[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 37

Chapter 139 My Wife is a Fairy
He coughed and said, "Give me a rough account of what happened!"
Because the regular military force within Longquan was very limited, and if something happened to Yuan Yueze outside the domain, Jieli would most likely immediately order an attack on the domain, so Zong Xianghua only took a small number of people to aid Xiaolongquan, while the main force remained in Longquan to deal with any possible changes. Ke Subie and the others' decision was essentially no different from abandoning Xiaolongquan; how could they not be shocked to hear that tens of thousands of fierce enemies had been repelled!
The soldier, beaming with joy, said, "Just when we were about to give up, two large warships, the 'Dongming,' approached the Bohai Bay dock. They fired a volley of arrows, and hundreds of men charged down, killing their way into the enemy ranks."
Ke Su and Ge Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes. The former then asked, "How could hundreds of men repel tens of thousands of enemies?" The soldier honestly replied, "Those hundreds were no ordinary men. Not only were they physically strong, but they were also highly skilled in martial arts. The leader was a lady whose cultivation was probably no less than that of Lord Zhu Yuan. Inspired by her, our two groups joined forces and attacked from both sides, pressing forward with great momentum." " After killing more than three thousand enemies, the rest of the enemy collapsed without a fight and fled in droves..."
Ba Feng Han suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out lightning bolts, showing that he had recovered some of his strength. A cold smile appeared on his lips as he continued, "Does that lady call herself Lady Shan Meixian of the Eastern Sea?" The soldier immediately replied, "Just as you said, Master Ba, she was later invited to speak by the Chief of the Imperial Guards, and she sent me to report to the Prime Minister and the General first."
Ba Feng Han thought to himself that it seemed his sister-in-law had successfully taken back the Eastern Sea Sect, and after assessing the situation, she had set up camp along the coast to come to Longquan's aid. Such a woman, possessing beauty, passion, wisdom, strategy, and martial arts skills, was hard to find in the world.
Ke Su Bie sighed, "My people owe Young Master Yuan a great favor!" After
a few words of praise, the soldier happily left.
Ba Feng Han stood up, looking very confident, gazing at the Jin Ruan Army covering the mountains and plains of the southern plains.
Perhaps influenced by him, the Longquan soldiers, upon hearing that Xiaolongquan was unharmed, were greatly encouraged, all gazing towards the thousands upon thousands of golden torches illuminating half the sky beyond the borders.
Jieli outwardly praised, but inwardly gloated, saying, "If Brother Yuan can return safely to Longquan tonight, I, the Khan, predict you will become the new spiritual symbol of Longquan. Bai Ziting and Fu Nanta will be forgotten by those foolish people."
The surrounding Turkic warriors also showed disdain, staring at Yuan Yueze like hunters eyeing their prey, only thinking about how to torment him.
Yuan Yueze remained unresponsive.
Jieli said impatiently, "Brother Yuan, you should know that those who oppose me are either killed (male) or enslaved (female). This time, I'm making an exception for you. Whether you agree or not is up to you!"
Yuan Yueze laughed loudly, "I've killed so many Huang warriors! If the Great Khan wants to win me over, I'm afraid even the Huang warriors will be dissatisfied!"
Jieli was taken aback by this, his gaze falling on the evil sword in his hand that had caused countless Turkic warriors to die. He didn't know what to feel. The Turkic warriors didn't have many schemes; their thoughts were directly expressed. Every one of them had a murderous intent in their eyes. If it weren't for Jieli, they probably would have already fired their arrows.
"Jieli," he thought, "you little brat are not simple either. Your life is in my hands, yet you dare to sow discord among our people." He then said calmly, "Brother Yuan is no fool. You should know my intention in praising you. We Turkic warriors exist to revitalize our people. When my iron cavalry tramples the Central Plains, their spirits in heaven will find peace. Besides, there's an old saying in the Central Plains: 'Those who achieve great things cannot be concerned with trivial matters.' Ruthlessness is the most normal thing."
A thunderous roar erupted from the surrounding Turkic warriors.
Yuan Yueze felt a surge of unease, realizing Jieli was no ordinary man. Politics doesn't care about good or bad motives, only the consequences: in politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Jieli was precisely this kind of person. What was even more terrifying was his eloquence; with just a few words, he dismantled Yuan Yueze's offensive and further solidified the morale of the Jin army.
He had been hoping for the best, and now he estimated he could escape the enemy lines. He continued to gaze at the starry sky with an indifferent expression, muttering to himself as if talking to himself: "No wonder you, Jieli, can run rampant on the grasslands, so bloody. But you'd better remember: being ruthless to your enemies is important, but being ruthless to yourself is even more important. One day you will understand the meaning of my words and pay a heavy price for your foolishness today." Jieli's smile widened, but before he could reveal a complete contemptuous smile, his expression froze. His high-level intuition told him that something seemed to have slipped out of his control!
Yuan Yueze lightly stepped out, as if weightless, transforming into a wisp of smoke and appearing in front of Jieli's horse just a few feet away. His right foot carried a powerful cone-shaped aura, the energy swirling wildly, condensing and not dissipating, like a poisonous dragon drilling towards Jieli's chest.
Several high-ranking soldiers surrounded Jieli rushed forward to protect him. Yuan Chu wielded an iron rod, Tunyugu a pair of palms, Kedazhi a scorching sand blade, and Shenmohuan a serpentine spear. Jieli himself also unleashed a slash. Even if Yuan Yueze had sufficient stamina, he would likely die under the combined attack of these high-ranking soldiers. Before Jieli
could even lament his misfortune, Yuan Yueze was already sent soaring into the sky by the powerful attack, his face deathly pale as he roared, "Thank you for your farewell, Great Khan! Such a great favor will surely be repaid in the future!" The events unfolded too suddenly; no one had anticipated Yuan Yueze's recovery so quickly. The Turkic warriors couldn't even keep up with the sudden turn of events, let alone launch an attack.
The instant Yuan Yueze soared into the sky, Jieli let out a deafening roar, and the arrows, which had been waiting in suspense, echoed his cry, raining down like locusts. A furious roar erupted from the rear of the column. Hundreds of fierce, tiger-like Turkic warriors moved and shouted in unison, as if a single voice had shouted, simultaneously hurling over a hundred dark spears. Each spear, imbued with the full strength of a burly man, shot towards Yuan Yueze, who had already begun his descent, like bolts of lightning.
Falling headfirst, Yuan Yueze suddenly spread his limbs, not even trying to dodge. While the Turkic warriors stared in disbelief, he used the force of the rain of arrows and spears from behind to smash the heads of dozens of Jin Ruan cavalrymen with his evil sword, instantly disappearing into the distance. This left Yuan Zhong and Tun Yugu, who had just been pursuing, completely unaware of what was happening
. The Jin Ruan army near the south gate of Longquan cursed and spontaneously gave chase.
Jieli's face turned ashen.
He knew that Yuan Yueze's body could withstand arrows and spears, but he only thought that invulnerability to water and fire and swords and spears was a natural phenomenon of cultivating innate qi to a higher level. Therefore, he did not hesitate to use a human wave tactic to wear down Yuan Yueze. With his vital energy weakened, he naturally could not maintain the perfect state of innate qi, so he was confident that he could kill Yuan Yueze. Little did he know that Yuan Yueze could recover a little vital energy in a quarter of an hour and even use the surrounding situation to escape.
Jieli gritted his teeth and looked at Yuan Yueze, who disappeared into the distance like iron, and felt a chill in his heart. The other party's body was so terrifying. Even if he could capture him, he would probably have to use "mental attack" to make him submit. He sighed and Jieli waved his hand and said: "Clean up the battlefield, speed up the production of offensive equipment, and call for the attack!"
The Jin army lost too much face tonight, and their morale was affected to some extent. Hearing Jieli's order, the fierce army rose up again and roared.
Seeing Yuan Yueze's figure swiftly heading towards Longquan, Ba Feng Han and the others were overjoyed and were the first to leap down from the city wall to greet him. The archers guarding the outer perimeter also began firing at the Jin army that entered their warning range, forcing the Jin army to retreat.
Yuan Yueze looked exhausted, his steps faltering, his body covered in the blood of Turkic warriors, arrows almost all fallen from his head during his run, his clothes tattered beyond recognition.
Ba Feng Han stepped forward and supported his shoulders, laughing loudly, "Who in the world can compare to Brother Yuan?" Yuan Yueze's lips twitched into a bitter smile, but he remained silent.
The surrounding Jiangmo tribesmen cheered and applauded. In their eyes, Yuan Yueze had not lost, but rather won gloriously. He had single-handedly killed thousands of Jinhun soldiers and escaped unscathed from an encirclement of tens of thousands of tiger-like enemies; this was enough to become an immortal legend and myth passed down through generations. The city gates opened, and Jiangmo generals such as Kesubie and Geyuan came out to greet him, thanking him with excited expressions. Geyuan glanced at the Jinhun army, whose ranks had been restored and which were retreating towards Meiji Lake. He immediately ordered the surrounding area to be strictly guarded, while he and his generals escorted Yuan Yueze back to the palace.
The Longquan Street under curfew was exceptionally deserted, with only groups of armed soldiers coming and going. Yuan Yueze listened to the words of gratitude around him, muttering a few words here and there. When he heard that Shan Meixian had arrived that evening and saved Xiao Longquan, his spirits lifted, and a strong sense of longing welled up within him.
They arrived at the palace in moments, where Shan Meixian, accompanied by Zong Xianghua, stood guard outside the gate.
Shan Meixian was still dressed in her simple white gauze dress, her face bare of makeup. Her alluring yet serene and otherworldly气质 (qi zhi - a kind of refined elegance/aura) was captivating. Upon seeing Yuan Yueze and his entourage, her long, delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she rushed to his side first. They exchanged a knowing glance, and Shan Meixian helped him to a side room to rest.
The Longquan generals, not daring to disturb them, offered a few words of thanks and then went off to attend to their tasks. Ba Feng Han also went to visit Ren Sha.
When only the couple remained in the room, Yuan Yueze wrapped his arms tightly around Shan Meixian's slender waist, and Shan Meixian wrapped her arms around Yuan Yueze's back, her jade-like fingers gently stroking him. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes, not uttering a single word.
The world seemed to stand still.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, yet also felt like an instant. Yuan Yueze trembled as he raised his right hand, attempting to wipe away the two lines of clear tears that streamed down Shan Meixian's radiant face. He barely managed to raise his arm halfway before it fell limply to the ground with a "plop." His focused gaze began to unfocus, a trickle of blood flowed from his nostrils, and then he collapsed limply to the ground.
Shan Meixian held him tightly, her jade-like face tenderly stroking his long hair. Her jade-like countenance was serene, yet a chilling aura suddenly flashed within her, sending shivers down one's spine.
Later that night, Shang Xiufang heard that Yuan Yueze had easily escaped from the encirclement of ten thousand men. She felt the outcome might not be as optimistic as it appeared. Two hours had passed since she received the news. While secretly blaming Yuan Yueze for being too considerate, knowing she didn't want to hear anything about the war, she inquired about the way and, upon learning that Shan Meixian had also arrived in Longquan, felt relieved and went to her door herself.
As she reached the door, Shan Meixian's soft, melodious, deep, and magnetic voice came from inside the room: "Xiufang, come in!"
Shang Xiufang pushed open the door and saw Yuan Yueze fast asleep on the large bed, his head resting on Shan Meixian's arm. The scene made Shang Xiufang blush slightly, and she immediately turned away, saying, "Since my husband is asleep, Xiufang will wake him up in the morning."
Shan Meixian lifted the covers and said, "Xiufang, come here to talk. He's clinging to me so tightly, I can't let go." Shang Xiufang looked over and saw that although Yuan Yueze was fast asleep, his arm... He held Shan Meixian tightly by the waist. His body had already been cleaned and wiped, and holding her like this showed how much effort she must have put in. He nodded gently, his pretty face slightly flushed, and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.
The two women briefly explained their situations. Shang Xiaofang's beautiful eyes reddened, and she gently stroked Yuan Yueze's tired, peacefully sleeping face, whispering, "My husband strives for a world of harmony, yet he doesn't take any credit. Who knows how much he's suffered!"
