Military Advisor and Princess

Chapter 28

"Military Advisor Mo, you will guard the camp in my stead," Jin Xuan said, turning to Ao Jun, who was still sitting.

Before Ao Jun could speak, Wei Ziqi asked, "Your Highness, why not let the strategist accompany us into battle?" Logically speaking, this battle is so important and so dangerous; wouldn't it be better to have you fight alongside us? Why keep you in the camp? Does Your Highness not fully trust you? But that doesn't make sense! After the last battle, everyone in the camp admires you immensely, including Your Highness.

Jin Xuan didn't answer, but instead asked Ao Jun, "What does the strategist think?" As he spoke, he smiled, which amazed everyone. Since the strategist arrived, the usually stern prince had smiled many times! Almost every time he looked at the strategist, he would smile.

Ao Jun remained calm and said, "Mo Jun will obey the prince's orders."

As she spoke, she looked at Jinxuan. Their eyes met, and Jinxuan clearly saw a hint of understanding and a slight smile in Aojun's otherwise cold eyes. Aojun also saw the tacit understanding they shared in Jinxuan's eyes. He had thought of her so thoughtfully, knowing she disliked war, disliked seeing bloodshed, and disliked gore. However, once on the battlefield, it was unavoidable. So, he had probably left her behind for another reason: the battlefield was dangerous, and for a 'weak scholar' like her, it meant her life was hanging by a thread. This was also for her safety. Jinxuan, this friend was a good one. Why did I dislike him in the first place? Aojun asked herself inwardly.

"Ziqi, the Prince has his reasons for doing this," Ao Jun said, seeing that Ziqi still wanted to ask. Wei Ziqi could only swallow his doubts.

Jin Xuan and Ao Jun exchanged another knowing glance before giving the order for the entire camp to prepare for battle.

This was the largest battle since the two armies began their standoff, and even the largest battle since Yelü Ying invaded the Longxuan Dynasty. The Cangliao army of 150,000 faced the Longxuan army of 100,000, and both armies' commanders and generals were mobilized, creating a situation where they were determined to fight to the death.

The vast, dark expanse made the already seemingly endless plain appear even more crowded. Before the two armies, two equally stunning yet so different figures faced each other. One wore his usual wicked smile, appearing quite relaxed, but a closer look would reveal the deep hatred in his crimson eyes, like those of a demon from hell, as he looked at the person before him. The other, however, remained calm and composed in the face of the imposing formation, his face as cold as ever, his deep eyes revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Haha... Ouyang Jinxuan, I didn't expect you to be nothing more than this. Knowing it was a dead end, you still obediently came to die. Hmph, Father Emperor really overestimated you." Yelü Ying spoke first, his arrogant tone making all the soldiers of Long Xuan's army grit their teeth in hatred.

"Yelü Ying, isn't it premature for you to say that? You invaded my Longxuan without cause, slaughtering my soldiers and civilians. Today, it's time for you to pay the price." Ouyang Jinxuan spoke with a cold expression, his tone devoid of any emotion, yet his steady voice carried such clarity and authority to the soldiers of both armies. He clearly saw that Yelü Ying's hatred deepened when he mentioned his father, the burning flames in his eyes suggesting he wouldn't rest until he was reduced to ashes. It seemed that Yelü Ying's invasion of Longxuan must be closely related to the Cangliao King, Jinxuan guessed in his heart.

"Haha... Is that so? Ouyang Jinxuan, if you weren't determined to fight to the death, why didn't your 'beloved' strategist Mo come? Logically speaking, with her abilities as the world's number one strategist, if she had come, she could at least have ensured your body was intact, haha..." Yelü Ying said to Jinxuan in an ambiguous and arrogant manner, and deliberately emphasized the word 'beloved'.

The absence of Mo Jun this time was truly unexpected. Ouyang Jinxuan couldn't possibly be unaware that his entire army was mobilized for this battle, which was bound to be a tough one. Mo Jun was his most capable strategist, and judging from her previous performance, if Ouyang Jinxuan wanted any chance of victory, Mo Jun would undoubtedly have joined the army. He could also take this opportunity to show Mo Jun who the true 'God of War' was, and who was worthy of his assistance. But she hadn't appeared. Did Ouyang Jinxuan really 'love' her so much that he was willing to sacrifice the entire army, even the entire Longxuan Dynasty, to protect her? Hmph, if that were the case, then Ouyang Jinxuan wouldn't be worthy of being his opponent.

