Shan Congli went berserk in the audience hall and reproved the commander of the cavalry for his mistakes.

What with the setback that the cavalry had suffered during the first battle, the Wan courtiers began to have doubts and worries, residents in the capital thrown into panic.

The cavalry commander's face had been tense ever since he had left the palace. After returning to the encampment, he summoned his lieutenants and told them that they must win the next fight and force the enemy back at least five kilometers.

"General, we will drive these goddamn Great-Wen people away as long as we still draw breath! But ... " The speaker left his sentence hanging, clearly unsure whether or not he should continue.

The officer beside him glanced at him and then finished his remarks for him. "But this time around the Great Wen has a cavalry regiment that matches us. Also, the total number of their troops is no smaller than that of ours. We'll have to pay a very heavy price if we're to defeat them. From the vantage point of the present, it's inadvisable to force them back five kilometers at a price that heavy. Our ultimate goal is to drive them out of our country, and to achieve that goal, we'll at least have to have them retreat back out of the mountain pass of Jifang City first. We need to do it step by step and must not rush into anything."

"Yes. That's exactly what I want to say," agreed the former speaker.

During the fight earlier this day, they had underestimated the adversaries and lost the initiative because it had never crossed their minds that the Great Wen would be able to knock into shape a cavalry regiment like that, but these officers of the Wan cavalry were not cowards, and they had the guts to fight the formidable enemies again. In fact, they were all anxious to render meritorious service in the next battle, but it did not mean that they would abandon tactics and try to win with sheer force.

"Sire has given the order. We must force the enemy back at least five kilometers. This is our mission, and we must see it accomplished," said the commander, his voice as grave as his countenance.

All the others were dismayed at the words.

"Our failure to win the first fight has come as a terrible blow to the court. Many courtiers are concerned about the security of the city. If we fail to win a reassuring victory in the next fight, there might be political unrest in the city," said the commander.

The commander, who was very much in the Wan monarch's confidence and in charge of the Iron North Cavalry defending the northern border, was a fairly smart man. Though bitterly disappointed that the monarch had reproached him immediately after their failure to win the first fight, he was also aware that in these circumstances he must do as the monarch said, because otherwise there would be political unrest in the capital and their unity would be undermined. If that happened, the capital would fall sooner or later, given that they didn't really have a high chance of successfully defending against the attacks from Yuwen Tong's troops. If the monarch lost his power, they would – if still alive – have to flee north. The Wan Kingdom would no longer exist if things really came to that.

The commander's explanation was followed by a subdued silence. The reason why they were silent was because they had now come to know that the enemy was like a thick steel plate, and their legs would break if they kicked the plate hard.

...

The Wan cavalry were instantly under even heavier pressure, ready to fight tooth and nail during the next battle. In the encampment of the Great Wen, Yuwen Tong was also cautioning Jiang Xi and He Xiao, "The enemy failed to make any gains in the first fight. In order to bolster his troops' morale and reassure his court, Shan Congli sure as hell will order his men to win the next battle, no matter how heavy the cost might be, which means the next battle will be much tougher than this one. In the next fight, you're to adopt the formation you've practiced previously to deal with the Wan cavalry instead of attacking them frontally. Jiang Ke and Yuwen Jin will be assisting you. I want you to face them down hard once again!"

Faces serious, their burning eyes gleaming enthusiastically, Jiang Xi and He Xiao chorused, "Yes, Sire!"

Unlike Shan Congli who had requested his cavalrymen to fight to the last breath, Yuwen Tong had long since made some plans aimed at eliminating the Wan cavalry. His men had practiced the formation designed to deal with the Wan cavalry for over a year and could now work as a seamless team. Jiang Xi had even secretly gone to the south and lived in the encampment of the South-Western Army for over a year.

