Falconry birds soared ceaselessly above the master and servant. Le Zhang, a mere brute, was unfamiliar with military formations and did not understand the significance of the circling war-falcons, though he sensed an ominous chill, like dark clouds pressing upon a city wall. Kneeling, Le Zhang placed a hand on the frozen road surface. He initially intended to report an approaching force of two hundred riders to the fan-wielding young master, yet quickly reconsidered—his master’s cultivation surpassed his own by far, and with his mystical divination skills, there was no need to bother him with redundant information.
Le Zhang scooped up a snowball, weighing it in his palm. He considered hurling it at one of the annoying falcons, when his peripheral vision caught sight of a particularly bold scout. While a dozen riders from all directions halted their advance at a distance, this lone scout recklessly pressed forward. Le Zhang grinned savagely, rose to his feet, and flung the snowball with all his might. It struck the scout’s horse squarely on the head, exploding in a burst of crimson blood. The horse collapsed instantly, and the scout rolled to the ground. Rather than fleeing in panic, he swiftly drew his crossbow. After dashing several paces toward the man who had killed his mount, he finally remembered his orders and, with a resentful glare, turned and fled. As he passed his fallen steed, the young scout’s eyes reddened. He removed the camphorwood horse tag from the horse’s neck, tucked it into his chest, and ran off.
The fan-wielding young master paid no heed to Le Zhang’s antics. His gaze followed the ridgeline toward a distant, unremarkable peak. Originally, he had planned to encounter a cavalry force stationed in Zhegui Commandery, no fewer than three or four hundred, perhaps up to six or seven hundred. He intended to let Le Zhang warm up by breaking the morale of this Northern Liang cavalry unit, then use his superior speed to pierce through and charge straight toward Tongmen Fortress. There, he would engage in a glorious duel with the elite iron cavalry of Tongmen, earning fame across the land regardless of the outcome. He had no intention of revealing the protective talisman he carried unless absolutely necessary. Nor was he arrogant enough to believe he could single-handedly defeat six hundred riders of Tongmen. He would likely have to retreat gradually, avoiding prolonged combat. If he insisted on standing his ground, he would end up like the Sword Emperor of Western Shu.
As this lone rider gazed toward the mountain peak, others were watching him in turn. Beside Xu Fengnian stood Pei Nanwei, Xu Yanbing, and Han Laoshan, two deputy generals of Lingzhou, as well as the Tongmen officers Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma, who had come to witness the spectacle, and the Pearl Battalion’s officer Huang Xiao Kuai. Unlike Huang, Wei and Xin had not brought any soldiers with them; the six hundred Pearl light cavalry remained at the foot of the mountain, awaiting orders. Le Zhang had sensed the approaching two hundred riders—these belonged to Ma Jinchai, the Frozen Wilds Battalion Commander of Zhegui Commandery. This time, Xu Fengnian, acting in his capacity as Lingzhou General, had issued orders for several commanderies, including Dongfeng and Zhegui, to move their forces from their usual posts. The mobilization of the local constabulary was officially under the authority of the newly appointed Lingzhou Governor, Xu Beizhi. Centered around the mountain peak, every major and minor The Post Road (postal road) within a thirty-mile radius had been sealed off, forcing merchants to take detours. Nearly a hundred scouts were deployed across the area, spaced no more than three li apart. Ma Jinchai’s Frozen Wilds cavalry was divided into three groups, with two hundred riders leading the vanguard to probe the enemy’s strength. Additionally, the Dongfeng Northern State Battalion Commander Ren Chunyun had brought four hundred men, positioned in the southwest, while Fengqiu Battalion Commander Zhu Boyu led five hundred riders in the northwest, ready to strike. The forces of the local constabulary and judicial units were interspersed between these positions.
The rank of Battalion Commander in Northern Liang was loosely defined, with troop numbers varying greatly. For instance, Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma of Tongmen each commanded three thousand men, yet their rank was one level below the Pearl Battalion Commander Huang Xiao Kuai, despite all being of the same fourth grade. Ma Jinchai of the Frozen Wilds, Ren Chunyun of the Northern State, and Zhu Boyu of Fengqiu held the same rank as Wei and Xin, but their combined forces were still fewer than those commanded by a single Tongmen Battalion Commander. The Northern Liang military was powerful, suppressing the civil officials, yet riddled with internal factions. Long-standing disputes between border and local forces had given rise to conflicts between garrisons and commanderies, and within those, further divisions between officials holding substantive posts and those with honorary titles. Entangled in this web, even the slightest movement could trigger a chain reaction. This was precisely why Xu Fengnian’s efforts to reform the Lingzhou administration had initially been met with skepticism.
