Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 410 - 408. Life and Death Bloody Battle

408. A Life-and-Death Battle

"I will lead a rescue mission!" Leng Haoyu said anxiously.

Ye Li turned to him and responded calmly, "Save them? Should we risk 50,000 lives for a mere 500?"

Leng Haoyu was at a loss for words. A chill ran down his spine at her response, but he also felt a deep sense of shame and guilt. The Qilin was personally established and trained by Ye Li. Although Princess Consort Ding had the authority to command the entire Mo Family Army, she had always been very measured and rarely interfered in the affairs of the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry. The Qilin was essentially Princess Consort Ding’s personal force, the most loyal to her. Would she have sent these soldiers on such a mission if she’d had any other choice?

In war, a commander is destined to bear burdens beyond the comprehension of common people. Her every word and action could determine the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers, and at such times, decisions became critically important. The choice between preservation and sacrifice could potentially decide the outcome of a battle, even the rise or fall of a nation. Hence the saying—those who are kind cannot lead soldiers; those who are righteous cannot manage wealth. And Ye Li had proven herself to be a competent commander. Such a choice might seem cruel, but there was no other.

"The Princess Consort acts with great righteousness," said Veteran General Yuan Pei, staring at the place where the dark silhouettes were gradually swallowed by the Xiling Army.

Ye Li’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles, and she sighed softly, "A single general’s success is built on ten thousand bleaching bones..." A tear escaped, silently falling from the corner of her clear eye, disappearing in an instant.

"A single general’s success is built on ten thousand bleaching bones..." Leng Haoyu muttered, then roared as he leaped from the city wall into the fray. "Kill! Defend Feihong Pass to the death!" From the wall, a few more figures quickly jumped down and joined the chaotic battle. Soon, only Yuan Pei, Ye Li, and Zhuo Jing remained on the ramparts.

The five hundred Qilin were swiftly engulfed by the hundreds of thousands of Xiling troops, vanishing without a trace. The remaining black-armored Qilin, who were engaged in close combat with the Golden Armor Guards, let out a piercing war cry. After the last Golden Armor Guard was struck down, all the Qilin on the battlefield saluted Ye Li on the city wall—a military salute unique to the Qilin—and then, as one, charged in the direction where their five hundred comrades had disappeared. They were determined to complete the mission their fallen brothers could not.

On the battlefield, an even larger formation of black-clad Qilin, like an enormous arrow, shot out with the speed of lightning toward the rear of the Xiling Army. Seeing their actions, someone within the Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry below shouted, "Black Cloud Cavalry! Pave the way for our Qilin brothers!"

"Mo Family Army! Charge!"

Countless white-robed cavalry and infantry began to surge concertedly into the Xiling Army. The iron cavalry of the Black Cloud Cavalry, like a white tornado, tore into the enemy ranks, clearing a path for the Qilin following close behind. The Mo Family Army infantry immediately followed, clashing fiercely with the Xiling soldiers who had been thrown into disarray. At this moment, it was no longer just about defending the city. Ordinarily, offense is the best defense, but the Mo Family Army was so vastly outnumbered by the Xiling forces that they had been forced to maintain a strict defense. But when everyone was seeing red, no one cared about offense or defense anymore. Their eyes held only one thought—Annihilation! If I can’t live, you die with me!

Those watching from a distance would have seen a peculiar sight: the Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry, all clad in white mourning attire, were shielding a small group of black-clad Qilin as they thrust deep into the Xiling formations, driving straight for the commander’s and king’s banners at the enemy’s rear. They were unstoppable. No one paid heed to the ever-increasing numbers of Xiling soldiers behind them, nor to the increasingly arduous path forward. As long as they still drew breath, they would continue to advance.

"These madmen!" From the rear of the Xiling forces, Lei Tengfeng watched, his face a mask of astonished fury, as the battlefield before him descended into chaos. Who could have imagined that in a head-on confrontation, the Xiling Army, despite its superior numbers, would be morally crushed by the smaller Mo Family Army? Regardless of the outcome, Xiling had already lost this battle in terms of spirit. Morale was a fickle thing; when one side’s surged, the other’s waned. Once suppressed in spirit, the Xiling Army would not be able to break Feihong Pass, no matter what.

