The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1712: Battle of Liang Country (Third Watch)

Chapter 1712: Battle of Liang Country (Third Watch)

At the hour of Mao, all the Hei Fengqi resting on the ground outside the city had awakened, forming ranks and standing against the wind in perfect order.

No matter how fatigued or exhausted their bodies were, once the military was assembled, they could swiftly enter a state of battle readiness.

Gu Jiao, who had been busy all night without a moment’s rest, was now riding on the back of the Hei Feng King. Her red battle attire blazed like fire, and her dark iron armor gleamed like a blade. The howling fierce wind between heaven and earth could not disperse the aura of killing intent and battle readiness surrounding the youth.

After the fierce battle of the previous day, everyone looked at this young commander with newfound respect.

Whether they could entrust their loyalty to him was still uncertain, but they would certainly entrust their backs to him. On the battlefield, he was the king!

Gu Jiao held the reins with one hand, while dragging her helmet with the other, she calmly gazed at all the Hei Fengqi, and began to speak: "Military Regulation Article Ten, Article Nine!"

Everyone straightened their spines and recited proudly—

"Stealing the property of others for personal gain, taking another’s achievements for oneself—this is called a thieving army, and those who commit such acts shall be executed! "

"Wherever they go, if they oppress the people or assault women—this is called a vile army, and those who commit such acts shall be executed!" (Note ①)

Gu Jiao said, "Very good, you are the military officers of Dayan, and Quyang City is populated by the people of Dayan. Remember the mission on your shoulders, and do not harm the citizens of the city in any form."

Having said this, she glanced at the high-held flags of Dayan Country and the Xuanyuan Eagle Banner in the cavalry’s hands, "Enter the city!"

Nearly fifty thousand men and horses entered the city grandly. It was still early, and the city’s residents were still resting. The Hei Fengqi’s hoofbeats were light, and the officers tried to minimize the sound of armor clashing.

Even so, halfway into the city, some of the residents began to wake up for their daily work.

They saw the Hei Feng Iron Cavalry, majestic as gods, and were so terrified that they stood their ground.

In the marketplace, a vendor carrying mountain goods whispered to his companion beside him, "I told you I heard the city gate being knocked last night, but you didn’t believe me! Look, have they not invaded?"

All the citizens trembled in fear.

The difference between Hei Feng Iron Cavalry and Nangong’s army was obvious. Firstly, the aura was different; secondly, the armor and warhorses were vastly different.

Not to mention, the flag at the front was different as well.

At the very front rode Gu Jiao, her helmet donned, but without lowering the visor. Her young and tender face was fully exposed, along with the birthmark on her left cheek.

The townspeople were quite frightened.

The Hei Feng King was a king among warhorses, its aura always warned strangers to stay away.

This person with a strange appearance, combined with a fierce warhorse, terrified some children to the point of tears.

The child’s mother hurriedly covered his mouth, afraid that this little killing god might harm her son if displeased!

Gu Jiao paid no mind, riding the Hei Feng King forward.

Bang!

Who knows from whose house came the sound of a window being shut.

Bang!

Again, from another house came the sound of a door being closed!

The street’s residents seemed to finally snap back to reality, scrambling to gather their children and push their stalls away, leaving the once bustling street empty in an instant.

The advisor Hu riding behind Gu Jiao opened his mouth: "Sir, it seems we are... not that welcome. After all, we are the ones who cleared the rebellious troops of the court, rescuing Quyang City’s citizens from disaster. Shouldn’t these citizens be lining the streets to welcome us?"

Gu Jiao responded with indifference, "In their eyes, we are the rebels."

The advisor Hu: "Uh..."

A small child of about one year old had been placed in a basket beside a vegetable stall. The basket toppled over, unnoticed by the adults, and the little one did not cry.

He used his hands and feet to crawl out of the basket, making his way onto the Official Road.

Cheng Fugui was riding on the very edge of the front line of the team. Seeing this, he quickly stepped out of line, dismounted, and picked up the child.

Cheng Fugui, by appearance, wasn’t fierce, though a battle had left him bruised and wounded, making him look rather intimidating and fearsome.

The little guy burst into tears, reaching out to his parents not far away.

The parents were shocked, rushing into a nearby house and shutting the door without a word!

Cheng Fugui was baffled: "What, you’re just going to leave your child?"

The little guy cried heart-rendingly, and with his small chubby hands still tried to grab Cheng Fugui’s ear.

Cheng Fugui was yanked, yelling loudly, "Ouch, ouch! It hurts!"

Finally, it was Mu Qingchen who rode over, dismounted, and came to Cheng Fugui’s side, "Give him to me."

