Chapter 154 After three generations of imperial rule, Wang Gang seizes the people's livelihood.
After a major battle, the small city of Yanmen was naturally devastated.
However, the common people have such resilience. Even if the city gate had a big hole, it was repaired in the blink of an eye. Soon, the walls and roofs that had been pierced by the arrows of the Turks were rebuilt with bricks and tiles, and the city walls that were stained with blood were washed clean with buckets of water. Even the faces that were full of fear gradually calmed down and were replaced with a different look.
Because Shang Ruyi didn't want to go back, she asked Tu She'er to accompany her to the city. However, she didn't expect that Yanmen County, which had been ravaged by war and was shrouded in gloom, would recover so quickly.
Tushe'er said, "Why is everyone so energetic after just finishing a battle?"
As she spoke, she turned to look at Shang Ruyi: "Miss, do you know?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi gently shook her head.
Seeing her still somewhat dejected expression, Tushe'er quickly helped her up: "Miss, is your wound still hurting?"
"..."
"I told you you shouldn't have come out. Your wound hasn't healed yet, and you're already out walking around. What if you bump into something and the wound reopens?"
Shang Ruyi smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, stop nagging. Let's find a place to have some tea and rest a bit."
Tushe'er hurriedly led her to a small teahouse in the city.
Yanmen City is small and sparsely populated, so it is naturally not as prosperous as Dongdu. There are hardly any decent restaurants or teahouses in the city. Just set up two wooden tables, a few cups, and a simple stove to warm a cup of tea under a big tree by the roadside, and you have a teahouse. The two of them walked over and sat down. The teahouse owner immediately and attentively brought them two cups of tea and a plate of pastries.
Shang Ruyi picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Just as their lips and tongues were beginning to moisten, they heard a loud slap behind them, which startled them. Turning around, they saw several tea drinkers at another table gathered together, discussing yesterday's battle. As they got more excited, they started slapping the table in their excitement.
One of the middle-aged men said, "I knew it! That Second Young Master Yuwen is no ordinary person!"
"That's right,"
Another person said, "A force of less than two thousand men actually managed to force back a Turkic army of one hundred thousand. How could a human possibly do that?"
"Of course, did any of you see the bow he was carrying yesterday? I heard that it's the Divine Arm Bow!"
"Divine Arm Bow, what does that mean?"
"It's a bow that only a god could draw—yesterday when he shot the Khan of the Shali Khan with an arrow, he was several miles away from him. To hit him like that, isn't that a divine bow and arrow!"
Shang Ruyi sat to the side. When she heard the words "Second Young Master Yuwen", her expression darkened again. She thought to herself that she had already escaped the government office, but she still couldn't escape this person. However, when she heard what those people were saying, she couldn't help but laugh.
She clearly remembered that Yuwen Ye fired his arrow from about three hundred paces away from Ashina Shali, which was indeed twice the distance of an ordinary bow and arrow, and only the Divine Arm Bow could achieve that distance. However, in the mouths of the common people, it became a distance of "several miles".
Now, in their mouths, Yuwen Ye is practically a god.
Listening to these words, Tushe'er muttered to Shang Ruyi, "They really know how to brag..."
Although her voice wasn't loud, it was very close, and as soon as the people around heard it, they immediately turned to face her: "Young lady, we're not bragging, all the people in this Yanmen City were saved by that Second Young Master Yuwen. Don't you agree?"
Tushe'er never expected that her casual remark would cause such trouble.
She glanced at Shang Ruyi, who gave her a wink, clearly not wanting to reveal her identity, and said, "It's not that I'm dissatisfied, but the soldiers who defended Yanmen City did their best. How can it all be his achievement?"
The tea drinker sneered, "Although it wasn't all his doing, do you think we'd still be sitting here drinking tea without him?"
"..."
These words left Tusheer speechless.
That's right, no one can deny that.
In fact, by yesterday's battle, the situation was almost hopeless. Unless the Daye Dynasty had several times the number of troops as the enemy, it would be impossible to relieve the crisis in Yanmen County. However, the imperial army had been transferred to Liaodong, and most of the troops who had accompanied the emperor had been killed or wounded in the previous surprise attack. They were indeed incapable of defending Yanmen City.
Tushe'er said, "But—"
Before she could finish speaking, the other person continued, "This second young master did more than just repel the Turkic soldiers. With less than two thousand troops, he repelled an army of one hundred thousand. Do you think this is something an ordinary person could do?"
Upon hearing this, the people around them also became excited.
"Yes, this was a magnificent battle that has never been fought before or since!"
"If it weren't for a god, I can't imagine who could do it."
...
Hearing these words, Shang Ruyi's mind stirred slightly.
Although she was still feeling a bit down, when it came to Yuwen Ye's battle, it was indeed an unprecedentedly thrilling one. She couldn't even imagine that such a brilliant comeback could happen under those circumstances.
With 100,000 Turkic troops at the city gates and the gates breached, he remained calm and fearless. He divided his men into two groups, cutting them off from both sides of Yanmen County and preventing the enemy from connecting. Then, he charged out from the city, from the central route, first relieving the emperor's siege, and then leading several dozen daredevils in a V-formation to break through the city gates and penetrate deep into the enemy ranks.
But at this point, it's just a tactic; it's still impossible to repel an army of 100,000.
But the real winner is him!
He clearly understood that as long as the enemy leader was defeated, the 100,000-strong army would collapse without a fight. Therefore, relying on the divine crossbow, he launched a surprise attack deep into the enemy's territory and engaged Ashina Shali in battle with his whistling arrow.
One arrow decides the outcome!
Such courage, or rather, such boldness, is indeed not something ordinary people possess.
My initial gloomy mood seemed to be somewhat lifted when I recalled yesterday's scene, as I was infected by that passionate emotion.
She smiled faintly and said, "You are right, that second young master is indeed extraordinary."
Everyone immediately agreed.
Shang Ruyi smiled, instructed She'er to drink her tea and leave quickly, not intending to say anything more to others. But just then, an old voice from the crowd said, "Gentlemen, does anyone still remember that folk song that circulated in various places a few years ago?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Shang Ruyi turned around and saw a ragged old man sitting in the corner, watching them.
The tea drinkers looked at each other, and one of the older ones said, "I do remember a couple of lines."
People around asked, "How did it go again?"
The man slowly said, "After three generations of imperial rule, Wang Gang seized the people's livelihood. The phoenix cries beside Xiaoshan Mountain, and one must look to Mizizhou for its echoes..."
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