The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 61: Where To

Chapter 61: Where To

What was their purpose in going there?

The neighing of horses echoed as the Western Rong troops intercepted them, cutting through the main army formation. The ranks fell into chaos, units disintegrated, and soldiers lost contact with their commanders. Panic-stricken, they glanced left and right, uncertain of what to do.

“Retreat”

Xu Ge issued the order for everyone to fall back to the pass, but things did not go as planned.

Contrary to intelligence reports, Aguhun was not at Jade Gate Pass. Instead, he had anticipated the Jin forces would detour through Jiayu Pass and laid an ambush specifically to attack the troops emerging from there. Like a cleaving blade, he forcefully severed the connection between Qing Wang Xu Ge and the others, scattering the ranks.

Niu Pengnan, along with the Women’s Army and female physicians, were pursued by Western Rong soldiers while bearing the mission to infiltrate the Western Rong and relieve the siege at Jade Gate Pass.

With pursuers at their heels and provisions in tow, Niu Pengnan gritted his teeth, gathered everyone, and proposed: “Why don’t we follow His Highness Qing Wang’s original plan? Let’s locate the Khan of Western Rong, capture him, and use him to force Aguhun to retreat?”

The Women’s Army members wavered. Niu Pengnan was no Xia Chengliedid he have the capability to capture the Western Rong Khan alive?

“If we can infiltrate the Western Rong, capturing their Khan alive should be no trouble.”

The Women’s Army members were formerly assassins, agile and skilled. If they could find a way to approach the Western Rong Khan, they could succeed in taking him alive.

That sounded reasonable, but they were unfamiliar with the Western Rong territory, and the Khan’s royal tent would be difficult to locate.

Everyone understood this, and their faces clouded with worry.

“We must try! Now that Aguhun has blocked His Highness Qing Wang’s main army and we can’t return, we might as well risk everything!”

The former assassin codenamed Nine, now bearing the new name Wang Qiu in the Women’s Army, rolled up her sleeves and raised her arm in a rallying cry.

“Alright! Capture the Western Rong Khan alive!”

Inspired by Xia Chenglie’s prior feat of capturing the Beidi Khan, Niu Pengnan felt a surge of fervent hope and excitement. Though the road ahead was perilous, he feared nothing. The mere thought of successof having his name mentioned alongside Xia Chengliemade his blood vessels swell and his pulse quicken.

Meanwhile, after the army was ambushed, Xu Ge led his troops in a frantic retreat all the way back to Jiayu Pass. Aguhun blockaded Jiayu Pass, determined to seize it. With Niu Pengnan and the Women’s Army out of contact, Xu Ge struggled to hold his ground while hastily sending messages to He Chongguang and the imperial court: Aguhun had deceived them; his true aim was to capture Jiayu Pass.

However, with the external situation unclear, Xu Ge couldn’t be certain of Aguhun’s intentions. Perhaps Aguhun was toying with the Jin army, deliberately sapping their morale. If He Chongguang’s reinforcements arrived at Jiayu Pass, Jade Gate Pass would again be in imminent danger.

Faced with this decision, Xu Ge had no confidence in his judgment.

Zhang Keqian paced back and forth anxiously. Halting midway, he asked Xu Ge, “Your Highness, what should our next move be? Are we to remain deadlocked like this until autumn?”

Agitated, Xu Ge sprang to his feet and mirrored Zhang Keqian’s pacing, hands clasped behind his back. His heart filled with trepidation, and he couldn’t help regretting having accepted the tiger tally. The current situation multiplied the pressure on him.

“We cannot act rashly now.” Xu Ge needed to ascertain the true military situation among the Western Rong before he could devise a strategy.

Zhang Keqian grew impatient. He reported Xu Ge’s reaction to the court and, instead of idly waiting in the tent with Xu Ge, went out to reassure the soldiers and alleviate their stress.

