Tested (1)

Establishing the Dianjiang School was a groundbreaking event in Changxiang City in recent years.

Before this, any military matters were discussed jointly by the Sixteen Families, who would then deploy their troops together. This almost archaic system of conscription was devastatingly ineffective during the national war. After Sikong Zhilong broke through the first line of defense at Qihuangyuan, he easily pushed six hundred miles south. The families failed to cooperate effectively, the commanders struggled with coordination, and there was endless mutual blame for military failures. These issues had been known for nearly a century, causing concern during every court discussion—Northern Xiang, the lion lying in the Gobi, could reinvigorate and march south at any time, and Eastern Xiang, the tiger lying on the plains, was not trusted to remain indifferent. Yet, any attempt at action always dissolved into the discussions among the Sixteen Families.

Qi Xiang was originally a scholar, lacking extensive knowledge in military strategies. Aware that he could not command respect in military affairs, he specifically requested the legendary General Yang Dingtu to come out of retirement.

During the national war, Yang Dingtu played a pivotal role.

When Sikong Zhilong led his troops south, he split them into three divisions, personally leading the central force from Lieque City, directly aiming at Qihuangyuan.

The three-hundred-mile Qihuangyuan was the natural border between Northern Xiang and Western Xiang, with mountains to the north and south and a barren plain in between. Except for a few daring merchants, no one usually ventured into the plain.

For both sides, it was equally easy to defend and difficult to attack.

At that time, the Western Xiang nation hastily responded, ordering Yang Dingtu to lead forty thousand soldiers from the Yang family, joined by thirty thousand troops from the Hanhai Ning family and the Mohe Ling family, along with twenty thousand local troops, to confront the left flank; the He family led nine thousand elite Wolf Fang troops, twenty thousand family soldiers, and fifteen thousand military slaves, together with fourteen thousand local troops, to confront the central force; the Lian family led fifteen thousand troops from seven allied families to block the right flank and defend Changxiang City. The He family swore an oath, held a grand ceremony, and raised their flag, united in their determination. The emperor promised the He family that as long as they held off Sikong Zhilong for twenty days, reinforcements from the south would arrive continuously. This response was appropriate and timely—Wolf Fang's seventh division was the elite of the elite, and holding the line for twenty days should not have been difficult.

However, no one expected Sikong Zhilong to order a surprise attack at night when his army was still 150 miles from the southern border of Qihuangyuan. The Northern Xiang "Qian" unit, normally reserved for critical situations, consisting of seven thousand elite soldiers and three thousand personal guards armed with Qingdi spears, traveled overnight without food supplies to reach the southern border of Qihuangyuan by dawn. They attacked the half-asleep and disorganized defenders, breaching the northern gate of Western Xiang.

At that time, the He family's troops had not yet joined forces with the local garrison. When Sikong Zhilong set foot on Western Xiang soil, they were only seventeen miles from Qihuangyuan.

Sikong Zhilong made no stops, leaving no soldiers behind to occupy the southern defense of Qihuangyuan. After merging with the Qian unit, his army immediately struck the He family forces—he discarded all supplies and weak or injured soldiers along the way, so much so that the garrison, after being defeated, was able to regroup and attempted a counterattack to support the He family forces. The garrison collected a large amount of equipment, captured and executed two thousand wounded enemies, and even sent a victory report to Changxiang City amidst the chaos. However, this report became a lasting joke, as when the emperor received it, Wolf Fang's seventh division had already been annihilated, and the seven generals of the He family had perished in a day and night of fierce fighting.

It is said that Sikong Zhilong's decision to launch the surprise attack was solely due to hearing that a sacrificial ceremony was being held in Changxiang City.

As Sikong Zhilong launched his surprise attack, the only one who responded was Yang Dingtu. At that time, the Yang family troops had not yet reached Hanhai and were marching. Upon receiving the report, Yang Dingtu swiftly turned southeast, heading directly to the closest stronghold near Qihuangyuan—this move led to the loss of Hanhai and Mohe, the extermination of the Ning and Ling families, and practically handed the northwest to Sikong Zhilong. However, it forced Sikong Zhilong to turn back north and spend several days regrouping at the southern border of Qihuangyuan.