Han Laoshan, gripping a long Jujubewood (jujube wood) spear named “Little Barbarian Shoulder,” chuckled softly: “That fellow must never have imagined that the Your Highness (young lord) would have the audacity to mobilize four Battalion Commanders and nearly three thousand riders to crush him right here in Zhegui, denying him any chance to reach Tongmen, let alone steal fame in Lingzhou’s capital.”
Xu Fengnian smiled: “If he could use martial arts techniques to behead a high-ranking general in the middle of an army, do you think the imperial court would reward him with a generalship?”
Wei Shaqing of Tongmen scoffed: “That kid won’t even make it up the mountain. I heard he’s got soft skin and a pretty face, like a delicate maiden. Xin, you’ve got peculiar tastes—once the Your Highness captures him bound hand and foot, why not ask him to take the fellow home as a concubine?”
Xin Yinma, whose features leaned toward effeminacy, was not offended by Wei’s crude jest. He murmured, “I wouldn’t mind, but I wouldn’t dare interfere with the Your Highness’s plans. Wei, since you’ve stirred my interest, how about you give me your pretty little son? We could become in-laws. I’ll call you Father-in-law, even if it means lowering my generation.”
Taken aback, Wei Shaqing kicked Xin’s horse in the belly, cursing. Wei and Xin hailed from different factions within the Northern Liang army. Wei was a loyal retainer of the former general, while Xin had served in various units under past Northern Liang heavyweights like Zhong Hongwu and Chen Zhibao. Later, he had ties with the infantry commander Yan Wenluan and was now loosely affiliated with Yan’s faction. Despite their rivalry, the two had managed a decent working relationship within Tongmen. Naturally, they schemed against each other within the fortress, for they had to provide for their respective three thousand subordinates, who were desperate for promotions, silver, and arms. There was no room for noble ideals. But they always stood united against outsiders. It was no secret that Xin had a preference for young men. Those who wished to curry favor with him would spend handsomely to acquire well-trained, fair-skinned youths from Jiangnan and send them to his residence—far more effective than any bribe. Fortunately, the Northern Liang King was not a petty ruler. He overlooked such minor transgressions, so long as they did not harm the military or governance of Northern Liang. As Xin listened to the young former Lingzhou General and Wei Shaqing’s banter, he remained unfazed, smiling as he gazed down the road and murmured, “The show begins.”
Xin Yinma focused intently, straightening his back to observe the battlefield below. Ma Jinchai’s two hundred riders had begun their charge toward the master and servant. Xin had always held Ma’s troops in low regard, considering them soft and untested. Originally, the task of intercepting the retreat should have belonged to Zhu Boyu of Fengqiu, but Ma had begged the Your Highness Name for this “favorable assignment.” Ignoring established orders, he had charged ahead instead of maintaining a steady advance. He clearly thought the rogue martial artists were easy prey. Capturing them would earn him favor, and as for offending Huang Xiao Kuai of the Pearl Battalion, Ma, who had familial ties with the Grand Commander Yan, had little concern.
The young master fanned himself leisurely, eyes closed, listening to the scattered hoofbeats behind him. Where was the thunderous might of a hundred Northern Liang riders? He had witnessed the discipline of General Gu Jiantang’s forces in the east of Ji Province, having once been hunted across open plains by six hundred of Gu’s cavalry. That was true martial prowess. If all Northern Liang cavalry were as weak as these two hundred riders, then the legend of the Northern Liang Iron Cavalry was nothing but a joke. Two thousand such riders would be scattered like chaff before six hundred of Gu’s cavalry.
