Chapter 1041 We Cannot Sit and Wait for Death
Almost at the same moment that Lei Yu's figure disappeared from Shang Ruyi's sight, hundreds of miles away in Xiaopingjin Pass, in Yuwen Ye's military tent, the candle that was about to go out reignited after a personal guard took scissors to cut off a section of the wick. The flickering firelight illuminated the large but simply furnished military tent, which contained only a bed in the corner and a table in the center, and also illuminated Yuwen Ye's cold and stern eyes.
At this moment, those eyes were fixed on the map laid out on the table.
After capturing several key passes among the eight passes of Luoyang, he obtained maps of these places and, based on the accounts of surrendered generals and prisoners, roughly figured out Liang Shide's troop deployments at these passes.
Indeed, it was not much different from what they knew.
The Xiaopingjin Pass he now occupies is located at the heart of the Yellow River. To the west lies the closed and fortified Mengjin Pass, and to the east is the strategically important and dangerous Hulao Pass!
While still in Chang'an, he had already made Hulao Pass his primary objective and the most crucial point of the campaign. If Hulao Pass were captured, Luoyang would be within reach, and Liang Shide's tens of thousands of garrison troops would be virtually no threat. However, if Hulao Pass were not captured...
Staring at the pass he had circled with cinnabar on the map, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Just then, someone lifted the curtain and came in.
As soon as the tent flap was lifted, a gust of wind carrying a chill and a faint earthy smell rushed into the military tent. The wind also carried the low sound of waves from the Yellow River ferry not far away. It almost overturned the map on the table, but Yuwen Ye immediately pressed down on one corner of the map with one hand.
As soon as he looked up, he saw Mu Xian walk in: "Your Highness."
He did not bow, for he was carrying a tray with two bowls of food that had been reheated countless times. The rich aroma immediately masked the earthy smell in the wind and filled the entire tent. Mu Xian walked over, bent down and placed the bowls and chopsticks on the table, and said softly, "Your Highness, please have something to eat."
Yuwen Ye frowned: "I can't eat, take it away first."
Mu Xian disobeyed, but instead looked up at his face and said softly, "Your Highness has not eaten much these past few days. If we really have to send troops, Your Highness's body will not be able to withstand it."
Yuwen Ye said impatiently, "I know my own body."
"Your Highness..."
Mu Xian wanted to persuade him again, but seeing his gloomy face, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
In truth, he understood why Yuwen Ye had been unusually listless and unable to eat or drink these past few days. In the past, even when he was severely wounded and on the verge of death in the army, he would force himself to chew on dry biscuits, piece by piece, because only by eating could he survive. But this time—ever since capturing Xiaopingjin Pass, it felt as if a piece of Yuwen Ye's heart had been ripped out, and eating anything felt like burning that wound.
The reason, of course, was Lei Yi's death.
Mu Xian had followed him for many years. Before Shang Ruyi married into the Yuwen family, he was arguably the closest person to Yuwen Ye. How could he not know the friendship between him and Lei Yu? How could he not know that he had once ridden horses, shot arrows, hunted and released hawks with Uncle Lei when he was young? Now, they were separated forever, and it was because of his own military campaign. Yuwen Ye might not regret it, but he must be heartbroken.
Moreover, it's very uncomfortable.
But no matter how uncomfortable they are, they still have to eat. It's not just for their own health. They have now captured Xiaopingjin Pass, and Hulao Pass is right in front of them. They are just waiting for an opportunity to send troops. If Yuwen Ye loses his appetite because of this and it affects his health, it could be fatal on the battlefield!
With that thought in mind, Mu Xian could only muster his courage and softly advise, "Your Highness, please eat a little—"
Before he could finish speaking, a gust of wind blew in, lifting a corner of the tent. Immediately, a commotion erupted outside, as if people were shouting and cursing in the military camp. There seemed to be quite a few people involved. Yuwen Ye immediately looked up and asked, "What's going on?"
Upon hearing this voice, Mu Xian's brows furrowed.
On his way to fetch food from the kitchen, he saw several of his generals arguing with the people from Xiaopingjin Pass. Mu Xian overheard a few words. It wasn't a big deal, but he knew that some of his soldiers came from the Left Imperial Guard and had received favors from Lei Yi. Although the surrender of the people from Xiaopingjin Pass was advantageous to them, it left a thorn in their hearts. So they had been picking fights for the past two days, and tonight they had started arguing again over a trivial matter.
Mu Xian had just scolded them twice, and thought he had persuaded them to calm down, but judging from the situation, it seemed that they would not be able to swallow their anger and would start making a scene.
So he said, "This subordinate will go and handle it."
After saying that, he was about to get up and leave, but just as he reached the door, he heard Yuwen Ye behind him stand up and say, "I'll go and see for myself."
Mu Xian could only step aside, and Yuwen Ye walked over, lifted the curtain, and went out.
It was late at night, pitch black all around, almost impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. However, due to the army's need for patrols and vigilance, several campfires were still burning, illuminating the neatly arranged tents and also the figures of a dozen or so people gathered not far ahead, shoving and shaking violently. Before Yuwen Ye even approached, he could hear the sounds of shouting and cursing from both sides—
What do you want to do?
"You fucking hit me and didn't apologize, and now you're asking me what I want?"
"You bumped into me on your own!"
"That's right, we all saw it."
"You saw nothing! A bunch of blind, heartless bastards! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
Are you looking for trouble?
"screw you!"
Just as the two sides had started fighting, someone raised a fist the size of a vinegar jar to strike, when a low shout came: "Stop it, both of you!"
Everyone was startled and turned to look. They saw Mu Xian hurriedly walking over and forcefully separating the people who were already fighting in a chaotic mess. Behind him, Yuwen Ye walked over slowly with his hands behind his back and a sullen face.
As soon as they saw him approaching, the hearts of the guards at Xiaopingjin Pass sank.
When they presented Lei Yi's head to Prince Qin, Yuwen Ye rewarded them handsomely, but his attitude was a bit strange. After making inquiries over the past few days, they learned about his relationship with the Lei family. They were all terrified, fearing that he would seek revenge. So, no matter how others provoked them, they secretly endured it and dared not cause any trouble, for fear of arousing Yuwen Ye's anger.
Unexpectedly, tonight, he finally found an opportunity.
Several people looked pale and somewhat unwilling. Two of them, who were standing in the corner, even reached out and quietly touched the knife at their waist.
If Yuwen Ye really wanted to settle a personal score, they couldn't just sit idly by and wait to die.
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