Chapter 11: Openly Speaking of Secret Plots

  Sheng Jin Nan Guan. Inside the military camp. Soldiers are drinking and singing loudly. A lively atmosphere.

  This is a battle that Sheng Jin Guo has won since the last war's defeat, and they have returned with a great victory, greatly boosting their morale.

  Inside the camp, all the generals sat in their seats, happily drinking and boasting. The victory at Jiang Water was a great relief for them, finally venting the resentment that had been building up for over a decade. Everyone let out a sigh of satisfaction.

  "Dugu Han... you'd better get out of here, old man."

  Suddenly, the tent became quiet. Outside, a rough voice was loudly scolding.

  "You're a cripple. Get out of here, old man..."

  General Chen heard this and slammed his fist on the table, stood up, drew his sword and walked out of the camp. How dare they say their prince is disabled? He's had enough of living.

  "General Chen." Nalan Xixi stood up and blocked his way.

  "General Chen was furious: 'Don't stop me, Princess! I must cut down this scoundrel!'"

  "General Chen, don't worry about it. Don't bother with him. He still has his uses." Nalan Xianyu advised in a low voice.

  "It's useful." General Chen turned his head and glanced at Dugu Han. Dugu Han remained expressionless.

  "What's the use?" General Chen was puzzled.

  Nalan Xixi gave a mysterious smile. "You'll know soon enough."

  He finished speaking. Nalan Xinnuo took the knife from his hand and handed him a wine cup from the table beside him.

  As expected. After three rounds of wine. A sentry rushed over.

  "Report..." The soldier saluted and fell to his knees.

  "Reporting to the Crown Prince and all generals, there is a person outside the city who claims to be the Red General and requests an audience with the Crown Prince."

  The tent became quiet again. General Chen burst out laughing. "Can't be that he still wants to rescue that Black General back..."

  The generals all burst out laughing when they heard this. Dugu said calmly: "Bring him in."

  "Yes." The soldier retreated.

  Before long, several soldiers brought in a man dressed in red. The generals saw that the man had an air of a scholar and their faces showed even deeper disdain. However, the red general remained expressionless, neither humble nor arrogant.

  "I've long heard of the Red General's great reputation. Today, I finally get to meet you in person. Indeed, your reputation precedes you, General. Please take a seat." Dugu Han didn't mean to make things difficult for him, showing rare warmth in his treatment.

  Nalan Xixiao's smile was not a smile. He poured himself a drink and drank alone, without any intention of joining in.

  The Red General was also somewhat surprised at Dugu Han's different treatment of him. He nodded slightly to express his gratitude and sat down.

  "Unknown what General Hong came here for." Dugu Han asked.

  "Please come down." Simple two words, yet carrying extremely heavy weight.

  All the generals were shocked. The tent was suddenly silent.

  Dugu Han had no particular expression. The Red General continued: "As long as the prince does not trouble my Jiangnan people, I am willing to die to atone for my sins."

  "The general is a renowned general of this era. There's no need to be so humble."

  Hong Jiang was taken aback by the words, and looked at Dugu Han alone in the morning. On his cold face, except for indifference, there was no extra emotion. He was somewhat puzzled. Didn't Dugu Han want this result? What did this mean?

  Dugu Han continued: "Furthermore, General, what crime have you committed? The Emperor has always loved and cherished talent. Red General is wise and resourceful, Black General is brave and skilled in battle. Both are heroes of the current era. If you don't mind, I wish to invite you to stay in our Holy Gold, and together with us create a great undertaking."

  The Red General was somewhat astonished. He had thought that this trip would surely end in death. But even if he died, it didn't matter, as long as the people of Jiangnan weren't implicated.

  Unexpectedly, he not only didn't kill himself but also wanted to give him an official position. No, it wasn't giving him an official position, but rather co-creating a great undertaking from start to finish. He never had any pride or disdain, nor did he have any master-slave mentality.

  Now that things have come to this, what qualifications does he still have to refute? If he can barely survive, at least he can still contribute a bit of his meager strength for the safety and security of Jiangnan's parents.

  The Red General nodded. "Everything will be arranged by the Crown Prince."

  Deep night, gusts of cold wind, autumn waves rippling on the river surface.

  Birds fly south. Insects and grasses hibernate. On a bleak autumn night, the moonlight lays a layer of frost on the earth.

  On the mountain peak outside Jiangshui Pass, several swift horses stood quietly in place. A man in white robes stood with his hands behind his back, his white sleeves fluttering in the wind. He gazed at the distant city of Jiangshui, his profound eyes as cold and sharp as a winter's night, like an eagle in the dark.

  Beside him, a woman stood respectfully behind his back. Her gaze remained fixed on him, never once moving away.

  Suddenly, a man in black flew over and knelt down behind him. "As expected by the master, 200,000 troops from Jiangshui City have set out with all their might. They have all boarded the ships and are heading towards Shengjin South Pass."

  The corners of his cold lips curled up. "Explore again."

  "Yes." The man in black vanished into the night.

  A long silence. His complexion grew colder under the cold wind.

  "Pull the moon." He faintly called out to her.

  "In"

  "When is it?"

  "It's almost time for lunch."

  "So fast."

  Huang Pu Ling raised his head and gazed at the crescent moon still shining brightly on the horizon, then suddenly smiled bitterly. "Let's begin."

  The morning sun is like blood. The autumn water connects with the sky.

  The river flows outside the pass. The rolling red dust invades and comes.

  The Lenovo army, clad in red armor, suddenly poured out of the surrounding mountains and forests like a flood towards Jiangshui City.

  The allied forces of Jiangnan with 200,000 troops poured out. The city of Jiangshui was already an empty city.

