Three days later, Liu Jue’s great army arrived at Linnan, forcing back the Chen army and garrisoning the city of Linnan.

Liu Jue stood atop the wall in a black robe. Anye had returned to report that A’Luo had already crossed the Han River into Chen territory. His heart sank, unable to settle. The war was tense; they only waited for Linnan’s navy to repair its warships before crossing the river to attack. Every time he thought of Chu Nan abducting A’Luo, Liu Jue couldn’t suppress the fire in his heart.

Scouts continuously brought back news. Half a month later, the river below Linnan was crowded with tower ships, and Ning Guo stood fully armed and ready to depart. Liu Jue looked toward the opposite bank, his sharply defined features radiating a cold, sinister menace. Nothing could stop his resolve to destroy Chen.

After falling into the water, Chu Nan relied on his internal energy and swimming skill to slowly drift to the other shore. Before long he encountered Chen troops and returned to the Huai City camp.

Hearing that his younger brother had captured Ning Guo’s newly conferred Princess Qingluo, Chu An was overjoyed. Now the two armies faced each other, and war was on the verge of breaking out. The combined forces of Chen and Xia numbered no more than three hundred thousand; currently Huai City was garrisoned with only one hundred thousand Chen troops, while Ning Guo’s southern and eastern armies together numbered four hundred thousand. Added to this, Chen had suffered a great defeat the year before, and its naval strength was far inferior to Ning Guo’s. In terms of troop strength alone, they were already at a disadvantage. Moreover, since Ning Guo had initiated the war, its army and people were united with high morale. Yet knowing that if the Ning army crossed the river to fight and they did not resist, it would mean the destruction of their state and clan, the morale of the Chen-Xia allied forces was not low either. The commander leading the Ning army was Prince Pingnan, Liu Jue, cousin of Prince Li — and Princess Qingluo was his betrothed wife. Having her in hand would, to some extent, restrain the Ning army.

That night, Chu An held a banquet at the temporary palace within the city to entertain his younger brother Chu Nan. The assembled generals all clamored to see the princess’s beautiful face. Chu An laughed and said, “Brother, I’ve heard this princess is exceptionally beautiful. I too am quite curious — why not invite her to play the qin for us? It would also serve to humiliate Prince Pingnan a bit.”

Chu Nan flatly refused: “Brother, you don’t know — Princess Qingluo caught a chill on the road and is bedridden. I’m afraid, brother…”

Chu An was somewhat displeased, but on second thought, if something truly happened to her, she would lose her value. The banquet broke up in a sour mood.

Back at his residence, Chu Nan thought coldly to himself that Chu An should not think of taking Qingluo from him. Just thinking of making Qingluo play the qin and smile for that group of rough military officers made him deeply uncomfortable. The fierce June wind blew, and Chu Nan felt a bit dizzy, the alcohol rising to his head. Without realizing it, he had walked to outside the wing where A’Luo was staying. The guards saluted him: “Your Highness!”

He stepped inside. A’Luo was seriously ill this time — first exhausted from fleeing through the mountains without rest, then soaked and chilled by rain, and then having fallen into the river. After arriving in Huai City she had run a high fever for several days; now the fever had subsided but her body remained extremely weak. After more than ten days of care she still lay limply on the bed, listless. Chu Nan sat gently at the bedside, gazing infatuatedly at the face that made his heart race. Did Chu An want to use her to threaten Prince Pingnan? He felt nothing but contempt for the idea. If he had entertained such a plan when he first abducted her, the moment Chu An’s assassins had come to take her as a hostage had made clear to him that he would absolutely never do such a thing.

At that moment someone rushed in through the door: “Your Highness, the Ning army is preparing to cross the river — the eldest prince urgently summons you to the camp.”

Chu Nan looked at A’Luo, sleeping soundly, and carefully tucked the thin blanket around her. He instructed: “Watch over the princess carefully! Let no one near her!”

“Yes!”

The Chen navy’s camp, once destroyed in the battle at Linnan, had been rebuilt but was far inferior to before. Chu Nan led a group of guards up to the watchtower. Looking out into the distance, the warships of both armies faced each other across the river. On the Ning warships, great black banners flew high, the character “Liu” upon them striking and imposing. Suddenly a detachment of Ning ships was seen slowly separating from the fleet and advancing into the river. The Chen navy also arrayed itself in formation, preparing to engage.

Chu An laughed: “Brother, I have an idea to dampen Ning’s momentum — I just wonder if you’re willing to part with something for it.”

Chu Nan thought inwardly: so, without even fighting, he wants to use the princess as a hostage — is this really how our Chen commander behaves, and still hopes to swallow Ning Guo? A sneer crept unbidden to the corner of his mouth. He raised his head and said clearly: “Brother, using the princess as a hostage would work well enough, but I have a plan that needs no princess, yet can crush the Ning soldiers’ morale without a single drop of blood!”

