I Built a Territory in Ancient Times Chapter 160

Chapter 160

The next day, the barbarian army indeed changed its strategy. As the vanguard advanced, dragging along the bound border civilians, who stumbled forward under the watchful eyes of the soldiers behind them, everyone fell silent.

The defenders of Shi Chongguan had been stationed there year after year, forming deep bonds with the border people. Seeing familiar faces among those being pushed forward outside the pass, fury burned in their hearts.

Great General Wei clenched his fists tightly. These bastards weren’t even human.

What should they do? If they let the civilians through, the wolves behind them would charge in, bringing disaster to even more people of the Great Yan. Gritting his teeth, Great General Wei declared, “We absolutely cannot let them through.”

Someone nearby hesitated, their voice trembling. “General!”

Great General Wei waved his hand firmly. “Think of Liangzhou. Think of the people behind us!”

No one dared to argue further. Indeed, if Shi Chongguan fell, the people of Liangzhou would be doomed.

A vice general steeled his resolve and shouted, “Loose the arrows!”

No one dared to disobey the order. Though their hearts wavered with reluctance, they still raised their bows, nocked their arrows, and fired!

They poured all their anger and grief into those arrows. Even as their hands trembled slightly, they still loosed their shots.

A trebuchet operator turned to General Wei. “General, should we launch the thunderbolts?”

Glancing at the dwindling supply of thunderbolts, Great General Wei shook his head. “Use stones. Aim as far into the barbarian ranks as possible.”

However, the enemy had already adjusted their formation, spreading out sparsely instead of clustering together. The scattered layout meant that the stones inflicted minimal damage compared to the previous day.

Seeing this, Great General Wei frowned but simply ordered in a low voice, “The enemy is prepared. Everyone, be cautious.”

He looked towards the horizon, his eyes filled with unprecedented anticipation. He wondered how Wang Ye and the others were faring. It had been so long—had their plan succeeded? Drawing his gaze back to the battlefield, he knew one thing for certain: no matter what, he could not fail Wang Ye’s trust. Shi Chongguan must not fall.

The battle grew fiercer by the day. Tuoba Ren and his forces sought a swift victory, intensifying their assaults with each passing moment. As expected, their greatest concern—the thunderbolts—were in limited supply. So far, only three had been launched in total. It seemed that Song Lian’s earlier speculation had been correct—these weapons were not commonly available.

Moreover, since the barbarian soldiers had spread out their attacks, the thunderbolts no longer inflicted the same devastating casualties as before. Though there were still losses, they were within an acceptable range. With this realization, Tuoba Ren felt completely at ease. Since the thunderbolts were not an overwhelming threat, there was nothing to fear. Gazing at Shi Chongguan, now within reach, he smirked with satisfaction. It wouldn’t be long before he achieved his goal.

Great General Wei’s lips were so chapped they had cracked. Though they held the defensive advantage due to the terrain, they could barely withstand the relentless assaults of their ferocious foes. The pass had been breached multiple times already, and it took every ounce of their strength to seal the gaps.

“Hold out for just a few more days! Wang Ye and General Xie will be back soon. Once our reinforcements arrive, these barbarians will be nothing to fear. We’ll crush them from both sides and capture Tuoba Ren alive!” Great General Wei shouted, rallying his troops. Even though uncertainty gnawed at his heart, he firmly believed that Wang Ye and Xie Yixiu would return.

No one knew if they truly believed his words, but everyone understood one thing—they had to hold the line. Their faces were weary beyond measure, the immense pressure they bore was evident. They could not falter. Even if they had only one breath left, they had to keep the barbarians outside the pass.

Shi Chongguan was on the verge of collapse. Yet, at that moment, from the west, a lone rider galloped at full speed, heading straight for Tuoba Ren’s central command tent without pause.

As dawn broke, the soldiers of the Great Yan stood tall once more. Even those who were injured propped themselves up with their weapons, forcing their bodies upright.

A new day had begun, bringing with it yet another wave of barbarian assaults. The walls that had been breached yesterday had already been repaired overnight, but no one knew how many attacks they could withstand today.

Everyone was ready. Bows were drawn, arrows nocked, and the final thunderbolt was armed, waiting for the enemy’s advance.

The sun slowly rose, but outside Shi Chongguan, the battlefield was eerily empty. Not a single enemy could be seen.

Something wasn’t right. Normally, by this time, the barbarians would have already launched their attack. What was happening today? Had that sickly Tuoba Ren finally succumbed? But just yesterday, he had still been looking smug atop his horse!

Frowning, Great General Wei pulled out the Thousand-Mile Eye hanging from his waist and scanned the enemy camp. From his elevated position, he could see everything clearly.

The enemy camp remained orderly, with guards patrolling as usual, indicating that Tuoba Ren was neither dead nor in any unusual condition. If nothing was amiss, why had they suddenly stopped attacking? Could they be devising a new strategy to break through Shi Chongguan?

