Pei Yuan knew something was wrong from the moment he began calculating the horse's footsteps. When he had calculated most of them, a sudden gust of night wind blew into the tent, causing the oil lamp flames to sway and the map to flicker on and off. By the time Li Ni drew the last circle on the map, the night wind had already stopped. But in the dark night, a lightning bolt suddenly cut through the sky, illuminating Li Ni's face—heavy as water.
Pei Yuan looked at the red circles on the map and muttered, "It seems to be right."
Li Ni sneered. "It looks all right, but it must be fake. Although the two armies traveled seventy miles every day, there were various situations along the way—mountains that needed detours, rivers that required bridge-building, or sudden enemy battles that caused delays of two or three days. He Cui Lin may be a genius, but leading more than twenty thousand people, how could there be no delays for some reason? Yet every few days he arrives precisely where the route says he should, then sends a fast horse to report? The more correct these red circles are, the more false these fast horse reports must be. He did not march according to the agreed route at all. He calculated the footsteps and sent fast horses to us every three days."
Pei Yuan was shocked. If Cui Lin didn't march according to the agreed path, then what he was planning could be known without asking.
Pei Yuan opened his mouth to say something but ultimately said nothing. Li Ni looked at the map again and suddenly spoke: "He must have gone around in a circle to the upper reaches of the Luo River and Nanguan. As long as he captures and consolidates Nanguan, our troops in Luli will be of no use at all, and we will no longer be able to control Luoyang."
Pei Yuan's heart turned cold. "Seventeen Lang, should we return to rescue?"
Li Ni shook his head. "It's too late."
Lightning flashed outside the tent again, followed by faint thunder rolling past. After a while, heavy rain finally came. The rain arrived quickly, wind sweeping it into the tent from outside. Listening to the sound of rain, Pei Yuan's heart grew troubled. Li Ni paced back and forth in the tent a few steps, then forced a smile: "It's useless to say anything today. Let's meet the general first. Even if it's a hard fight, we must kill Duan Yan and retreat."
Pei Yuan nodded.
Li Ni's expectations were correct. Cui Lin crossed the Yellow River and divided his troops into two routes. Under the pretext of taking Caozhou first, one route was led by him, crossing the Chou River and heading straight west. The other was led by Cui Li and Colonel He, from Moth Mountain westward. After meeting to conquer Caozhou, they would rendezvous at Zhangshui Port.
Colonel He was very capable. Though nominally Cui Li led the five thousand Victory Army, in reality the military strategy listened to her. Thus they took Caozhou smoothly. Then Cui Li and she led the army south, waiting for Cui Lin at Zhangshui Port. Unable to wait left, unable to wait right—three days had passed as promised. Cui Li was puzzled and said to Kou Zhu: "The army is overdue. Could something have happened?"
"The young master has always been skilled with soldiers," Kou Zhu said. "With more than ten thousand men, it's enough to conquer a state capital. I don't think anything major could have happened."
Before the words fell, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the tent. It turned out that Cui Li had called Kou Zhu to talk secretly, naturally asking people to guard the tent door and prevent idlers from approaching. But Colonel He was about to see Cui Li and was stopped by the soldiers. She wouldn't give up. Taozi raised her eyebrows coldly first and quarreled with the soldier for a couple of sentences, causing the noise. Cui Li winked at Kou Zhu, who hurriedly greeted them out of the tent and invited Colonel He inside.
Cui Li was very wary of this Colonel He, his face full of smiles. Before he could speak, Colonel He said: "Young Master Li, I want to ask you for a military order. I want to turn back to find the young master first."
Cui Li was startled. "The army is overdue, and I'm also anxious, but this season always brings rain, and the roads are difficult. Let's wait a little longer—maybe the army will arrive tomorrow."
Colonel He's face was extremely cold today for some reason. She only said lightly: "Young Master Li, I have the young master's token. I'm reporting to you now, and then I'll go."
After saying this, she only hurriedly saluted him, turned around, mounted her horse, and immediately galloped out of the camp with dozens of riders, without looking back. Seeing her bad expression, Kou Zhu hurriedly comforted him: "Since she has the young master's token, let her go. Even if there's talk later, she was still concerned about the young master's safety."
Cui Li was angry for a long while before saying: "This woman is domineering. She really doesn't take me seriously!"
Thinking that the reason she was so domineering was because of Cui Lin's favor made Cui Li's heart even more unbearable. But this resentment had nowhere to vent, so he made up his mind to stay at this Zhangshui Port and see what else she could find to criticize when Cui Lin came.
