Chapter 1068 Bringing Three Hundred More Warhorses
Less than two days later, the scouts at the front sent back news.
Yuwen Ye was standing on the pass, watching the Sishui River, which ran from north to south, flow slowly with ripples in the breeze. It seemed to be a rare river in the Central Plains that flowed from south to north. Although gentle, it seemed to carry a stubbornness that was not willing to accept its fate. It flowed northward to join the Yellow River, and then began to surge and churn.
The turbid waves crashed against the shore, and the muddy Yellow River water also soaked large areas of the land along the banks, even turning the grasslands on the opposite bank a pale, withered yellow.
Autumn has arrived.
Although he had just captured the gateway to Luoyang, and the city was now under attack by his own men and the Qi King's men, and the situation was currently under his control, Yuwen Ye felt a strange sense of desolation rising in his heart. But this was only for a moment, because the next moment, this desolation was swept away by the autumn wind that blew in his face, carrying the smell of earth, leaving behind the chill of autumn in his heart.
A series of heavy footsteps sounded behind me; without turning around, I knew it was Shen Tu Tai.
Yuwen Ye asked, "How is it?"
Shen Tu Tai stepped forward, bowed to him, and said, "The scouts report that enemy troops have been spotted on the north bank of the Yellow River."
Yuwen Ye raised an eyebrow and slightly craned his neck to look east and west. However, he also knew that it was impossible to see the enemy from here. If they were really that close, and the scouts had only brought back this message, then the scouts would have returned with their heads in their hands.
So he asked, "Where are we?"
"We have arrived at Guangwu."
"Guangwu?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye was also startled and immediately turned to look at Shen Tu Tai: "They crossed the river so quickly?"
"yes."
"Over 100,000 people, could it be done so quickly?"
"The advance force that crossed the river consisted of only forty to fifty thousand men."
"oh?"
Yuwen Ye frowned slightly, as if he sensed something was wrong, but the feeling was too faint, as if his breath had been blown away. Moreover, he could hear Shen Tu Tai's heavy breathing behind him, which carried a hint of anxiety that was less noticeable than usual.
He asked, "Is there anything else?"
Shen Tu Tai said, "We don't have much fodder left."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye slowly turned his head. The two looked at each other but remained silent, as if they had already said something in their silence.
After a long silence, Yuwen Ye turned to look at the turbulent Yellow River to the north and said, "Go down and select a dozen or so elite soldiers from your men. Take them and come with me across the river this afternoon to take a look to the north."
Shen Tu Tai knew what he wanted to do as soon as he heard it. Although he had done the same thing before when he took Hulao Pass, this time his thick black eyebrows furrowed.
Seeing that he didn't move, Yuwen Ye slowly turned around: "What's wrong?"
Shen Tu Tai said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Xiao Yuan Sui is not a kind teacher."
"..."
“A wise teacher is more likely to refrain from rash actions when the situation is unclear, and will launch a full-scale attack when we show any weaknesses; but Xiao Yuansui is different, he—”
Yuwen Ye raised his hand to stop him from continuing: "I know what you're worried about."
"..."
"Don't worry, I don't regard Xiao Yuansui as a benevolent teacher. I have fought with him before. Although I may not know how to deal with him, I definitely know how to be wary."
Shen Tu Tai asked, "So Your Highness is only bringing a dozen or so people with you to cross the river this time?"
Yuwen Ye said, "They have already reached the south bank. We are only going to the north bank to observe their camp from a distance. If they really want to make a move, we have plenty of time to retreat. Besides, they have just arrived and are still setting up camp. Xiao Yuansui will definitely not be impulsive enough to launch an attack so quickly."
"..."
"With the two of us working together, are we really afraid of them?"
Hearing this, Shen Tu Tai had nothing to say. Yuwen Ye liked to fight by surprise, which would be considered arrogance on others, but on a capable person, it was a "surprise move".
Besides, it's not that he doesn't like it.
But recalling how Mu Xian and Cheng Qiao found him before they left, pleading with him like an old woman, begging him not to indulge Yuwen Ye's impulsiveness anymore, Shen Tu Tai didn't think it was "impulsiveness." But since they had spoken up and he had given a perfunctory reply, he felt he had to offer some advice now, both out of courtesy and reason.
So he said, "But I'm only bringing a dozen or so people..."
Yuwen Ye glanced at him and saw the glint in the tiger-like eyes hidden in the thick beard and hair. He suddenly understood something, smiled faintly, and said, "Alright."
Shen Tu Tai's eyes widened slightly: "Then—"
Yuwen Ye said, "Take another three hundred warhorses."
"..."
So, after noon, Yuwen Ye and Shen Tu Tai, along with eighteen elite soldiers and more than three hundred warhorses, crossed the Yellow River.
The area around Hulao Pass is characterized by towering mountains, with limited grazing land. However, the northern bank is flat and stretches as far as the eye can see. Only the ever-changing clouds that meet the sky obscure the scenery further north. The sky above, on the other hand, is high and clear, like a loving old woman watching over the mischievous children at her feet. Whether they are playing or causing trouble, it seems to be just a small joke played by heaven and earth.
After crossing the river, they headed north for more than half an hour before stopping.
This place was lush with water and grass, making it a good spot for grazing horses. Yuwen Ye had a few soldiers graze the horses on the spot, and then he led Shen Tu Tai and about a dozen other soldiers to slowly approach the riverbank on horseback.
Guangwu Town is located on the opposite bank of the Yellow River.
The river was wide and misty, but these men had sharp eyes and soon spotted the camp that was gradually being built on the opposite bank. Banners fluttered and the sound of warhorses neighing could even reach their ears across the river.
Xiao Yuansui's men did indeed arrive.
Just as they were intently watching the camp on the opposite bank, several tiny figures suddenly moved on the watchtower that was the first to be erected in front of the camp gate. They all walked towards the watchtower and looked over, as if they had also seen them.
Shen Tu Tai immediately said, "Your Highness, they've discovered us!"
Yuwen Ye smiled faintly and said, "So what if they found out? Do you think their arrows could possibly reach this side?"
Shen Tu Tai nodded without speaking. This time it was different from the previous situation when Shan Shi Yu discovered them going to investigate at Hulao Pass. There was the Yellow River in between, and even if they prepared to cross the river immediately, it would be too late.
only--
Shen Tu Tai seemed to sense something. When he turned to look at Yuwen Ye, he found that Yuwen Ye's sharp gaze was no longer fixed on the camp on the opposite bank of the river. Instead, he was looking at the turbulent Yellow River, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.
Shen Tu Tai asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Yuwen Ye was silent for a moment, then murmured, "The bridge they used to cross the river is gone."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com