Years turn into wind

Chapter 139 The real battle

Ling Xiaotian frowned slightly, and the light in his eyes instantly became cold and sharp. He turned to look at Cheng Yuwei, and said with a hint of apology: "It seems that this peace will not last long."

Cheng Yuwei held his hand tightly and said firmly: "No matter what happens, I will be here to face it with you."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes softened and he nodded, then turned to face the messenger: "Tell me in detail."

The messenger took a moment to breathe and continued, "According to spies, the enemy is gathering troops at the fortress north of the city and mobilizing a large amount of supplies. They appear to be planning a surprise attack via another route to disrupt our defenses. The commander of this operation is a newly appointed enemy general, whose methods are cunning and cruel."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes flashed with a complex emotion. He knew that the enemy's movements were extremely unusual, and there was obviously a deeper conspiracy behind them. He turned to look at Cheng Yuwei, his eyes filled with a mixture of apology and deep affection.

"This time may be more complicated than we imagined, and I need to concentrate fully. You have to be more careful in the mansion. The enemy may try to disturb our hearts in other ways." After Ling Xiaotian finished speaking, he quickly ordered his men to take action.

Cheng Yuwei watched his back gradually disappear into the courtyard, a complex feeling welling up in her. She was well aware of the power struggles within the military, but she also knew she couldn't just stand by and watch. A thought flashed through her mind: perhaps she could use her knowledge of chemistry to contribute to Ling Xiaotian's army.

Late at night, Cheng Yuwei closed the door to her study and took out the various chemical reaction formulas she had recorded long ago, as well as her research notes from before her time travel. She knew that although the technology of this era was backward, many simple chemical methods could still help improve combat effectiveness.

Meanwhile, in the enemy camp, a tall man in black military uniform stood before a map, his gaze blazing. He was the new enemy general, renowned for his meticulous planning. He spoke slowly, "This time, we must not only destroy Ling Xiaotian's city defenses, but also make him feel the pain of losing everything."

The soldiers responded in unison, a solemn atmosphere permeating the air. A figure flashed by, a forbearing glint in its eyes, as if it too was waiting for an opportunity.

After receiving the new intelligence, Ling Xiaotian immediately summoned important generals to a meeting at the Marshal's Mansion. Cheng Yuwei stood aside, listening to these generals discuss strategy, while secretly making plans in her heart.

"Young Marshal," Cheng Yuwei couldn't help but take a step forward, "I have an idea that might provide additional protection when we're on the defensive."

Ling Xiaotian was stunned, his eyes filled with questions and expectations: "Yuwei, what do you think?"

Cheng Yuwei took a deep breath and explained, "I was researching a mixture that can create a strong smoke when the enemy approaches, interfering with vision and breathing. Although it's not a lethal weapon, it can greatly delay the enemy's attack speed, giving us more time to react."

The generals in the room looked at each other, surprised and curious about this unfamiliar proposal. An older general couldn't help but ask, "Madam, is this reliable? Will it affect our own people?"

Cheng Yuwei nodded to indicate that she understood their concerns and continued, "Don't worry, this smoke has a short diffusion time, and we can take precautions in advance. As long as we arrange it properly, it will not only disrupt the enemy, but also provide a perfect opportunity for our counterattack."

A smile crossed Ling Xiaotian's face. He had unconditional trust in Cheng Yuwei's talent. Thinking of the help she had given him through countless difficulties, he said firmly, "Okay, let's do as Yuwei suggests. Lin Ting, you will be responsible for assisting Yuwei in preparing these supplies."

Lin Ting cupped his fists and said with a generous smile, "As you command, Madam. Let's give the enemy a taste of this 'surprise' together."

Over the next few days, Cheng Yuwei toiled day and night, personally mixing the necessary chemicals and setting up a secret defense along the city wall with Lin Ting. Ling Xiaotian led his soldiers to reinforce other key locations. The entire city lay like a sleeping beast, waiting for its opportunity.

At night, Cheng Yuwei leaned against the window, gazing at the dark sky in the distance, a sense of unease welling up in her heart. Ling Xiaotian gently walked behind her, pulled her into his arms, and whispered, "Don't worry, everything will pass."

She turned to look at him, a determined light flashing in her eyes: "Ling Xiaotian, no matter what the future holds, I will never regret fighting alongside you."

Ling Xiaotian felt a warmth in his heart, and whispered back, "With you here, I have nothing to fear, regardless of victory or defeat in this battle."

However, the tall general in the enemy camp was not idle. After carefully studying Ling Xiaotian's defensive arrangements, he smiled slightly, as if he had foreseen the next plan. In the darkness of the night, several black-clad spies quietly infiltrated Ling Xiaotian's city, preparing to carry out a sabotage operation.

A real contest is about to begin.

The next morning, Ling Xiaotian received an urgent report from the guards: "Young Marshal, several unidentified individuals attempted to sneak into the military camp last night and were intercepted by our patrol team. Two escaped, and the rest have been captured."

Ling Xiaotian frowned and signaled for the soldiers to bring the prisoners up. Soon, the two black-clad spies were escorted to the lobby. Their faces were covered in sweat, but they stubbornly refused to speak.

"Who sent you?" Ling Xiaotian asked coldly, his eyes as sharp as a knife. But the captive just lowered his head and said nothing, obviously having been strictly trained not to reveal any information easily.

At this moment, Cheng Yuwei slowly walked out from behind. She looked at the captive, a trace of doubt in her heart. She walked forward and whispered in the captive's ear, "You are serving the new enemy general, right?"

A subtle flash of shock flashed across the captive's eyes. Though he tried to conceal it, Ling Xiaotian still caught it. He sneered, "It seems you don't know what you're facing. Lock them up and I'll deal with them when I have time."

Just as Ling Xiaotian ordered his men to take the captives away, Lin Ting hurried in: "Young Marshal, news has come from the front line that the enemy seems to be adjusting their forces and may launch an attack at any time."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes flashed, and he immediately ordered the entire city to enter a state of war. Cheng Yuwei realized the urgency of the matter and quickly returned to the laboratory to continue preparing the formula for the chemical smoke bomb.

A tense atmosphere permeated the entire headquarters and military camp, as everyone knew a tough battle was inevitable. However, during these busy times, Ling Xiaotian would always take a moment to walk over to Cheng Yuwei, hold her hand, and gently remind her not to overwork herself.

"Xiaotian, you have to be careful too." Cheng Yuwei looked at his tired but determined face, with mixed feelings in her heart.

Ling Xiaotian smiled gently, his eyes filled with endless tenderness: "For you, I will protect myself well."

Three days later, the roar of enemy artillery fire ripped through the silence of dawn like thunder. The enemy general's tactics were as swift and ferocious as expected, attacking simultaneously from several concealed routes, intent on breaking through the city's defenses in one fell swoop.

Cheng Yuwei's smoke bombs were quickly deployed. In an instant, thick smoke filled the air, throwing the enemy ranks into disarray. The soldiers' vision and breathing were obstructed, significantly slowing their offensive.

On the battlefield, the enemy's formation was thrown into disarray by the smoke. Ling Xiaotian seized the opportunity and commanded his troops to encircle the enemy from both sides, taking them by surprise. Shouts of killing and the clang of metal mingled, filling the battlefield with a chilling atmosphere of murderous intent.

The enemy general stood on a high ground in the distance, his eyes gleaming with anger. He hadn't expected Ling Xiaotian to use such a tactic, and he cursed him for his cunning. He quickly waved his hand and ordered the reserve troops in the rear to force their way into the smoke zone, attempting another breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yuwei nervously watched the battle unfold from the city wall. Her heartbeat was rapid, and her hands were trembling slightly from the long hours of work. But she knew now was not the time to be afraid. Ling Xiaotian's safety weighed heavily on her every nerve.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in a corner of the battlefield. A team of elite enemy commandos had successfully bypassed the smoke area and attempted to break through the flank defense line. Cheng Yuwei's heart tightened. She immediately realized that if this part of the defense line was breached, the entire city would be in great danger.

