Deep in the night, candles still burned quietly in the main commander’s tent of a Mo Family Army camp. Mo Xiuyao sat behind his desk reviewing reports in hand, his elegant brows occasionally furrowing. Mo Jingqi’s determination to destroy the Mo Family Army couldn’t be underestimated. These days, the 500,000 Mo Family troops openly faced over 800,000 enemies, and adding the hidden forces, there were conservatively about a million opponents. Although Mo Xiuyao was indeed a military genius, such circumstances still left him feeling pressured. Not only did he have to split his forces to deal with armies from Nanzhao, Xiling, and King Li, but he also had to constantly guard against Mo Jingqi’s schemes from behind. In less than a month, Mo Xiuyao had grown even thinner than when he was ill.
“My Lord.” The long-absent Ajin appeared at the doorway, his young face as taciturn as ever.
Mo Xiuyao looked up and asked, “Have the northwestern battle reports arrived?”
Ajin nodded and delivered the just-received reports to Mo Xiuyao. No matter how late, the Lord always insisted on reviewing the northwestern reports before resting. Well aware of this, Ajin had grown accustomed to delivering messages as soon as they arrived. Mo Xiuyao reached out to accept them, and upon reading, his brows furrowed. The news of Mo Family troops retreating toward Hongzhou made his sword-like eyebrows knit deeply. This wasn’t like the Mo Family Army’s usual tactics, and the Xiling forces weren’t nearly formidable enough to force such a rapid retreat. Looking at the casualty figures in the report, Mo Xiuyao rubbed his brow. “Is this A’Li’s intention? A’Li, what are you thinking?” After pondering for a moment, Mo Xiuyao looked up and said, “Bring all the previous battle reports and the maps!”
Ajin was somewhat surprised to see his lord suddenly rise with such a dramatic change in expression, and quickly responded with a “Yes” before turning to fetch what Mo Xiuyao requested.
Ajin moved swiftly, and soon the maps and reports Mo Xiuyao wanted were laid before him. Mo Xiuyao carefully picked up each battle report, contemplating every sentence while occasionally glancing at the maps, before finally falling into deep thought.
“My Lord?” Ajin called out with concern, as his lord’s complexion wasn’t looking particularly good.
Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, his expression showing both bitterness and resignation. “A’Li…” Mo Xiuyao looked at the map before he was covered in markings, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He understood Ye Li’s strategy and her intentions. But it was precisely because of this that he felt especially pained. His beloved wife, his A’Li, who should have been the envied and privileged Dingguo Princess, now could only command vast armies in the desolate northwestern regions, walking among the blood and rain of war. All this… was only because of his incompetence. Cutting off the connection between Xiling’s main army and their border garrison, annihilating 200,000 Xiling troops… “A’Li, A’Li…” Mo Xiuyao’s heart suddenly felt as if something had been torn, making it difficult to breathe for a moment. Just as the tumultuous thoughts in his heart began to settle, Mo Xiuyao’s heart skipped a beat. While A’Li’s strategy might be good, the Zhennan King of Xiling was no ordinary person. If he saw through A’Li’s intentions…
Suddenly standing up, Mo Xiuyao said in a deep voice, “Go prepare horses, I need to go out. Temporarily leave the army in charge of the senior generals!”
Ajin was startled, looking at Mo Xiuyao in confusion. It was already the third watch of the night, why would the lord suddenly want to go out? Looking at the documents and maps spread on the table, perhaps something had happened to the Princess. Ajin didn’t acknowledge the command, instead saying solemnly, “My Lord, it’s almost the full moon of the fifteenth. If you’re on the road when… Moreover, with the current urgent military situation, your sudden departure might be inappropriate…”
Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, also realizing that today was already the thirteenth of the tenth month, and he couldn’t possibly reach Hongzhou within two days. And there were indeed important military matters that needed handling… After pondering for a moment, Mo Xiuyao quickly came to his senses and said, “Tomorrow morning, notify all officers ranked general and above to meet with me. Also, inform Mo Hua to immediately lead men to the northwest to protect the Princess’s safety. If necessary… spare no cost to remove the Princess from the battlefield. Depart immediately!”
“Yes, My Lord!” Ajin responded and left.
