Volume XIII: Dreaming Back a Thousand Years - Chapter 8: Raising the Banner of Revolt

Unnoticed, a month slipped by. During this single month, earth-shaking changes occurred. While Sheng Chuhan memorialized the court to refuse the summons to enter the capital, he busied himself with recruiting troops and reorganizing the military. Among the Sheng Family Army, one hundred thousand soldiers were designated as the Cold Vanguard, a force that had always been personally commanded by Sheng Chuhan. Naturally, without Yaoguang having to utter a single request, Sheng Jinyuan directly assigned her to the Cold Vanguard. Initially, Sheng Chuhan intended to make Yaoguang a centurion, but Yaoguang shook her head, stating she must start from the very bottom, otherwise the troops would not be convinced. Unable to persuade her otherwise, Sheng Chuhan relented and followed her wishes.

In the army, everyone knew of this third young miss. At first, they watched her with a mixture of curiosity and utter disdain; after all, what could a woman accomplish in the military? Yet throughout the month of rigorous training, this woman left everyone utterly dumbfounded. Whether in martial arts or military strategy, she consistently took first place. Several times, unconvinced soldiers challenged her to single combat, but whether fighting alone or facing ten opponents at once, no one could last even ten moves under her hands. By the end of the month, not a single person remained unconvinced.

As the departure date drew near, some soldiers even approached Sheng Chuhan, asking why the Third Young Miss, being so valiant and skilled in battle, remained a mere foot soldier and should instead be appointed a general. Following Yaoguang's suggestion, Sheng Chuhan maintained his composure. Later, as more and more people came to plead that Yaoguang be made a general, Sheng Chuhan made an exception and promoted her to the rank of General of Cavalry.

Upon learning the news, everyone rejoiced for Yaoguang. Adopting a boyish manner, Yaoguang drank wine and ate meat alongside the troops. Seeing how popular she was, Sheng Chuhan thoroughly understood just how vital Yaoguang’s words about winning people's hearts truly were. In merely a month, Yaoguang had completely united the hearts of the army.

Watching Yaoguang's carefree retreating figure, Sheng Chuhan sighed inwardly, thinking how fortunate it was that this woman stood on his side; otherwise, the future political landscape would have been entirely unpredictable.

The appointed day arrived, and Sheng City was filled with joyous cheers as the Sheng Family Army prepared to set out on their campaign. This time, the primary target of the Sheng Family Army was Ling City. Ling City was the fiefdom of Yu Du, and its condition was already unimaginably tragic. Capturing Ling City first would serve as an immediate show of force to intimidate Yu Du.

Operating under the banner of purging the ruler's corrupt advisors, the Sheng Family Army included every territory and city of Yu Du in their campaign targets. Sheng Chuhan would attack Ling City, Sheng Chuhui and Sheng Chuyu would attack Jiang City, and Sheng Chueh would attack Qi City. With Sheng Jinyuan presiding over Sheng City, the three separate columns of troops marched out of the city simultaneously.

On this day in Sheng City, all the citizens poured out to bid farewell to the Sheng Family Army. Wherever the Sheng Family Army went, peace would follow. The citizens eagerly awaited the triumphant return of their army.

Amidst thunderous cheers, the Sheng Family Army marched out of the city gates. Yaoguang sat astride a towering steed, clad in gleaming silver armor with a white cloak as pure as snow. Big Head perched upon her shoulder, thrilled by the imposing spectacle.

"Big Sister, this period has been the most thrilling time for Baby," Big Head whispered into Yaoguang's ear.

"If you want to go wild, enjoy it to your heart's content. There won't be another chance in the future," Yaoguang replied softly.

Sheng Chuhan rode a sweat-blood steed, his dark armor accentuating his upright posture and lending him an even greater aura of martial heroism.

Once outside the city, the armies marched separately toward their respective destinations.

Sheng Chuhan's army was tasked with assaulting the most formidable target: Ling City. The prefect of Ling City, Zhang Chengxian, was an extremely difficult opponent. A man who valued loyalty above all and excelled in battle, he remained fiercely and blindly loyal to Yu Du. He was bound to defend the city to the death. Yaoguang had already formulated a plan in her mind.

