Valen Great Victory

On August 2nd, 779 of the Imperial Calendar, the Imperial Capital awoke early. Today was the day Commander Sterling of the Central Army would lead a force of 150,000 troops to reinforce Valen Fortress. Chief of Staff Zichuan Canxing saw the army off, bestowing wine. As the Central Army soldiers were primarily sons of the Imperial Capital, over a million residents lined the streets to witness the army's magnificent procession, searching for their loved ones within the ranks. Old mothers held their sons' hands, tears streaming down their faces; newlywed wives embraced their husbands tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. A chorus of weeping filled the air.

Commander Sterling was the focus of everyone's attention today. The Chief of Staff and all members of the Commanders' Office escorted the army for over ten kilometers outside the city. Finally, under Sterling's repeated pleas, the Chief of Staff reluctantly held his hand and said, "Sterling, this is as far as I can see you off. Know that your family awaits news of your victory day and night!"

Sterling was moved to tears and knelt, saying, "Please rest assured, my lord. I will surely pacify the rebellion and restore peace soon! If I fail, Sterling would rather die on the battlefield than return to face you in shame!"

Zichuan Canxing shushed him and whispered to Sterling, "Don't say such inauspicious things! Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. I only wish for your safe return. You know, I have no son, and I have always treated you as my own..." He spoke with tears in his eyes.

"Li Qing is also here. Do you want to go say a few words to her?"

Sterling had already spotted Li Qing among the farewell party, but he merely nodded to her. "My lord, I bear the heavy responsibility of the nation. It is not appropriate for me to be sentimental at this time. Please convey my regards to Flag Bearer Li Qing on my behalf."

"Alas, although it is said that a true man forgets his family for the country, Sterling, you are too... inhumane. You are too unyielding!"

Li Qing had a pale complexion, and Zichuan Canxing sighed. Neither of them noticed that Commander Sterling had been somewhat distracted all day, his gaze occasionally drifting to the farewell crowd before returning in disappointment...

"I say, Sister Kadan, since you've come this far, why don't you go and say a few words to Brother Sterling?" Zichuan Ning asked Kadan, puzzled.

Kadan, wearing a veiled mask, gazed at Sterling's figure, surrounded by the crowd, and gently shook her head. "Given my status, going up at this moment would put Mr. Si in a difficult position..."

A hot tear fell onto Zichuan Ning's hand. She widened her eyes and looked at Kadan's beautiful face through the veil. "You're crying..."

Zichuan Xiu, who was accompanying them, sighed silently and lamented, "Since ancient times, the dust of war has often been accompanied by the tears of women. Even outstanding individuals like Sterling and Kadan cannot escape this fate..."

As Zichuan Xiu pondered and lamented deeply, he...

"Big Brother, your hand... why is it on that place of the girl in front of you!"

"Oh, I thought she was too sad and wanted to comfort her..."

Slap! A loud slap echoed as a woman standing in front of Zichuan Xiu turned around with an angry face. "Pervert! You're trying to take advantage of me! My husband is following Lord Sterling to the Far East, risking his life for the country – and you're here bullying a lone woman like me! Is there any justice in this world!"

The woman's words incited the anger of the crowd, who began to surround him with clenched fists...

"Ha, ha, ha, everyone, please let me explain – this is clearly a misunderstanding!"

"I have always been the most ardent protector of the noble emissaries of the family... haha... how could I do such a thing?"

"Listen to me, this was entirely an accident – due to various factors such as time, space, atmospheric circulation, the Earth's magnetic field, and gravity, my hand unintentionally overlapped with the protruding lower back part of this lady – it's fate's arrangement, no one can be blamed, haha..."

"Oh, don't hit me! – A'ning, Kadan, where are you two going? Hurry up and help me explain!"

"Oh, we're just passing by, we don't know this pervert – do whatever you want, everyone!"

"Ungrateful wretch! – Oh, don't kick me there, it hurts so much... Help!"

On August 6th, the battle for Valen Fortress reached its most critical moment. After more than ten days of continuous attacks, the rebel army finally broke through a gap in the sturdy walls of Valen. Over a hundred thousand rebels surged through the breach with loud shouts. By this time, the entire city of Valen had been mobilized, and there were no reserve troops left to defend the gap. The Deputy Commander of the Far East Army, Luo Bo, and Lin Bing looked at the overwhelming rebel forces outside the city and exchanged wry smiles. At this point, they were truly at their wit's end and had prepared to commit suicide to defend their honor...

