Chapter 137 The Overall Situation Has Been Decided
A few days later, news of the return of Prince Yan and the Xingyi Sword spread, under Zhang Yun's instructions. Meanwhile, Prince Xiang, undaunted by the threat, ventured into the perilous region to negotiate with Northern Liao, securing a truce between the two nations. The people, desperate for survival, were deeply horrified by the news. The situation with the Prince of Qin's troops was not good, and discussion within the army had already begun.
Originally, they had been hunkered down in Suzhou, raising their rebellion only to see Zhao Xuanxu pinned down by Northern Liao, leaving his rearguard empty. The conflict between Tianshui and the Northern Liao over the Fourteen Prefectures of Yanyun had been brewing for a long time, and logically should have lasted for years. Who could have imagined that after only a few clashes, the Prince of Yan and the Yelu Emperor would call off their battles and sit down for talks? It was simply unbelievable.
After reading the secret letter, Zhao Xuanshuo threw the wine bottle on the table. Qiu Pingyan, who had just stepped into the tent, paused as the wine bottle's force swiftly swished past her body, rolling to the side and spilling the wine all over the floor.
Zhao Xuanshuo looked at her gloomily, closed his eyes, and the veins on his forehead bulged and rose.
Qiu Pingyan walked to the table with soup and pastries and put them down. "Your Highness, what happened?"
"Zhongli He is quite capable." Zhao Xuanshuo pressed his left hand on his knee and clenched it into a fist. He said in a bad tone, "Guangqingyu's people were wiped out by him."
Qiu Pingyan was speechless. The war had been going badly recently. After the world-renowned Xingyi Sword had appeared, Zhao Xuanshuo had immediately summoned experts from all over to surround the tent, keeping them on high alert, almost paranoid. She stepped forward, her fingers pressing against Zhao Xuanshuo's tense forehead to offer a relaxing massage, but Zhao Xuanshuo waved her away and said coldly, "Please ask your father to come over. I have something important to discuss with him."
Qiu Pingyan retracted her fingers, pursed her lips, and responded softly.
Qiu's father also accompanied the army to the battlefield. Now, the Qiu family and Zhao Xuanshuo were tied to the same rope, with all the Qiu family's wealth depending on Zhao Xuanshuo. If Zhao Xuanshuo won, the Qiu family would transcend their merchant status and become a first-class family. If Zhao Xuanshuo was defeated, the entire Qiu family, young and old, would be slaughtered until next year.
Father Qiu arrived soon.
Qiu Pingyan stepped forward and said, "Father, His Highness—"
Father Qiu interrupted hastily, waving his sleeves: "Women, don't talk about what's going on in the tent. Get out of here!"
After being rejected twice in a row, Qiu Pingyan's expression suddenly changed, and her well-maintained nails immediately dug deep into the flesh of her fingers. The maid beside her was shocked by her expression and called out repeatedly, "Miss? Miss..."
After several shouts, Qiu Pingyan finally came to her senses. Her clenched hands loosened immediately, and several vivid bloodstains appeared on her fair skin. Her expression returned to normal, and she became the gentle and kind Miss Qiu again. She said, "I'm fine. The border situation has been settled. The two kings have deployed their troops in Gyeonggi Province and will soon fight at Longyanpo. His Highness and father are worried, so we won't disturb them. Let's go back."
Everyone, not just Qiu Pingyan, knew that the Battle of Longyanpo would determine who would ascend to the highest abode of the Bianliang Imperial Palace, becoming the supreme ruler and ruling the country. Wen Yao had rushed to the battlefield with Zhao Xuanxu just as the battle was approaching. With her hands behind her back, she made a point of walking around the martial arts training grounds and, unsurprisingly, saw several familiar faces.
The martial arts masters who had joined the Wu Zhao Si were delighted to see Wen Yao. They dropped their work and came over to greet her enthusiastically. Wen Yao accepted each one, then lifted her skirt and squatted on the ground. The others followed her, squatting down. They were all officials and nobles, and their martial arts habits had not changed a bit.
