168 Decisive Battle

e of Zhennan wouldn’t have cared about him at all."Your Highness, Han Mingyue… has not come to the camp; he seems to have gone straight to Xinyang."Bam! Prince of Zhennan stood up abruptly. His face w...168. The Final Battle

Outside the city of Hongzhou, cries of battle echoed through the air. However, those inside the city no longer felt fear at these sounds. Ye Li leisurely sat in an empty teahouse and sipped her tea, pushing open a window to see soldiers on the city walls fighting desperately to defend the city. Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and others stood quietly beside her, watching the distant city wall. Qin Feng, who usually followed closely by her side, was nowhere to be seen. Mo Hua, responsible for protecting Ye Li's safety, looked at her silently in a dilemma.

"Mistress Wang, the soldiers on the northern part of the city might not hold out," Wei Lin hurriedly approached and respectfully reported. Ye Li thought for a moment before asking, "Are we ready" Lin Han nodded and said, "Please rest assured, Mistress Wang. Everything has been prepared. Please leave Hongzhou as soon as possible." Ye Li said calmly, "Since everything is set up, there's no need to rush. Zhuo Jing, how did it go" Zhuo Jing replied solemnly, "Although the time was short, only the elite of Mo Family Army remained in the city, and they have been quite effective, Mistress Wang can rest assured." However, hearing the word 'elite' caused Ye Li's expression to change; she sighed after a long while and said, "Yes… all are elites from the Mo Family Army..." Lin Han looked at her and said, "If the Western Ling army were to march past Hongzhou City, those left behind in the northwest of the Mo Family Army would only be able to commit suicide as an act of contrition. Therefore... Mistress Wang need not feel guilty." Ye Li tugged at the corners of her mouth with a bitter smile. No matter how noble the reason was, it could not cover up the fact that she lacked the command abilities needed for this situation. If a general like Southern King Zhuo were to be in her position, they would never employ such tactics—losing eight hundred soldiers for every thousand enemies killed. This was also due to the weaknesses and defects of the Mo Family Army. There might indeed be someone more suitable than her within the army to command it, but... the lower-ranking generals might not obey these people. The tradition of loyalty solely to King Ding had led to the current state of the Mo Family Army—there were many capable soldiers, but few strategists who could lead an entire army. This was also why the royal family feared the Mo Family Army. In a country where the most valiant soldiers weren't part of the imperial army but belonged to a private force...

After finishing her last sip from the cup, Ye Li stood up and looked at the high-flying flags on the city wall before saying, "Let's go."

On October 16th noon, after two days and nights of continuous and unbroken fierce attacks, Hongzhou City fell.

This time, unlike the previous attack on Xiangyang where the Western Ling army had swarmed in, they sent a small number of soldiers to enter the city first for reconnaissance. Clearly, they were wary of the Chu people using similar tactics again. In the battle at Xiangyang, more soldiers had died in the fire than from actual combat. The scout teams moved street by street, quickly finding that the streets inside the city were completely empty—no sign of the Mo Family Army, let alone ordinary civilians. After carefully checking and confirming there was no problem within the city, they sent people out to report.

Outside the city, Southern King Zhuo frowned as he listened to the soldier's report. "No one is inside the city"

The returning soldier replied, "Reporting, Your Highness. There truly isn't anyone there. Moreover, most of Hongzhou City's buildings are made of stone and won't easily catch fire. The people from Chu probably won't repeat their previous tactics." But Southern King Zhuo's furrowed brows did not ease. Of course he was happy to have captured the city, but what he saw now clearly didn’t seem right. Even if the original army had hastily evacuated after the fall of the city, a few stragglers would usually be left behind. However, the current situation suggested that the other side had intended to leave from the very beginning. Compared to the fierce resistance over the past few days, this empty city looked even more bizarre. Ye Li... what exactly are you planning

"Your Highness, shouldn't we enter the city first and discuss our next move" a general by his side asked. It was difficult to breach Hongzhou City, yet instead of entering immediately, their王爺 stood motionless at the gate, which puzzled everyone greatly.

After a brief silence, Prince Southern Command spoke in a solemn tone, "Immediately cross over Hongzhou and pursue the remnants of the Black Family Army without stopping in the city!"

"This... Your Highness. The reinforcements and supplies won't arrive for at least ten days from now. If something goes wrong once we enter the pass..." the general cautiously advised. He didn’t mention that their current force was only a mere 100,000 troops, which might not even be enough to fill the teeth of Chu’s garrison inside the pass. Their food supplies could last them at most half a month. If they were too far from the supply train and unable to receive timely reinforcements... the 100,000-strong army would starve to death before their enemies did.

