When Yan Xun received the news and rushed to Daping, the battle had already ended. Zhuge Yue’s forces had vanished without a trace, leaving only corpses and weapons strewn about. The assassination team that Yan Xun had highly valued for many years was annihilated, with none of the five hundred men surviving. Looking at the bloody corpses scattered across the ground, Yan Xun felt his temples pulsing. The man stood in the snow wearing a large black fur coat, surrounded by blood-red earth, emanating a murderous aura that made onlookers tremble with fear.
“Your Majesty,” Cheng Yuan slightly bowed as he stood beside him, respectfully saying: “Would you like me to immediately return and gather more men? They’re on our territory—how could they possibly escape alive?”
Yan Xun’s gaze was deep and dark as he stared at the corpses whose eyes hadn’t even had time to close, seemingly able to imagine the brutal battle that had just taken place. Cheng Yuan stood beside him, anxiously asking: “Your Majesty?”
“Gather the troops immediately.”
Cheng Yuan saw that Yan Xun had accepted his suggestion and nodded repeatedly in delight, asking: “How many does Your Majesty require?”
“Bring the entire Black Hawk Army.”
“What?” Even someone as composed as Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but be greatly surprised, exclaiming: “Your Majesty, the Black Hawk Army has just completed reorganization and recruitment with over two hundred thousand men. Zhuge Yue only brought less than three hundred people. Is this… is such a large force necessary?”
Yan Xun let out a cold snort, his gaze shooting toward the invisible enemy in the vast snowy plain. His gloomy eyes narrowed halfway as he said coldly: “Killing him would be like cutting off half of Zhao Che’s head and severing one of Da Xia’s arms—more effective than killing twenty thousand Da Xia soldiers. Tell the troops that when they see Zhuge Yue, kill him on the spot, dead or alive. Whoever brings me his head will be rewarded with a general’s rank.”
“Yes!”
Cheng Yuan responded sternly, then turned and rode away on his horse. Hooves trampled the snow, kicking up white spray. Yan Xun stood silently for a long time before softly saying: “This time, I will ensure you cannot escape, even with wings.”
That day, troop movements were very active on the eastern front of Yan Bei. The newly reorganized Black Hawk Army, led by General Cheng Yuan, was taken out under the pretext of field training but was heading toward the inland areas of Yan Bei. The Da Xia officials responsible for monitoring Yan Bei’s military found this strange and reported it to Da Xia’s Military Affairs Department. After analyzing this for half a day, the civilian officials concluded that there had likely been a major snowstorm in Yan Bei, causing significant civilian casualties, and forcing Yan Bei to deploy troops for disaster relief. The Military Affairs officials greeted this conclusion with enthusiastic applause, both relieved that Yan Xun had encountered misfortune and that there was one less major army threatening the eastern front. They promptly reported this good news to Da Xia’s Northern Expedition Army headquarters. However, Zhao Che’s military officer considered this matter utterly irrelevant—even without the Black Hawk Army, the Northern Expedition Army’s current strength was insufficient to confront the combined First and Second Armies. Da Xia’s battle plans had already been set, with everything scheduled for next spring, after the northern and Bian Tang conflicts had settled. Consequently, he naturally withheld this “insignificant” information, not wishing to disturb the already very busy Prince Zhao Che.
Often, history’s course is altered by the inconsequential thoughts of inconsequential people. Just like now, Zhuge Yue’s only confidant in this mission, Zhao Che, lost this crucial intelligence, along with the opportunity to send timely notifications and reinforcements for protection.
However, despite this, Yan Xun’s plans weren’t proceeding smoothly. A day later, battle reports arrived one after another, nearly making the assembled generals red-eyed with anger.
Black Hawk Army Light Cavalry First Battalion, Third Company: five hundred men, annihilated, none survived.
Light Cavalry Fourth Company: five hundred men ambushed, and shot full of arrows, resembling human sieves.
Light Cavalry Seventeenth Scout Team: vanished without a trace. The staff’s analysis concluded that all seven hundred men had gotten lost in the snowstorm.