Lei Zhenting let out a slow breath and said gravely, "The Mo Family Army... the Black Cloud Cavalry... the Qilin. They are indeed the renowned, battle-hardened elite they are famed to be..."

"Father, you should retreat first," Lei Tengfeng suggested, his voice laced with worry.

Lei Zhenting shook his head. "No. This time, we must annihilate the Qilin and the Black Cloud Cavalry! Beat the drums!"

Helpless, Lei Tengfeng could only order the drums to be beaten. The thundering war drums echoed across the battlefield, rallying the Xiling soldiers, who had been momentarily disorganized by the Mo Family Army’s sudden, ferocious assault. Regaining their senses, they charged once more to engage the Mo Family Army.

Atop the city wall of Feihong Pass, Ye Li stood before a giant war drum, one that towered over her. Picking up the two drumsticks placed beside it, she struck them heavily.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The drumbeats grew in intensity, quickly overpowering the sound of the Xiling war drums. Many soldiers, glancing back in haste, saw a slender woman in white robes on the high city wall, wielding drumsticks and beating the colossal war drum. Each beat seemed to strike at their very hearts, the resonant thuds carrying echoes of galloping steeds and clashing arms.

"Thank you, brothers! Qilin, attack!" From the heart of the chaos, Qin Feng, leading the charge, shouted. Lin Han and Wei Lin, beside him, simultaneously leaped forward. The Qilin, who had been shielded by the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army, suddenly split into three groups. They surged forward with even greater speed towards the rear of the Xiling Army. The Black Cloud Cavalry and Mo Family Army soldiers had fulfilled their mission; any further advance was a path of no return.

The Black Cloud Cavalry commander leading the charge cut down an ambushing Xiling soldier. He silently watched the Qilin depart, offering a prayer for their safety. Raising his longsword, he bellowed, "Fall back to Feihong Pass!"

Once again, the Black Cloud Cavalry led the way, the remaining troops turning to charge towards the outer perimeter of the Xiling Army.

Qin Feng, Lin Han, and Wei Lin each led a contingent of Qilin, charging towards Lei Zhenting’s position. They suffered relentless casualties along the way, yet no one had time to mourn. All their black robes were soaked in blood, making them look like grim reapers from the depths of hell. Many Xiling soldiers instinctively recoiled even before engaging, only to be swiftly cut down.

Of the more than one thousand Qilin soldiers who began the charge, fewer than three hundred remained when they neared the rear of the Xiling Army. But these surviving three hundred were enough to strike terror into the hearts of all Xiling soldiers. Qin Feng signaled Lin Han and Wei Lin. They both nodded in understanding. Just as the Xiling forces tightened their defense, expecting these three hundred men to make a desperate, suicidal charge towards the Southern Garrison Prince, Qin Feng and his men surged forward, aiming for the Southern Garrison Prince and Lei Tengfeng. Meanwhile, Lin Han and Wei Lin veered off to the left and right, rushing towards the commanders of the left and right flanks.

"Damn it!" Lei Tengfeng cried out. "Fire the arrows! Show no mercy!"

Alas, his realization came too late. Even before the arrows could take flight, these black-clad Qilin had already plunged deep into their ranks. From afar, Lei Tengfeng saw Lin Han give him a mocking smile; at the same instant, Lin Han’s sword decapitated the commander of the left flank.

Lei Zhenting’s face turned ashen. His hundreds of thousands of troops couldn’t stop just over a thousand men... "Sound the retreat!" No matter how unwilling Lei Zhenting was to admit it, Xiling had lost this battle. They had lost not only the tactical advantage and their success in battle but also the Xiling soldiers’ will to fight. From now on, unless Xiling could achieve an equally or even more brilliant victory against the Mo Family Army, the Mo Family Army would become an indelible nightmare in the hearts of all Xiling soldiers.

In this battle, neither side had won.

Lei Zhenting’s plan to swiftly capture Feihong Pass was shattered. The morale of the Xiling soldiers plummeted. The Golden Armor Guards were annihilated. Xiling’s losses were devastating: two generals and five vice generals were killed. The Mo Family Army had once again defended Feihong Pass, but their original force of just under 200,000 had been halved. The Qilin, lauded as the Mo Family Army’s most formidable unit, saw fewer than one hundred return; five of their six squad commanders were killed, and one was critically injured. Qin Feng and Wei Lin sustained light injuries; Lin Han was gravely wounded.

