Fish Meat – Chapter 248

The Tenth Year of Shunde

Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (15)

The sounds of war drums, roars, horse hooves, and the scrape of blades against each other resounded along the entire bank of the Wei River. Across the land lay a million corpses, blood flowing for a thousand li. Wei Tingxu stood within the Xiangyue Sheng​¹, looking down from high above, only to see the murky Wei River gradually being dyed the color of blood.

            

“Situ​², do we make our move now?” asked a Wei family soldier from behind.

Wei Tingxu didn’t speak.

The main army had already flown across the Wei River, and the two sides were engaged in a great battle on the riverbank. It should have been an evenly matched fight; Ge Sheng’s strategies were indeed ingenious. But when it came to troop deployment, Zhen Wenjun had been in the military since childhood. She had participated in, and even commanded, several major battles for Da Yu. She held no advantage in age, but her combat experience in the Northern Frontier surpassed anyone from the Yao family.

            

The strategy of Wei Jing’an attracting the enemy’s attention from the front while Xiao Xiao and Zhangsun Wu enveloped them from the flanks proved highly effective, quickly disrupting the Yao family’s formation. The vulnerable left flank was the first to be broken. Seeing this, Yao Erwen personally entered the fray to rescue them, confronting Xiao Xiao head-on.

Xiao Xiao’s horsemanship was superb; as a descendant of the Gulun Grasslands, she possessed an innate connection and harmony with horses. Yao Erwen was considered a master of mounted combat, but he could only briefly free both hands to fight during clashes. Xiao Xiao, however, could remain firmly seated in the saddle relying solely on her legs and core strength throughout the fight, able to bend low and spin with the same agility and ferocity as if on flat ground. After several rounds, Yao Erwen already had several bloody holes torn into him and was swaying precariously on his horse.

Xiao Xiao turned her horse around, the misty river wind lifting the ends of her hair. Her eyes, looking at Yao Erwen, were clearly filled with contempt:

            

“Hmph, a shameless cur who could even strike down his own sister. It seems you’re just as useless as that elder brother of yours who died by my hand. Hey!” Xiao Xiao pointed her horse-chopping saber towards the city tower, shouting at Yao Lin, “Is this paltry scum​³ all your Yao family has left?!”

Hearing this, the other two Yao family sons flew into a rage. Grabbing their respective weapons, they were about to order the city gates opened to meet the challenge.

“Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master, don’t be hasty!” Ge Sheng, having even dropped his feather fan on the ground, grabbed one man with each hand and pulled them back. “Now is not the time for the final decisive battle!”

            

“But!”

“Young Masters! Endure!”

The two ground their teeth in hatred but couldn’t act. Xiao Xiao mocked them for being timid as mice and showed no further mercy. In the next exchange, her saber pierced through Yao Erwen’s abdomen, flipping him off his horse. Hooves trampled over his chest, crushing him to death.

            

Tears of blood streamed down Yao Lin’s face as he screamed towards the city: “How much longer must we wait!”

Ge Sheng gazed at the horizon, deeply grieved. “The East Wind has not yet risen; it is not yet time!”

The Yao family’s Third Son, Yao Errui​⁴, slammed a fist against the city wall, venting all his pent-up frustration, which seemed to calm him considerably. Looking out again, he was shocked to see siege engines rumbling towards the city gate.

            

With a corpse causeway​⁵ laid in the river, crossing between the banks had become more convenient. Zhen Wenjun had seized the opportunity during the main battle to have soldiers rapidly construct simple wooden bridges. Bu Jie was an expert bridge builder; as long as there were no interruptions, a wooden bridge capable of supporting siege engines could be completed within the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn​⁶. Zhen Wenjun and Bu Jie had remained hidden and silent behind the battlefield, yet they had managed to deliver the siege engines right to the foot of Da County’s walls!

“Ah Fu! Lord Ge!” Yao Errui cried out upon seeing this. Everyone on the wall saw Xiao Xiao standing atop a siege engine. The closer it got to the wall, the faster the scaling ladder rose. Xiao Xiao, the killer of two Yao sons, was poised, waiting for the right moment to step onto the city wall!

