[Wuxia] The Duan Family Women Generals (Complete) - 8

Chapter Twenty-Five – The Feng Siblings Achieve Merit at Panshan Pass, the Wang Family Heroes Display Their Might at

Baihu Pass. Last time, we recounted how Feng Zijun and his sister Feng Meiyu climbed the rocky cliffs of Panshan. They had reached a point seventy or eighty zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) from the foot of the mountain when the path ended. They climbed a small pine tree, and Feng Meiyu stood on her brother's shoulders. Suddenly, they both fell backward. Everyone watching from below cried out in alarm. Wang
Ke closed his eyes, thinking, "It's over." Suddenly, he heard cheers from the soldiers. Opening his eyes, Wang Ke also shouted "Good!" It turned out that the Feng siblings had formed a human ladder on the pine tree. Feng Zijun had been holding onto his sister's feet, while his own legs were hooked onto the pine tree. When they fell, they swung backward like on a swing, performing a giant swing on a horizontal bar, without falling. Not only that, after the two swung twice, using the momentum of the rotation, Feng Zijun suddenly let go, and Feng Meiyu flew diagonally upwards,
causing Wang Ke and the others to gasp again. Feng Meiyu drew an arc in mid-air, flying more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) before reaching out and grabbing another small tree on the right side of the crevice.
Only then did Wang Ke realize that they knew how to protect themselves; both of them had ropes tied around their waists. Even if they lost their grip, the ropes tied to the small pine tree would protect them.
Even so, this skill was astonishing.
After passing that dangerous spot, there were few obstacles further up. The two were as light as cats and as agile as monkeys, quickly reaching the top of the cliff. They lowered the thin rope, which Guan Yuan and Ding Qi caught, tied the thicker rope, and then had the Feng siblings pull them up.
Wang Ke was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the soldiers to climb quickly. By dinnertime, all three hundred men had reached the top.
Just after the first watch of the night, Wang Ke ordered his army to rise quietly, eat their fill of battle food, bridle their horses, wrap their hooves with cloth, and have the men gag themselves, forbidding them to make a sound. They then quietly approached the foot of the mountain path to wait.
At midnight, a signal cannon suddenly fired from the pass, followed by a great flash of light.
Upon seeing this, Wang Ke led the charge, cutting down not a single stone. Reaching the pass, he found the gates open. Feng Meiyu, wielding a steel fork, led twenty-odd elite warriors in a fierce battle against the government troops attempting to breach the gates. She wielded the fork like a windmill, shouting repeatedly. The government troops fell dead, their bodies piled high.
Wang Ke roared, "General Feng, fear not! I am coming!" He brandished his broadsword and charged forward.
Seeing Wang Ke's ferocity, the government troops dared not fight any longer and turned to flee.
Wang Ke rushed into the pass and saw Guan Yuan, Ding Qi, Feng Zijun, and others fighting fiercely. He hurriedly shouted, "Generals, quickly follow me down!"
The soldiers behind him brought Guan Yuan and Ding Qi's horses and weapons as well. With horses, the two were like fish in water, even more valiant. The Feng siblings were originally infantry generals, but they did not need horses and followed behind Wang Ke as they ran forward.
The pass was located at the highest point of the mountain road, and once inside, it sloped downhill, though wider than the pass outside. Wang Ke rushed to the center of the pass, and just then, a signal cannon fired. Two generals came towards him: one, with a yellow face and short beard, wielding an axe, was Huang Yuhu, the former garrison commander of Xihua Pass; the other, with a white face and long beard, wielding a halberd, was Hu Bin, the garrison commander of Panshan Pass. The two were resting in their respective residences when they suddenly heard the cannon fire from the pass. When they got up to look, a junior officer came to report that the pass had fallen. The two were greatly alarmed and quickly donned their armor and rushed over, intending to drive the Wang family army that had stormed into the pass back down. They encountered Wang Ke charging down and, knowing that capturing the pass was hopeless, could only form their battle formation.
Wang Ke also ordered his troops to form ranks, and Wang Yinping, Guan Yuan, Ding Qi, and the Feng siblings all rushed over from behind.
Knowing further words were futile, Huang Yuhu spurred his horse forward and shouted, "You audacious traitor! Who dares to fight me three hundred rounds?"
Wang Yinping was about to step forward when Guan Yuan said, "General Wang, I'm new to the army and haven't earned any merit yet. Let me have this fight." With that, he spurred his horse forward, brandishing a double-bladed sword, aiming a blow at Huang Yuhu's head. Huang Yuhu raised his axe to meet the attack, and the two clashed.
Seeing this, Hu Bin charged forward with his halberd. Wang Yinping was about to join the fight again when Ding Qi also said, "General Wang, let me have this credit." He too wielded a pair of iron hammers and charged into the fray, and the two pairs of generals clashed in the street.
After a dozen or so rounds, Wang Ke, seeing the formidable martial arts of his two newly recruited generals, was delighted and quickly ordered the drums to be beaten for encouragement. As the drums sounded, the two generals were even more spirited, wielding their weapons like windmills, smashing them wildly at their opponent's head. Having lost the pass, the two garrison commanders, already convinced they were doomed, fought desperately, but to no avail.
After more than thirty rounds, Guan Yuan cleaved Huang Yuhu in half from the shoulder and back with a single stroke. The corpse lay sprawled on the ground, its heart and liver splattered. Hearing of Huang Yuhu's demise, Hu Bin lost his focus and was struck by Ding Qi's double-headed blows through the ears, his head smashed to pieces by two hammers, one on each side. Upon seeing their commander dead, the government troops surrendered en masse.
Wang Ke, having crossed Panshan Pass, then marched towards Baihu Pass from the rear. Upon hearing this, Cao Ping, the garrison commander of Baihu Pass, and General Wang Duo of the Western Army, sent messengers to Xiting Pass for reinforcements while simultaneously dispatching a contingent led by Wang Duo to return and fight Wang Ke. The two armies met at Fengzhen, a hundred li from the pass, and simultaneously arrayed their forces.
Wang Duo rode out into battle, and Wang Ke saw that it was an old general with white hair and beard, riding a white horse and carrying a steel spear. He clasped his hands and asked, "Which one of you is General Wang Ke?"
"I am. Who is the old general?" Wang Ke hurriedly went out to greet him.
"I am General Wang Duo, the General Who Pacifies the West. I heard that your father, Wang Bingzheng, has raised an army in rebellion, and I have been ordered to guard Baihu Pass. Why are you and your father here at Baihu Pass instead of Daxiong Pass?"
"Have you seen the proclamation my father issued, General?"
"Yes, I have."
"In that case, General, you should know that my father and I are not rebelling. Now, the emperor is a tyrant who takes concubines, commits adultery with his ministers' wives, and engages in debauchery in the palace. He favors the loyal and flatterers, and indiscriminately kills ministers. The country is no longer a country. My father and I are acting on behalf of Heaven to oversee the country. As long as the emperor deposes the wicked empress and eliminates the treacherous officials, we will cease hostilities. General, you should understand our good intentions and come with us to the capital to oversee the country."
"General Wang, you are mistaken. As the saying goes, a subject does not speak ill of his ruler, and a son does not speak ill of his father. Even if the emperor has a thousand faults, a subject should obey orders. How can a subject wage war against the court?"
"General, have you not heard of King Wu's conquest of Zhou?"
"General Wang, cease your verbal sparring. I urge you to dismount immediately, surrender, and let me bind you all and send you to the capital to plead guilty. I will persuade the Emperor to heed your earnest advice, change course, and plead for your mercy, granting you pardon."
"General, if the Emperor had listened to your good counsel, we wouldn't be in this predicament. That tyrannical ruler not only murdered three loyal ministers and their entire families but also sent imperial envoys to arrest my father and me. He has no intention of changing course. If you do not wish to associate with us, please make way for us. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise, what then?"
"Wang Ke has long heard of your loyalty and does not wish to harm you."
"Boy, stop your boasting. When I was at war, your father was still an infant. You and your few immature children dare to challenge me?"
"General, you are a peerless hero, as Wang Ke knows. But you are old and no longer have the strength to fight. Now that you are old, how can you bear to fight on the battlefield? I advise you to lay down your sword and retire home, hold your great-grandchildren and enjoy a few days of peace. Wouldn't that be better than serving that tyrant?"