The cavalry of the Great Wen could not afford to lose the next battle either, because if they lost, the tables would be turned on them; although they would still be able to win the final victory, the war would be prolonged, and the situation would be unfavorable for the Great Wen, given that the whole army was now deep in enemy territory, and that it would not be long before the civil strife in the Luohai Kingdom came to an end, either with Mu Rongfeng's throne usurped or with Nian Feng killed by Mu Rongfeng. Therefore, the Great Wen must subject the Wan Kingdom to its rule before the Luohai Kingdom came to the Wan Kingdom's rescue!

For the Wan Kingdom, however, another setback would be a fatal blow to the morale of its army.

Yuwen Tong had long since conferred with the generals and had all these planned out.

...

Jiang Xi and He Xiao immediately left to have the cavalry get ready. Jiang Ke and Yuwen Jin were racing against time to have their men practice the formation one last time. Xiao Jiangyue and the other officers were also doing what they were supposed to do respectively. After a short break, the encampment instantly became abustle with soldiers making preparations for the next fight, the mood in it tense.

Ling Zhang inquired of Yuwen Tong, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

He felt it inappropriate to stay in the rear under the protection of soldiers all the time. He had confidence in his kung fu, and his bodyguards would be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. It would be a waste of manpower if he had them stay behind the army with him.

Yuwen Tong, however, did not like the idea of Ling Zhang fighting enemies on the battleground. It was too dangerous, considering how many enemies there would be and the stray arrows that would be coming from unpredictable directions. Ling Zhang had just recovered from his injuries. How was he supposed to endure the heartache if Ling Zhang got hurt again?

"You're the empress. 'The rich men dare not sit right under the eaves for fear of dropping tiles'. Your safety concerns the well-being of our people, so don't risk going to the battlefield."

Ling Zhang was somewhat astonished by his words. This was his first time hearing Yuwen Tong say something like this. "I can protect myself. I won't be hurt by a stray arrow or any other weapons. Besides, my bodyguards will be with me."

Yuwen Tong looked resignedly at him. Why couldn't Ling Zhang understand him? It was him that he was worried about the most.

It was a while before Ling Zhang cottoned on and hastened to say, "I'm really not going to put myself in danger. Don't worry."

He had not realized that Yuwen Tong had been expressing his concern about his safety in a roundabout way when talking about the well-being of the people.

Yuwen Tong said, "You're not going anywhere."

Ling Zhang looked at him, silent.

"Do you remember the promise you made me? Are you going back on your word?" Yuwen Tong added.

Ling Zhang opened his mouth and said after a pause, "But that was because ... I just don't want to stand by idly while the soldiers are risking their lives fighting the enemies. It makes me anxious and fretful."

Yuwen Tong made no immediate reply after hearing his words. Instead, he raised his hand and stroked Ling Zhang's face. "You're the empress. Your very presence is an encouragement to them, so you're not doing nothing. If you join the fight and accidentally get hurt, that would affect the morale. Besides, I need you to stay within my sight so that I could composedly direct the troops throughout the battle."

Ling Zhang, "..."

He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Now that Yuwen Tong had put it this way, what else could he possibly say? He did want to fight the enemies on the battlefield, but he did not want Yuwen Tong to be distracted by his actions and thus be in danger.

"Okay. I'll stay."

Yuwen Tong's face softened slightly. "But you still need to wear your armor, just in case."

"All right," said Ling Zhang, but his voice was not very spirited.

Yuwen Tong's hand which was stroking Ling Zhang's cheek moved upwards and he gave Ling Zhang a pat on the head.

Ling Zhang was at a loss for words after being patted. Why was Yuwen Tong treating him as though he were a child?

"Stop patting me. I said I'll stay. I'll keep my promise."

"I know. I just want to cheer you up a little."

Yuwen Tong knew very well how it felt to be eager to join the fight but have to stay in the rear. Back then when he had first been made a general-in-chief, he had been in this kind of situation as well, believing that he should be charging at the enemies and bathed in blood instead of staying under the protection of his soldiers and watching the troops fighting. It was after a very important war that his opinions had changed. His experience in that war had made him considerably more poised and so much more prudent as though he had become another person, and he had also come to realize the importance of the general-in-chief directing the troops correctly. If a commander fought on the battlefield, he might be able to kill some enemies, but he wouldn't be able to hold all the enemies back; if he stayed in the rear and directed the troops in the correct way, his army would win the battle; if the commander was good at tactics, he would be able to help his army defeat enemies that outnumbered them and at the same time minimize the casualties, saving more lives.

