After returning to North Shuo City, Chu Qiao received a hero’s welcome. Except for those necessary for defense, all military and civilians in North Shuo City gathered at the city gates. The crowd was dense, enthusiastic, and wild with celebration as if the North Shuo battle had already been won. When Chu Qiao led the Southwestern Garrison’s troops marching through the city gates, the welcoming crowd nearly overwhelmed the formation. The Second Army’s Deputy Commander Lu Zhi was dead, and the newly appointed Deputy Commander Yin Liangyu led troops to maintain order at the front, but they were quickly scattered by the crowd.
Chu Qiao observed calmly. Although the Second Army’s soldiers had made some effort to tidy themselves to welcome their allies, compared to when they had departed, the army had been decimated. The remaining soldiers were wounded, their clothes tattered and bloodstained. Exhaustion, timidity, fear, confusion, and weariness—all manner of unsettling emotions flickered clearly in their eyes. The dust effectively concealed the pallor of their faces. Many had lost their scabbards and had their swords haphazardly tucked into their waists. Their movements produced crisp collisions, metallic clangs that showed no fighting spirit, only revealing their disorder.
In contrast to these panic-stricken Second Army soldiers who resembled frightened rabbits, the Southwestern Garrison’s officers and men formed a stark contrast. Though their armor was similarly bloodstained and dust-covered, they remained confident and composed, maintaining clear formation and ranks. Their discipline was evident as they steadily rode on horseback behind Chu Qiao, walking with vigorous steps along the main street. The north wind blew, catching their fluttering great fur cloaks. The jet-black capes smelled of fresh blood, emanating a cold, desolate aura of death. Seeing them, the civilians immediately erupted in thunderous cheers. In a situation where hundreds of thousands of troops had scattered like water, when Yan Bei soldiers were fleeing in all directions, only they had unhesitatingly thrown themselves into deadly circumstances, resolutely shouldering the responsibility of defending their homeland.
Yin Liangyu ran forward with large strides. The chaotic crowd had knocked his helmet askew, and without time to straighten it, the young man hurriedly said, “It’s easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to send charcoal in snowy weather. General Chu came at this critical moment and rescued North Shuo from the brink of destruction. The entire Second Army is deeply grateful for your kindness!”
Chu Qiao dismounted, smiled quietly, and replied, “General Yin gives me too much credit. We both serve Yan Bei, and the Southwestern Garrison and the Second Army are branches of the same tree.”
As she spoke, the young woman removed her hood. Even after such a brutal battle, she remained neat and clean. Her military uniform accentuated her straight and graceful figure, filled with both a soldier’s valor and feminine charm. Her features were beautiful, her skin snow-white. As she glanced around, her eyes sparkled like stars, her spirit soaring with confidence. Her voice was calm and friendly, full of sincerity.
An incredible murmur of admiration immediately rose from the crowd. Soldiers and civilians who had never seen her before discussed among themselves, and praise washed over her like a tide. From the Zhenhang Incident to the Northwest battlefield, from the Bian Tang military revolt to the Battle of Chidu, too many brilliant campaigns adorned this woman’s history. Naturally, people automatically overlooked her age and appearance. But now, on this turbulent battlefield, the girl’s beauty shone like a bright lamp above people’s heads, and they couldn’t help but exclaim:
“Is this truly General Chu? So young?”
“Indeed! It’s hard to believe. She’s so beautiful!”
She had just defeated the Southwestern Field Army led by Zhao Qi and the Batuha family forces, but Chu Qiao knew that the recent battle had not touched the core of the enemy. The reason the Xia Army had collapsed was only because they had just launched their final intense attack on North Shuo City. Their vanguard corps and cavalry corps had all been deployed to the battlefield. To complete the campaign before nightfall, and with absolute confidence in their rear, they had even sent their reserves forward, leaving their rear forces thin and consisting only of logistics troops and transport teams. The nearest cavalry corps was separated from her by two logistics divisions. The Southwestern Garrison, composed entirely of cavalry, moved extremely fast. Their charge was like a cheetah rushing into a herd of wild horses from behind. Additionally, Zhao Qi had died by her hand through an unexpected turn of events, leaving the Xia Army leaderless and demoralized, which allowed her to seize this advantage.
However, the Great Xia’s army of several hundred thousand was not named so in vain. Zhao Ying would arrive soon. Chu Qiao was anxious inside but did not let it show. She asked Yin Liangyu, “Where is General Cao? I have urgent military intelligence to report immediately.”