Six smaller scout teams subsequently disappeared as well, twenty men per team, with not a single person sending a signal or returning to report.
The archery team entered Pine Truffle Ridge—no one knew why they went in, just as no one knew why they never came out. Even the two infantry teams sent in to find them disappeared as well.
Scattered, defeated, annihilated, missing… the battle reports kept coming in, and Yan Xun’s expression grew increasingly grim. The assembled commanders also felt as if facing a great enemy. An old military officer nervously suggested: “Perhaps we should consolidate our forces in one location. Separating our troops like this is too dangerous.”
“Ridiculous!” A Jing was also among the army but clearly didn’t have the same status as Cheng Yuan, sitting far back in the row of officers. Hearing this, he coldly said: “The enemy has less than three hundred men, while we have a full two hundred thousand. With such disparate numbers, we still need to consolidate?”
The old general tried to defend his position: “But the enemy’s combat strength is formidable, each worth a hundred of our men…”
“I don’t support consolidation either,” said Cheng Yuan. “The inland area is vast with few people, and in this snowy weather, three hundred men can hide anywhere, leaving us helpless. Consolidating twenty thousand troops in one place just creates a bigger target, making it easier for them to avoid us. Your Majesty, I suggest surrounding and trapping them. As long as we block all escape routes, they’ll have no choice but to show themselves.”
“Has General Cheng forgotten the Battle of Qiuqiu? You said the same thing then,” A Jing gave him a cold look and mocked: “Setting up roadblocks on all routes, mobilizing the entire army, not missing even mountain paths or small trails—at that time, General, you confidently claimed that not even a mouse could escape your sight. Yet a month later, Zhuge Yue was comfortably eating and sleeping in Yanming Pass while we were exhausted like fools.”
Cheng Yuan’s face darkened at these words, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he turned to look at Yan Xun. Everyone knew that the Battle of Qiuqiu was Yan Xun’s taboo. While Cheng Yuan bore some responsibility, Yan Xun, as the commander whose camp was ambushed, bore even greater blame. However, Yan Xun’s expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard anything, his eyes frost-like, calm as still water.
With a swoosh, A Jing, in his heavy iron armor, pushed aside a small table and stood up. Taking two steps forward, he said to Yan Xun in a deep voice: “Your Majesty, Zhuge Yue has only three hundred men. He couldn’t have injured over three thousand of our men without suffering casualties himself, yet we haven’t seen a single Da Xia corpse. This means he took all the wounded with him. With their already small numbers now further burdened by the wounded, their combat effectiveness must be greatly reduced. I request to personally lead one thousand men in pursuit and will certainly complete the mission.”
Yan Xun’s gaze was like dark waves on a deep sea as he silently swept over A Jing’s face. Outside the tent, fierce winds swirled snow across the plains, yet none was colder than Yan Xun’s eyes. He was carefully weighing options, like a deeply calculating wolf king.
A Jing? A Jing’s abilities certainly qualified him for important tasks, and the previous repression had somewhat smoothed his sharp edges. His current request to fight was nothing more than an attempt to prove himself. But caution was necessary—after all, his close relationship with A Chu was well-known, and what variables might arise if A Chu learned of this matter?
The tent was silent, everyone watching Yan Xun and waiting for his instructions. Time passed second by second, grains of sand slowly falling into the water clock. Suddenly, a warhorse’s neigh was heard. A Jing rushed outside, where over two hundred cavalry were galloping toward them. The leading officer, covered in blood, shouted: “The enemy commander has been captured!”
Instantly, the entire tent erupted in excitement. Yan Xun’s brows furrowed tightly, his eyes like a frozen lake with turbulent waves surging beneath the surface.
