The Blood Crown - Chapter 218

At this moment, the defending general of Taiyuan, Luo Ruoxin, was personally leading 40,000 troops in a surprise attack on the Wolf King’s camp. According to scout reports and the defector Cao Yu’s information, the camp’s remaining garrison should only be about 10,000 men. Even if they couldn’t annihilate all 10,000, setting fire to their provisions and supplies would resolve the crisis in the Central Plains.

Before dawn, Luo Ruoxin arrived at the camp with great momentum. The camp indeed appeared to be the scene of a major expedition with defenses lacking, and the soldiers hurriedly beat the drums to prepare for battle.

The two armies first exchanged arrows, creating a bloodthirsty and cruel network of rain and shadow that enveloped everyone in a deadly shroud.

Many soldiers within the camp fell, and faced with the fiercely hostile enemy who outnumbered them four to one, they retreated step by step.

Luo Ruoxin was overjoyed, his blood boiling with excitement. The chance to defeat the renowned Wolf King was within reach! He had read extensively on military strategy and was skilled with both bow and horse. Raised under the expectation of his formidable father, he had never been given a significant role. He believed that given the chance, he could make a name for himself just like Feng Ye, shining brightly. He was determined to achieve fame in this battle!

Luo Ruoxin, eager for victory, forgot that dividing his troops was a major blunder in military strategy. With a single command, the 40,000 troops surged towards the enemy camp like tigers descending from the mountains, overwhelming the Feng army who scattered and fled.

The soldiers crazily hunted down the fleeing troops, holding torches to search for granaries, eager to claim credit for their achievements.

Once Luo Ruoxin entered the enemy camp, he began to calm down, sensing that something was amiss. The defenders seemed even fewer than Cao Yu had reported. How could so many men have retreated so quickly? Moreover, the camp reeked of horse manure, which was unusual for Feng’s disciplined troops. Could they have truly been so hasty?

When a subordinate detected a hint of sulfur amidst the manure’s stench, Luo Ruoxin realized something was wrong and immediately ordered a retreat.

But it was already too late. With a chilling wolf howl cutting through the air, thousands of fire arrows poured down from the mountains, raining like porcupine quills. Sparks ignited the gunpowder scattered on the ground, and flames quickly engulfed the entire camp!

Luo Ruoxin shouted for a retreat, his voice hoarse, but it couldn’t stop his soldiers from being trapped in the inferno. The sounds of screams and cries for help melded into a nightmarish hell.

Thousands of Feng’s generals charged out of the mountains in three directions, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

Luo Ruoxin, in a disheveled state, escaped from the sea of fire and led his troops in retreat. However, the disorganized army, scattered by the fire, was being picked off one by one.

The Feng army shouted “Surrender and you won’t be killed,” surrounding the enemy from three sides. Luo Ruoxin and his men fought desperately to break through, finally carving out a path from the sea of blood.

They stumbled back to Taiyuan, narrowly avoiding an encounter with Zhang Rong and Qian Cunxi’s forces, but eventually, they fell into the ambush set by Feng Ye on the return route.

When Feng Ye and Yan Sikong saw the devastated enemy army, they exchanged a smile of relief. Their anxiety was finally eased.

Luo Ruoxin’s formation during his retreat was actually commendable. The vanguard cleared the path while heavy troops protected the rear. Despite the defeat, the army was not in disarray, showing his capability as a leader. Unfortunately, he had encountered an extraordinary opponent.

Just as they thought they had escaped the pursuers, the sound of war drums, like the cries of vengeful spirits, came from less than twenty miles away from Taiyuan.

Luo Ruoxin immediately ordered his subordinates to fire distress signals.

Feng Ye raised his spear and shouted, “Whoever brings me Luo Ruoxin’s head will be rewarded with a thousand gold and granted the title of a thousand households!”

With this command, the soldiers charged towards the enemy with frenzy, encircling them. Instantly, blades clashed, flesh and blood intertwined, severed limbs, fallen horses, and blood-stained land became the first horrific scene revealed by the morning sun.

The Feng army, enraged, tightened the encirclement, all striving to claim Luo Ruoxin’s head for eternal glory and wealth. The scene almost got out of control, and they forgot Feng Ye’s order to encircle and leave one side open.

Encircling and leaving one side open had been a crucial strategy for pursuing and defeating fleeing enemies since ancient times. If fully surrounded, the enemy would know there was no escape and fight to the death, making them particularly dangerous. Even if victorious, the army would suffer heavy losses. Thus, it was essential to leave an opening to prevent the enemy from becoming desperate.

Feng Ye shouted commands to adjust his troops, but transmitting orders on the battlefield took time, and soldiers needed time to execute them. By now, Luo Ruoxin was encircled on all sides, knowing he was doomed, and fought desperately, becoming even more ferocious.

Yan Sikong, watching anxiously, said in a deep voice, “Wolf King, retreat. If we continue, the Taiyuan reinforcements will arrive.”

With only 10,000 troops, fewer than the fleeing soldiers Luo Ruoxin brought, they would be trapped if Taiyuan reinforcements arrived.

Feng Ye gripped the reins tightly, his face marked by hesitation. **, sensing the owner’s anxiety, paced back and forth and scraped the ground with its hooves.

Yan Sikong urged again, “Wolf King, the soldiers are too eager for achievements and difficult to control. We must withdraw.”

Feng Ye extended his hand: “Bow.”

A soldier immediately handed over Feng Ye’s bow.

Holding the bow in one hand and the arrow fully drawn in the other, Feng Ye aimed the sharp arrow at the commander amidst the thousands of troops. The arrow shot out like a streak of light.