Yin Liangyu replied solemnly, “The General is in the meeting hall. Please follow me, my lady.”
Still at the North Shuo City’s Garrison Commander’s office, black obsidian was laid evenly on the floor. The building stood tall and imposing, with torches flickering dimly. Footsteps echoed in the corridor, one after another, heavy and tired.
Finally arriving at the meeting hall entrance, two young guards saw Yin Liangyu and immediately stood at attention, performing a standard military salute, and called out loudly, “General Yin!”
Yin Liangyu nodded, stepped aside, and pointing at Chu Qiao said, “This is Lady Chu from the Staff Department.”
The two guards had seen Chu Qiao before and immediately smiled and saluted, “Greetings, Lady Chu!”
Chu Qiao nodded in return, “Thank you for your hard work.”
“Is the General inside?” asked Yin Liangyu.
“Yes, the General has been waiting for you both for quite some time.”
Yin Liangyu nodded and said, “Please announce us.”
One of the guards nodded in acknowledgment, knocked gently on the door, and then announced loudly, “Report to the Commander-in-Chief, General Yin and Staff Officer Chu request an audience on urgent matters!”
A cross-hall wind blew through the corridor, making a howling sound like an injured puppy. The corridor was quiet, no one spoke, only the young guard’s voice reverberated in the four corners, floating back and forth with the wind.
Yin Liangyu frowned, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, “General Cao, Staff Officer Chu Qiao requests an audience on urgent matters.”
Still, no one answered from inside. Yin Liangyu’s frown deepened as he continued, “General, are you in there?”
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and said, “Not good.” Then she forcefully pushed open the meeting room door.
With a “creak,” the door slowly opened wide. The wind inside was strong, whooshing out. The window directly opposite the door was not closed, and documents and papers on the conference table were blown all over the floor like a group of white-winged butterflies constantly turning over at their feet. The spacious meeting hall was very empty, with tables and chairs in their original positions. Cao Mengtong sat with his back to everyone in his usual seat, not moving or speaking, leaning against the chair back, as if he were looking at the map hanging on the wall.
Yin Liangyu let out a long breath, stepped forward, and respectfully said, “General, Lady Chu has arrived. She says she has urgent matters to report to you.”
Cao Mengtong seemed not to hear, not even changing his sitting posture. Chu Qiao’s brow furrowed tightly as she immediately walked forward. The guard behind her was startled and hurriedly followed, calling out, “Lady Chu…”
However, before he could finish, the guard’s voice suddenly stopped. He stared in horror, his mouth slightly open, unable to utter a single word.
Cao Mengtong wore a brand-new uniform with sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing half of his forearm. There was an obvious knife scar on his left arm, seemingly left many years ago, almost indistinguishable without careful observation. His clothes were smooth without a single wrinkle. Half of a white handkerchief, folded neatly, peeked out from the left breast pocket of his collar. On both sides of the black collar, nine thumb-sized emblems of battle eagles were embroidered with gold thread, displaying the noble status of this elderly man as the Army Corps Commander-in-Chief. He was no longer young, in his sixties, with wrinkles covering his face, loose muscles, and the corners of his eyes and mouth drooping downward. His head of gray hair, though meticulously combed, still could not conceal his old age.
A dagger was lodged in his chest, with blood meandering down, already congealed. The room was very cold, and the blood, dark red, had frozen, forming a cold, icy streak. Life had long departed from this body, leaving only a solitary shadow, old and desolate in the moonlight.
The massive map of Yan Bei hung before him, covered with countless gullies and rising mountains. A thin line connected the place names on the map, from Meilin Pass in the far north, through Huihui Mountain, Shangsheng Plateau, Siqiu Lanling, Sunset Mountain Range, Blue City, Chidu, North Shuo, and then a large arrow drawn in bright red cinnabar, pointing directly toward the rich and vast Eastern Continent.
Yin Liangyu and the guards were stunned, unable to respond to the sudden death of their commander.
Chu Qiao slowly walked forward, reached out her hand, and gently closed Cao Mengtong’s unrestful eyes, along with her anger, hatred, and frustration towards this Commander-in-Chief who had failed to fulfill his duties. Like cold water covered by winter snow, frozen, leaving only vast, cold desolation.
