Chapter 975 – Battle at the Northern Frontier (12)
Jiang Pengji, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open at the noise, her dark eyes glinting with a chilling light.
As she rose, she grabbed the long knife resting on her knee and rested it on her shoulder.
“Han Mei, let’s go—”
As she lifted the tent flap, she spotted a young general clad in armor standing to the side, his once-boyish face now rugged and brimming with masculinity.
Dressed in armor herself, Jiang Pengji looked ready to charge into battle and slay enemies.
At this sight, the strategists nearby had already given up on dissuasion; no matter how they urged, their lord refused to behave like a quiet little princess in the main military tent. Hoisting a massive battle-ax, she looked formidable enough to give even the commander Fu Wang cold feet, leaving the strategists feeling quite hopeless.
While others hoped their lord would take action, they simply wanted her to play it safe.
“The mist over the river has lingered for a quarter of an hour. Even if we start a fire, we won’t be able to see clearly from three hundred paces away,” Li Yun noted as Jiang Pengji exited the main tent, quickly following her. “The two military advisers believe the time is ripe; the enemy will definitely land within half an hour.”
Only three days had passed since the new moon, and a small crescent moon hung in the dim sky, casting a dull, somber light.
Thanks to the weather, dark clouds filled the heavens, and the scant moonlight was veiled, drastically reducing visibility.
To Wu Libai, this was divine assistance; he couldn’t afford to miss such an excellent opportunity.
“Don’t be careless—Wu Libai is one of the few wise generals from the Northern Frontier; he’s very experienced. You folks—whether the gentlemen or you—have had it too easy compared to others, which is why you should remain vigilant at all times—”
Jiang Pengji trusted her strategists but didn’t follow them blindly.
Compared to the war-savvy Wu Libai, both Sun Wen, the late bloomer, and Feng Zhen, the cunning one, lacked his level of experience. Wu Libai had suffered losses under Jiang Pengji’s command before; this night raid landing wouldn’t be easy to handle.
Li Yun’s demeanor showed he understood, the little tail he had just raised obediently drooping down.
“We know Wu Libai is highly likely to cross the river and launch a surprise attack tonight, but we don’t know when he’ll come or from which direction. For now, we’ll have to adapt to keep steady and remind the advance unit to stay alert, not a moment of slackness—”
Jiang Pengji met up with Feng Zhen and the others.
When she arrived, Feng Zhen was speaking quietly with the female camp commander Jiang Nongqin, while Sun Wen furrowed his brow.
“Greetings, my lord!” the three saluted in unison.
“No need for formality, how are preparations going?”
Jiang Nongqin replied steadily, “Reporting to my lord, we’re nearly ready, just waiting for movement on the river.”
She was a year older than Jiang Pengji in this body and served as Jiang Pengji’s half-disciple as well as the top female commander under her command, bearing a pressure far greater than others could imagine. Over the past few years, as Jiang Pengji conserved her strength, Jiang Nongqin had been diligent in self-improvement, studying military texts and practicing hard without rest.
In these two years, she evolved from a simple military general to a well-rounded figure in both martial and civil affairs.
As a woman in the military, her reputation was second only to Fu Wang and Meng Hunyun, on par with Li Yun, slightly edging out Dian Yin.
She played a crucial role in the female unit developing a combat-ready force of twenty thousand and four thousand medics.
Jiang Pengji gazed over the pitch-black river, her expression solemn.
While preparations were complete, the advance unit only had thirty thousand troops; even if they were all elite, they couldn’t withstand the overwhelming numbers of the enemy.
“Tonight is likely to be a bitter battle; we must endure these next few days—”
“My lord, please rest assured; I will fight to the last drop of blood.”
The voice of the woman was either gentle as water or ringing like silver bells, but Jiang Nongqin’s tone was sharp as a blood-stained blade, laden with murderous intent.
Though not as broad-shouldered as a tiger, she stood with the presence of a sharply pointed spear.
After two quarters of an hour, the fog over the water grew thicker—
They were coming!
The female soldiers of the advance unit returned with news; the river was lit up with numerous “fireflies,” drawing closer to the eastern shore.
As time passed, the “fireflies” multiplied.
Through the thickening fog, these moving “fireflies” approached, growing larger and more distinct, resembling a swarm of glowworms.
In the dark of night, the sight was quite eerie.
Jiang Nongqin’s expression darkened. Seemingly realizing something, she turned to Sun Wen and said, “Sun Military Adviser, I fear there’s a trick at play.”
Sun Wen smiled. “What Lieutenant Jiang says is indeed true; there is a ruse here.”
If it were truly a surprise attack, why light torches in the mist, drawing attention like a fool?
Wu Libai was a seasoned commander with a wealth of combat experience, skilled in seizing opportunities and meticulous in planning.
Such a person wouldn’t overlook such a major flaw.
“Though the fog is dense, if he’s attacking covertly, why light torches? Is he afraid nobody will notice him? I believe this must be Wu Libai’s deliberate tactic to lead our attention here, making us think he’s landing for a surprise attack. That’s one.”
Sun Wen maintained a smile, even as the “fireflies” approached the riverbank, he remained unfazed.
“Secondly, the Northern Frontier’s foreign tribes live off the river; crossing a mere Chuan River poses no issue for them. Even without torches, the water is width only five li, and they can cross the river smoothly. Taken together, this appears to be a deception; we must not fall for it.”
Sun Wen stated this with a calm demeanor, voicing what Jiang Nongqin had in mind.
Who would announce before a surprise attack—
Don’t hide, I’m coming to ambush you now?
“Even so, ordinary folks are easily misled.” The war’s atmosphere can tighten nerves, often causing neglect of certain details. Jiang Nongqin sighed, “It’s a pity; if it were summer, Wu Libai might have made a small fortune off this—”
Sun Wen looked at Jiang Nongqin in surprise. “I ask Lieutenant Jiang for guidance.”
Seeing Sun Wen’s interest, Jiang Nongqin felt a bit flustered. “I can’t really guide; I just think the Northern Frontier tribes know the Chuan River inside and out, and their swimming skills should be rather formidable. If it were summer, the river wouldn’t be so cold, perhaps allowing them to leverage the cover of boats and sneak under the water across the river.”
Though Jiang Nongqin’s ideas were bold, they weren’t without feasibility.
Encountering a meticulous thinker like Sun Wen, the presence of torches on the boats would lead him to believe it was merely an enemy’s feint.
Unbeknownst to him, the enemy was hiding beneath the shadow of the boats, crossing the water and catching them off guard.
“Lieutenant Jiang has taught me a valuable lesson; I thank you for that.”
Sun Wen made a small bow, regarding Jiang Nongqin with newfound respect.
Jiang Nongqin merely spoke her mind.
She was seasoned in battle tactics, but when it came to scheming, she still felt like a novice, brimming with intelligence yet lacking practical combat experience.
Jiang Pengji had intended for Sun Wen to assist Jiang Nongqin, which inherently meant allowing Sun Wen to guide her.
Watching the “fireflies” on the river edge approaching firing range, Sun Wen ordered fire arrows for testing.
“Military Adviser, it’s indeed an empty ship—”