Xu Ying received news early in the morning that a group of people had been cut off outside with no further updates. If they remained missing for too long, according to regulations, they would likely be convicted of desertion. To find them promptly, the only option was to mobilize reinforcements from near Liangzhou to search for Niu Pengnan and the others, while suppressing the memorials demanding accountability.

Seeing those memorials calling for punishment made Xu Ying furious. The battle wasn’t even over, yet officials were already pushing for penalties. Suspecting the memorial writers might be Western Rong spies, she ordered their immediate detention to clear her mind.

All matters in Youzhou were postponed until after the Western Rong invasion. Xu Ying even canceled her birthday banquet, frantically searching through books in hopes of uncovering more usable resources.

Discussions about Qing Wang were now everywhere. Although Xu Ying had previously disciplined the scholars to stop them from criticizing the emperor, she couldn’t prevent them from gossiping about others. Other imperial clan members sighed at this: “Xu Ying’s military power isn’t so easily taken.”

The army had yet to achieve victory, and morale was low. At dusk, Zhang Keqian walked through the camp where soldiers hung their heads like wilted flowers, drilling half-heartedly. Cooking smoke rose straight into the clouds until a sharp gong strike and a clear voice called everyone to dinner.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Keqian crouched among the soldiers with his meal bowl, listening to their quiet complaints about their misfortune and doubts of ever returning home.

“Don’t worry, everyone,” Zhang Keqian spoke up at the right moment to boost morale. “The Great Wall is our dynasty’s strong barrierthe Western Rong can’t breach it easily. I’ve heard Her Majesty has even spent from her private treasury to purchase provisions and ordered the forging of sharp blades and crossbows for us. Moreover, under Her Majesty’s protection and the Dragon Aura enveloping our dynasty, we will surely overcome this crisis!”

Following Zhang Keqian’s lead, others chimed in: “Indeed! If Her Majesty herself guards the nation at Youzhou, why should we complain about resisting the Western Rong? They’re brutal and unjustheaven’s mandate isn’t with them. We need not fear as long as we unite like bundled firewood and focus our strength! We will defend Jiayu Pass!”

At the mention of Xu Ying, the soldiers’ complaints vanished. Those who had spoken loudest earlier bowed their heads in shame, while the encouraged troops regained their confidence and courage to defend Jiayu Pass, their eyes shining with determination.

Meanwhile, Xu Ge received an imperial decree to locate the missing soldierswhether captured or deserters, they must be found alive or dead. However, every time he sent troops beyond the pass, they were attacked by the Western Rong and returned empty-handed.

The very people Xu Ge sought were also being hunted by the Western Rong. In a military tent sat a vigorous old man with a face carved by time and weathered by hardship, his eyes gleaming like cold steel on a bladethis was Aguhun, a formidable Western Rong general.

Aguhun studied the map intently, his wrinkled face taut as his sharp gaze swept across the terrain. They had searched everywhere and stationed soldiers along all routes to the royal camp and back to Jin territory, yet found no trace of the scattered Jin soldiers. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, eluding all searches.

Before sending his troops, he had dispatched men to gather information about the newly enthroned female emperor of Jin. After reviewing the reports, he learned that the Jin people praised her for frugality and compassion toward her subjects, calling her a benevolent ruler. He had originally planned to capture some Jin soldiers to threaten the emperor in exchange for cities and land, but to his surprise, those soldiers vanished in an instant, disappearing without a trace.

At that moment, someone entered the tent. Without looking up, Aguhun asked, “Have you found any trace of the Jin army?”

“Daghan, some say they’ve seen Jin people by Blue Moon Lake. Could it be the Jin army?”

Aguhun’s hand rested on the map. He lifted his head, his brow deeply furrowed, revealing a trace of astonishment. “Blue Moon Lake? How could they have reached Blue Moon Lake…”

Blue Moon Lake was near the Western Rong border. Following its shores, crossing Moon Mountain, and heading further west, the grass and water grew increasingly scarce. Beyond lay an endless expanse of gravel desert, leading into uninhabited wastelands. Never mind how they managed to reach Blue Moon Lake so quicklywhat was their purpose in going there?

