Chapter Twenty-Five
Marquis Haitang led several Ironclad Warriors around the Mysterious Stone Formation for nearly half an hour, but still couldn't find Mo Yinghuo. Strangely, this Mysterious Stone Formation, which from the outside looked to occupy almost half the area of the Eastern Liang Kingdom's royal palace, stretched out before them, its vastness inspiring awe.
"There's definitely something wrong with this mystical stone formation!" Marquis Haitang reminded the Ironclad Warriors beside him, then thought to himself, "Could there be some upheaval in the Eastern Liang court, related to this stone formation! Did the eldest princess of Yunxiu Kingdom, and that man in black armor beside her, already guess it? After hearing that loud noise, they rushed over here without saying a word! No, the two of them already knew there was a mystical stone formation here! The eldest princess's main target wasn't the capital of Eastern Liang Kingdom, but this stone formation!"
Thinking of all this, for some reason, Marquis Haitang felt a sense of relief. In his entire life, he had relied entirely on his own skills and courage to rise from a local ruffian to the title of Marquis Haitang.
The crabapple is the supreme symbol of the Eastern Liang Kingdom! The fact that the former king of Eastern Liang bestowed such a title upon his relatives truly shows the utmost respect and honor.
Gentle beauty, wealth and peace—these are the symbols of the crabapple blossom, and also the embodiment of the small kingdom of Dongliang, which does not contend or fight, and lives in peace in its corner of the world. However, that was Dongliang five years ago.
Marquis Haitang had known about this Mystic Stone Formation for a long time and had even seen it once. That time, it was during the young king's ascension to the throne, a time of chaos in the court, when they stumbled upon it by chance. Since then, the king had ordered strict guarding of the stone formation, forbidding entry without the king's personal permission. It had been there for five years now, in the plaza behind the main hall. Thinking back, since the Mystic Stone Formation appeared, the Eastern Liang Kingdom had changed; more precisely, the court had changed, and the Iron Pagoda was established around that time.
He naturally assumed the role of commander-in-chief of this powerful national asset.
They wantonly harassed the borders of Yunxiu Kingdom. No matter how powerful the Ironclad Cavalry was, Dongliang was just a small country; how could it be a match for Yunxiu Kingdom? They had brought trouble upon themselves; where did they get their audacity? It turned out the court had already been controlled by others. Marquis Haitang finally understood, but it was too late. However, at this moment, he seemed to be finding solace in his suffering, thinking that it was finally over, and he finally found a sliver of comfort, letting out a sigh of relief.
He had heard that in the Land of Clouds and Peaks, the crabapple blossom was also called the "Heartbreak Flower," and it also symbolized another thing—the homesickness of a wanderer, the sorrow of parting. How ironic, he was just an orphan, and he could not have what he loved. It was a mixed bag, perhaps. He gained wealth and peace, but lacked gentleness and beauty; he longed for the homesickness of a wanderer, but instead received the sorrow of parting.
Marquis Haitang was unaware that he had been lost in thought. One of the Ironclad Pagoda soldiers called to him several times, but he didn't respond. The Ironclad Pagoda had never seen his general so disoriented and, thinking the stone formation was a bewitching illusion, quickly nudged him. Marquis Haitang snapped out of his reverie, glanced around, and asked, "Have you noticed anything unusual?"
"Reporting to Marquis Haitang, nothing was found, just stone pillars," Tie Futu replied.
Marquis Haitang frowned, "Have you seen the Eldest Princess?"
Ironclad Pagoda: "No, there are only a few of us around, and we haven't seen any soldiers from Yunxiu Kingdom."
No sooner had he finished speaking than several soldiers who had accompanied Mo Yinghuo suddenly appeared in their line of sight. The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom also seemed to be searching for something, and when they saw the Ironclad Cavalry staring at them with astonishment, they were startled and drew their swords.
The Ironclad Pagoda soldier who spoke was well-trained in his physical movements and quick in his reactions. He had a scimitar in his hand, but with his mouth wide open, he completely forgot to embellish his facial expressions.