Before long, twenty young women were brought up onto twenty of the Chen navy’s tower ships, dressed identically, hair disheveled, of similar build to A’Luo, and in the blink of an eye all were bound to the ships’ bows. Chu Nan smiled wickedly: “I wonder if Prince Pingnan will be able to tell which is which? Which one will he try to save?”

On the Chen watchtower, laughter erupted. Chu An’s eyes flickered uncertainly, then after a moment he laughed: “Brother, what a scheme! I always thought you had courage but no cunning — I didn’t expect you had such an idea in you!”

“I’ll just wait and see how miserably Ning Guo retreats!” Chu Nan said confidently.

“Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom…” The heavy war drums thundered. The warships of both sides converged toward the middle of the river. The Ning vanguard was led by Shi Deshan, deputy commander of the southern army’s navy. When the two fleets were fifty meters apart, he was horrified to discover that every approaching Chen warship had a young woman bound to it, dressed in fine, extravagant clothing, slender of build, hair covering her face. Which one among them was the princess? What should he do?

Standing on the central command tower ship, Liu Jue also witnessed this scene. His heart clenched, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

As the Ning army hesitated, a Chen general standing tall on a tower ship channeled his internal energy and shouted: “Listen well, Ning army! Princess Qingluo is on one of these ships — withdraw your troops at once!”

Shi Deshan cursed the Chen army’s despicableness inwardly. Princess Qingluo was the King’s beloved adopted sister, betrothed to Prince Pingnan; with a woman on every ship, attacking any one of them risked hitting the wrong target. For a moment he was at a loss, hands tied.

The war drums stopped. The Ning army didn’t know how to respond, and silence fell over the warships. Across the water came only the arrogant laughter of the Chen army: “Haha! Still want to fight? All that awaits you is death!”

Shi Deshan glared fiercely at the enemy ships. Suddenly a hawk flew across the river, passing over both the Ning and Chen warships, flying toward Huai City. Liu Jue smiled, raised his hand, and the drums on the central command ship thundered, stirring and powerful, carrying orders and resolve wave after wave into Shi Deshan’s ears. His eyes lit up, and he bellowed: “Loose arrows!”

The command flag waved, and from the Ning warships tens of thousands of arrows flew like a locust swarm toward the Chen fleet. The first to be struck were the twenty women bound to the bows, instantly meeting their deaths. The Chen vanguard commander cried out in shock: “Engage!”

The sound of battle on the river was deafening, and the drums, far from stopping, grew louder still, laced with killing intent. Chu Nan, watching from the far bank, saw a hundred great drums arrayed along the shore, all thundering in unison, and couldn’t help but admire how well Liu Jue had used this trick of overwhelming the enemy with sound to boost morale. At the same time, his thick brows knit tightly, wondering how the Ning army had known — how had they identified that none of the twenty women on the ships was the princess?

Two hours later, both sides sounded the gongs to withdraw. The Chen vanguard lost five ships and a thousand men; the Ning army lost three ships and two thousand men. The battle ended in a draw.

Chu An said, his tone dark and biting, “A fine scheme, but a fake is still a fake. Tomorrow, whatever state that princess is in, bring her to me!”

Chu Nan was startled at these words; when he looked up, Chu An had already turned and swept away. What was he to do now? Chu Nan understood that if he used A’Luo as a hostage, the Ning army would likely cease fire — but for how long? To think he could use her to force Ning Guo’s surrender was utterly impossible. Every nation had ambitions. Chen and Xia coveted the fertile fifteen cities of southern Ning. Qi Guo wanted to seize the western lands. An Guo, too, admired Ning’s prosperity. And Ning Guo, with the largest and richest territory of all — did it not also wish to unify the realm?

Chu Nan returned to his residence and walked slowly into the wing. A’Luo leaned against the headboard, her body frail, her chin sharpened by illness. All the playful cleverness she’d shown when he first captured her was gone. Was he to send this weak woman out to face Ning’s massive fleet? To sacrifice her life for temporary peace? In the past he would surely have agreed without hesitation — but now, Chu Nan felt an intense reluctance in his heart. When had he begun to care so much about her? Chu Nan sat quietly. For the sake of Chen, he ought to hand her over — but thinking of how Chu An had sent death squads after him, determined to see him dead, defiance rose in his eyes. At worst, he would fight the Ning army to the death! Having made up his mind, Chu Nan quickly shook A’Luo awake: “Princess, wake up!”

A’Luo opened her eyes, her body weak and limp. Chu Nan’s face loomed large before her, his eyes filled with an anxious, unsettled expression. A’Luo smiled: “What, are you finally taking me hostage? Is the Chen army really that pathetic?”

Chu Nan ignored her sarcasm and called for a maidservant: “Change the princess into men’s clothing — quickly!”

A’Luo looked at him, uncomprehending. Chu Nan turned and walked out, tossing back a single line: “Chu Nan disdains to use the princess as a hostage.”