However, this battle truly cemented the Qilin’s reputation. According to Xiling’s post-battle analysis, more than 27,000 Xiling soldiers and horses died directly at the hands of the Qilin in this engagement. This figure included 5,000 elite Golden Armor Guards and over seventy officers of colonel rank or higher. Xiling’s officer corps was decimated, with nearly half killed or wounded. Previously, the Qilin were known more for raids, assassinations, intelligence, and other covert operations. This battle truly showed the world that an army where one soldier could match ten was not mere legend. In a direct confrontation on the battlefield, one thousand Qilin were enough to annihilate 20,000 of Xiling’s elite troops. Henceforth, the world knew them as the "Blood Qilin."

Both sides suffered such heavy losses in this battle that they were forced to call a temporary truce. The battlefield outside Feihong Pass returned to its usual quiet, but the thick stench of blood lingered heavily in the air for a long, long time.

「Inside Feihong Pass」

Outside a small courtyard, Ye Li paused. Qin Feng, standing beside her, asked softly, "Princess Consort, perhaps you should return and rest first?" Everyone was mentally and physically exhausted from the day’s battle, and the Princess Consort, especially, had not rested properly for days. Ye Li shook her head and asked, "Has my son been sent away?"

Qin Feng nodded. "He was sent off this morning. I estimate the Young Heir will reach Licheng by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Ye Li nodded. "That’s good. You wait here. I’ll go in and see them." This was an extremely unremarkable small courtyard, ordinarily used to house the soldiers garrisoning Feihong Pass. Now, however, it housed the surviving Qilin who had just retreated from the battlefield.

Entering the courtyard, she saw many men lying about haphazardly under the eaves. Many, without even time to change out of their bloodied clothes, had found a spot on the ground to sleep after a quick bandaging of their wounds. Shen Yang was directing his men in dressing the wounds of the soldiers. The Mo Family Army had also suffered severe casualties, and all available military physicians had been dispatched to tend to them, which was why Shen Yang had come here personally.

Seeing Ye Li enter, Shen Yang quickly rose to salute. Ye Li shook her head, signaling him not to stand on ceremony. Only then did Shen Yang turn back to continue dressing the wound of a soldier before him.

Not wanting to disturb the resting wounded, Ye Li and Shen Yang moved to an inner room to speak. Ye Li asked, "Mr. Shen, are their injuries serious?"

Shen Yang shook his head. "Only a few are very critically injured; I fear they may never fully recover. The others are fine and will recuperate after some rest."

Ye Li breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Then I must trouble Mr. Shen. If you require anything, please send word to Zhuo Jing directly."

Shen Yang nodded solemnly. "Please rest assured, Princess Consort. I guarantee their injuries will be properly cared for. These men... they are all true heroes, standing tall and unyielding." Although Shen Yang had not been on the battlefield himself, he knew what had transpired. Even as a physician, he could not help but admire these soldiers who had risked life and limb.

"How are Lin Han and the others?" Ye Li asked again. When the troops returned, she had seen Lin Han being carried back; his injuries were clearly severe.

Shen Yang sighed. "Wei Lin and Qin Feng sustained only minor injuries. Lin Han, however, is gravely wounded. I suggest that once he regains consciousness, he be moved to a quiet place to recuperate. There shouldn’t be any lasting major problems, but as for his martial arts... I’m afraid..."

Ye Li remained silent for a long moment before nodding. "I understand. Please make the arrangements, Mr. Shen. Please take good care of them. I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."

Shen Yang looked at Ye Li and sighed. "I see the Princess Consort is not looking well either. Please take care of your health. These matters... are not your fault."

Ye Li offered a faint smile, yet it was tinged with an indescribable bitterness. She nodded slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Shen."

Watching Ye Li’s retreating figure, Shen Yang sighed helplessly, shook his head, and turned back to his duties. Such immense pressure would be difficult for any man to bear, let alone a woman. In truth, the Princess Consort is still just a woman in her early twenties. Had she not married into Prince Ding’s Mansion, she might have been just a gentle, elegant lady living a life of comfort and privilege. Yet now, she bore the responsibility for the survival of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers at Feihong Pass, and indeed, the fate of the entire Mo Family Army and Prince Ding’s Mansion. Is such a life truly good for a woman?

