Chapter 1139 All-Out Attack
Before dawn the next day, the entire camp was illuminated by bonfires lit everywhere. The soldiers got up in batches to wash and eat, and everything was in good order.
Just past dawn, the central command tent was already brightly lit. Hua Ziying led two personal guards inside and saw Shi Yutao and several other deputy generals talking to Xiao Yuansui, who was sitting in the center of the tent.
Xiao Yuansui's expression was solemn. He listened to the cacophony of advice and obstruction from the crowd but remained silent. Hua Ziying, who had been following him closely and was intimately familiar with his every expression and action, immediately noticed a hint of hesitation and uncertainty in his deep, solemn eyes.
This was an emotion he had never seen in Xiao Yuansui's eyes before.
At this moment, Shi Yutao was still urging, "General, don't hesitate any longer. Now is the time for us to send troops while Yuwen Ye is injured!"
The other two generals standing on his side echoed, "Yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Luoyang is short of food right now, so we need to win the Battle of Hulao Pass to relieve the crisis in the Eastern Capital."
"General, let's send out the troops!"
Several generals on the other side advised against it, saying, "But the chances of winning are not high if we send troops out hastily."
As soon as the man opened his mouth, Shi Yutao immediately said, "What do you mean by 'hastily dispatching troops'? Didn't we come south this time for Luoyang? Are we going to linger here until our supplies are all gone before it's considered hasty?"
Someone else said, "But no one is ready yet."
Shi Yutao immediately said, "What other preparations are needed? Do we have to wait until the gates of Hulao Pass are closed and they bow to you in invitation before we're considered ready?"
...
Several people tried to speak, but he silenced them all, leaving everyone speechless. Shi Yutao then looked at Xiao Yuansui, his eyes reddening, "General, we can't delay any longer. My sister has been captured for two days now. If we don't send troops soon, I'm afraid—"
Xiao Yuansui glanced at him indifferently.
No matter how much the two sides argued, no matter how flustered Shi Yutao was, he still had some hesitation in his heart. Just then, he saw Hua Ziying walk in, so he asked, "What is it?"
Hua Ziying stepped forward, bowed, and said, "The scouts report that enemy warhorses have been spotted on the north bank of the Yellow River."
"Warhorses?"
Xiao Yuansui frowned: "What are they trying to do?"
Hua Ziying said, "Our people have been investigating for a long time. It turns out that their people drove the horses to the north bank of the Yellow River to graze. It seems that they don't have enough fodder."
"..."
"I just don't know if they're using the same old tricks again."
Upon hearing the words "the same old tricks," Shi Yutao's face immediately darkened.
He hadn't forgotten that Yuwen Ye had used the pretense of grazing horses on the north bank of the Yellow River to lure him across the river to start a battle, and he had almost been captured by the enemy. If Xiao Yuansui hadn't led his troops to arrive in time, he would have been captured alive by Shen Tu Tai that time.
Unexpectedly, they're using this trick again.
Thinking of this, Shi Yutao's cheeks felt burning hot.
The other generals, upon hearing this, became even more eager to try: "Yuwen Ye is quite arrogant. If he uses the same trick a second time, it will be too obvious."
"Speaking of which, they have come from afar, and Yuwen Ye has been guarding Hulao Pass for so many days, I'm afraid their food supplies are almost exhausted."
"Now is the perfect time to send troops!"
"General, don't hesitate any longer!"
Xiao Yuansui remained silent until everyone sensed the strange, even oppressive, silence and quieted down. Only then did he slowly raise his head in the stillness and say, "Send troops to Hulao Pass."
Several generals immediately showed expressions of joy, especially Shi Yutao, who breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously turned to look out of the tent, as if he was about to go out and lead the troops.
Hua Ziying then asked, "General, how many troops will be deployed this time? And who will lead them?"
Xiao Yuansui let out a deep breath and said, "The army, launch a full-scale attack! I will personally lead the troops!"
Everyone was taken aback.
Although everyone wanted to send troops, they were all taken aback when Xiao Yuansui mobilized his entire army. However, Hua Ziying immediately understood that they didn't have much more. With Yuwen Ye injured and the Hulao Pass cavalry short of fodder, plus the fact that Luoyang needed the battle at Hulao Pass to resolve the siege, it was the perfect time for them to send troops!
Xiao Yuansui slowly stood up and said to Shi Yutao and the others, "You, go down and pass on the order immediately!"
The crowd snapped out of their shock and immediately obeyed the order, turning and leaving.
Soon, the sound of soldiers running and assembling could be heard outside. After they lined up, the warhorses also came out of their stables and were led out of the camp in groups, quickly assembling together.
Two personal guards helped Xiao Yuansui put on his armor. The heavy mountain-patterned armor made him look both imposing and heavy. He twisted his wrist guards as he walked to the entrance of the main tent, lifted the curtain, and looked at the menacing soldiers outside. For them, being turned upside down by Yuwen Ye and his dozen or so men was a humiliating disgrace. They were eager to retaliate, and this time, their campaign was just the right time.
Moreover, with their army of over 100,000, if they really wanted to send troops, they could flatten Hulao Pass!
Everyone was thrilled.
Looking at the excited faces illuminated by the firelight, Xiao Yuansui's eyes seemed to darken even more in the firelight. He slowly lowered the tent flap, and when he turned around, he met Hua Ziying's equally solemn expression.
He asked, "What?"
Hua Ziying was silent for a moment, then said, "Does the General still have any doubts?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuansui felt as if he had been struck in the heart, and his breathing slowed down for a moment.
In fact, sending troops now is their best option. Considering the timing, the situation in Luoyang, and Yuwen Ye's current state, they should indeed send troops at this time. His rationality can tell him this.
However, for some reason, ever since that night when Shan Tong'er rescued Yuwen Ye by the Yellow River with a group of monks who should never have appeared, he had been feeling a sense of bewilderment that even his reason could not suppress.
Can he really defeat Yuwen Ye?
Even if he brought 100,000 troops to the border, could he defeat Yuwen Ye, who was already wounded and short of troops at Hulao Pass?
Just as the two were facing each other in silence, the guard outside suddenly spoke up: "Princess Qin? What brings you here?"
Immediately afterward, Shang Ruyi's deep voice rang out: "I want to see Xiao Yuansui!"
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