soldiers below were the first military force he must annihilate on his path to seizing the heir position.

Only by preemptively blocking this advance army here could he completely disrupt Zhu Zhaowei’s plan to bring the Fengyang Army to the capital, enabling him to lead troops to the capital one step ahead, not disappointing those who trusted and waited for him.

The clouds dispersed quickly. Before long, a trace of faint light shone down from the sky’s edge.

As if a gust of wind swept by, a small pebble at the mountain’s edge was blown loose.

The small pebble rolled down the mountain slope, tumbling and stumbling.

Zhu Nanxian looked wordlessly at Zhu Seventeen beside him who couldn’t contain his restlessness. Before Zhang Yi could react and lead the Fengyang Army to withdraw, he resolutely shouted: “Attack!”

This cry was like a thunderclap startling the strings. The mountain path that had been utterly silent suddenly filled with countless soldiers wearing dark green rain capes. Boulders larger than people rolled down from the mountain slope, smashing toward the Fengyang Army in the narrow path.

Zhu Nanxian removed his rain cape. Before the Fengyang Army could react, he shouted loudly: “Vanguard, charge with this prince!”

In an instant, battle cries echoed through the sky. Countless figures surged from both mountain slopes toward the narrow path. Blades and sharp weapons reflected a bloody brightness in the first rays of dawn light.

Zhang Yi was after all an army commander. Seeing this situation, he remained calm in the crisis and commanded: “Fengyang First and Second Guards, form ranks to meet the enemy!” Then he asked the soldier beside him, “Can you see clearly who they are?”

That soldier hesitantly replied: “It seems… seems to be the Thirteenth Prince’s Nanchang Army.”

Upon hearing it was Zhu Nanxian, Zhang Yi’s expression immediately darkened.

He had long heard of the Thirteenth Prince’s formidable military leadership. He also knew the current court situation—the Seventh Prince and the Eastern Palace were irreconcilable. Going to the capital, the Fengyang Army and Nanchang Army would eventually battle.

But he hadn’t expected to encounter Zhu Nanxian’s ambush at Guiyun Mountain.

The Thirteenth Prince only returned to Nanchang Prefecture in the fifth month. What method did he use to arrive at Guiyun Mountain one step ahead of his own advance guard?

Zhang Yi was perplexed, but also understood now was not the time for deep inquiry.

He scanned his surroundings, the situation instantly clear in his mind: he led three thousand troops, and the Nanchang Army appeared to also have about three thousand. Though numbers were equal, the Nanchang Army was well-prepared while his side had been caught completely off guard. The engagement had already turned to defeat—not suitable for continued battle.

Very well, he had made a strategic error and been ambushed. Fortunately, the main Fengyang Army was only twenty li away. Retreat and regroup, and these mere three thousand Nanchang soldiers wouldn’t be a concern.

Thinking this, Zhang Yi decisively said: “First and Second Fengyang Guards hold them off no matter what. Everyone else, withdraw with me back across Guiyun River to the opposite bank!”

Though the narrow pass was vulnerable to ambush, if ranks were formed defensively, it was actually excellent terrain for covering a retreat.

However, Zhang Yi had barely retreated from the pass when a soldier came to report from behind: “Commander, disaster! The suspension bridge on our route has been cut!”

Zhang Yi was greatly alarmed: “Who cut it?”

“This subordinate isn’t certain, but judging by their uniforms and the leader’s banner, they look like the guards of General Mao Zuofeng from the northwest.”

Zhang Yi was completely stunned. Mao Zuofeng stationed in the northwest was the Regional Military Commander of the Northwestern Command, a third-rank Zhaoying General of the current dynasty. How could he appear here?

Thinking of this, he suddenly realized something else.

After the Qingming Festival, a report from the capital claimed that bandits from the northwestern border had infiltrated the Great Sui, so northwestern troops were increasing forces stationed in Xinyang Prefecture to capture the bandits.

