Three days ago.
To the east of Chiling lies a swampy area.
Seeing that there was an ambush at Chiling and that the vanguard general Guo Xiaoti had been ambushed and killed, Zhao Muyun resolutely decided to detour through the swamp and pass through the territory of the Dangxiang people to reach Liangzhou.
Although the shadow of the disastrous defeat at Chiling Gorge loomed over the remnants of the Hedong army, the situation in Liangzhou was even more worrying.
Led by Zhao Muyun, the four thousand soldiers silently turned towards the Red Ridge Marshland in the east.
This is a choice made out of necessity, and a path fraught with unknown dangers.
At the edge of the swamp, the mist never dissipates, and the muddy miasma fills the air, carrying the smell of decay.
Scouts reported that traces of Tangut tribe activity had been discovered ahead.
Moreover, Li Hu's pursuers had already caught up and were less than twenty miles away.
"Grand Commander, we are surrounded by swamps and Tanguts in front, and Li Hu's troops are pursuing us from behind. The situation is critical." Shen Qian's face showed worry.
Zhao Muyun looked calmly at Tang Yanhai, the commander of the scout battalion: "Old Tang, what's the situation with the Dangxiang?"
Tang Yanhai wiped the mud off his face: "Grand Commander, the Dangxiang people here respect the Yeli tribe. Their leader is named Yeli Rong, who is fierce and fickle."
"Furthermore, when Xiao Lie still occupied Jinyang, the Yeli tribe was invited by Fan Wenjing to participate in the siege of Yunzhou."
“They are familiar with the swamp paths, but… according to scattered intelligence, they seem to have had contact with Yang Yan of Xijing and may have been bribed.”
"Bribery?" Zhao Muyun pondered for a moment. "If we can be bribed, we can be persuaded, or...deterred. We can't be trapped here."
He quickly gave the order, "Shi Yong, you take five hundred elite troops and, relying on the swamp terrain, block Li Hu step by step. Do not seek victory, but only to delay his march."
"But remember not to get too entangled. After a day, break free on your own and catch up with the main force according to the predetermined markers."
"Understood!" Shi Yong accepted the order, selected five hundred fierce soldiers, and turned to disappear into the mist.
"The rest of you, follow me onward. Old Tang, take the scouts and come with me to meet this Ye Lirong."
Zhao Muyun only brought Tang Yanhai and twenty of his most elite scouts. He unloaded most of his weapons and followed the secret path that Tang Yanhai had explored, venturing deep into the heart of the swamp.
Along the way, poisonous insects were everywhere and mud lurked everywhere. If it weren't for an experienced person like Tang Yanhai leading the way, it would have been impossible to make any progress.
Finally, on a relatively dry high ground, they spotted the Tangut camp.
Surrounded by fences and lined with leather tents, the area was heavily guarded, with figures vaguely visible inside.
Before they could get close, a sharp whistle rang out, and dozens of Tangut cavalrymen roared out and surrounded them.
These knights had rugged faces, held bows, and had wary, hostile eyes.
A burly man wearing a feathered crown rode out on horseback and shouted in broken Da Yin language, "Yin people! You are not welcome here! Go back to your land!"
Tang Yanhai said in a low voice, "Grand Commander, this man is Ye Lirong."
Zhao Muyun stepped forward without fear and said loudly, "Chief Yeli, I am Zhao Muyun, the Jiedushi of Hedong in the Great Yin Dynasty. I am not here to be your enemy, but only to borrow a passage to Liangzhou."
"I hope the chief will do me a favor; I will repay him with gold and silk."
Ye Lirong snorted coldly, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes, but even more so, cunning: "Zhao Muyun? I've heard of you."
"However, Prime Minister Yang of Xijing offered an even higher price. He ordered us to keep any Hedong soldiers who dared to step into the swamp!"
Before he finished speaking, the Tangut knights around them had already raised their bows and arrows, aiming at Zhao Muyun and his group.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Zhao Muyun knew that bribery would be useless, and that Yang Yan must have promised a huge reward.
His gaze swept over Ye Lirong and the burly knights beside him, then suddenly changed the subject, his voice becoming deep and serious:
"Chief Yeli, have you ever considered that the promise Yang Yan made to you might just be an empty word?"
"If the Xijing army can truly sweep through Longyou, their power will greatly increase. How much value will your swampy land still hold for them?"
"Doesn't the leader understand the principle of 'the rabbit is killed when the hunt is over, the bow is put away when the birds are all gone'?"
Ye Lirong's expression changed slightly, but he remained firm: "Eloquent! The words of you Yinren are the least trustworthy! Take them down!"
Just as the Tangut knights were about to make their move, a clear, cold voice came from deep within the camp: "Wait."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall young man dressed in a white wolf fur coat slowly walking towards them.
He had a handsome face, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and a uniquely shaped scimitar hung at his waist.
When the Tangut people saw him, they all made way for him, their expressions showing a hint of awe.
Upon seeing this person, Ye Lirong frowned slightly: "White Eagle, what are you doing here?"
The young man known as White Eagle ignored Ye Lirong and focused his gaze directly on Zhao Muyun. After scrutinizing him for a moment, he slowly spoke, and surprisingly, he spoke fluent Dayin language:
"Zhao Muyun? May I ask, what is your relationship with Fan Nan, the former Vice Minister of War?"
Zhao Muyun's pupils contracted slightly.
This person actually asked about Fan Nan. Could it be that he also has some special relationship with Fan Nan?
"Lord Fan is my mentor. He was exiled to Lingnan last year due to the defeat in battle. Now he is the Chief Secretary of the Hedong Grand General's Office."
"Oh! I see!" Bai Ying's eyes were sharp, clearly already knowing about Fan Nan's situation, but he just wanted to confirm it with Zhao Muyun.
He nodded, and his gaze toward Zhao Muyun became much friendlier.
He then turned to Yeli Rong and said, "They are right. Yang Yan is just as untrustworthy as the Northern Di. Chief Yeli, the King of Loufan has not yet fulfilled his promise to us."
"As for the gold, silver, and weapons that Yang Yan promised us, it seems that only a portion has been delivered. Who knows if he will go back on his word after we finish our business?"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com