Chapter 34: The Serpent of the Golden Pagoda (2)

“Yes!” The Grand Commander nodded, sweat streaming down his forehead.

“Report!”

A young soldier ran over and dropped to one knee.

“Grand Commander, the Yan army has formed ranks a mile ahead!” the soldier reported.

“A mile?” The Grand Commander’s eyelids twitched.

“Yes, just beyond this forest, we’ll be able to see them!” the soldier replied respectfully.

“Scout again!” the Grand Commander ordered in a low voice.

“Yes, sir!” The soldier quickly withdrew.

“Move out!” the Grand Commander commanded at once.

The officers and soldiers collected themselves and set out once more.

It wasn’t long before they emerged from the forest.

Beyond the woods was a vast, sweeping valley.

“Halt! Form up!” the Grand Commander bellowed.

With a flurry of clanking armor, the soldiers swiftly fell into formation.

The four chief retainers and the Grand Commander stood at the head of the Black Armor Army, all eyes fixed on the enemy in the distance.

Far off, the Silver Armor Army had also formed ranks, the war drums beginning to thunder.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The pounding drums sent a surge of hot blood through the soldiers, their morale soaring.

Archers and crossbowmen stood at the very front, ready to unleash a rain of arrows the moment the Black Armor Army entered their range.

Both armies remained at safe distances, knowing whoever charged first would suffer the full force of the enemy’s arrows.

The Grand Commander narrowed his eyes.

“Chief Retainer, your divine serpent is said to be impervious to blades and spears. Could it not charge their ranks and throw them into chaos? Then our army could strike with full force,” he suggested, turning to the chief retainer.

The chief retainer gave him a peculiar look, then sneered, “My Great Black is indeed invulnerable, but leading the charge is your duty, not mine. You can’t handle your responsibilities and now want my serpent to be your front-line pawn? Ha! You certainly have nerve. If you want that, speak to Great Black yourself!”

The Grand Commander’s face froze.

Speak to the giant serpent himself? What kind of joke was that? If the serpent got angry, wouldn’t it just eat him?

He had no choice but to accept this frustrating reality.

Turning away, he looked back toward the distant enemy, still simmering with annoyance.

Just then, from the Yan ranks in the distance, a silver-armored soldier suddenly ran forward.

The soldier carried no weapon, approaching empty-handed.

“A messenger?” The Grand Commander’s eyes showed a trace of curiosity.

He gave no orders to stop him, allowing the soldier to come close.

“Grand Commander of Zheng,” the silver-armored soldier said solemnly, “His Highness, the Prince Who Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with the Common Man of Yan, invites you to the center ground between our armies to resolve our grievances face to face.”

“The center ground?” The Grand Commander was a little surprised.

At that moment, several more silver-armored soldiers emerged from the Yan side, carrying a large table and several broad chairs, which they set down between the two armies.

Upon the table they placed an incense burner and a pot of tea, the incense sending up a curling plume of smoke.

The table was positioned beyond the reach of either army’s archers or crossbows; if anything went wrong, all parties could retreat swiftly to their own lines.

“There, at that spot,” the silver-armored soldier indicated.

The Grand Commander studied the location, his brow arching slightly. “If Yan Chuan and Huo Guang both go forward, then I’ll go as well.”

“I will relay your words at once!” The silver-armored soldier smiled, then quickly returned to his own ranks.

Soon, three figures emerged from the distant formation.

A youth dressed in regal robes: Yan Chuan.

A eunuch holding a horsetail whisk: Liu Jin.

And finally, the great general: Huo Guang.

The three of them walked unhurriedly toward the table and chairs at the center, while the silver-armored soldiers who had carried them retreated back.

The Grand Commander watched these three across the field, a strange expression on his face, brows knitting in thought, until his eyes turned cold.

“Gentlemen, with your peerless martial skills, capturing those three should be an effortless task, wouldn’t you agree?” he remarked flatteringly to his assembled retainers.