Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 91. Night Raid

91. Night Raid

Upon returning to Yonglin City, as predicted, Xia Shu was already bustling about with several commanders of the Black Cloud Cavalry, reinforcing the city’s defenses. Yun Ting had been eager to do the same, so as soon as they arrived back in the city, he barely paused to inform Ye Li before rushing off to help, not even taking the time to formally greet her, the Princess Consort Ding. Murong Ting, having no interest in the heaps of scrolls and maps Ye Li was studying, instead went to find some strong young men and resourceful women in the city. Her plan was to organize them; while they couldn’t fight on the battlefield when the war started, they could certainly help care for the wounded and handle logistics. Ye Li readily agreed with her idea, delighting Murong Ting, who had felt constrained by Murong Shen for so long. She departed with a beaming smile.

Ye Li sat in the specially cleared-out study, her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the map spread before her. Obviously, she was not a genius, at least not in commanding large-scale battles. As a special forces soldier in her previous life, she excelled at small-unit operations, striking at the enemy’s vital points. Currently, facing a siege by over a hundred thousand troops without the advantage of timing or terrain, she would be secretly pleased if they could just hold out until reinforcements arrived. Broken Snow Pass, never breached by foreign tribes in centuries, had evidently given Yonglin City a profound sense of security. Consequently, the defensive capabilities of Yonglin City’s walls were simply inadequate, especially against threats from within. Who would have anticipated that the soldiers stationed at Broken Snow Pass would one day face an attack from within Great Chu itself?

"Greetings, Princess Consort." Xia Shu and Yun Ting entered together, saluting Ye Li from the doorway. Without lifting her head, Ye Li beckoned them. "Come in. How are things?" Yun Ting, the most straightforward of them, chuckled. "Thanks to the help of our Black Cloud Cavalry brothers, we’ve managed to strengthen the city’s defenses a bit more." A Black Cloud Cavalry commander who had accompanied them shook his head. "Yonglin City’s foundations are too weak. Even if we reinforce it further, I’m afraid it won’t hold for long." Yesterday’s offensive was merely a probe; when the next one began, it likely wouldn’t be so easily stopped.

Ye Li looked up, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. "The rebel army likely won’t attack in the next two days, but we must remain vigilant. All of you need to be extra careful." They had bluffed Mo Jingli yesterday, and he probably wouldn’t attack rashly until he determined their true numbers. But deceptions don’t last forever. Once Mo Jingli discovered the truth, an even fiercer offensive would await them. "Yun Ting, Xia Shu, you’re familiar with the surrounding area. Come look at this map," she said. Curious, Yun Ting and Xia Shu approached. Spread on the desk before Ye Li was a large map. At the top, an elegant script read ’Yonglin Topographic Map.’ They quickly realized it depicted not only Yonglin City but also almost all the terrain and features within a nearly hundred-li radius, including Broken Snow Pass and parts of the Southern Border. Most importantly, it was clearly newly drawn. Yun Ting asked, puzzled, "Princess Consort, do you need a map? We have several copies here, and Broken Snow Pass has a complete map of Yongzhou."

Ye Li shook her head. Neither she nor the Black Cloud Cavalry were familiar with Yongzhou. In war, ignorance of the terrain was a major disadvantage. That was why, as early as when she was still in the Southern Border, she had sent word for the Black Cloud Cavalry to gather topographical data for the Yonglin vicinity. Only last night, referencing the original maps, had she finished drawing this new one. However, since she hadn’t personally inspected most of the areas, there were some uncertainties, which was why she wanted Yun Ting and Xia Shu, who knew the local area, to review it.

