Chapter 857: Wind and Snow Iron Cavalry Descends into the South (5)

At the border of Hezhou, war was on the verge of breaking out.

A muffled thunder seemed to rumble across the land from the direction of Youzhou. Cai Nan, the Military Commissioner of Lianghuai, donned his iron armor and gripped his iron spear. This frontier general was filled with a deep sense of sorrow; his tens of thousands of elite northwestern soldiers were not going to fight to the death against the Beimang barbarians on the battlefield, but rather perish in an internal conflict.

The Lianghuai army's infantry formed the center, deploying chevaux de frise, with cavalry on both flanks providing support. This was a very conventional formation. It wasn't that Cai Nan didn't want to engage the Northern Liang Iron Cavalry in a head-on, cavalry-versus-cavalry battle to the death; it was simply that even a proud and unyielding old general like him, a former subordinate of the Gu faction, lacked the confidence to outmaneuver that army, even with superior numbers. Cai Nan didn't hope his Lianghuai forces could stop the young prince; he could only hope to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Xu family's cavalry—perhaps two or three thousand? As for how many troops the imperial court could then block using the natural defenses and strategic passes bordering Jizhou and the Central Plains, that would truly be Cai Nan's "aftermath"—both in terms of territorial maps and, more critically, after his death in loyal service to the nation.

Cai Nan gazed out. The terrain was flat, with no significant undulations, covered in vast stretches of white snow. He inexplicably recalled a grim phrase: "The body is not yet cold." He wondered if his own corpse, in a few hours, would quickly become thoroughly chilled.

The northwest was known for heavy snowfall, and harsh, cold lands produced hardy warriors. Jizhou, in Lianghuai, once boasted Yang Shenxing's Jinnan Infantry, renowned as unrivaled under heaven. Cai Nan, having been promoted to Military Commissioner, was in a prime position. His Lianghuai border army was quickly regarded as a first-class fighting force of the Liyang court, second only to Liangliao. With several other local officials, also former subordinates of the Gu faction, recently entering the capital to assume important positions after Tang Tieshuang, Cai Nan felt little relief; instead, he sensed a subtle danger. Ultimately, these were cost-free deals for the monarch, exchanging high official ranks for local military power. The reason for such gentle, even affectionate, methods, was simply that their common patron, Grand Marshal Gu Jiantang, still stood firm at the border, and the Great General held hundreds of thousands of border troops under his command.

Cai Nan exhaled heavily. He had sent Han Lin, the Strategic Commissioner whom the young emperor considered a confidant, out of the battlefield. Then, he would lead his own troops to their glorious deaths here. Would this be a sufficient explanation to the Great General, to the court, and to the Emperor? Would this be considered the "dual loyalty and righteousness" spoken of in historical texts?

Having lived in a long-peaceful and prosperous era and served as a high-ranking frontier official enjoying years of good fortune, Cai Nan only now realized that the reckless youth who had once followed the Great General, intent on seeking death, had, in fact, begun to fear death, especially dying an unclear or meaningless death.

The synchronized hoofbeats of the Northern Liang Iron Cavalry were like drums, pounding heavily on Cai Nan's heart, one beat after another, making it difficult for the Military Commissioner to even breathe.

Without needing reports from distant scouts or night sentries, Cai Nan could see with his own eyes that the cavalry unit had stopped at the very edge of the optimal charging distance. A single rider advanced first, followed by approximately a hundred mounted attendants.

Cai Nan, his nerves taut, was utterly bewildered and increasingly uneasy. On the battlefield, two armies facing off was no child's play like in historical romances; notions of opposing generals stepping out alone for hundreds of rounds of intense combat were pure nonsense. Yet, before his very eyes, more than a hundred cavalrymen truly had separated from the Northern Liang main army. Could it be that the man named Xu, to win military morale, intended to use his "land immortal" strength to take a general's head amidst the army? Cai Nan felt a surge of anger at this thought. Did they truly think his army's great array of ballistae was just for show? To counter Xu Fengnian, a man capable of disrupting entire formations as a one-man army, Cai Nan had specially dispatched men with his Military Commissioner's seal to scour the entire Lianghuai region. He had almost entirely requisitioned or borrowed every ballista from beyond the northern defensive lines in one go. Over fifty ballistae in total; the entire military wealth of Lianghuai was openly arrayed behind Cai Nan. These were not only for dealing with single riders or small groups breaking through but also posed a significant deterrent to a mass charge by the iron cavalry.