Marquis Haitang glared at him, "Shut your mouth! There's no one around. Are those guys in front of you ghosts?!"
Ironclad Pagoda's face turned red as he spoke. Another Ironclad Pagoda beside him hurriedly said, "Lord Haitang, this Xuan Stone Formation is very strange. We have just checked the surrounding area and found no trace of Yunxiu Kingdom's soldiers."
The others nodded in agreement.
Marquis Haitang composed himself and nodded slightly. However, he noticed a problem: the eldest princess and the man in black armor were not among the group.
"Where is our general!" A leading soldier from Yunxiu Kingdom pointed his sword at Marquis Haitang and asked. With Dongliang surrendering, even if he was just an ordinary soldier from Yunxiu Kingdom, or even if he were the second-in-command of Dongliang, the soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom had enough confidence to point their swords at him.
Historically, the victor is king, and the loser is a bandit.
Marquis Haitang frowned, feeling both desolate and puzzled. He thought to himself, "Is the Princess gone?" He sneered and said, "You'll have to ask yourselves. Can't you even keep an eye on your own general?"
The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom roared, their eyes bloodshot, "Listen up, Dongliang Iron Cavalry! If the commander of the Yunzhao Army does anything wrong, I will make all 50,000 of you Iron Cavalry soldiers pay with your lives!"
The Ironclad Pagoda, his face flushed red, roared back, "In less than half an hour, don't you know where they are?!"
The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom: "What do you mean half an hour? We've been searching for days! Dongliang has surrendered. We advise you not to use any sorcery on this stone formation!"
"A few days?" Marquis Haitang stared at the Yunxiu Kingdom soldiers in front of him with eyes like a hawk, his brows furrowing once again.
The Ironclad Pagoda soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. They had been chasing after them for less than half an hour.
After carefully examining the soldiers from Yunxiu Kingdom, Marquis Haitang noticed that they were all exhausted, their faces and bodies covered in dust and grime. Based on his years of experience in warfare, he knew that their fatigue was not caused by fighting, but rather by hunger.
One or two of the hands holding the swords were trembling slightly, their lips blue, suggesting they hadn't eaten properly for several days. A wild laugh playing on Haitang Hou's lips masked his confusion. With a swift movement, without even glancing at the sword, he sheathed it at his waist. The other Ironclad soldiers followed suit, sheathing their swords as well.
When the soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom saw that the Ironclad Cavalry had sheathed their scimitars, their expressions immediately softened. It seemed that their previous display of unparalleled bravery was entirely due to the intimidation instilled by their loud shouts.
Even the bravest warrior can't cook without rice.
The soldiers of both countries stood still, staring at each other. The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom suffered terribly, as Marquis Haitang had predicted; they were indeed starving, and even saw double images of the Ironclad Cavalry.
If the enemy doesn't move, and I don't move either, then we really can't make any big moves.
After a brief standoff, just as Marquis Haitang was about to step forward, suddenly, another loud "boom" resounded!
The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom gasped, struggling to lift their heavy, hungry swords once more. Marquis Haitang drew his scimitar and led the Iron Cavalry. The soldiers of the two kingdoms exchanged glances, and without a word, a tacit understanding of shared hatred arose within this strange mystic stone formation. They headed straight for the source of the sound.
Within several massive, round stone pillars, an elegant, flawless, and translucent white jade coffin lay somberly in the very center. The coffin lid was carved with a gentle, beautiful, and noble begonia flower.
Everyone held their breath and remained calm. The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom looked at the suddenly appearing coffin with strange eyes, and then scrutinized the Dongliang Iron Cavalry from head to toe with the same strange gaze.
"Did you see this coffin earlier?" asked Marquis Haitang.
Ironclad Pagoda: "No."
A moment of confusion.
Suddenly, the white jade coffin creaked, and everyone's breath caught in their throats as dozens of eyes stared intently at it.
