"Fourth Crossing of the Hongze River—Strike Straight at Meishan!"
As Xu Wencai explained the plan in detail, the others gradually began to understand. Their pupils trembled visibly.
What did this mean?
They weren't planning to run anymore.
They were going to win.
Originally, after burning their remaining supplies, their 3,000 men were expected to fight until death—so long as they didn't surrender, they'd already be remembered as heroes. But now… if they destroyed the Red Brows' main camp and seized the legendary Heavenly Book of Divine Military Arts, that would be an achievement of heaven itself.
Heavenly merit!
The true kind.
3,000 men influencing the outcome of a war involving over 300,000 on both sides—each of them would be a hero of the age!
It wasn't a dream.
After Xu Wencai's explanation, even the most doubtful among them saw that the plan might actually work.
"What are we waiting for then?!"
Lu Shuhua stood up abruptly. "Thousand-Commander Chen, when do we move out?"
"At the hour of Mao tomorrow morning."
Chen Sanshi pointed at the map, dividing the forces with a firm tone. "This time, Deputy General Yu and I will stay behind with 1,000 men to hold the rear. Xu Wencai, you'll lead Brother Lu and the others west to cross the Hongze River. Hide near the junction where the Hongze meets the Wushui. Once you see fire rising from our direction, that'll be the signal—you must immediately force your way across the Wushui River and march straight to Meishan Prefecture. Take the city as fast as possible. Capture Liang Jinian alive and seize the Heavenly Book.
"Brother Lu, Brother Xie, Brother Yan—if you still trust me, follow Xu Wencai's command."
"Alright!"
Lu Shuhua nodded heavily. "Thousand-Commander Chen, don't worry. We'll follow your orders and hand command over to Master Xu. But…"
"I don't understand something," Xie Sishu interrupted. "Why do you and Deputy General Yu have to stay behind? You two are our strongest cultivators. Wouldn't it be too dangerous for you to remain?"
"It's fine."
Chen Sanshi's voice was calm and steady. "The Red Brows were mountain bandits. Even if their numbers have swelled, they've only got a handful of high-realm fighters. By the time they cross the river, the strongest left in Meishan Prefecture won't exceed the Transforming Strength realm.
"It's been nearly half a year already. Brother Lu, when I saw you training yesterday, you were close to Transforming Strength, weren't you?"
"Exactly," Lu Shuhua said without hesitation. "Just one small step away. I should break through tonight."
"Then that's good."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "If you meet a Transforming Strength commander, leave him to you."
"General! Why not let me hold the rear?"
Bai Tingzhi's face was full of disbelief. "You and Deputy General Yu—one commands, the other leads the army. Why must both of you stay behind?"
"I have my own reasons."
Chen Sanshi's tone left no room for question. "Carry out the orders immediately. There's no time to explain."
He finished speaking, grabbed his spear, and left alone. Within moments, his figure disappeared into the darkness.
"This…"
Lu Shuhua and the others exchanged uncertain glances.
"Why does this feel wrong?"
"Yeah, something's off."
"If they're staying behind to feign an attack, what's the point?"
"It doesn't make sense at all…"
Yu Song said nothing. He lay on the map so close his nose almost brushed the parchment, studying it inch by inch, his expression growing darker.
"Master Xu, do you know why he arranged things like this?"
"…"
"Because—this isn't a feint at all."
Xu Wencai's eyes widened as realization hit him. Tears streamed down his weathered face as he muttered, "Such loyalty… such righteousness! To follow a lord like him—my life is worth it! But no, this can't be allowed. This risk is far too great!"
"What are you saying?"
Lu Shuhua and the others were confused.
"I can't stop him," Xu Wencai said through clenched teeth. "But maybe someone else can!"
He looked around, then turned and rushed back toward the rear camp in a panic.
"Damn you!"
Wang Zhi smacked Feng Yong on the head. "I clearly killed more last time—ten taels of silver, hand it over! Don't you dare cheat me."
"Bullshit!"
Feng Yong snapped back. "I killed men in Tempering Bone—they count for ten of yours!"
The men laughed. After the battle at Jiankou County, the soldiers were using their rest time to settle gambling debts and tease each other—a moment of bitter humor amid exhaustion. Whatever came next, they just needed to follow orders.
For half a year, they had seen comrades die, but they themselves had remained calm—resigned, hardened.