With Jinxuan's intelligence, how could he not know what he was thinking? To say that he and Jun… Hmph, doesn't he realize they are both grown men? Such words not only insulted him but also Jun. The thought of Jun being insulted like this made Jinxuan furious, even more so than the insult itself. Why would Yelü Ying think of him and Jun for no reason? He didn't even know Jun, how could he… And his demeanor just now made him feel like he was… jealous.

"Haha... Silence means admission? Unbelievable! Unbelievable that the dignified 'Cold-Faced War God' is actually... But even if she hadn't come, you couldn't have protected her." Yelü Ying suddenly stopped at the crucial point, then narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice. Jin Xuan's silence was taken by Yelü Ying as an admission, which made Yelü Ying's anger or jealousy burn even more fiercely.

"Yelü Ying, as I said, you're speaking too soon. The outcome will only be known after the battle," Jin Xuan said, changing the subject. The glint in Yelü Ying's eyes when he mentioned the Emperor set off a alarm bell in Jin Xuan's mind: Yelü Ying was interested in the Emperor.

"Alright, let's see who has the last laugh. What a pity! Strategist Mo won't be able to witness such a spectacular battle." The clever Yelü Ying knew perfectly well that Jin Xuan was deliberately changing the subject, but he deliberately steered the conversation back to Mo Jun.

Unexpectedly, Jin Xuan abandoned his cold demeanor from the battlefield and smiled faintly, saying, "No, you will see it."

Jin Xuan's faint smile was even more irritating to Yelü Ying. "Your Majesty?" How intimately he addressed her! Although he was itching with hatred in his heart, he still smiled wickedly on the surface and said, "What do you mean? Could it be that Military Advisor Mo has gone to war with the army? Hehe... With her stunning beauty, if she came, this Crown Prince would not have missed her."

“She didn’t go on the expedition, but she’s watching this battle from somewhere you don’t know.” Judging from Yelü Ying’s words, could it be that he has seen Jun? But… although he had doubts, Jin Xuan still smiled and said. Although he didn’t know where Jun was, he had a strong feeling that she was somewhere nearby, watching the two armies’ every move. She couldn’t possibly have stayed in the camp waiting.

At this moment, on a small hill not far from this plain, a figure in white robes fluttered in the wind, her stunningly beautiful face was indifferent and serene, her clear and bright eyes were fixed on the hill, and her proud and unparalleled figure made the world pale in comparison.

The Strategist and the Princess: Battlefield Chapter Twenty-Nine - Smoke of Battle

After the army set out, Ao Jun arrived at a small hill near the battlefield. She disliked seeing war, but as Long Xuan's strategist, how could she ignore such an important battle? Moreover, as soon as the army set off, a faint unease rose in her heart, as if they would never return. Although she had great confidence in Jin Xuan, Yelü Ying's words last night and his arrogant attitude made her feel that Yelü Ying would definitely use a surprise move in today's battle.

Sure enough, this unease became even more pronounced after seeing the Cangliao army. Their formation was really strange. Even though she had read so many military treatises, she had never seen such a strange formation before. Yet, she had a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she had seen a similar formation.

While Ao Jun was pondering this strange formation, the two armies facing each other down the mountain were also getting restless and about to start fighting.

"Since Strategist Mo can witness this magnificent battle, all the better. Ouyang Jinxuan, today, your myth of being an invincible war god will be shattered by me, Yelü Ying." Yelü Ying looked around but couldn't see the white figure. However, he had a feeling that the person was indeed watching from somewhere. Since that was the case, all the better. Everything would begin and end from this moment on. He slowly raised the Fire Cloud Sword and issued an order to attack.

"Very well, then let me see just how capable you, 'Devouring Flame Evil Lord,' truly are. Attack!" Jin Xuan also raised his sword—the Dragon's Roar Sword. A 'ring' sound was heard, like the roar of a soaring dragon. Yi Tianyi, standing on Tianri Slope, received the order and immediately beat the war drum to convey the command to attack. Yi Han, standing to the side, waved the military flag and directed the changes in the army's formation.

Jin Xuan truly lived up to his reputation as a war god; his troop deployment was unpredictable and astounding. Ao Jun, watching from the hilltop, couldn't help but admire him. Huang Shao and Long Xuan led 30,000 infantrymen down the mountain, forming a triangular formation with the eastern side as the spearhead, launching a sudden and fierce attack on the center of the Cang Liao army.

The Cangliao army, which had originally maintained its formation, was thrown into disarray after this fierce attack. A crack was forcibly torn open in the middle, and the Cangliao soldiers who retreated to both sides were blocked by the other two sides of the Longxuan army's triangular formation. It looked like the corner of the formation was in great chaos.

At this moment, on Tianyuepo, which is across from Tianripo, Shentu Chufei, the flag-waving general of Cangliao, also waved a bright red brocade banner, changing the formation with the flag. As the Cangliao war drums sounded, 40,000 Cangliao cavalrymen charged into the battlefield from their ranks on both flanks, bringing with them billowing smoke that obscured the battle. When the smoke cleared, the Cangliao cavalrymen had already formed a proper attack formation. The 40,000 cavalrymen were lined up in several rows, but it was not quite the same as the attack formation. As Shentu Chufei changed his banner again, the flag signals changed again. Another Cangliao general, sweating profusely, relayed another order according to the flag signals. With the brocade banner waving and the drums booming, tens of thousands of archers suddenly appeared behind the 40,000 Cangliao cavalrymen. Shentu Chufei lowered his banner, and a real volley of arrows was unleashed. The 30,000 infantrymen of Longxuan were hit by arrows and fell to the ground. The triangular formation collapsed instantly.

Yelü Ying was indeed not to be underestimated. The name "Devouring Flame Evil Lord" was well-deserved. His flexible, meticulous, and innovative formation was truly ingenious. He was also a rare talent, and his abilities were probably on par with Jin Xuan's. Although Ao Jun did not have any good feelings towards the righteous and evil Yelü Ying, she could not help but admire him more for his ingenious formation.

Just as Ao Jun was lost in thought, the battle situation on the battlefield below changed once again. Upon receiving Jin Xuan's order, Yi Han immediately waved the bright yellow military flag, and Yi Tian also slowly changed the rhythm of the drums. With the changing movements of the bright yellow military flag and the slow beating of the drums, the chaotic triangular formation slowly changed in an instant. As the soldiers moved rapidly, the triangular formation became a rhombus. The military flag waved again, the flag signals changed again, and a crack appeared in the middle of the rhombus formation. Tens of thousands of shield soldiers quickly emerged from the rhombus, blocking the archers of the Cang Liao army. Following the shield soldiers, another group of well-equipped and piercing Long Xuan cavalry charged out and launched a fierce attack on the Cang Liao formation. With the cavalry's attack, the entire rhombus formation became neat and orderly, moving forward quickly and soon charging into the center of the enemy's formation.

"Excellent!" Yelü Ying's red eyes lit up instantly, filled with undisguised admiration. Ouyang Jinxuan was truly a rare military genius throughout history. The title "Cold-Faced War God" was truly well-deserved. His quick response, ingenious planning, and unwavering control over his troops were truly astonishing and admirable. However... his red eyes narrowed instantly: From now on, there will be no more "War Gods." Ouyang Jinxuan will become a thing of the past.

Yi Han waved the bright yellow military flag a few more times, and the diamond-shaped formation that had charged into the Cang Liao formation instantly split into a triangular formation different from the previous one. The attacking points of the newly formed triangular formation were all replaced by shield soldiers, followed closely by spirited Long Xuan archers, each standing at equal distances next to the person next to them, holding dark bows and arrows with long arrows nocked, and carrying a bag of long arrows on their backs, which reflected a terrifying cold light under the blazing sun.

Shen Tu Chufei, waving the flag, was startled: shields in front, archers close behind, cavalry in the rear, and infantry at the back. How could such an ingenious formation be broken? Shen Tu Chufei looked at their crown prince, Yelü Ying, with a horrified expression, hoping he could tell him what to do. However, their crown prince continued to smile as he observed the Longxuan Army's exquisite formation, showing no intention of giving any instructions. This made Shen Tu Chufei break out in a cold sweat. What should they do? Even the crown prince didn't have a way to break it? What about these tens of thousands of brothers…?

