Chapter 414: Border Ripples

False Song border, several tens of li north of the former Yumen grounds, a hilly region called the Ashen Valley.

This is not an official boundary demarcated by the two dynasties; the terrain is complex, passages appear and disappear, making it a gray zone where small units infiltrate and clash.

As dusk approached, the setting sun like blood dyed the withered grass and jagged rocks a dark red.

A patrol squad of about twenty from the Chen Dynasty's border defense cautiously proceeded along the dry riverbed.

The squad leader was a scarred veteran named Hu Cha; at that moment he raised his hand, signaling the unit to stop.

He hadn't heard anything; it was a honed intuition from years of walking the edge of life and death, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up slightly.

"Something's off."

He lowered his voice and said to his deputy beside him.

"Too quiet."

Usually, the Ashen Valley would have insect chirps and bird calls, but now all was silent, as if every living thing had sensed danger in advance and hidden.

The deputy gripped his standard-issue waist knife tightly, eyes scanning the quiet slopes on either side.

"Boss, are those False Song hyenas sneaking up again?"

Hu Cha didn't answer; instead, he narrowed his eyes, carefully sensing the faint movements in the wind.

He slightly turned his head, aligning his ear with a dense thicket to the front-left.

At that moment, the palm-sized, peculiarly shaped metal disc he wore on his left arm, with several tiny yu-energy crystals set into its edge, suddenly emitted an extremely faint, barely visible purplish light, accompanied by an almost imperceptible high-frequency vibration.

This was the latest "Expel-Yu Crossbow" warning attachment issued by the Ministry of Works to elite border units—the "Yu Disturbance Device."

Its principle is the initial application of the Chen Dynasty Ministry of Works' theory of conflict between yu energy and fortune momentum, enabling it to sensitively detect abnormal concentrations or rapid movements of high-density yu energy within a certain range.

Meanwhile, the elites supported by the Iron Crow Army on the False Song side often carry this uncomfortable yu-energy fluctuation on their gear and persons.

"Front-left, behind the thicket—something's there!"

Hu Cha let out a low growl and without hesitation gave a tactical hand signal.

The entire squad sprang into action instantly, without a hint of panic.

They had drilled countless ambush response plans.

Four crossbowmen in the squad, wielding the Expel-Yu Crossbow improved by Team Zhao Lao Nian, quickly went to one knee and nocked their bolts.

The bolt heads of this new-type crossbow are not ordinary metal but forged from a special alloy that can weakly guide fortune momentum, giving extra penetration and interference against yu-energy armor and certain non-human entities.

The remaining sword-and-shield soldiers quickly closed ranks, forming a simple defensive circle, vigilant in other directions.

Almost as the Chen squad finished preparing—

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!"

A sharp tearing-of-air sound came from behind the left-side thicket!

Dozens of bolts flashing with a dim yu light shot out like venomous snakes!

Their target was the exact spot where the Chen squad had just halted!

Had Hu Cha not given advance warning, the squad would still have been moving, and this volley could have taken down at least three to five of them.

"Raise shields!"

"Thud—thud—thud!"

Most of the bolts were blocked by the promptly raised iron-wood shields, but the faint yu energy on the bolts made the shield surfaces emit a slight "hiss" and left faint corrosion marks.

"As expected, it's this bunch of trash!"

Hu Cha spat, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Crossbowmen, covering fire! Three rounds of rapid fire, suppress!"

"Yes!"

The four crossbowmen calmly pulled the triggers.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The improved Expel-Yu Crossbow fires faster and with greater force.

The specially made bolts sliced the air, carrying a barely perceptible gleam of the Chen Dynasty's fortune momentum, and plunged into the thicket.

"Ah!"

From within came a short scream, plus several groans and curses.

Obviously, the False Song ambushers hadn't expected the Chen forces to react so swiftly, nor such a precise and sharp counterattack.

Although their gear also bore yu-energy traits, against the specially made bolts of the Expel-Yu Crossbow its effectiveness seemed greatly reduced.

"Sword-and-shield troops, flank left and right! Don't let a single one escape!"

Hu Cha bellowed, leading the charge ahead of his men, taking half the squad around the right side.

The deputy took the other half from the left.

The ambush failed, and after being struck by precise crossbow bolts, the False Song cavalry hidden behind the thicket instantly fell into chaos.

They had thought that with the yu-energy bolt ambush and terrain cover they could easily wipe out this Chen patrol, but instead they kicked an iron plate.

When Hu Cha and his men charged into the thicket like tigers, they saw seven or eight False Song cavalry in leather armor trying to mount their horses, plus three or four bolt‑struck men lying on the ground.

"Kill!"

Without further words, the two sides immediately grappled in melee.

Clashing weapons, roars, and cries immediately filled the air.

The Chen border troops were already battle‑hardened veterans; they had the initiative and numerical superiority, and, burning with anger at these repeated False Song "hyena" incursions, they showed no mercy when they fought.

Although this False Song cavalry unit was elite, their ambush had failed, morale was crushed, and several had been wounded by the Expel-Yu Crossbow; thus they quickly fell to the disadvantage.

The battle ended quickly.

Aside from three or four clever ones who saw the tide turn, mounted their horses and fled at full speed amid the chaos, the remaining eleven False Song cavalry were five killed on the spot and six wounded and captured.

Hu Cha wiped a smear of blood from his face, looked at the prisoners and corpses on the ground, and let out a cold snort.

Tie these captives up tight, and gag their mouths!

Search them for anything useful.

Lao Wang, send a signal, have the rear send carriages and horses to meet us, and deliver these 'gifts' to the officials of the Jing'an Office!

Got it!

A soldier took out a horn and blew the specific rhythm signalling mission complete and need for reinforcement.

The low, desolate horn call echoed in the dimming Gray Valley.

Hu Cha stepped aside, glanced again at his arm where the Disturbance Instrument had returned to calm, and for the first time felt a hint of admiration for those Ministry of Works folks who bury themselves in research.

If it weren't for this little gadget giving an early warning, we'd probably have been done in today.

He lifted his gaze toward the direction of False Song, his eyes icy.

Want to take advantage? You'll need teeth tough enough!

This clean, swift counter‑ambush not only thwarted False Song's harassment, it also proved the combat value of the Ministry of Works' new equipment and the effectiveness of the early‑warning system built on the Shi Yong theory.

More importantly, we captured several live prisoners.

Maybe we can pry something interesting out of them.

Night fell, slowly blanketing the Gray Valley and covering up the recent slaughter and bloodshed.

Only the faint smell of lingering iron rust in the air bore witness to the conflict that had taken place here.

And this ripple from the frontier, accompanied by the captured equipment and prisoners, swiftly conveyed itself to the heart of the Chen Dynasty.