The battle between tigers and wolves

Winter's chill is palpable in the northern part of Lanbing City. In previous years, heavy snow would blanket the Xuanyuan Terrace, but this year there is no snow, only blood. Bones lie buried outside the city, belonging to those who died at an unknown time. Only armor rests on the graves, a solitary companion to the desolation.

The battle between the two armies was like a fight between tigers and wolves.

Arrogance is embedded in the shouts, and ambition is hidden beneath the swords.

One side, like wild tigers, stared intently at the distant city walls, as if they were already theirs. After this battle, they would return in triumph, reclaim the city, expand their territory, and leave behind a legacy of glory for all time. The other side, like a pack of wolves, stood outside the city walls, baring their fangs to protect the city. With each beat of the drums, they understood—the city's survival depends on the people, or the city's demise depends on their lives.

A biting wind lashed against the armor, and the sound of war drums echoed the somber sky. Wei Mao stood atop his chariot, gazing at the soldiers opposite him, who stood ready to unleash their swords at any moment. A chilling aura surrounded him, and the scars on his face added to his domineering presence. His gaze swept over the enemy's already prepared cannons, and he said, "Today, I seek neither survival nor fame, but only to take one step, kill one man, and defend one city."

The wild tiger waited for its chance to strike, and shouts of "Kill!" rang out, signaling the start of a battle between life and death.

On the city wall, a row of students from Gezhong School stood, each holding a gold-cast telescope, gazing intently at the ever-changing situation on the battlefield. These telescopes were made by Wu Qi during the development of the cannon fin; originally, they were simply gold-cast and without any patterns. However, the students loved these telescopes and, fearing they might get mixed up with others', each had marked them.

Looking through a row of telescopes, one telescope stood out with its most ornate and exquisite design. It depicted birds, flowers, tigers, leopards, wolves, the rising sun, and the setting moon. Upon closer inspection, one could even see jasmine blossoms strung together, circling the telescope.

That was Ning Xunxu's telescope, the pattern of which was designed by Ning Chanyuan.

Wu Qi stood among the students in the pavilion and said, "The war has begun."

The two sides were evenly matched in numbers and weapons, but for some reason, the enemy's attack was extremely swift today. General Wei, who had been standing on a chariot, soon rode off to meet the enemy.

His warhorse is dead; now it serves as his spare.

Perhaps the enemy was prepared, for as soon as General Wei entered the fray, the enemy fired their cannons. Seeing the cannons coming, the defending soldiers also prepared their cannons and bombarded the enemy.

“That’s not right,” Wu Qi said, frowning.

One person asked, "What's wrong?"

Wu Qi said, "The enemy's artillery is only targeting General Wei."

Historically, there has always been the tactic of "capturing the king first to capture the thief," and historical records and military books document many battles in which generals, after falling, achieved victories against overwhelming odds. Looking at the continuous stream of cannon fire, Wu Qi tossed his binoculars aside and said, "Friends, let's go!"

War drums sounded from the city wall, and the city gates opened wide.

In the dim darkness, one could vaguely see a cannon ram at the very front, followed by two rows of cannon rams moving side by side, and then five rows of cannon rams. The soldiers defending the city did not know why the city gate had suddenly opened. Only Wei Mao, after killing one man with his sword, silently looked at the city gate.

As the wind rises and yellow sand dances, the smoke and blood of war fill this land that has already endured countless wars.

Wu Qi sat in the cannon-like creature and saw the withered bones through the crystal wall.

She pushed the control lever, and Paolin raised its iron-copper legs, stepping into the battlefield amidst the biting cold wind, becoming a pawn that stirred up the ever-changing winds and clouds.

The drumbeats grew increasingly intense, seemingly designed to draw all attention. The soldiers, on the brink of life and death, looked back and saw a colossal machine emerge from the city gate. This behemoth, cast in bronze and iron, with crystalline eyes, moved with a series of heavy thuds, its movements remarkably smooth, showing no sign of human intervention.

It's as if the enormous creature and the person controlling it have become one.

Twenty colossal creatures joined the battle. The enemy's swords and spears were useless against them; instead, one creature could easily smash their skull with its iron fist. The enemy watched as cannon fire rained down on these behemoths, yet they remained unmoved. Frustrated and terrified, the enemy gradually retreated and returned to their own lines.

The fierce battle between tigers and wolves has had a brief respite.

Twenty cannons stood before the soldiers, seemingly forming an impregnable fortress.

Wu Qi and Yi Shen positioned their cannons a short distance apart. This distance allowed the enemy to see Wei Mao standing on the chariot. He stood silently, his eyes fixed on the enemy general, ready to respond to any move he made.

Wu Qi tapped the joystick with his fingertips, waiting.

After a long, long time, the enemy general suddenly raised his hand.

At the same time, Wei Mao gripped his sword tightly, and Wu Qi gripped the control lever tightly. The soldiers gripped their weapons, some with swords, some with bows and crossbows, and the students from the pavilion also touched the control lever and gripped it tightly.

At this moment, the world gained another type of weapon.

Each person had no time to think about anything else; their minds were only focused on the battlefield and the weapons in their hands. They were waiting for a military order, just one command, and they would bravely advance, fight bloody battles, fearless of death, and unafraid of being laid to rest in their homeland.

