Chapter 86

The next morning, the camp set off. After marching for half a day, the soldiers left to guard Karakash caught up. Wei Zhan rode up to Chu Shaoling and reported: "The 10,000 soldiers have all been accounted for, not a single one deserted."

"Very good, allocate these men to the various generals as appropriate." They had now penetrated deep into Liaoliang territory and had to fight a quick decisive battle. Chu Shaoling took the silver helmet handed to him by Wei Ji and put it on, loudly proclaiming: "Attention all troops! Unload the baggage, each person only needs to carry one day's worth of dry rations. Advance at full speed to Fenghe. Those transporting the grain must keep up. Anyone who loses their way or falls behind schedule will be beheaded."

Wei Zhan bowed his head. "Yes sir."

Chu Shaoling's own four-horse carriage was also dispatched to transport grain. Today both of them were riding horses. Chu Shaoling turned his head slightly and smiled at Wei Ji. "Cavalry General Ji, at our speed, how long will it take to reach Fenghe?"

Wei Ji nodded. "Your Highness, if we don't encounter the barbarians, we can arrive in two days."

"We will definitely encounter them. I expect the Liaoliang king won't just sit and wait for us either." Chu Shaoling said with a smile. "Pass down my orders! Starting today, in addition to the silver and fiefdoms already promised, I will personally reward an extra ten taels of silver for each Liaoliang soldier killed!"

The men hurriedly passed down Chu Shaoling's words. The soldiers were overjoyed to hear this. Chu Shaoling had said before that after taking Fenghe, whatever they looted would be theirs to keep. All in all, the soldiers stood to make a fortune from this battle!

Chu Shaoling never treated his subordinates poorly, let alone at such a critical juncture. Chu Shaoling was determined to force march the troops. The soldiers wouldn't dare complain out loud but they would certainly be grumbling inwardly. How to make them willing to risk their lives? Loyalty, silver, fiefdoms - Chu Shaoling wouldn't skimp on any of it for them.

After another round of pre-battle motivation, Chu Shaoling led the army towards Fenghe City. The men ate and drank on horseback, resting for the time it took to burn one incense stick after every two hours of marching. Their speed was extremely fast. By mid-afternoon, they actually encountered the 20,000 Liaoliang troops who had fled from the earlier battle at Retong. The two armies faced each other, the difference in morale obvious at a glance!

The route was set by Wei Ji the previous night. Chu Shaoling also didn't expect to run into this group of Liaoliang troops. Chu Shaoling patted his restless warhorse and turned to look at Wei Ji. Wei Ji knew he couldn't hide it from Chu Shaoling. He slightly nodded his head. "When this subordinate planned the route, I did consider this possibility. But I wasn't sure if we would really encounter them, so I didn't dare mention it prematurely."

Chu Shaoling felt like his heart had been scratched by a kitten. He wished he could pull Wei Ji into his arms and dote on him right then! Chu Shaoling's gaze on Wei Ji grew even deeper as he smiled. "Cavalry General Ji is too modest."

The men looked at these fleeing Liaoliang troops like wolves eyeing rabbits, injured rabbits at that! The officers and soldiers were raring to go, just waiting for Chu Shaoling's order. Chu Shaoling smiled proudly. "Attack!"

There was no need for any tactics. It was a complete rout as the Chu army chased down the fleeing Liaoliang army. These Liaoliang troops had lost their crown prince and panicked. The officers and men all fled north but didn't dare return to Fenghe. They had failed to protect the crown prince and suffered a huge defeat. Returning to Fenghe meant certain death. But if they didn't go back, where could they go? After much deliberation, they had stopped here, only to be caught up to by the Chu army again.

Upon receiving the order, Wei Ji led his few thousand men charging over. Wei Ji was in no rush to claim heads, instead commanding his troops to form a geese formation to encircle and capture the enemy alive.

This unexpected battle ended in just one hour. Few of the Liaoliang troops put up stubborn resistance. Many seeing the situation was hopeless had surrendered early on. They weren't fools. Resisting the Great Chu meant only death. Even if they managed to escape, they couldn't return to Liaoliang. They might as well surrender to Chu Shaoling. Chu Shaoling had promised not to kill prisoners of war, just send them to open up wastelands. Perhaps their future days would be even better than before.

Chu Shaoling ordered the troops to make camp on the spot and rest. After resting for a night, they continued north the next morning. Along the way, the Chu army encountered a few more groups of fleeing Liaoliang soldiers and captured them all.

It had been smooth sailing all the way. At noon, they stopped for a meal. Chu Shaoling sat on the ground and spread out a map to discuss with the officers. "We are currently here. There's still over 100 li to Fenghe. In between is all hilly terrain. We need to be on guard against Liaoliang ambushes."

