Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Where is waiting for you? ...

"Your Majesty! This woman is so arrogant! Since she dared to come to the meeting alone, we must kill her on the spot! Without Xie Tingyu, we will surely win this battle!"

"Your Majesty, this plan is feasible, Your Majesty!"

Most of the generals in the camp advocated that since the Hongmen Banquet had been held, a decision should be made immediately.

However, there are also dissenters.

Tuoba You was always upright, a firm believer in winning through honor and integrity. She said, "Your Majesty! If we were to act so despicably, we would be betraying our loyalty. Even if we were victorious, we would be ridiculed by the world. Since Northern Qin is determined to win, why not fight it out in an open and honest manner? Why resort to such underhanded tactics?"

As soon as these words were spoken, someone slammed the table and refuted them: "Tuoba! I know you're upright, but look at those soldiers outside! Their morale is low, and someone even tried to escape at night the other day. Those Jurchen and Xiongnu troops have long been demoralized! If I hadn't personally beheaded the deserters and hung their heads in the camp for public display, I'm afraid most of them would have run away!"

Tuoba You's eyes widened in anger. "How could the fierce and powerful Northern Qin army achieve victory through such despicable means? Do you intend for Your Majesty to be cursed for eternity even if he wins this battle?"

The subordinates were noisy and the dispute continued.

A dark tide like thick ink suddenly surged in Helian Ji's sinister eyes.

As the ruler of a country, how could she not want to win?

But what she desired more than anything else was to be remembered in history as a victor. She would be the first foreign monarch to rule the Central Plains, a legend revered by her Xianbei people for generations.

"Everyone—"

Everyone fell silent and looked at Helian Ji.

"There's no need to mention such petty behavior as the Hongmen Banquet."

Tuoba You's eyes lit up when he heard this, but then he heard Helian Ju's tone suddenly change: "After the banquet tomorrow night, we will discuss the plan of advancing."

On the day of the banquet, at the hour of Shen, the setting sun melted into gold, spreading shimmering orange patterns across the surface of the Fei River. A small boat, carrying no more than ten people, drifted from one bank to the other.

Helian Ji and his men were already waiting on the shore. Guards in shining armor, hands on their ring-handled swords, cautiously made way for a passage, through which a man stepped out.

This person was wearing a wide-sleeved skirt with a straight collar and a front opening, a silk belt around his waist, and was not carrying any weapons.

Her attire clearly showed the attire of a young lady from a prominent family of the Great Zhou attending a banquet. How could she still recall the Shura who had cleaved an enemy general in two with a horizontal sword from the waist on the battlefield fifteen days earlier?

The soldiers following behind Helian Ji opened their eyes wide and scanned Xie Tingyu's body, and finally their eyes were fixed on a green jade hairpin in her bun.

They couldn't help but whisper to each other.

"Do you think that jade hairpin can kill people?"

"I don't think it will work. At most, it will blind someone."

"You have a problem with your eyes. If that hairpin had pierced my neck diagonally, it would have killed me just the same!"

Xie Tingyu raised his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping across the Northern Qin soldiers standing on the shore, their backs straight, their halberds leaning against the ground. He smiled faintly and said, "Just now, from the other side, I didn't quite see them clearly from afar. Now, seeing them up close, I know that the Northern Qin army is truly worthy of its reputation as a fierce and fierce force."

Upon hearing this, the group of soldiers began to murmur again.

"What is she doing? She called us paper tigers on the battlefield, and now she's praising us as a force of tigers and wolves."

"You don't understand. People over there are like this. They're so hypocritical."

"I heard that those educated ladies in the Great Zhou Dynasty can curse people without using any dirty words. They can curse your ancestors for eighteen generations and you won't even hear a single word!"

Helian Ji also responded with a few fake smiles, praised the majestic appearance of the Great Zhou army, and then invited Xie Tingyu to the banquet.

Xie Tingyu had to bring along Yuan Wangshu as well as Zhang Yan and Yuwen Yue, two powerful generals, along with her personal guards. Without this, she probably wouldn't have been able to attend the banquet.

When Xie Tingyu first proposed to attend the banquet, everyone except Chen Yu strongly opposed it, especially Yuan Wangshu, who believed that she would be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth, and would die if she went.

Xie Tingyu simply said, "The Northern Qin are stubbornly defending the north bank of the Fei River. The stalemate is causing us headaches. It would be better to lure them out of their lair and force them to attack."

