Chapter Forty: Glimpsing the Whole

Page (1/3)

Qi Yi, a major stronghold of the Great Zhou, was once known as Western Qi during the reigns of Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou. Later, after overthrowing the Shang dynasty, King Wu moved the capital to Chaoge and renamed it Haojing, while Western Qi was renamed Qi Yi, becoming the central hub of the northern western frontier.

Within Qi Yi, a fine horse galloped swiftly along the street paved with blue stones, from the west city gate straight to the government offices, finally stopping before an imposing mansion gate. The gate was wide and tall, with a grand courtyard behind it. On either side of the entrance stood four armored soldiers. Above the gate hung a striking signboard with black background and red characters reading “Huang Mansion,” signed unmistakably in King Wu’s own handwriting.

The messenger on horseback presented a courier’s seal at the gate, then entered through a side door and soon arrived at the mansion’s main hall. After verifying the documents, instead of moving on, he handed over a bamboo scroll to the officer on duty. Moments later, the bamboo scroll appeared on a study desk.

A middle-aged man finished reading the letter and passed it to an elder beside him. As the elder read, the middle-aged man’s brows furrowed deeply, his forehead creased with a prominent eight-character wrinkle, as if burdened by unspoken worries that could not easily be smoothed away.

The elder uttered a low sound, then carefully reread the letter from the beginning. “General, this battle report is rather peculiar.”

“Indeed,” said Master Zhu Mo, a trusted advisor also known as the Second General of the Western Frontier, “the demon clan’s attack this time appears similar to previous years, but the locations they targeted are all key production sites for our western supplies: Pingfu, Luoshui Pass, Xiling City... The supply of bows, blades, mechanical beasts, and alchemical furnaces has been completely cut off. It seems they have some hidden agenda.”

In the Great Zhou military hierarchy, commanders above divisional generals are called marshals, colloquially “generals,” but only one holds the title of Grand General, the supreme leader of the entire Western Frontier army. That person is none other than Huang Chenyuan, the direct grandson of the former Flying Tiger Marshal, now commanding the western border.

Beside him stood Zhu Mo, longtime strategist and close friend of General Huang.

Zhu Mo was famed not only for his trusted relationship with Huang Chenyuan but also for his extraordinary intelligence and popularity throughout the ranks. With his assistance, Huang Chenyuan had held the western frontier steady for decades, continually expanding into demon territories, gradually encroaching upon the Western Oxhe Continent.

The White Horse Army was stationed in the central western region near Yangguan, some distance from Qi Yi, yet Huang Chenyuan chose to reside in the former Flying Tiger Marshal’s old residence, which was closer to the northern border. The two commanders of the White Horse Army were also Huang family members, maintaining strong forces along the central front, so that line was secure.

Though Huang Chenyuan’s wisdom was not on par with Zhu Mo’s, he was a seasoned battlefield commander. From the report, he quickly discerned the demon clan’s main offensive focus. Though the western region was continuously aflame with war, losing key supply sites caused far more trouble than in past years.

“What is your analysis, General?” Zhu Mo inquired after some thought.

Huang Chenyuan snorted. “The demons have clearly had enough of our army’s resistance; they want to destroy our supply production and confront us directly. This is an overt strategy, and I shall counter it openly. I will redeploy the Tiger Guard for defense and dispatch the Eagle Vanguard to strike back swiftly, reclaim the lost lands, and restore our strength.”

“The western frontier’s six armies are arrayed with two on the northern front, the White Horse in the center, and three on the southern line,” Zhu Mo reflected. “This formation corresponds to the size of the demon forces. Their current incursion seems minor, but I fear more significant battles lie ahead.”

“Just minor skirmishes? Where would a major battle come from?” Huang Chenyuan smiled. “Though spies report the demons are recruiting en masse, even if they fill their ranks, who knows when they’ll be battle-ready? They won’t just deploy them immediately, will they?”

Zhu Mo sighed. “Chenyuan, do not underestimate this new generation of demons. While their brute force and sorcery have struggled against us, their use of mechanical beasts and weapons has increased. Last year’s battles were only narrow victories, showing they have found effective countermeasures. Our new mechanical armor is still incomplete, so their assault might be more complicated than it seems.”

“You mean the demons have learned about our mechanical armor?” Huang Chenyuan’s face turned cold. “Such a secret is barely known even among our ranks. How could the demons truly know?”

“That’s why I told you not to underestimate the new demon breed,” Zhu Mo said. “We have recruited some demons ourselves as spies to infiltrate their lands. If we can do this, so can they. Though we lack concrete proof, I’m certain the demons have planted their own spies among us. Leakage is inevitable.”

Huang Chenyuan nodded, his brow furrowed deeply. “That makes sense. If their behavior relates to our mechanical armor, their next target must be linked to it. Currently, deployed armor is stored at Wenquan Pass—should we reinforce its defenses with the Tiger Guard?”

Page (2/3)

“Wenquan Pass? I doubt it,” Zhu Mo replied, picking up the report and handing it back. “If I’m correct, this is a feint to distract us. Wenquan Pass is merely a decoy.”

A gleam flashed in Huang Chenyuan’s eyes. “Brother Zhu Mo, then you think the real target is...?”

“Xiyi!” Zhu Mo declared decisively. “Xiyi is a crucial center for manufacturing mechanical armor. I believe the demons are aiming there.”