Feng Ye could shoot accurately with a two-stone bow from a young age, hitting targets at a hundred steps with precision. However, it seemed that Luo Ruoxin’s fate was not yet sealed. Just as the arrow flew, his war horse was startled, and the sharp arrow struck the horse’s neck.

Luo Ruoxin fell from his horse, shielded by heavy shields, and was pulled back onto the horse.

Yan Sikong squinted and intensified his tone: “Feng Ye.”

Feng Ye clenched his teeth in frustration. Calculating the time, the Taiyuan reinforcements were indeed close. He said in a deep voice, “Withdraw the troops.”

The signal drums beat heavily, and the Feng army, who had been consumed by the slaughter, came to their senses. Despite their unwillingness, they followed orders and withdrew in an orderly fashion. Luo Ruoxin caught his breath and led his remaining soldiers in a desperate escape.

Feng Ye dared not delay, leading his troops swiftly back to the camp.

What awaited them was a camp that had been reduced to ashes, filled with charred corpses and over 3,000 surrendered soldiers.

Before the battle, Feng Ye had secretly moved some of the provisions and supplies to Upper Peak Fort and sent another portion with the army to Yan State. The camp was almost empty. Although the painstakingly constructed camp had been set ablaze, the trap set specifically for Luo Ruoxin had been a success. They had annihilated over 20,000 enemies, captured more than 3,000, and with the ambush on the way, Luo Ruoxin’s 40,000 troops had returned with only about 10,000, while they had lost fewer than 2,000 soldiers.

It was a resounding victory!

Feng Ye did not linger in the burned camp. After regrouping the army, he set out for Yan State the same day. Wang Shen should have already surrounded Yan State, waiting for Feng Ye and his 80,000 troops to arrive and choose a day to attack Yan State.

With wounded soldiers and prisoners, they marched slowly for three days and finally reached Yan State.

Both Feng Ye and Yan Sikong had been unable to rest properly for days. When they arrived at the camp, they were utterly exhausted.

Yan Sikong collapsed onto a bed, eager to rest, but Feng Ye pulled him up. “Let’s eat something first.”

Yan Sikong shook his head. “I just need to sleep.”

Feng Ye checked his forehead.

Yan Sikong quickly added, “I’m not ill, just tired. You should rest too.”

Feng Ye, with a hint of excitement, said, “I can’t sleep. Our army won the first battle. I’m too happy to close my eyes.”

Yan Sikong smiled. “I feel the same. General Cao Yu has made a great contribution this time.”

Cao Yu had escaped during Luo Ruoxin’s attack and narrowly avoided being consumed by the fire. If he had not cooperated with this ruse, pretending to defect and risking his life to go to the enemy camp, Luo Ruoxin might not have been so easily deceived.

“I will reward him generously!” Feng Ye touched Yan Sikong’s somewhat pale and tired face. “And you. If it weren’t for your repeated brilliant strategies, we might not have found an opportunity to lure the Taiyuan army out of the city.”

Yan Sikong smiled. “This is just the first battle. Yan State is not yet ours, and Taiyuan still has strength. We’ll see…”

“We’ll talk about the future later. Don’t you want any reward now?” Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong intently. “I’ve taken Qianzhou and Datong, allied with the Chahar, and lured Luo Ruoxin into the trap. You’ve contributed greatly. Don’t you want a reward?”

Yan Sikong looked back at Feng Ye, unblinking, and said calmly, “If I say I want something but can’t think of what, you wouldn’t give me command of troops. If I say I don’t want anything, you might think I’m not seeking small gains and have some grand plan, so you’d still be wary of me.”

Feng Ye remained silent.

Yan Sikong cupped Feng Ye’s face, lightly tracing the smooth texture with his fingertips. This young general, renowned for his military prowess, had a face that seemed out of place on the bloody battlefield. Yan Sikong had seen all the expressions on this face, firmly imprinting the most cherished and affectionate look in his mind, even though it no longer appeared. He said, “Feng Ye, whether you believe it or not, what I want has always been what I’ve told you. I want us to support the rightful ruler and restore the prosperous world. So, I don’t want your reward. Every step we take away from the capital is the greatest reward for me. If… if you feel it’s necessary to reward me…”

Feng Ye’s deep, shining eyes were fully focused on Yan Sikong.

“Then, could you…” Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment, then softly said, “be a little nicer to me?” As he spoke, his heart trembled. He had considered whether this request was too humble but could not stop himself from voicing it.

Feng Ye shuddered, his large hand cradling Yan Sikong’s neck as he forcefully kissed him, passionately and roughly, as if pouring all his surging emotions into the kiss.

Yan Sikong felt dazed under the intense kiss. The domineering yet tender sensation reminded him of their passionate kisses from years ago, sweet like this one, though he wondered if it was just his illusion.

While kissing him, Feng Ye lifted him onto his lap, gently stroking his lean back as if caressing a precious treasure.

When they finally pulled apart, Yan Sikong’s face was flushed and his eyes misty from the kisses.

Feng Ye, unable to contain his emotions, traced his fingertips over Yan Sikong’s cheek and said softly, “After all these years, I can’t forgive you, but I also can’t forget you. I often think that maybe we’re destined to be entangled like this for a lifetime.”

Yan Sikong tasted a hint of bitterness.

Feng Ye gazed deeply into his eyes. “I promise you, as long as you don’t betray me again or deceive me, and stay by my side forever, I will treat you well. In my lifetime, I will only treat you this way.”

Yan Sikong felt a pang of sorrow and gently embraced Feng Ye’s neck. He didn’t expect to return to the past, but for now, he was content.

They held each other tightly, as if trying to merge into one body, never to part again. (End of Chapter)