Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan Yun Chapter 101: Northern Yan – Part Eight

The victory in the recent siege somewhat eased the repressive atmosphere within Yan Yun. Though the overall situation remained grim, no triumph in war is ever completely detached from the success of individual battles. Without countless small victories, the final grand triumph would be unattainable.

Feng Muyun sustained severe injuries; were it not for the protection of the Wind and Sand Formation, the blade energy that penetrated his body would have claimed his life instantly.

Duomagan, having practiced the path of the blade for many years and being a formidable warrior among the barbarians, could hardly have erred in his judgment.

The slight deviation from his prediction in the final outcome was due to Li Shouli’s inability to completely drain the Wind and Sand Formation’s power. At the critical moment, the formation’s master used the wind and sand’s energy to save Feng Muyun’s life.

Naturally, Feng Muyun could not manipulate the formation if he was personally present on the battlefield.

Hence, the person currently holding the Yanbei King’s order was Yun Wanyan.

“How is the prince’s injury?” Yun Wanyan, still clad in armor, gazed solemnly toward the dark clouds pressing down over the city. “Though I managed to forcibly divert the barbarian high priest’s blade trajectory at the crucial moment, it ultimately did not completely miss. Is the prince still safe?”

Having once reached the Upper Radiance Realm herself, she fully understood the severity of such a wound.

The fusion of the three radiances of sun, moon, and stars, even without any blade technique, was enough to kill any ordinary Upper Radiance expert.

“The latest intelligence from the front reports that under the careful care of Miss Zhong from the Apothecary Pavilion, the prince is out of danger. It’s merely a wound to his primordial essence,” the scout relayed hastily.

A wound to the primordial essence meant that the three radiances could no longer unite, and the prince’s path to witnessing the Great Way was thus severed.

Feng Muyun’s path as a mighty cultivator was cut off from that moment.

Fortunately, his aspirations had never truly lain there. Seeking the Dao and ascending was but a joke to him. His cultivation was meant solely to better protect the people of Yanbei.

Now, trading the pursuit of the Dao for victory in the city’s defense was akin to exchanging something trivial for a cherished treasure — truly a noble choice.

Yun Wanyan only momentarily lost herself before regaining composure and asked, “Did Miss Zhong say anything else?”

The scout responded, “Miss Zhong mentioned that the wound still harbors the barbarian high priest’s Dao, beyond her ability to repair. To restore it fully, your personal intervention may be necessary.”

Yun Wanyan raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the Apothecary Pavilion’s leader than met the eye.

Last time, during the Bai Jian incident, Zhong Wansheng had also wished to request her aid.

And now again.

Though this was within a healer’s duties, something felt off.

Could Miss Zhong have other motives?

“What did the prince say?” Yun Wanyan inquired.

“The prince said the princess should attend to her own affairs and need not trouble herself to come to the front lines,” the scout replied.

Yun Wanyan nodded, indicating her understanding.

The scout lingered, lowering her head somewhat.

Yun Wanyan raised a brow and asked, “Is there more?”

The scout hesitated, stammering nervously.

Yun Wanyan’s tone sharpened, “Speak plainly; the Wang residence isn’t so convoluted.”

After a pause, the scout whispered, “The prince said the second young master seems to be absent from Honghuai.”

Yun Wanyan pondered, frowning. “Yang’er has always been astute; he wouldn’t be unaware that now is no time for Yan Yun.”

The scout bit her lip, as if steeling herself. Just as words formed, they faltered, then she whispered, “I heard the second young master... has taken Feng Cang.”

Yan Yun’s eastern front’s greatest fortress was Wanghaiguan, with Feng Cang City nearby.

In other words, having captured Feng Cang, if Feng Yang so wished, he could strike directly at Wanghaiguan.

This was equivalent to driving a nail into the very heart of the Bohai army on the Yan Yun eastern front, a threat that could prove fatal at any moment.

Now that Wang Ke had retreated, how could Feng Yang be allowed to lodge himself so deeply in his heart?

The formation at Feng Cang must have already failed. Feng Yang’s forces numbered less than a twentieth of Bohai’s. Should a massive army descend, what could be done?

At this thought, Yun Wanyan nearly lost control of her emotions.

Luckily, she was not only Feng Yang’s mother but also the princess of Yanbei.

On her shoulders lay not just a small household but thirty thousand miles of Yanbei’s lands and forty million souls.

Yun Wanyan closed her eyes, then slowly reopened them, her gaze calm once more.

“Understood.” She waved her hand. “Since Yang’er has acted thus, surely he has full confidence of safe retreat. Our duty is to do all we can to support the opportunity he creates.”

...

Though the battle among the Great Dao entities had not concluded, the northern city gate had at least withstood the initial assault.

The troops suffered minimal casualties, but the defense supplies were heavily depleted, and the walls became pockmarked and unsightly.

These were minor issues.

For Yan Yun, the most harrowing battle raged beneath the city walls.