The Yao family’s Fourth Son, Yao Erting​⁷, asked Ge Sheng, “Lord Ge! What do we do now!”

            

Ge Sheng gritted his teeth. “We can only defend to the death!”

As the scaling ladders rose, morale surged among the attackers.

The entire city of Da County was enveloped by the enemy’s heaven-shaking shouts.

            

Everywhere the eye could see were the corpses of the Yao family army. As the siege engines raised their ladders, they simultaneously catapulted stones towards the top of the wall. The crenellations were blasted apart, and countless stones rained down into Da County like falling stars from the sky, impossible to evade. The troops still busy maneuvering were thrown into disarray by the sudden assault.

By now, they were besieged and without hope​⁸. Yao Errui and Yao Erting were drenched in sweat, eyes blazing with fire, staring intently at Ge Sheng.

Yao Lin’s legs grew weak too. The situation was lost​⁹!

            

Ge Sheng still stood amidst the storm, steadfast and unmoving.

He looked only towards the horizon, at no one, seemingly deaf to all the frantic sounds.

Finally, his eyes lit up.

            

“It’s here.” The feather fan, back in his hand, stopped swaying, held suspended before his chest.

Everyone looked up to see dark clouds obscuring the sun, plunging the earth into gloom.

“It’s here—!”

            

Ge Sheng’s long beard flew in the gradually rising east wind as he shouted excitedly.

Yao Lin burst into laughter: “Heaven is helping us! Lord Ge is divinely strategic and wonderfully calculating!”

Ge Sheng and a chiliarch​¹⁰ raced together towards the southern section of the city wall. Amidst their shouts, dense swarms of bat-winged soldiers soared into the sky, covering nearly half of it. Clad in gray batwing gear, they rode the wind, their speed so great the enemy army hadn’t yet reacted. Dodging the catapulted stones, the Batwing Army unleashed a furious barrage from their crossbows, sweeping from the siege engines down to the ground. Zhen Wenjun watched helplessly as her soldiers were pinned to the earth one after another.

            

At this moment, with the sky dark and overcast, the batwings worn by these soldiers blended seamlessly with the gray heavens, making them difficult to discern. Furthermore, the sudden strong wind made the Batwing soldiers fly extremely fast, making them hard to target. Xiao Xiao ordered her archers to shoot down the Batwing soldiers, but several waves of frenzied attacks had minimal effect; instead, most of her archers were shot down by the Batwing soldiers.

Xiao Xiao took an arrow to the shoulder. She ducked under the siege engine, her chest heaving with anger.

Her mother had told her that Yao Zhaoyi was quite intelligent, perhaps the only person in all of Da Yu capable of imitating Ah Liao’s batwing gear and the Xiangyue Sheng. Clearly, the batwing gear now wreaking havoc for the Yao army originated from Yao Zhaoyi’s hands.

            

Even someone as composed as Yao Zhaoyi had shown reluctance in her eyes before dying; Xiao Xiao couldn’t forget her expression then. Seeing the Yao family now using that batwing gear so brazenly filled her with grief and rage. Braving the rain of arrows, she climbed back onto the siege engine, pushed aside the corpses hanging near the wheels, and rallied the soldiers to continue pushing the engine forward.

She would ascend the city tower and make those vile beasts​¹¹ of the Yao family splatter their blood three feet high​¹²!

The appearance of the Batwing soldiers instantly turned the tide of battle. Yao Errui and Yao Erting could restrain themselves no longer. Throwing open the city gates, they led the remaining elite troops charging out with a spirit that could swallow mountains and rivers​¹³. Just looking at their momentum, Zhen Wenjun knew the fierce battle was only just beginning.

            

They had been on the verge of breaching the city, only to have their formation thrown into chaos by a gust of east wind.

Zhen Wenjun looked towards the city wall and saw Ge Sheng beaming, seemingly with victory assured. Ge Sheng also noticed Zhen Wenjun’s gaze.

Her gaze was calm, showing no sign of an impending reversal, not even a trace of surprise or panic.

            

The smile gradually faded from Ge Sheng’s face.

Where was Wei Tingxu?

Where was Wei Tingxu?

            

Ge Sheng only then realized he hadn’t seen Wei Tingxu’s figure from beginning to end.

