As the campaign progressed, Li Yuanhu's reputation grew rapidly.
"Hey, did you see? Captain Li wiped out another Crimson Flame Army unit, and only three of our brothers got injured!"
"Really? Those guys are tough nuts. When Captain Wang fought them last time, nearly half his men were lost!"
In the military camp, soldiers whispered among themselves. War tempers men, and Li Yuanhu's guerrilla tactics of "advancing when the enemy retreats, attacking when the enemy tires" stood out uniquely in the army, becoming the admiration of countless common soldiers.
Who wouldn't support a leader who could lead them to victory?
To motivate the troops, Li Yuanhu was exceptionally promoted to command a thousand men as a Commandant due to his outstanding achievements. His forces expanded tenfold, even receiving new equipment.
Wang Lie looked at Li Yuanhu's shiny new Commandant armor with mixed feelings—envy among them, but mostly admiration. Since being rescued last time, his opinion of Li Yuanhu had completely changed, and their relationship grew closer, often sparring together.
During a rare afternoon break,
"You bastard, you were definitely holding back before."
Wang Lie was knocked down by Li Yuanhu's punch, grimacing in pain as he dropped his broadsword and sprawled on the ground, playing dead. These past few days, he had deeply experienced Li Yuanhu's fist techniques—each punch landed solidly, yet unpredictably, with elusive footwork that bewildered and amazed him."Your blade skills are impressive too," Li Yuanhu said sincerely, not just flattering. Wang Lie indeed had real skill.
"Come at me again." Wang Lie thought Li Yuanhu was just comforting him and suddenly sighed. "I wonder when this damned war will end."
Li Yuanhu fell silent. These days, he had seen too much bloodshed, even growing somewhat numb to human life. Without a word, he unrolled a terrain map, recording the mountain ranges. His eyes gleamed as they fell upon a red-marked area.
It was a narrow valley locals called "Ghost's Despair," flanked by cliffs dozens of zhang high, littered with jagged rocks, its path rugged and barely wide enough for three or four riders side by side.
"Brother Wang."
Pointing at the valley on the map, Li Yuanhu said, "I have an idea. Interested?"
"Let's hear it!" Wang Lie stopped abruptly.
Li Yuanhu leaned in and whispered his plan.
Wang Lie's eyelids twitched as he listened. He looked at Li Yuanhu and slapped his thigh.
"Let's do it! Damn it, what's there to fear?"
"Dead or alive, it's all the same! I'll follow you on this crazy plan!"
Another small-scale battle drew to a close.
The Great Yu forces were defeated, and Wang Lie led a small fleeing supply unit in panic.
"Pass my order! Full pursuit! Leave none alive!"
"Rumble!"
The Crimson Flame Cavalry surged forth like a crimson tide, kicking up clouds of dust as they chased the fleeing soldiers.
Wang Lie glanced back at the approaching dust cloud, his face devoid of panic but instead wearing a smirk of triumph.
"The fish has taken the bait."
With a wave, he led his twenty men straight into the seemingly hopeless "Ghost's Despair."
The Crimson Flame Cavalry reached the valley entrance. The leading general frowned at the narrow, shadowy path, hesitation flickering in his heart.
But the thought of the "military merits" so close at hand instantly replaced that hesitation with greed.
"After them!"
He barked, "They're trapped like turtles in a jar—where can they run?"
Eight hundred cavalrymen filed into the valley.
Yet the moment they entered, something felt amiss.
The path inside was even rougher than expected. Eerie winds howled along the cliffs, unsettling their horses.
"Something's wrong!" A deputy approached, unease written on his face.
The general felt a chill too, but there was no turning back now.
"What's there to fear? Keep chasing! I refuse to believe they can grow wings—"
Before he finished, a thunderous boom echoed as dozens of boulders tumbled down from the cliffs!
The massive rocks, carrying immense force, crashed into the cavalry formation.
"Hum~"
A cyan ripple spread as the general activated several talismans, enveloping everyone.
The boulders struck the barrier, their descent halted.
The general sighed in relief. Without such life-saving talismans, he wouldn't have dared enter the valley.
Just as they thought they'd survived, deafening thunderclaps exploded beside them!
The boulders shattered, the talismans burned out rapidly, and the cyan barrier cracked with countless fissures.
"Boom!"
"Ah!"
Screams erupted instantly as several cavalrymen were blown to bits, horses and all.
The formation collapsed into chaos. Terrified horses neighed wildly, crashing madly in the narrow valley.
"Steady! All of you, steady!" The general roared in fury.
"Loose arrows!"
Seeing the Crimson Flame Cavalry in disarray, Li Yuanhu, standing atop the cliffs, gave the order. A rain of arrows poured down!
Though the cavalry wore heavy armor, their horses became easy targets.
In moments, men and horses fell, cries filling the air.
"Charge!"
Seizing the moment, Li Yuanhu revealed himself, charging down like a tiger!
Instantly, battle cries shook the heavens. Leading from the front, he plunged into enemy lines, cutting down foes left and right.
The Crimson Flame general's courage shattered. Now regretting chasing a desperate foe, he found escape impossible...
"I surrender!"
Finally, he dropped his spear and dismounted.
The battle ended.
With only a dozen casualties, Li Yuanhu annihilated the eight hundred Crimson Flame Cavalry, capturing mountains of armor, weapons, and horses.
The entire camp erupted.
"We won! We won!"
"Hahaha! Fighting under Captain Li is exhilarating!"
Soldiers cheered, faces alight with joy.
Only Li Yuanhu stood silently amid the corpses, walking up to a fallen soldier and gently closing his unseeing eyes.
"Rest easy, brother."