The coffin lid was slowly slid open a crack, and after a moment, a long, strong hand with distinct knuckles reached out from the crack, grabbed the white jade coffin lid with a sudden burst of strength, and deftly lifted it. The entire lid flew into the sky as lightly as a young girl, and in an instant, it crashed into a stone pillar not far away like a dog eating excrement.
With a "thud," the white jade lid, carved with begonia flowers, fell to the ground. The lid had been thrown so fast, so high, and so heavily that it should have shattered into pieces. Surprisingly, the lid lay perfectly intact on the plaza floor, while the massive stone pillar trembled slightly, as if startled by the small white jade coffin lid.
A domineering figure in black, dressed in extremely poor linen khaki, with a high ponytail and a few loose strands of dark hair, slowly and carefully climbed out of the white jade coffin. He glanced at the armed soldiers around him, then naturally looked away, his gaze not lingering on them for even a moment. Then, he gently climbed out of the coffin again, his movements incredibly slow, completely leaving the onlookers standing by.
To the uninitiated, one might think this person is clumsy or has some kind of disability.
Fortunately, everyone had seen Zhao Shu during the battle; otherwise, they would have thought he was some kind of Black Impermanence who had crawled out of the deepest hell to claim their lives.
Mo Yinghuo lay below, and Zhao Shu, with an unchanging expression, was naturally unaware that more than a dozen Yunxiu Kingdom soldiers and Ironclad warriors were standing outside. She had anticipated that Zhao Shu wouldn't get up quickly, so she lowered her eyes, closed them to rest, neither urging him, nor speaking, nor looking, letting him do as he pleased.
She was exceptionally understanding and rested peacefully, like a beautiful woman lying down, radiant and serene.
Zhao Shu stood solemnly before the assembled soldiers, glanced at them, then lowered his eyes and slowly straightened his sleeves as if no one else was there, without saying a word or asking any questions.
This whole group of people was less than a sleeve of a coarse linen garment; they seemed utterly insignificant to him. Everyone held their breath, while Zhao Shu silently and vividly illustrated the meaning—you are nothing! Unseen…
Although the soldiers of Yunzhao Army had spent more than a month with Zhao Shu, it was more like they were paying homage to him than spending time with him. There were many soldiers in the army, and even fewer who could exchange a few words with the general. But for some reason, the soldiers all agreed that it was more difficult to exchange a single word with Zhao Shu than with the general himself.
Although the eldest princess was dignified and imposing, she did not have much of the aloofness of a general when there was no war. She was originally a pretty young woman, and her years of military service had instilled in her a free and unrestrained spirit, as well as her quick wit and unwavering loyalty.
May Heaven and Earth bless my comrades of Yunxiu Kingdom. Many have fought on the battlefield, many have returned; all have given their lives for Yunxiu Kingdom. When Mo Yinghuo meets the soldiers of Yunzhao Army in the military camp, there is always a hint of closeness in his eyes. Who knows, one day, one of these soldiers might be buried far from home.
Zhao Shu was different. He had only joined the group at the last minute, and there was no trace of friendliness in his eyes. He was never arrogant, but rather gentle, taciturn, and politely aloof, making him extremely unapproachable. In the eyes of Yun Zhao's army, they were all people who had already passed away. Apart from the general, they were considered half-human, which was already a rare privilege.
It now seems that Zhao Shu's innate temperament is not only useful to the soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom, but also treats the soldiers of Dongliang Kingdom equally. The wrinkles between Haitang Hou's brows deepened further, his eyes fixed intently on the man before him dressed in simple hemp clothing, remaining silent and motionless, his hands gripping tightly on the scabbard of his curved sword. Since he didn't speak, the other Ironclad soldiers dared not utter a sound.
The soldiers of both countries watched and waited in perfect unison as Zhao Shu straightened his sleeves. His sleeves, straightened, exuded an aura of commanding authority and unyielding authority over state affairs.
Indeed, if one is born into a good family and finds the right person to marry, one can soon achieve great success.
Suddenly, a white light flashed into everyone's eyes, and everyone's breath caught in their throats again.
