Because He Lingchuan had a special operation planned for tonight, Yuheng City had long since declared a curfew, forbidding such crowds from taking to the streets after dark.
Here, too, the disparity between Yuheng City and Panlong City was clear to see. Had a fire broken out in Panlong City on a night of curfew, the inhabitants would at most have poked their heads out the door for a glance, and, seeing that the flames were nowhere near their own homes, shut themselves back inside.
The manhunt for the arsonist had also begun well in advance.
The city defense forces moved swiftly. By the time the blaze was extinguished, the culprit had already been captured. He claimed to be a displaced refugee who had crossed the border from the east. Someone had given him three taels of silver to burn down a grand estate and had even thoughtfully provided several oil jars filled with explosive fire talismans, designed to burst into flame and detonate the moment they shattered.
Once the job was done, there were three more taels to be had.
Blinded by greed, the wretch had defied the curfew and boldly gone to work, entirely unaware that the property was the City Defender's residence.
Wen Daolun hurried over to pay his respects and express his sympathies to Zhao Linyang. The two were old acquaintances from Panlong City and had always enjoyed good relations.
"I fear some grave upheaval is afoot tonight," Wen Daolun said, his brows knit tight. "My divinations over recent days have repeatedly yielded the Thunder hexagram. A sudden, violent turn of events is clearly at hand."
Zhao Linyang gave a thumbs-up. "Old Wen, your arts of divination are as sharp as ever."
Just then, a personal guard sprinted in from outside and whispered several hurried sentences into his ear.
Zhao Linyang's expression sank. He turned directly to Wen Daolun. "Your hexagram has proved true. Trouble is already here."
Without time to explain further to his guest, he strode out, barking one command after another.
***
In the woods south of Yuheng City.
Hong Ming, Fu Shanlie's adjutant, led several hundred men lurking in the pitch-black darkness, lighting no torches and making no sound.
These were elite warriors of Jintao and Fu Shanlie's own personal guard.
Those two thousand river bandits had all been positioned in Longchuan to draw the Yuheng Army's assault. When it came down to it, the ones Fu Shanlie dared dispatch on a covert mission like this remained the most loyal subordinates he had brought from Beijia.
Of the elites among the Xiji puppet troops, he had taken only a dozen or so along; once this campaign ended, they were slated to accompany him back to Beijia.
They had been crouched here for most of the night, and quite a few of the Jintao men were yawning uncontrollably.
Are we going to fight or not? Daybreak is barely two hours away.
Right at that moment, an owl swooped in, bearing Fu Shanlie's latest verbal command:
"He Lingchuan is personally leading the assault on Longchuan. Commence your operation!"
"Get moving, get moving!" Hong Ming's spirits soared. He summoned two Jintao dispatch runners. "Pass the word to your men: move out on the signal of our command arrow!"
Under cover of night, Fu Shanlie's orders rippled swiftly through the ranks.
A quarter of an hour later, everything stood ready.
Hong Ming reached into his robes and brought out a thousandfold knot.
They had plant-insiders positioned in Yuheng City long before. The moment he snapped this woven knot of grass, it would transmit the signal to begin the uprising within the city.
At that instant, the second major bloodbath of the night would commence!
Yet before he could break it, a forward scout came racing back to deliver a breathless report:
"Someone is approaching outside Yuheng City!"
In the dead of night? Hong Ming was startled. He hurried to the ridge ahead to inspect the road and indeed spotted a detachment of cavalry riding leisurely toward Yuheng City's South Gate.
The ground before the gate was open and bare; at a single glance, he could tell the force numbered around sixty or seventy riders.
The horsemen wore uniform dark-red light armor and carried long lances, presenting an imposing spectacle. Their presence was entirely distinct from that of the Yuheng City Army. Though they numbered barely half a hundred, their overbearing, domineering aura felt as if it could overpower hundreds or even thousands of elite cavalry.