Xia Shu stared at the map intently for some time, a fervent gleam in his eyes. He praised softly, "Did the Princess Consort personally draw this?" Rubbing her temples, Ye Li replied, "Though I trust the Black Cloud Cavalry soldiers, I wasn’t able to verify it on-site. Please, see if there are any inaccuracies." After a while, Xia Shu pointed to a river on the map. "Here... if this river were a little closer to this mountain, it would likely be correct." Picking up her brush again, Ye Li asked, "How far is the river from the mountain?" Xia Shu mentally calculated for a moment. "Approximately three li." Ye Li raised an eyebrow. That was indeed a significant discrepancy. With maps, the slightest inaccuracy could lead to errors of a thousand li. She swiftly began to revise the drawing. Xia Shu watched, his admiration growing, feeling profound respect for the Princess Consort Ding before him. Setting aside other talents, even someone who had personally traversed all these locations might not be able to draw such a map, let alone the Princess Consort, who had created an almost flawless depiction based solely on descriptions. Compared to their existing maps, this one was at least ten times clearer and more detailed. What does one rely on in war? Beyond the Art of War and stratagems, isn’t it timely advantages and favorable terrain? Yet not every commander has the chance to thoroughly scout the battlefield beforehand. With this map, the hundred-li radius around Yonglin was now clear at a glance.

"Princess Consort, are we just going to wait for the rebel army to attack?" Yun Ting asked with a hint of impatience.

Ye Li smiled and asked, "What were your initial thoughts?"

Yun Ting looked somewhat embarrassed. Originally, they indeed had no choice but to wait for the rebels to attack. It wasn’t their preference, but their limited military strength left no other options. But now, didn’t they have two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry? The Black Cloud Cavalry excelled at offense, not defense, right? And he certainly didn’t enjoy defensive warfare.

"The area around Yonglin is mountainous and heavily forested, severely limiting cavalry effectiveness. They can’t fully utilize their skills," Xia Shu said, frowning. For the first time, the dense forests depicted on the map irked him. If it were open plains, the Black Cloud Cavalry could accomplish so much more. Then again, he knew if it were truly open plains, the rebel army of over a hundred thousand would be right at their gates, and their situation would be even more dire.

The Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry sneered. "The Black Cloud Cavalry, while renowned as cavalry, excels in more than just horsemanship and archery." Their cavalry was primarily designed to counter the Beirong, but the horses of Great Chu were no match for Beirong steeds. Even though the Black Cloud Cavalry were elites, a direct confrontation with Beirong’s iron cavalry would be a bruising, thankless fight. Xia Shu glanced at the proud Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry and the silent Darky Two and Darky Three standing nearby. He hesitated before asking, "Could we launch a preemptive strike to disrupt their plans?"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

Xia Shu picked up a charcoal pencil from the table and, marking the map, said, "The rebel army is currently encamped twenty li outside Yonglin. If we launch a surprise cavalry attack, we should be able to catch them off guard."

Darky Two stated, "Cavalry movements are too conspicuous. If we prioritize speed, I’m afraid we’ll be discovered before we even get close to their main camp. And... using two thousand horsemen to raid a camp of over a hundred thousand troops?" Even the Black Cloud Cavalry might not escape unscathed if truly caught amidst such a massive force. Xia Shu shook his head. "We don’t need to raid their main camp. The terrain of Yonglin dictates that they absolutely cannot and will not station all their troops in one place. If the rebel main camp is here, then here, and here, they would surely station troops to form supporting flanks, which also protects the main camp. The garrisons at these two locations shouldn’t exceed ten thousand men each. Perhaps... we can create some chaos?"

"Qin Feng?" Ye Li raised her eyebrow and asked the Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Qin Feng frowned. "If that’s the case, by cutting off the left wing’s route to the main camp beforehand, we could potentially annihilate that contingent. Even if we can’t, the mountain path is narrow, and their reinforcements won’t arrive quickly, giving us time to withdraw safely. However, this might make them suspect that the main force of the Black Cloud Cavalry isn’t actually in Yongzhou." Ye Li blinked, then asked with a smile, "What if... we annihilated both wings?"

All eyes in the study fixed on Ye Li. Annihilating one wing was already incredibly difficult; how could they possibly annihilate both simultaneously?

"Darky Two, Darky Three, gather all information on Mo Jingli’s camp as quickly as possible," Ye Li ordered.

Darky Two and Darky Three nodded, turning to leave the study.