She lowered her head and let the maid change her clothes. A’Luo didn’t know what to make of this man. He was fierce with her one moment, gentle the next. Where was he taking her?

The battle had ended in a draw, and though his forces far outnumbered Chen’s, Liu Jue was not pleased. Though he knew the women bound to the ships’ bows had not been A’Luo, his heart remained uneasy — what if the Chen army truly had bound her to a ship’s bow? He summoned Anye: “Any news from Huai City?”

“Our hidden agents in Huai City report the hawk was seen circling above Chu Nan’s residence — the princess should be inside. However, it’s reported that after the eldest prince was defeated in battle today, he ordered Chu Nan to bring the princess to camp tomorrow,” Anye answered.

“If Chen uses her as a hostage, I fear I won’t be able to bear it — this war truly cannot be fought that way. Pass the order: tonight, cross the river and raid Huai City! Anye, while the Chen camp is in chaos, rescue A’Luo.” Liu Jue sighed.

“Yes!” He bowed to Liu Jue and leapt out the window.

Anye crossed the river, infiltrated Huai City, and made his way to a hideout established there in advance. After arranging his men, he waited only for the Ning army to cross the river and launch its surprise attack. Suddenly he saw a troop of soldiers surrounding Chu Nan’s residence. His heart jumped — could it be that the two brothers, Chu An and Chu Nan, had truly come to blows over using A’Luo as a hostage?

Anye’s guess was not wrong. Chu An, worried that Chu Nan would again find excuses to delay tomorrow, had simply sent men to take A’Luo away that very night.

Chu Nan looked disdainfully at the men Chu An had sent: “Go back and tell the eldest prince — tomorrow Chu Nan will deliver the princess to camp himself. There’s no need for brother to trouble himself with such a show of force in the middle of the night.”

The leader of the group snorted coldly: “Second Prince, don’t forget — the eldest prince is our commander now!”

Chu Nan flew into a rage: “Get out! No one is taking her anywhere.”

The leader drew his blade with a ringing hiss: “Forgive us, Second Prince — go!”

The soldiers surged forward.

By this time Anye had already scaled the back wall into the residence. The hawk flew straight toward the rear courtyard, landing on the roof of a wing. Anye smiled. Hearing the clash of blades from the main hall, he used his exceptional lightness skill to approach the wing. Two guards, hearing the sounds as well, grew tense. Anye glanced around, then slowly stepped out. The guards, startled at the sight of the masked figure in blue appearing before them, opened their mouths to shout — but in that instant, Anye rushed forward, his sword flashing, slicing through one guard’s throat, while his elbow struck backward, crushing the throat bone of the other. Both fell without a sound.

Anye pushed open the door, struck the maidservant unconscious with a swift finger-strike, and immediately saw A’Luo leaning against the bed: “Shh! Don’t make a sound — I’m Anye of the Black-Clad Cavalry!”

A’Luo’s eyes lit up at once, though her body had no strength left. Anye scooped her up and swiftly carried her out the door. Just as he leapt onto the wall, he alerted the household guards heading toward the rear courtyard. Anye gave a sharp whistle. The Black-Clad Cavalry’s hidden agents in Huai City leapt over the courtyard wall and engaged the guards. Taking this opportunity, Anye held A’Luo close, leapt onto a horse, and galloped west. The hawk spread its wings and followed close behind.

Chu Nan caught a sharp glimpse of Anye’s figure — so Chu An had openly deployed troops to surround the residence and tie him down, while secretly sending men to snatch her away! In a fury, he kicked over a soldier charging at him with a blade, seized a horse, and gave chase after Anye and A’Luo.

Before long he spotted Anye and A’Luo, with a hawk flying not far above them. A thought flashed through his mind like lightning, and with a long laugh Chu Nan hurled his short sword at the hawk like a bolt of lightning. A mournful cry rang out, and the great hawk plummeted from the sky. Chu Nan spun and leapt up, retrieving his short sword from the bird’s body. Anye was desperately anxious — this breed of hawk was extraordinarily fast. He was certainly no match for Chu Nan’s skill, so he urged the horse into a wild gallop. But carrying two people, the horse’s lead was steadily shrinking.

He heard Chu Nan’s laughter behind him: “So you’re a Ning spy, come to drive a wedge between my brother and me. Fortunate that this hawk solved the mystery! So this is how Liu Jue knew none of those twenty women was Qingluo.” With that, he gave a long whistle, stepped onto his horse’s back, and bore down on Anye with overwhelming force.

Hearing the wind, Anye raised an arm to block, his arm going numb from the impact. He shouted, “A’Luo, hold on tight!” Gathering his energy, he pushed off from the horse and spun back to meet Chu Nan. The horse sped on westward, carrying A’Luo.

Blocked by Anye, Chu Nan watched A’Luo gradually vanish from sight and, seized by fury, unleashed the full force of his power, his sword suddenly piercing Anye’s shoulder. Wincing in pain, Anye hurled his sword at Chu Nan, then leapt backward into the air and, relying on his superb lightness skill, dove headfirst into the Han River.

