Chapter Summaries

After the Yi Province Militia’s victory, Wu Shuangren pushed his exhausted column toward the provincial capital while prioritizing his men over their horses. Lu Yulin and Wu Yan joined the defeated vanguard and marched in pursuit, while Wu Shuangren’s forces paused to rest and regroup.

• Wu Shuangren ordered exhausted militiamen to take turns resting on horseback and told Wu Dongrong that people mattered more than horses, changing Xu Jing’s opinion of him.
• Yan Xiaobing regrouped the surviving Mount Liang vanguard and learned that Lin Qian believed Xu Nanzhi was as strong as Wu Shuangren.
• Yan Xiaobing reported that the vanguard had lost over half its strength, then received word that Lu Yulin was approaching with five thousand elite troops.
• Lu Yulin and Wu Yan arrived, heard Yan Xiaobing’s account, and considered Xu Nanzhi’s strength and Wu Shuangren’s fighting style before deciding to pursue the Yi Province Militia.
• Wu Shuangren organized the column’s midday rest, ordered the horses cooled and watered, and arranged the battalions’ meals.

As Wu Shuangren’s retreating force faced pursuit by Mount Liang’s army, Linwen County militia volunteers offered to cover the rear, but Wu Shuangren refused to assign the danger to one battalion alone. Meanwhile, Shi Chen decided to turn the Fifth Battalion around to support Wu Shuangren, and the chapter ended as he prepared to act on that choice.

• Xie Zhou volunteered with other Linwen County militia to bring up the rear, but Wu Shuangren told Yan Bin that the duty would not fall to the Sixth Battalion alone.
• A scout reported that more than five thousand Mount Liang soldiers were about a dozen li behind Wu Shuangren’s moving column, and Wu Shuangren consulted Xu Jing, Wu Dongrong, and Liao Yu about dividing the forces.
• A scout from the front then reported that another force was approaching the column.
• Shi Chen told the Fifth Battalion’s officers that he wanted to turn back and help Wu Shuangren, arguing that the militia had a duty to protect Yi Province and that Qulin County might need help in the future.
• Qian Fan objected but left Shi Chen to decide; Shi Chen then called the Fifth Battalion’s company commanders and captains to a meeting, and Qian Fan later came back to him.

The Yi Province Militia battalions returned to support Wu Shuangren, swelling his force to more than seven thousand as it retreated. The next morning, the Mount Liang leaders learned of the unexpected buildup, and Guan Sheng proposed testing the militia with a cavalry attack.

• Qian Fan persuaded Shi Chen to bring the Fifth Battalion back to help Wu Shuangren, and Shi Chen sent word to the other battalions.
• Guo Jiwang learned that several battalions had turned back, ordered aid for the arriving civilians, and warned Wu Shuangren not to act rashly.
• Shi Chen rejoined Wu Shuangren, and other militia soldiers and battalions returned in succession, raising the force from more than four thousand to over seven thousand by morning.
• Wu Yan's scouts reported that Wu Shuangren's camp held at least six thousand troops, prompting Wu Yan to call a meeting with Lu Yulin and the other Mount Liang leaders.
• Guan Sheng urged Lu Yulin and Wu Yan to let him lead the cavalry in a probe against the militia.

Guan Sheng led Mount Liang’s cavalry to probe Wu Shuangren’s formation as the Yi Province Militia faced its first real battle. The militia held its formation under the cavalry’s opening attacks, but Mount Liang’s horsemen changed tactics and began inflicting casualties among the archers and crossbowmen.

• Wu Yan approved Lu Yulin’s order for Guan Sheng to lead the cavalry ahead and probe the enemy, while Lin Qian accompanied him.
• Wu Shuangren’s force formed up among the hills, and Xu Jing predicted Mount Liang would send its cavalry ahead.
• Liao Dayong directed the bow and crossbow battalion to fire in stages and retreat through a passage in the militia formation.
• Mount Liang’s cavalry swept across the militia’s front and fired crossbow bolts and arrows, while the militia raised shields and held its line.
• Liao Dayong organized the militia’s return fire from behind the formation, but Mount Liang’s cavalry moved closer and shot arrows among the bowmen and crossbowmen.

The Yi Province Militia repelled Mount Liang cavalry attacks with hidden crossbowmen and disciplined infantry, while Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu anticipated the enemy’s maneuvers. The chapter left Guan Sheng unable to break through the Fifth Battalion’s shield wall as the Mount Liang cavalry continued circling and firing.

