Night fell over the border between Rong and Mu, where they stood in confrontation. Dark clouds filled the sky, with only a few faint rays of moonlight struggling to pierce through the clouds and illuminate the desolate land. In Rong's military camp, campfires roared, and soldiers sat around them. Some were polishing their weapons, the scraping sound of metal against whetstones particularly clear in the silent night; others were talking in hushed tones, encouraging each other, their eyes revealing determination and resolve.
Xiao Yichen, clad in armor, slowly surveyed the camp. His steps were steady and powerful; wherever he passed, soldiers cast respectful glances and straightened their backs in salute. Xiao Yichen nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the faces of each soldier as he silently calculated the odds of victory in tomorrow's decisive battle. Although the army's combat effectiveness had improved and supplies were relatively plentiful after this period of preparation, Murong Xuan's Mu Kingdom army was not to be underestimated; this decisive battle was destined to be a life-or-death struggle.
Inside the tent, Lin Wan'er carefully studied a map of the Rong Kingdom's border. Her brows furrowed slightly, her gaze focused, trying to find any overlooked terrain advantages or strategic points. She knew that in such a large-scale decisive battle, every detail could determine victory or defeat. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon a valley. An idea struck her; she remembered passing through there with Xiao Yichen during their border patrol. The valley's terrain was treacherous; if cleverly utilized, perhaps an ambush could be set up to strike the Mu Kingdom's army unexpectedly.
Lin Wan'er hurriedly left her tent to look for Xiao Yichen. At that moment, Xiao Yichen was standing under the camp's watchtower, gazing in the direction of the Mu Kingdom. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around and saw Lin Wan'er rushing towards him.
"General, I've found a valley on the map that might be the key to tomorrow's decisive battle," Lin Wan'er said breathlessly.
Xiao Yichen was slightly taken aback, then a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Wan'er, quickly take me to see her."
The two entered the tent, and Lin Wan'er pointed to the location of the valley on the map, explaining her ideas to Xiao Yichen in detail: "General, this valley is long and narrow with steep slopes on both sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. We can feign a retreat at the entrance of the valley to lure the Mu army into the valley, and then ambush them on the slopes on both sides with boulders, rolling logs, and arrows to attack the enemy, causing them to be unable to support each other and fall into chaos."
After listening, Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and nodded slightly: "This plan is excellent. However, the Mu Kingdom's army is not lacking in strategists, and they may not be easily fooled. We need to arrange an elite force outside the valley as bait, and they must act convincingly in order to lure them in."
“General, I am willing to lead this decoy force,” Lin Wan’er said without hesitation.
Xiao Yichen's expression changed, and he firmly objected: "No, it's too dangerous. You are an important figure in Rong Kingdom, and your mind-reading ability can provide vital intelligence support to the army from the rear. We can't let you take such a risk."
Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen with a determined gaze: "General, it is precisely because this plan is of such great importance that I must go in person. I am confident that I can use my mind-reading ability to foresee the enemy's suspicions and adjust my strategy in time to ensure the success of luring the enemy. Moreover, I do not want to hide in the rear at this critical moment; I want to fight alongside my soldiers on the front lines."
Xiao Yichen knew Lin Wan'er's personality well; once she made up her mind, it was difficult to change it. He remained silent for a long time before finally sighing helplessly, "Alright, but you must promise me that if we encounter danger, we must retreat immediately and not linger in battle."
"Don't worry, General, Wan'er will be careful." Lin Wan'er nodded slightly.
Afterwards, Xiao Yichen summoned all his generals and detailed the plan for tomorrow's decisive battle. The generals accepted the orders and went off to prepare.
A tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the Mu Kingdom's military camp. Murong Xuan sat on a tiger-skin chair in his tent, a sumptuous feast laid out before him, yet he had no appetite. His eyes revealed a hint of anxiety and unease. Although he was full of confidence in his army, the presence of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er remained a heavy burden on his mind.
