Martial Cultivator

Xie Nandu stood in the wind and snow, and very soon her hair was covered in white.

This was indeed convenient. Otherwise, given her age, if she truly wanted her hair to turn white, she would probably still need many years.

Footsteps sounded behind her. It was the deputy general Yuan Ting.

As Xie Nandu’s deputy general, after she leaped to become commander-in-chief, his status and position naturally rose along with the tide. Moreover, with the military exploits Xie Nandu had established, even if the war ended at this moment, his promotion was already a certainty.

What he needed to consider now was only how to leave the battlefield alive and unscathed.

Therefore, at this moment, Yuan Ting was already prostrated in admiration before Xie Nandu. Even if she said they were about to set out immediately for the Demon Realm, perhaps others would not believe it, but Yuan Ting would not hesitate too much.

After all, in the previous several great battles, he had been closest to Xie Nandu, personally witnessing how she made decisions within the span of an inch, how she toyed with the demons until they were completely bewildered. In every clash, the demons were like headless flies, crashing about everywhere, while Xie Nandu seemed able to foresee their every move, thereby exchanging the smallest cost for the greatest result.

To tell the truth, Yuan Ting had fought in battles for so many years, yet this was truly the first time he had seen someone fight like this.

Utterly relaxed, utterly at ease.

It was as if back when that Great General was still alive, leading them in inspecting the army, he only needed to gallop forth on horseback, and everything else did not need to be managed.

However, although that Great General of those years could indeed be called a master strategist of a generation, once on the battlefield, the impact he brought them was probably still not as strong as that of the woman before their eyes.

At this moment, how could they still care about the fact that the person before them was a woman? As long as she could lead them to fight a magnificent battle, let alone a woman, even if it were a mere child, so what?

Looking at Xie Nandu before him, Yuan Ting did not speak for a long time.

It was Xie Nandu who returned to her senses, and after glancing at this deputy general who had soared the ranks in one bound, asked, “They are all thinking about how I will act next?”

Yuan Ting nodded. If it were before, he would probably have been astonished as to why Xie Nandu could see into people’s hearts. But after all the things that had happened, regarding the woman before his eyes, no matter how unbelievable, he would not find it unbelievable.

Ever since the woman took up the commander’s seal, the soldiers under her banner grew more and more. Now gathered here were tens of thousands. Among the main generals of these armies, some had already fought one or several victories under Xie Nandu’s leadership, naturally hoping to follow her again to deal with the demons. And there were also those generals who had only just gathered here upon receiving the military order; after arriving, they too waited to fight for the first time under this female general’s banner.

“The generals are all waiting for the command. From the commander’s tent... General Gao also sent a message, but only two words.”

“Be cautious.”

In the end, Gao Xuan was still very worried about this matter, afraid that Xie Nandu would truly take a path of deviation.

Xie Nandu let out an “oh,” clearly indifferent. That Gao Xuan had such concern, she could understand. But while he could worry like this, she would not truly act so.

Gao Xuan feared she would march south to Twenty-yard Plain and truly gamble on a bloody, decisive victory.

But Xie Nandu never believed battles should be fought that way. In her view, one could wage such a horrific battle and recklessly sacrifice the soldiers under one’s command, but only if the reward to be gained was sufficiently great.

Either a battle that decides the strategic trend between Great Liang and the demon race at the most critical pass, or a battle that determines the life or death of one side.

Only in such moments would Xie Nandu choose to pay a huge price for a decisive victory.

“Gao Xuan has some skill in deployment and army formations, but he is too hesitant as a person. He fiddles with many things and in the end doesn’t think about how to win; he is always afraid of failure.”

Xie Nandu said calmly, “Tell him I will not march south for the time being. But if I really decide to march south, he will not stop me. At that time he only needs to obey.”

Yuan Ting forced a bitter smile. The woman commander before him spoke without ceremony; in a few words she laid her character bare.

“As for subsequent action, at dawn the army will move toward Yixian Tide.”

Xie Nandu put away the battle report and looked calmly at the darkness.

Yuan Ting frowned. “Yixian Tide, there are said to be fifty thousand demon troops stationed there, and it’s easy to defend but hard to assault. If it can’t be taken quickly, the situation will likely be similar to Twenty-yard Plain.”

Xie Nandu glanced at Yuan Ting and smiled, “Tell Gao Xuan to have his troops feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain.”

“Eh?”

Yuan Ting was taken aback; he did not immediately understand the young woman’s meaning.

Xie Nandu shook her head. “General Yuan, I have a suggestion. Sometimes, when you can’t make sense of something, don’t overthink it, because there is always someone around you who understands and thinks clearly. Why trouble yourself?”

Yuan Ting gave an awkward smile but paid it no mind; after so long together he had come to understand the woman’s temperament.

Although this girl’s battlefield talent was nearly unmatched, in many other aspects, she remained rather simple; worldly dealings she did not much comprehend.

Perhaps she did understand them - she just didn’t care.

“All right, then this general will go and transmit the order!”

......

......

“General Gao, General Xie has sent orders: she wants us to feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain.”

Gao Xuan’s command tent was flung open; wind and snow howled in and roused the young general. Gao Xuan looked out at the young officer bearing the order, frowning, “She wants us to feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain?”

He had been worrying Xie Nandu would head to Twenty-yard Plain; he had not expected she herself had no such intention, and instead wanted him to lead men toward Twenty-yard Plain.

“General Gao, that is indeed the wording of the order: to have us feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain. Who knows what General Xie is thinking.”

The young deputy general looked at Gao Xuan, somewhat puzzled.

To feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain sounded easy, but if one failed to control the degree properly, a feint could easily turn into a real full assault, and then it might not be so simple to extricate oneself from the quagmire.

The young deputy general was about to say something, but before he could speak, Gao Xuan waved his hand and laughed, “The order has arrived, do you think we can actually refuse an order? Just do exactly as she says: feign an attack on Twenty-yard Plain.”

”But...”

”But what? Do you think we will be treated as expendable pawns? If you worry about that, you needn’t. Even if this woman has great boldness, would this general so readily abandon his men?”

Gao Xuan narrowed his eyes and smiled, “If one day this girl sits in the Great General’s seat, when people look around the entire Northern Frontier, this general will be the most suitable person to serve as her deputy. From that perspective, how could she bear to see this general die?”

After saying this, Gao Xuan took a deep breath and his face gradually grew serious. “Issue this general’s order: the whole army breaks camp and makes an all-out attack on Twenty-yard Plain. Let General Xiao take the lead. If anyone disobeys, military law will be enforced!”

“All-out attack?”

The young deputy general could not understand Gao Xuan’s meaning. What did he intend?

General Xie had clearly said a feint!

...... ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novｅlfire.net

......

The army set out. Especially now that Xie Nandu was a thorn in the demon race’s side, when her forces marched toward Yixian Tide, they tugged at the heart of the entire demon army.

The demon commander Azuresky looked at the battle report in his hand, was silent for a moment, and then said calmly, “Does she really intend to go to Yixian Tide?”

None of the surrounding demon generals spoke; none dared say anything at that moment.

Azuresky narrowed his eyes and said, “If she truly wants to go, then this general will make her stay here and not let her leave.”