Everyone asked, "How do we lead it?"

Xie Tingyu patted his chest and said, "Use me as bait."

Everyone tried to dissuade him but to no avail, and finally had to select a few brave generals to accompany and protect the emperor.

As soon as they sat down, the sound of stringed instruments began, and several bare-chested and barefoot young men entered the room to dance. Compared to the reserved and reserved customs of the Great Zhou, the customs of Northern Qin were indeed much more unrestrained. Far from being shy, these young men were proud to show off their muscular bodies to the Khan.

Despite the presence of beautiful women dancing, fine wine and delicious music, the atmosphere at the table did not resemble a banquet at all. Instead, it was like a slowly drawn bow, harbouring murderous intent.

The Northern Qin soldiers refused to drink, their gazes fixed on Xie Tingyu, as if they were eager to peel back her wide-sleeved skirt to check for hidden weapons. Their eyes also repeatedly scanned the row of guards behind her, not missing a single movement.

Xie Tingyu's personal guards were also alert and vigilant throughout the whole process, and were not distracted by the banquet at all.

In contrast, Xie Tingyu, who took the initiative to instigate this banquet, seemed extremely relaxed.

She drank several cups of milk wine in a row and marveled: "I've heard for a long time that Beiqin milk wine has a mellow frankincense and the burning taste of strong liquor. I tasted it myself today and it really lives up to its reputation."

No one would be unhappy when someone praises the good wine from their hometown.

Helian Ji laughed out loud, "I have also heard that your Jiankang Jinlingchun is refreshing and sweet, and I really want to try it."

Xie Tingyu raised his wine bowl high and said, "If I can have the chance again, I will personally serve the fine wine to the Khan and drink it together."

Then she tapped the edge of the bowl with her chopsticks.

There was a clang sound, like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, and ripples spread outward, and the originally relaxed atmosphere froze in an instant.

The smile on Helian Ji's face disappeared in an instant. He waved his hand indifferently, and all the musicians and dancers retreated.

Xie Tingyu placed his chopsticks on the table, rested his hands on his knees, raised his eyes and looked directly at Helian Ci, "I am not here just to taste the wine, but also to discuss something with you."

"Khan, you now have a fortified city at your back, and the natural barrier of the Fei River at your back, and you've been holding out here for a long time." She let out a long, feigned sigh. "It's been two years since you dispatched your troops. It seems you're determined to fight a protracted war with our Great Zhou. But is this really the meaning behind leading your cavalry south?"

Without waiting for Helian Ji to answer, Xie Tingyu leaned forward slightly. His voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone at the banquet to hear.

"Rather than stand there on the other side of the river, wasting food and supplies, why not ask the Khan to temporarily withdraw his army and allow me to lead it across the river? A fair and square battle between you and me will not only not dishonor the Khan's reputation, but will also determine the outcome quickly. Wouldn't that be much more enjoyable than wasting time here on the banks of the Fei River, just enjoying the scenery?"

With a loud crash, several wine bowls on the table opposite were knocked over, and the milky white wine spilled all over the floor.

A burly Northern Qin general, as burly as a female eagle, stomped his feet, pointed at Xie Tingyu, and shouted in broken Chinese, "You idiot! Do you really think we can't see that this is a ploy to lure the enemy? And you still want us to give up our territory?! Believe it or not, I will chop you into pieces right now!"

In an instant, the personal guards behind Xie Tingyu drew their swords, and the Northern Qin soldiers opposite also shouted in unison and drew their swords. The banquet suddenly became tense and ready to fight.

In such a tense situation, Xie Tingyu sipped his milk wine, took out a silk handkerchief from his bosom and wiped his lips gently. "This soldier is too kind. When two armies are on the battlefield, isn't victory a matter of risk? I come here alone today, attending the banquet with sincerity. Isn't my life also on the Khan's whim? Isn't this also my 'risk'?" After saying this, he looked at Helian Ji with a smile on his face. "Khan, don't you agree?"

"Your Majesty, let me—"

"Dugu."

Helian Jealous's glare was as sharp as a knife, and the general had no choice but to grit his teeth and retreat in anger.

Her hawk-like gaze once again locked onto Xie Tingyu's impassive face: "What makes you think I'll be manipulated by you? Xie Tingyu, you're way too conceited."