Shan Meixian smiled slightly, patted Yuan Yueze's back a few times, and said softly, "What we do isn't for others to know or praise. Xiufang, you can sleep here tonight." In a hazy dream, Shang
Xiufang seemed to see her pregnant mother reborn, a familiar sense of filial piety welling up within her. She quickly removed her outer garment, slipped into the covers, and nestled comfortably against Shan Meixian's arm, basking in the warm atmosphere.
When Yuan Yueze awoke, dawn was breaking outside the window. He felt his mind clear, his body relaxed, all fatigue gone, and his energy abundant. Beside him, Shan Meixian breathed softly and evenly, sleeping soundly. Shang Xiufang curled up in her arms, a faint smile still lingering on her lips, her expression utterly captivating.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Yuan Yueze frowned, only relaxing after a long while, a look of realization dawning on his face.
Shan Meixian opened her hazy eyes, smiling gently as she whispered, "My husband has finally come to his senses."
Yuan Yueze leaned closer, rubbing his face against her delicate, smooth skin, and nibbled at her ear, saying, "My dear wife, I've missed you terribly!" "
Just this one sentence was enough to ignite the most primal urges suppressed within them.
In the midst of their whispered kisses, Yuan Yueze silently pressed his lips to Shan Meixian's. Shan Meixian responded passionately, not wanting to wake Shang Xiufang. Their movements were almost entirely silent; that silent, yet powerful, lovemaking was even more captivating and moving. At the peak of their passion, their bodies trembled simultaneously, only stopping after a moment, their bodies still tightly intertwined—only in this way could they express their longing for each other.
Shan Meixian's breath hadn't yet caught up, and her already flushed face suddenly turned even redder. She slapped Yuan Yueze, who had buried his head in her chest, and gave him a
meaningful look. Yuan Yueze understood, slid off her, and pulled Shang Xiufang into a tight embrace, chuckling, "Good morning, Xiufang!" Shang
Xiufang's delicate body trembled, so ashamed that she buried her head deep in Yuan Yueze's bare shoulders, not lifting anything.
She had actually been awake for a while, feigning sleep out of shyness, but she hadn't escaped Shan Meixian's ears.
Shan Meixian didn't react much, but over the years, she had become accustomed to Yuan Yueze's various outrageous acts. Although Shang Xiufang was worldly-wise, this situation still left her utterly embarrassed, wishing she could disappear into a hole.
Yuan Yueze gently brushed her pink neck with his lips, unleashing a tender and provocative display. In no time, the talented Shang Xiufang melted into his arms as if all her strength had been drained. She
didn't even last half a cup of tea before, lost in passion, her little mouth uttering incoherent cries, and was sent to ecstasy.
Yuan Yueze held the two beautiful and alluring bodies, engaging in intimate conversation with them.
That same day, after Yuan Yueze departed, Shan Meixian also set off for Yangzhou, and then discovered a large shipment of weapons being transported at the mouth of the Yangtze River. On the Ming Sect's ships, Shan Meixian boarded alone and met with Shang Gong, who was personally escorting the cargo. Shan Meixian accused Shang Gong of colluding with a cult, which would only plunge the Dongming Sect into an abyss of destruction. Shang Gong's long-suppressed anger and hatred for the murder of his son were ignited. Mi Nongren ambushed Shan Meixian, but Shan Meixian easily defeated them. To save his life, Shang Gong had no choice but to hand over the power of the Dongming Sect as a condition. Shan Meixian then let him go. Over the years, the Shan clan had suffered greatly from the suppression of the Shang clan. Mei Xian was fully supportive of regaining power. After questioning, Shan Mei Xian learned that the goods were to be smuggled along the Yangtze River to Chengdu for trade with Li Jiancheng, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. Shan Mei Xian decisively ordered a large quantity of military supplies to be transported back to the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army via Yangzhou, while she personally led two ships of elite troops northward along the coast to support Yuan Yueze. This led to her rescue of Xiaolongquan last night.
Finally, Shan Mei Xian added, "I also brought eight of the latest defensive crossbows, which I can give to the Jiangmo people."
Yuan Yueze lowered his head and kissed her forehead, exclaiming, "Having a fairy wife at home, life is so wonderful!"
Shan Mei Xian simply smiled slightly.
After what had just happened, the two women became much closer. Shang Xiufang, having calmed down, also admired Shan Mei Xian's various skillful and thorough decisions. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked in confusion, "Aunt Mei Xian just now saw that my husband had figured things out. What did he figure out?" Yuan Yueze chuckled mischievously, "So Xiufang was already awake at that time!"
The two women blushed simultaneously, and after a few playful "massages" and teasing moments, Yuan Yueze stopped and said, "What I've figured out is why I couldn't break through the Heavenly Human limit even when surrounded by the Four Great Holy Monks. "
Shan Meixian explained, "Does Xiufang know the difference between innate true qi and acquired true qi?" Although Shang Xiufang had received the secret techniques, she herself had no interest in martial arts, so she abandoned what she learned after only a little. However, Shan Meixian's question was common. Shang Xiufang, of course, had some understanding of this, and nodded upon hearing it, saying, "Xiufang has also read Taoist books. They say that when a person is in the womb, the fetus is placed in amniotic fluid and cannot breathe through its mouth and nose. It relies entirely on the umbilical cord to receive the mother's essence. At that time, the Ren and Du meridians are open, and the innate qi circulates through the Ren and Du meridians in a small cycle. After the baby is born, the connection with the mother is severed, and the acquired qi enters through the mouth and nose. The Ren and Du meridians gradually close, until they are completely blocked, making it difficult to absorb even a trace of innate qi. Although the innate true qi still fills the space between heaven and earth, it is difficult to absorb it. Therefore, what Taoist practitioners cultivate is nothing more than the way of returning to the origin. First, one must open the Ren and Du meridians to absorb the essence of heaven and earth, which is called 'seizing the essence of heaven and earth,' becoming a fetus in the universe's womb. But the ability to absorb..." The quantity also varies, depending on the cultivator's aptitude and cultivation method. A slight difference will cause the innate energy to become acquired, mundane energy. Moreover, the cultivation process is arduous and difficult, so those who cultivate innate energy are extremely rare, becoming highly skilled masters. "
Simply put, acquired energy is acquired through deliberate effort, limited by physique, and can be improved through diligent practice. Innate energy can only be obtained unintentionally, through effortless action, seizing the essence of heaven and earth, absorbing the inexhaustible power of nature. This is why the innate secret realm is so precious and rare."
Shang Xiufang looked at the two with suspicion, her large, expressive eyes seeming to ask what this had to do with Yuan Yueze's ability to break through to the Celestial Realm.
Yuan Yueze explained, “Innate true qi circulates endlessly, inexhaustible, but its levels vary, and the cultivation process is a long and arduous one. Last night, when I was exhausted by the Jin Ruanjun, I wondered: could it be that my innate true qi level is insufficient? But that doesn't seem likely. When I woke up this morning, I suddenly realized…”
Shan Meixian interjected, “What my husband understands is that our true qi is currently between true and false innate. True innate refers to the pure and refined qi from before the beginning of the universe to the chaotic state, while false innate refers to the pure and refined qi after the formation of the universe. The difference in level is obvious, and the reason for all this is precisely my husband's strange qi cultivation method.” "We've refined all the primordial energy of the acquired universe, but we still use the methods of circulating energy from the acquired universe to use this energy, so naturally we can't achieve the best results. Last night, my husband was exhausted by the Turkic army, which is the best solution."
Yuan Yueze said, "Because Yu Yan cultivates the Demon Seed Technique and the Heavenly Demon Technique, which originate from the acquired universe, she was able to take a half-step towards returning to the original power from which all things in the world originate so quickly. From today onwards, we must study this carefully and try to find a route that is truly suitable for our true energy."
Shan Meixian nodded slightly, while Shang Xiufang nodded in a half-hearted manner.
She also called out the other women, who, after hearing about Yuan Yueze's experience last night, wanted to stay by his side no matter what, which gave him a headache. Fortunately, with the eldest sister Shan Meixian there, the women all agreed to stay with Shang Xiufang in the palace for the time being to relieve her boredom.
Yuan Yueze suddenly remembered Shan Meixian's report about the Black Ruthless Army infiltrating the Golden Ruthless Army to ambush Xiaolongquan. Feeling uneasy, he instructed Shan Xianjing to leave the domain after dinner and scout in the direction of Tuli. Due to the Golden Ruthless Army's approach, Xiaolongquan's connections with the west and south had been severed.
Suddenly, Zong Xianghua's voice came from outside, calling them to have breakfast. The three got up, dressed, and the group hurried out.
Zong Xianghua curiously looked Yuan Yueze up and down, saying, "Young Master's physique is admirable. You recovered so well in just one night. Please, everyone!"
Yuan Yueze returned the greeting and thanked her.
Zong Xianghua wasn't surprised that Shang Xiufang was also there, as the higher-ups already knew about their relationship.
The group first went to greet Ba Feng Han and Ren Sha. Ba Feng Han had recovered 80% of his fighting strength in one night, while Ren Sha, perhaps due to overexertion, could only barely get out of bed. Seeing his silly grin as Qiqige supported him, everyone chuckled.
After breakfast, Shan Xianjing slipped out of the domain alone. Yuan Yueze, Shan Meixian, and Ba Fenghan, accompanied by Ge Yuan and others, went to the city wall to observe.
Jie Li's sarcastic remark had now become a reality. After last night's battle, Yuan Yueze's status in Longquan had risen to a new level. Many people gathered on Zhuque Street, watching them and their group head south with admiration.
As they spoke, the group arrived at the city wall. Ge Yuan praised as they walked, "The giant crossbows that Madam brought are exquisitely crafted and will relieve a lot of our pressure."
Yuan Yueze looked over and saw that the Jiangmo warriors had already installed eight heavy crossbows last night, four each in the south and west of the domain. These crossbows were the latest product of the Dongming Sect, capable of firing seven giant arrows in succession, with a minimum range of one step. Although they were inconvenient to move, they were the best for defending the domain.
Yuan Yueze wondered if Master Lu would be able to develop a more technologically advanced crossbow. Seeing Shan Meixian looking around and slightly frowning, Ge Yuan asked, "Madam, have you noticed anything amiss?" Shan Meixian pondered, "Longquan's defenses are too weak. In terms of sheer sturdiness, it's not even as good as the Central Plains' Miling."
Ke Subie awkwardly added, "The enemy's advance is overwhelming, and we haven't had time to reinforce the walls. Otherwise, we could hold out for a year or two."
Shan Meixian nodded, "The key to defending the territory is unity of purpose, a willingness to die for the cause." "If we return home, then we must first ensure proper organization and make the best use of our manpower; secondly, we must have sufficient defenses; thirdly, we must have ample food supplies; and finally, we must use offensive tactics to counterattack. Our only weakness right now is that although our city walls are not high or thick enough, we can alleviate the pressure through counterattacks. Otherwise, if the enemy manages to breach our defenses, we will be doomed."
Yuan Yueze looked into the distance. On the boundless Meituo Plain, the Jin army was well-organized, much more dispersed than the night before. Their camps were densely packed across the land, and near each camp, people were busy cutting down trees and building various tools for attacking the defenses.
Last night was his most miserable night. For the first time, he realized how insignificant an individual is in the face of war. Unless one's cultivation reaches the level of Xiang Yu, no one can withstand an army of tigers and wolves as surging as a vast ocean. Having personally experienced the ferocity of the Jin army, they knew that even in fifty years, the Central Plains would not be able to train such a formidable cavalry force. If not for the fortified Yuchi (a strategically important area), the Central Plains would have long been trampled underfoot by the iron hooves of the Turks.
Ge Yuan laughed, "Robbing bandits is our forte. Jieli, the biggest bandit leader on the grasslands, is finally going to suffer."
The others immediately understood his meaning and laughed.

Chapter 140: Defending the Lonely City.
Yuan Yueze sighed, "It's a pity the surprise attack didn't work."