「In the General’s Mansion」

Ye Li returned to the General’s Mansion, dismissed her attendants, and sat alone in the study. Staring blankly at the scroll before her, she slowly closed her eyes. A single, crystalline tear escaped the corner of her eye, tracing a path down her cheek before falling onto the scroll covered in writing, where it quickly spread, blurring the ink. She quickly wiped away the moisture, and beside the now-blurred script, she carefully re-penned a character. This was the Qilin’s roster. Many of the names upon it no longer belonged to the living. And Ye Li would never forget that they hadn’t died fulfilling a viable mission. From the very beginning... it was destined to be an impossible mission. From the very beginning... those men were cannon fodder she had to sacrifice. As a commander, she knew what she did was right. But as a soldier, she could never forgive herself. Those she had forsaken didn’t even know they were fated to be cannon fodder from the outset.

After a long silence, Ye Li took a blank sheet of Xuan paper from the side. She picked up her brush and began to re-copy the names from the roster, one by one. Among them were names marked with a black insignia, a stark symbol of death.

「In the Xiling Military Camp」

The atmosphere in the main tent of the Xiling military camp was oppressive. The commanders looked at the empty seats around them, a cold dread gripping their hearts. Comrades who, just this morning, had been excitedly discussing battle strategies—whether friends or rivals—were all living, breathing people. But now, the number of men in the tent had dwindled by half. And the cause of all this... was merely a force of just over a thousand Qilin.

"They’re not human! They’re demons!" a young, pale-faced commander muttered.

The others were hardly any calmer; everyone sat in a stunned daze, as if their souls had fled their bodies.

"Enough!" Lei Zhenting looked coldly at the assembled commanders and sighed deeply. Just over a thousand Qilin... had routed hundreds of thousands of Xiling troops, leaving them utterly demoralized. For some time to come, Xiling soldiers would likely be hesitant and fearful when facing the Mo Family Army.

"Your Highness..." a commander stood up and, after a moment’s hesitation, said, "Your Highness, we probably won’t be able to break through Feihong Pass any time soon. Moreover, Mo Xiuyao is reportedly leading several hundred thousand troops this way. Should we not retreat first?"

Lei Zhenting sneered. "Retreat? Do you think we can still retreat now?"

They had advanced too deep into the north. It was too late to retreat now; they would only be caught unprepared by Mo Xiuyao en route. The commander who had spoken turned pale. Mo Xiuyao’s forces were behind them. They had no other way back to Xiling territory except to break through Feihong Pass and take the Northwest route. But Feihong Pass, before them, was no easy conquest.

Lei Zhenting sighed. "The Mo Family Army also suffered heavy losses today, more than half their forces. The Mo Family Army defending Feihong Pass now numbers no more than one hundred thousand at most."

"But what if they still have Qilin..." someone murmured. No one knew the true strength of the Mo Family Army’s Qilin. For years, their shadows had been seen in many places, yet no one had ever truly pinned down their movements. Many had been curious about this force. Now, they had finally witnessed them, and the experience had been an unmitigated nightmare.

"There are no more," Lei Zhenting said gravely. "At this point, neither side would hold back any reserves. Ye Li undoubtedly committed her full strength in today’s battle."

Lei Tengfeng asked, "Father, does that mean... we only need one more major battle to take Feihong Pass? But our troops..." The Xiling Army had not been annihilated by the Mo Family Army, but the morale and spirit of the Xiling soldiers had been shattered. For a while, their combat effectiveness on the battlefield would likely be less than half of its usual.

Lei Zhenting waved his hand. "I have my own plans."

"Report! Urgent dispatch from the front!" A messenger rushed in from outside the tent, announcing loudly.

"Enter!" A man in military uniform hurried in and presented a sealed dispatch. Lei Zhenting opened it, and his expression flickered briefly. He quickly regained his composure and said, "All of you, dismiss. Rest and reorganize your troops."

"Your subordinates take their leave!"

Once the tent was empty save for father and son, Lei Tengfeng asked without reservation, "Father, what happened?" Lei Tengfeng had clearly seen his father’s hand tremble when he read the dispatch. Something major must have occurred.

