Chapter 152 Pride Across the Road (Fourteen) This is the Yan you've been longing for...
On July 10th, a scout reported that the flags of the northerners had been spotted fifty li away.
"With only a few banners, they should be the vanguard."
"They just drove Xilong's cavalry back, and they're already back?" Gao Hongyu slowly raised his eyebrows to look at the scouts, pondered for a moment, and then ordered, "Go and scout again."
The tent flap opened, and Wei Yuanzhan entered, saluting him. Gao Hongyu nodded and casually asked, "From the wounded soldiers' camp? How is Lan Ye?"
"The fever has subsided, but he's still talking nonsense."
Lan Ye was stabbed in the ribs and suffered a persistent high fever for days. In his half-awake, half-asleep state, he muttered repeated military orders previously issued by Wei Yuanzhan. Gao Hongyu had visited him once and, remembering this, couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle: "That kid..."
He raised his eyes again, his gaze meeting the person in front of him.
Wei Yuanzhan had only been there for half a month, and his already strong features had become even thinner. Gao Hongyu's expression softened, and he gestured for him to sit down.
"What about your injuries?"
"It's alright." Wei Yuanzhan sat down opposite him, knowing that he had something to discuss.
A moment later, he indeed said, "Last month, Enhe retreated from Suyuan and disappeared without a trace. As you guessed, he is waiting at Zhulang Mountain. Now that Xilong's army has been defeated and our army has not pursued, his plan has been foiled. At present... I'm afraid he has other plans."
Jiang Yun had initially suggested luring Bei Li into Daizhou, but Xi Long's forces remained focused on Lancheng. It seems Daizhou was merely a pretext; Bei Li's true intentions remained unchanged, and their main force was ultimately heading this way.
Gao Hongyu and Wei Yuanzhan exchanged a glance: "Let's move everyone back into the city."
Upon hearing Enhe's name, Wei Yuanzhan's lips curled slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. He had met Enhe several times and knew that his military tactics were unpredictable and difficult to guard against.
After pondering for a moment, Wei Yuanzhan nodded in acceptance: "Alright."
Gao Hongyu glanced at him again for a moment. With such a help by his side, he naturally felt relieved and couldn't help but ask him, "Now that you've come, do you still plan to return to the capital?"
"Go back." He replied without hesitation.
Gao Hongyu frowned slightly, then thought that it was only natural for Marquis Wei to not want his son to stay at the border for too long, since he only had one son.
Just as he was about to speak with a smile, he suddenly said frankly, "There is someone I want to see in the capital."
That evening, scouts reported that two thousand Beili cavalrymen had set up camp ten miles outside the city, and the leader of the troops was indeed Enhe, the Khan of Beili.
Gao Hongyu then gathered all the generals in the council hall to discuss matters.
Upon hearing the news, Lan Ye staggered out, leaning on his cane. When he saw Wei Yuanzhan, his spirits soared: "Master, are we going to attack Enhe? I'll go with you!"
Throughout the army, only Wei Yuanzhan was addressed as "Master" by his personal guards. At first, everyone teased him, but they had long since gotten used to it, and Wei Yuanzhan was too lazy to correct them.
He stopped and turned his head, scanning Lan Ye from head to toe. Looking at his back, which was barely straight in the afterglow, his thick eyebrows furrowed: "Where are you going? Are you healed?"
Lan Ye muttered unconsciously, "Weren't you injured too?" Then, realizing what she meant, she quickly put on a bright smile, "I'm fine, look!"
He tossed the crutch aside, and it landed safely in Chang Huai's hand. As he turned around, he was suddenly pulled back by a sharp pain in his ribs, and he slumped to the side.
Fortunately, Wei Yuanzhan had anticipated this and grabbed his arm to lift him up. Once he was steady, he said, "Alright. There are no orders to move the army for now. Go back and rest. Changhuai, take care of him."
Chang Huai should have taken Wei Yuanzhan's place and supported Lan Ye's arm. Seeing that he still had something to say, he took out the cakes he had brought for him from his pocket. At first, there was an "ah" sound in his ear, which then turned into a rough, choked voice.
