Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 68: Chapter 22: The Power of Yazi

Song Yingchang’s face didn’t look good, and Li Rusong remained silent, lost in thought.

Sitting in the chair, Fei swung his legs back and forth. He tilted his face upward and asked, “Senior brother, are you scared?”

Yi Yu’s face turned red, and the veins on his forehead bulged out as he argued, “Observing precepts cannot be considered fear… Observing precepts!… Can matters of a monk be considered fear?” He continued with inexplicable words, things like “Equal Inheritance Regardless of Rank,” and “The Twenty-seven Precepts,” which made everyone fall silent, filling the camp inside and out with an awkward air.

“Enough,” said Song Yingchang, interrupting Yi Yu’s endless chatter. “Since Yi Gaogong is unwilling to enter the city to exorcise demons, let’s think of other solutions.”

Upon hearing that he didn’t have to enter the city, Yi Yu nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. Knowing he was in the wrong, he generously offered to provide all the necessary supplies for exorcising the ghosts. Each officer in the camp received a True Martial Demon-subduing Pendant, and he also contributed a thousand Vajra Talismans, a thousand Mountain Moving Talismans, and three thousand Evil Dispelling Talismans.

In the end, claiming that the long march had brought miasma into their bodies, he pulled Fei along to leave early.

The fierce battle at Peony Peak, the siege of Pyongyang, and the subsequent street combat. The Ming Army’s attack on Pyongyang raged for a full day and night, during which all over two thousand defenders of Peony Peak perished, over five thousand Japanese pirates were killed or wounded in the city, and the Ming Army suffered casualties of just over two thousand five hundred troops.

Although Pyongyang City had been captured, Konishi Yukinaga still occupied the various earthen forts built within the city and was highly determined to resist. Once the street fighting began, the Ming Army’s heavy guns couldn’t be brought in. In contrast, the Japanese’s expert use of matchlock guns and large cannons came into play, and with the added problem of demons in the city, the situation was at a stalemate for a while.

“Zimao, do you have any good ideas?” Song Yingchang said to Li Rusong.

“Even without the trouble of demons, I have no intention of continuing the relentless assault.”

Li Rusong replied, “There are many earthen forts in Pyongyang. The Japanese rely on civilian dwellings and tall stone walls for counterattacks, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. Konishi Yukinaga still has nearly ten thousand men. Their morale may have dwindled, but they display the desperation of cornered soldiers. Blind aggression will only lead to unnecessary losses for our forces. Therefore, I’m planning to write a letter to Konishi Yukinaga, saying we only want Pyongyang City and are willing to guarantee their safe passage out of the city with the honor of the Celestial Empire…”

Song Yingchang took over, “And then draw the snake out of its hole and capture them all!”

Li Rusong was taken aback. He had entertained the idea but had concerns about Song Yingchang’s bureaucratic background and possible objections to the plan. He was surprised to find Song Yingchang was even more ruthless than he was.

“Ahem, Lord Minister,” Li Rusong ventured cautiously, “Such action might tarnish the reputation of our great empire.”

“All is fair in war! Zimao, after so many years in the military, how can you still harbor such old-fashioned notions?”

Song Yingchang twirled his beard, expressing his dissatisfaction to Li Rusong.

Li Rusong’s gaze flickered, then he showed a smile, “The Lord speaks the truth.”

After pondering for a while, he added, “However, Konishi Yukinaga is no fool; he won’t easily believe us. If I were him, I would divide the troops, cover each other during the retreat, and alternate withdrawing. The rear guard would deploy heavy armor and firepower, while the front guard would be lightly equipped, ready to sacrifice their arms if necessary. If we come to blows, we’ll still be caught in a difficult fight.”

“So?”

Song Yingchang knew Li Rusong must have another strategy in mind.

Li Rusong walked over to the Joseon map presented by Liu Chenglong and pointed forcefully downward, “Place cannons on the Datong River. While the Japanese are crossing the river, cut them down from the middle!”

…

“General Luo Shangzhi was the first to climb the city walls, a reward of five thousand taels of silver.”

A junior officer holding a red lacquer tray approached Luo Shangzhi, on it were fifty ingots of gold.

“Chief Banner Li Yan decapitated the Japanese commander Goto Kagi, a reward of two thousand taels of silver.”

Li Yan accepted the tray, nodding slightly at the junior officer.

“Much obliged.”

“General Li is too courteous,” the junior officer responded softly.

“General Wu praises your spear skills as sharp, comparing you to Zhao Zilong,” said the junior officer.

Li Yan raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Someone else cut into the conversation.

“The spear skills of Changshan are clever, those of Zhuo Province are fierce; both are fundamentally different. People only know of Zhao Zilong’s Changshan spear but not Zhang Yide’s Zhuo Province spear. It’s a taboo among the descendants of Zhuo Province spear practitioners. Tell your General Wu, those who practice the Zhuo Province spear would not appreciate his words,” said Song Yi, carrying the Tiger Head Great Spear, his body smeared with intertwining blood, looking fearsome.

