Chapter 435: I was waiting for you
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
What was he going to do now that he was trapped?
He only had two options, scream for help and pray, or try to wrestle his way out like a snake...
Fang Zhengzhi couldn't make a decision, so he chose to wait and die.
The reason was simple. If the first method was any good, Xing Yuanguo and the others would be rushing to his aid.
As for the second option... Fang Zhengzhi couldn't do it.
Fang Zhengzhi had been interrupted.
Canyang had no intention of replying. He stood quietly at his spot, almost like a statue.
"It was you who saw through my plan to attack the Southern Region using the soldiers in the Blood Shadow City right?" Yun Qingwu turned back to look at Fang Zhengzhi.
"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi admitted.
He knew that Yun Qingwu's intel was good. Since she asked, she must have confirmed it already.
Furthermore, this was something that he was proud of!
"The alliance between the Great Xia and the Southern Region was also brokered by you right?" Yun Qingwu pressed.
Fang Zhengzhi did not respond directly.
He just nodded. He did not like where this was going, so he waited for Yun Qingwu to continue.
Yun Qingwu had no intention of waiting for a verbal response. Seeing Fang Zhengzhi nod his head, she turned and surveyed her surroundings.
Her lips twitched as she muttered, "It looks like you have the ability to change the tide of the battle. That is even though you guessed most of the things."
"What do you mean guess? I made logical deductions! This is common sense!" Fang Zhengzhi wanted to spit in Yun Qingwu's face, but he controlled himself.
"Logical deduction? I would have thought that you would have praised yourself for being smart or having foresight." Yun Qingwu did not seem angered by that response.
"I wouldn't object to it if you choose to describe me as such." Fang Zhengzhi replied after some thought.
"Haha... even in the face of death, you are as shameless as ever." Yun Qingwu smiled and chuckled lightly. She loved being in control.
However...
Fang Zhengzhi did not understand why Yun Qingwu was so happy.
That being said, if Yun Qingwu was happy, that meant that he had a chance to live.
He cleared his throat and decided to attempt to plead for his life after flattering Yun Qingwu.
However, he was interrupted by Yun Qingwu even before he could start.
"Why don't you guess why I had the 50,000 soldiers give up the siege on the Sagely Mountain City and attack the Iron Hill Settlement?"
Yun Qingwu asked casually. It sounded as though she was just speaking to a friend, but Fang Zhengzhi could see an aura of confidence in her eyes.
She was deeply confident.
It felt as though she was in control of everything.
Fang Zhengzhi could not understand what she was getting at. The question was simple... Fang Zhengzhi had explained it before in the throne room.
It was precisely because of that...
Fang Zhengzhi had no idea why Yun Qingwu would ask such a question at this time?
What was her intention?
"I know what you said in the throne room. You think that I chose to attack the Iron Hill Settlement in a hurry. As such, to minimize my losses, I had no choice but to get the 50,000 demon soldiers to attack as well, am I right?" Yun Qingwu pressed.
Fang Zhengzhi's lips twitched as he wanted to say something, but he chose to remain silent.
After all, Yun Qingwu had read his mind.
"In fact, I have been in control of the Iron Hill Settlement all this while. General Tai had defected to our side a long time ago. Even without General Tai, I have other ways to secure this city. Do you still think I need the additional 50,000 soldiers?" Yun Qingwu asked.
Fang Zhengzhi's expression changed.
He knew all along that Yun Qingwu was incredibly smart and he never underestimated her. On the contrary, he constantly tried to think from her point of view.
But...
Upon hearing Yun Qingwu's words, he realized that whilst he was trying to read Yun Qingwu's mind, she was reading his.
To put it simply, even though he was getting closer to the truth each time, he had never seen through Yun Qingwu's final plan.
Fang Zhengzhi was not the only one who was stunned by Yun Qingwu's words. Xing Yuanguo, Xing Qingsui, even Nangong Hao were stunned. Of course, Shan Ling, Princess Shan Yu, and the settlement chiefs were the most taken aback.
"General Tai defected?!"
"She had other methods even without General Tai?"
Shan Ling looked at the other settlement chiefs. He finally understood why the back gate had been breached... and he also understood that...
Yun Qingwu meant it when she said she had other methods!
This sent a shiver down his spine.
He had just been schooled.
"You were waiting for the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army?" Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what Shan Ling and the others were thinking. His only aim was to figure out what Yun Qingwu's plan was.
"The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army? You could say so, but they are just part of it." Yun Qingwu nodded.
"Part of it?"
"Mm, do you think that if you stall us here, then you buy enough time for the 300,000 Southern Region soldiers to join with the Great Xia? Do you think you'll emerge victorious then?" Yun Qingwu asked.
"Is that not the case?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"I started planning for this war when I was 10 years old. Do you think that you can win with guesses?" Yun Qingwu questioned.
"You don't know if you don't try." Fang Zhengzhi was quite confident of his plans and was rarely affected by others' opinions.