"Lord Wang!"
Xu Wencai hurried over. "May I have a word in private?"
"Can't you say it here?"
Wang Zhi looked him over, hesitated, then nodded. "Fine."
They moved to a secluded spot.
Wang Zhi chewed on a grass stem lazily. "Alright, Old Xu. What's going on?"
"Lord Wang," Xu Wencai said solemnly, "you're really Tang Ruoshan, the former Battalion General of the Xuanwu Garrison, aren't you?"
Wang Zhi froze.
"Oh, don't misunderstand," Xu Wencai explained quickly. "I only guessed because I overheard the general call you 'senior brother' once. This is important, so please, don't hide it."
Wang Zhi's expression hardened. "Speak."
"It's like this…"
Xu Wencai quickly recounted everything—Chen Sanshi's orders, the real objective, the truth behind the so-called 'feint.'
"That brat…"
Wang Zhi's brows furrowed tightly, forming a deep '川'. "He's trying to repeat my own damn mistake?"
He stood abruptly, teeth clenched. "I understand. I'll stop him—no matter what it takes."
…
Meanwhile.
After poring over the map for a long time, Yu Song finally understood. He cursed under his breath, snatched the chart, and followed the direction Chen Sanshi had gone.
He found him sitting alone beside a creek, staring blankly at the water, a spear laid across his knees.
"Thousand-Commander Chen, hiding here?"
Yu Song sat down beside him and fished a leather waterskin from his coat. He popped the stopper and sniffed it with a grin. "Guess what this is?"
"Wine?"
Chen Sanshi didn't need to look. The moment the seal broke, the fragrance hit him full force.
"Right!"
Yu Song grinned proudly. "This wine's called 'Drunken Saint.' They say even a Martial Saint would get drunk after a few sips. It's expensive too—this one waterskin alone costs a few hundred taels of silver!
"I brought it from Liangzhou before we set out. I'd planned to share it with the brothers after our victory. Who'd have thought half a damn year later, we'd still have nothing to celebrate?"
He handed it over. "Want some?"
"Sure."
Chen Sanshi didn't refuse. He took the skin, lifted it to his lips, and drank deeply.
The wine was medicinal, steeped with the flesh of rare beasts. The moment it entered the stomach, fire surged through the veins, spreading a fierce heat across the whole body. Even after a single mouthful, the head began to swim. Chen Sanshi had never drunk anything this strong before—no wonder it was called "Drunken Saint."
"Hahaha!"
Yu Song snatched back the wineskin, took a large gulp, and winced as the burning liquor bit down his throat. While gritting his teeth, he spread the map out in front of them.
He pointed at it excitedly. "Thousand-Commander Chen, I've just gone over our entire march since arriving in Mingzhou. You're unreal! I didn't notice it before, but looking at it now, I finally get it—you've been leading a few thousand men around, toying with over a hundred thousand troops!"
"I bet they're furious, especially Dong An. That man's got a reputation—losing a battle is worse to him than death itself. And now he's been outmaneuvered by just three thousand of us."
Chen Sanshi said nothing.
"What's with the silence? Think I don't know what I'm talking about? I've been in the army long enough to know my way around a battlefield, damn it! Don't look down on me!"
Yu Song jabbed at the map with his finger as he spoke. "You left the two of us behind because the feint won't work anymore, right?"
Chen Sanshi didn't deny it.
"Exactly! You can fool someone once, maybe twice—but not a third or fourth time. Even a pig learns after being tricked enough! Let alone men like Dong An and Liang Jinian—they're no fools. Liang's no ordinary scholar either—he got his hands on that so-called treasure of the immortals.
"So…" Yu Song's tone grew heavier. "We can't rely on a false attack this time. Only a real assault will pull enough of their troops back to leave Meishan empty.
"But how do you convince men as sharp as Dong An and Liang Jinian that we're really attacking and not bluffing again?
"Simple—nothing's more convincing than seeing the main commander appear personally at Luotian Pass, right?
"That's why you and I are staying behind."
He grinned fiercely. "How's that? Did I get it right, huh? Haven't wasted all my years fighting wars, have I?"
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Deputy General Yu's every word is correct."
"Ha! That's what I thought. You know what this is called? It's called 'creating your own opportunity when there isn't one!'"