For personal gain, he had disregarded hundreds of thousands of military and civilians, misjudged people, misjudged enemies, acted foolishly and recklessly, and was arrogant and pedantic. It was this man, precisely because of his incompetence and arrogance, who completely ruined a favorable situation and caused the army to suffer an immeasurable price. His crimes were beyond enumeration, and ten thousand deaths would not absolve his guilt. Before coming to this place, Chu Qiao had thought of so many strategies and schemes to remove him and take back the military command of North Shuo City, even preparing many sharp words to vent her anger.
But at this moment, looking at the elderly man sitting quietly in the cold wind, all her anger suddenly dissipated.
This was a cruel war, and everyone had paid a cruel price for it, both the living and the dead.
“General, look!” The sharp-eyed guard picked up a piece of paper from the table and handed it to Yin Liangyu.
Yin Liangyu quickly took it, scanned it briefly, then lifted his head and gently handed it to Chu Qiao, saying, “Lady Chu, you are now the highest commander of the Second Army. This soldier, Yin Liangyu, reports to you!”
Chu Qiao took the paper and saw that it simply transferred command of the Second Army and North Shuo military to her in the completely official language, with a few lines hoping Chu Qiao would fight bravely for Yan Bei’s glory as if it were just an ordinary handover ceremony.
Chu Qiao removed her sword and placed it aside, then slowly stepped back, stood straight, and performed a crisp military salute: “General Cao fought for the country, resisted the Xia Army, and fought to the last moment of his life without retreating. He is an example for the entire army. This soldier will not let the General down and will remain loyal and unyielding, never retreating!”
That night, the military camp’s duty record noted: In the Battle of North Shuo, General Cao Mengtong led from the front. At his advanced age, he fought to the death on the walls of North Shuo City, vowing not to retreat, and strongly resisted the Xia Army. Severely wounded, he died in the meeting hall on the evening of the twenty-seventh of October. Before dying, he transferred command of the Second Army to the Staff Department’s Military Advisor and Southwestern Garrison’s High Commander, Lady Chu Qiao. General Cao was loyal and brave throughout his life, serving Yan Bei with utmost dedication. Guarding the national gate in his sixties, thinking of the state as he departed, he is a model for Yan Bei soldiers.
Three hours later, Zhao Ying, who had been delayed by the great fire at Chidu, hurriedly arrived, assembling the Northwestern Army Corps and the scattered Southwestern Field Army, bringing five hundred thousand troops to attack from two sides!
In the meeting hall, Cao Mengtong’s position had changed hands. The young woman in a black uniform sat upright in his place, her gaze blazing as she looked at those below. Many familiar faces from before were now gone. More than ten tribal leaders had fled with their family troops when they saw the situation deteriorating. Hardly any of the Second Army’s high-ranking officers could be seen. The Third Army’s support force leader, Yu Zeqi, had surrendered to Great Xia with his fifty thousand troops. North Shuo City’s defender, Xia An, seeing North Shuo’s imminent defeat, had fled toward Yan Bei’s interior with the original North Shuo defense force two days ago, under the pretext of punishing deserters.
Those sitting below now were almost all mid to low-level officers from the original army. In the position of the Second Army’s Eighth Division, Seventh Unit, there sat a fat cook. Their unit commander had fled the battlefield with five thousand troops. Because he refused to leave and tried to persuade other comrades to stay and defend North Shuo, he was beaten severely and nearly died. Now the Seventh Unit existed in name only, with just his left. When Chu Qiao notified army representatives to come for the meeting, because they truly couldn’t find anyone else, this cook rushed over without even removing his apron.
In times of national crisis, when survival hangs in the balance, the most loyal are not those enjoying high positions and generous salaries. They are busy fleeing, surrendering, betraying comrades, and seeking ways to survive. At such times, it is often the most despised ordinary people who dare to stand up and shoulder the responsibility of defending the national gate with their frail shoulders and simple minds. The bizarre irony of world affairs is truly laughable.
“General, what should we do?” asked someone.
Yin Liangyu was previously a clerk in the quartermaster’s office, mainly responsible for recording the incoming and outgoing provisions. When his superior fled, he left all the work to him, generously saying he would promote him and give him his position. Before he could object, the man had vanished without a trace. Because of this circumstance, Yin Liangyu was promoted to more than twenty levels in two days, becoming the Second Army’s Deputy Corps Commander, now the second-highest officer in North Shuo City.
Chu Qiao turned her head and said in a calm tone, “Everyone may share their views.”
