The Blood Crown - Chapter 213

After extensive deliberation, Feng Ye divided the army into three groups. One group would bypass the mountains and head directly to Taiyuan. If there were any ambushes in the mountains, this group could sever the connection between the Taiyuan forces and the ambushers. Another group would follow the original plan and traverse the mountains, while the third group would protect the supplies and move slowly at the rear.

Only if the first two groups successfully passed through and established camps at key positions in the mountains could the safety of the supplies and provisions be ensured.

The detour group, led by Wang Shen, set out at night with light cavalry. The other two groups remained at their original location, waiting for one thing—rain.

Although rain made marching difficult, it also made it hard to set up ambushes. They were waiting for a night when visibility would be poor, with icy rain piercing the bones, to swiftly cross Chongxia Mountain with light gear.

To prevent the enemy scouts from accurately gauging the number of troops in each group and to keep them from realizing their intent to march quickly through the mountains on a rainy night, they put on quite a show.

For example, although Wang Shen only took 10,000 troops, they reduced the number of cooking pots by half, and half of the tents were dismantled, giving the enemy the impression that the entire army had taken the detour, leaving only half the troops in the mountains to protect the supplies and provisions.

Additionally, the patrolling soldiers were ordered to become lazier by the day. They even built enclosures for cattle, horses, and sheep and dug a reservoir, creating the appearance that they intended to camp here for a long time. They also spread word that scouts had been sent to investigate the nearby city of Guangxin, leading the enemy to believe that their next target was Guangxin.

After putting on this act for half a month, they estimated that Wang Shen’s troops should have already exited Chongxia Mountain, and finally, they were greeted with several days of heavy rain.

Scouts reported that the garrison at Shangfeng Fortress, which had been diligently drilling their troops before the rain, had also become increasingly lax after seeing that Feng Ye’s army remained unchanged.

On the first day of the third month, the new moon hung in the sky, shrouded in continuous rain. The moon was so dim it almost blended into the night sky. The land was shrouded in darkness, and the mountains were pitch black.

Feng Ye personally led 60,000 troops. Soldiers bit on sticks, and horses had their hooves wrapped as they set out in the rain, speeding toward Shangfeng Fortress.

By the time the soldiers at Shangfeng Fortress heard the sound of hooves, they had already missed the ambush point and were caught off guard by Feng Ye’s surprise attack. Feng Ye led 20,000 regular troops in a direct assault on the camp while splitting off two groups of elite soldiers—one to provide support from the flanks and the other to scale the mountain and cut off the retreat from behind.

Shangfeng Fortress was originally in a defensible and difficult-to-attack position. Any attacking force would have to fight uphill. But the fortress was not as strong as a city wall, and Feng Ye’s army descended upon them like phantoms, striking from both sides. The defenders quickly found themselves unable to hold their ground. With their retreat cut off, they were defeated by dawn.

When Yan Sikong arrived at Shangfeng Fortress with the slow-moving supply convoy later that evening, Feng Ye’s forces were already taking stock of their losses, repairing the camp, and deploying troops, clearly having taken control.

Yan Sikong looked at the well-organized and disciplined Feng family army, feeling a sense of admiration. Although he had read countless military texts and prided himself on his strategic acumen, he lacked confidence in leading troops. Commanding an army of 100,000 required extraordinary courage, wisdom, foresight, and methods. Even the slightest weakness in a commander would be enough to cause unrest among the rough soldiers. Managing even ten soldiers could be challenging, let alone earning the loyalty and obedience of 100,000. The person capable of such command must possess immense authority.

Feng Ye, though young, had achieved this. Give him another 100,000 or 200,000 troops, and he would still be able to command them with ease. This was why the court feared him so much.

Upon entering Shangfeng Fortress, Feng Ye was handling the prisoners. He was not bloodthirsty but never hesitated to act ruthlessly. Those who refused to surrender were executed without mercy, and in the end, 4,000 soldiers were accepted into his ranks.

Yan Sikong felt a tinge of regret. “Right now, we need all the manpower we can get. Why didn’t you wait for me to persuade the garrison commander?”

“Those without the intention to surrender could become a hidden threat if kept around. What use are they?” Feng Ye replied.

“But those who surrender easily could be disloyal and cowardly. Aren’t they also potential threats?” Yan Sikong countered.

“That depends on the person,” Feng Ye said confidently. “If today’s attacker had been a foreign barbarian, then those who surrendered would indeed be cowards. But dissatisfaction with the Dog Emperor is widespread, both in and out of the court. Most of these soldiers have long harbored grievances against the eunuch faction. By surrendering to me, they are turning to the light. As for those stubbornly loyal fools, killing them is no loss.”

Yan Sikong couldn’t disagree with this reasoning, though he still felt it was a shame. Moreover, he had been gradually integrating himself into the Feng family army. Even though Feng Ye didn’t give him real power, he still relied on Yan Sikong’s abilities. As a result, even with only a nominal position, Yan Sikong had some influence in the army. He wanted to make it a habit for Feng Ye to consult with him, so that the other generals would follow suit, allowing him to gain more control.

Although Feng Ye despised his scheming ways, Yan Sikong didn’t know any other way to survive.

Feng Ye cast a sidelong glance at him. “These commanders are mediocre at best, not worth your concern. You don’t have to treat everyone as if they were Shen Hexuan.”

“No,” Yan Sikong sighed softly at the mention of Shen Hexuan. “Integrate those 4,000 soldiers into the main force attacking Taiyuan. Don’t leave them here.”

“Of course,” Feng Ye replied.

Feng Ye continued, “Oh, that reminds me, I just received news about Shen Hexuan.”

Yan Sikong’s heart tightened; he realized that Shen Hexuan was still alive. Otherwise, Feng Ye wouldn’t bother mentioning any “news.”

