Chapter 104: Crossing the Valley of Death

Chapter 104: Crossing the Valley of Death

Zhang Yunqing was riding a horse that was not very tall; in fact, it was even a bit smaller than Xiao Ce’s ‘Iron Egg’.

Yet, he managed to keep up with Xiao Ce.

“Prince, have you really decided to fight the Turks like this?” Zhang Yunqing asked.

Xiao Ce heard Zhang Yunqing’s words but did not answer him.

Instead, he looked at the horse Zhang Yunqing was riding. It was two sizes smaller than his ‘Iron Egg’, but its muscles were strong.

“Your horse looks small, but its speed is not inferior to my ‘Iron Egg’ at all,” Xiao Ce said as he watched.

Zhang Yunqing said, “Prince, this war horse is from the Turks. Their war horses are generally not big, but they have good endurance! Your horse should be from those foreign lands outside Yang Pass.”

As Zhang Yunqing spoke, he looked at the stirrups on the horse.

“Prince, what are those on your horse? Why does every horse in your cavalry have them?”

Only then did Xiao Ce notice that Zhang Yunqing’s short war horse was not equipped with stirrups.

Before Xiao Ce could answer, Yan Jia, who was beside him, explained.

“These stirrups! They free your hands when you ride, allowing you to perform more equestrian moves.”

As he spoke, Yan Jia showed off his skill. He stood up on the stirrups, let go of the reins, and directly drew his bow and notched an arrow!

Then he took aim.

With a ‘xiu’ sound.

A bird standing on a tree about two hundred meters away was shot down by Yan Jia.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce couldn’t help but exclaim, “Great archery!”

This stunned Zhang Yunqing, who was also galloping on his horse!

Letting go of the reins with both hands was something even the Turks, who were skilled in horsemanship, would not dare to do!

“Prince, this is a divine object!”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Just rest easy. This Prince is not a reckless person! You only need to guide the way properly!”

“As you command! However, Prince, I received news early this morning. All their armies are gathering at the Mobei-Tujue Border! Looking at their posture, it seems they really intend to fight! If a real fight breaks out, the manor guards of those noble clans won’t be able to hold them off!”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Don’t worry, this Prince knew about it earlier than you! We don’t need to worry. Your provisions and fodder won’t have any problems, right?”

Zhang Yunqing gripped the reins tightly with both hands, nodding as he rode. “Prince, no problem. They can all be transported to the designated locations within three days!”

As they spoke, they rode to the spot where Yan Jia had shot down the bird.

They realized that what Yan Jia had hit was a vulture!

It was pierced clean through by the arrow!

Yan Jia, half-hanging from his horse, took the arrowhead and hung the vulture on his horse.

“Prince, we can have an extra meal tonight!”

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow and said to Yan Jia, “Can that thing be eaten?”

Yan Jia nodded and said, “Prince, this thing tastes really good!”

“Fine, then we’ll taste your cooking skills tonight!”

…

Back in Lingxiao City, after Xiao Ce left.

Yin Pan’er called Han Da and Shen Bao over.

Han Da and Shen Bao bowed to Yin Pan’er and said, “Greetings, Princess Consort!”

Xiao Ce had spoken to them before he left, so they did not dare to be negligent towards Yin Pan’er at all.

“Generals! Do you know why I called you here?” Yin Pan’er asked.

The two of them had already guessed a little, but they both said they did not know.

Yin Pan’er then spoke. “The Prince received news that the Turks are attacking with the strength of their entire nation! They will arrive outside Yanbei City in a few days. Yanbei City is the strategic passage at the Mobei-Tujue Border, the gateway to the Four Prefectures and Thirty-Nine Cities of the Northern Desert! The Prince has now gone to launch a swift attack on the Turks’ rear. The Prince needs you to hold Yanbei City for one hundred days. Who is willing to go?”

The two looked at each other.

Almost in unison, they said, “Your humble general is willing to go!”

Seeing this, Shen Bao quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Princess Consort, I am a native of the Northern Desert. I know this area like the back of my hand. Moreover, I have many veteran soldiers under my command! These veterans have fought countless battles! If it’s about defending a city, no one is more suitable than us!”

Han Da was not to be outdone. “Princess Consort, our troops are mostly new recruits, but precisely because they are new, they need experience. Defending a city is the best training! They have unparalleled courage! Clearly, we are more suitable!”

Yin Pan’er said, “Did the Prince mention this matter to you before?”

The two instinctively shook their heads.

“Although he didn’t say it, the Prince indicated that we would still rely on these veterans for future battles!” Shen Bao said.

Han Da continued, “Princess Consort, the Prince also said we are the future of the Northern Desert Army… we need more training. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for training!”

Seeing that the two were about to argue again.

Yin Pan’er said, “Generals, there’s no need to rush and fight over this… In this city defense, you will face enemy forces several times, even dozens of times larger than your own!”

Han Da cupped his hands. “Princess Consort, did the Prince say who should go before he left?”

Xiao Ce had indeed said something. However, Xiao Ce had offered two plans: one was for Han Da to go, and the other was for Shen Bao to go.

Either of them could go!

Yin Pan’er, however, thought about the analysis Xiao Ce had given her earlier. After weighing the pros and cons, she said, “General Shen Bao, let General Han Da go.”

Shen Bao was about to ask why.

Yin Pan’er explained. “General Shen Bao, it’s precisely because your side has mostly veterans. Therefore, we need your veterans to guard our side even more! The Prince is also unsure what moves the court might make, so we need you to hold the fort! The Prince said these nine cities are his last territory and cannot be lost!”

