Chapter 99
The Noble Womans Guide On How to Tease Ones Husband Chapter 99
Translated by: Oinkoink
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Yue Tings death had caught everyone by surprise but it also reignited the fire in their hearts. With a mixture of anger and grief, Chu Jinglan immediately decided to speed up the attack on Bailing Pass.
The Lushans mountain range stretches boundlessly and guards the surrounding sixteen cities including Wangdu in the center with its mountain horns. Bailing Pass, which is located at the foothill of Lushan, is the only way to enter Wangdu which is so tightly guarded that even one man can hold up against a thousand that the Yi tribe and Northern-west tribe had difficulty breaking in.
This unique geographical advantage used to make Chu Country invincible but has now become the biggest obstacle in front of Chu Jinglan. Hence, he and Ye Huaili chose to meet right now. Under the circumstances that all of Chu Sanghuais troop are ultimately stationed in Bailing Pass, only the combined forces from both sides can breach this strong fortress.
Chu Zhenghe has been studying the military tactics during the army recoupment but has yet to find a way to break the enemy defense. Since it so happened that everyone is here tonight, he just left this task to them.
Wasnt Chu Sanghuai said to have taken all the silver for pleasure indulgences? This Bailing Pass was actually sturdily built! The imperial army is so well-equipped that even a passing rabbit will be whizzed out by the flying steel arrow. Im out of ideas. You guys take a look at it, since hard force tactics are definitely not possible.
The total number of the imperial army and Xiaoqi Battalion are about 300,000 which are evenly matched against ours, hence we naturally cant use hard force tactics. Ye Huaili picked up the bronze pole to point at the surrounding mountains and queried them, I have been away from the capital for many years, so I am not familiar with the topography here. Is there not even a path that can pass through this mountainous area?
Chu Zhenghe shook his head with an expression you are just too young.
With rows of mountains covering the sun and torrential waves below, how can we pass through?
Its not that there is no way. Chu Jinglan pointed to the only section of the long mountain pass next to the river and spoke to them with certainty, As long as we can cross here, we will surely break through the defense line.
Widening his eyes, Chu Zhenghe exclaimed, Are you crazy? The waterway in this section is notorious for going but no return. Im afraid the ship will be sunk by the submerged reefs below before it even reaches halfway!
Ye Huaili coincidentally thought the same too. Although he is not familiar with this, he has always heard people say there are innumerable reefs hidden in this section of the great river. Even the experienced old fishermen dare not go fishing in this river during the rainy season, just because the reefs will not surface on the water at this time which make it hard to guard against them. And because of this, the security at this section of Bailing Pass is relatively relaxed. In the event that they successfully go ashore, this will indeed turn into a breach.
Confronting with their queries, Chu Jinglan seemed prepared as he spoke unhurriedly, Meng Xuan had brought over stands of cannons that can be mounted on the warships to break the reefs but we do not have that many ships meeting these conditions which is about ten .
Ten ships? Chu Zhenghe calculated silently and frowned all of a sudden, At the very most these can only carry 8000 people over. If its to carry out a nighttime sneak attack, there is not enough time to transport back and forth
Only 5000 people. Chu Jinglan concluded directly.
Ye Huaili pursed the corners of his lips tightly and thought about it carefully before saying, It is enough for 8000 elite soldiers to fight alone but aids from within the Pass will be swift. Its very likely for them to quickly make it up once their defense is broken and in the end, not only will we suffer heavy casualties but the other party will be alerted too.
So, they must not be alerted. Chu Jinglan lifted a crimson flag and placed it in the middle of Bailing Pass then put a pocket-sized token carved with the word Shen-ce on it, I will pretend to lead the troops to charge through the Pass to draw out a large group of imperial army here while the 8000 people can immediately proceed to break through the defense and open the rear gate of the Pass then the attacks will be from both inside and outside. Bailing Pass will certainly be breached!
Chu Zhenghes eyes brightened suddenly after pondering for a long time, Why didnt I think of creating a diversion method? Extremely ingenious! Ill arrange the manpower and set out tomorrow after nightfall!
Come back. Chu Jianlan called out to him faintly while his eyes turned to look at Ye Huaili, Once ashore, there is still a trail of mountain paths to go through. The manoeuvrability of the Guanzhong army is relatively much stronger, hence this expedition has to be yours.
