Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 166. Battle (2)

166. Battle (2)

Arranging troop formations wasn’t a skill acquired with little effort. At least Ye Li, on the battlefield at this moment, found it challenging to offer Feng Zhiyao much help in this regard. Even if she could understand the layout and conceive an idea, it would be impossible to convey her intentions to the Mo Family Army, embroiled in the heated battle below, in such a short time. Moreover, how could Ye Li, whose knowledge of tactical formations was rudimentary at best, arrogantly assume she could outperform the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling, renowned as the War God of Xiling? Standing at a high vantage point, Ye Li stared unblinkingly at the battlefield below. As expected, amid the shifting tides of battle, the Mo Family Army’s formation gradually began to disintegrate, falling into the Xiling Army’s encirclement.

"Princess Consort..." Qin Feng frowned anxiously, wanting to say something. He hailed from the Black Cloud Cavalry but wasn’t its Supreme Commander. Furthermore, cavalry rarely utilized tactical formations, so he wasn’t well-versed in them. However, this didn’t prevent him from recognizing the Mo Family Army’s gradual defeat.

Ye Li raised her hand, silencing him. She pondered for a moment and said, "It seems Third Feng is no match for Lei Zhenting. Let’s call it a day." Although the battle appeared fierce, neither side had exerted their full strength; it was merely a probe. Qin Feng said, "Our army is trapped within Xiling’s formation, and it won’t be easy to break free. Princess Consort... do you have a strategy to break their formation?" Almost by habit, Qin Feng looked to Ye Li with hope. They hadn’t been with the Princess Consort for long, but they had unconsciously come to view her as an omnipotent prodigy. Ye Li shook her head and said with a slight smile, "I genuinely don’t know much about tactical formations."

Hearing this, Qin Feng felt somewhat disheartened. How could the Princess Consort, merely in her teens, know everything? Many generals spent decades without fully mastering it. This time, only young military leaders remained with the Princess Consort. The experienced Marquis South had been dispatched by the Princess Consort on another mission. Moreover, in Qin Feng’s opinion, even if Marquis South had been present, he probably wouldn’t have been able to contend with the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling. Ye Li, seemingly lost in thought, lightly rubbed her fingertips and said with a faint smile, "Since skill and strategy can’t solve the problem, then... we’ll have to use brute force." Qin Feng was taken aback, failing to grasp Ye Li’s meaning. He watched as she leisurely descended the high platform and walked towards Feng Zhiyao, who was observing the battle from the city wall. Before Qin Feng could comprehend, a brilliant red flame soared into the sky, letting out a sharp shriek. Then, an earth-shattering thunder of hoofbeats echoed from the southwest corner, like a black tornado instantly sweeping across the battlefield. Simultaneously, the Mo Family Army, previously fragmented by the Xiling forces, rapidly regrouped. They broke through from the enemy’s core and formed a larger formation with their comrades. This new formation acted like a sharp arrowhead, tearing a gash in the Xiling Army’s vast ranks. The newly arrived Black Cloud Cavalry didn’t immediately engage in combat or retreat. Instead, they charged back and forth across the battlefield, instantly ripping the previously orderly formation to shreds.

「Behind the Xiling main army, where their Central Army was positioned.」

The Xiling commanders watched the sudden appearance of the Black Cloud Cavalry, their expressions changing drastically. "What kind of formation is this?!"

The Southern Garrison Prince’s smile vanished. He gazed thoughtfully at the distant city walls and said, "This is no formation!" In the face of absolute power, all tactics are useless. The Mo Family Army was actually slightly stronger than the Xiling Army; they only lacked troop numbers and a truly brilliant commander. He had long been prepared to pay the price for engaging the Mo Family Army. Now, with the Black Cloud Cavalry’s fresh forces joining, the outcome was naturally hard to predict. A general beside him suggested, "Should we have the rear army press forward and annihilate the Mo Family Army outside the city?" The Southern Garrison Prince shook his head. "It’s too late; they’re retreating."

Indeed, the sound of gongs signaling the retreat echoed from Hongzhou City. The city gates opened instantly, and under the Black Cloud Cavalry’s cover, the Mo Family Army, having just broken free from the Xiling Army’s encirclement, rushed into the city. The Black Cloud Cavalry, acting as the rearguard, also galloped towards the city gates. Awaiting the pursuing Xiling soldiers was a hail of arrows from the Mo Family Army defending the city. Witnessing this, the generals surrounding the Southern Garrison Prince erupted in curses. "Those East Chu cowards! They run when they can’t beat us!" The Southern Garrison Prince, instead of anger, laughed. "If they can’t win, then running is the wisest choice. However... this move by Ye Li has made me realize one thing. There truly is no capable leader in Hongzhou City. Perhaps with a few more years to further hone his skills, Third Feng might be able to hold his own, but for now, he’s still too green."

