Huang Biao at this moment felt every second drag on like years. Just when he could barely control the wildly beating heart in his chest, suddenly a sharp whistle pierced the air. Huang Biao’s spirits soared as he made a hand signal, and the two thousand archers behind him immediately released a barrage of whistling crossbow bolts from their positions in the dense forest. In just an instant, they shot the enemy forces into chaos, leaving them with over half their numbers as casualties.
The Xiongnu were terrified out of their wits—how could they have imagined that while coming to launch a sneak attack, they would instead fall into an ambush? The Xiongnu on the riverbank flew into a rage, letting out fierce roars as they raised their curved sabers and drew their bows, hastily returning fire.
The Southern Chu archers followed their predetermined strategy, hiding behind massive boulders as their crossbow mechanisms rang out, sending arrows like a swarm of locusts toward the defenseless Xiongnu in the river water. Agonized screams immediately filled the air as blooms of blood blossomed forth, staining the entire river crimson.
At that moment, the thunderous sound of countless war horses suddenly echoed from upstream. The panicked Xiongnu looked up to see a black mass of Chu forces roaring toward them in a thunderous charge, their black banners and dragon standards creating an imposing military presence. Rather than being angered, the Xiongnu were actually pleased, thinking that if these Han people wanted to fight them with open swords and spears, that would be perfect. The Xiongnu cavalry’s morale surged as each man raised his long blade, shouting war cries as they rallied to charge forward. However, before they could get close, the Southern Chu soldiers suddenly came to a halt in unison, and catapult after catapult was swiftly assembled with almost breathtaking speed.
Yet at this moment, no one had time for breathtaking admiration. They could only see an elegant general in azure armor with a blue silk cape flowing behind him, sitting high upon his war horse. With a gesture of his hand, the Xiongnu’s true nightmare began.
The Xiongnu had nowhere to flee. Though they raised their shields, they still could not withstand the power of the massive stones, falling one after another in great swaths like wheat being harvested.
The Chu forces pressed their advantage but still refused to engage the Xiongnu in close combat. Masses of fire arrows suddenly swarmed forth like locusts, landing in the grasslands that had been doused with oil beforehand. These fierce warriors of the northern lands, who had dominated the grasslands and deserts with their might, immediately turned pale with terror, wailing in agony. Having lost their former sharpness, they became like headless flies, no longer caring about their war horses as they turned and leaped into the river water, trying to extinguish the flames on their bodies while frantically wading toward the opposite shore. However, before they could catch their breath, a tremendous rumbling suddenly echoed from upstream. The terrified Xiongnu raised their heads to see rolling white waves surging down from upstream, mixed with massive boulders, sweeping toward them like the most terrifying sandstorm, covering the earth and sky!
The world became a blood-red fantasy as blood continuously gushed forth in the river water. Masses of floating corpses drifted upon the surface, carried away by the rapid current—a scene of utmost carnage.
The battle lasted merely one short hour, yet this force of four to five thousand Xiongnu iron cavalry was completely annihilated under the Chu army’s thunderous assault, not leaving a single survivor.
The Chu forces were in high spirits as they cleaned the battlefield and collected spoils of war. The azure-robed scholarly general stood on the riverbank, looking at the blood-soaked battlefield, still feeling somewhat shocked and breathless. At that moment, he suddenly heard movement behind him. Turning around, he saw that young general in white armor and black cape slowly emerging from behind the troops. He rode upon a completely black war horse, his expression ice-cold and eyes calm, gazing indifferently at this devastated and chaotic battlefield as if he were looking at a field of cabbages and radishes, without the slightest trace of shock or fear.
Du Guokai’s complexion immediately turned somewhat pale. Perhaps he, like all the southeastern generals, had underestimated this young prodigy with his startling methods, who held the power over half the realm—Governor Xia Qing.
He still remembered the conversation among some of the old ministers in the military before coming here. General Meng was an old retainer of Southern Chu who harbored great prejudice against the emperor’s favor toward young people. He had said at the time: “Xia Qing controls the military and political power of the southeast, with vast financial resources flowing through his hands—gold and silver worth tens of millions. Yet he still lives in the emperor’s villa. A dignified first-rank governor doesn’t even have a proper mansion of his own—what is the purpose of such frugality? This person is young, handsome and elegant, yet doesn’t even have a single concubine. Recently we heard he had become infatuated with a courtesan from a maritime pleasure house, but even that came to nothing. A young powerful minister who controls half the realm’s military and political authority, who doesn’t love fine wine and beautiful women, doesn’t enjoy gold, silver, and precious gems, doesn’t acquire grand houses and luxurious estates—where do his ambitions lie? Does he seek to build achievements and establish merit, serve loyally for the people, to become a clean politician whose name will be remembered in history for generations? Or does he have his eyes on the realm, covet divine authority, and spy upon the imperial throne? Who can determine whether this person harbors ambitions to compete for dominion over the world?”
At that time, Du Guokai could still firmly believe in his own ability to judge character, but at this very moment, having witnessed this young general’s methods and strategic wisdom, he was truly no longer so certain.