The commanding officer at their head was likewise clad in red armor, encased almost seamlessly from head to toe. The figure wore a demonic mask, and a sculpted beast crouched upon each pauldron.
Illuminated by torchlight, the gilded surfaces of that armor gleamed and shimmered, radiating an aura of mystery and supreme authority.
Behind this leader flew a towering standard bearing a single character:
Gale!
Before anyone else could react, several veterans of the Xiji puppet troops blurted out in sheer terror:
"General Red!"
"It's General Red of Panlong City, the butcher who sacked our capital!"
The Xiji puppet troops had fought on for several months in stubborn defiance after their kingdom fell, only to be ground into dust time and again by the Gale Army. The instant they saw that red-armored, masked silhouette, shivers went down their spines. Vile memories surged to the surface, and half their bloodlust evaporated on the spot.
The imprint ran far too deep. At that moment, not one of them was willing to advance a single step farther.
Hearing the name, Hong Ming felt half-skeptical and scrutinized the leader with care.
Dark-red armor, a scarlet cloak, a demonic mask, and a kestrel perched upon one shoulder.
Though he had never personally faced General Red on the battlefield, the legend of this iconic attire had spread even to distant Beijia.
It was forever linked to a thunderous, terrifying renown.
Could that truly be General Red?
Why would General Red appear tonight of all nights?
Someone from the mounted force called out toward the city walls.
Soon after, Yuheng City lowered the drawbridge, permitting the column to enter.
"Do we strike?" a subordinate asked Hong Ming.
The drawbridge was down—what better opportunity could they ask for?
Hong Ming's mind was in turmoil.
Attack?
Or hold back?
If they didn't attack, they might miss their golden chance, and General Fu Shan had already ordered the assault.
Yet if that unexpected arrival below the gate was truly General Red... that was a demigod!
Once the plan was set in motion, what if they were blocked by such a god of slaughter and failed entirely in their objective?
Seeing the riders filing through the gate one after another, another subordinate urged impatiently, "Lord Hong?"
Hong Ming clenched his fists, internal arguments warring violently in his mind. In the end, caution won the day.
"We need not rush this by a quarter of an hour or two. Send an owl inside to scout and see whether that's the real General Red!"
***
The drawbridge was raised slowly, and General Red entered Yuheng City.
The open ground inside the South Gate was packed with men, yet not a single torch was lit; the soldiers stood waiting in battle formation under cover of darkness.
Outside the walls, General Red's few dozen riders crossed the drawbridge at an unhurried, measured pace;
Inside the walls, everyone was armed to the teeth.
Had the hidden ambushers outside ignored the intimidation and surged forward to attack, the battle for Yuheng City would have erupted instantly.
Yet until the drawbridge was fully raised, the outside remained blanketed in absolute silence.
Those privy to the plan breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Zhao Linyang strode forward to meet them, followed closely by Wen Daolun. Both men bowed respectfully toward General Red:
"General!"
In truth, Wen Daolun was utterly baffled, completely unable to fathom why General Red would suddenly appear in Yuheng City.
At a time like this, shouldn't she be holding the northwestern front against Xianyou? The distance from there to Yuheng City was hardly trivial.
"No need for ceremony," General Red's deep voice came from behind the mask. "Please step forward, both of you."
Zhao Linyang complied at once, but Wen Daolun was visibly taken aback.
This voice... this was not General Red's voice!
Zhao Linyang tugged quietly at his sleeve.
Wen Daolun caught himself with a jolt and hurried forward.
The three leaned close together, shielded on all sides by warriors of the Gale Army.
They heard the "General Red" before them say in a taut, hushed tone, "There is an ambush outside the city. Fu Shanlie is executing a plan to lure the tiger from the mountain and intends to launch a surprise attack on us!"
"Commander He believes the earlier fire was set by internal spies. Once the battle begins, they are certain to coordinate from within and without."
Wen Daolun realized at once—this was the voice of Willow, the female warrior at He Lingchuan's side!
