————【History won’t remember details, only results, but the common people will remember the grace of saving their lives. First Great General of Ximeng, you deserve this title without a doubt!】
If there is such a thing as the end of the world or absolute racial extinction in this world, then the year 788 of the Bai Cang calendar was undoubtedly the closest to death. That spring, Yan Xun, following tradition, was still fiercely fighting with Zhao Che of the Northern Territory and Zhuge Yue of Qinghai. The Huai Song territory under Great Yan also had multiple conflicts with Bian Tang. Wars across the Western Ximeng continent raged on. All were immersed in civil war, enjoying it tirelessly, yet oblivious to the powerful and evil force that had already reached out toward them in the birthplace of Great Yan.
On April 9th of the year 788 in the Bai Cang calendar, news that shocked the entire continent shattered the peace of the Ximeng people who had just enjoyed six years of tranquility—the Bian Tang rebel Duchess of Jing’an led 3,000 troops, secretly infiltrated Meilin Pass, and on the evening of April 8th, collaborated with the Quanrong people who had long been lying in ambush outside the pass. They occupied the checkpoint, opened the Meilin Pass gates, and let the Quanrong in. All officials and soldiers at Meilin Pass, totaling more than 28,000 people, collectively died heroically for their country, with none surviving.
At the same time, another piece of news spread rapidly across the entire continent.
The Duchess of Jing’an, who had been hiding behind the scenes with few knowing her true identity, suddenly stood out prominently under the protection of the Quanrong people. Declaring independence as a direct princess of Da Xia, she borrowed troops from the Quanrong, raising the banner of restoring the Xia dynasty and avenging the former emperor, advancing eastward with her army.
Meanwhile, the Great Khan of Quanrong, Nayan, also sang loudly of protecting the royal bloodline of a friendly nation, eliminating rebellious thieves, and marched his troops eastward with great pomp.
This was Zhao Chun’er’s third appearance on the historical stage.
The first time was on May 20th of the year 775, at that bloody wedding in the city of Zhen Huang. As the bride, Zhao Chun’er became famous because of her fiancé Yan Xun, becoming the laughingstock of the entire world. That year, she was sixteen.
The second time was on September 1st of the same year. After Yan Xun’s desertion, Yan Bei declared independence, and Da Xia, for political reasons, urgently sought an alliance with Bian Tang. After the Ninth Princess of Da Xia was returned by Li Ce, Zhao Chun’er went to Tang alone as a peace-making princess of Da Xia, entering the Bian Tang royal family. However, she was eventually expelled for maliciously creating impurity incidents and inciting central army mutinies. Unwilling to accept defeat, with the help of the Lo King who was still deeply hidden at that time, she allied with Bian Tang’s general Zhong Peng, plotting a rebellion at the Meishan Royal Tomb. In the end, she was discovered by Li Ce, who was still the Crown Prince at that time. Since then, there has been no more news of this woman.
Until this third time, thirteen years later, she reappeared in high profile as the Duchess of Jing’an of Bian Tang, opening Meilin Pass, borrowing 800,000 troops from the grassland aliens, personally taking the field, letting the Quanrong tigers and wolves ravage the Central Plains.
No matter how many years later, when recalling that battle, it was an extremely terrible disaster. Even top generals of the continent like Zhuge Yue, Zhao Che, and Yan Xun did not anticipate how rapidly the situation would deteriorate to that level in the early stages of this turmoil. After all, when first receiving this news, Zhuge Yue’s thought was merely: “Rather than waiting for these people to come to our door, it’s better to deal with them early, and incidentally extort some military funds from Yan Xun.”
No one expected the war would be so brutal.
Mentioning the Quanrong, perhaps everyone’s first impression is of physically strong country bumpkins. For thousands of years, this fierce race has been roaming outside Meilin Pass. They ride horses at full speed, following water and grass to live. They have no fixed abode, no cities, no unified government, no advanced equipment, and no excellent commanders. When they fight, basically the leader leads a group of herdsmen charging on horseback, attacking when they meet weaker enemies, and fleeing immediately when facing stronger ones.
So when mentioning them, almost all Eastern Land military officers would disparagingly call them country bumpkins.
But no one seriously considered that from the year 775 when Yan Bei declared independence, to the year 782 when Da Xia fell, plus these six years of continuous small-scale civil wars, Ximeng had spent thirteen years in chaotic times. In contrast, the Quanrong had quietly passed thirteen years, with no large-scale wars except for small-scale looting.
