章 158: Catch the Thief by Capturing the Leader
At the hour of the Rabbit on the twenty-first day, a rich aroma wafted throughout the Black Wind Ridge. After a night of little sleep, the fifty thousand troops had consumed their breakfast and rested briefly, quickly regaining their vigor and vitality, each one brimming with energy.
At this moment, they should have been breaking camp and setting out, but due to unforeseen circumstances, everyone was on high alert within Xuan Yue's tent.
"Princess, what should we do now?"
Green Attire, invigorated after a hearty meal, had a fierce glimmer in her eyes, ignited by the flames of vengeance.
Xuan Yue leaned back in her chair, eyes closed, her brows furrowed in contemplation.
"They will come charging towards us," she said, her relaxed voice laced with a compelling confidence.
Now that it was the hour of the Rabbit, and by the latest hour of the Dragon, if they did not take action, Cen Can and his men would surely become restless.
With fifty thousand troops accompanying her, she had great faith in her army; even with prior preparation, it would be impossible for more than fifty thousand men to silently encircle the entire mountain. This could only mean one thing: they simply did not have that many troops, and all of this was mere bluster.
Last night, there was no moon and very few stars; under such conditions, it was impossible to discern the number of soldiers from such a distance. Additionally, with the night enveloping them in silence, their roar reverberated back and forth, creating the illusion of a mighty army, instilling fear into the hearts of listeners, as if the very grass and trees were armed. In reality, there may not have been as many as they claimed.
If they were genuinely concerned, Xuanyuan Hao would have certainly come himself.
Though the fog was thick today, it would gradually dissipate as the sun rose, revealing the true number of their foes. Therefore, they could not afford to wait; someone would soon charge up the mountain to investigate. If they missed this opportunity, their journey would be in vain.
However, all of this was just her speculation, not something she had witnessed firsthand. To err on the side of caution, she would remain vigilant. Since the day they left the Lan Kingdom, she had been on the path of battle; in such places, a single misstep could lead to ruin.
"Green Attire, select a hundred agile individuals to descend the mountain amidst the thick fog and await further orders."
"Yes!"
"Moon Shadow, how many bows and arrows do we have?"
"Five thousand!"
Xuan Yue straightened in her seat, lips pursed, fingers lightly tapping the table as if deep in thought. "That is sufficient."
Five thousand arrows, combined with their advantageous position, would be enough to disrupt the enemy's formation, giving them the opportunity to strike.
"Prepare your men to be ready at any moment."
"Princess, what about me?"
Green Pearl pointed to herself, eager for action.
"Xingyue, Ruer, Yilan, and Green Pearl, take three hundred men each and guard the various entrances of the mountain paths. Should you spot anyone approaching, report to me immediately without alarming them, and deal with the situation discreetly."
Having given her orders, Xuan Yue stood and walked to the entrance of the tent, lifting the flap.
The thick fog still enveloped them, and in the absence of dense foliage, there was no natural barrier.
As the hour of the Rabbit passed, the fog began to lift, and Xuan Yue stepped out of the tent, her hands tightly intertwined before her. At that moment, she began to understand why esteemed generals remained composed in the face of challenges; on the battlefield, they bore the lives of countless soldiers. A single misstep could lead to disaster. At such times, a calm mind was crucial for rational analysis, and she must not allow her subordinates to sense her anxiety.
These individuals were not mere soldiers to her; after spending countless days and nights together, she had developed feelings for them. Although the atmosphere was somber, she genuinely felt gratitude for those who stood by her side during this critical moment.
"Princess, the hour of the Rabbit has passed."
Bai Pingting stood behind Xuan Yue, watching the slowly dissipating fog with quiet concern.
"Mm."
Xuan Yue's pinky finger twitched slightly.
"Princess!"
Xuan Yue gazed down at the mist-covered valley, wishing she could cast something to disperse the fog and reveal the truth. Lost in her thoughts, someone suddenly knelt before her.
"We've just spotted Xuanyuan soldiers on the mountain path to the west. Yilan has already subdued them quietly."
The corners of Xuan Yue's lips curled into a faint smile, and a wave of relief washed over her; her suspicions had proven correct.
"Sister Pingting, Lanyue, Xiangxiu, Xue Mei, you four lead ten thousand troops each to surround them from the east, west, south, and north, using blue smoke as a signal."
Xuan Yue's voice brimmed with excitement as she pointed at the kneeling soldier. "Take me to Yilan."
Compared to the other treacherous peaks, the terrain of Black Wind Ridge was relatively flat, winding in many curves.
"Princess," Yilan and the others greeted her as they approached.
