One dark night, the Chen army crossed the river in large numbers from Hulukou Crossing.
To avoid attracting attention with large official ships, the Chen army sent small boats ahead to clear the way.
As they approached the opposite bank, they abandoned their boats and swam ashore, silently eliminating the sentries in the watchtowers of the Chu army.
With the Chu army blinded, the official ships from the Chen army began to approach in force.
Before the official ships could reach the shore, the lights suddenly came on across the river, and a barrage of fire bombs launched from catapults rained down on more than a dozen official ships on the water.
Dozens of bed crossbows on the shore fired arrows simultaneously, piercing through the hulls of the official ships. Some soldiers on board were even pierced through by arrows.
The arrows were tied with ropes, and dozens of Chu soldiers pulled on the ropes, ripping off large pieces of the ship’s hull that were struck by arrows.
Exposed soldiers on the ship decks were met with a rain of arrows from the Chu army on the shore.
“What’s going on? Didn’t they say there weren’t many Chu troops stationed at Hulukou?” the commanding general shouted furiously.
Meanwhile, Dong Cheng, along with Chu Chengji, watched the battle from the watchtower that had been erected.
He, too, was horrified by the scene before him.
Despite the current Crown Prince’s letter claiming that there were few defenders at Hulukou, the approaching enemy army now numbered over thirty thousand!
A chill ran through Dong Cheng’s body.
The Current Crown Prince’s information was false!
Dong Cheng couldn’t help but look at Chu Chengji, wondering if he had known all along about the situation.
Had he been playing dumb?
The sounds of battle in the distance grew louder, with occasional explosions from the fire bombs echoing through the night.
The flame in the brazier next to them flickered in the night wind, casting Chu Chengji’s clear and stern profile into light and shadow.
Suddenly, a sense of fear crept up from Dong Cheng’s heart.
The person in front of him seemed to be in complete control of the situation.
Had he been hiding his true abilities all this time? Otherwise, how could he, a useless wastrel, suddenly become so capable in both literary and military arts in just a few months?
As Dong Cheng was overwhelmed with shock, Chu Chengji suddenly turned to him and asked, “General Dong excels in naval warfare. In the current situation, how should General Dong proceed?”
Dong Cheng swallowed hard, his mouth dry.
He knew that the former Crown Prince probably already had an answer in mind.
He felt like a student in a classroom being questioned by his teacher, trying his best to think of how to lead the Chu army in defense.
“With our outnumbered troops, we cannot hold this position. It’s better to burn their ships and retreat to Qingzhou City.
We can use the city’s defenses as a barrier and wait for the enemy to exhaust themselves before counterattacking,” he replied honestly.
The soldiers in the trenches ahead were also preparing the second line of defense in an orderly manner, without being intimidated by the fierce attack from the Chen army.
Chu Chengji’s eyes finally showed a hint of approval. “General Dong’s intelligence is exceptional.”
Dong Cheng couldn’t discern whether Chu Chengji was genuinely praising him or mocking him.
Truth be told, he admired the military strategy of the former Crown Prince.
Having spent some time in the Chu camp, he could see that Chu Chengji was indeed a competent military leader.
Even if he couldn’t avenge his father, having someone like Chu Chengji as the ruler, Dong Cheng had no regrets.
But as Chu Chengji turned and left the watchtower, his voice seemed somewhat elusive in the night wind: “I have another way to defeat the enemy. General Dong, come with me to observe the battle.”
Dong Cheng didn’t understand what Chu Chengji was up to and didn’t want to play along.
He stood still, refusing to move, and asked, “There’s something I don’t understand, Your Highness. I would like to ask for clarification.”
As the night wind blew, Dong Cheng felt a chill, realizing that his inner robe was soaked with cold sweat.
Without waiting for Chu Chengji’s response, he plucked up the courage to ask, “Did my father... truly commit suicide?”
Chu Chengji slightly turned his head, and the moonlight and firelight intermingled on his handsome profile. “Figures like Cai Hanchi, who seek power and favor, I have thrown them into prison. As for General Dong, a rare talent like him, why would I let him go?”
