Chapter 659: Provoked to Fury

“Master Dao, just as you predicted, Dachan Mountain really did stand by and watch. Gongsun Bu successfully rescued the Princess Consort and had Huang Lie send her to rendezvous with Marshal Meng. His Highness... was taken away. The hundred or so personal guards under him were all detained. Whether they live or die is uncertain.” Guan Fangyi sighed.

Standing beneath a tree with his sword planted before him, Niu Youdao showed no expression. He merely closed his eyes slowly.

At present, this was all he could do.

He had no way to take care of the lives of those hundred-odd personal guards as well. Faced with something like this, sacrifices were inevitable.

There were many things he had never imagined in his previous life.

He had never expected that now, a single decision of his could determine the life or death of so many people.

Seeing him remain silent, Guan Fangyi still could not help asking again, “All of this could have been avoided. Why didn’t Master Dao arrange for His Highness and the others to escape beforehand?”

How could Niu Youdao answer that question?

His relationship with Gao Jiancheng was an absolute secret. It could not be leaked to anyone else.

Gao Jiancheng’s identity and position were simply too important.

If Gao Jiancheng had not warned him in advance this time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Not the slightest trace of suspicion could be allowed to fall on Gao Jiancheng.

Could Niu Youdao tell others that he had chosen to let Shang Chaozong take the risk in order to preserve the Gao Jiancheng line?

So he answered a different question.

“From now on, cut off contact with the three major sects. Also, you need to make a personal trip to Marshal Meng’s side.”

...

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, one hundred thousand iron cavalry escorted four hundred thousand displaced rebels westward in a vast procession, toward the place where the sun was sinking.

Some of the refugees had temporarily been put to work as laborers, pushing grain carts that accompanied the column.

So many people still needed to eat and drink. Naturally they could not travel without carrying provisions.

A carriage moved under army protection. Its curtain was lifted.

Meng Shanming sat inside facing the golden light of sunset, his brows drawn tight almost without pause.

He still could not understand why Niu Youdao had made such a decision.

Beside the carriage moved the horse fitted with Meng Shanming’s special saddle.

A Black Jade Eagle appeared in the sky, swooping down and immediately alerting the Dachan Mountain cultivators escorting the column.

The Black Jade Eagle circled low once.

Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, showed himself clearly from its back to prevent his fellow sect members from misunderstanding.

Only then did he grab Feng Ruonan by the arm and leap down.

The vast procession came to a stop.

Inside the carriage, Meng Shanming leaned his head out through the window to look.

Feng Ruonan, her eyes swollen red from crying, stumbled through the escorting troops and threw herself against the carriage window.

Choking with sobs, she said, “Marshal Meng, save His Highness! Hurry and save His Highness!”

The moment everyone heard that something had happened to the Prince, the generals present erupted.

One after another, their eyes went wide.

Meng Shanming’s breathing quickened as well.

The fingers gripping the carriage window suddenly tightened.

His voice sank.

“Princess Consort, speak slowly. What happened?”

“People came from the imperial court. Grand Marshal Shang Yongzhong personally arrived with an imperial decree...” Feng Ruonan choked out the events that had taken place.

A buzzing exploded inside Meng Shanming’s head.

His expression changed drastically.

“Dog-thieves!” one general roared on the spot.

The other generals listening nearby were all furious beyond restraint.

Another general cupped his fists and shouted, “Marshal Meng, let this general lead the Yingyang and Wulie Guards back to rescue him. If they refuse to hand over His Highness, this general will trample the rebellion-suppression army flat!”

Meng Shanming ignored him.

Instead, his gaze fixed on Huang Lie, who had walked closer.

He slapped the carriage window and demanded angrily, “Sect Leader Huang, His Highness was in danger before your eyes. Why did you not save him?”

Huang Lie looked deeply embarrassed.

“Marshal Meng, don’t be angry. There really was nothing we could do. The other side came prepared. They had overwhelming numbers, while Nanzhou’s main force had already come over here and almost all Dachan Mountain manpower had followed with it.”

“With the few men we had left, there was no way to rescue His Highness. Had we truly fought, I fear even the Princess Consort would not have escaped.”

That was exactly the answer Meng Shanming wanted.

“In other words, Dachan Mountain is not afraid of trouble. Now that we have enough men, Dachan Mountain will certainly be willing to accompany my one hundred thousand iron cavalry back there!”