At that time, when his troops had been looking at him, it was as though they were looking at some kind of belief; they would charge at the enemies if he gave the order, and they would sacrifice their own lives to keep him safe; as long as he still drew breath, the army under his command would be alive and stand a chance of winning, however difficult the situation was. He was the soul of his army. Without him, his troops would lose their belief and their backbone, become a leaderless mob and powerless to defend against attacks.

He would never let that happen, so he had, step by step, grown into what his troops saw as a god. He had, risking death again and again, led his men to one victory after another, helping them survive countless battles.

In a war, the general-in-chief was under far greater emotional stress than a common soldier was. He was not just sitting idly in the rear under the protection of a number of soldiers.

Yuwen Tong thought about it for a while and then shared with Ling Zhang his experience and what he had learned in a couple of previous battles.

He recounted it very carefully, Ling Zhang listening attentively.

Ling Zhang was not an intransigent person. On the contrary, he was very open-minded and willing to accept anybody's opinions as long as they were reasonable, which was why a moment ago he had undertaken not to join the next fight after Yuwen Tong told him what consequences it might lead to if he went to the battlefield, though he had been rather unreconciled to the situation.

And now, after Yuwen Tong related to him what he had experienced in the past, he decided to keep Yuwen Tong's words in mind. Maybe because he had seen a lot of fighting and killing on the battleground recently, Yuwen Tong's stories did not strike him as something that had happened in the long past. He understood and empathized with those feelings.

"Was your grandfather already gone at that time?" Ling Zhang asked him.

Yuwen Tong inclined his head. "Yeah. I was not made general-in-chief immediately after my grandfather passed away, because I was too young, but the then general-in-chief groomed me to become one. His methods might be a little unduly harsh, but they helped me make rapid progress."

Ling Zhang asked him, "Who is he?"

Yuwen Tong gave him a name. "Have you heard of him before?"

Ling Zhang thought back for a moment and then said, "Yeah. My uncle mentioned him once, but ... it's said he died in a war afterward."

Yuwen Tong said, "He did, which is why the Wan Kingdom must be subjugated, and the strife between the three countries must end, so that there will be no more bloodshed or loss of lives."

A full-on offensive on the city soon started. The Wan cavalry charged out of the city gates in a very threatening manner, followed by a great number of infantry part of whom were carrying shields. Anybody could tell from the menacing air they were emanating that the Wan Kingdom was determined to win this battle.

Jiang Xi and He Xiao didn't dare take the enemies lightly. As bugles of both sides sounded attack in unison, the two of them leading the cavalry charged at the enemies.

The two opposing cavalries were both large, and the ground was making a perpetual rat-tat as horses' hoofs stamped on it, the quake of it spreading outward as though in response to the beat of war drums. The whole battlefield instantly turned into an ocean of militant spirit.

Every one of the Wan cavalrymen had a fierce look in their eyes. They had sworn to crush the cavalry of the Great Wen, so they were charging in an uncommonly ferocious fashion.

When they were halfway to the front of the enemies, however, the cavalry of the Great Wen suddenly split up into two groups and galloped towards the two wings respectively, seemingly intending to outflank them.

The Wan cavalry found it hard to believe. Though the opposing cavalry were the equal of them, staying together to fight them head-on was the safest strategy, but they were actually splitting up on their own initiative! Wasn't this suicide?!

The commander of the Wan cavalry was overjoyed to see this scene, feeling that it was a godsend. Since Yuwen Tong's men were seeking their own deaths, they would be fools not to seize the opportunity and rout the enemies.

"Advance! Kill them all!"

"Advance!"

"Kill them!"

Their morale boosted, the Wan cavalry charged forward even faster, targeting the opposing cavalry.

