Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 366 - 365. Open strategy, scoundrel

365. Open Conspiracy, Scoundrel

In the great military camp at Lingjiu Mountain in the north, Ye Li sat calmly in her tent, studying various battle reports and petitions brought in from different fronts. After suffering minor losses to them recently, Helian Peng had ceased to challenge them. Both armies were surprisingly peaceful. However, Mo Xiuyao was engaged in a couple of tough battles, which certainly subdued the vigorous Beirong army. This made the soldiers under Ye Li and Lv Jinxian’s command restless.

Although things were alright on Lv Jinxian’s side, Ye Li not only had to be cautious of the rear threat from Lei Zhenting’s forces but also could not act recklessly. It frustrated the soldiers, hearing daily intelligence reports about how others were fighting fiercely.

"Princess Consort, General Zhou, General Sun, General He, and others request an audience," Qin Feng reported with a smile. Ye Li put down the report in her hand and chuckled, "They’re here to petition for battle again?" Qin Feng nodded with a smile. "We’ve been holding our position for so long. I’m sure they’re eager for some action." Ye Li contemplated for a moment and said, "Let them in."

"As you command." Hearing Ye Li’s words, even Qin Feng’s eyes lit up. Although he couldn’t personally be on the frontline, he could still savor the thrill of battle from the side. After all, the generals weren’t the only ones suffering from pent-up frustration.

Soon, He Su, Zhou Min, and others entered in a file, all offering their greetings, "Greetings, Princess Consort."

Ye Li grinned. "No need for formalities. Generals, what brings you to my tent instead of guarding your own posts?" Sun Yaowu blurted out, "With your permission, Princess Consort, we wish to fight!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and watched him in amusement without answering. Sun Yaowu, who had a deep respect for the young Princess Consort Ye Li, became awkward under her gaze. He stammered, "Princess Consort, we are just sitting idle, watching others engage in battles. It feels suffocating. Besides, it does affect the soldiers’ morale, wouldn’t you agree?"

Ye Li nodded. "That’s logical. What is your proposition?"

Upon hearing her words, the gaze of all the commanders present lit up. Sun Yaowu chuckled, "I propose to act as the spearhead, striking Luozhou City unexpectedly!" Knowing Sun Yaowu regretted losing Luozhou City back then, He Su and Zhou Min, his colleagues, didn’t intend to seek the credit. He Su asserted, "I would like to reinforce General Sun."

Zhou Min added with a smile, "I would like to hold Lingjiu Mountain." Lingjiu Mountain certainly needed someone to hold the fort. Zhou Min was in no rush. Once the battle began, wouldn’t he get his chance?

"All of you are united, I see."

The three shared a smile and unanimously turned to Ye Li. Ye Li thoughtfully tapped her finger on the table and instructed, "First, submit your battle plans for my review."

They rejoiced and declared in unison, "As you command! We take our leave!" Without waiting for Ye Li’s command, they hurried out of the tent to prepare their troops. As the figures of the three disappeared at the entrance, Ye Li laughed to herself and then turned to Qin Feng. "Ensure that Qilin is ready. If we want to conquer Luozhou City, we cannot afford any mishaps. Dealing with Helian Peng won’t be an easy task either."

Qin Feng affirmed, "As you command."

Luozhou City, within the whole of Great Chu, was not prominent; it was neither a border stronghold nor a famously large city of Great Chu. However, it had an exceedingly frustrating feature: ordinary cities were easy to defend but difficult to attack, yet this Luozhou City was easy to attack but difficult to defend. Because it was quite far from the border, although Beirong had invaded many times in history, it had never truly broken through the border. Therefore, even though the cities close to the border were built as strong as fortresses of iron and stone, the inconspicuous Luozhou City had barely passable city walls, hardly better than having none at all.

The Beirong army had managed to break through the border cities; surely, a small city like Luozhou was not even worth mentioning. Therefore, Sun Yaowu really couldn’t be blamed for his poor defense when Luozhou City fell. He lacked favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support; even if Sun Yaowu were Sun Wu reincarnated and Bai Qi reborn, he could only have accepted defeat.

