165 Engage in Battle
you near the Prince’s estate; this is something you cannot refuse. It will still be easier and more convenient to handle things in the city since it is familiar territory." Princess Changle did not re...Battle Commences
Chapter Name: Battle Commences
165.|i^Battle Commence
Midnight
In a large camp of the Mohist army, candles still burned quietly in the commander's tent. Mo Xiuyao sat behind his desk reading memorandums, occasionally furrowing his neat brows. Indeed, Mo Jingqi’s determination to destroy the Mohist army was formidable; over these recent days, fifty thousand Mohist soldiers had faced at least eight hundred thousand enemies just on the surface. Adding in the hidden adversaries, a conservative estimate would place the number around one million. Although Mo Xiuyao was undoubtedly a genius when it came to military strategy and warfare, such circumstances still put immense pressure on him. He not only had to divide his forces to deal with armies from Nanzhao, Xiling, and Liwang, but also constantly needed to be wary of Mo Jingqi’s machinations behind the scenes. In just under a month, Mo Xiuyao appeared even more gaunt than before.
Young Master. Ajin, who had not been seen for quite some time, suddenly appeared at the door with his usual taciturn demeanor.
Rising to look up, Mo Xiuyao asked: Has news from the northwest arrived Ajin nodded and handed the latest war report over to Mo Xiuyao. No matter how late it was, Young Master always insisted on reviewing every day's northwest war reports before resting. Knowing this, Ajin had grown accustomed to immediately delivering any received messages for Young Master’s perusal. Reaching out to take it, Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and could not help but furrow his brows upon reading the news of the Mohist army retreating into Hongzhou. This did not seem like a usual tactic employed by the Mohist army, and besides, Xiling's forces were far from powerful enough to force such a swift retreat on them either. As he looked at the casualty figures in the report, Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples, wondering if this was Ahli’s doing What are you thinking, Ahli After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao raised his head and said: Bring me all the war reports from recent days as well as the map!
Ajin looked at his young master suddenly rise and change in expression with some surprise, quickly responding and rushing to fetch what Mo Xiuyao had requested.
Aj瑾 moved swiftly, and it wasn't long before Mo Xiuyao had the maps and battle reports he requested laid out in front of him. Mo Xiuyao carefully picked up each report to study every sentence, occasionally glancing at the map, until finally he was lost in thought.
"Your Highness" Aj瑾 called worriedly; his expression wasn't looking too good.
Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze and looked somewhat bitter and helpless. "Ah Li…" Looking at the map covered with markings before him, Mo Xiuyao felt a myriad of emotions. He understood Ye Li's strategy as well as her intentions behind it. But exactly because he was able to understand them so clearly did he feel especially tormented. His beloved wife, Ah Li, should have been living an enviable life as the Lady of the Ding Kingdom, but now she was commanding thousands upon thousands of troops in a desolate part of the northwest. All this… only because of his incompetence... Cutting off Xi Ling’s main army and its border garrison, annihilating two hundred thousand Xi Ling soldiers… Ah Li, Ah Li… Mo Xiuyao suddenly felt as if something had pulled at his heartstrings, making it hard for him to breathe.
Before he could collect himself again, Ye Li's plan was indeed good, but the Prince of Southern Jing in Xi Ling wasn’t an ordinary person. If he were to see through her plans…
Moving swiftly to his feet, Mo Xiuyao said gravely, "Get my horse ready. I'm going out for a while. The army will be temporarily under the charge of several generals!"
Aj瑾 was taken aback and looked at Mo Xiuyao in confusion. It was already past midnight; why would his Highness suddenly want to go out now Looking at the documents and maps spread across the table, he wondered if something had happened to Lady Ah Li Aj瑾 didn't follow orders right away but instead said gravely, "Your Highness, it's almost the 15th day of the month; the moon will be full soon. If you leave now… Furthermore, with the situation so urgent right now, your sudden departure might not be prudent…" Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze and remembered that today was the 13th day of the tenth month. He would never make it to Hong Zhou within two days no matter how hard he tried; there were also pressing matters at headquarters… After a moment's thought, Mo Xiuyao quickly came back to himself and said, "Notify all generals above a certain rank to come see me early tomorrow morning. Also, notify Mo Hua to immediately take troops to the northwest to protect Lady Ah Li’s safety. If necessary, use any means necessary to get her away from the battlefield. Leave at once!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Aj瑾 replied and left.
