Chapter Sixty-Six: The Surprise Attack
Murong Yan was directing her soldiers in the assault, determined to seize Juxiong Pass and rescue Ye Feng.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to her. She turned and saw Ye Feng standing there.
She couldn’t believe it, and for a moment stood there dumbfounded, unable to process what she saw.
After a while, she put her finger in her mouth and bit down—ouch! It hurt!
This wasn’t a dream!
“Brother Feng!”
Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into Ye Feng’s arms.
Ye Feng grinned foolishly, gently stroking her hair.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry, Sister Yan, everyone’s watching!”
Murong Yan said nothing, but Li Yiqing beside her chimed in, “No, I… I… I, Li Yiqing, am not watching, you… you… you two just carry on!”
With that, he turned his back and teased, “Mur… Mur… Murong Marshal, I… I… I have returned Deputy… Deputy Ye to you safe and sound! How… how… how do you intend to thank me?!”
Murong Yan quickly withdrew from Ye Feng’s shoulder, glanced back, and saw all the generals staring at her in stunned silence.
Her cheeks flushed, she turned and discreetly wiped away her tears.
She straightened her clothes, composed herself, and resumed her dignified demeanor.
“Withdraw the troops!”
She ordered her soldiers back to camp.
“Wait!”
Ye Feng stopped Murong Yan’s command.
“Marshal, we must continue the attack!”
Ye Feng saluted and reported.
Murong Yan looked at Ye Feng, puzzled.
Ye Feng leaned in and whispered his plan.
Afterwards, he spoke confidently, “With this strategy, we can take Juxiong Pass by cunning and defeat Tu Li Bao once more.”
Murong Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, let’s proceed as planned.”
She turned to the generals and instructed, “All officers, continue the assault. However, this time, we only feign attack, not a real one. Make it convincing, act it well. Take care to protect yourselves. Later, I have another clever plan!”
The generals saluted in agreement.
Murong Yan further instructed Li Yiqing, “General Li, go rest for now. At dawn, choose agile soldiers skilled in climbing from the camps—take as many as you need. Tomorrow night, you will lead them in a surprise attack over the mountain on Juxiong Pass.”
Li Yiqing saluted, “I… I… I accept the order!”
Murong Yan continued, “But when you enter Juxiong Pass, your first task is to open the gate, so we can coordinate from inside and out. Do you have confidence?”
Li Yiqing chuckled, “Mur… Mur… Murong Marshal, don’t worry! Leave it to me!”
He strode off energetically.
After arranging all this, Murong Yan told Ye Feng, “Deputy Ye, you’ve worked hard today, you should rest early.”
Ye Feng saluted. “Marshal, I request permission to join General Li Yiqing in tomorrow night’s surprise attack on Juxiong Pass! Tu Li Bao is formidable; if Li Yiqing encounters him, I fear he may not withstand.”
Murong Yan, reluctant, tried to persuade him, “Deputy Ye, you’ve done enough today, nearly lost your life. There’s no need to go tomorrow night.”
Ye Feng insisted, “Marshal, I dare not stay behind! Though neither I nor General Li are Tu Li Bao’s match, together we are much stronger! Besides, tomorrow night’s surprise attack is a risky move. If something goes wrong, our army could suffer greatly!”
Seeing she couldn’t dissuade Ye Feng, Murong Yan could only urge him to be cautious.
With concern, she said, “Deputy Ye, rest early. Tomorrow night’s battle will surely demand much of you.”
Ye Feng saluted and withdrew to rest.
The rebel army continued their assault, this time with the full force, shouting loudly, but when they reached the walls, they lingered without pressing forward.
Most soldiers hid in the trenches, snoring openly.
Whenever the demon soldiers relaxed, the rebels would shout and charge again, frightening the demon soldiers into shooting arrows, never daring to slack off.
It was exhausting for them—after more than a dozen hours without sleep, they were utterly worn out!
In the end, even Tu Li Bao was overwhelmed, his eyelids drooping, yet he dared not sleep!
But this couldn’t go on forever.
So he ordered his demon soldiers and officers to keep their armor on, rotate rest, and stay alert.
A demon soldier reported that Ye Feng and Li Yiqing had escaped the prison, and the two guards had vanished.
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Tu Li Bao was furious!
He led demon soldiers searching the entire camp, turning it upside down, but found no trace of Ye Feng or Li Yiqing.
He never imagined that Juxiong Pass, so treacherous, could be crossed by Li Yiqing carrying a living person and returning safely to camp.
He thought they must be hiding somewhere unknown.
But after such turmoil, the demon soldiers were even more exhausted, barely able to stand!
Meanwhile, Ye Feng and Li Yiqing slept soundly, only waking at midmorning.
With the marshal’s orders, Ye Feng and Li Yiqing went to the camps and selected soldiers until sunset, choosing over two thousand agile, strong-willed men.
They prepared grappling hooks and ropes.
When night fell, these men donned tight black clothing, carried willow-leaf sabers, and lined up ready to depart.