Although Wei Tingxu had never typically been a general leading troops in battle, this woman had been exceptionally active on the battlefield in recent years. It was impossible for her to hide in the rear and not appear during today’s major battle for Da County.

Not only was Zhen Wenjun not panicking, but after cutting down several people around her, blood splattering on her face, a strange smile slowly bloomed.

            

The Xiangyue Sheng carrying Wei Tingxu was hidden behind large trees on the riverbank, having waited for a long time.

This Xiangyue Sheng had been modified by Ah Liao; its passenger capacity had doubled compared to before. Besides Wei Tingxu, there were two hundred elite archers. They all waited with bated breath, waiting for this moment when Situ Wei would give the command.

Before setting out, Wei Tingxu had instructed them that they must remain calm and patient, holding their ground no matter what they saw, and must not act without orders.

            

The elite archers understood they were surely the final trump card, meant to appear at the last moment. But watching the army cross the Wei River with victory in sight, only to be routed by the suddenly appearing Batwing Army, seeing the tide of battle about to turn, sweat slowly trickled down their foreheads.

Everyone in the Xiangyue Sheng was waiting for Wei Tingxu to give the order. Wei Tingxu, too, was observing the wind direction.

“Tonight, the moon halo is distinct, and the Tianmen star​¹⁴ is sparse. Tomorrow will certainly bring an east wind.”

            

Before departure, she and Zhen Wenjun had observed the stars together.

“An east wind blows. Da County’s location is precisely downwind,” Wei Tingxu had said. “Remember the Yao family’s Batwing soldiers? I think it’s highly likely they will deploy them again. Once the Batwing soldiers harness the power of the east wind, their effectiveness will increase dramatically, potentially causing a major impact on us.”

“I have considered this matter as well,” Zhen Wenjun had said. “Ge Sheng certainly possesses the ability to observe the heavens; he wouldn’t miss such an advantageous east wind.”

            

“Wenjun, do you have a way to counter it?”

Zhen Wenjun didn’t answer immediately; she too was thinking.

The two sat on the hillside for a long time, until the celestial phenomena changed once more.

            

Zhen Wenjun stared at the mist rising from the distant valley, a smile gradually spreading across her face.

“It’s a gust front​¹⁵.”

Wei Tingxu stood up along with her.

            

“The east wind tomorrow will definitely be a gust front, and after the gust front, it’s highly likely there will be a torrential downpour!”

Hearing her words, Wei Tingxu also grew excited: “Once it rains, the wings of these Batwing soldiers will become soaked, making it very difficult for them to control their direction.”

“Exactly! We just need to hide a unit of archers, not too many, two hundred is sufficient. Shoot down every single one still in the air!”

            

The Xiangyue Sheng appeared along with the rumbling thunder. As a bolt of lightning streaked across the increasingly gloomy sky, a cold drop of rain landed on the tip of Ge Sheng’s nose.

“It’s… it’s going to rain.” Yao Lin leaned against the city wall, feeling a bit panicked. He knew rain didn’t seem like a good omen; he could even read a sense of crisis in Ge Sheng’s increasingly grave expression. But he couldn’t grasp the true danger, watching Ge Sheng with a mixture of nervousness and confusion.

Large raindrops splattered one by one onto Ge Sheng’s face, his robes, and the wings of the Batwing soldiers. The downpour was unexpectedly fierce, turning into a torrent​¹⁶ in an instant, washing many Batwing soldiers out of the sky and onto the ground.

            

Once on the ground, what chance of survival did they have? Zhen Wenjun and Wei Jing’an saw their chance, taking them down one by one; some were stabbed to death while still falling. Several hundred remaining Batwing soldiers struggled in the air. With a command from Wei Tingxu, a humming sound arose as countless arrows were launched from the Xiangyue Sheng, wiping the bat-like figures from the sky.

Zhangsun Wu pried open Da County’s western gate. The war drums beat loudly. Zhen Wenjun charged into the city first on horseback, followed by countless cavalry and infantry surging in like a tide. The Yao army tried to close the gate again but were sent flying by the charging iron cavalry.