Lin Bing drew her sword and lamented, "My only regret is not seeing the murderer of our lord, Lei Hong, die before our eyes... Heaven is unjust!"

Luo Bo grabbed her hand. "Wait a moment!"

"At this point, what are we waiting for? – Could it be that you want to confess your feelings?"

"You foolish woman, at a time like this, you still say such things! – The rebel movements are very strange!"

Indeed, a rapid gong sound echoed from the rebel ranks, not sounding like the joy of imminent victory. Flags were waved everywhere, messengers ran back and forth, officers shouted loudly, their voices revealing anxiety. Formations were hastily adjusted, soldiers hesitated and stopped, bewildered – in utter chaos! ... A rumbling sound came from the northwest!

The two deputy commanders, who thought they were certain to die, exchanged glances and said simultaneously, "Could it be that reinforcements have arrived!? So soon?" Their hearts stirred, and their hands clasped tightly!

"Troops are appearing in the northwest!"

"It's human troops! My lord, reinforcements have arrived! Reinforcements have arrived!"

"All cavalry! The number is unknown!"

"My lord, I can see the banners clearly! It's the Central Army! The Central Army has arrived!"

"Sterling... it's Lord Sterling's unit!"

"Long live! Long live the Chief of Staff! Long live the Central Army! Long live Lord Sterling!"

As if to confirm their words, the cavalry let out a deafening roar: "Yalimei!" – Indeed, this was undoubtedly the Central Army's charge horn!

Luo Bo and Lin Bing were surprised: "How did they get here so quickly!?"

After the army left the Imperial Capital, Sterling concentrated the highly mobile cavalry units, forming ten cavalry divisions and twenty infantry divisions. He then believed that saving people was like putting out a fire. Disregarding the objections of his subordinates, he ordered Deputy Commander Qin Lu of the army corps to lead the infantry to continue forward, while he himself led the cavalry, traveling day and night without rest towards Valen – thus setting a new record for forced marches: it took only four days to travel from the Imperial Capital to Valen in the Far East.

Upon reaching the battlefield, Sterling saw that the rebel army, having turned around in haste, had a chaotic formation. He immediately ordered, "Charge, all troops!"

A staff officer raised an objection. "My lord, the enemy numbers are vastly superior, and our army is fatigued from the long journey – why not enter Valen first to rest and then make plans after the main army arrives?"

Sterling replied, "Our army has just arrived, and our morale is high! The rebel army has been attacking Valen for over ten days without success, and their fighting spirit has waned. Moreover, they are panicked and disorganized, not knowing our true strength – this is a golden opportunity that comes once in a thousand years!"

The rebel camp hastily turned around. In their panic, they only managed to deploy six infantry square formations, primarily composed of Beastmen, to resist – as long as they could hold back Sterling's troops for a moment, the main army could calmly assemble and deploy with superior numbers to encircle them!

Several thousand powerful Beastmen waved their giant hands and roared.

The Central Army roared, "Yalimei!" Their hooves thundered like thunder, their neat formations pressing forward like a dark, oppressive wall against the Beastmen!

A volley of arrows rained down! The Beastmen in the front ranks fell, struggling and screaming.

The rebel forces and the Far East Army watching from the city walls were astonished. "Why are Sterling's troops all archers? They're shooting while charging—how can archers charge?"

As the charging troops closed to within a hundred meters of the rebels, Sterling's clear voice echoed across the battlefield, "Advance units, switch to spears!"

With a swish, the Central Army cavalry, galloping at full speed, simultaneously dropped their bows and raised their spears—their swift, precise, and unified movements showed why the Central Army was the most elite force in the family. To perform such perfect maneuvers while galloping at speed made the rebels' hearts pound with fear. Their horses' speed didn't falter; the cavalry lowered their bodies, their spears extending a meter and a half beyond their horses.

The Central Army cavalry in the rear continued to loose arrows, increasing the rebels' casualties and confusion.

The two armies drew closer and closer: fifty meters, thirty meters, ten meters...

A thunderous roar erupted: "Yalimei!"

Simultaneously, on the other side, a roar: "Wah! Wah!"

The bloody battle began!

With immense impact, the cavalry's spears pierced the Beastmen's tough bodies with ease—some even impaling two or three at once. The second rank of Beastmen began to counterattack with clubs and iron rods, knocking the cavalrymen off their horses. The cavalrymen behind them switched to sabers, suitable for close combat, and sliced the Beastmen in half... In an instant, hundreds of human soldiers fell to the ground—their loved ones, whom they missed dearly in the distance, would never see them again. At the same time, over a thousand Beastmen were impaled or cut down...

