Chapter 1079

It has already been a full half month since the battle at Magic Capital Mountain.

All of Chen Wuji's troops, except Cao Mu who volunteered to garrison Magic Capital Mountain, have withdrawn to Yǐnmǎchuān for rest and reorganization.

The climate here remains warm, so there is no need to worry about winter clothing.

In that previous battle, we shattered the left general's unit of the first army, which the Uyghurs claimed was their finest among the three elite forces.

When they arrived, they came in mighty numbers, tens of thousands strong and imposing, but a single night raid in the snow nearly destroyed this unit that had enjoyed extraordinary treatment under Xu Dìngguó in the Uyghur Kingdom, leaving it almost without structure, with only one in a hundred surviving.

As for why they ended up in such a dire state, it can only be said that Xu Dìngguó has excellent judgment.

He carefully selected and deliberately picked the two most ferocious and ruthless fighters under Chen Wuji's command.

Chen Baojia, the first cavalry great general of Nan Jun.

Although he does not bear the name of a fierce warrior, whenever the generals of Nan Jun are discussed, he is inevitably ranked among the top five.

Throughout his military career, every battle Chen Baojia participated in has ended either quickly or slowly, and the only other outcome has been whether the enemy was completely annihilated—there has never been any other possibility.

As for Feng Linchuan, he is the fastest-rising soldier in Nan Jun.

In just over two years, he has risen from a common soldier to independently commanding a route as a great general; his ability needs no further explanation—this record alone makes everything clear at a glance.

Xu Dìngguó immediately recognized these two men; it can only be said that he is indeed skilled at selecting opponents.

Although his forces outnumbered those of Chen Baojia and Feng Linchuan by a considerable margin, he was still unexpectedly beaten into submission like a grandson.

After his line collapsed, the Uyghurs, who had prepared three major military forts for the conquest of Da Yu, immediately went into strict defense, sealing their gates and refusing to send out scouts near Magic Capital Mountain, daring only to move within a hundred-li radius of their forts.

Chen Wuji no longer paid attention to these people.

He rebuilt the Magic Capital Mountain defense line and then calmly withdrew to the rear.

The newly constructed Magic Capital Mountain defense line now employs the previously agreed-upon tún hòu zhùshù tactic: beacon towers are built every few li, equipped with cavalry patrols and hidden sentries.

Chen Wuji withdrew along the eastern front, while Yang Pojun on the western front, in a similar timeframe, withdrew his troops to the south of Shenxian Ling, leaving only three thousand cavalry to garrison each of his two newly built cities.

Chen Wuji advanced all the way, destroying cities and forts with fiery vigor.

Yet Yang Pojun's side appeared mild and uneventful; the reports of battle there were never intense or grand, but he advanced the front by six hundred li and built two cities in this lukewarm manner, like boiling a frog in warm water.

Yang Pojun's current fighting style makes Xu Zengyi sigh each time he mentions it, lamenting that Old Yang is truly old, and this conservative approach feels extremely foreign to him.

The former Yang Pojun fought like a combination of Qian Fugui and Chen Baojia—possessing Qian Fugui's recklessness and Chen Baojia's courage—charging ahead regardless of the enemy, believing that in a narrow encounter, the brave prevail.

Yang Pojun does indeed seem somewhat aged, but he has also become the stabilizing divine needle of Nan Jun.

Precisely because Nan Jun has him and Chen Bushi—one open, one hidden—Chen Wuji dares to act so recklessly abroad, blazing through with fiery vigor, sometimes even launching attacks without properly considering provisions.

……

The wind at Yǐnmǎchuān is far gentler than that on Magic Capital Mountain; even in this Hesu Winter Laba Month, it carries moist warmth.

Of course, this applies only when the weather is clear.

If overcast and rainy persist, it will still feel somewhat cold.

The construction of Zhangye City is now about one-quarter complete; the overall outline has emerged, magnificent and vast, fully satisfying Chen Wuji's original vision for such a city, and it will in the future be fully capable of becoming the primary fortress controlling the western region.

Qin Zhanhong and Lu Wanwan returned two days ago, and the three women have once again gathered to perform a play.

Since Chen Wuji's troops advanced westward, Zhang Xiuer has remained in Yǐnmǎchuān.

Today the weather is fine, and the three women have agreed to go horseback riding together at Yǐnmǎchuān.

Chen Wuji has become their companion.

But having spent nearly every day on horseback, Chen Wuji naturally could not truly accompany them in riding horses; upon arrival, he found a favorable feng shui spot and continued competing with the fish in the small river.

He still does not believe in superstition.

The hunter who daily gains something upon leaving Shenxian Ling has, upon coming outside, strangely become an idle airman.

Chen Wuji, idle and bored, wants to try to find the reason here.

For Chen Wuji's self-esteem, and because Xu Zengyi also greatly enjoys fishing, they have recently stopped fishing together.

On the distant grassland, Qin Zhanhong and the three women have played for over an hour and are now somewhat tired; they began laying out mats in a shady spot, preparing to picnic with the food they brought when they went out.

Chen Wuji did not disturb them, continuing to stare at the river surface.

There are fish in the water; the water here is exceptionally clear, and he can see them with the naked eye.

But after more than an hour, the fish basket he brought remains completely empty.

Chen Li and Chen Wushuang, standing nearby, both feel somewhat unwilling to continue.

"Family Head, why not take a break?" Chen Li advised.

Chen Wuji stretched his legs, "Eleventh Uncle, I feel like I've been resting all along."

"It's truly strange and odd—when I was in the village, I never failed at catching fish or crabs, but now that I'm outside, I keep encountering problems."

This question has not only been considered by Chen Li, but all members of the Chen clan around Chen Wuji have pondered it, even discussing it.

Yet, no one has arrived at a practical conclusion.

To say it is abnormal, it is indeed abnormal.

Even so abnormal that it can be described as eerie.

When Chen Wuji was in the village, his hunting prowess was evident to all—he almost always brought back game whenever he entered the mountains.

But now that he is outside, even simple fishing feels like he has become a complete novice.

"Family Head, perhaps the fish outside are cunning!" Chen Li said.

He cannot figure out the reason behind this, so for now he can only soothe Chen Wuji's emotions.

Clearly able to see the fish, yet unable to catch even one—this is indeed frustrating.

Chen Wuji shoved his fishing rod hard into the soft mud beside him, "The fish outside are indeed cunning, and they eat people without spitting bones. Half a month has passed, and it seems the Uyghur king's fourth son is planning to abandon his envoy."

"He has already made a mistake; by rights, he should only turn toward the Family Head's side, as he has no other choice." Chen Wuji's topic shifted abruptly, but Chen Li still took it up very easily.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "That map is indeed crucial, but as long as he grits his teeth and refuses to admit it, no one can produce evidence. The only person who knows the truth is still staying in our camp right now, so there is no chance for him to leak secrets to the Uyghur king's court."

"It is somewhat regrettable—if Chu Xiu's plan had succeeded, the severe cold of winter in Xīdì could not have stopped our blade!"

Chen Li Says: "Possibility is something happened……Family Head, the fishing rod, the fishing rod moved!"

Chen Wuji's eyes suddenly brightened, and he lunged forward in one stride to grab the fishing rod.