Uncle Ye Si grabbed Ye Wu's reins, but he didn't know what to say. Everything he wanted to advise had already been said yesterday.
Finally, he could only say to Ye San, "Keep an eye on your younger brother."
Sitting atop his horse, Ye Wu leaned down. "Don't worry, Father."
"You have no idea what kind of training your sister has put us through this past half month."
"I've told you who knows how many times, we're different now."
They had accompanied Ye Sui Jin on patrols around Deng Prefecture for half a month, and it was far more than just killing some rioting refugees.
Forced marches, night marches, making camp, cooking with camp stoves, maneuvering troops and flags, charging and attacking different terrains...
Ye Sui Jin had them put all those textbook lessons into practice.
And for every shortcoming and loophole, she was able to point it out precisely. She also had many detailed pointers.
They had all studied the same military books back home in Ye Manor, yet it was obvious they were just a bunch of greenhorns. How was it that Sixth Sister seemed like a seasoned veteran general?
Of course, that question had no answer. But this trip allowed them to apply their family teachings of many years to reality.
It really was different now.
Uncle Ye Si let go of the reins and reluctantly watched his sons follow their cousin Ye Sui Jin off in the direction of Fang City.
He kept watching until the 800-man company gradually faded from view.
Master Yang came up and said, "Fourth Master, leave outside matters to our Chief. We just need to do our jobs well here."
Ye Si heaved a long sigh and put his hands behind his back. "You're right. We have our own work to do here."
Ye Sui Jin had left the manor's affairs in his hands. As an elder, he couldn't let his niece down with any oversights that would make her laugh.
Ye Sui Jin said to Duan Jin, "After this battle, transfer Duan He to my side."
Duan Jin was puzzled. "Who?"
"His name is Duan He. He has the same surname as you," Ye Sui Jin told Duan Jin. "The one who stood up to speak just now."
Duan He originally came from the Xuanhua Army.
He later became an esteemed general under Commander-in-Chief Duan Jin.
Since they both had the surname Duan and Duan Jin favored him, some people mistakenly thought they were relatives. There were also nasty rumors that the Commander-in-Chief led the "Duan family army."
Zhao Jingwen had jokingly told this to Ye Sui Jin. But Ye Sui Jin knew Zhao Jingwen hated that kind of "X family army" reputation the most. His laughter was fake.
Tsk, old and ugly.
Fang City was in Tang Prefecture, bordering Deng Prefecture. And Deng Prefecture was just a small prefecture with only three counties under it. Ye Sui Jin could reach it after a day and a half march.
If not for avoiding alarming Nanyang County, they could have gone even faster.
At nightfall, they made camp in Yikong Village.
Most of the troops were local, so some of the older men exclaimed in surprise, "This is He Family Village!"
"I've been here before."
"How did this place become like this?"
The smoke-blackened ruins and bones in the weeds silently told of what had happened these past few years.
Everyone fell silent.
"No survivors..." the man who had spoken earlier mumbled as he recalled Ye Sui Jin's order. After a while, he suddenly cursed, "Damn it!"
He found a corner to silently sharpen his spearhead.
Inside the village, Ye Sui Jin found a courtyard with intact doors in the house of a wealthy family.
Other than the large furniture, everything else had long been looted clean. But at least there was a roof.
Everyone gathered in the main hall to listen to Ye Sui Jin's final instructions. Having a map made everything clear at a glance. Even though Jiu Lang and Shi Lang were young and had never been to Tang Prefecture, looking at the map allowed them to easily visualize the terrain.
Shi Lang highly praised, "This stuff is great."
Ye Sui Jin said, "Our ancestors originally had them too. But the Wei court found out and forced us to hand them over."
Shi Lang clicked his tongue. "Sis, I have to be the vanguard!"
Si Lang and Wu Lang simultaneously smacked the back of his head, making him yelp in pain.
San Lang sternly said, "Don't mess around!"
Ye Sui Jin loved how lively and spirited her cousins were.
She loved that they were alive.
She wasn't angry, but laughed instead and said, "In a couple years, I'll definitely let you be the vanguard. No need to rush. Tomorrow, Si Lang and Wu Lang will lead the charge since they're good at mounted archery."
After she had instructed everything, the meeting dispersed and everyone left. Since they hadn't brought new attendants on this trip, Ye Sui Jin's personal affairs were still seen to by Duan Jin.
As Duan Jin tidied up the maps and lanterns, he pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on Zhao Jingwen pestering Ye Sui Jin with questions.
Zhao Jingwen had a poor foundation, only recognizing a few characters before. Unlike the Ye heirs who had a scholarly family tradition and read military books since childhood, he had hastily crammed knowledge after marrying Ye Sui Jin.