The generals pondered this. Wasn’t it true? Though their forces were numerically equal, the East Chu army had needed the Black Cloud Cavalry’s intervention to retreat into the city. What else could this signify but a lack of capable commanders?

"Mo Xiuyao is simultaneously confronting the allied forces of three families within the pass. Even if he’s formidable, he can’t handle everything. I’m afraid all the capable commanders of the Mo Family Army have followed him into the pass."

"Exactly! And he actually left the Northwest in the hands of a woman. It’s clear the Mo Family Army truly has no one left!"

Amidst the commanders’ discussions, the Southern Garrison Prince turned his gaze back to the pale blue figure atop Hongzhou City’s walls. The Mo Family Army’s continuous retreats in recent days, contrasted with their victory today, had led the Xiling commanders to somewhat underestimate them. However, the Southern Garrison Prince, as their commander-in-chief, did not. On the contrary, he regarded the young Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom even more seriously. It was true they had achieved a string of victories recently, but they had gained hardly any substantial advantage in Hongzhou. Along their march, the ripened grain in the Northwest had already been harvested. Even the small amounts that couldn’t be harvested in time were burned to the ground. During this period, it was more accurate to say the Mo Family Army was hindering their advance rather than truly resisting. Their aim was to allow the people of Hongzhou to harvest their grain. According to his intelligence, Ye Li had even dispatched the Mo Family Army to assist the populace with the harvest. This only intensified his urgency to conquer Hongzhou. In another month, the Northwest would enter a harsh winter. Heavy snow would block many roads, and even if grain were available, transporting it would become impossible. Their current supplies definitely couldn’t last until next spring.

The closer he got to Hongzhou, the stronger the Southern Garrison Prince’s premonition grew: the Mo Family Army was deliberately luring them towards Hongzhou. But he couldn’t fathom the Mo Family Army’s, or rather Ye Li’s, strategy. Behind Hongzhou lay the vast, flat plains inside the pass; judging by Ye Li’s performance these days, she didn’t seem confident in her ability to keep him out of Hongzhou City. The Mo Family Army currently lacked even a single expert in troop deployment. In truth, the Southern Garrison Prince didn’t understand. He believed he was already paying Ye Li sufficient attention, but his assumption that the Mo Family Army lacked competent generals was, in itself, an underestimation. He would never have guessed that Ye Li’s objective wasn’t merely to keep the Xiling army out of Hongzhou City, but to... annihilate the entire 200,000-strong Xiling army in Hongzhou!

Looking at the woman in the light blue dress on the city tower, who seemed to nod at him, the Southern Garrison Prince’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. A strange unease gripped his mind. Despite repeated calculations, he couldn’t pinpoint the source of this anxiety. After a moment’s thought, the Southern Garrison Prince turned back towards his camp. "Send an urgent dispatch! Order the 300,000 troops stationed at the Xiling border, along with their supplies, to proceed to Hongzhou immediately." The general beside him hesitated. "Prince, the army’s marching speed when transporting such vast quantities of supplies..." The troops at the border carried enough grain to sustain an army of 400,000 through winter; transporting it all to Hongzhou would inevitably be slow. The Southern Garrison Prince snorted. "As long as they can enter the pass on time. If you lot are any slower, the main army might arrive before you’ve even breached Hongzhou City!" The accompanying generals flushed, their faces showing defiance. If they couldn’t even defeat a woman, they’d have no face to return to Xiling. "We will definitely conquer Hongzhou within five days!"

"I shall wait and see."

「Inside Hongzhou City.」 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li with an embarrassed chuckle. "If the Princess Consort hadn’t been prepared today, the Mo Family Army that went out to engage the enemy might not have made it back. I truly am lacking..." Ye Li smiled at him. "You may have fought on battlefields since you were young, but you haven’t waged war in many years. Naturally, you lack experience compared to the Southern Garrison Prince, who has fought for half his life. Today’s lesson teaches us it’s best not to pit our weaknesses against others’ strengths." Feng Zhiyao spread his hands helplessly. "In face-to-face combat, troop deployment is crucial. If we simply let the soldiers charge in disorganized groups, the casualties will be even higher. But the Princess Consort is right; this kind of engagement only puts us at a disadvantage. When two armies are of equal strength, formations are key." If they were facing Mo Jingli’s ragtag troops in the south, who would care about formations? A direct charge would have scared those shrimp soldiers and crab generals to death.