Shi Chongguan was barely holding together. Everyone knew they wouldn’t last much longer, yet none dared to hope that the barbarians would simply give up.

Great General Wei’s brows furrowed deeper. They could not afford to lower their guard. He wasn’t the only one with a Thousand-Mile Eye; high-ranking officers had them as well. A vice general reported his observations, and the soldiers exchanged glances, unsure whether to feel relieved or even more anxious.

“They’re breaking camp!” someone shouted excitedly.

“What?” Everyone rushed forward to look, but the distance was too great for the naked eye to see clearly.

“Where? Is it true? Are they really retreating?”


”How is that possible? Did you see it wrong?”

Voices clamored all at once—some believed it, some doubted it. Everyone was talking over each other, making it impossible to know who to listen to.

Great General Wei had, of course, seen it too. The barbarians were indeed breaking camp—were they preparing to retreat? But why? Victory was right in front of them; why would they suddenly decide to withdraw? Could it be… could it be…

A certain possibility flashed through his mind, making his breath quicken. Could it really be true?

His hands trembled slightly as he held up his Thousand-Mile Eye and focused it on the western horizon.

The sky was bright, and faint plumes of dust rose from the distant horizon. A black line gradually thickened, rolling toward them.

As it drew closer, the banners became visible—bold black characters on a red background, sharp and striking.

“Heavens! What am I seeing? They’ve returned! They’re back!”

“Who’s back?”

“Wang Ye and General Xie have returned!”

That grand banner bore the name and title of Duan Wang, and the surrounding flags belonged to General Xie Yixiu. It was indeed Ming Yu and General Xie who had returned.

No wonder the barbarians had chosen to break camp and retreat upon receiving the news. But it was already too late—Ming Yu’s army had cut off their escape route.

Tuoba Ren gritted his teeth. Wasn’t their army supposed to be stricken with disease? How could they have returned? Not only had they come back, but according to the reports he received, they had even captured the royal court!

Helian Bo was a useless fool. Other than internal strife, what else was he good for? The mighty Left Division of their army had actually been defeated by Xie Yixiu’s mere twenty or thirty thousand soldiers?

The situation in the royal court was still uncertain, and Khan Tuoba Hongze’s fate was also unknown. When Tuoba Ren first heard the news, he nearly fainted from shock. Helian Bo was a treacherous disgrace to the nation—his death would be of no consequence.

Only after Song Lian’s persuasion did Tuoba Ren finally order the retreat.

Their forces had been locked in bitter combat at Shi Chongguan for too long. If they had to face Duan Wang’s army, which was at full morale, there was no way they could win. It was better to retreat before Duan Wang’s forces arrived. That was why Great General Wei had witnessed them breaking camp at the pass.

Unfortunately for them, their retreat came too late—or rather, Ming Yu’s army had arrived too quickly. There was no escape.

As the two armies clashed, Ming Yu had no intention of letting them go. They had been preparing for this moment for a long time. Now that enemies stood face to face, their hatred burned even brighter, and the battle formations were already set. The barbarian soldiers had no choice but to fight, even if it was against their will.

Great General Wei waved his hand. “Soldiers! Duan Wang and General Xie have returned! The barbarians are doomed the moment they face them. If we don’t charge now, all the glory will go to someone else! Don’t come crying to me later if you miss your chance at merit!”

Excitement surged through the troops. Their previous exhaustion vanished, and their spirits soared as they charged out of the pass.

The barbarian army, caught between two forces, was utterly shattered. They no longer had their former arrogance and bluster.

One day was all it took. The barbarian army completely collapsed, scattering in all directions. No matter how skilled their generals were, there was no saving them now.

This battle would later be known as the “Battle of Shi Chongguan.” The entire Right Division of the Suixi Kingdom’s army was nearly annihilated, and the few survivors who managed to escape were scattered and disorganized, unable to regroup.

This was yet another great victory after Ming Yu had conquered the royal court and wiped out the barbarian Left Division.

From that day on, the Suixi Kingdom never recovered, and the greatest threat to the Great Yan’s border was eliminated.

As the sun set, the soldiers cleaned up the battlefield. It was another triumphant victory—countless barbarian soldiers had been captured, and the atmosphere was filled with joy.

“Report! There is no sign of Tuoba Ren.”

“Report! A unit has gone after the fleeing barbarian soldiers, but there’s no news yet.”

“Report! We have captured over twenty thousand prisoners and seized countless horses!”

…..

One after another, reports poured in. The results were excellent, but unfortunately, Tuoba Ren and Song Lian were still nowhere to be found.

Ming Yu waved his hand, ordering further searches. These two culprits must not be allowed to escape.

Some time later, A Bing entered, dragging a tightly bound Song Lian behind him. It turned out that during the chaos, Song Lian had fled with a small group, only to be caught by A Bing and his pursuing forces. Knowing that Song Lian was one of Wang Ye’s primary targets, A Bing wasted no time and personally escorted him back.