The others understood his meaning. Judging from Jieli's scheme last night, they could deduce that Jieli was not like Tie Fuyou or Abaojia, who underestimated the enemy; on the contrary, he had thoroughly understood Yuan Yueze's strategy. Ke Subie and the other two felt helpless. Robbing bandits relied on surprise attacks; if the surprise attack was useless, the robbing bandits wouldn't be very effective either. Thinking of this, the two looked at Shan Meixian.
As if sensing their thoughts, Shan Meixian shook her head and said, "Based on my husband's description, with my current strength, I'm afraid it would be difficult to successfully carry out the 'decapitation plan'."
Then, glancing at the two people with disappointed expressions, she smiled and said, "Small-scale surprise attacks are indeed unlikely to be effective anymore, but we can change to a large-scale attack, led by my husband and Feng Han. Which Jinruan Army warrior wouldn't be afraid? If we can hold out until the news of Tuli is brought back, or even until the Empress arrives, taking Tuli's head from among ten thousand troops will be as easy as taking something out of a garment."
After Zhu Yuyan's battle in Chang'an, she took a half-step on the "Immortal Path" and became the leader of the three Grandmasters. Since Shan Meixian had said this, Ke Subie and the other person nodded silently. Right now, they could only hold on and wait for the arrival of these two powerful reinforcements.
Ge Yuan smiled wryly, "At this time of year in previous years, Longquan would always be experiencing torrential rain, but this year it's been sunny and clear. Otherwise, the initiative wouldn't have slipped through our fingers like this."
Bai Ziting chose to set up the project in April mainly because April is the rainiest season in Northeast China, which is advantageous for defense rather than offense. If he were still alive today, I wonder what he would think if he saw this scene.
Dan Meixian looked around and said, "The trenches are Longquan's main defense. If I'm not mistaken, the Jin army won't launch an attack for the time being due to insufficient siege equipment. We can send people down to the area to dig the trenches deeper and wider, and even dig some hidden pits within our arrow range. The stones that General Ge brought can be temporarily used to build fortifications next to the catapults, at least to defend against the first few waves of enemy arrows, without affecting their other uses. I have some experience in training soldiers; I just spotted Captain Zong along the way who seemed to be..." "Recruit new soldiers, General Ge. Could you take me to see them one by one?" Ge Ai immediately nodded. He wasn't unaware of these things, but the number of people available to devise strategies was pitifully small, and one person simply couldn't manage everything. However, this Lady Dongming was incredibly capable, her ideas and strategies far more comprehensive than Yuan Yueze's, and she was also very meticulous. For example, Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han completely missed such subtle movements on the street.
Ke Su and the other two went down to direct the troops, while Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han stood side by side on the city wall, continuing to gaze into the distance. Gong Juri observed closely and saw the golden banners fluttering in the breeze of the grasslands atop distant mountains. The vast Turkic cavalry, like a surging ocean, engulfed the boundless plains. The Golden Army was divided into numerous squads, which in turn formed larger units, covering every strategic point on the vast grasslands, creating a formidable net that enveloped Helian Fortress. Their imposing military might was enough to strike fear into the heart.
Ba Feng Han asked, "Brother Yuan, having personally experienced the power of mounted archery on the grasslands, what are your thoughts?" Yuan Yueze pondered for a moment and said, "Sun Bin once said, 'Great cavalry can separate and abandon, disperse and assemble: they can travel a hundred li to reach their destination and a thousand li to arrive, moving in and out without interruption, hence the name "soldiers of separation and abandonment."' He also said, 'The ten principles are: 1. Meet the enemy upon their arrival; 2. Attack their weaknesses and defeat them; 3. Pursue and annihilate their scattered forces; 4. Attack the enemy from the rear, causing them to flee; 5. Deprive them of their food supplies and cut off their military routes; 6. Destroy their passes and bridges; 7. Catch them off guard and strike their unprepared troops; 8. Attack their laxity and strike them unexpectedly; 9. Burn their stockpiles and empty their markets; 10. Loot their fields and capture their sons and brothers.' These are the ten advantages of cavalry warfare. The steppe cavalry truly deserves the description 'swift as an arrow, fierce as thunder and lightning, and swift as wind and rain.' The cavalry of the Central Plains is far inferior in quality." As he spoke, Ke Subie had already directed the groups of people who had spontaneously come to help to begin their busy work on and around the city walls.
Ba Feng Han nodded and said, "This is due to the influence of natural conditions. The harsh natural environment and backward living standards of the grassland people have made those of us who survived natural selection more courageous, brave, and resilient than people from other places. On the other hand, the conditions in the Central Plains are much better in all aspects. Hey! It's somewhat similar to the Qin and Chu states at the end of the Central Plains war."
He paused and continued, "The key to plains warfare is nothing more than 'swiftness and speed, striking first and arriving first.' Sun Bin's ten advantages of cavalry warfare explain the role of cavalry surprise attacks and charges. They can strike directly at the enemy's weak points, pursue them after they have won, and attack them unexpectedly. They can also encircle the enemy's rear and disrupt their rear. And Jie Li's Jinhun Army's cavalry archers are the strongest cavalry regiment on the grasslands. They come like fire and go like the wind, making them impossible to defend against. If our performance last night hadn't severely damaged their morale, they probably would have attacked long ago, and it wouldn't be like this now." "Prepare other offensive equipment with the same caution."
Yuan Yueze laughed loudly, "Last night was the best time to attack us, but Jieli was too cautious and missed such a good opportunity."
Ba Feng Han also laughed, "The more soldiers one has, the weaker one's strength; the more supplies one has, the poorer one's eyes become. Although this principle cannot be applied to Jieli, their main source of strength comes from sweeping across the grasslands. Now that they are stationed here, the consumption is very high, so naturally they will not fight a protracted war. Today they are focusing all their efforts on building offensive equipment, instead of sending people out to intimidate us repeatedly. This shows a glimpse of Jieli's mentality. On the battlefield, not only must we fight with courage and strength, but also with wisdom and strategy. In fact, the initiative is still with us."
Sun Tzu's Art of War says, "Warfare is based on deception." In other words, strategy is a kind of clever deception. After accurately grasping the objective situation, the strength and mentality of the enemy and ourselves, we can "plan before we act," "show weakness when we are strong," and "show distance when we are near" to deceive, trick, and bluff the enemy before defeating them. Ba Feng Han's words deeply touched upon the essential principles of military strategy.
Yuan Yueze looked around. Soldiers were already building temporary bunkers on the city walls. These rudimentary fortifications only had holes for crossbows to fire arrows. Although not sturdy, they could withstand the first few waves of enemy arrows and could be easily toppled and used as stones, maximizing their effectiveness. The moat below the city walls was being deepened and widened. The excavated soil was piled in front of the moat and filled with stones, forming a low earthen wall about half a zhang high, coated with oil. In front of it, two rows of horse traps were being dug, which indirectly increased Longquan's own defensive capabilities and could also be used to eliminate a small number of enemy vanguard troops. The best part was that these temporary defensive measures did not waste much time. With enough manpower, they could be completed in an hour or two.
Jieli noticed the unusual activity below Longquan and dispatched the Great Shao army to demonstrate, but Longquan's morale not only recovered but reached new heights. While those below continued their work regarding the Jin army's actions, those above tested several giant crossbows brought by Shan Meixian. Occasionally, Yuan Yueze and Ba Fenghan would move stones and fire arrows, taking down many Turkic warriors, eliciting shouts and cheers from the Longquan walls.
The two remained on the walls, even having lunch there, mingling with the surrounding Jiangmo warriors.
Ke Subie personally delivered the wine, and after the two drank several cups together, Ba Fenghan looked into the distance and said, "At the latest by dusk, Jieli will launch the first large-scale attack."
Yuan Yueze and the nearby Jiangmo warriors looked down and saw that most of the trees on the Meijie Plain had been cut down. The Jinhun Army had mobilized the entire army, pruning branches and removing leaves. After leaving only a few feet of tree trunks, they sharpened the tips and tied six branches together in a row with ropes or wooden nails. Some warriors had also split open giant trees that had grown for many years to make large wooden shields. These makeshift shields were extremely useful for attacking the area, effectively reducing the damage caused by arrows and stones from the defenders.
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly and invited a Jiangmo warrior to see the results of Shan Meixian and Ge Yuan's training. Since
half of the regular army had been sent to guard Xiaolongquan and the north of the city, the temporarily recruited fresh troops had become the main force of Longquan.
Shan Meixian borrowed from the "Strategic Formation" written by He Liangchen, a guerrilla general during the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty, and further improved upon Lu Miaozi's self-created Plum Blossom Formation, devising a formation suitable for these new troops. The new army consisted of more than 10,000 men, and Shan Meixian divided them into ten groups, each with 1,000 men, each led by a lieutenant general. The overall commander was Ge Yuan, and two honorary positions were assigned to Yuan Yueze and Ge Yuan. Just as
Yuan Yueze, Ba Fenghan, and Ge Yuan were preparing to lead their main group out to harass the enemy, Ren Sha, who was in high spirits and showed no signs of weakness at breakfast, arrived and requested to join the battle.
Yuan Yueze laughed and scolded, "You scoundrel, do you think your sister-in-law is a free He Shi Bi jade?!"
Ren Jun's face turned red, then he resolutely said, "My sisters-in-law don't want their elder brother to be in danger, and besides, I want to do my part."
Ba Feng Han said, "I think you want to find an opportunity to kill Jie Li and win Qi Qi Ge's favor."
Ren Jun's face turned even redder, and the people around him burst into laughter.
The west gate opened wide, and more than 5,000 people rushed out.
This operation was well planned. Although Yuan Yueze and his group were still at the forefront, they were much more tactful and no longer reckless. Moreover, their main purpose was to destroy the enemy's attack equipment. By the time the scattered enemies surrounded them, Yuan Yueze and his group had already destroyed some of the equipment, retreated quickly, and then launched a surprise attack. "
I retreat so that the enemy does not know where I am defending; I advance so that the enemy does not know where I am attacking. This is the principle."
The four-volume, fifty-thousand-word treatise *Zhen Ji* emphasizes the importance of "opportunity in battle," advocating waiting for the right moment to act, consolidating strength and guiding the tide, and employing flexible tactics. Its core strategic ideas were quickly adopted by the generals of the Luoyang Army, the Young Marshal's Army, and the Song Dynasty's army. Yuan Yueze greatly admired it, and almost all the military strategies he adopted after arriving in Longquan were improvements upon this book.
In just one afternoon, the newly recruited soldiers suffered only six hundred casualties. Not only did they, under the leadership of Yuan Yueze and others, wipe out several scattered Jin troops, but they also destroyed most of the Turkic forces attacking the western frontier. When the news reached the Khan's camp, Jieli was furious and cursed them profusely.
As the sun dipped below the western horizon, its rays swept across the boundless grasslands, casting a pale red glow over the verdant Meiji Plain. A gentle breeze rustled the surface, creating a scene reminiscent of an embroidered scroll, yet fraught with hidden dangers.
Yuan Yueze and his men ascended the southwestern corner of the city wall to assess the situation.
"Pa pa pa!"
Before anyone could speak, the deafening roar of Turkic war drums echoed from all directions.
Ba Feng Han, gazing at the fiery sunset, calmly remarked, "Morning glow, wind; evening glow, rain. A heavy rain is certain within two days. Jieli has been forced into a corner and has no choice but to attack."
The generals of Longquan remained solemn, but not panicked. Yuan Yueze and his men had demonstrated their strength, and they firmly believed that as long as they were there, Longquan would not fall.
When belief reaches a fever pitch, the human spirit can control everything.
The last rays of the setting sun disappeared, and the great battle was imminent.
The mountains and plains were ablaze with the lights of the Turkic army. The Turkic forces, arrayed in perfect formation, had amassed a large force in a square formation on the southern half of the western border. At the forefront, several thousand men held massive wooden shields, each as tall as a person and with sharpened bases, capable of being driven into the ground to deflect arrows and stones, protecting several battering rams ramming against the city walls and gates. On the flanks, warriors carried rows of wooden rafts, each about two zhang wide, topped with lanterns that illuminated the surrounding area. Behind them were large numbers of ranged attackers wielding powerful bows, followed by Turkic warriors carrying long weapons such as hooks, spears, and halberds. The
sheer force was awe-inspiring. To the rear of this formidable army, several hundred Turkic infantrymen carried hoes and shovels, seemingly there to clear obstacles and fill in pits filled with sharpened blades.
