The Second Prince of Wei Country picked out ten thousand elite soldiers from the army and left that night.
Gong Xiaohua led one hundred thousand troops all the way to the northern battlefield. General Zhang's Western Defense Army and part of the South Defense Army were deferential to Gong Xiaohua.
However, General Chen of the Garrison Army, looking at his original subordinates who had climbed up and become his superiors, felt deeply humiliated.
Seeing how General Zhang and the officers of the South Defense Army were currying favor with her made people look down on them with contempt.
The western border was about one thousand kilometers away. Marching day and night would take about half a month.
All along the way, scouts went ahead to explore the route. The main troops followed behind. Since they were still in Ye Country's territory, it was relatively safe and uneventful.
When the troops were about halfway there, on a stretch of undulating mountain roads, a scout came to report: "General, ten kilometers ahead in a hidden mountain valley, we discovered Wei Country's supply convoy."
"Did you ascertain clearly?"
"We saw clearly. They are indeed Wei Country's troops."
"How much supplies did they transport?"
"Roughly one hundred thousand shi."
"Really? You didn't see wrongly?" General Zhang asked excitedly.
"Absolutely certain."
Upon hearing the affirmative reply, General Zhang turned to Gong Xiaohua above him and said excitedly: "General, that's enough rations for three hundred thousand troops for a month. They must be transporting it to Wei Army's northern battlefield. General, if we intercept it, Wei Army will be defeated without fighting."
But Gong Xiaohua did not respond directly to him. She only ordered the scout first: "You may withdraw for now."
After the scout left, Gong Xiaohua said: "If the rations are indeed there, we must intercept them no matter what."
"What do you mean, General?"
"The mountain roads are rugged and difficult to traverse. More importantly, it's a big detour." Qin Chuyuan analyzed.
General Zhang thought of another possibility: "Could it be because this route is safer? Look, if we weren't marching north to provide support, we wouldn't have thought Wei Country would transport rations via this path."
"That's right, that's right." The other generals echoed in agreement.
"What you said is not groundless. But better safe than sorry. We'll scout it out at night and then decide," said Gong Xiaohua.
"Yes."
"Order the whole army to make camp here and rest."
"Yes."
After everyone left to handle things, only Qin Chuyuan and Gong Xiaohua remained.
Now everyone in the army knew their relationship. Wherever General Gong was, except when sleeping, people would see Master Qin's figure. If they wanted to find him, they only needed to ask where the General was.
"Do you also think they have ulterior motives?" Qin Chuyuan asked.
"Woman's intuition. We'll know for sure after scouting it out tonight," said Gong Xiaohua.
As dusk fell, cooking pots were being buried in the camp. Li Zichen rushed into the main tent, drenched in sweat, and said: "Xiaohua, bad news! General Chen led over five thousand garrison troops and they're missing!"
"What do you mean missing?"
"My subordinates reported that General Chen said he was taking troops out on patrol, but they didn't return in the afternoon. I felt something was wrong and sent people to look for them around the vicinity, but there was no trace or signs of fighting. I suspect he took the troops to raid Wei Country's supply convoy."
"How long has it been?"
"Three hours."
Gong Xiaohua and Qin Chuyuan looked at each other. Something might have gone wrong. Gong Xiaohua ordered Li Zichen: "Notify He Lianyu and General Zhang to prepare ten thousand troops to leave camp with me."
"I'll go arrange it now." Li Zichen left hurriedly.
"Inform General Wu to be ready to lead two teams to flank them and respond on my signal." After Li Zichen was out of earshot, Gong Xiaohua turned and told Qin Chuyuan.
"Alright, be careful."
"Don't worry."
She then leapt onto her horse and galloped out of the camp. Not long after, the troops had assembled and they headed to ten kilometers away together.
Upon first entering the valley, they saw a group of men being chased and killed. It was General Chen and his men.
"Run quickly! It's a trap. They have an ambush," General Chen shouted loudly when he saw Gong Xiaohua leading troops over.