After the Mo Family Army set out, even though Luozhou City was close to Lingjiu Mountain, the Mo Family Army had too few soldiers, and Luozhou City was a place that was easy to attack but difficult to defend. It was easy to capture but extremely difficult to hold. In the end, they would probably get tied into a seesaw battle with the Beirong army, utterly pointless. So, the Mo Family Army hadn’t bothered with it at all. The reason Ye Li now agreed to the request of Sun Yaowu and others was because the main force of the Beirong Army had been pushed back several times in the battles led by Mo Xiuyao of the Central Army. Her forces naturally also needed to cooperate to drive out the army of Helian Peng. As for the defense after taking Luozhou City, the Mo Family Army was not the same as the old Army of Great Chu. Even if Helian Peng wanted to fight them for it, he would have to judge if it was worth it.

Luozhou City was not a good place to garrison troops, so naturally, Helian Peng’s large army didn’t station there, only leaving a fraction of their soldiers to defend it. As night fell, the whole city was silent, and only an occasional glimmer of light could be seen. In these two years, the people of the north had either died or fled, leaving barely a tenth of the original population. Even though it was not late, Luozhou City was already immersed in darkness.

Under the cover of night, a group of people dressed in black deftly climbed the city wall, which was practically useless, and quickly disappeared into the night. Not far outside Luozhou City, in a hidden place, Sun Yaowu was pacing impatiently while staring into the darkness shrouding the city. Next to him, Qin Feng leaned lazily against a tree trunk and chuckled, "General Sun, what are you doing?"

Sun Yaowu frowned. "We’re hiding here. If they alarm the guards of Luozhou City and then attract Beirong reinforcements, won’t all our efforts be wasted?"

Qin Feng laughed. "General Sun, you need not worry. If we were in Licheng or the Capital of Great Chu, or where Lei Zhenting is stationed, we would indeed need to be careful. As for a place like Luozhou City, if they could still alert the garrison, they might as well disband."

Although Sun Yaowu had heard of Qilin’s reputation, he had never really seen them in action, so he was somewhat skeptical. "Commander Qin has that much confidence in them?" Qin Feng raised his eyebrows and laughed. "Of course. If I can’t trust my subordinates, who can? General Sun, don’t you trust your own soldiers?"

Sun Yaowu smiled wryly. "That’s true. I do want to see just how formidable the Qilin of the Mo Family Army are."

Qin Feng laughed. "General Sun, just wait and see."

In less than fifteen minutes, a green flare shot up from inside Luozhou City. Sun Yaowu was stunned. "Is it done?" Qin Feng laughed. "General Sun, please proceed." When Sun Yaowu charged into Luozhou City with his troops, he found the city gates opened wide and the city inside in utter chaos. However, the number of Beirong soldiers who could get to the city wall to resist their attack was very few. In less than an hour, they had taken Luozhou City. Sun Yaowu, standing again on the city wall of Luozhou, was still somewhat dumbfounded.

If Luozhou City could be taken so easily, what had he been struggling with these past two years?

Looking at his complicated expression, a mix of joy and sorrow, Qin Feng said with a smile, "General Sun, don’t take it to heart. The Princess Consort said before that Luozhou City is easy to attack but difficult to defend; it has no military value at all. Anyone could easily take it, so the fall of Luozhou City in the past was not your fault."

Sun Yaowu leaned against the city gate tower, listening to Qin Feng’s words, and suddenly burst into loud tears. He understood perfectly well that the fall of Luozhou City was inevitable. But as a general, his failure had led to the brutal deaths of countless people in Luozhou. Sun Yaowu did not know what others thought of him, but he could not forgive himself. If he had not met the Mo Family Army and Princess Consort Ding, Sun Yaowu would have either lived out his days in depression and regret, or given up on himself and become an outlaw. It was for these reasons that Sun Yaowu respected and believed in Ye Li so deeply. Not only because Ye Li trusted him, but also because Ye Li gave him new hope and a new life.

Qin Feng calmly watched Sun Yaowu, not trying to comfort him. The Princess Consort was right; Sun Yaowu, although casual in small matters, was indeed a rare and conscientious general.

After Sun Yaowu had vented all his accumulated emotions, Qin Feng stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled. "Alright, get up after you’ve cried enough. The real war has just begun."