The land was vast and desolate, with goose feather-like snowflakes dancing in the air, covering everything in silver-white. The Light Cavalry First Team had set out with five hundred men but returned with fewer than three hundred, showing how fierce the battle had been. Lu He, the First Battalion commander, was covered in blood with an arrow in his shoulder. He jumped off his horse and knelt on one knee, saying to Yan Xun: “Your Majesty, I have fortunately not failed in my mission and have captured Da Xia’s Northwestern Army Marshal, Zhuge Yue.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. Over the past year at Yanming Pass, Yan Bei’s army had suffered countless defeats at Zhuge Yue’s hands. The man was a military genius who never played by the rules, with extraordinary courage, fierce generals under his command, and soldiers willing to die for him. He had defeated Yan Bei’s army in nine out of ten battles. Moreover, he represented the noble families’ attitudes toward Yan Bei and their support for Da Xia, with connections to multiple factions. With him gone, the tide of war would immediately turn dramatically.
Compared to everyone else’s joy, Yan Xun showed no unusual expression. He looked at Lu He and said solemnly: “Bring him forward.”
“Bring him up!”
Lu He turned and gave the order, and immediately a bound man was brought forward. The man wore a luxurious purple sable coat with expensive clothes but was wounded in many places, with five or six arrows stuck in his right leg, rendering him unable to stand. Upon seeing Yan Xun, he slowly raised his head, his gaze cold and detached. With a slight smile and contemptuous curl of his lips, he said: “Young Master Yan, it’s been a long time.”
Yan Xun’s eye twitched, his demeanor dark and brooding as he slowly said: “Month Seven?”
“Young Master Yan has a good memory. No wonder you can employ so many despicable and treacherous tactics against my young master—turns out you have such a good head on your shoulders.” Month Seven chuckled, a bloody sword scar across his face, the skin split open, having lost his former handsomeness and elegance, his smile as eerie as a demon.
Yan Xun remained unmoved and coldly asked: “Where is Zhuge Yue?”
Month Seven laughed loudly, as if hearing the funniest joke, and countered: “Has Young Master Yan gone mad? To ask such a stupid question?”
“Take him away and behead him.”
Yan Xun coldly turned around and ordered. The imperial guards immediately seized Month Seven, but his voice cheerfully rang out from behind, bearing a carefree laugh, as relaxed as if he were going to eat a meal: “Yan Xun, you’re not a soldier, just a villain accustomed to schemes and tricks. You’re no match for my young master. I’m just going ahead, waiting for you on the path to the underworld.”
“Is that so?” Yan Xun’s voice was cold and deep, like a dust-covered bell, as he slowly turned back, his eyes sharp as knives: “Then you can wait.”
“Sister, walk slowly, there’s a mountain valley ahead. Brother will wait for you at the mountain. Waiting for you to come…”
As the snow fell heavily, Month Seven was dragged away, yet his song still echoed in the wind. Yan Xun stood in the blizzard, his face frost-like, gradually shrouded by a layer of snow.
“Your Majesty,” Lu He nervously said, “I have committed a crime. I was careless and was deceived by him. But I now know the direction that dog Zhuge has taken, and I will pursue him immediately.”
Yan Xun glanced sideways at the sword at his waist and said: “Give it to me.”
Lu He was greatly alarmed and quickly removed the sword from his waist, handing it to Yan Xun with sweat pouring down his face: “This is that fellow’s sword. I… I was just about to present it to Your Majesty.”
The sword was four feet long, completely dark blue, with faint red patterns on the blade that looked like blood. It was indeed Zhuge Yue’s sword, Breaking Moon. Yan Xun was naturally very familiar with this sword.
“Sun Cai, you take this sword immediately to intercept Lady Chu. She should be on her way back to Shangshen. Tell her that Zhuge Yue led troops to attack Yuegong’s grain supplies, and just happened to encounter me in Yuegong. The Imperial Guard headquarters was damaged, I was wounded by a sword, and am now surrounded. Ask her to bring troops to support Yuegong City immediately. Remember, you must take the southern Huo Mountain route, creating the impression that you escaped from Yuegong by chance. Understand?”
The young commander immediately knelt and said solemnly: “I understand.”
“Nian Qin, go immediately to Yuegong City with my verbal order for the Yuegong garrison. Tell them they must make frequent troop movements within one day to create the appearance of being under siege.”
“Yes, I will go at once.”