Xie Tingyu looked surprised. "No. Khan, this plan is truly about ending both sides as quickly as possible. Just ask, Khan, how long can your food and fodder last? Will the other tribes in the north remain pacified? Is time truly on your side?"

Every word was like a knife, piercing the hearts of Helian Ji and the Northern Qin generals. Some of them were already hanging their heads in despair. According to the original plan, they should have reached Jiankang within a year, but now two years had passed and they hadn't even been able to cross the Yangtze River.

Helian Ji certainly knew about this. The Prime Minister had already sent five urgent letters, all of which were instructing him to withdraw his troops and return, stating that the national treasury was empty and could no longer support the war.

But she hated it! She was unwilling to accept it!

Every time Xie Tingyu took a bite of this fat meat, he would spit it out.

After a moment, Helian Ji slowly spoke, "Even if we retreat, what if you attack us halfway across the river?"

"I am born into the Xie family of Chen Commandery. My mother served as the Grand Tutor. Our family has been upright for generations, with strict ethics and a strong emphasis on integrity."

Xie Tingyu raised his wine bowl. "Here, I swear an oath with the Khan by shaking hands. If I break this promise, the whole world will abandon me. No matter what, I will not abandon the reputation of my Xie family."

The general named Dugu muttered, "Credit? Reputation? This thing can neither be eaten nor worn, what kind of guarantee is it?"

"Then let's clap our hands three times in front of the table to signify our alliance."

Bang. Bang. Bang.

After three claps of hands, Xie Tingyu stood up, performed the ceremony, and left the table calmly.

After boarding the boat and leaving the shore, Yuan Wangshu nudged Xie Tingyu with his elbow, looking peculiar: "Do you really want to wait until the entire army has crossed the river before we can have a fair fight?"

"No." Xie Tingyu glanced back in surprise. "To win a war, if you stick to the old ways, isn't that just courting death? Regardless of whether the means are glamorous or not, as long as you can win, it's a good strategy."

Yuan Wangshu choked, "Then why did you use the reputation of the Xie family of Chenjun as a guarantee?"

Xie Tingyu smiled as cunningly as a fox: "Reputation cannot feed you. Moreover, people only care about the outcome, not the process."

"So what are you going to do after you get ashore?"

Xie Tingyu suddenly said something in Xianbei language, and Yuwen Yue burst out laughing when he heard it.

Yuan Wangshu frowned: "What did you just say?"

Xie Tingyu said calmly, "We only need to send two teams, put on the previously captured Qin army armor, and shout in Xianbei language, 'The Khan has been killed, the Qin army has been defeated,' and the battle will be won."

Yuan Wangshu was dumbfounded: "Is it that simple?"

Xie Tingyu nodded: "It's that simple."

At the same time, Helian Ji turned and said to his men, "When the Great Zhou is halfway across the river, use heavy cavalry to intercept and kill them."

She thought: It was Xie Tingyu who swore the oath, not her. Killing him while she was crossing the river wouldn't be considered a breach of trust. She would still be remembered in history.

"yes!"

The day of landing.

The wind was blowing coldly, and the sky was dark as if soaked in ink, but there was not a single dark cloud in sight.

Helian Ji looked coldly at the other side of the Feishui River, and saw black armor like a tide and warships covering the river.

Ten thousand troops boarded their ships to support the battle, cloaking the river in a blanket of black. Despite the overwhelming momentum, she had overlooked a few small boats that had quietly separated from the main force and sped off to the flanks.

Helian Ji waved his hand, and the standard-bearer immediately raised the banner high: "All troops, listen to my order - retreat!"

The front army, being close to the commander and part of the Xianbei main force, was able to retreat in an orderly manner. The central army was already in disarray, and the rear army, comprised mostly of Jurchen, Qiang, and Xiongnu tribes, already struggled with poor command, and now their formation was skewed and their steps were unsteady.

However, after retreating more than a hundred steps, dozens of figures suddenly emerged from the forest on the flank.

These men, all wearing the crimson armor of the Northern Qin, waved battle flags inscribed with the Chinese character "秦," and screamed in the Xianbei language: "Run! The Khan has been killed! The Qin army has been defeated!"

These words were like thunder, sweeping across the entire army in an instant.

