The wind and sand sweeping across the grasslands have tormented the armies of Wynn and Sage Domains for days. Many soldiers have cracked lips, and more and more are suffering from varying degrees of eye inflammation due to the sand.
Bella Liang squinted her eyes as the soldiers beside her advanced slowly, drawing ever closer to the stronghold ahead. The attack had to begin now—there could be no more delay. If the enemy were given a chance to recover, even though they didn’t have to worry about surviving the winter, the troops couldn’t remain in the mountains and grasslands; they’d be forced to retreat south, where the climate was milder.
Everything on the battlefield changes in an instant. Bella Liang didn’t relax just because they’d breached the mountain pass and the enemy was cornered. The enemy’s counterattack a few days ago had already sounded a warning to her.
"Still no sign of the Stampede Battalion?"
Bella Liang asked. She’d already sent out a large number of scouts, but many of them had vanished without a trace—most likely taken out by the enemy.
Only about thirty makeshift wooden bridges, hastily cut and built from the forest, were available—just enough to span the deep ravine. Right now, Bella Liang’s greatest concern was still the Stampede Battalion.
Just then, a group of riders galloped swiftly to the front of the formation. Bella Liang looked over.
"Report, Commander-in-chief! Early yesterday morning, the northern tribes suffered a heavy blow from the enemy—casualties were severe."
"What?"
In an instant, Bella Liang’s eyes widened as she stared at the distant stronghold. A sense of unease swept over her—something wasn’t right. In her calculations, the enemy shouldn’t have launched a reckless assault. If they failed, it would only worsen their situation.
But the facts were clear: the enemy had about five or six thousand cavalry who had suddenly attacked the Tang Clan’s forces in the northwest.
The soldiers halted, and a murmur of discussion spread through the ranks. Bella Liang turned to look northwest. If she sent cavalry to pursue the enemy’s raiding force, and they encountered the Stampede Battalion, her cavalry would lose their ability to pin down the enemy. Yet the enemy raiders remained a latent threat.
Far off to Bella Liang’s side, Cyrus Sage rode his horse toward her at a frantic pace.
"Commander-in-chief Liang, have you heard?"
"I just found out."
"Those scattered fools—I warned them long ago to get to the front line as soon as possible, and now look at the mess they’re in. How about I take some cavalry over there? The enemy is probably still in the northwest. They won’t show any mercy to those weak northern tribes. If I were their commander, I’d keep up the raids and make sure those tribes can’t join the war at all."
Bella Liang stayed silent, but in the distance, on the southern grasslands, a large force appeared. It seemed Gus Bull and Lydia Lien had arrived from the south.
"Hold the attack."
Bella Liang called out. As noon approached, the commanders gathered together by a wind-sheltered rock. Gus Bull gazed grimly toward the northwest.
"Let them fend for themselves. That saves us the trouble of wiping them out after the war, doesn’t it?"
Lydia Lien spoke coldly. Instantly, Mark Zou’s face changed, and both Gus Bull and Bella Liang stared at Lydia. Only Cyrus Sage smiled and shook his head, while several Zou Clan generals stood nearby.
"Commander-in-chief Lien really does like to joke. Right now, we can only send cavalry to rescue the northern tribes."
Lydia Lien burst out laughing, and Henry Lien immediately chimed in.
"That’s right, Commander-in-chief Lien loves to joke around. Don’t take it to heart, everyone."
Henry Lien said, his eyes constantly scanning the Zou Clan members.
"Let’s attack first. The enemy can’t keep up their raids for long. We’ll take this stronghold within three days."
Bella Liang spoke seriously, and the commanders and generals all nodded.
The troops began to reorganize. In such fierce winds, even the enemy couldn’t do much with bows and arrows unless they were within ten meters—the wind greatly reduced their lethality.
The plan for the assault was set: first, the shield-bearing soldiers would approach the deep ravine at the stronghold, then the wooden bridges would be laid across. When the time was right, they’d charge the base of the fortress—after all, its walls were made of wood.
Troops from all directions began to move toward the stronghold in a fan-shaped formation. Gradually, the left and right fronts of the stronghold were surrounded, and enemy forces on three sides slowly closed in on the fortress.
Standing atop the watchtower, Joseph Qiao sneered as he faced the wind, gazing down at the enemy below.
Both above and below the platform, soldiers crowded together. Those on the lower level clutched bows and spears. This defensive structure was Joseph Qiao’s idea from his early days among the grassland tribes. Gathering enough materials had taken many years.