Just as he finished shouting, a cold arrow from the mountain shot into his chest.
"It's an ambush. Prepare for battle!"
The Ye Army halted with shield troops protecting both flanks.
Gong Xiaohua, Generals Zhang and He Lianyu rode at the very front of the formation.
Gong Xiaohua watched a group of cavalry galloping over from the distance. They were familiar faces: "Long time no see, Your Highness the Second Prince."
"Long time no see, General Gong."
Gong Xiaohua dismounted.
Generals Zhang and He Lianyu also wanted to dismount but Gong Xiaohua stopped them.
She walked forward alone and came to General Chen's side. He was covered in blood now, the fatal wound being the arrow in his chest that had pierced his heart. He was breathing his last.
Gong Xiaohua helped prop General Chen up: "General Chen."
General Chen looked at Gong Xiaohua beside him: "General Gong."
As soon as he opened his mouth, blood kept gushing out. Gong Xiaohua used her hand to wipe it for him.
He said with difficulty: "I regret...not listening to you...and got...so many brothers killed by their blades and arrows. Now that I think about it...His Majesty has great foresight...you really...really are outstanding. The Garrison Army...from now on...I'll leave it to you. I believe you...will definitely...bring them home."
He spoke haltingly with blood flowing from the corners of his mouth. Using the last bit of strength left in his body to convey his final wish.
"General Chen, don't worry. I will definitely bring them home."
Hearing this, General Chen showed a faint smile and completely closed his eyes.
Gong Xiaohua laid General Chen down and looked coldly at the Second Prince: "So today's trap was meant for my hundred thousand troops? Does His Highness have some misunderstanding about the capabilities of my Ye Army?"
"No, my target was only you. If not for this General Chen's impatience, I wouldn't have been confident in luring you here either. Come to think of it, I've helped you get rid of a disobedient subordinate."
"Enjoy this banquet then. Kill them!" Not giving the other side a chance to stall for time, the Second Prince shouted loudly.
At the same time, Gong Xiaohua launched a signal flare.
"Protect the General!" The Ye Army's shield troops immediately moved forward to surround Gong Xiaohua.
"Xiyuan Army form up. Western Defense Army follow closely behind," Gong Xiaohua ordered Generals Zhang and He Lianyu.
"Yes."
"Ah!"
But before the enemy's arrow rain came, screams from the mountains rang out instead.
Then Qin Chuyuan and General Wu rode out from both sides of the mountain.
"General, the surrounding enemy troops have all been wiped out."
"How can that be?" Hearing this, the Second Prince cried out in disbelief.
"Take them prisoner," Gong Xiaohua ordered.
"Yes."
"I want to ask, since you knew we had one million shi of rations being transported to the battlefield, why didn't you immediately send troops to confiscate it?" After the Second Prince and the others were captured, he asked Gong Xiaohua resentfully.
"Because there was a loophole."
"Hahaha, your astuteness is as fearful as ever. Now that things have come to this, let's die here together!" After speaking, he launched a signal flare.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Of course, burn down the mountain."
Gong Xiaohua looked around at the continuous mountain ranges. Once a fire broke out here it would be difficult to control if not put out promptly. Their tens of thousands of troops would either be burned alive or choked to death. She said to the Second Prince: "You will die here too."
"What of it? With you as company, it's worthwhile. Hahaha..."
Gong Xiaohua was too lazy to respond to him. She commanded the Ye Army generals: "Generals, listen up. Aside from escorting the Wei Country hostages, take all soldiers and horses and rush to surround the mountain. Capture the Wei troops who were preparing to burn down the mountain. If it's too late, dig a firebreak 200 meters away from the fire source."
"What is a firebreak?"
"It means digging up anything that could catch fire."
"Yes ma'am."
That night, residents tens of kilometers away saw a blaze stretching across the mountain, as bright as daylight. They thought it was the mountain god angry and set up altars to pray for the god to relent.
The Ye Army also dug all night for the so-called firebreak, finally managing to halt the raging wildfire.