The crowd remained silent, carefully looking at each other. They were previously minor figures, always at the forefront of charges and assaults, and had no ideas of their own. After a long while, a very honest-looking militia representative suddenly stood up. He wore coarse cloth clothes used for labor, stained with blood, unclear if it was his own or someone else’s. Seeing everyone looking at him, he became somewhat shy and hesitant but finally gathered the courage to ask softly, “I’m a militiaman from West Tao Village. Our village head is injured, so he sent me. He asked me to ask the General if we would retreat. Will you abandon us?”
“Yes!” someone echoed, “Will the General, like Commander Xia An, lead troops to chase deserters and then never return?”
Chu Qiao calmly replied, “Rest assured, even if we retreat, I will be the last to step through North Shuo City’s gates.”
“That’s good!”
Everyone suddenly sighed with relief, as if they had all been worried about this point. A man with a full beard suddenly said, “I don’t understand all those big principles. Whatever the General says to fight, that’s how I’ll fight.”
“Right!”
“Yes, we listen to the General!”
Chu Qiao pondered silently for a while, then slowly stood up and said solemnly, “In that case, please return immediately to count your troops. After daybreak, we will fight a battle to the death with the Xia Army!”
Everyone responded with a roar of agreement. Rather than offering suggestions, they seemed more willing to accept orders. Soon the meeting hall quieted down, but Yin Liangyu still sat in his original position, seemingly having something to ask.
“General Yin, if you have something to say, please speak.”
Yin Liangyu thought for a long time, and finally said, “General, I don’t understand much about military matters, but three days ago when the Third Army’s General Yu Zeqi defected, he burned most of the provisions storage. Currently, the garrison troops with combat capability in the city total less than forty thousand. Even adding the thirty thousand people the General brought back, that’s only seventy thousand, and most are militia. The Great Xia’s military strength is overwhelming. If we engage them head-on, can we win?”
Chu Qiao’s brow furrowed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Yin Liangyu hurriedly explained, “This soldier does not want to flee, it’s just… just some concern.”
Chu Qiao smiled slightly and said, “I know General Yin doesn’t want to flee, but you don’t need to be so pessimistic. If I choose to stay, it means I have confidence.”
Yin Liangyu stood up with a whoosh, excitedly saying, “Does my lady have a method for certain victory?”
“I don’t have a method for certain victory, but there’s news you might want to hear.”
“What news?”
“His Highness’s First Army and Miss Yu’s Sunset Army are rushing to reinforce us. If we can hold out for ten days, reinforcements will arrive.”
Yin Liangyu was immediately overjoyed, his eyebrows dancing as he said, “Really? My lady?”
“Really,” Chu Qiao smiled slightly, “Go spread this good news to everyone.”
Yin Liangyu almost ran out the door. Watching his figure gradually disappear at the end of the meeting room corridor, the smile on Chu Qiao’s face slowly faded and froze.
The fact that Yan Xun had led the First Army and the forces from Sunset Mountain and Blue City to attack deep into Great Xia territory was still unknown to anyone. First, she feared there were traitors in the army. If this news reached Zhao Ying’s ears, though it might relieve the siege of North Shuo, it would inevitably cause Yan Xun’s retreat to be cut off, placing him in danger. This was currently her greatest concern.
Second, if this matter were to leak out, everyone would immediately know that Yan Bei had been betrayed by Yan Xun, morale would collapse, and there would be no need to continue fighting. Previously, she had defended Blue City to protect Yan Bei’s interior, so that if the North Shuo army were defeated, they would still have a retreat route. But now the interior forces were depleted, and the Sunset Mountain region was undefended. Fleeing had no meaning anymore; it would only lead the enemy into the interior and reveal to them the lack of internal military strength. In other words, all of Yan Bei’s armed forces were currently gathered in North Shuo City. If North Shuo fell, Yan Bei would inevitably perish, which was why she had abandoned Chidu and shifted the battle to North Shuo.
And Yan Xun, would he return? Would he give up his grand ambitions that were within reach, and abandon this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for revenge?
Outside the door, snow fell heavily, mountains danced like silver snakes. Chu Qiao leaned back in her chair, moonlight shining on her smooth forehead. She was so thin, her chin sharp as if carved by a knife. A belief suddenly rose from her heart, burning like fire through her internal organs.
“He will. He will return.”
—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—
On the distant horizon, facing the morning sunlight, the Xia army’s formations could be seen gradually approaching, column after column, endless in number, their flags rising like a forest.