Li Yiqing, fully equipped, a bundle of ropes on his back, stood atop a high point and said to Ye Feng, “Deputy… Deputy… Deputy Ye, if… if… if you have anything to say, tell… tell… tell these brothers!”
Ye Feng waved his hand, “General Li, you’re the expert in crossing mountains; I have nothing to add! Tonight, I’m no deputy—just another soldier under your command, at your disposal!”
Li Yiqing chuckled, saluted, “Deputy… Deputy… Deputy Ye, then… then… then I won’t stand on ceremony!”
He turned to the soldiers, “Brothers… brothers… brothers, good… good men, this… this battle, we… we… we risk our lives, acting as a sharp blade to pierce the enemy’s heart! Marshal Murong values us highly, and has especially sent Deputy Ye to join us. We must not bring shame!”
A soldier laughed and replied loudly, “General Li, rest assured! We will never let you down!”
Others joined in, “Don’t worry, General Li, we won’t embarrass you! If you say advance, we won’t retreat; if you say into the fire, we won’t jump in the river!”
Li Yiqing nodded repeatedly and waved his hand, “Move out!”
He led the way out of camp.
In the night, only the sound of
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
… could be heard.
The squad rushed forward like a long snake into the silent woods.
Soon, they reached the base of a cliff, Li Yiqing at the front.
He took a small, intricately made iron hook from his belt, no bigger than a fist, its tip sharp, four hooks at the back, and a ring at the end.
Li Yiqing threaded a rope through the ring, tied a dead knot, tugged and pulled to ensure it was secure.
He glanced up at the cliff, aimed at a rock,
“Whoosh!”
The rope flew out.
With a “crack,” the hook caught the edge of the rock.
Li Yiqing tugged to tighten it and ordered, “I’ll go up first. Those with ropes, follow; others, climb after. Remember, don’t look down.”
As soon as he finished,
“Whoosh!”
He shot upward like a monkey, climbing swiftly!
Soon, voices came from above, “Come up, hurry, don’t waste time!”
Soldiers below followed his orders, those carrying ropes went up first.
After climbing, they dropped ropes down.
Soon, over two thousand soldiers climbed up the ropes.
Along the way, Li Yiqing led the front, using the ropes to cross ravines as if walking flat ground.
At each dangerous spot, he went first, then threw down ropes for others.
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More ropes followed, so all the soldiers crossed safely.
Li Yiqing’s skill at scaling heights and traversing mountains was unparalleled.
The soldiers lacked such prowess; many fell behind or died along the way.
Fortunately, when they reached Juxiong Pass, over fifteen hundred remained.
But even these fifteen hundred were extraordinary, their skills remarkable!
They silently infiltrated the sentry posts, subduing the demon soldiers.
Ye Feng and Li Yiqing found their weapons.
They opened the camp gates, letting in the waiting rebel soldiers outside.
Murong Yan, wielding a sword in each hand, led the charge, excitement in her heart, instructing, “Quick, find Tu Li Bao’s quarters—we must capture him alive!”
The troops spread out, sneaking into each tent.
Unaware, a demon soldier emerged at midnight to relieve himself, and encountered Murong Yan. Terrified, he screamed, “The rebels are inside! Flee!”
He tried to run, but Murong Yan flung a flying sword, striking him dead.
Yet his shout startled the entire camp; demon soldiers scrambled out of their beds, only to be blocked by the rebels before they could even get out.
“Surrender! Surrender! Anyone who moves dies!”
Frightened, the demon soldiers obediently raised their hands.
Meanwhile, Tu Li Bao was asleep, exhausted.
Yesterday, he had surrounded Murong Yan’s group—though she escaped, capturing Ye Feng was still a major achievement.
He celebrated with wine, elated.
Who knew Murong Yan would launch an assault, forcing him to take wine to the battlefield and command the defense all night.
In the morning, he learned Ye Feng had escaped, and searched everywhere, but found no trace.
By sunset, the rebel attack finally subsided.
Tu Li Bao dared not relax, ordered heightened vigilance and rotating shifts.
But the demon soldiers couldn’t manage it; those back in camp slept deeply, those on duty nodded off.
Even he himself, collapsed in his chair, snored heavily.
Thus Ye Feng’s raid succeeded.
Just as Tu Li Bao slept soundly,
“Bang!”
The door burst open, two demon officers rushed in.
“Prime Minister, Prime Minister, the rebels are inside! Quick, we’ll protect you!”
They woke Tu Li Bao.
He opened blurry eyes, “Hm? Ah? What’s happening?”
He was still confused.
“Prime Minister, the rebels are inside!” the officers repeated urgently.
“Ah!” Tu Li Bao broke out in a cold sweat.
He leapt from his chair, grabbed his weapon, and rushed outside.
Outside, shouts and chaos filled the air, fires blazed across the camp.
“Catch Tu Li Bao, don’t let him escape!”
Everywhere, voices cried for his capture.
Tu Li Bao was terrified, completely at a loss!