HMHSE - 78

Shen Rong’s hand, clasped by him, moved slightly. She instinctively felt the unusual meaning in his words, and even her tone softened as she asked in disbelief, “What do you mean? How can the Lulong Army be gone?”

Shan Zong tightened his grip, his palm firmly enveloping her fingers. “I can only say this much. The enemy has arrived, and it’s useless to pursue these matters now.”

Shen Rong’s heart trembled slightly, and she was already being pulled forward by him.

He could only say this much. His tone was the same as when he spoke of that secret decree—not that he wouldn’t say, but that he couldn’t say.

________________________________________

Inside Wangji Mountain, dozens of hundred-captains had already gathered near the pits, waiting in formation.

They had probably also received the news. Occasionally, there were discussions about the invading enemy soldiers among the crowd, many with furrowed brows, some even muttering curses.

Shan Zong led Shen Rong over, released her hand, and said in a low voice, “Wait for me over there, don’t go far.”

Shen Rong nodded. She had never personally experienced warfare. At such a time, she could only follow his arrangements. She stood under a tree, watching him walk among the group of hundred-captains, instantly surrounded.

She looked up, gazing into the distance at the Wangji Mountain before her.

Only this mountain remained as formidable as ever, oblivious to the rapidly changing world, with a hundred thousand soldiers now pointing their weapons outside.

Donglai quickly walked behind her and whispered, “Young Mistress, should I send someone to inform the Duke’s mansion?”

Shen Rong shook her head. “No need. Youzhou is under martial law at this moment. Sending a letter out is inappropriate and would only cause unnecessary worry at the mansion. You and your men should pay attention to the earth qi of Wangji Mountain. Even if war breaks out, you must ensure that this mountain remains safe.”

Donglai acknowledged her words. Hearing her calm tone, he subtly noted that her face was a little pale. His gaze turned towards Shan Zong, who was arranging the response not far away. As usual, he didn’t ask further questions and bowed before retreating.

Shen Rong looked ahead. Shan Zong’s straight saber was already unsheathed, its cold tip pointing at a map spread on the ground. He walked step by step around the map, and with just a few words, the hundred-captains present took their orders and moved one after another.

When Hu Shiyi rushed over, Lei Da had just received his orders and left. Only a few people remained; almost all the forces under the hundred-captains here had been dispatched.

He stepped forward to report, “Boss, their vanguard has started to approach! They’re indeed coming towards the pass!”

Shan Zong gripped his saber, his face as calm as water. “Who is leading the troops?”

Hu Shiyi cursed, “A cowardly bastard hiding in the rear, couldn’t be scouted! But we detected three Chinese characters ‘Nili City’ on the flags they’re carrying. To hell with Nili City! How arrogant! That’s our Jizhou City!”

Jizhou had fallen more than ten years ago, and its name had been forcibly changed to the Khitan name “Nili City” by the Khitan people. They must have done it on purpose, writing its name in Chinese characters to provoke.

Shan Zong shifted his grip on the saber and ordered, “You lead your men to guard the mountain. Be ready to follow my arrangements at any time.”

Currently, Zhang Wei was leading the troops guarding Youzhou city. Hu Shiyi regretted his sudden idea this morning to switch with him and come to this mountain, because once the pass was broken, Youzhou city would be in grave danger. He had originally wanted to go support him, but hearing this order, he scratched his head and could only suppress his urge.

“I see them coming with great momentum, Boss. Do you want to change the strategy?”

“No change,” Shan Zong said. “They will definitely probe first. According to my orders just now, rotate and respond, and do not expose our forces.”

Hu Shiyi had just witnessed the momentum of their vanguard; they came in such a vast array, seemingly not putting the pass city in their eyes at all, which made him a bit worried. “Are you sure, Boss?”

“Certain. I already know who is leading the opposing army.”

“Who?” he asked subconsciously.

Shan Zong sneered. “Nili City, that would be Sun Guozhe, who now occupies Jizhou.”

Hu Shiyi heard that name for the first time and asked in surprise, “A Han Chinese?”

“A Khitan, just with a Han Chinese name.”

Hu Shiyi was even more astonished. “Boss, you know this Khitan dog so well. Could it be that you’ve fought him before?” He naturally knew nothing, as there had been no war with the people outside the pass in these years.

“That’s right, we’ve fought,” Shan Zong said, then coldly stated, “Less talk, prepare for battle!”

Hu Shiyi immediately regained his spirits, not saying another word, and personally went to relay the message and deploy the troops.

________________________________________

Shan Zong then walked to the tree. Shen Rong was still standing there, very quiet until this moment, showing no panic on her face, even though she already knew he only had 20,000 men.

