Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 395 - 394. Compromise and Exploitation on the Battlefield

Chapter 395: 394. Compromise and Exploitation on the Battlefield

394. Compromise on the Battlefield

Within the main camp of the Army of Great Chu’s West Route Army, Zhao Lian and Lei Tengfeng sat facing each other, exchanging wry smiles. Mu Yang and Gao Ming’s forces had been simultaneously ambushed by the Mo Family Army, and in the blink of an eye, the Army of Great Chu had lost tens of thousands of soldiers. Now, they finally understood – all these recent events were a scheme carefully orchestrated by Prince Ding’s Mansion. Such a plot had cost them the Chu army’s most resourceful and experienced veteran, Marquis Muyang, and its most promising rising star.

The tactics of Prince Ding’s Mansion were truly chilling.

Lei Tengfeng said, his eyes downcast, "Now that Marquis Muyang’s faction has been dealt with, I fear... we will be the next targets of the Mo Family Army. General Zhao, you must be especially careful of Lv Jinxian’s army." Lei Tengfeng knew Lv Jinxian’s forces must be desperately trying to join up with Yun Ting’s army. But it was not only Lv Jinxian who was pressed for time; Lei Tengfeng was also in a hurry. The news from the war in the west, where his father and Mo Xiuyao were, was not favorable either.

Zhao Lian solemnly nodded. "You are right, Heir Lei." His ongoing standoff against Lv Jinxian had left Zhao Lian feeling under considerable pressure. It was particularly disheartening; his forces vastly outnumbered Lv Jinxian’s, yet they were still kept in check by the enemy, unable to bring their full strength to bear. Zhao Lian had to acknowledge the gap in skill between himself and Lv Jinxian. However, this was the last line of defense preventing Lv Jinxian’s army from reaching Cold Valley Pass. They had to hold it at any cost.

Listening to Zhao Lian’s intention to use delaying tactics, Lei Tengfeng’s eyes flickered briefly, but he decided not to comment further.

「Back in his own tent」

A military report from the Xiling army was immediately delivered to him. Though they were nearly a thousand miles apart, battle reports detailing the clashes between the Xiling army and the Mo Family Army were reliably delivered to Lei Tengfeng every single day. Glancing at the secret letter in his hand, he pressed his weary forehead and asked, "Did Father give any instructions?" Initially, when he had secretly brought the Xiling army of over one hundred thousand here, he could have made his arrangements unhurriedly. Unfortunately, the item in Mo Jingli’s possession was too important; he had been forced to reveal his troop strength in exchange for that list. Compared to an army of over a hundred thousand soldiers, a hidden card capable of turning the tide at a critical moment was what the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion truly needed.

The guard said solemnly, "The Prince said that the Heir has made no mistakes. However... we must withdraw from this stalemate as quickly as possible. The war in the west is not favorable for Xiling. The Prince suspects that Mo Xiuyao has dispatched a large army of nearly two hundred thousand soldiers, intending to flank us from behind. Therefore, the Prince urges the Heir to withdraw within half a month and reach Yuming Pass, three hundred miles west of Cold Valley Pass, to intercept this force."

Lei Tengfeng was taken aback. "Two hundred thousand men? Where did the Mo Family Army get so many soldiers?" The Mo Family Army’s total strength is less than one million. Having previously annihilated an army of over a million, their own losses must have been at least two hundred thousand. Even if the Mo Family Army hadn’t lost a single soldier or piece of equipment, considering their garrisons stationed throughout the region, they simply shouldn’t be able to spare another two hundred thousand soldiers to ambush the Xiling army’s rear.

The guard explained, "The Heir might have forgotten, but the conscription system of Prince Ding’s Mansion is quite different from that of other states. According to the Prince’s estimate, if Prince Ding is willing, he could theoretically assemble about a million well-trained soldiers within a month and conscript an additional two million new recruits in three months."

The territories currently under the control of Prince Ding’s Mansion were arguably the most extensive among all nations. Furthermore, their recent victory over Beirong had boosted the morale within Prince Ding’s Mansion to a fiery pitch, making it an exceedingly easy task for Prince Ding to raise an army.

Lei Tengfeng couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath at this revelation. The aspect of the Mo Family Army that had always made them feel most secure was its limited number of soldiers. Their troop strength had never been large. But they had overlooked the resources of Prince Ding’s Mansion and the appeal of the Mo Family Army. If Mo Xiuyao chose to expand his forces, he would have an inexhaustible supply of new recruits.