Yu Song laughed, a strange warmth in his voice. "Thousand-Commander Chen, you're a damn genius—a commander among commanders. Once in a thousand years.
"I've thought so for a while now. You'll surpass even General Lü one day. The future of the Eight Northern Garrisons might very well rest on you."
Then, suddenly, his smile vanished. His tone shifted like a blade scraping iron.
"But I was wrong."
He lunged forward, grabbed Chen Sanshi by the collar, and snarled, "You're no genius—you're a coward! A damn coward!"
"Deputy General Yu…"
Chen Sanshi blinked, startled by the sudden outburst.
"Chen Sanshi!"
Yu Song's eyes were red, his voice hoarse with fury. "Tell me—what's the duty of a commander? What's his responsibility?"
He didn't wait for an answer. "You're not going to say it? Fine, I will!
"A general's duty is to achieve his strategic objective while minimizing losses!
"That's it. Just that one line!
"So what the hell are you doing?!"
"Deputy General Yu…"
Chen Sanshi's gaze darkened. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't play dumb!"
Yu Song shoved him hard to the ground, shouting, "One of us staying behind is enough! Why the hell are you staying too? Because your plan needs me to die for it to work, and you can't stand the guilt? You pity me? You think you're to blame for my death?
"Is that it? Answer me!"
"Yes."
Chen Sanshi's voice was quiet.
Since the day he enlisted, he'd never used his men's lives as currency for victory. This time, though, he had no choice—not when thousands of lives depended on the success of one plan.
Of course, he wasn't throwing himself away entirely; he had his trump cards—his Strange Flame and his Sword Qi Technique. If fortune favored him, he might survive. But the odds weren't good.
"Pathetic!"
Yu Song's face twisted with scorn. "Soft-hearted and weak! Tell me, if this were General Fang or Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong, what would they do? They'd leave me behind without hesitation, then lead the main force to Meishan themselves!
"If my death could win this war, then dying would be the best bargain in history!
"Listen—if our positions were swapped, I'd send you to die too! That's what it means to be a commander! Not this womanly hand-wringing bullshit!"
He kicked at the dirt in fury.
"Tell me, if you die here with me, can Lu Shuhua and the others actually pull off their mission? Can they?
"Xu Wencai's smart, sure, but he's no soldier—barely better than a formation grunt! On a battlefield where blades don't see faces, what if he dies? Who'll take command then? The rest? Can they do it?
"If they fail to take Meishan because of this, won't every death be meaningless?
"You came up with this plan, so you damn well know it better than anyone. How can you be so irresponsible? Do you even realize how valuable your life is?!
"If you're going to die, die marching on Meishan, not bleeding out here at Luotian Pass!"
Chen Sanshi closed his eyes. "You're right."
He knew. He'd always known. But hearing Yu Song's words was like a blade cutting through the last chain holding his heart back.
War had no mercy.
Without sacrifice, there was no victory.
"Good. You know I'm right."
Yu Song's voice trembled, half from anger, half from emotion. "So get rid of that pathetic guilt. Lose that softness. Compassion doesn't belong to a commander!
"Mercy ruins armies, just like greed ruins righteousness!
"On the battlefield, there's one truth that's never changed—'A general's victory is built upon ten thousand corpses.' That's the eternal law of war.
"But as long as those deaths have meaning, the brothers will never complain!"
"Don't say another word."
He cut Chen Sanshi off as the younger man tried to speak. "You're talented, but your biggest flaw is that you're too young, too soft on your own people. I hope when this battle's over, you'll change. Grow. Become a real general. Someday, become a true grand marshal."
"And don't think you can refuse me."
Yu Song stepped closer, eyes cold but steady. "I followed your orders before because you were right. But this time—you're wrong.
"And don't forget—I'm the Deputy General of the Reserve Camp. You're just a Thousand-Commander. Orders are orders. You don't have the authority to disobey."
"…Understood."
Chen Sanshi didn't argue. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was steady as iron.
"At dawn, Deputy General Yu, select 1,000 soldiers to attack Luotian Pass. Make it as loud and chaotic as possible. But for the first two days, don't take heavy losses—drag it out as long as you can. Also, station scouts around the Nanhuang Mountains. The moment you see a large force crossing from the west bank of the Hongze River, heading from Meishan Prefecture, light the mountain fires to signal. That'll be my cue to strike across the Wushui River and march straight for Meishan Prefecture."