On the ground lay the Xuanyuan soldiers, sprawled in disarray, their bodies and faces stained with blood, not a single survivor among them.
This was war. Although she had been in this world for seventeen years, the brutality of such slaughter still unsettled her. These individuals were innocent civilians, pawns sent to their deaths by those in power.
Yet, psychologically, she understood the sentiments of Yilan and the others; mere hours ago, these very soldiers had slain her close companions. The battlefield, with its complexities and entanglements, often surpassed the rivalries of noble families.
"Strip them of their garments and change into them."
As she spoke, Xuan Yue was already in motion, crouching down to remove the clothing of a fallen soldier. The body, still warm from death, felt almost searing against her skin.
Xuanyuan soldiers, compared to men from other nations, were noticeably tall and strong, especially the women. The robes hung loosely on her frame, akin to theatrical costumes, trailing on the ground, particularly the front hem, which she would inevitably step on with every stride.
"Princess, this looks fine."
Yilan pointed at her strange reflection and laughed upon seeing Xuan Yue, but her demeanor quickly turned serious. "Will we be discovered?"
The tailored garments suddenly resembled theatrical costumes; such a conspicuous difference would be impossible for anyone with eyes to overlook.
Xuan Yue drew her Snow Spirit from her waist and swiftly trimmed the trailing hems of the others' outfits. Upon inspection, they certainly looked much better than before.
"Yilan, signal with blue smoke. You two, go inform Moon Shadow. As soon as you spot us, release your arrows."
In the midst of such chaos, even Cen Can and Fang He would hardly notice. "When we charge in, make sure not to get separated."
As long as they stayed together, she trusted in Moon Shadow's archery skills to ensure they would not be hit.
A smirk graced Xuan Yue's lips, her bright eyes sparkling with cunning as she beckoned Yilan with a finger. "Yilan, come here." She waved to the others simultaneously. "Once we charge in, Blue Sea, protect me, and Blue Ying, safeguard Yilan. Capture the leader first."
Once they had seized Cen Can or Fang He, surrounding the rest would be a mere formality. She had faith that those men would yield without resistance.
"You lot, go tell Green Pearl and the others to head straight down the mountain."
Were it not for her desire to minimize unnecessary casualties, she could afford to engage head-on with the strength of her Phoenix Army. Yet, she did not wish to do so; she did not want her sisters to die in vain—not now, not ever. Xuan Yue vowed to employ every strategy and means at her disposal to achieve victory at the lowest cost; that was the essence of true triumph.
Before Xuan Yue and her companions reached the foot of the mountain, the sounds of shouts echoed around them, indicating that Moon Shadow's forces had begun their offensive.
"Retreat!"
"Fall back!"
Cen Can swung his large blade while bellowing orders; despite his seasoned demeanor, panic was evident on his face.
An arrow storm descended, striking true with relentless fury. Even with shields raised, more and more Xuanyuan soldiers fell around him, unable to mount any effective defense. Perhaps Xuanyuan Hao had anticipated her strategy, but he could not have imagined that a seemingly frail woman would possess such remarkable archery skills.
If she were in his position, cornered at Black Wind Ridge, she would not merely probe; she would go for the kill.
Historically, countless lives have been sacrificed for the rise of a general; what throne isn't built upon the corpses of thousands? With such grand ambition to dominate the world and having already employed underhanded tactics, why not follow through? No founding monarch's hands are clean; thus, one should not fear the burden of infamy.
Had they prepared flammable straw in advance and set it ablaze while stationing heavy troops at every intersection, arranging archers to ensure their opponents would suffer devastating losses while they themselves emerged unscathed—victors and vanquished alike would not matter.
Xuan Yue exchanged glances with Yilan and the others, prompting a collective charge. Over on their side, Moon Shadow's troops had lost their earlier ferocity, yet the Xuanyuan soldiers below remained in a state of disarray.
Xuan Yue focused on the slightly frantic Cen Can atop his horse, her pace swift and sure. The men beside her were preoccupied with deflecting arrows, utterly oblivious to anything amiss. Meanwhile, Yilan, under the protection of Blue Ying and others, was gradually closing in on Fang He.
In heavy armor, her petite form soared, using the shoulders of the Xuanyuan soldiers as leverage. Preoccupied with the battle, Cen Can did not initially notice her, but Fang He, standing beside him, gasped in shock, his face paling as he shouted, "General, watch out!"
At the sound of the warning, Cen Can spun around and caught a glimpse of the unique vermilion mark on a woman. He reacted quickly, but Xuan Yue was quicker; by the time he registered the threat and leaned back, she had already crouched on his horse, her Snow Spirit poised at his throat.
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