Losing his composure and crying like that in front of others, Sun Yaowu couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. With a rough wipe of his tears, Sun Yaowu forced himself to disregard Qin Feng’s somewhat amused expression and said, "I usually consider myself quite brave, but isn’t the Princess Consort’s plan a bit too risky? If Helian Peng isn’t tricked and doesn’t come to save Luozhou City, then the Princess Consort will be in trouble."

Qin Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "The Princess Consort said that Helian Peng will definitely come."

"Why? The Princess Consort herself said that this place has no strategic significance," Sun Yaowu retorted.

Qin Feng laughed and said, "Even so, by holding Luozhou City, we are like a thorn in Helian Peng’s back. Besides... the Princess Consort says he cannot afford to lose face. Therefore, he must come." Helian Peng’s constant provocation against Princess Consort Ding showed he was an extremely proud man. He could absolutely not tolerate his own failures, so he definitely wouldn’t allow a piece of land under his control to be occupied by the Mo Family Army. Especially a piece that had been wrested from his grip.

Sun Yaowu scratched his head and nodded. "That seems to make sense."

Qin Feng chuckled. "General Sun, you had better prepare to defend the city. Once the Beirong reinforcements arrive, things here will not be easy." Sun Yaowu nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, I will absolutely not let the Beirong seize Luozhou City from my hands again."

The news of Luozhou City falling to the Mo Family Army quickly reached Helian Peng’s camp, and his subordinates urged him to immediately send troops to retake it. These Beirong soldiers had been almost invincible since they entered the Central Plains. Even though their advance had slowed somewhat since they encountered the Mo Family Army last year, they hadn’t been at much of a disadvantage overall. Particularly, the troops stationed near Lingjiu Mountain hadn’t crossed paths with the Mo Family Army’s main force, and so had gradually developed the impression that the Mo Family Army was nothing special. Now, hearing that Luozhou City, which they had already captured, had been quietly retaken by the Mo Family Army, how could they bear it? Naturally, they clamored to retake Luozhou City.

Helian Peng was in no hurry. Although the Mo Family Army’s sudden attack on Luozhou City surprised him somewhat, his repeated clashes with them had made him much more cautious.

"We can retake Luozhou City at any time. But why did Ye Li attack Luozhou now? Luozhou City is some distance from Lingjiu Mountain. Even if she takes it, she cannot connect it to the area she holds. Instead, she has to devote more people to its defense. Logically, Ye Li shouldn’t make such an unwise decision," Helian Peng said in a grave voice.

A vice general sneered. "That Princess Consort Ding is just a woman; how could she know how to wage war? But regardless, we can’t let the Mo Family Army look down on our Beirong warriors."

A glint flashed in Helian Peng’s eyes as a cold smile formed on his lips. He said, "Very well, Vice General Zha will lead the troops to retake Luozhou City. How does that sound?"

The vice general immediately accepted the command. "I guarantee that I will retake Luozhou City by tomorrow morning."

Helian Peng didn’t respond directly, merely saying nonchalantly, "We’ll talk after you’ve retaken it. At that time, I’ll ask the Seventh Prince to commend you for your merits." The vice general, though crude in nature, still detected Helian Peng’s slight disdain. He was visibly stunned for a moment but still accepted the order and turned to leave.

Only when the vice general had left did Helian Peng glance at the men below him and command coldly, "Find out where Ye Li is right now!" The others were all startled. One of them stepped forward and asked, "General, do you suspect that Princess Consort Ding’s attack on Luozhou City is part of another scheme?" Although Helian Peng had not been there for long and had been directly assigned by Yelv Ye to take command of the troops at Lingjiu Mountain, his iron-blooded and fierce methods had earned him the respect of many officers. None of them dared to underestimate him for his young age or his previous lack of experience leading troops.

Helian Peng nodded. "Indeed. Rashly attacking a place of little significance... this doesn’t align with Ye Li’s style."

The other generals were somewhat unconvinced, thinking to themselves, Princess Consort Ding’s methods? How could people like us possibly understand them clearly? But Helian Peng’s orders had to be carried out without question, so they hurriedly complied.

"A conspiracy? This is clearly an open conspiracy." On Lingjiu Mountain, Ye Li stood high, overlooking the distant, vast landscape with a smile. Standing behind her were Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, as well as Zhou Min, who was defending Lingjiu Mountain.

