FYM - 76

Deep into the night, the father and son of the Lou family also lay sleepless.

A solitary flickering lamp cast dim light on Lou Xiao’s solitary figure amidst the scattered debris in his military tent. Everything that could be smashed had been shattered. Lou Feng stood silently by, watching, wanting to console his father but not knowing where to begin.

He understood… his father felt humiliated.

Since ancient times, replacing a commander mid-campaign has always been a grave taboo. Yet, the emperor risked it to replace the Lous. This was no different from publicly slapping his father across the face in front of everyone. The Fang family’s power in Yingchuan was hard to stop; Fang Yi, despite his youth, held a higher position than his father, and indeed…

He sighed and hesitated before finally stepping forward to persuade: “Father...”

Lou Xiao’s face remained expressionless. After the surge of anger, only a bleak emptiness remained. He saw further than his eldest son and harbored deeper, heavier concerns—by now, who became the commander was irrelevant. The critical issue was the situation within the pass. The Lou family had dominated this area for years, and if they ceded half of it to the Turks, their clan would suffer a devastating blow and decline. As the head of the clan, how could he face his entire household?

...This struck at their roots.

“Fang Yi...”

He slowly narrowed his eyes, his expression finally revealing a trace of resentment and anger.

Lou Feng observed clearly. Though he understood why his father was so enraged, he inwardly admitted that retreating south of the Wu River was the best choice for now—the Turks had only been at war for half a year, and after several victories, their morale was high. The imperial army should avoid their strength and make long-term plans. Blind resistance would only result in heavy losses.

But...

“Our clan will never bow our heads—”

Lou Xiao slammed the table fiercely, the sound echoing piercingly in the deep night. Perhaps the fear of defeat and loss of power had driven him mad, and his aggression masked his underlying cowardice.

“That brat wants to show off in front of me... delusional!”

On the other side, Song Mingzhen had just settled down in the Yingchuan army.

The cavalry general was none other than Fang Yuncong, the eldest son of the Fang family. Half a month ago, he heard that Song Mingzhen was coming to join the army, and upon meeting him the next day, led him into the right-wing cavalry camp, saying: “I know well that Zijiu is proficient in archery and horsemanship and excels in martial arts, but military rules are strict, and promotion requires merit. For now, you’ll have to start as a soldier.”

Song Mingzhen had already anticipated this and had no airs about him, simply saying he was at the general’s disposal. Fang Yuncong nodded approvingly and patted his shoulder, saying: “No need to be too nervous—our immediate task is to escort the civilians south of the pass. Even if we engage the Turks, the Divine Strategy Army will bear the brunt first, so nothing major will happen.”

The Divine Strategy Army...

They were the elite of the Yingchuan army’s elite. It was said that they had won several major victories against the rebels. One man could hold a pass against ten thousand, swift and invincible like ghosts and gods. Truly admirable.

Song Mingzhen was deeply impressed and asked about joining the Divine Strategy Army. Fang Yuncong replied: “Ask Yi yourself next time. The Divine Strategy Army reports directly to our lord, and all matters require his decision.”

He nodded and silently resolved to do so. Fang Yuncong glanced at him again, shaking his head with a smile: “The Divine Strategy Army isn’t the only force capable of crushing enemies. Zijiu, now that you’re in my camp, you’ll see the valor of the right-wing cavalry.”

Fang Yuncong wasn’t speaking empty words.

As rebel forces and Turkish troops pressed southeast from the northwest, the imperial army moved north from Yuanzhou to confront them. The Yingchuan army fought the enemy ahead of Youzhou, drawing out a long line that ended in Shengzhou Yulin, southeast, under the command of the Lou family guarding the inner pass. They fought while retreating, buying time for civilians to retreat south.

The Divine Strategy Army indeed stood at the forefront, with Fang Xianting leading by example. In several encounters with the Turks over days, they hadn’t suffered a single defeat. Though Song Mingzhen had trained in martial arts for years, this was his first real battlefield experience. The Turkic cavalry were all fierce and robust, their warhorses larger and more agile. As they slashed their sabers and charged, their wild cries revealed their barbaric brutality.

Initially, he felt fear, but seeing his comrades fight bravely inspired him. Sword in hand, he clashed with the enemy, the impact numbing his hands yet fueling his excitement. The ferocious faces of the invaders filled his vision, but what he saw were the tragic deaths of innocent civilians back home. Deep hatred surged within him, giving him astonishing strength. He watched as his sword plunged deep into an enemy’s chest, hot blood spurting onto his face, confirming the enemy’s death while he and countless others behind him still lived.

...This seemed to be the most important thing in the world.

The warfare was endless, sometimes lasting from dawn till night. Just moments after repelling one wave of enemies, scouts might report another approaching army miles ahead. Swords swung until arms went numb, wounds from Turkic sabers left unattended, relentless northern winds scoured their faces, blinding their eyes. Many times, he thought he would die, only to be saved at the last moment by comrades who once were strangers but now shared life-and-death bonds.

The only respite came when entering nearby cities to rest.

Civilians, unlike soldiers, moved much slower. The elderly and young, burdened with possessions, took days to evacuate. Many were still stuck in the city, unable to cross the Wu River. Having been terrorized, they initially fled at the sound of any advancing army, only calming upon seeing the Yingchuan banners from afar—a “Fang” character carrying immense weight. Twenty years ago, they had saved lives, and now they returned, surely able to repel the enemy and save the people once more.

Song Mingzhen rode with the army into the city, seeing countless civilians kneeling by the roadside, bowing deeply, even old women sobbing uncontrollably. Far away, he saw his third brother dismount and personally help them up, but they clung tightly to his hands, pleading for their lives.

As if he were a deity... as if he could do anything.

Of course... Song Mingzhen knew his third brother’s brilliant tactics earned widespread admiration, and the Yingchuan army was invincible like an iron wall. But...

An indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart, making it hard to let go even as he tended to his wounds late at night—perhaps he pitied his brother, or maybe he was just feeling sorry for himself.

The low, makeshift grass huts were extremely rudimentary—livestock back home lived better. Yet, he was deeply grateful for even this small shelter. The only similarity to the past was the clear moonlight outside the hut. Alone, he looked up and suddenly realized... he didn’t know what day or time it was anymore.

The situation along the southeastern front was much calmer compared to the northwest.

The Yingchuan army bore most of the pressure, while the inner pass army encountered the Turks only two or three times recently. Logically, they should have had more leeway to assist civilians crossing the river. However, General Lou Xiao remained reluctant, especially seeing the cities and lands under his clan’s control gradually fall into ruin, intensifying his sorrow and frustration. Consequently, the evacuation efforts became increasingly sluggish.

—Damn rebels!

—Damn Turks!

—Damn Fang family!

Everyone was despicable, pushing his Lou family to the brink of a cliff—how easy was it to cross the Wu River? Crossing meant the fall of the entire clan, while not crossing meant life-and-death peril. How tragic and hateful!

He was agitated and anguished like a trapped beast. The Lou family members in the army urged him to make a decision, but he felt cornered with no way out, experiencing the heart-wrenching despair of being trapped.

“Father...”

Even his eldest son, Lou Feng, couldn’t help but try to reason with him.

“The rebel army, allied with the Turks, is currently strong. Following Yi’s order to retreat south of the Wu River and defend from fortified positions is indeed more prudent. When the time is right, our clan can plan to advance north again, and this inner pass will ultimately remain ours...”

His earnest advice fell on deaf ears—his father even slapped him hard enough to spin him around, then harshly rebuked him: “How did I raise such a spineless weakling! What poison has that Fang Yi fed you, making you betray your own flesh and blood!”

Such severe accusations left Lou Feng speechless and afraid to mention that delaying the evacuation further might lead to military punishment from the Fangs. What he didn’t expect was that a few days later, scouts reported spotting traces of the renegade king Wei Zheng near Liangu!

—This was truly astonishing news for Lou Xiao!

Though the rebels and Turks were formidable, Wei Zheng was the root cause! Capturing the leader would dismantle their rebellion. Even if the Turks didn’t retreat, capturing Wei Zheng would secure the Lou family’s greatest achievement, surpassing the Fangs and preserving their territories.

Lou Xiao, clutching at this last straw, immediately ordered troops to pursue the renegade king. With only a few thousand men, he needed reinforcements from the southeastern defense line to increase his chances, alarming Lou Feng, who urgently advised: “Father, this is a grave offense! Unauthorized troop mobilization is punishable by death! Moreover, the sudden appearance of the renegade king is suspicious. We should consult with Yi first...”

“Brat!”

Lou Xiao’s eyes were bloodshot, fearing missing this chance forever.

“A general in the field doesn’t always obey orders, let alone from some inexperienced youth like Fang Yi! Does he understand battlefield strategy? Capturing the renegade king will cause the enemy to retreat naturally. I’m saving the nation, saving everyone!”

Pausing, a cold smile appeared on his lips: “The Fangs of Yingchuan are invincible. Even without our support, they can defeat the Turks. Let them guard Shengzhou Yulin. I want to see if Fang Yi is truly the divine star incarnate!”

With that, he strode away decisively. Lou Feng frowned, a strong sense of unease rising within him. After much contemplation, he quickly summoned his deputy generals and whispered urgently: “Send a fast horse to inform Lord Fang in Youzhou. The renegade king has appeared in the southeast, causing chaos. The civilians south of the Wu River... may not be safe anymore!”