Inside the military headquarters of Chen Tang Pass, a group of people sat, the atmosphere solemn and harsh.
Seated at the very top was Mu Qingyao. She seemed to melt into the cold light, clad in a moon-white silk gown. Delicate green water grass patterns were embroidered on the cuffs and collar, adding a touch of elegance. Her dark hair was lightly tied up, loosely draped over her shoulders. A small jade-colored flower was pinned in her loose hair, lending her a refined and graceful air. However, a thin veil covered her face, prompting many to speculate.
Why did the Marshal always wear a veil? Was it because she was too ugly, or too beautiful, that she feared disturbing the morale of the troops?
Yet, no one dared to ask. The person at the head of the table was reading a secret letter. The hall was silent until she finished reading the letter and gently handed it to An Dingfeng, who was beside her. An Dingfeng read it and then passed it to Yin Xuan. Finally, both of them looked at Qingyao. Qingyao turned to face the assembled crowd in the hall and spoke slowly.
“This is excellent. He has finally decided to make a move.”
Her gaze suddenly turned sharp. She looked towards Bingxiao on the side and commanded, “Bingxiao, immediately travel to Stone City in secret and meet with General Dai of Stone City. Have them proceed according to the plan.”
“Yes, Marshal,” Bingxiao replied and withdrew.
Qingyao continued to assign other tasks. “The forces from Huacheng are preparing to counterattack. We should prepare to meet them. This time, we must utterly defeat them and leave them no way to return. Once this battle is won, our next objective will be to attack Huacheng.”
Her voice was not a suggestion but an unquestionable order. Everyone present had absolute faith that whatever the Marshal decided, it would surely succeed.
“Your subordinates receive your command.”
Everyone stood up, bowed respectfully with clasped fists, and received their orders. Qingyao watched An Dingfeng, who was walking last, and called out to him, “General An.”
An Dingfeng turned back and approached her seat, respectfully clasped his fists, and asked, “Does the Marshal have any further commands?”
“Hua Wenbo is cunning and treacherous. Instruct your men to be wary of his schemes. He is deeply skilled in the art of Gu. As long as he is kept at a distance, there will be no danger.”
“Yes, Marshal.”
An Dingfeng accepted the orders and left. In the hall, only Yin Xuan sat listlessly in his chair, his expression unchanging, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. However, Qingyao knew that such a posture indicated he was deep in thought, though about what, no one could tell…
Three days later, Huacheng and Stone City secretly agreed to a pincer attack on Chen Tang Pass, leaving them exposed from both front and rear, with no possibility of escape.
Inside the official yamen of Huacheng, Hua Wenbo sat at the head of the table. On either side sat Crown Princess Ji Xue and the Empress Dowager Ji Feng, along with Yu Jiao, a female general from Chen Tang Pass, and several other officers.
Ji Xue felt that the current situation was progressing too smoothly, which made her somewhat uneasy.
“We are to attack Chen Tang Pass tonight. I fear there might be a trick or conspiracy. We should wait a little longer and make a more thorough plan.”
As soon as Ji Xue finished speaking, Ji Meng, seated beside her, looked at her with disbelief. “Do you think you still have time to wait? If you don’t reclaim Chen Tang Pass soon, I fear Mother Empress will not spare you.”
Hearing Ji Meng’s words, Ji Xue was enraged. She jumped up abruptly, her delicate face thrust towards Ji Meng.
“Don’t forget, I am still the Crown Princess. You had better be respectful.”
“You won’t be for long,” Ji Meng retorted resentfully, though her voice was low.
Hua Wenbo, seated at the head of the table, had an extremely sinister look in his eyes. His refined features were etched with determination. He could not believe that Mu Qingyao, that woman, could truly turn the tide with her mere ten thousand troops and disrupt the entire region.
“Enough, the two of you, quiet down.”
Leng Ling’s voice suddenly rang out. Ji Xue and Ji Meng exchanged glares and sat down. They were both very afraid of the man at the head of the table and dared not act presumptuous in front of him. If they angered him, it would mean certain death.
“Besides the seventy to eighty thousand troops remaining in Chen Tang Pass, and Ji Meng’s fifty thousand troops, we have over a hundred and thirty thousand. Additionally, Huacheng can muster another twenty thousand troops. This brings our total to a hundred and fifty thousand. That woman has only a hundred thousand. Although she possesses powerful weapons, we can still fearlessly attack them from both sides. Since she can fly her kites like a soaring falcon into our territory, we can also fly our kites into her territory. That weapon can only be dropped downwards; it cannot be thrown upwards.”
As Hua Wenbo finished speaking, no one below the table uttered a sound. Truth be told, the strategy was sound. However, the prefect of Huacheng felt a pang of unwillingness. Huacheng had very few troops left. If another twenty thousand were to be dispatched, how many men would be left to defend the city? If they failed to capture Chen Tang Pass and suffered another defeat, Huacheng would be in peril. But looking at the astonishingly beautiful man at the head of the table, his face was icy cold, his pupils were crimson, and his gaze was sinister and bloodthirsty.
At such a time, who dared to provoke him? This man was like a malignant tumor; anyone who provoked him would undoubtedly face a dire end.
“Then what do we do next?” Ji Xue asked. She had not forgotten that she was aligned with him. Thinking of the “Tongxin Gu” on her body, she felt a surge of resentment. She raised her head and cast a cold, defiant gaze at the man.
“Immediately dispatch people to construct kites, as many as possible. Before nightfall, head towards Chen Tang Pass. Once our men enter the city, we will open the south gate and let the forces from Stone City in. In this way, our two sides will converge, and we will surely defeat that woman and her hundred thousand troops.”
“Yes.”
Everyone responded in unison, received their orders, and withdrew. Even Ji Meng and Yu Jiao left. Ji Xue was the last to depart. Once everyone else had left, she slowly stood by the doorway, looking back at the man at the head of the table, and spoke each word lightly.
“I want her dead.”
She then turned and left. But Hua Wenbo knew whom she was referring to. The corners of his lips curved into a sinister smile. Indeed, she was worthy of being the woman he favored, as ruthless as himself.
As the last trace of red faded from the sky, the preparations in Huacheng neared their end. Over two thousand large kites had been constructed. Yu Jiao selected two thousand elite soldiers from the more than a hundred thousand troops and rode the large kites to the south gate. They would open the city gate and allow the forces from Stone City to enter.
“Yu Jiao, is there any news? Have the people from Stone City made any moves?”
“Reporting to the Empress Consort, your subordinate has received news that Stone City is indeed mobilizing its troops, and many have already gathered outside the city gates.”
“This is wonderful! Heaven aids us!” Hua Wenbo exclaimed, striking the tea table beside him. He stood up abruptly, his gaze fiercely fixed on the sky. “Prepare the troops.”
“Yes,” Yu Jiao replied, receiving the order. Ji Xue and Ji Meng followed Yu Jiao closely, and the three of them departed together.
The prefect of Huacheng, along with a large group of officials, escorted over a hundred thousand troops out of Huacheng. Every face was etched with worry. They hoped that this time they would succeed in reclaiming Chen Tang Pass, thus saving Huacheng. If Chen Tang Pass were to fall, Huacheng would become easy prey for their enemies. This was because Huacheng’s soldiers and generals had been gradually withdrawn, leaving only a small number of the old and weak, numbering no more than thirty thousand. How could they possibly contend against the enemy’s hundred thousand troops? Furthermore, those hundred thousand troops were far more formidable than two hundred thousand.