After days of chaotic battle, the battlefield was now mounded with corpses, stuck with short knives and long spears. Although it had snowed all night, looking out now, North Shuo City’s front was still a field of crimson blood. Those brilliant flowers defied the severe cold and snow, blooming ever more splendidly, vast as the sea. The rising morning sun was also covered with a layer of dark red from this blood-light, casting an eerie glow over the vast battlefield.
The war came so quickly. Days of defeat had cost Zhao Ying his patience. He no longer wished to arrange troops and plan strategies, nor did he want to probe cautiously. His army of five hundred thousand pressed forward with a roar, armor like mountains, roars like thunder. The five hundred thousand troops arranged in formation on the plain issued uniform charge signals. The soldiers on North Shuo’s walls momentarily trembled as one, as if feeling the walls beneath their feet shudder in the enemy’s roars, seeming ready to collapse.
North Shuo’s officers and soldiers turned pale. Compared to Zhao Qi’s Southwestern Army which relied on numerical advantage, Zhao Ying’s Northwestern Army was indeed a fierce pack of tigers and wolves. They couldn’t even imagine how Chu Qiao had led the Southwestern Garrison of less than ten thousand to resist such an army for so long. But there was no time for them to think now. Ten thousand horses galloped forward as the army pressed on like a vast flood from all directions.
“Kill the enemy!”
The Great Xia army instantly erupted like a volcano. In contrast, North Shuo’s tower was deathly quiet.
“Get ready!” He Xiao’s towering figure stood on the city tower. Too many wars had rapidly tempered this young officer. Holding his battle knife, he said in a deep voice: “Prepare!”
“First squad, prepare to attack!”
“Second squad, prepare to attack!”
“Third squad, prepare to attack!”
“Fourth squad, prepare to attack!”
“Seventeenth squad, prepare to attack!”
…
The resounding commands sounded in sequence. The Southwestern Garrison’s soldiers now numbered less than three thousand. The remaining seven thousand were selected from Chidu’s militia to strengthen the army. After Cao Mengtong’s death, the Second Army’s elite guards became Chu Qiao’s guards. Together they totaled thirty thousand, forming the main force for this battle. Now, before them, large crossbows standing half a person tall were quietly positioned. These were designed by Chu Qiao and manufactured by the military supply factory. However, after she left, no one knew how to assemble and use them, so now, all three thousand crossbows were preserved intact.
Arrows were loaded row by row into the crossbows’ hidden chambers. These arrows were cutting-edge weapons improved by modern technology. Through wheel-axle propulsion, they could fire twenty-eight arrows simultaneously, with three rounds per firing mission, and had four-dimensional directional calibration. This meant that within a breath, these crossbows could continuously fire eighty-four arrows, targeting four different directions. Their power was unimaginable; if not for lacking the force of bullets, they would almost rival machine guns.
The piercing sound of bowstrings continuously rang out. With battle imminent and the enemy drawing ever closer, cavalry quickly overtook the infantry formations, charging at the front. The Xia army’s leading officer shouted: “Kill all the northern barbarians!” The soldiers surged forward like a tide, their cries of “Kill the enemy!” coming like mountain roars and sea waves.
He Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. After a while, he finally said in a resounding tone: “Attack!”
In an instant, there was a “whoosh” sound as the sky filled with flying locusts, a sea of black, like a huge black cloth covering the sky. Three thousand crossbows fired simultaneously, equivalent to eighty thousand archers drawing their bows at once.
No flesh and blood could withstand such a terrifying arrow storm. There was nowhere to flee, nowhere to retreat. The scene at Chidu City played out once more. The massive cavalry formation collapsed with a rumble as if struck down by a giant’s heavy fist. No one could hide. After the arrows passed, within a range of four hundred paces, not a single standing creature remained.
In an instant, everyone’s eyes widened in shock. The Xia soldiers charging behind seemed to have their jaws dropped, and no one dared to advance another step, especially those from the Southwestern Army who had never witnessed this before. Zhao Ying was so furious he almost wanted to charge up with his sword. He had rushed here overnight, hurriedly organized his troops, and began attacking immediately, fearing that Chu Qiao would create the same deadly weapons as in the Chidu defensive battle. But he never expected to be one step too late. Little did he know that such weapons had long been in North Shuo City. Of course, not just him, many people probably couldn’t imagine this—after all, if such things had existed earlier, how could Cao Mengtong have lost so badly in previous battles?
“Charge! Anyone who retreats will die!”
Sharp charge signals sounded once more from the Xia military camp. Heavily armored soldiers and shield bearers led the way as the attack began anew.
