Chapter 720: Sun and Moon High in the Sky

Xijing, before dawn.

Chen Wen stood at the edge of the observatory platform, twisting a freshly delivered secret report in his hand.

From Bei Jing.

Not a routine military report, but Yue Fei's own handwriting.

"The scouting riders risked death to approach the thinnest point of the light curtain's crack and observed that, in the enemy's Liaodong territory, three dark‑blue pillars of qi shot up into the sky, spaced a hundred li apart and echoing each other. There, all vegetation is blackened, birds and beasts have left no trace—perhaps a great plague or … some anomaly. I have ordered all units to strengthen surveillance and prepared fire oil, quicklime, and the like."

The brushwork is vigorous and forceful, the power showing through the back of the paper.

Chen Wen brought the secret report closer to the lamp and read it again.

"Dark‑blue qi pillars … echoing each other …"

He lifted his gaze to the west.

Beyond the light curtain, the Iron Crow Army's 'hastening' has reached a blatant stage.

That is no longer covert support.

It is directly acting as its pawn, marking the attack axis, or … conducting some kind of ritual?

He turned around.

Zhang Cheng.

"Your servant is here." From the shadows, Zhang Cheng stepped forward in response.

"Issue a secret order to Yue Fei: quickly draw a map of the direction of those qi pillars he saw and report it. Command the Imperial Astronomy Bureau to immediately compare celestial phenomena with the Fortune Momentum flow diagram and calculate the ley‑line nodes there."

"Tell Zhao Lao'nian that the 'pinhole' transmission next time should be sent early. No need to wait for the window seventeen days later; I give him three days, sparing no expense, to synchronize the transmission of the two sets of bamboo slips I want when the next smoke‑column signal flag is observed in Huai Xi."

"Add another pulse set: pointing to the concepts 'North', 'Blue', and 'Pillar'."

Zhang Cheng's heart jolted.

Is the sovereign intending to directly warn Zhu Yue about the concrete form of the northern anomaly?

"Your Majesty, sending so densely will consume huge resources, and the signal may suffer severe distortion…"

"Carry it out." Chen Wen's voice was calm but unquestionable: "He must know that the blade on the northern frontier has not only been sharpened, but also coated with a blood‑sealing throat poison. We must get ahead of the poison's onset and pass him even a tiny fragment of a possibly antidotal herb's shadow."

"Yes!" Zhang Cheng said no more, bowed and withdrew.

Chen Wen stood alone as the night faded.

In the eastern horizon, a faint blue tint already appeared.

The sun and moon turn; a new day.

The sound of a piece landing on the opposite side of the board is now clearly audible.

Huai Xi, the first light of morning.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) crouched beside the newly built fourth iron smelting furnace.

The furnace interior was still warm.

He held in his hand a product from last night's experiment—a small lump that, after cooling, showed an odd dark‑silvery gray color and a texture denser than raw iron.

This was not a planned product.

It was obtained accidentally when he tried treating iron ore with different proportions of limestone.

Furnace temperature, blast timing, and material input—any deviation of even a half point would prevent this from forming.

He was examining it carefully.

From the direction of the camp's east gate, a sudden short, powerful burst of gong sound!

Three long, two short.

Enemy alert!

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) sprang to his feet, shoved the metal lump into his bosom, snatched the spear leaning against the wall, and ran toward the east gate.

Not a large troop of official soldiers.

The lookout reported that beyond the low hill five li to the east, about fifty horsemen emerged.

Their attire was mismatched, but their formation was scattered yet orderly.

The horses were thin, and both men and mounts bore the look of wind and frost.

They paused on the low hill for a moment, apparently observing the camp.

Then, they actually split off more than ten riders who trotted slowly toward the camp's east gate.

They stopped at a distance of an arrow's shot outside the moat.

The leading rider, an old knight with white‑streaked hair and a scarred cheek, spurred his horse forward another several steps and shouted loudly:

"Good men of the riverbank! Is the chief of the Blade‑Plow Camp, Zhu, present?"

His voice was hoarse yet full of vigor.

The archers on the wall had their bows drawn, spearheads bristling.

Tang He looked at the just‑arrived Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang).

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) raised his hand to signal a brief pause.

He climbed onto the wall and responded in a loud voice:

"I am Zhu Yue. Who goes there?"

The old rider clasped his fists on horseback.

"My surname is Chang, given name Encounter‑Spring! I and these brothers behind me have all fled from Huaiyuan!"

"The corrupt officials of the Yuan court have stripped the land bare; we can't survive! I've heard that on the west bank of Haozhou's river, brave men have gathered, killed government troops, and set up rules—so we come specially to join!"

Chang Encounter‑Spring?

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) felt a slight stir in his heart.

That name… seems somewhat familiar, but now I have no leisure to ponder it.

Since you've come to surrender, why bring so many horses? And why stop here, watching from behind the hill?

Chang Yuchun grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Chief Zhu, please understand! In these troubled times, we have to be on guard! We previously believed in the 'righteous gathering' elsewhere, but we almost got devoured to the bone!

From afar I saw your earthen wall and moat, looking proper, which is why I dared to come forward and shout.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the brave youths on the wall who, though tense, did not retreat, and over the iron spearheads in their hands that flashed with a cold light.

Now that I've seen it, Chief Zhu is a man of deeds! We brothers have all made our living on horseback, licked blood from the blade! I won't claim great ability, but we are certainly no cowards!

As long as Chief Zhu takes us in, gives us food, and lets us kill the Yuan dogs and defend the camp, we will have no second thoughts!

A commotion rose on the wall.

Xu Da said in a low voice: 'Brother, fifty cavalry, all blooded…… if we can take them in, they'd be a great help! But what if it's a trick…'

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stared sharply, quickly sizing up Chang Yuchun and the cavalry behind him.

Dust-covered and weary in expression, yet his gaze was mostly open, bearing the resolve of having no other way out.

Though the horses were thin, they were well cared for—clearly beloved animals.

'Brave Warrior Chang.' He raised his voice, 'You may enter the camp. But there are three rules.'

'Please speak, Chief Zhu!'

'First, upon entering the camp, disarm and discard weapons, and concentrate the horses for feeding. After three days, if inspection shows no abnormality, weapons will be returned and they will be assigned to the horse unit.'

'Second, you must obey all orders of my Blade Plow Camp, in training and labor, without distinction.'

'Third, if anyone harbors disloyalty or violates military orders, they will be executed on the spot, no pardon.'

The conditions were harsh.

Among Chang Yuchun's cavalry behind him, a few low grumbles of discontent arose.

Chang Yuchun, however, raised his hand to stop them.

He stared at Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) for a few breaths, then suddenly burst out laughing.

'Good! Refreshing!'

'Chief Zhu is a man undertaking great deeds! The rules are set clearly!'

'I, Chang Yuchun, bring my forty-seven cavalry, willing to join the Blade Plow Camp!'

'We will obey all the rules!'

Having said that, he swung down from his horse, first removing his waist dagger and throwing it to the ground.

He also took off his worn leather armor.

Seeing this, the cavalry behind him hesitated a moment, then also dismounted, removing armor and abandoning weapons.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) drew a deep breath.

'Open the side gate, let them in. Xu Da, lead personnel to receive the horses and weapons, and arrange accommodations. Tang He, strengthen the perimeter watch.'

'Yes!'

The camp bustled again.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) watched as those leading the thin horses entered the camp gate, unfamiliar faces.

Unexpected aid?

Or a new variable?

He did not know.

But he was clear that, at this moment, the camp's population and strength had undergone a substantial increase.

It also added a measure of…… unpredictable weight to the impending storm.

He raised his head.

In the east, the rising sun finally broke free of the horizon.

Ten thousand zhang Huang Guang, piercing the morning mist, spreading over the river beach.

It illuminated the mottled wooden wall, the newly forged iron spears, and also lit the air above the camp, that banner fluttering in the morning breeze……

Blade Plow Flag.

Beyond the light curtain, thirty li north of Happy Peak Pass.

A Min reined in his warhorse.

Behind him, three hundred cavalry stood still like ghosts.

Everyone's face was covered with a black cloth, only revealing pairs of eyes that faintly glowed gray‑blue in the dawn light.

The horses exhaled heavy white vapor, their front hooves uneasily pawing the ground.

Before them lay a collapsed rammed‑earth wall, nearly three zhang high.

At the breach, rotting wood and scattered stones lay about.

Inside the wall, all was silent.

Only a few tattered Yuan army flags fluttered weakly in the morning breeze.

A Min licked his somewhat chapped lips.

He could hear the icy yet powerful sound coursing through his veins.

He could also 'hear' the silent urging from the distant north, coming from the 'Divine Crow'.

A Min slowly raised his right hand.

He clenched his fist.

Then he thrust it forward with a violent sweep!

There was no shout.

The three hundred cavalry, like wolves receiving a signal, sprang into action instantly!

Horse hooves shattered the wild grass, kicking up dust that turned into a silent dark current, surging toward the collapsed breach.

Charging toward the wall's rear.

That stretch, just awakened in the morning light, utterly defenseless…

The Zhongyuan lands.

The light of sun and moon simultaneously shone upon two worlds.

One that was consolidating, making contact, and embracing new strength.

One that was collapsing, charging, and tearing open a bloody dawn.

The light barrier still stretched across.

But everyone could feel it.

The pages of the old script had been completely blown away by the wind at the scroll's end.

A completely unknown new era, woven from fresh blood, steel, will, and eerie power.

It came along with the light of sun and moon hanging in the sky.

It descended fiercely.