The Blood Crown - Chapter 75

On that night, Feng Ye led 5,000 soldiers out of Kuizhou.

They abandoned unnecessary baggage, carrying only ten days’ worth of rations, traveling lightly to quickly cross the foothills of Nanyue Mountain.

This battle was about speed. As long as they moved quickly, Prince Liang wouldn’t have time to set up an ambush.

The distance from Kuizhou to Yueyang was nearly 400 miles. With normal marching speed of forty miles per day, it would take them at least ten days to reach their destination. However, they still had to traverse the rugged mountains. If they encountered danger along the way, or encountered adverse weather conditions such as strong winds and heavy rain, their ten days’ worth of rations might not be sufficient. But Feng Ye ordered them to carry only ten days’ worth of rations, using the scarcity of supplies to boost morale.

Yan Sikong also donned a suit of armor. His natural elegance, combined with the armor, made him appear noble and resolute.

Feng Ye smiled as he watched him mount his horse. The two exchanged a glance, responding with mutual determination.

Feng Ye took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go.”

The commanding officer shouted, “Let’s go!”

To avoid attracting attention, they didn’t dare to beat drums. Instead, they moved silently southward, with soldiers carrying their weapons and horses muffled.

From Kuizhou to Shizhou, the road was smooth. Feng Ye demanded that they march a hundred miles a day, knowing that once they entered the mountains, their speed would inevitably slow down.

Two days later, guided by local guides, they entered Nanyue Mountain.

The valleys were narrow, and the army stretched out for several miles, making it difficult to communicate from front to back. Feng Ye ordered the army to be divided into three sections, with a gap of three or four miles between each section to prevent ambushes and allow for mutual support.

In the evening, they set up camp on high ground near water sources, facing the sun. They had been cautious along the way, avoiding areas that were easy to ambush. Although their marching speed had slowed down, they had safely passed through the past few days.

On the fourth day of entering the mountain, it started to rain.

The rain was not heavy, but it was continuous, turning the mountain roads muddy. Many horses’ hooves got stuck, and the soldiers were wet and cold, suffering greatly. The marching speed slowed down significantly.

Yan Sikong sat by the campfire, sighing softly. “Feng Ye, I think we should rest for a day. With this rain, if we encounter landslides, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Feng Ye stared solemnly at the raindrops falling outside the tent. “We don’t have a day to rest. If we delay any longer, we’ll have to take the Qingxu Valley route.”

“For the past few days, our army has been moving at double speed, gaining at least three days. Resting for a day now would allow the soldiers to recover their strength. Otherwise, if we encounter an ambush, the enemy will have the advantage, and our army will be defeated.”

“In these desolate mountains and wild hills, even on a clear day, Prince Liang may not be able to find us, let alone in this kind of weather.” Feng Ye said, “Resting for a night, we’ll decide tomorrow based on the weather.”

“The rain probably won’t stop tomorrow,” Yan Sikong said. “I’ve been observing the weather for days. The cumulus clouds are not dispersing, the humidity is low, and the moisture is trapped in the mountains. It’s unlikely to stop raining for three days.”

Feng Ye said in a deep voice, “Rest for a night, we’ll decide tomorrow.”

“Feng Ye.”

“Call me General!” Feng Ye glared at him. “Yan Sikong, there’s no distinction of rank in the army, but there’s hierarchy. You don’t need to be so verbose.”

Yan Sikong bowed and said, “Yes, General.”

Feng Ye sighed in frustration and waved to the attendants, “You all can leave. The adjutant and I need to rest.”

For the past few days, Feng Ye and Yan Sikong had been sharing a tent, but there was no romantic intent. It was just to lighten the load and simplify the supplies.

Feng Ye beckoned to Yan Sikong, “Come here.”

Yan Sikong walked over.

Feng Ye leaned against him and said, “I’m feeling anxious. Don’t be angry with me.”

Yan Sikong said lightly, “Do you know why Zhao Fuyi dares to entrust military power to a nineteen-year-old teenager like you?”

Feng Ye snorted, “Because I deserve this military power.”

“Yes, because you fought at eleven, infiltrated enemy lines at fourteen,

Yan Sikong nodded, “I’ll listen to you.” He turned his head to look at Feng Ye’s profile, his resolute gaze shining like stars, piercing into the distance, causing his heart to tremble. Once Feng Ye put on his armor and helmet, standing among the army, he no longer resembled the carefree and lively youth of ordinary days. He was authoritative, decisive, embodying the demeanor of a true leader.

As Yan Sikong had predicted, the rain continued to fall incessantly on the second day. Feng Ye allowed the army to rest for half a day before setting off, given the adverse weather conditions.