The leading rider, hooves unceasing, did not halt his forward momentum until three hundred paces in front of Cai Nan's formation. Not only Cai Nan, the commanding general with a minor Grandmaster cultivation, but also his elite personal guards and two infantry generals beside him, could vaguely discern the imposing figure of the rider.

It was none other than Xu Fengnian, the widely renowned Prince of Northern Liang!

This young prince of the Xu family, whose father was known as the 'Man-Slayer', had killed no fewer than ten top martial arts grandmasters and slaughtered over three hundred thousand soldiers of the Beimang army. His hands were stained with blood; he had carved a path of slaughter all the way to this very day, to this very place.

Even though he was in the opposing camp, facing this man, Cai Nan still felt a certain undeniable admiration and awe. Among the sons of the elder generation of Liyang's two-character princes, this young man truly stood head and shoulders above the rest. Zhao Xun, Prince of Jing'an, also inherited his father's princedom, but he was so obsequious he seemed like the Emperor's personal dog. Zhao Zhu, originally hailed as the foremost Liyang prince, was widely criticized in Guangling. Zhao Yi, the eldest son of Zhao Sui, Prince of Jiaodong, did not particularly distinguish himself in the Liangliao conflict. As for figures like Zhao Biao, the Prince of Guangling's heir, there was no need to even mention them, for they would only bring shame. Cai Nan waved his hand dismissively; the sweating elite scout, Ye Bushou, quickly withdrew. Cai Nan fixed his gaze on the young man positioned between the two armies. Behind him were a hundred riders, unarmored and without sabers, each bearing only a single sword on their back. These were undoubtedly the Wu Family Hundred Swords, widely discussed in the Central Plains martial arts world last year. As a leading general defending a region for the imperial court, Cai Nan had always had little interest in jianghu affairs. All his skills were honed in the blood and gore of battlefields, honed for killing. Years ago, he had a private spar with a renowned martial artist of comparable cultivation within his jurisdiction; after winning easily, Cai Nan's only feeling was one word: "soft."

But those hundred riders before him, Cai Nan dared not underestimate them in the slightest. As for the young prince leading them, Cai Nan naturally dared not be careless in the least. If Xu Fengnian hadn't stopped his horse three hundred paces away, Cai Nan would have instantly, without a moment's hesitation or regard for decorum, ordered the ballistae to unleash a volley. Jianghu ruffians feared army crossbows, and martial arts masters dreaded ballistae—these were bloody lessons learned by countless lives. Especially heavy ballistae, which had the reputation of "flying swords within fifty paces." Cai Nan admitted he wouldn't dare face several ballistae with bolts as large as spears. If not for this, last year Beimang wouldn't have used ballistae against the Prince of Northern Liang outside Tiger Head City.

The Wu Family's Hundred Riders, Hundred Swords, solemnly halted their horses.

This was their first return to the Central Plains since leaving the Wu Family Sword Tomb and entering Northern Liang. The demonic figure named Zhu, standing behind Sword Crown Wu Liuding and Sword Servant Cuihua, even closed his eyes and sniffed deeply, his face filled with rapture, remarking with a click of his tongue: "Having smelled too much blood and horse dung outside Liangzhou Pass, the air here is far more pleasant. I just wonder if I'll be able to smell the fragrance of wine and perfume when we truly reach Jiangnan in the Central Plains."

Only two horse-lengths away from the Wu Family swordsman whose true name was Zhu Huang, Xu Fengnian smiled faintly: "As per our previous agreement, this time, if you follow this prince south until you can see the city walls of Western Chu's capital, all hundred of you will regain your freedom. After that, whether you choose to re-emerge in the martial arts world or find a beautiful place to live in anonymity, this prince will not interfere, and neither will the Wu family."