For two consecutive days, lacking intelligence on the Black Cloud Cavalry’s disposition, Mo Jingli kept his troops stationary. Every time he distantly observed the seemingly small contingent of Black Cloud Cavalry in Yonglin City, he suspected that Yongzhou didn’t actually harbor many of them, and that Mo Xiuyao wasn’t there either. Yet, whenever he verged on ordering an attack, he’d hesitate, suspecting it might be one of Mo Xiuyao’s ploys to lure him into a trap. Mo Xiuyao had always been cunning, forcing him to be constantly on guard. Thus, despite repeated urgings to attack from Nanzhao, he could only maintain the standoff before the small city of Yonglin with his army of over one hundred thousand men.

"Prince, Nanzhao has urged us multiple times. Should we attack Yonglin tomorrow?" a middle-aged man, apparently a military strategist, asked inside the command tent.

Mo Jingli frowned. "What’s the rush? If they’re so eager, why don’t they attack Broken Snow Pass themselves? They’ve been fighting for days and haven’t even scratched Murong Shen!" The military strategist gave a helpless, bitter smile and shook his head. "Broken Snow Pass’s walls are formidable and historically difficult to breach. It’s understandable that they haven’t succeeded after prolonged attacks." Mo Jingli seemed hesitant, looking at the strategist with a furrowed brow. "Letting the Nanzhao people through the pass... would it truly be useful?" The strategist, stunned, looked at him, puzzled. "What does the Prince mean?" Mo Jingli huffed. "We swept through Yongzhou without the Nanzhao people lifting a finger. If we let them into Broken Snow Pass, I’m afraid... it’s easier to invite a god than to send one away." Though Nanzhao was currently an ally, he knew they were far from trustworthy. Once the legend of Broken Snow Pass’s invincibility was shattered, those people would likely become even more brazen in challenging it and encroaching upon Great Chu’s territory.

"Prince, an arrow loosed from the bow does not return," the strategist counseled. "If we break our promise now, Nanzhao might withdraw its troops immediately. Murong Shen would then turn to deal with us. By the time reinforcements from the imperial court arrive... the consequences would be dire. Therefore, it’s best for the Prince to seek a swift victory." Mo Jingli nodded; he understood this all too well. "Tell me... why did the Black Cloud Cavalry arrive so quickly?"

The strategist replied with some difficulty, "Prince Ding has always been far-sighted. We haven’t found any trace of this Black Cloud Cavalry unit in the past two days. I fear it’s a hidden piece Prince Ding positioned here long ago." The thought made the strategist wring his hands in frustration. If not for this Black Cloud Cavalry unit, Yonglin City would already be theirs. Perhaps even Broken Snow Pass would have fallen by now.

"You’re saying Xiuyao anticipated war in the Southern Border?" Mo Jingli asked, his expression sullen.

The strategist dared not affirm this, saying only, "Perhaps Prince Ding left them as a precaution against Nanzhao. After all, Prince Ding fought fiercely in the Southern Border back then." If the imperial family hadn’t worried that the young general of Prince Ding’s Mansion was gaining too much fame and military merit, and hadn’t forcibly ordered a withdrawal, Nanzhao might have ceased to exist long ago. Nanzhao’s hatred for Prince Ding was self-evident, and Prince Ding likely viewed the resurgent Nanzhao as a thorn in his side. Mo Jingli scoffed. "Xiuyao claims to be a military genius, yet he fought for a year and couldn’t pacify the Southern Border. I swept through Yongzhou in half a month. At most, in another half year, conquering the entire region south of the Yunlan River will be within easy reach!"

"The Prince is wise," the strategist smiled, subtly wiping sweat from his brow. This smooth progress was undoubtedly due to Heaven’s favor. Ever since Murong Shen took command of Broken Snow Pass, the Emperor had employed various methods to diminish Yongzhou’s military strength. The Governor of Yongzhou, moreover, spared no effort in creating trouble for Murong Shen, leading to Yongzhou’s weakened defenses. Their sudden, unexpected attack this time had caught everyone off guard, ensuring their smooth advance. However, once the imperial court reacted, things likely wouldn’t proceed so easily. Still, the Prince was right: once Murong Shen of Broken Snow Pass was eliminated, the lands south of the Yunlan River would indeed be theirs for the taking.

