Chapter 49: The Garrison Before the Great Battle

Bai Mucheng was scheming a grand plan. Although he was unwilling to use water attacks, he couldn’t afford to overlook the possibility, especially since Qinghe County’s flat terrain was perfect for water storage. If he lost this land, it wouldn’t just affect Dongyuan ability to sell—it might prevent him from selling it altogether.

Thus, this place was heavily guarded, and breaching it would become Dongyuan final battle.

Bai Mucheng’s army was resting in the neighboring county after their recent victory, consolidating their hold on the area and strengthening their forces.

Bai Mucheng had devised a series of interlocking strategies. First, he sent troops to ambush the mountain garrison and draw the enemy out. Zuo Zhengfeng, along with local brothers from Qinghe County, would then provide support by attacking from the Chishui Pass to take the county.

Once Qinghe County was captured, Dongyuan would be reduced to a lost cause, with no place to stand.

The key to this plan was that their assault on the mountain valley had to be decisive. It required overwhelming strength, and they had to be able to hold the fort long enough to give Zuo Zhengfeng the time he needed to secure the county.

Dongyuan commanded an army of 300,000. While not all of them would fight loyally, many would likely desert him once he lost his power. After all, most of Dongyuan soldiers were recruited over the past year, and many harbored hatred toward him.

Bai Mucheng’s advance force was only around 80,000, which was still a significant gap.

Why was he bringing such a small force? Why not bring the full army? This was a geographical issue.

Qinghe County was special in that it could support a surprise attack on King Yu’s southern capital, but moving a large army through the area was difficult due to the mountainous terrain.

Therefore, to take the southern capital, Qinghe County had to be seized first.

He had sent Xu Xianming to bring the main army to reinforce the southern capital, while he took a smaller advance force to secure Qinghe County. Once that was done, they would meet up and proceed to take the southern capital. There was no need to waste time fighting in other areas.

The tension in the air was palpable as the eve of the great battle approached.

Bai Mucheng, Zuo Zhengfeng, and Huang Yuanying, based on their previous reconnaissance, worked together to finalize the plan for Qinghe County.

Huang Yuanying was particularly knowledgeable about the area and had provided significant help.

Meanwhile, Zuo Zhengfeng, Huang Yuanying, and the still-recovering Jin Mingwen were busy preparing for battle.

Bai Mucheng, along with Tian Mi, Yanzu, and his guards, went to Changgong County, the location of his main army.

Tian Mi was confused—why did she have to go along? She didn’t ask, though, as someone who worked for him, she wasn’t in a position to question anything.

In the meantime, the army in this county was managed and trained by Lin Buqu and Chen Fan. Lin Buqu, a seasoned general in his forties, was known for his steadiness, while Chen Fan, over two meters tall and rugged-looking, was Bai Mucheng’s vanguard general. Not only was he large and strong, but he was also incredibly agile and skilled in combat. His martial prowess was terrifying, and just a glance at him was enough to intimidate Tian Mi.

When Bai Mucheng returned, he immediately had Yu Qiu take Tian Mi to rest, while he gave orders to his soldiers. All the officers gathered for a meeting to finalize their plans. Two days later, on the 13th, the moon would be perfectly positioned for a night attack.

In the meantime, they would finalize their preparations, focusing on the details. They were already in a state of readiness, but now it was crucial to familiarize the generals with the routes. Huang Yuanying had even arranged for some locals to come and provide a thorough briefing on the area’s geography.

Every soldier was also given enough dry rations for several days.

The 13th came quickly, and the atmosphere was tense. Tian Mi, having spent so much time with the boss, was now the calmest person in the entire county. She took a break, practicing her axe skills in the yard. When Yu Qiu saw her, he couldn’t help but be impressed. Tian Mi challenged him to a sparring match.

Until then, Yu Qiu had only known her for her medical expertise and the way her trained eagle obeyed her commands, far surpassing the scouts. But now he realized she was also quite the martial artist. Her strength was incredible. When Tian Mi swung her axe at him, Yu Qiu barely managed to block it, and his blade broke in two.

Stunned by the power behind her strike, Yu Qiu gawked at her, and Tian Mi grinned, “I have the strength of the heavens.”

Bai Mucheng had returned by then and saw them sparring. He didn’t disturb them, knowing she was skilled, though he wasn’t aware of how deep her abilities really went.

Bai Mucheng was impressed by Tian Mi’s strength; her axe swung with the force of thunder.

