Huang Xuan knew he had said all he could, and if Dong Cheng was still unmoved, then it was beyond his power to do anything. Therefore, he cupped his hands and said, "Since the general understands, I will not say anything more. I will take my leave now. I hope you will forgive me for disturbing your rest."
After Huang Xuan and Luo Yi disappeared outside the door, Dong Cheng covered his forehead with his large hand and weakly shrank back into his chair. At this moment, a slender figure slowly walked out of the inner room, approached him, and placed her hand in his other hand.
"I have always looked up to Marshal Lu, but I have never truly understood him..." Dong Cheng said weakly, gently stroking the small hand.
"Isn't it the same for me? I've always wanted to marry a remarkable man like Marshal Lu, but I've never thought about the suffering such a man endures... Are our expectations of Marshal Lu so high that even he himself can't bear them?"
"What should I do..." Dong Cheng buried his head in those small hands. Madam Sun looked at her husband, her eyes filled with boundless affection: "Now that I think about it, were my demands on the General too high for you to bear? General, whatever you want to do, however you do it, I firmly believe you have sufficient reasons. You are just like Marshal Lu, and you would never consider yourself first. As long as you and I understand, what are the gossips of the world worth?"
"So you mean you want me to release you so you and Li Jun can continue causing trouble?" After hearing Lu Yuan's words, Wu Shu closed his eyes, not letting Lu Yuan see his true intentions. This Lu Yuan was not just a persuader; Li Jun had asked him for help with the ceremony of ascending the stage to become a disciple, so it seemed he wasn't just trying to attract attention.
The room fell deathly silent; apart from the sound of breathing, there was no other noise. The air seemed to freeze, making Lu Yuan feel breathless. To achieve great things, one must first walk on the edge of life and death, and the pressure and danger involved far exceeded his previous expectations. He knew that life and death hung in the balance at this moment, and the outcome of his previous efforts would be determined by his performance in this final instant.
"What should I say?" He pondered inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged. Should he continue to persuade Wu Shu, or kneel down and beg for mercy? He found it difficult to choose. Since he couldn't choose the best way, he ultimately had to resort to the most foolish method: remaining silent.
The deathly silence lasted for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Wu Shu opened his eyes in surprise and saw Lu Yuan leaning back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest, just like him.
"Looks like you don't want to live anymore..." Wu Shu sneered, "Are you already closing your eyes and waiting to die?"
"I have already said what I need to say. The decision is no longer up to me; it is in your hands. Although my life and death are related to your long-term plans, they are ultimately in your hands." A faint smile appeared on Lu Yuan's pale face. Although the smile was weak, Wu Shu had to admit that at this moment, Lu Yuan really had nothing more to say.
“Remember this, I’ll spare your life,” Wu Shu said slowly. From behind the screen came a voice only he understood. He said nonchalantly, “But it wasn’t your words that moved me. In fact, even if I killed you, Li Jun would still attack Da Su. He would never abandon his grand plan for the sake of losing you as a spies. As long as he puts some pressure on Da Su, those who want to overthrow me will jump out impatiently.”
Lu Yuan couldn't get a word in edgewise. All he could do was listen to this treacherous minister continue. This minister was indeed extraordinary, capable of gaining the favor of the Prince of Su and scheming against Lu Xiang without leaving a trace.
“I only want to use you to get Li Jun to withdraw his troops. Go and tell him to know when to stop.” Wu Shu’s lips curled up slightly. “He will withdraw his troops after listening to what you say. I know a man like Li Jun better than you do.”
As Lu Yuan, utterly exhausted, stepped out of the Prime Minister's residence, a chill ran through him in the evening breeze, and he realized his clothes were soaked with cold sweat. He had to admit he was far inferior in his ability to outwit and outmaneuver a cunning prime minister like Wu Shu. But what puzzled him most wasn't that Wu Shu ultimately spared him, but rather Wu Shu's final words.
“I know people like Li Jun better than you do.”
Now, Lu Yuan dared not regard Wu Shu as merely an ordinary courtier, nor did he dare to dismiss his words as mere boasting. These words plunged him into deep thought. The only people who truly understand a person, besides oneself or one's own kind, are one's best enemy. Was Wu Shu Li Jun's best enemy, or one of Li Jun's own kind?
The thought made him feel extremely uncomfortable, and he felt even colder. He shivered slightly.