“Cheng Yuan, gather the Black Hawk Army immediately, divide into five routes, and head to Yuegong. Follow behind Lady Chu, keep your flags hidden and drums silent, and pretend to be in pursuit, but do not directly engage in battle. Understand?”
“Understood.”
“Qi Zhi, accompany Nian Qin to Yuegong and instruct all counties and prefectures along the way to close their gates, send out troops, and set up checkpoints to intercept.”
“Yes.”
“Huo An!”
“At your service.” A soldier wearing the Xiuli Army uniform stood to the side, head lowered so his face couldn’t be seen clearly, and respectfully said: “Please give your orders.”
“Follow Lu He immediately. When you see Zhuge Yue, you should know what to say.”
Huo An knelt and said in a low voice: “I understand and will not fail Your Majesty’s trust.”
As several armies departed one after another, Yan Xun remained standing, slowly saying: “A Jing.”
A Jing quickly stepped forward, excitedly saying: “At your service, Your Majesty.”
“Go to Huai Song to inspect next spring’s military provisions.”
A Jing was stunned, asking incredulously: “Now?”
“Yes,” Yan Xun turned around, his gaze sharp, his lips cold, emphasizing each word: “Now.”
The wind blew stronger with each gust. Yan Xun stood in the cold wind wearing his black fur coat, completely unmoved. The sun above was covered by dark clouds, making everything around dimly yellowish and pale white. The deep winter was desolate, and war was approaching.
*—*—*
There was a heavy snowfall that night. Chu Qiao had just set up camp when she heard the urgent sound of horse hooves from the north. He Xiao led troops forward, and soon brought back a young officer. The man was covered in blood with disheveled hair. Seeing Chu Qiao, he acted as if he’d found a long-lost relative, falling to his knees before her and shouting: “Thank goodness! Lady Chu, you’re here! Please bring troops to save His Majesty quickly! Any later and it will be too late!”
With a clang, the Remnant Red sword in Chu Qiao’s hand dropped to the ground. She widened her eyes, stepped forward, and coldly said: “What did you say? Say it again!”
“The Da Xia dog Zhuge snuck into Yan Bei, burned Yuegong City’s winter grain supplies, and His Majesty happened to be nearby. Not knowing the situation, he only brought two thousand troops to rescue Yuegong but was surrounded by that dog Zhuge, suffering multiple sword wounds and unable to mount a horse. Now five thousand Da Xia troops surround Yuegong, with His Majesty inside the city. I led three hundred men in a desperate breakout to report this news—they all died along the way, only I escaped.”
Chu Qiao’s brows furrowed as she asked sternly: “How could five thousand Da Xia troops enter Yan Bei so silently? Explain clearly!”
The young man, face covered in dirt, red-eyed with grief and anger, shouted: “I don’t know either! They seemed to have dropped from the sky! Zhuge Yue’s swordsmanship is exquisite—one thrust pierced through His Majesty’s chest. If not for A Jing’s desperate protection, he would have perished by now. That officer called Month Seven attacked the city gates three times, killing all our brothers…”
As Sun Cai spoke, tears streamed down his face. He took out the sword at his waist and presented it, saying: “This is that dog Zhuge’s precious sword. He used it to stab His Majesty, but it got stuck in His Majesty’s shoulder blade and couldn’t be pulled out.”
Chu Qiao was stunned. She slowly took the sword, seeing its ancient simplicity and bloodstains—unmistakably Breaking Moon. She gripped the sword tightly, strongly suppressing the urge to tremble, her eyes as if frozen in snow, almost melting into tears.
Zhuge Yue, how could he? He told her that he hadn’t come for war this time, so how could he burn Yuegong’s grain supplies and attempt to assassinate Yan Xun?
But if not, what was this? And whose blood stained the Breaking Moon sword?
“My lady! Please go quickly! If you don’t go now, it will be too late!”
Sun Cai knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing and begging. Chu Qiao took a deep breath, feeling her heart turn cold. If something happened to Yan Xun this time, wouldn’t it be because of her? She nimbly mounted her horse and coldly ordered her subordinates: “All troops break camp! To Yuegong!”