The demonic Zhu, who had been immensely bloodthirsty in the Wu Family Sword Tomb back then, cackled strangely: "Your Royal Highness, that might work for others, but for old Zhu here, it's hardly generous. Back in that hellhole, I merely killed a few more people named Wu. Old Man Wu, lacking the ability himself, conspired with others to drive sixty dragon-binding nails into me. The method wasn't particularly clever, but the technique was unique; only a direct descendant of the Wu family can remove those things. Old Zhu has always been one to rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Now that I'm entering the Central Plains martial arts world for the first time, if I don't become one of the Four Grandmasters of the Martial Ranking, or spar with Deng Tai'a again, I wouldn't be doing justice to the over forty years of suffering I endured in the Wu family. So, for these nails in my body, I'll still have to trouble Your Royal Highness to put in a good word with that old coot, Old Man Wu. As long as Your Royal Highness is willing to speak up, even though old Zhu has never known what jianghu chivalry is, I am not one to forget kindness. Then, even if Your Royal Highness asks me to kill someone in Tai'an City, old Zhu will readily agree. Your Royal Highness, how about this deal? Are we doing it or not?"

The ominous Zhu Huang and Deng Tai'a were both illegitimate sons of the Wu family, abandoned early on Sword Mountain to fend for themselves. However, in a battle long ago, the victorious Deng Tai'a entered the jianghu and became the Peach Blossom Sword God, while the defeated Zhu Huang, due to his excessive bloodlust—especially his ruthless slaughter that almost wiped out a collateral branch of the Wu family—was confined by the enraged Wu family patriarch using a secret, un-transmitted technique. If not for the Hundred Swords going to Liang, Zhu Huang, whose cultivation was said to be divine, would have been destined never to be known to the world as such a sword immortal. As for leading the Wu Family Hundred Swords to Guangling this time, not only Xu Weixiong but even Chu Lushan had objections. This was because Xu Fengnian had promised them their freedom, which was not a negligible loss for Northern Liang. On a battlefield where the situation was stalemated, these hundred people and hundred swords of the Wu family, once committed to battle, could absolutely become the crucial turning point. They might not be able to kill Tuoba Pusa, but even powerful figures like Hong Jingyan and Murong Baoding would likely be terrified.

Before Xu Fengnian could speak, Wu Liuding, who regarded Zhu Huang as a sworn enemy, turned his head and angrily retorted: "You, Zhu! If you can pull out sixty nails, I can put another sixty back in for you!"

Zhu Huang lazily scoffed: "You, kid? Even the woman beside you would sound tougher saying that. Haha, your Wu family is truly interesting; for two generations, the men aren't as capable as the women."

Sword Servant Cuihua's fingers twitched slightly.

The short old man, who carried an extremely long and slender ancient sword on his back, frowned and said: "Zhu Huang, don't push your luck."

This elder held an exceptional status in the Wu Family Sword Tomb, a place where countless swords and secret manuals were buried. Because he was a sword fanatic, Wu Liuding had, as a child, jokingly nicknamed him "Old Man Marrying Swords." Unlike Zhu Huang, who had never left the Wu family, or renowned swordsmen like Zhang Luangtai, Gongsun Xiushui, and Nalan Huaiyu, who still harbored hopes of returning to the jianghu, the eighty-year-old elder had been utterly devoted to the way of the sword his entire life. However, limited by his innate talent and cultivation, he was filled with unique insights into swordsmanship and vast knowledge of sword techniques, yet could never personally wield a sword to practice them. After the elder arrived in Northern Liang, his two discussions with the young prince about the essence of sword techniques and their philosophical disputes felt like finding a true confidant, leading him to consider passing on his legacy in Northern Liang. As for the affairs of the nation and the world, which scholars and warriors alike valued, the elder had always been indifferent.

Xu Fengnian did not turn, and said softly: "Everything can be discussed once we reach the Western Chu capital. If there are no surprises, we should have one or two battles to fight. Let's strive for not a single death among our Northern Liang Great Snow Dragon Riders, and of course, you shouldn't die either. The vast jianghu awaits you seniors to make your mark."

