Chapter 129 - Tomb of Dreams

The personal guards had already left the camp when they saw the imperial guards charging in like wolves and tigers. This troop was more excited than afraid; they had never fought a satisfying battle, whether it was in Qidu or Zhongbo, always being constrained. When they finally encountered Han Jin's Eight Banners, their opponent seemed as soft as dough, collapsing at the slightest pressure. Now, they finally clashed with the Biansha soldiers, and their pent-up energy erupted wildly. The imperial guards drew their swords and dashed forward.

There weren't many people from the Biansha Liangying Battalion, but they had caught the Biansha Camp off guard with their ballistae. Seeing victory within reach, they were unexpectedly ambushed by this sudden force.

The imperial guards were accustomed to urban warfare in Qidu, their swords shorter than the Northern Iron Cavalry's, but their strikes were cunning. Before Xiao Chiye took over as the inspector general, they were an incomplete unit, known in Qidu as "military household oilmen" – skilled at slacking off and dodging responsibilities. In other words, they were a slippery bunch. Unlike the disciplined Northern Iron Cavalry, they were willing to use underhanded tactics to pierce through the enemy.

Now, Biansha found themselves the targets of a surprise attack. The returning personal guards cut off their retreat, and those operating the ballistae hastily withdrew. The remaining Biansha soldiers inside the Biansha Camp had no choice but to fight the imperial guards to the death.

By the time Wu Ziyu could stand, the fire had subsided. Chen Yang examined the corpses with his sword, telling Xiao Chiye, "Master, they're indeed from the Liangying Battalion."

"The ballistae are heavy equipment and hard to move. If they wanted to take them with them, they couldn't run fast," Xiao Chiye told Tan Taihu. "Tiger, take the cavalry and chase after them."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ziyu promptly offered, "My horse can still run. Brother, ride mine."

Tan Taihu expressed his gratitude before mounting the horse. Gu Jin turned his steed around and said, "Tiger, come with me. We'll chase them together."

They rode off, leaving half of the Biansha Camp in flames. Xiao Chiye inspected the stables and granaries, while Wu Ziyu followed closely behind, saying, "Second Master..."

"Though the Border Patrol Camp serves as an inspection unit, it's also a reserve force. It's still some distance from the border, with Sand Three Camp securing the east and checkpoints along the way." Xiao Chiye narrowed his eyes against the sun, then glanced at Wu Ziyu. "If others can reach your backs, where is your patrol team?"

Wu Ziyu recognized Xiao Chiye. He had been selected to serve in the prince's residence alongside Zhao Hui and Chen Yang in his youth. He had seen Xiao Chiye when he was a guard for Xiao Jiming. However, the Xiao Chiye of old seemed like a different person now. His towering stature made Xiao Chiye's gaze appear condescending, and Wu Ziyu felt himself shrink under that stare.

Avoiding Xiao Chiye's eyes, Wu Ziyu replied, "The patrol team that went out last night hasn't returned."

"The patrol team that left last night didn't return, yet as the commanding officer, you didn't realize anything amiss until midday." Xiao Chiye spoke as if they were having a casual conversation, but his words carried immense pressure despite his calm demeanor. "Sand One Camp is a battlefield, while the Border Patrol Camp serves as a supply base for Sand Three Camp. Any disturbance here would affect the frontline operations. You're quite relaxed, aren't you?"

Wu Ziyu understood the implications behind Xiao Chiye's words. Xiao Chiye wasn't part of the Northern Army, and his current rank as the General Inspector of the Qu Du Imperial Guards was no longer recognized by Qu Du. Thus, he had no right to scold Wu Ziyu. Nevertheless, the more casual Xiao Chiye's tone was, the more ashamed Wu Ziyu felt.

News of Second Highness’s return to the Northern Frontier had been circulating for over two months, and while the foot soldiers remained silent, those officers with ranks and titles all harbored their own thoughts. Among the current commanders of the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry, only a few were veterans from Xiao Fangxu’s era; the rest were all juniors promoted by Xiao Jiming.

With Xiao Jiming injured and no word on when he would resume his position, rumors ran rampant about whether Second Highness would take over. Yet, regardless of those preparing to align themselves with Xiao Chiye or those still opposing him, they were all waiting for him to reveal his true colors upon his return. Six years was neither too long nor too short, and tales about Second Highness were as varied as they could be. Wu Ziyu was also observing Xiao Chiye.

"We withdrew from Sand Camp One yesterday. Our main task was to coordinate supplies and escort provisions," Wu Ziyu paused momentarily. "The original garrison troops from Border Camp have been reassigned to Sand Camp One, so there are currently no main forces here. Furthermore, Border Camp is situated behind Sand Camp Three, and we truly didn't expect..."

Wu Ziyu's voice gradually faded as he sensed the ominous atmosphere. The subtle pressure bearing down on him felt more intense than the blazing sun. He swiftly looked at Xiao Chiye, his throat twitching, but he dared not continue.

The raptor tilted its head slightly to fix its gaze on Wu Ziyu, its hooked beak still glistening with blood.

Xiao Chiye's neck was exposed to the sun. He raised his other hand to shield it and lifted his head slightly, still looking at the stables as he said, "Aren't you the Northern Iron Riders?"

Wu Ziyu stood silently in place.

Xiao Chiye's left arm was steady, so the additional weight of the arm bind was nothing to him. However, he did not let Meng rest for too long. When Chen Yang finished counting the bodies, Xiao Chiye released Meng to fly away once more.

"Master," Chen Yang looked up at Meng, "Should we send a team to follow?"

