Dragon Boat Race Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Chapter Six: A Scheme Within a Scheme

Epigraph: A strange formation laid in Black Water Valley, using their plan against them to shatter their conspiracy. Victory is not solely won by valor against a myriad of troops, but by holding the wisdom to determine the fate of the world.

The first snow of the fourth year of Yonghe arrived early, blanketing Black Water Valley in silver. The steep cliffs on both sides and the narrow valley floor indeed made it an ideal location for an ambush.

Wu Ge stood at the mouth of the valley, watching the falling snow, his brow furrowed. “Are you sure the Third Prince will come?”

“He will definitely come.” Qin Gong tightened his cloak, his white breath dissipating in the cold wind. “The Empress’s promise to him is too tempting—eliminating us, helping him secure the Khanship, plus the three prefectures of Hexi. He cannot refuse such terms.”

Zhao Wan checked the crossbow in her hands, her tone calm. “Traps have been laid at the valley entrance, and archers are positioned on the cliffs. As long as they dare to enter, they won’t leave alive.”

Ashina Yun hurried over from the valley. “Scouts report that the Northern Di army is only ten li away. Approximately thirty thousand elite troops, personally led by the Third Prince.”

“Thirty thousand against five thousand…” Wu Ge sneered. “He certainly thinks highly of us.”

Qin Gong looked into the valley. “Is everything ready?”

“Following your instructions, gunpowder is buried beneath the valley floor, and rolling logs and boulders are prepared on the cliffs,” Zhao Wan replied. “It’s just… I worry about the Empress’s actions back in the capital…”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Gong’s gaze was firm. “His Highness the Crown Prince has his own arrangements.”

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the capital’s Imperial Palace was equally tense.

The Empress sat in the Fengyi Palace, with the Commander of the Imperial Guards kneeling before her. “Your Majesty, all nine gates of the capital are under control, and the civil and military officials are all within our grasp.”

“Very good.” The Empress toyed with the jade ruyi in her hand. “What about the Crown Prince?”

“He is ‘recuperating’ in the Eastern Palace, heavily guarded.”

The Empress nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Li Zhen, who stood nearby. “Minister Li, regarding the Ministry of War…”

Li Zhen bowed. “Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is normal at the Ministry of War. However… there is still no news from the Marquis of Zhenbei and Vice Minister Qin. I worry that…”

“Worry about what?” The Empress chuckled softly. “By now, they are probably buried in Black Water Valley.”

She stood up and walked to the window. “Once these two major threats are eliminated, the court will be peaceful.”

However, the Empress did not know that, at this very moment, the Crown Prince was secretly meeting with several confidants in the Eastern Palace.

“Is everything arranged?” the Crown Prince asked.

A guard whispered, “Your Highness, rest assured, we have people within the Imperial Guards. We only await the signal from the Marquis of Zhenbei’s side before we can act.”

The Crown Prince nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “Mother… you are far too impatient.”

Back at Black Water Valley, the Northern Di army appeared at the edge of the horizon. Their iron armor reflected cold light on the snow. The thirty thousand troops, like a black tide, slowly surged toward the valley entrance.

The Third Prince rode on horseback, full of self-satisfaction. Thinking of the imminent elimination of a major threat and the acquisition of the three Hexi prefectures, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up.

“Report—” A scout galloped up. “We found the Great Sheng army inside the valley, about five thousand men, setting up camp at the valley floor.”

“They fell for it, just as expected.” The Third Prince laughed heartily. “Pass down the order: the entire army enters the valley! A thousand gold pieces for anyone who captures Wu Ge alive!”

The deputy general warned, “Prince, Black Water Valley is strategically dangerous. Be cautious of a trap.”

“What is there to fear?” The Third Prince dismissed the concern. “They only have five thousand men; we have thirty thousand elites. Against absolute strength, any scheme is futile.”

The army began to enter Black Water Valley. The narrow valley path stretched the formation long. It would take considerable time for all thirty thousand troops to fully enter the valley.

On the cliff, Qin Gong observed the situation in the valley through the snow curtain. “Wait a little longer… until their main force is completely within the kill zone.”

Wu Ge gripped his spear tightly. “This time, we must thoroughly resolve the Northern Di threat.”

Zhao Wan checked the mechanism of her crossbow, then suddenly said, “Do you two feel… that this is too smooth?”

Qin Gong’s heart stirred. “What do you mean?”

“The Third Prince is not an idiot; he should know the dangers of Black Water Valley,” Zhao Wan frowned. “Why did he enter so easily?”

Just then, Ashina Yun rushed over. “Bad news! All our scouts outside the valley have lost contact!”

“What?” Wu Ge’s expression changed.

Qin Gong immediately understood. “We are the ones who fell into a trap! The Third Prince must have another plan!”

As if to confirm his words, earth-shattering battle cries suddenly erupted from outside the valley. A unit of Northern Di cavalry, appearing from nowhere, charged straight toward the valley entrance!

“They want to cut off our retreat!” Wu Ge immediately ordered, “Archers, seal the valley entrance!”

However, worse news followed. The ambushers on the cliff reported urgently: another Northern Di army unit had appeared behind the cliffs and was climbing up!