It's come back to life again!
Suddenly, the eldest princess sat up, stretched her arms out, and glanced at the group of people around her. She looked at Zhao Shu, who was straightening his sleeves, then stood up and strode out of the coffin. Arms crossed, she looked at Marquis Haitang and smiled, "My lord."
The furrows between Haitang Hou's brows were etched with anger. He was about to shout and demand an explanation when Mo Yinghuo calmly said, "Haitang Hou, you've made a mistake asking me about Dongliang. No matter how reasonable my words may seem, they still come from someone else, and you're bound to have some doubts. The Empress Dowager knows better than anyone, doesn't she?"
In the end, Marquis Haitang did not ask the question again.
Led by Zhao Shu, the soldiers emerged from the stone formation. Mo Yinghuo glanced at the weathered faces of the Yunxiu Kingdom soldiers who had entered with him, their necks etched with hardship and dark circles, their swords held high with forced resolve. He slowed his pace and softly asked one of them, "How long have you been here?"
The soldier, barely able to speak, said, "General, it's been several days. This stone formation is very strange. It led us to a bamboo forest, and no matter how we turn around, we can't find our way out. There's not a single person in sight."
Mo Yinghuo asked curiously, "You guys survived these past few days by eating... eating bamboo?"
The soldier, with a pained expression on his face, nodded solemnly and said, "General, have you been eating this for several days now?"
Mo Yinghuo smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes, when we get back we'll have the cooks prepare some good meals for the brothers."
Upon hearing the general's words, the soldiers following behind, whose stomachs were practically sticking to their backs from hunger, swallowed hard and suddenly perked up.
The Eastern Liang surrendered.
The 50,000 Ironclad Cavalrymen removed their heavy armor and dropped their scimitars.
Captain An squinted his cat-like eyes, reading the surrender document several times from beginning to end, a sinister smile playing on his lips. In truth, An Wenbin was merely displaying excitement, but his unique eyes—the windows to the soul—meant that even a simple smile from Captain An sent a chill down one's spine. It felt as if a vengeful ghost were about to possess one's soul.
What you think about every day, you gradually become.
Captain Chen maintained his kind and composed demeanor, as if everything was within his expectations. Indeed, it was all as the general had anticipated. The three captains, each leading light cavalry and archers, engaged in a seemingly battle-like but ultimately futile fight against the 50,000-strong Iron Pagoda of Dongliang, skillfully stalling for nearly an hour. During this time, the Iron Pagoda soldiers were nearly driven to madness. And before an hour had passed, just as the general had predicted, they surrendered.
Lieutenant Pu, who had initially been somewhat worried, led his light cavalry to delay the Dongliang heavy cavalry until he was filled with rage. Unconsciously, his worries subsided, and he found himself enjoying the fight more and more. Watching the enemy with nowhere to vent their anger brought him a different kind of schadenfreude than killing enemy soldiers himself.
A moment later, the three captains saw the general, followed by several soldiers, as well as the commander-in-chief, Marquis Haitang, and beside him was a woman in a noble, light blue satin palace robe.
"General!" Captain Chen called out.
Mo Yinghuo beckoned to him, signaling him to come over. Captain Chen rode swiftly forward, dismounted before the general, and strode up. Mo Yinghuo glanced around, noticing Zhao Shu looking elsewhere, then leaned closer to Captain An and whispered in his ear, "How long have we been in the city?"
A hint of confusion flashed across Captain Chen's face, but this confusion did not shake his long-standing composure. After thinking for a moment, he murmured, "General, it will probably be less than half an hour."
Mo Yinghuo nodded slightly, meaning they had been gone for less than an hour, confirming Zhao Shu's words. After confirming, she unconsciously glanced at Zhao Shu again, then suddenly froze. Zhao Shu happened to be looking in her direction as well, and their eyes met seamlessly once more.