This arrangement suggests that whether Longquan launches an offensive or defends the city, they will be unable to withstand the enemy's trapping tactics.
Yuan Yueze noticed that the shores of Meije Lake were completely dark and still, and said, "Jieli is no fool; he understands that cavalry is of little use in attacking the region, so he has converted most of his forces into infantry. Does anyone think he might have laid an ambush near Meije Lake?" Ge Yuan pondered, "Jieli knows that we are unlikely to defend to the death. If a large number of fresh troops suddenly emerge from there while we are launching an offensive, they will surely break through our strong defenses and may even attack all eight regions in one fell swoop." Ba Fenghan said
, "Jieli's formation is too simple; there are probably other ambushes waiting for us.
The war drums from outside the region are getting more and more urgent, clearly... " The enemy was about to launch an attack.
The war drums suddenly stopped, and a deafening battle cry erupted from the Jin's fierce army ranks. The first rank of enemy soldiers began to charge forward, pausing every hundred paces, until they reached a few paces beyond the range of the giant crossbows, at which point they ceased their advance.
Simultaneously, two blood-red flames suddenly exploded in the sky above the northern and eastern regions, illuminating the earth.
Ke Subie and the others' expressions changed slightly. These fireworks and rockets signaled that Xiaolongquan and the northern region were under attack simultaneously, demonstrating that Jieli not only had the ambition to wipe out Xiaolongquan in one fell swoop, but also the capability.
Yuan Yueze remained calm and coldly said, "The two sides have the Immortal and Sect Guard Chiefs to take care of them; everyone need not worry." Before he could finish speaking ,
horns sounded again from the front, and the Turkic warriors roared, their horses neighing as they launched their general attack. The drums thundered, and the battle cries shook the heavens.
Yuan Yueze flicked his wrist, and his evil sword shot out like lightning. Pointing the sword at the horizon, he shouted, "If we don't attack now, when will we?" He
was the first to charge down the city wall, leaping to the south gate.
Ba Feng Han sneered and followed Ren Sha. The moment they landed, the magnificent Taklamakan and another horse were already waiting beneath the wide-open gate. Without pausing, the two galloped forward, guarding the west gate.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The long-range crossbows on the city wall began firing from their high vantage point, unleashing a barrage of massive arrows at the enemy ranks. These arrows, after a hasty discussion by Ge Yuan and others, had their tips ignited before firing; though outnumbered, they could use fire to breach the enemy's wooden shields. Sure enough, the enemy's wooden shields instantly burst into flames, slightly hindering their advance.
At this moment, nearly ten thousand troops had gathered outside the gates of Longquan City. Yuan Yueze and Ge Yuan guarded the south, while Ba Fenghan and Ren Sha guarded the west.
With a roar from Ge Yuan, arrows rained down from above and below, but due to the loss of some of their wooden shields... Protected by shields, the Turkic vanguard, forced to advance through the mud, fell one after another, riddled with arrows. Some cavalrymen even fell into pits filled with sharp blades.
The drums of Longquan City resounded, and Ge Yuan gave another order. The warriors, their blood boiling, charged forward in formation, protected by the shield bearers in the front, fearlessly fighting their way through the enemy lines.
The two armies finally clashed.
For a moment, the shouts of battle and the sound of arrows piercing the air were incessant, even drowning out the drumbeats. The vanguard, Ba Feng Han, made no movement, yet the sound of his bowstring snapped. A powerful arrow shot out, flying at a speed barely visible, covering a distance of a hundred paces with lightning speed, striking the leader of the Jin army squarely. The Jiangmo warriors behind him immediately erupted in a deafening roar.
Ren Sha, not to be outdone, also unleashed a powerful arrow from his iron bow, covering hundreds of paces and striking a Turkic warrior in the lead ranks. The warrior was struck in the chest, screaming as he fell from his horse. The Jiangmo warriors burst into cheers and applause, then quickly nocked their arrows, and fired them into the air, each aiming at the charging enemy. Despite the many of their comrades already fallen to the arrows of the Turkic warriors, the remaining Turkic warriors, displaying their ferocity, continued their relentless charge.
In close combat, tens of thousands plunged into battle, leaving corpses strewn across the battlefield and rivers of blood.
Yuan Yueze, with his left hand gripping the scabbard behind his back, strode forward, his right hand flashing the longsword with a seemingly unpredictable, offensive yet defensive stance, instantly felling over a dozen Turkic infantrymen. The Turkic warriors who witnessed his attack were mostly stunned, for his steps were almost suspended in mid-air, as if he were floating on clouds, yet every step he took... --With each step, the grassland seemed to tremble, the scene eerily strange.
Yuan Yueze's mind was clear and transparent, an endless silence filling his heart. Since understanding the characteristics of his true energy this morning, he had forgotten all mental techniques except for the sword technique he created out of pure emotion. At this moment, his swordplay was completely natural, inspired by the cold wind, sparks, or even the galloping warhorses.
Ba Fenghan, Ren Sha, and Ge Yuan all took the lead, attacking anyone they saw, cutting through the enemy formation . The disorganized enemy was routed.
Suddenly, two figures appeared in mid-air, a flurry of staff shadows and spear formations attacking Yuan Yueze and Ge Yuan respectively. Yuan Yueze smiled slightly; he clearly sensed that the staff shadows were merely a feint, concealing their true killing intent. He pointed his longsword diagonally and said, "Haven't you, the Great Ming Venerable Sect, suffered enough at my hands?" With a muffled groan, the staff shadows vanished, leaving only a dark, cloud-like shadow, which slashed down.
"Clang!" The evil sword struck the tip of Yuan Chu's staff heavily.
Sensing the powerful, continuous true energy like the Yangtze River that Yuan Chu was unleashing, Yuan Chu immediately retreated sharply, daring not to linger. He said, "Benefactor, you are facing imminent calamity. This humble monk has come to perform one last ritual for you." Suddenly, even louder battle cries erupted from the flanks of the Turkic
army. Multiple cavalry units, each a hundred men, brandishing broadswords and drawing bows, charged forward with terrifying force.
Ba Feng Han's prediction was correct; the enemies on both flanks were one of Jie Li's backup plans.
Ge Yuan on the other side had already been entangled by Shen Mo Huan, and now only the soldiers could fight back. Anyone could guess the dire situation on Longquan's side.
Yuan Yue Ze laughed loudly, "I don't care what kind of monk you are, you are no match for me!" With that, he leaped up, hovering above him, his longsword attacking him mercilessly.
In fact, Yuan Chu was by no means weak; he could even be on par with Yuan Yueze from yesterday. However, Yuan Yueze had already demonstrated his abnormal physique and resilience yesterday, leaving an indelible and terrifying shadow in Yuan Chu's heart. Moreover, Yuan Yueze had suddenly gained some enlightenment today and improved further. Through their sword strikes just now, Yuan Chu clearly felt that his opponent was even stronger than last night, making it difficult for him to maintain his composure.
At their level of martial arts, no one could defeat the other in terms of techniques; the contest was about spirit, will, cultivation, and strategy. The
clanging of swords and staffs clashing rang out incessantly. Yuan Yueze's sword net brought with it a chilling aura that permeated an area of several dozen feet, causing the surrounding Turkic and Jiangmo warriors to tremble and their nerves to the brink of collapse.
Without time to marvel at the astonishing level of his opponent's cultivation, Yuan Chu used all his strength to barely block.
After a final, crisp sound, Yan E tumbled backward, landing and instantly shooting towards Shen Mohuan, ignoring Yuan Chu. Yuan Chu, who
had instantly blocked Yuan Yueze's eighteen sword strikes, stood frozen, his clothes soaked, blood gushing from his mouth, nose, and ears, trembling violently, a stark contrast to the surrounding scene of life-or-death struggle.
His short, stout body suddenly began to sway, then he coughed up a mouthful of blood and swiftly retreated from the battlefield.
Shen Mohuan, on the other side, let out a scream as Yuan Yueze cleaved him in two at the waist.
He exchanged a glance with Ge Yuan, and the two charged back into the battle. Yuan Yueze's expression was cold, but he was lamenting that Yuan Chu's life was not meant to end there. If it weren't for saving Ge Yuan, who was about to die under Shen Mohuan's spear, Yuan Yueze would never have reduced his attack from thirty sword strikes to eighteen.
Having received prior instructions, the Jiangmo warriors targeted the Turkic warriors' horses, felling them one after another. The once-mighty cavalrymen were reduced to scattered hooves, and those following behind, exhausted, stumbled and fell, unable to maintain their charging formation and momentum. Many Turkic warriors perished under the chaotic trampling.
Blood flowed like rivers on the Meijie Plain, and corpses piled high. Both sides, however, showed no signs of slowing their advance, their shouts rising higher and higher like a torrent sweeping across the land, clashing and fighting fiercely in a brutal manner.
After nearly five hours of fighting, the first wave of Jin's fierce army attack was finally repelled.
Although the Jiangmo warriors displayed formidable offensive power fueled by strong confidence, fighting with reckless abandon, their losses were still exceptionally heavy, with nearly half killed or wounded, and everyone utterly exhausted. While the Jin's losses were many times greater, their numbers outnumbered the Jiangmo army by nearly ten times, making these losses insignificant.
Even so, the invincible image of Yuan Yueze and his men, standing tall like gods of war, was deeply imprinted in the hearts of every Turkic warrior.
Before Longquan could even catch its breath, the Turkic war drums rose again.
After the first wave of enemies retreated, over ten thousand enemy troops surged from the direction of Meiyi Lake. Under the cover of wooden shields, rafts, arrow-blocking carts, hull-mounted carts, and battering rams, they attacked from the left, right, and center, launching a second wave of attack.
The city gates were now wide open, and civilians spontaneously came out to transport the severely wounded and dying warriors back into the city for treatment. Yuan Yueze smiled at Ge Yuan, who was still recovering, and said, "Jieli's first wave of troops failed to reach the city gates and walls, suffering a great loss of face. The second wave of troops should have been lying in ambush near Meijie. Now that they've been brought out, it's clear that Jieli intends to capture Longquan before dawn."
Ge Yuan raised his arms and shouted, "Defend Longquan to the death! Jieli will surely be defeated!"
The warriors who still had fighting spirit were inspired and shouted back.
Just as Yuan Yueze and Ge Yuan were launching a sneak attack, Ba Feng Han and Ren Sha were also attacked by Tunyu Valley and Keda Zhi.
Looking at the rapidly approaching Jin Hen Army, Ren Sha smiled bitterly, "I wonder how long we can hold out."
Ba Feng Han looked up at the sky and pointed to the floating clouds that had appeared in the sky, saying, "Cotton clouds, rain is coming soon." A heavy rain is coming, and Jieli has also taken this into account, which is why he has ordered such a crazy attack.
They looked at each other, laughed, stood up, picked up their weapons, and charged forward.
"Boom! " "
As the defeat of the Longquan army became increasingly apparent, lightning first ripped through the sky in the distance, illuminating everyone's eyes. Then, a deafening clap of thunder followed, and suddenly the sky transformed into a turbulent band of black clouds, spreading across the sky above Longquan. Amidst the raging wind and lightning, torrential rain poured down, instantly extinguishing all the torches.
The rain swept across the boundless expanse of water, simultaneously engulfing the entire Longquan plain. The violent lightning roared and howled within the low-pressure, thick black rain clouds, possessing the power to shake mountains and shatter the earth, demonstrating that only nature itself is the master of the universe, and how insignificant and trivial humanity is under the wrath of such violent forces. The deafening thunder,
accompanied by the raging wind and rain, completely drowned out the cries of men and the neighing of horses. In this chaotic, indistinct, and nightmarish atmosphere, everything became blurred, a vast expanse of sky and earth, like the depths of a nightmare..." Under the torrential rain, the once-orderly Turkic ranks were swept away, their flags fluttering wildly, utterly routed.

Chapter 141: A Dead End .
