Chapter 566: Anxiety Brought by the Victory Report

The news of the great victory at Yancheng arrived at Black Cloud Stronghold three days later.

The messenger was Shi Dun's most capable night‑nonstop rider, who rode one horse with three mounts, changing horses but not the rider, and after two good horses died from exhaustion, he finally delivered this sweat‑ and dust‑stained secret letter.

"Great victory! A great victory at Yancheng!"

"General Yue's Valiant Army smashed the Jin army's Iron Pagoda head‑on, beheading three Jin commanders of rank thousand‑household or higher on the battlefield, capturing untold weapons and horses! The Jin main force has retreated thirty li!"

The news spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing the entire stronghold.

On the drill field, the training soldiers threw down their weapons and cheered, leaping with joy.

In the workshop, the clinking of hammering paused for a moment, then burst into louder shouts.

Even the old kitchen helper ladled an extra spoonful of the rare oily vegetable soup, grinning wide.

How many years has it been?

Since the False Song fled south and the Central Plains fell, the news we heard was mostly of cities falling, armies defeated, and peace overtures with tribute.

When have we ever won such a hard‑fought, bloody victory?

Or rather, it was against the Jin army's finest Iron Pagoda!

"Good! Well fought!"

Chao Gai slammed his fist hard onto the wooden table, making the teacups jump; his face flushed red, though his eye sockets felt a little hot.

"Yue Pengju, truly a tiger of a general! He hasn't brought shame upon us northern men!"

Lin Chong read the battle report carefully, especially the passages about the Valiant Army's axe‑wielding death‑sworn soldiers changing mounts at the leg, and Yue Fei personally leading the cavalry to make a precise thrust.

He remained silent for a long time, then finally let out a long breath.

"It's not just bravery. This battle opportunity was seized…… marvelously to the finest hair. Only great courage and great wisdom could achieve it."

Wu Yong shook his feather fan, but the smile on his face slowly faded.

"It is truly a heaven‑shaking victory. But have you considered that after this battle, General Yue…… has no way back?"

The jubilant atmosphere inside the tent stalled slightly.

"What do you mean, military advisor?" Ruan Xiao Er asked.

"The Yue Family Army has always suffered from insufficient supplies, and the Imperial Court is wary. Now, riding the prestige of this great victory, they point their swords straight at Bian Liang; restoring the old capital seems imminent."

Wu Yong's voice was low.

"You say, are the officials in Lin'an who wholeheartedly seek peace happy, or afraid?"

"Do they feel glory on their faces, or…… do they feel a tiger snoring beside their pillow?"

Everyone fell silent.

The answer needs no explanation.

"And there's Jin." Lin Chong interjected, brow furrowed, "Wanyan Zongbi won't let such a huge loss go unanswered; he will surely muster more forces for a counter‑attack. The Yue Family Army is already at the end of its tether—can it hold out against the next round?"

He didn't go on.

But everyone understood.

A pyrrhic victory, exhausting the elite, exposing the sharp edge, inviting fear and counter‑attack from all sides.

This victory report is a bugle call, and perhaps…… a death knell.

"What about Mr. Chen?"

Chao Gai suddenly realized that after receiving the victory report, Chen Wen only looked at the letter, said "Understood," and then left the Hall of Righteous Gathering alone.

On the Observation Platform, the wind was strong.

Chen Wen leaned on the cold railing, gazing southward.

He held no token, and made no attempt at any "reading".

He simply stood still.

There was not a trace of joy on his face.

Instead, he was shrouded in a deep, insoluble heaviness.

In his mind, the fragmented image he had "seen" through the token when the long‑range endowment was triggered that day surged up again, uncontrollably.

It was not the blade‑light and sword‑shadow of the Yancheng battlefield.

But rather, behind the radiance of that "victory report," deeper and darker, a writhing scene——

Countless fine, black "threads" were silently extending from the direction of Lin'an, from deep within the Jin army's main camp, and even from some vague figures inside the Yue Family Army.

Like leeches sensing blood, they slowly twined toward that sword, which, though stained with blood, shone all the more brightly.

Those black threads wove together, faintly forming a vague outline.

Like a…… pavilion?

Gloomy and cold.

Ominous.

This perception did not come from the active skill of "script reading," but rather resembled a passive, ongoing enhancement of "Shi Yong" after ability growth and deeper causal entanglement.

He "felt" that the originally sharp, soaring "momentum" from the south, after reaching a certain glorious peak, had not only failed to solidify and expand, but was being wrapped layer by layer by the viscous malice surging from all directions, beginning to turn…… sluggish.

Even, there was a faint trace of a downward trend.

This cannot be explained by battlefield victory or defeat.

"The Imperial Court's edict…… probably isn't just one, right?"

He muttered to himself softly.

Shi Dun, at the end of the forwarded victory report's secret letter, added in the most inconspicuous hand: "The False Capital Envoy has come again; the edict is 'earnest'."

The two characters "earnest" were written in heavy ink.

Chen Wen understood what that meant.

Urging an advance? Ordering a retreat? Or…… something more sinister, a restrictive maneuver?

Whatever the case, they are all pushing Yue Fei toward a desperate situation.

Still not fast enough……

He gripped the railing tightly.

On Zhao Lao Nian's side, the development of the new token requires time.

The consumption of the long-range bestowal is too great; it cannot be used again in the short term.

Although the Northward Aspiration Army's harassment is effective, after all it is a flank force, making it difficult to fundamentally alter the troop balance on the main Zhongyuan battlefield.

What he can do seems limited to early warning and limited material support.

This feeling of helplessness made his chest feel heavy.

My lord.

Wang Ru's voice sounded from behind; she had somehow silently mounted the stage.

Urgent report from the south, 'Lingyu'.

She handed over a tiny slip of paper, on which minute cipher script was written.

Chen Wen quickly translated it.

The Qin Minister's residence has recently been in frequent secret contact with the Jin side. The envoy carrying the second and third imperial edicts has already reached Yancheng; rumor has it the content is 'urging advance' and 'concern for the rear,' with contradictory wording.

Deputy Commander Wang Jun of the Yue Army's logistics camp has recently voiced complaints repeatedly, having privately complained about 'unfair rewards and punishments,' and twice met secretly with unidentified outsiders. Surveillance has been increased, but his position is sensitive, and without solid proof we dare not act rashly.

Wang Jun.

Chen Wen had an impression of that name; Shi Dun's earlier report mentioned he is a mid-level officer in the Yue Army, responsible for some grain and materiel allocation.

His position is not core, but if he were exploited…

The Iron Crow Army's hand reaches out truly fast.

He said coldly.

Tell our people over there to keep a close watch on Wang Jun, record all abnormal contacts. But do not startle the snake. Moving against him now would only harm Yue Fei.

Furthermore, let our people inside the False Song court find a way to leak the news of 'Jin envoys contacting the Qin Minister's residence' to officials who still uphold public justice or are at odds with Qin Hui; no evidence needed, rumors will do.

When the water is muddied, some people's moves will reveal their flaws.

"Yes." Wang Ru noted it, hesitated a moment, then said, "My lord, you seem… not pleased with the victory at Yancheng?"

Chen Wen fell silent for a moment.

I greatly admire General Yue; this battle was fought splendidly, showing the spirit of Han sons.

He turned his body, his eyes reflecting the shadows of distant mountains.

But Wang Ru, as you oversee surveillance, you should know a principle: the tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind.

General Yue now is that tallest tree that stands out most in the forest.

And the 'wind' from all directions… has begun to blow.

The victory report we see may, in some people's eyes, be precisely the order that accelerates and summons this 'wind'.

Wang Ru's expression tightened, and she slowly nodded.

I understand, my lord. The net in the south will be woven tighter.

After she stepped down, Chen Wen looked toward the south once again.

This time, he actively calmed his mind and slightly activated the 'Script Perusal' ability.

Not seeking a clear image, he only sensed the flow of that 'momentum'.

In the haze, what he saw was no longer specific pavilions or swords.

But rather a more abstract scene:

A document radiant with Huang Guang, inscribed 'Victory Report,' was being frantically snatched, torn, and smeared by countless hands reaching out from the shadows, wearing various official caps or shrouded in black mist.

The document's light was quickly polluted and dimmed.

And beneath the document, that blood‑stained 'sword' was being entwined by golden chains of edicts appearing out of thin air, gradually becoming heavy and sluggish.

Where the sword's point faced forward, more black iron cavalry gathered again like a tide.

Chen Wen abruptly severed his perception, stepped back half a pace, and fine sweat appeared on his forehead.

After catching his breath, his gaze became even more resolute.

As expected…

The faster the victory report arrives, the more urgent the killing intent behind it becomes.

Brother Pengju, your time… is probably short.

In the camp below the mountain, the noisy celebration faintly drifted up, forming a stark contrast with the desolate cold wind on the observatory platform.

Chen Wen descended the high platform and returned to the Hall of Brotherhood.

In the hall, everyone seeing him return turned their gazes toward him.

Master Chen, this victory report… how should we respond? Should we increase our harassment to lend General Yue a helping hand? Chao Gai asked.

Chen Wen looked around at everyone, then spoke slowly.

Celebrate, keep it in your hearts. Hold the wine; it's not too late to drink after General Yue truly recovers Bian Liang.

Harassment must not only be strengthened but also be more systematic. Instructor Lin, you and Military Strategist Wu discuss in detail, pick a few targets that will make the Jin troops hurt enough to jump, yet they cannot ignore. This will both tie down their forces and provoke their commander.

We want the Jin to feel that the trouble in the north is no less than that in the south.

Furthermore, the ten Yue Army students in the Martial Arts Hall will have their studies intensified. Tell them their commander is fighting desperately at the front; they in the rear must, in the shortest time, learn as much as possible the skills of self‑preservation, killing enemies, and leading troops.

Only after completing their studies and returning can they save more lives of their fellow countrymen and relieve more of their commander's worries.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable force.

The victory at Yancheng is a joy, but also a warning bell.

Tell all the brothers in the stronghold, being happy for an hour is enough.

After two hours, those who should train train, those who should forge iron forge iron, those who should patrol patrol.

Our Northward Aspiration army, the day we can relax and celebrate……

They paused, then gazed toward the southern sky outside the hall.

"It's still very far."

Wind swept through the hall, stirring the 'Northward Aspiration' banner on the wall, making it flutter loudly.

Like the lingering echo of war drums, and also like the low rumble before another storm approaches.