Mo Xiuyao sank back into his chair feeling somewhat weak; he whispered softly, "Ah Li… you must come out of this unharmed…"
The war in the northwest seemed to have been suppressed for too long until it finally erupted. After entering Hong Zhou, Prince of Southern Jing soon discovered that Mo Family Army’s attacks were becoming increasingly fierce and they could hardly advance any further. Looking at Hong Zhou city far away, Prince of Southern Jing's gloomy expression had never seen a ray of sunshine. He knew he had fallen into Ye Li’s trap and been lured deep into the northwest. But what was it to him Even if Xi Ling army had suffered losses, Mo Family Army wouldn’t be better off either. He absolutely didn't believe that with equal forces, he couldn’t beat a woman. And time did not allow him to wait for reinforcements from the border of Xi Ling to arrive; he must capture Hong Zhou city as quickly as possible and control the entire northwest so that the incoming reinforcements could have an unimpeded road, and it was also to prepare for entering Dachu territory.
Your Excellency, the main part of the Mohist army has retreated to Hongzhou City and is probably preparing for a siege.
Troops Commander Southern Plains smiled brightly. I thought Ye Li had some brilliant plan. A siege… Can she hold it for ten days or even half a month One of his generals advised: Your Excellency, do not underestimate her. When she was at Suisnow Pass with just 20,000 troops, she still held Yonglin against the enemy's attack. It must not be taken lightly. Troops Commander Southern Plains put on a serious look and said coldly: I would never underestimate Ye Li. We need to capture Hongzhou City as soon as possible! He naturally wouldn’t underestimate her, but he would use all his strength to break through the defenses of Hongzhou City. Overconfidence was not an easy mistake for someone of his age. Thinking about that elegant lady, he wondered if she could still be composed and calm when he stood before her after breaching Hongzhou’s defenses.
On October 13th, the Western Ling army finally reached the city walls. Hongzhou City had never experienced such fierce attacks before. But at the same time, the Western Ling troops also faced an unprecedentedly tenacious resistance. On the battlements, Black Cloud Cavalry’s arrows rained down upon the invaders below. At the same time, men were still charging forward to their deaths in succession. Troops Commander Southern Plains stood behind his army on horseback and vaguely saw a young woman dressed in black sitting calmly atop the highest part of the city walls, looking down at the fighting below. Behind the woman stood several tall men with their hands behind their backs, watching this battle too. From afar, Troops Commander Southern Plains still recognized one of them—Feng Zhirao, who was dressed in red and the trusted aide of Prince Ding. Seeing his opponent sitting so leisurely on a high platform, rage boiled up inside him as he laughed coldly: How fitting that you are Prince Ding’s Consort!
On the city wall platform, Ye Li also looked far away at somewhere behind the Western Ling army and turned to Feng Zhirao with a smile. "Brother Feng, this is our first time facing Troops Commander Southern Plains head-on, isn’t it" Feng Zhirao rolled his eyes in annoyance: “Indeed we are! We have only been using tricks or retreating until now. If we keep fighting like this, people might wonder if our Mohist army knows how to fight at all.” Hearing Feng Zhirao’s heavy complaints, Ye Li smiled and said: Since that is the case, it wouldn’t hurt to celebrate a bit… She turned around from Qin Feng who was standing behind her and took up a pipa. She lightly plucked the strings while beautiful sounds flowed out from between her fingers. Ye Li smiled faintly as she played the melody with skillful hands, the sound growing louder and spreading through the entire battlefield.
The soldiers on the battlefield didn’t have time to appreciate such a magnificent piece of music; even the slightest distraction could cost them their lives in battle. But that seemingly sad yet uplifting tune was clearly heard by every soldier’s ears. The Mohist army seemed to recall its glorious past as they listened to this melody, remembering how the generations of Prince Ding had led them in battles with great courage and vigor.
Drive out the bandits and boost our pride! Someone shouted, and all the soldiers immediately became more ferocious in their attacks. Kill!
