Chapter 376: The Great War Rages On (Part 3)

Chapter 376: The Great War Rages On (Part 3)

Inside the Yunlang army's command tent, the heavy atmosphere lingered, while in the Zhu Xian kingdom's camp, cheers and shouts rose one after another.

Bonfires blazed, and the soldiers sat on the ground, sipping tea from large bowls.

Prince Yi enforced rigorous military discipline; drinking and merrymaking would only cause problems. On the battlefield, tea always replaced wine.

"The princess consort is truly a divine strategist. To have the prince engage the enemy while she leads troops to sneak attack and burn the enemy's provisions—such an unexpected move, cutting off their retreat, is truly brilliant."

Though it was a winter night, with biting cold winds chilling the skin, the Zhu Xian kingdom's Eagle Wing Army was filled with fighting spirit.

They praised Su Rao endlessly, many giving her a thumbs-up.

Su Rao, seeing this, simply raised her porcelain teacup in response.

Her expression stayed calm, as Zhu Xian kingdom's first victory had long been expected.

From the moment she learned that the Yunlang army's commander was not Yun Ji, Su Rao knew Zhu Xian kingdom would not lose. Even though Yun Murui was shrewd and capable in court, he was no match for Xianyi Chishaou, who had years of battlefield experience. Defeat was inevitable.

With Zhu Xian kingdom's initial victory, their momentum surged like splitting bamboo, growing stronger with each battle.

Meanwhile, Yunlang kingdom, having lost the first battle and with most of their provisions burned, suffered repeated defeats, their morale dwindling with each loss.

Though the Yunlang army was formidable, with each soldier worth a hundred, without provisions and food, even the strongest bodies would weaken over time. After all, humans are made of iron, but food is the steel—missing even one meal leaves one weak.

This disadvantage stemmed from human factors, worsened by natural conditions. Winter storms blocked many roads, hindering the transport of provisions from nearby prefectures to the border city quickly. Attempts to raid Zhu Xian kingdom's supply lines failed due to their tight defenses. Thus, within days, Yunlang kingdom's border city was in danger.

If they lost the next battle, Zhu Xian kingdom's iron cavalry would likely charge straight in and capture Yunlang kingdom's border city.

The citizens of Yunlang kingdom's border city panicked, gathering their families and preparing to flee to safer areas.

But before they could exit the city gates, they were intercepted by a troop of soldiers.

These fleeing citizens were captured and used as human shields against Zhu Xian kingdom's advancing army.

...

Outside the border city, in the vast mountainous terrain, thick smoke filled the air, and the crimson blood stained the desolate land red.

In winter, frequent snowstorms turned the blood-soaked battlefield into a hard, stone-like ground.

"Charge!"

"Kill!"

After a night's rest, the two armies clashed again, the sounds of battle ringing in the air.

Once more, blood was spilled on the battlefield.

This time, Su Rao personally led the Zhu Xian kingdom's troops.

Mounted on a warhorse, dressed in red battle robes and a feathered helmet, she was a heroic figure, wielding a long sword with masterful skill, a true testament to old General Su's teachings.

With each swing of her blade, another soldier fell from his horse.

Blood splattered in all directions.

Su Rao's face was expressionless, but her peach blossom eyes were crimson, the redness staining the area around her eyelids.

She swept through the battlefield with an unstoppable force.

On Yunlang's side, today's battle was led by another main force of Yunlang, personally commanded by Yun Murui, who brought his personal troops from the capital, not the Yunlang army.

Because the food supplies had been delayed for so long, the Yunlang army had been fighting on half-empty stomachs for days, suffering heavy casualties. The general of the Yunlang army, under such humiliating conditions, finally clashed with the Crown Prince.

The generals of the Yunlang army already harbored resentment towards the Crown Prince's faction due to the extermination of the Su family. Now, with their soldiers on the verge of starvation and still being sent to the front lines, it was clear they were being sent to their deaths. How could they obey the Crown Prince? They began to nurture thoughts of rebellion.

They even declared that if the Crown Prince couldn't resolve the food supply problem, the Yunlang army might not die on the battlefield but starve to death first. Even if they didn't starve, going to the battlefield would only make them cannon fodder. As the commanding general of the Yunlang army, he couldn't bear to see his soldiers die in vain.

Among them, the rough lad was the angriest. His fiery temper and straightforward nature nearly drove him to storm Yun Murui's tent and confront Yao Yeting.

The Yunlang army's insubordination was a clear sign of their outright defiance against the Crown Prince, who found it difficult to gain their trust.

They only trusted capable leaders who could lead the Yunlang army in battle, treat their soldiers as comrades, and share their hardships, not those who would send them to their deaths or only know how to talk without action.

These words further infuriated Yao Yeting, who was boiling with rage.

Nevertheless, Yun Murui punished the general and the rough lad.

As the commanding general of this campaign, if he didn't harshly punish those who incited rebellion, where would his authority stand? How could he command respect?

Thus, he ordered fifty lashes for the leading general of the Yunlang army and the rough lad as a warning. It wasn't because they disobeyed his orders as the Crown Prince, but because they violated military discipline, defied the marshal's commands, and attempted to undermine morale.

Since he was acting on his father's behalf and was appointed as the commanding general of this campaign, in the military camp, he wasn't the Crown Prince but the marshal. Governing the army required strict discipline and harsh punishment for those who undermined morale. This was to serve as a warning to others. If there was a next time, they would face execution under military law.

With the Yunlang army's general punished and Zhu Xian invading once more, Yun Murui didn't send the Yunlang army out to fight but personally led his own troops to face the enemy. This was also to show the rest of the Yunlang army that he, Yun Murui, didn't rely solely on the Yunlang army and wasn't just a paper tiger.

However, Yun Murui's troops, having been coddled in Langjing for too long, were no match for Xianyi Chishaou's battle-hardened Eagle Wing Army. Under Su Rao's expert command, the Yunlang soldiers were forced to retreat. In less than an hour, they were driven to the city walls, on the brink of losing the city gates...

"Qin Rao, these wretched fugitives are remnants of your Great Qin. Yunlang has been generous and merciful to keep them until now, but they show no gratitude and try to flee."

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out.

The gates of Yunlang's border city swung open, and Yao Yeting charged onto the battlefield.

"Mother... I'm scared..."

The wailing cries of a child.

"Princess... Princess, save us..."

The mournful cries of women.

All these sounds rose from the battlefield.

A group of helpless women and children were dragged to the battlefield by Yunlang soldiers.

Using the former Great Qin citizens, now Yunlang citizens, as human shields, they temporarily halted the advance of the Eagle Wing Army at the city gates.

Such despicable and shameless...

"Qin Rao, if you dare take another step closer, I will kill all these fugitives."

With that sound, Yao Yeting's spear thrust towards the nearest woman, the spearhead grazing her neck.

Immediately, blood seeped from her neck, staining the spearhead.

The woman collapsed, not dead, but fainted in terror.

Her neck bore only a shallow scratch from the spear.

But the child in her arms fell to the ground.

The child, oblivious to the danger, instinctively cried out in fear.

He cried from both pain and fear.

The child's wails escalated, and the other women all knelt down, each one trembling and pleading, begging their princess for mercy.

They pleaded with the princess to withdraw the troops and save their children.

The thud of their heads striking the frozen ground.

Their foreheads hit the frozen earth.

In an instant, blood welled from their foreheads.