Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 389 - 388. Hard to Travel the Shortcut

388. A Difficult Shortcut

On the official road in winter, the Mo Family Army advanced like a long black dragon. The two leading them were General Lv Jinxian and Ye Li, who was dressed in white and wore a white cape.

Although Lv Jinxian was the commander-in-chief and Ye Li only the military strategist, they rode side-by-side as a sign of the Princess Consort’s respect for the commander. Following behind them were Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, Yun Ting, and Xu Qingfeng.

Turning to Ye Li, Lv Jinxian smiled. "Princess Consort, I’m afraid Mo Jingli has already gathered his troops and is waiting for us up ahead." Behind them, Yun Ting sneered, "Mo Jingli just ascended to the throne. Isn’t he just itching to dampen the Mo Family Army’s morale?"

"I just wonder who will end up dampening whose morale in the end," Lin Han remarked seriously.

Everyone present couldn’t help but laugh. To be honest, Mo Jingli hadn’t displayed any remarkable military exploits so far. Hoping to dampen the Mo Family Army’s morale by means other than the battlefield was one thing, but no one had high hopes for Mo Jingli in a direct confrontation. Ye Li smiled. "Confidence is a good thing, but don’t grow complacent." Although Mo Jingli had no notable achievements, it didn’t mean there were no capable people in the Great Chu army. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Lv Jinxian nodded in agreement. "The Princess Consort makes a good point. Marquis Muyang may be a controversial character, but his skills in warfare are exceptional." Marquis Muyang had earned his title through military merit, rising from the battlefield. Indeed, when Marquis Muyang was making a name for himself, Lv Jinxian was not yet well-known.

As they spoke, Lv Jinxian reined in his horse, his brow furrowed as he surveyed the road ahead.

Ye Li asked in a low voice, "General Lv, what is it?"

Lv Jinxian said gravely, "Ahead, the official road turns into a mountain path. If I were leading the troops, I would undoubtedly set an ambush there..."

Ye Li scrutinized the narrow path ahead and asked seriously, "Are you certain, General?" Lv Jinxian nodded solemnly. After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said to him, "General Lv, you are the commander-in-chief of our army. All decisions rest with you."

Lv Jinxian understood the Princess Consort was expressing her trust in him. He nodded. "Thank you, Princess Consort. All troops, set up camp nearby!" As the commander-in-chief, he worried about being constrained or facing dilemmas due to interference. Although Ye Li was the military strategist, her status far outranked his, which could have led to a situation where he had to report everything to her, potentially causing unavoidable, severe disruptions. By saying this, Ye Li was affirming that he was indeed the Mo Family Army’s commander-in-chief and could make all major decisions himself. As the military strategist, her role was to fulfill those duties.

The Mo Family Army was highly disciplined; the sudden order caused no confusion. In a short time, the entire army had set up camp not far from the official road, preparing to rest and regroup.

Inside the main tent, Yun Ting stepped forward and said respectfully, "Grand General, I am willing to act as vanguard and scout the path ahead."

Lv Jinxian waved his hand. "Patience, General Yun." Beside him, Zhuo Jing added jovially, "General Yun, didn’t you notice Commander Xu is not here?" Yun Ting then realized that Xu Qingfeng, who had been with them, had somehow disappeared. Xu Qingfeng was a commander of the Qilin. His presence naturally implied the Qilin were also here. Having the Qilin scout would be far more convenient and safer than Yun Ting leading his own men.

Yun Ting sat down, somewhat abashed. Lv Jinxian watched him with a smile. "General Yun, your fearlessness is admirable. It seems that in these many years, the Mo Family Army has gained several more great generals." Truly capable generals, able to command entire armies and see the bigger picture, were not easy to find. Even within the Mo Family Army, famed for its valor, only Lv Jinxian and Zhang Qilan could truly be called great commanders of their generation. Unfortunately, they had languished for many years during the period when the Mo Family Army was suppressed, missing their best years. Otherwise, their reputations would far exceed their current standing. Now, though Yun Ting, He Su, Chen Yun, Sun Yaowu, Zhou Min, and Fu Zhao were still young, they all had limitless potential. Take Yun Ting, for example: not yet thirty, his military achievements already ranked him among the top of the younger generation of commanders. He was clearly a rising star.