To break the Candle Shade Shaman’s formation, Yan Yun lost two Supreme Generals at the peak of the Radiance Realm. The Blade Battalion was nearly wiped out. Next siege, Xu Chi would surely struggle to defend the east gate.

Zhong Wansheng had just administered acupuncture to Feng Muyun, who then endured the pain in his left arm and climbed back onto the battlements.

Below, corpses lay strewn across the ground, the barbarian banners fluttering in the distance.

The fierce fighting had melted the accumulated snow with hot blood, revealing layers of yellow sand beneath, now stained and hardened into clotted brown blocks.

Feng Muyun withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to examine the reconnaissance report in his hand, expressionless.

“Prince, though the second young master’s action eases pressure on the east gate, the risk is great. It would be better to have him withdraw soon,” said Gao Shanxue, lord of Yan Yun City.

Yanbei was under the Feng family’s rule — well-known to all. Yet to affirm the Heavenly Empire’s sovereignty, city lord offices were established across Yanbei, with appointments rotating roughly every decade. Though these lords rarely rose far, some, like Lord Pan under Feng Changkong, reached high ranks such as Minister of War.

“Yang’er has studied military texts since youth and often has brilliant ideas. Let him proceed first. Even if something unexpected happens...” Feng Muyun paused, then smiled and shook his head. “I forgot — he now studies under the Dao Ming Sect Master. Hardly likely to suffer accidents now.”

Feng Qi was the last disciple of the Snow Cloud Sword Sect, which itself held only mid-level Void Dao power. Feng Qi had the Sword Master Token to aid him; how much more so the Dao Ming Sect Master at the Great Dao level?

Speaking of which, the Snow Cloud Sword Master had charged alone into barbarian territory in his final battle and had yet to return.

Or perhaps... would never return.

Lord Gao, unaware of Feng Muyun’s thoughts, simply felt the second young master’s move was reckless. Yet Feng Muyun saw attacking Feng Cang as perhaps the last chance on the eastern front.

It tore apart Wang Ke’s plans — to retreat meant neglecting the barbarians and Xu Hai’s siege; to not retreat meant cutting off supply lines, reinforcements, and the retreat path.

...

At this moment, within Wang Ke’s camp, deliberations were underway.

Most advocated switching focus to retaking Feng Cang, or at least dispatching elite troops to reclaim it. Only a few favored continuing the siege of Yan Yun.

“The second young master of Yanbei is young but not to be underestimated. Not to mention Generals Su and Yang have suffered setbacks under him, who among us has the courage and resolve to pull off his rear assault on Feng Cang?”

“Merely reckless bravery. He commands barely ten thousand troops. Even if he holds Feng Cang, what then? You can’t cook without rice. Can he conjure troops from thin air? Once our main army breaks Yan Yun, we will trample Feng Cang beneath our iron hooves!”

“But what of supplies? Feng Cang is vital to our logistics. Without it, in ten days, our soldiers will starve! Unless we capture Yan Yun within ten days!”

Ten days was impossible. Ignoring the street battles, subjugation, and attrition after breaching, even if the east gate fell, it was only the outer city. The inner city’s resistance would be fiercer.

Voices clashed fiercely within the tent.

Wang Ke sat silently at the head, as did the strategist Gu Cheng.

Clearing his throat quietly, Gu Cheng’s sound caught the attention of officers near him, who ceased speaking. Others farther away noticed and quickly restrained their arguing comrades.

“General Gu, your opinion?”

Gu Cheng replied, “Feng Cang is not close. Even dispatching the fastest Swift Wind Battalion would take considerable time to reclaim.”

Wang Ke said, “So you also believe a direct siege is best?”

Gu Cheng answered seriously, “Didn’t the general think so himself?”

Wang Ke studied him, eyes gleaming. “Indeed, I think dividing forces to retake Feng Cang is unwise.”

“First, as General Gu said, the time we spend going there and back might allow Yan Yun to fall.”

“Second, you worry about reinforcements and reserves, but do we truly need them now? Our forces number over 220,000 with ample arms and supplies. If the war drags on, we can afford to lose some warhorses.”

“Third, if they send troops to attack our rear to relieve pressure on Yan Yun, forcing us to retreat, doesn’t that prove their desperation?”

At this point, the matter was settled.

No one dared to argue further, not even the most vociferous earlier.

The generals exchanged looks, wondering why the “Green Wave Pillar” had suddenly changed his mind.

Gu Cheng observed their reactions, smiling and shaking his head. Being the Green Wave Pillar, prudence was a virtue. But General Wang was no timid man to be paralyzed by caution.

Though less famed than the Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun, the Eight Pillars of Bohai were renowned generals. Otherwise, how could Wang Ke have seized Wanghaiguan in half a day?

“Relay my orders: all camps prepare their arms. Tomorrow we resume the siege!” Wang Ke said softly after silence fell. “In the dispatch I send to the prince the day after tomorrow, there can only be one result — after two days of fierce fighting, our army breaks through Yan Yun’s east gate and advances into the inner city!”

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