The little guy stopped crying immediately upon being in his arms, behaving exceptionally well, with his little chubby hands staying put.

No wonder he’s the handsome uncle who could even soothe the Little Princesses.

Mu Qingchen held the little guy and walked over, gently knocking on the door.

The couple peeped out through the door crack. If it were Cheng Fugui, they would have been too scared to open the door. Since Mu Qingchen did not exude much murderous aura, even when donned in armor, his every move still epitomized the grace and cultivation of a Young Master.

Mustered up some courage, the two opened the door.

Mu Qingchen returned the child to them.

"Be more careful next time," he reminded.

Staring blankly at the handsome Young Master before them, the couple responded, "Ah, yes, yes..."

Mu Qingchen turned and left, rejoining Cheng Fugui in the formation.

Looking at the unharmed baby in their arms, the couple found it somewhat unbelievable.

-

The news of Quyang City being recaptured soon reached Tianshan Pass a hundred miles away.

In the City Lord’s Residence of Linfeng, the old master of the Han Family and his numerous descendants gathered in the Flower Hall. After hearing the informant’s report, the atmosphere within felt somewhat heavy.

Han Lei, the eldest son of the old master and Han Ye’s father, sighed, "I didn’t expect the imperial army to arrive so quickly."

Han Wuye, with a head of silver hair, sat opposite Han Lei, and said, "The main force hasn’t arrived, only the Hei Fengqi has."

Han Lei glanced at his younger brother, "That’s what I mean, the Hei Fengqi is also part of the imperial army."

The Han Family wasn’t always so tense with gunpowder, but with the war erupting, everyone was on edge and their emotions naturally surged higher than usual.

Han Wuye was not very concerned about his brother’s tone, only said calmly, "Fifty thousand Hei Fengqi, less than twenty thousand cavalry in the battle, and yet they still managed to capture Quyang City, guarded by eighty thousand troops."

Han Lei replied coldly, "That was Xiao Liulang’s trick!"

Han Wuye remarked, "All’s fair in war, even Chang Wei got deceived, I wonder how much chance of victory our Han Family has."

Han Lei furrowed his brow, "Fifth brother, you are too quick to boost others’ morale while diminishing your own authority!"

Han Wuye said lightly, "If you were in charge, would you be able to lead the Hei Fengqi to defeat Chang Wei’s army of eighty thousand?"

Han Lei was stumped.

After a while, he mumbled, "That’s because the Hei Fengqi is formidable, he took the advantage that’s already there. Speaking of which, the current Hei Fengqi was trained solely by our Han Family! The court is truly shameless, taking our soldiers and killing our people!"

Han Wuye replied softly, "Have you forgotten, brother, we also took them from the Xuanyuan Family?"

Han Sanye was a scoundrel; he couldn’t handle war affairs. He occasionally glanced at his elder brother and then at his fifth brother, unsure of whom to side with.

The old master of the Han Family thumped his cane, "Enough, you two stop arguing! Just one Xiao Liulang has messed up your strategies, really losing face for the Han Family! Hei Fengqi is the most powerful army of Dayan, they were never easy to deal with, and added to that, the Nangong Family was somewhat overconfident, thus fell for Xiao Liulang’s scheme! This youngster indeed has some skill, but he has limited forces. It’s not that easy to hold onto Quyang City. The imperial army will take more than ten days to arrive, yet the army of Liang Country will break through Yanmen Pass in three days. The main general leading the Liang forces this time is Chu Feipeng, a renowned divine general, who years ago was on par with Xuanyuan Sheng. Xiao Liulang is just waiting to be dealt with by him!"

After the Hei Fengqi settled into Quyang City, Gu Jiao didn’t move into the City Lord’s Residence but stayed in the Military Camp with the officers.

Mu Qingchen was sent by her to befriend womenfolk and inform the populace that the Hei Fengqi was a righteous army.

Gu Jiao sat in the barracks, looking at the small wooden tiles on the sand table, each representing a thousand soldiers, deployed at strategic points throughout the city.

"Still a bit insufficient."

She touched her chin.

Once the Liang Country army attacks, one or two thousand cavalry wouldn’t be enough.

Especially with Liang’s advanced manufacturing, their siege engines were powerfully swift, thrice the strength of Yan’s machines, and they used ropes on their ladders to climb city towers directly, arrows couldn’t reach them.

The advantage of cavalry lies in attacking cities, it’s rare to use cavalry to defend them.

While against the Nangong Family’s army of eighty thousand, the Hei Fengqi had fully utilized its strengths, but in the upcoming battle against Liang Country’s forces, it will no longer be Hei Fengqi’s forte.

It will be a much tougher battle.