Wei Ji stared intently at the map. After a while, he took a pebble and placed it at a spot, saying in a deep voice: "If there is an ambush, it will most likely be here. The high ground here is easy to defend and hard to attack. If they set up fortifications here in advance, it will be troublesome."

Lian Yu looked and blinked. "Can we go around? Just avoid that area."

"No way around." Wei Ji shook his head. "Going west leads into the mountains. We have mostly cavalry and can't climb mountains. It would also take effort."

What the Chu army feared most now was wasting time. First of all, they didn't have enough provisions.

Wei Zhan pondered for a while. "Let's attack and force our way through."

Chu Shaoling smiled. "No worries. Have the rebel troops we captured today lead the vanguard. If there really are fortifications built there, let the Liaoliang prisoners of war take the brunt first. After most of them are dead, then we'll advance."

Lian Yu slapped his thigh. "Great!"

Wei Ji slightly furrowed his brows, looking at Chu Shaoling with disapproval. Chu Shaoling knew what Wei Ji was thinking and said indifferently: "If Cavalry General Ji thinks I'm being cruel, first think of Karakash that has been massacred hundreds and thousands of times. At worst, I'm only killing soldiers. What they killed were the women and children of my Great Chu."

Thinking of past events, Wei Ji sighed inwardly and said no more. In front of these people, it wasn't good for Chu Shaoling to console Wei Ji. But afraid he was feeling conflicted, after a moment of silence Chu Shaoling said: "Cavalry General Ji, what are we fighting this war for?"

Wei Ji paused, then said: "To stabilize the borders and deter the surrounding tribes."

Chu Shaoling nodded. "Yes. But I cannot be a saint. To achieve this, I can't rely on enlightening them. All I can do is use killing to stop the killing."

Hearing this, the officers couldn't help but look at Chu Shaoling. A few junior officers who originally felt uneasy immediately felt relieved and even chimed in agreement:

"The Grand General is the one who is truly benevolent!"

"Allowing jackals and wolves to run rampant is the real evil!"

"When the Liaoliang people massacred our border people, they should have known a day of reckoning would come sooner or later!"

"They deserve it!"

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji with a half-smile. Wei Ji could only nod. "The Grand General has thought this through carefully. This subordinate is in awe."

"That will do then." Chu Shaoling stood up. "Do any of you officers have anything else to say?"

Wei Zhan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Grand General, I have always had a doubt in my heart. Now that our army is about to arrive at the city, why hasn't the Liaoliang King sent someone to negotiate peace? Does he really want to fight to the death?"

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji. The two had just discussed this matter last night. Based on what they knew, the Liaoliang King shouldn't be such a stubborn person, refusing to surrender to the death. Was he going to die for his country? After the battle of Retong, the Liaoliang King had made no move, neither fighting nor negotiating peace, which was very strange.

Everyone fell silent. Lian Yu laughed casually, "Let the Liaoliang King think whatever he wants. We'll know what he's thinking when we reach his doorstep. What's there to worry about?"

Chu Shaoling laughed despite himself. Now that was the only way to think about it. Chu Shaoling stood up and said, "Everyone rest for a while longer. We'll break camp in half an hour."

Half an hour later, everyone continued north. As expected, they encountered Liaoliang soldiers at the place Wei Ji had mentioned earlier. However, they had not built defensive fortifications, but had drawn up a long battle line on the plain in front of the hill. When the two armies were a hundred paces apart, they both stopped. Chu Shaoling looked at the Liaoliang army from horseback and said lightly, "These are less than 30,000 soldiers?"

Wei Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded after a moment, "Just over 20,000."

Chu Shaoling sneered, "With just these 20,000 soldiers, they still want to stop this Prince from entering Fenghe? Ridiculous!"

Chu Shaoling now had 60,000 soldiers under his command. Liaoliang's dispatch of more than 20,000 soldiers was nothing more than throwing an egg against a rock. Everyone's morale was greatly boosted. Chu Shaoling drew his horse saber from his waist and said loudly, "Soldiers, listen to my orders! Now there are not many soldiers stationed in Fenghe City. This battle should be the last battle between the Great Chu and Liaoliang! The enemy is few and we are many. Heaven favors the Great Chu, and our army is sure to win!"

"Men! This is the last battle! Let the Liaoliang barbarians see how tough the flesh and bones of the Great Chu men are!"

The flag bearer behind Chu Shaoling waved the battle flag. Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji were the left and right vanguards, Wei Zhan was on the left wing, and Lian Yu was on the right wing. The generals led their respective troops and charged out!

