Chapter 85
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Xie Yixiu delivered the final blow to a wolf, tossing its lifeless body to the ground. He then stood up and glanced at Ming Yu.
Ming Yu, with a grin on his face, had finally approached them. He clapped his hands and exclaimed, “General Xie, impressive!”
Xie Yixiu surveyed the scene, which was now a mess with wolf corpses. He couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t entirely his achievement; most of it was due to Ming Yu.
Leaving their tribe behind, the two had been journeying northwards. As they ventured deeper, the land became increasingly desolate, devoid of any human presence. Instead, they encountered packs of wolves and bears.
With Xie Yixiu by his side, Ming Yu wasn’t particularly afraid. However, he took every opportunity during their journey to experiment with the concept of fire and concoctions, which he had learned about at the craftman workshop.
A few days ago, Ming Yu had stumbled upon a deposit of saltpeter and collected a good amount of it. Combined with the sulfur he had taken from the tribe, he managed to create something interesting.
The wolf pack they encountered today had been following them for two days. Encountering a wolf pack in the wilderness was extremely dangerous. These wolves operated in coordinated packs, with a clear leader, and they patiently waited for the right opportunity to strike, whether it was to hunt for food or defend their territory.
This pack of wolves, numbering around a dozen, had set their sights on Ming Yu and Xie Yixiu. They were waiting for an opportunity, anticipating that when their prey was tired and frightened, they could rush in, divide, and feast.
Xie Yixiu, if alone, wouldn’t have any qualms about facing them head-on, taking them down one by one. However, with Ming Yu by his side, who was unarmed, he couldn’t simply leave him behind or risk an attack. But what if he couldn’t adequately protect Ming Yu, and they both got injured by the wolves? In this remote wilderness, there would be no medical help to seek.
With these worries in mind, Xie Yixiu had been anxious since the moment he first spotted the wolf pack. He was cautious and alert. Escaping was the least wise option, for as soon as the wolves detected any hint of fear, they would immediately attack en masse.
Ming Yu had noticed this too. When they had left the tribe, he had collected sulfur used by the tribe to repel snakes and insects, as he was wary of encountering fierce beasts in the wilderness. Later, when he discovered the saltpeter deposit, he decided to experiment with fire and concoctions for self-defense.
This pack of wolves had become a practical target for Ming Yu. He combined fire and concoctions, mixing sharp stones, shards of pottery, and flammable materials in a sealed porcelain bottle. After lighting the fuse, he hurled it into the midst of the wolf pack. The resulting explosion was devastating. The shockwave propelled shards of stone and pottery, accompanied by a loud blast, the flames clung to the wolf’s fur. In the first wave alone, several wolves were severely wounded.
Xie Yixiu had acted swiftly and engaged in a fierce battle with the escaping wolf leader, ultimately slaying it with his blade. Only two or three wolves managed to flee, while the rest were killed by his expert swordsmanship.
“How about that? We handled it effortlessly. Not bad, huh?” Ming Yu teased with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Hmm,” nodded Xie Yixiu.
Xie Yixiu had underestimated Ming Yu. During their time in Liangcheng, Ming Yu had been visiting the craftsman’s workshop regularly, likely working on creating this kind of device. Now, looking at the results, it was clear that Ming Yu had succeeded. He had managed to craft such a device all by himself, rendering the need for others unnecessary.
“Unfortunately, it’s not perfect yet. The main issue is that I have limited materials at hand. If we could include iron nails, steel balls, and a more flammable black oil, I believe the explosive power would be much greater. Also, the sealing of the porcelain bottle isn’t ideal, which limits the range of the blast. Perhaps when we return, I can think of ways to improve it and increase its destructive force tenfold or even a hundredfold,” Ming Yu lamented. In his view, the current device was only slightly better than a firecracker and hadn’t met his expectations.
Hearing this, Xie Yixiu had nothing more to say. He had witnessed the device’s effectiveness and understood its potential. If it could have tenfold or a hundredfold more power, it would indeed be a formidable weapon, capable of clearing obstacles and breaking through defenses with ease. He resolved to request more of these devices from Ming Yu in the future.