Yang Dingtu knew his limitations; his forces were no match for Sikong Zhilong's main army. Yet, over the next ten years, Sikong Zhilong could not annihilate Yang's forces either—Yang Dingtu became famous for his "Yang's Great Maneuver." He continuously evaded Sikong Zhilong's attacks while integrating southern units, fighting and retreating from north to south, south to east, and east to west. Despite losing over a hundred skirmishes, he managed to delay Sikong Zhilong for three years. By the time Yang Dingtu was exhausted, Qi Xiang had become prime minister, and Changxiang City had the means to hold out.

After the war, when merits were rewarded, the Yang family was acknowledged for their great contributions, but there were few left to reward—the Yang family's lands were ravaged thrice, and all brothers, nephews, and extended family members died in battle, leaving only the elderly Yang Dingtu and his ailing granddaughter.

As long as Yang Dingtu lived, the Sixteen Families of Western Xiang remained intact, and no one dared to dismiss his opinions.

However, Yang Dingtu had lost interest in state affairs. At over seventy, disheartened, he only wished to retire peacefully. Qi Xiang, to persuade him out of retirement, spent three months visiting the Yang family nightly. Eventually, Yang Dingtu sighed deeply and agreed to oversee the Dianjiang School.

The military system, instructors, training, and personnel at Dianjiang School were almost entirely modeled after the Eastern Xiang's Lu family. Qi Xiang generously fulfilled his promises, allocating substantial funds from the not-so-ample national treasury and squeezing out a spacious area in the expensive real estate of Changxiang City. This move displeased the aristocrats somewhat—traditionally, the Yang family had guarded the west gate of Changxiang City for generations. After their sacrificial end, it would not have been excessive to reward them, but the west camp should have changed hands. Yang Dingtu's return placed the west camp firmly under his control, filled with his students and disciples. In a few short years, its influence threatened to surpass the south camp.

Among the voices of discontent, the loudest belonged to the He family. Their most outstanding representative was He Peiyu. At twenty-eight, He Peiyu had a late start but made a spectacular debut. He, like his father, was the sixth in his generation. During the national war, he was too young to be entrusted with command and stayed with his father to defend their fief, Mulan Prefecture. When the war broke out, the He family's elite forces were deployed, and the enslaved people of Mulan Prefecture saw their chance to rebel. He Peiyu's father, He Langfei, heeded his advisors and negotiated with the slave leaders, suggesting it was better to conscript them as He family soldiers and grant them freedom based on their merits. This wise and balanced decision won unanimous support from the He family, except for He Peiyu, who vehemently opposed it. His youthful voice was ignored, but three months later, the rebels proved him right—they exploited the negotiations to revolt, achieving several victories and embarrassing the He family forces. The He family believes that if it hadn't been for the unrest at their base affecting morale and reinforcements, they wouldn't have lost to Sikong Zhilong.

During the turmoil, He Peiyu earned his father's recognition, accompanying him to suppress the rebellion and reclaim their land. The He family's brutal and iron-fisted methods included torturing prisoners to death and decorating the rubber trees of Mulan Prefecture with human heads, creating what became known as the "Seven Years of Cruelty." Though initially provoking fiercer resistance, despair soon spread among the slaves, turning their ranks into a disorganized mob retreating into the mountains.

After the national war, when assessing the aftermath, the He family was second only to the Yang family in terms of losses—He Peiyu lost five uncles, six great-uncles, and countless cousins. Fortunately, they still controlled Mulan Prefecture, maintaining their strength.

Post-war, Changxiang City gradually reverted to its old ways—the He family traditionally guarded the south camp. He Peiyu and his father left Mulan Prefecture, bringing three thousand elite soldiers north. From his arrival, He Peiyu made no secret of his ambition to rebuild the Wolf Fang seventh division and reclaim the He family's military supremacy.

He performed admirably in the five years following the war, a period when everyone from nobility to commoners craved peace. Like a thirsty sapling planted in fertile soil recently scorched by lightning, He Peiyu grew rapidly, and so did the rebirth of Wolf Fang's seventh division. By the time Changxiang City paid attention, he had become a leading figure among the younger generation.