Yuan Yueze and the others, feeling a sense of impending doom, immediately organized their remaining forces to retreat back to Longquan Domain.
Although the Jin's fierce army was in complete disarray, they pursued relentlessly after the distant sound of piercing horns.
Yuan Yueze and Ge Yuan, guarding the rear of the ranks, pushed him away one by one. Then, a burst of light, comparable to lightning, erupted in front of Yuan Yueze, carrying a bone-chilling cold, as he met the staggering hundred or so Turkic warriors charging towards him.
This was the order for a full-scale attack given by the furious Jieli; disobedience would be punished by death. In reality, the Turkic warriors had already been terrified by Yuan Yueze and his men, their fighting spirit completely extinguished, and they were merely charging forward with gritted teeth.
The sounds of horns, battle cries, and the wind and rain blended together.
"Boom!" After slaying more than ten Turkic
warriors, a bolt of lightning ripped through the dark, cloud-covered sky and struck down. Yuan Yueze let out a long roar like a dragon's cry, leaping into the air to a height of over ten feet. The evil sword flashed through the air, drawing in electricity. The high-voltage current made the entire sword crackle with lightning, and Yuan Yueze was enveloped in the electric light, appearing like a thunder god descending from the dark night sky.
The Turkic soldiers were stunned into silence, not knowing what to do. The reaction was immediate.
A lightning bolt struck down with his sword, creating a deafening roar that shook the entire earth.
Yuan Yueze sheathed his sword and stood tall, calmly gazing at the stunned Turkic warriors. In the stormy night, he possessed a detached and independent air.
Before him, the ground had split open into a deep crater about ten feet long, with crackling electric currents emanating from it. Beside the crater lay the corpses of ten Turkic warriors, their bodies blackened and smoking from the electric shocks.
"Wow!" Led by an unknown Turkic warrior, hundreds of Jin soldiers began to flee towards Lake Mekong.
After Yuan Yueze's earth-shattering attacks, no one dared to charge forward to their deaths!
The wind and rain unified all the scenery into a single entity, shrouded in a hazy mist. Yuan Yueze stood proudly, sword in hand, like an ancient war god protecting Longquan.
After nearly a day and night of fierce fighting, Yuan Yueze's energy was severely depleted. He entered a state of selflessness, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing and recover his strength.
When he opened his eyes again, the rain had only slightly subsided, and the surroundings were still shrouded in a gray haze; it was definitely daytime. Looking around, the surrounding corpses were piled high like mountains, resembling a hellish inferno, the crimson... Bloodstains seeped deep into the soil, and even rain could not wash them away. The chaotic plain was covered in red spots, a shocking sight under the sun. The horrific scene of the battle seemed to linger in the air, as if painfully blaming humanity, the leader of all beings: Why have we fought each other for thousands of years!
This was Yuan Yueze's first time participating in a large-scale offensive and defensive battle on the Yi Cha. At that time, he was only filled with excitement, but now he felt sorrow. This heavy rain came at the perfect time, because the enemy had advanced to within a few feet of the ground and cleared all the obstacles outside the makeshift trenches, as well as filled in many pits. If it weren't for the sudden rain, Longquan would probably have been lost by now, because no matter how powerful Yuan Yueze was, it was impossible for him to kill nearly 100,000 Golden Warriors in such a short time.
Turning his head slowly, someone on the city wall immediately shouted, "Master Yuan is awake!"
A cheer followed through the confusion.
Yuan Yueze chuckled and followed the soldiers who came out to greet him into the territory. Having personally experienced war, he knew that in ancient battles, morale could directly determine the success or failure of a war. He, Yuan Yueze, had truly become the spiritual pillar of the Longquan people.
After asking a few questions, Yuan Yueze learned that it was almost noon. He had been resting for nearly six hours, and the Jin army had all retreated to their camp, seemingly waiting for the rain to stop before launching another attack.
Upon receiving the notification, Ke Subie and the others came out to greet him, treating him like a star and inviting him to the Eighth Prince's Palace council hall.
After exchanging a glance with Shan Meixian, Yuan Yueze raised his hand and said, "Don't flatter me. Longquan's defense is not solely due to my efforts. Without any one of you, we probably wouldn't have been able to hold it so firmly."
Zong Xianghua glanced at him, clearly admiring his humble attitude despite his achievements.
Yuan Yueze inquired about the battles between Xiaolongquan and Yubei. The outcome, of course, was self-evident; Shan Meixian and Zong Xianghua, sitting comfortably, could already recount everything.
Zong Xianghua's beautiful face immediately lit up, and she began to recount the events in detail.
With Shan Meixian's support, the two sides, with ten thousand soldiers each, withstood an attack from a mixed force of nearly twenty thousand fierce Jinhun and Heihun troops. Ultimately, they killed nearly eleven thousand enemies, while suffering only four thousand casualties themselves. Although this result was not optimistic, the Sumo tribe considered it a miracle, given that the Jinhun army was the most ferocious and terrifying force on the grasslands, let alone holding their camp at a lower cost than the enemy!
The battles between Yuxi and Nan resulted in the Jiangmo tribe suffering nearly six thousand casualties, annihilating over ten thousand Jinhun troops in a single day and night—a result that was also unexpected.
After Ge Yuan finished speaking, he said, "We still have more than 20,000 troops, and everyone's fighting spirit is soaring. We firmly believe that even if Jieli launches another attack after the heavy rain, Longquan will definitely be able to hold on!"
Yuan Yueze laughed and said, "Of course, I just remembered that as long as Xianjing brings back news from Tuli, and the brothers Belgunatai should also come to our aid, then we will strike Jieli hard from both inside and outside.
" Ke Subie suddenly said, "It was Young Master Yuan, your wife, Young Master Ba, and Young Master Ren who rescued Longquan. After discussing it, we have decided that after Young Master Yuan unifies the Central Plains, we will serve you as our master."
Ren Sha laughed loudly, "It should have been done long ago! My elder brother will neither ask you to pay tribute nor make you inferior to the Han people. Only after Mubie disappears will 'Great Harmony' arrive." "
Ke Su said dejectedly, 'This kind of thing is even less real than a dream, how can anyone believe it? Xiufang did a good job yesterday. She knows how to control the noise and clamor. We know how to control the noise and clamor, but it's hard for us to learn how to control our own hearts, because there's no way to do it.'
Shan Meixian thought to herself that although there was an element of gratitude, more importantly, you all know that being our enemy will never end well! But she said aloud, 'It's normal for human desires to exist. We can't expect everyone to be a saint, but we can gradually improve various systems to resolve the contradictions between the government and the people, so that we can eventually reach the state of 'false harmony,' and that's enough. 'True harmony' can only be a vain dream, and it will never be realized even when humanity goes extinct.'"
Everyone nodded silently, lost in thought.
Yuan Yueze suddenly trembled, staring incredulously at the door.
The others followed his gaze, completely bewildered. After a long while, an excited, trembling voice rang out from outside the door: "
Reporting to the Prime Minister, 'Empress Yin' Zhu Yuyan requests an audience." Everyone's faces lit up with joy .
Zhu Yuyan was Yuan Yueze's wife, and a renowned grandmaster. Her arrival undoubtedly increased Longquan's chances of victory.
Ke Subie and the others immediately rose to greet her.
Yuan Yueze raised his hand to stop them, giving a wink to the door. When everyone looked over, time seemed to stand still.
Zhu Yuyan, carrying a cloth bag, appeared in the room without anyone noticing how she entered. They only knew that she suddenly stood there, as if she had always been there.
A simple white outfit accentuated her exquisite curves. Her delicate and beautiful features were indescribable, and her face, as clear as white jade and seemingly radiant, gave her an ethereal, almost unreal feeling. Beneath her long, arched eyebrows, a pair of slightly blue eyes shone brightly, seemingly radiating a holy wisdom, yet also possessing an irresistible allure. Everyone was captivated by her gaze and charm. Overwhelmed, no one had time to properly observe her exquisite features and the complex aura of elegance mixed with charm, tranquility with allure. Even Zong Xianghua, who had witnessed the allure of Shan Meixian and the other women, was stunned. Apart from Shan Meixian, almost no one noticed that Shan Xianjing, whose expression was not quite right, was following behind Zhu Yuyan.
Shan Xianjing was well aware of her grandmother's charm, and after a light cough, everyone came to their senses and stood up to greet her.
Although Zhu Yuyan was excited, she still glanced at the extremely excited Yuan Yueze with a well-hidden pleading look, afraid that he would pounce on her and kiss her in front of everyone. Losing face as a grandmaster was not a big deal; she was afraid of being mortified. Ke
Subie and the others respectfully invited Zhu Yuyan and her granddaughter to sit down. Fearing that Yuan Yueze would cause trouble, Zhu Yuyan quickly sat between her daughter and granddaughter. After a few polite words, Ke Subie and the others got to the point. Ba Feng Han looked at the cloth bag that Zhu Yuyan had placed to the side and asked curiously, "What did Empress Zhu bring?" Zhu Yuyan's luscious red lips curved into a captivating smile as she slowly opened the package.
Everyone gasped in shock; inside lay a bloodied human head.
Ge Yuan exclaimed, "Jieli!"
Ke Subie and Zong Xianghua were utterly horrified. To successfully kill Jieli amidst a vast army—few in the world could accomplish such a feat.
Yuan Yueze, Shan Meixian, and Ba Fenghan initially showed expressions of surprise, but quickly calmed down. After exchanging glances, the latter spoke up, "Princess Zhu, could you tell us about the assassination attempt? Who were the high-ranking officers protecting him?" Zhu Yuyan nodded and said, "I only managed to sneak into their important Khan's camp. At that time, only Tunyugu and Kedazhi were guarding Jieli. These three were quite powerful, and even I couldn't guarantee killing them all. I could only take Jieli first. Tunyugu escaped, and Kedazhi is a hero among the younger generation, so I let him go."
Yuan Yueze and the others immediately frowned.
Ren Sha let out a long sigh and said, "Thanks to Sister-in-law...Empress Zhu spared him. I was ambushed by him the night before last, and afterwards I realized something was strange. He could have killed me then, but he used the opportunity to send me to Brother Ba's side. If it weren't for our different stances, I would have made him my friend."
He didn't even dare to look Zhu Yuyan in the eye, let alone call her "sister-in-law." Zhu Yuyan seemed to have thought of something and took out a bunch of folded iron wires from her pocket. She unfolded them with a crackling sound, transforming them into a magnificent bow. She said, "Jieli shot an arrow at me with this bow. I thought it was good, so I brought it back to see if any of you can use it."
Yuan Yueze took it and pulled it a few times, saying, "This should be a gift that Shen Mohuan presented to Jieli after he became a stray dog and sought refuge with him. This bow is called 'Yiyun,' and it is the result of the painstaking efforts of the Northern Frontier Archery Master." "This bow is made of specially twisted and woven copper wire, making it both elastic and incredibly sturdy. Most remarkably, it can be folded into three sections for easy storage. The string is made of even finer copper wire, making it a super-strong bow capable of withstanding the force of two hundred stones (a unit of weight in traditional Chinese measurement). Even
a weak person might struggle to draw it." He then tossed it to Ren Jun, who quickly said, "Such a fine bow is too much for me. Why not give it to Brother Ba? I still prefer his Tuomu bow, made by a Persian craftsman, which embodies the six principles of distance, speed, sharpness, harmony, sight, and endurance."
Ba Feng Han, deep in thought, chuckled, "Little fool is definitely a novice. Anyone can see that this bow is far superior to my Tuomu bow."
At Ren Jun's insistence, Ba Feng Han reluctantly retrieved the Tuomu bow from under the table—a bow entirely lacquered, painted with exotic patterns and full of exotic charm—and exchanged it with him.
Shan Meixian frowned and said, "I always felt that Jieli wouldn't die like this, because my husband once saw that his true cultivation was almost comparable to Bi Xuan. What's strange is that he never appeared during the entire battle last night."
Ba Feng Han agreed, "Jieli must have heard about your arrival the night before last. No matter how arrogant he is, he still has to be wary of you two using your full strength to ambush him. The dead person is very likely a puppet, and the real Jieli has long since hidden away to direct the deployment."