Yun Ting, rather embarrassed by Lv Jinxian’s praise, rubbed his head and looked at Ye Li. Ye Li smiled. "Courage is a good thing, but a general must learn to curb this habit of acting without considering the consequences."

"Thank you for your instruction, Princess Consort," Yun Ting said sheepishly. He knew his greatest weakness was his occasional impulsiveness. His youth, combined with his personality, often gave others the impression that he lacked the steadiness and reliability of Chen Yun and others. This frustrated Yun Ting. He often wanted to change, but as the saying goes, old habits die hard; one’s inherent nature isn’t so easily altered. Ye Li didn’t press the issue. Yun Ting was still young, and while sometimes impulsive, he wasn’t truly reckless. With age and more experience, he would naturally become more composed.

Lv Jinxian chuckled. "Princess Consort, you’re too strict with General Yun. In my idle years, I’ve written down some of my experiences. If General Yun doesn’t mind, he’s welcome to take a look." Hearing this, Yun Ting was stunned. He knew that the insights and experiences of a renowned general were priceless treasures, usually shared only between father and son, or master and disciple. Others wouldn’t have a chance to see them even if they wanted to.

Seeing Yun Ting still in a daze, Ye Li coughed lightly and, with a respectful bow towards Lv Jinxian, prompted, "Yun Ting." Yun Ting snapped back to his senses, overjoyed. He quickly said, "Thank you, General Lv! I will study them diligently and not disappoint your expectations."

Lv Jinxian laughed heartily and rose to help Yun Ting up. "General Yun, you’re too kind." Zhuo Jing, watching from the side, chuckled. "Since General Lv and General Yun hit it off so well, why not take General Yun as your student?"

Before Lv Jinxian could respond to Zhuo Jing, Yun Ting had already knelt before him. "Student pays his respects to Master! I beg for your guidance!" Lv Jinxian was taken aback and glanced sideways at Ye Li. Lv Jinxian was over forty. Though he had a son, his son preferred literature to martial arts and was currently studying at Lishan Academy. To accept Yun Ting, a rising star in the Mo Family Army, as his disciple and pass on his lifelong learning and experience was something Lv Jinxian was naturally willing to do. Simply establishing a master-disciple relationship with Yun Ting, a confidant and trusted subordinate of Princess Consort Ding, was enough to please him, let alone the fact that Yun Ting himself was highly capable. However, Yun Ting was ultimately Princess Consort Ding’s trusted aide, so he naturally had to consider her opinion.

Ye Li smiled. "Could it be that General Lv finds Yun Ting’s aptitude lacking and is unwilling to accept him?"

Lv Jinxian finally relaxed and smiled. He bent down to help Yun Ting up. "Yun Ting, there’s no need for such a grand gesture." Yun Ting understood this meant Lv Jinxian had agreed. He was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master!"

Lv Jinxian was pleased to have gained a fine disciple, but he still admonished, "In the army, we still follow regulations." Yun Ting nodded repeatedly. "Yes! Thank you, Grand General."

"Reporting to the Grand General, Commander Xu requests an audience," the guard outside announced. Everyone’s expression turned attentive. Lv Jinxian quickly said, "Have Commander Xu come in." Xu Qingfeng, dressed in bluish-yellow clothes, walked in from outside. Yun Ting curiously sized him up. "Third Young Master, what kind of clothes are these?" It wasn’t that Yun Ting was unworldly, but the Mo Family Army had always worn black, giving them an air of mystery and formidability. Xu Qingfeng’s current attire seemed utterly out of character for the Qilin. Xu Qingfeng rolled his eyes at him. "Should I have worn night-raid attire to scout the path?" Night-raid attire was naturally good for the night, but wearing all black and wandering around in broad daylight was clearly asking for trouble.

Lv Jinxian asked gravely, "Did you find anything?"

Xu Qingfeng nodded. "The Grand General guessed correctly. In that mountain path, there are no birds in flight, and no sign of human presence. However, there are traces of a large number of troops having passed through, and... I faintly smelled tung oil." At this point, Xu Qingfeng couldn’t help but frown slightly.