As the enemy drew closer, Joseph Qiao noticed a problem—some advancing soldiers kept rubbing their eyes. The second disadvantage for the enemy was beginning to show.
On the grasslands, autumn brings fierce winds and sandstorms. The dry climate causes eye ailments that usually heal with time and clean water, but the enemy had no chance for such relief now.
The stronghold’s only weakness was the enemy’s battering ram. If it was brought up, the wooden walls would quickly collapse. That’s why Joseph Qiao had everyone available digging the trench for days—reaching this width in such a short time was no small feat.
Screams rang out in a small tribe’s camp—a massacre was underway. It was the third slaughter in two days. Under Yuna Ji’s command, Sebastian Zhao quickly pinpointed the enemy’s location and led the main force toward the weakest tribe.
Some tribes had already heard of the Tang Clan’s defeat, but coming from the northern mountains, they lacked horses and could only move slowly.
This tribe was caught and instantly routed, while most northern tribes moved toward the center or retreated directly into the mountains and forests.
Yuna Ji had already figured out these tribes—they had no will to fight and just wanted to reap the benefits. All it took was a charge, and they’d flee for their lives. That moment of flight was their doom.
This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!
"We surrender—please spare me, Yuna Ji! I used to... with your father..."
A man in his forties, covered in wounds, knelt on the ground and begged pitifully. Around him, his tribespeople cried out in misery. Yuna Ji, holding a spear, let out a chilling laugh and slowly raised her weapon.
"Tell my father yourself when you’re dead."
The spear struck cleanly into the man’s neck. Blood sprayed everywhere as Yuna Ji’s face showed a look of satisfaction, her eyes shining.
Sebastian Zhao was already exhausted from killing. He sat on a corpse, watching the soldiers still pursuing the fleeing enemy. In recent days, everyone had changed—on the battlefield, they’d become ferocious. In the past, some soldiers might have hesitated at slaughter, but under Yuna Ji’s command, that hesitation vanished.
"Maybe one day I’ll become a beast, too."
Sebastian Zhao looked at his blood-soaked hands and stood up.
"Leave a few alive—don’t kill them all."
Some of the pursuing soldiers halted. It was another one-sided massacre—the enemy barely resisted before collapsing. By now, it was nearly noon. Yuna Ji ordered the troops to rest until afternoon, then resume the extermination.
In just two days, over ten thousand had been slaughtered. Lona Long, utterly exhausted, sat in an abandoned enemy hut far from the corpses. She watched Yuna Ji, who was still giving orders to the soldiers. The screams and cries of the pleading echoed in her ears.
Some soldiers had already grown used to it, but most still felt heavy-hearted about the past two days of war. Several generals gathered together.
"Princess Yuna, although..."
Yuna Ji immediately turned to look at the generals.
"If you can’t take it, go home. Only those who can endure should stay. But remember how the enemy slaughtered our soldiers when they attacked. That night at the border of the forest and grasslands, we lost over fifty thousand men, and many are likely slaves now."
As she spoke, Yuna Ji raised her spear and began ordering the soldiers to assemble.
Soon, the troops had gathered. Yuna Ji mounted her horse and looked around at the assembled soldiers, smiling into the wind.
"Listen up! I know some of you can’t take it anymore, but follow me—trust me. For the future of our Ji lands, we have to kill the enemy. If anyone has complaints, direct them at me. I’m the one ordering you to do these cruel things. The guilt is mine alone. I am your leader, and I command you: kill every enemy you meet."
One by one, the soldiers stared at Yuna Ji. Those who’d hesitated now found resolve in their eyes, and more and more raised their weapons and began to shout.
"Yuna, you..."
Lona Long watched Yuna Ji lying in the hut, her face full of exhaustion.
"Why say those things, when clearly..."
"Clearly what? If I don’t become a cold-blooded beast, we can’t win. Against these enemies, there’s no other way."
Lona Long said nothing, quietly sitting beside Yuna Ji and gently stroking her forehead.
"Sorry, Yuna. Rest well. Sebastian Zhao and I will go look for the enemy."
Determination shone in Lona Long’s eyes as she stood up and left the hut.
Yuna Ji watched Lona Long leave, her face relaxed and content.
"I’ll leave it to you."
As if finally at peace, Yuna Ji slowly closed her eyes.