"You say I'm old? My body may be old, but my spear is not. There's no point in saying more now. Why don't you come up and fight me for three hundred rounds?"
"Old fool, don't be so reckless. Guan Yuan is coming to meet you." After Guan Yuan finished speaking, he rode out to fight Wang Duo.
Wang Duo's martial arts were truly remarkable. He shook his spear and met Guan Yuan. Although the old general was exhausted, his experience was rich and his moves were exquisite, making Guan Yuan sweat profusely.
Ding Qi saw this and stepped forward with his hammer, shouting, "General Guan, I'll take your place."
Ding Qi went up and fought for a while, but he was mostly on the defensive. Then the Feng siblings joined in, and the two foot soldiers fought Wang Duo, but it was still a stalemate.
Wang Ke secretly admired her and was about to personally engage in battle when Wang Yinping had already charged forward with her spear. The two spears
clashed fiercely. Only after Wang Yinping entered the fray did Guan Yuan and the other generals realize that the Wang family's generals were truly formidable. The two generals fought fiercely, both wielding spears and relying on skillful techniques. The battle was dazzling and overwhelming, with the drums beating thunderously until nightfall, when both sides withdrew. At
the third watch, a cannon boomed, followed by a deafening roar. Wang Ke hurriedly donned his armor, mounted his horse, and charged towards the source of the fighting. It turned out that Wang Duo had launched a night raid on the camp, setting fires everywhere. The soldiers, unable to withstand the attack, scattered and fled. Wang Ke had no choice but to flee as well. At dawn, a headcount revealed that three-tenths of his troops had perished, but fortunately, several generals had escaped.
Wang Ke rallied his remaining forces and rebuilt his camp. Just as he finished, Wang Duo was already outside, challenging him to a duel.
Wang Yinping charged out again on horseback and engaged Wang Duo in battle. They fought all day, only ceasing their duel at night. That night, Wang Ke, having learned his lesson, was wary of a possible raid, but nothing happened.
On the third day, Wang Duo and Wang Yinping fought again.
After more than thirty rounds, as they circled their horses to resume their fight, Wang Duo secretly took out his precious carved bow, drew three feathered arrows, and fired three arrows in quick succession at Wang Yinping's face, throat, and abdomen.
Seeing the arrows coming, Wang Yinping deflected the bottom one with her spear, caught the middle one with her hand, and then bit the top one with her teeth.
Both Wang Duo and Wang Yinping admired each other's skill in shooting three arrows from a single horse and fought again.
After several more rounds, as their horses crossed paths, Wang Yinping said, "Dare you chase me?" Then, feigning defeat, she fled.
"You used a counter-attack, how could I be afraid of you?" he said, pursuing her.
As Wang Duo's horse nearly collided with hers, he thrust his spear at Wang Yinping's back, knowing she was about to use a counter-attack, so he was cautious. Wang Yinping twisted her shoulder to the left, quickly deflecting the spear tip to the left, maintaining her original stance and still thrusting at him. If she used a counter-attack, she could conveniently place her vulnerable ribs against his spear tip. However, this was exactly what she intended. This was a spear move she had devised herself. She deflected his spear to the left, then suddenly turned to the right. Wang Duo's spear slid past her back, while Wang Yinping's spear pierced through the gap, aiming for his heart.
"Ouch!" Seeing the spear coming, Wang Duo knew he was in trouble and hurriedly dodged, but it was too late. The spear pierced his right ribs, causing the old general to cry out in pain. Wang Yinping immediately turned to the left, using the strength of her waist and abdomen to swing the spear, knocking Wang Duo off his horse.
Wang Yinping hadn't intended to kill him; her spear hadn't pierced his heart. However, Wang Duo was old, and having lost to a young girl, he was filled with resentment. In a fit of rage, he died of a stroke.
Wang Duo was a loyal minister, a veteran of many battles, but unfortunately, he protected the tyrannical Emperor Duan Qi, and thus met his end on the battlefield.
When news of Wang Duo's death reached Baihu Pass, Cao Ping, knowing the pass was indefensible, had no choice but to fight desperately outside. He encountered Wang Xiaojiao, a sixteen-year-old girl with a beautiful face and a slender figure, riding a white steed and wielding a painted halberd, charging straight at Cao Ping.
Cao Ping was also a renowned general, his crescent-shaped shovels having taken the heads of countless high-ranking officers, but unfortunately, he met Wang Xiaojiao.
Wang Xiaojiao, having practiced martial arts since childhood and received instruction from a renowned master, was eager to prove herself and was full of vigor. Cao Ping, being older, was exhausted. After fighting for over a hundred rounds, his shovel began to slow. Wang Xiaojiao seized the opportunity, thrusting her halberd straight into his ribs and forcefully throwing him several feet away. Just as
a snake cannot move without a head, and a bird cannot fly without a head, with the two veteran generals Wang Duo and Cao Ping dead, the soldiers had no courage to defend the pass and surrendered en masse. Wang Bingzheng then stormed into the pass. The
garrison commander of Xiting Pass, having received Wang Duo's plea for help, had already dispatched troops to his aid, but upon hearing the news of Wang Duo's death en route, hastily retreated back into the pass.
Wang Bingzheng entered Baihu Pass and met up with Wang Ke. He ordered a few days of rest and sent men to scout around. Soon, scouts reported that Grand Tutor Hu Da had been ordered to go to Xuanwu Pass to fight Feng Qing. Xu Youliang was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Imperial Sister Duan Lingfeng in Hulang Valley. The two sides were deadlocked and suffered heavy casualties.
Wang Ke said, "Father, why don't we send troops to Hulang Valley and attack Xu Youliang from both sides, cutting off Duan Lingfeng's rear?"
All the generals echoed his opinion.
Wang Bingzheng said, "No rush, no rush. Xu Youliang is brave and has recently recruited several new generals. He is enough to contend with Duan Lingfeng. We have been locked in a stalemate at Baihu Pass for a long time, and our soldiers are exhausted and unable to fight any longer. It is not too late to send troops out after I have rested for half a month."
Wang Ke said, "Although we have been at Baihu Pass for a long time, we have not experienced too much fighting, nor are we overly exhausted. As the saying goes, speed is of the essence in war. Now is the perfect time to lend Xu Youliang a hand."
"What do you know? I have my own plan. Get out!" Wang Bingzheng shouted sternly.
Wang Ke did not know why Wang Bingzheng was angry, and retreated obediently. The other generals also dared not speak.
Why? It turns out that Wang Bingzheng was a very cunning person. He knew that Xu Youliang had recently recruited many surrendered soldiers from the imperial court and many generals, and his strength was extraordinary. Duan Lingfeng had also invited her four fellow disciples down the mountain, and these four were all highly skilled in martial arts. Wang Bing intended to sit back and watch the two tigers fight, letting Xu Youliang and Duan Lingfeng wager their last reserves, until they were both severely weakened, so he could then reap the benefits.
So, what was happening on Xu Youliang's side?
After fighting Cao Yunlong at Tiger Wolf Prison that day, they each withdrew their troops. The next day, Duan Lingfeng arrived, and the two sides clashed in front of Tiger Wolf Valley. Although Duan Lingfeng was brave, Xu Youliang's newly recruited generals were also skilled in martial arts. They ganged up on him, and Duan Lingfeng couldn't withstand the onslaught, retreating back into the valley.
The entrance to Tiger Wolf Valley was narrow, easy to defend but difficult to attack, yet not impenetrable. Xu Youliang planned to launch a strong attack on the pass the next day, but that very night, Duan Lingfeng sent a messenger, saying that the imperial court had built a secret formation in the valley, called the Azure Dragon Formation. Duan Lingfeng was now seated within the formation, inviting Xu Youliang to challenge it, to determine the victor through the formation's power.
Xu Youliang knew there was an array formation here, and knowing he couldn't advance without breaking it, he had no choice but to agree, secretly sending people to investigate its strengths and weaknesses.
A day later, the scouts reported that the Azure Dragon Formation consisted of five smaller formations: Azure Dragon, Fire Dragon, Yellow Dragon, White Dragon, and Black Dragon. Duan Lingfeng had invited her four senior and junior sisters down the mountain to jointly command the Azure Dragon Formation with Cao Yunlong, while Duan Lingfeng herself commanded from the central Wuji Earth. It was said that the formation contained various ambushes and traps, including iron chariots and iron pagodas, making it extremely dangerous.
