บท 225: Ambush!!!
Before dawn, Xuanyuan's soldiers, under General Qi Mo's command, began boarding the ships. The night was eerily silent, punctuated only by the sound of soldiers' footsteps echoing as they climbed aboard. By the break of day, the ships were brightly lit, with most of the soldiers already on board.
In the darkness, the figures in green, led by Yi Lan and Lu Zhu, silently lay in ambush, placing barrels filled with kerosene beneath the decks. The cacophony of footsteps rendered them invisible to all.
After ensuring that their cargo was in place, the leader in green cautiously withdrew. They were perilously close to Xuanyuan; should a fire break out and Xuanyuan Hao discover them, the consequences would be dire. Once their mission was complete, they all retreated toward the southern shore.
Yue Ying watched the green-clad figures, confirming they were ready to strike. In the darkness, the ships' lights flickered, creating a conspicuous sight. With a wave of her hand, she signaled for everyone to prepare as hundreds of fire arrows were launched simultaneously.
Qi Mo gazed at the descending fire arrows, suddenly struck dumb. His first thought was that it was all over. He neither advanced to stop the boarding soldiers nor attempted to assist them; all he could think about was escaping.
As the ships surrounded by kerosene ignited upon contact with fire, propelled by the dawn's east wind, the connected vessels were engulfed in flames. The soldiers who had just boarded could not comprehend the unfolding catastrophe. Were they not supposed to cross the Bilu River and attack Bai Chu? How could a fire erupt so suddenly?
Although Xuanyuan's army was known for its discipline, their general was absent, and the heir apparent was nowhere to be found. With no one to command them, panic surged as they instinctively fled toward the shore. Unable to swim, they were faced with the daunting waters of the Bilu River, which towered over them, and in the winter chill, they wore heavy armor. Chaos erupted among the soldiers.
Xuanyuan Hao, alongside Ji Yun Li and Cen Can, was preparing for a morning assault, exhilarated after being trapped by the river for so long, finally poised to cross the Bilu River and unleash their pent-up frustrations. Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from outside the tents, startling everyone. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xuanyuan Hao reacted first, rushing out of the military tent to find a sea of flames before him.
Another general, sensing trouble, hurried to report to Xuanyuan Hao. As he rushed forward and knelt before him, he pointed at the blazing inferno above. "Heir Apparent, the forces of Bai Chu launched a night attack—fire! Fire everywhere!"
He couldn't fathom how the flames could spread so rapidly. Just moments ago, he had been instructing the troops to board the vessels, and now, a conflagration raged.
"Put it out!"
Xuanyuan Hao stared at the soaring flames, his steady voice trembling as he observed the soldiers still struggling aboard the burning ships.
Bai Chu? How could it be Bai Chu? If Bai Zhan Feng possessed such intelligence and strategy, Bai Chu would have no need to seek aid from the Lan Kingdom. Xuan Yue, Feng Xuan Yue—Xuanyuan Hao clenched his teeth at the name, feeling an unprecedented urge to eliminate her.
"Stay calm, everyone! Extinguish the flames!" Xuanyuan Hao shouted, sprinting towards the ships with sword in hand. A guard, covered in soot, rushed towards him, breathless and trembling. "Your Highness, we found barrels of oil on those ships. It's impossible to extinguish the fire!"
Out of an army of 300,000, over half had boarded the vessels. Who among his allies could be so cruel as to devise such a treacherous scheme?
In the stillness of the night, the river wind howled, carrying the anguished cries for help into the sky, echoing in terror and despair from the northern bank of the Bilu River to the southern shore. The ships moored nearby fared better, but those further out were in utter disarray. The inferno, like countless fire-breathing dragons, consumed everything. They could not see their commander or Xuanyuan Hao on the riverbank; they felt like headless flies, paralyzed by fear. As the once-solid deck boards turned soft beneath the flames, they had no time to contemplate what was happening. Traditionally wary of water, Xuanyuan's soldiers now disregarded their fears and leaped into the river, driven by a primal instinct for survival.
"Put it out!"
Amidst the chaos, the cries of despair echoed. The soldiers, once close companions, now appeared as nothing more than swarms engulfed in flames. Xuanyuan Hao's grip tightened around his sword, the cries for help ringing in his ears, the sound of his own bones creaking under pressure. His powerful hands felt utterly helpless against the raging inferno, and his once-proud eyes reflected the horrific scenes of departing comrades.