Seeing him approach, Shen Rong tightened her cloak again and walked to him first. “You’re going to fight. Where should I stay?”

She was even more cooperative than he had imagined. Shan Zong pointed to the mountain before them. “You are familiar with the mountain. Stay here. If you hear the war drums beat urgently, find a place to hide. There are people guarding nearby, don’t leave the mountain.”

Shen Rong understood what he meant, which was also expected. “It’s not easy to deal with, is it?”

Shan Zong glanced at her, not speaking directly. “If the war drums don’t beat urgently, it means we’ve held them off. If the drumming is urgent...” He paused, then suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Shen Rong collided with his chest, looking up into his lowered eyes. She heard him say in a deep voice, “No matter what, take care of yourself first. Even if it means hiding in the mountain’s depths again like before, you must remain safe and sound.”

She nodded, her chest tightening inexplicably. “I remember.”

Shan Zong let go and walked away.

She didn’t even have time to say another word. She turned and saw his receding back, the saber in his hand gleaming with cold light, his figure as sharp as a drawn blade.

________________________________________

The long, undulating pass city wound through the mountains, guarding the entire Youzhou border.

Even birds no longer showed their heads in the mountains; only soldiers constantly moved about.

Two hours later, Donglai returned, his steps swift, finding Shen Rong sitting under the tree.

As he took out his water skin and offered it to her, he whispered, “After checking the earth qi, your subordinate specifically went near the lower pass city. The enemy troops outside the pass have attacked the pass. However, not many people came to attack, and each attack was repelled. They’ve attacked several times already.”

Shen Rong held the water skin, not drinking. She didn’t know which part of the pass city Shan Zong had gone to, or if he was at the pass itself. Because of the distance, and the autumn wind not reaching this deep in the mountains, she couldn’t hear much commotion.

But listening to Donglai, it meant Shan Zong’s judgment was correct. The Khitan general named Sun Guozhe’s first step was indeed a probe, which Shan Zong had calculated perfectly.

“How’s the earth qi?” Shen Rong asked.

Donglai replied, “The earth qi is stable. It must be due to the Young Mistress’s previous work outside the pass.”

Shen Rong, however, slightly frowned. “I’m just worried that if they suddenly attack from outside the pass, this mine will be part of their objective.”

Donglai said, “Judging from the current situation, their eyes are only on the pass. They must be aiming for Youzhou city.”

Shen Rong nodded, still unable to relax. Twenty thousand against one hundred thousand, and the enemy was prepared. Beyond the pass city lay Youzhou city, and also the mine. It would be difficult to cover all bases with such a numerical disadvantage.

“It’s been a long time, Young Mistress should have some water and provisions now,” Donglai said, taking out military rations wrapped in paper, dark meat jerky, which he had just obtained from a soldier, and offered it with both hands.

Shen Rong forced herself to take a piece and put it in her mouth. She knew the importance of conserving energy at this time. No one was looking after her, she had to look after herself.

The dry, hard jerky seemed impossible to chew, yet she ate it in small, meticulous bites.

She wanted to distract herself with it, but she couldn’t help but think about the man’s situation, and even couldn’t help but think about his missing Lulong Army...

Suddenly, drums erupted, urgent as thunder.

She immediately turned to look. Around her were soldiers holding weapons and guarding. In the distance were tree shadows swaying in the wind. Above, the sky was overcast, large grey clouds hanging low, obscuring the pass city. The autumn wind howled in the tall treetops, and the urgent drumming continued without pause.

“Go,” she remembered Shan Zong’s instructions. She stood up and calmly walked forward.

Donglai followed her steps, straight to the entrance of the pit.

A few soldiers guarded the pit entrance. Seeing her approach, they immediately lowered the wooden ladder.

Shen Rong stepped onto the wooden ladder and descended into the pit for shelter.

It was darker than usual below. Two of the torches on the pit walls had already burned out, and no one had the leisure to replace them.

But down here, the distant and urgent drumming could not be heard.

After Donglai followed her down, he quickly walked a few steps ahead to clear a path for Shen Rong.

At the fork in the tunnel, Shen Rong stopped. “No need to go further. This is deep enough.”

Donglai stopped and asked quietly, “Is the Young Mistress worried? Your subordinate can go back up and check on Commander Shan’s news.”

Shen Rong stood in the semi-darkness, her expression unclear. “Don’t interfere with their battle.”

From deep within the pit, a strange laugh suddenly echoed.

Donglai immediately drew his saber and prepared to defend.

This voice, who else could it be but Weishen Wu.

Shen Rong looked over by the faint light. He poked his disheveled head out from the tunnel at the fork. His face was indistinguishable, only the white scar over his left eye was clear.

“The little beauty is hiding down here too. Looks like that dog will be stopped this time!” Weishen Wu was half-leaning by the fork. He was sitting on the ground, his body hidden in the dark tunnel, only his head visible. After speaking, he laughed strangely again, like a terrifying ghost.

Shen Rong didn’t want to bother with him. She deliberately moved two steps away to listen to the sounds from above.

That urgent drumming was still beating.

In the tunnel, faint humming sounds emerged, mixing with the drumming. It was Weishen Wu; he had actually started humming a tune.

Donglai held his saber horizontally, warning, “Shut up.”

Weishen Wu spat. “This old man is happy that dog is almost dead, so I’m humming a song to celebrate. What are you, boy, to dare order me around!” He then continued humming to himself.

Donglai’s foot moved, but Shen Rong stopped him. “Wait.”

She walked back, listening to the tune Weishen Wu was humming. After two full repetitions, she finally heard it clearly—

“Old year, new year, how many years have passed in a blink, when will the Central Plains Royal Army arrive, year after year after year...”

“How do you know that tune?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Weishen Wu’s terrifying head popped out again, laughing strangely. “Why wouldn’t this old man know it? It’s a broken song sung all over the land, countless people know it! If the little beauty likes it, I’ll hum another verse for you? To celebrate that good-for-nothing ex-husband of yours almost getting killed!”

He then laughed strangely again, his throat making grotesque sounds like a blunt knife tearing cloth, broken and unpleasant. Shen Rong only remembered that the lunatic she and Shan Zong met outside the pass had hummed this song. When heard from others, it was the sadness of longing to return to their homeland, but in his mouth, it was only mockery. Hearing the latter half of his sentence, her voice turned cold. “Even if you have a grudge against him, he is now fighting the enemy who occupies your former city, Jizhou. You hum such a song, yet you still curse him to die? Donglai!”

Donglai immediately stepped forward and kicked him.

Just as he was about to make another move, Weishen Wu, this time, didn’t retaliate. His chains dragged with a clang, and he leaned towards Shen Rong. “Hah, so, this time it’s Sun Guozhe?”

Donglai’s hand involuntarily paused. He turned to look at Shen Rong.

It wasn’t just Weishen Wu. From the fork in the tunnel, deep within, the chains of the other convicts also clanged. One after another, others also drew closer, but remained hidden in the darkness, merely squatting dark figures.

Shen Rong slightly frowned. “You also know Sun Guozhe?”

“Of course,” Weishen Wu bared his sharp teeth, saying fiercely, “We have a grudge against the man named Shan, and an even greater grudge against that Khitan bastard who changed his name to Sun. We hope they both die and disappear completely!”

Shen Rong felt that his words were disjointed, like a madman. She wanted to ask for details, but he started humming to himself again, even louder. After humming two lines, he said, “Little beauty, how about it? If you don’t like this one, I’ll sing you a more sensual one!”

Donglai kicked him again.

In just that moment, Shen Rong suddenly felt something was wrong. It seemed to have suddenly quieted outside. The urgent warning drums had stopped.

She quickly walked towards the outside of the tunnel. A ray of light shone down from the opening. She had only been down for a short while, but the sky above had already grown a shade darker.

When she reached the entrance of the pit, she suddenly heard the hurried sound of horse hooves.

She stepped onto the wooden ladder and saw soldiers still standing at the pit entrance. Knowing they were her own people, she came out of the pit with relief.

A hand reached out and supported her, holding her arm through her sleeve. Shen Rong stood firm and looked over. It wasn’t Shan Zong.

It was Hu Shiyi. His dark face was covered in sweat, and there were still bloodstains on his shoulders and back. She didn’t know if it was his own old wound that had reopened or if he had gotten someone else’s blood on him.

Shen Rong’s voice involuntarily lowered. “Only you returned?”

Hu Shiyi wiped away some sweat. “The boss is still holding them off, but he’s changed tactics. I was ordered to come back to defend.”

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “What’s the situation?”

Hu Shiyi suddenly stammered, first touching his nose, then scratching his chin. “Not so good.”

Shen Rong looked back at the towering mountain peak that reached into the clouds and understood a little. “You came back to defend this mountain. What exactly happened?”

Hu Shiyi suddenly slapped his leg. “Forget it, I knew I couldn’t hide it from you. Those bastards have launched a full-scale attack, vowing to take Youzhou overnight! Damn it, they want both the city and the gold mine!”