Xu Youliang was secretly alarmed, but had no choice but to bite the bullet and break the formation.
This great formation terrified even ghosts and gods, caused mountains and rivers to lose their color, and resulted in the bloodshed of beautiful female generals on the battlefield.
How Xu Youliang broke the formation remains to be seen; stay tuned for the next chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Six – Xu Youliang's First Exploration of the Azure Dragon Formation, Feng Yunnu Trapped

in the Iron Chariot. On the third day, Xu Youliang, as agreed with Duan Lingfeng, came to inspect the formation, leading his generals and two thousand soldiers to the entrance of Tiger Wolf Valley.
Cao Yunlong came out to greet them. The pass was short, only a few dozen steps
long, and once past it, the view suddenly opened up. Tiger Wolf Valley was surrounded by towering mountains, with a basin several miles in circumference in the center. To the south of the basin was a flat area, and the northern two-thirds of the area was dotted with small hills ten or twenty feet high. In the center of the northernmost part was a small hill nearly fifty feet high, with flags fluttering on it. At the top of the hill stood a flagpole with a watchtower containing four soldiers, each holding a signal flag. Xu Youliang knew that this was the key point of the formation, where Duan Lingfeng must be directing operations.
The group arrived at the hill and saw Duan Lingfeng waiting there, followed by four beautiful female generals of similar age, whom they recognized as Duan Lingfeng's four fellow disciples.
Xu Youliang bowed and said, "Marshal Duan, long time no see."
Duan Lingfeng also bowed and said, "How have you been, Cave Master Xu?"
"Could you introduce me to some of the generals?"
Duan Lingfeng turned around and introduced the four female generals one by one: the first female general on the left, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in a Taoist robe, riding a dappled horse, and wielding a pair of swords, was the eldest sister, Jingyue; the first female general on the right, also about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, also dressed in a Taoist robe, riding a yellow horse, and wielding an embroidered phoenix knife, was the second sister, Jingxiu; the second female general on the left, around twenty years old, wearing a red short jacket and a red silk veil over her head, and carrying a large spear, was the fourth sister, Lin Fengwu; the second female general on the right, seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a pink short jacket and a pink silk veil over her head, and carrying a pair of gilded hand hooks, was the fifth sister, Yufengjiao.
None of the four female generals wore helmets or armor, but each one was more beautiful and more menacing than the last, sending chills down one's spine.
Xu Youliang introduced the newly recruited generals, saying, "Which general would like to go in and observe the formation?"
General Cao Hua replied, "This humble general is willing to go."
Feng Yun also said, "This humble general will go as well."
Xu Youliang nodded, saying, "General Cao, be careful."
He then said to Duan Lingfeng, "Please ask Marshal Duan to send a general to guide us."
Duan Lingfeng said, "Let my vanguard officer, Cao Yunlong, lead the formation."
"Marshal Duan, today we are here to observe the formation, not to fight it, so you must not harm my general's life."
"Don't worry, Master Xu." Duan Lingfeng ordered each general to return to their respective formations. With a response, all the generals turned and disappeared behind the small hill, leaving only Duan Lingfeng and Cao Yunlong.
"General Cao, Princess Feng, please!" After a horn sounded within the formation, Cao Yunlong knew that the formation was ready, so he waved to Cao Hua and Feng Yi and went into the formation first.
Cao Hua led two hundred soldiers ahead, while Feng Yi brought up the rear alone. Following Cao Yunlong, they rounded a small hill, only to find two more blocking
their path. Between the two hills stood a monument inscribed with three large characters: "Azure Dragon Formation." The group entered the Azure Dragon Formation, a maze of winding paths with numerous forks, all resembling the same route. Turning left and right, they quickly became disoriented, unable to find their way out. The two generals thought to themselves, "Without a formation diagram, breaking through this formation will be extremely difficult."
Just as they were becoming worried, Cao Yunlong flashed at the corner of a hill ahead and disappeared. The two generals immediately lost their bearings, leading their men in a chaotic maze of turns, seemingly returning to their original positions.
Just as they were wondering what was happening, a cannon roared, deafening the heavens and earth. Shouts of battle erupted from the hills on both sides, followed by a horde of government troops charging in, instantly killing or wounding half of the general's soldiers.
"That Cao Yunlong broke his promise! We came to observe the battle formation, why did he kill my men?" Cao Hua cursed. He and Feng Yi drew their weapons and scattered the government troops. They had only gone two intersections when suddenly more ambushes attacked. After several battles, all the soldiers they had brought were wiped out, leaving Cao Hua and Feng Yi as commanders without troops.
The two were furious, but could not see the enemy's forces. They could only search for a way out, even considering leaving the formation. After walking for a while, they returned to their original position.
Feng Yi said, "The higher you stand, the farther you can see. Once we reach a high place, we can find the path."
Cao Hua agreed and began to search for a path up the mountain. Suddenly, with a loud "boom," Cao Hua and his horse fell into a pit. Feng Yi knew that this place was full of ambushes and dared not come to the rescue. Fortunately, they were just observing the battle formation and knew that if they were captured, they would be released sooner or later. So they watched helplessly as the government troops on both sides used grappling hooks to pull Cao Hua out and tie him up. They had no choice but to turn their horses around and descend the mountain.
As they were walking, suddenly a hail of arrows came from both sides. Fengyi quickly brandished her weapon to deflect the feathered arrows, charging forward for two or three miles until a clearing suddenly appeared ahead. Thinking she had reached the gate of the formation, Fengyi spurred her horse out, only to find it was another open space, quiet and still.
Fengyi had only gone a hundred paces when a cannon boomed, followed by thunderous shouts. A horde of government troops charged in. Looking back, she saw the entrance had been blocked by fallen trees, preventing her from turning back.
Helpless, Fengyi had no choice but to ride forward to meet the government troops. A female general emerged from the opposite direction—Jingyue, Duan Lingfeng's senior sister.
The two already knew each other, and without exchanging words, Jingyue spurred her horse forward, swinging her sword. Fengyi quickly countered with her precious shovel. The two fought for over thirty rounds before a clear winner emerged. Jingyue said, "General Feng, behold the power of my Azure Dragon Formation!" With that, she turned and rode away.
Fengyi gave chase, but suddenly Jingyue vanished into the crowd. Fengyi was puzzled when a loud thunderclap sounded, and the government troops retreated like a tide, disappearing from sight. She saw over twenty iron wagons pressing towards her from all sides. Knowing she would be trapped if surrounded, Fengyi rushed towards the gap between two wagons, hoping to escape before they closed in. However, a volley of arrows shot from behind one of the wagons, hindering her. The wagons had already formed a circle, interlocked, and with a series of clapping sounds, countless arrows rained down from behind.
Fengyi thought, "This is it." She swung her precious shovel, protecting herself and her horse, and deflected the arrows.
The iron wagons surrounded Fengyi, with soldiers shooting arrows from behind. To break this formation, the wagons had to be smashed open from the outside; from the inside, they were impossible to move. Without outside help, those who entered the encirclement would either be killed by arrows or die from exhaustion.
Whether Fengyi could escape remains to be seen; we'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Seven—Cao Yunlong Takes Advantage of the Situation, Xu Youliang Plans to Steal the Map

. In the previous chapter, we said that Fengyi was trapped in the iron cart, desperately trying to deflect the feathered arrows, but unable to escape. She struggled for half an hour, exhausted, her arms weak, barely clinging to life.
Suddenly, a bang sounded, the arrows stopped shooting, and the iron cart clattered away.
Seeing Cao Yunlong standing not far away, Fengyi knew it was he who ordered the iron siege carts to be withdrawn. She was relieved to have escaped when Cao Yunlong called out, "Fengyi, do you still want to run away?"
Fengyi replied, "Cao Yunlong, I came to observe the battle formation today, not to fight. My family has an agreement with your marshal; how can I break my promise?"
Cao Yunlong laughed, "All's fair in war. Now that you've entered the formation, how can I let you escape? Quickly dismount and surrender."
Fengyi angrily retorted, "Shameless scoundrel! Watch me take you down!" With that, she spurred her horse, raised her shovel, and charged into battle.