Ke Su Bie also nodded and said, "If Jieli really died, the Jin army should be in chaos. How could they still be surrounding Longquan?" The speculations of the group were not without reason. Zhu Yuyan's beautiful eyes flashed with murderous intent, and she nodded silently.
Yuan Yueze then remembered Shan Xianjing. Looking over, he saw the little princess sleeping peacefully in Shan Meixian's arms. He immediately bombarded her with questions like a machine gun: "How did Yu Yan meet Xianjing? What news is there about Tuli? Did she use any special powers?" Zhu Yu Yan replied: "After I killed this fake Jieli, I withdrew from the encirclement and happened to find Xianjing, who was trying to sneak into Longquan in the chaos. She told me that Tuli was ambushed by a masked high-ranking officer wielding a stick a few days ago, and after preparing for battle, he only managed to save one life." He breathed a sigh of relief and then fell into a coma. Many chieftains took the opportunity to betray Tuli and surrender to Jieli. Only less than 20,000 people did not abandon Tuli, so Wanjing immediately revived him. After agreeing with him on a plan to attack the Jinruan army from both sides after the rain, she hurriedly returned.
Everyone showed a look of realization, understanding why the Black Fierce Army had joined the Jinruan Army. At the same time, they also sighed that when one possesses sufficiently powerful high-level troops, this "decapitation tactic" is undoubtedly the most insane and terrifying. Yuan Yueze knew that the one wielding the staff was almost certainly the monk who called himself Yuanchu. He humbly said, "It was my carelessness. If I had sent Susu to accompany Xianjing, she wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble." Shan Meixian comforted him for a few moments, and Ba Fenghan said, "Since Zhu Hou has come, even if he only killed a substitute, Jieli will be terrified. I think he'll likely retreat once the rain subsides a bit or the sky clears."
Zong Xianghua interjected, "There's another possibility: he might continue his relentless attack. Because Zhu Hou has only shown the strength to walk through a vast army, not the ability to kill thousands of soldiers." "These are completely different things. And even Empress Zhu didn't realize she'd killed the wrong person, which shows that Jieli has a way of hiding his mind and spirit to avoid Empress Zhu's touch."
Zhu Yuyan gave her an approving look, then looked out the window and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this heavy rain will last at least three days."
Ge Yuan asked curiously, "How did Empress Zhu guess that?" Zhu Yuyan smiled and said, "From the density of moisture in the clouds and air."
Those who had just met Zhu Yuyan were all stunned, feeling that this elegant yet sinister woman's achievements had already transcended the realm of "martial arts," and that they themselves were so insignificant in her eyes.
Afterwards, the group began to discuss what they needed to pay attention to next and how to join forces with Tuli to attack Jieli.
Sure enough, the heavy rain lasted for three days and three nights, only beginning to subside at dusk on the third day. To prevent the spread of plague, Longquan repeatedly sent people out in the rain to retrieve the bloated corpses from beyond the borders for cremation. Master Arrow, upon learning that his great revenge had been achieved, was immensely relieved. He also gifted the Cloud Bow to Ba Feng Han and promised to return to the Central Plains to dig up the two divine bows, Sun and Moon Bows, which he had hidden there, and present them to Yuan Yueze.
The Longquan army and civilians were filled with fighting spirit, diligently training daily on the formations proposed by Shan Meixiancha. The Black King had returned, and Yuan Yueze conveniently sent it out in the rain to deliver a message to Tuli Yifang to discuss cooperation. Fortunately, it was a divine eagle like the Black King; any other bird would have been blown away by the gale.
The conservative Zhu Yuyan finally couldn't resist the utterly absurd Yuan Yueze and her granddaughter's wild antics, and she herself also had a bit of a desire to try it out, making this unprecedented three-generation celebration a reality. (This section is too intense and passionate; a more detailed description will be provided in the supplementary version after the public edition is completed.
After this incident, Zhu Yuyan became more uninhibited, spending the next two nights in debauchery with Yuan Yueze and the other women. With her help, Yuan Yueze recovered his energy extremely quickly, at least to 70%.
Zhu Yuyan also explained why she arrived so late: although the site of her duel with Song Shidao at the end of the first month was sealed off, she sensed that Kong Zheng was monitoring the battle with his spiritual senses, in order to ensure that "Yueshan" would completely come to an end.) Zhu Yuyan and Song Shidao fought valiantly, resulting in a draw, but such injuries were child's play for them. Song Shidao subsequently openly joined the Luoyang army and was appointed General of the Northern Expedition by Shen Luoyan. Although the Luoyang army's system was strict, no one objected; the support of the 100,000 troops of the Song clan entrenched in Lingnan was sufficient for Song Shidao, who had no military achievements, to obtain this position. This news did not cause much of a stir, as many could foresee that even if Yuan Yueze had truly... Despite their bitter feud with the Song family, driven by self-interest, they would ultimately find themselves back on the same boat. Zhu Yuyan then prepared to pursue Yuan Yueze northwards, but the "Solidifying Spirit Technique" of the Demonic Cultivation Art reminded her that Li Xiuning and Lian Huangfei were already "dead." Zhu Yuyan decisively chose to travel west alone, waiting for two months before witnessing Li Tang secretly bury Li Xiuning. She then brought Li Xiuning and Lian Huangfei to Luoyang to revive them before continuing her northward journey.
The other women had already fallen into a deep sleep, and Yuan Yueze carried the still somewhat strong Zhu... The mother and daughter, Yu Yan and Zhu Yu Yan, asked, "How is Xiu Ning?" Zhu Yu Yan smiled and said, "Very bad. She didn't see anything after she woke up and cried for many days before calming down. Feng'er originally wanted to come, but he was afraid she would commit suicide, so he had to stay with her day and night.
" Yuan Yue Ze smiled bitterly and said, "What are you doing all this for! It's really incomprehensible." Shan Mei Xian looked languid and half-closed her eyes, saying, "Wherever there are people, there is the martial world, so everyone is in the martial world and naturally has no choice."
Zhu Yu Yan added, "Although Consort Huang had her fetus aborted, her mental state is much better. She found out that her original surname was Ga, and Lian Chang was just the name Liu Yu gave her after saving her."
Yuan Yue Ze blurted out, "Could she be related to Brother Ga Duo?" "Oh! I remember Brother Ga Duo once came to the Central Plains to find a cousin."
Zhu Yu Yan yawned and said, "We'll have to ask her in detail when we get back to the Central Plains!" Pulling the
covers over themselves, the three of them fell asleep.
The long night passed, and the storm that had raged for three days began to subside, but its lingering power remained, replaced by a fine, misty drizzle that veiled the earth like a rosy cloud, masking the brutal truth of the battlefield. Only when the first rays of dawn rose on the distant horizon, breaking through the clouds and revealing the beautiful blue sky behind them, did the raging carnage of the previous days finally wash away.
After breakfast, Yuan Yueze, along with Zhu Yuyan and her daughter, Ba Feng Han, Ren Sha, Ke Subie, Ge Yuan, Zong Xianghua, and Erdemu, who had been diligently practicing martial arts for the past few days ,... Tu and the others climbed the city wall together to observe the movements of the Jin army.
As the rain subsided slightly, Longquan discovered that the enemy had begun to redeploy troops. Although maintaining an encirclement, more forces were concentrated in one area, clearly because the ground was slippery after the rain, preventing the large army from utilizing its numerical advantage. This was a precaution against a surprise attack from Longquan.
Zong Xianghua surveyed the area intently for a while, then said, "No wonder the enemy is still not giving up. Their total force is still close to 100,000. Judging from their attire, some of them are Khitan. After Abaojia's death, another powerful chieftain, Mo Hui, likely rose to power, and they also have nearly 20,000 troops."
Zhu Yuyan narrowed her bright eyes, saying, "Judging from their high morale and imposing appearance, Jieli must really be alive. Hey! About a mile to the southwest, a large number of Jin troops are using wooden carts to transport timber to hide eight camps." "
No one dared to doubt it. Ge Yuan's expression changed. "This heavy rain has soaked all the trees. Their timber must have been stolen. Could it be that they intend to use poisonous smoke to cover their attack?" If a southwest wind blows one of the next days, and the enemy lights the timber in the southwest, the flames may not directly threaten Longquan, but the thick smoke will be carried by the wind. The enemy will then attack from all directions using the smoke. Although people like Yuan Yueze are not afraid of the smoke, the Longquan army and the people in the city will suffer at the same time. If the city gates are lost, then defeat is inevitable. Just
as Ge Yuan was about to speak again, the Black King's giant figure swooped down like a meteor, rushing over and stopping abruptly in mid-air in front of Yuan Yueze, gently stepping onto his shoulder.
Although everyone had seen the Black King many times, they still praised the psychic eagle. Yuan Yueze took the parchment scroll from its copper claws, read it, and laughed, "Tuli has joined forces with the Belgunatai brothers, who led two thousand elite troops to support us. They have divided their forces into many small groups and will be fully prepared within two days at the latest. As long as we send out the green firework signal, they can flank us from the west." Shan Meixian smiled and said, "The 'Complete Essentials of Military Strategy' says: 'If their soldiers and horses are strong and powerful, they will show us weakness; if their formations are orderly, they will show us that they will not fight.' If I were Jieli, and my troops were truly strong and my morale was high, I would simply pretend to be weak to lure us out of the territory to attack. Now, by displaying such a fierce posture, they are showing that they are cowardly and afraid that we will attack them." After a series of bloody battles, the Jin army was exhausted and their horses were weary. Unable to conquer Longquan, their morale plummeted, and their fighting spirit was low. The difference between their initial, overwhelming momentum and their current state was like heaven and earth. "If we go out and cause a ruckus again, we'll scare them half to death!"
Ba Feng Han and the others immediately nodded in agreement.
Opportunities were fleeting, so everyone acted immediately. Shan Meixian and Zong Xianghua returned to defend Xiaolongquan and the northern part of the domain, agreeing to provide support to the western part upon receiving the signal. Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan went out the south gate, Ba Feng Han and Ren Sha went out the west gate, while Ge Yuan remained on the domain to observe and coordinate, only leaving during the final assault.
Yuan Yueze and his group led no more than a hundred riders, their hooves covered with hemp cloth for slipperiness. The main fighting force consisted of him, Zhu Yuyan, Ba Feng Han, and Ren Sha. Foolish! The two surprise attack teams moved like the wind, their main objective being to destroy the enemy's camps. The Jin army suffered terribly, the ground becoming a muddy mess. Just as they were gathering their soldiers to prepare a counterattack, the enemy had already retreated. Yuan Yueze and his men were swift and efficient, clearing out several of the Turkic army's assembly points in a single day before leisurely returning to their domain. That evening, Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan sneaked to the location where the Turkic army hid their timber, and taking advantage of the northeast wind, set fire to each of the timber piles. The 7f-materials were burned to ashes. Unfortunately, Zhu Yuyan still couldn't locate Jieli.
After four days of continuous sabotage, the Turkic army hadn't suffered too many casualties, but they were facing supply problems. They didn't have enough tents, and more importantly, the Turkic warriors were being harassed and were restless, with shouts and curses frequently echoing through the camp.
After maintaining contact with Tuli and the others, by this day, the terrain had cleared considerably. At nightfall, Ge Yuan summoned all the warriors and gave them a pep talk. Finally, he shouted, "Everyone has seen it! The Jin army is already scared. They've started packing their gear today. Let's send them on their way!" The warriors were filled with fervor and loudly echoed his words. Under the bright torchlight, the armor and helmets of the Longquan army gleamed, their sharp points filling the large square, creating an atmosphere of imminent battle.
Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan exchanged glances. A shared doubt arose in their hearts: With the timber burned, the camp destroyed, and morale low, why would Jieli, a brilliant and unparalleled strategist, only now consider retreating? This question, perhaps, only Jieli himself could answer.

Chapter 142 Return to the Central Plains—
A quarter of an hour later, the gates of Longquan City swung open. Several generals each led a mixed force of infantry, cavalry, and archers, totaling over six thousand men. Under the cover of ballistae temporarily modified from the giant crossbows of the Dongming Sect, they crossed the plains and charged the enemy lines.