"After that… you can try to break through on your own, if there's still a chance."
"Hahaha!"
Yu Song burst into laughter. "Now that's more like it! You should've planned it this way from the start. Once Meishan Prefecture falls, the chaos in Mingzhou will be over. When the imperial army arrives, it won't take long to wipe out the rebellion completely!
"Come on, let's drink to our future glory!"
"I'll go catch a rabbit to roast."
Chen Sanshi grabbed his bow and disappeared into the woods. Before the time of one cup of tea had passed, he returned with a wild rabbit. He drew his Mountain-Suppressing Sword, cleaned the rabbit by the creek, and started a fire.
The two of them sat by the fire, drinking wine and eating roast meat. Dusk faded quietly into the depth of night.
"Alright!"
Yu Song, already tipsy, waved his hand. "I need to train a bit—clear my head. We set off at dawn. Thousand-Commander Chen, go make your preparations. Don't you dare waste the chance."
"Yes, sir."
Chen Sanshi clasped his fists, took two steps away, then stopped. "Deputy General Yu, do you have any last instructions for me?"
They both knew what that really meant—final words.
"Almost forgot."
Yu Song grinned. "Actually, yes, I do. I've got three sons. None of them like reading, all obsessed with martial arts. My eldest's got good potential, but I won't be around to train him. When you get the chance, teach him a few moves, will you? You were Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong's last disciple—learning from you's no different from learning from the Grand Commander himself. Haha, what a bargain for me!"
"I'll provide your son with every resource he needs until the end of his path."
Chen Sanshi promised solemnly, then turned and left.
Outside the forest, Wang Zhi and Xu Wencai finally found them.
"Looks like… we don't need to persuade them after all."
"Yeah…" Xu Wencai exhaled in relief. "The general's ruthless toward his enemies, but too soft on his own people. After this… I don't think he'll stay that way."
"Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi stopped before Wang Zhi. "Go see Deputy General Yu—under a different name."
"Me? In this state? What face do I have left to show?"
Wang Zhi gave a bitter laugh. "But fine, since you insist. I'll go. Hell, I'll even stay behind if needed. I might be crippled, but I can still trade blows with those in Tempering Organ."
"Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi shook his head. "You're still useful. Maybe one day, your old wounds can be healed."
If immortals could cultivate, then perhaps even the shattered meridians of a warrior could be restored.
"Alright."
Wang Zhi hefted his blade and strode off.
By dawn, the troops split into two forces.
Chen Sanshi led 2,000 men west across the river, hiding at the junction of the Hongze and Wushui Rivers.
…
"Kill!"
"Leave no one alive!"
"Crown Prince's heir Cao Fan and Deputy General Sha Wenlong are among these civilians!"
"…"
"Mercy, please, lord soldiers!"
"We're just common folk, not soldiers!"
"Puchi—"
Outside Yangchun Prefecture, in the desolate wilderness, chaos reigned.
The mountains and plains were filled with fleeing civilians, chased relentlessly by rebel troops.
Among the chaos, Sha Wenlong and Cao Fan were disguised as peasants. They had tossed away their weapons, stumbling through the underbrush like beggars.
"I… I can't run anymore…"
With a dull thud, Cao Fan collapsed to the ground.
He hadn't eaten in ten days. If not for his trained warrior's body, he'd have starved long ago. But that same strength only made his hunger worse—every step was agony.
"Your Highness, wait here!"
Sha Wenlong darted away. Moments later, he returned with a few scraps of dry rations snatched from a terrified villager. "Eat, Your Highness. Once you've eaten, we keep moving."
Their clothes were tattered, their faces smeared with dirt and cheap disguise powder. To anyone passing by, they looked like beggars, not a deputy general and the heir of a great noble house.
As for their comrades…
Most were already dead—buying them these precious few hours.
Two thousand lives for the survival of two men. A costly but worthwhile trade.
"Your Highness," Sha Wenlong said with relief, "I just received word from the gyrfalcon messenger! General Lü is about to break through Jianmen Gorge to meet us! His courage is unmatched in a thousand years—our salvation is near! Your Highness? Are you hurt?"
"Cough, cough…"
Cao Fan wiped the blood from his lips, his body collapsing against the dirt. "An internal injury… from the defense of the city. You don't need to worry about me, General Sha."