In terms of dancing skills, Fengyi was superior to Cao Yunlong, but now, having been surrounded by the iron siege carts for so long, her strength was exhausted, and she was no match for Cao Yunlong.
As Fengyi approached, she raised her shovel and swung it down. Cao Yunlong, seeing the shovel coming down, gathered his strength, swung his fork upwards, and shouted, "Let go!" The two weapons clashed, and Fengyi felt her palm go numb, unable to hold the weapon. The precious shovel flew more than three zhang into the air before landing on the ground.
Seeing her weapon slip from her grasp, Fengyi hurriedly spurred her horse to flee, but the horse was exhausted and could not run. Cao Yunlong caught up and reached out to capture her.
Normally, military generals wore armor, so they had silk sashes around their waists to fasten it. When capturing a general, they would grab the sash, kick the saddle, and lift the person onto the horse. Fengyi and her sister were barbarian women and did not wear armor. They wore short vests and tube skirts, so they had no sashes. Seeing no place to grab, Cao Yunlong reached out and wrapped his arms around Fengyi's waist, tilted his body to the side, kicked the saddle, and pulled Fengyi onto the horse.
Fengyi, unwilling to accept her fate, struggled on. Cao Yunlong swung his hand and struck her on the back of the neck, knocking her unconscious. She slumped limply in his arms.
Cao Yunlong looked at the beauty in his arms; beneath her short vest, a palm-width of white flesh was visible, a round navel quite alluring, and below, two slender legs were exposed. She lay unconscious in his arms, seemingly asleep.
He reached under her skirt and explored, his hand sliding down her thighs to her buttocks. Sure enough, she was naked, her skin incredibly soft and smooth. He then reached between her legs, touching her soft labia and moist vulva, and laughed loudly, "The Feng sisters have finally been captured alive! I'll make you pay for my sister's blood debt!"
Meanwhile, Xu Youliang, outside the battle formation, heard the sounds of cannons, gongs, and shouts of battle from within. He was anxious but helpless.
It was over an hour before Cao Yunlong finally emerged.
Xu Youliang asked, "General Cao, where are my officers?"
Cao Yunlong replied, "They're trapped in the enemy lines and I've captured them alive."
Xu Youliang angrily said, "Duan Lingfeng, we had a prior agreement. How can you break your promise and capture my officers? Release them immediately!"
Duan Lingfeng was about to speak when Cao Yunlong said, "My marshal made a promise to you that he wouldn't harm your officers. They've been captured, but they haven't been killed. You didn't explicitly ask us to release them, so how can you say my marshal broke his promise? Now that I've captured your Fengyi, I'm seeking revenge for the humiliation of my sister. How can I release her?"
"Marshal Duan, what do you have to say?" Xu Youliang looked at Duan Lingfeng.
Duan Lingfeng hadn't originally intended to detain the man, but since there was an opportunity to exploit in her promise, she could weaken the enemy's strength and appease the resentment she felt towards Cao Yunfeng for forcing Cao Yunlong into humiliation. So she said in a deep voice, "Master Xu, this is something you didn't explain beforehand, so you can't blame us. However, since you haven't been disrespectful today, we can return Cao Hua to you. As for your wife, since you have a long-standing feud with Cao Xianfeng, we may have to keep her. If you have the ability to break the formation, perhaps you can save her life, otherwise..."
"Shameless wretch, you..." Xu Youliang was furious and about to explode when Duan Lingfeng stopped him, saying, "If you continue to be disrespectful, I will keep Cao Hua here as well."
Xu Youliang couldn't utter a word and had to accept his fate, saying, "Duan Lingfeng, you'd better treat my wife well, otherwise, one day when I catch you, I'll make you wish you were dead."
"Stop talking big, think about how to break the formation first." Duan Lingfeng turned her horse and went into the formation.
"Hurry up! I don't care about Fengyi's food. If she starves to death, don't blame me!" Cao Yunlong said, laughing smugly as he entered the formation.
Xu Youliang stood there, stunned, not knowing what to do.
After a long while, Cao Hua was brought out of the formation by two soldiers. He was blindfolded, bound in a garb, dressed in women's clothing, his hair adorned with pearl flowers, and his face painted with powder and red lipstick—a truly comical sight.
Xu Youliang ordered Cao Hua to be untied. Cao Hua blushed deeply with shame; what man could bear such humiliation?
He took a horse from a soldier, grabbed a spear, and was about to charge into the enemy lines when Xu Youliang stopped him, saying, "General Cao, a true man can bend and stretch. You have been wronged, but the entire army has been humiliated, not just you. I know you are eager for revenge, but you must not act rashly. Wait until we break through the enemy lines, and we will wash away today's humiliation together."
Upon hearing this, Cao Hua turned back, lowered his head, and remained silent. The other generals all tried to persuade him.
After a long silence, Cao Hua said, "This is all thanks to those senior and junior sisters, Duan Lingfeng. Once we capture those vile women, we'll make them pay double." He then asked, "Where is Her Highness the Princess? Hasn't she returned?"
Xu Youliang replied, "She's trapped in the formation and captured. Duan Lingfeng refuses to release her. We can only rescue her when the formation is broken. I hope she lives to see that day."
Upon hearing this, Cao Hua burst into tears, moving all the generals. Only Xu Youliang remained calm, saying, "Return to camp." Back
at camp, when asked about the situation in the formation, Cao Hua recounted what he had seen. Xu Youliang and the others remained silent.
Suddenly, it was announced that the military advisor had returned from supervising the grain supply. Youliang hurriedly urged them to come in.
Zhang Gui entered the tent, inquired about the situation, and dismissed his attendants, saying, "I've heard that Tiger Wolf Valley is full of winding paths. Anyone unfamiliar with it will be bewildered once they enter and never escape. To break this formation, we need a diagram. However, there's only one diagram, usually sealed in the Nanling Pass commander's mansion, heavily guarded. Only in emergencies can it be retrieved by an officer ordered by the court. Now, the diagram must be with Duan Lingfeng. We need a capable person to infiltrate the formation and steal it to break it."
"But who can steal the diagram?" "
To steal the diagram, one must be able to get close to Duan Lingfeng. Only two types of people can do this: a woman or someone who can have intercourse with her. According to me, Duan Lingfeng's heart is as hard as stone; male beauty might not be able to seduce her, so men are probably useless. I have four female generals in my camp: Zhao, He, and the Hong sisters. I already have candidates, but I'm afraid Duan Lingfeng won't trust them. We'll have to use a self-inflicted injury strategy."
“I also have someone in mind, but I don’t know which one Uncle is referring to?”
“Let’s each write it on our palms, and then open our hands together.”
“Alright.”
The two of them each took out their writing implements, wrote a character on their palms, and their hands lit up. They both burst into laughter.
The next morning, a soldier came to report that Cao Yunlong had hung Fengyi in the formation to defile her. Xu Youliang hurriedly led his generals out of the camp and headed towards the mountain pass.
Since observing the formation that day, Xu Youliang had sent men to occupy the mountain pass, and Duan Lingfeng did not come to seize it, so passage was very easy.
Even before they reached the Azure Dragon Formation, they could see a tall flagpole erected on a small hill within the formation. Hanging from the flagpole was a naked woman, just like Cao Yunfeng had been defiled years ago. Soldiers below were pulling ropes, lifting her legs up, occasionally exposing her private parts, while others were using long bamboo poles to poke between her snowy buttocks.
When Xu Youliang approached the gate, he saw it was indeed Fengyi. Enraged, he cried out and fell from his horse. The others quickly helped him up, placed him back on his horse, and returned to the main camp.
What became of Xu Youliang? We'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Duan Lingfeng Humiliates Cao Hua in the Main Tent, Cao Yunlong Takes Revenge

and Humiliates Fengyi. This chapter focuses on Xu Youliang. Seeing Fengyi hanging from a flagpole and being humiliated, he cried out in anger, fell from his horse, and was carried back to the main camp. All of this was witnessed by Duan Lingfeng from the center of the formation, who was both pleased and suspicious. He was pleased that such anger might kill Xu Youliang or drive him to madness and risk fighting, saving him a lot of trouble. He was suspicious, wondering if Xu Youliang was truly ill from anger or just putting on an act. He quickly sent scouts to Xu Youliang's camp to investigate.
But how did Fengyi end up hanging from the flagpole?
Let's start with yesterday when Duan Lingfeng and Cao Yunlong returned to the formation and headed straight for the central tent.
Before long, they arrived at the main tent. Duan Lingfeng ordered the drums to be beaten and the generals to gather. Everyone came
into the tent to pay their respects. Jingyue reported her achievement in capturing Cao Hua, and Cao Yunlong reported his achievement in capturing Feng Yi. Duan Lingfeng first ordered
Cao Hua to be brought into the tent. Cao Hua entered the tent and stood proudly. Duan
Lingfeng angrily said, "You audacious Cao Hua, why do you stand before me instead of kneeling?" Cao Hua laughed loudly, "Duan Lingfeng, I am a general under Master Xu, how could I kneel before a mere yellow-haired girl like you?"
"A defeated general, how dare you speak of bravery?"
"I was only here to observe the battle, not to fight. You broke your promise and used trickery to capture me, what kind of skill is that? If you have the ability, release me and we'll see who's the real deal."
"Hmph, you think I dare not? I'll release you now, and when you come to fight, we'll see who's the real deal."
"In that case, quickly untie my ropes."
"How can you be so lenient? You dare to defy this commander! You must be punished. Generals, what should we do to him?"
Duan Lingfeng's junior sister, Yu Fengjiao, though young, was the most wicked. She said, "This scoundrel looks down on the marshal because he's a woman. Let him try being a woman!"
Her fellow disciples all agreed and stripped Cao Hua of his clothes in the tent, revealing his dark, monstrous member. Yu Fengjiao had never seen one before and was curious. She quickly grabbed it and began to stroke it. Cao Hua was in his prime and couldn't resist the gentle touch of such a beautiful woman. His member quickly became erect, startling Yu Fengjiao, who dared not move.
The fourth junior sister, Lin Fengwu, went to her own camp and found a larger dress for Cao Hua to wear, then applied face powder to his face. Cao Hua was so humiliated he almost fainted. He remained silent, thinking to himself, "Little girl, if I catch you, I'll make you lick this treasure for me."
After humiliating Cao Hua enough, the men blindfolded him and ordered the soldiers to escort him out of the battle lines to Xu Youliang.
Duan Lingfeng then ordered Cao Yunlong to bring Fengyi.
Cao Yunlong captured Fengyi, bound her with ropes that resembled four horses with their hooves turned backward, and placed her in his tent. Upon hearing Duan Lingfeng call for her to be taken away, he hurriedly returned to his tent, untied the ropes binding Fengyi's feet, grabbed her arms from behind, and pushed her into the central army tent.
Once inside, Fengyi, like Cao Hua, stood tall and fearless.
Duan Lingfeng shouted, "Bold Fengyi, why do you stand before me instead of kneeling?"
Fengyi replied, "I am the Princess of Nanling, not your subordinate. Why should I kneel?"
"Now that I have captured you, what can I say?"
"I was captured by your treacherous scheme when we were observing the battle as agreed. What kind of skill is that? Release me immediately, and when the battle begins, I will annihilate your entire army."
"Hmph! You still want to go back? What a fool! I'm afraid Xu Youliang will be the one to collect your corpse."
"How can a general fear death? Kill me if you will. My name will not be diminished even if I die today. It is you who will bear the name of betrayal."
"Hmph! Fengyi, I intend to defile you to provoke Xu Youliang. If you do not die, you will soon be my prisoner along with Xu Youliang."
"Duan Lingfeng, you vile woman, don't be so arrogant! One day, if you fall into the hands of my master, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"
Duan Lingfeng sneered, then said, "Vanguard Cao." "Your subordinate
is here."
"This vile woman is yours to deal with as you see fit, just don't die."
"Your subordinate obeys." Cao Yunlong couldn't have been happier, so he agreed and hoisted Fengyi onto his shoulder. Fengyi's upper body folded down behind Cao Yunlong, her buttocks sticking up on his shoulder, revealing her snow-white buttocks from her short tube skirt, her anus sticking out in mid-air, and her labia squeezed out from behind her legs like a large clam. The male generals in the tent all groaned. Cao Yunlong, hearing the groans, was very pleased and said, "If you all are interested, you can come to my tent to join in the fun." Hearing this, everyone came to join in, and thirty or forty people followed behind.
Cao Yunlong carried Fengyi, parading her through the camp. Soldiers who caught up surrounded her, their eyes fixed on Fengyi's buttocks. The bolder ones even reached out and groped her delicate legs.
As mentioned before, Fengyi was a barbarian woman. Barbarian women were traditionally considered playthings and tools for bearing children, easily abducted and moved around, unlike women of the Central Plains who valued chastity above all else. Therefore, Fengyi was prepared for this capture. While Cao Yunlong was holding her down on horseback, he had already reached under her skirt and touched her. Once in the tent, bound and with her skirt lifted, her buttocks exposed, she was played with for a long time. Now, being carried, she didn't struggle, only closing her eyes and allowing herself to be looked at and touched indiscriminately.
Before long, they arrived at the vanguard camp. Cao Hua laid Fengyi face up on a large table. The generals came over to help remove Fengyi's small boots, then her vest and tube skirt, revealing her breasts and the area between her legs.
Fengyi was the only one of the four daughters of the Feng family who had given birth. Her breasts were spindle-shaped and slightly sagging, but as a martial artist, her pectoral muscles were well-developed, so her breasts still looked quite firm. Moreover, when she lay down, the sagging was not obvious. Furthermore, although Fengyi had given birth, her nipples and genitals did not darken like those of ordinary women; on the contrary, they were fresher and more tender than those of ordinary virgins.
Cao Yunlong, who was still unmarried, could not resist such a beauty. His face flushed red, and he groped Fengyi's chest and abdomen. After a while, he felt he could not control himself, so he hurriedly took off his inner garment, revealing his virgin penis. He leaned in, grabbed Fengyi by the chest, pressed her down, and began to thrust wildly.
Fengyi's vagina remained as tight as a virgin's. Cao Yunlong, experiencing this for the first time, couldn't resist and ejaculated after only seventy or eighty thrusts.
The other generals, also captivated by Fengyi's beauty, vied for her attention. Fengyi, all beautiful, was held in the arms of men in turn, groped and penetrated relentlessly until midnight. Her tender vagina had been penetrated over ten thousand times; had she not been physically strong, she would likely have been fucked to death long ago.
Cao Yunlong saw all the generals off before taking Fengyi into his arms and returning to his tent. He placed her on his cot, tied her legs with a short rope to prevent her escape, then undressed and climbed into bed. He embraced her from behind, his hands caressing her chest, his lower abdomen pressed against her beautiful buttocks as he lay down.
At dawn, Cao Yunlong got up and ordered his soldiers to erect a flagpole on a small hill outside the camp and to prepare some ginseng soup and other tonics to prevent Fengyi from starving to death. He held Fengyi on his lap and fed her himself. Fengyi didn't resist, eating and drinking from his hands, though her heart was filled with immense hatred: "If I can escape, I will avenge this!" After
eating, Fengyi felt her strength had recovered considerably, but Cao Yunlong still carried her on his shoulder, her anus facing upwards, out of the tent, passing through the soldiers lined up in the camp, heading straight for the mountaintop.
Cao Yunlong ordered his soldiers to hang Fengyi from the flagpole, just as Cao Yunfeng had done before. Those soldiers, who had seen Cao Yunlong take Fengyi to his tent and gang rape her the night before, now had their chance, and they all gathered under the flagpole, using bamboo poles to tease Fengyi's private parts to their heart's content.
Cao Yunlong also ordered his soldiers to hang Fengyi for two hours, then lower her down, feed her some ginseng soup, and let her rest for half an hour, making sure she didn't die from hanging, before descending the mountain back to his tent. Just in time for roll call, he hurried to the central army.
After the morning roll call, Cao Yunlong reported on the situation regarding Feng Hua Feng Yi. Duan Lingfeng was very satisfied and went with the generals to the mountain near the battle formation to observe the situation.
They saw Xu Youliang leading his generals approaching from afar, when suddenly he fell off his horse and was carried back onto it by soldiers. The generals burst into laughter.
