novelraw Chapter 90 : Envoy from Jingjue
Chapter 90 : Envoy from Jingjue
Chapter 90: Envoy from Jingjue
Shaosheng Year 411, late September.
The killing chill had quietly replaced the last trace of warmth beyond the frontier.
At the end of the desolate Gobi, the horizon was torn apart by a vast tide of iron-grey.
Banners snapped in the wind, armor clashed, and the solemn might of the army rolled forth like a tangible cold tide, sweeping over the dry sand and dust.
Prince of Anxi, Jiang Zhaoming, personally led the elite troops of the Pacifying Rebels Army, Queshe Army, Black-Armored Army, and Guan Ning Iron Cavalry to the western border of the prefecture, joining forces triumphantly with the Anxi Army.
Now, the Anxi Army was well supplied with warhorses. Even those infantrymen who would normally march on foot were each provided an ordinary warhorse for travel by Jiang Zhaoming.
As for the elite cavalry, their mounts were extraordinary steeds of the second grade in the Blood Refining Realm.
These were the fruits of years of labor and blood from the four counties of Beiting, Cangbei, Loulan, and Yili in Anxi Prefecture.
“Your subordinate Wan Donglai greets His Majesty!”
Upon seeing Jiang Zhaoming’s arrival, Wan Donglai immediately stepped forward in welcome.
“General Wan, this is General Yue Fei.” Jiang Zhaoming introduced.
Following behind Jiang Zhaoming, Yue Fei cupped his fists solemnly toward Wan Donglai and offered a respectful salute.
The look he gave this frontier general was filled with respect and understanding, a gleam of fervent light flickering deep within his eyes.
It was the resonance of comrades-in-arms who had long shared the hardships of the battlefield.
Wan Donglai had long heard that Anxi Prefecture had gained a new general, Yue Fei, who, according to His Majesty, was a cultivator of the Golden Body Realm.
Now, seeing how humble and respectful the man was, without a trace of arrogance, warmth surged in Wan Donglai’s chest. He quickly bowed in return, his own demeanor equally respectful. Yue Fei’s gaze then passed over Wan Donglai and fell upon the Anxi military camp behind him.
Those faces, chiseled by wind and sand like they had been carved by blade and axe, stood firm and silent against the frontier winds.
Yue Fei’s heart trembled violently; a surge of indescribable familiarity and sorrow welled up within him.
That wind-chafed outline, that silent resilience—how painfully familiar they were.
In an instant, he seemed to return to those bitter cold years in the northern borders, leading his brothers in battle against the heavy cavalry of the Jin Army.
The cutting northern wind, snowflakes sharp as blades, and the frostbitten hands of his brothers gripping their spears—backs unbending even in despair.
The hardship and pride of frontier soldiers had long been etched into his very bones.
“Generals, let us enter first and discuss the situation in detail.”
As the other generals arrived, Wan Donglai opened the gates of the Anxi Army camp and allowed everyone inside.
Soon, Jiang Zhaoming, Yue Fei, Wan Donglai, Zhao Shuijiao, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and Aruba entered the main tent together.
Wan Donglai approached the sand table upon which numerous flags were planted.
“Your Majesty, this shows the locations of our Anxi Army camps, and here—these mark the positions of the enemy forces attacking us.”
He drew on the sand table, circling three counties on the easternmost border of the western region.
Jiang Zhaoming narrowed his eyes and smirked coldly.
So, it was the rebel forces from Jinpu, Qiemo, and Shule Counties causing trouble again.
As for one of the four minor rebel factions, Huanghai County, they had not joined this operation.
Jiang Zhaoming asked, “General Wan, do you know the strength of the rebel forces in these three counties?”
Wan Donglai replied, “Reporting to His Majesty, Jinpu County commands about 300,000 troops, more than ten Divine Power Realm generals, and one Myriad Phenomena Realm leader. However, their overall elite strength is lacking—they are not formidable.”
“As for Qiemo County, they have about 100,000 troops, their elite forces only slightly inferior to the Yili Army, and around twenty Divine Power generals. The ruler of Qiemo and the General of Qiemo are both Myriad Phenomena cultivators.”
“The rebels of Shule County are slightly stronger than Qiemo’s and also have two Myriad Phenomena cultivators, but nothing beyond that.”
Wan Donglai’s tone carried pride as he spoke.
After all, he had guarded the Sea of Death for years and had clashed with those five Myriad Phenomena Realm leaders more than once.
They were merely mid to early-stage cultivators of that realm—how could they compare to him, who had long reached the late stage and served as the Anxi Army’s commander?
The atmosphere in the tent eased with Wan Donglai’s report, and the generals’ eyes began to burn with fighting spirit.
However, at that moment, a sharp cry—“Report—!”—pierced through the solemn air like an arrow.
“Enter!” Jiang Zhaoming commanded.
A messenger in Anxi Army leather armor strode in quickly, knelt on one knee, and spoke in haste.
