Chapter 159: Bad News

At the same time, Ye Hua, son of Ye Sui, the Jade Qilin War God who had won Wen Zhong's agreement, had also lightly equipped and caught up with the Jade Qilin led by Pei Xingjian.

Ye Hua and Pei Xingjian, accompanied by the Jade Qilin, together with Li Jinlong and Pei Xingyan who had arrived first at Dragon Gate Pass, stationed themselves inside Dragon Gate Pass.

Meanwhile, they sent scouts toward Xuan King City to gather news of Ye Sui's Nine Heavens Army.

However, what they received was destined not to be good news.

This operation targeting the Nine Heavens Army was a joint scheme by several feudal lords on the Great Yong side.

It also included Que Wang, one of the notable feudal lords within Great Yong who controlled Long Junzuo and the Great Yong Dragon Sparrow Army.

They were just waiting for the Nine Heavens Army to walk into the trap.

For the aspiring individuals within Great Yong,

Now the chaos among the princes has become unavoidable.

Or rather, they never intended to avoid it.

After all, the princely chaos in Great Yong is now gone.

Then what purpose do these people who stir up wind and rain in Great Yong by taking advantage of the chaos have?

What further necessity is there for their existence?

However, letting the princely internal strife in Great Yong continue unchecked is also not acceptable.

All along, it has been draining Great Yong's own imperial strength.

So, they neither want to end the internal strife nor want to waste resources pointlessly.

What else can they do?

Naturally, it is to transfer the pressure.

Since ancient times, transferring signs of internal strife to external pressure

has always been an excellent method for internal instability.

When there is a common enemy, there is also profit to be gained.

So, even if they cannot unite all the feudal lords,

but binding a few feudal lords together is still possible.

Therefore, the Nine Heavens Army has become the target for transferring this contradiction.

Several feudal lords joined forces to scheme against the Nine Heavens Army.

The night was as dark as ink; the beacon fires on Dragon Gate Pass blazed brightly, illuminating the bleak battlefield outside the pass.

Ye Hua stood shoulder to shoulder with the famed general Pei Xingjian; their gazes pierced the layers of darkness, fixed on the distant horizon.

Behind them stood the neat and uniform Jade Qilin regiment, its spirit like a rainbow; this elite force, as firm as a boulder, was firmly stationed on this perilous pass.

Inside Dragon Gate Pass, soldiers bustled back and forth, reinforcing defenses and preparing war supplies.

Everyone knew that this battle concerned not only the fate of the Great Yong dynasty, but also the very survival of the Nine Heavens Army.

Therefore, despite the deep night, no one dared to slack off in the slightest.

Just then, a sudden rush of horse hooves shattered the night's tranquility.

A scout dismounted in haste, panting as he approached Ye Hua and Pei Xingjian: 'Report—General, news comes from the direction of Xuan King City!'

Ye Hua and Pei Xingjian exchanged a glance, and a sense of foreboding welled up in their hearts.

'The Nine Heavens Army at Xuan King City… has been utterly annihilated…'

Ye Hua's heart sank sharply, as if struck by a heavy hammer.

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles whitening from the force.

Pei Xingjian's brows also furrowed tightly, his eyes revealing an incredulous light.

The Nine Heavens Army is an elite force that has been organized in Cloud Prefecture for hundreds of years.

Moreover, the commander of this Nine Heavens Army at Xuan King City, the Jade Qilin War God, is a figure whose fame shakes the four directions—how could he have been so easily wiped out?

'What did you say?'

Ye Hua's voice trembled slightly as he seized the scout's shoulder: 'Father—how is he? What has become of him?'

The Nine Heavens Army suffered a crushing defeat in its battle against the Great Yong Dragon Sparrow Army.

The scout lowered his head, unable to meet Ye Hua's gaze: 'General Ye… he was gravely wounded by Long Junzuo, the leader of the Great Yong Dragon Sparrow Army, and fled with a few personal guards into the deep mountains, his fate unknown.'

Ye Hua felt the world spin; he staggered a few steps, nearly collapsing to the ground.