Three days later, Enhe remained inactive. Gao Hongyu felt uneasy and before he could summon the generals for a military meeting, Wei Yuanzhan came to him first.
The curtain was lifted, letting in a brief ray of light before it disappeared again. Seeing him enter the room, Gao Hongyu didn't wait for him to bow before telling him to sit down and talk.
"I was just about to look for you. What is it?"
Wei Yuanzhan sat down to the side and replied, "The Northern Li Army is a bit strange."
Gao Hongyu focused his attention and gestured for him to continue.
Wei Yuanzhan: "Enhe has been stationed outside the city for three days without making a move. Based on my understanding of him, he is meticulous in his actions, and once he arrives in Lancheng, he must be planning something. What is he waiting for to keep quiet for so many days?"
Do you think he still has troops waiting to arrive?
"Lancheng is well-fortified; it is absolutely impossible for him to take it with only two thousand cavalry."
Gao Hongyu had also considered this point: "I have already sent people to Yunchuan to gather information. If the Beili troops have not arrived, then we will head straight for Yuyang."
Yunchuan is located northeast of Lancheng and is a key location leading to Yuyang. Lancheng is strategically important and easy to defend, but it is short of supplies and its defense still relies on provisions.
If Yunchuan is cut off, the supply lines will be disrupted; if Enhe's forces do not attack Yunchuan, they can borrow troops from Yuyang. Once Enhe's main force arrives at Lancheng, the city gates will open, and Yuyang's army can provide support from the rear, creating a pincer attack from the north and south.
There was some clanging and banging outside the door; inside the military camp, such sounds, though not noisy, made people feel at ease.
Despite the outside influence, Wei Yuanzhan remained solemn and said, "Going to Yunchuan alone is probably not enough. I would appreciate it if you could send someone to Daizhou instead."
If Enhe and his troops come, they can quickly transfer reinforcements from Daizhou.
After thinking for a moment, Gao Hongyu's expression softened slightly: "Okay, I'll do as you say."
News arrived in Yunchuan and Daizhou one after another.
Enhe launched a surprise attack on Yunchuan, and the city fell, severing the connection between Lancheng and Yuyang. Meanwhile, another force from Beili was harassing Daizhou.
When the commander of Daizhou saw the cavalry sent by Gao Hongyu, he suspected that Enhe's actions were a feint; he also worried that the campaign would be fruitless. If the Daizhou troops were to be lost in Lancheng, it would be a disaster for both the people of Daizhou and his own political achievements. Therefore, he held back his troops and did not go out.
July 15th, Lanzhou.
The scouts reported back again, confirming that only Enhe's two thousand cavalrymen were outside the city. Perhaps the main army encountered obstacles and was delayed in arriving, which is why Enhe remained stationary for so long.
Seeing the situation, Gao Hongyu convened a military meeting that evening and decided to first eliminate Enhe's cavalry.
Inside the council chamber, candlelight illuminated Wei Yuanzhan's face. Since sitting down, he had remained silent, his knuckles lightly touching the table, his brows slightly furrowed.
Bei Li's harassment of Daizhou City was more like the previous guerrilla warfare. There were not many people, but they really tied down Daizhou. Now that Enhe has ascended to the Khanate, his status is different. He dared to appear ten miles away from Lancheng with only two thousand cavalry. Is his arrogance due to his fearlessness or his recklessness?
Wei Yuanzhan sensed something amiss, but it wasn't uncommon for a large army to be absent from the battlefield for various reasons. This was the perfect opportunity to capture Enhe's cavalry.
Fearing that prolonged passivity would damage morale, Gao Hongyu ordered Wei Yuanzhan to lead troops at dawn to launch a surprise attack on the Enhe camp, aiming for a complete victory.
At midnight, a sudden gust of wind arose outside, shaking the door and nearly spilling the water from the cup. Changhuai hurriedly covered the teacup, then turned around to see Wei Yuanzhan standing before the sand table. He couldn't help but ask, "Master, is something amiss?"
Wei Yuanzhan glanced at him: "Does Enhe look like an arrogant person to you?"
Changhuai immediately understood his meaning and took two steps closer: "You suspect that he has other plans?"
