It was King Lian this time, starting riots around the southwest border of the empire. That border was under the surveillance of General Huang Song. He has an army of 5000 guarding the southwest border with him. But news from the spies confirmed that King Lian had about 25000 in his army. Although his troops are less than King Lian’s about 1/5th, after estimating all his strengths and considering all the information he got from the spies, General Huang was confident that he would be able to defeat King Lian if he fights according to a well-planned strategy.
Therefore with much confidence, General Huang started leading his troops next day. Cavalry troops were to attack as two entities from two sides while archers were to surround the entire battle field and guard against the long range attacks. Specially, Archers had to play an important role as a backup for cavalry and other troops because they were fighting against an army with very high manpower. Every soldier was aware of the risks and advantages they have but they believed in their General’s leadership.
Blowing wind made the war flags waved which were placed in-front of relevant regiments of each fronts. War drums were being played in the background signaling the commencing of war was near. Spear heads were shining in the morning sunlight showing off their sharpness. All the soldiers were in great spirit, enthusiastically lined up affront, patiently waiting for their respective leaders’ command to charge forward.
Few moments were passed without any reaction from both sides. The patience of all the soldiers were slowly wearing off. Instead both they and the surrounding started to tense up. The sound of war drums which were playing intensively were going down slowly too. With speeded up heart beat and tensed up mind, they still kept waiting.
At that moment…, they got the command they were eagerly waiting for.
“…Attack…” General Huang Song’s voice echoed throughout his army. All of his troops charged in fiercely at once as they were advised previously. Their war cry was reverberating intensively throughout the battlefield. General Huang’s Infantry battalions were charging into the King Lian’s troops, attacking fiercely like wild beasts while cavalry troops were following them, backing them up. They faced fierce long range attacks from King Lian’s side but their archers’ attacks were tit for tat. Like this, they carried their united attacking style with General Huang’s guidance. Before long General Huang Song’s troops were able to break through King Lian’s front defense line, gradually they reached middle, and finally the last back defense line, breaking off King Lian’s initial defense formation.
It seemed, King’s army was bewildered by the fierce and intense attacks of General’s army. The fighting spirit and confidence of General’s army was at a very high level due to initial success. They carried on fighting victoriously.
At the same time, king’s army’s confidence seemed to be decreasing. They were falling ten by hundreds by on the battlefield. Instead of rearranging their formation to fight back, they seemed fighting desperately to escape. Although orders for retreat were not issued, they seemed trying to escape by dividing into the groups and scattering far around the battlefield, even to the forest side around the battlefield.
Although their enemies didn’t retreat yet, the army of General Huang was feeling victorious. With that, they started chasing the scattering enemies, dissolving their own attack and defense formations.
That was the chance King was looking for. He knew that although his armies are more than General Huang’s army in numbers, General Huang would still come to battle with him. Using his high man power as a cover, king Lian was observing for this long to check whether his guesses are correct. As he expected, General had planned his strategy depending on the unity of his troops. Until General’s original tactics are ongoing, his chance of winning was slim because he knew how powerful General’s army was. That’s why King planned to break the unity of the General’s army. Because they were less in number, unity of their troops were important for them to win.
Now, after scattering their squads and dividing their entity of power, King issued orders to his army to rearrange their formations surrounding the scattered small squads of General’s army. It was easy and successful because of their high man power.
When General discovered the king’s intention, it was a little bit late. Now it was their chance to be surprised. The scattered small squads of soldiers had to fight individually with the high man power of the king. They were at disadvantage but they kept fighting fiercely like wounded beasts. Now they had started to fall down in the battle field by hundreds and thousands.
Now General’s army was at the brink of losing. General had no other option but to retreat. He issued orders for retreating. Around 2000-2500 lives were lost in General’s side. About 1000 were severely wounded or disabled. Around 1500-2000 were suitable to go to war again. Because they had enough supplies, treatment for wounded soldiers started immediately.
In his tent, after reading the casualty report, General Huang was frustrated. He felt humiliated too because, after all he failed because of such a simple trick. “Divide and rule” was a very basic strategy in war tactics and politics yet he was defeated by King Lian by applying it accordingly. He felt slightly guilty too because this happened because he overestimated himself and his army and put all his eggs in one basket. He should have prepared a backup plan too but he hadn’t.At least he should have asked for reinforcement but he hadn’t.
When thinking about other party’s lose, they might have loss around 6000, but because of their high man power, king’s side has the upper hand now.
General Huang sighed. He had no other option but to ask for reinforcement from nearest military post. Capital was far away and he was sure that he could not hang on until reinforcement from capital to come.