“At this rate, it won’t take us more than three to five days to reach the plains at the base of Xiqi Mountains,” Xie Yixiu concluded as he examined the map. “Let’s rest for a bit and then set off immediately.”
Ming Yu nodded, relieved that they were finally making progress after enduring hardships and living in the wilderness for so long. “It’s been quite some time. I wonder if Great General Wei’s reinforcements have arrived.”
“Considering the time and distance, they should meet up with us by the time we reach the plains at the base of Xiqi Mountains,” Xie Yixiu calculated.
Ming Yu nodded, realizing that their path had been challenging and rugged, while the reinforcements could take a more direct route through the plains, allowing them to reach their destination sooner.
However, they were unsure of General Wei’s arrangements and whether he had effectively dealt with the pursuers.
Nevertheless, this was beyond their control. As long as they reached the Xiqi Plain and joined up with the reinforcements, they wouldn’t need to worry anymore.
Xie Yixiu’s calculations proved accurate, in just over three days, they arrived at the plains. Towering Xiqi Mountains loomed in the distance, a serene jade belt river flowed at their base, and fertile land stretched out before them. This area was a neutral zone, home to wild antelopes calmly drinking from the river and herds of wild buffalo grazing on the grasslands.
Ming Yu excitedly grabbed Xie Yixiu’s hand, his eyes filled with a smile as bright as the stars. He pointed to the vast expanse in front of them and said, “Here, in the future, will belong to our Great Yan, it will be the road that leads us to the world.”
Xie Yixiu returned the grip of his hand, his eyes also holding a gentle smile.
This road was long and distant, perhaps requiring the efforts of more than one generation. However, as long as they set a good example, in the future, their descendants would benefit endlessly.
The two of them didn’t dare to delay any longer and continued heading south, embarking on the path to the Great Yan.
After another day or two of travel, they finally encountered Mo Jiang and his group who had come to meet them.
When Mo Jiang saw the familiar figures through the Thousand-Mile Eye, the suppressed emotions that had been building up in him finally burst forth. He exclaimed, “It’s Wang YE and General Xie, they’re safe!”
The people around him, including Geng Shiqi, looked at him with envy. They were fresh Jingwei Imperial Guards that arrived at the borderlands, and the Thousand-Mile Eye, a device most generals here possessed, was something they admired greatly. They had heard that the Thousand-Mile Eye was invented by Wang Ye, now that they were following Wang Ye, they wondered if they might have a chance to get their hands on such a miraculous item in the future.
When everyone heard the news about Wang Ye and General Xie, they were all invigorated and rushed forward on their horses.
Mo Jiang walked up to Ming Yu, his emotions overwhelming, he knelt down with a thud. “Your Highness, you’re safe, that’s wonderful. I arrived late for the rescue and support; Your Highness, you’ve suffered.”
Seeing the dust-covered Ming Yu in front of him, Mo Jiang almost shed tears.
Ming Yu helped him up and patted his shoulder, feeling a great deal of emotion himself. He understood that he had suffered a major setback due to his negligence, implicating many people. He could empathize with Mo Jiang’s feelings, despite the multitude of emotions in his heart, he could only express one simple sentence in the end, “Commander Mo, you’ve worked hard.”
Geng Shiqi came over and saluted Ming Yu. “I am Geng Shiqi , originally part of His Majesty’s Jingwei Imperial Guard. I was ordered to come and protect Duan Wang.”
Ming Yu was surprised by this news. Even though he had been quite neglectful in the palace, he still knew that the Jingwei Imperial Guard, was the Emperor’s personal guards, and they all used celestial stems and earthly branches as their names. This was absolutely certain.
“You said what? Imperial Father sent you here? The Jingwei Imperial Guards?” Ming Yu could hardly believe it and asked again.
This was bad; it seemed that news of this incident had indeed reached the capital. He couldn’t predict how his father, the Emperor, would react to this situation and who else might be implicated. He had originally planned to wait for things to settle down and then make a fuss, hoping to slip through unnoticed. But now, it seemed that no matter what he said, it wouldn’t work.