Zhou Min asked curiously, "Princess Consort, will Helian Peng really fall into the trap?"

Ye Li chuckled lightly. "It’s not about whether Helian Peng will fall for it or not. Even if he knows there’s an issue... he can only follow the path we’ve set. Otherwise, he might as well hand over the three cities around Lingjiu Mountain to us."

Zhou Min pondered for a moment, then frowned. "Princess Consort sent General Sun to seize Luozhou City, and General He to seize Huiyun City. Even if Helian Peng gives up on Luozhou, he certainly can’t give up on Huicheng City, and will inevitably mobilize troops for reinforcement. But... if he does this, Helian Peng will undoubtedly realize our forces are weakened. What if he...."

Ye Li turned to look at Zhou Min and sighed somewhat helplessly. "If so, it will all depend on General Zhou." The Mo Family Army’s lack of numbers was a critical weakness. All told, the Lingjiu Mountain camp now had around three hundred thousand troops, but of these, the elite Mo Family Army soldiers numbered less than one hundred thousand. The rest were remnants of the Great Chu soldiers and those under He Su. While He Su’s soldiers were better than those of other Great Chu generals, they still couldn’t compete with Beirong on a one-on-one basis. Yet, this was not He Su’s fault.

Zhou Min hesitated, then murmured, "Princess Consort, why doesn’t the Prince call for more troops from the Northwest?" The conscription system in the Northwest differed slightly from other states, so their ability to call up new recruits was much stronger. If Mo Xiuyao wished, he could mobilize millions of new recruits at any time. Moreover, these recruits, unlike ordinary fresh enlistees, had all received some training. This was somewhat similar to Beirong, where local customs meant everyone practiced martial arts. In the Northwest, however, it was due to the conscription system: every male had to serve two years in the military between the age of sixteen and their capping ceremony.

Ye Li shook her head, smiling. "Even though Beirong is fierce, they are not yet a threat sufficient for Prince Ding’s Mansion to engage with all its strength. I’m afraid this world will not be peaceful in the coming years. If we exhaust all our manpower and resources at once, what will we do in the future?"

"I see." Zhou Min reflected that he hadn’t considered things as deeply as the Prince and Princess Consort; he only needed to fight the enemies head-on. Since the Princess Consort said so, he naturally asked no further questions.

"Reporting to the Princess Consort, Helian Peng just dispatched an army of one hundred thousand to Huicheng City," a man in black came to report.

Ye Li nodded. "I know, you may leave." She waved away the man, then mused aloud, "Helian Peng should have more than four hundred thousand troops under his command. After sending reinforcements to Luozhou and Huicheng City, he should still have at least two hundred thousand troops left."

Zhou Min’s expression became solemn. "Princess Consort, we currently have less than one hundred fifty thousand troops."

Ye Li waved her hand. "It doesn’t matter. Abandon the other two camps and only defend the Central Army. The mountain paths of Lingjiu Mountain are rugged, easy to defend but hard to attack. As long as we can hold it for half a month, it should be enough for He Su to take Huicheng City. If that fails... I will notify General Yuan Pei. Once Lingjiu Mountain falls, he will immediately lead his troops out of Feihong Pass to block the Beirong Army’s path." Although this was somewhat risky, if successful, He Su would occupy Huicheng City, Sun Yaowu would occupy Luozhou, and with Lingjiu Mountain, they would form a triangle, trapping Helian Peng’s army in the middle. At that point, Helian Peng would have no choice but to retreat.

"I understand. I swear to defend Lingjiu Mountain to the death. However... should I ask the Princess Consort to move to Feihong Pass first?" After thinking, Zhou Min still asked. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe the Princess Consort could share life and death with the soldiers, but considering her status, it was unnecessary for her to take such a risk.

Ye Li shook her head. "No need. I trust General Zhou to defend Lingjiu Mountain."

Since Ye Li said so, Zhou Min could not persuade her further. He just secretly resolved in his heart that he would absolutely not let Helian Peng encroach even half a step onto Lingjiu Mountain. If, by any chance, he truly couldn’t hold on, then he would have to forcibly send the Princess Consort to Feihong Pass.