Since the war between the Great Chu and Liaoliang began, this battle was particularly brutal.

This battle was the last hope of the Liaoliang people. If they could not repel the Great Chu, they could only allow the enemy to invade Liaoliang's Fenghe. This battle was also the last mission of the Chu army, to subdue the barbarians! Beat them until they no longer dare to invade the sacred territory of the Great Chu!

The two armies engaged in a bloody battle as soon as they started fighting, knowing that if they stopped, they would die. They each wielded their horse sabers and slaughtered in all directions!

Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji separated as soon as they charged into the Liaoliang army. Chu Shaoling was on the left and Wei Ji was on the right. This time, Chu Shaoling used another formation. When Chu Shaoling and Wei Zhan reunited, and Wei Ji and Lian Yu reunited, the four teams would encircle the enemy from the inside, leaving the Liaoliang army with nowhere to escape!

Everything was progressing in an orderly manner according to Chu Shaoling's previous expectations, until after an hour of fighting, Chu Shaoling began to feel that something was wrong.

The deeper Chu Shaoling killed into the Liaoliang army formation, the more he discovered that these Liaoliang soldiers were completely incomparable to the previous ones. They were of all ages, some of them not even fully equipped with military armor. Were they here to fight? It was more like they were here to die!

Were there no more people in Fenghe City? Were these their last soldiers?

Chu Shaoling subconsciously wanted to order the troops to start encircling the enemy. There was no need to continue killing at this point. If the people in front were just for show, then the soldiers behind would become more and more shoddy. Chu Shaoling had no intention of carrying out a useless massacre. Just as he was about to give the order, he saw Lian Yu, covered in blood, leading a group of people rushing towards him. Chu Shaoling's heart sank and he angrily said, "What are you doing here?! Where's Wei Ji?!"

Lian Yu killed several Liaoliang soldiers and rushed to the front of Chu Shaoling, hoarsely shouting, "Grand General! The Cavalry General and I fell into a trap! The front is full of the old, weak, sick, and disabled. The Cavalry General and I have already encircled them, but we didn't expect that inside would be all Liaoliang elite soldiers! The barbarians have counterattacked and surrounded the Cavalry General inside!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoling felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his whole body turning cold in an instant. The Liaoliang people had prepared all their elite soldiers for Wei Ji, just waiting for Wei Ji to fall into the trap.

Chu Shaoling closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't be anxious, no matter what, he couldn't be anxious.

"Rescue the Cavalry General with all your might!" Chu Shaoling tried to keep his voice calm and shouted, "Change course! Send someone to notify Wei Zhan to turn to the right wing immediately!"

Lian Yu hurriedly nodded, wiping the blood from his face, and asked again, "Grand General! How many people should General Wei Zhan send?"

Chu Shaoling suddenly turned his head and angrily said, "Everyone! All of them! No need to care about the Liaoliang people anymore! Prioritize rescuing and supporting the Cavalry General! Anyone who dares to seek merit and disobey military orders will be directly beheaded! If anything happens to Wei Ji, I will have everyone buried with him!"

Lian Yu hurriedly nodded in agreement and mounted his horse saber to lead people to notify Wei Zhan's left wing army. Chu Shaoling took the lead and led the crowd to kill towards the right wing. However, there were so many defeated soldiers blocking the way that it was impossible to break through for a while. In an instant, Chu Shaoling understood everything. Why the Liaoliang people would give up the hills to defend, why there would be so many old, weak, sick, and disabled people on this side.

Damn it, they were targeting Wei Ji!

Was it because Wei Ji had killed their prince? Or was it because Wei Ji was too eye-catching in the previous battle? Were they killing Wei Ji for revenge? No, even if they killed Wei Ji, it would not benefit them in the slightest. He would not give up attacking Fenghe because Wei Ji died.

"Hmph!" Chu Shaoling slashed a Liaoliang soldier who was blocking his way. What was he thinking? How could Wei Ji possibly die? Chu Shaoling wiped the blood from his saber and hacked at the people in front of him with all his might. He had to calm down, he must calm down.

Chu Shaoling took a deep breath. The Liaoliang people would not kill Wei Ji for revenge. Then it was to gain benefits. Using Wei Ji to gain benefits, yes, as long as they surrounded Wei Ji, he would agree to anything. Chu Shaoling let out a long sigh. Yes, Wei Ji was very useful. The Liaoliang people wouldn't dare to harm him easily.