Wei Yuanzhan shook his head: "It's hard to say. In any case, we must be on guard."
His gaze returned to the sand table, and after much deliberation, he finally focused on Yingkou Pass.
Yingkou Pass is carved out of a river valley, and its terrain is extremely treacherous. To enter it, one must proceed slowly, following the contours of the mountain. Enhe was once ambushed here, and if the night attack goes awry, the Lancheng army can retreat here. However, this place is still some distance from Enhe's camp.
Just then, the sound of someone walking with a cane came from outside the door. Without even looking, he knew it was Lan Ye. As soon as the person was exposed, Wei Yuanzhan said first, "Your injuries haven't healed yet, so stay put."
After saying this, he went out the door, mustered his troops, and prepared to leave the city.
Under the same sky, Enhe's army remained in their armor and on their horses, with defenses set up in the northeast and southeast of their camp.
Lancheng is strategically located and difficult to attack; a direct assault would result in heavy losses. It would be better to lure them out of the city and wear them down. Enhe has stationed only two thousand cavalry outside Lancheng, using himself as bait.
They had anticipated that the enemy would attack their camp, but they hadn't expected that Wei Yuanzhan's troops would come from the southwest.
Enhe, dressed neatly, was dozing on a woolen mat when he suddenly heard a noise outside the tent. He immediately woke up, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, and jumped up and left the tent.
The Lancheng cavalry came with great force, one force led by Wei Yuanzhan heading straight for Enhe's central army, while the other blocked their retreat from the flank. Although the Beili army was prepared, the surprise attack, which had been waiting for five days, still threw them into disarray.
Suddenly, the sounds of fighting erupted. Wei Yuanzhan led his troops into battle, and blood splattered everywhere the spears flew, amidst a chaotic cacophony of voices.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Beili army finally regained its footing. The initial panic had subsided, and the momentum of the counterattack was rising like an undercurrent, gradually pressing forward.
Wei Yuanzhan's troops were all elite, and their numbers far exceeded those of Enhe's. Compared with Lancheng's army, Beili's cavalry did not have the upper hand.
In the midst of the battle, Enhe glanced back and saw a young man in front of him, his armor soaked with blood and his movements sharp and fierce. A sense of familiarity rose in his heart, and he knew that those who came with him were all elite cavalrymen of Lancheng. If he could take down this group, it would be like cutting off an arm of Lancheng.
He then summoned a fast horse to deliver orders to the hidden troops behind him, and sent the Tar tribe forward to join forces and defeat the enemy.
Shouts, curses, and the clash of swords filled the battlefield outside Lancheng. In less than half an hour, crimson flames suddenly rolled on the city wall, which was Gao Hongyu's signal for Wei Yuanzhan to retreat.
The two armies clashed, swords flashing and blood splattering everywhere. By the time they saw the fire on the city wall, the Northern Li ambush troops had already flanked them from behind, joining forces with Enhe's troops to encircle and attack them from both sides.
Blood dripped from the blade into the wild grass, mingling with the wet mud. The army trampled over it, leaving behind a continuous trail of crimson.
Enhe Xun had long awaited the opportunity to fight Wei Yuanzhan, and now that the man was right before him, he spurred his horse and charged straight at him with such ferocity that it seemed as if even the night was being swept away by his iron hooves.
Immediately, the sound of arrows piercing the air came from the midst of the melee. He instinctively raised his sword to defend himself and looked ahead.
Zhi Rou's arrows flew like meteors, each one striking the wrists and feet of the enemy soldiers surrounding Wei Yuanzhan, causing a large number of them to fall.
Wei Yuanzhan looked back in a daze.
The beacon fire flickered, and a black steed galloped over. The rider on horseback drew an arrow with a backhand and steadily drew his bow.
The sounds of fighting from all sides suddenly became faint, and Wei Yuanzhan could only hear the "thump, thump" of his heartbeat overlapping with the sound of galloping hooves.
In a short while, Zhi Rou arrived at the front line. Her temples and cheeks were stained with streaks of blood, and her face was pale, indicating that she had been running for a long time.
Wei Yuanzhan had no time to voice his doubts. He suddenly thrust his spear to the side, piercing the enemy's armor like a dragon, the spear tip emerging from behind the enemy.
Zhi Rou and he had a great understanding; in the blink of an eye, no enemy could get close to the two of them.
A deafening clamor enveloped them, and a messenger on horseback reported to Enhe: "Khan, the Yan people have reinforcements. You should retreat first!"
Suddenly, a large number of Yan troops appeared behind the Tar tribe. At this moment, the Ruolan City army opened the city gates to meet the enemy, and the Beili army was caught in a pincer movement.
Enhe gazed at the city tower, pondered for a long time, and had no choice but to lead his troops to turn west.
Is this the Yan Dynasty man you've been longing for?
Enhe coldly ordered, "Retreat to Mingshui Mountain, do not linger in battle."
On the city wall, Gao Hongyu saw the banners behind him, which belonged to the troops of Daizhou. Although he did not know why they suddenly wanted to send troops, they came at just the right time. Seeing Enhe retreating, he immediately led his army out of the city and pursued them.
They pursued them all the way to the foot of Mingshui Mountain, where the Beili army disappeared into the valley. The sounds of swords fell silent, and only then did they order their troops to withdraw together with the Daizhou army.
Upon returning to the outskirts of Lan City, Gao Hongyu ordered the battlefield to be cleared. Wei Yuanzhan's cavalry had suffered heavy losses and had already entered the city. Intending to offer comfort, he went straight to Wei Yuanzhan's room upon entering the camp.
It was already dawn, and a red sun rose from the east. Banners were half-furled. Lan Ye, leaning on a cane, stood guard outside the house. Upon seeing him, he looked awkward: "My lord, my young master has a guest..."
What kind of guest would come from a military camp? Gao Hongyu raised his thick eyebrows slightly, his mind racing. He suddenly remembered what the garrison commander of Daizhou had said earlier, smiled knowingly, and patted Changhuai on the shoulder.
"Tell your general to take good care of his injuries. Bei Li will probably be quiet for a few days and won't have time to bother us." With that, he turned and left.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting large patches of light on Zhi Rou's face. Her brows furrowed as she listened to the faint sounds coming from behind her, her hands gradually clenching into fists.
A military doctor stitches up Wei Yuanzhan's wound.
Most of the time, he was extremely quiet, as if the sharp needles were not piercing his skin. Only occasionally, when a sharp pain was felt, would a low groan escape from his throat.
After an unknown amount of time, the military doctor gave him a few words of advice, then got up and left.
Zhi Rou quickly turned her back to Wei Yuanzhan, her eyes filled with worry and heartache, a look that was almost unsettling. Before she even reached him, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
There was no charcoal fire burning inside, yet Wei Yuanzhan's entire body was burning hot. He buried the lower half of his face in the crook of her neck, his voice almost a murmur: "It's not a dream... Zhirou."
He held her tightly, and Zhi Rou could smell the blood on his back. Her newly changed undergarment was now stained with red spots. Her hands hung in mid-air, unsure of where to put them.
Why did you make yourself look so pathetic?
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan chuckled lightly: "They're just minor injuries, they don't hurt."
He was still smiling. Zhi Rou's eyes stung with tears. She wanted to hug him back, but was afraid of hurting him, so she turned her head and rubbed her face against his. She gently placed her hands on his waist and groped for a moment: "What kind of minor injury is this? Why is it wrapped in so many bandages?"
Feeling itchy, Wei Yuanzhan rubbed her back with his hand, then released her slightly and stared intently into her eyes.
Her face had regained its color, though there were still a few streaks of red stains, but her eyes were as bright as ever.
Wei Yuanzhan helped her sit down on the stool and personally wiped her face with a wet cloth. The movement aggravated her wound, causing her to pause.
Zhi Rou quickly took it: "You rest, I'm not injured." She hastily smeared it on her face, and the cold air hitting her face made her feel much more awake.
Wei Yuanzhan still thought it was all unbelievable, staring at her for a while: "Didn't you return to the capital? How come you're here?"
Not only her, but also the Daizhou troops who came with her.
Zhi Rou put down the handkerchief and slowly recalled that day. Her voice was calm: "Hengping County was hit by torrential rain all night, and the official road was blocked. To get back to the capital, we had to take a detour."
In her haste to keep the appointment, she left the inn before dawn, taking a detour via the old southeastern road.
The torches crackled as the dry branches burned, casting a halo of light that resembled water, and creating layers of dark shadows in the mountain forest.
Suddenly, a man dressed as an official pounced on her horse. Zhi Rou reined in her horse sharply, and the steed neighed loudly, rearing up and nearly throwing her off.
After a while, she reined in her horse. The official was lying motionless on the ground. She dismounted to check on him and found that he was seriously injured and barely breathing.
Zhi Rou looked around and, although she could not see anyone else, she could clearly hear the sound of horses' hooves chasing after her.
Sensing something amiss, he was about to mount his horse when he caught a glimpse of the man clutching his chest. He crouched down and pulled at his clothes, revealing a scroll with a talisman protruding from the man's collar.
That was a secret letter urgently sent by the imperial court to Daizhou. After Zhi Rou took it, the pursuing riders never stopped.
Having ridden a long distance, her strength was already exhausted. Surrounded by seven men, Zhi Rou nearly fell from her saddle. Suddenly, a rider broke through the formation, his sword flashing. Her clenched fingers involuntarily loosened for a moment: "Master..."
In May, Xue Nan received a letter from Wei Yuanzhan sent to Jiangdong. Upon learning that Rou had returned to the court, she immediately rushed back from Jiangdong. On the way, she encountered an injustice and helped someone in need, which delayed her journey.
With Daizhou in sight, Zhirou realized she had missed her appointment with Sudu. Knowing that the secret message could not be delayed, she decided to go to Daizhou with her master first.
"Unexpectedly, the garrison commander of Daizhou was actually Miss Ling Cunyu. Although I had a letter and a sealed scroll, the soldiers were still suspicious. It was she who heard about this matter and invited my master and me to the government office."
Perhaps because she was on the frontier, Zhi Rou suddenly remembered where she had seen her before. In the twenty-third year of Shuo De, on the border of Bei Li, she had seen her patrolling here.
The commander of the Beili Army who harassed Daizhou was Ao Yun, a confidant of Enhe.
A feint, a diversionary tactic. Enhe often used this strategy when fighting against tribes in the past. Zhi Rou sensed the danger in Lancheng, first devised a plan to defeat Ao Yun, and then asked Ling Cunyu to send troops to help.
Her words were calm, but Wei Yuanzhan could hear countless waves in her narration.
He looked down at her, his mind in turmoil, and restrained himself, asking first, "Where is Master?"
“He’s with the Daizhou army.” Her glassy eyes held a hint of a smile as she said confidently, “He knows you’re in Lancheng, so he’ll definitely come.”
Wei Yuanzhan's gaze lingered on her face for a long time: "You came to find me all alone on horseback, aren't you afraid?"
On the battlefield, he was trapped in the enemy lines, surrounded. Zhi Rou only thought of him, and no matter how fierce the battle cries were, she pretended not to hear them.
"I'm not afraid."
Wei Yuanzhan's heart suddenly stirred, and he realized that this was someone he could never part with in this life.
He thought for a moment, then placed his hand over hers, his voice low but unusually solemn: "I've told you before, no one is more important than you. Zhi Rou, I don't want you to be in danger."
"I've told you before that I would never abandon you."
Having arrived in Lancheng and seen him on the battlefield, how could she leave? Zhi Rou flipped her palm and took his hand in return.
Seeing that he pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time, she tilted her head to follow his eyes, her long eyelashes obscuring the expression in his eyes.
Zhi Rou drew closer and closer, and Wei Yuanzhan had no choice but to turn his face away, chuckling softly, "You win."
She became serious: "What did you mean, 'won'?"
"You won our bet. I admit defeat."
Upon careful reflection, I realized he was referring to mounted archery.
Zhi Rou smiled lazily: "Then you must return to the capital to host a banquet for me, bring firecrackers as a congratulatory gift, and also..."
She spoke at length in one breath, and Wei Yuanzhan stared at her ceaseless lips, a slight smile playing on his lips: "It's a deal."
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