'Long Junzuo…'

Ye Hua gritted his teeth and spat out that name, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

Beside him, Pei Xingjian frowned, having learned about the Great Yong Dragon Sparrow Army, a notable Dao Soldier force within Great Yong.

Thus, he also knew well the formidable strength of the Dragon Sparrow Army, yet he had not expected the Nine Heavens Army to suffer such a devastating defeat.

He looked at Ye Hua, seeing only a deathly pallor on his face, his eyes filled with rage and sorrow.

'Father…'

Ye Hua murmured low, his fists clenched tight, nails digging deep into his palms.

He knew that, at this moment, no words could undo the tragedy that had already occurred.

He could only transform this grief and fury into strength, to avenge the fallen soldiers of the Nine Heavens Army.

Pei Xingjian gently patted Ye Hua's shoulder to offer comfort.

He understood Ye Hua's current state of mind, but as commanders they knew they could not let emotion cloud their judgment.

He drew a deep breath and said, 'Brother Ye, we must now calm down and consider our next course of action.'

Ye Hua nodded, striving to steady his emotions and regain his composure.

He knew Pei Xingjian was right; this was not the time for grief, they must prepare for the battles ahead.

'Pass the order down.'

Strengthen the defenses of the passes and closely monitor the movements of the Great Yong Longque Army.

Pei Xingjian turned and ordered the personal troops behind him.

Since Longjun Zuo has already crushed the Nine Heavens Army stationed outside Xuanwang City,

then the surrounding areas of Xuanwang City must have already fallen into the hands of that Que Wang behind Longjun Zuo.

But if one wishes to completely control Wen Province, then this Dragon Gate Pass is a place that military strategists must contend for!

If Dragon Gate Pass is not taken, Wen Province will remain exposed within the vanguard of our Nine Heavens Army.

Pei Xingjian glanced at Ye Hua, then spoke in a low voice.

Therefore, we must now take immediate action to prevent the Great Yong Longque Army from seizing Dragon Gate Pass.

Wait until the main force of the Chief Commander's army arrives.

We absolutely cannot let Dragon Gate Pass fall into Longjun Zuo's hands.

Otherwise, later attempting to seize Dragon Gate Pass from the hands of Longjun Zuo, who serves under the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Yong Longque Army, and the Que Wang behind him,

would be nearly impossible.

Pei Xingjian looked at Ye Hua, who wore an expression of unwilling acceptance, and reminded him,

As a Confucian general of great wisdom and courage from the Tang era.

Pei Xingjian could not fail to see that Ye Hua at this moment wanted to rush to the vicinity of Xuanwang City to look for Ye Sui.

But the current situation is that the Nine Heavens Army of Xuanwang City, including Ye Sui, has already been utterly destroyed.

Now the urgent task of the Nine Heavens Army is to hold Dragon Gate Pass.

Otherwise, all the efforts the Nine Heavens Army has made up to now will come to nothing.

The sacrifices of those Nine Heavens Army troops outside Xuanwang City would then be meaningless.

I will send a message together with Poyun to the Chief Commander, so that Wu Yun of our Cloud Prince's Mansion and Luowang of the Crown Prince's Highness will search the entire Wen Province for General Ye.

If Poyun goes alone to search, it will be like looking for a needle in the sea.

It would be better to wait quietly inside Dragon Gate Pass for news; as soon as they have any word of General Ye,

Poyun, you should set out immediately, which would also give us a better chance to rescue General Ye.

Pei Xingjian looked at Ye Hua and spoke softly to comfort him.

One who has not suffered should not advise others to be good.

Pei Xingjian knew that it was not his own father who was in dire peril.

He had no right to point fingers at the filial devotion of a dutiful son.

Using the so-called greater good to put Ye Hua in a dilemma between loyalty and filial piety.

Therefore, he merely gave Ye Hua a careful analysis of the current situation.

Let him stay in Dragon Gate Pass and not be restless.

Wait for news from Luowang and Wu Yun.

This is at least better than Ye Hua running around wildly on his own.

(End of chapter)