The sound of hooves thundered, dust obscuring the stars and moon. This was the moment Longquan had been waiting for—to wait until the enemy was agitated, exhausted, and retreating completely before unleashing their full force to crush Jieli's remaining strength in one fell swoop.
This was precisely: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy is exhausted, we attack.
Yuan Yueze, at the forefront, took out a firework tube and launched it into the sky.
A burst of sunlight exploded in the night sky, illuminating several miles, visible far and wide.
The final battle had begun.
Faced with the overwhelming momentum of the Jiangmo army's surprise attack, despite the orders to fight back with drums and horns, the Jin army had shifted from the offensive to the defensive. Their morale was further intimidated by Yuan Yueze and his men, who were like killing machines. Unable to quickly withdraw their main force from the battlefield, they could only fight and retreat. At that moment, drums and shouts filled the air, arrows clashed, and the battle cries shook the heavens. The Jiangmo army's formation was well-organized, and a thousand elite cavalrymen quickly detached from both flanks to launch an attack, routing the demoralized enemy cavalry and leaving them battered and bruised.
Even so, the naturally fierce Turkic warriors still posed a significant threat to the Longquan army. Ge Yuan and others were all wounded and bleeding, and their own casualties were also heavy. However, the Jiangmo warriors knew victory was in sight, so their morale was at its peak, and they were unstoppable.
West and southwest... A sudden blast of horns from the northwest and southwest, accompanied by the thunderous roar of hooves, approached from afar, shaking the battlefield. The sound of hooves alone indicated that at least ten thousand cavalrymen were approaching from the three directions.
Tuli and the Belgunatai brothers, each leading the charge, wielded their spears, double axes, and double swords with lightning speed, cutting through the Jin's fierce army like a chopping board. Their attacks were relentless, their blows overwhelming.
The Jin's chaotic army didn't even have a chance to change color before being met with the lightning-fast and powerful charge of Tuli and Belgunatai's allied forces. Attacked and caught in a pincer movement, they were unable to withstand the onslaught.
The chaos spread like waves, quickly engulfing the entire army. The Jin's fierce soldiers abandoned their weapons and armor and fled, creating utter chaos. For the Jin's fierce army, known for their fearless fighting spirit that intimidated the vast grasslands, this was unprecedented.
After Tuli's Falcon Spear felled a traitorous Black Falcon soldier, he roared with heroic spirit, "Old man Jieli, you sent men to kill me in secret, dare you come out and fight me!" "
The soldiers behind him were in high spirits, shouting and cursing.
The Longquan Army, the Heihun Army, and the Zhiwei Army quickly joined forces, chasing after the fleeing enemy in three groups from the left, center, and right with overwhelming force, giving the Jinhun Army no chance to catch their breath. They slaughtered the enemy, leaving corpses strewn across the battlefield and rivers of blood, a scene of extreme carnage.
They pursued for nearly twenty miles overnight, and the Jinhun Army scattered and fled, unable to be completely annihilated. Yuan Yueze and his men felt they had no task left to do, so they temporarily set up camp to rest. The Longquan Army, led by Ge Yuan and others, returned to Longquan, and Zhu Yuyan and her daughter also returned with the group. Tuli,
who had suffered minor injuries, came to Yuan Yueze, dismounted, and laughed loudly: "The deeds of Brother Yuan and the others will be sung by the people of the grasslands for thousands of years."
Then, Tu Li grabbed Ba Feng Han's shoulder and said sincerely, "Since Feng Han is Brother Yuan's brother, I wonder if I, Tu Li, have the honor of being his brother?" Ba Feng Han, who had been secretly held back by Yuan Yueze, smiled bitterly and said, "Is it because I've been in contact with Brother Yuan too much that I speak without thinking? Do you know that one sentence will make you hate me to death?" A burst of laughter erupted around them, everyone's face filled with the joy of a great victory. Tu
Li laughed heavily and said, "Your actions far surpass mine, I am not exaggerating, and besides, who doesn't know that Feng Han is a hero of the grasslands? Who would hate you! Brothers, do you see now?" He forced out these words with his internal energy, and they could be heard far and wide. The voices of the more than ten thousand warriors around them shook the sky and roared, "Yes!"
After Ren Sha and Belgunatai introduced themselves to each other, the group sat down to rest on a flat area. The other soldiers worked together, lighting campfires, bandaging wounded soldiers, and setting up tents, busy as bees. After exchanging a
few polite words of thanks, Belgunatai and Bugunatai, overjoyed to learn that Shen Mohuan had been killed by Yuan Yueze, exclaimed, "Jieli's main force has gone from having the upper hand to fleeing like stray dogs. Although they survived by sheer luck, they are no longer the invincible Khan who has never tasted defeat on the great grasslands. The achievements of the three brothers, Yuan, are unprecedented, and their fame will shake the grasslands, making them invincible."
When Ren Sha inquired about the battle statistics, Tuli replied, "I just exchanged a few words with General Ge. Our three sides suffered approximately four thousand casualties, while Jieli's side alone suffered at least twenty-five thousand deaths. Most of these were Khitans
and those who betrayed me, as their resilience was far inferior to that of the Jin army. The Jin army's death toll should be around ten thousand. This was a brilliant victory." Belgunatai coldly snorted, "It's a pity that we still couldn't eliminate Jieli himself or his main force."
Yuan Yueze gazed up at the magnificent starry sky, seemingly able to see straight to the end of the firmament, and said calmly, "Now that Tiefuyou and Abaojia are gone, the northeastern part of Youdu will be your territory. Combined, it's no smaller than Jieli's or Tongyegu's. What is there for you to worry about, Brother Belgunatai! Besides, the feud between Jieli and me is not yet over."
Upon hearing this, Tuli's eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light, revealing the depth of his hatred for Jieli after nearly being ambushed and killed.
Belgunatai's simple, rugged face hardened like a rock, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light. He calmly said, "To be frank, my brother and I are both unparalleled in our abilities, yet we must admit that you are all exceptional individuals. Brother Yuan's bravery transcends the level of ordinary people. I can assure you that the Central Plains will one day be ruled by you. My brother and I swear on the spirits of our ancestors that we will fully support you."
Yuan Yueze smiled and thanked him, but Tuli laughed loudly, "The future leader of the grasslands is none other than yours. If you two, Brothers Belgunatai, do not mind, you may submit to me."
The group burst into laughter. After a brief silence, Ba Feng Han frowned and said, "Jieli's retreat this time is very strange; it doesn't match his usual behavior at all." "
Being cautious, Belgunatai pondered, 'Judging from the circumstances of the Khan's ambush, I suspect Jieli must have had a successor to deal with Brother Yuan, but this successor ran into trouble and couldn't appear in time to turn the tide.'
Yuan Yueze's mind raced, recalling Belgunatai's earlier assessment of him: 'The Central Plains will one day pass through your hands...'" --The phrase "unify" instead of "the Central Plains will surely be ruled by you one day" suggests that this person's ability to judge people is extraordinary. After being reminded of these points, the outline in Yuan Yueze's mind began to become clearer. He wondered if Jieli had wanted to invite Liu Yu but was refused. At this time, the command tent was already set up, and soldiers came to respectfully invite the group inside for a feast. The group rose and first accompanied Tuli and the chieftains who had not abandoned him on a tour of the various camps. The entire army was celebrating, with bonfires everywhere, soldiers brandishing swords and spears, singing and dancing, and the aroma of roasted meat filling the entire camp, creating an atmosphere of victory. After boosting morale, Tuli led everyone back to the main tent.
Unlike the last time, this time the chieftains under Tuli were all... Yueze revered him like a god. He not only admired his heroic deeds in leading a small force against Jieli's army alongside Bafeng Han and Ren Sha, but also marveled at how easily one of his wives could revive the dying Tuli.
After a hearty drink, everyone went to sleep. Tuli pulled Bafeng Han aside, and something seemed amiss. Yuan Yueze, however, led the Black King out of the tent alone, to a small hill a hundred paces from the camp. There, he communicated with the Black King and gazed at the night sky.
After some time, Tuli's familiar footsteps sounded behind him. "Brother Yuan, what are you thinking about?" he asked. Yuan Yueze smiled wryly. "Just some mundane things, like what life is, and where people go after they die."
Tuli was stunned. He sat down beside him and said, "It's best not to think about these things too often, because you'll only get a headache and still not figure it out. And if you're not careful, you might even get a headache."
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "This is the first time since His Majesty's affair that I've had nothing to do and yet thought of this matter. Brother Tuli, you flatter me." Tuli
said, "My intuition tells me that Brother Yuan still has something on your mind. I wonder what it is that you can't let go of." Yuan Yueze sighed and revealed Liu Yu's situation. Tuli gasped, "This kind of villain has found the most elusive of the Four Great Classical Novels of the Central Plains, the 'War God's Record.' If given time, what will become of him!"
Yuan Yueze didn't want to deal with the elusive Liu Yu for the time being and changed the subject, saying, "Brother Tuli, you have undergone a complete transformation. If you are determined, one day you will surely be able to break through the void and ascend to heaven." Tuli
exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder I felt reborn after being rescued by my sister-in-law!"
He paused, then added, "My previous life goal was to first unify the grasslands and then invade the Central Plains. Of course, that's no longer possible!" However, as I spent more time with Brother Yuan, a question gradually arose in my mind: if my ideal were to truly come true, should I be overjoyed or filled with emptiness? "Man is like a mountain climber; each step forward brings a fresh sense of satisfaction, but when you reach the highest peak, it's the end. Then you have to climb down, returning to the mundane and repetitive daily routines, burdened by the various troubles of the world. Isn't that emptiness?" Yuan Yueze shrugged and said, "If your pursuit is endless, it's like climbing a mountain whose summit you'll never reach, yet you'll forever enjoy the pleasure and the troubles of climbing towards your goal."
A shooting star appeared briefly in the sky, like the shattering of a dream, or perhaps the beginning of another.
Tu Li remained silent for a long time, then his tiger-like eyes flashed with excitement. He grabbed his broad shoulders and shook him vigorously, saying, "I finally got my wish!"
After shaking for a while, he finally stopped, his entire demeanor changing dramatically. He said with a radiant smile, "I've prepared a group of men who will head south in a few days. Within two years, they can help Brother Yuan train knights whose quality is in no way inferior to the Jin army." Yuan Yueze was
overjoyed.
The advantages of cavalry warfare were well-known, but throughout the Central Plains, only the three thousand Xuanjia Iron Cavalry under Li Shimin's Tiance Mansion could be considered invincible cavalry, even known as the 'Heavenly Soldiers.' Though few in number, they feared no enemy army of tens of thousands. Mixed among the Tang army, they would seize opportunities to launch surprise attacks, repeatedly achieving great feats, sweeping all before them. Whenever the enemy's formation crumbled, their own army would launch a fierce attack, coordinating from within and without, causing the enemy to suffer heavy losses on the battlefield. Xue Ju and Liu Wuzhou both suffered greatly because of this.
He witnessed it firsthand ... Having witnessed the might of the steppe cavalry, Yuan Yueze grew increasingly uncertain about the cavalry of the Central Plains. While the eHorse Ranch provided horses and equipment, which were no longer a concern, the lack of capable generals, skilled horsemen, and high-quality soldiers were significant weaknesses. Everyone desired a superior cavalry force, but this was easier said than done, and subject to numerous constraints. Tu Li's act of "borrowing" men—a single move—immediately injected fresh vitality into the Luoyang cavalry regiment.
Their initial acquaintance, based on mutual interests, blossomed into a true bond of loyalty and camaraderie . In their excitement, they chatted about this and that.
When Yuan Yueze returned to Longquan, it was already past midnight.
As soon as his figure appeared in the sight of the sentries on the city wall, someone immediately opened the city gate and respectfully welcomed him in.
Longquan had become a city that never slept; every house was lit, and occasionally someone would set off firecrackers, showing how happy the people were to have escaped the threat of annihilation. Yuan Yueze walked along the Zhuque Street, which was even more bustling and prosperous than during the day, receiving the rising and falling cheers and applause of the Longquan soldiers and civilians, returning the applause repeatedly; the atmosphere was extremely enthusiastic.