The army made camp ten miles from the gates of Ling City. An overwhelming force of one hundred thousand soldiers pressed upon the border, and the aggressively advancing Sheng Family Army instantly threw Ling City into panic. The city gates were immediately slammed shut, and a placard requesting a truce was hoisted high.

Seeing the two large characters requesting a truce, Yaoguang found it somewhat ironic. Ling City's garrison numbered no more than thirty thousand; capturing it would be easy, but doing so without harming the city's common folk posed the real difficulty. In the age of cold steel, this was precisely what frustrated Yaoguang the most—it was far too cruel.

"Phoenix, how shall we fight this first battle? Do you have a plan?" Sheng Chuhan asked.

"The taxes in Ling City are exorbitant, and the people are already living in utter misery. Zhang Chengxian is a man of both courage and strategy, but he is as stubborn as a block of wood, blindly flattering Yu Du while the citizens of Ling City heap curses upon this prefect. Once we take down Zhang Chengxian, the city will naturally collapse from within. This is what is known as subduing the enemy without fighting," Yaoguang replied.

"Take down Zhang Chengxian? Easier said than done. That man possesses superhuman strength, and right now we cannot even enter the city," said Yang Huo, Sheng Chuhan's deputy general.

"Why would anyone want to challenge him to a duel? That would be courting death," Yaoguang said, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"You plan to assassinate him? But the prefect's residence is guarded so tightly not even a drop of water can pass through," Yang Huo argued.

"Leave that man to me. Tomorrow, all you need to do is provoke them to battle and help me draw their attention," Yaoguang smiled.

Sheng Chuhan looked at Yaoguang, his eyes filled with sheer astonishment. What on earth was this woman planning to do?

The next day, Sheng Chuhan personally led his troops forward to rattle the gates. A force of twenty thousand soldiers lined up right before the city walls. The defending soldiers upon the ramparts trembled inwardly; this was the Cold Vanguard of the Sheng Family Army, the most formidable force the Sheng Family Army possessed. Faced with such an army, who wouldn't be terrified?

The louder the cheers of the Cold Vanguard soldiers outside, the greater the dread in the hearts of the soldiers on the city walls. The Sheng Family Army was currently at the zenith of its unstoppable momentum; whether engaging in single combat or fighting to the bitter end, they were simply no match.

The shouts of the Cold Vanguard soldiers outside the city grew louder and louder, yet the gates of Ling City remained completely silent, and the Cold Vanguard showed no intention of storming the walls. After shouting for over an hour, the Cold Vanguard finally withdrew. The soldiers on the city walls finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside his mansion, Zhang Chengxian paced frantically in circles. One hundred thousand troops of the Cold Vanguard were pressing upon the city, and each one of them was a seasoned warrior skilled in battle, while he had only thirty thousand men in total. If these soldiers encountered the Cold Vanguard, certain death awaited them. No matter how he fought this battle, he was bound to lose. After consulting with his subordinates for a long time, Zhang Chengxian decided to appeal to Yu Du for rescue while stalling for time however he could.

Yet what Zhang Chengxian did not know was that this very night would be his doom. While the Cold Vanguard was shouting challenges, Yaoguang had already scaled the rear walls into Ling City and laid an ambush not far from Zhang Chengxian's residence. During the day, she had already thoroughly scouted the terrain, waiting only for nightfall to make her move.

As night gradually fell, the Cold Vanguard prepared themselves to storm the city that very night, awaiting only Yaoguang's signal.

The sky grew steadily darker. Leading Big Head, Yaoguang soared into the Zhang estate. Relying on his spiritual senses to scout the path, Big Head quickly located Zhang Chengxian's bedchamber. Yaoguang cast a barrier around the room before stepping inside.

Zhang Chengxian had already fallen victim to Yaoguang's sorcery; even if he woke up, he would remain entirely paralyzed. Walking up to him, Yaoguang directly placed a puppet curse upon Zhang Chengxian. The six-foot-tall stalwart man stood up like a wooden puppet, mechanically dressed himself, and followed Yaoguang out of the residence, heading straight toward the city gates.