Looking at the current situation, capturing bandits was merely a pretext.

In truth, the Thirteenth Prince, then under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, had somehow managed to send a message to Northwestern General Mao Zuofeng, telling him to wait for the opportunity to strike preemptively together and annihilate the Fengyang Army’s advance guard.

Thinking this through, Zhang Yi completely understood. As early as the second month, Zhu Nanxian had already planned to move against the Fengyang Army.

The urgent priority was no longer thinking about how to fight, but finding a way back to the main Fengyang Army camp to inform them of the Thirteenth Prince’s ambush and interception, preparing for battle and breakthrough.

“Bring all the horses!” Zhang Yi ordered.

Over a hundred warhorses immediately gathered in the low-lying area behind the pass.

Zhang Yi mounted with the advance guard’s elite troops, quickly saying: “Follow me!” He immediately galloped upstream along the river, intending to ford across at the shallows in the upper reaches of Guiyun River.

However, this movement was captured entirely by Zhu Nanxian standing high at the mountain’s edge.

He swept back his crimson cloak, turned and walked toward the back of the mountain, ordering: “Pursue them!”

On the level ground behind the mountain, as far as the eye could see were tall, imposing warhorses—no more, no less than three thousand, precisely what Zhu Zhaowei had painstakingly purchased from the northwestern horse market, intending to deliver to the Fengyang Army.

Actually, no wonder Zhang Yi found the horse transport route strange. That route map had been carefully altered by Shen Xi, who served in the Court of the Imperial Stud, using the excuse of uneven fodder distribution as a smokescreen, then transferring the warhorses first to a garrison closer to Nanchang Prefecture, letting Zhu Nanxian obtain the horses first.

This was also why the three thousand Nanchang soldiers could reach Guiyun Mountain one step ahead of the Fengyang Army.

Zhu Nanxian led the vanguard in swift cavalry pursuit. His guard Qin Sang, riding beside him, joked: “Your Highness, these horses the Seventh Prince bought from the northwest are truly excellent. They run faster than ordinary horses. If the Seventh Prince learns we seized his horses to attack his people, do you think he’ll be so angry smoke pours from all seven apertures?”

Zhu Nanxian burst into hearty laughter.

Beside them, Zhu Min’er said indignantly: “He harmed my imperial brother and sister-in-law. Dying of rage would be best!”

The river water upstream, after a night of rain, was also extremely turbulent. Fortunately, there was still a wooden bridge at the river head.

When Zhang Yi led the Fengyang elite troops to this point, he saw ahead a person wearing silver armor covered with a crimson cloak waiting for him.

Looking carefully, who else could it be but the Thirteenth Prince?

He also recognized the warhorse beside Zhu Nanxian—the square-headed “yuan” character marking was precisely from those purchased at the northwestern horse market.

Zhang Yi’s heart grew heavier and heavier.

Though only Zhu Nanxian stood before him, he knew that if they advanced one more step, Zhu Min’er might be leading archers in the nearby bushes, or on more distant hilltops, with bows drawn and aimed at them.

He finally understood—that Thirteenth Prince who had always been benevolent had long ago developed deadly intent toward their Fengyang Army, toward Zhu Zhaowei.

Trapped in desperate straits, perhaps only a desperate gamble could exchange for a thread of survival.

Zhang Yi glanced back at the soldiers following him, removed the spear from his back, raised his reins, and let his steed carry him charging toward Zhu Nanxian, his spear aimed directly at Zhu Nanxian’s throat.

Zhu Nanxian was unhurried. As the spear thrust toward him, he leaned back to avoid it, then stepped on the stirrup, drawing the long blade at his waist while mounting in one motion. Borrowing the horse’s momentum, he crouched low and slashed toward Zhang Yi’s warhorse.

The long blade swept past the horse’s belly, directly severing its front legs.

