Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 289 The Emperor's Decisive Decision

The fifth year of the Qiming era, the nineteenth day of the third month. The Spring Equinox.

On the grasslands outside Yanmen Pass, the snow had not yet melted, and tender yellow shoots of new grass had already sprouted. This should have been a season of rejuvenation for all things, but the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

The three-day deadline has arrived.

The atmosphere inside the council chamber was heavy and tense.

Chen Xing sat in the main seat, the latest military report spread out before him. Chen Wei, Dian Xiong, Jia Wen, and Lan Fenghuang stood on either side, all waiting—waiting for news that might never come.

"Your Majesty," Chen Wei spoke first, his voice low, "the food supplies in Yunzhong City are exhausted, and the garrison has begun slaughtering horses for food. They can only hold out for five more days at most."

Five days.

Dian Xiong clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white: "Your Majesty, we can't wait any longer! Give me ten thousand men, and I will fight my way through and deliver the supplies!"

Chen Wei shook his head: "The enemy has surrounded the city, with layers upon layers of defense. If 10,000 people go in, it would be good if 3,000 survive."

Dian Xiong angrily retorted, "That's still better than waiting to die!"

That's enough.

Chen Xing's voice wasn't loud, but it silenced both of them at the same time.

He slowly stood up and walked to the map.

"Still no news from Ashina Mo?"

Jia Wen shook his head: "No. I have sent out three groups of scouts deep into the northern desert, and none have returned yet."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"So, do you think Ashina Mo is dead, or has he succeeded?"

Everyone looked at each other.

Dianxiong scratched his head: "This...who would know?"

Jia Wen pondered for a moment and said, "If he dies, news will surely travel back. The enemy will use his head as a sacrifice to intimidate other tribes. If he succeeds, he will need time to contact the various tribes and also time to evade capture. Either way, no news is actually good news."

Chen Xing nodded.

"That's what I think too."

He turned around to face the crowd.

"But I cannot gamble the lives of 50,000 soldiers and civilians in Yunzhong on 'possible good news'."

He pointed to the Cloud City on the map.

"Yunzhong must be saved."

He then pointed to the heart of the northern desert.

"We must also attack the rear of Snow Wolf Khan."

Dianxiong's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty, you mean...?"

Chen Xing said in a deep voice:

"Divide the troops."

The tent was completely silent.

Divide forces?

The troops were already insufficient for the Battle of Mobei. Dividing them further would be tantamount to suicide.

Chen Wei was the first to react: "Your Majesty intends to send one force to relieve the siege head-on, while the other force detours behind enemy lines?"

Chen Xing nodded.

Dian Xiong said urgently, "But we only have 50,000 men in total! If we split into two groups, each with a little over 20,000, neither group can defeat those wolf cubs!"

Chen Xing looked at him and said calmly:

"Who said I only have 50,000 men?"

Everyone was stunned.

Chen Xing took out a secret report from his sleeve and handed it to Jia Wen.

Jia Wen took it, glanced at it, and his eyes suddenly widened.

"This...this is..."

Chen Xing said, "This is a secret report from the garrison commander of Zhenbei Pass. The military garrisons of Liaodong and Youyan have dispatched 20,000 elite cavalry in accordance with my secret decree, and they will arrive at Yanmen Pass within three days."

Dian Xiong was overjoyed: "Twenty thousand! Add to our fifty thousand, that's seventy thousand! That's enough! This humble general will take twenty thousand to relieve the siege, and Your Majesty will take fifty thousand to cut off their retreat!"

Chen Xing shook his head.

"No. I will go to relieve the siege; you go and find a way out."

Dianxiong was stunned.

"Your Majesty! This will not be allowed! You are the most honored ruler, how can you..."

Chen Xing raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Dianxiong, listen to me."

He walked up to Norio and looked him straight in the eyes.

"The main force of the Snow Wolf Khan is in the clouds. I will lead 50,000 troops to meet him head-on, and he will surely go all out. At this time, if you can lead 20,000 elite cavalry to bypass the enemy's rear, contact those tribes that are unwilling to submit, cut off their supply lines, and burn their pastures—once his rear is in chaos, his army's morale will surely collapse."

He paused, his tone turning somber.

"The key to victory or defeat in this battle does not lie with me, but with you."

Dianxiong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

He suddenly knelt down, touching his forehead to the ground, his voice trembling:

"Your Majesty...this humble general...this humble general will certainly do his utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

Chen Xing helped him up.

"I believe you."

March 20th, dawn.

Outside Yanmen Pass, the 70,000-strong army split into two routes, advancing from the north and south.

The Northern Route Army, numbering 50,000 and personally led by Chen Xing, marched straight towards Yunzhong.

The Western Route Army, numbering 20,000 and commanded by Dian Xiong, bypassed the Yin Mountains and plunged straight into the heart of the northern desert.

Before leaving, Dian Xiong knelt before Chen Xing's horse and kowtowed three times.

"Your Majesty, this humble general is departing. Please take care."

Chen Xing dismounted and helped him up.

"Dianxiong, I'm waiting for you to come back and have a drink."

Dianxiong grinned, and tears glistened in his eyes.

He mounted his horse, drew his long sword, and shouted:

"Brothers, follow me!"

Twenty thousand elite cavalrymen surged westward like a black torrent.

Chen Xing watched the team disappear into the morning mist, remaining silent for a long time.

Blue Phoenix rode forward and said softly:

"Brother Xing, General Dian will return."

Chen Xing nodded.

"I know."

He turned his horse around to face north.

"Order the entire army—to proceed!"

The 50,000-strong army, with banners waving, marched northward in a mighty procession.

Behind her, on the city wall of Yanmen Pass, Lan Fenghuang stood alone, watching the procession gradually disappear into the distance.

She was clutching a small cloth bag in her hand.

That was the medicine she prepared overnight, and she hadn't had time to give it to Chen Xing yet.

The wind was strong, and it tousled her hair.

She uttered a sentence softly, which was carried away by the wind, and no one heard it:

"Brother Xing, you must come back."