Wen Yao smiled as he listened to these people bragging about how they could fight against a hundred enemies alone on the battlefield and take off the heads of enemy generals.
"Awesome!" Wen Yao said enthusiastically, "When the battle of Longyanpo is over, everyone will be promoted and given titles. Don't forget to invite me for a drink!"
"You're amazing." Someone came over and said, "We've all heard about what's been going on in Bei Liao these days. You did it, didn't you? Apart from you, I can't think of anyone else in the world who could have pulled this off!"
"What did you say, Brother Wang?" Wen Yao feigned surprise. "Everyone in Tianshui Beiliao knows that I fell off a cliff and was seriously injured. No matter how powerful I am, I am still a human, not a god. What else can I do?"
The people squatting in a circle suddenly booed and pointed at Wen Yao.
Wen Yao waved his hand, didn't argue with them, and stood up to find Zhao Xuanxu who was invited by Zhongli He.
Today, His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan was doing something unusual. When Wen Yao saw Zhao Xuanxu, he wasn't in his usual drunken daze. Instead, he was sitting at his desk, flipping through some papers. Zhongli He stood to the side, his arms folded, a strange expression on his face.
Wen Yao leaned forward, and Zhao Xuanxu released his fingers, completely revealing the white paper in front of Wen Yao.
"Attack the left wing, counterattack and outflanking the center." Wen Yao glanced at it and raised an eyebrow: "Why is it written here that it is the name of the King of Qin's army?"
"Because this is Zhao Xuanshuo's troop deployment." Zhao Xuanxu pulled Wen Yao and asked her to sit next to him: "Someone delivered it this morning."
"who?"
"Qiu Pingyan."
"The eldest lady of the Qiu family?"
Zhao Xuanxu rubbed his right hand several times, then slid down to find Wen Yao's hand and clasped it. "She said her father was confused, and she offered these things in the hope that he would save her family's lives one day."
"Is it true?" Wen Yao picked up the paper and looked through it. "If it's true, the young lady is quite a formidable figure to have been able to obtain such information and deliver it."
Without evidence, the news might not be entirely reliable. Zhongli He held several strategic meetings, making comprehensive arrangements and making thorough preparations. The two sides were entrenched on either side of Gyeonggi Province, the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense.
One day it drizzled and the army set out.
Wen Yao and the Wu Zhaosi men stood arm in arm in the distance, watching Zhao Xuanxu, his long robe trailing the ground, ascend the high platform in front of the three armies to light the beacon fire. He held a fire stick in his hand, his posture as if he were wielding a sword to kill. Compared to the high-spirited troops below, his expression was rather cold.
One person was shocked: "Sister Wen, your husband really doesn't look like a good person."
Wen Yao: "Nonsense, my husband is so handsome, he must be a good man."
Everyone burst into laughter. Someone took a jar of wine, opened it, and poured it into his mouth. He wiped his mouth, threw the jar away, and stood up: "Alright! Let's fight at Longyanpo! And watch me win an imperial edict for my wife!"
Wen Yao also laughed, his gaze drifting off to see Zhao Xuanxu, holding a fire stick, approaching the beacon tower. Incense smoke shot up into the sky amidst the rain. Someone handed Zhao Xuanxu a jar of wine, and he lifted it and poured it into the beacon tower. Suddenly, the flames raged fiercely, surging and swaying, turning the cheeks of those around him red.
Zhongli He pulled out the long sword from his waist with his fingers and shouted sternly: "Kill the Qin party! Protect the country!"
"Kill the Qin Party! Protect the country!"
"Kill the Qin Party! Protect the country!"
The soldiers brandished their weapons, raised their fists and shouted, their cheers rising with an overwhelming momentum.
Wen Yao raised his hand and slapped the scabbard on his back, saying with great pride, "Today I will be the first to take the head of the opposing commander! Whoever gets there first will pay for a year's worth of wine, and I'll have Bai Xiaosheng write his name in front of Bu Guanlan himself!"
