Fengcheng Flying General

Chapter 24

According to the schedule, he should be on duty today. His comrades in the army offered to take his place because of his injury, but his brother had just lost face and refused, insisting on doing the duty himself.

Junyu secretly praised the man for having some backbone, nodded to him, smiled, and left.

The aroma of mooncakes wafted from the military kitchen in the distance; mooncakes prepared for the Mid-Autumn Festival were being baked overnight.

As the sun gradually rises in the east, the first bugle call of the army has already sounded.

A tall figure emerged from behind a large tree in the square. Junyu stopped and smiled: "Good morning, Sun Jia."

Sun Jia's eyes gleamed brightly through his messy fur: "Junyu, I really didn't expect to meet you here."

Junyu's eyes darted around: "Junyu earnestly requests Sun Jia's assistance, is that possible?"

Sun Jia said proudly, "If it were anyone else, I would naturally be dissatisfied, but because it is Jun Yu, I have no choice but to accept it."

The two looked at each other and laughed. Junyu gave Sun Jia a brief explanation of the military structure and the battle formation training program in "Phoenix Military Strategy". The more Sun Jia listened, the more convinced he became, and he immediately agreed to serve as the chief instructor.

Chapter 63: Forming the Phoenix Army (2)

After a short rest in his military tent, Junyu summoned the instructors again to discuss relevant matters and decided that Sun Jia would serve as the head instructor. Sun Jia had outshone everyone at the martial arts competition the day before, so his appointment as head instructor was well-received.

The first chapter of "Phoenix Military Strategy" is basically an overview of martial arts. Junyu spent half an hour explaining some of the more profound points of martial arts theory to everyone. In addition to the basics of martial arts, the first chapter also covered authentic internal energy cultivation methods such as the "Marrow Cleansing Classic" and advanced sword techniques such as "Hand-Playing Five Strings." It was the first time everyone had heard such a systematic explanation, and they benefited greatly from the discussion.

For thousands of years, while there have been many skilled martial artists in the martial arts world, many were originally mere warriors with limited literacy, rarely possessing both literary and martial talents, and few reached the level of a grandmaster, let alone delve into the in-depth and systematic study of martial arts theory and popularization. It's important to understand that various martial arts schools have all sorts of strange rules when teaching their skills: for example, passing on techniques only to sons, not daughters, or sons only to daughters-in-law. Furthermore, masters often have personal biases or preferences when teaching their disciples, imparting more moves to favored students and fewer to those they dislike; some even use the excuse of preventing those with wicked intentions to withhold certain unique techniques, keeping them secret, and even subjecting those who try to learn them to torture or extermination… Over time, this has led to the gradual decline of martial arts in many schools.

These outlaws who joined the Phoenix Army were not top-tier figures to begin with, and they had no real skill in martial arts. In particular, some of them had reached a mediocre stage in their martial arts, and without guidance, they had made no further progress. After listening to this half-hour explanation, they immediately felt enlightened.

This was the first time anyone had encountered someone so utterly unreserved in their martial arts knowledge. The subsequent integration of martial arts with military strategy made these self-proclaimed "greatest under heaven" martial artists realize for the first time the necessity of restraint. In the face of a major war, individual heroism should give way to overall strategic planning. Looking at the still-unfinished, magnificent manuscript of "Phoenix Military Strategy," everyone couldn't help but feel utterly awestruck by this young man's vast knowledge and talent.

Chapter 64: A High Monk Delivers Roses from Afar (1)

As the sun slowly sets behind the mountains, the trees covering Phoenix Village are bathed in a golden glow. A gentle breeze stirs, carrying the fragrance of ripe fruit along the mountain paths. The air is warm and sweet, seemingly washing away all weariness and unhappiness from this land.

The forest path leading to Phoenix Village is lined with tall white poplars. Occasionally, a bright green bird takes flight, letting out a clear, melodious call. On the slightly steep slopes or barren cliffs, the small golden chrysanthemums thrive, their dense clusters of blossoms bursting forth in vast expanses of golden silk. Wild roses interspersed among the trees, their buds swaying in the breeze amidst the lush brambles, while the large, blooming pink and pale yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the golden hues of the opposite cliffs, creating a continuous sea of flowers.

A handsome monk dressed in white linen emerged from a mountain path on the left. He glanced in the direction of Phoenix City, stopped, and began to wait quietly. After an unknown amount of time, a young man in a blue robe strolled towards him from the opposite avenue.

