Chapter 258: Hebei Turning Point

North River, Wild Wolf Hollow.

The name carries the barbarity and sternness unique to the northern lands.

The continuous hills resemble a crouching beast, vegetation sparse, the exposed yellow earth eroded by wind into countless gullies and ravines.

Han Tong reined in his warhorse, stood on a high slope, and gazed at the rolling dust raised by the rebel allied camps in the distance.

The arrow wound on his left arm had not yet healed, his movements still carried a slight stiffness, but his waist and back were ramrod straight, like a flag planted in the battlefield.

Beside him, Zhang Yongde narrowed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping the saddle bridge, as if calculating something.

"Liu Yanzuo, this bastard, has learned to behave."

Han Tong's voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying the fatigue of days of fierce fighting.

"They have dug deep moats and built high walls, relying on those fearless medicine persons to wear us down."

They have been on the defensive for several days, relying on advantageous terrain to construct solid fortifications.

Liu Yanzuo's rebel main force launched several probing attacks, all of which were repelled.

But the medicine persons in the rebel camp—dressed in black, with empty eyes, swift movements, and unafraid of injury or death—still loomed like a heavy cloud over every Chen soldier's heart.

Fighting these monsters, the casualty rate is so high it breaks the heart.

Even veteran commanders like Han Tong and Zhang Yongde find them extremely troublesome.

"We can afford to wear them down."

Zhang Yongde spoke calmly.

"His Majesty has stabilized Bian Liang and is now marching north."

"As long as we hold this position and prevent Liu Yanzuo from advancing south even a step, it is a great merit."

That said, the low morale in the army is a real problem.

Watching comrades torn apart by those ghost‑like medicine persons, while one's own blades often require multiple heavy blows to fell them, this psychological pressure can break many new recruits.

"Report—!"

A swift horse came galloping from behind the fortifications, kicking up clouds of yellow dust.

The messenger dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a sealed copper tube with both hands.

"General Han! General Zhang! Six‑hundred‑li urgent from Bian Liang! The Marquis Jing'an's secret document, plus a batch of supplies sent by the Ministry of Works, stating it is to be personally opened and inspected by the two marshals!"

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of solemnity and anticipation in the other's eyes.

Qian Gui's secret document?

And what else did the Ministry of Works send?

Han Tong took the copper tube, verified the wax seal was intact, then twisted it open and drew out a thin silk scroll.

Zhang Yongde waved his hand, ordering the personal guards to bring forward the several heavy wooden crates that had been transported from the rear.

Han Tong swiftly scanned the contents of the silk scroll; his brow first tightened, then gradually relaxed, and finally his eyes flashed with a sharp light!

"Excellent! Excellent, Qian Zihou!"

He could not help but shout low, then handed the silk scroll to Zhang Yongde.

"He has destroyed a major rat's nest beneath Bianliangcheng! Even the largest 'Cold Crow' in the palace was dragged out and slain!"

Zhang Yongde took it and looked; his stern face also showed a hint of emotion.

"With thunderous means, he has purged internal threats; Marquis Jing'an deserves the foremost credit."

He paused, his gaze falling on those wooden crates.

"Then, these sent by the Ministry of Works……"

The two almost simultaneously walked to the wooden crates.

The guards pried open the crate lid; inside was thick shock‑absorbing straw.

Pulling back the straw revealed one after another palm‑sized, antiquely shaped bronze disks, their surfaces etched with fine runes.

At the center of each disk is inlaid a tiny piece of extraordinarily thin, dark‑red crystal, faintly emitting a weak warmth.

Unlike the large, unstable, easily damaged "Disturb Crystal" device previously sent by Zhao Lao Nian, which required multiple operators, this new batch is much smaller, more like equipment for individual soldiers or squads.

The crate also contains a simple user manual and a personal letter from Zhao Lao Nian.

The letter states that this is a "second‑generation Disturb Crystal Disk", based on the latest understanding of the repulsion between Fortune Momentum and Nether Energy Crystal Ore, improved using crystal ore samples seized from the Northern Frontier.

