The elite troops of the Prince of Xiang arrived at Abyss River.

From the mountaintop looking down, they saw a dark, dense mass of soldiers pressing in like an army at the borders, with dark clouds urging the city!

The iron-clad cavalry clanged noisily, with battle cries never ceasing.

On that mountaintop, the old man looked at this scene and frowned tightly.

“Spirit isn’t bad, but the plan still falls short.”

The old man blew on the floating tea leaves in his cup and took a small sip.

How could this Abyss River place be so easily breached?

If the troops hadn’t gathered before, it would have been feared some, but now the soldiers from Tongshun Prefecture had all arrived here, so why fear it at this moment.

Yan Ruchu heard the words coming from below and murmured to himself, “This Zhao Zhen, he actually leads the army personally…”

“A brave move!”

Yan Ruchu laughed coldly and said, “Back in the Southern Region, Qingbo Marquis’s men failed to kill you, but now it falls right into my hands, and I’ll see where you escape this time!”

“Prepare the three armies!”

“Use our Abyss River terrain to ensure they never return alive!”

One military order after another passed down.

Qingshan City suddenly stirred with commotion.

The big army left the city, with the sound of horse hooves rolling into the ears.

Yan Huanglou, selling tea by the street, saw this scene, he watched the warhorses gallop out of the city, and muttered.

“More people are going to die…”

Yan Huanglou sighed lightly, then promptly packed up his Tea Stall, he reckoned the tea wouldn’t sell today.

Abyss River was easy to defend but hard to attack, but in Zhao Zhen’s view, under a sea of people, no city was impossible to breach, yet he wasn’t reckless either, so he needed to ask clearly before deciding.

In the commander’s tent, Zhao Zhen sat on the main seat holding his sword and riding posture.

Several Generals waited before him for instructions.

‘This place is easy to defend but hard to attack, a strong assault might not work.’

Zhao Zhen thought to this point, then made up his mind and said, “Li Neng!”

“This General is here!!”

“You lead two thousand elite soldiers, first attack that Chang Guan Pass from the side, retreat if waves rise, then rejoin the main force.”

“This General obeys the order!”

“Lu Mangfu!” Zhao Zhen added.

“Your Majesty!”

Lu Neng stepped forward to receive commands.

Zhao Zhen looked at him and said, “I want you to lead four thousand soldiers to open the way at Chang Guan Pass! Do not retreat!”

“This General obeys the command!”

Zhao Zhen also said, “Dispatch another two thousand soldiers, climb the mountain to kill the enemy! Break their rolling stones!”

“The archers…”

Zhao Zhen arranged things one by one.

After several moments, the words came out in the tent.

“March out! Break through Chang Guan Pass!”

Zhao Zhen was thinking of bluffing from the east while attacking from the west, but when the big army reached Chang Guan Pass, he frowned.

“Why is there no defending army?”

Chang Guan Pass actually had no one guarding it!

The scene before them on Chang Guan Pass was barren and quiet, the camp originally stationed there seemed cleaned up overnight.

The front was empty, but no one approached.

“Your Majesty, could it be a trap?”

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment and said loudly, “Where are the scouts!”

Scouts went forward to check the enemy situation, at first using the mountain forest for cover, but when he neared Chang Guan Pass and saw clearly the scene behind it, he froze instantly.

He hurried back to report quickly.

“I report to Your Majesty, no one is guarding the pass.”

“Truly no one guarding?”

Zhao Zhen fell deep in thought.

On Chang Guan Pass before them, a wave of dust kicked up, looking so desolate, with no one guarding the pass, it also meant opportunity was ahead.

But Zhao Zhen felt it wasn’t so simple.

“Your Majesty, when do we cross Chang Guan Pass?”

Zhao Zhen looked back and saw the warriors’ eyes full of killing spirit behind him, seeming as if they couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Not urgent…”

Zhao Zhen had not made a decision yet.

The more it was like this, the more worried he felt inside.

On the walls of Qingshan City tower.

Yan Ruchu lifted his gaze to look toward the Chang Guan Pass area.

“Zhao Zhen is truly suspicious.”

Yan Ruchu hummed lightly.

He looked back behind him and saw the city filled with soldiers.

The whole Qingshan City seemed stuffed full.

A full sixty thousand troops and horses!

On those mountaintops, ambushes were secretly lying in wait, when the Xiang Army entered the city, they could surround and kill immediately.

Chang Guan Pass was carved from the mountains, but the pass was narrow, making it extremely hard to attack and enter.

A scholar stood beside Yan Ruchu, his gaze pierced through Chang Guan Pass to see Zhao Zhen on his warhorse.

“Truly uncommon…”

The scholar murmured, “Emperor Jing losing to this man back then wasn’t unfair.”

He suddenly frowned.

“Huh?”

Yan Ruchu heard Master Zhu’s question and quickly lifted his eyes to look.

He saw the Xiang Army outside Everview Mountain, which hadn’t entered for a long time, suddenly turned their horse heads and showed signs of retreating.

“They’ve retreated…”

Yan Ruchu raised his eyebrows.

“Someone as suspicious as Zhao Zhen wouldn’t even send a small troop inside.”

Master Zhu shook his head and sighed. “Luck was with him.”

Yan Ruchu turned around. He asked, “Master Zhu, when it comes to destiny, how do I compare to that Zhao Zhen?”

“No match, no match at all,” Master Zhu replied.

Yan Ruchu smiled and said nothing more.

He was just thinking: How could Zhao Zhen withdraw so decisively?

Wasn’t he afraid his army’s spirit would collapse after retreating?

The scholarly man sighed. “Your Highness, you should return to your residence early. For now, the Prince of Xiang probably won’t attack again.” 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Yan Ruchu paused. “What about Everview Mountain then?”

“Leave it as it was before.”

Yan Ruchu nodded, then smiled. “Master Zhu’s strategy is unmatched. One plan alone made Zhao Zhen retreat with ten thousand men.”

“Your Highness praises me too much.”

The scholar spoke softly, but in his heart, he already expected a fierce battle ahead.

This Zhao Zhen wasn’t easy to deal with at all.

He might really be tough to handle!

This war could drag on for a long time.

But Yan Ruchu was confident. After all, he’d planned for this long ago, just waiting for Zhao Zhen to take the bait.

He’d even given up Tongshun Prefecture for it.

……

Deep in the mountains.

Aqing covered her face while gathering herbs. She heard the sounds of battle cries and thundering hooves outside the city.

Seeing this, she hurried back to the bamboo hut.

“They’re fighting out there.”

The man inside was calmly packing his bag.

“We can’t stay here.”

Hearing this, Aqing paused. “Then where do we go?”

The man slung his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll give you two choices. If you can’t bear to leave, stay here. Or follow me and wander far from home.”

His words made it hard for Aqing to decide.

She missed her dad deeply. He was gone now, but he’d left behind the Peach Grove that couldn’t be moved.

After thinking for a long time, Aqing raised her head. “I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then pack your things.”

Late that night, the man led Aqing to the foot of Heaven’s Gate Mountain.

Under the moonlight, Aqing saw the Peach Grove along the road. Peach blossoms in full bloom flew like heavy snow when the wind blew past.

But all she could do was watch from afar.

When the man gazed toward the distant base of Heaven’s Gate Mountain, he suddenly stopped walking.

“This road… we probably can’t get out now.”

An army camp stood below Heaven’s Gate Mountain, countless torches burning bright.

Aqing asked, “How do we leave then?”

The man gave a helpless smile. “Only by climbing over the mountains. Follow me.”