The monk seemed unable to believe his eyes. He saw the young man gracefully approaching, and the vibrant rosebuds along the way suddenly burst into bloom. He stood there for a moment, then subconsciously picked the best rose beside him, unsure whether he was dreaming or actually in the forest.

Hello, Tosang.

The boy smiled, and Tuosang felt that the sunset in the west had suddenly dimmed for some reason. Without realizing it, he handed over the flowers in his hand.

The boy paused for a moment, then a gust of wind blew, and Tuosang's hand went empty as the flower fell to the ground. Silence reigned all around; even the sound of the flower falling was clearly audible. Tuosang suddenly awoke, his expression somewhat alarmed: "Junyu... hello."

Seeing his distraught appearance, Junyu suddenly felt her heart race and her face burn. She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and smiled, "Tuosang, you've come all this way. Is there something important you need?"

Tuosang seemed to have sobered up a bit, his eyes still burning with fervent light: "Since we parted in Shu, I have been thinking of you day and night, so I came uninvited to see if my old friend is still well."

Junyu hadn't expected Tuosang's expression and tone to be so frank and undisguised. She had never encountered such a situation before and was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

After a long while, Junyu forced a smile and said, "It just so happens that Phoenix Village is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Would you like to come and have a cup of tea?"

A glint quickly flashed in Tuosang's eyes, but he shook his head: "Just seeing you once is enough for me. Junyu, take care."

After saying that, he stared at her for a long while before turning around and striding away.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tuosang traveled thousands of miles to Phoenix City, stayed for only a short while, and then hurriedly embarked on another journey of thousands of miles, just to say "Be well and take care".

Junyu watched his retreating figure, feeling both excited and uneasy. She couldn't help but chase after him, calling out loudly, "Tuosang, take care too."

Tuosang's rapid steps suddenly stopped. He turned around, smiled, and a plain white letter flew straight into Junyu's palm. Junyu took it, and when he looked up, Tuosang's figure had already disappeared ahead.

Junyu unfolded the letter, which contained only a few short sentences:

Distant mountains and clear waters

A fleeting glimpse of youthful beauty in Fengcheng

Chu Ze Qin Guan, Wei Cheng morning rain

A Song of Guangling for Soulmates

Unable to work together, I am tormented.

How many times have I dreamt of the colorful clouds, only to have the sound of the purple phoenix flute fade away?

On the other side of the letter was the score for the guqin piece "Guangling San".

A gentle autumn breeze blew through the woods, lifting a vibrant rosebud on the ground. Soon, the wind picked up, and the flower tumbled into the trees, disappearing without a trace. A strange, unfamiliar feeling welled up in Junyu's heart. She stared blankly in the direction Tuosang had gone, carefully folded the letter, tucked it close to her body, and stood there for a long time. Then, looking up into the distance, she saw that Phoenix Village was already adorned with red lanterns.

***********************************************************************

Chapter 65: A High Monk Delivers Roses from Afar (2)

In Phoenix Village, large red lanterns hang from the trees of varying heights.

As night fell, a huge bonfire was lit on the flattest square in "Phoenix Stronghold." The roaring firelight illuminated the vast square as if it were daytime.

This square is Phoenix Village's usual training ground. After years of expansion, it is two or three times larger than the huge square of Qiansi Academy. Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, almost all the residents of Phoenix Village have gathered, and the square is already packed with people.

Because many ethnic groups live together in Fenghuangzhai, today's Mid-Autumn Festival gala, in addition to the traditional Han Chinese moon-viewing ceremony, also included equestrian archery competitions and song and dance performances unique to northern ethnic groups. The equestrian archery activities began in the evening, and the winning young men were receiving cheers from the crowd and admiring glances from the girls.

Amidst the crackling of the campfire, the valiant northern men picked up their spears and began to dance a military dance called the "Warrior Dance." After a deep and desolate melody ended, the tune turned melodious, and soon girls and children joined in, followed by elderly women. Everyone held hands and danced joyfully around the fire.

A girl looked timidly at Geng Ke, whose face flushed instantly. Dongfang Jiong burst into laughter, and Geng Ke glared at him before joining the dancers with the girl. Dongfang Jiong and Lu Ling exchanged glances and followed two other girls into the dance group.