Thirteen years, the grass on the steppe had yellowed and greened again, young children learned to ride horses and wield blades, and the blood of war, dormant for thirteen years, finally began to stir again.
Meilin Pass became a thoroughfare. Quanrong cavalry poured in like a tide, armies like seas, weapons like forests, war horses neighing wildly, arrows falling like rain. The majestic army, and the magnificent dust, caused the garrisons of several cities near Meilin Pass to collapse without a fight, abandoning the cities and fleeing.
On April 13th, the Quanrong’s Red Di tribe, Yellow Mang tribe, Blue Xiang tribe, Brown Blood tribe, White Shang tribe, and Black Water tribe, six great tribes, arrived at Meilin Pass, gathering with the four tribes that had departed first. On April 15th, the Great Khan of Quanrong’s main Nayan tribe arrived at Meilin. All eleven tribes of the Quanrong had assembled, numbering more than 1.5 million.
Before the blood of Great Yan’s warriors had been wiped clean, the Quanrong army had already occupied the heart of the city. The common people hid trembling in their homes, none daring to make a sound, fearing to anger these northern stars of misfortune. But because there were too many troops to be accommodated within the city, the Quanrong’s Third Prince Tuoha ordered his royal guards to kill some civilians to clear out hundreds of houses for him.
It was this order that opened the bloody nightmare of Meilin Pass. At once, the leaders of other tribal armies followed suit. By the time Nayan Minglié learned of this, it was already too late. The entire Meilin Pass no longer had a single living civilian.
For ten consecutive days, Zhao Chun’er and her subordinates stayed at the Meilin Pass General’s Mansion. The sounds of killing, screams, curses, burning fires, and the wailing of women being violated pierced the night’s tranquility, spreading painfully through every corner of the city.
Her subordinate, with a pale face, asked: “Duchess, those grassland people have gone mad. They’re massacring civilians.”
Zhao Chun’er sat expressionlessly in the darkness, as if not hearing his words, silent, not saying a word.
Zhao Chun’er didn’t know that in the conference hall not far from her, the Quanrong people had already spread out maps and begun plotting and planning the division of spoils across the Ximeng continent. Having broken through Meilin Pass, the land ahead seemed completely within easy reach to them. The eleven tribal chiefs argued until their faces turned red and their necks swelled. Finally, under the coordination of the Great Khan Nayan, they reluctantly reached an agreement. At daybreak, the tribal chiefs, leading their respective troops, charged out of Meilin Pass, rushing toward the colorful world they had coveted for hundreds of years.
Among all forces, including the Huai Song territory, Qinghai was the first to stand out clearly, expressing that they would mobilize all forces to help Great Yan resist the Quanrong military regime.
When everyone was watching, waiting, and thinking, the dual monarchs of Qinghai were the first to assemble troops at Cuiwei Pass, withdrawing all soldiers confronting Great Yan, opening the pass to head north, and providing military support to Great Yan’s Beishuo Pass.
At the same time, Qinghai divided their forces into three routes. Qinghai King Zhuge Yue led the main force to support Beishuo, General Yue Qi carried Zhuge Yue’s letter to the Northern territory, while the Queen of Beauty Chu Qiao secretly came to Bian Tang to discuss joint military action.
On May 3rd, Zhao Che agreed to Zhuge Yue’s proposal, leading troops toward the Yan Bei plateau. The Emperor of Great Yan, Yan Xun, actually also opened his national gates with ease, allowing these normally hated enemies to swagger into his territory.
Three days earlier, the Tang Emperor Li Xiuyi had already authorized Regent Tutor Sun Di to collaborate with the Queen of Beauty Chu Qiao, bringing 200,000 Bian Tang troops, departing from Tanghu Pass.
This was truly a too absurd thing. Without this incident, people would never have imagined there would be such a day, even if they racked their brains. For six years, the four powers had been fighting endlessly, a small battle every ten days, a large one every month, hating each other to the bone. Yet who could have imagined they would join hands to resist enemies one day?
Whether contemporary or later generations, no one can deny the force of Bian Tang’s Queen of Beauty in this matter.
She was once the mistress of Shang Shen, the guardian deity of the Yan Bei plateau, the first regent confidant under the Yan Emperor, the Yan Bei general who repelled Da Xia’s million-strong army outside Beishuo Gate. Now she was the wife of the Qinghai King, a regent prince of Bian Tang. Her husband and the ruler of Northern Da Xia, Zhao Che, were bosom friends, and most of her subordinate generals came from the Shang Shen plateau.
