Chapter 827: Black Wind Cavalry
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
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In Gu Jiao’s dreams, the Xuanyuan Army had paid a steep price to force their way through that mountain range.
This time, it wouldn’t be necessary, for she now knew how to avoid the dangers.
Wang Man cupped his hands and addressed Shangguan Yan solemnly. “Your Highness, this is no trivial matter! I don’t care what means he used to become the commander of the Black Wind Cavalry, but war is not a game. He cannot recklessly gamble with baseless assumptions and end up burying the entire Black Wind Cavalry!”
After all, the Black Wind Cavalry was their most formidable combat force!
If this boy didn’t know how to command properly, then someone else should take over!
They couldn’t afford to waste such a crucial military asset!
But Shangguan Yan turned to Gu Jiao instead. “Are you confident?”
Mu Qingchen’s eyes flickered slightly.
He could clearly perceive the deep trust the Crown Princess had in Gu Jiao.
This puzzled him.
“I am confident.” Gu Jiao stated with certainty.
Shangguan Yan nodded. “Very well.”
Wang Man’s expression changed. “Your Highness!”
Shangguan Yan said, “My decision is final, Great General Wang. There is no need to dissuade me further. I will bear all consequences.”
At this point, there was no room left for Wang Man to argue. He couldn’t possibly draw his sword and force the Crown Princess to change her mind.
“Humph!”
He stood up, one hand clasped behind his back while the other slapped his outer thigh twice in frustration before finally storming off with a cold expression.
Gu Jiao stared directly at him.
“Treating the battlefield like a child’s game! First Xiao Liulang, now the Crown Princess! I truly don’t understand why His Majesty would send a mere woman to lead the campaign! Are there no more princes in the imperial family? Li Wang, Xu Wang, En Wang—any one of them would be better than a former, discarded Crown Princess!”
Wang Man only spoke these words after stepping out of the command tent.
However, the people inside all had sharp ears.
Wei Junting let out an awkward chuckle.
Shangguan Yan’s expression remained unchanged. She turned to Wei Junting and said, “You may leave. I have something to discuss with Commander Xiao.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Wei Junting rose, bowed, and left the tent.
Mu Qingchen also made a move to stand.
Shangguan Yan said, “Stay, Mu Qingchen. I have instructions for you as well.”
……
Half an hour later, Mu Qingchen and Gu Jiao stepped out of Shangguan Yan’s tent.
By now, the sky was completely dark. The soldiers had lit fires where they sat, cooking and eating their evening meal. Those who had finished either went to rest or took up their patrol duties.
The two walked along a narrow path between the tents.
Advisor Hu came up to them. “My Lord! Have you eaten yet? I saved you a steamed bun!”
“I’ve eaten.” Gu Jiao replied. “Keep it for me to eat in the morning.”
Advisor Hu was momentarily stunned. “Ah, understood.”
As if he could really let her eat it? Obviously, he’d have to eat it himself!
Mu Qingchen furrowed his brows and glanced at Gu Jiao. “I find you harder and harder to understand.”
Gu Jiao shot him a strange look. “You don’t need to understand me.”
Mu Qingchen was momentarily speechless, but he was already used to it.
Walking alongside her, he said, “About Nangong Li—I owe you an apology.”
Though the Nangong Family’s collusion with the Crown Prince to frame the true imperial grandson had not been publicly exposed, as the heir of one of the ten great noble families, Mu Qingchen had heard bits and pieces.
However, he still believed that the imperial grandson was Shangguan Qing and had no idea that it was actually Xiao Heng.
Gu Jiao merely responded with, “Oh.”
Mu Qingchen admitted with some guilt, “Did you kill Nangong Li because you uncovered his schemes? Never mind, that’s not important anymore. In the past, I misunderstood you and thought you were scheming with ulterior motives. That was my mistake.”
Gu Jiao didn’t particularly care about his past misunderstandings. But since he was apologizing so earnestly, if she didn’t say anything, he might just keep apologizing forever.