In the woods, a large, round moon slowly rises into the sky. Occasionally, the sounds of flowing water and blooming flowers penetrate the crowd, only to be quickly drowned out by laughter and chatter, making it seem like an illusion.

Junyu sat on a large chair woven from rattan from the mountains, with various fresh fruits, mooncakes, and the village's special rice wine laid out on the table beside him.

From a distance, Zhao Manqing ran over, followed by an exasperated Mo Feiyan.

Mo Feiyan, who was a few years older, rarely lost her composure like this. Junyu laughed: "Running like this, is it a wolf crying?"

“Yes, the leader of the Yue Kiln Eight Alliances came here because of its reputation…” Zhao Manqing blinked.

"They came to visit because of that huge transaction..." Mo Feiyan said, blushing.

Zhao Manqing persisted, "The deal was already done. Did he really need to come in person? When he came, why didn't he discuss the deal? Why did he only ask to see our Yue ware connoisseur, Miss Mo? Haha..."

"Young master, come with me to take a look..."

"Haha, I don't have time to deal with him today, you'll have to figure it out yourself..." Junyu remained calm and composed, determined not to get involved. Over the years, she sometimes led Mo Feiyan and Zhao Manqing on business trips, and whenever they encountered men who showed interest in the two girls, the two always liked to use her as a shield.

"That heartless little brat..." Seeing that Junyu refused to be her "shield" anymore, Mo Feiyan spat at her and left helplessly.

Zhao Manqing's eyes darted around nimbly: "Young Master, look at Fei Yan's eyes, she's so 'heartless.' Yu Jiping has no chance..."

"This little devil." Junyu chuckled, then suddenly noticed a very unique jade hairpin on Zhao Manqing's head. He said with a half-smile, "Was it a gift from Bai Ruhui? Not bad taste."

Zhao Manqing blushed immediately. Suddenly, she heard someone calling her from behind. It was Bai Ruhui. She immediately ran away with a grin.

Junyu looked up at the bright moon in the sky, thinking of Shu Zhenzhen in Shu and the elusive Young Master Nongying. He wondered if the moon was shining brightly over them at this moment. Since the end of the great battle at the beginning of the year, Young Master Nongying had said he was going to the Fire Mountain in the west to find a special material for firearms. He had been traveling all over the country and there had been no news of him for a long time.

******************************************************************

Chapter 66: The Third Scholar, Mr. Shadow Play

One day, half a month later, Junyu was inspecting a battle drill of the Phoenix Army at the training ground.

This was a vanguard cavalry unit of 1,000 men, a group battle formation created by Junyu after he grasped the immense power of the final two moves of "Hand Playing the Five Strings." It was named "Emei Vanguard" in memory of his mother. The "Emei Vanguard" consisted almost entirely of skilled mounted archers from the army, personally led by Geng Ke, an expert in mounted archery. Training was highly efficient; they could hit a target from a hundred paces away, and engage in close-quarters combat with swords, possessing great mobility and formidable power.

Sun Jia, based on the "Phoenix Military Strategy," led a group encirclement drill of 30,000 troops. Although the drill was short and the coordination between the various units was not yet perfect, the army had undergone three years of intensive training and quickly adapted. Sun Jia had a good understanding of troop deployment and was not the kind of bookworm who only talked about strategy; he often came up with unexpected new tactics, which earned him Jun Yu's high praise.

After training that day, a scout reported that the allied armies of the Hu and Chijin tribes had crossed the Mohe River and were heading south towards Baikalu Mountain, where they had already deployed their troops at the strategic pass. Sure enough, the next day, the imperial court ordered the Phoenix Army to immediately march north to meet the enemy.

The messenger was an unfamiliar military supervisor. Junyu quickly assessed the situation and realized it was based on the four-pronged army deployment from the beginning of the year, only streamlined into three. Apart from Peng Dong's unit, Qi Xiaowen and Suhecha had been dispatched to Shandong to suppress peasant uprisings. She immediately asked, "Who are commanding those two units now?"

The military supervisor said, "One unit will be commanded by General Meng, and the other unit will be personally commanded by Prime Minister Zhu's second son."

Junyu was greatly surprised and hurriedly said, "Didn't General Meng go to the southeast to suppress the Japanese pirates?"

The supervising officer added, "General Xu Heng has returned to defend the southeastern front, while the war in the north is critical, so General Meng has been reinstated to his original post."