Zhang Yi realized the danger and was about to abandon his horse when Zhu Nanxian beside him also simultaneously dismounted.

He reached out to grab Zhang Yi’s spear, pulling him back, then with lightning speed placed the horse-blood-stained blade at Zhang Yi’s neck.

Victory in one strike.

Seeing their commander defeated, the remaining Fengyang soldiers all seized this moment to rein in their horses and turn, trying to ford across from the riverbank.

Zhu Nanxian watched their movements but neither blocked nor obstructed them, as if confident of success.

At that moment, several rows of archers indeed appeared on the mountain slopes on both sides, drawing their bows like full moons, all aimed at the Fengyang Army about to cross the river.

Before arrows were released, the sound of galloping horses came from the other side of the riverbank.

Approaching with the sound was a guard unit wearing northwestern military uniforms. The leader wore a third-rank general’s uniform, had a square face and broad nose, was thick-browed and large-eyed—precisely Mao Zuofeng, Northwestern Regional Commander who once shared brotherhood-in-arms with Zhu Nanxian.

Upon seeing Zhu Nanxian, Mao Zuofeng called out loudly: “Your Highness, this lowly general arrived a step late. Your Highness must not blame me!”

Though apologizing, his words contained no sincerity whatsoever, clearly accustomed to being casual and informal from their days campaigning together in the northwest as brothers.

Zhu Nanxian didn’t mind at all, laughing loudly: “Any who escape are on you!”

“Your Highness rest assured, not one will be lost!” Mao Zuofeng said, immediately leading his guards to surround the Fengyang troops about to ford the water, dragging them all to this side of the river.

The sun broke through clouds. After struggling free from a night of stormy clouds, heavenly sunlight finally descended in splendid golden rays, illuminating Zhu Nanxian’s handsome brows.

Zhu Nanxian looked at Zhang Yi and said lightly: “Death or surrender—choose one.”

Zhang Yi was silent for a moment, sighed, and together with the Fengyang troops behind him, threw their weapons to the ground.

Before long, the commanders at the pass also finished clearing the battlefield and came to report.

After ordering Qin Sang to count all living and dead Fengyang soldiers from this battle, Zhu Nanxian said to Mao Zuofeng: “Though people can be counted clearly, news cannot be sealed. Though today’s attack on Zhu Zhaowei’s Fengyang Army was a surprise, news will soon reach the capital. This prince’s close friends and allies in the capital are all in danger. This prince must rush back to the palace first to protect them, so the fifty thousand main Fengyang Army twenty li away is yours to deal with. Remember—those who don’t surrender must be killed.”

“Your Highness rest assured.” Mao Zuofeng said. “This lowly general has already planned everything. Leave the northwestern army to guard Xinyang. This lowly general will lead ten thousand men to Anqing garrison. Your Highness’s fifty thousand Nanchang troops take the route through Huizhou. Thus surrounded on three sides, the Fengyang Army will have no route to the capital.”

Zhu Nanxian nodded: “Among the three garrison positions, yours is the weakest. When the Nanchang Army approaches, I’ll send orders for them to leave twenty thousand at Anqing Prefecture.”

Speaking thus, he turned to look at Qin Sang. “Has the envoy sent to Anqing Prefecture returned? Do we have today’s official report?”

“Already returned.” Qin Sang said, presenting the report while hesitating: “Your Highness, a secret letter was also retrieved from Anqing Prefecture today. It seems… to be from Lord Liu of the Imperial Censorate.”

Zhu Nanxian was startled. Liu Yun?

Why would Liu Yun send him a letter?

However, after Zhu Nanxian opened and read the letter, his expression changed instantly. He was silent for a moment, then immediately ordered: “Seventeen, you lead the three thousand vanguard and rush to the capital one step ahead. I’ll rendezvous with you outside Yingtian City in ten days.” He continued, “Qin Sang, take a few people and accompany this prince to Suzhou Prefecture first. To kill someone.”