Geng Shiqi replied respectfully, “Indeed! His Majesty specifically dispatched a thousand Jingwei guards to protect Your Highness, and in the future, Your Highness’s safety will be our responsibility.”
Mo Jiang, standing by, glanced at him but remained silent. With the addition of the Jingwei guards, there wasn’t much left for them to do. After all, if they couldn’t even protect Wang Ye, what qualifications did they have as his guards? Now, all Mo Jiang could hope for was that Wang Ye would remember their past and keep him by his side. That would be satisfaction enough
“A thousand guards?” Did he really need that many? Ming Yu’s head was starting to hurt. He was already struggling to support the five hundred guards he had before, and now another thousand were added. This was going to bankrupt him.
He felt uncomfortable knowing he would be watched by numerous pairs of eyes every day. These Jingwei Imperial Guard were the Emperor’s personal protectors, so why had they been sent to protect him, a mere prince? He would have to return them as soon as this situation was over.
Although he understood that this was a manifestation of his father’s deep concern for him, it went against the ancestral system, and he couldn’t afford to leave any openings. Little did he know that the Emperor had already radically changed the ancestral system because of him.
“Is Father Emperor doing well in the capital?” Ming Yu appreciated his father’s concern; it had been a long time since they had seen each other, he was worried about his well-being.
Geng Shiqi stood up straight, cleared his throat, and loudly proclaimed, “His Majesty’s decree: Fourteenth Prince Ming Yu, listen to the command!”
Ming Yu was taken aback and had no choice but to kneel and listen to the decree. Everyone around him also knelt.
“Old Fourteenth, you little rascal, do you think I can relax for three days without any trouble? Have you gained some endurance? Getting yourself kidnapped? I’ve long told you to live a peaceful life in the capital, but you never listened to me. Now you finally realize how dangerous it is, right? You think you can hide behind me like you used to in the palace when you got into trouble? Even though you’re so far away, you think it’s the same as it was in the palace? If you cause trouble now, you won’t be able to hide behind me forever. In short, take care of yourself.”
Ming Yu’s eyes welled up with tears. In this world, his father was the one who truly cared for him.
After Geng Shiqi finished reading the decree, he helped Ming Yu to his feet and whispered, “Your Highness, His Majesty is very worried about you. When he heard the news that you had been kidnapped, he nearly fainted from anxiety.”
Ming Yu asked anxiously, “What? Is Imperial Father alright?”
Geng Shiqi shook his head. “The imperial physician was summoned, but there was no serious harm. Before I left, I was given strict orders to ensure Your Highness’s safe return.”
Ming Yu felt relieved and was about to set off again when Xie Yixiu walked over with a serious expression. “Wang Ye, the pursuers are coming.”
“So soon?” Although Ming Yu had been mentally prepared for this, he hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly. He took the Thousand Mile Eye and looked at the billowing dust of the pursuers behind them. Then, he exchanged a glance with Xie Yixiu.
Mo Jiang had already stepped forward. “Wang Ye, General, you should go ahead. We, the Guard Battalion, will be able to delay them.”
He had also noticed that there were quite a few pursuers, if the main Suixi forces had arrived, they might not be able to escape.
When they had left, Great General Wei had said that he would draw the enemy forces to the south. Now it seemed that Great General Wei’s plan had failed, and the enemy had seen through it, leading to this large pursuit.
Ming Yu, however, did not move. He was assessing the current situation on both sides. “General Xie, do you think we can take them on?”
With the five hundred Guard Battalion and the additional one thousand Jingwei Imperial Guards, perhaps they had a chance to fight.
Xie Yixiu looked at him, considering the possibilities. “The enemy probably has seven to eight thousand troops. Are you sure you want to challenge them, Wang Ye?”
So what if the enemy had more troops? Who said that the barbarian cavalry was invincible? Ming Yu wanted to give it a try, and he was confident. He smiled and said, “Why not? The Guard Battalion are here, and I have more than one ace up my sleeve!”
After all, didn’t the barbarians claim to be invincible on horseback? He wanted to test their mettle, and besides, he had confidence.
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