Rising Phoenix

Burning the enemy’s rations was always a powerful stratagem, and thus typically the most difficult plan to pull off. Both sides understood the importance of supply, and so the ration and logistics train were always planned with the utmost care. True reports were mingled with false information, and prince Jin Siyu had always been exceptional at plotting, and in the long year of war, Tian Sheng had never managed to gain such an upper-hand.

So despite the seeming ease and simplicity behind Jin Siyu’s ambush and Feng Zhiwei’s counterattack, a hidden battle of spies and scouts and disinformation underlay everything.

Jin Siyu’s Eastern Army had won their previous engagement, but Tian Sheng had gained intel on the enemy grain storage. The retreating Tian Sheng army had rallied and organized a raid on the San Po Village based on intel that the Da Yue military grains had been moved from East Hill Town.

To Tian Sheng dismay, San Po Village revealed not grain, but a hidden army ready to fight. Tian Sheng did not engage and quickly retreated.

On the night of the Qianjin Ditch ambushes, Feng Zhiwei had directed her Steel Battalion towards San Po Village before having her men veer off and strike a location between East Hill Town and San Po. As Feng Zhiwei had expected, the Hu Zhuo Steel Battalion successfully uncovered the Da Yue military grain at Feng Li Valley.

To Jin Siyu’s astonishment, Feng Zhiwei had easily deduced that both East Hill Town and San Po Village were decoys. The prince was completely unaware of the detailed study Feng Zhiwei had already made on his personality and the numerous battles he had overseen. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you can fight a hundred battles without danger of defeat — and Jin Siyu knew nothing about her.

From that day forth, Feng Zhiwei’s Steel Battalion met Jin Siyu’s army again and again. The battalion’s horses ran roughshod over the Hu Fun Steppes and the Gedamu Mountain Range, spreading their raids and skirmishes across multiple battlefronts, not allowing her men to focus their anger on the Eastern Army that had massacred the four thousand Irgi warriors.

The Steel Battalion would sweep in and cause chaos and destruction before slipping away, harassing all three of Da Yue’s army camps. They could not be caught, and their attacks could not be prevented, and very quickly the Da Yue men were harried and tired, unable to sleep well or relax and eat. Feng Zhiwei did not even need to have her Steel Battalion make attacks, sometimes just lighting bonfires on distant hilltops or disturbing large nests of birds from copses of wood. Her people slept in sound peace, while the Da Yue soldiers constantly jerked awake in worry.

Before the month passed, she had already gained the title “Steppe Fox,” and Da Yue soldiers could only shake their head and curse the name Wei Zhi, their legs softening with fear whenever they saw the ferocious Hu Zhuo horsemen on the horizon.

Jin Siyu hatefully added Wei Zhi’s name to the list of Wanted Tian Sheng Generals, her head joining Chunyu Hong’s at the top of the bounty, both their heads worth ten thousand gold tael each.

When Feng Zhiwei heard the news, she only smiled.

The Dijing Young Masters were now her subordinates, all of them willingly requesting demotions and accepting field officer positions in her Steel Battalion, much happier than when they were Assistant-Generals in the Tian Sheng Army.

She had already been in active combat for over a month, and though the Tian Sheng Army knew of her existence, none of their people had come face to face with her. Feng Zhiwei wanted to render some merit first and return to camp with a string of victories, so it was only after the month passed that she stepped into the Tian Sheng main camp.

Supreme Commander Chunyu Hong was incredibly excited. The famous young minister had reappeared in a display of incredible military talent, sealing up the unstoppable Da Yue with a few thousand Hu Zhuo horsemen; when the time came, he had all his generals and lieutenants come out to welcome Wei Zhi’s arrival.

But the proud generals were somewhat unwilling — no matter how talented or famous Wei Zhi was, he was still just a minister with no military titles. His troops were just steppe barbarians! Why did Wei Zhi deserve such a respectful welcome?

Quartermaster Zhu Shirong was the unhappiest — this Master Wei had already sent over a demand for the best grain, arrows, armor, shields, etc. etc. Who did he think he was demanding so much?

All manners of discontented thoughts ran through the minds of the generals and lieutenants as they stood before the camp gates. In the distance, dust soared to the heavens as horse hoofs shook the earth.

It was as if a black cloud had suddenly appeared on the horizon, a hazy line connecting the heavens and the earth. The black cloud spread and grew as it approached, and large hoofs ate up the dirt as the horses swept forward in a mighty wave. The dust cloud whipping in the army’s wake seemed about to rush forward and whip through the Tian Sheng officers, and just as the shocked commanders were about to cry out, a sharp, clear whistle blew over the army.

“Cha.”

As one, the black cloud pulled up and the ten thousand horsemen stopped in place, a clear and uniform clang sounding out as armor rustled in saddle.

Extraordinary horsemanship!

Chunyu Hong had been suspicious of the reports detailing the extent of the Hu Zhuo military achievements, but now his doubts were settled. This batch of Hu Zhuo cavalry was even more fierce and powerful than those they had lost.

The startled generals finally began to react, their faces flushing with anger, and the more irascible among them were just about to cry out in fury when every eye gleamed.

A single horseman approached.

The man riding the black horse was easily distinct from the forceful horsemen around him. He wore a black robe under simple navy leather armor, a black cotton waistband around his thin body. He was slender, but his body was coiled with power; he rode his horse calmly and almost carefree, a harmless smile on his face, but his misty eyes were colder than winter and any who met his gaze felt their hearts freeze as if ripped out and hidden away in a ten-thousand-year-old glacier.

This was minister Wei Zhi, the first National Scholar and the infamous Steppe Fox?

Eyes shifted to the three young masters trailing Wei Zhi, the foppish young men who had once given all of Dijing headaches were now serious soldiers attending their commander. Somehow, without anyone’s knowledge, the arrogant and irreverent young masters had become solemn guards.

Chunyu Hong’s eyes gleamed — killing was easy, but to bring these unruly young masters under control was a sign of something truly unusual.

Chunyu Hong could not help but smile at that thought, his mind leaping back to his son’s request. As soon as Chunyu Meng had heard that Wei Zhi had returned, the young man had put in a request to transfer from the Yu County garrison to the main camp, claiming that joining the Hu Zhuo Cavalry would be worth getting demoted.

Chunyu Hong stepped forward, a sincere and welcoming smile on his face as Feng Zhiwei dismounted. The two exchanged some courteous words before Feng Zhiwei cut to the chase: “This minor minister has come to ask for equipment. It is getting cold and my brothers are still wearing our autumn clothes, and our weapons and leather armor needs replacing. The wear and tear from our battles across the northern lands has been great. We ask for only necessary supplies, and thank the Supreme Commander for his understanding.”

“Of course, of course.” Chunyu Hong easily agreed, calling Quartermaster Zhu Shirong forward. The officer soon arrived, ignored Feng Zhiwei as he assured Chunyu Hong:

“Yes General, everything is prepared!”