Chapter 212: Unyielding Arrogance

Once the war began, it was like wild grass on the wasteland. With just a spark, fanned by the wind, it spread across the land, igniting a prairie fire. The war drums on a cold winter night roared like thunder, shattering the dreams of the Tatars as they prepared for battle. Spears and blades, swords and daggers, soaked the frozen soil with blood. When the pale morning sun cast its light over the earth, it reflected a chilling, crimson hue.

The light cavalry advanced with the greatest speed, while crossbowmen hid among the light infantry, protected by the flanks. A rain of arrows flew forth before the Tatar soldiers could even get close, striking down countless warhorses and riders. Men fell from their horses, and horses collapsed with agonized cries. Those who followed were either tripped up, unable to avoid the chaos, or reacted quickly, adjusting their formation to the sides. Yet, like ants, they were scattered. The once orderly formation was almost immediately torn apart in the middle.

Yan Lin stood atop a chariot, surveying the battlefield. Without hesitation, he ordered the drummers to change the rhythm, altering the marching orders. The cavalry charged from the flanks, swiftly encircling the enemy’s advancing forces. The heavily armored infantry, wielding swords and shields, thrust forward like a spear into the weakened breach in the enemy’s line. The archers no longer fired arrows indiscriminately but instead provided cover for the advancing heavy infantry.

For this campaign against the Tatars, most of the troops selected were fast-moving units. Combined with Yan Lin’s decisive and unwavering commands, the sudden changes in tactics caught the Tatars completely off guard. By the time their commanders realized what was happening, it was already too late.

The right flank of the Tatar army, numbering four to five thousand soldiers, found themselves cut off from the main force under the encirclement of the light cavalry and the relentless advance of the heavy infantry. The light infantry of the Great Qian Dynasty was already waiting for them. The cries of battle erupted instantly.

Trapped and surrounded, even with their desperate struggles, how could these four to five thousand men withstand the numerical and tactical superiority of the Great Qian forces? Caught in the enemy’s encirclement, panic set in, and the fierce assault quickly broke their ranks.

Every victory in war begins with a small advantage, seizing the opportunity and snowballing it forward, inch by inch, step by step. In this battle, where preparedness met unpreparedness, the young general displayed remarkable composure and decisiveness. He did not let the existing advantage lead to complacency, nor did he recklessly push for more.

The initial clash cost the Tatars four to five thousand men—a significant loss. Despite several attempts to reorganize their formation, they could not deal a decisive blow to their opponents. If they were to continue engaging in a bloody struggle with the Great Qian forces, it would be a reckless move, disregarding the bigger picture. Thus, after launching a fierce charge, the Tatars sounded the retreat, ordering all troops to fall back to their border fortresses.

Many of the Great Qian generals were exhilarated, almost seeing the merits of their achievements right before their eyes. They imagined how they would be promoted and rewarded after crushing the Tatars. They urged Yan Lin to press the advantage, to chase down the retreating enemy and completely extinguish the Tatars’ fighting spirit, to show them that the Great Qian Dynasty remained formidable, and that its iron hooves were what they should truly fear.

Yet, to their surprise, Yan Lin ignored their pleas. With a few commands, he ordered a full retreat back to camp, showing no desire to prolong the battle.

Some in the army inevitably grumbled. However, with the victory fresh in their minds, their complaints could not undermine Yan Lin’s suddenly elevated prestige and authority. Moreover, the logistics and supplies had already been taken over by Lu Xian’s men, who were completely loyal to Yan Lin. Others had no power to command or allocate resources. Without supplies, how could they fight? Even if they harbored a thousand grievances, they had no choice but to swallow their anger and submit to the young general during military councils.

The first battle was a swift raid, as fast as lightning. In the following days, this tactic was pushed to its limits. The army continuously harassed the enemy but avoided a full-scale confrontation. Like an eagle picking apart its prey, they bit by bit weakened the enemy’s strength. At the same time, they intensified the training of the remaining troops in the camp.

The most painful thing is being cut by a blunt knife.  

After just three encounters, the Tatars had already discerned their opponent’s strategy. By the fourth time, reinforcements from the royal court arrived, amassing a total of forty thousand troops at the border. They planned to wait for the Great Qian’s light cavalry to repeat their tactics and launch another raid, intending to deliver a crushing blow and ensure the enemy’s complete annihilation.  

However, when the day of battle arrived, what appeared before them was a tidal wave of fifty thousand troops! Among these fifty thousand, light cavalry made up only a small portion, while the majority consisted of heavy cavalry, crossbowmen, and infantry. Armed to the teeth and nearly indestructible, they clashed with the Tatars like a massive black iron war chariot, crushing their meticulously laid plans and grinding their formations into dust.  