Huang Chenyuan’s brows rose sharply. He unfolded the report again, scrutinizing both sides, then strode to the map, gesturing with his hand before slapping the table. “Indeed, all these places lie within a hundred miles of Wenquan Pass, yet there is no sign of activity in the south. That makes no sense, especially since the Blackfire City’s oil supplies have caused the demons considerable trouble, yet it remains untouched. It’s illogical.”

At this, a faint smile appeared on Huang Chenyuan’s face. “The demons have indeed improved. It seems they want to attack northward openly, luring our Eagle Vanguard to advance north, splitting the Tiger Guard, while secretly seizing Blackfire City, crossing Blackfire Lake, and swiftly heading to Xiyi. Though some parts of this plan seem implausible, they must have figured out how to overcome those obstacles.”

“Agreed,” Zhu Mo nodded. “Though we can’t guess exactly how, the route passes through only Blackfire City. If they can force a crossing of Blackfire Lake, despite mountain obstacles and no towns along the way, they could reach Xiyi undetected. Quite a cunning tactic.”

“Marching overland at speed, forcing a crossing, covering hundreds of miles in stealth—if they avoid using cloud boats to transport troops, we won’t detect them...” Huang Chenyuan’s expression softened with relief. “Fortunately, though you were absent recently, I already dispatched an Eagle Vanguard battalion to reinforce the area. They should arrive soon. I also sent a message to Tianshan Dun for temporary support. Reports indicate they’ve sent ten generals and enough garrison troops to hold the city against two enemy divisions.”

“That should suffice,” Zhu Mo smiled, clearly pleased. “Tianshan Dun’s commanders are skilled. Holding the city, a demon force of one or two divisions won’t pose much threat... But which commander did Tianshan Dun send?”

“Someone named Jie Kong.”

Zhu Mo shook his head. “Tianshan Dun keeps its personnel’s identities and histories secret. Jie Kong must be the same. I wonder if we have any battle records to review?”

When Tianshan Dun cooperates with other forces, they often send back battle reports of their commanders to intimidate the enemy and showcase their achievements, since their identities remain confidential. Zhu Mo asked about this as usual.

Huang Chenyuan searched a cabinet and produced a scroll of parchment, handing it to Zhu Mo.

Zhu Mo unrolled it and read carefully. Huang Chenyuan stood by, but as Zhu Mo’s expression grew more solemn, a sense of unease settled in. Zhu Mo reread the report, then looked up and asked abruptly:

“Is there a problem?”

Zhu Mo’s face darkened. He took a deep breath to steady himself before saying, “Judging from this commander’s record, there are some concerns...”

“Why?” Huang Chenyuan snatched the scroll back and scanned it again. Jie Kong’s record was impressive—brave and victorious, clearly a formidable general. He looked at Zhu Mo, waiting for an explanation.

“This man is skilled and courageous, no doubt. But there is one thing that worries me,” Zhu Mo said with concern. “He is aggressive and may not settle for a defensive stance. He might seek battle on his own terms.”

“You think he will take the initiative to engage?”

“Most likely. But there’s another possibility,” Zhu Mo added. “Upon reaching Blackfire City, boredom might set in, and he could even try to hunt down demon spies. We cannot be certain.”

Page (3/3)

Huang Chenyuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands.

Outside the door, a guard responded immediately, “Awaiting your orders, General.”

“Send a message to Tianshan Dun. Have them contact Jie Kong to inquire about the current situation in Blackfire City and his whereabouts. Report back to me at once!”

“Yes, sir.”

Half an hour later, a dispatch arrived before Huang Chenyuan. Upon reading it, both men’s spirits sank. As Zhu Mo had suspected, Jie Kong was not in Blackfire City. He had pursued a demon far from the city and, upon receiving Tianshan Dun’s message, abandoned the chase and was returning.

“Blackfire City is likely lost, and the Eagle Vanguard battalion sent there is in grave danger,” Huang Chenyuan said bitterly. “I never expected Tianshan Dun to have such a reckless element. But this is interesting...” His eyes narrowed with a strange gleam, thoughtful. At the same moment, Zhu Mo’s expression shifted from worry to resolute.

“...If they come, they won’t leave. They should stay!” Huang Chenyuan’s lips curled into a firm smile. “Let’s dispatch one Eagle Vanguard army to encircle and hunt, while the other two armies head north to reclaim lost territory. What do you think?”

“That would be best, but...” Zhu Mo considered briefly. “Defending the city is sufficient. For encirclement and hunting, it might be inadequate.”

“I know, but the northern front has only the Tiger Guard and Eagle Vanguard. If the Tiger Guard moves, Wenquan Pass becomes unstable. Unless...” Huang Chenyuan hesitated, then smiled mysteriously. “We redeploy one White Horse Army battalion. How about that?”

Zhu Mo’s expression changed. “Xiaoshan?”

Huang Chenyuan clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “Nothing escapes you—it’s Xiaoshan!”

“That’s excellent. Xiaoshan has over a dozen cloud boats, swift as lightning, perfect for supporting the central and northern routes. A wise strategy!” Zhu Mo nodded. “This way, our forces will be sufficient. But where will the encirclement take place, General?”

Huang Chenyuan looked at Zhu Mo. Zhu Mo returned his gaze, and a mysterious smile appeared in both their eyes. They spoke together:

“Yunzhan Villa.”

With that, they both laughed.

Military orders were swiftly disseminated across the land. The entire Western Frontier army of Great Zhou began to mobilize imperceptibly. At this moment, the machinery of the state unleashed tremendous energy, propelling the entire situation with the demon clan into an uncertain new future.