"The Prince has another message for the Heir," the guard said respectfully. Lei Tengfeng looked at him, and the guard continued in a low voice, "The Prince said not to worry too much about Mo Jingli; he is no match for Princess Consort Ding. Please withdraw from the battlefield as soon as possible, Heir Lei."

Lei Tengfeng froze briefly, then he understood his father’s intentions. Father never intended to truly cooperate with Mo Jingli. From the very beginning, Father hadn’t thought highly of Mo Jingli’s abilities. The entire purpose of this alliance with Mo Jingli was merely to use him to tie down Ye Li. After all, Mo Xiuyao alone is already difficult enough to deal with; if Ye Li were added to the equation, even the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion might find it overwhelming. Once their objective was achieved, Mo Jingli would be of no further use. Whether Mo Jingli won or lost was irrelevant to the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion. If they ultimately defeated Prince Ding’s Mansion, it would be best if Mo Jingli lost, making the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion the biggest winner. On the other hand, if the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion lost, then Mo Jingli absolutely could not be allowed to live, as he would inevitably become a major threat to them.

After contemplating for a moment, Lei Tengfeng finally raised his head and said, "I understand. Go back and tell Father that I will withdraw from this battlefield as soon as possible. Tell him to take care of his health."

The guard nodded and retreated respectfully. "This subordinate takes his leave."

In the large tent, Lei Tengfeng sat in silence for a long while before finally calling out, "Attendants!"

A guard-like man appeared at the doorway. "Heir."

"Prepare a letter for Princess Consort Ding from me. This Heir wishes to speak with her," Lei Tengfeng instructed.

The guard’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but he still answered respectfully, "This subordinate obeys."

「By a small creek about ten miles from the main camps of both armies」

Ye Li sat leisurely on a rock by the creek, watching the babbling stream, her expression serene. On the grassy bank, tender green shoots were beginning to sprout amidst the previously withered wild grass, adding a touch of warmth and hope to the otherwise bleak and desolate landscape. Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing stood side by side not far behind Ye Li, each immersed in their own thoughts.

"Heir Lei, since you’re here, why not show yourself?" Suddenly, both Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing looked towards the forest behind them as Qin Feng called out.

"Princess Consort Ding is indeed surrounded by masters; this humble one is impressed." Lei Tengfeng emerged from the forest, smiling.

Ye Li stood up, turned, and smiled back. "Heir Lei is also a rarely seen expert. Unlike myself; I have no particular skills and must rely on others to avoid mishaps."

Lei Tengfeng’s lips twitched imperceptibly. If this woman before me lacks skills, then there are very few skilled people left in the world. He was also inwardly surprised by Ye Li’s astuteness. Although I rarely make a move, very few people in this world can gauge the true depth of my abilities. Yet, Ye Li hasn’t forgotten that I have a father who is one of the Four Great Experts. And my own aptitude isn’t poor; barring any unforeseen circumstances, my martial skills are definitely not to be underestimated.

"Princess Consort jests. When others encounter you, it is usually they who meet with accidents," Lei Tengfeng said with a faint smile.

Ye Li, unconcerned by his veiled mockery, smiled faintly. "Our armies are currently at war. Heir Lei, your private request to see me surely isn’t just to exchange a few sarcastic remarks, is it?"

Lei Tengfeng smiled faintly. "Princess Consort is straightforward, so this Lord Heir won’t be verbose. I know that you are anxious to reach Cold Valley Pass and rendezvous with General Yun Ting, correct?"

Ye Li nodded slightly. On the battlefield, some things could be concealed, but others were impossible to hide from discerning eyes. The Mo Family Army’s current movements, at least, could not be hidden from someone like Lei Tengfeng.

"If General Zhao and I join forces, are you confident you can reach Cold Valley Pass within half a month?" Lei Tengfeng asked.

"No," Ye Li answered frankly. "Swift victories require favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support; often, none of these can be lacking. Not every battle presents exploitable openings; otherwise, some wars wouldn’t drag on for three to five years. Although our forces are currently at a disadvantage in numbers against your combined strength, both Lv Jinxian and I are confident we can defeat Zhao Lian and yourself. The problem is... it would take a very long time."