"Tung oil?" Lv Jinxian frowned and looked towards Ye Li. "Princess Consort, I’m afraid this shortcut is impassable." Regardless of whether the Army of Great Chu planned to set the mountain on fire, the Mo Family Army could not take the risk. As the saying goes, water and fire are merciless. It was currently winter, when everything was withered and dry. With tung oil to fuel the flames, no matter how thoroughly they prepared, once they entered the mountain path and the Chu forces started a fire, they would be trapped with no escape. Moreover, with Lv Jinxian’s understanding of Mo Jingli, Mo Jingli wouldn’t care about burning down a few mountains to annihilate the Mo Family Army.

Ye Li nodded. Lin Han took out a large map and spread it on the large table nearby. Lv Jinxian looked at the map and mused, "If we avoid this path and take a detour, I’m afraid it will delay us by several days." This time, the Army of Great Chu was using an overt strategy, making no secret of the ambush ahead. If they advanced, the Chu forces would light the fires. If they didn’t, the Chu forces would gain more time to seize more territory and occupy more advantageous positions.

Ye Li gazed at the map with a frown. "General Lv, what are your plans?"

Lv Jinxian pondered for a moment, his fingers tracing the map. After a while, he said, "I must ask for the Princess Consort’s assistance." Ye Li smiled. "We are all one family here. Now that you are the commander-in-chief, General, please give whatever orders you deem necessary." Lv Jinxian nodded, no longer standing on ceremony. "I request that the Princess Consort lead Yun Ting and 200,000 Mo Family Army soldiers on the detour."

Ye Li looked up at Lv Jinxian. "General Lv, do you still intend to take the shortcut?" Although this path was shorter, it was fraught with peril. The Army of Great Chu wouldn’t even need to do anything; simply igniting the tung oil hidden on the mountain path would be enough to ensure the Mo Family Army faced utter annihilation. An army of 200,000 was not like 2,000; if a fire broke out, likely less than twenty percent would escape.

Lv Jinxian’s gaze was distant as he said calmly, "I recall another path through this area, though it will require some effort. Please, Princess Consort, lead the way. If it proves unfeasible, I will lead the main army to catch up from behind." Ye Li studied the map for a while. She naturally understood that some places were difficult to map completely, even for the professionally trained Qilin. Moreover, the map was indeed rather small and might not show more hidden spots. She simply asked, "Where does General Lv intend to emerge?"

Lv Jinxian pointed to a spot on the map. Ye Li considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I will reach this location within seven days. At that time, we can launch a pincer attack with you, General, and assault the Mo Family Army’s garrison here. What do you think?" Lv Jinxian looked closely, then smiled and clapped his hands. "The Princess Consort has a keen eye!" Ye Li smiled faintly. "Commander Xu and the Qilin will remain with General Lv." She understood that the path Lv Jinxian intended to take would be anything but smooth, so leaving Xu Qingfeng and the Qilin with him provided a measure of security.

Lv Jinxian understood Ye Li’s kind intentions and was deeply moved. He quickly declined, "No, the Qilin should stay with the Princess Consort..." Ye Li shook her head. "General, you need not worry. Qin Feng has already reached the north; he will arrange things properly." Qin Feng was the Grand Commander of the Qilin and could mobilize all Qilin personnel. With him there, they naturally wouldn’t lack manpower.

Since Ye Li insisted, Lv Jinxian could only relent. He thanked her. "Princess Consort, please take care."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "You too, General. Take care."

Early the next morning, Lv Jinxian led tens of thousands of soldiers and made a show of preparing to force their way through the mountain path. The Chu soldiers lying in ambush nearby began to worry. They had never expected Lv Jinxian to choose this route. After all, Lv Jinxian was a renowned veteran general; how could he not understand that while the mountain path was a shortcut, it was fraught with danger? Consequently, Mo Jingli hadn’t stationed many troops here for an ambush; it was mostly for show. However, this "empty city" stratagem clearly hadn’t fooled Lv Jinxian. Although they could set the mountain on fire, that was, after all, a last resort. It was currently deep winter, when all things were withered. Once a fire started, no one knew when it might be extinguished.

