Night was vast and boundless. In the expansive darkness, the enormous grinding wheel comprising over a hundred thousand people was breaking apart. Amidst the scattered fires, the chaotic clashes were intense and widespread.

At Hai hour (9-11 PM), the largest wave of chaos was sweeping through the Xia camp. People and warhorses ran amok, flames devoured tents. The vanguard of the Consort Army had caved in, causing the rearguard to instinctively retreat, and an avalanche of defeat occurred before anyone could fully grasp the situation. A Black Flag team charging into the ballista positions triggered a chain reaction, and crossbow bolts flew wildly through the fiery chaos. Screams, running, repression, and fear gripped everything tightly. Luo Ye, Mao Yishan, Hou Wu, and others fought desperately, few remembering specifics. They pushed into the heart of the fire, first one step, then two…

Armored warhorses were driven into the camp, some already fallen. Qin Shaoqian removed his helmet, lifted his armor, and wielded his long saber. His vision trembled slightly. Ahead, Black Flag soldiers pounced on the enemy ranks.

The cavalry of over two hundred men in charge of releasing hot air balloons cut through the ranks of routed soldiers.

The pressure from the darkness, the pressure from the internal chaos – even with seventy thousand men still on the perimeter, they had failed to hold back the enemy’s forces this afternoon. The pressure from the massive collapse was now erupting. The Black Flag Army had multiple attack points, and at each, the blood-soaked, fiercely mad soldiers unleashed devastating attacks. At this point, warhorses were unnecessary, escape routes were unnecessary, and the future seemed irrelevant…

In the night, the revelry reached its climax and then surged out in several directions.

Order transformed into disorder, compression into expansion. The scattered people went from groups to streams, then clusters, and finally, dispersed into scattered sparks. The points of fire gradually thinned. The vast Dongzhi Yuan, the massive crowds – as Hai hour drew to a close, the wind swept across the plains.

…

Wolves began to howl on the plains.

The spreading scent of blood attracted predators. On the edges of the battlefield, they found corpses and gathered to devour them. Occasionally, voices echoed from the distance, torches flared, and sometimes, wolves followed the scent of blood on humans.

Within a radius of over ten miles, the laws of nature played out in occasional skirmishes. Large or small groups of fleeing soldiers passed by, every sound from the darkness turning them into startled birds.

After the collapse of the outer perimeter, the central ranks were breached, followed by the disintegration of the main camp. Victory and defeat on the battlefield were often deceptive. An army of fewer than ten thousand assaulting a hundred thousand – the concept was overwhelming, but only the pressure and fear of that moment on the front lines were truly profound and real. These fleeing soldiers, roughly knowing that the main camp was in chaos, moved faster, not daring to look back.

Luo Ye and two companions supported each other as they walked across the dark plains. To his right was Li Zuosi, a brother under his command, and to his left was Mao Yishan, a fellow traveler they’d encountered. This man was honest and simple, but a formidable fighter on the battlefield.

When the Xia army collapsed, they pursued them all the way. Some exhausted soldiers were left behind, but a few continued the chase in different directions – until they were eventually outdistanced. Realizing there was no one around, Luo Ye stopped for a moment and began to walk back. The three bloodied figures supported each other in near silence. Luo Ye muttered, “Are you alright? Are you alright? We can’t stop, don’t stop. We have to hold on…”

He kept repeating these words in a low voice. Mao Yishan occasionally touched his body: “I can’t feel anything, but I’m alright, I’m alright…”

“Don’t stop, stay awake…”

“Did we… win?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know…” Luo Ye answered subconsciously.

They fought their way through the Xia camp, chasing large groups of fleeing soldiers, but they weren’t clear about the overall outcome of the battle.

They found a nearly extinguished torch on the road, blew on it, and continued forward. There was a bloody scent in the air, corpses on the ground. They shone the torch on them and soon found two wounded companions lying back-to-back, as if dead. Luo Ye felt that they were still alive, and slapped each of them in the face, then took out a small leather pouch.

“Don’t sleep, don’t sleep. Drink water, drink water, just a little sip…”

“You’re wounded, you’ll die if you sleep. Come on, hold on, hold on…”

Then the five of them supported each other forward. After walking for a while, there was a rustling sound ahead, and four figures stopped, then a voice called out, “Who goes there?”

“Huaxia…”

“Two-one-two-one-two, Mao…” Mao Yishan reported his unit. He was from the second squad, first platoon, second company, first battalion, of the second regiment. It was easy to remember. Before he could finish, the other side had already seen the figures in the dim light and exclaimed, “Yishan?”