Seeing Ye Li’s frankness, Lei Tengfeng was slightly surprised. However, he quickly realized that Ye Li must also know his intentions; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so direct. He gave a somewhat helpless, bitter smile. "It seems I couldn’t hide it from you, Princess Consort. I am planning to withdraw my troops immediately. I hope you will allow us convenient passage."

Ye Li smiled. "To make things convenient for others is to make them convenient for oneself. Heir Lei, please proceed as you wish."

Lei Tengfeng looked at Ye Li with some suspicion. "Princess Consort, do you know why I am withdrawing my troops?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Is it not to protect the flank for the Southern Garrison Prince?"

"Since you already knew, Princess Consort... wouldn’t letting me leave disrupt Prince Ding’s plans?" Even after all these years, I still feel I cannot understand this woman. But having experienced so much and heard so much about her deeds, I must deal with her cautiously.

Ye Li gazed calmly at the stream before her. "If I let you pass, Prince Ding’s plans might only *possibly* be disrupted. Besides... you might not be able to intercept them anyway, correct? However, if I *don’t* let you pass, Yun Ting’s army of over one hundred thousand soldiers will immediately be in peril. The priorities are clear; how could I not distinguish between them?"

Lei Tengfeng paused momentarily, then finally bowed to Ye Li. "In that case, many thanks for your accommodation, Princess Consort. I shall take my leave."

"Safe travels. I won’t see you out," Ye Li said, nodding.

As they watched Lei Tengfeng’s figure disappear into the forest, Zhuo Jing commented, "Princess Consort, with Xiling acting this way, it can be said they’ve thoroughly played Mo Jingli."

Ye Li responded with a smile, "From the very beginning, Lei Zhenting never took Mo Jingli seriously. Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting are not equals in terms of ability, so how could Lei Zhenting genuinely regard Mo Jingli as a partner? From start to finish, Mo Jingli has been nothing more than a pawn in Lei Zhenting’s hands."

"Once Lei Tengfeng withdraws, and Mo Jingli has also lost Mu Jingmin and Mu Yang, I’m afraid he won’t be able to hold out much longer," Zhuo Jing said.

Qin Feng frowned. "Even so, Mo Jingli’s troops still outnumber ours. It’s highly unlikely we’ll be able to return to assist the Prince anytime soon."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "That depends on how long Mo Jingli *can* hold out."

Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing simultaneously recalled the arrangements they had made during their trip to Nanjing. How long Mo Jingli could truly last was... difficult to say.

「Lei Tengfeng’s withdrawal was swift and decisive, showing no hesitation. By the time Zhao Lian returned from a major battle with Lv Jinxian, their allied camp was already deserted. Left with no other choice, Zhao Lian had to dispatch a messenger on a fast horse to report the situation to Mo Jingli.」 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

By the time the news reached Mo Jingli’s main camp, he was already seething with fury. The reason was simple: Marquis Muyang, who had been imprisoned within the army, had mysteriously disappeared. Over the past few days, Mo Jingli’s temper had been steadily worsening. The soldiers in the camp were all as silent as cicadas in winter, treading carefully, terrified of inadvertently provoking His Majesty’s rage.

Mo Jingli deeply felt that this expedition had been plagued by setbacks from the very beginning. The past few days, in particular, had left him utterly frazzled and overwhelmed. First, he suspected Marquis Muyang’s Mansion of betraying him to join Prince Ding’s Mansion. Then, before the truth of that matter could be determined, Mu Yang had dared to kill his imperial guards. When he dispatched Gao Ming to apprehend Mu Yang, both Mu Yang and Gao Ming unexpectedly fell into the hands of the Mo Family Army, and Mu Yang subsequently committed suicide. Consequently, his earlier suspicions about Marquis Muyang’s Mansion colluding with Prince Ding’s Mansion now made him look like a foolish, manipulated clown in the eyes of others, thoroughly played by Prince Ding’s Mansion.

Just as Mo Jingli was pondering whether to release Marquis Muyang to pacify the situation or to simply kill him and eliminate future troubles, news arrived from the camp of the Marquis’s mysterious disappearance. Before Mo Jingli even had a chance to fully erupt, a swift petition delivered from Zhao Lian made him suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood. The knife wound inflicted by Ye Ying a few months prior had never completely healed. Combined with his mounting anger over the past few days, this latest shock caused his fury to surge, and he coughed up blood.

"Your Majesty!" The generals below were startled. They didn’t know what the petition contained, but it had clearly enraged His Majesty to such an extent.