"Your Highness, our army is ready for the decisive battle tomorrow. Even if Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er had three heads and six arms, they would find it difficult to withstand the iron cavalry of our Mu Kingdom." A general stepped forward and said, trying to comfort Murong Xuan.
Murong Xuan snorted coldly: "Don't underestimate the enemy. Xiao Yichen's military talent and Lin Wan'er's mind-reading ability have caused us a lot of trouble. In tomorrow's battle, we must be careful and cautious, and not make the slightest mistake."
"Yes, Your Highness," the general replied respectfully.
Murong Xuan stood up, walked out of the tent, and gazed in the direction of Rong Kingdom. He secretly vowed that he would completely defeat Rong Kingdom the next day, seize the legendary mysterious ruins, and realize his ambition to dominate the world.
Back at the Rong Kingdom's military camp, Lin Wan'er went among the soldiers to boost their morale, as they were about to be used as bait.
"Soldiers, tomorrow we will shoulder an extremely important mission. Our actions will concern the fate of the entire Rong Kingdom, and whether our loved ones and friends can live and work in peace. I believe that each of us has fearless courage and unwavering faith, and we will surely be able to successfully lure the Mu Kingdom's army into a trap, laying the foundation for the army's victory." Lin Wan'er's clear and loud voice echoed throughout the camp.
Moved by Lin Wan'er's words, the soldiers shouted, "We are willing to go through fire and water for Rong Kingdom, even at the cost of our lives!"
Xiao Yichen stood aside, watching Lin Wan'er and the soldiers, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He knew that no matter what the outcome of tomorrow's decisive battle was, the people and soldiers of Rong Kingdom had already demonstrated an indomitable spirit, a spirit that would become Rong Kingdom's eternal treasure.
As night deepened, the soldiers of Rong Kingdom gradually rested, conserving their energy for the life-or-death battle the next day. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, however, remained in their tent, repeatedly discussing every detail of the plan. They knew that Rong Kingdom could not afford to lose this battle; they had to go all out. For the future of Rong Kingdom and for the people of this land, they would spare no effort.
Before the first rays of dawn pierced the sky, a suffocating tension permeated the border between Rong and Mu. Soldiers on both sides stood ready in their respective camps, like beasts about to be released from their cages, awaiting only the order to pounce on the other.
Xiao Yichen stood before the Rong Kingdom's army, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his cold, resolute face revealing a determination to die for his cause. His armor gleamed coldly in the faint morning light, and he gripped tightly the sword that had accompanied him through many battles; the patterns on the hilt seemed to sense his weight of weight, deeply embedded in his palm. Behind him, the soldiers stood in neat rows, their eyes resolute and fervent, their trust in their general and their loyalty to their country transforming into boundless courage.
Lin Wan'er led her decoy force, quietly lying in ambush behind a hill not far from the border. Her gaze was calm as she stared ahead, yet her heart pounded uncontrollably. Although she was confident in her plan, she was about to face the ruthless Mu Kingdom army; any mishap could lead to total defeat. She took a deep breath and silently used her mind-reading ability, trying to sense the enemy's movements.
In the Mu Kingdom's camp, Murong Xuan rode a tall horse, his magnificent armor showcasing his nobility and ambition. He gazed towards the Rong Kingdom, a cruel sneer playing on his lips, as if he could already see the dawn of victory. With a sudden swing of his spear, the Mu Kingdom's army surged forward like a raging tide, their battle cries shattering the morning's tranquility.
As planned, the vanguard of Rong Kingdom clashed head-on with the army of Mu Kingdom. For a time, the air was thick with the clash of swords and the resounding clang of metal against metal. The Rong soldiers, fearless, brandished their weapons and fought fiercely against the Mu soldiers. However, the Mu army was numerous and well-equipped, and the Rong vanguard gradually found themselves in a difficult position.