Ye Li also felt a sense of helplessness. The most experienced commander in the army, Marquis South, had been sent away by her. As for the others, their understanding of formations was likely inferior to Feng Zhiyao’s, who had learned from Mo Xiuyao since childhood. Although she understood some concepts, for someone more accustomed to modern military thinking, grasping the essence of these ancient formations was truly difficult. Even reading countless military treatises doesn’t guarantee one can truly grasp the realities of warfare. Not everyone who reads *The Art of War* or the *Thirty-Six Stratagems* becomes an unparalleled general. After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said, "Try to avoid such direct confrontations as much as possible. How are the preparations for the matters I mentioned earlier?"

Feng Zhiyao nodded. "Everything has been arranged according to the Princess Consort’s wishes. Princess Consort..." He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Now that there are no urgent matters in Hongzhou City, has the Princess Consort considered proceeding into the pass first?"

"Enter the pass?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows, turning to look at Feng Zhiyao behind her. His young, handsome face was filled with worry.

Ye Li shook her head. "I cannot leave Hongzhou right now. If I’m not in Hongzhou, the Southern Garrison Prince might sense our intentions. My presence here is to make him believe the Mo Family Army will defend Hongzhou to the death."

"But..." Feng Zhiyao said with concern, "Earlier, I wouldn’t have worried. Even if the Princess Consort were caught in the midst of a chaotic battle, with her skills and Qilin’s help, she could escape safely. But now... in case of any accident..." Although it wasn’t apparent, the Princess Consort was pregnant. On the battlefield, situations could change in an instant; no one knew what accidents might occur. Ye Li said gravely, "There will be no accidents. Also... have Han Mingyue and Su Zuidie sent away. As for Qilin... I have other uses for them."

Feng Zhiyao’s expression darkened. He stood resolutely before Ye Li. "Qilin is for the Princess Consort’s protection."

Ye Li looked up at him, her brows furrowed. "I didn’t train Qilin to be bodyguards. Without them... at least half of this plan will fail. Feng San, consider carefully the consequences of hundreds of thousands of Xiling troops entering the pass before you speak to me again." With that, Ye Li ignored Feng Zhiyao and turned to descend the city tower.

Feng Zhiyao sighed helplessly. How could he not understand what the Princess Consort was considering? The devastating impact the Xiling invasion would have on the civilians and the territory of Great Chu, not to mention the threat of hundreds of thousands of enemy troops to the Mo Family Army inside the pass, was reason enough to exert every effort to keep these invaders out of Hongzhou City. However... under no circumstances could they allow any harm to befall the Princess Consort. Feng Zhiyao couldn’t even begin to imagine Mo Xiuyao’s reaction if something happened to the Princess Consort.

"General Feng?" a subordinate behind him prompted softly.

Feng Zhiyao rubbed his temples and ordered, "Double the number of the Princess Consort’s bodyguards. They are to do nothing else; if Hongzhou City is breached, they must immediately escort the Princess Consort out of the city!"

"Yes."

「Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital of Great Chu.」

The magnificent Imperial Palace was even more desolate and silent than usual. In the Imperial Study, Mo Jingqi stared at the person kneeling before him, his expression gloomy. He coldly asked, "Mo Xiuyao has engaged in battle inside the pass, and the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom is leading an army of two hundred thousand to resist the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling?" The man kneeling below shivered at the icy tone. "Your Majesty, the news from the Northwest reports... the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom is leading the Mo Family Army stationed in the Northwest, retreating all the way to Hongzhou. It seems she plans a decisive battle with the Xiling army near Hongzhou... Several generals near Hongzhou, within the pass, have sent petitions to reinforce the Princess Consort!"

"Silence!" Mo Jingqi commanded coldly, his chest heaving with rapid breaths. Reinforce the Princess Consort? Win this battle and further cement the Princess Consort’s reputation as a heroine who rivals men? After all these years and so much effort to cripple Mo Xiuyao, not only had he recovered, but he now had a consort who could wage war! Ye Li... Mo Jingqi silently cursed his past decision to betroth Ye Li to Mo Xiuyao. A thought struck him, and he suddenly asked, "What is the current situation of the Xu Family in Yunzhou?"

The kneeling official’s heart tightened. He cautiously glanced at the Emperor on the throne. "The Xu Family... Mr. Elder Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu are still teaching at Lishan Academy. There is nothing unusual." His heart pounded. He suddenly felt the Emperor above him might have lost his mind. The Xu Family was the foremost literary family in the land. For the Emperor to target the Xu Family now, with Great Chu facing internal strife and external threats, when war was rampant, was madness. After all, at least half the officials in the empire were disciples of Mr. Qingyun, especially when the Xu Family had no vulnerabilities the Emperor could exploit.

Mo Jingqi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "I see. You may leave."

"Your Majesty... the petitions from the generals within the pass..."

"Petitions to fight?" Mo Jingqi’s voice was chilling. "You may go. I will handle it myself."

"This servant takes his leave."