Chapter 111: The Divine Strategy Battalion

Feng Yewu’s eyes flashed with a cold light as she let out a scoff. As the sovereign of the majestic Ye Dynasty, why should she fear a mere martial arts sect?

Lu Jue was momentarily stunned by the imperial authority Feng Yewu displayed at that moment. Regaining his composure, he gave a self-deprecating smile and thought to himself, "After experiencing life and death in Yanwu County, I almost forgot that the person I love is a monarch."

Wei Nanxi nodded slightly and bowed to Feng Yewu. "Your Majesty, I received word before entering the city. While Zheng Tianlan was leading his troops here, he happened to encounter the Divine Strategy Battalion’s Thousand-Mechanism Guards, which accelerated their pace. They are expected to arrive outside the city and await orders tonight."

After speaking, Wei Nanxi instinctively glanced at the complex expression on Lu Jue’s face.

The Divine Strategy Battalion’s Thousand-Mechanism Guards had always been the elite force under the former General of the North. Stationed in the extreme north, they were few in number, yet each was near the level of a Grandmaster, possessing extraordinary tactical agility. They had once left behind the specter of death in the hearts of the Tidi tribe; because the guards wore cold armor and red robes, and their warhorses were equipped with red silk ropes, they resembled a rapidly sweeping wildfire across the vast white snow. The Tidi tribe called them the "Fires of Hell."

After the General of the North's residence was wiped out, the late Emperor, fearing the Battalion might fall into the hands of traitors, brought the Thousand-Mechanism Guards under imperial command and stationed them on the outskirts of the capital.

Lu Jue had grown up in the General's residence and was intimately familiar with them. Hearing of them now, a torrent of emotions rose within him.

Seeing the trace of sorrow in Lu Jue’s eyes, Feng Yewu walked over and said softly, "The case of the General of the North's residence will soon come to light. When that time comes, I shall have you lead the Thousand-Mechanism Guards once more."

Hearing this, Lu Jue looked up at the expressionless Feng Yewu, reading sincerity in her eyes.

After Feng Yewu finished speaking, Wei Nanxi sighed softly, "The Divine Strategy Battalion is a blade of unmatched sharpness. It is a pity they have been kept near the capital since being reorganized by the late Emperor. If they could return to the battlefield, they would surely demonstrate the majesty of our Ye Dynasty! And for Young Master Lu to be appointed their commander would be a perfect inheritance of his legacy."

...

At the Prince of Pingyi’s residence, Wang Changgeng was dining with his wife. Seeing him looking dejected and weighed down by heavy thoughts, the Princess asked softly, "My Lord, you have seemed deeply troubled ever since returning to Langya City. Is something weighing on your mind?"

Wang Changgeng paused. He had never shown such agitation before; he was not one to let his emotions be easily discovered.

It was now past noon, and there was still no news from Yanwu County. As for the men he had sent to the Prince of Beichang, there was total silence.

A crushing pressure weighed heavily on Wang Changgeng’s chest; he could barely eat, let alone breathe.

"It is nothing. Eat your meal."

Wang Changgeng looked at his worried wife, sighed, threw down his chopsticks, and turned to leave. After he left, Ping'er rushed over to pick up the fallen chopsticks and returned them to their place.

The Princess watched him leave with a sense of dejection and sighed herself. She assumed he was worried about Wang Jia, who was alone in the capital. After all, Wang Jia was not her own flesh and blood, and she only tolerated her for Wang Changgeng’s sake. Seeing him lose his appetite like this, how could she not feel pained?

Seeing Ping'er picking up the chopsticks hit a nerve, and the Princess snapped at her.

"You heartless thing, you couldn't even look after a living person properly, causing the Prince such worry! If anything happens to the Prince's health, a dozen heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"

Frightened, Ping'er turned pale and shrank to the side, not daring to make a sound.

Wang Changgeng wandered aimlessly through the residence, unintentionally ending up before the door of his study. Looking at the tightly closed door, he felt a wave of melancholy. Through the dark cracks of the door came a sense of chilling emptiness. He watched the silent wooden door, feeling that the study, once his spiritual sanctuary, now felt more like a prison.

"My Lord."

Suddenly, a voice behind him pulled him out of his reverie, and his heart gave a start. Wang Changgeng loathed this feeling; everything was exceeding his expectations. He let out a long breath, calmed his mind, and turned slowly to find Zhao Xiyan, dressed as a maidservant, standing behind him.

"Is there news from Yanwu County?" Wang Changgeng asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

Even if the Prince of Beichang would not send troops to assist, he had already made up his mind: the moment news of the beheadings arrived from Yanwu, he would launch his rebellion.

Long ago, Wang Changgeng had been stationed in the East Yi territory and had maintained some ties with the local nobility. To prevent the Penglai Pavilion from being exposed, he had carefully selected talent and kept in contact with several martial arts clans in East Yi. If Feng Yewu were gone, he would surely have a foothold to claim the throne within the Ye Dynasty.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xiyan’s expression disappointed him. She shook her head slightly, her face grave.

She had utterly shattered his last shred of hope.

"My Lord, perhaps we should go into the study."

Zhao Xiyan clearly had other important matters that were inconvenient to discuss here. Wang Changgeng looked back at the study, raised a hand, and refused helplessly.

"There are no secrets left to keep. Speak here."

Feng Yewu was not dead; everything was reaching a dead end. There was no need to hide anything anymore.

Zhao Xiyan had not expected the usually confident Wang Changgeng to be so despondent. After a moment of hesitation, she whispered, "My subordinates have discovered traces of cavalry between the capital and Langya City."

Wang Changgeng frowned and asked in confusion, "Cavalry? The capital is surrounded by hills; cavalry rarely appears within the borders of the Ye Dynasty... Wait! Are you certain it is cavalry?"

Something occurred to him, and his eyes were filled with shock as he demanded confirmation.

Zhao Xiyan did not know why he was so surprised, but she nodded blankly.

"Could it be the Divine Strategy Battalion?" Wang Changgeng muttered. The only force he could think of was the one that had once terrified the Tidi tribe from the far north.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiyan’s expression also shifted dramatically. If it were ordinary cavalry, she would have had the confidence to lead the forces of the Penglai Pavilion to put up a fight. Though cavalry had high lethality, they were ultimately clumsy; if prepared, one could still battle them.

But if it were truly the Divine Strategy Battalion, there was nothing she could do.

The cavalry of the Divine Strategy Battalion wore light armor, making them far more maneuverable than standard cavalry, and once they dismounted, their combat effectiveness could still rival elite infantry. Coupled with the Battalion’s heavy crossbows—a versatile and lethal tool—they were not something the motley crew under her command could hope to confront.