"There's no way the Biansha soldiers could have brought their ballistae without being detected by San Juntai's patrols. The fact that they managed to approach undetected means that San Juntai has fallen," Xiao Chiye said without a smile. "Father must not know that San Juntai has been breached yet if he could order the escort team to retreat to Bianbo Camp. Meng is delivering a message to San Yijun. We'll rest for the night and head to San Juntai tomorrow."

"Wuji doesn't have cavalry or supplies, so if he continues east, he'll be facing the Biansha soldiers directly. Since they could take out San Juntai without being noticed, the troops stationed there are likely from the fierce Hunsabu Division," Wu Ziyu could not help but interject. "It would be wiser to wait for reinforcements from Liuyang's three camps. I'll send someone to deliver the message now, and the Crown Prince will definitely dispatch Zhao Hui."

"If you had sent a message to Liuyang's three camps when you reached Bianbo Camp yesterday, there might still be time to reach them before sunset tomorrow. But if you send one now, it'll take a day and a night on a fast horse to get to the northeastern grain and horse route, and another day and a night for Zhao Hui to reach Liuyang's three camps from Dajing. By the time he gets here, Bianbo Camp won't exist anymore." Xiao Chiye pointed at the collapsed watchtower. "Rebuild the watchtower immediately, but don't put it facing east. Move it to the southeast corner. Count the grain and horses, and prioritize repairing the camp's defensive walls damaged by the ballistae with the military artisans."

"If you're worried about the Biansha soldiers coming back, you should move the grain and horses to the northeastern grain and horse route right now," Wu Ziyu hurried after Xiao Chiye. "There's no time to rebuild Bianbo Camp. San Juntai is only a dozen miles away, and Hunsabu's horses can arrive within a day."

Xiao Chiye climbed over the railing in a few steps, jumped to the other side, turned around, and indicated for Wu Ziyu not to follow him. He asked casually, "The truth?"

Wu Ziyu did not understand what Xiao Chiye meant by this question. He quickly said, "We can only abandon Bianbo Camp now and minimize the loss of supplies—"

Xiao Chiye retreated, saying, "Well, don't you have even the slightest desire to chase after him?"

The sun had already begun to set. Wu Ziyu stood on this side of the ruins, confused by Xiao Chiye's gaze. The scorching sun stung his burns, causing him to frown as he watched Xiao Chiye turn back. He called out with difficulty, "I can't fight, Second Young Master! I've already told you, I'm just a transport team leader..."

Xiao Chiye did not respond. He waved his hand at Wu Ziyu, clearly indicating that the man could stop talking. He stood in front of the collapsed granary, his expression cold and his lips tightly pursed.

He stood there for a long time.

* * *

Xiao Fangxu sat expansively in his tent, finishing off the last sip of his salted milk tea. The coarsely brewed tea gave the milk a unique flavor. With his shoulders and arms bared, the medic was applying medicine.

"Amar is a good opponent," Xiao Fangxu said after the bandaging was done, flexing his shoulder. "I've been observing the Han She Tribe for over a decade, but I didn't expect their offensive power to be so strong. As one grows old, their reactions slow down. I'm not as sharp as I used to be."

"Li Bei has its strengths, but also its weaknesses," Zuo Qianqiu remarked, grabbing a handful of sand and watching it filter through his fingers. "Amar adjusted his strategy for you. He would never have dared to charge forward like that against Jiming. Jiming is skilled in military tactics; his camps along the border were interconnected, and the Iron Riders who went out to fight had chains behind them—Jiming's provisions. If the situation turned against him, Jiming could recall his main force at any time to avoid heavy losses. Now that Jiming has withdrawn and you're back, the communication between those camps has slowed down. Your style is different from Jiming's, so the vanguard doesn't dare charge as fiercely, and the reserves have lost their rhythm. Amar wouldn't miss this opportunity, would he?"

Xiao Fangxu got up to dress, his scarred back rippling with muscle. Although he claimed to be old, his body seemed even more solid than before. He put on his robe and began to don his armor, meticulous in every step.

"If the Great Zhou were still in its heyday, Jiming would be the best general to lead Li Bei's Iron Riders. He performed exceptionally well and was the only choice to maintain Li Bei's peak. But the Great Zhou is showing signs of collapse, and our strategy of being a 'wall' no longer suits the Iron Riders. Amar is the great Oshe and Rite of the Border Sands, wandering among the tribes and seeking to create a new world. Jiming's conservative approach gives him the time he needs to develop. Qianqiu, we must face the truth: the Border Sands is no longer a loose tribe surviving through plunder. Their rivers converge, and under Amar's leadership, they have become an ocean. Have you ever thought that once Amar unites the twelve tribes, the Border Sands will become a behemoth capable of devouring the Great Zhou? We must strike now if we want to defeat him."

"I am the 'Spear' of Northern Li, while JIMing is its 'Shield.' As the Northern Li Calvary grows content with reduced weight, their thirst for victory wanes, much like a wolf that forsakes its carnivorous nature. Sooner or later, they will be supplanted by another army."

Xiao Fangxu spoke without any emotion.

"JIMing's defeat isn't a bad thing for him or the Northern Li Calvary. I placed him in the military camp at a young age, not to preserve an illusion of invincibility. There are no myths on the battlefield, and I too can suffer defeat. It's crucial for the current Northern Li Calvary to understand that we seek not constant victories but resilience in triumph and swift recovery from setbacks. Both JIMing and I have fulfilled our roles; now it's time to 'starve' Northern Li."

Xiao Fangxu paused for a long moment, his gaze profound.

"The Northern Li Calvary desperately needs a new commander, someone who is different from us, even our polar opposite. He must tear away the veneer of elegance that JIMing cultivated, embodying greed and ferocity, stirring the calvary's hunger anew, reigniting their primal instincts."