Having learned her lesson before, Duan Lingfeng wasn't entirely convinced and sent many scouts disguised as mountain people to investigate near Xu's camp.
That afternoon, a scout reported, "Xu Youliang isn't dead; he just fainted from anger. However, this afternoon, a female general was also hung up in his camp, completely naked, being watched in a sexual act by a group of soldiers. It's said to be Zhao Fengzhu, the daughter of Zhao Pizhi, the former commander of Pingnan Pass."
Duan Lingfeng was very puzzled. Why would they hang up and humiliate his own female general for no reason? Had Xu Youliang gone mad? She quickly ordered more scouts to investigate, and they returned with detailed reports.
Half an hour later, several scouts returned, all reporting that Zhao Fengzhu had been hung at the gate as a public spectacle. Some, having gathered detailed accounts, recounted the events. Only then did Duan Lingfeng learn the truth, and she slammed her fist on the table in fury.
What military discipline had Zhao Fengzhu violated to deserve such humiliation? We'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Nine—Xu Youliang Humiliates Fengzhu in His Anger, He Xiuying Joins Lingfeng in Resentment.

It turned out that Xu Youliang, enraged by the humiliation of his wife, had momentarily lost his mind and fallen from his horse. He was carried back to his tent, where a military doctor treated him and administered a remedy
to clear his mind. He was immediately sober and unharmed. Outside the main tent, the generals were waiting for news. Seeing that Xu Youliang was alright, they were relieved and comforted him.
You Liang said hatefully, "You bastard, Duan Lingfeng! Once I catch you, I'll strip you of your armor and undergarments, then carry you naked on my horse, grab your breasts with one hand and your vulva with the other, and display you to the world to avenge today's grudge."
Upon hearing this, the male generals immediately perked up, each one talking about Duan Lingfeng's slender waist and below, making the female generals blush, yet they still wouldn't stop talking.
Zhao Fengzhu could no longer bear it and shouted, "Generals, stop making fun of women's bodies! Your own mothers, wives, and sisters are all women. Don't you feel ashamed to use such vulgar language?"
The male generals were startled and fell silent. Xu Youliang, however, cursed, "Here, I, Xu Dongzhu, call the shots! Who gave you the right to speak? Get out!"
Zhao Fengzhu ignored him, saying, "Dongzhu, please let me finish. Which daughter isn't human? Which woman would willingly be humiliated like this by a man?"
"That Duan Lingfeng is also a woman. Does she not feel ashamed for humiliating my beloved wife? How can I let her get away with this?"
"Wasn't this whole affair started by you, Dongzhu? If you hadn't corrupted Cao Yunfeng and Hu Qiaoyun, how could my wife have suffered this humiliation?"
"Nonsense! What do you know? It was Duan Lingfeng and Cao Yunlong who first defiled the corpses of the Second and Third Princesses. I only took revenge by rotting the bodies of Cao and Hu. Now they have defiled my Eldest Princess. Do you think I cannot take revenge?"
"You only know how to humiliate female captives for revenge and amusement, but you don't realize that if this continues, such lewd and shameful acts will only escalate, and ultimately it will be us female generals who suffer."
"No need for further words. This matter is not up to you."
"Lord, you only know how to play with female captives. Aren't your mother and sisters women too? How is there any difference between humiliating other women and humiliating your own wife and daughters? I am also a woman. I joined the Lord only because of that tyrannical and cruel ruler who persecutes loyal officials. If this continues, the people will suffer. I did not come here to be your puppet, to be captured, killed, and toyed with!"
"Bold Zhao Fengzhu, how dare you use my mother to spread rumors? Aren't you afraid of death?"
"So be it! I joined the army, I never cared about death!"
The two argued back and forth, growing increasingly heated and agitated. Several female generals tried to persuade them, but to no avail. Xu Youliang finally lost his temper and shouted, "Rebellion! Rebellion! Guards, take her out and execute her!"
Axemen rushed into the tent, bound Zhao Fengzhu, and took her out. Zhao Fengzhu, defiant, continued to curse incessantly.
Seeing this, the female generals cried out, "Spare her life!" and knelt down to plead for Zhao Fengzhu's life. The other generals, seeing this, also knelt down to beg for mercy.
Xu Youliang, feeling that executing a general for this was not worthwhile, ordered, "Bring her back."
Fengzhu entered the tent and knelt, offering no thanks, only stubbornly refusing to admit her anger.
Youliang said, "Zhao Fengzhu, I, the chieftain, have spared your life. Why don't you kneel down and thank me?"
"Hmph, the fault lies with you, not mine. What is there to thank me for?"
This only fueled Xu Youliang's anger: "It's not that I, the chieftain, am not killing you. It's all because the generals pleaded for you. Now you not only don't know your mistake but also dare to despise me. I'll spare your life, but you will not escape death. Men, strip her naked and hang her at the gate for three days as a warning to others!"
Soldiers were more than happy to do this kind of work, and they immediately pounced on her and grabbed Fengzhu.
Fengzhu jumped up and down, cursing, "Xu Youliang, you bastard, kill me! Kill me!"
The generals, seeing this, quickly knelt and begged for mercy. Youliang, his face ashen, said, "Zhao Fengzhu has disrespected the cave master and deserves her punishment. Anyone who dares to beg again will be castrated, and the women will be displayed alongside Zhao Fengzhu."
The generals dared not speak further. The soldiers pressed Zhao Fengzhu to the ground, and in no time, she was stripped naked, her every detail exposed. Cursing, she was dragged away, the curses fading into the distance: "Xu Youliang, you will be punished!" The female generals, ashamed, covered their faces and retreated, while the male generals all went out of their tents to watch the spectacle.
After hearing the scout's account, Duan Lingfeng slammed her hand on the table in fury, shouting, "You, Xu Youliang! How can you treat women so inhumanely?! Your actions will surely incur the wrath of heaven and the resentment of men, and it is my duty, Duan Lingfeng, to distinguish myself on the battlefield!"
The other generals also felt that Xu Youliang's actions were incredibly unwise; hadn't he offended all the female generals in his own camp?
After her outburst, Duan Lingfeng sent out scouts to closely monitor the movements of the female generals in the enemy camp.
That night, around midnight, while Duan Lingfeng was fast asleep, a female soldier entered her tent to report that a female general from Xu Youliang's camp had defected.
Lingfeng was overjoyed and quickly dressed and went to greet them. She saw Zhao Fengzhu and He Xiuying, who had fought alongside her to break through Nanyang Pass. He Xiuying's face was full of anger, while Zhao Fengzhu's head was bowed low.
Upon seeing Lingfeng, He Xiuying hurriedly pulled Fengzhu down to kneel and kowtow, saying, "Marshal, He Xiuying and Zhao Fengzhu have arrived late to join us. Please forgive us."
Lingfeng quickly reached out to help them up, saying, "Loyalty to the country knows no order of precedence. You two generals have arrived at just the right time. Please, let's get down to business."
He Xiuying continued, "My sister and I have gone astray, becoming accomplices to evil, helping Xu Youliang break through Nanyang Pass. Our crimes deserve death. Please, Marshal, punish us."
"Ah, in war between two nations, each serves its own master. What crime have we committed? Get up, get up."
The two then stood up. Lingfeng looked closely at Zhao Fengzhu; her eyes were swollen like peaches, indicating she had been crying for a long time. He quickly said, "General Zhao, I already know about what happened. Xu Youliang is utterly wicked. I will capture him sooner or later and avenge you."
Upon hearing this, Fengzhu's tears fell again, and she sobbed incessantly. Lingfeng herself was also moved and shed a few tears as well.
From then on, Fengzhu and He Xiuying remained in Duan Lingfeng's central army camp to await orders.
Although Zhao Fengzhu gradually stopped crying, she remained silent every day, refusing to see anyone except He Xiuying and Duan Lingfeng. Everyone knew of her grievances and felt great sympathy for her.
A few days later, Xu Youliang sent someone again to say that Duan Lingfeng had broken her promise last time and requested to inspect the formations again, which Duan Lingfeng agreed to.
This time, Xu Youliang remembered the lesson from last time and stipulated beforehand that all personnel entering the formations must be returned unharmed, which Duan Lingfeng also agreed to.
