C15 Storms of Battle

Inside the main command tent, Ethan sat tall as a military meeting began. A dozen high-ranking officers lined both sides, waiting for their commander to speak. Ethan cleared his throat—his earlier singing had left his voice a little rough. He noticed the officers’ expectant yet strange stares but thought nothing of it.

“Are they amazed by my singing voice? Maybe I really have musical talent. If I ever get back home, I could hold a concert and give those Hong Kong and Taiwan superstars a run for their money.”

He spoke firmly to the room.

“Today we gather to form a real battle plan. Our mission is to hold back the enemy advance and support Marshal Leng’s western campaign. Does anyone have a good strategy?”

The tent fell silent. All officers lowered their heads. No one dared speak—defeating 400,000 troops with just 30,000 soldiers seemed impossible.

Seeing no response, Ethan stood up.

“Since none of you have ideas, you will follow mine. As your commander, there can only be one voice on this battlefield. You had your chance to contribute. Now, no one—not even the Queen Consort—will question my decisions. Only I can lead you to victory.”

Satisfied with their silence, he continued.

“I have only three rules for you:

First: absolute obedience.

Second: absolute obedience.

Third: absolute obedience.

Is that clear?”

The officers all answered in unison. Li Yizhu nodded quietly, with no argument.

“Good! We will win! When this war ends, I will sing the victory song for you all! We will celebrate with wine and music!”

At the mention of more singing, the officers’ faces turned strange. Two female soldiers even looked nauseous.

“Must be the weather. Take care of your health—good health wins wars,” Ethan said kindly.

Li Yizhu shuddered. If Ethan sang in battle, the enemy wouldn’t need weapons—they’d go insane or surrender. No need for tactics at all. Just let Ethan sing, and the war ends instantly.

“All officers, listen up!” Ethan began giving orders.

“Li Yizhu: take 10,000 men, retreat twenty li, and build a dam across the Sky River. Block the water slowly, leaving only a small gap. Ask the supply troops at Tang City to collect all odorless poison. I will use it wisely.”

Li Yizhu accepted the order but was completely confused. Why build a dam during a war? Why send him away from the front? Was Ethan trying to ditch him?

“Zhang Yu: lead 5,000 men twenty li forward. Build camps in the lowlands by the river, stretching one hundred li to connect with Li Yizhu’s position. Leave the central camps empty.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhang Yu accepted, equally puzzled.

“All remaining officers: follow me to Sunset Canyon. Bring all firearms. Move out!”

Li Yizhu stared at Ethan’s confident back, more confused than ever. What crazy plan was this small army about to carry out?

Ethan led his soldiers to the foot of Sunset Mountain and stopped.

The mountain itself was not large, but its forests were thick, its slopes steep. It was autumn; the grass and trees were dry, and strong wind blew toward the Western Sea. Only one narrow path cut through Sunset Canyon. To detour would take days—time they did not have.

Ethan ordered his men to surround half the mountain, leaving only one small opening. He dared not go near the other side; if a large enemy force appeared, his men would be wiped out instantly.

The soldiers were mystified. Why not enter the canyon and face the enemy directly? Why surround a mountain?

Then Ethan gave an even stranger order.

“All archers: fire arrows!”

Hundreds of flaming arrows shot into the dry forest.

Fire exploded across the mountain, spreading wildly in the autumn wind. Thick black smoke covered every peak.

From the smoke came screams—not of animals, but of men.

Soldiers stumbled blindly out of the flames—Turtle troops! They had hidden in the mountain to ambush the Rabbit army. No one knew how they had climbed the steep cliffs undetected.

The fire burned without mercy. Many died from flames or smoke. Those who fled the opening were met with a hail of arrows.

It was a one-sided massacre.

Ethan showed no mercy. With such a huge difference in strength, every enemy soldier alive meant more danger to his men. If the Turtle army climbed Sunset Mountain, they would not come down alive.

The battle began in fire and ended in minutes.

Ethan pulled his men back to rest in Zhang Yu’s camps.

The fire burned for three full days and nights, turning the sky red. At least 70,000 to 80,000 Turtle soldiers died. The air reeked of burnt flesh. The Rabbit army celebrated—they had not lost a single man.

To them, Ethan was no longer just a commander.

He was a god of war.

Inside the command tent, Ethan admired the hundreds of miles of connected camps. The Turtle army was shattered, and the enemy would not dare attack blindly now. He had time to plan his next move.

Zhang Yu suddenly rushed in.

“Commander! We have captured an enemy officer!”

“Excellent! Bring him in—I need information!” Ethan sat up straight.

The prisoner was dragged in. His skin was blackened by smoke, his body covered in burn blisters. He was grossly fat, with a pig-like face and a small mustache. He looked shockingly similar to a Japanese soldier.

“Damn Japanese devil,” Ethan muttered. He remembered Long Yi’s words: the Turtle Clan was descended from the Dog and Tortoise Clans—the same ancestors as the Japanese. Even in this world, they were arrogant and cruel.

“Hey, Japanese! What’s your name?” Ethan could see the man was already broken.

“I am not Japanese! I am the younger brother of the Turtle Queen! Release me at once, or my sister will kill you all!”

“Shut up! I say you are, so you are!” Ethan snapped.

He hated the Turtle Clan’s arrogant attitude. Even in this world, women ruled—but the Turtle men still acted like they owned the world.

“I asked you a question, and you talk back? You’re looking for pain.”

Ethan snapped one of the prisoner’s fingers cleanly.

“Answer what I ask! Understand?”

“I… I understand! My name is Kameda Yamanaka!” the man screamed in agony. He had joined the battle only to steal glory with Princess Kameda Bunko. He never expected such a crushing defeat.