Soon, the area near Lingjiu Mountain descended into chaotic battle. Just as Ye Li and Zhou Min had predicted, Helian Peng did not personally go to save Huicheng City and Luozhou City. Instead, he concentrated his remaining two hundred thousand troops in a full-scale attack on Lingjiu Mountain. The forces engaging Lv Jinxian in the east had been at a stalemate for a long time and couldn’t break through. In the central route, Yelv Ye and Helian Zhen jointly led an army of over eight hundred thousand, yet they were no match for Mo Xiuyao’s force of less than five hundred thousand. After half a month of fighting, with more losses than victories, they had no choice but to retreat. If Helian Peng could open a passage through Lingjiu Mountain, it would naturally resolve the Beirong army’s current predicament. More importantly, winter arrived early in the north, and it was fast approaching. By then, the Beirong army’s supplies of food and fodder would become even more scarce. Therefore, Helian Peng, despite knowing Ye Li’s arrangements might be disadvantageous to him, had no choice but to make a desperate, all-or-nothing attack on Lingjiu Mountain.

On the Lingjiu Mountain front, both sides had engaged in battle for five days, suffering countless casualties. Yet, neither side showed any sign of retreat. Comparatively, this time, the Mo Family Army was truly at a disadvantage. Their combat strength was currently inferior to the Beirong army, and they were also outnumbered. If not for Lingjiu Mountain’s terrain being easy to defend and difficult to attack, the Mo Family Army would likely have already been defeated.

But even so, Helian Peng was no better off than Ye Li and Zhou Min. Although his casualties were slightly fewer than the Mo Family Army’s, he had started with only about two hundred thousand troops, and the reinforcements sent to Luozhou and Huicheng City had yet to send back any news. If his losses continued at this rate, even if he managed to annihilate all the troops on Lingjiu Mountain, he probably wouldn’t have enough men left to pass through Lingjiu Mountain, let alone face the Mo Family Army garrisoned at Feihong Pass. By then, it would truly be a mutually destructive outcome. The worst part was, Ye Li could afford the losses; she still had Yuan Pei and the defenders of Feihong Pass behind her. Helian Peng, however, could not. Once Luozhou and Huicheng City were completely lost, even if he captured Lingjiu Mountain, he wouldn’t dare to advance. If he did, his army would truly become an isolated force.

"Ye Li!" Standing at the front line, looking at the soldiers covered in wounds and weary with exhaustion, Helian Peng couldn’t help but grit his teeth, his eyes revealing a fanatical glint. "As expected of Princess Consort Ding, I, a general, have indeed been outmaneuvered by you. But... this time, have you factored your own life into your calculations?"

Gazing at the black Mo Family Army flag fluttering in the wind on Lingjiu Mountain ahead, Helian Peng sneered. "Since things have come to this, if I don’t conquer Lingjiu Mountain, wouldn’t I become a laughingstock for my incompetence?"

"Men!"

"General?!" A general hurried over to await orders. Helian Peng looked up, staring at the nearby slope, and said in a deep voice, "Continue the attack on Lingjiu Mountain. Do not stop until it is taken!" The general was stunned and said hesitantly, "General, Lingjiu Mountain is easy to defend but hard to assail, I’m afraid..." A cold glare from Helian Peng made the man swallow the words on the tip of his tongue. Helian Peng stared at him and said sternly, "Any who dare to retreat will be beheaded!"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, on Lingjiu Mountain, the atmosphere was equally fraught with the smell of blood and taut tension. Lin Han followed Ye Li as she patrolled the front lines outside the camp. Seeing soldiers resting in small groups, many with untreated injuries, Lin Han couldn’t help but frown. He glanced worriedly at Ye Li walking ahead. He wanted to persuade her to leave early, but he couldn’t find the words.

As Ye Li approached, the soldiers resting on the ground tried to stand up and salute. Ye Li waved her hand, signaling them not to move, and walked over to a soldier leaning against a haystack, his left arm covered in blood. She asked softly, "What happened? Why haven’t you bandaged your wound?"