The Second Prince of Wei Country picked out ten thousand elite soldiers from the army and left that night.
Gong Xiaohua led one hundred thousand troops all the way to the northern battlefield. General Zhang's Western Defense Army and part of the South Defense Army were deferential to Gong Xiaohua.
However, General Chen of the Garrison Army, looking at his original subordinates who had climbed up and become his superiors, felt deeply humiliated.
Seeing how General Zhang and the officers of the South Defense Army were currying favor with her made people look down on them with contempt.
The western border was about one thousand kilometers away. Marching day and night would take about half a month.
All along the way, scouts went ahead to explore the route. The main troops followed behind. Since they were still in Ye Country's territory, it was relatively safe and uneventful.
When the troops were about halfway there, on a stretch of undulating mountain roads, a scout came to report: "General, ten kilometers ahead in a hidden mountain valley, we discovered Wei Country's supply convoy."
"Did you ascertain clearly?"
"We saw clearly. They are indeed Wei Country's troops."
"How much supplies did they transport?"
"Roughly one hundred thousand shi."
"Really? You didn't see wrongly?" General Zhang asked excitedly.
"Absolutely certain."
Upon hearing the affirmative reply, General Zhang turned to Gong Xiaohua above him and said excitedly: "General, that's enough rations for three hundred thousand troops for a month. They must be transporting it to Wei Army's northern battlefield. General, if we intercept it, Wei Army will be defeated without fighting."
But Gong Xiaohua did not respond directly to him. She only ordered the scout first: "You may withdraw for now."
After the scout left, Gong Xiaohua said: "If the rations are indeed there, we must intercept them no matter what."
"What do you mean, General?"
"The mountain roads are rugged and difficult to traverse. More importantly, it's a big detour." Qin Chuyuan analyzed.
General Zhang thought of another possibility: "Could it be because this route is safer? Look, if we weren't marching north to provide support, we wouldn't have thought Wei Country would transport rations via this path."
"That's right, that's right." The other generals echoed in agreement.
"What you said is not groundless. But better safe than sorry. We'll scout it out at night and then decide," said Gong Xiaohua.
"Yes."
"Order the whole army to make camp here and rest."
"Yes."
After everyone left to handle things, only Qin Chuyuan and Gong Xiaohua remained.
Now everyone in the army knew their relationship. Wherever General Gong was, except when sleeping, people would see Master Qin's figure. If they wanted to find him, they only needed to ask where the General was.
"Do you also think they have ulterior motives?" Qin Chuyuan asked.
"Woman's intuition. We'll know for sure after scouting it out tonight," said Gong Xiaohua.
As dusk fell, cooking pots were being buried in the camp. Li Zichen rushed into the main tent, drenched in sweat, and said: "Xiaohua, bad news! General Chen led over five thousand garrison troops and they're missing!"
"What do you mean missing?"
"My subordinates reported that General Chen said he was taking troops out on patrol, but they didn't return in the afternoon. I felt something was wrong and sent people to look for them around the vicinity, but there was no trace or signs of fighting. I suspect he took the troops to raid Wei Country's supply convoy."
"How long has it been?"
"Three hours."
Gong Xiaohua and Qin Chuyuan looked at each other. Something might have gone wrong. Gong Xiaohua ordered Li Zichen: "Notify He Lianyu and General Zhang to prepare ten thousand troops to leave camp with me."
"I'll go arrange it now." Li Zichen left hurriedly.
"Inform General Wu to be ready to lead two teams to flank them and respond on my signal." After Li Zichen was out of earshot, Gong Xiaohua turned and told Qin Chuyuan.
"Alright, be careful."
"Don't worry."
She then leapt onto her horse and galloped out of the camp. Not long after, the troops had assembled and they headed to ten kilometers away together.
Upon first entering the valley, they saw a group of men being chased and killed. It was General Chen and his men.
"Run quickly! It's a trap. They have an ambush," General Chen shouted loudly when he saw Gong Xiaohua leading troops over.