• Liao Dayong steadied the bow and crossbow unit and ordered it back thirty paces, while Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu advised Wu Shuangren on the enemy’s likely tactics.
• Wu Shuangren had crossbowmen hide in the front ranks, and they inflicted heavy losses when Mount Liang cavalry approached within ten paces.
• Wu Dongrong correctly predicted that Mount Liang cavalry would split up and circle toward the militia’s flank, where Wu Shuangren had already positioned several hundred men.
• Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu led more than two hundred militia cavalrymen to harass Guan Sheng’s riders, then withdrew through openings in Xu Jing’s infantry formation.
• Xu Jing’s Fifth Battalion closed ranks under Shi Chen’s leadership and held its shield wall against Guan Sheng’s arrows.

Wu Shuangren led the Yi Province Militia in an orderly retreat to the outskirts of Yi Prefecture City while Mount Liang followed without committing to an attack. With reinforcements inside the city and Guo Jiwang’s support, Wu Shuangren prepared to turn the tables by attacking Mount Liang the next day.

• Guan Sheng reported that the Yi Province Militia had held its formation against Mount Liang’s cavalry and that Wu Dongrong had matched him in mounted combat.
• Wu Yan urged Lu Yulin to avoid a rash assault, while Wu Shuangren ordered the militia to withdraw in turns under Xu Jing’s command.
• The militia camped outside Yi Prefecture City instead of entering, and Wu Yan believed Mount Liang’s reinforcements would further weaken its morale.
• Guo Jiwang told Wu Shuangren that the city’s defenses were secure and agreed that the militia now had at least a fifty percent chance of winning an offensive battle.
• Commanders from the two Rong Province Battalions joined Wu Shuangren’s war council, where he announced that the militia would attack Mount Liang the next day.

Wu Shuangren rallied the Rong Province troops by promising to rescue their homeland, and the commanders pledged to fight beside him. At dawn, he led the militia out of Yi Prefecture City to meet Mount Liang’s army in open battle, while Lu Yulin and Wu Yan prepared to attack.

• Wu Shuangren listed the militia’s advantages and promised to drive the Mount Liang rebels from Rong Province, prompting Huang Cheng and the other Rong Province commanders to pledge their troops to him.
• Chen Tie and the other militia commanders knelt and vowed to follow Wu Shuangren and kill the bandits.
• Wu Shuangren had the reasons for the battle and his promise shared with ordinary soldiers, then led more than seven thousand men out of camp to form ranks outside Yi Prefecture City.
• Scouts signaled that the north gate was open, and Lu Yulin sent Guan Sheng’s cavalry to harass the enemy as Mount Liang’s troops prepared to advance.
• After scouts reported that Wu Shuangren was bringing his forces out to fight, Wu Yan urged Lu Yulin to target the Rong Province troops, and Lu Yulin ordered the army forward.

Wu Shuangren’s Yi Province Militia met Mount Liang’s army outside Yi Prefecture City, enduring a fierce exchange of arrows before the two forces collided. As the spear formations fought and Mount Liang tried to outflank them, Wu Shuangren followed Xu Jing’s advice and sent his saber-and-shield soldiers to block the attack, leaving the battle raging on both flanks.

• Wu Shuangren arranged the Yi Province Militia in a broad formation, with archers in front, spear battalions at the center, and cavalry guarding the left flank.
• Liao Dayong’s archers exchanged volleys with Mount Liang’s larger force, then withdrew behind the militia’s front ranks as Wu Shuangren ordered the formation to advance.
• Guan Sheng sent dismounted Mount Liang soldiers to fill the horse pits and clear barricades while Wu Dongrong’s cavalry guarded the left flank and fired arrows at them.
• The spear formations collided, and Wu Shuangren’s wider wild goose formation began closing around Mount Liang’s flanks.
• Xu Jing stopped Wu Shuangren from deploying his saber-and-shield soldiers too early, then signaled him to send them forward when Mount Liang’s flanking troops changed course.
• Wu Shuangren’s saber-and-shield soldiers clashed with Mount Liang’s on both flanks as the battle descended into chaotic close combat.

The Yi Province Militia and Mount Liang fought to a stalemate as both commanders committed reserves and Mount Liang sent its cavalry around the flanks. Wu Shuangren’s Rong Province Battalions held their Crescent Moon Formation against a cavalry assault, leaving both sides waiting for the decisive move.