Aguhun couldn’t make sense of it. His withered fingers moved to the edge of the map, his expression clouded with profound confusion.

“Daghan, shall we pursue them?”

“Send a cavalry unit. No matter what, bring them back!” Aguhun rubbed his forehead, his bewilderment abruptly replaced by a fierce ruthlessness. His gaze turned sharp, glinting with a cold light.

The Western Rong cavalry cracked their whips, urging their swift steeds forward. In moments, they dwindled into distant specks on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Niu Pengnan, covered in dust and grime, was stubbornly struggling up the mountain. Ahead of him, the Women’s Army and female medics, carrying provisions, moved with agile ease, climbing effortlessly. Niu Pengnan leaned heavily on a walking stick, panting and drenched in sweat.

He planted his stick into the ground, bending over with exhaustion. The color drained from his face as he halted, unable to take another step. He paused to catch his breath, expelling the stale air from his lungs.

“Deputy Commander Niu, why have you stopped?” A female medic carrying a medicine chest passed him slowly, her face unflushed and breathing steady, a look of surprise on her face.

Niu Pengnan pressed a hand to his chest to calm his breathing. Hearing her words, his face flushed even redder. Gritting his teeth, he hobbled forward on his stick. Glancing at the medic’s slender frame, he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “You look so slight, yet you’re carrying such a heavy medicine chest. How are you not tired?”

The medic let out a soft “ah,” realizing Niu Pengnan was struggling. Her eyes curved like crescent moons as she smiled. “This is nothing. Before I married, I used to carry my younger brother up the mountain to gather firewood. I’ve walked paths like this many timesI’m used to it.”

“Deputy Commander Niu, you’ve never climbed mountains before, have you? Put down your provisionsI’ll carry them for you.” Another medic, a few steps ahead, overheard their conversation. She slowed her pace, glanced back, and covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, her eyes fixed on him as she teased.

Niu Pengnan immediately refused. He hadn’t expected to become a burden to the group, slowing their progress. Summoning his remaining strength, he quickened his pace.

Just then, Wang Qiu approached him and asked, “Deputy Commander Niu, are you sure we cross this mountain? Why do I feel the trees here are growing stranger…”

“It shouldn’t be wrong. The map I saw earlier indicated this direction.” Niu Pengnan also sensed something odd.

“Perhaps it’s because the Western Rong territory is so vast. Once we cross this mountain and find some settlements, we can slowly feel our way. We’re sure to locate the Western Rong Khan’s royal tent!”

Wang Qiu consoled himself that they couldn’t have strayed too far off course. No matter which direction they took, they would eventually locate the Western Rong Khan’s royal tent – it was merely a matter of covering more or less distance.

None among them were familiar with the Western Rong terrain. With enemy troops in pursuit, they had no choice but to scramble for cover in a desperate fashion. Fortunately, Niu Pengnan had studied the maps beforehand. Though the journey was long, there remained a glimmer of hope – not entirely without chance of success.

“Perhaps this is just how Western Rong is. It means we’ve already penetrated deep into their territory. Just persevere a little longer, and soon we’ll capture the Western Rong Khan alive!” Wang Qiu patted Niu Pengnan’s shoulder.

Niu Pengnan’s calves trembled as he forced a strained smile, barely managing to utter a single word: “Alright…”

Author’s Note:

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2023-05-19 18:47:46~2023-05-20 21:17:39~

Special thanks for nutrient solutions: Youyou 68 bottles; Qingqing 25 bottles; Jihuaixu 19 bottles; Guardian of Seas and Starry Rivers 10 bottles; Labradoodle, 123 Wooden Figure, Feeling Perplexed 5 bottles each; Icepoint Cream2, Late Bell, Eye-scorching 1 bottle each;

My deepest gratitude for everyone’s support. I’ll continue striving hard!