Chu Nan had no time to spare for Anye and rode on westward in pursuit. After nearly thirty li outside Huai City, there was still no sign of A’Luo. Killing intent roiled across his face. Unwilling to give up, he stared ahead for a long while before finally turning his horse back. The moment he did, he froze completely. Shock, tension, and panic passed in succession across his face.

Behind him, over the river at the foot of Huai City, points of firelight had suddenly appeared. In the night, it looked like a fire dragon rising over the water. In an instant it burst into countless sparks, rushing straight toward Huai City. The night sky above Huai City turned an eerie red, enveloping the entire city. A night like this, a sky like this — there was only one possible explanation: the Ning army was crossing the river to storm the city!

The land of Chen, south of the Han River, was only a quarter the size of Ning Guo, comprising fifteen cities in total. The entire country had at most gentle hills and slopes, with no towering peaks or dangerous ranges. Chen bordered the sea to the east and south; a tributary of the Han River split off at Long Mountain and flowed south — Yilong City, at the foot of Long Mountain, was the border between Chen and Xia, half belonging to Chen and half to Xia. The southward-flowing Long River formed the border between the two nations.

To the north, Huai City, separated from Ning Guo by the natural barrier of the Han River, was Chen’s northern gate. If Huai City fell, it would be just like the fall of Linnan — with flat, open land behind it and no further defenses.

If Huai City fell, Chen was in grave danger! This single thought filled Chu Nan’s mind, and he savagely whipped his horse toward Huai City. By the time he reached the northern gate, he saw the red Chen banner atop the city tower fluttering down, while the black banner bearing the character “Liu” danced fiercely in the night sky. Flames soared over the city; the sound of wailing and slaughter seemed to come from another world. Chu Nan sat frozen on his horse for a moment, then suddenly let out a furious roar and spurred his horse into the city, killing any black-armored Ning soldier he saw. Corpses lay everywhere; the entire city had become a hellscape. Charging wildly through the streets, he spotted a group of Chen soldiers in crimson uniforms and rushed toward them: “Where is the eldest prince?”

The Chen soldiers looked up to see Chu Nan’s face twisted with rage, covered in blood, looking every bit like a wrathful demon king, and flinched, then burst into tears:

“Second Prince! The eldest prince and the others fled without a fight — they escaped through the south gate long ago!”

Chu Nan trembled with fury. Chen had a hundred thousand troops — how many could the Ning army possibly have brought across the river? Fifty thousand? Thirty thousand? Even if it was a surprise attack, that was no reason to flee without a fight! He roared: “Chu An, you will be the ruin of our nation of Chen! Follow me, charge!”

Relying on his martial skill and courage, Chu Nan led this group of Chen soldiers toward the south gate; scattered Chen troops along the way saw him and rallied together, and while the Ning army had not yet fully secured the south gate, Chu Nan led these stragglers in a breakout, heading straight for the next city.

Behind him followed a ragged trail of scattered Chen soldiers. The Ning army did not pursue — Liu Jue had likely taken Huai City and was resting and regrouping his troops, waiting for supplies before continuing south. Ten li from the city, Chu Nan stopped his horse and looked back at Huai City, glowing red in the distance. Deep sorrow and bone-deep hatred welled up in his heart. Just one battle! Just a single day! Liu Jue had needed only a day to crush the Chen army and seize Huai City, the natural stronghold Chen had always relied on most — while his own brother, commander of a hundred-thousand-strong army, had fled without a fight! Chu Nan began to laugh, his laughter carrying far into the night sky. The remaining Chen troops silently watched their Second Prince.

Chu Nan’s expression darkened: “How many men do we have here?”

“Five thousand, Your Highness!”

“Good! Five thousand is enough! The Ning army will push south swiftly — are you all willing to follow me and set an ambush along the way, to buy the Chen-Xia allied forces time to catch their breath?”

Below him, pairs of eyes fixed on Chu Nan. “We are willing to follow Your Highness and fight the Ning army to the last! Protect our nation of Chen!”

Chu Nan gave a great shout: “Follow me to Mei Mountain to set the ambush! Go!” and charged ahead, taking the lead.

Liu Jue had never imagined the Chen army would prove so weak. That night there was no moon; the Ning army crossed the river with lights extinguished, and by the time the Chen army noticed, they were already at the foot of Huai City. After several rounds of fire arrows, the Ning army landed successfully. Within a single hour they had taken Huai City’s north gate; Chen’s eldest prince, Chu An, offered only token resistance in his haste before abandoning the city and fleeing. At this rate of warfare, Ning’s conquest of Chen was only a matter of time!

