Chapter 650: Closing and Decision

The night banquet at Wuying Hall ended.

The carriage carrying Yue Fei and others drove out of Huangcheng, passed through the quiet streets, and arrived at a residence west of Xijing.

The residence is not small, with three courtyards, featuring a garden and a training ground.

The servants had already prepared hot water, clothing, and medicine.

"Please rest first."

Zhang Cheng stopped at the gate.

"Tomorrow at the si hour, I will send someone to fetch you to the Privy Council to familiarize you with the Chen dynasty's military system."

"If you have any needs, there is a steward in the residence whom you can directly command."

He clasped his hands in farewell.

Chen Wen stayed behind last.

"General Yue, rest well tonight."

"The matter of Luoyang, set it aside for now."

"We'll discuss it again tomorrow."

Yue Fei nodded.

"Mr. Chen, you should also rest early."

Chen Wen turned and left.

The residence gate was closed.

Lights blazed inside the courtyard.

The servants led everyone to their respective rooms.

Yue Fei's room was in the east wing of the main hall.

The furnishings were simple but complete: a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a weapon rack.

On the desk were already laid out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, plus several scrolls: "Chen Dynasty Code Commentary," "Essentials of the North Border Military System," and "Illustrated Explanation of New Devices from the Bureau of Works."

He walked to the window.

He pushed open the window.

The night in Xijing was eerily quiet.

There was no sound of slaughter, no firelight, no smell of blood.

Only the distant faint sound of the night watch drum and the rustle of leaves blown by the wind.

It was too quiet.

So quiet it made one's heart panic.

He closed his eyes.

In his ears, it seemed as if Lieutenant Liu's final roar rang out again.

"Pass on the fire seed—move out!"

He clenched his fists.

His nails dug into his palms.

"Father."

Yue Yun's voice sounded from outside the door.

Yue Fei opened his eyes.

"Come in."

Yue Yun pushed the door open and entered, already changed into clean plain clothes, his hair still damp.

"General Zhang Xian and the others are all in the main hall, saying… they can't sleep."

"Then have a seat."

Yue Fei walked out of the room.

Inside the main hall.

Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai, Ruan Xiao Er, Guan Sheng, and Hu Yanzhuo had all finished washing and were seated together.

No one spoke.

Yue Fei took the seat of honor.

Silence lingered for a long while.

Wu Yong spoke first.

"The Chen dynasty… is better than I imagined."

"The roads are wide, the city walls strong, the people at peace, the troops orderly."

He paused.

"The better it is, the more my heart…"

"The more I feel ashamed toward the brothers who fought and died in Luoyang."

Wang Gui took up the conversation, his voice low.

Again, silence.

"But what Lieutenant Liu and the others sought was exactly this."

Lin Chong spoke slowly.

"What they exchanged their lives for is that we can sit in a house like this and live peaceful lives."

"If we remain mired in guilt, that is truly letting them down."

"What Instructor Lin said is correct."

Guan Sheng nodded.

"We need to make something of ourselves."

"If we get a chance later, we'll bring this kindness back."

"How do we bring it?"

Ruan Xiao Er gave a wry smile.

"The light curtain separates the two worlds."

"We... can't go back."

"If we can't go back, then change what can be changed."

Yue Fei suddenly spoke.

Everyone looked at him.

"The Chen Dynasty is strong, but the Northern Border has the Northern Yuan, and beyond the light curtain lies the Yuan Dynasty."

"The Iron Crow Army has not been eliminated, and the script has not been broken."

His gaze swept over everyone.

"Our battle is not yet finished."

"We've just changed the place we fight."

Everyone's eyes gradually brightened.

"What Commander Yue means is..."

"Tomorrow go to the Privy Council, observe well, study well."

Yue Fei said in a deep voice.

"The Chen Dynasty's military system, equipment, and tactics must have something worthwhile."

"Once we've learned it, we'll put it to use."

"In the future, whether we help the Chen Dynasty's northern expedition, or..."

He paused.

"One day, if we can counterattack back, it will be useful."

As they were speaking,

The steward knocked on the door.

"Gentlemen generals, the midnight snack is ready."

"Bring it in."

The servants brought up hot porridge, small dishes, and flatbread.

Simple, but steaming hot.

Everyone was indeed hungry.

During the last few days in Luoyang, the dry rations were reserved for the wounded; they hadn't had hot food in a long time.

They ate in silence.

"Everyone, go to sleep."

Yue Fei rose.

"Rest up your spirits; tomorrow we begin—"

He looked out the window.

"Get familiar with the new battlefield."

Everyone dispersed.

Yue Fei returned to his room.

He did not sleep immediately.

He walked to the desk and opened the Chen Dynasty's Legal Code.

He glanced at a few pages, then closed it.

He lit the oil lamp.

He laid out paper and ground ink.

He picked up the brush.

He wrote two characters.

"Luoyang"

He set down the brush.

He stared at it for a long time.

Finally, he crumpled the paper and threw it into the brazier.

The firelight leapt.

The paper turned to ash.

He blew out the lamp.

He lay down fully clothed.

He closed his eyes.

This time, there would be no more dreams.

That same night.

Chen Wen did not return to the palace.

He went to the Jing'an Office headquarters.

Underground secret chamber.

Qian Gui has been waiting for a while.

"My lord."

"The funeral arrangements for Li Qi and the other three have been arranged."

Qian Gui handed over a dossier.

"According to the highest standard for fallen soldiers, their families have been brought to Xijing for settlement."

"The tombstone stands in the eastern section of the Heroes' Mausoleum, alongside the fallen founding soldiers of the Chen Dynasty."

Chen Wen took the dossier and opened it.

Li Qi, a Luoyang native, thirty-one years old.

His parents are deceased; he has a wife and a son.

His son is seven years old.

Compensation: five hundred taels of silver, one residence, his son admitted to the official academy, exempt from all corvée labor until adulthood.

"Enough."

Chen Wen closed the dossier.

"Latest battle report from Bei Jing."

"Shi Dun just sent it."

Qian Gui handed over another secret report.

"After the Northern Yuan retreated fifty li, they re-established camp, showing no signs of further attack."

"But there seems to be movement deep in the grasslands; Zhao Lao Nian's 'Sever Nest' squad last sent a message three days ago, after which they lost contact."

"Shi Dun has already sent three scout teams deep to investigate, yet there has been no reply."

Chen Wen finished reading.

"Tell Shi Dun to hold the line and not take the initiative to attack for now."

"Wait."

"What are we waiting for?"

"Wait for Yue Fei and the others to adapt, wait for the Northern Yuan's next move."

Chen Wen walked to the wall of the secret chamber and pulled aside the curtain.

"On the wall is a huge map of Bei Jing."

"The Iron Crow Army's dual-line catalysis has basically unified the False Song world under the Yuan Dynasty; their attention will soon turn back here."

"The Northern Yuan will not relent."

"The next battle will be the decisive battle."

Qian Gui grew solemn.

"When?"

"At most two months."

Chen Wen pointed his finger at the Northern Yuan's royal court location on the map.

"We must prepare before then."

"Troops, equipment, and grain—the Privy Council is already intensively preparing."

"But the key lies in the 'Mother Nest'."

Qian Gui frowned.

"If Zhao Lao Nian fails to destroy the core Mother Nest, the Northern Yuan forces can continuously receive reinforcements."

"Then we must find it."

Chen Wen turned around.

"Increase scout deployment, expand the search range."

"Use all available means."

"Within three months, we must locate the Mother Nest's position."

"Yes."

Qian Gui noted it down.

"And there's Yue Fei and the others."

Chen Wen walked back to the desk.

"Starting tomorrow, let them engage with the core military affairs of the Chen Dynasty."

"Especially Yue Fei, Lin Chong, and Wu Yong—they are all talented commanders."

"Let them integrate as soon as possible."

"The decisive battle at Bei Jing needs their experience."

"Understood."

Qian Gui nodded.

"That Privy Council over there..."

"Zhang Cheng knows what to do."

Chen Wen sat down.

"You may go."

"I want to be quiet."

Qian Gui bowed and withdrew.

The secret chamber was silent.

Chen Wen closed his eyes.

The System Interface appeared in his mind.

Lv. 6, the experience bar was already past halfway.

This time crossing the light curtain and successive battles greatly accelerated his growth speed.

But it was still not enough.

The master of the Iron Crow Army, because the Yuan Dynasty unified the False Song world, will necessarily have his authority greatly restored.

Next encounter will be even more difficult.

He opened his eyes.

He took out the light-blue positioning crystal from his bosom.

The crystal had dimmed and lost its light, but faint specks still flowed inside.

This is the residual beacon activated by Wang Ru in Luoyang.

He gripped the crystal tightly.

Beyond the light curtain.

That world had become the Yuan Dynasty's realm.

Lieutenant Liu's and the three hundred wounded soldiers' remains forever remained in Luoyang.

And here.

A new war is about to begin.

He rose and walked out of the secret chamber.

The roof of the Jing'an Bureau.

The night wind was bitterly cold.

Xijing lay asleep in the night.

Countless lights shone, peaceful and harmonious.

This is the state he established.

He must defend it.

He looked toward the west.

There, beyond the light curtain, another China groaned under iron hooves.

One day.

He silently recited it in his heart.

One day.

He turned and went downstairs.

Tomorrow, there are still many things to do.