"Reporting to the Prince! The West Camp is under attack!" a soldier outside the tent announced hastily. Mo Jingli, startled, abruptly rose and strode outside. He saw a blaze lighting up the western sky. "Damn it! How could Yonglin City possibly spare troops for a raid?" The strategist, who had followed him out, was also stunned by the sight. He quickly urged, "Prince..." Mo Jingli snapped coldly, "Send men to reinforce them!"

"Prince, look over there!" cried the generals who had rushed over. The eastern encampment was also ablaze. One exclaimed in horror, "The East Camp has been attacked as well!"

A glint appeared in the strategist’s eyes as he spoke gravely, "Prince! Yonglin City doesn’t have many troops. If they’re attacking both the east and west flanks simultaneously, the city itself must be vulnerable. If we seize this chance to attack the city..." Mo Jingli turned sharply, glaring at him. "Do you think those two young whelps in Yonglin City have the guts to leave Yonglin undefended for a night raid?" He wasn’t intimately familiar with Yun Ting and Xia Shu, but he knew of them—rumored to be Murong Shen’s two youngest colonels. Two colonels barely in their twenties? Even if they were ten times bolder, they wouldn’t dare abandon Yonglin for such a reckless gamble. Besides, any fool knew that even a successful night raid couldn’t repel an army of over a hundred thousand; it would only deplete Yonglin City’s defensive forces.

"The Prince’s meaning..." the strategist frowned.

"Send scouts to investigate! General Zhang, General Li, reinforce the East and West Camps!"

"Yes, Prince."

From a mountaintop not far from Prince Li’s main camp, Ye Li gazed down with satisfaction at the beacon fires blazing and the din of battle rising from below. Xia Shu, Darky Two, and Darky Three stood beside her, observing the scene. "Reinforcements are coming!" Xia Shu pointed to a column of horsemen rushing towards the West Camp along a path below. Ye Li smiled faintly. "The West Camp engagement should be ending soon, right? Have our people lead them around in a few circles." Xia Shu laughed. "Of course. When it comes to terrain, we locals who’ve been stationed here year-round are more familiar. The east wing probably can’t hold out much longer." Ye Li said, "Let them deal with the forces on that side themselves. Have the shadow guards prepare; I don’t want Mo Jingli to dispatch any more reinforcements." Trying to swallow too much at once can be fatal. Darky Three chuckled. "Princess Consort, rest assured. The shadow guards may not excel at formal battles, but they are absolute experts at sowing chaos!"

The rebels will never expect their own men to attack them from the rear. Attacked from behind in the pitch darkness—let them have a dog-eat-dog fight to the death! Thankfully, Prince Li hasn’t had time to change his army’s insignia; the rebels’ weaponry and even their uniforms are quite similar to those of the Guarding Army of Yonglin. As for whether anyone in that dark valley will spot the emblems of Prince Li’s fiefdom, well, that will depend on their luck.

Ye Li nodded in satisfaction. "Let’s go take a look." The four of them mounted steeds waiting nearby and rode silently through the night towards another hill. She anticipated an even more spectacular and thrilling battle unfolding there.

No one was spared that night. The battle only gradually subsided as dawn approached. The outcome made Mo Jingli’s already gloomy face turn as black as ink. Of the nearly thirty thousand men from the eastern and western wings and the dispatched reinforcements, almost seventy to eighty percent were casualties. In contrast, the enemy had left fewer than three thousand bodies. The valley behind the East Camp was almost entirely filled with his own men. If he couldn’t discern what had happened by now, he’d be a complete fool! Over twenty thousand soldiers lost in a single night, including the Chief Generals of both camps and the two generals sent as reinforcements—this was a staggering blow to the morale of Prince Li’s army. At some point, whispers began to circulate among Prince Li’s troops: Prince Ding and his Black Cloud Cavalry were in Yonglin City. Terror gripped nearly every soldier. The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and the Black Cloud Cavalry held an eternally unshakeable, awe-inspiring power in the heart of every soldier.

