Chapter 70: The True Objective
“Our group is too conspicuous. As soon as we leave Linjiang City, Shangguan Wei will surely know. You can't go!” Long Chen stopped Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi paused, glancing at Di Luoxi.
Di Luoxi considered for a moment. The spies within the city had not yet been found, and each of them was being watched; indeed, they could not leave.
“Then who should we send?” Li Xiannan asked.
Long Chen replied, “Wu Jian. His rank is only squad captain. He blends in among the soldiers and often goes out on reconnaissance missions. Even if he suddenly disappears, no one would find it odd.”
Di Luoxi found this reasonable. “Let Wu Jian go, then.”
Long Chen left the room at once and found Wu Jian in a quiet chamber.
“Lieutenant General, you’ve sent Captain Zhang away again?” Wu Jian was aware that Zhang Qian clung to Long Chen like glue, accompanying him everywhere—even, it was rumored, to the latrine.
“There’s an urgent matter. You must return to the capital and deliver a letter. I’ve already written it. You must hand it to the Empress herself—no one else, not even Shadow Phoenix!”
Long Chen’s tone was grave, and Wu Jian understood the urgency.
“Understood!” Wu Jian took the letter and concealed it on his person.
Long Chen spoke each word with emphasis: “You must arrive within a day.”
From the capital to Linjiang City, a normal march would take more than three days. Now he was to reach the capital in a single day...
“Understood!” Wu Jian said nothing more. Long Chen’s demand for such speed could only mean the matter was of great importance. Without another word, Wu Jian melted into the darkness.
Long Chen returned to the room and informed them that Wu Jian had departed and would reach the capital by tomorrow.
Qingyue was astonished. “Arrive within a day?”
Long Chen nodded. “He will.”
Di Luoxi looked at Long Chen, nodded slightly, and said nothing.
The Long Family Army’s rule was that one must fulfill one’s word. Wu Jian was a cavalry captain in the Long Family Army. If he said he could reach the capital by tomorrow, then he would—there was no room for doubt.
“Very well. Xiannan, go and bring over the soldiers and equipment from Fishing City. Let the old fox Shangguan see it clearly.” Di Luoxi acted according to Long Chen’s plan.
Li Xiannan went to make the arrangements.
Leaving the room, Long Chen returned with Zhang Qian to his own quarters.
He hung his coat on the rack, then lay down, his mind still turning over the problem of Shangguan Wei.
Could there be more schemes within schemes? How should he respond when the time came?
In two days, Shangguan Wei would launch a full assault on Linjiang City; Murong Xiao would raid Fishing City; Shangguan Xiu had returned to Caishi City... Caishi City.
Hiss...
Long Chen began to calculate, his hand instinctively reaching to his side...
Zhang Qian was sitting before the bronze mirror, combing her hair. Seeing Long Chen’s hand come up empty, she sneered, “What are you groping for, you lecherous rogue?”
Zhang Qian had hung up her outer clothes and wore only her trousers and breastplate—the breastplate today was a pale blue, complementing her skin beautifully. Her rounded hips perched on the stool, forming a perfect arc with her waist; her back was unrivaled.
“Little Qian, come over here. I’m pondering matters of state, but without the right touch, I lack inspiration.”
Long Chen’s hand grasped at the air...
Zhang Qian scorned him, “So, you like the taste of the princess’s saliva?”
Pfft...
Long Chen frowned. “You’re so disgusting.”
Zhang Qian shot back, “You sneak off to fool around with the princess, then come to me for comfort.”
Her words were sharp with jealousy.
Long Chen got up, walked to the bronze mirror, and sat down behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Alright, don’t be angry, little Qian. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t seek only your touch—I ought to savor your taste as well.”
As he spoke, his lips found her cheek.
Zhang Qian squirmed in protest. “Ah... you’re impossible!”
Long Chen chuckled. “Aren’t you jealous that I tasted what was in the princess’s mouth? Guess what she fed me?”
Zhang Qian clutched her breastplate, keeping Long Chen’s hands at bay.
“How should I know? Whenever you two get intimate, I’m left to stand guard outside.”
Her tone was increasingly aggrieved; every time Di Luoxi made a move, Zhang Qian was told to stand watch while others were allowed in.