Gu Jiao scratched her head. “I forgive you.”
Mu Qingchen smiled slightly and came to a stop, looking at her. “Then… are we still friends?”
Gu Jiao hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around before she reluctantly said, “Yes… I guess?”
What do you mean, “I guess”?
Mu Qingchen was momentarily taken aback.
Gu Jiao spread her hands. “I’m your superior now. Superiors and subordinates must maintain proper boundaries. You need to uphold your duty.”
Mu Qingchen: “…”
Shangguan Yan was deeply concerned about her dear daughter-in-law, so she reassigned Mu Qingchen, who was originally meant to be her personal guard, to accompany Gu Jiao, sending him along with her to the siege of Quyang.
Gu Jiao was the commander.
He was the little tag-along.
Gu Jiao imitated Wang Man’s official gait, striding forward in grand steps, one hand clasped behind her back while the other impatiently slapped her outer thigh twice.
“Humph!”
She even made sure to include that very snort!
Mu Qingchen: “…”
Before dawn the next day, Gu Jiao issued orders for the entire Black Wind Cavalry to break camp.
Shangguan Yan had initially insisted on traveling with Gu Jiao, but Gu Jiao refused.
Shangguan Yan had eight spinal screws embedded in her back, requiring her to wear protective armor even when moving around. A cavalry forced march would utterly exhaust her.
Moreover, as she traveled under the title of Crown Princess, she could rally additional local troops along the way. And if no soldiers were available, she could at least requisition more provisions.
This was going to be a brutal battle, and the supply lines had to be secured at all costs.
For the first three days after the Black Wind Cavalry set out, the weather was fair. However, on the fourth day, they were caught in an unexpected autumn rainstorm. Fortunately, Gu Jiao was skilled in reading the sky and predicting the weather, so she had prepared in advance, ensuring everyone avoided the downpour.
By the eleventh day, the Black Wind Cavalry had reached the base of Luding Mountain, the largest mountain range in Liuzhou.
At this point, their maps became useless.
No one had ever ventured into this mountain range before, so naturally, there was no detailed cartography available.
The entire army was ordered to stand by.
Over the course of their journey, the soldiers' impression of Gu Jiao had shifted somewhat, but their skepticism remained. The Han Family’s successive commanders had all been more impressive than Gu Jiao—yet in the end, what had come of it?
The Han Family had betrayed them.
They admitted that seeing the Xuanyuan Family’s command banner raised once more was inspiring.
But having experienced too much disappointment, they had already calmed down from their initial excitement.
Perhaps this was nothing more than a morale-boosting tactic.
Who would truly be willing to fight and die for the Xuanyuan Family?
Even the Nangong Family had only been using the Xuanyuan name for their own gain.
The soldiers looked at their new commander, waiting for him to continue making a mess of things.
They were eager to see whether, once trapped inside with no way out, this young commander would end up crying in frustration.
Mu Qingchen scanned the expressions around them and quietly said to Gu Jiao, “Uh… they don’t seem to trust you very much.”
Gu Jiao: “Oh.”
Gu Jiao turned to Mu Qingchen and said, “We have three days to cross the mountain range. After that, the entire army will rest for a day. We won’t stop in Feng County; we’ll head straight for the siege.”
“Three days… is that enough?” Mu Qingchen stared at the vast, unending mountain range, thinking to himself that even thirteen days might not be enough. No wonder the cavalrymen didn’t trust this former classmate of his, as he himself was starting to have doubts!
Gu Jiao said, “Whether it’s enough or not, we’ll know once we start moving. Big Boss, let’s go!”
The forest echoed with the howls of wild beasts, and the horses instinctively sensed the danger lurking within the dense foliage.
However, just as Gu Jiao placed unwavering trust in Black Wind King, Black Wind King, in turn, had absolute faith in its companion.
Raising his front hooves, Black Wind King leaped effortlessly over a six-foot-wide ravine and plunged into the dense forest without a second glance.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…