"Lin Ting!" Cheng Yuwei called out urgently. Lin Ting came running over, his face covered in battle dust and blood.

"Madam, what are your instructions?" he asked breathlessly.

"The defense of that flank needs to be strengthened immediately. I need you to bring people over to reinforce!" Cheng Yuwei pointed to the dangerous area without hesitation.

Lin Ting was stunned for a moment, then revealed a determined smile: "Understood, I'll go right away!"

Lin Ting led a team of elite soldiers to the flank, the situation on the battlefield shifting rapidly. Cheng Yuwei stood on the city wall, the cold wind blowing against her face, exacerbating her anxiety. She looked into the distance and saw Ling Xiaotian charging into the enemy formation on horseback. His figure was like a sharp blade, splattering blood wherever he went.

"Xiaotian, you must hold on!" Cheng Yuwei prayed silently in her heart.

Ling Xiaotian seemed to sense her gaze and turned back to look at her from a distance, his eyes filled with determination and tenderness. At that moment, Cheng Yuwei seemed to hear him whisper in her heart, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

The enemy's offensive was stubbornly blocked by Ling Xiaotian and his troops, and their surprise attack plan gradually fell apart. Gradually, the enemy began to retreat, and their formation gradually collapsed.

As the enemy retreated, the clamor of the battlefield gradually faded, leaving only the soldiers' breathing mixed with the wind and the lingering smoke of the battlefield. Ling Xiaotian pointed his sword in the direction of the enemy's retreat and whispered an order: "Pursue to the safety line, do not linger in the battle."

The soldiers responded quickly, following suit to ensure the enemy couldn't easily return. At this point, Cheng Yuwei finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her body trembled slightly, perhaps from the cold wind or her tense nerves. She tried to calm herself, her eyes still searching for the familiar figure.

When Ling Xiaotian rode back, his armor was stained with blood and his face had a few shallow scrapes, but his eyes were still sharp and resolute. Seeing Cheng Yuwei on the city wall, he smiled, a smile filled with the relief and deep affection of surviving the disaster.

Cheng Yuwei, not caring about anything else, quickly ran down the city wall and rushed forward. Ling Xiaotian jumped off his horse and was hugged tightly by Cheng Yuwei before he could say anything. She hugged him tightly, as if this was the only way to ensure that he was truly safe and sound.

"You scared me to death..." Her voice was a little choked, carrying the fear and worry that could not be expressed in the battle just now.

Ling Xiaotian gently stroked her back and whispered, "I'm sorry for making you worry. Now, everything is over."

Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers tacitly stepped back to give the young marshal and his wife some space. Lin Ting also stood aside with a smile. He knew that the couple's love had long transcended the battlefield and life and death, and was the strongest support for their team.

In this moment of peace, a scout soldier hurried over, breaking this brief warmth. "Young Marshal, we've found something amiss in the enemy's position. Please come and check it out."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes darkened, and he signaled Cheng Yuwei to stay in a safe area before following the soldiers to the scene. Cheng Yuwei watched him walk away, feeling uneasy again.

"What exactly did the enemy leave behind?" she whispered to herself, sensing a new crisis was approaching.

Ling Xiaotian arrived at the enemy's remaining position and saw soldiers surrounding a scattered area of ​​supplies, inspecting them. Lin Ting was also present, holding a torn map, his brow furrowed.

"Young Marshal, we found these here." Lin Ting handed the map to Ling Xiaotian, his voice low and solemn.

Ling Xiaotian took the map and examined it carefully. He saw some strange markings on it, which seemed to point to several key locations around the city. In addition to the map, there were several unburned secret letters, the words on them were messy, as if they had been left behind during the hasty retreat.