"What should we do?" The commander of the ambush in the mountains frowned deeply as he watched the scene unfold, turning to ask the men beside him.

A fellow officer beside him frowned. "Let’s not be hasty. This place is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Lv Jinxian probably won’t be able to break through for a while. Send a fast horse to report to Prince Li and Marquis Muyang." Ultimately, the Mo Family Army and the Army of Great Chu were still considered one people. Unless absolutely necessary, no one wished to inflict such brutal casualties on the other. Moreover, when facing the battle-hardened Mo Family Army, the Chu soldiers felt an almost innate fear.

The Chu soldiers on the mountain, however, did not know that even as they dispatched a fast horse to report on the Mo Family Army’s movements, Ye Li had already led another contingent of troops away on a detour.

In the camp of the Great Chu Army, Mo Jingli frowned as he read the confidential message. Seeing his expression, Marquis Muyang and the others below quickly asked, "Your Majesty, is there news concerning the Mo Family Army?" Mo Jingli said gravely, "Lv Jinxian is preparing to force the mountain path? Old Marquis, is your strategy truly effective?"

The old Marquis Muyang’s thick brows knitted together. He said solemnly, "If Lv Jinxian truly intends to pass through there, this old minister guarantees his entire army will be annihilated. But... based on my understanding of Lv Jinxian, he is not so foolish. Why would he walk into a death trap?" Initially, when setting up this position, the old Marquis Muyang had not intended to wipe out the Mo Family Army; he merely wanted to impede their advance. Moreover, given the abilities of Lv Jinxian and Ye Li, the chances of successfully ambushing them in such a place were less than zero. That was precisely why Lv Jinxian’s actions were so baffling.

Mu Yang asked, "Could it be a diversion? Perhaps Lv Jinxian and Princess Consort Ding have split their forces, with Lv Jinxian leaving only a small contingent to draw our attention?"

The old Marquis Muyang replied, "Splitting forces is highly possible, so Your Majesty still needs to pay attention to the main road. However, Lv Jinxian’s total strength is only about 400,000. Reports say he has deployed at least 200,000 troops outside the mountain path. What use would Princess Consort Ding have with just over 100,000 troops? Besides, when it comes to commanding troops and fighting battles... in this old minister’s opinion, Princess Consort Ding is likely inferior to Lv Jinxian. Wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse? Although Ye Li has successively defeated several famous contemporary generals, including the Southern Garrison Prince, and pacified the Northern Territory, old generals like myself can see from a serious analysis of the battles that Ye Li is not actually proficient in the Art of War. She often makes unexpected moves and is better at manipulating situations outside the battlefield to influence the overall war, rather than possessing truly divine skill in the Art of War."

Seated in a guest’s chair to the side, Lei Tengfeng’s eyes were slightly downcast as he pondered the purpose of Lv Jinxian’s move. He, too, was as perplexed as the old Marquis Muyang. Mo Jingli frowned. "Since Lv Jinxian has already arrayed his forces here, yet our own troops are clearly insufficient, do we need to send reinforcements?"

After a moment of silence, the old Marquis Muyang said, "If Your Majesty merely wishes to obstruct Lv Jinxian, the ambushing troops are sufficient. This old minister guarantees he won’t be able to pass for ten days. However, if Your Majesty wishes to annihilate Lv Jinxian’s forces..." The less than 30,000 troops stationed there were clearly not enough to take on Lv Jinxian’s army of over 200,000. The old Marquis Muyang absolutely did not believe Lv Jinxian would foolishly charge into the mountain path and let them set it ablaze.

An idea stirred in Mo Jingli’s heart. Lv Jinxian was a famous general in the Mo Family Army. His fame and prestige were immense, surpassed only by Zhang Qilan and Yuan Pei under Mo Xiuyao. If they could annihilate Lv Jinxian’s army in one fell swoop, it would be a tremendous boost to the morale of the Great Chu army, which had been low since the campaign began.