Having taken Huai City, Liu Jue’s heart was nonetheless anxious. The Black-Clad Cavalry’s hidden agents in the city reported that before the assault, Anye had already taken A’Luo and headed west, with Chu Nan giving chase out of the city as well. Whether Anye could successfully rescue A’Luo, he had no way of knowing — Chu Nan’s skill surpassed Anye’s, and Anye would also have to protect A’Luo while fighting. The only thing Liu Jue could be certain of was that Chu Nan would not harm A’Luo. And yet, he had a persistent sense of foreboding.

“Report! Chen’s Chu Nan has broken out through the south gate with his troops!” a soldier reported urgently.

Liu Jue started, his heart surging with wild joy. Chu Nan — had he failed to stop Anye and A’Luo? Was she safe? “Pass the order: search along the river for the princess!”

“Yes!”

“General Shi, General An, General Wang — you are to garrison and fortify Huai City, ensure the main army crosses the river safely, and see that the people are not disturbed!”

“Yes!”

“Black-Clad Cavalry, with me!” Liu Jue could wait no longer. Having arranged military affairs, he led the Black-Clad Cavalry out of Huai City to search westward. By now dawn was breaking on the horizon.

Forty li from the city, still no trace of her. Liu Jue reined in his horse, which let out a whinny, and the uneasy feeling surged again. He looked west — he could not chase any further; tens of thousands of troops still awaited him at Huai City. Gritting his teeth, he said: “Return to the city!”

Suddenly Xuan Yi spotted a dark shape by the riverbank. “My lord, look!”

Liu Jue followed his pointing finger and, shocked, leapt down from his saddle. A figure lay sprawled on the rocks by the water. His heart lurched; he rushed over and turned the figure, pulling back the mask — and was struck as if by thunder: “Anye!” Without pausing to think, he scooped him up and leapt clear of the water: “Back to the city, quickly! Send for the army physician!”

Cradling Anye and channeling his true energy into him, Liu Jue raced back to Huai City. Anye — the most skilled of the Black-Clad Cavalry! His brother! The dashing top scholar of the imperial examinations! Liu Jue’s face was cold as frost; he had no room left to think of A’Luo — only one thought remained: he had to save him!

Pale-faced, Anye leaned against Liu Jue. Entering the camp, Liu Jue shouted: “Physician!”

“Your Highness, calm yourself — let this humble one examine Commander Cheng!” the physician said, trying to remain composed. He cut open the wet clothing; the sword wound on the shoulder had turned white from soaking in water and still oozed blood steadily.

“Commander Cheng has only fainted from blood loss — he should be fine,” the physician said while quickly stopping the bleeding and bandaging the wound.

Liu Jue silently looked at Cheng Shiyue’s bare torso, covered in old scars, and on his chest a small black hawk tattoo, fist-sized, lifelike. Liu Jue paused — he remembered his father once mentioning Anye. How had he trained such martial skill? How had he become Ning Guo’s youngest top scholar? Liu Jue had no way of knowing. Looking at these scars, his eyes grew moist. Only through great hardship does one rise above others. What suffering had Cheng Shiyue endured to become the finest of the Black-Clad Cavalry, Anye?

Once the wound was treated, Liu Jue said in a low voice: “Everyone out. Xuan Yi, guard the tent — I’ll heal him myself!”

Liu Jue spared no effort, circulating his Flying Snow technique, his pure true energy slowly probing through Cheng Shiyue’s meridians. After one full cycle, the sky had darkened. Color faintly returned to Anye’s face. Liu Jue laid him down to rest and sat by the bedside, watching him.

Anye gave a low groan and woke. Opening his eyes, he saw Liu Jue and smiled: “This subordinate thanks—”

“You are Cheng Shiyue, Commander Cheng — not my subordinate, not Anye of the Black-Clad Cavalry!” Liu Jue cut him off.

Anye frowned: “Now is not the time—”

“You’ve already done more than enough for my household — you don’t need to repay any more debts! From now on, you are Cheng Shiyue! My brother-in-law!” Liu Jue said calmly.

Anye sighed, thought for a moment, and smiled: “After Your Highness’s wedding, then, shall we say?”

Liu Jue looked at him for a long moment, then finally nodded.

“A’Luo went west — she’d just recovered from a serious illness, this subordinate…”

“It’s fine. Fortune favors the good; I will find her!” Liu Jue suppressed the concern welling within him, a fierce resolve in his eyes. “I will destroy Chen and Xia without fail. If any harm comes to her, I will make Chen and Xia pay with the extinction of their clans!”

Anye smiled faintly: “Once this subordinate’s wounds heal, I will go ahead to Xia Guo.”

Five days later, the Ning army, fully rested and restored, set out south from Huai City.

Chu Nan led five thousand soldiers to set an ambush in the hilly terrain of Mei Mountain, between Huai City and Yun City. Mei Mountain consisted of five small hills, each about a hundred meters high, arranged across the plain in a pattern resembling plum blossom petals, hence the name. He had already made contact with the retreating army heading to Yun City, planning to first block the Ning army’s main force here, then, once battle was joined, lure the Ning troops onto the plain outside Yun City for a decisive engagement.