Yao Errui quickly led troops back to block them but was struck by Wei Jing’an attacking from behind, slicing off half his head. On the other side, Xiao Xiao once again ordered the siege engines to launch stones. Under the cover of stones and archers, Xiao Xiao climbed the scaling ladder onto the city wall, her twin sabers dancing wildly, killing anyone she saw. Soon, the main army swarmed onto the walls via the ladders. Seeing the situation was irretrievable, Ge Sheng immediately told Yao Lin to retreat.

            

Yao Lin saw his only surviving youngest son, Yao Erting, still resisting Zhen Wenjun’s assault, being pushed back repeatedly but still holding on desperately.

Yao Lin was dragged away by soldiers towards a hidden door, his feet barely touching the ground, shouting towards Yao Erting, telling him to come along.

Yao Erting was distracted by his father’s cries. Zhen Wenjun’s attack patterns were unorthodox and wild, making them impossible to defend against completely. His left ear was sliced off, blood streaming down.

            

The shouts were right above him; Yao Lin urged him to leave quickly. Yao Erting’s young face was covered in rain and blood. He didn’t yield an inch, shouting amidst the downpour: “What is there to fear in death? One lives in this world only seeking to live up to Heaven and Earth above, and oneself below​¹⁷! How can a true man be a deserter! Ah Fu! Come to this place next year on this day to pay respects to your son!”

Yao Erting flicked his long saber and charged forward once more.

Lightning tore across the sky like a white dragon. Amidst the wind and lightning, heavenly thunder crashed down, jolting Ah Liao awake.

            

As soon as she woke, Ah Qin beside her also woke up, sitting up to touch her forehead – it was covered in sweat.

“What’s wrong, did you have a nightmare?” Ah Qin got out of bed, wrung out a silk cloth, and helped wipe her sweat.

Ah Liao walked to the window and pushed open the lattice. Rain poured down like sheets, thunder rolled continuously, and the courtyard outside was repeatedly lit up as if by daylight.

            

“Where’s Ah Xu?” Ah Liao asked.

“When I returned to the room, Ah Xu-jiejie and Xing’er​¹⁸ were already asleep.”

“With thunder this loud, Xing’er is bound to be woken up. Ah Xu definitely doesn’t have the patience to soothe him back to sleep. I’ll go check.”

            

With that, Ah Liao threw on a robe, ready to go out. Ah Qin quickly followed.

Since the Honglian Sect​¹⁹ had started uprisings across the country, Ah Liao had brought all her dependents to their old home in Dongchun for safety. It happened that Ah Xu was full-term and about to give birth, so Ah Liao had been diligently taking care of her, showing no trace of resentment.

Ah Xu gave birth to the child. Ah Liao held him, unable to put him down, admiring his beautiful eyes – large and watery, seeming to hold the stars within them, so she named him “Xing’er.”

            

Ah Liao still doted on Ah Xu, indulging her. As for how this child came to be, if Ah Xu wanted to talk about it, she could; if not, Ah Liao would never force her. She would continue to treat Ah Xu and her son kindly as always.

Ah Liao and Ah Qin had just stepped out of the room when two Zhangsun family retainers ran up and spoke into Ah Liao’s ear. Ah Qin saw her expression change drastically. She turned away from Ah Xu’s door, unexpectedly rushing into the rain with the retainers to mount horses and ride towards the city gate!

Ah Qin called out several times with no response, so she had no choice but to find a carriage and pursue Ah Liao closely.

            

In less than the time it takes for one incense stick to burn​²⁰, Ah Liao reached the city wall. Treading through the rainwater, she climbed the watchtower and followed the retainers’ guidance to peer into the pitch-black night.

Just one look sent a chill through her entire body.

Outside the black, indistinct city walls, a vast expanse of restless shadows, like phantoms, was rapidly approaching the city.

            

Ah Liao glanced briefly – at least one hundred fifty thousand troops.

“Sound the bells…” Ah Liao shouted, “Sound the bells! Man the defenses!”

The deep tolling of the bells, carrying the unique eeriness of a rainy night, startled the entire city awake.

            

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LP: 9 more chapters for the main text and 7 extra chapters, ain’t no way Ah Liao is dying at this point?!

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