“...”

Huang Lie was speechless.

He had not expected to walk straight into the trap hidden in Meng Shanming’s words.

How was he supposed to answer?

If he refused, would that not amount to admitting Dachan Mountain was cowardly and afraid of trouble?

Meng Shanming gave him no time to react.

“Da’an!”

Luo Da’an quickly stepped forward and helped Meng Shanming out of the carriage.

A group of generals jumped down from their horses and together lifted Meng Shanming onto the mount fitted with the special saddle.

Looking at the situation, Huang Lie knew Meng Shanming intended to turn back and settle accounts with Shang Yongzhong.

He was instantly at a loss.

“My spear!”

At Meng Shanming’s shout, Luo Da’an immediately took the long spear resting on the carriage and offered it with both hands.

Meng Shanming seized the spear in one hand and galloped out from the formation.

He rode up a low slope, wheeled his horse around beneath the dying light of sunset, and reined to a halt.

Then he raised the spear and shouted, “Leave five thousand men to guard the prisoners. Any prisoner who tries to escape is to be killed without mercy! Everyone else follows me back. Sound the horns!”

Woooo... Woooo...

Ox-horn bugles sounded, deep and mournful.

Meng Shanming spurred his horse down from the slope and raced away with his spear in hand.

Luo Da’an followed close behind.

The army rapidly wheeled around.

Then the great mass of cavalry thundered after them.

Feng Ruonan grabbed one general and yanked him straight from his horse.

She sprang into the saddle and chased after the others.

“You...”

The general nearly landed flat on his face.

The curse already on his lips died before he dared let it out.

With nowhere to vent his anger, he turned and dragged a soldier off another horse, mounted directly, and galloped after the army.

The poor soldier left behind simply stood there dumbfounded.

In an instant, dust rolled across the land and hoofbeats thundered like a storm.

Once the army learned that Shang Chaozong had been seized by the imperial court, it exploded.

Nanzhou had been laboring desperately to suppress rebellion on behalf of the imperial court.

Yet at that very moment, the imperial court had stabbed Nanzhou’s commander in the back.

The Yan court had successfully enraged Nanzhou’s army from top to bottom.

Killing intent rolled through the entire force.

The vast column of displaced captives was thrown into panic, with no idea what had happened.

“Marshal Meng! Marshal Meng...!”

Huang Lie stamped his foot and shouted urgently, but there was no use.

Who in this army cared what Dachan Mountain amounted to now?

Seeing his cries ignored, Huang Lie immediately waved for the Black Jade Eagle circling overhead to descend.

He had to catch up and stop them.

These troops were Nanzhou’s foundation. If they were destroyed, Dachan Mountain would suffer with them.

Just as Huang Lie leapt onto the Black Jade Eagle and began pursuing them, another Black Jade Eagle appeared in the distance.

It swooped toward the racing army.

A figure in fluttering skirts descended from the sky and landed directly in front of the cavalry, one hand raised in a stopping gesture.

The newcomer was none other than Guan Fangyi.

Uncle Chen and Old Second Wu remained overhead, circling on the flying mount.

Seeing someone blocking the road ahead, Meng Shanming raised his spear.

The racing army responded layer by layer, hands lifting as its speed gradually fell.

At last the entire force came to a halt behind Meng Shanming, directly before Guan Fangyi.

Guan Fangyi called loudly, “Marshal Meng, where are you taking the army in such haste?”

Meng Shanming answered, “The imperial court sent men to seize His Highness. Does Master Dao know?”

Guan Fangyi waved her round fan through the cloud of dust kicked up by the army’s charge.

“Master Dao received Gongsun Bu’s message. He already knows.”

Then she extended a hand in invitation.

“Marshal Meng, may I borrow a word in private?”

Huang Lie had descended from the sky again and immediately called, “Marshal Meng, you must not act impulsively. You cannot act impulsively!”

At this point, he dared only plead bitterly.

He did not dare use force.

He could see that this army was already blazing with fury.

Trying to intimidate them would no longer work. Push too hard and they might turn against Dachan Mountain on the spot.

Guan Fangyi’s appearance calmed Meng Shanming somewhat.

In the end, he wheeled his horse away from the official road and rode toward open ground nearby.

Huang Lie was just about to follow when Guan Fangyi raised her round fan to block him and smiled.

“Sect Leader Huang, please wait here.”