“The princess didn’t feed me anything.”
Long Chen replied earnestly.
“Liar! The princess said you did.”
Zhang Qian refused to believe him.
Long Chen grinned. “I both did and didn’t. It was still in her mouth. Guess what it was.”
Zhang Qian suddenly understood, flushing with embarrassment. “Why are you telling me this?”
Long Chen laughed. “Let’s try it ourselves.”
Zhang Qian pressed her lips tight and shook her head, but Long Chen didn’t care—he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
...
Outside the city, in the main camp.
Feng He entered Shangguan Wei’s command tent and saluted. “General, there are still some soldiers coming from Fishing City, but not many. Two boats crossed secretly last night, about eight hundred men. The city’s troops are now very few, perhaps only a few hundred.”
“They also transported some military supplies across the river last night—it seems they’re concentrating all their forces in Linjiang City.”
Feng He was in charge of reconnaissance, and Li Xiannan’s movements the previous night had been thoroughly observed.
“Good!” Shangguan Wei could not hide his joy.
“Continue recon, especially on Fishing City. I want everything reported daily.”
Feng He didn’t quite understand why the general was so focused on Fishing City when their target was clearly Linjiang City.
But he didn’t question further. A soldier obeys orders; what one shouldn’t ask, one doesn’t ask.
After Feng He left, Shangguan Wei sat alone in his tent, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth with a cold smile. “Long Cheng’en, even you can miscalculate!”
...
Two days later.
Outside the south gate of Linjiang City, Shangguan Wei’s army was assembled. Hundreds of thousands of troops stood in formation, a black mass stretching as far as the eye could see. Their banners blotted out the sky.
This time, Shangguan Wei had no intention of using surprise attacks. He was going to storm the city head-on.
It was the most foolish yet the safest method. With his superiority in numbers, a direct assault was likely to succeed.
In front stood over two hundred siege towers, wheels beneath and iron plating outside, allowing soldiers to advance in safety. At the top was a door that, once near the city wall, would open to extend a ladder onto the parapet.
These towers had been built in haste to counter Long Chen’s fire oil bombs. During the last night assault, the soldiers coated in tar had been killed or maimed, leaving them terrified.
Without these siege towers, not even the mighty Tianwei Legion would dare approach the walls.
Shangguan Wei stood atop a drum cart, before him fluttering many flags, each a different color, each signifying a different command.
On the battlefield, voices could not carry far; only banners could be used to direct the troops.
War drums thundered on both sides; ox-horn trumpets sounded their mournful note. Murderous intent hung heavy in the air, hearts pounded—battle was imminent.
Shangguan Feng gripped his iron trident, staring at Long Chen atop the city wall, his hold unconsciously tightening.
Shangguan Li wore his ghost mask, eyes fixed on Long Chen, his hands trembling on his twin blades—anger and humiliation boiling within him.
For Long Chen stood atop the wall, wearing that very ghost mask, waving mockingly at Shangguan Li.
It was an insult—facing Shangguan Li in battle wearing the very mask he had lost for all to see.
Shangguan Liang and Shangguan Yi, each leading their own troops, saw Long Chen from afar and cursed, “How dare he! Wearing Shangguan Li’s ghost mask!”
“This is intolerable! Today, I will kill him myself!”
Shangguan Wei, too, saw it, and sneered inwardly. A petty man, reveling in a stolen mask—today would be the day he took his revenge, and he had already devised how he would torment Long Chen to death.
Atop the city wall.
Di Luoxi stood clad in silver armor, a long spear in hand.
Li Xiannan was directing the troops, ordering catapults into position, fire oil bombs brought forth.
“Shangguan Xiu has indeed withdrawn troops, taking fifty thousand with him.”
Li Xiannan had sent scouts—last time, under the pretext of evacuating the wounded, Shangguan Xiu had in fact withdrawn fifty thousand elite troops.
“Just as expected. The old fox Shangguan is cunning, but little Long saw right through him.” Di Luoxi wore a proud smile.
Long Chen stood beside her, ghost mask on his face, iron spear in hand, Zhang Qian close at his side.
“Long Cheng’en, you and Zhang Qian will act as mobile support. Today we must take Shangguan down.”
Long Chen nodded slightly, but said nothing.