Chapter 153: The Enemy Approaches
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A divination with an unclear outcome indicates that there is still some hope. As for the person who can change the outcome single-handedly, Liu Buwang didn’t know who it was. The teachings of his school forbade inquiring about people during divination. After all, there’s a saying: “Man’s fate is greater than Heaven’s decree.”
No one is entirely under the control of fate.
“We have the advantage in terms of location. The bottleneck at the Hulou Mouth in Jiyang City is our natural advantage. Additionally, the Jiyang City soldiers have grown up by the water, skilled in swimming and maneuvering boats. As for manpower, we are here now, and we will do our best to avoid mistakes. The only difficulty lies in the weather,” He Yan looked at Liu Buwang and said, “If the wind blows from the southeast on the planned day, it will be in our favor. But if it blows from the northwest, even the heavens will be on the side of the Wutuo people.”
The wind direction determines whether the fire attack can be executed, and a successful fire attack offers the highest chance of success.
“Commander Xiao,” Liu Buwang turned to Xiao Jue, “Even if the citizens of the city evacuate, if the Wutuo people act within a few days, the city’s defenses won’t hold. The lives of the citizens within the city will be in danger, and those who have evacuated may also be pursued.”
Xiao Jue, “So, the later the Wutuo people move, the better. If they act quickly, it’s better for the city’s defenses to hold out longer.”
“Are you suggesting that, for now, our only option is to defend the city?” Liu Buwang seemed to realize something.
“Not just to defend the city,” He Yan said, “If we want to take the initiative, we have to use fire. But…”
In this battle, success doesn’t only depend on the commanders and soldiers, but also on the favor of the heavens and luck.
“I understand,” Liu Buwang said. “I will think of other ways. Commander, make preparations in advance,” his gaze was concerned. “In no more than three days, the Wutuo people will make their move.”
In reality, everyone understood that the so-called three days was already their best-case scenario. To prevent too many citizens from leaving, the Wutuo people would certainly deploy their forces very quickly.
Both sides were racing against time.
He Yan and her group had thought about the situation this way, but they hadn’t expected the Wutuo people to be even more impatient. On the night of the next day, a loud horn sounded from the north of the canal, and thousands of large ships appeared above the canal, bringing with them the fierce Wutuo warriors armed with long knives.
The enemy was at the city gates.
Mu Hongjin sat in the hall, surrounded by attendants who stood with their heads bowed. The atmosphere was heavy and stagnant. Only she remained as composed as ever. She calmly gave orders to her attendants, “Have the soldiers from the Royal Mansion’s entrance go to the city gates.”
“Your Highness!”
“If the city gates fall, this Highness won’t survive alone. It’s better to guard the citizens than the mansion,” Mu Hongjin said calmly. “As their princess, this is my duty.”
Her resolve was unshaken, and the attendants hesitated for a moment before following her instructions. Mu Hongjin raised her eyes and looked at the springtime depiction of Jiyang City on the wall. The lively flower and water markets, the bustling crowds, all appeared vivid as if they might step out of the painting at any moment. The imminent battle was just a minor disturbance in the grand scheme of things. As long as one listened to a piece of music or watched a dance, everything would be resolved.
Father, the woman in the red robe whispered to herself. Your daughter has guarded this city for more than twenty years, and she will continue to do so in the future.
The city’s citizens are pure and good, and the Water God will protect them. They… will surely overcome this hardship.
…
In the city of Jiyang, there had been no war for many years. When the war finally broke out, the old, weak, sick, and disabled residents who couldn’t leave in time were awakened from their dreams. Some sat quietly in their houses, waiting for the outcome to come, while others knelt on the ground, silently praying for the protection of the Bodhisattva.
Cui Yuezhi put on his armor and strapped a long blade to his waist before leaving his mansion. There was no panic or chaos in the Cui family, not even among the servants, who carried out their duties calmly. Even the usually lively concubines were uncharacteristically quiet, standing obediently in their rooms, waiting for orders. Wei Yiniang said, “Continue with your tasks. Master hasn’t returned, and no one is allowed to speak recklessly.”
As Cui Yuezhi’s family, they could have chosen to evacuate, but they had decided to stay and face the challenges with him.
If the city fell, these women, who were powerless, would surely suffer at the hands of the enemy. Therefore, each of them, including the Third Yiniang who often cried and complained, had a white silk cloth ready. Their lives belonged to themselves, and in the event of the city falling, they were determined not to fall into the hands of the enemy.
Cui Yuezhi left his mansion, rode to the camp at the martial arts field, and as soon as he arrived, he dismounted and saw a figure emerging from a tent. It was Xiao Jue. Dressed in a simple black armored robe, this young man didn’t look like a pampered noble from the capital. He wore black armor and sturdy boots, exuding a stern and dignified aura. His handsome appearance was matched by his fierce demeanor, like the shining crystal sword hanging from his waist, impossible to ignore.
“Commander Xiao,” Cui Yuezhi looked into the distance. It wouldn’t be long before the morning light illuminated the city of Jiyang, and the Wutuo people’s boats would arrive. The situation was urgent. “The Jiyang troops are all here in the city. I will lead a group to set an ambush at Hulou Mouth, while you take the rest to join the Jiyang troops. As for the fire attack…” he became grave.
The astronomers from the Si Tian Observatory had been observing the celestial phenomena all night, and today there might be no wind or a southeast wind. Even if the wind picked up, it would likely be in the afternoon. By the time the wind arrived, the Wutuo people might already be on shore.
Their only option was to wait for a “possible” southeast wind here. To create that possibility, they had to prolong the battle and delay the Wutuo people’s time on the water as much as possible.
Xiao Jue led the Jiyang troops to accomplish this difficult task. However, an even more challenging task awaited them: the person responsible for setting the fire.
To secretly start a fire on the Wutuo people’s boats without their notice, at just the right time, was a tricky endeavor. With so many boats, it wasn’t possible to ignite each one individually. They had to observe the boat positions, identify the most critical ones, and use those to rapidly spread the fire to all the Wutuo people’s big ships. This required excellent strategic thinking and judgment. Such individuals were truly rare in all of Jiyang.
Cui Yuezhi was troubled, but he had no other choice. He signaled to a group of soldiers who approached, led by Mu Yi, the warrior who had sparred with He Yan at the martial arts field.
“I’ve chosen a soldier, Mu Yi’s to find the right moment to set fire to the Wutuo people’s boats. When the southeast wind arrives, use that opportunity. We can’t be sure which boats we can control, so we’ll rely on Mu Yi to set fire to as many as possible.”
The more they burned, the greater the risk of discovery, and it might even trap themselves on a burning boat. This soldier responsible for starting the fire was, in a way, the vanguard of the front-line troops, and he had prepared himself for sacrifice.
Their sacrifice would pave the way for their comrades to follow.
Mu Yi said to Xiao Jue, “Mu Yi will do his utmost.”
The situation was extremely unfavorable for the Jiyang army, and everyone was aware of it. Mu Yi was no longer as arrogant as before, and his expression had become much more serious.
“Cui Zhongqi, let me handle the task of setting the fire,” a voice interjected. The tent was lifted, and a person emerged from it – it was He Yan.
She was also wearing the armor of the Jiyang City’s soldiers, her long hair neatly tied up. Her clear eyes and dazzling smile gave her a completely different feeling from her earlier red outfit. Strangely, everyone felt that she was even more eye-catching in this attire, exuding a natural and extraordinary charm.
Despite the weight of the armor, she moved with ease, and her expression remained calm as she looked at Xiao Jue. “Commander, let me handle the fire.”
“Miss He…” Mu Yi tried to dissuade her, “It’s very dangerous.”
“The Wutuo people have too many boats, and we might have to wait until the uncertain southeast wind arrives, possibly in the afternoon,” He Yan shook her head. “To hide among them without being noticed requires not only skill but also stamina. It also requires synchronization with the Jiyang City army led by the Commander. Brother Mu Yi, you haven’t fought alongside the commandeer before. Even if it’s about setting fires, it takes time for you two to coordinate effectively. I’m one of the commander’s subordinates, and we have good chemistry. I can lead you guys better. Moreover,” she smiled slightly, “didn’t you spar with me back at the martial arts field? Why do you lack confidence in me now?”
Mu Yi blushed slightly and couldn’t find words to reply. If he lost to He Yan, it was simply because she was better skilled, so what could he argue?
He Yan’s words were partly true and partly not. It was true that she could coordinate better with Xiao Jue, and her understanding of the commander’s thoughts was deeper. What Xiao Jue thought, she understood. Similarly, her hints were clear to Xiao Jue. Mu Yi might not have understood them. Second, He Yan also noticed that Mu Yi was willing to sacrifice himself to ensure success. However, on the battlefield, minimizing unnecessary sacrifices was the responsibility of a commander. While she couldn’t guarantee a complete escape for this group of people, she could at least prevent a total disaster.