In a short while, more than half of the Liaoliang army on the plain had surrounded Wei Ji's troops. The elite soldiers were fighting inside the circle, while the weak soldiers were resisting the attacks of Chu Shaoling and others outside. Chu Shaoling was furious in his heart. The barbarians had already set up a scheme, and he had underestimated the enemy because of it being smooth sailing along the way!

Chu Shaoling ordered his troops to concentrate their firepower and launch a fierce attack, but they couldn't break through for a while. There was no way to know the situation of Wei Ji inside. In the short time it took to burn an incense stick, Chu Shaoling suffered torment!

Chu Shaoling's guess was correct. Before long, a Liaoliang person walked to the front of the formation with his hands spread out. After Chu Shaoling's guards searched the person, they let him in. Chu Shaoling killed a Liaoliang soldier with one slash of his saber, then rode his horse over to the person. Seeing Chu Shaoling coming, the person hurriedly said loudly in Chinese: "Don't kill the envoy when two armies are at war!"

Chu Shaoling dismounted in one swift motion, strode up to the person, grabbed his collar and said angrily: "Don't waste my time with nonsense! You came from the Imperial Guard Halberd, right? Speak! Do you want me to withdraw my troops or what? Hurry up and say it!"

The person was scared half to death by Chu Shaoling, and stammered: "Our Great King heard that Crown Prince Chu values General Wei Ji of the Cavalry the most. He had us surround General Wei Ji in order to negotiate with Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Yes, now all the doubts were cleared up. No wonder the Liaoliang King never came to negotiate - he knew he wouldn't give in, but it would be different when he had Wei Ji in his hands. What a great idea indeed!

Chu Shaoling lowered his head slightly, staring intently at the envoy, his voice seeming to carry sparks: "Speak, what do you want?"

The fire in Chu Shaoling's eyes looked as if it would burn the person up. The envoy tried to steady himself: "First, we want Your Highness the Crown Prince to withdraw your troops. Our Great King will sign an eternal treaty with the Crown Prince, and will not invade Chu territory by even half a step."

"I agree." Chu Shaoling agreed without a second thought. "What else? If there's nothing else, withdraw immediately and release Wei Ji!!"

The Chu army had 60,000 men. The envoy knew that if they really fought, he had no chance of winning at all. He could only take advantage of the fact that the Chu army had not yet broken through the Liaoliang people's encirclement to threaten Chu Shaoling. The envoy hurriedly said: "Also, our Great King said that the wars between the two countries have always been because of border issues. Liaoliang has no intention of provoking the Chu people, it's just that Liaoliang's land is really barren, so..."

"Just say directly what you want!!" Chu Shaoling felt like there were thousands of raging fires tormenting his heart when he thought of Wei Ji still being surrounded by the Liaoliang people. How could he wait for this Di person to ramble on? "If you say anything more useless, I'll kill you directly!!"

The envoy swallowed and said urgently: "The Great King wants the fifteen cities from Karakash, to Pingyang, all the way to Xian'outuo."

At these words, the generals around Chu Shaoling were all furious. Was the Liaoliang King seeking death? He actually dared to covet the territory of Great Chu!!

The envoy himself also felt guilty, and said intermittently: "If, if Your Highness the Crown Prince thinks it's too much..."

"I agree." Chu Shaoling let go of the person's collar and pushed him, making him stagger. He said coldly: "The General Wei Ji of my Great Chu is priceless. Fifteen cities is not too much at all. Bring pen and paper, I'll sign it now. Release Wei Ji for me immediately!!"

Wei Zhan couldn't help but speak up to stop him: "General! If Wei Ji finds out..."

Chu Shaoling waved his hand to interrupt Wei Zhan's words. He knew what Wei Zhan wanted to say, but compared to Wei Ji's life, none of these were important.

In front of thousands of troops and horses, in front of this agreement that would become the shame of his life, Chu Shaoling suddenly thought of the old story of Emperor Ruizong and the little prince that he had told Wei Ji on the way back to the palace on the Mid-Autumn Festival of the 14th year of Tianqi, when Liaoliang invaded, while he and Wei Ji were accompanying the Empress Dowager to worship Buddha in Donghua Temple.

At that time, Wei Ji was moved by Ruizong's forbearance and the little prince's tragic heroism, and told himself that it was not easy for Ruizong to make such a decision.

That day, Chu Shaoling thought, Ruizong was a wise ruler, so naturally he would do that. He himself could not be a wise ruler. Let alone withdrawing troops or ceding territory, even if it was this splendid world, there was nothing he couldn't give for Wei Ji.

Chu Shaoling had said before, only where Wei Ji was, was home. If the world was vast and the gentleman was no more, what use did he have for that throne? What use did he have for this world?!