After a period of silence, Mo Jingli finally made his decision. He said in a grave tone, "Mu Yang, lead 100,000 troops as reinforcements. We must take down Lv Jinxian’s army, no matter the cost."

Mu Yang quickly rose to his feet and responded loudly, "This general obeys the order!"

Lei Tengfeng, at the side, wanted to say something, but seeing Mo Jingli’s determined expression, he silently held his peace.

The old Marquis Muyang looked at Mo Jingli. "This old minister speculates that Princess Consort Ding’s army will definitely take a detour and could engage our forces within seven to eight days. Your Majesty, should we dispatch troops to intercept them?"

Mo Jingli waved his hand dismissively. "No need. Let her come! I want to see what abilities Ye Li truly possesses to have defeated several renowned Xiling generals one after another." This remark was somewhat impolite in Lei Tengfeng’s presence. However, it was a fact that Ye Li had successively defeated Xiling’s Southern Garrison Prince and Zhu Yang’s Jing Kingdom’s Army, which even Lei Tengfeng could not refute. Lei Tengfeng, however, did not appear angered, merely smiling faintly. "The Emperor of Great Chu would do well to be cautious. Although my royal father was defeated by Princess Consort Ding, he has always held her strategies in high esteem. Many in this world have suffered at her hands. To speak of recent examples, Ren Qining of the former Northern Territory met a tragic end of national destruction and family ruin at her hands, a lamentable fate."

Lei Tengfeng’s words seemed exceedingly gentle and polite. However, to Mo Jingli’s ears, they were exceptionally grating. The reason was simple: Mo Jingli was also one of those who had suffered at Ye Li’s hands. And it had happened just a few months prior, even more recently than Ren Qining’s fate. Mo Jingli grunted. "Many thanks for the reminder, Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince."

Lei Tengfeng smiled without speaking. He certainly knew why Mo Jingli was displeased. Although not many knew what had transpired at the Regent Prince’s residence in Nanjing, enough clues had surfaced over the past few months for Lei Zhenting to deduce some confidential information. For instance, Princess Consort Ding’s whereabouts during that time, Young Master Qingchen’s sudden disappearance and equally miraculous return to Licheng, and the successive disappearances and deaths by illness of Mo Jingli’s two consorts. Combined with the timing of Mo Jingli’s ascension to the throne, many questions answered themselves.

If Mo Jingli wished to underestimate Ye Li, that was his own business. If he suffered a loss later, he would have no reason to say he hadn’t been warned. Since Mo Jingli was not listening to his advice, Lei Tengfeng no longer bothered and lowered his eyes, beginning to plan for the troops he had brought.

Seeing Lei Tengfeng tactfully remain silent, Mo Jingli nodded with satisfaction. Since becoming emperor, he had grown even less tolerant of dissenting opinions, especially from Lei Tengfeng, who had always been lukewarm towards him and, despite only being an heir, always seemed to look down on him. Seeing Lei Tengfeng now acting respectfully and submissively before him, Mo Jingli felt exceptionally pleased.

Rising to his feet, Mo Jingli waved his hand. "Then it’s settled! Mu Yang, lead your troops to intercept Lv Jinxian. I will personally lead the army to meet Ye Li!"

Watching Mo Jingli rise and walk into the rear quarters to rest, the old Marquis Muyang frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes. He still felt that sending Mu Yang with 100,000 troops was entirely meaningless. The hope of completely eliminating Lv Jinxian there was exceedingly slim. It was just that Mo Jingli wouldn’t listen to advice. Although he hadn’t served Mo Jingli for long, the adept old Marquis Muyang, skilled at currying favor, had already thoroughly figured out what kind of person Mo Jingli was.

"Father, what is it?" Mu Yang asked with some concern, noticing his father’s frown.

The old Marquis Muyang shook his head and admonished in a low voice, "Be extremely careful on this mission. Lv Jinxian is a renowned general of the Mo Family Army; you must not underestimate the enemy. If things prove impossible, do not force it."

"Yes, Father." Though somewhat puzzled, Mu Yang still responded respectfully. The old Marquis Muyang shook his head and sighed softly. "Never mind. Go now."