Mo Xiuyao collapsed back into his chair somewhat weakly, murmuring, “A’Li… you must stay safe…”
The northwestern battle, as if suppressed for too long, finally erupted in an instant. After entering Hongzhou, the Zhennan King quickly discovered that the Mo Family Army’s attacks were becoming increasingly fierce, and their forward progress was becoming slower and slower. Looking at the distant Hongzhou city on the horizon, the Zhennan King’s gloomy expression hadn’t seen a clear day. He knew he had fallen for Ye Li’s trap, being lured into the northwestern heartland. But so what? Even if the Xiling army suffered losses, the Mo Family Army wouldn’t fare any better. He refused to believe that with equal force, he would lose to a woman. Moreover, time wouldn’t allow him to stop and wait for reinforcements from the Xiling border to arrive. He had to capture Hongzhou city as quickly as possible, controlling the entire northwest to pave the way for the incoming reinforcements, and equally prepare for entering the Da Chu capital.
“My Lord, the main force of the Mo Family Army has retreated to Hongzhou city. They appear to be preparing to defend Hongzhou to the death.”
The Zhennan King raised his eyebrows and smiled, “I thought Ye Li had some brilliant strategy. Defending Hongzhou to the death… how long can she hold out? Ten days or half a month? When our eastern expedition army arrives, how many more days can she last in mere Hongzhou?” His subordinate general advised, “My Lord must not underestimate her. Ye Li once held Yonglin at Suixue Pass with just twenty thousand troops, she truly cannot be taken lightly.”
The Zhennan King’s smile faded, and he said calmly, “Of course, I won’t underestimate Ye Li. Take Hongzhou city as quickly as possible!” He certainly wouldn’t underestimate her, which was why he would use all his strength to break through Hongzhou. Carelessness and underestimation weren’t mistakes easily made by someone of his age. Thinking of that seemingly gentle and beautiful woman, he was truly curious whether she could maintain such calm composure when he broke through Hongzhou and stood before her.
On the thirteenth of the tenth month, the Xiling army finally arrived at the city walls, and Hongzhou city faced an unprecedented fierce attack. But equally, the Xiling army encountered resistance unlike any they had faced before. On the city walls, the Black Cloud Cavalry’s arrows rained down like a storm upon the invaders below, while those below continued to advance regardless of life or death. The Zhennan King sat mounted behind his great army, faintly seeing a woman in cyan robes sitting calmly at the highest point of Hongzhou’s tower, peacefully overlooking the slaughter below. Behind the cyan-robed woman, several tall men stood with their hands behind their backs, similarly observing the killing. Even from afar, the Zhennan King could recognize that among them, the handsome man in red robes was Feng Zhiyao, Ding Wang’s trusted aide. Seeing his opponent so leisurely seated on high, the Zhennan King’s eyes flashed with killing intent, and his anger turned to laughter, “Well well, the Dingguo Princess!”
On the high platform, Ye Li similarly gazed far off at a certain point behind the Xiling army and turned to smile at Feng Zhiyao, “Feng San, this is our first time facing the Zhennan King in direct battle, isn’t it?” Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes boredly and said, “Isn’t it? Before it was always either playing tricks or retreating while fighting. If we keep fighting like this, people will start wondering if our Mo Family Army only knows how to retreat.” Hearing Feng Zhiyao’s rather resentful complaints, Ye Li smiled gently and said, “In that case, we should properly celebrate…” Having said this, Ye Li turned to take a pipa from Qin Feng behind her, gently stroking it once, clear musical notes flowing from her fingers. Ye Li smiled softly, her ten fingers nimbly dancing across the pipa, plucking and stroking. The pipa’s sound grew from soft to loud, gradually spreading across the entire battlefield.
The soldiers amid battle had no time to appreciate the magnificent music; on the battlefield, even a moment’s distraction could cost one’s life. But that seemingly melancholic yet uplifting sound reached the ears of every soldier. In that melody, the Mo Family Army soldiers seemed to recall their past glory and seemed to see the grandeur and dominance of past Dingguo Lords leading them in charges and battles.
“Drive out the invaders, revive our Mo Family Army spirit!” Someone shouted, and the people on the battlefield immediately became filled with killing intent. “Kill!”