Wu Liuding retorted irritably: "So, leave some seeds for the jianghu, is that it? I find it utterly bizarre. This kind of act—putting on a brave front despite the cost—to outsiders, looks like a fool's errand. But when you do it, it seems extraordinarily heroic and high-spirited?"

Xu Fengnian turned his head to glance at the young Sword Crown who had been at odds with him from beginning to end. He did not quibble.

However, Hong Shuwen, a former member of the Phoenix Camp who was accompanying the Prince of Northern Liang on this journey, sneered: "Our prince is more handsome than you, and his skill is several levels above yours. Are you not convinced, kid?"

Wu Liuding forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes and said: "So what if I'm not convinced?"

Hong Shuwen said with an air of absolute certainty: "Not convinced? Then why don't you spar with our prince?"

Xu Fengnian ignored their bickering and shouted loudly to the Lianghuai army: "Cai Nan, a word before the lines?"

Cai Nan heard him and hesitated little. He rode out alone. The infantry generals wanted to stop him, naturally not wanting their commanding general to put himself in danger. After all, the young prince not far away was genuinely one of the Four Grandmasters of the Martial Ranking. But the Military Commissioner casually dismissed them with a remark: "If Xu Fengnian wanted to kill, he wouldn't stoop to such a base method."

The two riders advanced over a hundred paces each, then halted their horses and faced each other. Cai Nan took a deep breath, looked at Xu Fengnian before him, and said in a deep voice: "If Your Royal Highness wishes this general to retreat from battle, there's no need to waste your breath!"

Cai Nan, his iron spear held diagonally, saw that the young prince seemed to be rendered speechless by his bluntness. His gaze merely passed over Cai Nan and his horse, looking towards the Lianghuai border army. Cai Nan remained silent for a moment, then continued: "Even if you, Xu Fengnian, are a Martial Ranking Grandmaster whose cultivation surpasses Grand General Gu by a head, you are not your father, Grand General Xu Xiao, after all. You are still not worthy of Cai Nan dismounting and yielding!"

Xu Fengnian retracted his gaze and asked: "If I'm not mistaken, this prince has already had spies from the Fushui Chamber send a message to General Cai. It's fine for the general to block our path today, but please try to position your elite troops on the flanks, allowing our cavalry to charge straight through. We'll suffer fewer casualties, and you'll suffer even fewer. Wouldn't that be better?"

Cai Nan said coldly: "This general will pretend I never received that message. As a military general overseeing frontier affairs..."

Xu Fengnian suddenly interrupted Cai Nan: "General, you haven't received an imperial decree from the court, have you?"

Cai Nan's expression was indifferent.

Xu Fengnian chuckled: "Does General Cai think my Northern Liang cavalry's actions were sudden, catching Tai'an City off guard? Does the general truly believe that the Zhao Hook spies placed in Hezhou are so useless? Even if the Northern Liang cavalry advanced at a slower pace, that imperial decree was destined not to be delivered to Hezhou 'on time'. It would always be just one step late, neither fast nor slow, merely missing the exact moment of this battle."

Cai Nan said expressionlessly: "What of it? The imperial court conducts its affairs according to the will of its princes, marquises, and high officials. I, Cai Nan, only need to act in a manner worthy of this Liyang iron armor I wear!"

Xu Fengnian's lips twitched at the corners. "Rest assured, this prince proactively suggested reminiscing with you, Cai Nan; I never intended for your army to clear the way. The reason I sent you that message earlier was out of respect for how the General once gave a certain old fellow some face. And the reason I'm bothering to talk to you about all this today is because an old, high-ranking official in Tai'an City told this prince something from his heart."

Xu Fengnian turned his horse's head and slowly rode away. His words, neither light nor heavy, reached Cai Nan's ears: "Since you refuse to just put on a show, and the Lianghuai border army is intent on serving the nation loyally, then Northern Liang will grant your wish. On the battlefield, facing my Northern Liang Iron Cavalry, what difficulty is there in dying?"

Cai Nan returned to his own main formation, his face pale.

Spring, the third year of Xiangfu.

The Great Snow Dragon Riders swept through like a tide. The Lianghuai elite forces, numbering nearly forty thousand, were routed.