Seeing this, Xiao Yichen immediately commanded his central army to advance and provide support. Like a dazzling meteor, he charged into the enemy ranks, his sword splattering blood wherever it went. Every move he made was brimming with power and skill; the Mu soldiers fell before him, as vulnerable as ants. Under his leadership, the addition of the Rong army's central force reversed the vanguard's disadvantage, and the two sides engaged in a fierce and protracted battle.
Lin Wan'er closely observed the battle from behind the hill. She sensed Xiao Yichen's bravery and the soldiers' tenacity, but also realized that the Mu army was not using its full strength. She knew it was time to launch the decoy plan. She decisively led the decoy force out from behind the hill, charging towards the flank of the Mu army.
"Kill! For Rong Kingdom!" Lin Wan'er shouted, her voice clear yet full of power.
The decoy troops charged towards the enemy like tigers, their sudden appearance throwing the Mu army into disarray. Murong Xuan was overjoyed to see Lin Wan'er leading the troops herself; he saw this as the perfect opportunity to capture her and crush the morale of the Rong Kingdom. He immediately ordered a portion of his army to turn and attack Lin Wan'er's decoy force.
Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to discern the thoughts of the enemy general. She deliberately created openings in her own troops, luring the Mu Kingdom army deeper into their territory. Seeing that the Rong Kingdom's bait force seemed easily defeated, the Mu Kingdom army pursued even more recklessly.
As Lin Wan'er's decoy troops fought and retreated, they gradually approached the valley where they had been lying in ambush. Xiao Yichen, seeing this from the main battlefield, felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that the next move would determine the success or failure of the entire battle. While continuing to command his soldiers in the fight against the main force of the Mu Kingdom, he secretly dispatched his ambush troops to the hillside positions on both sides of the valley.
After Lin Wan'er's troops retreated into the valley, Murong Xuan led the Mu Kingdom's pursuing troops in without hesitation. The narrow passage in the valley made the Mu Kingdom's army's formation crowded and their movements slowed down.
Just then, Xiao Yichen gave the signal for a general attack. The Rong Kingdom soldiers lying in ambush on both sides of the valley shouted in unison, and countless boulders and logs rained down on the Mu Kingdom army. The Mu Kingdom soldiers fled in terror, but the narrow valley left them nowhere to hide, resulting in heavy casualties in an instant.
Meanwhile, Rong's archers rose on the hillside, drew their bows, and unleashed a hail of arrows upon the Mu army. The Mu army was thrown into chaos; they were unable to coordinate their efforts, and their command structure was paralyzed by Rong's sudden attack.
Murong Xuan roared furiously in the valley, attempting to reorganize his army for resistance, but the Rong Kingdom's attack was too fierce. He secretly regretted underestimating the enemy, but it was too late.
Seeing that the time was right, Lin Wan'er led her decoy force back into the valley and charged at the Mu army. The decoy force, now joined by the Rong ambush troops, formed a pincer movement, trapping the Mu army in the middle of the valley and leaving them in a desperate situation.
On the main battlefield, the remaining Rong Kingdom troops, led by Xiao Yichen, launched a final assault on the main force of the Mu Kingdom. Having lost some of their reinforcements, the main force of the Mu Kingdom gradually showed signs of defeat under the fierce attack of the Rong Kingdom army.
The battle raged for a full day, the sun slowly rising in the east and gradually setting in the west. The battlefield was littered with corpses, blood staining the earth red, and the air thick with the stench of blood. The soldiers of Rong and Mu were exhausted, but the fighting continued fiercely.
Xiao Yichen rushed across the battlefield, directing his soldiers in battle. He was wounded in many places, but he seemed to feel no pain, his mind focused on only one belief: to protect Rong Kingdom. Lin Wan'er also fought with all her might, her mind-reading ability helping her evade enemy attacks and accurately pinpoint their weaknesses on several crucial moments.
As night fell, the Mu army finally succumbed and began a complete rout. Under the protection of his personal guard, Murong Xuan fled the valley in a sorry state, heading towards the Mu kingdom. Led by Xiao Yichen, the Rong army pursued their victory relentlessly, chasing them all the way to the Mu border before stopping.