Chu Qiao stood on the high city tower. The entire North Shuo City was jubilant. Seeing victory within reach, people rushed to the city walls one after another, setting up simple catapults, and defending tenaciously and resolutely.
Black waves of arrows shot forth in sheets, and enemies fell like artemisia. Chu Qiao wore a white great fur cloak. The young woman’s face was expressionless. Thousands upon thousands of people died before her. With just a wave of her hand, thousands of heads would fall to the ground, blood converging into streams, into small rivers, into lakes, into breached floods. Lives were like weeds, like ants, like worthless scrap paper. War was like a man-eating demon, opening its bloody, giant mouth, and devouring from the front.
She gradually lost feeling, not experiencing fear or disgust, not even fatigue. There was only numbness, stiff limbs, and cold.
War is cruel. Two days later, the city’s arrows were exhausted. A day after that, all boulders and rolling logs were consumed. The Xia army had paid with nearly seventy thousand lives. On the vast battlefield, bloody corpses covered the entire land, with broken knives and arrows densely extending beyond the horizon. North Shuo’s military and civilians were exhausted, but before they could even eat a mouthful of food that evening, dark shadows once again surged forward.
Chu Qiao sighed helplessly. Although they had thrown the last stone and shot the last arrow, dealing the enemy such a heavy blow, the enemy had still rallied so quickly to charge again. She and Zhao Ying both knew that in many cases, war was an endurance contest. Whoever could hold out longer would be the final victor. The Xia army’s northern expedition had suffered such serious losses, and now Zhao Ying was making his final desperate attempt.
“My lady, what should we do?”
A subordinate rushed in hurriedly, looking at her with expectant eyes. In previous days, this female general had always produced powerful secret weapons at critical moments to save the situation. The entire Second Army’s soldiers were full of affection for her. But now, Chu Qiao shook her head and said lightly: “There’s no way out. We must fight.”
The close-range siege battle finally fully unfolded. The world was filled with desolate wailing, the ground trembling violently underfoot. Everywhere was the moaning of war horses. The Great Xia army corps were like towering mountains, crashing violently against North Shuo’s walls, wave after wave surging forward. The numerical disparity was stark, and the battle grew increasingly brutal in its later stages. The walls were lost several times, and several times won back with soldiers’ blood. The Southwestern Garrison’s soldiers demonstrated terrifying and astonishing combat prowess. Fewer than three thousand of them defended half the city wall, while the other half had more than sixty thousand defenders. Yet even so, the Southwestern Garrison still had to repeatedly provide them aid.
Two days later, Zhao Ying sent people to dig trenches at the eastern city wall, causing a small-scale collapse. A small section of the wall fell, and although Chu Qiao quickly established defenses, more than two thousand people still managed to break into the city. These were all Great Xia’s elite troops. The fighting continued for more than two hours, with bodies piled into a small mountain.
“General! The Third Battalion has been completely wiped out. The Crossbow Battalion and the Fourth Militia Unit, led by General Yu, attacked out of the city and drove back the Xia soldiers digging trenches at the foot of the wall, but all perished. The Xiaoling Camp is completely dead, and the Eleventh Unit died entirely at the East One City Head…”
“General, we can’t hold on. At most, we have two more hours. Let’s retreat quickly!”
He Xiao also came forward. The young man was covered in wounds and bloodstains, his voice hoarse as he said deeply: “My lady, all officers and men of the Southwestern Garrison request that you retreat. We will cut a path for you from the west gate.”
Yin Liangyu was pale-faced. This official skilled in wielding the pen now wore military attire. He walked forward with a frown and said: “General, reinforcements won’t arrive in time. We don’t have time. Please lead the Southwestern Garrison and the city’s women and children to break out. If we can reach Blue City, reach Miss Yu, we’ll have a chance to rise again. This subordinate is willing to stay behind and share North Shuo’s fate.”
Chu Qiao slowly shook her head. Blue City? Where was there even half a soul there now? Even if they fled there, it would only lead the Xia soldiers into Yan Bei’s interior. She said softly: “I will not retreat.”
“Please, General, consider the big picture! This is not the time for sentiment!”
Chu Qiao lifted her head, her gaze firm as she looked into the distance, slowly saying: “The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady!” He Xiao was somewhat agitated and said: “We can’t wait any longer. Time is running out; if we don’t leave now, it will be too late.”
Chu Qiao repeated the same words, full of confidence, even to the point of madness and obsession: “The reinforcements will come.”
