Chapter 103: The Secret of the Two Realms Mountain

The soldiers from Eastern Yue swiftly breached the main gate. Li Feng led the cavalry charging inside, plunging the narrow streets into chaotic close-quarters combat.

By the time Yin Tang had regrouped his forces, the situation had spiraled beyond control. Their only option was to flee. The southern gate was heavily guarded by Daxia's main army, while reinforcements kept arriving at the eastern and western gates. Thus, they chose to escape through the northern gate.

Chen Mu, accompanied by his guards and a thousand cavalrymen, pursued them northward.

Yin Tang’s faction still had six hundred members left, joined by eight hundred cavalrymen originally stationed in the northeastern region. Mounted on horseback, they fled along the thoroughfare. After about ten miles, screams and the sound of horses falling filled the air ahead.

Under the cover of darkness, no one noticed the iron caltrops scattered on the ground.

The left protector of Yin Tang’s faction was horrified. “Disaster! Scatter and flee! Regroup at Beilin County!”

Though his reaction was swift, it was already too late. As the screams erupted, thunderous hoofbeats roared from both sides. Four thousand cavalrymen, long lying in ambush, surged forward, charging straight at the rebels.

Farther beyond, a thousand torches flickered—Daxia’s cavalry securing the perimeter to prevent any escape.

The left protector shouted loudly, “We have no way out! Let’s fight to the death!”

The rebels roared in unison and charged ahead.

Yet the Daxia cavalry showed no haste to annihilate their foes outright. Instead, they split into two groups, cautiously encircling the rebels, launching hit-and-run attacks to leave no traitor alive.

At that moment, Chen Mu arrived.

Surveying the battlefield, he ordered his thousand cavalrymen to spread out, forming an additional outer ring around the encirclement. Then, leading his guards, he charged forward and stopped just outside the perimeter.

Chen Mu shouted, “Northeastern garrison troops, hear me! Now is the time to turn against the rebels. Not only will you be absolved, but you will also be rewarded!”

“For every head of a Yin Tang member, there will be a bounty of one hundred taels of silver!”

Chen Mu’s proclamation rekindled hope among the struggling northeastern garrison. Immediately, they turned their horses around, brandishing long blades against the Yin Tang faction.

The rebel formation collapsed completely as they clashed in a chaotic melee.

Chen Mu again commanded his cavalry to halt their charge and press inward from the edges.

Because the Yin Tang members wore distinct clothing and wielded various weapons, the light of the torches made them easy to identify. Even if some were skilled in martial arts, they were no match amid thousands of soldiers.

Within less than an hour, Yin Tang’s faction was utterly destroyed.

Chen Mu had no way of knowing which key figures had perished or whether any members still lurked concealed within the three counties.

Yet this battle marked the official end to the turmoil in the northeastern region.

Chen Mu ordered his troops to clear the battlefield, then returned with his men to Beihai County.

The fighting there had also concluded. The private armies of the nineteen great families had suffered over half casualties, and the survivors surrendered. Only twelve of the family heads remained alive, all imprisoned.

After a brief rest, Chen Mu decreed that all the family heads be executed at noon the next day, with their estates confiscated.

The wealth of these great families was transferred to the three northeastern counties, making it easier to manage and audit.

After more than ten days, Chen Mu reestablished official governance in the three northeastern counties. Some of the confiscated wealth was used for reconstruction, while the rest was sent back to the capital.

The Eastern Yue soldiers returned to their homeland. Li Feng left five thousand cavalrymen behind to garrison the northeast, and the remainder accompanied Chen Mu back to the capital.

...

In the southern part of Daxia’s Western Mountain region stood the Twin Boundary Mountain.

This peak was peculiar. To its east, the climate shifted with the seasons of the Western Mountain region; but to the west, snow lay year-round.

The locals considered it a divine wonder.

With his knowledge of modern science, Chen Mu understood that cold air descending from the plateau created a swirling airflow on the mountain’s western side, causing snow accumulation only there, leaving the eastern side unaffected.

What Chen Mu did not know was that farther west beyond the Twin Boundary Mountain, someone dwelled.

The leader of the Yin Tang faction, Cheng Lü, walked along the western slopes, heading ever farther away. Clad in a down jacket and trousers, he still found the bitter wind more biting than that of the northeast.

He had lost track of time but finally glimpsed a familiar sight.

Carefully discerning the surroundings, he approached a small hill and rhythmically tapped against its rocky face.

Soon, the mountain trembled, and snow cascaded down.

Then, a door mysteriously appeared in the mountainside.

Tears welled up in Cheng Lü’s eyes as he stepped through the portal.

The mountain gate slowly closed behind him.

Snow fell again atop the mountain, concealing all traces.

Passing through the cave, Cheng Lü emerged into another valley. He pressed onward until a voice called out, “Who goes there?”

Looking toward the mid-mountain figure, he joyfully waved both hands. “Cheng Wu, it’s me, Cheng Lü!”

Cheng Wu’s face brightened, then grew serious. “Why have you returned? Is there trouble among the descendants of Yan and Huang?”

Cheng Lü’s expression darkened as he slowly nodded.

...

The capital of Daxia.

Chen Mu and his soldiers returned in triumph, welcomed by crowds lining the streets.

Zhang Zhong and other warriors who had fought in Persia had already been rewarded. This time, Chen Mu’s guard unit received honors twice over.

Others who had distinguished themselves in quelling the rebellion were also rewarded accordingly.

The entire capital was filled with celebration and harmony.

Chen Mu rested at home for a few days before visiting the Institute of Technology to inspect the progress on the steam engine.

Teachers and students presented blueprints and a wooden prototype, demonstrating it to him.

Chen Mu studied it carefully, then shook his head. “No, no. This structure lacks sufficient strength. The force of steam is immense; these connecting rods won’t last long before breaking.”

Disappointment was evident on the faces of the teachers and students.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness,” they said. “I am incompetent.”

Chen Mu smiled and waved them off. “Don’t be too disheartened. This design is already an improvement compared to before I left for the campaign.”

“Besides, we have plenty of time to refine it. Now that we know one faulty design, we are one step closer to the correct one.”

A student’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! By eliminating all the wrong possibilities, we’ll eventually find the right approach!”

Chen Mu nodded in agreement.

Everyone smiled politely, though their expressions varied beneath the surface.

Chen Mu knew some began to doubt whether the steam engine could truly be built, fearing it might be mere fantasy of the crown prince.

But Chen Mu was certain: sooner or later, this invention would be realized.

And it would bring about a revolutionary transformation for Daxia.

After further discussion, Chen Mu returned to the Crown Prince’s residence.

No sooner had he entered than Li Biao rushed up, his face fraught with urgency.

“Your Highness, the Masked Guards request an audience.”