In this fierce battle, Rong Kingdom achieved a partial victory, but at a heavy cost. Countless soldiers were killed or wounded, and many families were shattered. Xiao Yichen gazed at the carnage on the battlefield, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that this war was far from over; Murong Xuan would not give up easily, and Rong Kingdom still needed to remain vigilant and prepare for the next challenge. Lin Wan'er stood beside him, her expression equally grave. She knew that the road ahead was long, and they must work together to safeguard the peace and tranquility of Rong Kingdom.
The smoke of battle still lingered on the battlefield along the Rong Kingdom's border. The setting sun, like blood, dyed the earth crimson, as if mourning the fierce battle. Although the Rong army had achieved a partial victory in the fierce fighting, successfully repelling the Mu army, it had also suffered heavy casualties and was exhausted. Soldiers sat or lay down, catching their breath on the battlefield, their faces covered in dust and blood, their eyes revealing the cruelty of war and a longing for peace.
Standing on high ground, Xiao Yichen gazed upon the devastated landscape, his heart heavy with sorrow. He knew all too well that this victory had been hard-won, bought with the lives and blood of countless soldiers. Though Murong Xuan had fled, his ambition remained undiminished, and he was certain to return. At this moment, every decision concerned the very survival of the Rong Kingdom, and therefore required utmost care.
Lin Wan'er walked to Xiao Yichen's side. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and blood, and her hair was somewhat disheveled, but her eyes remained firm. "General, although we have won this battle, we cannot be careless. The Mu Kingdom's army has only suffered a temporary setback; its main force still exists."
Xiao Yichen nodded slightly: "Wan'er is right. Our top priority is to reorganize the army, treat the wounded, and strengthen border defenses. You should rest for a while; you've been on the battlefield for a long time today and must be tired."
Lin Wan'er shook her head: "General, I'm not tired. My mind-reading ability might be more useful at this time. I want to try to sense the movements of the remnants of the Mu Kingdom's army, as well as Murong Xuan's next plan."
Xiao Yichen looked at her, his eyes full of concern and worry: "Wan'er, you have used mind-reading multiple times today. Overuse of this technique may damage your body."
Lin Wan'er smiled gently: "General, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. At this time, obtaining intelligence on the enemy is of paramount importance to Rong Kingdom. What do a few casualties matter?"
Having said that, Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, concentrated, and began to use her mind-reading ability. Her consciousness, like a wisp of smoke, slowly drifted into the distance, traversing the bloodshed and clamor of the battlefield, attempting to find thoughts related to the Mu Kingdom.
At first, she only sensed chaos and fear—the panic of the defeated remnants of the Mu Kingdom army. But Lin Wan'er did not give up; she continued to search deeper, and gradually, she detected some faint signals.
In a makeshift camp on the border of the Mu Kingdom, Murong Xuan was unleashing a furious tirade against the remaining generals. "You bunch of useless trash! You were actually defeated by the Rong Kingdom's schemes! How can my grand ambitions be thwarted like this!"
The generals all lowered their heads, not daring to speak. One of them mustered his courage and said, "Your Highness, Rong Kingdom's ambush was indeed unexpected. But our main force is still intact. As long as we reorganize and formulate a new strategy, we will surely be able to take revenge."
Murong Xuan snorted coldly: "Revenge is inevitable. This prince will not let Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er go. Issue my order to have the reinforcements from the rear arrive quickly. At the same time, send out small groups of troops to harass the border of Rong Kingdom and find out the strength of their defenses."
Lin Wan'er memorized this information and continued to delve into Murong Xuan's inner world, trying to discover if he had any other schemes. Suddenly, she discovered that Murong Xuan harbored a secret about a mysterious ruin. It turned out that Murong Xuan believed that the mysterious ruin contained power sufficient to dominate the world, and the border area of Rong Kingdom was the key to accessing the ruin. His attack on Rong Kingdom this time was not only for territorial expansion but also for the purpose of exploring the ruin.