“Did I ask for your name? You still dare to disobey?”

Ethan snapped another finger.

Kameda wet himself in terror.

“From now on, your name is Turtle Pig. How many troops do you have? Who is your commander?”

“I’m not Turtle Pig! I—AAAAHHH!”

A third finger snapped.

“YES! YES! I’M TURTLE PIG! I’ll talk!”

He babbled everything.

Total Turtle army: 428,000.

Commander: Princess Kameda Bunko, the Queen’s daughter and heir to the throne.

Losses in the fire: about 100,000 men.

Ethan’s mind raced. “Then the eastern army has 600,000?”

“No, sir. One million total. The Golden Rooster Kingdom sent another 400,000. We made a deal to split the spoils.”

Ethan’s heart sank. Leng Bing was in mortal danger. He had to finish this battle quickly.

“Who is Kameda Bunko?”

“She is the princess. We call her Bunko.”

“Take this stinking beast away. If he misbehaves, kill him.”

Soon after, Li Yizhu returned, covered in mud.

“Ethan! What the hell are you doing? I blocked the Sky River just like you ordered—only a small gap is left.”

“Perfect! Did the poison arrive?” Ethan grinned.

“It’s here. But the upstream is raining heavily. The river is rising fast. It will rain here soon too.”

Ethan laughed loudly. “Heaven is helping me! Pour the poison into the river slowly. Do not let the water change color or smell. And tell our men only to drink from upstream!”

Li Yizhu’s blood turned cold.

“You’re poisoning the river? That’s the only freshwater source for miles! That’s despicable!”

Li Yizhu was horrified. At least the Tiger Clan had fought honorably. Ethan was willing to kill anyone to win. He secretly decided he must kill Ethan before Ethan betrayed him.

“Despicable? This is war! People die in wars! And I plan to stay alive long enough to kill you,” Ethan snapped.

Zhang Yu hesitated. “But, sir… there are still villages downstream. And two cities near the Western Sea…”

“DO THEY HAVE NO WELLS? Let some die! It’s war! You want me to defeat 420,000 troops with 30,000? Then give me a better plan!”

Ethan was furious. He was saving the Moon Rabbit Kingdom, yet they called him evil.

“Since no one has a better plan, you will obey. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!”

Deep down, Ethan wondered if he had truly become cruel. But war offered no mercy.

“Zhang Yu: deliver the poison. No talking. No delays.”

Li Yizhu still did not understand. “Poison doesn’t require a dam!”

“It will rain heavily soon,” Ethan replied coldly.

“Rain? What does that—”

“MY MASTER WAS A TAOIST PRIEST! I CAN FORECAST WEATHER! GET OUT AND STAY OUT OF MY PLAN!” Ethan roared.

Li Yizhu glared back.

“You dare threaten me?”

The two men stood face to face, staring each other down like fighting roosters.

Zhang Yu quickly returned to break the tension. “Sir, the poison is being released. It will last more than a full day.”

“Good. Starting tomorrow, spread false news: we are retreating to support the east. Pull all men back to the rear camps. Leave the front and middle empty. Move!”

Ethan stormed out without another glance at Li Yizhu.

“If you’re scared I’ll escape, follow me. You want to kill me with your own hands, right? Don’t die before I do.”

Li Yizhu stood frozen, seething. Ethan humiliated him in front of women. He swore he would bury Ethan in this women’s kingdom.

Alone by the river, Ethan’s heart felt empty.

“Where are you, old friends? This world isn’t for us. I just want to go home.”

He stared at the flowing water, lost in thought.

What was the point of living?

Some chased power.

Some chased money.

Some lived to eat.

Some ate just to live.

But Ethan had nothing. No family, no love, no purpose.

Once he’d thought wealth would fix everything. But money only showed him the ugliness of the world—fake smiles, betrayal, greed.

Suicide had been his escape.

Then he fell into a war of ancient clans.

Then he landed in a women’s kingdom.

He’d fought for men’s dignity.

He’d saved a kingdom.

But did any of it mean anything?

He decided not to care anymore.

He would walk his own path.

He would be his own master.

He would live like a man.

The next day, enemy camps descended into chaos.

Ethan’s poison had worked.

But 300,000 enemy soldiers still lived. The poison could not kill them all.

Dark clouds covered the sky. Heavy rain was coming.

The wind howled, and raindrops as big as beans crashed down.

Ethan smiled.

The final act of the battle was about to begin.

“Sir! The dam can’t hold the river!” Zhang Yu shouted. Li Yizhu was still too angry to appear.

“Open it. Pull all men to high ground. Collect every boat in Tang City. Move!”

The rain poured. Ethan stood in the storm, watching the river explode downstream.

The Turtle army camped along the banks.

Nature would finish what Ethan had started.

Back in the main tent, the atmosphere was wild. Soldiers drank and laughed. Women ate and roared. Men danced and pleased women. To Ethan, it all felt surreal, like a dream.

Li Yizhu stormed in, carrying a huge wine jar, his face dark with rage.

“Congratulations, great commander. Your evil plan worked. No casualties on our side. Truly amazing.”

He threw the jar to Ethan.

Ethan caught it and drank deeply.

“Thank you, Queen Consort… or Queen Eunuch? Let’s see which of us passes out first! Men should drink like men! Bring twenty jars!”

The women in the tent stared in shock. Their queen consort and war hero were betting over wine—and daring each other to be taken by female soldiers.

“Twenty jars! Let’s see who ends up in the women’s tent first!” Li Yizhu shouted back.

If drinking killed Ethan, it would be revenge for his father and clan.

Ethan laughed wildly as women crowded into the tent.

In their eyes, he saw a strange, blue fire.

He was no longer the hunter.

He was the prey.