Chapter 680: Rolling Dragon Gorge

“Steady Marshal” was the private nickname people used for Jin Jue behind his back.

The name had not appeared without reason.

Jin Jue had a favorite saying:

“Better to proceed steadily. Better still to be steadier.”

People mocked him for it, yet Jin Jue continued seeking stability in everything he did and rarely advanced rashly. The same was true when he marched armies and fought battles.

Outsiders could laugh as they pleased.

The reason Jin Jue had climbed to his present position was precisely that single word: steady.

In his earlier years, he had suffered several defeats at Meng Shanming’s hands, yet under Jin Jue’s command Han had taken the least damage of anyone.

Zhao’s Grand Commander-in-Chief had died in battle against Meng Shanming.

Song had suffered defeat after defeat at his hands.

Of all the commanders Meng Shanming had ever faced, Jin Jue had been one of the most troublesome.

Jin Jue believed in advancing steadily, securing every step, avoiding rashness, avoiding unnecessary risks, and winning through superior strength.

To Meng Shanming, Jin Jue was like a hard bone that refused to be chewed through.

Meng Shanming’s ruined legs had come from a battle against Han, and the commander of the Han army in that engagement had been Jin Jue.

To a certain extent, Meng Shanming’s crippled legs could be said to have been Jin Jue’s doing.

Of course, Meng Shanming had also been rushing then to relieve the Yan Emperor. Otherwise, matters would never have ended so badly for him.

Jin Jue’s caution was extreme enough to draw mockery, yet by accumulating military merit he had risen step by step to where he stood today.

He had even crippled Meng Shanming.

So this Grand Marshal sat very steadily indeed in his own position.

...

Night had fallen.

The rain grew heavier.

Through the rainy darkness came a group of generals wearing armor beneath straw rain capes and broad bamboo hats. They had just returned from another inspection of the defenses.

When they reached the eaves of the courtyard, soldiers hurried forward and helped remove the dripping rain gear.

“Damned weather,” someone cursed at Heaven.

The men stamped their feet repeatedly, knocking off clumps of mud.

Even so, none entered wearing their boots.

River Defense Governor-General Wu Qunlie took the lead in removing his own boots.

The others had no choice but to follow.

A lantern swayed beneath the eaves, its light illuminating three large characters on the plaque over the doorway:

Hall of River Pacification.

Maps large and small covered the walls inside.

This was the nerve center of the river defenses. Ordinary men were not qualified to enter.

The moment the rough soldiers came inside barefoot, the smell of salted fish seemed to roll through the hall.

One man covered his nose and cursed.

“Old Chen, how long has it been since you washed your feet? Sitting beside you is enough bad luck for eight lifetimes.”

Old Chen immediately cursed back.

“You think your feet smell like flowers?”

“Ever since Yan’s army reached the river, the Grand Commander-in-Chief has been driving us like a ghost demanding our lives. We patrol back and forth who knows how many times a day. We can barely sleep properly. Where am I supposed to find time to wash my feet?”

“And the army won’t even let us bring women along to serve us.”

After taking the seat of honor, Wu Qunlie lifted one of his own feet, smelled it, and said, “So Old Chen doesn’t wash his feet unless a woman is there to serve him?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

It was only soldiers joking among themselves.

Men who had spent their lives in armies were long accustomed to smells like this. No one truly cared.

Wu Qunlie put his foot down and pointed at Old Chen.

“Serve well. Once the Grand Commander-in-Chief conquers Yan, I’ll reward you with eight or ten Yan beauties to wash your feet every day.”

“Forget eight or ten beauties.” Old Chen waved a hand. “I hear there are plenty of beautiful consorts in the Yan imperial palace. Just reward me with one of Shang Jianxiong’s consorts and let me have a taste. That will be enough.”

“Get out of here! You think Shang Jianxiong’s consorts will ever fall to the likes of you?”

The whole group immediately erupted in jeers and curses.

Bang!

Wu Qunlie slapped the table and cut through the noise.

“Listen carefully. So long as everyone can hold back Meng Shanming’s attack, I’ll make the request on your behalf.”

“I don’t know whether those above will agree, but I promise I’ll submit it. I’ll ask for merit for every man here, and I’ll ask for one of Shang Jianxiong’s consorts for each of you.”

