Chapter 126: Misfortunes Never Come Singly

In the late afternoon, Lai Huer led the army, departing Sagui City punctually, marching southeastward in a sweeping formation. Horses neighed, wheels clattered, footsteps in unison, their vigor echoing like the mountains and rivers themselves.

Li Dong, inside the ship, heard an unusual noise and quickly stepped outside. Near the water’s edge, the powerful footsteps stirred ripples that spread across the surface like fine fish scales. Listening closely, Li Dong realized it was the Great Sui government troops setting out toward Pyongyang.

Calling Qin Qiong up to the deck, Li Dong gazed toward the source of the sound and told him to ready their weapons. Around dusk, at the hour of the rooster’s crow, they would face a fierce battle.

Qin Qiong glanced at Li Dong, puzzled. "Didn’t you say I wasn’t allowed to leave this ship even a step? Why must we confront the enemy now? How confident are you?"

Li Dong pondered briefly, then cautiously replied, "It depends on how badly the general is defeated. The more devastating his loss, the greater the chance of reclaiming ground. Once the initiative is lost, the decision lies with the enemy, and our danger grows."

Qin Qiong trusted Li Dong’s words deeply. At dawn, the strange sounds and hidden troops showed the ambush was set, waiting only for Lai Huer’s move. Now that he had struck out, defeat was inevitable.

Though only a blacksmith by trade, Qin Qiong’s patriotic heart burned fiercely. He wanted to inform Vice Admiral Zhou Fashang of the naval forces.

After sharing his thoughts with Li Dong, this time Li Dong did not object but urged him to hurry.

"The better prepared we are, the less danger we face. Time is short, go quickly!" Li Dong said anxiously.

Qin Qiong nodded and leapt onto another ship via a plank, soon disappearing among the fleet.

After roughly half a meal’s time passed, Qin Qiong had not returned, but orders were issued. The garrison soldiers left aboard crowded the deck, forming neat lines, bows in hand, expressions solemn and alert.

Soon, Qin Qiong returned with a radiant smile, cheerfully telling Li Dong, "Vice Admiral Zhou Fashang is a good man. Once I warned him, he agreed immediately—not like General Lai, so cold and distant."

"Hmm," Li Dong replied softly with a smile. "That’s because General Zhou shares our thoughts; you merely catalyzed it. Fei Qingnu is brave but lacks wisdom; Zhou is mature and prudent. Yet Lai trusts only Fei Qingnu and neglects Zhou Fashang. From this alone, his defeat was destined."

With a humming sound, Li Dong drew his treasured iron sword, its blade dark with fiery red glimmers, flashing a chilling light under the sun.

Gently stroking the blade, he sighed, "This sword was forged long ago but never used. Unexpectedly, in this northern foreign land, it will soon taste blood and wreak havoc!"

Qin Qiong entered the ship and unsheathed his twin maces, proclaiming with heroic spirit, "Brothers fighting side by side, we shall kill as many as we can! If we die, we drag an enemy down with us."

"No!" Li Dong countered firmly. "This time, only victory is allowed. Not just you, but Dou Jiande, Liu Heita, Zhang Jinchen, not a single one must die—all must survive!"

"Will their lives truly be in danger?" Qin Qiong asked with alarm.

Li Dong sighed heavily. "Pyongyang is the capital of Goguryeo, just as Chang’an is to Great Sui—a vital strategic center. How could they not station elite troops to guard it? Not just them, but everyone on this ship faces mortal peril."

"Indeed, then we must fight with all our might!" Qin Qiong said.

Li Dong fell silent, and Qin Qiong said nothing; both sank into deep thought.

---

The ship and its surroundings were eerily quiet; the other vessels stirred only slightly.

All waited, anxiously anticipating the fierce battle, the clash of swords, the blood-soaked storm, the arrival of death itself. Yet they also hoped for fortune, a reversal, a miracle.

The sky was deep blue; the sea vast; the wind fierce; the ship still; but people restless with anxiety.

Time ticked away. Every soldier aboard felt the threat keenly—life and death hang on a knife’s edge; life’s fragility easily shattered.

Hours passed; dusk deepened; a faint mist rose over the sea, shrouding the surroundings in mystery.

The tens of thousands of soldiers on the ship remained at battle readiness, watching all sides. No one relaxed; instead, unease grew.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted in the distance like rolling thunder, as if a storm approached, the wind howling fiercely. Then came the sounds of battle, hooves clattering, the stench of blood.

A colossal black shadow tore across the horizon, swift and menacing.

The sky darkened further.

Night fell like an iron curtain, sudden and overwhelming.

General Lai rode at the head, leading the charge. Lai Hong, Lai Zheng, and Fei Qingnu closely guarded him, forming a near semicircle to shield him.

Behind them, a throng of ten thousand horses surged in panic, fleeing for their lives.

These were the Great Sui government cavalry—Lai Huer’s only few thousand horsemen—escaping desperately.

Infantry on foot could never outrun horses; none survived, all slaughtered.

The enemy pursued relentlessly, only two or three hundred meters behind. The foremost enemy general was smeared with dark red blood, his face fierce as a demon’s.

Great Sui cavalry encountering even slight resistance were overtaken by the rear forces and slain instantly.

Screams of agony filled the air, echoing to the heavens.

In an instant, the two sides closed in; the scent of death thickened.

"Release!"

"Release!"

"Fire arrows!"

Commands rang through the ship as a volley of arrows blotted out the sky, creating a cacophony.

Lightning-fast arrows, cutting cold winds and carrying fury and vengeance, surged like a black cloud upon the Goguryeo army.

The arrows struck like serpents, biting into enemy soldiers, claiming lives.

Most of the enemy at the front fell victim, becoming like giant porcupines pierced by countless shafts, unable even to struggle before collapsing and being trampled under hooves.

The enemy halted abruptly, unwilling to advance another step.

Cunningly, they retreated beyond arrow range, circling left and right but refusing to move forward.

From their formation, the enemy numbered tens of thousands, forming a massive iron barrel encircling the sea surface.

The garrison ships faced outward in a tight row, stern inward. Soldiers gripped heavy bows, arrows nocked, ready to unleash again should the enemy dare cross the line, sparing none.

Sensing death’s presence, the enemy hesitated, then gradually withdrew, vanishing into the pitch-black night.

Li Dong and Qin Qiong broke out in cold sweat. Seeing the retreat, they exhaled deeply. Heaven favors us! Without the cover of darkness, a fierce battle would have been inevitable.

Neither the enemy nor the ships carried torches; fighting at night risked friendly fire and chaos.

This was the blessing of timing.

Zhou Fashang wiped his brow, still trembling, heart pounding. He quickly ordered the ships to dock and helped Lai Huer and others onto the bow.

"General, you were startled!" Zhou knelt on one knee, loudly comforting him.

"Stand up. I’m fine—still alive, aren’t I?" Lai Huer’s chest heaved rapidly, clearly grateful to have escaped death.

Fei Qingnu boarded and scanned the surroundings, shouting, "Bring those two reckless fools, Dou Jiande and Liu Heita, onto the ship!"

Li Dong and Qin Qiong, having just relaxed, felt their hearts leap again. What grave military crimes had they committed?

…

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