Chapter Sixty-Three: Setting the Enemy Fleet Ablaze

Murong Yan and Ye Feng walked hand in hand out of the command tent, making their way to the riverbank.

They boarded a bamboo raft and steered toward the enemy lines across the water.

On the warship, Tuoli Leopard was already waiting. His squat, stout figure was weighed down by heavy armor. His round eyes gleamed with shrewdness, feline ears perked atop his head, his nose protruding forward, and his maw jutting out, bristling with sharp teeth. A pink tongue flicked out now and again, licking the corners of his mouth.

When he saw Murong Yan and Ye Feng guiding a fleet of bamboo rafts toward him, he almost laughed himself sick.

What was this?! Compared to his warships, these bamboo rafts were pitifully weak and shabby.

From afar, he shouted, “Marshal Murong, Deputy Marshal Ye, today is a day of battle, not a pleasure excursion! How can your tiny bamboo rafts compare to our warships? Isn’t this like eggs smashing against stone? Why not surrender now? If you lay down your arms, I’ll report to the King and perhaps you’ll be granted titles and command!”

Murong Yan pointed at him. “Are you Tuoli Leopard, Chancellor of the enemy?”

Tuoli Leopard straightened his back, answering boisterously, “Indeed, I am!”

Murong Yan let out a cold laugh. “Chancellor, you are mistaken! I, Murong Yan, raised my army not for titles or glory, but for the people. For that cause, I have long since put life and death aside! Though we lack towering ships, we are filled with passion. If anyone dares invade Grand Xia, I shall be the first to resist! Though the enemy is strong, I will spill my blood three feet deep before retreating!”

Her words rendered Tuoli Leopard speechless.

He rolled his eyes, then said, “Marshal Murong, what spirit! You truly rival any man. But you fail to see reality. Grand Xia and the Kingdom of Myriad Beasts are at peace; our peoples live in harmony. Why stir war again and plunge the people into suffering? Withdraw, and I won’t trouble you today.”

At these words, Murong Yan’s brows arched and her eyes blazed.

“Bah! Tuoli Leopard, have you no shame? Would you trick a child? By the treaty at Dingcheng, Grand Xia must pay you three hundred million taels of silver, a hundred million bolts of silk, and twenty million bushels of grain every year. The burden and suffering on our people are immense! You speak as if we should gladly accept oppression and slavery—what nonsense!”

Tuoli Leopard’s face fell, shamed and enraged. “You impudent wench! You know nothing of gratitude. Since you refuse, blame me for having no mercy!”

He drew his sword, shouting, “Warriors of the Kingdom of Myriad Beasts—attack!”

Murong Yan remained calm. She shed her crimson cloak, drew the green sword at her waist, and raised it high.

“Sound the drums! Advance!”

Thunderous drumbeats filled the air.

Thousands of bamboo rafts surged forward, arrow-like, toward the enemy.

Before they could close in, arrows rained down from the warships.

Arrows fell like rain.

Yet the soldiers of the righteous army calmly raised their wicker shields to block the barrage.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Each arrow struck the shields, their tails quivering, revealing the enemy’s formidable strength.

“Ram them!”

“Destroy all their bamboo rafts—leave none alive!”

Tuoli Leopard roared, eyes blazing, wishing he could ignite every raft on the river.

The ships and rafts drew near.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted across the water.

Suddenly the river was ablaze.

Every warship that rammed a raft burst into flames, burning fiercely atop the water.

Tuoli Leopard was stunned.

Now he realized he had fallen into a trap. He shouted, “Spread out the ships! Use the cannons! Blast their rafts to pieces!”

He waved his sword, yelling, “Left and right armies, charge—encircle their commander!”

The bugle sounded, bright and clear.

Beast soldiers waved their signal flags.

The river thundered with cannon fire and flashes of flame. Several bamboo rafts were shattered by direct hits.

The two fleets split left and right, bearing down on Murong Yan’s raft.

Seeing the enemy move to attack their commander, dozens of bamboo rafts turned to meet the fleets.

Each raft sped off to confront the enemy.

“Signalman, send the signal—ignore me, order a full attack, charge the enemy head-on!”

Murong Yan spoke calmly, directing her signalmen to continue issuing the advance.

Flags waved, horns blared, and the bamboo rafts accelerated, arrow-fast, toward the enemy lines.

In a blink, they split and surrounded the enemy ships.

The rafts that had hesitated now plunged back into the fray.

Tuoli Leopard saw his ships surrounded by these tiny rafts and his eyes reddened with fury.

He ordered, “Signalmen, fire all the cannons! Don’t let the rafts approach! And don’t ram them!”

He sheathed his sword and took up his jeweled bow, pulling three arrows from his beast-hide quiver, drawing the string to its limit, and loosing them viciously.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The arrows flew like lightning.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Each struck a wicker shield.

“Ah!” “Oh no!” “Splash!”