Meng Yuanjing was familiar with the northern campaigns, so this arrangement was naturally the best course of action. Junyu secretly thought that the Seventh Prince must have put in a great deal of effort. The only thing that surprised Junyu was that Tang Zhen was not appointed as the commander-in-chief for this battle. It seemed that the three armies were making their own decisions, and it was very likely that Prime Minister Zhu also wanted his son to go all out. Junyu pondered for a while. In the past, the four armies had always fought independently without supporting each other. Although this arrangement was irresponsible and unreasonable, it might offer more opportunities for coordinated operations. At least it would be possible to unite and support Meng Yuanjing's forces. He could only fight and make plans as he went.

After the military supervisor left, Junyu immediately summoned the main generals of the army to make arrangements for the war. After the war mobilization order was issued, the army rested immediately and set off at dawn the next day.

Just as Jun Yu returned to his tent and sat down, Lu Ling, Bai Ruhui, and Dongfang Jiong arrived as ordered.

For this military expedition, Junyu considered that the newly recruited generals, such as Sun Jia, were all from the south and unfamiliar with the northern terrain. Meanwhile, Lu Ling, Bai Ruhui, and Dongfang Jiong, who were originally familiar with northern warfare, had to remain in the city. This was because Junyu had received a secret report a few days prior that some Tatar and Cossack cavalry from the Chijin tribe were rampaging across the outer grasslands. After the former Chijin Khan was killed, the new leader, Zhenmutier, was a brilliant strategist. Junyu worried that if Zhenmutier's formidable fortifications were a feint, and his army could advance from the outer grasslands directly to the poorly defended Phoenix City, then join forces with the northern nomadic armies for a pincer attack, the consequences would be unpredictable. In a sense, defending Phoenix City was more important than marching north to meet the enemy. However, the military order had been given and could not be delayed. After thinking for a while, she also kept Geng Ke, the leader of the "Emei Vanguard". In this way, the "Four Heroes of the North" would lead 5,000 elite soldiers to defend the city, plus some of the strong and capable forces in Phoenix Village where everyone was a soldier, and she estimated that the chances of winning would be greater.

Just as Lu Ling and Bai Ruhui left, the two newly appointed guards at the gate announced that there were visitors. Jun Yu was a little surprised; who could be the visitor who could enter the military compound so late at night?

**********************************************************************

Chapter 67: Zhu Yu – His Story (1)

She had just stood up when the person strode in. Junyu couldn't help but smile, for the person was none other than Young Master Nongying.

Young Master Nongying, who was always dressed in a tall hat and wide belt, looked elegant and otherworldly, but now his face was covered with the marks of time, clearly from the hardships of traveling thousands of miles.

Young Master Nongying looked even stranger. He seemed not to have heard Junyu call him. He stared at her blankly for a long time before letting out a sigh of relief and muttering to himself, "It's good that you're alright."

Junyu asked curiously, "Sir, what's wrong?"

After a long pause, Young Master Nongying said, "On the night I arrived at Fire Mountain, I had a very strange dream. I dreamt that you remained silent, not even responding to my loud rebukes, and then suddenly disappeared. I thought something had happened to you..."

Junyu quietly turned her face away, almost bursting into tears for the first time in many years. The day that Young Master Nongying had his dream was the very night she was seriously injured in Hanjing Garden and carried into a secret room by Shu Zhenzhen, waiting to die.

For many years, Young Master Nongying had been like a father, a brother, a teacher, and a friend to her, taking care of her in every way. For a fleeting dream, he even forgot to look for the firearm materials and immediately rushed back from thousands of miles away.

Seeing that she was safe and sound, Young Master Nongying was already relieved. He took out three maps and said, "These are the maps I drew on my trip. Take a look."

Whenever Young Master Nongying went on a trip, he would meticulously draw a topographical map of the route, which was hundreds of times more detailed than the official military maps, and even far superior to the intelligence maps of Dongfang Jiong of Phoenix Village.

Junyu took the maps and examined them closely, and was overjoyed. Of the three maps, besides the scenery along the Fire Mountain in the west, one of them was a detailed topographical map of the line from Mohe along the Tangwang River. There were several unnamed locations on the maps that were not marked on the military maps. These places were too desolate and unknown to the locals, and were often overlooked, but they were precisely the advantageous places for defense and ambush.