Chapter 82: The Best Strategy

Xiang Weiyuan looked westward, and in the distant horizon he could faintly see a flickering red glow—the signal arrow’s light, actually one hundred and twenty li away.

Before Xiang Weiyuan could discuss rescue plans with Fang He Tong, another signal arrow shot into the sky—this one eighty li away, in the same direction as the previous plea for aid. The message was identical: enemy forces attacking, holding position awaiting reinforcements. The sender was a cultivator from the Yingtian Sect.

Soon after, two more locations sent out distress signals, these much farther apart. Xiang Weiyuan had never before encountered multiple simultaneous pleas for aid. Fang He Tong marked each location on the map, paused to think, then said: “The Liao barbarians are launching a full-scale offensive to probe our weaknesses. Though no Liao forces have appeared here yet, we are still in danger. My advice: do not move lightly.”

“So we just abandon them to die?”

Fang He Tong shook his head: “Today is not yesterday. Yesterday, only you were attacked, and I was close by—rescue was necessary. But today, every plea comes from distant locations. By the time we arrive, we’ll be exhausted troops, unlikely to save anyone, while leaving our own defenses vulnerable. If my guess is right, the Liao have deployed numerous raiding patrols, waiting to ambush every relief column.”

Xiang Weiyuan climbed onto the wall and gazed far into the distance. At the limit of his sight, he could faintly make out military encampments. Inside, all was silent; the garrison stood motionless, showing no intention to sortie and rescue.

Fang He Tong joined Xiang Weiyuan and said: “No need to stare. Liao Jingwu is the most cautious with his own skin. He already has military merit—he believes himself safe and sound. He’ll surely hunker down until the Liao retreat, never risking a sortie.”

“Then what should we do?”

Fang He Tong replied: “The Liao have deployed their entire force, likely in three waves. The first wave attacks everywhere, luring us into movement to test our strength and locate weak points. The second wave patrols key battle corridors, ambushing relief forces—this wave is probably larger than the first. If I were the Liao commander, I’d hold back a third wave: elite troops ready to strike with thunderous force the moment a weakness emerges. I fear the third wave most. The Liao will soon realize Liao Jingwu refuses to fight—they’ll likely launch a full assault on Quyang. Our best strategy now is to hold this position and support Quyang County in turn.”

Xiang Weiyuan frowned, pondering. This complex battlefield situation exceeded his capabilities, yet he dared not fully trust Fang He Tong. After all, Fang had never commanded a large army. Though brilliant, he might just be talking theory on paper.

Xiang Weiyuan pointed at the map and said: “This location is closest—only ninety li away. I’ll go myself and see what the Liao are doing.”

Fang He Tong sighed: “Then, younger brother, be careful.”

At that moment, a distress signal flared one hundred and fifty li to the east: enemy siege, holding position awaiting aid. Tai Chu Palace, Bao Yun.

Xiang Weiyuan froze. Bao Yun had already achieved Immortal Foundation years ago; her family would surely spare no effort to support her in battle. Even Li Zhi brought sixty personal guards—Bao Yun had no reason to have fewer. If she still called for aid, the battle must be dire.

Xiang Weiyuan no longer hesitated. He told Fang He Tong: “I must go east this time. I leave this place in your hands. If anything happens, fire a signal arrow—I’ll sense it no matter how far.”

Fang He Tong knew he couldn’t dissuade Xiang Weiyuan. “Don’t get entangled with the Liao on the road. Go fast, return fast.”

Xiang Weiyuan nodded, pulled over a warhorse, hung his long spear and spear case on it, then added a bow and several quivers of arrows. He wasn’t skilled with bows, but after yesterday’s battle, he realized they were indispensable.

Xiang Weiyuan mounted up when Fang He Tong suddenly grabbed the reins and said solemnly: “One more thing! If you return and find the Liao besieging Quyang County, don’t come back—head elsewhere!”

“Why?”