Prince Southern Command frowned and said sternly, "Enter the city!"

The troops began pouring into the city one after another through the gate. Prince Southern Command stood outside the city walls, staring at the grand city towers but feeling something was amiss. Seeing their lord in a foul mood, the soldiers by his side did not dare to speak further. As the army entered halfway, chaos suddenly erupted within the city.

Prince Southern Command's heart sank as he shouted fiercely, "Something is wrong! Retreat immediately from Hongzhou!"

However... it was already too late. After several earth-shattering explosions, dust and smoke obscured the gate. When visibility returned, they saw that the wide-open city gates had vanished, replaced by rubble and soil blocking the entrance. The two-story-high city gate now only had a gap less than half a person's height at the very top. Looking up, the city tower had partially collapsed, clearly indicating that something was amiss there beforehand.

"Your Highness!" the general beside him turned pale. Nearly 70,000 soldiers had entered the city already, leaving less than 30,000 with them now. How could this have happened

Just as foretold by that saying, when good fortune comes it doesn’t come in twos and when misfortune strikes it does so in threes; at the same time the chaos erupted within Hongzhou City, several black whirlwinds emerged from both southwest and northwest directions, sweeping towards the disorganized Western Capital soldiers.

Inside the city, blood flowed like a river. The entire structure of Hongzhou was formed by stone piles, creating numerous deep or shallow alleyways. When Black Family Army troops suddenly disrupted their formation on the main street, countless black-clothed soldiers appeared atop neighboring buildings with bows and arrows in hand. No one could fail to recognize that these were the most elite Black Cloud Cavalry of the Black Family Army. Legend had it that each member was a top archer among the best hundred soldiers. Arrow storms mercilessly rained down on the Western Capital troops, turning what should have been battle into mass slaughter. The Black Cloud Cavalry, from their advantageous position, fired first and effectively, clearly surpassing the Western Capital soldiers in marksmanship. Without any chance to retaliate, the Western Capital soldiers were forced into narrow alleys where they either had arrows pierce through their chests or had throats slit by unknown assailants emerging from nowhere. The once empty Hongzhou City was now a living hell.

Outside the city walls, Prince Southern Command's face turned alternately pale and flushed. Now he finally understood what felt amiss these days—their assumption that pursuing the retreating Black Family Army to Hongzhou was sound, yet who could explain where this cavalry force behind them came from Ye Li had secretly concealed a nearly 30,000-strong cavalry unit right behind them, while they were intoxicated by victory. They never considered how formidable the once top-ranked army of all nations truly was.

Ahead of the countless black whirlwinds, a red figure stood out prominently. Feng Zhiyao was sitting on his horse, resembling a red tornado sweeping across the battlefield; wherever he went, Xiling’s soldiers would avoid him like a plague. With a handsome face and an unrestrained expression, after enduring so many days of restraint, he finally got to have a good fight. Although his military tactics and experience were inferior to Southern Prince Wang's, how could that matter With three ten-thousand-strong cavalry fighting against three ten-thousand-strong infantry, on such open ground, there was no need for military strategy or schemes; nothing would stop him from pressing the Xiling people into submission with ruthless attacks. He slashed his spear through a few Xiling soldiers' throats and rode past Southern Prince Wang's troops with an amused expression, laughing at him from afar, "Your Highness Southern Prince Wang, our Princess Consort asks me to convey her regards."

At this point, the greeting was undoubtedly a form of mockery. Southern Prince Wang’s face turned ashen and he sneered, "Ding Prince Consort is very calculative. But… I wonder how she plans on defending Hongzhou when my reinforcements arrive" Feng Zhiyao laughed loudly, "Don’t worry about it Your Highness; our Princess Consort said that any Xiling soldier who enters the northwest will be killed without exception!" Southern Prince Wang snorted, "What a grandiose statement. Even with twenty thousand troops under my command, I barely manage to cope; yet you still dare to make such bold claims. Regardless of how many casualties I suffer, the Black Cloud Cavalry won’t fare much better." Feng Zhiyao raised his brows and said with a smile, "Does Your Highness think that the Black Cloud Cavalry fears Xiling soldiers The only concern our Princess Consort has is Prince Wang himself. Those thirty thousand reinforcements don't have Southern Prince Wang leading them; it’s still uncertain if they will even reach Hongzhou."