“He has plenty of them anyway. He won’t miss a handful.”

“Once those above have chosen what they want, surely they can throw the leftovers to us.”

“Of course, there is one condition: we must hold the river defenses. Yan’s army cannot be allowed into Great Song!”

“If the river line falls, forget Shang Jianxiong’s consorts. First ask yourselves whether your own heads will remain on your shoulders, and whether someone else will end up taking your wives and concubines!”

Old Chen said, “The Grand Commander-in-Chief worries too much.”

“After our army entered Yan, every boat on the opposite bank was either destroyed or dragged over to our side.”

“With so many men and no boats, how are they supposed to cross?”

“If they scrape together a few vessels and row over, there won’t be enough men aboard to survive our attack.”

“Trying to cross on wooden rafts is even more ridiculous. They would be living archery targets!”

The other officers likewise gave confident assurances that they would never allow Yan’s army to break the river defenses.

Wu Qunlie warned them not to grow careless.

Then he called everyone around the river-defense maps and went over the situation once more, asking the group to pool their thoughts and see whether any overlooked weakness remained.

Only after the discussion ended did the officers prepare to leave.

Wu Qunlie once more warned them with a grave expression.

“I am not afraid of an open assault.”

“What the Grand Commander-in-Chief fears is Meng Shanming launching a surprise attack. Nighttime in particular demands caution.”

“Once you return, every sector must be patrolled closely. Do not give the enemy any opening.”

One officer gave a wry laugh.

“My lord, this really is worrying too much.”

“With this gale and driving rain, the river is rising violently and the current is savage. Conditions are completely unsuitable for an army to cross.”

“If Meng Shanming chose a night like this for a surprise attack, there would have to be something wrong with his head.”

“Exactly. In a storm like this, the night is so black you cannot see your own hand before your face. Even a lantern does not shine far. Patrols can barely see anything anyway.”

Listening to the discussion, Wu Qunlie actually agreed inwardly.

Yet his face remained stern.

“The least likely time for a surprise attack is precisely when one may come.”

“If ordinary soldiers cannot patrol effectively, then have cultivators regularly patrol the river by stepping across the waves.”

“My lord speaks truly!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

So long as cultivators patrolled the river, an enemy attack could hardly escape detection.

After all, Yan could not send a few isolated men to conduct an attack. Any genuine assault would involve a large force.

Cultivators patrolling the water would certainly discover it.

...

Across the river, inside a Yan military camp, a Moon Butterfly cast its glow through one tent.

Gong Lince stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance, staring into the night and the pouring rain, countless thoughts turning behind his eyes.

Yan had already fallen to this state.

The very survival of Zijin Cave was now threatened.

If Yan perished, Zijin Cave would become a dog without a home.

A great sect formally listed under the Misty Pavilion had actually reached the brink of overturning while he was its leader.

How could he not feel deeply about it?

Outside the tent, muddy water rushed through a drainage ditch dug around the canvas.

Gong Lince looked toward the central command tent at an angle across from him.

Lamplight seeped from within.

At this moment of life and death for Yan, the three major sects had no other choice.

Gong Lince had personally come here to hold the position because he too had placed his hopes on the old marshal inside that tent.

“Ah!”

Gong Lince raised his face and sighed.

He could only hope the old marshal would not disappoint the three major sects.

The leaders of the three sects had each taken charge of one critical place.

Gong Lince remained here.

Long Xiu had gone to Beizhou.

Meng Xuan still held Yanjing.

Wind and rain battered the camp.

The storm seemed to shake everything beneath Heaven.

Gong Lince stood beneath the eaves with spiritual power shielding his body, and the rain could scarcely touch him.

Suddenly light flared more brightly from the central command tent.

His gaze shifted toward it.

The curtain opened briefly, and he saw someone enter.

It was Zhang Hu.

Zhang Hu had come through mud and rain, wearing a bamboo hat and straw rain cape.

Once inside, he handed the wet gear to a soldier.

Several oil lamps burned dimly in the tent.

Meng Shanming still had not rested.

Weariness lay on his face, and his eyes were threaded with blood as he continued studying something on the map.

Zhang Hu stepped forward and reported, “Marshal, word has arrived from the other side. The river has indeed risen sharply. At the target point, the water surface is still one and a half zhang below the bank.”

Luo Da’an, who had been dozing in a chair, immediately jerked awake.