The Tatars could hardly believe it. Since when had Wang Cheng, the general of Xinzhou, become so formidable in battle? 

They sent out three waves of scouts to gather intelligence. The first two waves were completely wiped out, and only the third managed to bring back news—there was no longer any Wang Cheng in the Xinzhou army. The commander who had been relentlessly defeating them, driving them back step by step, was none other than Yan Lin, whose courtesy name was “Hui.” He had taken command a month earlier, executed Wang Cheng, and used the blood of the former general to solidify his control over the army. With lightning speed, he had orchestrated this terrifying campaign.  

After just ten days of fighting, the Tatars were already struggling to keep up. Despite their leader Yanda’s furious outbursts, he could not single-handedly reverse the tide of a battle that had been at a disadvantage from the start. On the eleventh day, they sent an envoy to Yan Lin with a peace proposal, even mentioning that the princess was pregnant and would soon give birth to a child of both nations, implying that the war was unnecessary.  

Yan Lin beheaded the envoy and sent the head back to the Tatar royal tent.  

The so-called wolfish ambition cannot be extinguished in a single day. To ensure that those with ill intentions cease their schemes, mere words and a piece of paper are far from sufficient. Only by severing their claws, breaking their bones, and beating them until they are filled with hatred, fear, and rendered powerless can there be a day of peace.  

And so, Yan Lin continued to fight. Not only did he continue, but he fought even more fiercely than before.  

Morale in the army is forged through battle. Marching through blood and fire, their momentum was unstoppable, completely sweeping away the previous atmosphere of defeat.  

On the twenty-second day of the eleventh month, the Great Qian army, like a golden dragon, stormed straight into the Tatar royal court, arriving at the city gates. Yan Lin’s warhorse halted before the royal tent. His youthful face reflected in the cold gleam of his three-foot blade, he addressed the trembling Tatar royals with a single sentence: “I, Yan Lin, have come only to escort the princess back to the court. Once she is safely returned, my army will withdraw. There is no need for panic.”  

What a statement—”only to escort the princess back to the court”! To the Tatars, it sounded like a mocking slap to the face.  

The Great Qian army had marched all the way from Yanmen Pass, capturing their cities, slaughtering their soldiers, and even trampling their fallen royal banners under blood-stained hooves.  

Slap after slap, they humiliated the Tatars, only to casually say—  

“We just came to pick someone up.”  

Such effortless arrogance, such cold-blooded audacity!  

*  

While the border war raged on like a raging fire, such a massive upheaval could not be kept secret. On the very day Yan Lin led his troops to crush the Tatar royal court, news from the border, after overcoming countless obstacles, finally reached the capital in a state of panic. It passed through the layers of the Forbidden City and arrived at the emperor’s bedchamber.  

The night was still long.

The soft dripping of the water clock echoed in the chamber, accompanied by the rich scent of sandalwood.  

Xiao Shu had not been sleeping deeply. After attending to Shen Lang and helping him take the Five Minerals Powder, she had lain down on the imperial bed, but the slightest noise from outside roused her. The palace was heated by an underground furnace, warm and cozy. She rose, draped in a gauzy robe, and pushed aside the ornate beaded curtain. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, adding a touch of authority to her once radiant and graceful demeanor—a presence befitting a favored consort. Even in her weary state, everyone in the palace knew her capabilities. Those who saw her could not help but lower their heads.  

Outside stood Zheng Bao.  

Over the years, Wang Xinyi had grown old, and many tasks had been handed over to this disciple of his. Quick-handed and sharp-minded, Zheng Bao had inherited Wang Xinyi’s skills and understood the emperor’s preferences well, gradually earning Shen Lang’s trust.  

However, Xiao Shu had never paid much attention to these eunuchs.  

Fearing she might disturb Shen Lang, she stepped out and asked, “What’s happening outside?”  

Zheng Bao bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, urgent news from the border.”  

Xiao Shu’s eyebrows shot up. “Urgent news?”  

After Zheng Bao quietly relayed the message, her expression changed drastically. She turned abruptly and woke Shen Lang from his slumber.  

Within moments, urgent summons were sent to the residences of high-ranking officials.  

The quiet night in the capital was suddenly filled with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking. The mansions of the wealthy and noble families were lit up, and sedan chairs and carriages converged from all directions toward the palace.  

Shen Lang could hardly believe what he was hearing. “Yan Lin has raised an army? Where is Master Xie?”  