Sure enough, Feng Ye said with slight annoyance, “The assassin failed. He escaped into the territory of Xiangyang.”

Yan Sikong didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried. He didn’t want someone as talented as Shen Hexuan to die such an obscure death, but neither did he want to face Shen Hexuan as an enemy.

Feng Ye leaned closer to him. “Are you happy about this or not?”

Yan Sikong gave a bitter smile. “I’m not sure. To be honest, part of me wants him dead, and part of me doesn’t.”

“He’s lucky to have survived. He’d better behave himself,” Feng Ye said coldly. “But if he opposes me again, I’ll make sure he dies without a complete corpse.”

This conversation made Yan Sikong uncomfortable, so he changed the subject. “Any news from Que Wang today?”

“There is. They’re preparing to storm the city,” Feng Ye replied.

Yan Sikong frowned. “Attacking the city will surely lead to heavy losses… Did you push him?”

He was deeply concerned about Yuan Nanyu’s safety and even regretted not going to Qingyang with him. However, the situation in Taiyuan was more critical, and besides, Feng Ye might not have allowed him to go with Yuan Nanyu.

“I didn’t need to push him; he knows how urgent the situation is.” Feng Ye pulled Yan Sikong aside. “I know you’re worried about him, and so am I. But he’s fought many battles with me and has honed his skills. I believe Qingyang is no match for him.”

Yan Sikong nodded, hoping that Yuan Nanyu, who had once escaped death’s door, would be favored by fortune again. After all, he had already survived one close call, so his luck must be strong.

They spent a few days securing Shangfeng Fortress and left 20,000 troops to guard it. Shangfeng Fortress would serve as a critical supply route from Datong to Taiyuan. With this fortress in their hands, they had more confidence in attacking Taiyuan.

On a clear day, Feng Ye led the army towards Taiyuan. The troops led by Wang Shen had already exited Chongxia Mountain and were temporarily stationed 100 li (about 50 kilometers) away from Taiyuan, monitoring both the mountain and the city.

After regrouping, they moved to a camp 30 li (about 15 kilometers) from Taiyuan, where they built stone walls and cleared land for farming. Whether this turned into a prolonged siege or not, they had to prepare for the long haul.

Taiyuan, with its 60,000 troops, was the gateway to the heart of the Central Plains and one of the most prosperous cities in the realm. It was the most formidable city they had faced so far. Compared to Taiyuan, the previous cities they had captured were like fragile eggs. They couldn’t expect to take Taiyuan quickly. Even if they could capture it within a year, it would be a remarkable feat.

After setting up camp, Feng Ye ordered the soldiers to train and farm, with no immediate plans to attack.

In reality, they were waiting for news from Yuan Nanyu, who was currently entangled in a stalemate with Qingyang. If Yuan Nanyu could capture Qingyang, they could use it as a base to split their forces and sever the supply lines between Qingyang and Taiyuan. By capturing a few smaller cities, they could gradually encircle Taiyuan and cut off its supplies. But without securing Qingyang, they dared not act rashly, or they risked being surrounded by the enemy.

For days, they received no good news. Yuan Nanyu had failed in an initial attempt to take the city, but he did ambush the Sheng forces coming to Qingyang’s aid, which was a mixed result with no real progress.

Siege warfare was naturally something that couldn’t be rushed, but who could truly remain calm?

First, Yan Sikong suggested going to Qingyang to assist Yuan Nanyu, but Feng Ye rejected the idea, as many military matters still required Yan Sikong’s attention, and he was already stretched thin. Later, Yuan Shaoxu proposed going to support Yuan Nanyu.

Although Yuan Shaoxu, as the eldest son of the Yuan family, had gained Feng Ye’s favor in the army, it was hard to say whether he was being truly utilized. Feng Ye assigned Yuan Shaoxu to oversee the transport of provisions—a vital task, as provisions were the lifeblood of the army, and it was also a lucrative position where one could easily skim off some profits. But Yuan Shaoxu was unwilling to be a mere supply guard; he believed he was being underutilized. He wanted to lead troops into battle and earn military merit, so whenever he had the chance, he would advise Feng Ye, pleading for an opportunity to showcase his talents.

Unfortunately, Feng Ye didn’t agree. They had just gained a foothold, and they needed the Taiyuan forces to believe they were preparing for a long siege. If they made too many moves, especially sending troops to reinforce Qingyang, the enemy might see through their impatience or suspect that their provisions weren’t as abundant as they appeared.

So, they kept a close watch on the developments in both Qingyang and Taiyuan. Meanwhile, reports continued to flow into the camp from Datong, Yunnan, and even the court and various regions across the land.

They learned that the court planned to send reinforcements to Taiyuan. However, Taiyuan didn’t really need reinforcements, as they had ample troops and provisions, and Feng Ye hadn’t even surrounded the city yet. These reinforcements were likely intended to engage Feng Ye’s forces in battle. But the intelligence was based on rumors and wasn’t entirely reliable. If the court’s troops did come to fight them, it would be dangerous to face enemies on both fronts. However, it might not be a bad thing compared to Taiyuan closing its gates and dragging out the siege.

After waiting for two months, summer had arrived, and the weather was growing hotter. Some hot-tempered generals couldn’t stand this “recuperation” any longer and, fed up with hiding in the camp like turtles, demanded to lead troops to attack Taiyuan. Feng Ye gave them twenty lashes and they quieted down.

Just as everyone was growing restless and the soldiers were filled with doubts, they finally received the most eagerly awaited news: Yuan Nanyu, leading the Feng family army, had fought a bloody battle, losing more than half of his troops and sustaining injuries himself, but had finally captured Qingyang! (End of Chapter)