Just as he finished shouting, a cold arrow from the mountain shot into his chest.
"It's an ambush. Prepare for battle!"
The Ye Army halted with shield troops protecting both flanks.
Gong Xiaohua, Generals Zhang and He Lianyu rode at the very front of the formation.
Gong Xiaohua watched a group of cavalry galloping over from the distance. They were familiar faces: "Long time no see, Your Highness the Second Prince."
"Long time no see, General Gong."
Gong Xiaohua dismounted.
Generals Zhang and He Lianyu also wanted to dismount but Gong Xiaohua stopped them.
She walked forward alone and came to General Chen's side. He was covered in blood now, the fatal wound being the arrow in his chest that had pierced his heart. He was breathing his last.
Gong Xiaohua helped prop General Chen up: "General Chen."
General Chen looked at Gong Xiaohua beside him: "General Gong."
As soon as he opened his mouth, blood kept gushing out. Gong Xiaohua used her hand to wipe it for him.
He said with difficulty: "I regret...not listening to you...and got...so many brothers killed by their blades and arrows. Now that I think about it...His Majesty has great foresight...you really...really are outstanding. The Garrison Army...from now on...I'll leave it to you. I believe you...will definitely...bring them home."
He spoke haltingly with blood flowing from the corners of his mouth. Using the last bit of strength left in his body to convey his final wish.
"General Chen, don't worry. I will definitely bring them home."
Hearing this, General Chen showed a faint smile and completely closed his eyes.
Gong Xiaohua laid General Chen down and looked coldly at the Second Prince: "So today's trap was meant for my hundred thousand troops? Does His Highness have some misunderstanding about the capabilities of my Ye Army?"
"No, my target was only you. If not for this General Chen's impatience, I wouldn't have been confident in luring you here either. Come to think of it, I've helped you get rid of a disobedient subordinate."
"Enjoy this banquet then. Kill them!" Not giving the other side a chance to stall for time, the Second Prince shouted loudly.
At the same time, Gong Xiaohua launched a signal flare.
"Protect the General!" The Ye Army's shield troops immediately moved forward to surround Gong Xiaohua.
"Xiyuan Army form up. Western Defense Army follow closely behind," Gong Xiaohua ordered Generals Zhang and He Lianyu.
"Yes."
"Ah!"
But before the enemy's arrow rain came, screams from the mountains rang out instead.
Then Qin Chuyuan and General Wu rode out from both sides of the mountain.
"General, the surrounding enemy troops have all been wiped out."
"How can that be?" Hearing this, the Second Prince cried out in disbelief.
"Take them prisoner," Gong Xiaohua ordered.
"Yes."
"I want to ask, since you knew we had one million shi of rations being transported to the battlefield, why didn't you immediately send troops to confiscate it?" After the Second Prince and the others were captured, he asked Gong Xiaohua resentfully.
"Because there was a loophole."
"Hahaha, your astuteness is as fearful as ever. Now that things have come to this, let's die here together!" After speaking, he launched a signal flare.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Of course, burn down the mountain."
Gong Xiaohua looked around at the continuous mountain ranges. Once a fire broke out here it would be difficult to control if not put out promptly. Their tens of thousands of troops would either be burned alive or choked to death. She said to the Second Prince: "You will die here too."
"What of it? With you as company, it's worthwhile. Hahaha..."
Gong Xiaohua was too lazy to respond to him. She commanded the Ye Army generals: "Generals, listen up. Aside from escorting the Wei Country hostages, take all soldiers and horses and rush to surround the mountain. Capture the Wei troops who were preparing to burn down the mountain. If it's too late, dig a firebreak 200 meters away from the fire source."
"What is a firebreak?"
"It means digging up anything that could catch fire."
"Yes ma'am."
That night, residents tens of kilometers away saw a blaze stretching across the mountain, as bright as daylight. They thought it was the mountain god angry and set up altars to pray for the god to relent.
The Ye Army also dug all night for the so-called firebreak, finally managing to halt the raging wildfire.