Eavesdropping, Duan Jin understood that Zhao Jingwen's foundation was weaker than his own. Because Ye Sui Jin had favored him since he was little, she had sent him to study hall under the guise of attending the young masters, but had him study as well.
Yet as Duan Jin carefully put away the maps, he couldn't help but admire Zhao Jingwen.
One, he admired his shamelessness.
No one was more sensitive about this than Duan Jin—Ye Sui Jin hadn't named him to go into battle at all. He had followed along entirely of his own accord. And sat in on strategy meetings in the study several times too. Others might think Ye Sui Jin tacitly allowed it, but Duan Jin knew she didn't. She simply hadn't stopped him.
Two, he admired Zhao Jingwen's studiousness and daring to ask questions.
Duan Jin actually only understood things superficially too and had many unclear parts as well. But he kept them to himself and didn't dare bother Ye Sui Jin with them.
Yet Zhao Jingwen seemed unafraid of annoying Ye Sui Jin and insisted on asking until he understood something.
Why was that? Were these things more important to him than worrying about disturbing Ye Sui Jin?
Just as Duan Jin was lost in thought, Ye Sui Jin suddenly called him and asked, "Do you understand what the master asked?"
Duan Jin took the chance to say, "I don't really understand either. Although I memorized it back when studying, I never truly grasped it."
Ye Sui Jin pointed at the stool beside her. "Sit down. I'll explain it to you both."
Zhao Jingwen glanced at Duan Jin out of the corner of his eye.
Duan Jin ignored him and tidied away the maps. Extending his long legs, he hooked the stool with his foot and pushed it over to sit slightly behind and aligned with Zhao Jingwen.
Ye Sui Jin seemed to notice nothing. She let both of them ask questions.
Zhao Jingwen dared to ask more. Some of his questions were ones Duan Jin didn't need to ask, but some were also ones Duan Jin needed to know. They were all very practical questions arising from listening to Ye Sui Jin's marching arrangements.
Duan Jin noticed Ye Sui Jin looked at Zhao Jingwen with a very peculiar gaze.
Maybe he was too young to understand it.
In any case, it wasn't the gaze of a wife looking at her husband.
Appreciation was in her eyes, but having grown up with her, Duan Jin could sense her underlying detachment towards Zhao Jingwen.
Duan Jin couldn't help but feel confused.
At the same time, Zhao Jingwen's gaze at Ye Sui Jin grew hotter and hotter.
In the end, all his questions were answered to his satisfaction. He marveled, "Wife, you're amazing!"
"No wonder Ye Manor is led by you."
How rare. Duan Jin actually completely agreed with Zhao Jingwen for once.
And Duan Jin felt Zhao Jingwen's gaze at Ye Sui Jin was very familiar. Didn't he look at Ye Sui Jin the same way?
Since he was little.
And forever would.
Always.
The next day was beautiful weather.
The weather was too nice, prone to making people drowsy and lazy.
The guards at Fang City's south gate, or rather they couldn't be called guards, just the gatekeepers, were lounging in the gate tunnel to keep cool. A broken table, two dilapidated benches, a bowl, three dice, some copper coins, a few silver hairpins and bangles were spread out as they lazily gambled.
There really was nothing for gatekeepers to do—too few people entered and left Fang City.
They had even started drinking in the late morning, stinking of alcohol, and nearly came to blows because they suspected someone was cheating with the dice.
Just when everyone finally sat back down and the one holding the bowl was about to roll, he suddenly pricked up his ears and froze.
The others said, "Hurry up and roll!"
But the man said, "What's that sound?"
Only then did the rest withdraw their minds from the petty gambling and listened carefully. Indeed there seemed to be some sound.
Horse hooves?
The first to speak grasped the bowl and walked out of the gate tunnel into the sunlight. Shielding his eyes, he peered into the distance.
Dust stirred in the distance as an unknown number of riders came towards them.
"Who're they?" he muttered. "Which master took people out hunting today?"
In theory, their job was only to guard the gate. Keeping watch was the responsibility of the people in the city's watchtowers.
Since the watchtower hadn't given any alarms, there shouldn't be any issues.
This was only in theory. The people hiding in the city gate tunnels had no idea. They were cooling off, drinking, and gambling in the tunnels, so why would the guards on the city wall towers take their duties seriously?
The guards on top had removed some of the gate boards and propped up a small canopy under the arrow crenels for a nap, quite enjoying themselves.
A man looked back and shouted, "Stop playing! Someone's coming back!"
Several others crawled out of the tunnels too. The sun was too bright, and they all raised their hands to shield their eyes, looking out. Indeed, a plume of dust rose up in the sunlight, swirling towards them.