The messenger trembled as he spoke. “According to reports, when Master Xie arrived in Xinzhou, the traitor had already forged an edict and seized control of the military. He placed Master Xie under strict surveillance. However… however…”  

A flash of fury crossed Shen Lang’s face. “However what?”  

The messenger kowtowed desperately. “However, there are also rumors among the people that Master Xie harbored ill intentions. Upon arriving in Xinzhou, he assisted the traitor in reorganizing military affairs and may have turned against the court!”  

“Outrageous!”  

Shen Lang had been consuming the Five Minerals Powder for nearly two years. The effects of the latest dose were still strong, and his agitation was at its peak. Hearing this, he felt a surge of blood rush to his head, his eyes turning red with rage. He grabbed an inkstone from the table and hurled it at the messenger!  

The high-quality Duan inkstone was extremely heavy.  

The messenger was struck on the forehead, blood gushing from the wound. The pain was nearly unbearable, but he dared not even wipe the blood away, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.  

Many officials who had rushed to the palace upon receiving the urgent summons were too frightened to enter the hall.  

They all knelt outside the hall.  

Shen Lang’s gloomy voice, filled with thunderous rage, rolled out from the dimly lit hall: “The treasury has not been mobilized, and the Ministry of Revenue has not acted. Since ancient times, the success of military campaigns has depended on soldiers, horses, and provisions! Even if he has the ambition of a wolf and holds military power, any campaign requires the resources of the entire nation. How could he have gathered enough funds and provisions to attack the Tatars in such a short time? Has the Ministry of Revenue become useless, allowing such a deception under my very eyes?!”  

The officials had only just heard the news of the chaos at the border and had not yet sorted out the details.  

Originally, everyone had assumed that with Xie Ju’s presence, everything would be handled properly.  

Who could have imagined that even the emperor’s own teacher might now be aiding the enemy, or perhaps even be the mastermind behind it all?  

Hearing the emperor’s interrogation, how could they dare to speak?  

The hall, both inside and out, fell into complete silence.  

Shen Lang grew angrier by the moment, wishing he could order all these incompetent officials to be dragged out and executed!  

Xiao Shu had already donned her palace attire.  

She stood quietly to the side, observing for a long time. Seeing that none of the officials dared to speak, a cold glint flickered in her eyes. After a moment of consideration, she spoke softly, “Your Majesty, the Yan traitor has raised an army at the border but chose to attack the Tatars first. This move is quite unusual and defies logic. In my humble opinion, there may still be room for maneuver. As for the provisions needed for the troops, that is the most critical issue.”  

Shen Lang’s voice was icy. “Do you have an idea?”  

Xiao Shu immediately knelt and prostrated herself, displaying absolute submission.  

Yet her words were unusually clear: “Without provisions, the army cannot move. If we can determine the source of the traitor’s funds and provisions and cut off his foundation, we can pull the rug out from under him. I recall there is one person who might know something about this.”

All the officials turned to look at her in surprise.  

Even Shen Lang was taken aback. “Who?”  

Xiao Shu raised her eyes and declared firmly, “The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Zhou Yinzhi!”  

*  

From the day Yan Lin led his army to attack the Tatars, Jiang Xuening had been going outside the city every day to check for news. Over the past few days, she had heard frequent reports of victories, but there had been no word of Shen Zhiyi. At night, she was haunted by nightmares of the coffin escorted back by soldiers in her previous life.  

The torment of waiting was like begging the executioner’s blade not to fall.  

Having lived a second life, she had saved You Fangyin, changed Yan Lin’s fate, and even altered her own destiny. Why couldn’t she save Shen Zhiyi this time?  

She had every reason to hold onto hope.  

Day after day, she opened the box containing the soil from their homeland, looking at it over and over again.  

Finally, on a moonlit night after the snow, a fast horse galloped in from the front lines. The exhausted but excited soldier rushed through the gates and came to her door, his voice hoarse as he reported, “Miss Ning, by the general’s order, the Tatar royal court has been breached! Her Highness the Princess is safe and sound. She will arrive at Yanmen Pass tomorrow morning. You are requested to go and welcome her!”  

At that moment, Jiang Xuening sprang to her feet, nearly knocking over the box.  

At the corner of the border city’s tower, the moonlight shone on the silver snow, illuminating the night as bright as day.  

Xie Wei’s carriage waited quietly outside the city gates.  

He sat inside, but for some reason, he had taken out the dagger from his wrist and was examining it closely. After a while, he asked, “Has she not arrived yet?”

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