“Reporting to His Majesty, from the western prefectural border, there is one claiming to be an envoy from the Kingdom of Jingjue, seeking an audience with Your Majesty for urgent matters.”
“Kingdom of Jingjue?”
Jiang Zhaoming’s deep eyes narrowed instantly, a glint of sharp light flashing within.
The Kingdom of Jingjue was located at the far western end of the prefecture—its easternmost county still tens of thousands of li from here.
The war had just begun. How could they respond so swiftly? It defied logic.
A trace of intrigue and amusement flickered in his mind.
“Let her in.”
The messenger departed swiftly.
Wan Donglai waved his hand, and the flags and intelligence documents on the sand table vanished into thin air under an unseen force.
The tent returned to its orderly calm, as if the intense war discussion moments ago had never occurred.
Only the faint crackle of burning coals and the steady breaths of the generals remained.
Within the time of a tea’s steeping, a voice came from outside the tent.
It was clear and cool, like spring water running through mountain stones—restrained and distant, yet with an undercurrent of tension.
“Envoy of the Kingdom of Jingjue, Yuchi Duoduo, comes by order of His Majesty to pay respects to His Highness, the Prince of Anxi, and humbly requests an audience.”
Jiang Zhaoming turned to Wan Donglai, a questioning look in his eyes.
Wan Donglai frowned slightly, searching his memory before shaking his head.
“Your Majesty, the Yuchi clan is indeed of the royal lineage of Jingjue. However, this Yuchi Duoduo—I have never heard of her. The Yuchi family has many collateral branches; her identity still needs to be verified.”
Jiang Zhaoming nodded faintly, his gaze returning toward the entrance as he said clearly,
“Enter.”
The thick oxhide curtain was gently lifted by a slender, fair arm.
A breathtakingly graceful figure stepped inside.
She wore a boldly tailored Western Region riding outfit—dark tight-fitting leather armor outlining every stunning curve: full chest, slender waist, and long, powerful legs.
Her physique burned with wild, unrestrained allure like a flame.
Yet, when one’s gaze reached her face, it was like plunging from desert heat into a frozen tundra.
Porcelain-white skin, a high Western nose bridge, and pale cherry lips pressed tightly together.
Most striking of all were her eyes—clear and icy like frozen blue diamonds.
Her fiery figure and cold, sculpted beauty formed a mesmerizing contrast.
Yuchi Duoduo’s gaze calmly swept across the generals’ sharp, assessing eyes before settling upon Jiang Zhaoming seated in the main position.
Following the etiquette of Jingjue’s royal court, she bent her knees slightly in a graceful yet reserved bow.
When she rose, her clear blue eyes lifted toward Jiang Zhaoming, faintly curious—
to see the man who would soon determine Jingjue’s fate.
Jiang Zhaoming studied the envoy before him, his brow tightening imperceptibly, his tone edged with scrutiny and chill.
“Yuchi Duoduo? Of the rebel Yuchi royal line of Jingjue?”
Yuchi Duoduo’s chin lifted slightly, pride in her bearing.
“This humble woman is an envoy of the Kingdom of Jingjue, representing my king—not a member of any royal faction.”
“Heh.”
Jiang Zhaoming gave a short, cold laugh, filled with undisguised mockery.
“If you dare not admit it, then return. When my army arrives, I will take the heads of every Yuchi in Jingjue and pry open their mouths one by one.”
Yuchi Duoduo’s pupils contracted slightly—she had not expected such blunt ferocity.
A flicker of anger crossed her frosty eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
Pressing her pale lips together, she replied, her tone still clear though faintly strained,
“This humble woman... is indeed of the Yuchi clan.”
Jiang Zhaoming leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping the armrest with the pressure of an unchallengeable sovereign.
The Yuchi clan had both direct and collateral bloodlines; if Yuchi Duoduo was merely of the latter, her role as envoy was plausible.
“State your purpose. My patience is limited—do not test it.”
Yuchi Duoduo said, “I come to discuss with His Highness, the Prince of Anxi, that our Yuchi Kingdom of Jingjue seeks everlasting alliance with Great Zhou—to end the strife between us.”
“Hahahaha...”
Jiang Zhaoming paused, then burst into laughter, loud and incredulous.
He looked around, and the generals within the tent all wore expressions of disbelief and disdain.
“Allied?”
Jiang Zhaoming stopped laughing, his eyes sharp as blades.
“Who granted your rebellious Jingjue the title of ‘Kingdom’? And who recognized your so-called ‘independence’?”
Yuchi Duoduo’s cheeks flushed beneath his unrelenting scorn.
A flicker of defiance flashed in her sapphire eyes as her voice rose, carrying an almost naive threat.
“Prince of Anxi, Jingjue is not some soft fruit to be squeezed at will! My royal brother, Yuchi Sheng, and my betrothed, General Jiduo, are both cultivators of the Golden Body Realm! I advise Your Highness to think carefully!”
The last word had barely left her lips when Yue Fei’s spear, gleaming coldly, was already aimed at her head.