Yaoguang did not reveal herself. Zhang Chengxian walked in a straight line up to the ramparts, startling the guards on duty.

"Open the gates," Zhang Chengxian commanded blankly. Frightened of him, the soldiers did not hesitate and immediately opened the gates. With a loud, echoing screech, the heavy city gates slowly swung wide open.

"Charge!" At that moment, the entire Cold Vanguard poured out, rushing toward the wide-open gates. Seeing that the Cold Vanguard had entered the city, Yaoguang lifted the spell from Zhang Chengxian. Regaining his senses, a bewildered Zhang Chengxian stood frozen in confusion, shouting frantically to ask what was happening.

Lights began to turn on one after another along the streets as wave after wave of soldiers surged into the city. Pushing forward at top speed, the Cold Vanguard's targets were the prefect's residence, the military camp, and the government offices. In the span of just half an hour, all of Ling City's key strategic locations fell completely. Ling City had been conquered without the Cold Vanguard expending a single weapon or shedding a drop of blood.

Outside the spiritual array, Chu Tianyou looked at the scene unfolding before him and remarked, "In the twenty-third year of the Jiangli Dynasty, the prefect of Ling City opened the gates to welcome the Cold Vanguard inside. Ling City fell, yet the Cold Vanguard did not draw a single blade. History books record this as the strange battle of Ling City, leaving behind only these few simple sentences. In those days, no one knew why the prefect of Ling City opened the gates. Looking at it now, it turns out to have been the Phoenix's masterpiece."

"So this is how the Phoenix usually captures cities," Xuan Chen exclaimed in surprise.

"Probably not always," Chu Tianyou replied. "Given the Phoenix's character, anyone she deems worthy of respect will be met head-on, even if they are enemies. Only those she holds in utter contempt are treated this way. Although Zhang Chengxian was valiant and skilled in battle, he oppressed the common people, sucked up to superiors, and groveled in every way to flatter Yu Du—a hypocrite in the truest sense. The Phoenix acted this way simply because she couldn't even be bothered to fight him."

Inside the spiritual array, Zhang Chengxian stood upon the city walls, shouting, "What is going on here?!"

The soldiers were frightened out of their wits.

"What, you still can't figure it out?" At that moment, Yaoguang appeared like a phantom, standing at the corner of the city wall and looking at Zhang Chengxian with an evil smile.

"Who are you?" Zhang Chengxian asked, startled the moment he caught sight of Yaoguang in her silver armor.

"Cold Vanguard, General of Cavalry, Phoenix," Yaoguang smiled.

"How did you get up here?" Zhang Chengxian demanded, feeling as though this woman was a ghost that had materialized out of nowhere.

"You still have the leisure to care about that? Ah, well, you're about to die anyway, so I might as well let you die with clarity. You fell under my puppet spell and were controlled by me, ordering your own soldiers to open the gates. As the dignified lord of a city, you personally opened the gates to let the enemy army in. How do you think Yu Du will deal with you once they find out about this?" Yaoguang sneered.

"You despicable... No, the prime minister must not find out! I just have to kill you!" Zhang Chengxian's eyes filled with stark terror.

"It's too late; the news has already been sent out. Well, take care of yourself." Yaoguang's body lifted effortlessly into the air. Glancing down from high above at the soldiers on the ramparts, she called out, "The Cold Vanguard has entered the city. Those who surrender will be spared. Whether you want to live or die is up to you to decide. I will be waiting for you at the military camp." With that, Yaoguang drifted further and further away into the sky.

"Is she an immortal?" someone muttered.

"Why aren't you running yet? Are you waiting for Zhang Chengxian to kill you?" Yaoguang's cold, clear voice drifted down from the heavens.

In an instant, the soldiers on the city walls snapped out of their stupor and rushed down the ramparts in a chaotic swarm.

Leaving Zhang Chengxian standing all alone, howling in despair...