Therefore he sent messages to General of western border, General Jiang Lin and General of southeast border, General Feng Tang asking for help. The nearest military post was in the western border but it also would take at least one and half day to get help. Southeast border was at least two days far away. Although he didn't want to ask General Jiang 's help due to some personal grudges, he could not help. And he hoped he would be able to hold on until reinforcement comes.
Even though it would be advantageous for king Lian to attack his enemies before reinforcement come, they didn't seem to attack directly except for creating some small commotions.
* * * * * * * *
On the next day...
As the dusk was coming, General Huang received a message saying that reinforcement forces are within ten miles.
After receiving General Huang 's message, General Jiang had left 10 000 of his troops at western border to ensure western border's safety and headed towards southwest border himself with his remaining 10 000 troops. They had come in their maximum speed. General Huang didn't think that reinforcement would be received that soon. With this favourable news he received an unfavourable news too. King's army also had received reinforcement of 5 000.
After General Jiang reached to the southwest camp, he was welcomed by general Huang. After resting for some time, they held discussion regarding war tactics to be followed tomorrow. After deciding their strategies, they went their own places for resting.
Next day, early in the morning from the other side, the sound of war drums, to announce the starting of war could be heard. Soldiers of both sides were not enthusiastic as much as before with all the casualties they received previously. But king Lian’s side has won the first day fight and General’s side has received reinforcement from “The Black Dragon” the famous, valiant General Jiang ling. Both sides had some hope of their own to get the victory of the war.
As planned, two generals from this side headed from two fronts and led the troops. Still king Lian was above in manpower but Generals were not ready to give up easily.
The war carried on fiercely, ears were filled with the sound of clashing swords, spears, armors...etc. Blood drops were dipping from edges of swords and spears, blood was woozing from the wounded soldiers. War cries as well as cries from wounded soldiers were everywhere until suddenly ‘orders for holding the fight’ from King's side were issued. General Jiang had managed to capture the king himself alive. So, finally...is it going to be over for good?
There was a short discussion among them and finally king came into a negotiation with General Jiang. Then he retreated totally, withdrawing all his remaining troops and left for his own land.
* * * * * *
After finishing today's battle without severe harm, remaining troops were resting, treating wounds...etc. Both Generals were resting too while discussing.
Although battle was finished successfully, General Huang was not satisfied. It was not him but General Jiang who captured the king. And why did he left the king Lian unharmed? Without even discussing with him, why did he agree to negotiate with king Lian ? What are the negotiation conditions anyway? And finally, following the discussed strategies exactly without violating any step, why did it have to be him who captured the enemy king as always happened? General Huang's mind was not in peace. His past grudges with General Jiang was renewed. He was burning with jealousy inside himself unbearably.
General Jiang Lin was relaxing with closed eyes, comfortably leaning on his chair, after the tiresome involvement in battle. His closed eyes added a look of serenity to his handsome face. He had got a few scratches from the recent war but those wounds were already treated and well bandaged. Although a few noises could be heard outside the tent, inside of the tent was mostly calm and quiet. General Huang also was sitting on a chair beside general Jiang Lin. Even though the war ended victoriously for their side, it was obvious that something was troubling in General Huang’s mind. He looked anxious and curious at the same time with his furrowed brows. He was repeatedly curling up his moustache, while staring at his friend. But his friend doesn’t seem to notice anything as silence continued. But infact, General Jiang had been feeling his friend’s intense stares even though his eyes were closed. But he felt too lazy to break the silence, so he ignored his friend’s s
After few days... General Jiang was heading home from the border with twenty of his most trusted subordinates in Black Dragan army. Before entering the capital, they had to pass a defile beyond the Megan valley. When entering the valley, General Jiang suddenly ordered his men to hold their horses. Two of his body guards reached him to ask the reason for his order. "I feel very uneasy about something, there must be something amiss definitely "he said. "I want you to examine the bi-face of that defile before we enter. Both of you, take five men each and check before we enter" he ordered. They got the order and left while others were waiting there, keeping their guard up. After about one incense stick time, two bodyguards returned reporting what they found. "Master, you were right. There are about 200men hiding. I couldn't figure out what their target is. But definitely they are waiting for an ambush." one guard reported.