The Ning vanguard was led by Chen Ping, deputy commander of the southern army’s infantry, leading ten thousand soldiers ahead to Mei Mountain. Chen’s scenery was beautiful, with the hills covered in tall bamboo groves that rustled in the wind. When Chen Ping arrived at Mei Mountain and saw the five hills arranged like a formation, he felt a flicker of unease. However, having successfully taken Huai City, with a four-hundred-thousand-strong army just five li behind him, he was filled with boundless confidence, and led the Ning troops into the Mei Mountain hills.

Chu Nan watched coldly as the Ning vanguard passed below. Once most of them had entered the hilly terrain, he loosed a whistling arrow, its shrill cry piercing and jarring. At the sound, the Chen soldiers cut the ropes binding the tall bamboo. The towering bamboo along both sides of the road came crashing down with a thunderous clatter, striking down upon the Ning troops. The middle section of the Ning formation was crushed under layers of bamboo, instantly split into two.

Fire arrows rained down from the Chen troops positioned on the hills on both sides. The bamboo had been pre-oiled, and in the dry heat of midsummer July, the fire spread uncontrollably. The Ning army, unable to help both ends at once, heard the screams of the soldiers trapped and crushed among the bamboo grow ever more horrific. Their orderly ranks dissolved into chaos. Soldiers fired arrows blindly in both directions; some charged into the bamboo groves, from which equally terrible screams soon rose. Those Ning soldiers who had not yet entered the hills saw the raging fires ahead, the dense bamboo forest, and heard the endless screaming, yet saw no sign of the Chen army at all — the scene was uncanny, as if the Ning army had marched into the maw of some demon. They froze at the entrance to the hills.

Chen Ping, shocked, turned back — but his retreat was blocked by fire, and his central formation had already lost over a thousand men, while the rear guard had already withdrawn from the hills. He shouted: “We’ve fallen into a trap! Fall back!” Leading his vanguard of four thousand, he instinctively chose the path around the hills back toward Huai City.

Chu Nan laughed loudly: “Men, follow me — annihilate the Ning vanguard!”

The five thousand Chen soldiers, arranged beforehand into five groups, first fired crossbow bolts, then charged down the hills with battle cries. Poor Chen Ping, unfamiliar with the terrain, had his four thousand men broken into several groups, separated and surrounded at the foot of the hills. The Chen soldiers, having hidden behind the bamboo, now revealed themselves; with a target in sight, the Ning army’s morale surged and they charged forward — but again heard shrill screams, and Chen Ping was startled once more. The Ning soldiers charging ahead seemed to plunge off a cliff, their voices coming from underground. Only then did he realize the Chen army had already dug deep pits and traps along the path, undoubtedly lined with sharpened stakes. Chen Ping hastily ordered: “Retreat! Retreat!” But as they turned to pull back, they were struck by another volley of arrows. In moments, the four thousand men were reduced to scattered fragments.

A few dozen personal guards fought desperately to protect Chen Ping as he retreated; just as they were about to break free of Mei Mountain, several riders galloped up to block their path. At their head was a man with thick brows and a square face, his eyes ferocious, his entire body radiating a chilling malice — Chu Nan gazed down at Chen Ping, already regarding him as a dead man.

“Kill!” Chen Ping and his guards charged forward, swords raised. Chu Nan leapt from his horse, soaring like a hawk. All Chen Ping heard was Chu Nan’s low, mournful sigh: “At last, I can vent this bitter rage!” A chill swept across his neck, and his head had already been severed by Chu Nan’s sword. All the guards were shot down.

When Liu Jue arrived from the central camp with reinforcements after receiving the news, what he found was charred corpses burned to cinders, soldiers in the bamboo groves and pit traps impaled and disemboweled by sharpened stakes — some still not dead, covered in blood, eyes wide, mouths gaping as they gasped for breath, the sound like a venomous snake hissing, chilling all who heard it to the bone. Such was the horror of this scene, worthy of the cruelest hell. Liu Jue closed his eyes: “Give them a quick death!”

Nearly every Ning soldier had reddened eyes; to spare their comrades further suffering, they moved to personally behead them, and in the eyes of the dying brothers, as the blade fell, there was something like relief.

Along the road, Chen Ping’s head hung high on a bamboo pole, a long strip of white cloth dangling beneath it, on which was written in blood: “In this life I swear to kill Liu Jue! — Chu Nan.” The wind blew through the bamboo grove, carrying the thick smell of blood; the Ning soldiers stood in silence. The joy of taking Huai City had been swept away entirely. The Mei Mountain ambush had dealt the Ning army a heavy blow.

