Chapter 377: The Battle Rages On (Part 4)

Chapter 377: The Battle Rages On (Part 4)

"Su Rao, withdraw your troops immediately, or these fleeing refugees will all die because of you, the princess of the former dynasty."

Yao Yeting spoke again.

This time, the tip of his spear pointed directly at Su Rao.

Su Rao, whose eyes were already bloodshot, paused mid-swing, her blade suddenly stopping, sparing another life that narrowly escaped death.

A soldier from Yunlang scrambled back into the formation.

The blade was sheathed.

Her peach blossom eyes flicked to Yao Yeting for a moment, then fell upon the women and children being used as human shields, their desperate cries echoing around her.

On horseback, Yun Murui also looked at Yao Yeting, frowning slightly, seemingly unaware of Yao Yeting's actions. He hadn't expected Yao Yeting to use civilians in such a way...

"I thought the Crown Prince of Yunlang, at the very least, had some integrity. Now it seems I was wrong."

General Yan Lie also stopped his killing, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

A deep sense of contempt.

"Using your own people as human shields, threatening our princess with these women and children... such vile tactics..."

Su Rao stayed silent, but her hands gripping the sword hilt trembled, every knuckle cracking under the pressure.

The crimson around her peach blossom eyes didn't fade; instead, it deepened, intensifying the red of her already bloodshot eyes and further darkening her heart. Yet, within that darkness, ripples formed—ripples caused by the children's cries and the women's desperate pleas.

Not only because these women and children were once citizens of her Great Qin, but also because of the children in the arms of these women, those innocent children...

The greatness of maternal love, the instinct to protect one's offspring, and the deep affection of a mother, much like how her own mother died saving her.

This matter burns in Su Rao's heart, but it also touches her inner vulnerability, her soft spot, making it hard for her to stay cold and detached, truly menaced by Yao Yeting.

Suddenly, she hurled her large sword onto the ground, which, frozen solid by ice and snow, cracked open, the hilt embedding deeply into the ground.

No sooner had she thrown down her sword than Su Rao grabbed a bow and arrow from her horse, swiftly drawing and shooting it straight at Yao Yeting's face with lightning speed.

The speed was so great, it sliced through the cold wind.

Yao Yeting stepped back hurriedly but still struggled to dodge. Just as the arrow was about to strike his face, Yun Murui's sword suddenly flashed, swiftly intercepting the arrow.

The arrow narrowly grazed Yao Yeting's neck, leaving a bloodstain like the one on the woman's neck, before embedding into a crevice in the city wall, the arrow's tail vibrating for several moments before finally resting.

This proves that, without Yun Murui's intervention, Yao Yeting would have been killed instantly by Su Rao's arrow.

"You'd better ensure they stay alive, always acting as your shields..."

Due to Yao Yeting's despicable tactics, Yunlang's border city was temporarily secured.

The Eagle Wing Army halted their siege temporarily.

The battle between the two sides turned into a stalemate.

Yunlang thus gained a momentary respite.

...

Crash...

The sound of a cup shattering inside the tent.

Inside Yun Lang's camp, Yun Murui hurled the teacup to the ground near Yao Yeting's feet, his gaze steady.

"Yao Yeting, do you know what you've done?"

His voice was thick with anger.

He addressed Yao Yeting by his full name.

As the nation's Crown Prince, Yun Murui's character was such that he would scheme for the throne, even to the point of eliminating the Su family, but he would never harm innocent civilians.

The same water that bears the boat can also sink it.

This principle, Yun Murui understood better than anyone.

Moreover, he still harbored a trace of benevolence, as seen from his concern during the snow disaster relief in Tianguguan County last year.

Yun Murui's fury was evident as Yao Yeting knelt, head bowed to the ground.

Yet, Yao Yeting did not feel he had done wrong.

"Your anger, cousin, comes from your benevolence, but our army's provisions have been delayed for too long. If we hadn't acted as we did, the border city would have been overrun today. Then, it would be even harder for you to maintain your position in the army, and how would you explain this to the Emperor? How would you secure your position as Crown Prince?"

After saying this, Yao Yeting looked up at Yun Murui.

"I know you have numerous strategies, but on the battlefield, situations change in the blink of an eye. The Zhu Xian kingdom is relentlessly pressing us; they won't give you time to strategize and annihilate them in one fell swoop.

Moreover, in war, victory is valued over duration. After several clashes with the Eagle Army, we have to admit that we are no match for Xianyi Chishaou. Therefore, we must act swiftly, or our army will face another crushing defeat."

After this speech, Yao Yeting kowtowed.

"This was entirely my own doing, and I seek the Marshal's punishment."

His actions were entirely his own initiative; his cousin must not be implicated and must punish him severely.

"Please, Your Highness, do not be enraged."

The other generals outside the tent, upon hearing the words from inside, exchanged glances.

Then they requested an audience.

They urged the Crown Prince to calm his wrath, as Yao Yeting's actions, though flawed, were understandable.

In war, deception is key; all tactics and strategies aim for victory, especially on the battlefield where victory or defeat can hinge on a single moment.

The other generals interceded on behalf of Yao Yeting, and though Yun Murui's expression remained stern, he said nothing more.

Meanwhile, in the Zhu Xian camp, General Yan Lie and other officers convened.

Confronted with Yun Lang's despicable tactics, they turned to Su Rao for her insights on how to break the deadlock, rather than to their Prince Yi.

Firstly, those women were once citizens of Great Qin, and Su Rao's identity as the princess of the former dynasty was known to Xianyi Chishaou's personal guards. From initial suspicion to their current understanding of Su Rao through interaction, they had come to trust her.

Secondly, Su Rao, as the Princess Consort of Prince Yi and Xianyi Chishaou's wife, held a significant position. Xianyi Chishaou's attitude towards Su Rao determined her status within the Eagle Army. From the very beginning, when Xianyi Chishaou first brought Su Rao to the Eagle Army camp, the generals had witnessed his affection for her.

Thus, Su Rao's position in the Zhu Xian military camp was second only to one, commanding the respect of ten thousand others.

And Su Rao herself is charming, being the granddaughter of General Wang Yunlang, her military prowess alone is enough to make these Eagle Wing soldiers willingly submit to her.

"Warfare demands speed; if we let this conflict drag on, it will only consume our resources and time, which would be to our great disadvantage."

Su Rao spoke up.

At the same time, she held a command rod and gestured over the sand table.

"Currently, Yunlang is using a group of women and children to impede our advance, simply because I am a princess of the former dynasty, and they were once citizens of Great Qin, so I must save them.

This way, Yunlang will certainly strengthen their guard over those civilians to prevent us from secretly rescuing them, thus breaking their trap.

We will make them believe that we intend to rescue those civilians in secret. Our army will send a covert force to infiltrate Yunlang's border city, while dispatching two other units here..."

The command rod pointed to several hidden mountainous areas on the sand table.

Here...

Here...

"Once most of Yunlang’s forces are lured by our covert unit, the other two units can move out at this moment, feigning an attack to the east while striking from the west, catching them off guard..."

"Capture the leader first, then the followers will fall. We should directly take down Yun Mu Rui..."

Xianyi Chishaou interjected at the right moment.

He also picked up a command rod and pointed directly at Yun Mu Rui’s camp.

Su Rao immediately turned to look at Xianyi Chishaou.

A flicker of recognition appeared in her eyes.

Xianyi Chishaou’s words...

Hit the mark.

Seizing the throat of Yunlang’s forces, the women and children will be safe, and we can capture Yunlang’s border city in one fell swoop.