"Absurd! I, Sha Wenlong, am a servant of the Great Sheng Dynasty!"
He crouched, hoisting the young heir onto his back. "Your Highness must not give up! Chen Sanshi and his men died for this! Once we reunite with General Lü and earn some merit, you'll be the Grand Commander's foremost successor when we return to Liangzhou!"
…
At Luotian Pass, Yu Song led 1,000 men to the plains thirty li outside the gates. There, they built a camp and raised makeshift banners from whatever cloth they could find. War drums thundered so loudly they shook the earth—it looked like an entire army ready to storm the fortress.
Inside the pass, the commander, Liu Shoujiang, stood atop the battlements, gazing down at the massive formation with a grim face.
"General, what do we do?"
A nervous subordinate rushed up. "They've brought so many! Should we inform Grand Commander Liang and have him pull troops from the west bank to reinforce?"
"Calm yourself!" Liu Shoujiang snapped. "If this is just a bluff, then stripping the west bank would leave Meishan Prefecture defenseless. The Grand Commander warned us of this possibility!"
He took a deep breath. "Pass my order—hold position and observe. If they attempt to breach the pass, send out two Transforming Strength commanders to test their intent. Unless we can confirm that Deputy General Yu himself is leading the assault, assume it's a feint!"
One day later—
"Report!"
"General! When the enemy attacked the pass just now, we sent out two Transforming Strength commanders to probe their formation—both were slain. Based on what we learned, we can now confirm with absolute certainty that the general leading the siege is at the Meridian-Connecting realm. Besides Yu Song, who else could it be?"
"Where are they now?"
"They withdrew before dawn. Their casualties were heavy—rough count says over 400 dead. That must be their main force!"
"Oh, and one more thing—there was a young commander wielding a long spear. From the shouting, it seems his name was Chen Sanshi!"
"Excellent!"
Liu Shoujiang's face lit up. "So Yu Song and Chen Sanshi are both there! Quickly—write a report! Tell Grand Commander Liang to send all troops from the west bank across the river to surround and wipe them out! The sooner, the better—don't give them the slightest chance to escape!"
The intelligence was written at once, tied to the leg of a black hawk, and sent soaring westward toward Meishan Prefecture.
The bird was astonishingly fast.
It was one of the black hawks sent by the Western Qi Kingdom after their alliance with the Red Brows—worth a fortune, even more valuable than the Great Sheng Dynasty's prized gyrfalcons.
…
Reserve Camp.
Darkness blanketed the valley.
The camp, which had only about 500 men left, was still brightly lit. Every soldier carried a torch, patrolling ceaselessly, creating the illusion of a full garrison.
"So, Xiao Qian—how was it, pretending to be Chen Sanshi today? Feel good?"
Yu Song grinned at the young Tempering Organ officer beside him. "You had those idiots at Luotian Pass completely fooled!"
"It did feel pretty good," Qian the Five-Hundred Commander said awkwardly, "but my cultivation's too low. A few times, I almost gave myself away! Luckily, the men they sent out weren't that strong, and with your help covering me, we managed to get through it."
"Xiao Qian, do you regret it?"
Yu Song passed him the last of the Drunken Saint wine. "You're only twenty-five or twenty-six."
"There's nothing to regret," Qian said with a smile. "I insisted on following you, sir. Besides, once Lord Chen and the others succeed, they'll have achieved immortal merit. Our families will be rewarded beyond measure. We won't need to worry about them anymore."
"You're right."
Yu Song stood, eyes glinting faintly in the firelight with excitement. "We're soldiers. Who among us doesn't dream of earning heavenly merit? If we can fulfill that dream, dying won't matter!
"Once Thousand-Commander Chen completes this mission, he'll have commanded a true large-scale battle and gained priceless experience. When the Grand Commander retires, the Eight Garrisons will finally have hope again. For men like us to take part in such a war—our lives won't have been wasted."
Qian looked east, where the sky was beginning to pale. "Deputy General Yu… the problem is, we can't hold much longer."
They'd started with just over 1,000 men. After several rounds of fierce fighting, only half remained.
Another two assaults, and the truth would be exposed.
"By my count," Yu Song murmured, staring out at the open wilderness, "it's about time."
He fell silent.
…
Meishan Prefecture.
"My husband, please drink your medicine."
Gao Peiwen held a spoon toward him. "If you let your health fail, how will you ever complete the great work you've spoken of?"