Feng Xuan Yue—a wild, free-spirited woman. He had never anticipated that she possessed the audacity and cunning to orchestrate such destruction, targeting an army of 300,000.
"Your Highness," all around him, the soldiers stood frozen, unable to comprehend the horrifying spectacle before them. The iron-willed Xuanyuan warriors they had known, who had fought side by side and earned glory together, were now frozen in terror.
"The flames are too fierce to extinguish! We must retreat immediately!"
Ji Yun Li approached Xuanyuan Hao, gripping his arm tightly. They had previously relocated the citizens near the Bilu River and set fire to the surrounding trees to teach the soldiers the taste of defeat. This unexpected ambush, the first real setback they had faced in a long time, fueled their desperation to win. Moreover, yesterday by the river, her actions had all been deliberate. And Qi Mo—this was his plan. Now it was evident that everything was premeditated, crafted to obliterate Xuanyuan. If Ji Yun Li had previously dismissed Xuan Yue's subtle manipulations, tonight forever altered his perspective. He both revered and feared her; she needed no husband to enhance her stature; her presence alone rendered her untouchable.
They had feared that killing the Feng King would result in losing the hearts of the people, yet now? Feng Xuan Yue was willing to eliminate all obstacles for victory. Such reckless audacity could rival even the heir apparent; his ambitions were vast—empire, public favor—history dictated that victors became kings while the vanquished became thieves. What did public sentiment matter? Once in power, ensuring the people's well-being would render everything trivial.
"Your Highness, the strategist is right. We must withdraw!" The flames had spread to the tents on the shore, engulfing everyone in a blazing inferno. Listening to the continuous screams of agony, watching the soldiers they had once considered brothers transform into shadows of despair, Cen Can wept openly. If they were capable of such a malicious scheme, it would undoubtedly spell disaster for the heir.
Xuanyuan Hao stood rooted, witnessing the chaos of the army—a scene akin to a hellish battlefield. A fierce light glinted in his eyes as he muttered, "Qi Mo." If Ji Yun Li could anticipate this, so could he.
As Xuanyuan Hao stormed away in anger, Zhuo Ran suddenly drew his sword and chased after him. "Your Highness, I will go!"
Zhuo Ran rushed towards Xuanyuan Hao, tears streaming down his bearded face. "I will make them pay a thousandfold."
There were so many of them. As a rough man, he had always believed in taking what was rightfully his. Faced with such a sudden inferno, his anger was palpable. Those despicable foes, unable to confront the Xuanyuan openly, resorted to such underhanded tactics. Thinking of his fallen brothers filled his heart with sorrow; how would he face their families if he returned to Xuanyuan?
"Indeed, this matter should be entrusted to Zhuo Ran."
Ji Yunli approached Xuanyuan Hao, resolute in preventing him from taking any unnecessary risks at this moment.
"The archers must still be nearby. Cen Can has volunteered to avenge our fallen comrades."
Even in death, he intended to settle scores with them.
"Your Highness, as long as the green mountains remain, we need not worry about firewood. You must not come to harm at this time."
Cen Can knelt before Xuanyuan Hao, then swiftly rose and signaled for hundreds of soldiers to follow him.
"Return!" Xuanyuan Hao shouted at the departing Cen Can. "Everyone retreat."
"Your Highness." Cen Can gritted his teeth, feeling a sense of unwillingness.
"I cannot bear to watch you all march to your doom."
Those tasked with executing this mission at night were undoubtedly members of Xian Yue's secretive group. The men from Bai Chu could not have been unaware of such a commotion; otherwise, they would have received no news at all. Xian Yue would never allow her people to perish without cause—she must have devised a foolproof plan to ensure their safe retreat. Cen Can was right: as long as the green mountains remained, firewood would never be lacking. There was only one path near the Bi Luo River; if they could retreat to Bai Mountain, regroup their forces, and return to Chu Kingdom, Xuanyuan Hao could rise again.
As they were halfway through their retreat, a sudden change erupted. The sound of horses whinnying, hooves pounding, and the clamor of battle rose sharply. Xuanyuan Hao, Ji Yunli, Cen Can, and the others felt a chill run down their spines and turned to look back. A bloodied guard leaped forward and fell to his knees, reporting, "Your Highness, there's an ambush!"
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