For another two days, a blizzard fell from the Muyun Pass, with dense winds and snow blocking the sky and sun. The sky and the earth were so pale that they almost obscured one’s vision.
Although the weather is harsh, it is an excellent opportunity for a surprise attack.
Jiang Yun felt uneasy and personally went to the beacon tower for inspection, staring at the defense with Yun Huai. The weather was cold, and it was freezing. Heavy snow was raging. Although Meng Hui developed a new ointment to relieve the old injury on Jiang Yun’s arm, Yun Huai was still worried that His Highness’s body would not be able to hold on.
The two of them walked on the city wall to patrol, and Yun Huai said sternly, “Your Highness, rest assured that I will strictly follow Your Highness’s instructions and never slack off. Your Highness just returns to the pass.”
Jiang Yun wore thick fox fur and a light green long coat inside. