Chapter 38: CH 38

The feeling that arose within Xiao Yin made him feel uncomfortable. In fact, ever since he had met this woman, he had never been at ease. However, no matter whatever be the incident, for some reason, he could never be mad at her.

“What good plan do you have? There’s no harm in sharing your idea,” he said as he leaned on the bed. His pale face had a trace of a smile that was as unfathomable as the deep black night outside the tent.

Hua Zhu Yu lifted her eyes and looked into his cold eyes, calmly saying, “It is not necessarily a good plan; it is only attacking the human mind!”

On their way, Hua Zhu Yu had gained an understanding of the three tribes from Hui Xue. This is the so-called know yourself; know your enemy in order to come unscathed through hundreds of battle. Though the present situation basis her understanding was not an important situation, however, it was more than enough to defeat the enemies.

The north wind continued to wreck havoc outside the tent, creating ‘hualala’ noise within the tent. The moonlight reflected on the snow making it glow and  dispersed its light  upon the dark mass of soldiers who were currently busy setting up and reorganizing the camp. Inside the lambskin tent, the candle dripping with wax was still alight, permeating the air with the fragrance of wax.

With a steady pace a couple of Xiao Yin’s military officers walked in. They were the Right Military Officer Da Qi and the Left Military Officer Zhang Yi, accompanied by a couple officers that she did not recognize. Their armors were all in tatters, while the blood on their robes froze into icicles while they were outside. Now that they had entered the tent, the blood began to melt and drip from their robes, immediately filling the air with the smell of blood.

Xiao Yin half-leaned on the bed supported by Hui Xue and let his gaze lightly sweep over his soldiers. They believed that Xiao Yin had summoned them in order to discuss the battle, and when they entered, they all began to speak frankly with assurance about it. This was the first time that had been defeated so thoroughly while they were attempting to recapture the grassland tribes and each felt indignant.

One soldier could not help but begin to curse.

“Tu Er Ha, that old scoundrel, is really despicable. He knows that we have almost lost half of our military power in the battle with the South Kingdom and right now is time to recuperate from the causalities, yet he has ganged up with the Ke Er Ku Tribe and the Duo Sen Tribe intending to attack us. Tonight, we have lost quite a number of good comrades. Next morning, when they clean up the battlefield they are likely to know we have lost many soldiers – they will attack again. Right now, our military power is rather weak, what should we do? Based on our current circumstances, if we meet with brute force, it will most likely be an ignorant man’s courage. Your Highness, why don’t we temporarily negotiate for peace and then send a punitive expedition after we recover?” A black-faced soldier said.

(an ignorant man’s courage – means that the situation ends up hopeless and that nothing is gained)

“We cannot do that. The three tribes are valiant; they will not be willing to negotiate for peace. Moreover, if our stately North Kingdom were to negotiate peace with a couple of tribes, wouldn’t this be a major shame for us?” Zhang Yi frowned.

“Why don’t we retreat? Shangjing’s walls are thick and sturdy and can protect us temporarily and at the right moment, we’ll ask for reinforcements from either the South Kingdom or East Yan and turn the tide.”

(Shangjing – North Kingdom’s capital)

“No. How can we lure the battle to the capital? What if we are unable to fend off the tribes?”

“Blast it! I just cannot believe that we could not defeat that band of scoundrels. Your Highness, Da Qi requests the chance to lead the soldiers into battle.” Da Qi said in a rough voice and kneeled on the ground.

……

Xiao Yin leaned on the bed, coldly watching his soldiers argue. Some wanted to retreat, others wanted to ask for peace, while other wanted to continue to fight, yet none of them could come up with a good plan. He could not help but glance at Hua Zhu Yu standing aside. Even though there were so many soldiers, none of them could come up with a better or even an ingenious plan like her.

He coughed lightly and the arguments stopped immediately, filling the tent with silence.

They could not retreat; neither could they ask for peace. The only alternative left was to fight head on. Yet to fight head on…Coughing lightly, Xiao Yin frowned. Though his face was pale this added to his features making him look even more handsome.

He stopped coughing and turned to Hua Zhu Yu, saying, “Dan Hong, you decide where to deploy the army.” When he finished speaking, he slowly leaned onto his side and closed his eyes.

The soldiers inside the tent were shocked immediately. His Highness summoned not to discuss plans but to discuss the strategy he thought of. However, what flabbergasted them was that His Highness unexpectedly wanted a woman to command the troops.

His Highness had never trusted an outsider, moreover, a woman whose origins were unknown. This fact did not escape their notice and astonished them further.However, they had no other choice but to follow His Highness’s words. All of them immediately turned their attention to her, hoping to see what extraordinary ability this woman had.

As Hua Zhu Yu did not want anyone to know her identity, she had covered her face with a silk cloth leaving only a pair of clear limpid eyes visible. She deliberately did this because she still had other things to do once this matter was resolved.

She steadily walked in front of the soldiers, her ink black and profound eyes sharp reflecting experience.

It was as though she had returned to the battlefield right at that moment. In front of her were countless soldiers all awaiting her orders, waiting for her to deploy the troops…

Her heart was suddenly distracted. She looked up. However, her eyes reflected an unfamiliar and complex emotion that seemed like uncertainty mingled with hostility…Yet her soldiers, those familiar soldiers that she had originally associated with all the time could now no longer return to hear her orders.

She became a little disoriented when her thoughts suddenly reflected over the loss of a few familiar people close to her and it was like the withering of a blooming season. It was clear that, the path of solitude was very lonely. Pushing away those thoughts, she clenched her fists, saying, “Dan Hong is untalented. Due to His Highness sustaining injuries, the matter regarding passing of orders been handed over to me. Actually, all of you understand in your hearts that no matter what it is- negotiating for peace or retreating, will not work. Therefore, fighting head on is the only path left. However, since we are fighting, then, winning is the only path. We cannot lose.” The gentle voice was like a brush of the wind produced from the strings of a string instrument, making it incredibly pleasant to hear, at the same time filled with resolution and regality that made people want to submit to it for no reason.

“You say it easily, yet how can you ensure that we won’t lose?” Someone gained the courage to quietly whisper. The soldiers indeed were not prepared to accept Hua Zhu Yu, except that in front of Xiao Yin; they did not dare to voice it out loudly.

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“If everyone will follow exactly what I ask you to do, then I trust that we will most definitely win this battle.” Hua Zhu Yu’s unfathomable eyes narrowed slightly. There was absolute silence in the tent as she quietly ordered: “Left Military Office Zhang Yi, tonight, lead ten thousand soldiers to raid He Qiang Tribe’s old lair. He Qiang Tribe’s patriarch, Tu Er Ha still has eight thousand elites there. Defeat them in one go. Each soldier will bring four horses and take turns riding each horse. Other than weapons, nothing else is to be brought back, including food. You must intercept those eight thousand soldiers before the fourth geng. Can you do this?”

(geng – one of the five two hour periods into which the night was formerly divided; the fourth geng is from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM)

Zhang Yi fell into silence. Actually, the North Kingdom people excel in fast battles. With a 200 li distance, not only can they reach there on time, but also they might be even able to return before morning. Yet with an army of ten thousand against one of eight thousand, and with the addition of it being a surprise attack, victory is definite. However, so what if they won? So what if they could capture He Qiang Tribe’s old lair? If ten thousand soldiers were gone, then this side would only have three thousand left. How would they be able to cope with the twenty thousand elites from the three tribes? Incase if they were unable to defend against them, then they (North Kingdom) might even wind up losing the imperial city.

“Benwen can do it! However…” Zhang Yi said in a heavy voice.

(benwen – this military officer)

“Remember, after the win, not harm the life of He Qiang Tribe’s patriarch’s son, but you must wound his wife. Afterward, you must let them escape. Do not chase after them, but return here.”

“Why do we need to let them escape?” Zhang Yi asked. Since they can defeat them, would it be more beneficial capturing them alive?

Xiao Yin’s long eyes slightly opened. He quietly said, “Zhang Yi, you only need to care about taking action according to the orders.”

“Yes.” Zhang Yi agreed and left to fulfill her orders.

“Right Military Officer Da Qi, reorganize the remaining three thousand soldiers. Remember, their battle clothes should not have blood marks on them. If there are new battle clothes, it is best to have them wear that and have half the soldiers tie a branch onto the tails of their horses.”

This…, Da Qi froze, was it even possible that changing into new battle clothes and then tying branches on the tails of horses would let three thousand soldiers defeat the three tribes’ ten thousand soldiers?

However, doubts remained as doubts; he lifted his eyes to glance at His Highness’s calm expression. He did not dare question the orders and instead left to fulfill the orders as well.

The following day, at dawn, the north wind though not as severe as the previous night; it was still quite strong. There were no dark clouds in the sky, predicting the day to have a good weather.

The three tribes, He Qiang, Ke Er Ku, and Duo Sen, had gathered earlier with twenty thousand soldiers and had stationed them in front of Xiao Yin’s camp, preparing to attack.

They were just about to beat the drums to challenge them to a fight, when they saw on the high slope in front of them, the North Kingdom’s soldiers had already lined up, each with a horse and clean clothes, calmly facing battle without even a hint of the defeat that they experienced yesterday.

This made the three tribes’ patriarchs become suspicious, especially He Qiang Tribe’s patriarch, Tu Er Ha who thought, Could it be that their reinforcements had come? That’s not possible!

Charge!!! At the command, the sound of stampede filled the entire area. The three tribes’ soldiers split into three groups; each led by a valiant general, charged forward. Da Qi led the troops who rushed down from the high slope.

The two armies had begun their battle.

Da Qi was indeed a gallant military officer. He led his troops to battle with the enemies. In addition, like a ferocious tiger, he cut down countless enemies, causing the enemies to be frightened a little. Soldiers are most precious when they catch the enemy off guard. Tu Er Ha’s soldiers originally had the advantage of a preemptive strike, yet it was destroyed by Da Qi’s actions.

However, Tu Er Ha quickly found out that there were not many North Kingdom soldiers. They did not even reach five thousand. He could help but be excited. He had not thought that in yesterday’s battle, the North Kingdom would have lost so many soldiers. It seemed as though they would definitely win this battle.

Therefore, the three patriarchs of the tribes raised their hands and issued a rousing call. They recovered their earlier vigor, which was originally destroyed by Da Qi. The upper hand seemed to have returned to their side.

The North Kingdom soldiers seem to be depending only on Da Qi and a couple of other generals’ courageous attacks. As time passed, when Tu Er Ha had a clue about the situation he immediately felt delighted.

At that moment, when he suddenly over hears the news that a troop had entered from the northwest direction and that the troop not only contained ten thousand people, but leading the troops, foremost was a large flag with the character, “Ye.”

It was a major shock to him.

They knew that the ones who controlled the North Kingdom’s imperial guards were Concubine Ye’s father, Ye Qiu and the crown prince, Xiao Yin. However, Tu Er Ha knew better than anyone else did that Ye Qiu would never help Xiao Yin.

However, if they were not Ye Qiu’s imperial guards, where did all these soldiers come from?

The soldiers who were in the middle of the combat were not the only ones who started to panic but also, Tu Er Ha.

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