Cui Li was depressed and resentful in his heart, but Colonel He had already taken dozens of horses out of the camp. Passing through Caozhou without entering, in just two or three hours she had covered nearly a hundred miles. Seeing it was getting late, she rested.
Taozi took out a wheat cake from her pouch and handed it to Colonel He. She shook her head. "I can't eat it."
Taozi forced the wheat cake into her hand and handed her another pot of water. "No matter what, you have to eat dry food first." She persuaded again: "Captain, maybe you're thinking wrong. The young master won't be like this."
She was worried, but her face remained faint. "I'm not thinking wrongly. The young master must be like this." She took a bite of the wheat cake in her hand, took another sip of water, and said: "He hated Li Ni and was annoyed that the Zhenxi Army seized Luli and held the Eastern Capital's grain route hostage."
Taozi wanted to speak again. After a while, she said cautiously: "Then should we now......"
She shook her head, her expression tired. "It's definitely too late for anything, but I...... I feel sad in my heart......"
Her tone softened. She only felt full of sourness, and it was difficult to speak.
They marched rapidly for several days. After several more days, they caught up with the slowest baggage of the Victory Army's rear battalion and learned that indeed, Young Master Cui had personally led the army and already captured Nanguan. After a few more days, she arrived at Jianzhou City and saw Young Master Cui.
Late spring was approaching, and the grass and trees outside the city were deep. Tired and weary for several days, when she entered the city she did not change clothes or freshen up but went straight to see Young Master Cui. The Victory Army had seized Nanguan, and Young Master Cui lived in the Jianzhou County Governor's Mansion. It wasn't large—only a few green brick houses—but there were several old locust trees inside and outside the courtyard. This was the season when locust flowers bloomed in full glory. The shade of the locust trees was thin, white locust flowers bloomed between branches and leaves, and the courtyard was filled with faint locust fragrance.
There was a desk under the locust tree in the courtyard. Young Master Cui sat behind it, documents such as military reports on the table, but he was in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking. Hearing her footsteps, he came back to his senses, looked up at her, pulled up the corners of his mouth, and smiled faintly: "Ah Ying, you came just in time. I was thinking that you usually love to eat locust flower pastries. These locust flowers bloom just right—I'll order someone to pick some for you to make pastries."
Though angry and agitated in her heart, she had already calmed down most of the way. Seeing him at this moment, she only asked: "Does the governor know you're acting like this?"
He smiled faintly again. "Ah Ying, my father has long given me the right to make decisions on the battlefield."
This was known to everyone in the army when he led troops out of Youzhou. Before she could speak, she heard his unhurried voice: "Ah Ying, you know I'm acting like this because I was forced by Li Ni. When he sent troops to Luli, you knew the Zhenxi Army holding the Eastern Capital hostage was very detrimental to my Cui family. If we don't fight back, Li Ni will force us step by step in the name of King Qin. What can be done?"
She had known long ago he would have such rhetoric, but hearing it now felt a little harsh. After a while, she said: "Young master, you already knew, right? That night, I saw birds flying in the forest. Presumably you sent someone to follow me, or you went to see what I was doing out of the camp."
This sentence was seemingly random, but he instantly knew what she was talking about. Suddenly the anger in his chest that was easy to suppress exploded again, as if he'd been stabbed from under the ribs. There seemed to be faint blood surging in his throat. He forced himself to suppress the surging sourness and hatred in his heart but only smiled: "Ah Ying, are you saying this because of private interests?"
"Taozi said the young master vomited blood because he was in a hurry and worried too much." She said, "That night, the young master must have known I met Li Ni, so he held a grudge in his heart. So later the young master used the matter of Caozhou to support Young Master Li and personally led the army to seize Nanguan." She exhaled softly, as if sighing: "If you say abolishing the public for private reasons, isn't the young master's move because of private interests?"
A pod of locust flower fell from the branch with a soft "click," landing on the table. He looked at the locust flower pod with some melancholy. It bloomed densely and long. When he first lived in this yard, he'd thought to himself that Ah Ying liked to eat locust flower pastries every day. If she came, he would definitely order someone to make them and eat them with her. In the northeast corner of the yard was a small inner courtyard with exquisite houses. He'd specially ordered people to clean and prepare it, left especially for her.
From a long, long time ago, he knew she was the person he wanted to love for the rest of his life.
She was still standing in front of him, as if within reach, but he knew that though close at hand, she was out of reach.