"Who's that?"
"Which boss is it?"
"Why do they have their bows drawn?"
"...Bows?"
"...!"
These men were no soldiers at all.
The real veterans from Du Jingzhong's Xuanhua Army were kept close as his backbone. The former foot soldiers were all leaders of some sort now.
The men on the city walls, above and below, were just local ruffians or hapless townsfolk who got caught up in it all. They could hardly get a full bowl of soup following Du Jingzhong, just a whiff of meat.
The real fighters wouldn't be guarding the gates!
Just as the last man muttered in confusion, "...Bows?" they finally reacted!
Bowls were smashed, dice went rolling. The first man stretched out a hand in utter horror towards the swirling dust, mouth open to scream. An arrow tore through the air and went right into his mouth! It pierced clean through the back of his neck and flew into the dark tunnel, gone!
The others were scared witless!
Another arrow followed, piercing one's chest!
At last someone shrieked. The other two ran for the tunnel. Purely to escape with their lives, with no thought for their duty to guard the city.
But how could the attackers know?
Over ten whistling sounds, and before they made it two steps, the men's backs were filled with arrows. They collapsed into the muddy road.
Hoofbeats instantly trampled over the corpses.
A roar: "Seize the gates! Seize the gates!"
The guards dozing in the sun on the tower were jolted awake, annoyed and confused. "What's all this racket! Pipe down or I'll piss all over you!"
He didn't bother listening to the chaos below, just got up to unzip himself and relieve his bladder. But halfway through he paused, sensing something off. He poked his head out from the arrow crenels―
Damn!
Who were these people?
What did they want?
The guard snapped awake.
He didn't face them but reacted a bit quicker than the men below, realizing the city was being invaded. Up here on the walls there was no escape. Then he remembered―the gong!
He had to beat the alarm!
That was his duty up here!
Just as he took down the gong and mallet hanging on the wall, someone rushed up the tower.
A flash of cold light and his throat was pierced. Hot blood sprayed as the untouched gong crashed to the ground, immediately stamped silent under a black boot.
Ye Wuyang wiped the blood splatter from his face: "Clear the tower!"
He looked around. Other than the man just killed, there was not a soul.
They swarmed over and kicked down the door to the chamber. But blades flashed within as someone charged out!
There had been over a dozen men inside, also shirking duty to gamble. They'd only sent the one out to patrol. Hearing the commotion, the men grabbed their weapons and lay in ambush by the door.
The moment it opened, they roared and attacked!
Wuyang, also on his first city siege, was tense too. Seeing them rush out fiercely, he reacted without thought. His long spear shot out like a dragon from water, straight for the nearest throat!
These men were just local bullies, only used to pushing around the weak. In the past they acted fierce and the commoners cowered, letting them have their way. But now, bursting out they were met with men in green robes and leather armor. Before they could react, a blur of flickering silver filled their vision. The sharp spearheads struck faster than their eyes could follow, piercing throats and chests. In just a few breaths, several lives were reaped.
The men were instantly thrown into chaos, the cowards directly dropping their weapons and kowtowing: "Spare me sir! Spare me sir!"
In the past when Du Jingzhong led his ragtag troops to Tangzhou, this is how they begged for mercy before joining him and adding to the evil.
But that wouldn't work today.
Below, Ye Siqu led the taking of the gates. Above, Wuyang cleared the tower guards.
They had already bloodied their blades, and neither he nor his men hesitated. In the dim chamber, knives flashed, taking life after life.
The screams and pleas were cut short as blood sprayed the walls.
Just as Wuyang told his father, they were different from the past now.
Since this summer, after their Sixth Sister led them on a journey out in the world, they had changed.
"No survivors!"
"No survivors!"
"Kill all armed resisters!"
No one gave the scattered coins, broken silver, and jewelry in the house a second glance. The strong men followed Wuyang back out, leaving only a floor of corpses behind.
Wuyang quickly went to the outer wall and looked down from the arrow crenels.
The Ye family forces in green robes surged into the city like the tide.
With no warning from the tower, the troops stationed inside the gates were caught completely off guard.
Within the walled city, hooves, footsteps, blades, yelling, screams and curses rang out.
Close combat!
Chaotic, tangled, disordered, intense!
The common families near the south gate had barricaded themselves in, hiding under tables, beds, and woodpiles in sheds.
Or a whole family with nowhere to hide huddled together, shivering.
What new enemy had come to attack Tangzhou?
Was this the end of the difficult life they had struggled to keep to this day?
Husbands held their wives tight, wives clutched their children, with fear flowing down all their faces.