He Peiyu respected the venerable General Yang but believed the old general should have stayed retired, viewing his comeback as damaging to his reputation. Like other pragmatists, he scorned the theorists, often arrogantly claiming that the Dianjiang School, established by officials and an old man, was a joke, producing only armchair strategists and serving as a promotion platform for the undeserving.

Choosing Dianjiang School as the battleground was a calculated move by He Peiyu. Qi Qingzheng was inconsequential; he had no choice but to lead the Wind Shadow cavalry into battle. Defeating Qi Xiang's elite on Yang's turf would deliver a dual blow to his adversaries.

Despite his discontent, Yang Dingtu's influence remained unshakable due to his seniority, merits, and lineage. There was an implicit understanding among the Sixteen Families—to wait until General Yang passed away before reconsidering their stance.

Dianjiang School had nineteen training grounds, and He Peiyu chose the smallest and oldest one, "The Contest Ground." Traditionally a place for military families to vie for prestige, it was allocated to Dianjiang School out of respect for and a subtle farewell to the Yang family.

To the east of the training ground was a crescent-shaped, purple-glazed observation platform, offering an unobstructed view from within but only showing intricate carvings from outside.

He Peiyu didn't glance at the platform, but he knew people were watching. A hundred-versus-hundred skirmish was routine, but this was Qi Qingzheng's first appearance before the Sixteen Families, and many were curious to see how he would... fall.

He had waited a long time, but Qi Qingzheng had not yet arrived.

In Changxiang City, "morning" is not a vague period but a specific sequence of events marked by three long horn blasts from the mountaintop altar each day, from sunrise to mid-morning. The first blast, known as "Heaven's Call," signals the end of the night and the beginning of the day. The second blast, "Earth's Call," prompts households to wake up and get dressed. The third blast, "Human's Call," signals the start of official government business, the opening of shops, and the bustling of various professions.

Even the common folk, if they arranged a morning meeting, would do so at the time of the third horn blast.

He Peiyu entered the field with his troops at the second horn blast. Although his opponent was just a fifteen-year-old child, he had thoroughly prepared.

He selected elite soldiers, all mounted on "Treading Snow" horses, fully armored, with half-armor, wielding lead-filled and grey-pointed white wax spears for training. He positioned himself facing the sunlight, ensuring that if Qi Qingzheng lost, he would have no complaints.

Standing thirty yards outside the field was a silver-haired female slave—short silver hair, silver headband, silver chest armor, silver greaves, and silver arm guards, with a thin silver chain attached to the arm guard leading to a massive silver beast that resembled a giant lion with an ice-like horn and silver scales on its claws, sharp as knives.

The female slave was blind—her eyes were closed, and her eyelids were covered in thick silver powder that glinted in the sunlight.

The silver lion was there as a precaution; He Peiyu had no intention of using it.

The precaution was for Qi Jiafu, a household slave of the Qi family. The Wind Shadow cavalry alone was not terrifying, nor was Qi Jiafu, but the combination of Wind Shadow cavalry and Qi Jiafu was somewhat intimidating. He Peiyu had never encountered them; in his intelligence gathering, the Wind Shadow cavalry remained a blank spot. How many were there? What was their structure? Where did they train? Their true elite were known as "Shadows," fast and lethal, unseen by anyone. Each mission they completed seemed to evaporate from Changxiang City. Qi Xiang, a scholar with war experience, had the modesty of a civil official and the efficiency of a military general. What was his purpose in forging the Wind Shadow cavalry into a sharp blade? No one knew. In the smoke-free game of power, the Wind Shadow cavalry's presence was like a face-down card, its value unseen, only the calm and smile of the player visible.

He Peiyu felt a thrill as the rough grip of his spear stimulated his palm.

If he lost, it would be embarrassing, but from then on, Qi Xiang could no longer hide the Wind Shadow cavalry in the shadows. This gamble would be worth it.

Moreover, He Peiyu wanted to win. He was confident that the Wolf Fang seventh division would no longer lose to any team in the Western Xiang nation.

He Peiyu looked up at the clear, blue sky. It was a good day for a fight.