He had been considering whether to bring her along for the raid, but with so many uncertainties on the battlefield, weapons could be unpredictable.

Seeing Tian Mi’s victory, Bai Mucheng smiled and walked over.

Yu Qiu and Tian Mi greeted him, and with just a glance from Bai Mucheng, Yu Qiu left.

Bai Mucheng asked Tian Mi, “Are you coming with me to the battlefield tonight?”

Tian Mi was slightly annoyed. After all her hard work running around, now he asked if she wanted to go? Was he trying to avoid responsibility?

She replied firmly, “Of course I’ll go. It’s an honor to fight alongside His Highness!”

She had a unique advantage—she was protected. While everyone else risked their lives, she would be fine.

A warm feeling surged through Bai Mucheng’s heart as he said, “Then let’s eat. Make sure Yanzu gets fed too.”

Tian Mi nodded and said nothing.

She noticed that his tone seemed a little odd. Was he nervous about the upcoming battle?

Bai Mucheng’s army was divided into two groups: he led one with 10,000 men to ambush the garrison, while Zuo Zhengfeng led 30,000 men to coordinate with the local brothers in Qinghe County to attack the county’s water gate.

On the night of June 13th, with the crescent moon hanging high, the moonlight bathed the well-ordered troops. The soldiers’ large blades gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

The 10,000-strong force was eerily silent, even Yanzu flying quietly overhead.

At the stroke of 9 PM, they set off.

Bai Mucheng, riding at the front, raised his hand and signaled. Chen Fan led the cavalry, following him closely. Tian Mi had been ordered to stay close to Bai Mucheng’s left side as his personal guard.

Bai Mucheng and Lin Buqu each led a team, taking separate routes to ambush different garrisons.

They had scouted a small path, and though not all of the troops were cavalry, there were still 10,000 cavalrymen. The march was fast-paced and would take about three hours, followed by a half-hour rest. By the time they reached the battlefield, it would be midnight.

The march was fast and caused the birds and animals in the forest to scatter, adding a sense of foreboding to the already tense atmosphere.

This battle was crucial, and every soldier gritted their teeth in determination. The cavalry forged ahead, with infantry following quickly. Apart from the sound of hooves, footsteps, and the occasional rustling of wildlife, there was nothing but eerie silence. Bai Mucheng’s military discipline was clearly strict, and even Tian Mi couldn’t help but feel the tension.

Yanzu flew high ahead to scout and prevent any ambushes.

After two hours of rapid marching, Yanzu stopped flying forward and began circling above. Bai Mucheng ordered a rest, allowing the troops to eat and drink.

He had Tian Mi stay with the main force while he and Chen Fan, along with Yu Qiu, ventured off on their own. Tian Mi knew they were handling the scouts, and she wasn’t interested in tagging along.

After about 30 minutes, the trio returned, sitting down to eat. The June air felt unexpectedly cold.

A moment later, with another signal from Bai Mucheng, all the cavalrymen equipped their horses with prepared hoof coverings, and they resumed their journey. Half an hour later, they arrived silently at Dongyuan mountain valley garrison.

Chen Fan, upon reaching the battlefield, could hardly control his excitement. He shouted a battle cry, charging headfirst into the garrison. The battle erupted instantly, with cavalrymen throwing oil and shooting fire arrows into the barracks, setting them ablaze. The infantry charged in, cutting down anyone they encountered.

The valley was soon filled with flames and cries of battle, blood splattering everywhere, and horses whinnying in terror.

Tian Mi, ever loyal to her employer, naturally wanted to show her skills. She forgot her earlier orders to stay close to Bai Mucheng’s left and followed Chen Fan to the front. Fierce and ruthless, with a single swing of her axe, she took a man’s head. Chen Fan, seeing her steal his kill, began to kill even faster, and Tian Mi matched him blow for blow. Together, they created the momentum of killing 200 soldiers.

Meanwhile, at the other garrison, Lin Buqu’s forces had also engaged. The soldiers stationed there had been idle for over a month, so when they were attacked in their sleep, they were thrown into confusion. The garrison commander, Hu Yifei, quickly dispatched a dozen riders to Qinghe County to report the attack.

Zuo Zhengfeng’s forces set out at the appointed time. His destination was the mountains outside Qinghe County, only 30 minutes away from the county seat. As soon as they saw the agreed-upon signals—three smoke signals from the sky, they would head straight for the county city.