The junior officer was momentarily at a loss for words,

Li Yan gave a light smile, “General Wu’s praise is unwarranted; I am unworthy.”

The junior officer gave Li Yan an embarrassed smile, “I had forgotten that both you, General Li, and the vanguard Song are descendants of the Zhuo Province spear tradition.”

He continued, “Right Army’s vanguard Song Yi led the charge and contributed to breaking into the city, a reward of two thousand taels of silver.”

“No need, I only need a meal and my whole family is fed. During the attack on Pyongyang, my vanguard camp suffered the greatest losses, so take this silver and use it to comfort the brothers in my camp.”

Song Yi’s face was stern and unyielding.

There were thirty-two people in the room receiving rewards, and they all found Song Yi’s words awkward.

Luo Shangzhi sneered and said to Song Yi:

“There seems to be something wrong with what you said, General Song. We all fought together to take Pyongyang. Just because your vanguard camp suffered heavy losses, does it mean the rest of us just stood by watching?”

Once Luo Shangzhi finished, a man with a hooked nose immediately chimed in: “Exactly. If everyone is being rewarded together, and only you distribute the reward silver to your subordinates, does it make the rest of us stingy? The Governor himself provides compensation for the fallen soldiers, so is there a need for you to curry favor by playing the generous benefactor?”

The place erupted into chaos.

Song Yi looked around the room and only when it became quiet, did he speak indifferently, “General Luo’s troops are brave and fierce, having killed hundreds of Japanese pirates on the towers of Pyongyang City. They certainly weren’t just standing by.”

He then sized up the man with the hooked nose.

“But as for your Chenwu Guards, Cao Zhiping, haha, they look good and have nice figures, but they’re just missing a couple of milk nipples. Otherwise, they’d be perfect for staying home and nursing babies.”

“Pfft!”

Someone couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“You!”

The man was enraged, his anger reaching new heights as he drew his long sword and slashed at Song Yi. A sharp gleam flashed in Song Yi’s eyes, and he swung the shaft of his Tiger Head Great Spear towards the man’s head.

“Clang.”

An iron spearhead, perfectly straight, intervened from the middle, supporting both of their weapons. It was Li Yan.

“What do you mean by this?” Song Yi asked coldly.

Li Yan stared at Song Yi: “We’re all hot-tempered here. Let’s just settle it with words and be done. Drawing weapons could harm the camaraderie among brothers.”

The man with the hooked nose was the first to retract his sword. Song Yi was famously capable of fighting against a whole army, and that man had already regretted his action as soon as he drew his blade, grateful that Li Yan had stepped in to mediate.

Song Yi shouldered his Tiger Head Great Spear and walked away.

Watching Song Yi’s retreating figure, the hooked-nose man cursed bitterly, “Little horse thief.”

The faces of the crowd were dark with discontent, clearly bearing grudges against Song Yi.

Luo Shangzhi called out to everyone, “Forget it, let him be. We’re here to celebrate. Come to my tent; I’ll treat everyone to a drink.”

Luo Shangzhi, who came from the Shenji Camp in the Capital City, held a big brother status among those Liaodong, Ji Town, Shanxi, and Baoding adjutants.

He made a point of patting Li Yan on the shoulder: “I have heard old Wu sing high praises of General Li, saying you’re rare to find in this world. You must honor us with your presence. After we take down Pyongyang, leading a chief banner is certainly within your reach.”

“I’m not worthy, not worthy.”

Li Yan’s eyes remained fixed on Song Yi’s distant figure, his gaze deep and solemn.

…

This fierce battle had honed Li Yan and his hundred soldiers, and the various adjutants had also acknowledged this General Li, who had slaughtered Goto Kagi on the battlefield. Especially among the troops from Ji Town, Li Yan had significant prestige.

Twenty ingots of gold, each worth twenty-five points, provided Li Yan with five hundred Yan Fu points. In addition, Li Yan’s “Cold Killer” ability had now been unlocked.

“Cold Killer (Unlocked)”

“Passive skill, attacking has a certain chance to trigger a Killing Intent Attack, intimidating the enemy for half a second to two seconds.”

This skill is a prerequisite for using certain items (including but not limited to the Yan Fu Heritage, consumables, skill learning scrolls, equipment, wonders).

Note: When you acquire a Yan Fu Talisman that possesses the Power of Yazi, it will provide you clues to unlock the Yazi Inheritance.

Yazi, one who must repay even the smallest kindness and will certainly avenge the slightest grudge, bloodthirsty and combative, with a fierce and unyielding character. Often depicted on weapons.

(Note: Undoubtedly, ancient battlefields are the best places to obtain such Yan Fu Talismans.)