"Urgent report, Prince Donghe’s army has already approached the Baisha River, and Prince Xichuan’s forces are marching to the foot of Luoyue Mountain."
Chen Gaoxuan’s expression was grim as he said through clenched teeth, "They plan to attack from east and west, I never thought these two would actually cooperate one day."
"Your Highness, fortunately, we were prepared." Ye Lu stepped forward and grasped his hand.
Chen Gaoxuan returned the gesture, a smile playing on his lips, "It was your foresight, knowing they would take these two routes, allowing us to prepare early."
"Even without , Your Highness would surely have thought of it, after all, these two routes are the most convenient for them. Simultaneously attacking us from both sides is also most disadvantageous for us. They would definitely choose this way, Your Highness flatters ." Ye Lu said with so shyness, then leaned into Chen Gaoxuan’s embrace.
Chen Gaoxuan held her gently, speaking tenderly, "Had it not been for you this ti, I truly wouldn’t have made it against them. When we win this battle, let’s see who else in the world dares to be my enemy."
"Then let congratulate Your Highness in advance."
"It’s a pity that recently, the market circulation of sulfur and saltpetre has decreased significantly, otherwise, we could wipe them out in one fell swoop." Chen Gaoxuan frowned again.
"How did it suddenly beco so scarce? Could soone be manipulating it?" Ye Lu asked, puzzled.
"I had people investigate. Previously, the biggest distributor in the market was your Ye Family, but suddenly there’s no stock, and the ssage your elder brother sent says the mine sources are critical, and they are looking for new sites, which takes ti to develop."
"What a coincidence?" An inexplicable sense of urgency arose in Ye Lu’s heart.
"Furthermore, I ca across so news, it’s about you and your mother." Chen Gaoxuan’s tone turned sowhat peculiar.
"About ? Don’t keep in suspense, Your Highness, tell quickly." Seeing his expression, Ye Lu grew increasingly uneasy.
"The Ye Family spread a ssage that you and your mother were attacked by mountain bandits on your way to offer incense outside the city and were confird dead." Chen Gaoxuan finished speaking and stared intently into Ye Lu’s eyes, as though trying to discern sothing.
Ye Lu’s face was both embarrassed and angry upon hearing this, gritting her teeth, "He doesn’t want to acknowledge and my mother anymore? What a ruthless heart he has!"
Chen Gaoxuan gently patted her shoulder, comforting, "It seems your older brother is determined not to cooperate with , what a pity."
"He doesn’t know how to cherish, please don’t be offended, Your Highness. He’s just that stubborn; if Father were still alive, he would never allow him to make such unilateral decisions. How unfortunate for my family mbers!" Ye Lu showed a sorrowful expression, indicating that Ye Qiu’s decision had nothing to do with her, and she was even more furious and regretful than him.
"No need for regrets, I assure you, if I win this battle, should your brother seek allegiance again, I will certainly not hold past grievances. Even if your brother is stubborn, I will not disappoint your other family mbers who are willing to trust ." Chen Gaoxuan promised her, learning from this lesson of sulfur and saltpetre scarcity how crucial the support of a wealthy rchant, who controls various distribution channels and stocks, is!
"Your Highness is truly magnanimous." Ye Lu’s heart settled, and she smiled softly.
Chen Gaoxuan laughed heartily, "A person who is not magnanimous would be a disaster to the people when sitting in that position in the future."
"Your Highness, sothing seems off ahead." When the King of Xichuan’s troops reached Luoyue Mountain, the Vanguard Camp first noticed sothing amiss, "Our scouts haven’t found any traces of Prince Linsan’s forces."
"Isn’t this good news? Perhaps that Huang Mao fellow is too afraid?" a general mocked.
"No, as far as I know, Prince Linsan is not as simple as he seems, as proven by his previous confrontation with Prince Donghe in Miyun State. Luoyue Mountain is the closest and most convenient route to his Lishan Prefecture, and it’s a defensible yet difficult to attack checkpoint, he couldn’t possibly not have laid an ambush here." Han Youjie, King of Xichuan, waved to halt the troops, "Go and check carefully to see what’s really going on."
Unfortunately, repeated reconnaissance by the scouts unearthed nothing unusual. Although the King of Xichuan sensed sothing wrong, he could not delay the agreed day with Prince Donghe indefinitely over his suspicions, as supplies were dwindling.
"All troops, listen, advance at full speed, and stay alert at all tis."
Yet, no matter how vigilant they were, so things were beyond their understanding at that ti. Just as the King of Xichuan exited the canyon of Luoyue Mountain and was about to exhale, several loud explosions ca from behind. He then watched helplessly as his forces were crushed by rolling boulders, horses trampling over his units, hearing their wails.
"Your Highness, it’s Black Coal Ball, it has blown up the mountain peak, and there are Prince Linsan’s n on the mountain."
The King of Xichuan’s eyes were blood red, and he shouted furiously, "Didn’t I order you to scout first? Why was nothing discovered?"
"Perhaps Prince Linsan’s n are few and well-hidden, thus we didn’t notice them."
Han Youjie gritted his teeth, "I knew Chen Gaoxuan wasn’t as ignorant as he seed. Why didn’t I heed the lesson after he used this tactic against Prince Donghe before? This ti, I’ve lost."
"Your Highness, should we continue to advance?" the soldier asked carefully.
"Advance, of course! If we don’t, won’t we be falling into Prince Linsan’s trap? Leave the heavily wounded here for treatnt, the rest of the troops ready your gear and speed up." The King of Xichuan said viciously, "We can’t let this matter end here today."
anwhile, Prince Donghe’s forces, advancing to the Baisha River, also faced an ambush by Prince Linsan. With the bridge destroyed in advance, Prince Donghe had to cross by ferry, only to et with Prince Linsan’s fire attack, followed by a rain of arrows with nowhere to hide.
Prince Donghe’s expression was extrely grim: "Fortunately, I joined forces with the King of Xichuan this ti, otherwise who knows how this Linsan fellow would have exploited us in the future. Truly, silent dogs bite the hardest. That Chen Gaoxuan is sothing else, much better than his useless father."
By the ti both forces broke through the siege close to Lishan Prefecture, they had already suffered significant losses, and the great battle was about to erupt.
At the sa ti, Ye Qiu was also mobilizing his own troops. Though he didn’t have many to fight, only twenty thousand, these twenty thousand had a combat strength unmatched by ordinary soldiers, aided by equipnt Ye Qiu never hesitated to provide. Well-equipped soldiers could stand against ten regular troops.
"Soldiers, as the saying goes: ’Raise an army for a thousand days, use it for an hour.’ We’ve trained for such a long ti, now is the mont to showcase your strength, are you ready?" Ye Qiu shouted loudly.
"Ready, we will march through fire and water for the Family Head!" A robust voice echoed in unison, astounding the Ye Family mbers nearby, filling their hearts with intense emotion.
User Comments
0 comments from readers