Chapter 1267 – Defeating Huang Song, Uniting Dongqing (Nine)
Yang Si was so scared his face turned white; there was no way he could stop the rebellious Lord all by himself.
Jiang Pengji cast a cold gaze at the battlefield, chuckling to herself, “Do I seem like the kind to rush headfirst into death?”
Yang Si secretly sighed in relief. He had fully prepared himself for the possibility that the Lord would ignore everything and charge forward with Xiao Bai.
Her sudden obedience and gentleness were truly unsettling for him.
However, Jiang Pengji continued, “During this feigned illness, I’ve discovered something unusual.”
Yang Si looked at her in confusion, mumbling to himself.
What exactly had the Lord learned from this charade? Why such a change in behavior?
Previously, no amount of persuasion could move her; he had almost given up hope, and now she was actually behaving herself.
Jiang Pengji merely smiled and said nothing.
Counting carefully, she had been in this era for almost ten years now.
On the surface, she adapted remarkably well, seeming like an ordinary, unconventional individual from ancient times, but deep down, she was still the unruly commander of the Federation’s army. Outwardly, she shared similarities with those around her, but fundamentally, they were entirely different—
She never thought bloodline inheritance was of great importance; after all, reproduction had been replaced by machines, making the continuation of life incredibly simple.
As long as she wanted, she could have descendants with the best genes.
But this era was different. Childbearing was not merely about fulfilling bodily desires; it was a continuation of life and will.
Since Jiang Pengji had no offspring, when news of her grave illness spread, everyone unanimously believed her empire would crumble. No heirs meant no hopes of continuation, and even if they didn’t say it to her face, she understood that all too well.
If she died, those who had once relied on her would be like rootless duckweed, truly scattered like monkeys when the tree falls, to be divided among other powers in chaotic times.
This time, it was just a ruse, so everyone could respond calmly. But what if next time it was a real injury or illness?
Considering the average lifespan in this era, those around her were already entering middle age or even old age, and aging people were hard to scare.
So—
It was wise to be a little more cautious to protect herself, lest these little nobles scare themselves out of their wits.
The power of dozens of crossbows was indeed terrifying, and watching soldiers die under the bolts in the live broadcast was heart-wrenching.
However, this was a war involving a hundred thousand troops; even the mightiest crossbows couldn’t clear out the enemy entirely.
After a few breaths, the vanguard forces of both sides had clashed.
On the battlefield, unless one reached Jiang Pengji’s level, mere fighting skills wouldn’t make much difference.
Collective cooperation was far more crucial than solo bravado; the survival rate soared.
Yang Si commanded the soldiers to form a loose yet tight military formation, intending to mislead Yuan Xin into thinking they were hastily preparing for battle, appearing unstable and ripe for an easy victory. Yuan Xin indeed perceived it this way, momentarily becoming complacent, leading him to lose some caution in battle strategy.
A general lacking caution and prudence would manifest directly on the battlefield, with the soldiers’ performances being quite telling.
Nie Xun watched the situation with a cold gaze, as if catching on to something, his pale, chapped lips pressed tightly together.
Something was off—
The enemy’s formation seemed chaotic and disorderly, but once they clashed swords with each other, their conduct told a different story.
Yuan Xin’s troops were becoming aggressive and excited, their initially tight formation starting to waver.
In contrast, the enemy’s troops, during their charge, remained intact; even in combat, they didn’t break formation—clearly, they had planned this in advance.
Nie Xun observed for a while longer, his heart racing; an inexplicable anxiety surged in his chest, making him feel uneasy.
“Quick, report to General Yuan Xin! The enemy is up to something; we mustn’t be reckless!”
Nie Xun sent a soldier to relay the message, only to find that Yuan Xin dismissed his warning entirely.
What qualifications did a mere scholar have to give orders on the battlefield?
The strategist’s role was to devise plans; the battlefield was the general’s arena. Nie Xun shouldn’t overstep his bounds.
“Tell Military Advisor Nie that I have it under control. There’s no need for him to worry; just wait for the victory banquet tonight!” Yuan Xin replied casually. “Moreover, military orders can’t be changed on a whim. The battlefield is ever-changing, and opportunities can slip away in a blink; I cannot heed all his advice.”
Hadn’t Feng Jin secretly undermined Nie Xun, leading to the failure of his plans, Yuan Xin wouldn’t have lost faith in him so thoroughly.
When Nie Xun heard the soldier’s reply, the pounding in his chest grew heavier, and the frequency quickened alarmingly.
Unfortunately, Yuan Xin was the commander, and while Nie Xun had military power, he couldn’t outmaneuver him.
Yuan Xin refused to listen, and he couldn’t force the man to comply.
“Stubborn and self-willed—” Nie Xun gritted his teeth, frustration evident; “This kind of reckless fool won’t end well!”
His voice was barely audible; amidst the clamor of battle, no one caught his words.
Jiang Pengji pointed to the battlefield and said, “Jing Rong, don’t they look like black sesame porridge?”
Yang Si: “…”
What porridge?
Amidst paying attention to the battlefield and giving commands, the messenger waved his battle flag, and the drumming soldiers adjusted their rhythm. The fighters engaged in fierce combat up front heard the change and understood its significance. It encouraged the enemy to rush in while simultaneously tightening their front lines.
While others merely closed the door to hit the dog, Jiang Pengji was closing the door to kill people.
She laughed, “Our soldiers’ formation is tight, like a sturdy bowl of black sesame porridge. The enemy’s formation may seem rigorous but is ultimately overzealous and shortsighted. After several clashes, their formation is becoming increasingly loose, just right for us to dilute them and take them down one by one.”
Yang Si glanced at the battlefield, where blood flew like rain, heads scattered, and the ground was littered with limbs.
He spoke in a tone resembling a plea, “Lord, could we use a different metaphor?”
Yang Si did enjoy black sesame porridge; the Young Doctor had said it could help slow aging and reduce white hair. Yet, his Lord seemed to be doing it on purpose, using black sesame porridge as a metaphor for the chaotic heads on the battlefield, which completely ruined his appetite.
Jiang Pengji asked, “Not vivid enough?”
Yang Si’s expression was deadpan, “Extremely vivid.”
Successfully, Yang Si developed an aversion to black sesame porridge; from now on, he would unconsciously associate it with clustered heads.
Though the metaphor was somewhat grotesque, Jiang Pengji was not wrong.
What effect did individual heroism have on a battlefield of a hundred thousand?
Like a drop of water in the ocean.
Only mutual cooperation and a strong momentum could ensure their victory.
“Align!” Jiang Pengji commanded again. “Strike!”
The messenger conveyed the order with flag signals, and the rhythm of the drums shifted, sounding as urgent as a torrential downpour.
The frontline shield bearers tightened their defensive line as ordered, killing enemies while merging their shields into two rows, standing at nearly ten feet tall!
The wall formed by the shields became a solid barrier, dividing the enemy into countless small pockets.