He smiled slowly, endless bitterness seeming to fill his smile. "Ah Ying, you came to question me for Li Ni's sake? And Nanguan is so important—you ignore the interests of my Cui family for the sake of children's private feelings?"
She pursed the corners of her mouth stubbornly and finally only said: "Before the young master acts, he should send someone urgently to report to the military governor. This is a major matter."
He leaned back on the chair back, his tone becoming relaxed. "Ah Ying, you've been traveling for several days and are tired. Go back to your room to rest first. After capturing and consolidating Nanguan, I'd already sent someone to inform my father. Presumably in the past few days, my father's reply should be about to arrive."
She raised her bright eyes like water, stared at him for a moment, said no more words, and turned to leave.
After bathing and changing clothes, it was already dusk. She had washed away the dust of the journey and sat alone in front of the window, absentmindedly wiping her hair with a cloth. Taozi came in from outside and, seeing this, stepped forward to take the cloth and wipe her hair. Suddenly, Taozi saw a box of locust flower pastries and chopsticks on the table in front of the window. They had already gone cold, all stuck together, the lines unmoved. Taozi couldn't help but sigh and persuade: "Captain, if you look closely, the young master isn't wrong about this matter—just more eager."
She said lightly: "The young master only seeks immediate interests but never thought about Li Ni's temperament—he is intelligent by nature and most protective of his own. Previously, our Victory Army came out of Youzhou claiming to be the Qinwang division, but now we've turned against each other, seized Nanguan, and put the Zhenxi Army in a dangerous situation. Li Ni is strategic. In time, I'm afraid he'll retaliate with a hundredfold more ruthless means. At that time, I'm afraid it will be too late to regret."
Taozi couldn't help being stunned. After a while, she said: "Captain, then are you worried about Li Ni or the young master?"
"I'm not worried about anyone." She said lightly. "As for the young master, isn't all this exactly what he wants?"
Though Taozi was a smart and clever girl, she was confused at the moment. But it was inconvenient to ask anything more, so she busied her hands, dried Ah Ying's hair, tied it up for her, then went out to fetch water.
The sound of Taozi's footsteps gradually disappeared outside the courtyard. Ah Ying's heart was actually full of troubles, but it was inconvenient to tell anyone. She was stunned for a moment and suddenly heard a slight sound—it was raining. As soon as it rained, the twilight quickly became heavier. There was originally a very large locust tree in this courtyard, its leaves covering the sky and sun. The light became dimmer still, and rain leaked sparsely between branches and leaves. After a while, a thin layer of locust flowers had fallen in the courtyard.
The sorrow of spring is truly sorrowful, and I cannot bear the fragrant grass longing for the young master.
The fallen flowers fall silently in the evening, and the rain falls in the sky; in the deep courtyard, there is no one to lean alone against the door.
In late spring approaching summer, the rain was very lingering and annoying.
Li Ni walked into the tent, shook off the rainwater on his hat, and leaned the hat against the tent. It was already night, and only one oil lamp was lit in the tent, burning mustard oil. The smell wasn't very good, and the lamp was like a bean, only hazily illuminating about ten feet around. Because they were stationed in the mountains, mountain wind blew into the tent from time to time, causing the lamp flame to shake continuously. The tent was dark and difficult to see.
At this moment, Pei Yuan came in with two vegetable dumplings—today the whole army ate vegetable dumplings, each fist-sized. Though mixed with much soybean meal and wild vegetables, on the way to rapid march, having such solid food to fill the stomach wasn't bad. The two sat on the ground in the tent, leaning on saddles to gnaw the vegetable dumplings. Pei Yuan said: "There's no road in this mountain at all. It's really too difficult to walk."
Because of changes in their plans, they immediately changed military strategy, abandoned the baggage, and the whole army hurried here. But Li Ni didn't care. He took a big bite of vegetable dumpling and said: "There's no way to go. I've calculated—only by rushing to the Valley of Sparrows and Rats before the day after tomorrow can we have a three-point chance of winning." After a pause, he said, "If we can arrive before night tomorrow, we'll have a five-point chance."
As the name suggests, the Valley of Sparrows and Rats—its terrain was dangerous, and only clever small creatures like sparrows and mice could survive through the valley. Such a steep and narrow place could intercept Duan Yan's eighty thousand troops. To hurry, Li Ni left the rear camp with the baggage and led the team all the way here. Because of rainy weather, there were still small groups left behind. Now only about eight thousand people remained. With eight thousand against eighty thousand, even with such a natural danger as the Valley of Sparrows and Rats, it was difficult to have many chances of winning—not to mention they hadn't yet rushed to the Valley of Sparrows and Rats.
Pei Yuan was worried. Li Ni seemed at ease, showing nothing. Ever since he learned that the Cui family's Victory Army had defected to take Nanguan, Li Ni had looked like this.
All the way to this point, Li Ni had become darker and thinner. Because he slept less, his eyes were sunken, and his eye sockets had become deeper and larger. He said: "Ah Yuan, don't worry. You'll be able to avenge your brother."
It turned out that just over ten days ago, Li Ping, the King of Liang who had already ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, saw that Li Ni refused to return to the army to save him, and the Cui family's Victory Army ignored the siege of Caizhou. In a panic, he listened to Li Jun's words and forced Pei Zhan to ask Pei Xian for help. Pei Zhan had no choice but to send an urgent report to Pei Xian. Pei Xian had always been loyal and couldn't sit idly by watching the monarch be besieged, so he'd already ordered his second son Pei Hui to bring troops and horses and hurriedly go south to relieve the siege of Caizhou. When he arrived outside Caizhou City, Pei Hui and Duan Yan had a great battle. He had the upper hand, but at this moment, Li Mao in the city took advantage of the chaos of war and secretly took Li Jun and Li Lai out of the city to prepare to escape. Soon after leaving the city, he was discovered by Duan Yan, who ordered his eldest son Duan Zhen to chase and intercept them. To save Li Huo and others, Pei Hui led the team to fight bravely, finally covering Li Yu and others' return to the city and fleeing back. Pei Hui fell off his horse and was injured. Though snatched back to the city in time by his subordinates, he was seriously injured for a while and could not be rescued.
Even so, whether it was Pei Zhan struggling to defend the city in Caizhou or Pei Xian who passed word from the army to Li Ni, not a word was mentioned. But Li Ni was careful and asked urgently how the general was. Could he be healthy? How was his diet? How many hours could he sleep? Ji Zu looked a little hesitant, still trying to hide Pei Hui's matter, but Li Ni saw the clues and then asked about Pei Hui's tragedy.
Pei Yuan didn't say anything more. He got up, went to the desk to get the lamp, then saw there was a brazier in the corner of the ground with some firewood set up in it. He picked up thin firewood, dipped it in some lamp oil, lit the fine firewood on the lamp, patiently set up a fire in the brazier, then took out an iron kettle that had been filled with water from somewhere and placed it firmly on the brazier.
"You can drink hot water at night," Pei Yuan said. "I'll also bake the wet clothes, and we'll have to hurry tomorrow."
Before Li Ni could speak, he said again: "All the soldiers' tents have them. Even the people on duty at night patrol have hot water too."
Li Ni was speechless. He squatted in front of the brazier, frowned, and put the firewood back on. The flame gradually burned bigger, and the tent gradually became much warmer. The flame baked the wet clothes on his body, raising a thin layer of white mist.
Duan Yan had besieged Caizhou for more than ten days. Seeing that Li Ni truly refused to be fooled, and Pei Xian fought with Sun Jing several times in Fenzhou—the two sides had victories and defeats, but Pei Xian led the army fighting and retreating eastward—the division led by Sun Jing personally pursued several times. Duan Yan led the army to withdraw to Jinzhou and joined tens of thousands of troops sent by Sun Jing. Getting countless grain and grass supplies, more than ten thousand recruits, and eight or nine thousand men, claiming a hundred thousand troops, he finally calmly descended along the foothills of Mount Taiyue.
This day was rare good weather. Late spring approaching summer, grass growing and warblers flying, forests in the mountains sprouting. The hundred thousand army was so mighty—the marching line, looking from a distance, had no head in front and no tail behind. Duan Yan rode on horseback, his eldest son Duan Zhen following his horse. Their father and son had been in the army for decades with tacit understanding. Seeing the sun was overhead and the heat of early summer was gradually scorching, Duan Zhen took off the water bag from the saddle, unplugged it, and handed it to Duan Yan. Duan Yan held the water bag and took a sudden breath, wiped the water stains on his lips, and handed it to Duan Zhen. Duan Zhen had just taken the water bag and drunk a few sips when suddenly the front army became agitated.
It turned out that at the mouth of the Valley of Sparrows and Rats, under the bright sun, several horses stood. The first one rode a black horse, holding a longbow, carrying a bag full of arrows, with a sword and spear hanging on the side of the saddle. Several horses behind him raised flags, guarding behind him. The largest and most conspicuous flag, embroidered with gold on black background, bore several brilliant characters: "Generalissimo of the Counterinsurgency." Several other flags read "Zhenxi Jiedu Envoy," "Beiting Governor," and other appalling titles. Duan Yan's army was suddenly shaken, knowing this was Li Yi, commander of the legendary Qinwang Division—the imperial grandson.