General Jiang had been shot by three arrows. Seeing that none of his men are surviving further, he desperately continued the fight until he felt someone stabbing him behind. Vomiting a mouthful of blood, he fell on his knees slowly looking at the masked man who stabbed him. That man came in-front of his eyes with his rest subordinates. He removed his mask and that is when General Jiang couldn't believe his own eyes. "You…" General Jiang managed to ask. "yes…it's me." It was General Huang who had stabbed him and now was standing in-front of General Jiang. "why?” General Jiang wanted to know. "You colluded with enemy to harm our great Qing empire. As a general of Qing army, as a subject of Qing empire you have committed treason. All the members of Jiang family are to be slayed by beheading as per imperial order" General Huang announced. He looked at the fatally wounded General Jiang Lin scornfully…or was it the satisfaction in his eyes a
Wang Wei started searching all the corpes one by one like crazy. He could identify his fellow soldiers’ bodies who were guarding the mansion of General, female guards who were there to assist & protect the lady.And beside them, he could identify their ladyship’s corpse lying, a blood stained dagger was in her folded fingers.It seemed even in this sudden,unexpected massacre,she had not given up without a fight. She indeed deserved to be the "lady of the black drgon". Wang Wei sighed deeply with regret after seeing these. But there was still another important thing he should do. Therefore,leaving all the corrpses behind, he went inside the house and started searching.The house was a mess because during the killing process,the assassins had searched the house too, scattering and breaking the things which got into their hands.He searched every nook and corner very carefully until he noticed a pile of hay in the stable near the Servants' quarters.Although that was a nor
"Yue Er..,are you practicing the embroidery ?" Lady Jiang called her daughter. Yue Er was indeed practicing the basic embroidery techniques her mother taught her, when she heard her mother's voice. She lifted her head from the embroidery she was doing and looked at her mother. "yes mother, I'm practicing. Soon I will be able to do embroidery as good as mother" she replied her mother enthusiastically. After seeing her daughter's enthusiasm, lady Jiang Lin smiled at her happily. "Then, let me see your work" she asked her daughter, coming into her room. It seemed her daughter has practiced really hard because her embroidery had turned into a beautiful Peony flower. "Yue Er…you have done a good job. It is so beautiful. Mother is so proud of you" she praised her daughter. Yin Yue was so happy. "Mother…when I'm able to do embroidery like you, I'm going to embroider a dress for my l
"Mother....!"When Yin Yue woke up screaming ,it was already dawn.The sun has risen.The beams of golden sunlight were coming through the entrance of the cave, brightening the inner surrounding of the dark cave. The smell of roasted meat was spreading everywhere around the cave.Yin Yue sat up and looked around.Wang Wei was sitting infront of the fire, preparing breakfast.Because she screamed ,Wang Wei was looking at her at the moment . "Young miss,you are awake,"Wang Wei casually asked. "Please come here and have something for breakfast. There's no much but I prepared something for breakfast ."Wang Wei said to Yin Yue. He had brought water from a nearby stream and gathered some fresh fruits.He had prepared the rest dried meat too. No more assistance for getting ready in the morning.No more cheerful greetings from Xin Xin,who was her maid and closest friend. Sighing to he
"We can hire a good team of assassins to assassinate General Huang and eliminate his family totally" Wang Wei said with a lowered voice,lowering his head. Ying Yue's eyes turned towards Wang Wei,shooting a sharp glance at him. "Do you think I would allow to do something like that?"although her voice was not high,Wang Wei felt as if those words are booming in his ears. "I dare not.This ignorant servant asks for young miss's forgiveness"he immediately knelt infront of her. Yin Yue calmed down. "I am the daughter of General Jiang Lin.Merely taking their lives is not enough for me.I want them to suffer ,I want them to have the taste of betrayal,I want to disclose their conspiracy to the world and I want to restore my father's and my family's honor"she said with determination. Wang Wei was really surprised for a moment .Yesterday,she was a little girl,frozen with fear and shock but today she is issuing orders as if she is a general in army. "No wonder,it is our master's blood runnin
"Miss,please can you explain what you said before in details?Wang Wei couldn't comprehend what miss said before"He asked very politely. "As I said before ,I want to avenge for my family myself.Of course I need your support.I would be depending on you.But avenging my family would be my responserbility.That is why you would not be the one joining the army but me."Yin Yue explained the first part. "of course,females are not allowed in our Qing empire's army.That is why the one joining the army wouldn't be a female" she explained the second part looking at Wang Wei.From his looks she understood the question he didn't ask. "That is because I'm going to disguise myself as s male" she explained the last part clearing all the confusions.Wang Wei was astonished to the core. He could not imagine how did this little girl's line of thoughts ended up like this.It was an unexpected decision and hard choice from such a little girl.He opened his mouth to protest, explaining the difficulties,but h