Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Fire Attack

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Above the canal, the fierce battle continues. 

Xiao Jue ordered twenty elite soldiers to carry iron claws and sneak into the water, drilling holes in the Wutuo boats. 

There were thousands of Wutuo boats, and it was impossible to drill through all of them, and it was difficult to exert force underwater. Ten people formed a team, picking the two in the middle and drilling heavily. In this way, the Wutuo boat formations connected by iron hooks became chaotic, and they were busy cutting off the hooks, helplessly watching He Yan’s small boat escape. 

“These idiots!” Maka was furious, snatched a bow and arrows from a soldier nearby, and shot arrows at the soldiers in the water. However, the twenty soldiers selected were all skilled in water, agile, and immediately evaded. The situation was such that they were chased and fought, and the Wutuo soldiers were confused due to the ambush in the jungle. 

“Continue to use the iron forks,” Maka ordered with a serious face. “I don’t believe they can stay underwater all the time. First, catch that woman!” 

The woman who disguised herself as Mu Hongjin had greatly humiliated him. Wutuo men cared a lot about their reputation, and today, if they couldn’t catch that woman, his subordinates and confidants would secretly mock him. Even if they won the battle, when they returned to Wutuo City, this matter was likely to become a subject of ridicule, spreading everywhere. 

Unless they caught that woman and brutally tortured her to save face. 

“Go after her!” 

A light breeze fell on people’s faces, causing a slight itching sensation, very small but immediately noticed by someone. 

He Yan looked at Mu Yi, and Mu Yi’s eyes were full of excitement. “There’s wind!” 

Although the wind was very gentle, finally, the heavens was on their side. 

The warships behind them continued to chase them relentlessly. He Yan furrowed her brows and said, “Lead them into the ambush.” 

“Understood!” 

Their small boat seemed like it was trying to escape the water’s surface as it rowed desperately into the distance, but it appeared quite pathetic when juxtaposed with the larger ships around. 

“Where are they heading?” asked the deputy-soldier. 

Xiao Jue looked at the direction He Yan’s small boat was heading. The canal was calm, and if he remembered correctly, her route should have several submerged reefs. If it was a small boat, it could naturally avoid them, but if it was a large ship… 

Xiao Jue said, “Keep up with them and scatter the Wutuo forces.” 

“Commander?” 

“The wind has picked up,” he said coldly, lowering his gaze. 

The wind was still gentle, like the tender play of lovers, brushing past every individual. Mu Yi paddled desperately and asked He Yan, “Miss He, can we light the fire now?” 

“Not yet,” He Yan replied. “The wind is not strong enough.” 

With the wind not being strong enough, even if they set the fire, the thousands of Wutuo warships couldn’t be immediately engulfed in flames. They had various means to extinguish the fire promptly, making the timing of the battle crucial. 

“So what should we do now? They are about to catch up,” Mu Yi said anxiously. 

He Yan turned her head and said, “I’ll go and hold them back.” 

“You?” Mu Yi was worried. “Can you do it alone? I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” He Yan patted his shoulder and said, “You take this boat and stay in your position with the other boats. When the Wutuo warships see our boat, they are likely to come after us. You must protect the boats,” she paused and added, “and also protect yourself.” 

“But…” Mu Yi hadn’t finished speaking when he saw He Yan tip-toeing at the bow of the boat, heading towards the large ship where Maka was. 

“Why is Miss He going alone?” the deputy-soldier exclaimed in surprise. 

Xiao Jue said, “Take action.” 

With a loud thud, the small boat collided with the large ship, causing the large ship to tilt slightly. Maka’s face turned pale with anger. “Why won’t they just go away?” he sneered. “They think they can fight against thousands of people, but if you want to die so badly, General Maka will send you off!” 

He brandished his sword and shouted to his men behind him, “Warriors, attack!” 

The two groups of soldiers stood together, with the forces from Jiyang City being outnumbered. However, they showed no fear. He Yan and Xiao Jue were mixed in with Maka’s group. He Yan’s whip with iron claws was powerful; it could severely damage both the ship and the enemy. With a single strike, she knocked down an enemy. 

However, the whip was not as sharp as a sword. When it pierced someone, it was challenging to retract quickly. With more and more Wutuo warriors approaching, the ones behind her were getting closer. He Yan kicked away an enemy in front of her, but the strong wind was approaching her. She turned her body to avoid it and a crystal-clear long sword appeared in front of her. 

Xiao Jue, with his back to her, held a sword in his hand, and blood was dripping from it. He Yan pulled Drinking Autumn from the Wutuo warrior’s chest and softly reminded her, “Be careful.” 

“Commander,” He Yan said, “Let’s attack together!” 

They stood back-to-back, one wielding a sword and the other with a whip. They entrusted their backs to each other completely at this life-and-death moment. Even though they had never fought together before, they had developed a miraculous understanding between them. It was as if their minds were connected in perfect harmony, and they naturally coordinated with each other without the need for verbal communication. 

For a moment, the Wutuo warriors found it impossible to get close to them. 

The deputy soldier opened up a path through the Wutuo warriors, turned around, and saw this scene. He thought for a moment and said, “Who is this Miss He? She is incredibly skilled.” 

She was not relying on Commander Xiao to save her or his protection, she was working together with Commander Xiao. She didn’t slow him down; she even complemented him. 

“General, this woman is really powerful!” an aide said to Maka. 

Xiao Huaijin is formidable; that’s because he’s the Right Military Commander of the Great Wei, General Fengyun. He has never heard this woman’s name before, and she seems quite young. How can she be so skilled? Could it be that the Great Wei army has more talents like Xiao Huaijin? 

For a moment, Maka regretted volunteering to come to Jiyang. He had assumed that capturing Jiyang would be a straightforward task, given the city’s lack of troops and being led by a woman like Mu Hongjin. He thought he could easily seize the credit for it. Little did he know that he would encounter Xiao Jue and this formidable woman. Their combined skills are unmatched. Even the Jiyang City’s soldiers, who were reported by his spies as having an outdated formation due to years of inactivity, turned out to be fearless in the face of battle. 

Although the Jiyang City’s forces have been significantly reduced now, it’s still impossible for his one hundred and fifty-thousand-strong army to capture the city immediately, and they have even suffered losses, which is an unimaginable disgrace. 

“Reinforcements, charge!” Maka gritted his teeth as he watched the man and woman surrounded by the Wutuo warriors. “I don’t believe they can defeat my one hundred fifty thousand troops!” 

The ship’s masts remained unmoved, but the flags hanging from them started swaying. It wasn’t the extremely slight swaying from before; it was now visible and resembled birds spreading their wings. 

“It’s windy!” He Yan’s voice couldn’t hide her excitement. “Commander, the wind is really blowing!” 

It wasn’t a gentle breeze; it felt more like a light breeze. Perhaps it would even turn into a strong wind or a gale.

And…

“It’s a southeast wind!” He Yan’s eyes sparkled with delight. “A southeast wind, Commander.” 

Xiao Jue glanced at her and said, “Now we can lead them into the trap.” 

He Yan exchanged a look with him, and a fleeting smile passed between them. She jumped up and said, “Let’s go!” 

The two of them broke free from the encirclement, as if they were running out of energy, and leaped onto a Jiyang City soldier’s small boat. The Jiyang City soldiers on the boat rowed desperately as if they were taking them to safety. 

“Trying to escape?” Maka sneered and waved his hand. “Chase after them! We must capture these two alive today!” 

At this critical moment, the Jiyang City soldiers were dwindling, and it was clear that Xiao Huaijin and the woman were outnumbered. Maka had a moment of doubt – was Xiao Huaijin the kind of person who would abandon his troops and flee? However, this doubt was quickly overshadowed by the joy of imminent victory. Even though they were formidable, they were outnumbered. One of the favorite sayings of the Great Wei was, “A saved mountain will never run out of firewood.” There was a chance that they intended to retreat temporarily and make a comeback. Maka was determined to pursue them until the end. 

An aide hesitated and said, “General, it is unwise to chase a desperate foe. Shouldn’t we first annihilate the remaining Jiyang City soldiers here and then proceed to enter the city?” 

“What do you know!” Maka sneered. “The Jiyang City soldiers have already fallen apart. Once I capture Xiao Huaijin…” Greed flashed in his eyes. “The Sovereign will surely reward me generously. This will be a feat that will go down in history!” 

Inside Wutuo, everyone knew he had led an army to attack the city of Jiyang, but he not only captured Jiyang but also killed the infamous Xiao Huaijin. This could be the highlight of his life. Besides, he had suffered some losses at the hands of that woman who had impersonated Mu Hongjin, and Maka, with his grudge-holding disposition, could not let it slide.

For now, he only hoped to chase them down and eliminate them entirely. 

“Chase them!” 

The small boat raced ahead, and beneath the vast expanse of the canal were countless inconspicuous underwater reefs. These reefs were easily avoided by ordinary merchant vessels who had experience with this route, but the Wutuo warriors did not know about them. 

They also did not know what kind of hidden weapons were concealed in these seemingly unremarkable small boats scattered around them. 

“General, have you seen those small boats?” an aide asked Maka. Around the water’s surface, dozens of small boats appeared. These small boats resembled Jiyang City vessels, but the people on board were smaller in number than the Jiyang City soldiers and were distributed at various points on their warships. They seemed to be lurking, with unfriendly intentions. 

A sense of foreboding was growing. The aide spoke again, “General, is this an ambush? Should we reconsider…” 

“What kind of ambush? If you’re scared, you can go back to your hometown now. The Wutuo army doesn’t tolerate cowards!” Maka scorned, kicking the person next to him. “With just these few boats, talk of ambushes? Are they trying to make a laughingstock of us? We have so many boats and troops; if they’re planning an ambush, they’re only sending themselves to die! Keep your weapons ready, and when they get closer, release the arrows!” 

The aide reconsidered and realized that Maka’s words made sense. These Jiyang small boats were like moths flying into a flame, and even if they came from all directions, it appeared that they had no chance of victory.

He Yan had already sent out signals, and the other boats led by Mu Yi quickly approached. He Yan turned to look at the Wutuo warships behind them, which were getting closer. 

At the same time, the wind was getting stronger. 

It caused the banners on the boats to flutter noisily, and it also made the joy in He Yan’s heart ripple layer by layer, uncontrollable. 

“Shall we light it?” He Yan asked Xiao Jue. 

Xiao Jue gave a faint smirk and said, “Light it.” 

The two of them commanded the Jiyang City soldiers around them to stop rowing. “Get into the water quickly!” 

“Plunk, plunk, plunk.” 

The sound of people falling into the water rang out one after another, leaving the Wutuo soldiers on the ships bewildered. One of them asked, “Why did they all jump into the water?” 

“Get ready with the harpoons! Even if they’ve fallen into the water, we can still attack,” Maka said gloomily, believing they were desperate, at their wit’s end. 

He Yan smiled slightly, planted one foot at the bow of the ship, and took out a flint from her pocket. 

“Sizzle.” 

A very faint noise came from her hand, which didn’t concern the Wutuo soldiers. The girl’s eyes gleamed brightly, and her smile was sly. “I have a big gift for you; catch it!” 

A spark streaked through the air like a shooting star, and the next moment, it landed on the ship. At the same time, the sound of Jiyang City soldiers falling into the water could be heard from all directions. 

The spark landed on the curtain that had been drawn back, on the dry firewood smeared with grease. With a loud “boom,” a massive fireball erupted on the small boat, nearly lighting up the entire sky. 

The Wutuo warships were rapidly engulfed in flames, and the wind gradually grew stronger, blowing the entire blaze toward the Wutuo warships.

… 

The commotion on the canal seemed to have reached Jiyang City. 

Lin Shuanghe walked out from the backyard of the Cui residence, looked into the distance, and muttered to himself, “What is that sound?” 

By his side, Zhong Fu, also listened carefully but couldn’t answer the question. After a while, Zhong Fu looked at Lin Shuanghe and asked, “Young Master Lin, are you really staying here?” 

He had already learned Lin Shuanghe’s true identity. The so-called “graceful Steward Lin” did not exist in this world. At least, in all his years of living, he had never seen such a person. The young man appeared refined and cultured, and he heard he was a physician, but unlike Xiao Jue and He Yan, he had no combat skills. Why stay here when the Jiyang City soldiers were retreating? 

“We still have so many sisters in this residence,” Lin Shuanghe replied with a smile. “If I leave, who will protect them? I’m at least a man.” 

Zhong Fu was speechless for a moment, and Lin Shuanghe seemed to think he was quite formidable. 

“The madams of Lord Cui’s house are all still here. Several older sisters dare to stay, so how could I leave by myself?” Lin Shuanghe shook his fan and smiled gracefully, just as in the past. “A man should protect the young ladies.” 

Er Yiniang, looking out the window at Lin Shuanghe talking to Zhong Fu, propped her chin on her hand and said, “This Young Master Lin looks frail, but I didn’t expect him to be so manly at a critical moment. If I were ten years younger…” 

“What would you do?” Wei Yiniang glared at her. “It’s not the time to be thinking about these things.”

“I was just speaking casually, no need for you to get so worked up,” Er Yiniang yawned and stretched lazily. “Whether we can survive today or not is uncertain. Can’t I have a little dream?” 

“Ugh, ugh, ugh,” Si Yiniang said, “Second Sister, don’t be a harbinger of doom. Master will definitely defeat those Wutuo people. We will not only survive today but also tomorrow, and we can live for a very long time! Our Master said that Qiao Huanqing is actually General Fengyun of Great Wei. With General Fengyun, we can win this battle no matter what. Don’t worry!” She spoke quickly and urgently, as if she was full of confidence, but it was unclear whether she was comforting others or trying to convince herself. 

San Yiniang was prone to crying, and her tears had been welling up for a long time. Finally, she couldn’t hold them back and said, “What does it matter if General Fengyun is here? Our city hasn’t seen a war in so many years. We have fewer soldiers than the common people, and he’s not a god. I’m still so young, and I don’t want to die. I… Master hasn’t favored me for long. I’m so afraid…” 

“Stop crying!” Wei Yiniang scolded sternly, and when she saw San Yiniang flinch but still unable to hold back her tears, she sighed and handed her a handkerchief, her voice softening, “What are you afraid of? Although we are concubines and women, we are women of the Cui Mansion. Even without Master protecting us on the front lines, we don’t need to cry and be a hindrance.” 

“Even if we are concubines and women, we are still women of the Cui Mansion. We should have integrity and not be afraid of death,” Si Yiniang added. “If we win this battle and Master comes back alive, we can celebrate. We can make a feast and reward him to ease his mind. If we lose… and Master doesn’t come back, we won’t have to beg for our lives from the Wutuo people. We will have the rope in our own hands, and everyone will die sooner or later, just a matter of sooner or later.” 

“At least we sisters will be together. Even if we truly have no way out, there will be someone to look after us on the road to the underworld. What’s to be afraid of?” she said. 

Er Yiniang laughed with a tearful glint in her eye and held San Yiniang’s hand, saying, “Yes, we’re all together as sisters.” 

San Yiniang wiped her face, choked up and didn’t say a word, and Si Yiniang looked out the window, murmuring, “The wind is rising.” 

… 

“The wind is rising,” Mu Hongjin said as she looked at the trees outside the window. 

At first, it was just a gentle breeze, but it soon grew stronger, causing the willow branches outside to sway wildly, as if they would be uprooted in the next moment. The pond stirred up ripples. 

Inside and outside the Wang Mansion, it was deserted, with the exception of a few old servants who had been with her all along. She had sent away everyone who could leave, following the commoners who were evacuating from the city. There was no reason to stay here. 

“What was that sound just now?” she asked her maidservant beside her. 

The maidservant shook her head. 

“Right, how could you know?” Mu Hongjin sighed. 

That loud noise, so frightening, everyone in the city could hear it. It seems to be coming from the direction of the canal. The servants who inquired about it came twice, and they all said that the Wutuo soldiers and the Jiyang City soldiers led by Xiao Jue were battling on the water’s surface. The Wutuo soldiers haven’t landed in the city yet, but the Jiyang City soldiers have lost more than half of their troops. 

The situation was unfavorable, and the forces were unequal. She felt great frustration at her own powerlessness. If she had any skill in commanding troops, charging into the fray, she wouldn’t be sitting in this empty mansion, feeling futile and unable to do anything, waiting for an outcome. 

If the city fell, she would accompany it to the end. If the city survived, she would continue to live, as if that was all she could do at the moment.

The wind blew in through the window, knocking over the mirror that had been placed on the soft seat where she was sitting, causing it to fall to the floor. Mu Hongjin was startled and went over to pick up the mirror.

The mirror had fallen once before, leaving a slight crack on its surface. This time, the fall was much harsher, and the cracks spread across the entire mirror. She had just reached out to touch it when the mirror shattered. The broken pieces of the mirror fell onto the soft carpet, like jewels scattered in the vast sky or memories buried deep inside her heart. 

A sudden pain gripped her heart, and she bent down, tears inexplicably welling up. 

… 

Deep within the dense forest, the white-clad swordsman was surrounded by dozens, even hundreds of Wutuo people. 

His long sword was dripping with blood, and his white robe had long been stained red. He couldn’t tell whether it was his own blood or someone else’s. 

“Attack him!” Wutuo warriors surged towards him wave after wave. This man’s swordsmanship was extraordinary; he could take on ten opponents by himself. 

Yet, by now, he had sustained numerous injuries. 

His arm was slashed by a Wutuo warrior’s blade, leaving a long scar on his forearm. Blood was flowing from his leg, but his posture remained light, like the clouds and mists on Mount Qiyun, making it difficult to predict his movements. He appeared as though a celestial being descending from the Ninth Heaven, never flustered, always with a serene smile. 

He turned the slaughter around him into a scene touched by divinity, resembling the young heroes of the past, who roamed the martial world with a sword in one hand and a zither in the other, under the boundless sky. 

But even heroes had moments of defeat. 

Liu Buwang’s eyes were gradually beginning to blur, and his vision was becoming hazy. The previous battle formation had consumed a lot of his energy and brought back old injuries. This moment was his final effort. 

Yet, every moment he held out extended the peace for Jiyang City. 

The wind had gradually picked up, and his smile at the corner of his lips became brighter, like the laughter of a girl in a red dress and silver bells from years gone by, teasing and playful, pretending to be bored but secretly smiling. 

A Wutuo warrior swung a blade at his face, and Liu Buwang evaded it by leaping aside. In the process, something flew out of his bosom, and he instinctively reached out to grab it, holding it in his palm. 

It was a silver bracelet, with a small circle of tiny daisies engraved on the edge. After years of wear, the edges were no longer as crisp, but they still carried a faint warmth and slight heat from a human touch. 

Someone had once told him, “This is called the Yuexin bracelet. Give one to your beloved, and you’ll never be apart for life.” 

At the age of seventeen, Mu Hongjin had pleaded, “Young Hero Liu, please give me one!” But he had coldly replied, “She is not my beloved.” 

However, while returning to the mountains with Yushu at the foot of Mount Qiyun, he had inexplicably bought the bracelet from the old woman. 

Liu Buwang didn’t understand why he had done that at the time. He had tried to convince himself that he was worried about Mu Hongjin being bored alone at the inn and that she would be overly dramatic when he came back. He had thought of the bracelet as a gift to shut her up. Unfortunately, for many years to come, he never had a chance to give it away. 

Perhaps there had been moments or maybe many moments when he had genuinely wanted to be with the lovely and beautiful girl, to spend a lifetime with her, living together as a pair of immortals. 

“Thud!” 

A long blade stabbed him in the chest from behind, piercing through his front like it intended to split open his heart, showing him clearly who his beloved truly was. 

The Wutuo people behind him burst into laughter, with one of them saying, “This head is mine! No one can compete with me for the military merit!” 

Laughter and cheers filled the surroundings. 

Liu Buwang fell to the ground. 

As he fell, he still clutched the Yuexin bracelet tightly in his hand. 

The wind, like a young girl’s hand, gently caressed his forehead. He laid back, his strength completely drained. 

In a fleeting moment, it felt as if he had gone back to many years ago, the first time he descended the mountain. 

As a young man, sword in hand and horse at the ready, he had once been spirited and full of vigor. His senior brother had jokingly told him, “The women in the world are like tigers. You mustn’t be tempted by the mortal realm.” Liu Buwang had scoffed and paid it no mind. When he turned around, he saw a girl in a red dress with long braids sitting beneath a tree, surrounded by falling peach blossoms like rain.

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