Chapter 514: Chapter 349: Splitting Into Two Forces (3)

He personally led a hundred of the most elite Dingyuan Army cavalry as the vanguard to pave the way ahead, having gone two days and nights without sleep.

"If we travel for another half-day, we will reach Mu City. Reaching Mu City means we’ve entered the Capital Suburb. I wonder how the Princely Heir and the old madam are doing now..." Mu Jun said, looking worriedly towards the direction of the Yan Capital.

Although he already knew that Gu Lan was a woman, he still found it difficult to change his way of addressing her immediately.

"She will surely be safe and sound." Rong Heng touched the copper coin jade pendant tied to his wrist, unsure whether he was responding to Mu Jun or reassuring himself.

"What about Rong Baoyi?" Rong Heng, regaining his composure, called out.

The red-armored girl resting in the distance walked over. Although her face was full of fatigue, she didn’t utter a word of complaint: "I am here, my Prince. What are your orders?"

"Do you remember, we received news the day before yesterday that Song Zhi led five thousand imperial guards out of the Capital City," Rong Heng said, "which means he is sure to set up an ambush on our way back to the capital. Therefore, I want you to return to the capital by separate routes with my men. First, to mislead others; and second, if you can persuade the City Defense Army, let them open the city gates for me and the main army."

"I remember... The current City Defense Army Colonel is Lord Yan’s son, Yan Mo, who has mediocre abilities but a heart for upholding righteousness. I can try."

Baoyi, having served as a city defense soldier for half a year, knew the leaders and deployment of the Capital City Guard. After thinking briefly, she agreed without hesitation.

"Do not force it. If Yan Mo is intransigent, you only need to protect the people in Dingyuan Marquis Mansion in the city and your younger brother," Rong Heng instructed again.

Rong Baoyi nodded gently, retrieved a Tiger Talisman from her bosom, and stroked its engravings with her slender fingertips, saying:

"Understood, my Prince. This is a birthday gift my father gave me back then; it can command the five hundred elite soldiers who once fought with him and are now part of the Capital City Guard."

She put away the Tiger Talisman, her face revealing determination and seriousness, her voice dropping a few tones with a hint of teasing: "Don’t worry, my Prince. No matter what, Baoyi will protect my younger brother and... Aunt Wu’s safety."

Rong Heng’s ears turned red, and he quickly looked at Jiu, saying:

"If nothing unexpected happens, I believe Lanlan has already found a way to escape the Imperial Palace by now, so when you return to the capital you can join forces with the people from Crow Building under me, as well as the people in the Dark Hall of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion... Jiu, from now, you must ensure the Commandery Princess’s safety."

Jiu stood up, said nothing in refusal, and bowed deeply to Rong Heng: "I will regard the Commandery Princess’s life as my own."

Rong Heng pursed his lips, recalling Gu Lan’s warning, and said earnestly, "Say less of this life and death talk; Gu Lan said the more you talk about it, the quicker you die."

Jiu: "...."

"The Prince and Gu Lan have such an excellent relationship!" Rong Baoyi wiped the sweat off her forehead, and her inner fatigue and tension immediately vanished.

Half an hour passed quickly, and the group set out again. At an intersection ahead on the official road, Rong Baoyi and Jiu took a dozen people down a more secluded path.

Rong Heng watched Rong Baoyi’s back, with the words "Aunt Wu" echoing in his mind, unable to calm his heart for a long time.

The morning sun rose, melting the snow on the trees by the roadside, revealing a few green pine branches from the thick snow. The melting snow dripped from the branches, and horse hooves shook loose more snow, exposing more green.

In the distance lay Mu City.

Rong Heng’s expression remained calm, but he was extremely vigilant, observing the surroundings carefully.

If Song Zhi indeed brought troops here, this would be the best location for an ambush.

"All soldiers, stay alert," Rong Heng shouted, his deep and sharp voice resonating.

After assigning a dozen riders to Rong Baoyi, Rong Heng was left with only five or six dozen light cavalry, each one exhausted from the long journey.

Just then, a team wearing black hurried over from a distance.

Mu Jun quickly drew his bow and arrows, shouting, "My Prince, that’s—"

Rong Heng squinted his eyes and raised his hand, "No need to worry, they are our people."

Within moments, You Ying reached Rong Heng, clasped his fists, and said, "I led the internal guards of Crow Building, arriving late. I ask for your forgiveness, my Prince."

Last night, upon learning that Rong Heng was returning with the Vanguard Army ahead of schedule, You Ying had left only a few to protect Nian Xia and sent Bao’er to inform Young Master Gu, before rushing out of the city with all of Crow Building’s hidden guards to meet him.

Rong Heng squinted, looking past You Ying: "Commander Song has been following us all the way, wanting to know how many I brought back to the capital. Now that you know, are you relieved?"

You Ying’s face changed, and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

Rong Heng reached out, grabbed You Ying’s reins, and pulled him behind, with his other hand drawing a sword to cut down an arrow flying toward him.

"I... I’ve been followed!?"

You Ying, still shocked, looked back at the path they traveled, his eyes full of regret.

"It’s not your fault. He would have laid in ambush here even without you." Rong Heng’s voice was calm and steady, "Dingyuan Army, stay on guard!"

In an instant, the previously exhausted black-armored light cavalry raised their heavy shields, forming a solid and dense military formation, like a tightly sealed wall.

Arrows shimmered as countless archers appeared in the thick forests on both sides, while down the path You Ying came from, a mystic armor-clad Song Zhi rode toward them.

At his waist hung a treasure sword glowing with gold, with his remaining eye deep as a abyss staring at Rong Heng, shouting:

"By the Emperor’s decree, capture the traitor Rong Heng, those who defy the Holy Decree will be executed without mercy."

Five thousand imperial guards clad in golden armor surrounded Rong Heng’s hundred elite horsemen, each holding a battle spear, with their warhorses neighing. Beside Song Zhi, his deputy Tan Ce shouted: "Rong Heng, if you want to live, surrender now!"

The Dingyuan Army made their response through an even more resolute battle formation.

The two ten-thousand-strong Capital City Guards have always followed the Emperor’s orders, serving as the greatest backing for Rong Jing.

Even though the imperial guards have never seen real war, with some being aristocratic family scions looking to earn glory, Song Zhi at the helm ensured that at least these five thousand were the elite within the imperial guards.

What surprised Song Zhi was the cavalry returning to the capital with Rong Heng.

These cavalry, who had been on a forced march for over a dozen days and should have been exhausted, remarkably held off the archers’ attack amidst his sudden appearance.

After a round of arrow volleys, only a few of Rong Heng’s soldiers were scratched by stray arrows, almost unharmed.

Song Zhi thought, this must be the power of veterans who have seen a hundred battles—only such a mighty force can repel Wei Country’s invasion.

Unfortunately, Rong Heng led them against the Emperor, forcing him to be at odds with his fellow Dayan warriors...

Song Zhi steadied himself, his remaining phoenix eye deep like ink, his gaze growing more resolute and sharp.

He drew his long sword, pointing it at Rong Heng, and charged at the border army cavalry, commanding:

"Imperial guards, charge!"

The morning sun shone brilliantly, as if igniting the golden-armored imperial guards. Rong Heng calmly watched them and asked lightly, "Are you afraid?"

Mu Jun shouted, raising his blade to meet the enemy: "Before the Dingyuan Army, they are nothing but paper tigers."