“Ah? Platoon… Platoon Leader? Brother Hou?”

The four also came forward, supporting each other. Hou Wu and Qu Qing were among them. The nine gathered together. Qu Qing was seriously wounded and nearly unconscious. Luo Ye recognized them and shook his head: “Let’s not go any further, let’s not go any further. We… let’s rest for a bit…”

The wind howled past near midnight across the wilderness, carrying a scent of blood. The men gathered some dry grass and firewood, and even stripped two pieces of clothing from dead Xia soldiers nearby to start a bonfire. They also boiled water, used the medicine they carried to bandage Qu Qing's wounds, and then painstakingly bandaged the others.

All nine were barely managing to do this, slowly applying medicine and bandages while quietly discussing the battle.

“Did we win?”

“Who were you chasing?”

“The Xia King? Were you chasing Li Qianshun? I think I was too…”

“I don’t even know if it was really him. What a pity, didn’t get to cut off his head…”

Even at such a moment, Luo Ye still regretted not killing Li Qianshun, shaking his head. Hou Wu nodded: "Yeah, I wonder who killed him. It looked like we won when we chased him out. Who killed the Xia King? Otherwise, why would they run..."

As the bonfire burned, these fragmented words were exchanged. Suddenly, a sound came from the distance, a sound of footsteps, and the light of torches. People were coming from the direction of a small hill behind them. Soon, they saw each other.

These were not Black Flag soldiers. In the light of the torches, they appeared to be Xia soldiers. Though disheveled, they weren't badly wounded, and they weren't covered in blood. There were twenty or thirty of them. As soon as they saw the group, they stopped. The dozen or so in front held long spears, and some drew their sabers.

No one spoke on this side. Mao Yishan, covered in blood, paused for a moment, grabbed a long saber from the ground, and stood up.

The wind blew across the ground. The flames burned, stretching the silent and terrifying figure. Then Luo Ye stood up, a faint smile on his lips. One by one, the men by the fire slowly rose. The nine figures stood there, and Luo Ye raised his saber.

"Looks like we're going to end it here," Luo Ye said softly. "It's a pity I didn't kill Li Qianshun. The first Xia officer I encountered after leaving the mountains was snatched by you guys. That's no fun..."

"Ah…" Hou Wu looked ahead absentmindedly. "Isn't there one here? How about I give him to you?"

"Heh, I… uh…" He was about to say something when he paused. In the distance, the twenty or thirty men slowly retreated and then turned and ran.

"..."

A long silence fell by the bonfire.

"Heh heh…"

"Haha…"

The sounds rose in weak laughter: "Scared me to death..."

"Do you think... could it be that we won?"

"Looks like it…"

"Hahahaha—cowards!"

In the flickering firelight, nine figures stood there. Their laughter spread far across the plains…

All over the plains, similar figures were moving. In the area that had been the Xia King's main camp, the flames were gradually dying down. A large amount of supplies and equipment had been left behind. Exhausted soldiers were still moving, helping each other, supporting each other, bandaging wounds, drinking a little water or broth. Those with strength were sent out to search for the wounded and the lost soldiers. Those who were found and helped back were given some bandaging and treatment, and leaned against the supplies near the bonfire, huddled together. Someone would speak occasionally to prevent people from falling asleep in their exhaustion.

Zi hour (11 PM-1 AM) passed, then Chou hour (1-3 AM). People were still returning in twos and threes, and those who had rested a little were taking torches and riding the captured warhorses to patrol outside. Mao Yishan and the others returned around Chou hour. Qu Qing was seriously injured and was sent into a tent for treatment. Qin Shaoqian dragged his tired body around the camp patrolling.

When he rested again, Luo Ye and Hou Wu and the others finally said to each other: "Did we win?"

As dawn broke, the camp was still silent, and people were still asleep. But people woke up one after another, and when they woke their companions, some had left forever in their sleep last night. These people were sent out one after another under the leadership of officers. Throughout the day, they searched along the path of the great battle for the bodies of the dead and the traces of the wounded who had survived.

…

On the first day of the seventh lunar month of Jingping Year Two, at dusk on Dongzhi Yuan, an army of more than three thousand men was lined up. The great battle had ended, and bodies were laid out to the side, densely filling the view.

The tall, one-eyed general walked to the front. On one side of the sky, the clouds were burning like flames, spreading across the vast expanse. Blood-stained Black Flags fluttered in the wind.

