Chen Ping's Sword

"Prince, the morale of the soldiers under my command has plummeted gravely. All of them feel utterly lost. I have the intention to lead a battalion to Ling Mountain Prefecture and engage the Hu People in a few battles, to see some blood."

Feng Jiu bowed and requested to go to battle.

"Strictly forbidden from engaging in battle, do you not understand? If you say another word, I’ll strip you of military command and order you to reflect behind closed doors."

Ji Changlie’s expression turned dark, and he looked at Feng Jiu with extreme displeasure, a hint of killing intent vaguely present.

Truly, mentioning what should not be mentioned.

If it were possible to go to battle, wouldn’t we have already launched an attack? Why would we be camped by the sea if the timing weren’t right?

"Get out."

Feng Jiu left the temporary Prince’s Mansion dejectedly, glancing at the massive encampment ahead, shaking her head, unable to suppress her despondency.

Luo Yuanhua quietly sidled over: "I told you, the Prince’s plans are far-reaching, seeing things that neither you nor I can imagine. He’s consolidating his forces for the greater good, likely awaiting the optimal time to deploy troops, and when the time comes, the force of arms..."

"Do you believe this yourself?"

Feng Jiu cast a sidelong glance at Luo Yuanhua, seeing the Jinghai White-Robed General still seemingly unaffected, still blindly believing that King Jinghai could lead them to victory and have the last laugh.

She let out a long sigh and suddenly didn’t want to say anything anymore.

In broad daylight, the Little Commandery Princess Mingyue suddenly stormed out of the military camp, pursued by two elders of the Extreme Yin Sect. They were quickly followed by a large force attacked by Chen Ping from Xingqing Prefecture, breaking through and killing all the way to within thirty feet of the Prince.

Although, numerically, the casualties weren’t considered too many, just over a hundred or two hundred people, yet the damage to this army was indescribable.

Soldiers may not be very learned, nor do they need to read and understand principles.

They might seem simple-minded, but they understand at least one thing: who can lead them to victory and ensure their survival.

As for a good meal, or whether there will be prospects in the future, those things seem somewhat distant to them.

The grand plans of the Prince, not only do these soldiers not understand but even Feng Jiu neither comprehends nor wishes to understand.

All they see is their twenty thousand army retreating repeatedly, leaving their families to the Beizhou Hu Cavalry, even when they’re confronted, killing their way right in front of their army, coming and going unopposed.

Meanwhile, King Jinghai, once seen as divine, remains silent and timid, not daring to retort, fearful of being decapitated on the spot.

In such circumstances, why should anyone believe you can win the battle, believe you’ll have the last laugh?

"Where is Chen Ping? Where did his ten thousand cavalry go?"

Feng Jiu was curious about that young man completely different from their previous meeting, wondering if he had come specifically to rescue the Little Commandery Princess.

"According to the scout’s report, Chen Ping led over fifteen thousand cavalry, with the Vermilion Bird General Xiao Tong at the vanguard, and the Baimei General Mei Yu and Cangsong General divided into two wings, heading to Xiao Pass for reinforcement, likely to confront the Tuoba Brothers’ twenty thousand Rushing Wolf Cavalry head-on."

Luo Yuanhua, youthful and exuberant, though reluctant to mention Chen Ping’s name, was still very excited when speaking of it.

Clearly, he also admired the idea of being with Chen Ping, able to engage in life-and-death battles with Hu Cavalry face to face.

A true man stands in the world, not hiding and scheming endlessly; that’s no skill.

Unable to protect the country and its people, unable to battle enemies on the field, no matter how many troops you lead or how high the skills you hone, it holds little appeal.

"So they did charge forward, good, excellent."

Feng Jiu punched the air decisively: "Xiaoluo, listen to me, as soon as you return, immediately reinforce and prepare the troops, fortify the camp, and do not let down your guard."

"If we can’t engage in warfare, why prepare the troops?"

Luo Yuanhua asked, confused.

"Don’t question it, just do as I say."

A profound expression flashed in Feng Jiu’s eyes, but she offered no further explanation.

Currently, Ji Xuanheh is visiting each camp, calming the hearts of the soldiers, and has even sent messengers to summon masters from the Extreme Yin Sect for protection, evidently frightened by the day’s encounter.

Indeed, though the father and son had not seen each other for a long time, they seemed cast from the same mold.

They thought alike.

They could be great generals, great princes, yet they didn’t realize that sometimes what’s needed isn’t meticulous calculation, absolute certainty, but rather a quality of "courage" — in a narrow path, the brave wins.

Sometimes, lacking a bit of boldness, lacking the reckless spirit of doing what seems impossible, loses the people’s heart.

...

"Uncle Tonx, why didn’t you take action earlier and arrest that arrogant little thief directly?"

After dismissing the servants and looking at the empty backyard, thinking of that softly spoken woman, gentle and considerate to the extreme, now gone like a fragrant dream, even Ji Changlie couldn’t help but feel a slight pain, quite unaccustomed even though he is usually indifferent.

Gu Qingshuang, as the Saintess of the Extreme Yin Sect, may not have extraordinary skills, but as Jinghai Prince’s Mansion’s liaison with the Extreme Yin Sect, she did her job very well, perhaps too well.

Many times, Ji Changlie would forget her identity; when with her, he felt as if he were twenty years younger, as though returned to his youth.

A perfectly good scheme wasted, the daughter ran away, without even considering who provided such a privileged life over these many years.

When it came time for her to be of use, she didn’t ease the worries of her parents at all; truly a rebellious daughter, an ungrateful wolf.