Dong Cheng was no longer sure about his previous thoughts, but he persisted, gritting his teeth. “My father commanded ten thousand troops. If he were to fall, those ten thousand troops would fall into your hands!”
Chu Chengji gazed at Dong Cheng with an indescribable weight in his eyes. “The commander seeks the army, but the army does not necessarily seek the commander.”
Dong Cheng’s eyes welled up with tears as he said, “Your Highness, did you anticipate my defection had ulterior motives?”
“General Dong dedicated his life to serving the country. When he surrendered to Li Xin back then, it was to protect the people of Xuzhou.
The foundation of a nation lies in its people, and the people are paramount. I do not blame General Dong for his surrender; it was the circumstances that forced him to do so.”
“The land is in chaos, a result of my incompetence. However, those who seek to seize this land are not true rulers.
The Chu dynasty has been supported by the people for hundreds of years.
It is time to rebuild the nation and return peace to the people.
General Dong, with his integrity and talent, I want to invite him to join us. Even though he may feel unworthy to serve under me, I entrust him with my old troops and the people.”
Chu Chengji rarely spoke so much to someone outside of his inner circle.
Dong Cheng, being the son of Dong Da, possessed the spirit and pride of a warrior.
His insights into military strategy were also evident.
Chu Chengji didn’t want such a talented general to fall into the hands of traitors.
He said, “I hope that General Dong will carry on the legacy of his father.”
Dong Cheng grinned, his hand covering his eyes for a moment.
When he lowered his hand, his eyes were red from tears.
He knelt solemnly before Chu Chengji. “General Dong pledges his loyalty to Your Highness!”
He trusted Chu Chengji, not only because of his words but also because of what he had witnessed over the past few days—a true ruler.
The sudden change of heart from the Crown Prince’s side indicated that they also wanted to benefit from his strategy.
If his father had truly fallen at the hands of the former Crown Prince, then why the sudden change?
As the Chen army landed ashore, their numerical advantage indeed began to turn the tide of the battle.
Facing the barrage of arrows from the Chu army, they erected shields and pushed forward like molten iron.
However, the trench obstacles slowed the Chen army’s advance, causing casualties to increase under the arrow rain.
Eventually, the Chen army’s main commander ordered large shields to be placed across the trench.
Although they suffered significant losses, the surprise attack by tens of thousands of Chen soldiers had given them a considerable advantage in numbers over the Qingzhou troops.
The two armies clashed fiercely on the plains of Jianghuai.
Dong Cheng volunteered to fight under Chu Chengji’s command.
Despite his limited experience in the military, he displayed remarkable skill with his spear, swiftly claiming the heads of two Chen generals.
As he fought with increasing bravery, the sound of the trumpet suddenly rang out.
The Chu soldiers around him began to retreat like a receding tide, leaving their flags behind, trampled in the dust.
Enraged by this turn of events, Dong Cheng, disregarding the trumpet, rushed forward to retrieve the fallen flags.
He then turned back to face the advancing Chen army, attempting to rally the morale of the Chu soldiers.
In the chaos of battle, the flags were crucial for maintaining morale and unity.
As long as the flags were held high, the soldiers knew where to advance or retreat.
But it was also because he held the flag that Dong Cheng became a prime target for the Chen soldiers, who chased after him relentlessly.
Chu Chengji, observing from afar, pressed his hand against his forehead, while Song Heqing stamped his foot in frustration. “Why is he picking up flags? It’s like he’s leaving a marker for the enemy!”
Chu Chengji commanded, “Bring me a bow.”
A soldier quickly handed him a large bow, and Chu Chengji drew the bowstring, releasing an arrow that severed the flagpole Dong Cheng was carrying.
With the cover of night, nobody noticed him taking the shot.
Dong Cheng rode frantically, listening to the sound of the wind whistling past his ears and the flag fluttering above him, as well as the shouts of the pursuing Chen soldiers.
He felt like a hero with the flag on his shoulder, but suddenly, the flagpole was broken by a powerful force.
His shoulder lightened, and Dong Cheng turned to see the broken flagpole falling far behind him, feeling momentarily stunned.
After catching up with the main force, Song Heqing couldn’t help but scold him, “Why did you run towards the enemy camp after the retreat signal sounded?”