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this. As the army marched out, a young woman from the Mingtai Sword Tomb rode ahead, whipping her horse whip and insisting that the Xingyi Sword Master pay for her wine for a year.
The armies met each other from afar at Longyanpo.
Compared to the high morale of the Bianliang army, the Qin army was somewhat divided. Facing them were the naturally gifted Zhongli He and the Yan King, who had once led his troops to utterly annihilate Shu. They were unsure, with a premonition that this battle would be difficult to win.
Some people were frightened and tried to escape in the middle of the night. Zhao Xuanshuo captured a hundred people and burned them in front of the army as a sacrifice to the military flag before the riot was quelled. Clad in black armor, he raised his sword and cut off a man's head, his murderous intent clear: "Only soldiers die on the battlefield, no dogs live on their knees! Light troops in the front, heavy troops in the rear, march immediately! Anyone who dares to retreat even a step from me will be cut into pieces or tortured to death!"
The rain grew heavier, almost pouring down. The armies met in a field, the roar of battle resounding through the air. The girl from the Mingtai Sword Tomb led the charge, leaping forward and charging ahead of the three armies. Her white robes billowed, her swift sword cutting through the enemy like grass. Seeing this, the Wu Zhaosi's men realized that the Sword Tomb's drunkards were craving Xingyi Sword's wine, and they roared with laughter, charging forward.
It must be said that the Wu Zhao Si played a huge role in every major military confrontation. Leading troops in battle, these men were no match. Killing people, they were mid-level experts. Their ability to kill large numbers of people was a powerful deterrent and a source of inspiration. Not to mention that this time, the Xingyi Sword Master, a figure who was becoming a legend in Bianliang, was also at the forefront.
The Master of the Xingyi Sword is marching side by side with His Royal Highness Prince Yan.
Wen Yao raised her hand and drew her sword. The sword energy was like a rainbow, and the killing intent was blocked, making people feel a chill in their hearts. She turned around and met Zhao Xuanxu's eyes and asked, "Do you want to kill him or should I?"
The killing here refers to the killing of the King of Qin.
"It doesn't matter whether I kill you or not." Seeing the competitive spirit in Wen Yao's bones being aroused by the martial arts summons, Zhao Xuanxu immediately knew that he couldn't stop Wen Yao today. Their eyes met, and after a pause, he suddenly had an idea and added, "Ah Yao, be careful. Wherever you hurt, I will hurt you."
Wow, you dare to threaten me with self-harm.
Okay, got it.
Considering Bai Xiaosheng's fearlessness was less than that of a mouse, Wen Yao didn't intend to confront him again with her sword. She held the Xingyi Sword horizontally at her side, her gaze fixed squarely on the oncoming army. The commander's chariot was out of sight, and Zhao Xuanshuo, having suffered several setbacks at her hands, probably wouldn't dare charge forward, instead staying behind to defend.
Wen Yao recalled the secret letter Qiu Pingyan had handed him. He raised his hand, threw the scabbard of the Xingyi Sword into Zhao Xuanxu's hand, and flew out without looking back: "Let's go and avenge you."
Out of some inexplicable intuition, she decided to believe the secret letter.
This battle was very different from her previous experience stationed at the border. This time, all those who stood in Wen Yao's way were from Tianshui. They spoke the same language as her, and had lived together in the same world, but now they were facing each other with swords, becoming mortal enemies.
Wen Yao didn't want to kill her way through, but fortunately she used the sword very well. The deadly sword light fell on these people quickly and densely, like the rain in the sky at this moment, making it impossible to avoid it. It did not hurt these people's vital points, but only forced them to retreat.
Even so, some people still retreated in fear. The next moment, his chest was pierced by a spear. The cavalry following the infantry pierced him without hesitation, lifted him up high and threw him towards Wen Yao.
This is a common silent deterrent when two armies collide head-on. The rear army forces everyone to move forward and not retreat, and they will either die at the hands of the enemy or at the hands of their own people.
