Chapter 37: Storm in Sai City
Just as Zhang Zhe charged toward a full-strength Iron Kite squad of the Northern Barbarians.
Zhou Hongling was already seated in the main hall of the General’s Mansion in Yanzhou City.
Zhou Ming was there as well.
Also present were Helian Tielin, the State General of Youzhou, and his son Helian Shang, a Captain from Yellow Sand City.
They had gathered for a routine defense planning and review meeting for the Three Great Border Cities.
The meeting was presided over by the Grand Commandant of the North, Hong City.
His cultivation level was above the Innate realm, though his subordinates had no idea how far he had advanced. He was Dayong’s Marquis of Jiuse, responsible for commanding the nine border cities.
While not yet considered one of the era’s renowned generals, he was already illustrious within the borders of Dayong.
At that moment, Hong City sat in the seat of honor. He wore a suit of black Tiger Pattern Armor that made his already powerful frame appear even more formidable. He was around fifty years old, with a full, bushy beard that gave him a ferocious look.
Even the renowned State General of Yan Province, Zhou Ren, and the State General of Youzhou, Helian Tielin, could only tread carefully in his presence.
Hong City raised his teacup, took a sip, and said coolly, "Tell me, why are there always problems around your Three Cities? Last time, a single Iron Kite squad had you so scared you didn’t even dare to open your gates."
"You finally resolved that, and now some other mess has cropped up. The Heir of Prince Lie’s caravan was attacked, and once again, you don’t dare to leave the city? It’s becoming a complete joke."
As he spoke the last words, he slammed his teacup down on the table. The sharp sound made everyone in the hall flinch.
In the military, the hierarchy was incredibly strict. Unless your valor was so unrivaled that it earned you special treatment from your superiors...
...otherwise, even a regional general had no choice but to bow their head before a higher-ranking officer.
"Marquis..."
"Don’t give me any excuses. One month. I’m giving you one month to restore peace to the lands around the Three Cities. I don’t care how you do it."
"But remember: you are not to escalate the standoff between our two nations. Keep the conflict suppressed to small, localized skirmishes."
"There will be rewards for success. But if you fail, don’t blame me when I kick your asses."
Hong City’s eyes widened in a glare, cutting Zhou Ren off.
He was a general who had clawed his way up from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, reaching his current position step by step through military merit alone.
He didn’t speak pleasantly, but his methods were highly effective in the army.
"As you command!"
The generals quickly rose to their feet in assent.
After giving his orders, Hong City stood up and started for the door. "I’m busy with important affairs all day, yet I had to run all the way out here for your damn trifling matters. Give me results in one month."
With that, he walked straight out.
From his perspective, neither the Iron Kites nor the Manyan Tribe’s elites were worth mentioning. He had only come to apply pressure personally because Prince Lie had put in a word.
After Hong City left,
Zhou Ren and Helian Tielin exchanged a look, and both saw ambition in the other’s eyes. It was clear both were determined to be the one to annihilate the Manyan Tribe’s elite cavalry.
The two families had never been on good terms.
From Hong City’s words, it was clear: whoever destroyed the Manyan Tribe’s elite cavalry and restored peace to the Three Great Border Cities would be appointed Commander of Three Cities.
This position was very important. Huangsha Fortress, for example, was technically within the Helian family’s sphere of influence. If someone under the Zhou Family’s command were to obtain the position of Commander of Three Cities...
...it would be like carving a slice of flesh from the Helian Family.
Naturally, the Helian Family would not stand for that.
Conversely, if the Helian family were to succeed, the Zhou Family’s losses would be even greater. Both Icefield Pass and Huqiu Pass would fall under the Helian family’s jurisdiction.
This was, in fact, the intention of the higher-ups. The imperial court was always cautious in its control of the Border Army. They wanted these military families to be at odds, to check and balance one another, making it easier to control their subordinates.
However, just as silence descended upon the hall...
THUMP THUMP THUMP!
A figure came running in.
It was a messenger. Upon entering, he first glanced at Zhou Ren.
"There’s no need for secrecy regarding military intelligence in front of us generals. Speak freely," Zhou Ren said with a wave of his hand.