Zhao Linyang showed no surprise, nodding repeatedly. "Yes... yes... this official understands."
Wen Daolun understood immediately: Zhao Linyang had received word as well and was simply playing along.
Straight away, Zhao Linyang summoned several commanders and gave them quiet instructions. The officers nodded and departed to carry them out.
Before long, the number of guards on the South Gate visibly swelled.
Flanked and escorted by their guard, General Red and Zhao Linyang ascended the tall battlements of the South Gate.
This was done deliberately so the enemy forces inside and outside the walls could see her clearly—assuming there truly were ambushers lurking in the dark hills beyond.
Up on the battlements, the air was quieter and far more open. Wen Daolun asked "General Red" in a low voice, "Where is Commander He?"
"He has other arrangements."
"What if the enemy is cowed by 'General Red' and retreats?"
"Commander He said that would be best. To subdue the enemy without fighting," Willow replied with a smile. "We will definitely take Longchuan tonight. Even if Fu Shanlie retreats there, he will find no stronghold left, and his only choice will be to leave this place entirely."
He Lingchuan had instructed her to impersonate General Red specifically to achieve a deterrent effect.
If they could frighten Fu Shanlie into withdrawing—unlikely though it might be—the catastrophe facing Yuheng City tonight would dissolve into nothingness;
If not, it would still delay the enemy's assault, buying He Lingchuan more time to rush back.
Zhao Linyang nodded. "That would be best."
It was not that he wished to inflate the enemy's spirits and deflate their own, but Panlong City had not yet slain a Beijia general; was Commander He truly prepared to draw first blood on that front?
Wen Daolun was less optimistic. "Retreating without shooting a single arrow—that is hardly Fu Shanlie's nature."
Having served as City Defender here for over half a year, even if he had not directed military affairs, he knew a fair amount about Fu Shanlie's methods.
Willow pointed toward the distance. "If there truly is an ambush ahead, then Yuheng City will be the main stage of tonight's battle."
Zhao Linyang whispered, "You hold the South Gate. I'll go down and arrange defenses for the East and North Gates."
Wen Daolun offered his assistance: "I'll go down with you."
***
Hidden in the dark woods, Hong Ming and his men kept their eyes fixed on the figures atop the South Gate.
Suddenly, a dark silhouette emerged without a sound from the woods behind them, rapidly closing in.
"Who goes there!" The men instantly snapped to attention.
Hong Ming, however, hurried forward at once and said in a low voice:
"General!"
The newcomer was none other than Fu Shanlie.
Though Yuheng City had posted hidden guards to monitor the waterways north of Longchuan, they could not hinder Fu Shanlie, who was a master of water evasion.
Having slipped past the Yuheng Army's encirclement, he navigated up the Suxi using his evasion arts, switched to a fine steed, and galloped here with all haste.
"What is happening!" The moment he halted, he snapped his question. "Did I not send word to begin the assault?"
Once he had confirmed He Lingchuan's presence in person back at Longchuan, he had immediately dispatched an owl to convey the order. He had expected to arrive and find a raging battle underway; instead, after pushing through every hardship to reach the city walls, all he found was absolute stillness!
No fighting had broken out at all!
What had gone wrong? Why had his carefully laid plans fallen into complete disarray?
Knowing his superior was bound to be furious, Hong Ming quickly pointed toward the battlements of Yuheng City. "General, General Red has arrived."
"Who?" Fu Shanlie froze, thinking his ears were deceiving him, his voice rising several pitches.
"Panlong City's General Red," another subordinate chimed in, edging forward. "We watched with our own eyes just now as she arrived at the South Gate with several dozen riders."
Fu Shanlie narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance. Sure enough, atop the gatehouse of Yuheng City stood several figures clad in dark-red armor, one of whom wore a demonic mask, their cloak billowing in the wind.
The others clustered respectfully around her.
"That is General Red? How can you be certain that is General Red?"
Chapter 1034