Duan Yan heard the news and led the generals of the central army to ride forward. Seeing Li Ni standing proudly on a crossbow from a distance, the three armies were frightened. Duan Yan knew he'd lost momentum first when he came up today. This Li Ni stood at the mouth of the valley—one man guarding, ten thousand unable to pass—and behind him was the famous Valley of Sparrows and Rats, a famous dangerous place. While thinking about it, he suddenly heard Li Ni not far away say loudly: "Duan Yan, do you dare to fight me today?"
Before Duan Yan could answer, Duan Zhen said in a deep voice: "General, wait for me to go up and fight him."
Duan Yan thought about it for a moment, knowing his eldest son had always been brave and good at fighting. Seeing he was fine, he nodded in agreement. Duan Zhen took the knife from the personal guards, fastened everything, squinted at the number of horses at the valley entrance, then rode toward Li Ni.
When Li Ni saw a rider suddenly rushing out, he was unhurried. He pulled an arrow from the quiver he carried behind him, placed it on the bowstring, and aimed at Duan Zhen. Though Duan Zhen saw him drawing bow and arrow, he wasn't very panicked. First, he was far away, beyond the power of arrows; second, he was covered in armor and wore a heavy helmet on his head; third, he was quite confident the strange knife in his hand could definitely block the feather arrow. Who knew that after galloping just a few steps, Li Ni had already shot an arrow. How fast the arrow was—like lightning, breaking through the air! It was too late for the strange knife in his hand to block it. Only hearing a "pop," the feather arrow was already in the middle of Duan Zhen's right eye. Sharp pain entering his brain, he suddenly fell off his horse.
Though this arrow was fast, fortunately it didn't go deep into the eye. Duan Zhen fell off his horse and struggled to pull out the arrow. Li Ni already shot another arrow as fast as a meteor, hitting his ankle. This arrow was extremely powerful—the arrow actually penetrated his ankle, broke his muscles and bones, so that he could not struggle again.
The generals in Duan Yan's army were greatly shocked seeing Duan Zhen fall from his horse after being struck by an arrow. Seeing Li Ni's arrow pierce Duan Zhen's ankle, how could they still bear it? Three people had already come out of the crowd and rushed forward on horseback, wanting to rescue Duan Zhen.
Li Ni was unhurried, firing three arrows in a row. Each arrow shot through one person's eye socket, and all three fell off their horses and died without a sound.
At this time, the entire Yanzhou army had long been frightened beyond measure. They came to understand that Li Ni must have deliberately not shot Duan Zhen dead, just to attract generals to save each other and trap more people.
His bow and arrow were so powerful that even Duan Yan was shocked for a while. He stopped anyone from coming forward in a deep voice. The hundred thousand-strong army only watched Duan Zhen struggle a hundred steps away at the mouth of the valley. Duan Zhen supported the ground with one hand, struggling to stand up. Li Ni shot through his other leg with another arrow. Duan Zhen grunted and fell to the ground, then struggled to stand up again. Duan Yan's heart was like a knife, but he didn't dare let people come forward to save him.
After a moment of stalemate, Duan Yan finally calmed down and ordered a supervisor to lead five hundred elite soldiers as the vanguard. Why only five hundred? Because the valley mouth was small—no matter how many people, they couldn't be deployed. The supervisor was extremely brave. With an order, five hundred cavalry rushed straight to the valley entrance. But Li Ni was not in a hurry. Drawing his bow, he fired another arrow. This arrow struck the middle of Duan Zhen's chest, and Duan Zhen immediately fell dead. The five hundred cavalry saw Duan Zhen die within reach but could not save him. Their momentum couldn't help but stagnate. Li Ni shot this arrow, turned around and left. Along with several people who held flags behind him, they also turned their horses' heads, didn't look back, and guarded Li Ni retreating into the valley.
The five hundred light cavalry didn't hesitate to chase into the valley. Duan Yan hesitated for a moment but didn't stop them. After the five hundred cavalry entered the valley, there was suddenly a sound of fighting. But when a stick of incense burned, the valley became quiet again. Even the chirping of birds could be heard, but none of the five hundred horses came back from the valley, as if they had disappeared into thin air.
Duan Yan witnessed it at the entrance of the valley, his heart shocked, but he didn't dare show half his emotion. He was hesitating whether to send another team to inspect when suddenly the flags flashed in front of him. More than ten cavalrymen in the Zhenxi Army holding flags high actually escorted Li Ni out of the valley. Li Ni was still riding a black horse, holding a longbow, looking relaxed, as if the five hundred horses had never existed just now. He came out of the valley and smiled disdainfully at Duan Yan not far away, then suddenly lifted the reins and rode his horse straight toward Duan Yan's central army. Duan Yan knew he must not retreat at this time—as soon as he retreated, there would be chaos. He immediately gave a loud order but also personally led the Chinese army and rushed straight to Li Ni. Li Ni had already opened his bow. Duan Yan was shocked and hurriedly had escorts shield him left and right. Who knew Li Ni's arrow wasn't shot at him at all but at the flag behind him? The rope tied to the flag was broken by him with an arrow. With a "pop," the flag slipped off the flagpole.
As the flag fell, countless Zhenxi troops suddenly rushed out of the valley, letting out earth-shattering shouts in unison. The shout was like the earth shaking: "Duan Yan is dead! Duan Yan was shot dead by the imperial grandson!"
The valley mouth was narrow. Duan Yan's army could only line up in a long snake formation, stretching for several miles. Except for a few hundred people at the front, the people behind could not see what was happening in front at all. They only heard that Li Ni was guarding the valley entrance, arrows never missing, shooting Duan Zhen and several generals, and five hundred cavalry were also killed by him after entering the valley. The people in the army had long been panicked. At this moment hearing deafening shouts, the people in the back line saw the flag was cut off and all believed that Duan Yan was dead. Li Ni personally led more than a dozen cavalrymen into Duan Yan's formation, his arrow like a meteor—one arrow shot down a person. The generals around Duan Yan were shot dead by him in an instant. The personal guards looked at each other in horror. The guards escorted Duan Yan to ride and leave.
Li Ni emptied his quiver, lifted his spear with his backhand, and entered the formation. But in an instant, Pei Yuan led the Zhenxi Army main force to arrive. Pei Yuan and Li Ni's marksmanship came from the same school. The two had tacit understanding in advance and retreat, just like chopping melons and vegetables. After a while, only countless corpses were left behind them. Duan Yan's troops were frightened by the killing and believed Duan Yan was dead. Suddenly they became chaotic. But the road in front of this valley was narrow, and countless people turned around and fled, trampling on each other, collapsing thousands of miles. The chaos was unstoppable.
Li Yi and Pei Yuan led the Zhenxi Army like shepherds driving cattle and sheep, rushing all the way to kill. But Duan Yan's troops didn't dare turn back and fight, retreating more than ten miles in a rout straight to Hetuyu. This place was called Hetuyu because the terrain was like a crane's beak—the sheep intestine trail was on the mountain wall, but the other side was a cliff. Duan Yan knew it wasn't good and originally wanted to gather troops under Hetuyu. But this time there were more than ten thousand new soldiers and nearly ten thousand others. These people had never been to the battlefield—it was like being stabbed into a hornet's nest, messy. Duan Yan's troops had just stood on their feet but were dispersed by these people. Duan Yan sighed and could only lead the most elite Chinese army to turn around and go west. The Zhenxi army chased to Hetuyu. The more than ten thousand new soldiers and nearly ten thousand others fled and trampled—many people were squeezed off the cliff. The so-called hundred thousand troops collapsed thousands of miles and fell apart.
Li Ni led his troops to press closely, catching up with Duan Yan several times. Duan Yan also relied on the defeated remainder of elites surrounding him and turned around to fight several times. But each time he was personally led by Li Yi to charge. In just a few rounds, Duan Yan was defeated. Once, he was shot in the right arm by Li Ni and could no longer raise his hand. Fortunately, his subordinates desperately stepped forward and snatched Duan Yan back into the formation. Even so, before dark, the two armies fought five times, and Duan Yan was defeated five times in a row. Though the Zhenxi Army suffered slight casualties, it became more and more courageous the more it fought—especially Li Yi. After the tip of the spear became dull, he changed to his sword. The long sword was full of bloodstains, and the armor on his body was like blood. In the last battle, seeing that in the sunset Li Ni rode in front of the battle—though there were stains and blood on his face, he was majestic, just like today at the mouth of the valley, like a long sword in his hand. Though soaked in blood, it was as sharp as snow, sharp as before.