He murmured hoarsely, "I'll take care of your family."
The Battle of Rocky Ridge made Li Yuanhu famous.
But this glory also brought unexpected trouble.
At the head seat, his superior General Zhao Kuo frowned deeply.
Nearly fifty, Zhao Kuo came from a military family, his square face naturally imposing. Years of comfort had softened his physique, but his hawk-like eyes remained sharp.
He believed in steady, conservative tactics, preferring to overwhelm with sheer numbers rather than Li Yuanhu's unorthodox strategies.
The sudden rise of this young Li was like a thorn in his eye.
"Speak up."
Zhao Kuo's voice grated like iron, cold and hard. "A mere captain annihilates eight hundred elite cavalry, while you, commanding thousands, suffer losses and make no progress at Rocky Ridge. I'd like to hear why."
His gaze swept over them, the palpable pressure beading sweat on several officers' foreheads.
All knew General Zhao was making trouble.
Zhao Kuo's tactics were always steady and straightforward, crushing enemies with overwhelming force.
He despised so-called "clever schemes," considering them opportunistic tricks unbecoming of true generals.
Yet now, this "opportunistic" youth had won a sweeping victory.
How could he not be furious?
"General, please calm your anger!"
An officer stepped forward stiffly, bowing. "This humble general believes Captain Li's victory was due to favorable circumstances. The Crimson Flame Cavalry acted rashly, entering dangerous terrain, giving him an opening. Such tactics work once but aren't reliable long-term."
"Indeed, General!" Another chimed in. "We should advance steadily—that's the safest approach!"
"Enough!"
Zhao Kuo cut them off coldly.
Irritated but knowing this wasn't the time, he said flatly, "Summon that Li Yuanhu."
............
When Wang Lie found Li Yuanhu, he was changing a wounded soldier's bandages.
"Yuanhu!" Wang Lie rushed over, face full of anxiety.
"What? You look frantic." Li Yuanhu didn't look up, hands steady.
"General Zhao wants to see you!" Wang Lie whispered. "I just came from the command tent. Brothers say the general looks furious, demanding you by name. Yuanhu, be careful—Zhao Kuo's notoriously stubborn and can't stand being outshone!"
He poured out his concerns about Zhao Kuo.
Li Yuanhu only tied the last bandage before standing and dusting his hands.
"Thanks." He met Wang Lie's gaze earnestly.
That "thanks" warmed Wang Lie's heart.
"Just... be careful." Was all Wang Lie could say.
Li Yuanhu nodded and left for the command tent without another word.
This wouldn't be pleasant.
At the tent, after guards announced him, Li Yuanhu straightened his armor, took a deep breath, and entered.
"Captain Li Yuanhu reporting, General!" He knelt on one knee, fist over palm.
Zhao Kuo didn't bid him rise, sipping tea leisurely as if ignoring him.
Silence filled the tent, broken only by occasional charcoal cracks.
Finally, Zhao Kuo spoke indifferently, "You're Li Yuanhu?"
"Yes."
"Look up."
Li Yuanhu raised his head calmly.
"Good material."
Zhao Kuo's face betrayed nothing. "I hear you've accomplished great deeds?"
"I don't deserve such praise," Li Yuanhu said steadily. "The credit belongs to the soldiers. I was merely fortunate."
"Fortunate?"
Zhao Kuo set down his cup. "The world has little room for fortune. You're young, capable, and brave—a rare talent. My army needs someone like you to take charge."
"I'm unworthy." Alarm bells rang in Li Yuanhu's mind, but his expression remained respectful.
His uncle's warnings echoed—this praise might not be sincere.
"Don't be modest." Zhao Kuo waved a hand, smiling approvingly. "To the capable go more tasks. With the war deadlocked, I have a critical mission only you can handle."
He stood, pointing at a "danger"-marked area on the map.
"Though the Crimson Flame main force retreated, their supply lines and scout camps remain a threat. I order you to lead your troops behind enemy lines, scout their deployments and supply stockpiles. This affects our next strategy—you must succeed."
The orders sounded noble, but sending Li Yuanhu behind enemy lines was a death sentence!
"What?" Zhao Kuo's lips curled coldly at Li Yuanhu's silence. "Does Captain Li find this mission too difficult?"
"I accept the order!"
Li Yuanhu responded without hesitation. Any delay would give Zhao Kuo ammunition.
When the ruler wants a subject dead, the subject must die—rank crushes all.
But there was also the saying that generals in the field need not follow unreasonable orders. Li Yuanhu would agree now—if the mission proved too dangerous... well, if he couldn't solve the mission, he'd solve the one who gave it!
"Good."
Zhao Kuo nodded, adding, "After your scouting, there's another crucial task. We'll launch a full assault on Blackwind Pass—you'll cover our retreat."
Rearguard!
A thousand men holding off the enemy's main force?!
Li Yuanhu inwardly sneered but clasped his fist firmly. "I obey!"
Exiting the tent, he found Wang Lie waiting, who grabbed him, rough face contorted with suppressed rage.
"Yuanhu! Have you lost your mind?! That old bastard clearly wants you dead! Scouting behind lines, covering retreats—both are suicide missions! How could you agree?!" Wang Lie hissed.
"Brother Wang, watch your words." Li Yuanhu patted his shoulder. "Military orders are absolute."
"Absolute my ass!" Wang Lie kicked a stone post. "This is revenge—he's jealous! I'll confront him! Let's see what he gains by suppressing the meritorious!"
"Don't."
Li Yuanhu stopped him, shaking his head. "Confronting him now would only give him grounds to punish us both. Don't worry, Brother Wang—he won't kill me so easily."