• Xu Jing advised Wu Shuangren as the Yi Province Militia and Mount Liang exchanged reserves, and the militia’s larger spear force gradually gained ground.
• Wu Yan ordered Guan Sheng to send Mount Liang’s cavalry against both flanks, with one group pursuing Wu Dongrong and the other circling toward the militia’s rear.
• Wu Shuangren had the Rong Province Battalions form a Crescent Moon Formation, where they endured repeated cavalry volleys and inflicted losses without breaking.
• Lu Yulin recalled the unsuccessful right-flank cavalry to attack the militia’s front, but the First Battalion formed a defensive line in its path.
• Lu Yulin wanted to lead an elite charge, but Wu Yan and Wu Shuangren held back, waiting for the opposing side to commit its reserves.

Wu Dongrong led the Yi Province Militia cavalry against Guan Sheng’s larger Mount Liang force, while Liao Yu and Xu Nanzhi helped turn the clash in their favor. Guan Sheng was thrown into the confusion on foot as Lin Qian protected him, and Wu Yan watched Mount Liang’s wider battle lines falter.

• Wu Dongrong turned his cavalry around and charged Guan Sheng’s larger force in an Arrowhead Formation, with Liao Yu and Xu Nanzhi beside him.
• Wu Dongrong used Thunder Treader’s strength to break through Mount Liang’s cavalry, while Liao Yu shot down the men he unhorsed.
• Wu Dongrong challenged Guan Sheng, and Xu Nanzhi leaped in to strike; Lin Qian intercepted her sword before it could reach Guan Sheng.
• Liao Yu shot Guan Sheng’s horse in the head, forcing Guan Sheng to leap to the ground as Xu Nanzhi and Lin Qian fought.
• Wu Dongrong charged Guan Sheng again, and Mount Liang’s cavalry fell into chaos as its riders rushed to protect their commander.
• Wu Yan saw that Mount Liang’s cavalry had failed to gain an advantage while the Yi Province Militia’s spear formation pressed its attack.

Wu Shuangren and Lu Yulin led their forces into a decisive clash, while the two commanders tested each other in a series of mounted duels. The battle remained unresolved as Lu Yulin, exhilarated by Wu Shuangren’s skill, sensed their fight might help him break through toward the Grandmaster realm.

• Wu Yan sent Lu Yulin and his heavily armored guards to attack the Yi Province Militia’s weakened flank and stop its saber-and-shield soldiers from circling Mount Liang’s spearmen.
• Xu Jing sent Wu Shuangren and more than three hundred men to meet Lu Yulin, and Wu Shuangren dismounted most of his force before engaging the enemy’s heavy infantry.
• Wu Shuangren and Lu Yulin fought on horseback, each parrying the other’s powerful spear and saber attacks without gaining an advantage.
• The two forces’ heavily armored infantry collided, and Yan Xiaobing led Mount Liang’s men through the Yi Province Militia’s front before reinforcements arrived to hold them back.
• Wu Shuangren and Lu Yulin exchanged another mounted duel, and Lu Yulin recognized Wu Shuangren as an extraordinary opponent who might help him approach the Grandmaster realm.

Wu Shuangren defeated Lu Yulin, prompting Mount Liang's army to collapse and retreat from Yi Prefecture City. As the pursuit spread across the battlefield, Lin Qian and Guan Sheng remained trapped by Xu Nanzhi and Wu Dongrong, with Wu Shuangren approaching.

• Lu Yulin's spear formation began to collapse, and Wu Shuangren used Leakless Golden Body to break Lu Yulin's wrist, disarm him, and chase him into a retreat.
• Yan Xiaobing and Mount Liang's soldiers saw Lu Yulin flee, while Wu Yan ordered a retreat and Guo Jiwang celebrated the turn of the battle from Yi Prefecture City's walls.
• Mount Liang's troops routed, and the Yi Province Militia advanced in formation to pursue and capture or kill the fleeing soldiers.
• Wu Shuangren rode toward the left flank, where Lin Qian, Guan Sheng, and the Mount Liang cavalry were still fighting Wu Dongrong, Liao Yu, and Xu Nanzhi.
• Xu Nanzhi and Wu Dongrong kept Lin Qian and Guan Sheng from escaping, and Lin Qian turned back to help Guan Sheng as Wu Shuangren approached.
• Guan Sheng urged Lin Qian to flee before Wu Shuangren arrived, but Lin Qian insisted they would leave together.