The army quickly mobilized and soon disappeared into the vast snowy plains. Soon after, the hoofprints of other cavalry units covered the chaotic snow. This night was certainly not one for peaceful sleep.
When Huo An saw Zhuge Yue, it was already dawn. In Mingxi Valley, what had been three hundred men now numbered less than two hundred, yet they still maintained high vigilance and combat readiness. The entrance to Mingxi Valley was narrow, easy to defend but difficult to attack. The valley was rich in wild game, eliminating any concern for provisions. If they could hold out for three days, Zhao Che would surely notice the reduced number of Yan Bei troops at Yanming Pass. At that time, he would seize the opportunity to attack, forcing Yan Xun to return and defend, giving Zhuge Yue a chance to escape.
Just one glance and Huo An understood the brilliance of Yan Xun’s strategy. Given this terrain and troop configuration, even a direct assault would come at a tremendous cost.
“General Zhuge, I am Huo An, commander of the Xiuli Army under Lady Chu. I have important information to relay to you.”
Zhuge Yue was neatly dressed, still maintaining that shrewd and cold demeanor. Even while on the run, he showed no sign of panic. He glanced at Huo An indifferently and slowly said: “If I’m not mistaken, the commander of the Xiuli Army should be He Xiao.”
“Commander He has fallen in battle. I now take his place,” Huo An said solemnly, his expression unchanging.
Hearing this, Zhuge Yue’s eyebrow slightly raised, but he didn’t pursue the matter. Instead, his eyes looked calmly at Huo An, with an underlying sharpness like knives piercing into him, as if trying to dig a hole through his body. Huo An steadied himself and calmly said: “My lady says your whereabouts have been exposed. Whatever business you have, please leave immediately. She has arranged a secret passage at Helan Mountain for you. If you trust her, you can escape Yan Bei via Bian Tang. If you have other escape routes, please leave quickly, because His Majesty has already sent troops to surround you. If you don’t leave now, you may not have another chance.”
“What has happened to your lady? Why did Commander He die in battle?”
Huo An’s expression changed slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said: “My lady only instructed me to say what I just told you. As for other matters, please forgive me for not being able to inform you.”
As he finished and turned to leave, Zhuge Yue said: “Stop.”
Huo An continued walking when suddenly a sharp sound rang out. A young swordsman drew his sword with lightning speed and held it against Huo An’s neck, coldly saying: “Did you not hear my young master calling you?”
Huo An turned to look at a young man of only eighteen or nineteen, his eyes carrying the characteristic coldness of a swordsman.
“Month Nine, don’t be rash.”
Zhuge Yue spoke sternly, and the young swordsman lowered his head and retreated. Huo An turned back to meet Zhuge Yue’s calm gaze and slowly said: “General, there is a traitor among my subordinates who have harmed you and my lady. His Majesty ordered my lady to kill you. She refused and even sent troops to intercept those His Majesty sent to hunt you down. She has now broken with the army. I have no face to return and seek my lady’s forgiveness. I only hope the general will heed my lady’s words and leave quickly, or else the nine thousand soldiers of our Southwest Garrison will have been sacrificed in vain, and my lady will have sacrificed herself for nothing.”
With those words, Huo An pulled out his sword and slashed at his neck. Zhuge Yue moved quickly to deflect it with his sword, but was still too late—a line of blood appeared across the man’s neck, flowing freely.
Meng Feng immediately crouched down and after a moment looked up to say: “Don’t worry, he won’t die.”
Zhuge Yue’s expression darkened as he stared into the empty snowfield for a long time without speaking. His subordinates all looked at him, one of them saying: “General, this man’s words cannot be fully trusted.”
Zhuge Yue nodded and said: “Scout.”
“Yes!”
At dawn, a scout galloped back, reporting solemnly: “General, we’ve confirmed that civilians have seen Lady Chu’s troops rushing to Yuegong City at great speed. They passed by just an hour ago. I carefully examined the hoofprints—they were in great panic, the tracks very chaotic. However, we have not yet received any proclamation ordering the arrest of Lady Chu throughout Yan Bei.”