“Pincer attack…” Zhao Wan’s face turned pale. “We are surrounded.”

The Northern Di army inside the valley also began their assault. Arrows rained down onto the valley floor, and the Great Sheng soldiers quickly raised their shields in defense.

“What do we do now?” Wu Ge looked at Qin Gong.

Qin Gong forced himself to remain calm. “Don’t panic, we still have a backup plan.”

He turned to Ashina Yun. “Princess, fire the signal.”

Ashina Yun took out a signal arrow and shot it into the sky. A sharp whistle echoed through the valley.

Moments later, something unexpected happened—the Northern Di army inside the valley suddenly descended into chaos!

“What is going on?” the Third Prince shouted inside the valley.

The deputy general ran over frantically. “Prince, this is terrible! The Eldest Prince… the Eldest Prince has rebelled with his former subordinates!”

It turned out that Ashina Yun had secretly contacted the Eldest Prince’s former subordinates long ago. These soldiers, loyal to the old Khanship, had been waiting for an opportunity for revenge.

The Northern Di troops in the valley instantly split into two factions and began fighting among themselves. Arrows were no longer aimed at the valley floor but at former comrades.

“A good opportunity!” Wu Ge immediately ordered, “All troops, counterattack!”

The Great Sheng soldiers charged out from behind cover, attacking in concert with the Eldest Prince’s forces. The Northern Di army in the valley was instantly plunged into a bitter fight.

However, the battle at the valley entrance remained fierce. The Northern Di cavalry charged the defensive line relentlessly, and the Great Sheng soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

“This can’t go on,” Zhao Wan said anxiously. “We have too few troops.”

Qin Gong looked toward the cliff. “There is one more way…”

He took out a fire starter. “Ignite the gunpowder, collapse the cliff, and seal the valley entrance!”

“No!” Wu Ge immediately objected. “We still have our people inside the valley!”

“We can’t worry about that now!” Qin Gong raised his voice, a rare occurrence. “If the enemy outside the valley charges in, we will all die!”

Just then, a familiar voice rang out. “There’s no need for that.”

Everyone turned around and saw Li Zhen appear on the cliff, accompanied by a squad of elite Imperial Guards.

“Minister Li?” Qin Gong was both surprised and delighted. “How did you get here?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince sent me,” Li Zhen smiled. “The chaos in the capital has been quelled, and the Empress… has been placed under house arrest.”

This news stunned everyone.

“Then what about these Northern Di troops…” Wu Ge asked.

“Reinforcements are arriving immediately,” Li Zhen pointed outside the valley. “Look!”

Outside the valley, dust billowed, and the banners of Great Sheng fluttered in the wind and snow. Tens of thousands of reinforcements descended like divine soldiers, completely surrounding the Northern Di cavalry at the valley entrance.

“It’s the Northern Expedition Army!” the soldiers cheered.

Zhao Wan sighed in relief, then suddenly remembered something. “Minister Li, that secret letter…”

“It was forged by the Empress,” Li Zhen said. “She wanted to kill two birds with one stone—eliminate both you and me, the Minister of War.”

The battle inside the valley was also nearing its end. Caught between the Eldest Prince’s former subordinates and the Northern Expedition Army, the Third Prince’s forces were steadily retreating.

Seeing that the tide had turned, the Third Prince attempted to break out but was knocked off his horse by Wu Ge’s spear.

“It’s over.” Wu Ge looked at the captured Third Prince and let out a long breath.

However, Qin Gong’s brow remained tightly furrowed. “I feel… it was still too smooth.”

“What do you mean?” Zhao Wan asked.

“The Empress has been planning for years. How could she fail so easily?” Qin Gong pondered. “And… don’t you think there’s one person who hasn’t appeared throughout this whole affair?”

“Who?”

“The Empress Dowager.”

This reminded everyone. Indeed, the Empress Dowager had maintained a strange silence throughout the entire upheaval.

Just then, an Imperial Guard soldier rushed over. “Minister Li, urgent report from the capital! The Empress Dowager… the Empress Dowager has taken His Highness the Crown Prince hostage!”

Everyone was stunned.

“What happened?” Li Zhen urgently asked.

“The Empress Dowager somehow acquired a group of assassins and seized control of the palace during the chaos. His Highness the Crown Prince… is confined to the Cining Palace.”

Wu Ge suddenly looked at Zhao Wan. “Wan’er, you…”

Zhao Wan’s face was pale. “I… I don’t know…”

Qin Gong suddenly understood. “So that’s it… this is the true scheme within a scheme.”

He looked at Zhao Wan, his voice complex. “The Empress Dowager knew about the Empress’s plan all along. She was waiting… waiting for the Empress to make the first move so she could reap the benefits.”

Zhao Wan stumbled backward. “So… my aunt…”

“She used you,” Qin Gong said softly. “Used you to gain our trust, used us to eliminate the Empress, and now… she intends to seize power herself.”

The snow fell harder, covering the bloodstains on the battlefield. But everyone understood that the real battle had just begun.

“What do we do now?” Wu Ge asked.

Qin Gong looked toward the capital, his gaze resolute:

“Return to the capital and defend the sovereign.”