Standing beside Ye Li, Feng Zhiyao’s expression slightly changed as he said, “This is… the ‘Yue King’s Formation-Breaking Song’…” Ye Li didn’t answer, her ten fingers flying to produce a string of magnificent and murderous music. Having been raised by Madam Xu and the Xu family members since childhood, how could Ye Li truly be ignorant of music theory? She simply didn’t particularly like it. This battle entry song was originally a guqin piece, grand and magnificent, elegant and ancient with an ancient style. But Ye Li felt it was more suitable to be performed on pipa, just like the “Ambush from Ten Sides” from her previous life. Other instruments might be able to play it, but they could hardly achieve the effect of the pipa. The pipa’s fingering techniques and tonal range were very suitable for such intense and grand pieces. Feng Zhiyao hadn’t expected Ye Li to answer, only saying softly, “The ‘Yue King’s Formation-Breaking Song’ has been lost for over two hundred years, perhaps only the Xu family would still have such ancient sheet music.”
In the battle between two armies, it is said that when meeting on a narrow road, the brave will win. When the Mo Family Army soldiers became filled with killing intent because of their princess, the Xiling soldiers’ momentum was somewhat weaker in comparison. In the distance where the Xiling army’s banners flew, the Zhennan King stared somewhat entranced at that cyan silhouette, his eyes gleaming brightly. The general following beside him softly called out, “My Lord… the Mo Family Army’s momentum is at its peak, perhaps we should… avoid their sharp edge?” It had to be said, that Dingguo Princess was indeed talented – with mere pipa music, she had raised the entire Mo Family Army’s momentum by a level. The Zhennan King laughed to the heavens, pointing his horsewhip at the highest point of the city wall and laughing loudly, “Such a woman is interesting, compared to her all the beauties in the world are worthless! Haha… anyone who dares retreat will be executed without mercy. This woman… I will have her!”
The generals beside him responded meekly, not daring to advise further. The Zhennan King laughed, “I hear Mo Xiuyao is a genius at deploying troops, but I wonder now that Mo Xiuyao isn’t with the army, does the Mo Family Army still have anyone who can break formations?” The Zhennan King had also recognized that the previous song was the “Yue King’s Formation-Breaking Song.” A thousand years ago, Xiling and Eastern Chu had the same origins, and while many cultural aspects weren’t entirely the same, they were similar in broad strokes. With a wave of his hand, war drums sounded behind him, and several soldiers waved small red flags. Soon, the Xiling soldiers’ formation began to change, and such changes naturally couldn’t escape Ye Li and the others watching from above. Feng Zhiyao frowned watching the formation changes below, saying, “Six Flower Formation… no… something’s different…”
Below the city walls, the Xiling soldiers very quickly formed a huge formation that was round inside and square outside, and within this huge formation were countless smaller formations. The Mo Family Army’s troops who had sortied to meet the enemy were already fewer in number than the Xiling army, and now seemed as small as a drop in the ocean within the formation.
Feng Zhiyao snorted lightly, waving his hand as blue flags were raised on the city walls. The Mo Family Army’s formation also changed accordingly – a huge black dragon coiled across the entire battlefield, its domineering and arrogant dragon head formed by the Mo Family Army’s most elite Black Cloud Light Cavalry. Wherever they went, none dared face their sharp edge. When the black dragon’s tail swung, the enemy formation could only scatter and sway.
Behind the Xiling army, small black flags were raised, and on the battlefield the Six Flower Formation transformed again into a giant roc whose fierce talons swiftly grabbed at the black dragon’s body, instantly cutting the great dragon into two sections.
“Damn it!” Feng Zhiyao cursed softly. The city walls again changed flags, and the Mo Family Army’s severed dragon immediately transformed into countless black arrows shooting toward that huge roc.
Ye Li stood up watching the battle below. Modern warfare’s so-called formations had long been lost and weren’t needed anymore. So Ye Li was very unfamiliar with this, and although she had seen much in military books, putting it into actual practice was a complete blank. Now watching Feng Zhiyao command the army’s formations, she finally gained some real understanding. Meanwhile, she lowered her head to contemplate methods of breaking formations.
Why is it getting dark at five o’clock like evening?