The arrows pierced the shields, felling three soldiers into the water.

Blood blossomed across the waves.

Warships thundered with cannon and arrow fire, keeping the rafts at bay.

Tuoli Leopard’s bow fired in rapid succession, soon dropping dozens of enemy soldiers.

He turned and saw his left and right fleets closing in on Murong Yan’s raft, forming a ring.

Tuoli Leopard was elated. He shouted, “Warriors of Myriad Beasts, our ships have surrounded the enemy commander’s raft—we are about to win! Press on! Kill!”

Beast soldiers cheered, cannons roared, arrows whistled.

More soldiers fell, blood staining the water.

Enemy ships rampaged across the river, unstoppable.

But the beast soldiers’ triumph was short-lived. Ships near the shore struck reefs and became stuck.

Soon, countless ships seemed stricken, immobilized on the water.

“Report! Chancellor—bad news, the water’s receding! All our ships are stranded!”

A beast soldier rushed up, face stricken with despair.

“Impossible! Impossible!” Tuoli Leopard stared across the river. His fleets were within reach of Murong Yan’s raft, yet utterly helpless, unable to move. He was beside himself with rage.

“Charge! Kill! Capture Murong Yan and Ye Feng!”

He dropped his bow, drew his sword, and continued ordering attacks.

But his soldiers hung their heads, their morale shattered.

“Heaven favors us! Victory! Charge!” shouted the soldiers of the righteous army.

They drove their rafts forward like a whirlwind.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fire erupted across the river.

A sea of flames quickly formed.

“Ah!” “Ah!” “Ah!”

Beast soldiers, scorched and battered, wailed and howled.

Splash! Splash!

They scrambled to jump into the water.

But unfamiliar with swimming, they flailed and cried for help, many drowning.

“Chancellor, retreat! Quickly!”

The beast generals, seeing defeat inevitable, dragged Tuoli Leopard away.

“No! We’re about to win—how can I retreat now? Charge! Kill!”

Tuoli Leopard refused to accept defeat, struggling free, waving his sword and shouting.

“Go, Chancellor—if we don’t leave now, it will be too late!”

The beast generals dragged him onto a small boat, rowing desperately to escape.

The rest were not so lucky—most burned or drowned, the survivors captured.

The righteous army pressed their attack, landing ashore and storming into Hongtong City.

Beast soldiers, unable to resist, abandoned the city and fled.

This battle was a resounding victory—countless prisoners taken, weapons and warships seized.

The soldiers beat victory drums, sang triumphal songs, and marched in formation into the city.

The townsfolk poured out to welcome them.

Lanterns were lit, fireworks exploded, the streets were alive with celebration.

All the generals reported to the city’s governor, congratulating each other.

“Our righteous army fights for the people, and Heaven aided us, withdrawing the water and granting us victory!”

Murong Yan laughed merrily. “You’re mistaken—there is no such thing as Heaven’s favor! It was Deputy Marshal Ye’s strategy. He knew there was a floodgate upstream and ordered my master to open it, releasing the water and causing the river to recede—stranding the enemy’s ships!”

The generals understood at last, bowing to Ye Feng in respect.

Ye Feng waved his hands modestly. “The credit belongs to all of you. Without your bravery, and Marshal Murong’s steady command, how could we have won? I merely advised from behind the scenes.”

The generals were convinced.

Murong Yan issued orders forbidding any disturbance of the people—no soldier was to take even a thread.

The army rested for ten days before continuing the advance.

One day, they reached the foot of a mountain, blocked by a fortress.

Murong Yan ordered the army to camp and sent scouts ahead.

Soon the scouts returned. “Ahead lies Juxiong Pass. Tuoli Leopard has retreated there and is defending the heights. The army may not be able to pass.”

Murong Yan frowned, then called, “Generals, who will accompany me to challenge the fortress?”

Many stepped forward to volunteer.

Ye Feng stopped them and reported to Murong Yan, “Marshal, I have a suggestion.”

“Speak freely.”

“I believe our army has come a long way and is weary. We should not challenge the enemy yet. First, we must study the terrain, understand their situation, and know ourselves and our enemy—only then can we win every battle.”

Murong Yan snorted. “Is Tuoli Leopard really worthy of such caution?”

Ye Feng hurried to remind her. “Marshal, don’t underestimate him! According to General Xiao, his abilities are considerable.”

Murong Yan’s brows knit, eyes half-closing. She gave a soft “hmph.” “I see nothing special in him.”

Ye Feng was taken aback, then pressed on. “The art of war says: Plan before you act, know when to stop and you will gain. Marshal, we must never fight an unprepared battle!”

Murong Yan was displeased but reluctantly agreed. “Very well, I’ll follow your advice today and not issue a challenge. Let’s go together to scout the terrain.”

Ye Feng saluted. “At your command!”

Little did they know, their venture outside the camp would bring disaster upon them.