Wen Yao's eyes flashed, and he turned around and ended the cavalryman's life with a sword.
The cavalry were used for charging and should have been in the center of the army. Their presence on the flanks proved that Miss Qiu hadn't lied to them.
Having determined her direction, Wen Yao held back no longer, her attacks becoming increasingly ruthless. Her face remained expressionless, her Xingyi sword stained red, her clothes and hands quickly soaked with the blood of others, but her speed remained undiminished as she forged a path through the cavalry and headed straight for the rear.
Amidst the layers of soldiers, Wen Yao quickly spotted a distinctive chariot. The driver, upon seeing her, panicked and frantic, reining in his horse to retreat. At the same moment, the blare of trumpets echoed through the rain. Wen Yao sensed a shift in the marching pattern of the surrounding troops. The troops on the left side of the battlefield quickly cut in, attempting to divide the Bianliang troops into two separate groups. However, Zhao Xuanshuo's generals immediately noticed the Bianliang troops' surprisingly quick reaction, as if they had anticipated their plan, and their cavalry charged out to engage them.
Someone noticed this and was horrified. They whispered, "How could this happen? Quick, tell His Highness!"
The scouts who were reporting the battle situation galloped towards the chariots. Wen Yao fended one off and, seeing this, casually plucked out a spear stuck in the ground and threw it. The sharp blade pierced the scout's shoulder and knocked him to the ground.
"Your Highness, Prince Qin!" Wen Yao's cheeks were wet from the rain. She was already quite close to the heavily guarded military carriage, and water droplets dripped down her smiling brows. She spoke with a smile and said in a clear voice, "It's been a long time since we last met. Won't you come out and see me?"
Just as he finished speaking, the door of the chariot in front suddenly opened. Zhao Xuanshuo sat inside, covered in light armor, his face grim. He held a crossbow in his hand and fired several arrows at Wen Yao!
This scene was eerily similar to the time when his men assassinated Zhao Xuanxu from a high position on the street.
Memories flooded back, and Wen Yao thought to herself, "You've been bullying my boyfriend since we were kids, you're going to die today!" She turned and easily dodged the arrows. The next moment, several blades brushed against her heart, and several unfamiliar warriors emerged from the shadows, vying to engage Wen Yao. Meanwhile, someone reined in their horses and ordered the chariots to retreat quickly, attempting to escape the area.
Could Wen Yao still make the person he had gotten run away?
A few flashes of sword light flashed, and several warriors' heads fell to the ground. Before anyone could react, Wen Yaoren had already arrived in front of the military vehicle, kicked the door open, ducked inside, and with a flick of his hair, placed the Xingyi Sword on Zhao Xuanshuo's neck.
"Even after I came back, you still dared to personally command the battlefield." She smiled: "Have you thought of your last words?"
Zhao Xuanshuo raised his head, his finger on the crossbow arrow still unfurling without hesitation. Wen Yao flicked his finger, releasing his internal energy. Zhao Xuanshuo flicked his wrist, sending the crossbow arrows piercing the side of the chariot. He groaned, blood gushing from his wrist.
His expression was truly ugly, his thick brows were drawn down, but even at this moment there was still no fear in his eyes, which were still flashing with a sharp light like a wolf.
"You're quite calm." Wen Yao said, "You know in your heart that if the Northern Liao incident is resolved, you will definitely lose."
Indeed, Zhao Xuanshuo was a clever man. From the moment Zhao Xuanxu returned to Bianliang and Zhongli He rebelled against King Yong, he knew that the great event he had been planning for so long would ultimately be defeated by fate and would be aborted.
Zhao Xuanshuo didn't show his emotion on his face, but snorted sarcastically, "A barking dog that bites doesn't bite. I just didn't expect that the person who would sit on that throne would be Zhao Xuanxu. A bastard, sitting on the throne would only confuse the Tianshui bloodline—"
Wen Yao grasped his jaw and cracked it. A crackling sound echoed, silencing Zhao Xuanshuo's voice. He was filled with rage, his gaze piercing Wen Yao like a knife. Wen Yao dragged him out, and the moment they emerged, the chaotic commotion around them instantly quieted.