Moreover, under the larger situation of the Quanrong’s eastern invasion, Northern Da Xia was watching with folded arms, the Bian Tang royal family was looking on coldly, the Huai Song territory had ulterior motives, and Great Yan was split into several parts, resisting enemies while guarding against them. Only she clearly and accurately foresaw the future development of the entire war situation, soberly recognized the Quanrong people’s wolf-like ambitions and tiger-like momentum, calmly abandoned all past grievances for correct strategic thinking, and actively worked for it, liaising with various forces.
All of this destined her to be the best coordinator for this allied army. Only she could quell conflicts and contradictions from all sides, temporarily suppressing suspicions that would never disappear, and facilitating a coalition that was at least superficially acceptable.
The intricate relationships among these matters could truly make even the smartest person’s head spin. Yet she accomplished it.
When news came that Bian Tang, Qinghai, and Northern Da Xia were simultaneously sending troops, the Great Khan of Quanrong was so angry that smoke came out of his seven orifices. Before attacking Meilin Pass, they had considered this scenario, but at that time, all tribal chiefs had dismissed it with laughter.
Ridiculous, who didn’t know what relationship those three had with Yan Xun? If they didn’t come dragged behind or stabbed in the back at a critical moment, that would already be good, let alone come to participate in the war.
But reality was so cruel. The facts before their eyes mercilessly shattered these grassland people’s fantasies of eliminating Great Yan within a month, conquering Ximeng within two months, and dominating the Eastern Land within half a year.
In their humiliation and rage, the Quanrong people went on an even more frenzied killing spree, their cavalry piercing into the heart of Yan Bei like a dagger.
On May 23rd, Beishuo Pass once again became the focus of the entire Ximeng. The four nations’ forces gathered at Fire Thunder Wall, with troops totaling 1.2 million.
Before the battle began, the Allied forces elected a commander-in-chief. Great Yan naturally proposed Yan Xun without hesitation, Qinghai proposed Zhuge Yue, the Northern territory was divided into two factions: Zhao Che, who had conquered the northern countries, and Zhao Xie, who had been roaming the borders fighting with Yan Bei. Although the Bian Tang Emperor Li Xiuyi didn’t come, Sun Di also reported his name, saying he could send daily pigeon messages asking His Majesty for brilliant battle strategies.
Various opinions reached a deadlock. The staff officers and diplomatic military officers of all sides almost turned the tent upside down with arguments. For two consecutive days, they couldn’t reach a consensus. In the end, it was Sun Di who, unable to bear it any longer, proposed that the Queen of Beauty Chu Qiao serve as the commander-in-chief for this campaign, immediately silencing all discussions.
Although Chu Qiao was the Qinghai King’s wife, she was nominally a regent prince of Bian Tang. Given her relationship with Li Xiuyi and her past achievements in protecting the Tang capital, naturally, all in Great Tang agreed. After some thought, Qinghai’s Zhuge Yue also magnanimously chose to support his wife. Zhao Che followed closely, seconding Zhuge Yue. Zhao Xie had previously participated only to prevent Zhao Che and Yan Xun from gaining advantages, so he naturally also agreed. Only Great Yan, on the second morning after the proposal, belatedly expressed the Yan Emperor’s opinion: “No objection.”
Thus, this magnificent, dazzling allied army, composed entirely of elite troops, was immediately placed under Chu Qiao’s command. In the square formation of 1.2 million men, the one presiding over the central military camp was a woman.
Beginning on May 25th, the defense battle of Beishuo fully unfolded.
Chu Qiao mobilized 600,000 troops and 500,000 civilian workers, beginning to build defense lines along the Sunset Mountain Range. Her designed trenches and pitfalls were diverse, with military defense lines like a chessboard from Sunset Mountain to Beishuo City, densely covering the entire land.
When the Quanrong’s vanguard troops arrived, the Third Prince Tuoha was so shocked he couldn’t close his mouth. Looking at this magnificent defense belt before him, his first reaction was that the opponent had gone mad.
No one would be suicidal enough to attack such military defenses, so the Third Prince Tuoha naturally took another route—Chidu.
It can’t be said Tuoha wasn’t clever. After all, facing such a defense belt, no one would have the courage to attack.
But what Tuoha didn’t know was that behind this seemingly vast and terrifying defense belt, there were only 500,000 civilian workers. They had not a single knife, not a single gun. Their only task was to hold flags and, when someone came, stamp their feet to raise large clouds of dust.
That was all.
While in that small Chidu City, 800,000 troops were now lying in ambush, waiting for his arrival.
Being surrounded was certain. After three consecutive days of fierce fighting, Tuoha’s main force of 100,000 quickly dwindled to 40,000. Blood spread across the entire Chidu river mouth, dyeing the river red, and making it undrinkable for many days.
Without food reserves, Tuoha found himself in a dilemma. The allied forces took turns attacking, wearing Tuoha’s soldiers to near death.
Finally, on the fifth day, Tuoha’s army sent a messenger, deciding to surrender.
However, the order from the central military camp surprised everyone. Chu Qiao ordered not to accept Prince Tuoha’s surrender unless they first offered Tuoha’s head to comfort the spirits of the 200,000 soldiers and civilians of Meilin Pass.
Tuoha was furious and fought again, but ultimately couldn’t escape the encirclement.
Two days later, he was killed by his royal guards at night. His subordinates collapsed without a fight and were all captured by the Allied army.
This was the first victory the Eastern Land army had achieved since the Quanrong’s eastern advance!
With bold tactics and extraordinary courage, Chu Qiao surrounded and annihilated 100,000 troops. With absolute advantage and minimal casualties, she killed 70,000 enemies, captured 30,000, and took the head of the enemy leader, achieving a complete victory in this battle.
When the news returned to Ximeng, people of all countries clapped their hands in celebration.
That night, Zhao Che sat in Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue’s Qinghai grand tent, drinking a full cup, toasting Chu Qiao from afar: “The title of Ximeng’s First Great General, you deserve it without doubt.”
The next day, Chu Qiao reorganized the army, withdrew to Beishuo, and in front of that huge defense camp, quietly awaited the threatening Quanrong cavalry. She hung Tuoha’s head in front of the military formation, quietly waiting for the Great Khan of Quanrong—Nayan Minglié!
Suddenly, urgent drum sounds came from the Quanrong army. Flags waved everywhere, messengers ran in panic, and commanders on horseback showed anxiety, shouting.
Chaos, extreme chaos.
Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow and lightly kicked his horse’s belly, and the cavalry parted like a tide, making a path for him. His armor was like ink, the earth spread with gold. The man in cyan fur was as beautiful as a deity on Tian Mountain. Huge snow peaks stood behind him, majestic and undulating, extending like the sea. The wind blew from afar, lifting the hair at his temples. His eyes were deep and calm, his lips crimson, charming and noble, like a wolf king on the snowy plain.
He spurred his horse forward, staring intently, slightly furrowing his brows.
The battle had just begun. What matter could make the usually fierce and self-confident Quanrong people so panicked?
“King! On the west side of Sunset Mountain, a large number of Yan Bei cavalry have been discovered, rapidly approaching.”
A scout galloped over, horse hooves crushing the snow on the ground. His sturdy knees knelt on the cold ground as he reported loudly.
Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, thought silently for a moment, then said in a deep voice: “How many troops does the other side have, and who is commanding?”
“Currently unknown.”
“Explore further.”
“Yes.”
Horse hooves rolled, and two routes of scouts carrying the Qinghai seal galloped away, raising dust. The scarlet sun hung in the west, the earth is blood-red, slaughter deafening. After eight consecutive days of surrounding and pursuing, today was finally the last battle.
Yan Bei visitors? Who exactly? Had the Shang Shen battle ended so quickly?
Zhuge Yue turned back to the grand tent, spreading out maps for careful planning. It was already evening, the light in the tent dim. He sat at the desk, two candles burning quietly, flames like beans, twinkling.
This time, the Quanrong people entering the pass had burned, killed, and looted all the way. Fortunately, Yan Xun reacted quickly enough, promptly relocating Yan Bei civilians, and clearing land to await the enemy. However, civilians near Meilin Pass still could not escape, with many dead and injured. The three places—Wuting, Guiyu, and Dangrong—suffered city massacres, even newborn babies dying at enemy hands. A spy who had penetrated deep behind enemy lines reported that around Meilin Pass, across twenty-eight cities, there was not a trace of human presence. All people in Jiaxi City, regardless of gender or age, were hung by the Quanrong people in the Red Forest twenty lie outside the city, collectively hanged. When he went, he saw thousands of vultures circling above that forest, tearing at the rotting flesh of the dead.
When hearing this, the generals of Qinghai who had come for this expedition were all present. Even these battle-hardened warriors, upon hearing this news, turned pale and couldn’t speak for a long time. Finally, it was Liang Shaoqing who cried out in horror: “Those people, are they still human?”
Of course, they were human, and they would soon be wielding battle blades and appearing before them in the flesh.