Xu Youliang again sent Cao Hua into the formations, along with Shi Wenlong and Hua Feng, still led by Cao Yunlong. They inspected each of the five formations, symbolically demonstrating the powerful weapons within, and then proceeded to the central formation's core. Just as they reached the outside of the central army camp, a white horse suddenly charged out, carrying a female general wielding a flowery spear, her killing intent palpable as she charged straight towards Cao Hua and the others.
Cao Yunlong recognized Zhao Fengzhu and asked, "General Zhao, what are you doing?"
Zhao Fengzhu ignored him and thrust her spear at Cao Hua. Startled, Cao Hua quickly swerved to avoid her, raising his great axe to parry. Cao Yunlong knew Zhao Fengzhu was skilled, but had never witnessed her true abilities. Seeing this, he realized she was no less formidable than him, the vanguard.
After a dozen or so exchanges, Zhao Fengzhu suddenly thrust her spear through a gap in the axe, aiming straight for Cao Hua's chest. Cao Hua dodged, the spear passing between his body and armor, then flicking upwards, sending the large Cao Hua airborne. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed him three or four zhang (approximately 10-12 meters) away, where he rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Zhao Fengzhu spurred his horse forward to deliver the final blow, but Cao Yunlong quickly blocked his way, saying, "General Zhao, they're not here to fight. The Marshal has an agreement with Xu Youliang; they mustn't be harmed." Zhao Fengzhu didn't reply, tears streaming down his face, and turned his horse back to camp.
Cao Hua, clad in heavy armor, struggled to his feet. Cao Yunlong, carrying a mission, dismounted and helped him up. Cao Hua, his face flushed with shame, mounted his horse and rode away with his head bowed.
Cao Yunlong escorted the three generals from the Southern Ridge out of the battle and returned them to Xu Youliang, then returned to camp with Duan Lingfeng, recounting Zhao Fengzhu's plan to kill Cao Hua.
Lingfeng said, "This Zhao Fengzhu is a woman from the Central Plains. She has risked her life for chastity. Having suffered this humiliation, she has already experienced two lifetimes. If such a person were to go into battle, she would surely fight to the death, which would give her seven parts more courage. We need to take good care of her."
Lingfeng returned to the central army camp, went to Zhao Fengzhu's tent, praised her for her high level of martial arts, comforted her for a few words, and then turned to leave.
"Marshal, wait!" Lingfeng turned around in surprise to look at Fengzhu, because Fengzhu had not said a word since entering the camp, nor had she shown a smile.
"It seems that the ice is melting." Lingfeng thought to herself. She turned back and sat down by Fengzhu's bedside, saying, "I know you are troubled, but you can't always keep things to yourself." Fengzhu did not speak, but suddenly buried her head in Duan Lingfeng's arms and sobbed.
After lunch, Lingfeng was taking a nap when Zhao Fengzhu and He Xiuying came into the tent. He Xiuying said, "Marshal, Fengzhu just told me that you have been very kind to her and she wants to become sworn sisters with you. I wonder if you would agree?"
Lingfeng hurriedly said, "We share the same ideals, why not?" So she, Fengzhu, and He Xiuying became sworn sisters. Duan Lingfeng was the eldest sister, He Xiuying the second, and Fengzhu the youngest. From then on, the three became even closer. Fengzhu, having suffered a traumatic experience, was reluctant to talk to others, so she often came to Lingfeng's tent to speak. After a while, Lingfeng found it inconvenient and ordered Fengzhu's tent to be moved next to hers for easier access. Eventually, the soldiers stopped paying attention, and even Fengzhu no longer needed to report to Lingfeng when she came to see her.
In Lingfeng's mind, Fengzhu had suffered unbearable humiliation and was truly loyal to her. Little did she know that just as men could use feigned suffering, women could too. Zhao Fengzhu and He Xiuying were spies sent by Xu Youliang, their target being the Azure Dragon Formation diagram.
Through extensive investigation, the two finally discovered the secret of the diagram: Lingfeng had hidden it inside the breastplate of her armor. Having confirmed their discovery, they prepared a plan to steal the diagram.
Will Zhao Fengzhu be able to steal the array diagram? Let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Thirty – Zhao Fengzhu Endures Humiliation to Steal the Diagram, Xu Youliang Sends Generals to the Main

Tent. At the third watch of the night, Ling Feng had already fallen asleep when two figures quietly approached her tent. One crouched low, keeping watch in the shadows, while the other swaggered into the tent.
It was obvious that the one hiding was He Xiuying, and the one entering the tent was Zhao Fengzhu.
Fengzhu entered the tent, groped his way to Ling Feng's bedside, and hearing her sleeping soundly, reached into her boot to pull out a dagger. He hesitated, however, for Ling Feng was truly devoted to him, and he couldn't bring himself to harm her. Instead, he reached for the armor hanging on the rack, took the diagram from the breastplate, and placed it inside his clothes. Just as he was about to leave the tent, Ling Feng suddenly shouted from behind, "Who goes there? Don't go!" A golden wind whistled behind him.
Fengzhu knew something was wrong; he ducked, rolled out of the tent, and ran away.
"Guards! Light the lamps!" A shout rang out from inside the tent, and a group of female soldiers emerged from their respective tents, rushing towards their sleeping quarters.
Xiuying, seeing Fengzhu running towards them, asked, "How did it go?"
"We succeeded."
"Good, run!"
The two hurriedly dodged the panicked female soldiers, found their horses, and rode off.
After running three or four li, they suddenly heard deafening cannon fire behind them. They knew Duan Lingfeng had discovered the map was missing and was sending troops to capture them. They hurriedly ran downhill, but after a while, they found themselves back where they started.
It turned out that although they had reached the government army's camp, they had only been active in the central camp and had never been anywhere else. Unfamiliar with the terrain, they had wandered into the winding road.
The two realized they were doomed. If they were captured, they would not only suffer humiliation and death, but Duan Lingfeng would also be even more vigilant regarding the map, making it impossible to steal it again.
Just then, a warhorse appeared ahead, carrying a general whose face was obscured in the darkness.
The two women realized they were in real danger of being captured.
Just then, the man whispered, "Are you General Zhao and General He?"
"Who are you?" the two female generals asked warily, weapons in hand.
"Generals, please do not ask my name. I am a spy planted in the government army by Master Xu in my early years. I still have a few people in Duan Lingfeng's camp. A few days ago, when you two entered the camp, I guessed that you were here to steal the map, so I secretly provided support. Have you succeeded?"
"Yes, we have."
"In that case, please follow me, and I will escort you out of the formation."
"How can I believe you weren't sent by Duan Lingfeng to trick us?"
The man unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his shoulder, and said, "I have a tiger tattoo on my shoulder personally done by Master Xu. Please take a look."
Before Zhao Fengzhu came out, Xu Youliang had told her that there were his spies in the government army camp. Now, seeing the mark, he knew it was true, so he and He Xiuying rode behind him. Turning left and right, they finally arrived at the gate of the Azure Dragon Formation. At this time, the formation was in chaos, with cannons firing incessantly.
The man cupped his hands and said, "Take care, both of you. Tell the cave master that we will secretly assist you when the formation is broken."
"Thank you for your help, General. Farewell."
The man turned his horse and entered the formation, while the two female generals hurriedly spurred their horses toward the mountain pass.
After riding for five or six miles, they met General Cao Hua and greeted him, "Generals, you've worked hard. The cave master sent me here to meet you."
The two generals were delighted and rode alongside Cao Hua at full speed, with Shi Wenlong and Hua Feng following behind. When they reached the mountain pass, the pursuers caught up.
Cao Hua said, "Generals, the formation is of utmost importance. You go first, and we will hold off the pursuers here."
The two female generals did not stand on ceremony and hurriedly left the mountain pass, heading straight for the main camp. They heard a great commotion of drums and gongs behind them, which subsided after a while.
When the two female generals arrived at the camp gate, You Liang and his generals personally greeted them.
You Liang said, "Generals, you've worked hard. On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank you both." He then bowed.
The two women hurriedly dismounted and knelt down, saying, "We are deeply grateful for the kindness shown to us by the cave master. This is our duty. Please don't do this, cave master. You are too kind to us."
Despite their objections, You Liang insisted on bowing twice before getting up and leading them to the central command tent.
