The Empress’s Gigolo

Early in the morning, a fine mist filled the earth and the sky.

Two figures left the city and entered the mist in the distance.

Not long after, these two reached the vicinity of a muddy hill. It was hard to believe that one day ago, this place was a mountain that was a few hundred meters high.

However, at this moment, everything had disappeared.

Seeing the current situation reminded them of seeing the mountain collapse last night.

The two people searched the west side thoroughly. Then, one of them sighed and said, “There are no people and no traces left behind. It looks like Yu Yang and the rest are really buried underneath.”

“Previously, I despised Yu Yang. I never would have expected him to have so much integrity,” the other person said.

“Although Yu Yang has fused together with the world, he did a very great thing for the people of Tianjing Basin. In the future, they should honor and record his deed for posterity.”

“I wonder what the casualty count among the barbarians is like?”

“The impact of the collapse was bigger than expected. With the exception of a few experts like Qi Zixiao and Xi Wanya, the soldiers from the Protectorate of the South and those winged cavalry had no way to escape. Even if they had wings, it would have been difficult to escape this situation.”

“We better be careful. Let’s go up to the hilltop and take a look.”

The two hiked their way up the hilltop, and the devastation here was more serious than at the other site.

This was because the mountain had collapsed toward this area.

The valley between the two mountains was completely filled.

As for the forest to the south of the mountain, more than half of it was buried by the mud.

Further south, there was a large campsite where it seemed as if nothing had happened. It was a peaceful scene as the soldiers came out early to patrol. Smoke could be seen rising from the kitchen chimneys. There were also soldiers that went around performing their military duties.

Before the collapse of the mountain, the two areas on both sides were close by, but they belonged to two different worlds now and were separated by the buried forest.

While one world was totally ruined, the other seemed totally untouched.

Suddenly, their eyes widened in amazement.

Why was the enemy camp still intact?

Plus, why did it seem as if nothing had happened to it?

Why was this so? What exactly was happening?

No matter how they tried, the two really couldn’t figure it out.

“Perhaps it was the winged cavalry who passed by last night? The winged cavalry is our greatest enemy after all. It isn’t possible to depend only on the soldiers from the Protectorate of the South to defend against our 300,000 volunteer soldiers,” one of them said hesitantly.

They were hoping that the barbarians had suffered serious losses due to this landslide, but from the movements in the camp and the smoke from the cooking activity, this didn’t seem like the case.

There must have been an important reason why Yu Yang suddenly cut the supporting pillars to bring down the mountain. In his case, he must have had no other choice but to take down a handful of those famous winged cavalry warriors.

“If the winged cavalry warriors passed by last night, they should have been wiped out. It’s very strange that these barbarians show no reaction at all.”

“I heard that these barbarians believe that their souls will return to the mountains after death and that they will protect their descendants together with their ancestors. Therefore, they regard life and death as normal and do not fear death. This incident confirms this belief.”

“They are only barbarians.” The other guy grunted

“Just in case, it’s best to check one more time.”

“Qi Zixiao is definitely still around, and there is also Xi Wanya. The both of us might not be able to get any benefit by going there.”

Full of uncertainty, the pair looked at the camp.

At this moment, a few people from the Rearguard Commandery spotted the duo with their binoculars. A group of burly men wearing leather armor over half of their body jumped out from the camp and rushed toward those two men.

Seeing this group of people, the two observed with surprise that these were the winged cavalry warriors that were supposed to be buried under the landslide caused by Yu Yang.

“What… What’s going on?”

“I’m afraid something unforeseen has happened. Let’s go back quickly.”

As the two looked at each other, their eyes were full of doubt. Why did Yu Yang destroy the supporting pillars yesterday?

A while later, a group of people were gathered in Xueyang City.

“Do the both of you mean to say that those barbarians didn’t suffer any losses at all?” Three of the people, including Xie Kun, looked very upset. Their faces warped into ghastly expressions.

They were jumping for joy the night before and never expected to hear such bad news after the night had passed.

“Even if there was damage, the losses are slight,” the two of them replied. “We were rather suspicious when we saw that the camp was very peaceful, but after seeing the winged cavalry warriors, we weren’t skeptical anymore.”

“That Mister Yu Yang…”

“I’m afraid something unforeseen happened.”

“I think I know what happened.” Mister Ning from the Yun Nation looked aghast, but gradually calmed down.

“Mister Ning?” Xie Kun looked at him inquiringly.

“Although I don’t know the reason, Yu Yang’s position must have been discovered. That’s why the supporting pillars were suddenly destroyed, but the barbarians didn’t suffer any casualties.”

“The sounds from within the caves can’t be heard from the outside at all, unless someone discovered that the mountain was hollow inside and then realized the problem. I have underestimated them. It looks like the barbarians have some talented people. Anyway, this matter is over, and there isn’t a need to think so much anymore.”

“Fortunately, I have prepared for this mishap. We can certainly make sure that they do not come out alive this time.” Mister Ning had a well-thought-out plan in mind.

“Now that the Wang Estuary has fallen, the previous mountain path is totally buried. If the other party wants to pass through, I’m afraid that they’ll need another two days. Generals, I’m inviting each of you to lead a detachment to go north to this hilltop. Then, pitch camp and feign a move to meet the barbarians head-on at the river bank.

Upon seeing your soldiers, they will not think that anything is amiss. With their temperament, seeing a blockade from an army of about the same size as them and a river that isn’t wide, the barbarians will certainly cut down trees to make boats and cross the river to attack.

When the time comes, we will release the flood water from the dam. Besides the hills, the other places will be engulfed by the water. The majority of the barbarians will become food for the fish and prawns in the river.”

Everyone quieted down on hearing the words of Mister Ning.

Someone raised the question and asked, “What if they discover that the water level has dropped and become suspicious?”

“If those barbarians can think that cleverly, then they aren’t barbarians anymore. Regardless, they have to cross the river. Even if they discover this ploy, we can release the water in advance.” Someone laughed as everyone nodded in agreement.

Indeed, even if the plan failed, they wouldn’t suffer any loss. If this scheme succeeded, the reward would be great.

Talking about loss, it would only affect the crops in the north, but nobody cared about that at this point in time.

“Thanks to the plot devised by Mister Ning, those barbarians certainly will not be able to escape this time even though they managed to escape the previous time.” Xie Kun smirked and rubbed his beard.

“A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support! Those barbarians are enemies of yours, mine, the Yun Nation’s, the Chen Nation’s, and Great Xia’s,” Mister Ning said with a smile.

“Your words are very appropriate, Mister Ning.” Xie Kun laughed.

Subsequently, the city mobilized a force of about 15,000 soldiers. This army headed north of the city toward the top of a hill, set up camp there, and waited for the aboriginal soldiers.

At the top of the city wall, the young Mister Ning muttered to himself, “The previous plan was thwarted by them and caused Senior Yu Yang to die. This time, I want to see whether the barbarians have any talented people who can discover the plot involving this river.”