The mountainous terrain was damp and cold, the chill seeping into their bodies. Many soldiers caught colds, and even the horses stumbled and fell. The marching speed became increasingly slow, yet with dwindling provisions, they felt as though a relentless specter of death was chasing them from behind. No one dared to complain; they could only grit their teeth and press on.

When Feng Ye ordered the army to carry only ten days’ worth of provisions, it was a risky move. However, without this measure to boost morale, they would have been trapped in the deep mountains.

After three days of arduous trekking in such harsh conditions, they finally welcomed a sunny day. Yet even so, they were delayed by a full four days from their planned schedule. Now they found themselves in a dilemma, as they had only a day’s worth of provisions left.

If they continued along their original path, they would soon run out of food. If they wanted to save time, they would have to choose an alternate route, namely the dreaded Qingxu Valley.

Qingxu Valley was a treacherous place, squeezed between two mountains, narrow and difficult to enter, even harder to exit. It was an ideal location for an ambush. Once inside Qingxu Valley, as long as the entrances at both ends were guarded, it would be like catching fish in a barrel. But once they passed through Qingxu Valley, it would be smooth sailing, allowing them to reach Yueyang within two days.

If Prince Liang had already learned of their entry into the mountains, the best option for him would be to set up an ambush here, which would most likely result in their complete annihilation.

“How perilous the terrain is,” Yan Sikong muttered softly, his gaze fixed on the map.

“It’s not without a way to defeat the enemy,” Feng Ye said. “We anticipated the possibility of an ambush here before we arrived. To break through such a bottleneck, we must break through one of the chokepoints.”

“Breaking through one chokepoint is easy. If I were Prince Liang’s army, I would give up the entrance and guard the exit instead. The exit of Qingxu Valley is only five or six yards wide. By deploying troops in layers and blocking the front chokepoint, it would be virtually impassable. Even if there are no hidden troops behind us, we would find it extremely difficult to push through, not to mention any potential hidden troops above us,” Wang Moxiu sighed heavily. “The heavy rain has misled us!”

“But complaining at this point is useless,” Yan Sikong said, looking at Feng Ye. “General, I suggest we march along the original path. We can survive on wild fruits, and travel day and night to cover more ground.”

Feng Ye squinted his eyes and shook his head. “Can people endure hunger? Can horses withstand starvation by eating these moist grasses? By the time we reach our destination, both men and horses will be exhausted. If we encounter Prince Liang’s pursuers, we might not be able to escape even if we tried.”

“But Qingxu Valley poses a mortal threat,” Yan Sikong argued. “Military strategy says that if the enemy occupies a narrow pass, it’s best not to confront them head-on.”

“But there’s another saying: ‘If it’s not full, fill it’,” Feng Ye said, his gaze piercing. “Whether we go through Qingxu Valley or not, it’s a matter of life and death. Why not take a gamble?”

Yan Sikong sighed, not responding.

Wang Moxiu interjected, “General, what General Feng said makes sense. Firstly, Prince Liang may not have set up an ambush. Secondly, even if he did, he may not necessarily block the front chokepoint. Remember when Han Xin passed through Jingxing Pass, the Zhao army didn’t block the chokepoint, and he led a large army through unimpededly. Later, he won a great victory with a battle at the backwater. Our situation is quite similar…”

Yan Sikong glared at Wang Moxiu sharply. “Marching and fighting cannot rely on hoping the enemy makes mistakes for a chance at victory.”

Wang Moxiu froze, swallowing hard. He marveled inwardly at how a seemingly weak literary scholar could have such a sharp and piercing gaze.

Yan Sikong advised again, “General, the terrain is treacherous, and we must not lead our men to their doom.”

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong, his voice grave. “Yan, have we ever been in agreement when it comes to leading troops?”

Yan Sikong hesitated. “… There have been quite a few disagreements.”

“Really?” Feng Ye narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “I recall you often oppose my decisions, as if you think I’m too young and inexperienced to be trusted. Is that it?”

Yan Sikong bowed. “I dare not.”

Feng Ye took a deep breath. “I understand all your concerns. Do you understand mine?”

“I understand. Whether we choose the original path or Qingxu Valley, each has its advantages and disadvantages. You and I have different temperaments, I am conservative, so naturally, my suggestions tend to be cautious. At least in this matter, right or wrong is not the point. If you insist on going through Qingxu Valley, I will offer my plan for it.” Yan Sikong sighed inwardly. He and Feng Ye were close in private; Feng Ye treated him like a cherished woman, pampering and protecting him. But when it came to leading troops and warfare, as Feng Ye said, they had many disagreements, each going their own way. He couldn’t even count how many arguments they had had.

But now Feng Ye was the commander, so he could only persuade. If persuasion failed, he would comply. Moreover, treacherous terrain was not necessarily a death trap. If they could get through it, they would survive.

“Very well, what’s your plan?” Feng Ye said.