The soldier looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. At Ye Li’s question, his face turned red with awkwardness. He shook his head repeatedly. "Replying... replying to Princess Consort, my wound isn’t severe, it’s just a scratch. It doesn’t need bandaging." Ye Li crouched down and lifted his sleeve. The wound indeed wasn’t too severe; no vital parts were hit, but it had bled a lot. On a normal day, it wouldn’t be an issue, but in the current situation, any exertion would likely cause the wound to tear open further. Ye Li frowned, took out some medicine and sprinkled it on his wound. Lin Han, following behind, handed her a cloth strip. Ye Li took it and skillfully bandaged the injury.

Seeing the woman in white bandaging his wound, the young soldier was stunned. He saw how proficient the Princess Consort was; in moments, she had applied the medicine and bandaged the wound better than any army doctor he had seen. Seeing the young soldier in a daze, Ye Li gave a faint smile and asked, "How old are you? Are you afraid?"

The young man shook his head and answered firmly, "Not afraid." Actually, he was a little scared, but if the Princess Consort, a woman, wasn’t afraid, how could he, a man, be afraid?

Ye Li patted his shoulder. "Rest well. There are tough battles ahead." Standing up, Ye Li turned to Lin Han. "We have plenty of medicinal powder in the camp. Have the medics distribute some to the soldiers. For injuries that aren’t too severe, let them help each other apply medicine and bandage them."

"Yes, Princess Consort." Lin Han nodded, then pulled over a passing soldier to relay the order. He then resumed following Ye Li. Seeing this, Ye Li sighed somewhat helplessly. "I won’t be in any danger in the army camp. You don’t need to follow me everywhere."

Lin Han shook his head. "The Prince has ordered that the Princess Consort must not be left without protection." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Ye Li knew she couldn’t change his mind, so she let him be. Just as she was about to turn away, she heard groans of pain coming from nearby. Ye Li frowned and walked towards the sound. It came from a simple shelter for the seriously wounded, where two doctors were gathered around a young soldier, discussing something. The groans were coming from that soldier.

In truth, ancient battlefields with cold weapons were far more brutal than those of her past life. There were naturally no professional field doctors or nurses to rescue the wounded. Generally, those seriously injured had little chance of surviving the chaos of battle. Only a few lucky ones who were still alive after the fighting ended and hadn’t been killed by the enemy would be dragged back by their comrades. Even so, the mortality rate among the rescued, seriously wounded was astonishingly high. Consequently, there weren’t many disabled survivors from such battlefields.

"How is he injured?" Ye Li asked softly.

The two doctors turned around and reported somewhat helplessly, "The arrowhead is lodged in the bone, I’m afraid..." one of them trailed off. If the arrowhead could not be removed, even though it was a leg wound, the soldier would eventually die from infection or other complications.

Ye Li looked down at the young man lying on the cot. His wound was turning a sickly green, already showing signs of infection. His youthful eyes were filled with despair and pain. A shadow fell over Ye Li’s heart. After a moment’s thought, she asked, "What about amputation?"

"Amputation?" The two doctors were taken aback but quickly understood Ye Li’s meaning. They said hesitantly, "If his leg is cut off... perhaps there’s a slim chance of survival, as long as the wound doesn’t become septic later. But... but..." Such a procedure was not something just anyone could perform. Although they were doctors, they had never done such a thing. The camp had previously had an experienced old army doctor, but he had fallen gravely ill from exhaustion a few days ago and had been sent back to Feihong Pass.

Ye Li contemplated for a moment and calmly said, "I’ll do it."

"Princess Consort?!" Not only the two doctors but even Lin Han was shocked.

Ye Li said confidently, "Don’t worry, I can do it." In her previous life, as a special forces soldier, Ye Li had naturally learned battlefield first aid. This included not just simple treatment of external injuries but also common battlefield surgical procedures, of which amputation was one of the most frequent.

The two doctors were still hesitant. They couldn’t save the wounded soldier, but they couldn’t just watch the Princess Consort attempt this. The soldier might survive a few more days as he was, but if the Princess Consort operated, he might die on the spot.

Ye Li walked to the young man and whispered, "I’m going to amputate your injured leg. Don’t be afraid."

A flicker of terror appeared in the young man’s eyes. He tried with difficulty to shake his head, but the pain from his leg prevented him from uttering a single word. Ye Li looked at him and said sternly, "Life is more important than a leg. Things are already this dire. Are you really willing to give up your life without even taking a gamble? Your family... is there anyone at home still waiting for you to return?"