Liang Jinian didn't answer. He stared at the map before him, muttering under his breath. "I can't lose another battle. The power of the celestial artifact is fading. If I lose again… there should've been word from Luotian Pass by now…"
A sharp cry pierced the air.
A black shadow swooped through the window, landing on the desk before him.
Liang Jinian untied the letter from its leg and read it quickly. A flicker of barely restrained joy lit his pale face. "Excellent! The remaining forces of the Reserve Camp—Yu Song confirmed at Luotian Pass! This time, they're finished!
"Men!
"Send my command—have the entire army cross the river and march straight to Luotian Pass! Once the Reserve Camp is destroyed, hold position there and wait for General Dong An's forces to arrive from the rear. Prepare to confront the imperial reinforcements from the Great Wasteland!"
"It's over. It's all over!"
Destroy the remnants of the Reserve Camp, stabilize the southeastern front, then block the imperial army from advancing—at worst, a drawn-out stalemate. The outcome of the Mingzhou rebellion was decided.
…
Outside Luotian Pass.
In the east, the sun rose crimson over the horizon.
A galloping horse burst out of the morning mist. The scout atop it shouted, "Report!"
"On the west bank of the Hongze River, from the direction of Meishan Prefecture, no less than 7,000 enemy troops have crossed!
"At their current pace, they'll reach Luotian Pass in about a day and a half!"
"Good!"
Yu Song's eyes blazed. He raised his arm and shouted, "Set the mountains on fire!
"The rest of you—follow me! We're breaking through toward the Great Wasteland!"
"Break through!"
…
Wulian Mountain.
This was the junction where the Hongze River met the Wushui River.
Chen Sanshi and his troops had been waiting there for days.
"Thousand-Commander Chen," Lu Shuhua said, checking his notes, "we've been hiding here for four or five days now. Why haven't we seen Deputy General Yu's signal? If this keeps up, maybe we should turn back."
"Wait a little longer."
Chen Sanshi's voice was calm. "Deputy General Yu won't fail."
"Smoke—!"
"Fire!"
Before the words were finished, black smoke erupted from the southeast, curling into the sky like a giant dragon, coiling over Luotian Pass and devouring the Red Brows' momentum.
They'd done it.
Because the distance between the two forces was vast, they'd agreed to use burning mountains as the signal.
Now, the flames stretched for hundreds of li. That meant Yu Song had succeeded in drawing off the enemy's elite troops. Meishan Prefecture's main camp was more vulnerable than ever.
Now—
The final act of this war would begin.
"Prepare the wagons! Form up!"
"Pass down my command!"
Under the blazing sun, Chen Sanshi's pupils gleamed with unwavering resolve. His voice rang out like thunder, echoing through the ranks of his 2,000 soldiers.
"Once we cross the Hongze River, we'll seize the Wushui River crossing and charge straight for Meishan Prefecture! Our goal—capture Liang Jinian alive!"
"Capture Liang Jinian alive!"
"Capture Liang Jinian alive!!"
The unified roar of 2,000 men shook the air, their morale surging to its peak.
In that moment, the entry for [Blood Oath of the Battlefield] appeared once more before Chen Sanshi's eyes. Even though men like Yan Changqing and the others might harbor thoughts of their own, at this instant, every heart burned with the same single purpose—slay the enemy!
"'How can one say there are no clothes? We fight as brothers in the same robe!'"
"Brothers! Cross the river!"
They were fully prepared. In only two days, they began their fourth crossing of the Hongze River.
Thousands of warhorses—Qianxun and the others—had long been waiting by the riverbank.
The Wushui River had a great bridge. Their cavalry would charge across it unhindered, galloping like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, striking Meishan Prefecture with unstoppable force.
…
"Break through!"
The remnants of Yu Song's Reserve Camp—only thirty men left—rode their stolen warhorses, setting fire to the mountains as they retreated. After their failed assault on Luotian Pass, they had no choice but to turn back, hoping to cross the Hongze River again and circle into Mingzhou's interior.
But by now, enemy forces had surrounded them on all sides, sealing every path like an iron wall.
In a narrow valley, they found themselves cornered.
"How can there be so few of you left?"
Liu Shoujiang reined in his horse, frowning at the mere thirty riders before him. His voice boomed, "Yu Song! Where are the rest of your men? Tell us their location, and I'll spare your life!"