  But for a moment, the 200,000-strong army of Lenovo surrounded the city. Huangfu Ling wore armor and stood on horseback. There was not a single movement on the city wall. Huangfu Ling slightly frowned and lightly waved his hand.

  Behind him, the crossbowmen took position. A high-ranking general loudly shouted: "Attack the city."

  At that moment, swords and knives rose up. The attacking soldiers holding giant logs charged at the city gate. The intense impact shook the sky.

  The soldier holding the ladder was already in position, starting to climb up the building. There was no obstruction or resistance. The city of Jiangshui was about to be taken by the Liang army. Suddenly, a deafening sound of horseshoes echoed from behind.

  Huang Pu Ling's face turned cold, and he looked back at him.

  The allied army of Jiangnan wore blue armor, their formation neat and tidy, a solemn atmosphere prevailing everywhere. As far as the eye could see, it was like a vast expanse of azure, each face set with a resolute determination to die without regret.

  The red general wore a red robe, with 200,000 troops behind him, launching a surprise attack from the rear, fighting with their backs to the water.

  The red general let out a loud shout. He drew his sword and pointed it at the sky. The 200,000-strong army roared in unison: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

  The rear of the Lenovo army suddenly erupted in a frenzy of killing sounds. The Jiangnan Allied Army came rushing like a stormy wave. A piece of blue was united at this moment, forged into waves that charged all the way.

  The Lenovo army was caught off guard and defeated. After a while, the enemy troops dispersed.

  Huang Pu Ling coldly said: "Continue attacking the city..."

  The vanguard army received the order. With all their might, they rushed towards the front gate of Jiangshui City. Behind them, the Lenovo army quickly calmed down. Under the command of various generals, the Lenovo army regrouped and counterattacked against the blue army.

  Suddenly, the soldiers attacking in front fell to the ground one after another. Huangfu Ling's face turned cold. He raised his head and looked up to see that the archers on the city tower had risen. The Holy Golden Army, dressed in golden armor, was shouting loudly. The war drums were thundering.

  Huge boulders came crashing down from the city walls, sending Lenovo soldiers who had just climbed up tumbling to their deaths. The soldiers who were holding the giant log to ram the gate stood aghast as the gates burst open with a loud crash.

  Wearing golden armor, Saint Iron Knights hold long spears and sweep in like a whirlwind.

  Inside the city gate, a sea of golden armor surged out like a flood, holding long spears and cavalry swords, charging towards the front line of the vanguard army. This momentum was like a fierce storm, sweeping away everything, destroying everything. The thunderous momentum left even the seasoned vanguard army in shock.

  Behind them was an unstoppable force, the Jiangnan Allied Army fighting with their backs to the water. In front of them were the invincible and mighty Saint Golden Ironclad, like a shocking tidal wave.

  At one time, the allied forces were sandwiched between two million-strong armies on both sides.

  Nalan Xixi stood on the city wall, calmly watching the red circle below gradually shrinking. Huangfu Ling's army was being slowly submerged by the blue and gold armies.

  Under the morning sun, a million horses and men are in chaotic slaughter and bloodshed. The sounds of killing, wailing, horseshoes, and footsteps are all mixed together. It's a cacophony.

  "Prince Wang, hurry up!" A general swung his sword and killed the surrounding armored soldiers, shouting loudly.

  Huang Pu Ling's face was expressionless. He wasn't surprised at all about this. When he knew that Nalan Xianyu and Dugu Han had arrived at Sheng Jin, he already knew it. Today's battle is inevitable.

  He had no choice. He could only fight with his back against the water.

  He looked up, gazing at the city tower. On the city tower, Nalan Xianyu was staring at him. Her face was expressionless, her eyes without the joy and pride of victory, but instead with the same bitterness as his.

  Because she knew. They knew. This game of chess was won by Dugu Han.

  "Prince..." From afar, a soldier waved his hand and charged over, killing all the way.

  "Your Highness... Dugu Han's two generals led 200,000 troops to attack our camp. Our camp... has fallen." The soldier's face was already moist. Tears mixed with blood and mud blurred his features.

  It seems that the 100,000-strong army left in the camp has been completely annihilated.

  Huang Pu Ling didn't respond. His face was pale. He completely ignored the slaughter around him, standing still in silence. He raised his head again. The figure on the city wall had disappeared. His expression solidified. He immediately pulled up the reins. "Withdraw."

  A sword wind whizzed by his ear. Huangfu Ling quickly dodged to the side. Behind him, Nalan Xianyu was riding a horse in pursuit.

  The moon is being pulled from one side and rushed over. "Master, hurry up and leave."

  Huang Pu Ling did not hesitate, drew his sword and rushed out to kill.

  Pulling the reins tight, she turned her horse around and charged towards Nalan Xinnuo. She knew this was a suicidal move. She couldn't withstand even two of Nalan's moves. But only by doing so could she buy a little more time for Huangfu Ling.

  Nalan Xixi saw Chongzi rushing towards her, and with a cold smile, she swept her hand and a sword wind struck out.

  Yuan Yue was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, the horse under him let out a mournful whinny. His legs had already been severed by the sword wind and he fell forward. Yuan Yue didn't have time to retreat and was flung forward with great force, heavily slamming into the ground.

  Beside her, Nalan Xixi rode past on horseback without stopping for a moment. The moon's face turned cold. She didn't kill her. What she wanted to kill was Huangfu Ling. What she wanted was to see with her own eyes the person she loved die at her hands.

  A mouthful of fresh blood gushed out. Wan Yue clenched her fist tightly, enduring the pain of her fractured ribs. She pulled out her sword and stuck it into the ground to support herself as she stood up. She seized a warhorse and chased in the direction where Nalan Xianyu had gone.