The young man’s eyes seemed to lose focus, as if he remembered something. A glimmer of hope and vitality slowly appeared in his eyes. Ye Li said softly, "As long as you want to live, you must try your best, even if it’s just to hold on until the very last moment."

The young man finally nodded. Although fear still lingered in his eyes, he was no longer as frantic. Only then did Ye Li stand up and instruct the two doctors beside her, "Prepare painkillers, hemostatic medicine, clean hot water, strong liquor, clean cloth strips, and a brazier." The two doctors, feeling helpless, had no choice but to go and prepare everything as Ye Li instructed.

When all the necessary items were ready, Ye Li took out an unused, thin-bladed short knife. After wiping it with alcohol and then heating it over the brazier for a while, she stood beside the young man on the cot and, aiming at a specific point on his leg, made a swift cut. The two doctors assisting her watched Ye Li’s actions with wide eyes. They saw that her cuts were decisive yet remarkably precise. Perhaps she was a little rusty at first, but after two or three incisions, she seemed to find her rhythm. She looked even more clean and efficient than the experienced old army doctor.

While Ye Li was busy, the resounding beat of war drums suddenly erupted outside. In the distance, the unique sound of Beirong horns could also be heard, clearly indicating that the Beirong army had begun another assault. Lin Han said worriedly, "Princess Consort..."

Ye Li didn’t look up, her hands not faltering in their task. She instructed, "Go tell Zhou Min to take command of everything. I will be out soon." Lin Han glanced at the injured soldier on the cot, now semi-conscious, and finally turned and left.

Ye Li soon put down her knife. She deftly picked up a needle and thread that had been boiled in hot water and began to suture the wound, then bandaged it. Having completed all this, Ye Li finally looked up and let out a soft sigh. The two doctors standing beside her had been watching, somewhat mesmerized. Seeing Ye Li look up at them, they finally came to their senses and said, "Princess Consort..."

Ye Li put down her instruments, washed her hands in a nearby basin, and said, "Please look after him well. You two surely know more about heat-clearing, detoxifying, and anti-inflammatory medicines than I do. His wound must not get wet. If there are no complications in the next few days, he should be fine. I must go out now."

"Yes, Princess Consort. Please rest assured, we will take good care of him," the two doctors, somewhat abashed, repeatedly assured her. Ye Li, with no time for other matters, turned and exited the shelter, heading towards the battlefield.

On the battlefield, Helian Peng, standing in the distance, didn’t see Ye Li’s figure and couldn’t help frowning. He called out loudly, "What’s the matter? Has Princess Consort Ding finally gotten scared and left early?" As he said this, Helian Peng felt a complex mix of emotions. He didn’t know whether he hoped Ye Li had already left or hoped she was still there.

Zhou Min snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Where our Princess Consort is, is that any business of a Beirong savage like you?"

Helian Peng’s face darkened. He chuckled coldly. "I thought the world-renowned Princess Consort Ding was some kind of heroine. Turns out she’s just a timid woman who flees at the first sign of battle."

"This general can’t be bothered to waste words with you Beirong barbarian! If you want to fight, then fight!" Zhou Min pointed his spear at Helian Peng.

Helian Peng also laughed. "Exactly! After I kill you, I’ll go find your Princess Consort Ding! Charge!" With that, without waiting for the war drums, Helian Peng spurred his horse and charged up the slope. The soldiers following him, seeing their general lead the charge, no longer hesitated and rushed towards the Mo Family Army’s front lines.

Zhou Min did not retreat. With a light snort, he commanded, "Kill them!"

The Mo Family Army roared in unison. Archers loosed their arrows, and soldiers hurled giant logs and stones, all mercilessly aimed at the Beirong army. The Beirong army, having attacked continuously for five or six days, had gained some experience. This time, quite a few of them managed to evade the rolling logs, stones, and rain of arrows from above and charged up. The Mo Family Army soldiers unhesitatingly charged down, and the two armies immediately engaged in close-quarters combat, a fierce melee ensuing.