Just as he was feeling overwhelmed, Zong Xianghua appeared. Perhaps to celebrate, she had changed into a gorgeous black dress with bright silver patterns, full of Han Chinese style, which made Yuan Yueze's eyes light up, giving him a feeling of amazement.
The two walked side by side, feeling the scorching sunlight that Yuan Yueze frequently shone on them. Zong Xianghua felt embarrassed and lowered her head slightly, saying, "Young Master, we will never forget your kindness to the Jiangmo people." Yuan Yueze shook his head and sighed, "
The head guard should remember what I said in the palace square that day. After I leave, please help everyone forget me!"
Zong Xianghua turned her head away, staring at him in shock, "You're leaving already?" She was the same height as Yuan Yueze, the tallest woman he had ever seen. A faint fragrance, like orchids and musk, wafted over. Yuan Yueze was stunned and didn't even notice her sudden change in address. After a long while, he sighed, "It feels like I've been in Longquan for a long time..."
Zong Xianghua stared at him for a long time, two faint blushes appearing on her cold jade face. She turned her head to look into the distance and calmly said, "Perhaps it's because you fought alongside the people and soldiers of Longquan!"
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "I have already spoken with Tuli. He will respect your customs and take care of your people. You don't need to submit to anyone anymore." "Your location on the vast grasslands is exceptionally advantageous, and the Bohai Bay boasts numerous seaports and docks, giving you control over the lifeline of maritime trade. As long as you're willing to expand your overseas business, you'll be able to quickly revive. Even if you have grievances then, you can vent them through force."
Zong Xianghua's beautiful eyes shone brightly as she turned to look at him, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, young master."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Please follow me, young master."
After Yuan Yueze followed him into the palace—into what appeared to be Bai Ziting's former study—Zong Xianghua took something from under the large desk. Instantly, it shone brightly, transforming the study into a dreamlike, unreal world. Zong Xianghua's pretty face shone under the radiant light, giving Yuan Yueze a strange, indescribable feeling. His large hand involuntarily reached out and touched her cool, smooth face. Zong Xianghua trembled, a blush spreading to her ears. She lowered her head shyly, but didn't avoid the sensation of her hand turning from cool to burning. Yuan Yueze regained his senses and smiled, saying, "I couldn't help myself for a moment; please forgive my impatience, Captain."
Zong Xianghua still didn't raise her head or speak.
Yuan Yueze looked down and saw a luminous gemstone, slightly larger than a night-blooming pearl, embedded in a brand-new, tasseled black crown. Seven colors swirled within it, displaying a dazzling array of brilliance under the dim light. Anyone who wasn't blind would know it was a rare treasure.
Zong Xianghua extended her long, slender fingers, picked up the gemstone with her fingertips, and presented it to him, bowing her head and saying, "Your Excellency Xiufang once discovered that one of the reasons you came to the grasslands was for this five-colored stone. It's no longer of use to our tribe, so please accept it!"
Yuan Yueze accepted it and thanked her. Zong Xianghua softly said, "Just now, why did you…?"
Yuan Yueze fell silent for a long time before finally saying, "When the five-colored stone shone on the guard captain's face, I felt your entire being become transcendent. That feeling was hard to describe, as if you might disappear at any moment. It naturally evoked a sense of emotion and a sadness at the loss of something beautiful." Zong
Xianghua looked at him in surprise. Yuan Yueze then noticed that her face was flushed, which made her usually cold and beautiful look even more alluring. After a moment of stunned silence, he chuckled and said, "If the head guard keeps staring at me like this, I might do something outrageous. You should know my style!" Zong
Xianghua, utterly embarrassed, glared at him with a look that was half angry and half pleased, then staggered away, leaving only a lingering, refreshing fragrance and Yuan Yueze staring blankly at the five-colored stone in the study.
The next day, as the sun rose, countless rays of hope shone down.
On a high hill outside Longquan, Ke Subie, Ge Yuan, and Zong Xianghua saw Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han off. Yue Kepeng and the others had already returned to their country, and Ren Sha was so infatuated with Qiqige that he didn't want to come out for even a moment longer.
Ge Yuan tightly grasped Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han's hands, excitedly saying, "I, Ge Yuan, am so fortunate to have met three such great brothers in my life that I have no regrets even in death! You must take care of yourselves; the Jiangmo people will never forget you!"
Ba Feng Han gave him a firm hug, then mounted his horse and said, "It's better if you forget us!" Afterwards
, he urged his horse to depart.
He decided to continue his solitary cultivation for a while, and then go to help when the war in Luoyang broke out.
Yuan Yueze hugged each of the three.
Releasing the blushing, weak-kneed Zong Xianghua, Yuan Yueze held her fragrant shoulders and turned to Ge Yuan and the other two, saying, "Guardian Zong is right. After fighting side by side, I feel a connection with Longquan's bloodline. This feeling is very natural. If the three of you are interested in traveling to the Central Plains in the future, you must come to Luoyang." Ke Subie and
the other two smiled and nodded. Yuan Yueze glanced at Zong Xianghua, who seemed about to speak but hesitated, and said, "If the Guardian had come in person, I would have welcomed him with open arms! Please stay, three of you. Until we meet again!" Amidst a
long laugh, the man and the eagle sped away, disappearing into the sun-drenched grassland.
Ke and Ge looked on with sorrow, revealing boundless respect and reluctance.
Watching Yuan Yueze's handsome and majestic figure gradually recede into the distance, Zong Xianghua's vision began to blur. She pressed her lips tightly to her chest, tears welling up, and finally cried silently.
Shang Xiufang wanted to travel throughout the grasslands and deserts in the two years before the unification of the Central Plains, so that she could accompany Yuan Yueze on his sea voyage after his retirement. After giving him some brief instructions, the two parted again. Along the way, he traveled with his wives, enjoying the scenery and acquiring two divine bows from the archery master, no less powerful than those of the clouds. More than half a month later, Yuan Yueze finally arrived in Leshou at dusk, and together with Susu and Ren Sha, they came to the heavily guarded mansion built by Zhai Jiao in the northern region. After paying their taxes and entering the territory, the three immediately attracted the attention of all passersby. Their appearance was certainly one reason, but more
importantly, the news of the three Yuan brothers' crushing defeat of Jieli in Longquan spread very quickly, naturally giving rise to many exaggerated rumors, such as the Evil Emperor slaying a thousand soldiers with a single sword, Jieli kneeling and begging for mercy, and so on. Some of these exaggerated stories even made Yuan Yueze laugh. But regardless of whether the rumors were exaggerated or true, Yuan Yueze's act of bringing glory to the Han people in the borderlands alone was enough to earn the praise of any Han person, especially Le Shou. Although this area belonged to the Great Xia, it was located in the north, and the people frequently came into contact with the Turks, suffering oppression from them, naturally harboring much stronger resentment.
Ren Sha looked at the admiring gazes around him, feeling a surge of excitement: in just a few months, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, from Zhai Jiao's... The once-renowned warriors had risen to become objects of adoration, their transformation so swift it felt like a dream. Thinking of this, he unconsciously touched the straight cleaver on his back.
Zhai Jiao had many spies in the city, who led a group to greet them ahead of time. Judging from her beaming smile, she was clearly very pleased with the widely circulated news of Yuan Yueze's defeat of Du Xing, Ren Sha's defeat of Huyan Jin, and Han Chaozao.
Accompanying them were Tu Shufang and several brides, as well as a burly, imposing man, about two or three years older than Yuan Yueze. This man was skilled in using a weapon called "Bird Pecking," inspired by the defense of the battlefield. He was none other than Huan Yong, a fierce general who had long followed Zhai Rang and was famous for his self-created "Thirty-Six Styles of Bird Pecking." Last autumn, Zhai Jiao had sent him to Luoyang to assist her. Shen Luoyan, proficient in military strategy and skilled in training troops, was first taken as a disciple by Lu Miaozi and then granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry.
Three. Invited to the inner hall, Yuan Yueze chatted with Huan Yong and Tu Shufang along the way, learning that Huan Yong was visiting Zhai Jiao on the way. Ren Sha respectfully answered Zhai Jiao's various questions. Su Su lagged behind a few steps, whispering with one of Zhai Jiao's bamboo maidens, their heads bowed, seemingly engaged in some secret conversation.
Upon reaching the inner hall, they retrieved a small portion of the sheepskin that Ma Ji had concealed. Just as everyone sat down to chat, someone outside announced that Liu Heita, a general under King Dou Jiande of Xia, had come to invite Yuan Yueze to the Xia Palace for a gathering.
Zhai Jiao and the others' expressions changed slightly.
Yuan Yueze and Su Su exchanged a glance, then Yuan Yueze stood up and smiled, saying, "I'll go see him. Brother Liu is an old friend of mine."
Huan Yong hesitated, but Yuan Yueze raised his head and said, "I can roughly guess the tense situation between us and the Xia army; you all need not worry." Cha
glanced at the beautiful bamboo sitting next to Su Su, her eyes wide as she stared at him. This bamboo girl was in her early twenties, exceptionally beautiful, her eyes conveying a sense of having experienced the vicissitudes of life, which, together with her alluring figure and quiet temperament, created a unique charm. A strange look flashed in Yuan Yueze's eyes. He knew this wasn't their first meeting, but he couldn't quite place where they had met before.
After a slight surprise, he strode out.
Liu Heita hadn't brought any subordinates; he was alone outside Zhai Jiao's residence. The two were naturally very happy to see each other.
Liu Heita, this forthright and loyal iron man, was one of Yuan Yueze's favorite people to befriend. Although they had only met two or three times in the past few years, and their current positions differed, they had a deep and casual conversation despite their shallow acquaintance.
As they walked, they chatted, and Liu Heita said in a low voice, "Brother Yuan, I am deeply grateful for your trust in me."
Yuan Yueze draped his arm around Liu Pita's broad shoulder and laughed, "Brother Liu is one of the people I respect most. Besides, even if the King of Xia really wanted to harm me, I would have been able to escape. I only regret that we met a few years too late, otherwise Brother Liu wouldn't be in this awkward situation due to our differing stances." A
hint of surprise flashed in Liu Pita's eyes, then he smiled bitterly, "Brother Yuan is always so direct, it's admirable."
He then let out a long sigh, his face filled with contradiction and helplessness.
He didn't say another word.
King Dou Jiande of Xia personally led a group of high-ranking officials out of the palace to greet them. This overlord, who dominated the Hebei and Shandong regions, was about forty years old, tall and slender, with a composed demeanor, thick black hair and beard, and a strange quality of calm composure and self-assurance. His hawk-like eyes held a profound insight, and his aura was awe-inspiring.
When Yuan Yueze and his companion appeared at the palace gate, Dou Jiande strode forward, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect from the martial arts world, and laughed heartily: "I have long admired Brother Yuan's name, but I regret that I have never had the chance to meet you. Brother Yuan has spread the prestige of our Han people beyond the Great Wall, and his fame has spread throughout the martial arts world. The nomadic tribes of the grasslands have always looked down on us. That foolish emperor Yang Guang's repeated defeats in his campaigns against Goguryeo have made him a laughingstock among the foreign tribes. Brother Yuan's trip this time will greatly change their perception, and they will no longer dare to think that there is no one in the Central Plains."
His tone was gentle and refined, but his words were bold and unrestrained. There was not a trace of arrogance in his speech; instead, he was more like a chivalrous knight-errant. Although he knew it was just polite talk, Yuan Yueze couldn't feel the slightest bit of displeasure.
Yuan Yueze returned the greeting with a few polite words, and led by Dou Jiande, they arrived at the main hall, which was filled with fine wine and delicacies. The guests and hosts took their places, and Dou Jiande smiled and said, "Just now, I observed that Brother Yuan's every move was natural and unpretentious, yet his movements were flawless. I now know that Heita was not exaggerating at all. Today, my wife has personally prepared a simple feast to welcome Brother Yuan back to the Central Plains, is that alright?" Yuan Yueze was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "
Thank you, Your Majesty. Won't you introduce us first?" Dou Jiande slapped his forehead and...introduced them.

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