They were galloping so fast that it was too late for them to stop when they found that something was wrong.

Some of the cavalrymen of the Great Wen suddenly strained at a long rope they were holding, which blocked the path of the Wan cavalry like a hurdle. The vanguard of the Wan cavalry tripped over it and dashed to the ground one after another like dumplings being poured into a wok. Those behind them, what with the inertia, were unable to rein in their horses in time and crashed smack into the horses ahead. Because of their fast speed, the force of the impacts was so great that their horses neighed madly in pain. The cavalrymen either flew forward or fell heavily to the ground; some of them got their feet caught in their stirrups, and when their horses turned sharply, their legs instantly broke; some others, after landing on the ground, were trampled by horses galloping from behind.

But this was not the worst part. As the cavalry of the Great Wen scattered, a team of archers emerged and with that sharp arrows accompanied by chill airflow were fired at the Wan cavalry unhesitatingly. The warhorses in front, along with their riders, took the brunt of the first salvo.

The battlefield was soon full of intermittent cries of anguish and curses. The same thing was happening in several spots. The cavalry of the Great Wen extended their formation. Almost half of the vanguard of the Wan cavalry lost their lives because of the rope the sudden appearance of which caught them flat-footed, and those who survived soon got killed when the arrows rained on them. Though a few of them flukily survived both, the cavalrymen of the Great Wen charged up to them and took their lives as their warhorses turned around.

Thus, the vanguard of the Wan cavalry were wiped out only a few moments after engaging their adversaries.

Such a disastrous outcome shocked all the other Wan soldiers.

The cavalry of the Great Wen, while the enemies were in shock, regrouped and charged at the main force of the Wan cavalry once again.

"This can't be happening! How could they have tripped so many people?!"

Many Wan soldiers couldn't believe their eyes.

How was it possible to trip the vanguard charging with that momentum with a mere rope?

In fact, were the cavalrymen and the ropes common ones, they would have not only failed to stop the charging enemies but also been dragged off their horses and ended up grievously wounded or even dead.

However, those holding the ropes were not common soldiers but special cavalrymen with very powerful internal energy and extraordinary physical strength, all of whom were, when not on the battlefield, heroes capable of fighting off kung fu masters vastly outnumbering them. On this occasion, masquerading as common cavalrymen, blending in with the crowd, they were barely recognizable.

It hadn't been easy for Yuwen Tong to seek out and recruit these men.

The Wan soldiers were blindsided by this unexpected change, but the troops of the Great Wen, however, had been expecting it. Therefore, Jiang Xi and He Xiao, without further ado, charged at the main force of the Wan cavalry who had not come to themselves yet, their men closely following in their wake.

"THEY'RE COMING! WATCH OUT FOR THEIR ROPES!" bawled the commander.

Though why those ropes were so stout was a mystery to them, it was a fact that their fellow cavalrymen's warhorses had tripped over them. The commander was instantly on the alert at the sight of the opposing cavalry led by Jiang Xi and He Xiao charging at them.

Because of this, the Wan cavalrymen did not dare charge fast and, most of their attention concentrated on guarding against the enemies' ropes, tried to dodge when the enemies split up into two groups once again.

But as they turned their horses, a team of archers on horseback emerged from behind the cavalry of the Great Wen, drew their bows and fired arrows at them without hesitation.

The sounds of arrows penetrating armor and flesh were heard at fleeting intervals, cavalrymen and warhorses sinking to the ground in patches amid a rain of arrows.

The commander cocked an eye at the enemies and found that this time they were not using any ropes and were just pretending to be! What with this, many of his men had been unprepared for the arrows and shot to death!

"Fuck! These bastards are so crafty. Nobody falls back another pace! Charge and kill them all!" The commander was beside himself with fury.

Another batch of cavalrymen were downed in the time it took for them to turn around and make a beeline for the enemy archers on horseback after finding themselves fooled.

Meanwhile, the cavalrymen led by Jiang Xi and He Xiao also hurtled towards the opposing side.