Just as they were at a loss, Yi Tian's drumbeats changed again, and Yi Han waved his bright yellow military flag, sending it streaking through the air in a brilliant yellow light. At the same time, the archers in the triangular formation drew their bows to their fullest extent, and an unstoppable rain of arrows rained down on the still-terrified Cangliao army. Caught off guard at close range, the Cangliao soldiers fell one after another under the charge of the Longxuan cavalry. Even with shields blocking their way, men continued to fall, struck by arrows.

In an instant, the battlefield was filled with the mournful cries of men and horses. As expected, the situation had plunged tens of thousands of Cangliao soldiers into a life-or-death struggle, with victory or defeat hanging by a thread.

Yelü Ying coldly watched his soldiers fall one after another before his eyes, refusing to issue any further orders, as if he had already surrendered and was at the mercy of his men. Yet, his crimson eyes, growing ever more sinister and terrifying with each falling Cangliao soldier, were filled with deep hatred: "I, the Crown Prince, will not let you die in vain. Soon, very soon Ouyang Jinxuan and his 100,000 Longxuan soldiers will come to join you. Very soon."

Very quickly, tens of thousands of Cangliao soldiers were trapped in Longxuan's camp without any chance to fight back. The ground was littered with the dead soldiers of Cangliao, their hands and feet severed, their deaths extremely painful.

Seeing this scene, Ao Jun felt an urge to vomit, but Yelü Ying's indifference drew her attention: How could he remain unmoved by the slaughter of tens of thousands of his own troops? Or did he have some other plans?

"Ouyang Jinxuan, if you have the guts, come and fight me, the Crown Prince! Otherwise, I will make your tens of thousands of troops pay for the lives of the Cangliao warriors who just died!" Yelü Ying roared at Jinxuan, his already red eyes burning even more fiercely as if they were fires from hell. He squeezed his legs together and charged quickly toward Long Xuan's camp, followed by his 100,000 troops.

Jin Xuan was caught off guard when Yelü Ying suddenly led his troops to charge into the camp. He hurriedly ordered the soldiers on the battlefield to retreat, but it was too late. Yelü Ying's army had already surrounded them. Yelü Ying was like a madman. Without setting up any formation, he led 100,000 troops to fiercely attack Long Xuan's tens of thousands of men. The exquisite triangular formation could barely maintain its shape under such a sudden and fierce attack, but it could not hold out for long.

At this moment, Yi Han waved the brocade banner in his hand a few times, and the triangular formation surrounded by the Cangliao army began to change again. With the cavalry in front, a diamond shape was quickly formed behind them, and the cavalry attempted to break out of the encirclement by targeting a gap in the Cangliao army's formation.

But who was Yelü Ying? He quickly saw through Jin Xuan's intentions. Before the Long Xuan camp was even fully formed, he took the lead and with a wave of his Fire Cloud Sword, all the Long Xuan cavalrymen clearing the way fell, forcing the Long Xuan army to retreat again. No matter how Jin Xuan changed the formation, Yelü seemed determined to perish together with them, and would not allow the Long Xuan army to break through no matter the cost. Moreover, although the Cang Liao army seemed to have no formation, it was actually orderly in its advance and retreat, without any sign of chaos. In a short time, the Long Xuan army trapped in the center suffered countless casualties.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Wei Ziqi rode forward anxiously and asked. Seeing his brothers in the camp being slaughtered like this, he was heartbroken but powerless, because he knew that even if he rushed out to rescue them, it would be useless. Now he could only hope that His Highness had a way to solve the problem.

"Since you, Yelü Ying, are so eager to fight me, then I will fight you," Jin Xuan said, seemingly to himself, without answering Zi Qi's question. Yelü Ying's words were clearly a challenge, and Long Xuan's tens of thousands of soldiers were the bargaining chips he used to force him into battle.

Wei Ziqi was momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to ask what it meant, he saw the prince dash out like an arrow. Wei Ziqi could only swallow his confusion and order the entire army to attack.

Suddenly, yellow sand rolled in, and tens of thousands of troops rushed in, causing even the earth to tremble.

Seeing Ouyang Jinxuan leading his entire camp charging over, Yelü Ying's wicked smile became unfathomable: Ouyang Jinxuan, you've come at the perfect time. This Crown Prince has been waiting for you! Now, it's time for this Crown Prince to make his real move.

Seeing Jin Xuan rush down the hill, Ao Jun felt an overwhelming sense of unease. Especially after seeing Yelü Ying's wicked smile, as if he had seen his prey fall into a trap, her heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition almost overwhelmed her...