Chapter Nineteen: Is There Truly Nothing Worth Lingering For?
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Several months had passed since Yang Chuan left Dakang. Although her hatred for him had never diminished, Yan Wugou found herself meeting Yang Chuan in her dreams every night after falling asleep. The mystics say that when the bond between old acquaintances begins to fade, they keep appearing in your dreams. Each dream meeting signifies the gradual fading of their connection, until it is completely severed and their lives no longer intertwined. The heartbreak felt like tearing flesh from her body, a pain now vividly embodied within Yan Wugou.
Yet, standing alone beneath Linde City, Yang Chuan’s expression was unusually composed, devoid of any emotion. The more indifferent he seemed, the more unsettled Yan Wugou felt. Gently wiping her tears, she murmured to herself, “Yang Chuan, are you truly so cold-hearted? Is there not even a trace of affection for me in your heart?”
Nearby, Bao Wenyuan, waiting beside the carriage, recognized the man across from him as the former Grand Chancellor Yang Chuan and immediately grew restless. Reflecting on the past three years, Bao had been mocked by Yang Chuan in both martial skill and strategy after the defeat against Yan’s forces. Now that they stood on opposite sides politically, Bao was not about to miss the golden opportunity to capture Yang Chuan.
Riding up to Yan Wugou’s carriage, Bao Wenyuan whispered respectfully, “Your Majesty, now that the traitor Yang has stepped out of the city, it is the perfect moment to strike. I am willing to lead the elite soldiers myself to capture the rebel Yang Chuan and present him to Your Majesty.”
Yan Wugou composed herself and nodded slightly, her voice firm, “Indeed, Linde City is the throat of Qi. If you can seize this city and capture the rebel Yang Chuan, I will reward you handsomely.”
With her command, Bao Wenyuan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. To avoid unnecessary losses, before issuing orders, Yan Wugou cautioned him, “General Bao, the terrain around this city is treacherous, surrounded by rugged mountains. When attacking, you must be mindful of your surroundings and not rush recklessly.”
Instead of humbly accepting the advice, Bao Wenyuan laughed arrogantly, “Hahaha, Your Majesty, rest assured. We are only a hundred meters from the rebel Yang Chuan. Even if he is a brilliant commander, he cannot possibly have troops hidden so close.”
Looking around, the view of Linde City was unobstructed; aside from Yang Chuan alone, only the lowered drawbridge remained. The Dakang Imperial Army, composed entirely of cavalry and well-trained, boasted formidable mounted combat strength. At his command, within three minutes, the armored cavalry could reach the city walls, cross the drawbridge, and storm inside.
Seeing Bao’s confidence, Yan Wugou said no more and entrusted the operation entirely to him.
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Soon, at his command, the front-line shield soldiers and archers opened several paths as Bao Wenyuan personally led the armored cavalry straight toward Yang Chuan.
“Heh, Bao Wenyuan still doesn’t know how to deploy troops,” Yang Chuan chuckled silently, feeling a pang of sympathy for Yan Wugou’s imperial forces.
In a siege, until the enemy’s numbers and formations are known, shield soldiers should lead the advance. After all, the defenders on the battlements were mostly crossbowmen. Even though cavalry had speed, if the defenders rained arrows down before the troops entered, heavy losses would be inevitable.
Moreover, if Bao Wenyuan sent the shield soldiers first, Qin Yue’s archers hidden in the hills could counterattack with greater effect. As long as the shield soldiers maintained a tight defensive formation, Qin Yue’s crossbowmen would lose their advantage.
But this time, Yan Wugou’s forces were destined to suffer under Yang Chuan’s command.
Two minutes later, dust clouds and countless battle cries neared, yet Yang Chuan calmly turned his horse and returned inside Linde City. The drawbridge swiftly rose, blocking the Dakang cavalry outside the moat.
At that moment, the deputy commander on the city walls gave the crucial order: “Loose a volley of arrows!”
Instantly, countless arrows rained down like a storm upon the Dakang cavalry. Many riders were caught off guard and fell dead in the arrow barrage.
On the nearby hills, Qin Yue, seeing the Dakang troops retreat, immediately commanded his soldiers to roll down boulders and logs, killing many more enemy soldiers.
Spurred on by this chain reaction, Tian Yueying rallied her troops with flags and drums. Dust rose from the west as countless Qi soldiers appeared to be charging in.
Seeing this, Bao Wenyuan panicked and hastily ordered his elite troops to escort Yan Wugou’s carriage in retreat.
“Useless! Bao Wenyuan, you useless fool! Yang Chuan was right all along—you have no talent for command and are nothing but a mediocre man!”
Inside the carriage, Yan Wugou’s heart ached as she watched her elite cavalry fall needlessly.
These ironclad riders represented Dakang’s martial fortune and the morale of its soldiers!
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And Bao Wenyuan? He had only boasted about capturing Yang Chuan alive and crushing Linde City. Instead, he lost thousands of troops without even seeing the face of the Qi army. Truly unworthy of his rank as general!
...
The first battle astonishingly ended in a complete victory for Qi with zero casualties.
When Tian Yueying and Qin Yue returned to Linde City, they praised Yang Chuan fervently.
“Master Yang, you truly are a prodigy! I was worried about facing an enemy force many times larger, but your first command astounded me,” Tian Yueying said, eyes full of admiration like a little girl looking up to her older brother.
“Yes, Minister Yang,” Qin Yue added. “Before today, I only knew your name from merchants traveling to and from Dakang. Now, I see you truly live up to your reputation!”
After this battle, Qin Yue became Yang Chuan’s devoted admirer. Although older, his admiration rivaled Tian Yueying’s.
“This victory wasn’t due to my genius, but because Bao Wenyuan, the Dakang general, was simply mediocre. Even if General Qin fought him alone, he wouldn’t lose,” Yang Chuan said modestly.
He knew well that his opponent was not on the same level, so this battle was hardly worth boasting about.
Furthermore, Yang Chuan knew Yan Wugou would soon return to the capital and appoint someone else as commander. Bao Wenyuan, having lost face before Yang Chuan, would no longer hold his position as general.
Sure enough, after the Dakang army’s retreat, Yan Wugou soon felt unwell all over and returned by carriage to Ping Tian City.
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