Without needing a signal from his master, Le Zhang turned to face the two hundred “decoration riders.” He inhaled deeply, scraped his foot against the frozen road, and leapt forward. A volley of crossbow bolts rained down—harmless and comical to an expert eye. Though they appeared fierce, they were still six or seven zhang away. Ma Jinchai, riding at the rear, saw nothing amiss. Beside him were a dozen riders clad in bright armor, including a petite, delicate attendant with a graceful figure—clearly a woman. It seemed Ma Jinchai not only sought glory but also wished to show off his martial prowess before his beloved.
Soon, however, Ma Jinchai realized his mistake. The first volley had failed, but that was not alarming—crossbows were light and fast to fire. Yet as the second volley descended, the riders had already committed fully to the charge. The martial brute moved faster than the galloping horses. He did not even bother to dodge the bolts, letting them strike his body like reeds against stone—some snapped, others slid off. Before the riders could continue their “game,” he had already reached the front three. Startled, they dropped their crossbows and hastily drew their spears. Like a wolf among sheep, Le Zhang darted between two charging riders, leapt high, and struck both horses—one with a punch, one with a kick. The outermost rider was caught in the crossfire. Two horses tumbled sideways off the road, while the rightmost horse was sent flying five or six zhang, crashing into the snow with a thunderous boom, sending white powder flying like willow fluff.
The next three riders, clearly terrified, tried to evade, but it was too late. One, with decent horsemanship, gritted his teeth and charged directly at Le Zhang, hoping to overwhelm him. Ma Jinchai had promised six hundred taels of silver and a promotion to whoever killed an enemy. Le Zhang leapt lightly, slamming his elbow down onto the horse’s head. The beast collapsed, and the rider lunged with his spear at Le Zhang’s chest. Before he could rejoice, searing pain shot through his hand—his spear flew from his grip. Le Zhang seized the weapon and grabbed the rider by the collar, tossing him like a chicken into the air. With a flick of his wrist, he spun the spear and dashed backward, catching up to the two riders who had narrowly missed him. He blocked their path with the spear. The horses crashed into it, unable to advance even an inch. Behind them, riders collided, spears tangled, and the once-cohesive charge dissolved into chaos.
Le Zhang, channeling his inner force into the spear, laughed loudly and charged forward, scattering the cluster of riders like scattered leaves. Ignoring the weaklings, he switched from two-handed to one-handed grip. Several nimble riders hurled their spears from horseback. One aimed at Le Zhang’s head. The brute, docile as a housecat before his fan-wielding master, simply leaned forward and shattered the spear with his forehead. He swept the spear upward, striking a rider at the waist, sending him flying sideways in a comical tumble through the snow. Le Zhang leapt forward, disregarding martial techniques, wielding the spear like a club. With a single swing, he cleaved a horse from back to hoof, splitting it in two. The rider sat atop the fallen half of his mount, dazed.
Ma Jinchai swallowed hard, trying to remain calm and ignoring his terrified concubine. He muttered, “The rogue is fierce. We should retreat slowly and strike back with a feigned retreat!”
With that, Battalion Commander Ma Jinchai turned his horse and fled.
Atop the mountain, Xu Fengnian turned to Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma with a smile: “It seems our Battalion Commander Ma has kicked off the New Year with a victory.”
He then turned to the smirking Pearl Battalion Commander and said evenly: “Huang Xiaokuai, Ma Jinchai isn’t trying to steal your glory. He’s merely feigning weakness to lure the enemy deeper.”
Huang Xiao Kuai smirked and murmured, “I understand Ma’s gesture. Your Highness?”
Xu Fengnian nodded.
Huang Xiao Kuai rode down the mountain alone.
At the foot of the mountain, three hundred riders remained in position, while the other three hundred split into left, center, and right divisions, charging toward the fan-wielding young master.
Le Zhang glanced back, sneering. He made no effort to pursue the fleeing Frozen Wilds cavalry. They had charged at him like famished men seeing a woman, yet now they fled before he could even warm up. He discarded the blood-stained spear and prepared to test his might against the next Northern Liang cavalry unit.
To this Realm of the Indestructible (Diamond Body) expert, the so-called Northern Liang Iron Cavalry was nothing but tofu.
Le Zhang spat a wad of phlegm onto the ground.
With foes like these, he could play Northern Liang King himself.
Atop the mountain, Xu Fengnian, hands tucked into his sleeves, silently manipulated his fingers beneath the fabric, as if unraveling a tangled thread.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage