Chapter 72
As the sun sets and the evening glow hangs low, the wasteland is bathed in a dim, yellowish light.
The teams from the Duosang and Tulun tribes set off in the deep twilight.
Lu Huaying would turn her head every now and then to look at Wei Mingsu's expression.
Wei Mingsu's injury prevents him from riding a horse for extended periods, as the wound could reopen at any time. He doesn't want to be a burden to everyone, so he's definitely enduring the pain. She's worried about him and has to keep an eye on him.
She kept turning back, her concern evident in her words.
Wei Mingsu sat behind her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. The scent of medicine and blood filled the air. In the twilight, she tilted her head slightly, her dark, bright eyes filled with nothing but him.
This is his misconception.
He turned his head and looked at the setting sun that was about to sink below the horizon in the distance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lu Huaying turn around. He straightened up and perked up.
As the sun set, the light faded and the sky gradually darkened.
That night they rested in a sparse forest, where the trees could conceal their tracks. They were still in danger, and without lighting a campfire, everyone sat down on the ground, fully clothed, and fell asleep immediately.
It was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Sleeping outdoors was dangerous, but they didn't care.
Lu Huaying helped Wei Mingsu sit down, wanting to check his injuries, but it was too dark to see anything clearly. He shook his head and said, "It's nothing."
Both of them were exhausted. They ate something and fell asleep leaning against each other.
A cold night wind blew through the woods, causing the branches to sway.
Wei Mingsu's wound throbbed with pain. He was a light sleeper. He opened his eyes and looked up at the direction from which the sound came in the darkness.
The wind grew stronger, and the shadows of the trees swayed.
Wei Mingsu looked around and saw that the exhausted soldiers were all fast asleep.
Lu Huaying snuggled close to him, her eyelashes fluttering a few times. She glanced at him groggily, then her eyelids drooped again before she went back to sleep: "Wooden head, are you cold?"
The tone was intimate and tender.
After saying that, she unconsciously moved closer to Wei Mingsu and put her arms around him.
Wei Mingsu froze and lowered his eyes.
Lu Huaying leaned quietly against him, her hands wrapped around his waist. The scent of medicine, blood, and the grassland mingled with her own.
Just now, she called him "wooden".
The tone from a few years ago.
Back then, they were exposed to the elements, and she would hold him like this. At first, she was just trying to amuse him, but later, when it got really cold and she was shivering all over, she would hold him all night.
If she were sober, she would never be so close to him.
Wei Mingsu slowly moved to the side, trying to get Lu Huaying to let go of him.
Lu Huaying hugged him even tighter, snuggling closer into his arms, her body trembling slightly.
The cold wind was blowing, and she felt cold.
Wei Mingsu looked at Lu Huaying in his arms.
She pressed herself against him, her soft, slow breaths brushing against his face.
Over the years, I have occasionally dreamed of this scene: she is sleeping in his arms, and he is holding her.
In my dreams, it feels like time can last forever, a lifetime.
When I awoke, I found you buried beneath the earth, your bones turned to dust, while I remained in the mortal world, my head covered in snow.
Philippians.
In the quiet of the desolate night, Wei Mingsu gazed at Lu Huaying, raised his arm, and gently embraced her, shielding her from the fierce night wind, and quietly listened to her breathing.
...
The next day.
Lu Huaying woke up when she heard Wei Mingsu and Yi Xi talking.
Before dawn, the first stars shone brightly in the east, revealing the first hints of daybreak.
Wei Mingsu had his back to her.
She had just sat up when Wei Mingsu heard her, turned around and handed her a water pouch. She took it and drank a few sips. Wei Mingsu then handed her half a piece of bread, which she accepted.
Wei Mingsu took the water pouch and watched her eat.
She had just chewed the dry, hard biscuit when Wei Mingsu handed her a water pouch. She grabbed it and drank from it, swallowing the biscuit in the process.
They passed the money to each other, their movements natural and seamless, a tacit understanding only those who had lived together before could possess.
Yi Xi's eyes darted around, and taking advantage of Wei Mingsu's absence, he walked up to Lu Huaying, looking curious, and asked...
"Afei, you and Governor Wei seem to have known each other for many years. What is your relationship with Governor Wei?"
Lu Huaying was taken aback and glanced at Wei Mingsu in the distance.
What is their relationship?
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Lu Huaying thought for a moment and said to Yixi, "Prefect Wei is my friend; he saved my life."
This is their current relationship; their past would only embarrass Wei Mingsu.