They had encircled the enemy from every direction. Theoretically, no one should have escaped.
But they had only killed about 1,000, while the Reserve Camp's remnant force had numbered over 3,000.
The only reply was the sound of blades being drawn.
"Reserve Camp—charge!"
Yu Song raised his curved dao high.
The last thirty riders of the Reserve Camp spurred their horses into the ranks of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers.
In an instant, they were swallowed whole—like stones sinking into the sea, vanishing without a trace.
…
Yangchun Prefecture.
Inside the rebel army's main camp, Dong An sat as attendants helped him don his heavy armor. His complexion looked much improved from days past, his eyes brimming with confidence. He took up his grain-bladed saber, glancing at his reflection with a faint smile.
"Report!"
"We've spotted signs of Sha Wenlong and the others about fifty li outside the city!"
"General Xiang has already gone after them."
"Would you like to go as well, my lord?"
"I know. Once the battle report from Meishan Prefecture arrives, I'll go personally."
Dong An picked up a brush and began marking on the map—not tracking the Reserve Camp's movement, but outlining the next phase of the Mingzhou campaign.
The remnants of the Reserve Camp couldn't possibly still be alive. The encirclement at Luotian Pass was flawless. The feint tactic had already failed; no one would fall for it twice. That kid Chen—he'd simply run out of tricks.
Once the battle report arrived confirming what he expected, Dong An would personally lead his troops—first to hunt down Sha Wenlong and Cao Fan, then to assist Zhong Wuxin in battling Lü Ji at Jianmen Gorge.
After that, the rest of the campaign would be dull—just a contest of manpower and logistics, nothing unexpected.
"Report!"
"News from Luotian Pass—Reserve Camp annihilated!"
"Deputy General Yu Song's head is being sent back as we speak!"
"…Hmm? Wait."
Dong An's brow furrowed. "Only Yu Song? What about Chen Sanshi's head?"
"Commander…"
The messenger lowered his gaze, afraid to meet Dong An's eyes. "There's another important detail. According to the report from Liu Anxing, they counted roughly 1,000 enemy dead. The other 2,000 are… unaccounted for."
Dong An's face darkened. "What did you just say? Speak clearly!"
"My lord, that's all there is!" the soldier stammered. "They simply couldn't find the rest."
"Couldn't find them?"
Dong An roared. "2,000 men vanished into thin air, and you call that 'simply couldn't find them'?!"
He kicked the soldier hard in the chest.
With a sickening crack, the man spat blood and fell lifeless to the floor.
The tent fell silent. No one dared make a sound.
Dong An turned back to the map, clutching his brush, muttering as he traced the terrain.
"Impossible."
"The Reserve Camp was surrounded from all four directions."
"After attacking Luotian Pass, there was no time to retreat."
"Unless… unless those 2,000 never went to attack Luotian Pass in the first place…"
"They were hiding all along."
"In other words…"
"This entire assault on Luotian Pass—was another feint!"
"No. That can't be. The main generals were there."
"Yu Song's head was confirmed by multiple reports—it can't be wrong!"
"The main general's dead…?"
"Ridiculous!"
"In all of history, what commander has ever stayed behind to cover his men's retreat?"
"But if he truly did… what were they planning?"
"Where did those 2,000 go?"
Dong An dragged over a fresh map, spreading it across the table. He retraced the entire Mingzhou campaign, battle by battle, calculating every move, every march, every day.
Hours passed.
At midnight, thunder cracked across the heavens. The brush slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a faint pa!
Rain poured outside the camp, drumming against the tents, washing away the last flicker of confidence in his heart.
"It's over… completely over…"
Thud!
"Commander!"
His officers rushed forward in panic.
This time—
Two full hours later, Dong An finally opened his eyes again. He lay pale and trembling on the couch, looking as if he'd just crawled out of the gates of hell. His lips quivered as he whispered, "Go… tell Liang Jinian… to run… No, forget it—it's too late…"
"Too late? What do you mean too late?"
The officers standing nearby exchanged confused looks. Seeing their commander's frail state, a chill spread through their hearts.
"Commander!"
One deputy hurried to the bedside, asking anxiously, "Please, sir, explain clearly! You're the master of strategy—how could it be too late? Even if there's danger, we can still move to contain it!"