Meng Shanming did not move his gaze from the map.

He said only, “Report every hour.”

“Yes,” Zhang Hu answered.

About an hour later, a messenger arrived and whispered into Zhang Hu’s ear.

Zhang Hu went forward again.

“Ten chi!”

Meng Shanming nodded without speaking.

About another hour later, Zhang Hu reported again.

“Seven chi!”

Another hour passed.

“Five chi!”

Then another.

“Three chi!”

The moment Zhang Hu gave that final number, Meng Shanming, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped open his bloodshot eyes.

His voice was deep.

“Proceed according to plan!”

Zhang Hu’s cheeks tightened.

He lowered his head and did not accept the order immediately.

Meng Shanming turned his head slightly and looked at him.

“You intend to disobey?”

“This subordinate general would never dare disobey, only...” Zhang Hu shook his head in pain.

“To force a crossing of Rolling Dragon Gorge at a time like this is truly... too difficult.”

“Those are brothers who have followed me for many years. Many of them cannot even swim.”

“Marshal, is there truly no other way?”

“Difficult?” Meng Shanming repeated.

Then he gave a slight nod.

“Yes. It is difficult.”

“The living can say it is difficult. Whom are the dead supposed to tell?”

“Do you still remember Pockmarked Qiu? He died fighting to reinforce you.”

“And Wei Dahong.”

“And so many others you knew.”

“Would you like to go tell all those men who died defending Great Yan that this is difficult?”

“Great Yan has reached today because at moments like this, someone must be willing to stand forward and face death!”

“It is precisely because this task is difficult that I chose your personal guards.”

“I believe they can do it.”

“You must have faith in them as well.”

“Go. Carry it out.”

“We obey!”

Zhang Hu’s cheeks trembled as he cupped his hands with difficulty and accepted the order.

He backed away several steps, then spun around and hurried out.

He did not even bother with his straw rain cape or bamboo hat.

He simply plunged into the rain and left the great tent.

...

Rolling Dragon Gorge.

It was the most treacherous stretch in the entire Dongyu River basin.

In ordinary times, cliffs on both banks stood two zhang above the water.

The river narrowed abruptly at this point.

Even under normal conditions, the current here was exceptionally violent, churning like a giant rolling dragon.

That was how Rolling Dragon Gorge had gained its name.

Now the river was in flood.

Rainwater surging down from upstream was compressed as it entered this narrow reach, raising the water even more violently and making the current fiercer still.

The river did not merely flow.

It roared.

Even in normal times, a man would find it difficult to cross here.

Now, beneath torrential rain and a raging flood, the difficulty was far greater.

Because an army could not normally cross this stretch, the gorge itself served as a natural barrier.

For that reason, one of Song’s grain depots stood only thirty li away.

To a certain degree, this area was also one of the weakest sections of the entire river-defense line.

The border between the two states stretched too far for heavy troops to be stationed along every part of the river.

No army possessed enough men for that.

Through the roar of the rain came the faint sound of fighting from the Song bank.

Before long, the commotion died away.

More than a dozen cultivators bounded across from the opposite side and met two Yan officers who emerged from hiding.

“How is it?” one officer asked urgently.

A cultivator answered, “The rain helped us. Their defenses were lax. Several cultivators had actually gathered together to shelter from the rain and drink wine. We wiped them out in one sweep.”

“With the storm this loud, the sounds of the fighting should have been covered.”

“I have to say, the timing really was well chosen.”

The officer asked, “Where are the others?”

“They are still reconnoitering the route ahead for the army,” the cultivator replied.

“According to the men we captured, Song still has cultivators making irregular patrols along the river, so we have no choice but to be cautious.”

Then he looked back at the roaring torrent behind him.

“But this... can the men really make it across?”

“We have already pledged our lives under military orders. There is no room to worry about anything else now.”

The other officer threw down those words, then turned and ran back into the darkness.

Before long, hurried footsteps approached.

A large force that had been hiding nearby came running through the rain.

Every man carried a length of round timber on his shoulder.

There was no need for further explanation.

At the order, one word rang through the storm.

“Jump!”

The first wave of soldiers clutched their logs and threw themselves from the bank without hesitation.

The instant they entered the water, the roaring, churning river swallowed them whole.

[End of Chapter 680]