Liu Jue’s mind cleared with a jolt — morale could not be allowed to collapse. Eyes red, he raised his energy and bellowed: “When a king grows angry, a million corpses fall; when a noble man grows angry, blood is spilled three feet deep! Only a petty man’s anger amounts to nothing more than removing his hat and beating his chest in wailing tears! The next man who dares shed a single tear — I will behead him myself, right here! Good! A fine defeat it was! The triumph at Huai City is nothing to boast of — only by conquering all fourteen cities of Chen can we honor the souls of our brothers who died at Mei Mountain! Only then will we show the true character of Ning’s sons! My brothers, an eternal legacy of glory lies beneath our feet, paved with the bodies of Ning’s soldiers! If you wish to leave your name in history, let this battle be your lesson!”

“Follow the marshal! Avenge our shame with blood!” The roar shook the heavens.

“Pass the order: give General Chen Ping and all the fallen soldiers a proper burial, and erect a monument here. I will personally offer sacrifice!” Liu Jue declared, his fighting spirit renewed.

A murmur rippled through the ranks below. If Liu Jue’s speech, using this defeat as a lesson to spur them toward future glory, had stirred their fighting spirit, then his announcement of a personal sacrificial rite moved the Ning soldiers to tears. Since ancient times, the battlefield had always been merciless, with countless dead and wounded — yet never before had a marshal erected a monument and personally offered sacrifice before a war had even concluded. Liu Jue’s respect for the fallen powerfully bolstered morale.

“Level Chen Guo! Level Chen Guo!” The low, powerful roar echoed on and on.

Far from Mei Mountain, Chu Nan heard the thunderous roar carried on the wind and stood silently for a long moment before suddenly shouting: “Rally the army — we make our final stand at Yun City!” Having taken the battlefield, that fierce, masculine bloodlust surged up within him. Only now did he finally banish from his mind the old image of Liu Jue as a carefree, dissolute young prince.He would face Liu Jue in one final battle at Yun City!

After a day’s rest, the Ning army advanced with unprecedented morale. Two days later they reached Yun City. The two armies faced each other on the plain before the city.

Hearing of the great victory at Mei Mountain, Chen’s eldest prince Chu An was overjoyed, his confidence surging once more. That night, the Ning army launched a surprise attack; in the darkness, the sound of battle roared like the crashing tide, chilling to the bone. Without time to form ranks, the hundred-thousand-strong army fought and fled all the way back to Yun City, where they joined the hundred thousand troops that had come from Xia Guo. His younger brother Chu Nan, with only five thousand scattered troops, had destroyed eight thousand enemy soldiers; now the Chen-Xia allied forces numbered two hundred thousand, and since the Ning army’s four hundred thousand troops could not all cross the river at once, scouts reported that only one hundred fifty thousand Ning troops were currently approaching Yun City. Chu An began to grow overconfident.

At this time Chu Nan returned to the city with his troops. Chu An beamed with delight: “Brother, you’ve achieved a great feat, boosting our soldiers’ morale! When we return to the capital, Father will surely reward you greatly!”

Chu Nan glanced at him and said coldly: “Brother has fine courage — retreating in order to advance! It was this strategy that allowed Chu Nan to win a narrow victory. The credit belongs to you, brother!”

Chu An smiled awkwardly: “Haha, I’m glad you understand your brother’s efforts!”

Chu Nan said seriously: “The defeat at Mei Mountain has not dampened the Ning army’s morale — Liu Jue’s ability is plain to see. Brother must not be careless!”

Eager for merit, Chu An smiled: “Tomorrow’s decisive battle, brother, I will personally lead the troops. You should rest well and wait for my triumphant return, when we’ll celebrate with wine!”

“Brother, let Chu Nan go instead.” Though he was often at odds with Chu An, this was now a war between nations, and given Chu An’s cowardly nature, Chu Nan wanted to face Liu Jue himself.

Chu An was displeased: “Does my brother think me unworthy of facing Liu Jue?”

Chu Nan opened his mouth to argue, but Chu An had already swept away.

The banners fluttered across the boundless plain. The Ning army, in black and yellow armor, stood in neat ranks. Facing them were the red-clad Chen army and the blue-armored Xia army. Liu Jue, brimming with confidence, had actually removed his armor and donned a red brocade robe instead — no longer the marshal of the battlefield, but a refined, elegant young noble! That red robe stood out vividly beside the black command banner of the Ning central army. Chu Nan, standing atop the city wall, frowned deeply, unable to understand why Liu Jue had dressed this way.

The war drums thundered. Chu An personally took position in the central army; the Ning army made no move. The drums sounded again; he grew impatient. Before the third round of drums finished, he swung his sword: “Drive back the Ning army — reclaim Huai City!” Chen’s elite cavalry charged toward the Ning army with battle cries. The Xia army, primarily infantry, advanced slowly in formation. At the front, atop a magnificent white horse, sat a masked young general, black hair flowing. The Xia army’s banner bore an embroidered hawk in flight.