The Jurchens, Qiangs, and other tribesmen didn't understand what he was saying, but some Xianbei soldiers, upon understanding, immediately grabbed the man and asked urgently, "Is what you said true? Was the Khan really shot dead on horseback?"

The man's face was pale, and he just kept repeating: "Run! The Khan has been killed! The Qin army has been defeated!" While shouting, he pulled her tightly and ran backwards.

"No, sister, you..."

"Run! The Khan has been killed! The Qin army has been defeated!"

The Xianbei soldiers, understanding the situation, collapsed and scattered. Seeing their expressions of terror, the Jurchens and other foreign tribes also vaguely sensed something was amiss. Years of fighting had already weakened their military morale, and seeing this, they were even more terrified. They abandoned their weapons and armor and fled for their lives.

Someone who ran slowly was shoved hard by the faster ones, stumbling to the ground. Just as they tried to stand up, they were trampled down by the soldiers surging in from behind. Their screams were quickly drowned out by the pounding footsteps, and the fallen people never got up again.

In an instant, the rear army was in complete chaos. The fleeing soldiers pushed and shoved each other, shouting incomprehensibly: "Run! The Khan has been killed! The Qin army has been defeated!"

The morale of the army collapsed like a spreading epidemic, sweeping through the center of the army in an instant. Seeing this, the generals turned their horses and shouted, "Anyone who retreats without permission will be executed!"

However, the mad Northern Qin soldiers just ran wildly with their heads in their hands. The crowd swept the flags upside down, the iron hooves crushed the command flags, and the defeated soldiers rushed backwards like a bursting dam.

Someone threw torches into the heavy cavalry formation, and several war horses neighed in panic. Two of them completely lost control, turned their heads and ran out wildly, and would not look back no matter how they were shouted at.

When Helian Ji ordered the heavy cavalry to charge out, he received no response.

This earth-shaking commotion naturally reached the front of the battle line. Helian Jealousy was furious: "It's just a normal retreat, why is it so serious?"

The soldier who came to report replied in a trembling voice: "I...I don't know!"

At this moment, all the warships of the Great Zhou have docked.

In the whistling wind, Xie Tingyu's scarlet battle robe billowed like a blood-red flag. She calmly observed the battle situation, waved her hand briefly, and the flag was passed down. The entire army rushed towards the Northern Qin line like a black dragon emerging from a cave.

Although the remaining Northern Qin soldiers rose to fight, the news of their rout had already broken their morale, and their resistance was weak and powerless, and they were pressed step by step by the Zhou army. The soldiers of the Great Zhou, on the other hand, became more and more courageous, and their momentum was unstoppable.

Helian Ji watched his personal guards fall one after another, raging with rage. After slaying three, he looked up, only to be surrounded by soldiers from the Great Zhou. They wielded ring-handled sabers, their gazes cold yet fierce, their grips clenched with veins. In their eyes, she was a walking military achievement, a stepping stone to nobility.

In the distance, Xie Tingyu stood still, staring at Helian Ci who was surrounded by enemies. He watched her struggle, roar, stumble in a pool of blood, scream in the flash of swords, her body covered in blood, her armor torn.

"ah--!"

Helian Ji raised his scarlet eyes, looked at Xie Tingyu, and roared: "I would rather die in battle and lose my country than give up my throne!"

The long knife was placed across his neck. A flash of cold light emanated, and blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing onto the yellow earth. Helian Ji fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes still wide open, but he was silent.

"The Khan of Northern Qin is dead! The Khan of Northern Qin is dead! The Khan of Northern Qin is dead!"

The remaining Northern Qin troops fled in all directions, but Xie Tingyu ordered a relentless pursuit. Originally fighting within Great Zhou territory, they fought their way all the way to the Northern Qin capital, Xianyang. Any Northern Qin troops who encountered Great Zhou soldiers were so frightened that they fled without engaging in combat.

The Prime Minister had already made preparations for this and led the remaining Northern Qin ministers to flee further north.

Xie Tingyu led his army northward and occupied several cities in Northern Qin before sending a victory report to Ji Xun, saying, "A general is not bound by the king's orders when he is away from the country." This was an excellent opportunity to occupy other countries' cities and enhance the prestige of our Great Zhou, so he acted first and reported later.

It was originally just a one-time fight against foreign enemies by the Great Zhou, but unexpectedly it turned into a large-scale counterattack and a campaign of rapid advance by the Great Zhou.