Lei Zhenting slumped back into his chair, his face ashen. A trace of blood seeped through his clothing, staining his yellow battle robe crimson. "Father?!"

After a long while, Lei Zhenting finally looked up at Lei Tengfeng. "Tengfeng, take Feng Li, Zhang Yi, and Shangguan Qing. Leave the north and return to Xiling."

"What?" Lei Tengfeng was stunned, bewildered by Lei Zhenting’s abrupt command. Puzzled, he picked up the letter Lei Zhenting had placed on the table. Upon reading it, Lei Tengfeng’s expression became even grimmer than his father’s. "Nanchu deposed Mo Jingli and allied with Prince Ding’s Mansion? How is this possible?"

Lei Zhenting gave a bitter smile. "What’s so impossible about it? There are no eternal enemies in this world. Besides, to the people of Nanchu, compared to Prince Ding’s Mansion... we are their true enemies." After all, not many in this world think like those peculiar brothers, Mo Jingqi and Mo Jingli.

Lei Tengfeng stared at the dispatch. "Eight hundred thousand Chu troops have pledged allegiance to Prince Ding’s Mansion, and three hundred thousand Chu troops have crossed the Yunlan River..."

"I always wondered where Murong Shen and Marquis South disappeared to after suddenly leaving the battlefield. Now I understand... they went to Nanchu," Lei Zhenting sighed deeply, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Murong Shen and Marquis South are themselves renowned generals of Great Chu. With them leading the 300,000 troops dispatched by Nanchu, there will naturally be no issues. I just don’t know what benefits Mo Xiuyao offered the Nanchu court to make them take such a drastic, unexpected step as to depose Mo Jingli and dispatch troops to support Prince Ding’s Mansion."

"Father, let’s go together!" Lei Tengfeng urged. He understood the current situation clearly. Once Mo Xiuyao’s million-strong army arrived, escape would be impossible for his father, even if he possessed heaven-defying abilities.

"I will not leave. Nor can I," Lei Zhenting said, gently shaking his head. "Tengfeng, you leave tonight with the three generals. Take only your personal guards; do not take any troops. Generals Feng, Zhang, and Shangguan are Xiling’s most promising talents, both in terms of age and ability. As long as you can keep them in check, Xiling will not reach a point of utter desperation. After you return... do you know what to do?" His severe injuries prevented him from undertaking a long journey. Moreover, with things as they are... what face would he have to meet the subjects of Xiling again? Better to die a worthy death than to live on in disgrace.

"No, Father..." Lei Tengfeng pleaded anxiously. "Father, I beg you... Your son lacks the ability to bear the fate of Xiling. Tengfeng is willing to stay behind and guard the rear. Please, Father, take the generals and leave first."

"Tengfeng!" Lei Zhenting’s voice was sharp. "You will remember this: from this day forward, Xiling is in your hands! Ye Li, a mere woman, can shoulder the burden of the entire Mo Family Army. Are you telling me you are inferior even to a woman?"

"Father..."

Lei Zhenting closed his eyes briefly, then reached out to pat Lei Tengfeng’s shoulder. "It was your father’s fault for constraining you too much in the past. From now on, you must rely on yourself. Remember... do not clash head-on with the Mo Family Army. Preserve Xiling first. There will always be a chance to rise again."

To Lei Tengfeng, these words sounded very much like a final testament. And in truth, Lei Tengfeng understood that if he left today... this would indeed be the last time his father would ever speak to him like this. Tears streamed down his face. "Father... Your son... Your son understands!"

Lei Zhenting clapped him firmly on the shoulder once more, then turned away, no longer looking at him. "Go now. Take my command token and tell those men to leave with you immediately. Do not delay for even a moment."

"Your son obeys!" Lei Tengfeng’s eyes were red. He knelt and kowtowed heavily three times. "Father... take care!"

Rising, he cast one last look at Lei Zhenting’s somewhat aged and desolate figure, then turned and departed with resolve.

"Tengfeng," Lei Zhenting’s voice followed him as he reached the tent flap, "if you encounter Ling Tiehan on your journey, tell him... I am waiting for him at Feihong Pass!"

Lei Tengfeng nodded silently, lifted the curtain, and walked out.