"…"
Dong An closed his eyes and said no more. His breath weakened; he looked like a man who had already accepted death.
"This…"
The others were helpless. In the end, they could only send a messenger to warn Liang Jinian.
…
Meanwhile, in Meishan Prefecture—
"Outrageous!"
Liang Jinian slammed the table, his teeth grinding. "Two thousand men! How could Liu Anxing let that many escape—and then have the gall to tell me they're just 'missing'?"
"Commander, where could they possibly be?"
The last defending officer in Meishan Prefecture, He Xianliang, frowned. "From the moment they attacked Luotian Pass, they should've had no chance to flee!"
"No…!"
Liang Jinian's face turned ashen. "They never attacked Luotian Pass at all."
"That—how can that be?"
He Xianliang's eyes widened. "Commander, the head of the Reserve Camp's main general, Yu Song, was real. The main general stayed behind to cover the retreat—with his life! You think that was fake?"
"Exactly because of that, they fooled every last one of us!"
Liang Jinian's strength gave out; he tried to overturn the table but fell to the ground instead. His face twisted in rage. "Impossible! Impossible!
"Even if he's talented, Chen Sanshi is just a Thousand-Commander!
"How could a Thousand-Commander order his superior to die for him? It makes no sense!
"How could Yu Song have agreed to that?"
"Guards! Someone come!"
He struggled to his feet, gasping. "He Xianliang, how many men do we have left?"
He Xianliang answered, "Including your personal guards and the last city garrison, we have around 200 men remaining, sir. Did something happen?"
"Two hundred men… not enough to hold the city…"
Liang Jinian snatched the map from the table. "Wait—there were 1,800 men in Linhe County, right? The ones still… carrying out the massacre?"
"Yes, Commander."
He Xianliang nodded. "They were the original veterans of the Meishan bandits. After the victory in the central plains, you rewarded them by letting them sack the city."
"There's still time!"
Liang Jinian ordered sharply, "Send word immediately—summon them back to Meishan Prefecture! Tell them to intercept the Reserve Camp remnants halfway!"
"What?"
He Xianliang finally understood why his commander was so panicked. His face went pale. "Commander, you don't mean… that can't be possible, right?"
"Commander! Commander, bad news!"
A Red Brow soldier burst in, terrified. "One hundred li outside the city—we've spotted about two thousand cavalry! We don't know where they came from! They're calling themselves heavenly soldiers, here to reclaim the divine book bestowed upon you by the Immortal!"
"This…"
He Xianliang stood frozen, his mind blank.
The Reserve Camp's remnants had truly appeared—exactly as the commander feared.
To the men, they might as well have been heavenly soldiers.
"Idiots!" Liang Jinian roared. "They're no heavenly soldiers—they're the Reserve Camp's survivors! They're saying that to scare you!"
But he knew all too well: if they succeeded, the rebel army's morale would collapse instantly.
The entire realm would believe that Heaven had abandoned him, that the divine book had returned to the Great Sheng Dynasty—and that their dynasty's fate still endured.
Then, this so-called grand rebellion would be nothing but a petty revolt.
"Fine! I'll use the divine book myself and fight them to the death!"
Liang Jinian tore open his robes and pulled out several pages of gold-leaf scripture, covered with strange runes and shifting diagrams.
He Xianliang immediately knelt. "Please, Commander, grant me the divine technique!"
"Boom—"
A surge of mystical energy, invisible to mortal eyes, flooded into He Xianliang's body.
"Go."
Liang Jinian waved his sleeve. "With Heaven's blessing, you'll have the strength to fight."
"Commander, rest assured!"
He Xianliang saluted, voice burning with pride. "Yu Song is dead. Even if it's Chen Sanshi leading them, he's only at the early Transforming Strength stage! I've already reached mid Meridian-Connecting realm, and now with your blessing—I swear on my life, I'll win this battle and bring you Chen Sanshi's head myself!"
"Go."
Liang Jinian didn't reply further. He simply watched his subordinate's departing figure, then closed his eyes and sighed.
The Red Brows had too few high-level generals—that was their greatest weakness.
Still, He Xianliang was at least a true Meridian-Connecting cultivator from a major sect. Chen Sanshi might be formidable, but victory was far from guaranteed.
If He Xianliang won, all could still be salvaged.
If he lost…
Then it would be the end of Liang Jinian himself.