"Wonderful!"
Li Jun opened the urgent report from Xizhou, glanced at it twice, and exclaimed with delight.
"How is it?" Wei Zhan turned his head in surprise, wanting to see the contents of the report. Li Jun handed him the report, his eyes fixed on the north. The joy on his face slowly faded as he said, "Not only has Dong Cheng agreed to submit to me, but an old friend of mine is still alive. This is wonderful, wonderful..."
Wei Zhan didn't rush to read the news report. He looked at Li Jun with a strange gaze. Li Jun rarely showed such emotions. It must be that the old friend in the news report had stirred up some memories for Li Jun.
"Congratulations, Commander!" After reading the report, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. Dong Cheng's promise to submit was only one reason; more importantly, Huang Xuan, one of Lu Xiang's key advisors, was not only alive but had also come to join him. This meant that those loyal to Lu Xiang were beginning to acknowledge Li Jun as Lu Xiang's successor, which greatly boosted his influence.
He read the news report again and couldn't help but sigh, "It's truly as if Heaven is trying to lend the commander a hand!"
"Heaven wants to lend me a hand?" Li Jun was awakened from his reverie by his words: "How could this damned Heaven lend me a hand? This damned Heaven has never helped me once since I was nine years old. Now it has suddenly shown kindness. There must be a trick in this!"
Seeing that he was treating even the heavens as an opponent on the battlefield, Wei Zhan couldn't help but laugh. Little did he know that Li Jun truly hated the heavens. If the heavens existed, why should the virtuous suffer while the wicked enjoy generations of glory?
Dong Cheng's surrender allowed Li Jun to be more flexible in his Qinggui strategy. When the people of the four prefectures of Qinggui learned that Dong Cheng, a famous general known for his stubborn loyalty, had also raised Li Jun's red dragon battle flag, the officials and people were in an uproar. On the one hand, they hated Dong Cheng, who had always prided himself on being as loyal as Lu Xiang, for becoming a "traitor." On the other hand, they were even more afraid of the military might of the Peace Army.
Whether it's hatred or fear, what's meant to happen will happen, and there's no way to avoid it. That's just how many things in life are.
Chapter Six: Timing
one,
The early winter wind gently caressed the soldiers' taut faces, the soot and blood still smeared on them. On the battlefield strewn with corpses, the fact that they could still stand was enough to satisfy them. And most of their comrades and enemies lying on the ground would remain there, forever asleep.
Fang Fengyi, using his iron spear as a footstool, strode over. His warhorse snorted uneasily in the distance, seemingly dissatisfied that its master had abandoned it. Fang Fengyi removed his helmet, lowered his head slightly, and walked through the gaps between the corpses.
Fenglin Ferry in Mengze County is where the Gui River meets several smaller tributaries, making it a crucial transportation hub on the route from the heart of Su Kingdom towards the border with Chen Kingdom. Perhaps due to its alluvial plain, there are no high mountains or steep ridges here. Apart from the wide river, the only defensive shelter is the city wall of Fenglin Ferry Town.
Since arriving at Fenglin Ferry, Fang Fengyi had been embroiled in a fierce battle with the enemy. With their retreat cut off, the retreat of over 100,000 Su troops was in an uproar, and they were desperate to break through Fang Fengyi's defenses. However, before his arrival, Fang Fengyi had secretly dispatched a hundred elite daredevils to cross the Gui River and burn seven or eight tenths of the boats on the opposite bank. Because the turn of events was so swift, by the time the Su troops arrived, they could only look at the river with despair. Thus, despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, the Su army was unable to utilize its strengths effectively.
The two sides faced off across the river for five days. During these five days, Fang Fengyi constantly moved his troops, making the opposing side believe he had ample strength and thus hesitant to make any rash moves. However, after five days, the enemy had acquired some boats and discovered that Fang Fengyi only had 20,000 troops. A bloody tug-of-war ensued at Fenglin Ferry Town. For several days, what surged forth was not the Gui River's waters, but the even more ferocious Su Kingdom soldiers. The river rose and fell repeatedly, turning the once crystal-clear Gui River into a red river in just a few days. The piles of corpses left neither side with time to clean up, and the day-and-night battle even blocked the river. If it weren't for the early winter weather, the stench of corpses would likely have permeated the surrounding area for miles.