Liu Jue smiled and personally took the command flag, waving it. The Ning cavalry charged out in ranks, infantry closely protecting them from within. This was the heavy cavalry formation A’Luo had once told him about for open plains — heavy cavalry riders in full iron armor, three riders bound together, wielding long halberds, unstoppable by ten thousand horsemen. And since the horses’ hooves were the most vulnerable point, protecting them with infantry ensured great victory!

Indeed, though the Ning heavy cavalry was slower than the Chen cavalry, it advanced like a massive boulder, grinding forward relentlessly. The charging Chen cavalry, though outnumbering them three to one, lacked anywhere near three times the force, and with the seamless coordination between Ning’s infantry and cavalry, it was like a rising tide — wherever the wave crashed, the Chen cavalry seemed to slam into a stone wall, the neighing of horses unceasing. Chu An watched in horror as fifty thousand elite cavalry charged forward as if to their own deaths, trampled beneath the Ning heavy cavalry. By now there was no turning back. Chu An roared: “Flank from both sides, go around the heavy cavalry!”

The Chen-Xia allied forces spread out like two wings, opening a path through the center and sweeping around to encircle the Ning army. Liu Jue laughed heartily: “Let them witness the might of our Ning cavalry!” The Ning cavalry charged out with a roar, sweeping across the plain like wolves let loose among sheep. The Chen-Xia allied troops were swallowed up layer by layer, vanishing beneath them. Below Yun City, soldiers fell like wheat cut down by a scythe, fragile and helpless.

From atop the city tower, Chu Nan murmured: “Tian Ji… horse racing…” A nearby lieutenant, catching this only vaguely, asked: “What does Your Highness mean?”

A bitter smile crossed Chu Nan’s face: “According to legend, in the ancient Warring States period there was a famous general named Tian Ji who wagered three horse races with his king — pitting his worst against the king’s best, his best against the king’s middle, and his middle against the king’s worst — winning two of three. Well then, Liu Jue — you used your heavy cavalry to destroy our elite cavalry, then used your cavalry to crush our infantry. You’ve already won two rounds of this battle. Chen — has lost. The ancient art of war, and you know it so well, I…”

Suddenly, the masked figure in silver among the blue-armored Xia troops waved the command flag. The remaining seventy or eighty thousand Xia troops rapidly retreated, and thick smoke, several zhang high, rose up at the point of contact with the Ning army.

Liu Jue was startled, remembering Wang Yanhui’s tactic of burning poison smoke with the wind. He waved the flag again, and the Ning army halted and withdrew to the windward side. In a moment the smoke had blown away — and the Xia army had already retreated a hundred meters, forming ranks and heading west. Liu Jue watched the Xia army with a cold smile, waved the command flag once more, and the Ning army, without pursuing, converged into a single force and drove straight for the Chen central command. Liu Jue laughed loudly, personally taking up the command banner and charging toward Chu An!

Chu Nan was shocked — with the Xia army withdrawing now, Chen was doomed. He had no time for further thought; his eyes had already caught sight of the Chen command banner in the center being cut in two and falling to the ground, a corner of red robe fluttering there like a drop of blood in Chu Nan’s eyes. He cried out in anguish: “Brother!”

However estranged Chu Nan and Chu An had become, that bond of blood still tore at his heart. Chu Nan’s eyes reddened; the scene below the city played out like a mournful dirge, singing of Chen’s ultimate fate! He stamped his foot hard, took up two longbows and bound them together, and with all his internal strength, aimed at that streak of red in the formation and loosed a single arrow with lethal force.

The arrow streaked forward like a shooting star. Liu Jue’s command banner fluttered; the arrow, having traveled over a hundred zhang, struck the banner pole in his hand with a sharp “thwack.” He glanced at it, then laughed loudly: “Chen’s main force is broken! Chu Nan, hurry back to the capital and have your father submit his surrender!”

Chu Nan looked at him with grief and fury, then turned away. Yun City was small, with only ten thousand troops inside — how could it withstand Ning’s great army? He shouted: “Liu Jue, Chu Nan will surely take your head!” With that, he turned and descended the city tower, leading the ten thousand troops of Yun City in retreat southward.

In the first year of the Longxing era, in the tenth month, Liu Jue led the great army to conquer fourteen cities of Chen. The King of Chen sued for surrender, and Chen fell. The Second Prince, Chu Nan, disappeared without a trace.

At this time, Zili was far away at the border city, where news of victories in the south arrived continuously. Seeing Prince Li lead the campaign in person and hearing of Chen’s fall, the border troops’ morale soared even higher. In the ninth month of the first year of Longxing, Gu Tianxiang led the right flank army to engage Qi Guo’s Prince Mu and was trapped in the desert sands. Prince Li rescued him with forty thousand elite troops; the two armies joined forces and killed Qi Guo’s Prince Mu, breaking through Qi Guo’s capital in the tenth month, after which Prince Li returned in triumph to the capital. In the third month of the second year of Longxing, Gu Tianxiang killed the King of Qi and drove Qi’s remaining forces to the snowy frontier. Qi fell.