Wen Yao laughed, his eyes cold. "Hey, the one blowing the bugle and delivering the military orders, come here and tell me, 'The King of Qin has been captured, and those who surrender will not be killed!'"
The moment the horn's blast, accompanied by hysterical cries, echoed across the battlefield, Zhongli He had already fully grasped the situation, following the deployment revealed in the secret letter. The war ended faster than anyone could have imagined. The horn's blast echoed throughout the heavens and earth, and everyone stopped what they were doing, looking at their fellow tribesmen who bore similar faces and shared the same thoughts, and dropped their swords.
"The King of Qin has been captured! Those who surrender will not be killed!"
"The King of Qin has been captured! Those who surrender will not be killed—"
The beautiful white dress of the girl from Mingtai Sword Tomb had been completely stained red. Upon hearing the news, she plunged her sword into the ground and angrily said, "So fast! I haven't even found that Wang Zang yet!"
Missed a year of good wine!
Under the gaze of the entire audience and the resentment of the young lady from the Mingtai Sword Tomb, Wen Yao twisted Zhao Xuanshuo's limbs and dragged him step by step through the army. The once chaotic battlefield was now completely quiet. The vast world was shaken only by the rain. The blood on the Xingyi Sword in her hand was washed clean, and the blade was as bright as snow, shining brightly.
Zhao Xuanshuo's lower limbs were dragged along the ground, and he raised his head to gasp for air in agony. Wen Yao threw him in front of a horse, and through his blurred vision due to congestion, he could vaguely see a figure swaying.
Zhao Xuanshuo blinked, and the rain trickled down his eyes. He looked at Zhao Xuanxu as he approached, his grin widening in mockery, his resentment and anger finally surging through him.
Today's situation stems from yesterday's cause. He and Zhao Xuanfeng had battled fiercely for years, only to find Zhao Xuanxu had finally won. He regretted, truly regretted, not being ruthless enough when he was younger, not having crushed the bastard to death. And now, near death, he realized that the entire situation had been foreshadowed since Wen Yao's appearance in Bianliang. It was his fault; he shouldn't have been so careless and arrogant, leading to this fate.
Zhao Xuanxu's jaw was tense, and he didn't even look at Zhao Xuanshuo. His gaze followed Wen Yao. In full view of everyone, he stepped over Zhao Xuanshuo and wanted to hold Wen Yao's hand to see if his Ah Yao was injured.
Wen Yao coughed and said, "Your Highness, the rebel king has been captured. What should we do with him?"
HOW TO HANDLE?
Zhao Xuanxu finally stopped and looked down at Zhao Xuanshuo, who was lying at his feet, his clothes and face covered in mud and water, looking extremely miserable.
Zhao Xuanxu had long since stopped paying attention to the people who had once kept him by the window, brooding over how to torture them. The dark memories of the past had been shoved aside by memories of his journey with Wen Yao. Ever since Wen Yao agreed to be with him, he felt light-hearted for a long time, preoccupied with how to deal with the people surrounding Wen Yao.
Hearing Wen Yao's question, he frowned and recalled his previous plan to skin and bone Zhao Xuanshuo. He felt that it was troublesome and a waste of time.
Zhao Xuanxu then bent down, his long, broad fingers spread out to cover Zhao Xuanshuo's head, and the cyan meridians emerged. As he had done every time he killed someone in the past, he twisted Zhao Xuanshuo's head off with a calm expression.
"The rebel king is dead!" Zhongli He, who had arrived on horseback from afar, suddenly raised his banner. The soaked cloth felt heavy, yet he wielded it with vigor. His armor was stained with blood, his eyes gleamed like cold stars, and his voice, mingled with his inner strength, echoed far and wide: "The outcome is decided! Retreat!"
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