Zhuge Yue couldn’t help but recall what Chu Qiao had said before leaving Qinghai. She said this was not an ordinary campaign, not a struggle between the Quanrong people outside the pass and Yan Bei’s Yan Xun, but a clash of one culture against another, a bloody massacre launched by barbarism against civilization. In this war, no one would benefit as a fisherman, no one could be the bird behind. Once the Quanrong gained the upper hand, even if they could get some sweet land and benefits after Yan Bei weakened, they would have to pay ten or a hundred times the price.
At that moment, he suddenly deeply understood.
When disaster comes, any internal struggle is no different from destroying the Great Wall oneself. Facing the fierce Quanrong cavalry and their cruel fighting methods, no one can stand aloof, no one can reap without sowing.
The Beishuo defense battle achieved an unexpected great victory, with the fire cannon invented by Chu Qiao when defending Chidu years ago playing a huge role.
After half a month of battles, the Quanrong suffered heavy casualties. Finally, the Black Water tribe was the first to collapse. Black Water tribe leader Xiao Dahan led his tribe to flee secretly, exposing the Quanrong’s left wing to the Allied army’s offensive. Chu Qiao seized the opportunity, destroying their flank deployments, piercing through the entire left side’s defense line, separating it from the central army, causing it to fall completely into paralysis. Continuing the offensive, the Quanrong finally, after half a month, collapsed like a mountain. The remaining 700,000 troops, as if struck by plague, scattered and fled in panic under the leadership of various tribes.
Chu Qiao immediately ordered the allied army to divide into Qinghai, Bian Tang, Northern Zhao Che, Northern Zhao Xie, Huai Song, Great Yan, and Yan Bei local garrison troops, splitting into seven routes, closely pursuing the fleeing Quanrong army.
Zhuge Yue was responsible for this battle area, the Sunset Mountain Range, which was one of the cores of the Yan Bei plateau.
“Report—”
A scout quickly returned, leaping down from his horse, holding something in his hand, saying loudly: “King, the battle at Shang Shen has not ended. This time, the Yan army has only brought 3,000 cavalry, led by the Emperor of Great Yan.”
“Yan Xun?”
Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow, looking down. Indeed, in the scout’s hand was Yan Xun’s golden arrow.
He looked at the arrow expressionlessly, his brows slightly furrowed, silent. Liang Shaoqing stood beside him, hearing this, said: “Why would he come? And with so few people?”
“Immediately order General Yue Qi, to invest two more cavalry units, and attack the Quanrong’s main tent. No matter what, we must discover the identity of the leader commanding the Quanrong this time.”
“Yes!”
The sky gradually darkened, and the night deepened, killing sounds like thunder. The moon rose and gradually set. All night, Zhuge Yue sat in the tent without rest. Before dawn, Yue Qi’s battle report finally arrived. With almost eighty percent certainty, the one presiding over the Quanrong central military camp was indeed the current Great Khan of Quanrong.
Zhuge Yue’s lips curled, smiling faintly. No wonder, so the Wolf King was here. No wonder Yan Xun wanted to take personal action, bringing elite troops.
“Prepare armor!”
Zhuge Yue stood up, and immediately royal guards prepared armor and battle robes for him.
The Qinghai King, in cyan armor, wearing an iron-gray cloak, holding a battle blade, mounted his war horse. The woeful military horn sounds immediately arose. Liang Shaoqing ran out from his grand tent, excitedly grabbing his horse’s reins, shouting: “Your Highness, you can’t be foolish! Xiao Qiao specifically instructed that you are not allowed to charge into battle!”
Zhuge Yue looked at him helplessly, waving to those around him. Immediately, people came forward to hold the great scholar Liang, walking toward the grand tent.
“You, you, you, you’re too honest! You don’t even keep your word! Xiao Qiao will scold me to death!”
The cry was as miserable as a slaughtered pig, even making soldiers fighting on the battlefield tremble.
Zhuge Yue quietly turned his head to look at the battlefield ahead, red with light, saying in a deep voice: “Move out.”
The army howled past, thousands of horses galloping in unison.
At this moment, not far away, someone approached Yan Xun’s side, saying softly: “Your Majesty, the Qinghai King has personally led troops here.”
“Is that so?”
Yan Xun responded faintly, then raised an eyebrow. For some unknown reason, he seemed to be imbued with a youthful, handsome, spirited air. In a determined tone, he said: “We must capture the Quanrong Khan before the Qinghai army.”
“This subordinate obeys!”
The army quickly departed, hoofbeats like thunder, raising rolling dust.