Lin Wan'er was startled, realizing that this mysterious ruin might bring an even greater crisis to the Rong Kingdom. She quickly ended her mind-reading spell, opened her eyes, and told Xiao Yichen the information she had obtained.
"General, Murong Xuan is gathering reinforcements and plans to send small groups to harass the border. In addition, he has another purpose behind attacking Rong Kingdom: to find a mysterious ruin that he believes contains the power to dominate the world."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen frowned deeply: "Mysterious ruins? What secrets are hidden behind them? If Murong Xuan really finds those ruins, the Rong Kingdom will face annihilation. We must find the location of the ruins as soon as possible and stop Murong Xuan."
Lin Wan'er nodded: "General, I also think this matter is extremely difficult. But we know very little about the ruins at present, and we need to conduct further investigations."
Just then, the patrolling soldiers came to report that they had spotted a small group of Mu troops near the border, seemingly conducting reconnaissance activities.
Xiao Yichen immediately ordered: "Strengthen border patrols and do not allow any small groups of Mu troops to take advantage of the situation. At the same time, select elite soldiers to form assault teams and prepare to intercept Mu's reinforcements."
Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen's decisive decision with deep admiration. She said, "General, I am willing to join the assault team. In battle, my mind-reading ability may help us understand the enemy's tactics and thus achieve victory."
Xiao Yichen hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lin Wan'er's determined eyes, he finally nodded in agreement: "Wan'er, you will come with me. But you must stay by my side and not act on your own."
"Yes, General."
The Rong Kingdom's assault team quickly assembled and, led by Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, headed towards the route that the Mu Kingdom's reinforcements were bound to take. They lay in ambush in a grove of trees, quietly awaiting the enemy's arrival.
Soon, the Mu Kingdom's reinforcements arrived in a grand procession. Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to sense the enemy general's thoughts. She discovered that the enemy general planned to split his forces into two groups: one to launch a frontal attack on the Rong Kingdom's border camp to draw the Rong Kingdom's army's attention; the other to bypass the enemy and launch a surprise attack on Rong Kingdom's supply depot.
Lin Wan'er hurriedly told Xiao Yichen the news: "General, the Mu Kingdom's reinforcements intend to split into two groups, one to attack the camp and the other to raid the supply rations."
Xiao Yichen was startled, knowing full well the importance of provisions to an army. If the provisions were intercepted, the Rong Kingdom army would be in dire straits. He immediately adjusted the battle plan: "The assault team will split into two groups. One group will accompany me to intercept the enemy attacking the camp, while the other group, led by Lin Wan'er, will rush to the supply depot to stop the Mu Kingdom army's sneak attack."
"General, you can't do without my mind-reading ability by your side," Lin Wan'er said worriedly.
Xiao Yichen looked at her with a firm gaze: "Wan'er, the supply depot is also a matter of life and death for Rong Kingdom. I believe you have the ability to lead the soldiers to complete the mission. Go ahead with peace of mind, I will be waiting for your triumphant return at the camp."
Lin Wan'er knew the situation was urgent and there was no room for argument. She led a squad of soldiers and rushed towards the supply depot.
When Lin Wan'er arrived at the supply depot, the Mu Kingdom's raiding force had just arrived as well. She immediately ordered her soldiers to set up a defense, while simultaneously using mind-reading to disrupt the Mu Kingdom general's command. Under the influence of her mind-reading, the Mu Kingdom army was thrown into chaos, and their attack became completely disorganized.
Led by Lin Wan'er, the Rong soldiers fought bravely and successfully repelled the Mu Kingdom's raiding force. Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen successfully defended the border camp against the Mu Kingdom's attack.
In this battle, Rong Kingdom once again triumphed thanks to Lin Wan'er's mind-reading ability. However, both Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er understood that Murong Xuan would not give up so easily. They had to uncover the secrets of the mysterious ruins as soon as possible and completely defeat Murong Xuan in order to truly protect the peace and tranquility of Rong Kingdom.
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