Everyone reluctantly withdrew, then issued orders for the entire army to defend to the death. All at once, the entire city erupted with frenzied roars. Chu Qiao couldn’t distinguish what emotions they contained—anger, sorrow, terror, courage, fear, hatred, despair—perhaps none of these, perhaps just a final cry before death.
The sky gradually darkened, the sunset blood-red. The battle reached its peak intensity. The captain and cook of the Eighth Division, Seventh Unit, wielding a large butcher’s knife, roared wildly as he charged toward the Xia soldiers climbing the city wall. More than ten Xia soldiers charged up in a row, but the fat cook lunged at them, knocking more than ten people into the fire pit. The fire quickly spread on their bodies. The Xia soldiers frantically patted the flames on themselves, but the cook paid no heed and continued to lunge at others, fiercely, as if completely unconcerned about the fierce fire on his own body. The Xia soldiers were panicked; wherever he went, everyone dodged aside. Finally, the cook, without making a sound, grabbed the rope ladder the Xia soldiers were climbing and slid down. More than twenty soldiers who were climbing fell with him and died on the rocks at the foot of the wall. Blood splattered, brains burst. On this day, over a million people from both sides witnessed the loyalty and bravery of a cook.
“My lady! The Eighth Unit has been completely wiped out!”
“The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady, the East Two city wall has collapsed, and more than three hundred enemies have broken in. The Ninth and Tenth Units have gone to intercept.”
“The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady, let’s go quickly! The Xia army’s last three reserves have also joined the battle!”
“The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady, if we don’t leave now, it will be too late. The reinforcements won’t come. Give the order to retreat!”
“The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady…”
…
Everyone had already despaired. They all thought Chu Qiao had decided to share North Shuo’s fate. The battle grew increasingly brutal, with frenzied screams everywhere. Yan Bei’s soldiers went mad, desperately issuing their final roars, waving their battle knives to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
The central army commander should not participate in the battle. But at this moment, Chu Qiao slowly drew the sword at her waist. Even at this point, a belief still frantically cried out in her mind: holding on for one more moment was worth it. She slowly walked out of the central military camp to the highest point of the city tower, her sword sharp, gleaming like silver.
He Xiao suddenly rushed forward, his face greatly shaken, emotions of joy or anger indistinguishable, anxiously shouting: “My lady!”
“Say no more!” Chu Qiao cut him off immediately, saying in a deep voice: “I will not retreat. The reinforcements will come.”
“My lady,” He Xiao licked his pale lips and slowly said: “The reinforcements have arrived.”
Chu Qiao’s delicate body trembled. Following He Xiao’s finger, she turned sharply. On the horizon of Fire Thunder Plain, a thin black line appeared faintly. Dust rose above that thin line. From the Xia army came piercing horn sounds, shrill and completely lacking a victorious tone. Messengers ran back and forth, officers shouting hoarsely about something indistinguishable. There was panic, great panic. The Great Xia army retreated like a tide, Xia soldiers bewilderedly running back following the horn signal, not knowing what had happened.
The earth shook: Boom! Boom! Boom!
Everyone stopped what they were doing. The North Shuo defense forces, already prepared to die, raised their heads one after another, looking toward the distant east. On the crimson Fire Thunder Plain, the slender line gradually merged into a black river, and then, like a black eagle suddenly leaping from the edge of the sky, its wings wide, majestic, and imposing, transformed into a boundless black ocean!
Like mountains toppling and seas overturning! Like a storm! Black battle flags flew over the black ocean, battle eagles fierce, almost breaking through the flags. Soldiers controlled their horses with their legs, drew their swords, and held them upright before their bodies, issuing thunderous roars: “Fight for freedom!!!”
Deafening charge signals instantly resonated across the land. From North Shuo’s towers, enormous cheers suddenly rose to the sky!
“The Black Eagle flag! It’s the Black Eagle flag! His Highness! His Highness has come!”
“Our reinforcements have arrived!”
The soldiers cheered jubilantly, many of them shedding tears on the city wall. In just a few short days, this ancient city had gone through multiple life-and-death struggles. Now, faced with sudden hope, people cheered together, passionately embracing one another.
Contrasting with North Shuo’s cheers was Great Xia’s panicked roaring. Zhao Ying shouted in disbelief: “How can this be? How did they get around to our rear?”