Meanwhile, Yonglin City was jubilant. This resounding victory made Yun Ting feel as if he were walking on air.

"Don’t celebrate too soon. Once Mo Jingli figures out the truth, I’m afraid nothing will stop his massive army," Ye Li said wearily. Yun Ting excitedly proposed, "How about we launch a few more raids?" Xia Shu shot him a disapproving look. "Do you think Prince Li’s men are fools? After being ambushed once, would they let you succeed again? They might be waiting for you to walk right into their trap." Ye Li nodded. "Xia Shu is right. We took a huge risk this time. If Mo Jingli had reacted by directly storming Yonglin, even killing another twenty or thirty thousand rebels wouldn’t have saved us." Yun Ting gradually sobered from his elation, anxiously biting his knuckle. "Then what should we do? When will those damn imperial reinforcements finally arrive?"

"Princess Consort." Darky Three entered with a letter. Ye Li nodded at the two men. "You may attend to your duties."

Yun Ting and Xia Shu respectfully excused themselves and departed. Ye Li took the envelope from Darky Three, opened it, and scanned its contents. Her initial look of joy quickly faded, replaced by a grim expression. Darky Three watched, puzzled by her rapidly changing demeanor, wondering what news could make the usually composed Princess Consort react so atypically. After a long moment, Ye Li slapped the letter onto the table. "Issue the order! From this day forward, the entire army is on high alert!"

"Princess Consort, what happened?"

Ye Li replied, "Mo Jingli is likely to launch an all-out assault on Yonglin within the next two days."

Darky Three was perplexed. According to their projections, the rebel army wasn’t supposed to make any moves in the coming days. Ye Li glanced at the letter on the table. "Reinforcements will reach the Yunlan River within three days. Mo Jingli will receive this news soon. If he doesn’t launch an all-out assault on Yonglin now, he’ll lose his chance once our reinforcements arrive." Darky Three nodded. "So... we just need to hold out for these three days..."

"I’m afraid these three days won’t pass so smoothly."

「In Prince Li’s main camp.」

Mo Jingli stared at the confidential dispatch he had just received, his gaze intense enough to bore a hole through it. After a long moment, he seethed, "Well, well... a fine Black Cloud Cavalry indeed! This Prince would like to know just what master is hiding in Yonglin City!" The dispatch clearly stated that Mo Xiuyao had entered the palace to see Mo Jingqi ten days ago. Even if he had departed the capital immediately after, he couldn’t possibly have reached Yongzhou so quickly. Therefore, the one obstructing his path recently was definitely not Mo Xiuyao, that cripple. As for the Black Cloud Cavalry... apart from the two thousand stationed in Yonglin City, his men had scoured nearly all of Yongzhou without finding another trace of them.

"Prince, now..." The strategist’s face was grave. "The reinforcements are arriving too quickly. In three days at most, they will cross the Yunlan River. Please, Prince, make your decision soon." Should they retreat and attack eastward, or press on westward to assault Broken Snow Pass and join forces with the Army of Nanzhao?

"Attack the city at all costs!"

The battle erupted anew, fiercer than in the preceding days. Mo Jingli, unsparingly, sent his most elite troops in a frenzied assault on the city. Although the Black Cloud Cavalry’s aid had further bolstered Yonglin City’s defenses, the relentless, ferocious attacks left the defending soldiers exhausted and suffering heavy casualties. After an entire day of fighting, the rebels only began to withdraw gradually as night fell, yet they maintained their standoff less than five li from Yonglin City. By day’s end, the Guarding Army of Yonglin had sustained nearly fifty percent casualties. Even at night, they found no peace, constantly wary of rebel sneak attacks. Frowning deeply at the situation, Ye Li ordered the Black Cloud Cavalry to garrison the city towers at night, allowing the beleaguered defenders a chance to rest.