Everyone got up, assembled and reorganized the team, cleaned up the traces, and set off in Xiaoxing's direction.
The day and night passed peacefully.
The Xiliang people did not catch up.
Most of the Duosang and Tulun tribes should have reached a safe place. They had completely shaken off their pursuers. Although they had only brought one day's worth of food, which was almost gone, the atmosphere in the group gradually became more relaxed.
On the third day, the group crossed a river with its riverbed exposed and was walking towards the riverbank when they suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats ahead.
Mote, who had gone out to scout, rode back, covered in sweat, and said, "There are Xiliang people ahead! I saw them setting off fireworks to send signals!"
Everyone's expression changed, and they immediately stopped.
Turning back is impossible; we would be surrounded by the Xiliang people and tribes.
Then we'll have to take a detour to avoid the Xiliang people ahead.
The group immediately went up to the riverbank, quickened their pace, and after half an hour, dust billowed in the distance, and the sound of horses' hooves echoed.
Four fast horses suddenly emerged from the foot of a mountain and galloped towards a hillside opposite.
Everyone quickly hid in concealed places.
Lu Huaying's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the four riders, she said, "They seem to be scouts."
When a large army is stationed, scouts will find high ground near the camp to scout out enemy positions and serve as guards.
Wei Mingsu frowned and said, "There might be a military camp nearby."
Was it a camp of the Western Liang people?
Mang Bao and Mo Te turned their horses away from the group and said, "Let's go scout ahead."
The two of them were gone for a while, and when they returned, they both looked very unwell.
They had just quietly climbed to another hillside to observe the enemy's situation and, sure enough, spotted the Xiliang people's camp.
Everyone's hearts sank, and they asked, "Approximately how many of them are there?"
Both Mote and Mangbao couldn't help but smile wryly.
They didn't count how many troops were in the camp, because when they lay in the grass and looked into the distance, all they could see were Xiliang cavalry in black armor, like a surging tide!
The Xiliang people prepared to set up camp in the forest, with the outermost guards maintaining a fighting formation.
Wei Mingsu, Lu Huaying, and Yi Xi exchanged a glance and smiled wryly.
What's blocking their path to survival is probably not an ordinary Xiliang army, but the main force of the Xiliang army led by General Ayi, who has lost contact with the Xiliang vanguard army in the camp!
They had just escaped from the Xiliang people's camp when they unexpectedly encountered this main force again!
Everyone was shocked.
Mang Bao and Mo Te looked at each other, and even the two fearless men showed panic and despair on their faces.
Most of their troops were prisoners of the Duosang tribe who had escaped. They had no weapons, and many of them rode two people on one horse. The others had burned down the Xiliang army camp that night and were injured when they escaped. They couldn't even draw their bows and arrows. How could they fight?
Moreover, they had fewer than a thousand men, while the main force of the Xiliang army opposite them numbered a full twenty thousand.
Although it is said that the brave will win when they meet on a narrow road, the disparity in troop strength between the two sides is too great. Even if they are extremely brave, it is impossible for each of them to fight against 20,000 cavalrymen from Xiliang!
Just as everyone was trembling with fear at the sudden danger, a rider galloped up from the back of the group and said, "The Xiliang people behind us are coming! They're heading in our direction."
They were surrounded by the Xiliang people.
Everyone was deathly pale.
Mang Bao gritted his teeth, spurred his horse and rushed to Lu Huaying's side, saying, "I'll stay behind to cover the rear. Mote, you and Afei, quickly take the wounded and leave! I'll draw their forces away!"
Lu Huaying objected, "Mang Bao, we only have a thousand men. If you divide your forces to stay behind and cover the rear, it will only buy us a temporary reprieve!"
Mang Bao also knew that no matter how many people stayed...
They were outnumbered, and covering their retreat would be suicide, but they had no other choice: "We can buy time! You all get out of here!"
Mote was extremely anxious and said, "This is the only way. Anyone who stays will die. We must help as many as possible escape!"
Wei Mingsu pondered for a moment and said, "We are now an isolated force, surrounded by Xiliang troops. Even if we split up to cover the rear, the Xiliang have already discovered us and will catch up with us sooner or later."
Mang Bao took a deep breath, drew his scimitar, and said, "Since there is no way out, then let us fight to the death!"
These people were originally chosen to draw the attention of the Xiliang people to the tribe and buy time for their escape.
The warriors who emerged had all considered the worst-case scenario: the mission was accomplished, and they had no regrets about dying.
The wounded soldiers silently gripped the last weapons they had left.
Wei Mingsu fell silent and looked at Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying also turned to look at him, her face calm, her eyes crinkling, and she smiled at him.
She grew up by the side of the old Duke of Yan and heard many stories from the battlefield. When she stepped out of the gates of Xizhou, she made the worst-case scenario plan.
Wei Mingsu reached out and gently pressed down on the saber held by Lu Huaying, saying, "We have another way. We can't break through, and we can't confront the enemy head-on. We can only take the risk and outsmart them."
"Outsmarting?"
Mang Bao and Yi Xi stared at Wei Mingsu, dumbfounded.
How can they outsmart these thousand men?
Wei Mingsu's expression was solemn as he glanced at the faces of the Tulun soldiers and said, "These past few days, General Ayi should have also lost contact with the camp. They don't know that the Tulun tribe is also going to join Zhou."
Everyone looked at him and asked, "What idea has Governor Wei come up with?"
Wei Mingsu looked up at the scouts on the hillside.
Lu Huaying's eyes lit up: "General Ayi may not know what happened in the camp!"
Wei Mingsu nodded: "We can take advantage of the chaos again, take the initiative to approach those scouts, and report to them the fire at the camp and the tribal rebellion."
Hearing that the two of them seemed to have made a decision, Yi Xi interjected, "What if we guess wrong?"
Lu Huaying sighed and said, "We have no way out; we can only take this gamble."
After listening to their conversation, Mangbao and Mote discussed it for a while and then said, "We're out of time, let's gamble!"
The order was given, and nearly a thousand people began preparations.
Wei Mingsu dismounted and said to Lu Huaying, "Later, you and Mang Bao will stay together. If the Xiliang people become suspicious, you can retreat in the chaos."
Lu Huaying raised her head, looked at him, and said, "I want to follow you."
Her expression was resolute.
Wei Mingsu frowned.
Lu Huaying smiled, looked at him, and said, "You have to stay close to me. If I find you missing, I will definitely come back to look for you. I won't abandon you."
She was afraid to bring up what happened four years ago in front of Wei Mingsu, not wanting to hurt him, so she always felt guilty and apprehensive when facing him.
But now that they're at a life-or-death situation, she's not afraid of him.
Wei Mingsu looked at her in silence for a long time before looking away.
They emerged from their hiding place, deliberately revealing their whereabouts.
The Xiliang scouts quickly noticed them, and one of them rode down the hillside and demanded to know which tribe they belonged to.
Covered in a disheveled state, Mangbao and Mote rushed forward, panicking, and said, "We have important military intelligence to report to General Ayi: the Sheti tribe has united and rebelled, launching a surprise attack on our camp!"
Their team was all wounded, exhausted, and their armor and clothes showed signs of burning, yet they were able to accurately report the situation in the camp.
After questioning him for a while, the scouts dispelled their doubts, learned the situation, and their expressions changed drastically. They then rushed back to deliver the message.
General Ayi was furious. He led his main force to pursue the Duosang tribe, but after several days of pursuit, he found nothing. If he continued to pursue them, he might end up in the territory controlled by the Xizhou army. He was deep in enemy territory and dared not take any risks. He could only order a retreat, intending to go back and interrogate the Duosang prisoners. However, his subordinates were incompetent, and the camp was burned down by a fire!
The scout said, "General, those remnants of the tribe escaped from the camp. They said the people of the Dosang tribe wouldn't go far; they're likely going to join forces with Dosang."
The main force of the department converged.
General Ayi and his deputies discussed the matter for a moment, then sent out more scouts to gather intelligence. They discovered that the camp had indeed fallen. The general ordered the entire army to march, and from this moment forward, to intercept all forces coming from the direction of the camp, regardless of their tribe; all were to obey orders.
When the military order came down, Wei Mingsu and his men were led by scouts to the tribe's encampment to reorganize. General Ayi did not trust the other tribes, and since they were all scattered troops, the Xiliang people were busy packing up and setting off and did not want to care about them, leaving them to follow at the very back.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; they had won their bet!
After the Xiliang people broke camp, several more groups of tribal soldiers who had escaped from the camp came running from the front. The Xiliang people gathered their troops, but did not have time to reorganize them, so they settled them all in the rear camp.
Taking advantage of the chaos among the Xiliang people, Wei Mingsu and his group deliberately lagged behind. As night fell, they followed their previous plan and quietly left.
The next afternoon, the Xiliang people discovered that one of their troops was missing from their rear camp.
Three days later, Tong Jin in Wuni City received a letter and was overjoyed: the young master and the others have returned safely!
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