Mo Jingli waved away the eunuchs who rushed forward to support him, casually wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, and sneered, "Well done, Lei Tengfeng! Transmit Our decree! Order the Right Wing General to intercept Lei Tengfeng’s forces! He must capture every last one of them for Us!"

"Your Majesty?!" the generals exclaimed in alarm. Their confidence in this northern expedition stemmed from their alliance with Xiling. Now, having made no headway against the Mo Family Army, they were to turn on their own allies. The inevitable outcome of such an action was painfully clear.

"Please reconsider, Your Majesty!" The general at the forefront stepped forward. "Our army is currently in a standoff with the Mo Family Army. If we also engage in conflict with the Xiling forces, I fear Prince Ding’s Mansion will be the one to profit from our infighting. In this subordinate’s opinion... our most urgent task is to first eliminate the more than one hundred thousand Mo Family Army soldiers led by Yun Ting outside Cold Valley Pass. Once that is done, even if Princess Consort Ding and Lv Jinxian’s main army reach Cold Valley Pass, they will be isolated and easily fall into our encirclement."

The sudden breaking of the alliance by the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince was indeed unexpected and infuriating for everyone. However, not everyone reacted as impulsively as Mo Jingli. Even if Lei Tengfeng had withdrawn his men, leaving them to face the Mo Family Army alone, they were not yet in a position of certain defeat. But if His Majesty truly insisted on confronting the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, then defeat would be inevitable. Lv Jinxian was hardly so chivalrous as to wait for them to resolve their internal conflicts before attacking.

Mo Jingli remained silent for a long while, finally letting out a grunt, indicating he had heeded his subordinate’s counsel. Of course, I know that fighting Lei Tengfeng at this juncture offers no advantage. But having been so thoroughly played by Prince Ding’s Mansion, and then duped again by the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion, this insult is one I simply cannot swallow!

After another long pause, Mo Jingli finally said in a deep voice, "Concentrate all our forces! Within three days, We want to see Yun Ting’s head!" Unable to direct his fury where he wished, Mo Jingli could only redirect it towards Yun Ting, who was currently stationed with his troops outside the pass.

"This general obeys the command!" all the generals declared, quietly sighing in relief. Compared to Lei Tengfeng, Yun Ting was certainly an easier target. Moreover, both the overall strategic situation and the current state of the battlefield indicated that Yun Ting was indeed the primary target they needed to eliminate.

Having dismissed everyone, Mo Jingli was left alone in the quiet tent. The expression on his face grew increasingly grim. With so many events unfolding in such a short period, it was only now, looking back, that he finally understood: the supposed betrayal by Marquis Muyang’s Mansion had been a scheme concocted by Prince Ding’s Mansion from the very start. And because of it, he had lost two of his most capable subordinates. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li must be mocking me from the shadows right now!

BANG! With a sweep of his hand, Mo Jingli sent all the objects on his table crashing to the floor. The attendants in the tent dared not move to clean up; they remained kneeling, cowering in fear.

"Mo Xiuyao! Ye Li... We will never let you off!" Mo Jingli’s voice was chillingly ominous, as if emanating from the depths of hell.

「Marquis Muyang awoke from a deep slumber, momentarily disoriented by his surroundings. This clearly wasn’t the detention cell in the Army of Great Chu’s camp where he had been held. It was a gloomy dungeon.」

He couldn’t help but give a faint, bitter smile. Did His Majesty move me here because he was worried someone might try to rescue me? That’s being overly paranoid. I handed over all the power of Marquis Muyang’s Mansion to Mu Yang to take with him; who would possibly come to save me now?

He had been unconscious for too long, and his body felt stiff. Marquis Muyang moved to sit up but froze when he saw the figure lying not far from him.

In an instant, Marquis Muyang’s face turned deathly pale. His aged lips, the corners slightly downturned, trembled uncontrollably as he stared blankly at the "figure" outside his cell, not far away. More accurately, it was a corpse. Mu Yang’s lifeless eyes were wide open, a large patch of dried, blackened blood covered his abdomen. The ghastly wound on his neck served as grim confirmation that he had long been dead.

"Yang’er!" Marquis Muyang cried out in horror, his aging body lunging towards the cell bars with a speed that belied his physical condition. Alas, the iron bars blocked him, preventing him from reaching the still form lying there. Tears streamed down the old Marquis’s face. "Yang’er... Yang’er! Who... Who killed you?!"