Fengzhu took out the battle formation diagram from her bosom and handed it to Youliang. Youliang was overjoyed and said , "With this diagram, our soldiers will be spared from ambushes, and countless lives will be saved. You two have done a great service."
After looking at it once, he burst into tears and said, "General Zhao sacrificed himself for this diagram and suffered so much. How can I bear it?"
Fengzhu was very calm at this time and said, "Master, there's no need for this. I would give my life for you."
"But how can I repay General Zhao's kindness? How can the soldiers of the entire camp repay him?"
Zhang Gui said from the side, "Master, I have something to say."
"Please speak, strategist."
"General Zhao sacrificed himself for the country. This merit cannot be rewarded with gold, silver, or official titles. The best thing to do is to find a suitable son-in-law for General Zhao and settle his life's important matter as soon as possible."
"Strategist, please don't speak nonsense." Zhao Fengzhu blushed with shame. In truth, she had already made a plan in her heart. Although she had performed a great feat, having suffered such humiliation, what man would want her? It would be better to wait until after this battle, either to find a way to die herself, or to find a secluded ancient temple in the mountains to spend the rest of her life with only the sound of a Buddhist lamp and the ancient Buddha. Now, the strategist's words had struck a chord with her, but in her heart, she thought, "Where would anyone want me?
" You Liang said, "The strategist is right. I will find a suitable marriage for the general in the future."
"Why bother with the future? There is a suitable match right now."
"Where can you find such a good match?"
"With General Zhao's merits, in all the world, only the cave master himself is worthy of her. Where else can you find one?"
Upon hearing this, Fengzhu immediately covered her face with her hands in shame, not daring to raise her head.
After a moment's hesitation, You Liang said, "General Zhao's achievements are unparalleled, and I already have a wife. Wouldn't that be unfair to General Zhao?"
He Xiuying immediately replied, "No, no, I won't be unfair at all. If you don't believe me, I'll ask General Zhao privately." With that, she pulled Fengzhu out of the tent.
Fengzhu had never considered becoming the cave lord's wife. Although she could only be a concubine, the cave lord was so handsome and talented; who could compare? Besides, her body had already been violated. Even if it was just being seen by others, it was still considered defiled according to etiquette. To be favored by the cave lord was a lifelong blessing. So, shyly and silently, she agreed to the marriage. When
the generals learned of this, they were all very happy, praising the cave lord as a truly rare and good lord.
They immediately performed a grand ceremony in the main tent and sent her to You Liang's bedchamber, where You Liang held a grand banquet.
Because they had the battle formation diagram and this joyous occasion, the entire camp was overjoyed.
Fengzhu, who had initially risked her life for the cause, had never expected such a reward. In the bridal chamber, she was delighted by Youliang's tender caresses and readily reciprocated.
Xu Youliang, too, was captivated by Fengzhu's unparalleled beauty. He held her delicate body in his arms, removed her clothes, revealing her jade-like form, and gazed upon it for a long time, indulging in his pleasure.
Only after he had driven the beauty to the brink of madness did he place her on the bed, part her jade-like legs, revealing her virgin honeyed orifice. He slowly penetrated her, moving from shallow to deep, from slow to fast, until the virgin Fengzhu begged for mercy repeatedly. Only then did he pour all his love into her womb.
The next day, Youliang got up and pulled Zhao Fengzhu to sit up as well. Looking at her beautiful body, he said, "Although according to custom, the wedding night should last three nights, we are now in the army, and speed is of the essence. We should attack as soon as possible to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."
Fengzhu replied, "What you say is absolutely right, Master. We should advance quickly."
"It's just that you'll suffer."
"Master, what are you saying? There's plenty of time. Just one night of your love is enough for me."
Youliang was deeply moved and kissed her repeatedly. Then they got up.
Youliang personally dressed Fengzhu, and while dressing her, he kissed her nipples and vulva, making her blush with embarrassment. He then helped her put on her armor and prepare herself, before donning his own armor. The two entered the main tent together and ordered the drums to be beaten.
Soon, all the generals arrived to congratulate Youliang and his wife.
You Liang said, "Generals, now that we have the battle formation diagram, we should act swiftly and devise a strategy to break through it."
Zhang Gui laughed, "I know you two won't be tempted by a fleeting moment of pleasure, so I had the scribe make more than ten copies of the diagram last night, which you generals studied carefully. You probably have them all memorized by now."
The generals all said they had memorized it well, and some even had their men in their camps make many copies as well. You Liang said, "In that case, why don't we advance and break through the formation tomorrow?"
"Please, Lord, send your generals," the generals all replied.
Only Cao Hua shouted, "Master, I don't care about anyone else, just leave that vile woman Yu Fengjiao with me!"
Everyone knew that Yu Fengjiao had humiliated Cao Hua terribly, and Cao Hua was determined to take revenge, so they all said, "We'll let you have her."
Zhao Fengzhu then said, "Master, I have a request, I wonder if you can grant it?"
"Please speak, my virtuous wife."
"Although it is common for war between two countries to use deception, Duan Lingfeng has been sincere to me. If you truly capture her, Master, you can persuade her to surrender if possible, otherwise, let her die a quick death, and do not humiliate her."
You Liang listened and said, "My virtuous wife is right, I grant your request. Generals, please pass on my order: you may capture any other female generals, but you must not humiliate Duan Lingfeng."
The generals all agreed.
Just as they were about to send out the generals, a report came that the Fourth Princess Fengling had arrived. You Liang was delighted and called Fengling into the tent. She met Zhao Fengzhu, and the two recognized each other as sisters, and they liked each other very much.
The next morning, just past midnight, all the troops were already up preparing breakfast. You Liang ascended to his seat in the main tent and then dispatched his generals.
You Liang picked up a command arrow and said, "Cao Hua, listen to my command!"
"Cao Hua is here!"
"You will take three lieutenants, ten thousand men, and plenty of lime bags. Enter the formation from the west via the main road. Ignore the ambush along the winding path and head straight for the Black Dragon Formation. Once the poison water has dissipated, use the lime to pave the way. Capturing Yu Fengjiao will be your achievement."
"Understood!" Cao Hua was very pleased, accepted the command arrow, and stepped aside.
"Shi Wenlong, listen to my command!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You will also lead three lieutenants and ten thousand men, enter the formation from the main road to the east, regardless of any ambushes along the way, and head straight for the White Dragon Formation. Capturing Lin Fengwu will be your achievement."
"Understood!"
"Hua Feng, listen to my command! You will also lead three lieutenants and ten thousand men, carrying plenty of yellow earth, enter the formation from the main road to the west, regardless of any ambushes along the way, and head straight for the Fire Dragon Formation. Capturing Jingxiu will be your achievement."...
"Hong Sanniang and Hong Siniang, listen to my command! You two sisters will also lead three lieutenants and ten thousand men, carrying plenty of long planks, enter the formation from the main road to the east, regardless of any ambushes along the way, and head straight for the Yellow Dragon Formation. Capturing Jingyue will be your achievement."...
"Feng Ling, Zhao Fengzhu, and He Xiuying, listen to my command! You three, along with the other generals, will follow this cave master into the formation from the main road to the center, and head straight for the Azure Dragon Formation."... "Zhang Gui, listen to my command!
You will lead the thirty-six cave chiefs of Nanling and 50,000 troops, divided into five routes. Each route will enter the formation according to the battle plan, with the commander of each route. Your sole purpose is to destroy the ambushes along the Pantuo Road and scatter the hidden soldiers." "Understood!" "After each general breaks through the formation, fire a signal arrow as a signal, then march towards the Central Wuji Land to capture Duan Lingfeng and gain merit." With the generals assigned, the commanders returned to muster their troops, ate their fill of battle food, and awaited the battle. Now that they had the battle plan, they knew victory was in sight, and their morale was high. At dawn, the army had already arrived outside the formation, waiting for the signal cannon to fire before entering the formation to annihilate the enemy. Duan Lingfeng, having lost the battle plan, knew things were bad, but now there was no other way. She couldn't eat or sleep well all day. Before dawn, she heard from scouts that Xu Youliang was coming to attack the formation, so she climbed the hill at the heart of the formation early to observe the situation. When she saw Xu Youliang's troops, row upon row, a dark mass, she secretly groaned. Whether Duan Lingfeng can be captured in this battle remains to be seen; stay tuned for the next installment.

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