He had previously thought this Governor Xia was merely somewhat clever and talented, well-read but only good at theoretical military strategy, occasionally coming up with a few good ideas. But at this moment, seeing his expression, he suddenly understood. This Governor Xia was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface. Someone who only understood romantic poetry, only knew how to compose verses, who had only seen siege warfare and military tactics in books, could never stand unfazed on such a blood-soaked battlefield. Even he himself, having experienced countless great battles, still felt his face turn pale and his stomach uncomfortable—how much more so for a young talent on his first battlefield?
This Governor Xia must have an unknown past.
Du Guokai thought this way, and his awe of Governor Xia deepened even further.
How could they know that the former Division 9 special agent 003 could sleep unfazed even in a pile of corpses? How could he fear this ancient battlefield? Compared to modern chemical warfare, this place was as clean as paradise.
Huang Biao ran up excitedly and said to Qing Xia, “Governor, we annihilated 4,600 enemies while only injuring over 200 of our men—not a single death. Damn it, if we told people about these battle results, no one would believe it.”
Qing Xia sat on her horse with not a trace of smile on her face. Her gaze swept across the battlefield once, then she suddenly said in a deep voice, “This group of men were Qidan Han’s subordinates, weren’t they?”
Du Guokai stepped forward and respectfully replied, “Reporting to the Governor, yes. They were the personal guards of Qidan Han’s eldest son, Hua Alu. Hua Alu was also among them and has been killed by our arrows.”
“Good,” Qing Xia nodded and said, “Cut off his head and hang it at the Xunda Temple in front of Mount Huheng, so all the Xiongnu who dare to sneak attack us can get a good look.”
Du Guokai was slightly startled, frowning with puzzlement as he said, “Governor, we are secretly meeting with Guli A’shu for an alliance. Making such a big show—is that appropriate?”
Qing Xia raised her head, gazing into the distant horizon with profound eyes, letting out a cold snort as she said, “There are no walls in this world that don’t let wind through. No matter what kind of deployment, it’s impossible to hide from others’ eyes. Moreover, with such a large operation as ours, wanting to reach Mount Baideng without anyone noticing is nothing short of a fool’s dream.”
Qing Xia’s expression suddenly became ethereal. She looked at the distant, boundless grassland, at the tall green grass, and her heart suddenly felt so desolate and cold. Her tone was light and airy as she said softly, “I not only want Guli A’shu to know I’ve come, but I want to announce it widely so the entire grassland knows. Whether it’s Qidan Han, Nannu Chili, Tanda, Jurchen, or the rulers of the northern Qin, Xichuan, and southwestern vassal states who are stirring restlessly and overestimating themselves—I want the entire world to know I’ve come to win over Guli A’shu, to divide the grassland forces, to sow discord between Xichuan and the Xiongnu. Only by drawing all eyes to myself do we have any possibility of success.”
Du Guokai’s frown grew deeper, but he didn’t dare ask questions. He knew this journey was definitely not as simple as establishing trade relations and forming an alliance, so he wisely chose silence and compliance with all of this person’s orders.
The simple-minded Huang Biao suddenly exclaimed excitedly, “Right! Damn it, we’ll go there with great fanfare—let’s see what they can do to us!”
Song Yang stood behind Qing Xia, looking at the southeastern governor sitting upright on horseback before him, but his heart gradually grew sorrowful. As the only one who perceived everything clearly, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat sad. Though he knew he shouldn’t have such emotions, much less the right to them, watching that slender, thin, increasingly haggard yet still tenaciously resolute woman, he truly couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t romantic love or wishful thinking, but rather a thread of sympathy and pity born from looking up at her. Even though he knew she might not need sympathy, during every night as cool as water, watching that woman amidst the lush green grass, he would still feel somewhat heartbroken.
Those within the game are always obsessed, not knowing where they come from or where they’re going. Only by stepping outside that game can one clearly see exactly whose ankles those silken red threads are entangling.
The long wind howled and rose, lifting Qing Xia’s black cape, which looked like an eagle’s wings in the thick darkness.
Qing Xia’s eyes were calm, filled with indescribable emotions.
Chu Li, I will remove all obstacles for you one by one, redirect all the arrows to point at myself, and draw all the world’s attention to focus on me. Those eyes watching you closely, those tails following you, those footsteps pursuing you—I will gouge them out, cut them off, and slice them away for you, one by one. And you, just let go and do what you want to do.
Beyond Yanmen Pass, beneath Mount Baideng, I wait for you.
The next day, marching to Baishi Mouth, the Chu army traveled extremely slowly, as if deliberately allowing their tracks to be discovered. Before dusk, they made camp beneath Mount Baishi. Qing Xia sat in the main tent, reviewing documents and scrolls. The tent was filled with the various accompanying generals, while Song Yang, as her personal guard, also stood to one side.
“Adjutant Yu, send the captured 3,000 war horses back to Huarong border city. Distribute the remaining grain, arrows, and weapons evenly among the troops. The wounded will stay behind while we continue forward tomorrow.”