Duan Yan sighed, knowing he was no match. He led his army to turn the horse and escape. Li Ni had been chasing out for nearly a hundred miles until Duan Yan rolled and crawled, escaping across the Wuding River, then stopped pursuing. He only turned his horse's head back and packed up the subordinates, baggage, grain and grass that Duan Yan threw down one by one.
Duan Yan's defeat almost turned into an avalanche. Pei Xian turned around and went north to join Li Ni in Taiyuan. Taiyuan Governor He Qian was originally a general in the hands of the late emperor. Though favored by Sun Jing, when he saw the Zhenxi Army coming to the city, he thought again and again, knowing he was difficult to defeat Li Ni. Finally, he went out of the city to surrender. Since then, the Qinwang Division had recaptured Taiyuan.
Pei Hui’s injuries had improved significantly over the past days, yet he remained inconveniently immobile. Carried into Taiyuan City, he was greeted personally by Li Ni. Forcing a smile despite his weakness, Pei Hui said, “I heard His Highness traversed the Valley of Sparrows and the Rat, breaking Duan Yan’s hundred-thousand-strong army—truly majestic. A Yuan even said His Highness brought this bad fortune for me.”
The words hung in the air, tinged with gloom. Li Ni and Pei Yuan had fought side by side in the Zhenxi Army; Pei Yuan was like a brother, and seeing him now, Li Ni’s heart ached. He tried to comfort him with a few words.
Stepping out into the courtyard, Pei Hui looked up and caught sight of the pomegranate blossoms, brilliant and scorching in the summer sun. The cicadas’ song carried in the warm breeze—it was already summer.
The army remained in Taiyuan for ten more days, allowing troops to rest after the grueling march and fierce battles. Pei Hui could finally breathe, though Rao worked tirelessly—feeding horses and soldiers, tending the wounded, training new recruits, and managing supplies.
After the respite, Pei Xian stayed in Taiyuan while Li Ni led the bulk of the Zhenxi Army southward, approaching Tongguan—the strategic key to western Changjing. Though lightly defended, Tongguan’s natural terrain made it a formidable barrier. Sun Jing’s few thousand soldiers and horses held Xiongguan, blocking ten thousand men. Li Ni, uncertain of the enemy’s strength, led his troops around Wangwu Mountain’s eastern edge.
That day, the army rested in the small town of Liudou when Pei Yuan personally delivered an urgent military dispatch. Duan Yan, after his defeat, had retreated to Kuzhou. There, Wang Mian, a former subordinate, handed over thirty thousand soldiers to Duan Yan, who then crossed the Luo River to strike Luoyang.
Luoyang, Jianzhou, and Bingnanguan were controlled by the Cui family’s Dingsheng Army, mostly under Cui Yi on the left bank of the Huai River. The surprise attack was devastating. Cui Lin, stationed in Jianzhou, faced the dilemma of defending the smaller city or abandoning it to save Luoyang. He chose the latter, rushing to the capital.
Li Ni shook his head. “Cui Zi fears being deceived.”
Pei Yuan frowned. “What could deceive him?”
Li Ni traced the route on the map. “Duan Yan once saved Yanlu in Dazhou and became a formidable general under Sun Jing. He commands twenty thousand troops and could outflank Luoyang from the mountains. Now, defeated, he wouldn’t risk tens of thousands casually—there’s a trap waiting for Cui Lin.”
Pei Yuan stared at the map, then at Li Ni, astonished. “How can you predict Duan Yan’s moves, let alone know they’d set a trap?”
Li Ni’s lips curled into a sly smirk. “Know yourself and your enemy, and victory is certain. Duan Yan is desperate; he will fight to the death. I’ve calculated every soldier and path he could use. The ambush must start here—nowhere else is as advantageous.”
Pei Yuan hesitated, then asked, “Then let’s—”
“Witness it,” Li Ni interrupted with a sardonic sneer. “Cui Gongzi, the traitor. Without him, Caizhou wouldn’t be besieged, General Pei wouldn’t have faced repeated danger, Ah Hu wouldn’t be crippled. If we don’t see it ourselves, all those grievances were in vain.”
Pei Yuan opened his mouth to speak again, but paused. Finally, he asked softly, “Seventeen Lang, if Cui Gongzi truly falls into danger, would you save him?”
Li Ni shrugged. “I’m here for the spectacle, not to rescue anyone.”
The summer sun beat down relentlessly. Cicadas filled the air as Taozi arranged more than a dozen jars of cooling soup for the soldiers and drew water from the well. Ah Ying, now a captain in uniform, patrolled the city wall, tasting the soup and sighing. “Have the troops from Jianzhou returned?”
