Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 297 The Empress's men will still be killed!

Zhao Yi commanded the vanguard, with approximately five thousand men at his headquarters.

The left and right wings were guards, each numbering over a thousand.

However, not all of them were combat troops; only half of the personnel were combat troops.

However, the left and right flanks are less than ten miles apart from the vanguard, so they can quickly provide support and converge if danger occurs.

The main force, however, was concentrated in the central army.

This was the basic way of marching in ancient times. The so-called three armies were not the infantry, cavalry and navy as described in "New Three Kingdoms", but rather the front, middle and rear armies.

It's even less likely that we'll see the hundreds of thousands of troops, cavalry, and naval forces depicted in "New Three Kingdoms," which would be quite outrageous.

The largest cavalry force in ancient times was the Mongol cavalry, which numbered 240,000 at its peak.

The main role of Zhao Yi's 7,000-plus troops was to clear roads (build bridges and repair roads), conduct reconnaissance, deal with small-scale battles, and carry some military supplies.

When news came from his flank that there were over a thousand ambushes, he quickly went into battle mode.

They also consulted local Yan state officers and came to the conclusion that Hua Qu had lied about military intelligence.

Where did these thousand ambush soldiers come from?
Where did this come from!
So he continued to send people to keep an eye on that area.

Sure enough, the problem was discovered.

"General, the Huadu Supervisor has dispatched a small contingent of troops into Xiaoyan Mountain," a scout reported hurriedly upon arriving at his tent.

"Really?!" Zhao Yi looked quite serious as he examined the map. "What are they doing?"

"I don't know, but His Highness said that no one should act rashly, and anyone who disobeys will be executed..." The scout sensed that something terrible had happened.

"A small portion? How much is that?" Zhao Yi asked.

“There should be fewer than a hundred people,” he replied, “or around a hundred.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi understood completely.

This kid wants to take the lead; he needs to win the first game.

As for the ambush of over a thousand men, that's absolutely impossible.

This kid has really gone mad.

No wonder he said those things to himself back then.

Someone must have told him that if Song Shi'an continued like this, their good days as nobles would be over.

As for who it is...

Hua Qu was a member of the Hua Zheng clan; rounding up, he was a member of the Prince of Jin's faction.

"General, what should we do?" the scout asked. "Should we go and stop them now?"

“That guy has already made his move; the arrow is on the bowstring and must be released. My orders may be useless,” Zhao Yi said. “Report this to His Highness immediately and ask what to do.”

"What if Your Highness asks about the General..."

"Just say that our unit is unsure of the number of ambushers and is currently stationed in place."

"Yes!"

And so, the scout left the main tent.

A slight smile appeared on Zhao Yi's lips.

In any case, he will be affected to some extent.

However, the greatest responsibility does not lie with him.

If we win this battle, it will be a testament to our resourcefulness and our ability to decisively defeat the enemy, a great achievement for Huaqu.

This shows that the nobles were not incompetent.

If we lose this battle, and Your Highness wants to hold Hua Qu accountable, it will be because the Prince of Jin's faction has ruined things.

It was the Sixth Prince who went to war with the Prince of Jin.

This could even benefit the King of Wu.

But what really interested Zhao Yi was: "Your Highness, if he loses, would you dare to kill him?"

.........

"Your Highness, Military Commander Hua Qu has ordered over a hundred soldiers to take a detour into Xiaoyan Mountain. We do not know their purpose."

When the scouts came to report to Wei Wusheng, he finally understood how difficult it was to truly lead a large army.

How fortunate it was to have Song Shi'an to unite everyone's thoughts and advance the cause.

This army can be said to have no core members of its own.

He was a complete parachutist.

While the level of control is indeed decent, achieving true unity of purpose and absolute obedience is impossible.

Factional strife has penetrated deep into the military and is constantly affecting the morale of its troops.

"Did General Zhao order it to be stopped?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"After receiving the order, General Zhao halted the entire army and set up camp. However, Hua Qu on the right flank did not inform the general before the operation," the scout replied. "Therefore, the general was worried that his order would not be effective and sent me here immediately to request instructions."

Zhao Yi appears upright and righteous, but when it comes to factional strife, he is still inevitably narrow-minded.

He knew perfectly well that once the news got back here, and he gave the order, no matter how fast it was done, it would be too late.

Zhao Yi wanted to see Hua Qu deliver the gift.

“Alright, let the general continue to garrison the position,” Wei Wusheng said.

"Yes!" the scout asked curiously, "And Your Highness, what about the military commander?"

"This is none of your business."

"Yes!"

.........

Nearly a hundred soldiers, lightly armed, followed a small path and infiltrated Xiaoyanshan, preparing to outflank and attack the feints lying in ambush at Hechipo.

It was August, and the forests in the north were already quite chilly.

My feet crunched on the slightly yellowed leaves.

Everyone was very careful.

Furthermore, it is quite well-hidden.

Although they claimed to have over a thousand ambush troops, they all knew in their hearts that there were only a few dozen people there making a show of force.

They never imagined that Yu Jun would steal from their backside.