Fang Fengyi walked among the corpses. Since midnight last night, the enemy had launched their fiercest attack. Under the cover of ballistae and archers, a suicide squad of about three thousand men stormed the riverbank, nearly breaching the Peace Army's lines. Only Fang Fengyi personally led a two-thousand-strong reserve force in a counter-attack, managing to stabilize the situation. A protracted battle raged on the riverbank. Of the more than ten thousand Su soldiers who had crossed, fewer than a thousand escaped back to their boats. The scene of utter devastation before her was the remnant of the battles of the past few days.
"General..." A group of soldiers gathered around Fang Fengyi stood up and saluted. Fang Fengyi returned the salute respectfully. These were all good men, warriors worthy of his wholehearted respect. Amidst the bloodshed, they had shown fear and hesitated, but not one of them had fled.
"What's wrong with him?"
Among the soldiers, a young man cradled the body of a Peace Army soldier, who had been struck in the chest by several arrows and was already dead, his eyes blurred with tears. Fang Fengyi frowned; such weeping at this moment was extremely detrimental to morale.
“His brother died in battle,” someone replied after a moment of silence.
Fang Fengyi's heart skipped a beat. In this battle, he had used 20,000 men to hold off the 100,000-strong army of the Su Kingdom, preventing them from advancing an inch on the banks of the Gui River. Moreover, 20,000 corpses and three times that number of wounded were left behind. His fame would surely spread throughout the land in a short time. Back then, he lived a secluded life in Huichang City, Yuzhou, as a minor general, only dreaming of becoming famous. Now, he had finally achieved worldwide renown alongside the might of the Peace Army. But this worldwide fame was bought with the corpses of 20,000 enemies and 5,000 Peace Army soldiers. What use was such fame to those who were already asleep and never waking?
With a silent sigh, Fang Fengyi slowly approached the weeping soldier. He was not good at arguing, and now he was even more at a loss for words. He could only gently take his brother's remains from the soldier's hands.
The soldier broke free of his grasp, embracing his brother tightly, as if wrestling with something unseen for his life. Fang Fengyi sighed deeply, removing his brother's helmet. His young, honest face was now deathly pale, the expression of terror frozen in place. Fang Fengyi placed his own gleaming silver helmet on his brother's head, then put on the helmet his brother had left behind. He needed no further words; suppressed sobs rose from the surrounding Peace Army soldiers. In the heat of battle, both sides were blinded by rage, oblivious to fear and sorrow. Now, amidst the carnage, even the strongest among them couldn't help but lament the insignificance of human life.
"Properly settle our brothers. I will request the commander to build a cemetery for them here at Fenglin Ferry." Having climbed a small slope, Fang Fengyi, his helmet still stained with blood, shone brightly. The lives of these five thousand-plus Peace Army soldiers had not been without cost. Not only had the enemy's casualties been several times greater, but after ten consecutive days without supplies from the mainland and failing to breach Fenglin Ferry, the Su Kingdom's army of over one hundred thousand had begun to crumble. Such is war: the victors can weep after the battle, while the vanquished don't even have the chance to weep.
Fang Fengyi could imagine the chaotic state of the Su army camp; they were surely too distraught to even cry. Their retreat had been cut off, and they had suffered heavy losses. Morale was utterly broken, and judging from the steadily increasing number of enemy deserters captured in the past few days, their victory in this battle was practically assured.
“This Maple Forest Ferry is indeed a strategic location that military strategists must contend for. The Su commander was careless and did not defend it with heavy troops, which gave our army an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.” The adjutant beside him muttered to himself, “But knowing that our elite troops were guarding this place, the Su commander still launched a full-scale attack. Isn’t that too foolish?”
“He had no choice but to fight for it.” Fang Fengyi’s eyes gleamed as she looked at the surging river stained red with blood. “This Fenglin Ferry is the fastest route for them to retreat. If they wanted to find another way, they would have to take at least ten more days’ journey. Only here is it convenient for the army to cross the river.”
Looking back at his subordinates, whose eyes were bloodshot, Fang Fengyi was always well-liked by his men because he could always see into their hearts from the smallest details. He smiled and said, "Commander Li ordered me to defend this place with all my might, which was by no means a risky move. His choice of me, who was reprimanded for being too eager for merit in the last battle, also had a deeper meaning."