In the empty dungeon, only his anguished cries echoed. Marquis Muyang slumped helplessly against the bars, staring blankly at his son’s corpse. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Mu Yang was my only son, my only hope. With Mu Yang gone, it feels as if everything in this world has lost its meaning. Marquis Muyang’s Mansion... is finished...

All my life, I diligently pursued fame and fortune, hoping Marquis Muyang’s Mansion would flourish under my leadership. But now, it has been ruined at my own hands. My only son lies dead before me... Was I truly wrong?

"Yang’er... Why? Why didn’t they take this old life of mine?! Why did they have to kill my son! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Marquis Muyang’s Mansion has always been loyal..."

"The ’Your Majesty’ that Marquis Muyang is calling out to... is it Mo Jingqi, or Mo Jingli?" a cool voice interjected from outside. The previously shut dungeon door creaked open, and a tall, handsome man dressed in black stepped inside.

"Qin Feng?! Was it you who killed Yang’er?!" Marquis Muyang exclaimed in shock. I originally thought Mu Yang had been captured by Mo Jingli. So, unknowingly, I’ve fallen into the hands of Prince Ding’s Mansion. Yes... recalling how I suddenly lost consciousness before waking up here, if it had been Mo Jingli, there would have been no need for such measures.

Qin Feng did not deny it. He stated indifferently, "Since Marquis Muyang understands, you must also realize why you have ended up in this predicament, correct?"

Regarding Mu Yang’s death, Qin Feng might have felt a trace of lament, but for Marquis Muyang’s fate, he felt nothing. The Mo Family Army valued loyalty and righteousness above all. While Mo Jingqi had merely fallen ill and was not yet dead, Marquis Muyang was already colluding with Mo Jingli. Furthermore, the incident years ago where he caused Princess Consort Ding and the young Heir to nearly die a tragic death was a deep-seated hatred for everyone in Prince Ding’s Mansion. Perhaps from Marquis Muyang’s standpoint, he was merely following orders. But from the perspective of Prince Ding’s Mansion, especially in the eyes of Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, his actions were crimes deserving ten thousand deaths. This perhaps had little to do with right or wrong; the strong possess the right to deal with their enemies.

Marquis Muyang couldn’t help but shudder, closing his eyes in pain. Seeing someone from Prince Ding’s Mansion, what else is there not to understand? I spent my entire life being cautious. To outsiders, I always appeared an opportunist, lacking the integrity expected of a general. So, after Prince Ding’s Mansion fell from power, I wholeheartedly threw my lot in with Mo Jingqi. I wasn’t like Marquis South, who distanced himself from political affairs, nor like the Hua Family, who secretly favored Prince Ding’s Mansion. Whatever the emperor commanded, I did. Am I not a subject? As a subject, it is only natural and right to obey the sovereign’s commands, even if... even if they are wrong.

However, the gravest mistake I made in my life was besieging Princess Consort Ding that year. Because of that single act, the future of Marquis Muyang’s Mansion was irrevocably severed. That was why, when I saw Mo Jingqi was dying, I had to immediately align myself with Mo Jingli. I couldn’t turn to Prince Ding’s Mansion like Marquis South and the Leng Family, nor did I possess the courage of State Duke Hua to gamble the entire Hua Family’s existence on sharing the fate of Great Chu. I wanted to live, to hold power, to ensure Marquis Muyang’s Mansion endured for generations. But now... all these years of struggle and effort... have ultimately been for nothing.

"Prince Ding’s Mansion... Prince Ding’s Mansion... Why?! I was merely following orders!" Marquis Muyang roared, unreconciled. Back then, if I had a choice, would I have dared to oppose Prince Ding’s Mansion? Perhaps... I occasionally entertained the fleeting thought that if Prince Ding’s Mansion were completely destroyed, Marquis Muyang’s Mansion might take its place... But that was just a momentary notion, nothing more!

Qin Feng said calmly, "Before I left, the Prince asked me to convey a message to you, Marquis."

Marquis Muyang looked at him, only to hear Qin Feng continue, "The Prince said, ’The bone-deep pain This Prince has experienced shall be repaid a hundredfold. Years ago, This Prince spared Mu Yang’s life. Today, I am taking it back.’"

Marquis Muyang fell silent. After that incident years ago, Mo Xiuyao had eventually let Mu Yang return. I had even harbored a sliver of foolish hope. So, all this time, Mo Xiuyao simply felt that the suffering inflicted upon me back then wasn’t nearly enough?