The messenger didn’t dare to be careless. He bowed quickly and said, "Reporting to the General! The Night Patrol, scouting deep in the lands of the Northern Barbarians, has sent back a message. A full-strength Iron Kite squad departed several days ago. Their likely destination is the area around the Three Great Border Cities."
Upon hearing this news, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.
The so-called elites they had dispatched might stand a chance against the Manyan Tribe’s elite cavalry, but they would surely be no match for a full-strength Iron Kite squad.
After all, the last time, a paltry force of just forty or fifty Iron Kites had routed Yun Mo’s hundred elites, with only him and a handful of men escaping with their lives.
A full-strength Iron Kite squad numbered one hundred men.
Their combat prowess was far beyond that of ordinary border city elites.
Zhou Ren couldn’t help but look at his daughter, his meaning clear. ’The man you sent out... is there any hope he can face this Iron Kite squad?’
Zhou Hongling’s heart clenched. ’Lu Yuan is a rare talent I went to great lengths to find. If he had time to develop, he could surely contend with a full-strength Iron Kite squad, but right now... it’s hard to say.’
She immediately rose and said, "General, I must return to the border city at once to take command."
"Go on."
Zhou Ren, likely guessing his daughter’s thoughts, waved a hand, dismissing her.
Zhou Ming also left in a frantic hurry.
His disciple had also led men out of the city. If there were even a sliver of hope, he, as a Warrior, would have let Yun Mo fight to the death. But against a full-strength Iron Kite squad, in a battle of a hundred men or less, Yun Mo was simply marching to his death.
There was no point in sending him to his death, so he planned to recall him.
Seeing the members of the Zhou Family react this way, Helian Tielin looked to his son, his meaning clear. ’Are you confident in the men you sent out?’
However, Helian Shang remained perfectly still. He simply said, "No matter how powerful the Iron Kites are, we must find a way to deal with them. The Marquis ordered us to resolve the trouble around the Three Great Border Cities *and* eliminate the Barbarian Race’s elite cavalry."
"’Resolve the trouble’ came first. ’Eliminate the elite cavalry’ came second."
"And these Iron Kites... they are the biggest trouble."
After he finished speaking, both Helian Tielin and Zhou Ren frowned.
Because he was right. If they had no elite unit capable of countering this Iron Kite squad, their only option was to wear them down through attrition.
Moreover, to avoid escalating the conflict, they couldn’t deploy too many troops at once. It was tantamount to sending moths to a flame.
But they had no other choice.
The Zhou Family’s Night Patrol was deep in the Northern Barbarian lands on a more important mission. Likewise, the Helian family’s Silent Riders were also deep in barbarian territory.
With those two units unavailable, they couldn’t think of a single elite force of a hundred men or fewer that could possibly contend with the Iron Kites.
"Let’s go!" Helian Tielin said, showing no intention of consulting with the Zhou Family.
He intended to return as quickly as possible to assemble his elite troops.
Dealing with the Iron Kites was no longer just about their rivalry. More importantly, they had to complete the Marquis’s orders within the month.
Or they would all face the consequences.
Zhou Ren’s gaze then turned to the Vice General at his side. "Inform Hongling and Zhou Ming. If there’s really no other way, they can draw from their Centurions to form a Hundred-Man Squad to go into battle."
Truthfully, he wouldn’t consider this unless it was an absolute last resort. Losing too many of them would be like severing the army’s very foundation, but right now, he had no better option.
This battle was of great importance to the Zhou Family.
Helian Tielin’s hurry to return clearly showed he was thinking along the same lines.
"Yes, General!" the Vice General replied before taking his leave.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, Lu Yuan, who had been scouring the Wasteland under Old Huang’s guidance, had actually managed to locate the Manyan Tribe’s elite cavalry.
At that moment, Old Huang was prone on the ground, his ear pressed against the earth, listening intently. A moment later, he looked up with a wide grin and said, "Sir, a cavalry unit is heading our way. Judging by the sound of the hoofbeats, they’re riding fine Northern Barbarian steeds. For them to appear now..."
"...it has to be the Manyan elite cavalry. No doubt about it."
Lu Yuan nodded. He hefted his Tiger Head Heaven-Swallowing Blade, then looked back at his men with a smile. "Alright, everyone, get ready. Looks like our luck is good—we found our target after only a few days. Once this fight is over, we can all go home."