Ye Huaili was slightly taken aback.
Is the present Chu Jinglan the one who fanned and coaxed his younger sister to sleep in the vacation palace? Between the snap of the fingers, he had clearly split the whole situation. From the intent of the attack deployment to superb military commanding, just these few words were enough to briefly reveal a part of his battlefield epitome of those years.
He couldnt help but ask himself, if he had really stood on the opposition side and defended this Bailing Pass, which is surrounded by jagged cliffs and rugged mountains, would he be able to stop Chu JInglans marching troop to Wangdu?
While he was dazing, Chu Jinglan coughed once again that even a few mouthfuls of warm water could not stop it. His handsome face turned vaguely pale, setting off the profound darkening of the inky bottomless abyss-like eyes that looked empty and filled with lonely desolation.
He had only seen this look on the day of Yangers death.
Chu Zhenghe didnt notice his silence since he was preoccupied staring at Chu Jinglan with tightly knitted eyebrows.
Why is the coughing not getting any better after taking the medicine for more than a month?
Placing the teacup back on the table, Chu Jinglan said nothing. From the recess of the candles reflection, specks of scarlet were seen on the trim of his sleeve again. Without batting an eyelid, he placed his hand behind his back and turned to look at Ye Huaili before lightly spat out two words, Hows it?
Ye Huaili simply replied, Okay.
There was no emphasis on the significance of these 8000 people nor repeated finalization of details. When he was asked to go, he would just advance courageously. The previous Ye Huailig would simply never imagined having such a tacit understanding and coordination.
In the wake of an afterthought, Chu Zhenghe asked, Then how to lure them out of the pass? How much water must have flooded the defense generals brains for them to come out and fight a hard battle against us instead of defending such a great chasm barrier?
Use me as the bait.
At the hour of haishi (9pm-11pm) the next day, the Northern Army launched a sneak attack.
The gate of Bailing Pass opened in less than an hour. The imperial army rushed into formation in wake of the loud horn sound then began the hand-to-hand fight with raging momentum and downright stamina. The chaotic iron hooves splashed myriad muddy water and everyone was in such dire straits that it was almost impossible to tell which side the soldiers were on under the dark dreary sky.
With hands clasped behind his back, Chu Zhenghe was watching the battle on the cliff and almost had his jaw dropped seeing this situation.
He had indeed underestimated the extent of Chu Sanghuais madness. In order to kill Chu Jinglan, he actually offered the conditions of official rank promotion and nobility advancement. No wonder these soldiers charged over like seeing the meat of Monk Tang*. Both Xie Si and Wang Yu were blockheads too as they could not hold back the casual provocation of Chu Jinglan but absurdly, they both wanted to obtain meritorious credit yet were afraid of dying. Hence, they were still standing on the city wall now and commanded from a distance. What? Did the Northern Land army have faces that are easily bullied?
[T/N: (Tngsng) the Buddhist monk who traveled to India/West for the buddhism scriptures during Tang Dynasty / the monk who the mythical Monkey King (Sun Wu Kong) protected in the novel Journey to the West]
Chu Zhenghe laughed coldly and immediately ordered the soldiers beside him, Send a signal to launch the arrows. Its time to cover Wangyes retreat.
A bunch of red florets resembling irises suddenly spurted across the sky when the archers hidden behind the opposite cliffside wooden brackets immediately pulled the bowstrings like full moon to shoot rains of arrows. At once, the group of imperial army screamed miserably. In the midst of chaos, Chu Jinglan left the battlefield quietly and returned to the cliff.
For the sake of concealment, there was no ignition of fire on this side. Seeing the silver armor covered with mottled shadows, Chu Zhenghes gaze quickly congealed.
Wounded?
No. Chu Jinglan wiped his armor and spoke nonchalantly, Its all others blood.
Thats good. Picking up the sword, Chu Zhenghe turned around to walk down the slope and dropped some words with a smile, Im going to meet those two shrunken-head turtles on the opposite side.
Engrossed in grappling, those imperial armies didnt seem to notice the disappearance of Chu Jinglan when he arrived amid the formation. Once Chu Zhenghe shouted shield up, the spiky shields that originally stacked like feathers erected layers upon layers instantly and formed a huge shield wall. Instead of charging in, the imperial armies were crying out pitiful mourns as they got stabbed by the shield spikes while the two people on the city wall became restless immediately.