Its core is that dark‑red crystal, specially treated to contain a trace of Fortune Momentum's power (taken from ancient ritual vessels in the Bian Liang Armory that bear the dynasty's orthodox aura, melted down and recast).

Its effective range is small, covering only about ten steps around.

Its duration is short, lasting roughly the time it takes to burn one incense stick when fully activated.

It is likewise a single‑use consumable.

But its advantage lies in rapid activation—it only needs a slight stir of inner strength or qi and blood.

Specially designed to counter small units of Iron Crow Army warriors or medicine persons.

"Minister Zhao, truly you send charcoal in the snow!"

Han Tong picked up a "Disturb Crystal Disk"; it felt slightly warm in hand, the faint warmth within the dark‑red crystal seeming to dispel some of the battlefield's chill.

"Yongde, what do you think?"

Zhang Yongde carefully examined the runes on the disk, then pondered.

"Although the range is small, if used well it could become a blade to tear open the enemy's spearhead."

"What Liu Yanzuo relies on is nothing more than those medicine persons as shock troops to break our formations."

"If we could disturb those medicine persons at the moment of contact, even for just ten breaths……"

The two gazes met again, each seeing fighting spirit flickering in the other's eyes.

Passive defense is certainly not what a good commander does.

When there is an opportunity, we must strike out!

Pass the order!

Han Tong abruptly turned, his voice booming.

Select the bravest and most agile soldiers from the army, form the 'Shatter Formation Battalion', and issue each squad one 'Disturbing Crystal Disk'!

I, the commander, will personally lead; at dawn tomorrow we will take the initiative and strike, knocking out the rebel forward camp!

Commander Zhang, you lead the main force to hold the formation, wait for the opportunity and act!

Commander Han, your wound… Zhang Yongde hesitated slightly.

Just a flesh wound, what's there to worry about!

Han Tong waved his hand grandly, his heroic spirit reaching the clouds.

His Majesty is eliminating internal threats in Bian Liang, Qian Gui is ferreting out treacherous ministers in the palace, and Minister Zhao is sending weapons from the rear!

If I, Han Tong, still cannot break the situation in Hebei, what face do I have to stand between heaven and earth!

Military orders are as immovable as a mountain.

That night, a unit of five hundred death warriors, the 'Shatter Formation Battalion,' was quietly formed.

Han Tong disregarded advice and personally assumed command as chief general.

Each selected soldier clearly understood what tomorrow's battle meant, and also understood the hope carried by that small copper disk.

No one retreated.

The fervor of Hebei's men, suppressed by days of frustration, had already been repressed to the extreme.

The next day, at dawn.

The sky was on the verge of brightening but still dark, the darkest moment of the day, and also when people are most weary.

The Wild Wolf Hollow was filled with icy morning mist.

Han Tong led the charge on horseback, wearing black armor, while the five hundred 'Shatter Formation Battalion' death warriors, like drifting shadows in the dark night, silently approached the rebel forward camp that was most prominent and garrisoned with many medicine-person death warriors.

The rebel scouts spotted them, and the mournful alarm instantly shattered the silence!

Inside the camp, figures stirred, bowstrings twanged, and scattered arrows began to fall!

Raise shields! Charge forward!

Han Tong roared furiously, his voice echoing in the narrow hollow.

Target the gate! Prepare the 'Disturbing Crystal Disk'!

The five hundred death warriors unleashed a heaven-shaking, earth-shaking roar, bearing the arrow storm like a bursting flood, they charged the camp's wooden wall!

The gate burst open with a boom!

Dozens of black-clad medicine-persons, their eyes empty, faces twisted, exuding a strong medicinal odor and chill, like beasts released from a gate, howled as they rushed forward!

Their movements were swift and fierce, they did not dodge blades, wielding strange weapons, they lunged straight at the front of the Chen army's formation!

Now is the moment!

Han Tong's eyes flashed with brilliant light as he violently poured his internal energy into the 'Disturbing Crystal Disk' in his hand!

Activate!

He let out a hoarse, furious roar!

At the same time, the dozens of squad leaders charging at the front almost simultaneously activated the copper disks in their hands!

Hum—!

A low yet clear humming sound, as if echoing from the void!

With each activated 'Disturbing Crystal Disk' as its center, an invisible ripple carrying a faint warmth instantly spread out, covering a radius of ten steps!

Those dozens of medicine-person death warriors charging at the front, the moment they stepped into that invisible ripple, their bodies suddenly stalled!

In their vacant eyes, for the first time, violent fluctuations appeared, as if some cold energy sustaining their movements had been suddenly interfered with and cut off!

Their movements became stiff and uncoordinated!

The hoarse cries issuing from their mouths also took on a tone of pain and bewilderment!

Even several medicine-persons directly clutched their heads and emitted a miserable wail, as if something had exploded inside their brains!

Effective!

Indeed effective!

Han Tong's heart surged with delight, his fighting spirit instantly soaring to its peak!

Kill!

He seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; his long blade turned into a silken streak, directly cleaving the stiff-moving medicine-person before him from head to toe in two!

Blood and viscera sprayed out!

Slaughter these monsters!

For our fallen brothers!

The five hundred Shatter Formation Battalion death warriors saw that the nightmare-like enemy that had troubled them for days was actually being restrained by that small copper disk, and their morale soared!

They were like tigers among a flock of sheep, brandishing swords and spears, madly hacking at the medicine-persons fallen into chaos!

Their efficiency was more than several times higher than before!

What originally required several men to surround and sacrifice to defeat a medicine-person now often could be gravely wounded or killed with just one or two blows!

The battlefield situation instantly reversed!

The following rebel rank-and-file troops, seeing their relied-upon medicine-person death warriors being butchered by the Chen army as easily as chopping vegetables, instantly fell into panic, their lines wavering!

The 'Han' banner, in the faint morning light, was boldly planted upon the rebel camp's watchtower!

On a distant high slope, Zhang Yongde saw the front battle situation suddenly change, and without hesitation issued an order.

Beat the drums! Press forward with the whole army!

Support Commander Han! Expand the battle gains!

Boom boom boom——!

The heaven-shaking war drum sound rang out!

The Chen Army's main force, which had been building up strength for a long time, surged out of the camp like an awakening giant dragon, launching an earth-shaking total attack on the wavering rebel positions!

Liu Yanzuo's rebel army's forward camp, under attack from inside and outside, quickly collapsed.

After the effect of the "Disturb Crystal" wore off, the remaining Medicine People warriors, though they had regained some of their ferocity, were already doomed; they were divided, surrounded, and wiped out one by one.

The rebel army's main force was forced to retreat ten li before barely stabilizing its position.

In this battle, over a thousand rebel heads (including Medicine People) were taken, one camp was burned down, and captured weapons and supplies were countless.

More importantly, it shattered the myth of the rebels' invincibility, greatly boosting the Chen Army's morale.

The stalemate on the Hebei front was violently torn open by this sudden heavy blow!

The sunlight completely dispelled the morning mist, illuminating the blood-soaked land of Wild Wolf Hollow.

Han Tong stood on the captured rebel watchtower, looking at the cheering soldiers below and the rebel flags retreating in panic far away, and slowly exhaled a mouthful of foul-smelling air tinged with blood.

He touched the Disturb Crystal Disk in his chest, which had lost its luster and whose runes were cracked.

"Good stuff......"

He muttered softly.

"It's just...... not durable enough."

He knew, this was only the beginning.

Liu Yanzuo and the Iron Crow Army would not let it rest.

But at least, they had found a way to fight those monsters.

The sky over Hebei seemed to have brightened a bit.

He raised his head, gazing toward the south.

Your Majesty, did you see it?

Hebei, we can still fight!