Helian Peng, relying on his profound martial arts, soared through the air towards Zhou Min. The archers in front immediately shifted their aim to Helian Peng in mid-air. The Mo Family’s Black Cloud Cavalry was renowned for its archery. Even Helian Peng dared not directly face a dozen arrows loosed simultaneously. He somersaulted in mid-air to dodge the arrow storm, his long saber flashing, deflecting many before he landed.

Helian Peng laughed heartily. "Excellent archery! This general must experience the Mo Family Army’s skills firsthand."

Before his words had faded, he lunged again towards Zhou Min. His lightness skill was superb, and his speed was incredible; in an instant, he was within a few dozen feet of Zhou Min. His long saber lashed out towards the archers, a fierce blade aura sweeping towards them. Reacting quickly, the archers tumbled to dodge, but two were still injured. Helian Peng paid them no further mind and turned to attack Zhou Min.

Arrows were potent ranged weapons but of little use in close combat. Zhou Min showed no fear, thrusting his long spear towards Helian Peng. Helian Peng laughed. "General Zhou, you lead troops well, but your martial arts are still somewhat lacking."

Zhou Min coldly retorted, "General Helian, you talk too much."

Helian Peng laughed. "Is that so? In that case, let this general test the extent of General Zhou’s skills."

Zhou Min was a general who commanded armies in battle, not an expert of the worldly society skilled in single combat. Naturally, his martial arts were inferior to Helian Peng’s. With Ye Li, He Su, and Sun Yaowu all absent, Zhou Min alone had to command the battle at the front, making it impossible for him to fully concentrate on his opponent. After a few exchanges, he was already showing signs of being overwhelmed.

Helian Peng was in high spirits, waving his long saber as he laughed. "General Zhou, is Princess Consort Ding truly not here? If she really isn’t, you are doomed to die today."

Zhou Min huffed, ignoring a bloody gash on his arm, and thrust his spear forward again. Helian Peng leaped up. "What a shame... We Beirong don’t have many generals like you, General Zhou." His long saber glinted with a dark crimson light under the sun as it slashed towards Zhou Min’s neck.

CLANG! A dark shadow flashed by. Lin Han, his face cold and stern, parried Helian Peng’s saber with his sword. He said coolly, "General Helian, if you’re eager to witness the Mo Family Army’s archery, why the rush?"

Helian Peng was startled. Feeling a strong gust of wind behind his head, he quickly somersaulted away, narrowly avoiding a black-feathered arrow that grazed past him. The power of this arrow was completely different from those of the archers earlier. Even though it hadn’t hit him, merely grazing his cheek, he could feel a faint stinging pain.

"General Helian, you truly are impatient. To lead the charge yourself like this is quite a surprise to this Princess Consort." Ye Li stood not far away, looking at Helian Peng with a calm expression. Helian Peng roared with laughter, looking at Ye Li. "So, the Princess Consort is still in the army. My apologies for misunderstanding you."

Ye Li calmly responded, "No matter. Since you’re here, General, why not stay a while longer? General Zhou, you can attend to your duties." Zhou Min glanced at Ye Li and Helian Peng, realizing he couldn’t intervene here, nodded, and turned away.

Helian Peng raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Princess Consort Ding wishes for this general to stay? I am truly honored."

Ye Li was not in a good mood and had no inclination for banter with Helian Peng. She said coolly, "That would be for the best." With a wave of her fair hand, several arrows shot towards Helian Peng from various directions. Helian Peng hurriedly leaped away, swinging his saber to cut down the incoming arrows. Yet, no sooner had he dealt with the arrows in front than more attacked him from behind. Although Helian Peng, relying on his profound internal strength, wasn’t hit, he was momentarily quite flustered.

So formidable! Helian Peng thought. Just moments ago, a dozen archers firing arrows like rain hadn’t posed much of a threat. But now, this less dense volley of arrows had him somewhat flustered.

"The General can now appreciate the difference between Qilin and Yazi," Ye Li said in an indifferent tone.

By the time Helian Peng finally broke through Qilin’s arrow storm, he had been forced back a considerable distance from the Mo Family Army’s camp. Looking from afar at the white-clothed woman standing before several men in black, Helian Peng sighed with some reluctance. "This humble one sincerely invites the Princess Consort to be a guest in Beirong. Why must the Princess Consort be so ungracious?"