As it happened, Chu Zhenghe even revealed himself to mock them, While the armies from both sides are facing each other, the chief commanders are hiding on top of a wall. Are the two of you expecting my army to be defeated without fighting because of laughing to death?
With a ghastly pale face, Xie Si ordered, Send forth the stone-hurling cart!
Boulders were smashed over with loud bangs that the entire shield wall somewhat dropped where some soldiers were knocked down revealing a few apparent gaps. Someone from the back immediately carried the wounded soldiers away and filled up their positions. Finding them impregnable, the imperial armies launched a more violent attack but was to no avail.
Change formation!
Under this advantage, Chu Zhenghe unexpectedly set up the wild goose-wing formation when the shields were merely seen swishing down and the cavalry galloped out from the middle like a soaring wild goose plundering swiftly forward with its blade-like feathers. Taken by surprise, the imperial armies throats were successively severed by sharp weapons drawn in mid-air as blood gushed out instantly.
The two people on the city gate finally realized something was amiss; Chu Jinglan had long since disappeared. Fearing of falling into a trap, they hastily commanded the army to retreat within the Pass but these soldiers were already deep in fear and only known to attack recklessly and turned deaf ears to the command. Seeing this, the two men rode their horses out exasperatedly to the formation to personally command the armys retreat.
Chu Jinglan cast his gaze to the distant Pass where there was no movement, just like a pool of stagnant water.
Bring the bow over. He talked to Tang Qingfeng while instructing the soldier, Have Junwang[1] Rong force them down the mountain.
Tang Qingfeng immediately told the messenger to wave the banner. When Chu Zhenghe at the bottom received the instruction, he halted the wild goose-wing formation and let the infantry on the flanks to raise their shields and pushed forward. The imperial armies were soon squeezed down the mountain, including Xie Si and Wang Yu who were caught in the midst.
No sooner said than done, a white feather was seen streaking across the horizon with unstoppable force and thrust precisely into the midst of the imperial armies. Falling thudily off his horse, Xie Si dropped face up in the arms of the crowds and vomited blood incessantly.
Watching the scene calmly, Chu Jinglan drew another silvery arrow from the arrow sack, then aimed at the midst of the clustering soldiers again and shot it out. Penetrating the armor and torso shortly after which Wang Yu was thrown a few meters away where he lost consciousness on the spot.
Not a clean death.
Although Wang Yu had been seriously injured, it still could not eliminate Chu Jinglans killing intent towards the Wang family, only because the Ye familys letter mentioned that the Empress had once tortured Ye Huaiyang.
Throwing down the bow and arrow without expression, Chu Jinglan turned around and was about to swoop into the battlefield when smoke signals and monstrous fire billowed within the Pass.
There is a sneak attack! Retreat quickly!
Once the deputy general shouted at the top of his voice, the panic-stricken imperial army finally began to withdraw to the rear. When they almost reached the Pass gate vicinity, the iron-gate door behind them gradually opened. Instead of their own people, they were greeted by thousands of Guanzhongs soldiers with gleaming long swords that almost blinded their eyes, who were out for blood.
Surrounded.
The imperial army reacted very quickly and wanted to make a breach through the lesser numbers of Guanzhong army but to no avail as Chu Zhenghe moved faster, allowing the infantry to outflank them. Huge spiky shields blocked their way and continuously condensed the battle line. The imperial army became the bird in a cage and was soon to be wiped out.
The battles outcome has been decided.
Wiping the blood stains on his face, Chu Zhenghe leapt swiftly up the city wall then raised his sword and shouted, Take orders soldiers. Break through Bailing Pass in one go!
Yes!
Chu Jinglan looked silently in the direction of Wangdu amidst the deafening cries. The moonlight that flowed in his pupils and cuffs was snarling the fluttering hems and drawing across the sky with streaks of silvery lines.
Since the natural stronghold has been breached, they can immediately advance to the capital city tomorrow and Wangdu will soon reduce to an isolated city.
Yanger, Husband has returned.
No one answered in the surrounding silence and the few words that were either like narrating or sighing quickly dissipated in the air and drifted into the distance with the night breeze.
[1] (Jn wng) Prefecture King / County King. Prince of 2nd rank.
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