If it appears, it will be a stroke of genius from heaven!
With a snap, the first person stepped on a fallen leaf and sank into the hole. In the next instant, he was pierced by dozens of sharp wooden stakes, letting out a shrill scream.

"There's an ambush!" Before the words were even finished, dozens of short arrows from crossbows suddenly emerged from the shadows.

Another group of Yu's troops fell.

Because the forest path was too narrow, the troops were thrown into chaos in an instant.

They quickly turned back and retreated.

Suddenly, dozens of elite border guards, hidden in the forest and dressed in ghillie suits made of countless leaves, resembling wild men, emerged, emitting eerie cries as they pursued the enemy.

Yu's army suffered a crushing defeat...

Only a few of the routed soldiers, covered in wounds, managed to run back to their camp.

Hua Qu was stunned when he saw them return, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "What happened! Where are the others!"

"Commander, they're all dead! My brothers are all dead! There's an ambush on the road!"

"Nonsense! How could there be an ambush on that road!" Hua Qu said incredulously. "Wasn't there a savage from Yan as our guide? He said this road is absolutely safe, and he's traveled it many times!"

"The moment we were ambushed, the Yan man vanished!" The man suddenly realized. "He was probably bribed by the Qi traitors to lure us in!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Qu was completely dumbfounded. He immediately collapsed to the ground, his face blank.

Yes, how could you possibly encounter a savage who happens to know a path leading to Crane Wing Slope while marching on a mountain trail...

How could it be such a coincidence?
Oh my goodness, this Qi thief is too cunning!
It's over. It's over now.

The credit is gone.

Nearly a hundred lives were lost...

"The King of Zhongshan has arrived!"

Just then, a voice came.

Hua Qu felt a tightness in his chest, and his heart rate instantly soared to 150.

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

Hua Qu had just gotten up when he fell down again.

No one dared to help him up.

I just watched as he stumbled to his feet and then staggered toward the sound.

The large banner bearing the character "Wei" fluttered in the wind.

The Sixth Prince personally led several hundred elite cavalrymen toward this direction.

General Zhao Yi was standing beside him.

And more than ten officers of the rank of colonel or above.

"Hua Qu...pays respects to Your Highness the Sixth Prince!"

With a thud, he knelt down on the ground.

Wei Wusheng rode his horse slowly to his side.

The rest of the people dismounted.

He alone remained seated on his horse, watching the man lying on the ground with sharp, icy eyes.

Hua Qu was a young man from the Hua family in Qinzhou.

Although he was from a collateral branch, he was still considered one of the more pure-blooded noble children; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach the position of Military Commander at such a young age.

Most importantly, his grandfather was on very good terms with Empress Hua's father, and the two families visited each other frequently, as close as family.

"What happened?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"Your Highness!" Hua Qu raised his head and said tremblingly, "The Qi bandits ambushed our army... I was tricked by those barbaric Yan thugs who said we could take a shortcut to ambush the Qi bandits from the rear, and then... I fell into their ambush..."

"How many people were lying in ambush on you?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"Your Highness..." Hua Qu said in a panic, "There are several hundred soldiers in the ambush alone."

At this moment, Wei Wusheng gently waved his hand.

Then, a naked Qi soldier was brought before him.

"How many of you are there?" Wei Wusheng asked.

“There are fewer than fifty people in total,” he replied, head bowed.

“There were a thousand ambushers, but only a few hundred attacked you.” Wei Wusheng laughed. “Could it be that his name is ‘Several Hundreds’?”

"Your Highness, I am guilty! I am guilty!"

Hua Qu knew he couldn't keep up the act, so he kowtowed repeatedly to admit his mistake.

What is the crime of disobeying military orders?

Hua Qu was stunned.

"What crime?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"Death, death sentence," he said with difficulty, biting his lip.

"Okay, cut it."

Wei Wusheng waved his hand casually.

Everyone was stunned by what they saw.

Although they were not direct descendants of the noble clan leader, they were still considered noble children. Yet, less than a hundred people died, and they were all killed like this?
Moreover, he has a connection with Empress Hua!
"Your Highness! I know I'm guilty! Can I atone for my crime by performing good deeds?" Hua Qu hadn't expected it to be so serious, and hurriedly called out to Zhao Yi, "Brother... General Zhao! Please plead for me!"

Everyone looked at Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi knelt on one knee, his hands clenched into fists: "Your Highness, this humble general was in charge of the vanguard. Hua Qu made a mistake, and this humble general is responsible for failing to properly supervise him. Please punish me."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Hua Qu's eyes.

“You came to report the emergency immediately, and it was Hua Qu who acted without authorization, being greedy for credit and reckless. The problem is not yours,” Wei Wusheng said.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhao Yi stood up.

"..." Hua Qu was dumbfounded as he watched him get up.

Only after the soldiers on either side captured him and the executioner approached him with his sword did he realize that His Highness was not joking.

So he immediately cried and pleaded, "Your Highness! I am willing to serve as a soldier to atone for my crime! Your Highness! If you must punish me, please allow me to see Empress Hua one last time after I return to Sheng'an..."

"You scoundrel, how dare you interfere with the Empress!"

Wei Wusheng immediately rebuked him.

Then, in front of everyone, the empress's head was severed.

(End of this chapter)