Volume One: Chaos over Yan and Yun Chapter Ninety-Six: Northern Yan — Part Three

Although reluctant, the severely injured Princess of Yanbei personally came to the bustling city center to admonish the people before hundreds, even thousands, of onlookers. Coupled with the joint decrees issued by the City Lord’s Mansion and the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, the populace set out on their journey southward. Yet, given their vast numbers, even with military assistance, the evacuation was far from a swift endeavor.

In the blink of an eye, more than a full month had passed. During this time, Bohai’s Blue Wave Pillar troops had arrived at the western gate of Yanyun. As Feng Muyun had anticipated, they did not hasten to assault the city but, like Xu Hai, camped tens of miles from the west gate to rest and regroup.

Winter had fully set in at Yanbei. Heavy snow blanketed the land, and a thick layer of ice had covered the yellow sand.

“They say a timely snow foretells a bountiful year, but I wonder if I will live to see it,” Feng Muyun murmured, seated before the war map in the command hall, lightly smiling as he glanced at the operational chart on the wall. “I’ve wielded authority for over a decade now. Soon, I should be passing the mantle to my children. Yet, I never imagined I’d still be defending Yanyun in these times.”

His smile faded as he reflected, his tone turning somber. “That little brat has no intention of taking charge of Yanbei. Instead, he insists on pursuing some celestial path. That would be one thing, but to have his younger brother follow the same path is truly bewildering.”

Since the outbreak of war, this was the first time Feng Muyun mentioned his two sons.

Mo Ming spoke up: “My lord, I have accompanied the heir apparent on many occasions over the years. To be frank, the heir’s talent is extraordinary—he is indeed far more suited to the cultivation path.”

Pausing briefly, he continued, “As for the second son, at least there is hope to cure his illness now, isn’t there?”

Feng Muyun sighed. “That child… though I ordered him to defend Honghuai, who would have thought he’s never sent even a single letter home?”

Mo Ming replied, “Many of the evacuees from Yanyun have fled to Honghuai. The second son is currently acting as city lord there. I imagine he must be overwhelmingly busy.”

Feng Muyun scoffed at the notion. “Overwhelmingly busy? With his talents, managing a modest city like Honghuai is a trivial matter. No need to exaggerate.”

Though often away on campaigns and rarely spending time with his sons, Feng Muyun knew better than anyone just how prodigious his two boys were—sometimes so extraordinary that he doubted their bloodline.

It was said that the Bohai’s so-called Master Qin recognized a thousand characters at age three, recited Tang poems by five, and mastered the Four Books and Five Classics by eight—mere gossip compared to his own sons.

Feng Qi was exceptional, but Feng Yang could compose a seven-step poem at age three. If not for the purity of his spirit, Feng Muyun would have suspected some ancient entity had possessed him.

Thinking of his sons, a faint smile touched Feng Muyun’s lips. Though his reign as prince might be unremarkable, he took solace in having two remarkable children. No matter where their hearts might roam, their ultimate home was always Yanbei.

Alas, they had been born in an ill-fated era. Had they been born twenty years earlier, would the barbarians and petty villains from Bohai dare to covet Yanyun?

“I have met the heir apparent—it’s true, his talent is unparalleled. Had he not already become a disciple of Xue Yun, I might have considered recruiting him to the Divine Might Fortress,” the fortress lord mused. “As for the second son... the one with the Ten Absolute Meridians?”

Feng Muyun nodded. “The elder once went to Divine Might Fortress seeking medicine. I heard the lord wanted to treat him personally. I never had the chance to thank him.”

The fortress lord shook his head. “I did intend to, but in the end, I gave up.”

Feng Muyun remarked, “Thankfully you did. Otherwise, how could Yanbei have withstood the barbarians’ iron hooves?”

The fortress lord shook his head again. “No. It was someone else who stopped me back then.”

Intrigued, Feng Muyun asked, “In Yanyun’s region, who could possibly stand against the fortress lord?”

Squinting, the fortress lord’s expression became reminiscent. “A very mysterious powerhouse—likely possessing the strength of a deity in hiding. Afterwards, I sent someone to the Leisure Pavilion to investigate, but there was no trace.”

Feng Muyun was startled. “Such a figure would surely leave some clue. How could there be nothing?”

If even the Leisure Pavilion found no trace, it meant this person had left absolutely no footprint.

Impossible.

The fortress lord said, “He claimed to be from the Celestial Realm.”

“Hmm?” Feng Muyun inquired, “If from the Celestial Realm, why interfere with Yang’er’s affairs?”

The fortress lord shook his head. “I don’t know, but he said that except for blood relatives, no one not of the highest order should touch the second son’s fate. Otherwise, death would come unjustly.”

