Chapter 131

The Empire's Past Twenty Years Ago

If it were someone else, even if they cared about what happened twenty years ago, they would not care as much as Yue Lingxi!

After all, that battle not only led to the inexplicable defeat of the empire, but also caused his late emperor grandfather and his father, Prince Yin, to embark on a path of no return!

Even I suffered a lot in my childhood. If it weren't for chance that led me to my current position, I would have turned into a pile of bones long ago!

Yue Lingxi agreed to Wanyan Hongyu's condition of preserving the Yehe bloodline inheritance in a secret exchange without even thinking!

Thus, the past event of the empire's defeat at Heishui more than 20 years ago finally cleared away the fog and appeared before Yue Lingxi!

…

More than twenty years ago, Wanyan Hongyu had just ascended the throne. At that time, the Yehe tribe had a large population. The young and ambitious lord carried out various reforms in a bold and decisive manner and truly controlled the real power of the Yehe tribes!

Originally, he had the possibility to become another powerful ruler of Yehe and lay his eyes on the vast land of Taiyue!

But the Taiyue Empire's expedition disrupted all his plans! The emperor of this behemoth empire personally led the army, 300,000 strong, into the Yehe territory!

Although Wanyan Hongyu tried his best to resist, he even defeated the imperial army several times in Lushan and Jinjing!

But it was just a futile effort. The entire Yehe tribe had no choice but to retreat to the ancestral land of Heishui, intending to put up a final resistance!

Just when Wanyan Hongyu thought that he would become the last king of Yehe and the Yehe tribe would inevitably be defeated and destroyed, the Khan of the Steppe Khanate, Yesen's father, delivered a handwritten letter to him!

This handwritten letter not only contains the detailed information of Taiyue’s troop deployment, but can even accurately record the alert routes and times of each patrol cavalry unit!

Moreover, the location of the imperial command center, where His Majesty the Emperor is located, is clearly marked!

Wanyan Hongyu did not believe the letter at first, but after sending scouts to investigate, he found that according to the time and route in the letter, it was indeed easy to invade the imperial emperor's central military camp!

The ecstatic Wanyan Hongyu decided to launch a surprise attack. If he could capture the emperor in one fell swoop, then Yehe would win without a fight!

Twenty thousand of the most elite Yehe warriors began a desperate stealth expedition!

The result was beyond Wanyan Hongyu's expectations. The closer he got to the imperial army's center, the weaker the empire's defense became. It seemed as if someone was mobilizing the army to intentionally open a passage!

What surprised him the most was that even though he passed by the imperial troops who had been patrolling outside the central army, the other side seemed to have not noticed him at all, or even if they did notice him, they did not stop him!

Until the attack was launched at the emperor's central camp, the guard troops that were supposed to protect the surroundings did not gather together, but were mobilized to run around in disorder!

If there had not been a great general in the emperor's camp who fought desperately, Yehe's surprise attack would have almost captured the emperor!

Subsequently, the imperial army was briefly in chaos as the emperor, who had led the army in person, was forced to retreat to Youzhou.

But after all, they were 300,000 elite troops of the empire, including countless capable and battle-hardened generals, and they quickly stabilized their position.

They neither attempted to return blindly for rescue, nor did the expected leaderlessness occur. Instead, they continued to steadily put pressure on the Blackwater defense line!

Wanyan Hongyu originally wanted to pursue the emperor, but because the situation in the rear was even more dangerous, he had to turn his troops back to support the Heishui defense line!

But at this moment, the Khan of the grassland sent another letter, directly indicating the locations of the Taiyue army's food, winter clothes, and weapons!

Wanyan Hongyu used the same trick again and once again inexplicably burned the Taiyue Army's logistical support in the midst of thousands of troops!

This protracted battle lasted from early spring to early winter. Cut off from food and clothing, the Taiyue Army's combat effectiveness was sharply reduced. They were then trapped in a desperate situation where they had no food or horses to retreat to, and no means to keep warm or heal their wounds!

Even so, this army that was left outside the pass still relied on its steady and cautious fighting to make it impossible for Yehe to start a war, and it could have retreated to Youzhou with ease!

But at this moment, a light cavalry sent by the Khan of the grassland silently crossed the rear defense of the army and appeared directly on the battlefield where the Yehe and Taiyue armies were confronting each other!

The remaining troops of Taiyue were trapped and died on the banks of the Black Water River under the joint attack of the two sides!

Although Yehe won the war inexplicably, it suffered heavy casualties. Wanyan Hongyu knew clearly that Yehe no longer had the capital to compete with Caoyuan and Taiyue!

Therefore, in recent years, they have been secretly relying on the grassland, defending the Lushan defense line, and fully restoring the population of Yehe. This is why when the grassland attacked Youzhou, the Yehe tribe always assisted.

Wanyan Hongyu actually always had a question, that is why Caoyuan could grasp the movements of the Taiyue Army so accurately!

Later, the truth was gradually revealed from the mouths of the captured Taiyue soldiers!

An incredible traitor to the empire emerged. It was none other than Yue Wuji, Marquis of Guannei, who had just inherited his father's title!

Wanyan Hongyu really couldn't believe this judgment?

You must know that Yue Wuji's father is the brother of the emperor of the empire from the same mother. He is highly trusted by the emperor and is ordered to control Guanzhong, the birthplace of the emperor.

He himself was in charge of the army at a young age. He had gone to Datong three times and fought deep into the grassland, with great military achievements!

After his father passed away, he was directly ordered by the emperor to inherit the title and continue to maintain control over Guanzhong and remotely control the garrison of Datong. It can be said that he was favored by the emperor and was the barrier of the empire!

How could such a person become the greatest traitor of the empire? If the emperor died in Yehe, a young royal family member who had lost his support and held a high position would have no benefit at all!

However, when he secretly sent troops to break through the empire's central army camp, it was Yue Wuji who was guarding the camp on the periphery, and it was also Yue Wuji who was able to send orders to the outside in the first time to disrupt the army's return for reinforcements!

When he burned the empire's grain and cut off the hope of Taiyue's army, the general stationed at the grain storage area was still Yue Wuji!

When the grassland cavalry silently crossed the imperial rear army, the commander of the rear army was also Yue Wuji!

Wanyan Hongyu had never understood why all his actions went so smoothly!

Now, through the information provided by the captured soldiers and the various incredible experiences he had personally experienced, it was easy to verify that there was definitely something wrong with Yue Wuji!

But why would he do something that is obviously harmful to others and not beneficial to himself?

So, over the years, Wanyan Hongyu has been continuously investigating this clue, and finally got the only answer that can explain these doubts!

Yue Wuji himself has the blood of the grassland!

The Khan of the grassland once had a beautiful sister who was known as the "Pearl of the grassland". She was also the aunt of the current grassland leader Yesen!

This woman, who was once the most beautiful woman on the grassland, was accidentally captured and brought back to Taiyue by the Datong defenders when they were out foraging!