Southern Prince Wang's expression changed slightly, but he maintained his composure outwardly. However, in his heart, waves of alarm surged – he had lost this battle. Even before the final outcome was clear, Southern Prince Wang understood that after half a life spent achieving military honors, he had been defeated by Mo Liufang and unexpectedly lost again to a woman! Although he saw the current situation unfold before him, he couldn’t accept it with conviction. From their several confrontations, he realized that Ye Li wasn't some extraordinary military genius; precisely because of this, he couldn’t comprehend how such an outcome was achieved.

"Order the Golden Guard to capture Ye Li at all costs!" After a long while, watching the laughing red figure riding away, Southern Prince Wang spoke with a vicious expression.

"Your Highness…"

“Kill!”

The reason why Southern Prince Wang was deceived is because he underestimated me." In a small mountain ravine near Hongzhou that was close to the border, Ye Li listened to the continuous fighting sounds coming from the direction of Hongzhou and said indifferently to Zhuo Jing and others who were puzzled: "If Xu Yao had been in my place, Southern Prince Wang wouldn’t have fallen for such a trap." Zhuo Jing said, "Your Highness, if this was done by a man like Southern Prince Wang would think it’s a deception. But with the Princess Consort, he wouldn't" Ye Li smiled faintly and replied, “No matter how cautious Southern Prince Wang thinks he is… men inherently underestimate women; he's no different in that regard.” Wei Lin laughed and said, "After this, I believe Southern Prince Wang definitely won’t take you lightly again."

"Princess Consort… after the battle outside the city ends, will you enter to support your comrades" Lin Han asked.

Ye Li was silent for a long while before finally speaking, “No, they’re going straight to reinforce South Earl.” Everyone fell into silence; there were seventy thousand Xiling troops inside Hongzhou, but only more than ten thousand of the Black Cloud Cavalry remained. It was uncertain how many would make it out alive. The three ten-thousand-strong Black Cloud Cavalry that had annihilated the thirty thousand Xiling soldiers outside the city must now rush to the border to support South Earl. With South Earl and his son, as well as a few young officers leading only three ten-thousand-strong troops to intercept the incoming reinforcements, it was also uncertain how many would return alive. It wasn’t because Princess Consort was heartless; everyone knew that they didn't have sufficient manpower. Princess Consort had already made the best possible arrangements.

"Your Highness, it's time to set off. If you hurry, we can reach a small city tonight and rest there," Ye Li回頭看了看遠處的城池，沉默地點了點頭。

"Your Highness, there are large numbers of troops heading towards Hongzhou ahead," the scout from the dark guards rushed back to report.

Ye Li was taken aback, her delicate brows furrowing as she asked, "Who are they" The guard replied, "They are local garrisons near Hongzhou."

"Why would they be coming now" Ye Li knew that the commanders of nearby regions had petitioned the emperor for support to aid Hongzhou. However, these generals were all loyal to Mo Jingqi, and she herself had dispatched envoys requesting reinforcements but without Mo Jingqi's imperial edict, none of them dared or wanted to lend troops to her. They merely promised that they would submit a memorial to the capital asking permission to send troops.

Ye Li understood Mo Jingqi’s mindset quite well and thus didn’t hold much hope for their promise.

"Could they be coming to support Hongzhou" Lin Han asked.

Zhuo Jing coldly said, "The timing seems too convenient. Your Highness, may I go investigate" Ye Li frowned slightly and said, "Go ahead, but be careful."

As Zhuo Jing was personally trained by Ye Li, he handled matters efficiently. He returned within an hour, though his expression was grim.

"Your Highness, they are not here to help," Zhuo Jing reported after glancing at Ye Li.

The group was stunned, and Mo Hua coldly remarked, "Could it be that they’re here to assist the Xi Ling people"

Zhuo Jing shook his head and replied, "They have set up camp several miles away. I overheard their conversation after sneaking into their encampment. They intend to stand by and watch. If we win, they’ll strike when we are unprepared; if Xi Ling wins, they will act accordingly and retreat to their garrisons. Of course, the best outcome for them is a mutual destruction so that they can benefit from the situation."

"What on earth is he thinking in the palace Does he no longer want Hongzhou" Lin Han was shocked.

Ye Li sneered and replied, "Originally, he had already gifted the three northwestern provinces to Xi Ling. Whether this battle wins or loses for him, it doesn't matter as they are not his anymore; naturally, it's of no concern to him."g to say"Feng Zhiyao was stunned when Feng Huiting pleaded on his behalf and could not think of any words to speak. He shook his head blankly. Mo Xiuyao turned back to look at Feng Huiting with a good...