Mo Yinghuo reacted quickly, smiling handsomely and beckoning to Zhao Shu. He thought to himself, "He didn't hear that, did he? Does he think I don't trust him? But what he said is hard to accept right away. I've done my homework; I just accept whatever he says without asking any questions!"
Zhao Shu turned his face away directly, his ears unconsciously blushing slightly.
Mo Yinghuo raised his voice and said cheerfully to the soldiers, "You've all worked hard. Archers who hit the eye or leg, make a note of it, and I will have my deputy general reward them when we get back."
A cheer erupted.
Suddenly, the Empress Dowager slowly walked to Mo Yinghuo's side, bowed to her, and said softly, her red lips slightly parted, "Your Highness, Dongliang has already surrendered. I hope Your Highness can spare the 50,000 Iron Cavalry of Dongliang. This is my son's last request. If Your Highness grants it, I will serve Your Highness with my life." Although she was a woman, frail and delicate, her gaze was unusually firm as she fixed it on Mo Yinghuo's face. Her few words were full of courage.
Marquis Haitang moved forward slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he remained standing in place, but his gaze remained fixed on the Empress Dowager.
Fifty thousand prisoners of war, stripped of their armor, all knelt on the ground.
The eldest princess frowned, a token smile playing on her lips, and said in a cool tone, "Your Majesty, Yunxiu Kingdom does not kill those who surrender. Moreover, how to deal with these 50,000 Iron Cavalry is not up to me, but entirely up to His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor of Yunxiu Kingdom is benevolent and virtuous, and will surely treat the people of all nations well."
Empress Dowager remained kneeling, a strange glint flashing in her tender eyes. After a moment, she mustered her courage, parted her red lips slightly, and said, "I heard that the emperor of Yunxiu Kingdom ordered the release of 200,000 Western Jin soldiers. However, of the 100,000 who returned, most had broken their arms and could no longer lift heavy objects." She stopped there, silently staring at Mo Yinghuo.
Mo Yinghuo gave an "Oh," coldly looking down at the woman kneeling before her. Though in her forties, she remained elegant and poised; time had left few marks on her face and body, but rather a composure and wisdom honed by experience. She straightened up, thinking that her cold-blooded, ruthless act of disregarding imperial orders had, in a sense, "crossed the ocean."
Even this remote little country knows this, so it's safe to assume that everyone in the court has been aware of it for the past few years, but no one dares to say anything. After all, it still depends on Her Highness the Princess to subdue the other enemy countries first, and her emperor brother must have racked his brains to suppress this matter.
When the Empress Dowager saw her, her face paled even further. The person before her was only about the same age as her son, the deceased King of Dongliang, yet the aura she exuded was not what one would expect from someone her age. The Empress Dowager did not know that there is a difference between a person who has lived through five years of bloodshed and death and a person who sits in the court.
A deathly silence fell. Even Captain Chen, with his kind and benevolent expression, trembled slightly. In the entire Yunzhao army, which soldier was unaware of this matter, and who dared to mention it?
Marquis Haitang immediately sensed something amiss. In the blink of an eye, he swiftly drew his curved sword from his waist, the blade trembling slightly. The surrounding soldiers then drew their swords as well. Captain Chen reacted with lightning speed, immediately drawing the sword from the waist of the soldier beside him, taking a large step forward, and blocking Mo Yinghuo's path.
Mo Yinghuo gestured for the soldiers to step back and asked with a smile, "My lord, what is this all about?"
Marquis Haitang held a curved blade to his neck, his gaze sweeping over Mo Yinghuo as he spoke, word by word, "Princess, Yunxiu Kingdom is merely worried that the 50,000 Iron Cavalry will cause trouble again. However, the royal family of Dongliang is now depleted, with only a three-year-old child remaining. If the Iron Cavalry loses its commander, Dongliang..." He paused, glancing at the kneeling Empress Dowager, "...will become even more vulnerable."
Mo Yinghuo looked at Marquis Haitang and nodded, saying, "My lord, you are very clear-headed. I promise you that I will not make things difficult for the 50,000 Iron Cavalry, but I have one condition."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