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
A messenger hurriedly rushed forward, wearing the uniform of Zhenhang City, dusty from travel, his face covered in frost, shouting: “Imperial orders from the capital command you to return immediately to defend the homeland. The traitor Yan Xun has led an army of five hundred thousand into the interior of the empire. The northwest region is scorched earth. Now, he has returned to encircle the northern expedition army!”
With a “bang,” Zhao Ying kicked the messenger off his horse, cursing: “Why didn’t you wait until they killed all my troops before reporting?!”
“This humble one has been traveling day and night. All the messenger brothers were intercepted and killed by the Yan Bei army. Only this servant remains. This servant had to be extremely careful…”
The man hurriedly explained, but before he could finish, he was kicked again by Zhao Ying. The Great Xia’s fourteenth prince quickly ordered: “All army corps, form battle positions where you are. Do not flee in disorder. We must stabilize our formation to contend with the enemy.”
However, before he finished speaking, he saw the Southwestern Army, the Northern Alliance, and the remaining troops of the Batuha family all fleeing in disarray without any formation. Only the Northwestern Army remained in position, resisting the increasingly close Yan Bei army.
Zhao Ying closed his eyes in despair. Was heaven truly determined to destroy Great Xia?
The Xia army’s retreat was like a tide. All resistance was torn apart by the Yan Bei army like dry twigs. Numerical advantage, combat strength advantage, the morale of fresh troops, and the sudden surprise attack all guaranteed victory for the Yan Bei army. Two hours later, the Xia army had fled Fire Thunder Plain, hastily retreating toward Helan Mountain. The Yan Bei army sent ten thousand troops in close pursuit!
This day was the first of November in the 775th year of the Baicang calendar. The Black Eagle Army, which had penetrated deep into Great Xia’s interior, suddenly returned to Yan Bei’s homeland. Yan Xun had strictly sealed off information along the way, galloping at full speed, eating, drinking, and sleeping on horseback. After returning, without any rest, he immediately entered the battle. Zhao Ying was caught unaware, sandwiched between Yan Xun and Chu Qiao. The Southwestern Army, Northern Alliance, and Batuha Army collapsed like water at the front line. Zhao Ying, unable to stand alone, had no choice but to retreat toward Helan Mountain. Yan Xun pursued closely, killing more than two hundred thousand enemies along the way. Except for Zhao Ying’s Northwestern Army, the main forces of the other three land armies were almost completely devastated. Yan Xun led his troops in pursuit of Great Xia’s northwestern interior, stopping only at Yanming Pass. Subsequently, the Black Eagle Army camped north of Yanming Pass. Zhao Ying looked across the river and saw that the empire’s northwestern region had been entirely occupied by the Yan Bei army and that officials and nobles in the northwest were all surrendering. In a fit of rage, he spat a mouthful of blood onto the frozen Chishui River.
With this, the First Northern Expedition War came to an end. The Yan Bei army had lost as many as four hundred thousand troops in the cities of North Shuo and Chidu. Chidu City had become barren land, countless refugees had died during migration, and Yan Bei’s already meager finances became even more difficult.
Compared to Yan Bei, Great Xia’s losses were immeasurable. Not only had the northern expedition army lost most of its forces, but a prince had been beheaded at the front, and half of the northwestern territory had fallen into enemy hands. If Yan Xun had not turned his blade around at the front line to rescue North Shuo, the imperial capital might have been captured. The eyes of the entire Western Mongol continent were focused on this. In the northwestern sky, a magnificent red sun slowly set. The Great Xia Empire’s three hundred years of glory and dreams thus began an unstoppable decline.
After Zhao Ying returned to the imperial capital, the Great Xia imperial family was enraged. The Council of Elders, rarely acting quickly, unanimously passed a resolution to imprison Zhao Ying. Three days later, the empire rapidly dispatched three hundred thousand troops from the Southeastern Army, Northeastern Army, and various great family armies, led by the seventh prince Zhao Che, to the northwestern battlefield once more.
Meanwhile, the Zhuge family’s eldest son, Zhuge Huai, who had served as the reserve forces’ chief coordinator during the First Northern Expedition War, was also implicated in this defeat. The Zhuge family faced exclusion and impeachment from the Council of Elders. Under pressure, Zhuge Muqing had no choice but to once again employ his fourth son, Zhuge Yue, to serve as the chief coordinator of the reserves and military supplies for this army, quickly following in Zhao Che’s footsteps to the northwest.
It was foreseeable that another great battle was about to unfold, but before this storm arrived, there was a brief period of calm.