He spoke, and then spoke some more. In the fiery sunset, accompanying their dead comrades, the soldiers in the ranks were solemn and steadfast. They had undergone unimaginable trials. At this moment, each of them bore injuries. They didn't yet fully grasp the past of this trial, but the dead comrades were becoming more and more real.

No one can avoid paying the price for their living space. They paid the price, and many even paid with their lives.

Compared to the hundred thousand Xia troops that Li Qianshun had brought over, the overwhelming banners, this army in front of them was pathetically small. But even with their wounds as they stood on this battlefield, their ranks seemed to have a spirit that soared to the sky, stirring the clouds.

The army array on Dongzhi Yuan suddenly roared, the roar like thunder, one after another, and the ancient bugle call of the battlefield rang out, spreading far away on the evening breeze.

This was a memorial.

On the plains this day, they hadn't yet thought of celebration. For the departure of the brave, they cleared the way with shouts and bugle calls.

Countless things were still waiting for them behind. But the most important thing now was that they wanted to rest…

***************

In various parts of the Northwest, they were still in the midst of the sweltering heat known as "autumn skinning". Zhong Lie, leading several thousand of his Zhong Family Army, was being chased by more than ten thousand Xia soldiers and was moving south. He understood the advance of the Xia army on Dongzhi Yuan. The army that suddenly burst out of the mountains had taken down the Iron Harrier with their firearms. Facing a hundred thousand troops, they could only retreat, but at least it had given him a chance to breathe. In any case, he should also threaten Li Qianshun's rear, the Yuan and Qing regions, and give them some assistance.

This army of king-killers was quite formidable. If he could bring them under his command, the situation in the Northwest might turn around, but they were unruly and needed to be used with caution. But it didn't matter. Even if they first negotiated cooperation, once the Xia were driven out, the Zhong family would still hold the mantle of righteousness and legitimacy in the Northwest and would be able to control them.

To the northeast, after receiving news of the Iron Harrier's destruction, the Zhe Family Army had mobilized and moved south. Zhe Keqiu, who led the army, sighed that people who were pushed to the brink were the most terrifying—he knew about the food shortage in the Xiaocang River area—and prepared to seize Qingjian and other places as spoils of war. He had previously feared the Xia army pressing over, but since the Iron Harrier had been destroyed, the Zhe Family Army could compete with Li Qianshun. As for the Black Flag Army, since they had taken Yanzhou, he might as well let them continue to attract Li Qianshun's attention, but he would also have to find a way to figure out how they destroyed the Iron Harrier.

He couldn't and wouldn't use king-killers. But in this world, ruthless people have their place. He wouldn't care if they survived Li Qianshun's wrath.

In Xiaocang River, the debate between the young man and the old man continued daily, but in the last two days, both were a little distracted. In this state, Ning Yi's words became even more unbridled.

“…Now the Xiaocang River’s training methods are limited, and our location is also a bit special. But if, as Zuo Gong said, we were to truly fight against Confucianism and the world, with swords and blood, needle against wheat, it's not like there are no options. If the whole world presses down on us and you all have to kill me at all costs, then why should I hold back… For example, I could first equalize land ownership, so that those who till the land own it, and then I…”

“…The core of what I want to fight for is reason, morality, and law! Only that the order of those three words is the greatest dross of Confucianism… Yes, yes, you're right, but if the world changes again, reason must come first… Uh, what's the use of you scolding me? We're reasoning here…”

The old man stomped off again, blowing his beard and glaring.

As he walked into the courtyard, the setting sun was fiery red. Su Tan'er was in the courtyard teaching Ning Xi to read. Seeing Ning Yi come out, she smiled: "Husband, you've won the argument again." But Ning Yi was looking into the distance, still somewhat distracted. After a moment, he reacted, thought for a while, and shook his head with a wry smile: "It doesn't count. Some things are just sophistry now, things that shouldn't be said."

He looked in the direction of the setting sun. Su Tan'er knew what he was worried about and didn't disturb him. After a moment, Ning Yi took a breath, sighed again, and shook his head, seemingly mocking his lack of composure. Thinking about things, he walked back into the room.

The messenger cavalry were already on the road, hundreds of miles away.

In Green Wood Fortress, a grim and oppressive atmosphere shrouded everything.

Thousands of miles to the southeast, the Kang Prince's team was heading north to Yingtian. In this silent world, a ceremony was brewing for the new emperor's enthronement.

Thunder was about to sweep through.