Wu Shuangren’s forces defeated Mount Liang’s army outside Yi Prefecture City, capturing prisoners and equipment while suffering significant casualties. After the battlefield was cleared, Xu Jing praised Wu Shuangren for saving Yi Province, and Wu Shuangren ordered careful records of the dead and military achievements.

• Lin Qian fled as Wu Shuangren approached, leaving Xu Nanzhi and Wu Dongrong to defeat and capture the wounded Guan Sheng.
• Wu Shuangren led cavalry to overwhelm Lu Yulin’s guards, who mostly surrendered after Lu Yulin fled.
• The Rong Province militiamen realized they had won, and Huang Cheng broke down while remembering Mount Liang’s earlier atrocities.
• Wu Shuangren halted the pursuit because his cavalry was exhausted and more Mount Liang troops were approaching, then reviewed the captured prisoners, weapons, armor, and casualties.
• Wu Shuangren ordered Chen Tie to record every fallen soldier and carefully verify military achievements.
• Xu Jing praised Wu Shuangren for saving Yi Province, and Wu Shuangren acknowledged Xu Jing’s help in preparing the militia.

After defeating Mount Liang, Wu Shuangren planned to strengthen his forces and eventually enter Rong Province, while Xu Jing worried that such a move could draw the imperial court’s suspicion. The Yi Province Militia honored its dead and rewarded its fighters, then Wu Shuangren expanded his personal guard brigade to three hundred men and assigned guards to senior officers.

• Xu Jing praised his first command of more than ten thousand men, and Wu Shuangren said he planned to rest and train before finding a way to fight into Rong Province.
• Lu Yulin and Wu Yan learned that Guan Sheng had been captured and, unable to turn their defeat around, decided to return to Rong Province and seek the chief commander's forgiveness.
• After scouts confirmed Mount Liang’s army was retreating, Wu Shuangren held a ceremony honoring the dead, distributed rewards and merit tokens, promoted soldiers, and punished those who had disobeyed orders or shown cowardice.
• Wu Shuangren rallied the assembled militia by declaring victory over Mount Liang and leading them in a cry of “Certain victory!”
• Wu Shuangren recruited three hundred men into his personal guard brigade, then assigned armor and guards to battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, and brigade commanders.

Wu Shuangren reorganized and reinforced the Yi Province Militia after its victory over Mount Liang, then learned that the Shannan Army had arrived to aid Yi Province. He told a Shannan Army envoy that the siege had already been lifted by his militia, leaving the envoy stunned.

• Wu Shuangren distributed armor among the militia, expanded the bow and crossbow and cavalry brigades, and approved recruiting replacements for the depleted battalions.
• Wu Shuangren selected nearly 700 screened warrior monks from the Mist Hidden Temple prisoners and assigned them across the battalions, while keeping the Mount Liang prisoners under observation and at labor.
• Luo Heng reported that over 6,000 Shannan Army troops, including more than a thousand cavalry, were approaching Yi Prefecture City.
• Wu Shuangren followed Guo Jiwang's advice to seek friendly relations with the Shannan Army, whose generals Xu Rong and Zhang Liao wondered why the city showed no signs of a siege.
• Wu Shuangren met a Shannan Army guard and told him that the Yi Province Militia had driven Mount Liang's forces back four days earlier; he asked the guard to return with someone else.

Wu Shuangren met Zhang Liao, the Shannan Army’s general, and sparred with him after explaining that he had defeated Lu Yulin and retaken Yi Prefecture City. Zhang Liao then questioned Yi Province’s officials about the city’s fall and recovery, and began judging whether their account supported Wu Shuangren’s claims.

• Xu Rong and Zhang Liao learned from scouts that Wu Shuangren had retaken Yi Prefecture City, formed a disciplined militia of over ten thousand, and defeated Mount Liang’s forces.
• Wu Shuangren sent provisions to the Shannan Army, and Zhang Liao later entered the city to meet him.
• Wu Shuangren told Zhang Liao that he had defeated Lu Yulin one-on-one, then challenged Zhang Liao to a spar.
• Wu Shuangren and Zhang Liao fought for more than fifty exchanges, and Zhang Liao conceded while noting Wu Shuangren’s injured shoulder.
• Wu Shuangren brought Zhang Liao to the government offices, where Feng Guanglu and Shen Jingchuan answered his questions about the city and militia.