Zhuge Yue nodded without speaking, but his mind was racing.
Shortly after, another scout returned, saying: “General, we’ve confirmed that the Black Hawk Army, led by Cheng Yuan, has divided into five routes, all following behind Lady Chu to capture her. Their numbers exceed one hundred thousand.”
“Young Master, all prefectures and counties along the route to Yuegong have increased troops and set up roadblocks. Militia are checking people everywhere, and Yuegong City is also frequently moving troops. The situation looks grim.”
“General, Yan Xun is also heading to Yuegong.”
The wind howled fiercely, the world desolate and bleak, with pristine white snow everywhere. Zhuge Yue stood tall in his gray fox fur coat, suddenly walking to his warhorse and saying in a quiet but forceful voice: “To Yuegong.”
“General!” Meng Feng grabbed Zhuge Yue’s reins, blocking his path, and said solemnly: “You cannot go.”
Zhuge Yue looked up indifferently but didn’t speak. Meng Feng knew this look all too well and, unusually serious, said gravely: “This matter has many suspicious points. Even if it were true, given our current strength, we shouldn’t act rashly.”
“Indeed, General,” Zhuge Yue’s deputy, Shen Ru, was formerly a stable boy who had shown exceptional military talent and had been freed from servitude and promoted to deputy commander by Zhuge Yue. Shen Ru said solemnly: “I also find this matter extremely suspicious. If this is a secret operation, why could we so easily obtain intelligence? And why does the timing align so perfectly?”
Month Nine frowned: “Young Master, I also find this suspicious.”
“General, this is too coincidental. If it’s true, how did this Huo An find us? If he could find us, doesn’t that mean Chu Qiao has been tracking us all along? We must be cautious. I also think following our original plan and retreating immediately is the best course of action.”
“You’re all right,” Zhuge Yue nodded and said slowly. Everyone’s faces lit up with joy, thinking he had finally listened to reason. But soon, Zhuge Yue frowned and looked at them very seriously, saying solemnly: “But what if what he said is true?”
Everyone was stunned. Yes, if it were true, then judging by Yan Xun’s actions, wouldn’t Chu Qiao surely die? If such a thing happened, what should be done?
Zhuge Yue didn’t wait for their response but mounted his horse. The others were startled and rushed forward to stop him. Meng Feng tried earnestly to persuade him: “General, I believe this is highly likely to be false—a trap set by Yan Xun to lure you in…”
“If it’s highly likely to be false, what about the small possibility it might be true?”
Meng Feng was dumbfounded.
“Is that small possibility worth risking your life for?”
Zhuge Yue didn’t answer, just silently shook his head and softly said: “I can’t be completely certain…”
He didn’t continue, nor did he specify what he couldn’t be completely certain about. The man’s expression suddenly became somewhat distant. He quietly raised his head, looking at the flying snow in the distance, then suddenly curled his lips into a cold smile: “Besides, if Yan Xun wants my life, it won’t be so easy.”
“Month Nine,” Zhuge Yue’s gaze was ice-cold, flashing with a desperate ruthlessness: “Inform Month Da that Plan Two is now in effect.”
Plan Two? A flash of confusion crossed Month Nine’s eyes, but in an instant, his spirit lifted. He responded affirmatively and nimbly mounted his horse.
As the hoofbeats gradually faded away, Zhuge Yue sat on horseback, slightly narrowing his eyes. His gaze was calm on the surface but with undercurrents slowly surging beneath. He considered all possibilities, imagining the worst outcome, when suddenly he seemed to see someone in the vast snowfield waving to him from afar.
If all this were true, would there be a glimmer of hope? If she was willing to break with Yan Xun for his sake, didn’t that prove he held someplace in her heart?
Zhuge Yue thought darkly, then silently shook his head and smiled wryly. His fatal weakness had been discovered by others once again.
Hooves flew across the snow toward Yuegong City. The sun rose but was hidden by dark clouds, making the world dim and black. Yuegong, Yan Bei’s great granary city, welcomed another tumultuous day in its history.