Chapter 619 Who will take the Eastern Front? Who will take the Western Front?
A huge map was immediately moved from the military camp to the county government office and hung in the center of the council hall.
This time, Shang Ruyi knew the situation was very different from the previous campaign against Fufeng, and she didn't need to interfere. However, she still focused intently on the complex terrain on the map. Even so, she clearly heard a low murmur from the other side—
"So this is what the Eight Passes of Taihang are like."
"...?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately raised her head.
Yu Mingyue, sitting opposite, had a slight flicker in her eyes. It was probably the first time she had seen such a map, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. But the next moment, she seemed to realize that she had misspoke, so she immediately pursed her lips and glanced around.
The people around her were focused on the map and the dangerous battle taking place on that complex terrain, and no one noticed her. Yu Mingyue had just breathed a sigh of relief when she looked up and met Shang Ruyi's flickering gaze.
Both of them caught their breath.
However, before their eyes could reveal any more emotions, Yuwen Qian and Yuwen Ye had already stood up and walked to the map. In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on it. The two of them remained silent, their eyes scanning back and forth across the complex terrain crisscrossed by ravines on the map.
After watching for a while, the expressions in their eyes became complicated.
This map depicts the entire Taihang Grand Canyon, stretching for nearly a thousand miles and running from north to south.
The terrain here is complex, with deep ravines. From north to south, apart from Shuozhou and Dingxiang, which are of great strategic importance, the two places they need to pay the most attention to now are Jinzhong and Linfen. Taiyuan has been occupied by Wang Shaoji and the Western Turks, and Yuwen Cheng is besieged near Yicheng. In other words, the enemy's forces are also near Linfen.
Once they occupy Linfen and then move south, Tongguan will be in danger.
But there's more to see than just this.
Yuwen Ye's gaze was fixed on the other side of the map, where several places had clearly been marked repeatedly in countless past battles. These were the "Eight Passes of Taihang" that Yu Mingyue had just unconsciously murmured. In other words, they were the eight passages in the Taihang Mountains that led into the Central Plains.
Similarly, if the Central Plains were to wage war here, these eight passes of Taihang would be eight gaps.
As Chu Zhengfei just mentioned, a troop of soldiers was spotted approaching Zhiguan Pass, which is the southernmost of the eight passes of Taihang Mountain. It is also the only way for Luoyang to launch military operations into Guanzhong, and the closest breach to Tongguan Pass. If Luoyang were to use this pass to attack Guanzhong, Tongguan Pass would be under immense pressure.
Furthermore, if Tongguan were breached, Yuwen Yuan, who had just ascended the throne three days prior, would likely face immense pressure. Moreover, if Wang Shaoji and the Western Turks, who had already occupied Taiyuan, were to seize the opportunity to advance south, they could very well nip the newly established Great Sheng Dynasty in the bud.
But also—
If troops from the Central Plains were to pass through here and head north towards Jinzhong, the situation in Taiyuan would become even more complicated.
Yuwen Ye stared intently at Zhiguan Pass, then moved his gaze upwards along the pass, passing Taihang Pass, Bai Pass, and Fukou Pass. Finally, he gently tapped Jingxing Pass with his finger and asked, "When did the Western Turks send more troops to Taiyuan?"
Chu Zhengfei said, "The news came three days ago."
"Has the person arrived yet?"
"not yet."
Approximately how many troops are there?
"We don't know yet. But judging from the news sent back by our scouts, there are probably at least tens of thousands of troops."
"..."
"Once this group of Western Turks arrives in Jinzhong, Taiyuan will be even more—"
It's even harder, or rather, even less likely to get it back.
Chu Zhengfei was, after all, just a garrison commander of Tongguan, and could not directly express his opinions on the battle at the front, otherwise it would be considered to disrupt the morale of the army. However, the unfinished words he spoke were the result known to everyone present, even Shang Ruyi.
Taiyuan City was well-fortified and easy to defend, which is why Yuwen Yuan dared to entrust his birthplace to his youngest son when he went to Daxing City to achieve great things.
Unexpectedly, Yuwen Cheng proved to be so incompetent that he actually lost Taiyuan City.
Not to mention the loss of Taiyuan, which was occupied by two forces, Wang Shaoji and the Western Turks. It would be extremely difficult to retake it. If reinforcements were sent, it would be uncertain whether they could even take back Taiyuan or return safely from this battle.
For a moment, everyone fell silent.
In the midst of this suffocating silence, Yuwen Qian slowly stepped forward, staring at the map before him for a long time. His clear gaze finally seemed to have found something, and he reached out and pointed to an almost invisible mark on the map: "This is Yicheng?"
Chu Zhengfei stepped forward and immediately said, "Your Highness, this is the place."