Suddenly, a clear and sharp sound came from the enemy's side, like the ringing of a bell.

That was a signal to retreat.

The enemy troops have withdrawn.

The news of this great victory reached the ears of the people in the city. They stood inside the city gates and on the streets, young and old, men and women alike, cheering to welcome the victorious soldiers home. When General Wei rode into the city, the applause and cheers seemed to engulf the city—the city that General Wei had guarded for so long.

Wu Qi, maneuvering the cannon unicorn, followed behind the soldiers at a leisurely pace. As soon as she stepped into the city, she felt a wave of applause and cheers, much louder than the cheers received by General Wei.

Seeing this, Wu Qi smiled, pushed the control lever, and waved his iron and copper hand at everyone.

The people were seeing the Paolin for the first time and experiencing its power for the first time, so they already had a lot of respect for it. But to their surprise, the Paolin, which had repelled the enemy on the battlefield, waved to them and even kicked its leg.

It was as if they were being made to laugh.

The cheers and applause grew even louder.

The sound seemed to reach the capital, letting people thousands of miles away know how gratifying this victory was.

For some reason, amidst the surging waves, He Qi glanced at General Wei Mao. However, he could only see his back.

The cheers and applause that followed did not belong to him; the man who had been overwhelmed by the cheers and applause now felt somewhat lonely.

Suddenly, He Qi remembered that General Wei's warhorse had died, and his wife had passed away many years ago. The man who guarded the frontier year after year could only see his son a few times a year.

This high-ranking elder is now all alone.

Perhaps, as a younger generation, he should visit him after he lost the applause and cheers.

"You Che," Wei Mao looked at He Qi standing in the room, "What do you want with me?"

He Qi asked, "Uncle, are you injured?"

Wei Mao said, "It's alright. What brings you here tonight?"

He Qi said, "Since arriving in Lanbing City, I have not yet formally paid my respects to you. I apologize for my rudeness."

Wei Mao admitted he wasn't good at joking and playing with others. His wife once jokingly remarked that he had been a rigid and unsmiling general since birth. He silently accepted this. But when others said the same thing about him, his wife would become displeased, saying, "He had already distinguished himself in battle at thirteen, became a general at fifteen, and raised his younger sister alone. What makes you think you can compare to him and dare to speak of him like that?"

Over the years, the swords and blades have long since washed away the tenderness that his wife had nurtured in him.

Facing his sister's only son, he composed himself and said, "I have not been impolite. Your mother has raised you very well."

Mentioning his mother, He Qi felt a little relieved. The Wei Mao in front of him was no longer General Wei, but his mother's elder brother. He said, "My mother also misses you very much. Before coming to Lanbing, she repeatedly asked me to bring you the medicine for your injuries."

This medicine was indeed entrusted to him by his mother to be given to his uncle.

Wei Mao took the medicine and said, "Luan Hua is so unruly. Your mother has taken good care of him in the capital all these years. She must have gone to a lot of trouble."

He Qi said, "Brother Luan Hua has great respect for Mother."

“I don’t care much about Luan Hua. If you return to the capital, please give this letter to him for me.” Wei Mao took out a box, then took out a key from his chest, opened the box, and handed the letter inside to He Qi.

He was taken aback when he received the letter and saw the signature.

This is a letter written by Princess Pingyi, Wei Mao's wife, to Wei Si.

“Luan Hua harbors resentment towards me, hating that I didn’t pursue her death and let it go unresolved. But he misses and respects his mother, so he should be able to heed her words.” Wei Mao then took out a letter and handed it to He Qi, “If possible, give this letter to him as well.”

—That was a letter he wrote to Wei Si.

“This is troublesome,” he said.

"Uncle, you flatter me," He Qi said.

He Qi always felt awkward being in Ci Zi Pavilion, perhaps because Wei Mao was his maternal uncle, while the arrogant and unruly Wei Si was his elder brother. The students in the pavilion kept their distance from Wei Si, even harboring some resentment, so naturally they wouldn't confide in him.

He had been troubled by this, but his mother said, "A wise person will not be prejudiced against you."

He replied, "How many truly enlightened people are there in the world?"

His mother saw his resentment towards Wei Si and said, "Even if you don't meet someone who understands you, you shouldn't resent your brother."

Even though his mother said that, even though his mother was raised by his uncle Wei Mao from childhood, he still resented Wei Si, resenting his brother who had killed countless people, making him feel like an outsider in Ci Zi Pavilion. Wei Si seemed to realize this as well, and never showed him any affection in front of outsiders, especially in front of the students in the pavilion. Gradually, their relationship evolved into the peaceful facade they maintained in front of their mother.

"I will deliver these two letters to my brother." After putting away the two letters, He Qi got up to take his leave.

A glass lamp with an internal combustion flame hangs in the courtyard. I close the door and turn around.

To his surprise, he saw more than a dozen of his classmates squatting or standing in the courtyard, some leaning against trees, and some sitting directly on the trees swinging their legs.

Seeing He Qi come out, one of them said, "Finished chatting? Anything else? If not, let's go eat."

Without much thought, He Qi immediately sought out Wu Qi's shadow.

Of this group of people, he was most afraid that Wu Qi would distance himself from him because of Wei Si.

Wu Qi sat on a stone bench in the courtyard. Seeing him looking at her, she smiled frankly and said, "Let's go celebrate!"