Zhang Liao reported Wu Shuangren’s strength and the officials’ support for his command, but Xu Rong insisted that the Shannan Army take over Yi Prefecture City’s defenses. Wu Shuangren stalled the demand with the officials’ opposition and gifts, while Xu Rong dismissed the payment as insulting and revealed that Dong Zhuo wanted to recruit Zhang Liao into the Shannan Army.

• Zhang Liao told Xu Rong that Wu Shuangren was a First Rank expert who had defeated Lu Yulin and that Yi Prefecture’s officials genuinely supported him.
• Xu Rong ordered Zhang Liao to tell Wu Shuangren that six thousand Shannan Army soldiers would enter Yi Prefecture City and take over its defenses.
• Yi Prefecture’s officials warned Wu Shuangren not to let the Shannan Army into the city, and Wu promised to handle the matter.
• Wu Shuangren told Zhang Liao that the officials opposed the Shannan Army’s entry, then gave him provisions and money as a gesture of goodwill.
• Xu Rong counted Wu Shuangren’s gifts and called them an attempt to fob him off like a beggar.
• Xu Rong told Zhang Liao that Dong Zhuo wanted to recruit him into the Shannan Army.

Wu Shuangren rejected Xu Rong’s demand to let the Shannan Army garrison Yi Prefecture City, and Xu Rong threatened to move his troops into Bo County instead. Wu Shuangren led more than ten thousand militia toward the Shannan Army camp, and the two forces advanced until Xu Rong halted at bow range.

• Xu Rong told Zhang Liao he would befriend Wu Shuangren only if Wu opened Yi Prefecture City’s gates, and threatened to garrison Bo County if he refused.
• Zhang Liao delivered Xu Rong’s terms to Wu Shuangren, who said he needed time to consider them.
• Wu Shuangren led more than ten thousand men out of the city and reorganized them into battle formation.
• After scouts reported the militia’s approach, Xu Rong ordered his six thousand troops to form ranks and meet them.
• The two armies advanced toward each other, and Xu Rong halted his force about five hundred paces from the militia after assessing its equipment and morale.

Wu Shuangren used the Yi Province Militia’s show of force to negotiate with Xu Rong, securing an agreement to march into Rong Province alongside the Shannan Army and give it all military merit. Back in Yi Prefecture City, he began preparing for the campaign, including arranging supplies with Mount Liang captives and recruited laborers.

• Wu Shuangren confronted Xu Rong outside Yi Prefecture City and defended his militia’s presence with a document authorized by Yi Province’s officials.
• Zhang Liao intervened to prevent Xu Rong and Wu Shuangren from fighting, and Wu Shuangren offered to help the Shannan Army suppress the Mount Liang rebels in Rong Province without claiming any military merit.
• Xu Rong accepted Wu Shuangren’s proposal, and both armies withdrew to their camps.
• Wu Shuangren told Guo Jiwang, Xu Jing, Wu Dongrong, Liao Yu, and the others about the agreement; Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu warned him to remain wary of the Shannan Army.
• Wu Shuangren planned to take five battalions to Rong Province after ten more days of training, using Mount Liang captives and newly recruited civilian laborers to transport provisions.

Wu Shuangren expanded and reorganized the Yi Province Militia after its promises to the fallen soldiers’ families attracted thousands of recruits, while Xu Rong grew wary of the militia’s strength. As preparations began for the march to Rong Province, the officers trained and studied literacy.

• Wu Shuangren planned to use provisions gathered along the route to reach Rong Province City and retake it, while Xu Rong persuaded his officers to leave Yi Province and join the campaign.
• Wu Shuangren ensured the fallen militiamen’s families received rent-free, forty-year leases on land and houses, helping the Yi Province Militia earn public support.
• More than 4,300 recruits joined the Yi Province Militia, which expanded to ten battalions and nearly 13,000 men before establishing its base at Mist Hidden Mountain.
• Xu Rong watched Wu Shuangren’s rapid recruitment and suspected the march against Mount Liang served a larger purpose; Zhang Liao relayed that Wu Shuangren planned to depart for Rong Province in five days.
• Yi Province Militia officers studied reading and writing at night, as Wu Shuangren required senior officers to pass regular tests.