Dong Cheng hugged the broken flagpole. “I picked up the flag!”
Song Heqing, considering that Dong Cheng was unaware of the feigned retreat plan, felt a mix of emotions upon hearing his explanation.
He said, “Dropping the flag and retreating was a ruse!”
Only then did Dong Cheng recall Chu Chengji’s earlier words and the strategy to break the enemy.
The commander of the Chen army, seeing the Qingzhou troops retreating under their fierce assault, felt elated.
He shouted, “Pursue them! Five hundred gold coins for anyone who cuts off the former Crown Prince’s head! One thousand gold coins for anyone who captures him alive!”
The military advisor hesitated, “General! Don’t chase after a trapped enemy!”
The commander pointed at the chaotic retreat of the Qingzhou troops and laughed, “Look at them, these remnants of the former dynasty, fleeing without order.
It doesn’t seem like a trick.
Just now, a famous young general ran back carrying a flag, and he was surrounded and killed by our soldiers, causing the flag to be lost.
It seems they didn’t intend to retreat.”
The military advisor had indeed witnessed the situation just now.
Considering their numerical advantage and the disparity in strength between the two armies, it might indeed be a good opportunity to annihilate the remnants of the former dynasty.
Therefore, he did not object.
The Chen army pursued relentlessly, led into the trap set by Qin Zheng, where ghostly fires flickered on a hill.
“The... the general, ahead is a haunted forest. Shouldn’t we go around?” The soldiers were visibly afraid of the blue and green ghostly fires.
Initially hesitant, the commander discovered a bright yellow fabric embroidered with a dragon pattern tangled in a thicket at the edge of the forest.
It was clearly something the former Crown Prince had used during his escape.
The commander coldly ordered, “Stop pretending! Light the torches, we’ll search the mountain!”
With a torch in almost every soldier’s hand, the Chen soldiers bravely ventured into the forest, despite their fear.
The eerie flames flickered, and tiny blue lights danced in the air as they moved.
Suddenly, one soldier heard a “crack” beneath his feet.
Upon closer inspection with the torch, he discovered a bleached bone.
He screamed in terror, amplifying the eerie atmosphere of the ghostly forest.
This scream, in the dark forest, became even more horrifying.
The commander sternly rebuked, “What are you screaming for?”
He glanced at the bone with disdain. “Haven’t you seen bodies on the battlefield?”
The soldiers dared not speak.
In the next moment, another soldier screamed as he was dragged away by vines deeper into the forest.
All of them felt a chill run down their spines.
Trembling, a soldier holding a torch said, “There are ghosts! This forest is haunted!”
The commander slapped him, “Anyone spreading such nonsense will be executed on the spot!”
Before he could finish, another soldier screamed as he was dragged away by vines.
The ghostly fires in the forest seemed to be following them, and the faces of all the soldiers turned pale.
The commander growled, “Who is playing tricks?”
Strange laughter echoed in the forest.
Then, from all sides, there were the sounds of shields clashing and a song, “Chu Feng,” sung by the Chu soldiers.
The voices were like the wind carrying sand in an ancient battlefield, low and distant.
But in the forest, it added an eerie atmosphere.
“Release the arrows!” the commander ordered, and countless arrows were shot towards the direction of the singing.
The song did not stop.
Looking up, the Chen soldiers saw a skeleton hanging from a tree branch, and they screamed in terror.
It seemed that the trees were hiding many Chu soldiers, barely visible in their worn armor.
Despite being hit by arrows, they moved strangely and swiftly through the forest.
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The eerie blue ghostly fires were guiding the arrows towards them. It was a bizarre scene.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!”
A rain of arrows suddenly shot towards the Chen army.
Some soldiers recognized the markings on the arrow shafts—they were the arrows they had just shot at the Chu army.
It was as if those arrows were being returned to them.
Meanwhile, the singing of “Chu Feng” grew louder, but upon closer listening, it seemed like a mournful wail, adding to the sinister atmosphere.
The Chen soldiers were finally scared by the sight before them.
They shouted in fear, “It’s the Yin Soldiers! It’s the Yin Soldiers summoned by the former Crown Prince from the Imperial Tomb!”