"So, where is Third Brother trapped?"
"It's probably here."
Chu Zhengfei also reached out, first pointing to the spot in Yicheng, then drawing a line southeast from that spot: "It's here."
Yuwen Qian immediately focused his attention on the direction of his fingertip—but even Yicheng was just a tiny, barely visible dot, and the valley where Yuwen Cheng was located, which was surrounded, was reduced to a thin line, making it impossible to discern the specific terrain.
Yuwen Qian frowned involuntarily.
Seeing this, Chu Zhengfei immediately said, "The map here is incomplete, but the men I sent to Yicheng to meet the Prince of Qi should know the terrain around there. We can have them draw up a map overnight. If the Prince of Han wants to ask, I can call someone over immediately."
Yuwen Qian thought for a moment, then gently waved his hand and said, "No rush."
As he spoke, he looked up at Yuwen Ye, who was standing on the other side of the map. The other man's cold eyes slowly moved from the map to his face.
As their eyes met, an unseen storm was brewing beneath the surface.
Yuwen Ye said, "That's right, there's no rush now."
"..."
"My brother and I should first figure out which path we should take and what we should deal with."
Yuwen Qian smiled and nodded: "Not bad."
As they spoke, their gazes turned to the map at the same time. Although the map was very complex, stemming from the intricate terrain and significant military importance of the Taihang Mountains, one thing was clear from the current situation: there were two routes on the map.
Firstly, they could take the western route, heading north along Yuncheng to Yicheng near Linfen to rescue Prince Qi, Yuwen Cheng. After ensuring his safety, they could continue north to Jinzhong and recapture Taiyuan. Secondly, they could take the eastern route. If troops from Luoyang did arrive at Zhiguan Pass, they must defend against them as soon as possible to prevent Liang Shide from getting involved in the battle. If not, they should head north quickly to defend against the Western Turks' reinforcements to Taiyuan and, together with the troops on the western route, capture Taiyuan.
In other words, the two of them are going to split up.
The problem is—
Who will take the eastern front? Who will take the western front?
Judging from the routes on the map and their deductions about the situation, the western route was much easier. After all, they only needed to rescue the King of Qi who was besieged near Yicheng, and then they could go directly north to Taiyuan. The eastern route was obviously much more complicated, because they might have to face the black hand reaching out from Luoyang and deal with the reinforcements from the Western Turks.
Once Luoyang sends additional troops, or engages with the Western Turks, it will be difficult to extricate itself. Even if it wins, it will likely suffer significant losses, ultimately creating an opportunity for the western forces to focus solely on attacking the city.
Yuwen Qian was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Second brother, which path do you want to take?"
Yuwen Ye looked up at him and said solemnly, "There is an order of seniority, so naturally the emperor should choose first."
Yuwen Qian said, "As the elder brother, I should naturally defer to my second brother."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye remained silent for a moment before saying, "In that case, I shall respectfully comply."
Yuwen Qian smiled and asked, "I wonder which path my second brother will choose?"
At this moment, Shang Ruyi, who had been silent all along, began to breathe rapidly, but she did not say anything, only staring fixedly at Yuwen Ye's back.
What will he ultimately choose?
However, at this point, his choice seemed quite clear.
After all, when he was looking at the map, he kept asking about the terrain of the Taihang Eight Passes, which is the eastern route; while Yuwen Qian kept asking about the terrain near Yicheng, which is the western route.
Although the tasks on the western front were much easier than those on the eastern front, Yuwen Ye was never one to shy away from the easy tasks; on the contrary, he was someone who liked to face challenges head-on.
Moreover, he had already fought Ashina Shali of the Western Turks back in Yanmen County, and the two were sworn enemies. This time, the Western Turks sent more troops to Taiyuan, which was very likely because they knew that the people in Taiyuan had sent a message to Guanzhong. Yuwen Yuan would definitely send Yuwen Ye as one of the generals.
This battle felt like a clash of titans.
However, everyone knows the significance of this Battle of Taiyuan. Yuwen Yuan made it very clear before they set out that whoever takes Taiyuan first will be named the crown prince!
Will Yuwen Ye take the risk in this matter? Or will he follow the rules, establish merit, and secure his position as crown prince before making any moves?
After all, he was the kind of person who would betray the emperor at the last moment for the sake of the crown prince position!
At that moment, not only did he fall silent, but everyone in the council chamber also fell silent.
Everyone stared intently at him, and Yuwen Ye seemed to be making his final considerations. He pointed two fingers along the Zhiguan Pass he had just indicated, towards the Taihang Pass, Bai Pass, and Fukou Pass to the north. Everyone held their breath, as if they were waiting not for his choice, but for the future direction of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Therefore, his choice should be—
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