"Ah-Li, can we hold Yonglin City?" Deep in the night, Murong Ting gazed down from the city wall. In the distance, the rebel army’s camp was a dense, dark mass that weighed heavily on her heart. Ye Li glanced at her and smiled gently. "Are you scared?" Murong Ting pouted. "Who’s scared? It’s just... I’ve never seen so many dead people. Father always said I was naive, and only now do I realize how true it is. I used to think that spending a few years with him at the border made me more knowledgeable than others. But I’ve never truly seen a battlefield." Ye Li said softly, "You’re doing very well." All day, Murong Ting had been ceaselessly busy, leading the city’s physicians and able-bodied workers to help army medics treat the wounded and assist in transporting provisions, arrows, and other supplies. She had grown visibly gaunt. "General Murong would undoubtedly be proud of you."

A somewhat embarrassed smile touched Murong Ting’s lips. "I haven’t done much. Ah-Li, you’re the real hero. If you were my father’s daughter, he’d be so happy he’d wake up laughing from his dreams."

Ye Li chuckled quietly. "Perhaps we can ask General Murong later if he’s willing to swap you with me?"

"No way! Father dotes on me the most."

Ye Li laughed lightly. "Don’t worry, we’ll all be fine."

Murong Ting was taken aback for a moment, then sighed. "I’m not scared. If the rebels really break in, I’ll kill one for every one that comes, and a pair for every two!" Seeing Murong Ting’s feigned bravado, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle. She sighed herself, looking up at the crescent moon, a thread of worry gradually touching her lovely features.

In a corner of the city wall tower, Xia Shu and Yun Ting stood shoulder to shoulder, their gazes fixed on the slender figure in the distance. Ye Li was dressed in moon-white men’s attire, her dark hair casually tied back with a moon-white silk ribbon instead of a hairpin. Bathed in moonlight, her translucent face seemed dusted with a faint silver glow, hinting at a pure melancholy. Her aura, serene as a lotus and elegant as an orchid, made even the fiery, red-clad young woman beside her appear to dim in comparison.

"If I survive this, I’m definitely joining the Black Cloud Cavalry!" Yun Ting declared resolutely. Joining the Black Cloud Cavalry had always been his ambition, and now it was more fervent than ever.

"If we can’t hold the city tomorrow, escort the Princess Consort away first. Head towards Jiangbei. Once you cross the Yunlan River, you should be able to meet the reinforcements quickly," Xia Shu said quietly.

Yun Ting glared at him. "Do you take me for someone who flees in the face of battle?"

Xia Shu gave him a cool glance. "Don’t you know the relationship between the Princess Consort and Prince Li? What do you think will happen if she falls into Prince Li’s hands?" Yun Ting froze, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the distant woman standing against the wind. He scratched his head in frustration. "I don’t have the skill to escort the Princess Consort to safety; you should do it. You’re better at persuading people. The Princess Consort doesn’t seem like the type to abandon Yonglin City and flee alone. Come to think of it, I’ve never met a Princess Consort like her, have you?"

Xia Shu nodded in agreement. Despite their short acquaintance, this Princess Consort Ding, younger even than themselves, had completely upended their perception of the title. She appeared delicate, but her inner strength surpassed that of many men. Not to mention her astounding intellect, the keen decisiveness of a commander, and physical agility superior to most. Often, Xia Shu saw not a pampered, high-born lady, but a battle-hardened soldier.

"If we both survive this, do you think the Princess Consort would agree if I begged her to let me join the Black Cloud Cavalry?" Yun Ting, who had a habit of shelving unresolvable problems, turned his head and began to imagine a wonderful future.

Xia Shu pondered for a moment, then replied with a faint smile, "Perhaps you could ask Princess Consort Ding if the Black Cloud Cavalry is still recruiting."

Yun Ting’s eyes lit up, his gaze falling on the moonlit figure conversing with Murong Ting in the distance. Xia Shu shook his head with a resigned sigh, turned, and walked down from the city wall tower. "Go get some rest. Don’t forget, we have a fierce battle tomorrow."

Yun Ting nodded absently, still debating whether to approach Princess Consort Ding. After all, not everyone got the chance to meet the Chief of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Gazing at the gentle figure under the moonlight, he turned and headed down from the tower. If he survived until tomorrow, he would beg—he absolutely had to beg Princess Consort Ding to let him join the Black Cloud Cavalry!