"Haha... I must say that you're quite smart. I wonder what would happen if we were on equal footing?" Yun Qingwu chuckled.
"Equal footing?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yun Qingwu, an unsettling thought rising in his heart. He felt as though he had just been read like a book.
"The biggest difference between you and I is that I have intel... and you don't!" Yun Qingwu's tone finally changed.
When Fang Zhengzhi heard the word 'intel', his expression changed drastically.
Yun Qingwu was correct.
If you knew yourself and the enemy, then you would win every battle. However, Fang Zhengzhi had been kept in the dark all this while. He didn't know any of the plans of those involved.
He had been guessing all this while.
If he could guess the entire plan, then the plan was much too simple.
"I recalled the 50,000 soldiers from the Sagely Mountain City because I know that Princess Shan Yu heeded your advice and sent 80,000 soldiers to the Iron Hill settlement. As such, the alliance between the Great Xia and the Southern Region was a matter of time."
Yun Qingwu had no intention of waiting any longer. She simply rattled off...
"Since I know that you will be teaming up, the Sagely Mountain City was no longer the battlefield of choice!"
"The Sagely Mountain City has been the stronghold of the Southern Region for generations. I do not know how many hidden passages and traps there are. Furthermore, it is situated on a hill and it is easy to be surrounded and cut off from resources.
"But the Iron Hill Settlement is a different story. Nan Ling Settlement is already under my control. If I take Iron Hill as well, I will have a through pass straight here!"
"From this position, I can advance on the Sagely Mountain City. Or, I can retreat back to the Blood Shadow City. Furthermore, controlling the Iron Hill Settlement means I control the weapons factory of the Southern Region."
"Do you think the joint forces still pose a threat to me?"
Yun Qingwu glanced at Fang Zhengzhi before turning her gaze to all the soldiers on the battlefield.
Xing Yuanguo and Xing Qingsui's expression changed instantly.
They weren't alone. Princess Shan Yu, Shan Ling, as well as all the settlement chiefs, were stunned by what they heard.
Even Nangong Hao's eyes glimmered when he heard this.
They knew that Yun Qingwu was speaking the truth. With hundreds of thousands of demon soldiers controlling the Iron Hill Settlement...
Then...
It would be equivalent to a stab straight into the heart of the Southern Region. It would be too difficult for a joint force of just over 400,000 to retake the city.
Most importantly, winter was coming.
The soldiers of the Great Xia were not prepared to face the winter. Furthermore, the Southern Region winter was the harshest. Snow cut off access to roads and ferocious beasts roamed the land.
This was the season when the beasts were most ravenous.
If they weren't in a settlement by the time winter came, it would be impossible for them to hold off the beasts.
Retreat...
That was the only option.
However, if they retreated, the Iron Hill Settlement and the Nan Ling Settlement may no longer belong to the Southern Region.
More importantly...
The Sagely Mountain City might not be in their control either.
Shan Ling, Shan Yu, as well as Xing Yuanguo felt a chill down their spine. All of their eyes were fixed on the girl in the white dress under the blue light.
As for Yun Qingwu, she watched Fang Zhengzhi quietly.
Fang Zhengzhi felt a chill down his spine too. Furthermore, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.
Yun Qingwu's words had made him feel extremely exposed.
Initially, he had wanted to swoop down from the sky and be a hero. However, right now, it felt like he had jumped straight into a trap.
He had gone from a hero, to a...
Prisoner. What a tragedy...
Everything had changed so quickly! An aged and frail old man was actually a master? What was this?
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to cry and pray for this to be over quickly.
But it was no use.
Most importantly...
The Iron Hill Settlement was destined to fall into the hands of the demons.
The battle was over!
"There was one other reason that I didn't mention before." Yun Qingwu broke the silence.
"What is it?" Fang Zhengzhi did not want to engage her, but he had no choice. He was rooted to his spot and couldn't run!
"I was waiting for you!" Yun Qingwu replied solemnly.
Fang Zhengzhi was stunned when he heard this.
Waiting for me??
She was looking for revenge!
She was just waiting for the right opportunity before!
Fang Zhengzhi was depressed, but he finally saw Yun Qingwu take action. Yun Qingwu actually removed her veil.
What was happening?
Fang Zhengzhi was stunned as he looked at that beautiful and familiar face in front of him.
"I did that myself this time, didn't I?" Yun Qingwu smirked as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She was like a lotus flower under the light of the setting sun.
A light breeze blew by.
Her dress danced lightly in the breeze.
It was a beautiful sight.
This was the first time Fang Zhengzhi had seen Yun Qingwu this happy.
Before this...
Fang Zhengzhi would have admired her for her beauty, even reciting poems to express his admiration for her.
But he couldn't do it this time.
He knew why Yun Qingwu was so happy.
Her happiness was built upon his capture.
"Oh yes, why don't you make a guess as to why I haven't killed you?" Yun Qingwu was visibly different today.
Gone were her aloof and icy ways. They were replaced by a radiant smile.
Yet...
Fang Zhengzhi felt like he was freezing.