“If the Liao attack Quyang, they’ll send only elite troops in overwhelming numbers, aiming for a swift victory. You haven’t yet formed your Dao Foundation—your immortal path is long. You must avoid their sharp edge. Never waste your life with reckless bravery now. If you die at Quyang, it’ll be utterly meaningless!”

Xiang Weiyuan pointed behind him, where signal arrows continued to rise. The Tai Chu Palace and other sects had noticed the frontline unrest and were now mobilizing reinforcements.

“My Tai Chu Palace is already mobilizing aid. Brother Fang, don’t worry about me—just hold this position. Military intelligence is urgent—I’m leaving.”

The gates of Shayang Village opened. Xiang Weiyuan spurred his horse eastward toward Bao Yun’s location. Publicly and privately, he had to go to her aid.

Though anxious, Xiang Weiyuan kept his horse at a steady pace to conserve its strength. After riding dozens of li, another signal arrow rose ahead—again from Bao Yun. The message: enemy has surrounded the city; defenses currently stable; all approaching relief forces must beware enemy raiders.

No sooner had he seen the signal than hoofbeats sounded. A few Liao raiders appeared. Seeing Xiang Weiyuan alone, two split off to intercept. He charged head-on, dodged their heavy arrows, and hurled two spears, piercing both riders from their mounts. The remaining riders, startled, closed in—and within moments, all lay dead.

Liao cavalry, relying on mounted archery, typically closed to within a hundred zhang before exchanging arrows. But this suited Xiang Weiyuan perfectly—his thrown short spears were devastating at that range. By the time the Liao realized their mistake, it was too late.

Xiang Weiyuan didn’t bother retrieving his spears. He pressed forward toward the loudest sounds of battle. Not far ahead, he saw over a hundred riders locked in furious combat.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he identified sixty-plus human cavalry and forty-plus Liao riders. Yet the Liao held overwhelming advantage—the human cavalry kept falling from their mounts.

Xiang Weiyuan immediately charged into the fray, drew his bow, and loosed over ten arrows. His archery was poor—most missed—but he hit two Liao riders. Before the volley ended, he was within a hundred zhang. His short spears flew out with a whistle, piercing one Liao rider after another!

The tide turned instantly. Within moments, over half the Liao riders were wounded or dead. Their leader blew a shrill whistle—the remaining Liao turned north and fled. Xiang Weiyuan wouldn’t let them escape so easily. A streak of black energy surged into his horse, swelling its body by a full third. It galloped like the wind, swiftly overtaking the fleeing Liao. Xiang Weiyuan hurled spears one after another, felling five or six more. The rest scattered in panic—he let them go.

The leader of this human cavalry unit was also a disciple of the Tai Chu Palace, nine years older than Xiang Weiyuan, with over a decade of cultivation since achieving Dao Foundation. This was his second time taking the Imperial Examination. Born into a powerful clan, he brought a hundred private retainers with him. Hearing of Bao Yun’s distress, he mobilized them all to aid her—only to be ambushed halfway.

The Liao raiders were a sub-strength hundred-man unit—only fifty-odd riders. Yet after mere moments of combat, nearly forty of the human cavalry lay dead, while the Liao lost only seven or eight. Had Xiang Weiyuan not arrived, the Tai Chu disciple would have fled in disgrace.

A Dao Foundation cultivator had many ways to escape—but his men would all be slaughtered here.

After the bloody battle, the Tai Chu disciple reorganized his remaining troops. Xiang Weiyuan bid him farewell and pressed eastward. Before parting, the fellow disciple thanked him profusely, giving him several boxes of high-grade throwing spears and several powerful talismans. He offered additional troops, but Xiang Weiyuan politely refused—these common soldiers would only slow him down.

After parting from his fellow disciple, Xiang Weiyuan raced eastward. Along the way, he engaged in several more fierce battles—some against small Liao patrols, others against mixed clashes like the one before.

(End of Chapter)