At the same moment, Wei Ji was fighting with all his might. At this point, Wei Ji also understood that all of these 20,000 soldiers today were coming for him.

The Liaoliang soldiers not far away didn't dare to really attack and kill Wei Ji. Right now, Wei Ji was Liaoliang's only chance of winning. They didn't dare to act rashly, and could only keep shouting for Wei Ji to surrender. Wei Ji ignored them completely, and directly ordered everyone to discard the baggage train. He himself even threw his big bow and quiver under the horse!

"Everyone already knows the current situation!" Wei Ji gently stroked his restless horse and shouted loudly, "Wei Ji is at fault! I actually let the barbarians see me as a fat sheep, it's me Wei Ji who implicated you brothers!!"

Wei Ji bowed on the horse, and the soldiers were stirred up. They hurriedly knelt down. Wei Ji said in a loud voice: "I don't know how many people are surrounding us now, but I know! My Wei family army! Even if there is only one soldier left! We will not be deserters!"

Wei Ji said word by word, his voice resounding: "We came here through mountains and rivers, to avenge the previous humiliation! To kill all the barbarians and avenge the common people! Not to be captured soldiers!!"

The soldiers were stirred up by Wei Ji, and beat their shields vigorously in response.

Wei Ji picked up his saber and roared loudly: "I'm endlessly grateful that everyone could follow me until now! Today, I Wei Ji will charge out with you brothers! If we are lucky enough to escape with our lives, that is your bravery! It is the blessing of the heroic spirit of our Great Chu!! If we unfortunately die here, Wei Ji will go with you brothers to meet the heroic spirits at the border! Tell them! We Wei family men did not come in vain this time! Men! Returning victorious after killing the enemy on the battlefield, that is meritorious service! Dying drunk on the battlefield wrapped in a horse hide is also glory!

The soldiers all cheered and followed Wei Ji as he charged out with all his might!!

In front of the formation, the trembling Liaoliang envoy held up the two newly drafted agreements in front of Chu Shaoling and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is the agreement."

Chu Shaoling stared intently at the person in front of him, enduring. For Wei Ji, there was nothing he couldn't endure. After rescuing Wei Ji...

Chu Shaoling didn't want to delay for a moment. He took out his personal seal and was about to stamp it. At the critical moment, the Chu army in front of the formation suddenly shouted: "The Cavalry General!! The Cavalry General has broken out!!"

The big seal fell from Chu Shaoling's hand. He suddenly turned around and looked over!

It was almost impossible. Surrounded by ten thousand elite soldiers from Liaoliang, Wei Ji led only three thousand men to break out. Wei Ji was even more anxious than Chu Shaoling. The Liaoliang army surrounding them here was definitely trying to threaten Chu Shaoling. Wei Ji knew Chu Shaoling's temperament better than anyone else. At this juncture, Chu Shaoling would agree to anything. Wei Ji would never allow Chu Shaoling to tarnish the Crown Prince's seal for his own sake!!

Many years later, Chu Shaoling still remembered that moment. Wei Ji, covered in blood, rode his warhorse towards him, escorted by the Chu army. Behind him were thousands of horses and soldiers. Behind him was the endless sunset glow on the plain in the twilight.

The Liaoliang envoy also did not expect such a change. This plan was set by them long ago, calculated perfectly. Even if Wei Ji had three heads and six arms, it was impossible for him to escape! Of course, what was also beyond their expectations was Chu Shaoling's reaction. The reportedly vicious and ruthless Crown Prince Chu actually agreed to their conditions without the slightest hesitation, just to save one of his generals.

The Liaoliang people would never know that in front of the future emperor and empress of the Great Chu, nothing was impossible.

Wei Zhan saw Wei Ji from a distance and felt his whole body soften. Thank the gods for allowing Wei Ji to break out at this moment. Wei Zhan stopped Chu Shaoling who was about to rush over and said urgently, "General! How do we deal with them now?"

Chu Shaoling took a deep breath as he looked at Wei Ji from afar, his voice hoarse, "Order the three armies to set off immediately. We must kill our way to the royal capital today."

Chu Shaoling's eyes were full of ferocity. Wei Ji had escaped, and there was nothing left in the world that could restrain Chu Shaoling. In an instant, Chu Shaoling transformed into a demon from the eighteen levels of hell.

"Pass my order! All the royal family, nobles, citizens, all the soldiers and men conscripted by Liaoliang, regardless of women, children or the elderly, leave none alive, slaughter them all! Before sunset tomorrow, I don't want to see a single Liaoliang person left. Go!"

-- The order to massacre the city is complete