With that, she flashed away lightly.

Huang Lie was speechless.

It was obvious they wanted him to avoid the conversation.

He raised his head and looked again at the Black Jade Eagle circling above.

Niu Youdao himself was nowhere to be seen.

Out in the open field, Meng Shanming reined his horse to a halt.

His graying hair, caught in the sunset, made his age and weathered appearance all the more pronounced.

Guan Fangyi floated down beside him.

Looking down from horseback, Meng Shanming asked heavily, “Did Master Dao already know the imperial court intended to move against His Highness? Is that why he transferred us away?”

By now, how could he still fail to notice something?

Guan Fangyi replied, “Master Dao asked me to tell Marshal Meng one thing. His Highness has already been taken toward the capital on a flying mount.”

“Even if you turn around now, no matter how well Marshal Meng can fight, you will not be able to rescue him.”

Meng Shanming said in grief and fury, “Then what are we supposed to do? Are we to watch with open eyes while His Highness is sent to his death?”

His disappointment in that imperial court had reached the extreme.

Soldiers were risking their lives on the battlefield at the front, while the court stabbed them in the back.

Guan Fangyi said, “Master Dao said that so long as Marshal Meng remains, and so long as Nanzhou’s forces remain intact, the imperial court will not dare kill His Highness lightly.”

“Master Dao also said Marshal Meng is an old commander of the battlefield. How you use the troops in your hands to maneuver and pressure the imperial court into releasing His Highness is something Marshal Meng will certainly know how to do.”

“He does not need Master Dao to teach him that...”

After the two discussed matters for a time, Meng Shanming more or less understood.

The reason he and the troops had been transferred away from Shang Chaozong had been to preserve Shang Chaozong’s life.

Yet he could not help asking the same question Guan Fangyi had asked earlier.

“We could clearly have withdrawn His Highness together with us. Why did Master Dao do things this way?”

“Does he not understand that even if His Highness reaches the capital alive, nothing good awaits him there?”

“Shang Jianxiong hates him to the bone, and an Elder of Xiaoyao Palace has only just died by His Highness’s order!”

Guan Fangyi shook her head and sighed.

“I don’t know the reason either.”

“You know something of Master Dao’s nature. Very few people ever know what he is planning.”

“But there is one thing I can guarantee: Master Dao’s intention to protect Marshal Meng is genuine.”

Meng Shanming lifted his face toward Heaven and let out a long sigh.

“I accept Master Dao’s concern.”

“But I am old. I’m already a worn-out man with only a few years left to live.”

“If His Highness remains safe, that matters more than I do.”

“Hongniang, you must tell Master Dao that he absolutely must withstand the pressure from the three major sects.”

“Nothing can be allowed to happen to His Highness!”

He truly feared Niu Youdao would be unable to withstand the pressure of the three major sects and compromise.

This was not needless worry.

It was exactly the kind of pressure Meng Shanming could imagine.

The three major sects would never have dared make a move like this at such a critical moment unless they intended to bring extraordinary pressure down on Niu Youdao afterward.

Guan Fangyi said, “Marshal Meng, rest assured. Since Master Dao already saw through their plan, he has been moving one step ahead of them all along. He will not let them succeed.”

“He has already sent people to places like Star-Plucking City to spread rumors that the imperial court and the three major sects intend to murder Master Dao and His Highness.”

“Now that His Highness has actually been seized, the rumors have effectively been confirmed.”

“Master Dao can use this as justification to cut himself off from the outside world. If the three major sects cannot find him, they will have no way to pressure him.”

“Marshal Meng must remember the contact method I just told you. It absolutely cannot be leaked.”

Meng Shanming nodded.

Guan Fangyi said, “I cannot remain long. I need to avoid being found by the three major sects. I’ll leave first.”

Meng Shanming saluted her with his spear in hand.

Guan Fangyi waved one flowered sleeve toward the sky.

The Black Jade Eagle swooped down.

She sprang upward and landed on its back as it swept past.

With several beats of its wings, the Black Jade Eagle rapidly carried her away.

“Hongniang!”

Huang Lie shouted from the distance.

He still wanted to ask where Niu Youdao was and what they were supposed to do now.

This situation had already moved beyond anything Dachan Mountain could control.

Yet Guan Fangyi seemed not to hear him at all.

The flying mount gradually disappeared into the far sky.

[End of Chapter 659]