The following troops advanced without any disorder or fear, their charge relentless—in moments, they had fully broken through, and the melee began!

Sterling's forces also held an absolute advantage in numbers, and their weapons and equipment were far superior to the rebels' clubs and shovels. To deal with the Beastmen's immense strength, the human soldiers employed formation tactics, with three men teaming up to face one Beastman, using organized killing against the disorganized, with seamless coordination. The rebel forces, after all, were hastily assembled. They found it even harder to withstand the well-trained and coordinated regular army in such a melee that tested cooperation and courage. They could only fight individually. In less than five minutes, six Beastman divisions were scattered and fleeing in all directions.

Sterling let out a clear whistle, and the disordered troops reformed into a majestic phalanx like a dream.

"Ignore the fleeing troops, charge towards the enemy's main camp!"

Energized by the initial victory, the soldiers let out another cry: "Yalimei!" They charged like hungry wolves towards the enemy's main force, who had just retreated from the siege battle and hadn't even had time to form up. Seeing the murderous cavalry slaughter the formidable Beastmen without leaving a trace in such a short time, many Snake Clan, Dragon Clan, and Dwarves began to slip away. They were, after all, a mob. They appeared imposing when victorious, but panicked at the slightest unfavorable turn of events, only wanting to escape.

The remaining ones hesitated: should they obey their officers and form a line to block the charge, or should they run away like the others? Before they could decide, the cavalry had already charged into their midst, and screams erupted—then, everyone stopped hesitating!

Snake Clan: "Gulaigula Gumi!" (Run!)

Beastmen: "Wala Wala Ke! Wajia!" (You cowards! I'm running too!)

Dwarves: "Lihongte! Milihongte!" (Surrender! We surrender!)

The Dragon Clan walked away with large strides without a word.

The only regular army among the rebels was Lei Hong's division, but they had left three days prior to deal with the two remaining loyal provinces in the Far East: Deya Province and Ilibat Province. He never would have imagined that hundreds of thousands of rebels would be routed so badly by less than fifty thousand cavalry...

On August 11th, a messenger, whose horse nearly broke its neck, brought news that sent the entire city into cheers:

"Valen reports victory!

71,000 enemies killed, 116,000 captured, rebel forces routed for 100 kilometers, Lord Sterling in hot pursuit!

Valen Fortress is safe and sound!"

Commander Zichuan Canxing ordered a five-minute period of silent prayer and mourning throughout the city for the fallen soldiers.

The Commanders' Office issued an order: Sterling was officially appointed Commander of the Central Army (the word "acting" was removed).

After the mourning, a night of revelry for millions of citizens ensued—every time Sterling's name was mentioned, it was met with cheers from tens of thousands: "Long live!"

In the taverns, to celebrate the great victory and "May Lord Sterling live forever!", toasts were made three million times!

Sales of Imperial Capital beer, flowers, firecrackers, amulets, and colored balls surged, greatly boosting effective demand and causing economic indicators, which had been sluggish since last year, to rise significantly.

Astute booksellers rushed to print that very night: "The Life of the Great General Sterling," "Sterling and I: Stories That Must Be Told—Flag Bearer Li Qing's Absolute Privacy," "Sterling Descends from the Altar."

To showcase the advantage of newspapers over books, reporters quickly interviewed and wrote: "The Great General Sterling in the Eyes of His Friends," "The Great Man Beside Me—Sterling's Neighbor Interview," "My Experience Dining with Sterling!" "I Knew He Was a Great General Then—Sterling's Kindergarten Teacher Claims His Urination Posture Foreshadowed His Greatness," "He Even Passed Me a Note Back Then!—Miss Liu Meili, Sterling's Middle School Deskmate, Declares: I Didn't Fall in Love with Him!"

Another piece of news, also released on the evening of August 11th in the Imperial Calendar 779, passed by unnoticed—only a brief mention in the "Lost and Found" section of the "Imperial Capital Evening News":

"In view of the tense situation in the Far East, the Commanders' Office plans to appoint Reserve Vice Commander Zichuan Xiu to proceed to Mosov, Jixin, and Anxing Provinces to gather reserve soldiers and form an emergency army, to be named the 'Xiu Battalion'."