Feng Muyun remained skeptical. Before he could speak further, a scout hurried into the war room, breathless.

“My lord, the barbarian allied forces have reached Bailiying. They are expected to arrive at Yanyun’s north gate in three days.”

Three days?

Feng Muyun furrowed his brow. “How is the civilian evacuation progressing?”

A young officer replied, “So far, seventy percent have been evacuated.”

Seventy percent… Feng Muyun frowned. “If we leave behind no supplies, is it possible for the remaining thirty percent to evacuate today?”

The officer considered, then shook his head. “No. Ordinary civilians cannot evacuate that quickly.”

Feng Muyun asked, “What if we give them horses?”

The young officer looked hesitant, glanced around at the other generals, and finally fixed his gaze on Mo Ming.

Mo Ming sighed inwardly and weighed his words. “My lord, if we use the horses for evacuating civilians, what of our troops?”

Feng Muyun shot him a glance. “What use are horses in city defense?”

Mo Ming answered, “For transporting supplies, mobilizing soldiers...”

Feng Muyun glanced again. “Who said we need to transport supplies or mobilize soldiers?”

Pausing, his voice turned grave. “My orders to all of you are orders to hold at all costs. You have no reinforcements. How you manage limited supplies and troops to defend the city is up to you. You have been battle-hardened for years. Do you really need me to teach you the art of war?”

Mo Ming replied, “That may be true, but the battlefield is ever-changing.”

“Do I need you to remind me that?” Feng Muyun frowned. “The cult disciples at the west gate have strong individuals but lack cohesion, so I sent the Wind Command Unit—the best at coordinated attacks—and the Northern Pacification Regiment, experts in prolonged engagements to the west gate. The east gate faces weaker forces, so I placed the Iron Guard—best at defense—and the Razor Blades—best at assault—there. The north gate bears the greatest pressure, but we have as many great unified cultivators as the barbarians, plus the aid of the Wind and Sand Formation. It’s roughly an even match.”

He barked, “Heaven’s timing, the terrain, and the people’s spirit are all on our side. Do you expect me to predict every battlefield twist? How dare you speak of reinforcements before me?”

Mo Ming thought: That may be true, but if we had such an advantage, why be trapped in Yanbei at all? Why not strike out?

Feng Muyun caught their expressions and understood their thoughts.

“What? Problems?” he squinted. “Our strength is more than enough for defense but insufficient for offense. You are all veterans. Surely you know the difference between siege defense and open battle.”

Silence fell briefly before the generals nodded in unison.

“Then go, arrange their evacuation. Don’t block my view here,” Feng Muyun waved his hand impatiently.

After everyone left, the fortress lord finally spoke. “You don’t truly believe you can hold Yanyun, do you? Otherwise, why rush the entire populace to evacuate?”

Feng Muyun was taken aback, then smiled bitterly. “With such disparity in forces, how dare I claim certainty?”

The fortress lord pressed, “So, what’s your confidence level?”

Feng Muyun thought a moment. “Fifty percent.”

“That’s enough,” the fortress lord said thoughtfully. “A fifty percent chance is indeed worth trying.”

Feng Muyun chuckled softly. “Otherwise, would my great uncle have wanted me to abandon Yanyun?”

The fortress lord replied, “He did consider it.”

Feng Muyun asked, “According to my great uncle, where does victory or defeat hinge?”

The fortress lord said, “You mentioned the east gate. The Bohai scoundrels aren’t strong fighters. Holding their ground there shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Feng Muyun added, “With you, Valley Lord Liang, and the Wind Divine Guards at the north gate, plus the Wind and Sand Formation, pressure should be manageable.”

The fortress lord nodded. “So the hardest is still the west gate.”

Feng Muyun fell silent for a moment. “The cult disciples have been inactive these days, not even attempting to ambush the evacuating civilians.”

The fortress lord whispered, “Without a unified cultivator overseeing them, they dare not act recklessly.”

“Those beasts! They slaughtered nine cities of Yanbei! I truly wish to annihilate them all right now,” Feng Muyun growled fiercely.

“There are rules in war. If the unified cultivators act against them before Xu Hai’s forces are free, it could become a massacre,” the fortress lord’s gaze deepened. “I did not expect the Crying Blood Pavilion Lord to actually agree to let those beasts do as they please.”

Feng Muyun did not understand the fortress lord’s meaning.

The cult’s very essence is life-based cultivation. Why did it sound as if the Crying Blood Pavilion Lord would try to stop the cultists?

The fortress lord offered no explanation, instead staring blankly at the map.

...

...