Chapter Fourteen: Setting Out for Battle

The next day, the carriage wandered outside the valley for a while before several disciples of the Yin-Yang Clan could no longer contain themselves and jumped out. “Stop! You must return at once and report to the Eastern Emperor!” The Eastern Queen, now able to speak, immediately halted their reckless attempt at martyrdom.

Even the Eastern Queen and Moon Goddess had been captured; the disciples were panicked. Now, with an excuse, they promptly stopped. Jingni sneered at them, “Tell your Eastern Emperor to bring Xiao Yi and Xiao Ling to exchange for your Eastern Queen and Moon Goddess, otherwise they will remain as slaves for our King.”

The disciples were bewildered; they didn’t even know who Xiao Yi and Xiao Ling were. “Xiao Yi is the next Junior Fate Master. You must return at once! Hurry!” The Moon Goddess could not bear to linger here any longer, lest she go mad.

After bowing, the disciples fled as if their lives depended on it; previously, they had braced themselves for a suicidal mission. Once the message was sent, the carriage immediately returned to the valley. Though the snow on the ground had not fully melted, it was passable.

The following day, Lin Shu did not wait for the Yin-Yang Clan’s response. Forty thousand troops set out directly for North Sea Lake to fish for provisions. Lin Shu also left each tribe with plenty of fishing gear and nets, so he no longer needed to worry about the shortage of game in the spring.

“Your Majesty, I am ready to depart.” Zhu Ba knelt beneath the carriage, and twenty thousand warriors knelt in salute as well. Lin Shu ignored the two women sitting by his feet and smiled at the army. “Major Zhu Ba, there’s no need to rush. After conquering the tribes along the western riverbank, return; don’t stray too far and get lost.”

“Rest assured, Your Majesty. With ten thousand cavalry scouting ahead, the army will not lose its way!” Zhu Ba was unafraid of getting lost, as the tribes along the route would guide them.

Lin Shu nodded and returned to the carriage. As the carriage turned and set off, the forty thousand troops split into two columns. Zhu Ba led twenty thousand west-northwest to conquer, while Lin Shu’s army headed northeast toward the great sea.

The horses whinnied, their breaths steaming in the cold. Twenty thousand cavalry split, their steeds seeming to bid farewell to each other.

“Moon Goddess, how do these forty thousand compare to Qin’s army?” the Eastern Queen asked quietly.

The Moon Goddess frowned and shook her head. “Qin’s army is strong, but their discipline and formations are their main strengths. In terms of combat prowess, these forty thousand could defeat one hundred thousand elite Qin soldiers! Especially their cavalry, which is even stronger!”

Snowland warhorses were already larger and swifter than those of the grasslands, and their impact was greater. Moreover, all twenty thousand horses were shod with iron. In this Qin-era world, even among the grassland cavalry, only a few steeds had bronze horseshoes.

Though the world remained in the Bronze Age, there was no shortage of ‘black technology’—mechanical beasts and the like.

“The Snowland tribes’ women are no less fierce in battle; there are two or three thousand able-bodied men just in this valley! The North King’s strength is no less than that of the Great Yuezhi!” the Moon Goddess sighed again.

The Eastern Queen smiled bitterly and nodded. “Moon Goddess, do not provoke him again. Unless the Eastern Emperor comes in person, neither of us will escape.”

The Moon Goddess smiled faintly and said nothing. The Eastern Emperor might not come, and even if he did, he might not dare attack such an army.

Enough ants can kill an elephant; thousands of armored warriors can repel the upper echelon of the Yin-Yang Clan.

Marching was tedious. After her husband and child had fallen asleep, Jingni climbed up to the carriage box.

“Greetings, Lady Jingni.” After several days of interaction, the Eastern Queen had resigned herself to Jingni’s presence, otherwise they would still be bound in chains.

Now, as long as they stayed in the carriage, they were free to move; after their failed midnight escape, the two had given up any hope of fleeing.

Jingni smiled lightly. “No need for formality, Eastern Queen; I am but an assassin—what sort of lady am I?”

“No need for humility, Lady. May I call you Yanfei?” Now that she knew the North King’s true strength, the Eastern Queen had set aside her Yin-Yang Clan pride.

Her husband was taciturn, but Jingni, now more talkative, was happy to chat with her two sisters.

Soon the three were conversing merrily. Whenever the talk turned to her husband, Jingni could not help but boast, giving her sisters a clearer sense of the North King’s power.

“Yanfei, Xiaoyue, my husband plans to unite the Eastern Sea tribes and then march south to annihilate the Donghu and join forces at the border of Yan and Zhao. The King is in urgent need of capable people—why not stay and assist him?”

Two high-ranking members of the Yin-Yang Clan, not only powerful but also astute, were just what Jingni needed as the population and territory grew.

The Eastern Queen’s smile faded; she had not forgotten the fat man’s disrespect. “Sister, we belong to the Yin-Yang Clan—many things are not ours to decide.”

Jingni nodded; she believed this. They now reminded her of her own days serving the Net.

“Jingni, if the North King truly unites at Yan and Zhao, the Yin-Yang Clan will surely seek cooperation. Then, serving under the King would not be impossible.” The Moon Goddess was tempted, though she felt that destroying the Donghu would not be easy.

The Donghu were nomadic, relying on cavalry, while the Snowland tribes were mostly hunters. Infantry fighting cavalry was a difficult task.

“Haha, good! I hope to work with you two then. The King may not be courteous, but his conduct is exemplary; he never forces his own people.” Among all the kings of the world, to Jingni, her husband was the most benevolent she had ever known. Of course, he showed no mercy to his enemies—so much so that Jingni dared not recall it.

The Eastern Queen nodded with a smile. “The North King is indeed a benevolent lord.”

The Moon Goddess agreed. Though the fat man’s manner was poor, he had not troubled them further, nor had he taken advantage; he hadn’t even looked at them with ulterior motive. This made the Moon Goddess begin to doubt her own charm.

The carriage seemed almost sentient, needing no guidance, always finding the best route.

“Ah! Sister, the ice on the river ahead has melted!” The carriage didn’t stop, so the Moon Goddess had to speak up.

Jingni stood to look. Sure enough, the ice on the wide river, dozens of meters across, was breaking up, chunks drifting with the current.

“Don’t worry, Xiaoyue!” Jingni was unfazed.

The Moon Goddess smiled bitterly—how could it be nothing? Wouldn’t they sink into the river?

As the carriage approached the river, thick wooden planks were laid across the ice, and long logs were driven into the riverbed.

Building the bridge as they advanced, almost instantly a plank bridge appeared beneath their feet.

“What...?” The Eastern Queen glanced at Jingni but refrained from asking.

Jingni merely smiled: best not to ask, for even if you did, you wouldn’t know. In truth, she didn’t know the principle either; her husband had told her it was a secret.

After crossing the river, the carriage stopped at the side. The cavalry and infantry continued onward. Though cavalry, they dismounted and walked, as there was no combat yet.

Jingni jumped onto the river ice to direct the army across. The bridge was for the warriors, but they couldn’t all crowd onto it at once.

Soon after the carriage halted, Lin Shu descended, carrying Xiao Yan’er.

Sensing that the ladies’ attitudes had softened, Lin Shu spoke politely, “You may walk outside the carriage, but don’t think of escaping—or else.”

“Thank you, North King! Yanfei will not betray your trust!” Having witnessed the carriage’s speed, the Eastern Queen had no confidence in outrunning it.

The Moon Goddess jumped down and frowned. “Your Majesty, you worry too much.”

Surrounded by thousands of cavalry, with their current spiritual power, escape was impossible.