“As for General Han Da, although he leads mostly new recruits! General Han Da is right; defensive battles are relatively less costly in terms of consumption! Moreover, General Han Da previously participated in the Mawei City campaign. He has rich experience in city defense!”

Shen Bao was initially unconvinced, but after hearing Yin Pan’er’s words,

Shen Bao looked at Han Da with great surprise. “General Han, were you in the Iron Blood Army before?”

Han Da nodded.

Seeing this, Shen Bao said, “In that case, General Han, I won’t argue with you anymore!”

The Mawei City campaign was also a famous battle in the Xiao Kingdom.

Mawei City was an important city in the Northern Desert. At that time, the Four Northern Desert Prefectures were defended by an old general, Ma Tie.

Old General Ma Tie had an army of three thousand Iron Blood Soldiers. Back then, the Northern Desert was invaded by the Turks.

They besieged Mawei City, cutting off water and food supplies.

Old General Ma Tie stubbornly held out for one hundred days, blocking thirty thousand iron horsemen. In that battle, fewer than one hundred people survived.

Han Da, who had just enlisted at the time, was one of them. The horrors of that battle were beyond description for outsiders!

Han Da said to Shen Bao, “General Shen, your side is in more danger. Please be sure to protect the Princess Consort! And these nine prefectures!”

Shen Bao nodded solemnly. “Of course!”

Yin Pan’er said to Han Da, “General Han, how many troops do you need?”

Han Da cupped his hands and said, “Reporting to the Princess Consort, I will lead thirty thousand soldiers and guarantee to defend Yanbei City! I will not let the Turks set foot in our Four Northern Desert Prefectures!”

Yin Pan’er did not waste words. She stood up and said, “Then General Han, immediately muster your troops and set out. I have arranged for provisions and fodder to go ahead first; they are enough for your thirty thousand soldiers for one hundred days! By then, the Prince will have turned the Turks upside down! Those Turks will collapse without us even attacking!”

With that, Yin Pan’er let Han Da leave.

She also instructed Shen Bao a few more words, telling him to strengthen the city’s defenses.

After all, although Xiao Ce had newly appointed the four family heads, he did not know what problems such a major reform might cause.

Moreover, there were still many spies from various forces within the Four Northern Desert Prefectures!

After giving her orders, Yin Pan’er went to attend to other matters.

…

For the next three days, Xiao Ce and his men traveled day and night.

However, around noon on the third day, they were blocked by a landslide at a mountain pass.

Yan Jia estimated that clearing the road would take at least seven or eight days before they could pass!

After hearing this, Xiao Ce naturally found it unacceptable.

After all, if he wanted a swift strike against the Turks, he must be fast.

If he lost the advantage of surprise, his swift strike would not be effective.

Fortunately, he had brought Zhang Yunqing along.

Xiao Ce looked at Zhang Yunqing and said, “Yunqing, is there another way we can go?”

Zhang Yunqing nodded. “Prince, there is indeed another road! Moreover, this road has an advantage: if it can be traversed, it can save a lot of time and lead straight into the heart of Turkic territory!”

Xiao Ce listened and said, “If there’s such a route, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Zhang Yunqing was embarrassed. “Prince, that’s because it’s too dangerous. Also, whether that path can be used depends on the heavens?”

Xiao Ce asked Zhang Yunqing, puzzled, what he meant.

Zhang Yunqing then explained. “The road I’m talking about is following the Raging River at the bottom of the Valley of Death under the Gongga Mountains!”

The Gongga Mountains were a natural mountain range separating the Xiao Kingdom and the Turks, providing a natural barrier for both countries.

However, when Zhang Yunqing went to do business in the Turks, he heard locals say that there was a Valley of Death at the foot of the Gongga Mountains.

This Valley of Death stretched from the Northern Desert Region straight into the heart of Turkic territory.

Only, a Raging River at the bottom of this Valley of Death blocked the way.

But this Raging River’s water level would drop rapidly for one to three days each month. If they could cross quickly during that time, they could go straight into the heart of Turkic territory.

However, traveling through this valley day and night also required a full day and night.

If, by bad luck, the heavens were not on their side, there was a high chance that a flood might come while they were crossing, and they could be drowned alive by the water.

Moreover, when the water level would drop was unclear; there was no pattern at all!

After hearing Zhang Yunqing’s words, and seeing the regular road blocked, Xiao Ce thought he might as well try the desperate way!

He had Zhang Yunqing lead them to take a look.

Fortunately, that Valley of Death was not far. They traveled for a little over two hours and arrived.

And, it seemed the heavens were helping Xiao Ce.

When they reached the valley, the water level was very low!

Seeing this, Zhang Yunqing was a bit excited. “Prince, this water level has already dropped. It seems the heavens are helping us!”

Yan Jia was somewhat worried. “You said passing through here takes a full day and night? Do you know how long this water level has been dropped? Did it just drop, or has it been down for a day or two?”

Zhang Yunqing said awkwardly, “This… I don’t know…”

Yan Jia said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, think carefully! We don’t know if this water level dropped a day ago… or two days ago. If we just go down and the water rises, we won’t even have a place to run!”

Xiao Ce did not answer. He directly went down along the valley path.

He walked to the dried-up riverbed of the Raging River at the bottom of the valley, touching and looking around.

In less than five minutes, Xiao Ce said firmly, “Fortune favors the bold! Let’s go! Everyone, cross at full speed!”