Peach shook her head. Ah Ying’s brief stay in Jianzhou had required her to maintain Luoyang’s defenses in Caozhou, leaving Cui Liyuan in place. Cui Gongzi, aware of this, sent soldiers to escort her, yet it was unclear whether he was frustrated or amused.
Duan Yan’s tens of thousands of troops marched ominously toward Luoyang. Peach swiftly sent a fast horse to Jianzhou to reassure Cui Gongzi of the city’s defenses, advising him to hold his troops until the opportune moment. Days passed with no reply.
“Perhaps the young master hasn’t decided yet…” Taozi murmured.
Ah Ying shook her head. “Or he believes I’m still angry. But in military affairs, there’s no room for anger. I am not angry with him.”
As night fell, the crescent moon rose over the Luo River, which snaked around the city like a silver moat—Luoyang’s natural defense. Peach gazed at the sparkling waves, unease twisting in her chest. Sensing imminent danger, she entered the duty room and lit the oil lamp.
The detailed map of rivers, mountains, and troop movements lay before her. She traced Duan Yan’s route, recalled the scouts’ reports, but the foreboding in her chest only grew. Closing her eyes, the map seemed to lift from the table, sprawling into a living, moving vision:
Towering mountains, roaring rivers, soldiers marching like ants, traders and peasants moving through towns, grain and supplies, battle-ready troops… all came alive in her mind’s eye.
Her eyes snapped open. Something had to be done. She hurried to Peach, calling urgently.
Taozi heard her voice and hurried over, anxiety threading Colonel He’s tone. “Take three thousand men and leave the city with me immediately!”
Taozi froze. “Captain—”
But she had already turned, descending the city tower with swift, purposeful strides. “Captain, if you leave the city now, I’m afraid—”
She had already reached Xiaobai under the wall, untying the reins. “Someone’s ambushing the young master! Hurry!” With that, she pulled a token from her sleeve and tossed it to Taozi.
Without hesitation, Taozi caught it and raced to the camp, rallying the troops. In moments, the small force surged out of the city, torches blazing as they galloped along the Luo River. The firelight, the shouts, and the clatter of hooves struck terror into any who dared oppose them, a warlike fanfare to unsettle the enemy.
By the time they reached Heishui Beach, however, they were already half a step too late.
Cui Gongzi, after receiving Peach’s urgent message, had ignored her advice and ridden straight from Jianzhou to Luoyang, fearing the city under-defended. But Yan Lu awaited him at the Black Water Beach, elite soldiers ready, armor gleaming in the midnight moonlight. Traps, rolling logs, and kerosene fires turned the beach into chaos. Horses tripped, men fell, and a storm of fire and steel erupted.
From the mountain across the river, Li Ni stood on a boulder, observing the battlefield with cold detachment. Flames licked the dark waters, illuminating the carnage below. Pei Yuan shook his head beside him. “This Young Master Cui is still careless.”
Li Ni said nothing, letting the battle unfold. Gradually, the Dingsheng Army began to falter. Then, distant lights flickered along the riverbank, followed by shouts carried by the wind: “Reinforcements of the victorious army have arrived!”
Pei Yuan squinted. “Coming from Luoyang… probably Colonel He.”
On the battlefield, the reinforcements charged, torches ablaze, diving into the melee to protect Cui Gongzi. Colonel He, riding the striking white Xiaobai, fought with fearless precision, cutting through Yan Lu’s troops while dodging arrows and encirclement.
An arrow struck her forearm. A horizontal knife grazed her side. Yet she pressed on, each swing of her sword and crossbow bolt keeping Yan Lu’s forces at bay. She was relentless, even as the enemy surrounded her.
Yan Lu, unstoppable, drove toward Cui Gongzi. Soldiers fell under his spear, but just as disaster threatened to engulf Cui Gongzi, a feathered arrow whistled through the night air. Yan Lu staggered, pierced through the heart. His troops froze.
From the mountain, Li Ni calmly notched another arrow and let it fly, striking enemy after enemy, thinning the encirclement around Colonel He. Dozens fell, leaving a corridor for her to reach the riverbank.
Breathless, bleeding, and nearly exhausted, Colonel He finally reached the river, only to see Cui Gongzi impaled and swept away by the torrent. Despair gripped her, and she prepared to plunge into the river, but a strong embrace stopped her.
Li Ni’s black horse loomed behind him, quiver at his side, arrows spent but deadly. His gaze held her in place, stern and unyielding. “Li Ni… good…,” she whispered, voice trembling with frustration and fear, powerless to act as her vision dimmed.
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