This was their second meeting. The first had been at the Western Qi Corridor, when Song Lian and Tuoba Ren had hunted Ming Yu down. During that battle, Ming Yu’s crossbow had wounded Song Lian’s cheek, leaving a permanent scar.

But now, their positions had completely reversed—one stood victorious, while the other was a prisoner awaiting judgment.

Ming Yu shook his head and sighed. “Song Lian, oh Song Lian. A man of the south, yet you chose to aid the enemy, betraying your country and your people. You are unworthy of being called human.”

Song Lian’s expression remained calm, as if he had long anticipated this outcome. He smiled faintly and said, “What a pity. I wasn’t able to bring down the Great Yan on my own.”

Ming Yu was enraged at his words and shouted, “What has the Great Yan ever done to you? How could you harbor such vile intentions?”

Song Lian lifted his head and looked at him with the same indifferent gaze, as if speaking to someone too ignorant to understand.

Ming Yu suddenly thought of the Crown Prince and couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. “To think my elder brother still held you in his thoughts. I never expected you to fall so low.”

Song Lian stared at him in disbelief, his lips twitching. “Who did you say? The Crown Prince? Ha!” He suddenly burst into laughter, almost as if he had lost his mind. After a while, he finally said, “The Crown Prince probably wishes for my death too, doesn’t he? If he still remembers me, it’s only because he wants my pathetic life.”

Ming Yu shook his head. “I don’t know what history you have with the Crown Prince, but he is a benevolent and kind person. He wouldn’t hold a grudge against you. I actually have a letter from him, meant to be given to you when I found you, but it seems unnecessary now.”

As he finished speaking, he pulled out the letter from his robe, walked to the candlelight, and flicked his wrist, letting the flame consume it. In just a few moments, all that remained was a pile of ashes.

Song Lian’s eyes had been fixed on the letter the entire time. He watched as it turned to ash in Ming Yu’s hand. Though he could no longer see the words, he had caught a glimpse of the handwriting on the envelope: “To Song Lian, personally.”

His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but he quickly lowered his head and concealed them. “Ha… good, it’s better this way! Better to burn it!”

Ming Yu turned back to face him. “The crimes you committed are unforgivable. Do you acknowledge your guilt?” Seeing Song Lian remain silent, he let out a cold snort. “I will escort you to the capital, where your crimes will be publicly announced for all to see.”

“The capital?” Song Lian scoffed. “I have been a criminal for a long time. The Emperor of the Great Yan ordered that I should never set foot in the capital again—afraid that I would taint his land. Why would I bring disgrace upon myself by going back?”

Hearing this, Ming Yu frowned, but before he could say anything, he saw blood trickling from the corner of Song Lian’s mouth. The sight was both startling and chilling. “You…”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself, Wang Ye.” Song Lian chuckled weakly. “I know the weight of my sins. Death is inevitable. My life has been nothing but a cruel joke… and now, I will never have the chance to return.”

Ming Yu quickly stepped forward, only to see Song Lian collapse to the ground, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. “I should have died long ago… long ago…” he murmured between gasps. “I didn’t die in the Great Yan’s imperial prison, but I die now, in a foreign land. Ha… who would have thought?”

His eyes widened as his gaze turned vacant, as though lost in old memories, caught between recollection and regret. Finally, his unfocused eyes settled on a tiny pile of ashes in the corner.

Even in death, he could not find peace—because, in the end, he never knew what Ming Ye’s final words to him were.

Ming Yu understood. He knelt beside Song Lian and whispered softly in his ear, “He said… in this lifetime, he has wronged you. He carries that guilt and only hopes that you may live in peace.”

At last, Song Lian’s eyes closed, as if something had finally settled in his heart. A single tear glistened at the corner of his eye. His life flashed before him—his youthful ambition to see all the flowers of Chang’an in a single day, the fleeting friendships and betrayals in the dazzling capital, and the fall from grace that led to his imprisonment.

He had resented, he had hated, but in this final moment, everything faded into dust. The past was as insubstantial as a cloud of smoke. In the next life, he only wished to be an ordinary man—never to meet these people, never to be entangled in such fates again.

Ming Yu sighed as he stood up. Song Lian had been extraordinarily intelligent, ruthless, and cold-hearted, yet his fate had been truly lamentable. It was a sad, pitiful end.

With a wave of his hand, Ming Yu called his subordinates to take care of Song Lian’s funeral arrangements. In the end, he had still chosen to let Song Lian hear the contents of the letter. Ming Ye had entrusted him with it, instructing him to deliver it if he ever met Song Lian.

But in the end, Ming Ye had also added one last instruction: if Song Lian still harbored hatred, then there was no need to deliver the letter. There had been too many misunderstandings between them—there was no point in blaming anyone anymore.

Ming Yu kept this part to himself. Perhaps letting Song Lian leave the world like this was the best possible ending.

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