Feng Zhirao’s face changed slightly when he stood beside Ye Li: This is… The Yue King Battle Array Song… Ye Li didn’t answer; instead, she played a magnificent melody with her ten fingers. She had been raised by the Xu family all along and could certainly understand music, even if she wasn’t fond of it. This battle array song was originally an ancient zither piece, with a grand atmosphere and simple elegance reminiscent of the ancient times. But Ye Li thought that this particular song would be better played on a pipa. Just like how ten encirclements were buried in the past; other instruments could play it too, but they couldn’t reach the effect of playing it on a pipa. The finger techniques and range of pitch were well suited for such an intense and grand melody. Feng Zhirao obviously didn’t expect Ye Li to answer him, only saying lightly: The Yue King Battle Array Song has been lost for over two hundred years; I’m guessing that the Xu Family might still have its ancient score.
When it came to battle, bravery won when armies met on a narrow path. When the Mohist army was filled with killing intent because of their princess, in comparison, the soldiers from Western Ling seemed somewhat weak. Troops Commander Southern Plains stared into the distance at that woman dressed in black as he held his breath. His subordinate generals whispered: Your Excellency… The morale of the Mohist army is high; perhaps it would be better if we avoid their sharp edge To say the least, that Princess Consort of Prince Ding was a talented person indeed; just one tune from her pipa had raised the spirit and morale of the entire Mohist army to another level. Troops Commander Southern Plains laughed loudly as he pointed his whip at the highest point of the city walls and said: Such a woman is fun to deal with! Compared to her, all other beauties in this world are waste! Haha… Anyone who dares retreat will be executed on the spot. I’m taking this woman!
The generals around him responded meekly and dared not persuade further. Prince of Southern Command chuckled, "I've heard that Mo Xiuyao is a genius in arranging troops and formations. However, I wonder if there's anyone in the Mo family army who can still break an array now that Mo Xiuyao is no longer in military service" Clearly, Prince of Southern Command had recognized that the music played earlier was the Yue King’s Breaking Formation Ode. Western Ling and Eastern Chu were originally from the same source a thousand years ago; although their cultures might have diverged somewhat, there were still many similarities. With a wave of his hand, drums sounded behind him as several soldiers waved red flags. Soon, the formations of Western Ling’s soldiers began to change. Such changes could not be concealed from Ye Li and others who were observing from high above. Feng Zhirao frowned at the changing formations below and said, "Hexagram formation... no... something is different..."
Below the city walls, the soldiers of Western Ling swiftly formed a huge array with an inner circle and outer square, within which there were countless smaller arrays. The number of men from the Mo Family Army who went out to meet the challenge was already less than that of Western Ling’s army; now they seemed even more insignificant.
Feng Zhirao snorted lightly as he waved his hand, causing a green flag to be hoisted on top of the city wall. The formation of the Mo Family Army changed accordingly, forming a gigantic black dragon coiled around the entire battlefield. The arrogant and domineering head of the dragon was the elite Black Cloud Light Cavalry of the Mo Family Army, no one dared to provoke it wherever it went. When the dragon’s tail swished, the enemy's formation could only fall apart.
A black flag rose behind Western Ling’s army, causing the Hexagram array on the battlefield to transform into a huge eagle with sharp claws, swiftly pouncing towards the body of the black dragon and instantly cutting it in half.
"Damn it!" Feng Zhirao muttered under his breath. Another change of flags atop the city wall caused the severed dragon from the Mo Family Army to immediately turn into countless black arrows charging at the giant eagle.
Ye Li got up and watched the battle below the city walls. In modern warfare, formations had long been lost, so they were no longer necessary. Therefore, Ye Li was quite unfamiliar with them, even though she had read about many different kinds in military books, her practical application of these strategies remained blank. Now that she saw Feng Zhirao commanding his troops to change their formations, she finally began to grasp some real concepts and simultaneously pondered over the method to break through the array.
What on earth is going on tonight with it getting dark so early to the capital." Mo Jingyu fell silent and watched Mo Jingli silently: Do you want to scare Mo Jinqi to deathMo Jingli didn't care about Mo Jingyu's gaze, saying coldly, "That woman of Empress Liu on...