Some people in Fengge criticized Xie Tingyu for abusing her power and rashly starting a war between great powers, while there were also many who supported Xie Tingyu, saying that she was courageous and laid the foundation for a century-long empire with a single battle.

Ji Xun ignored the opposition, publicly praised Xie Tingyu, and made it clear that he would reward him handsomely when he returned victorious.

After stabilizing the newly occupied city and changing the sentry posts, Xie Tingyu mysteriously disappeared for seven days before reappearing.

"You mean..." Cui Yuanying stared at the five jade-white lotus flowers curiously, "Is this the Snow Marrow Ice Lotus, which is unique to the Northern Qin Jade Mountain?"

Xie Tingyu nodded, took out the silk handkerchief, wrapped it with great care, and put it neatly into the brocade bag in his arms: "I will take it back."

"You disappeared for seven days just for this?" Cui Yuanying scratched his head in confusion. "Is this thing really that rare? I feel like it's even worse than the lotus in the pond. At least it's a little pink."

"You don't understand. This is the treasure I'm looking for."

Xie Tingyu's eyes lit up with a clear light, "Now, we can return to the court."

The royal army excitedly crossed the river south, having left the capital for two years and eager to return. But after so many days of travel, their faces were exhausted and their steps were weak. Even though Jiankang was within reach, their advance was slow.

Xie Tingyu yawned several times, the white mist from her breath wisping away in the cold night. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and muttered, "Strange, the closer I get to Jiankang, the more tired I feel."

Yuan Wangshu rubbed his sore shoulders and neck: "It's the same for everyone. We haven't had a good rest after traveling for days."

Several girls were talking together.

Xie Tingyu suddenly caught a glimpse of a glimmer of light in the dim night.

A dim halo as small as a bean swayed in the pavilion in the distance.

She had excellent eyesight and even in the dark night she could still make out a figure sitting at the stone table in the pavilion, with a warm light flickering gently on the table.

Is this person waiting for someone?

Her heart suddenly trembled, and she suddenly woke up. She clamped her legs against the horse's belly and galloped out like an arrow.

Before Yuan Wangshu finished speaking, he felt a flash of black and red lightning pass by the corner of his eyes.

"Hey! Xie Tingyu, why are you suddenly going crazy?"

"Good boy, it's like he's been injected with chicken blood!"

The cold wind was so sharp it stung her face. Xie Tingyu's horsetail danced wildly in the wind, her scarlet cape rustling. She urged her horse on, her back tense like a drawn bow, wishing her Stepping Moon Horse would sprout wings and gallop to the lamp.

The person in the pavilion heard the approaching horse hooves and couldn't help but stand up to greet them. But when the person suddenly pulled the reins, the horse neighed loudly and stood up, and she jumped off the saddle, her eyes shining like stars, staring straight at him.

Ji Lian could hardly believe it.

The figure that had appeared in my dreams every night for the past two years was now standing clearly before my eyes.

"I……"

"you……"

They both said in unison, "You speak first!"

Two chuckles escaped his lips simultaneously.

Xie Tingyu took two steps forward, her fingertips gently caressing his cheek, which was chilled by the cold wind. "Did you receive the message and wait for me here?" A few strands of black hair brushed between them in the wind. "It's freezing cold, why don't you go home and wait?"

Ji Lian whispered: "It's not about waiting for you. I just want you to see the first thing when you return to Jiankang..." Before he finished speaking, he was sealed between his lips.

Xie Tingyu leaned close to him, held his face in her hands, and without saying a word, kissed the soft lips that she had longed for.

Seeing this, Jiangzhu, the coachwoman and the guards who had been waiting quietly by the pavilion turned around tacitly and looked up at the sky silently towards the boundless night.

Everyone thought: ...really? How could they kiss without saying a word? They were completely unprepared!

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The author has something to say: I would rather die in battle and lose my country than give up my throne. --- Liu Chen

The war content in this chapter is inspired by the Battle of Feishui in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. At that time, someone really shouted "The Qin army is defeated" while retreating, and those people ran away, and then they really lost the battle. However, the person who shouted was a captured general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

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Hate it, I just finished celebrating last night that this book had 2500 collections, but it dropped, and now it's 2499, wuwuwuwu, I will never write about female supremacy again, this subject bullies me (bushi...

I wish you all a happy National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival~ I will update as usual during the holidays~