For both public and private reasons, it made more sense for her to undertake this dangerous task than for Mu Yi.
Cui Yuezhi hesitated for a moment. When they discussed the fire attack earlier, he already knew that He Yan was not to be underestimated. She was far more capable than Mu Yi. However, He Yan was not very familiar to him, and he wasn’t sure of the extent of her abilities. Furthermore, she wasn’t under his command, and even if he agreed, it would depend on Xiao Jue’s decision. He looked at Xiao Jue and said, “I have confidence in Miss He’s abilities, and I trust her to handle this task. I’m at ease with her. I just don’t know what Commander Xiao thinks.”
Xiao Jue looked at He Yan, and she returned his gaze. Her eyes were clear and full of vitality, and the armor accentuated her heroic spirit. She radiated a sense of determination and vigor, brightening her entire face. Like the young man who had shone brilliantly on the martial arts field in Liangzhou City, she moved with agility and grace.
Free spirits should not be confined within narrow limits.
Xiao Jue smirked slightly and said, “Go ahead.”
He Yan replied, “Thank you, Commander!”
She had expected Xiao Jue to potentially disagree, so she was prepared to convince him. She didn’t anticipate his immediate approval. But, Xiao Jue could also see that having her handle the task was better than having Mu Yi do it. As the commander, he had to be fair with every order he gave.
“Stay safe,” Xiao Jue cautioned. “Don’t rush to your death. If the situation turns unfavorable, retreat. I have other plans.”
He Yan nodded. “Understood!”
….
He Yan led the group, including Mu Yi, forward. In total, there were fifty of them.
These fifty individuals were the best in the Jiyang City’s army. Since they needed to lurk in the shadows, ambush, hide, set fires, and retreat, and might even have to engage with some of the Wutuo people, they needed to be highly skilled. He Yan looked at them, and it reminded her of the vanguard troops she had served with before. The vanguard consisted of a dozen or so people, always charging into the front lines in every battle.
However, the vanguard members changed frequently because they often didn’t return. But it was their sacrifices that paved the way for later victories.
At Hulou Mouth, Cui Yuezhi commanded the defense, while Xiao Jue led the main force on the Jiyang City’s canal, preparing to engage the incoming Wutuo people. When they left, Xiao Jue didn’t provide He Yan with any specific instructions. From this moment on, the initiative for this covert fire-setting operation was entirely in He Yan’s hands.
“He Yan,” Mu Yi looked at her, “What should we do?”
Time was running out, and daylight was approaching. They didn’t have much time to hesitate. While Mu Yi recognized He Yan’s skills, he wasn’t confident in her ability to lead a surprise attack. He wasn’t even aware that it was He Yan who had proposed the fire attack strategy. He assumed she had a similar plan in mind, relying on her skills to infiltrate the Wutuo people’s large ships and set them on fire.
“Should we prepare the oil now?” Mu Yi thought He Yan hadn’t come up with a plan and wanted to remind her. “We can hide the oil on the shore and find a way to get it onto the Wutuo people’s ships. How about that?”
“No need,” He Yan raised her hand and said, “Prepare ten small boats.”
“Ten small boats?” Mu Yi furrowed his brows. “Most of the boats are with Commander Xiao now, and we don’t have many left. Why do we need so many boats?”
He Yan explained, “I’ve thought it through. Setting fire to their ships one by one is much more difficult than setting fire to our own. So, let’s use our own boats.”
Mu Yi was puzzled, and the people behind him were also uncertain. Someone asked, “What do you mean? Can you explain it more clearly?”
“I need ten small boats, and we’ll distribute all the oil you’ve prepared on these ten boats. Then, we’ll load them with dry straw to make them look identical to other warships. When the two sides clash, the Wutuo people will think these are just ordinary warships carrying oil, just like the Jiyang City’s fleet. When the southeast wind starts blowing, we can pretend to engage with them and get close to the Wutuo people’s large ships.”
“At that point, we’ll ignite our own boats.”
“Using this method, we have the highest chance of success, and you can jump into the river to save yourselves,” she explained.
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Time to see Commander He in action!
Fire ships! Of course
Thanks for the chapter!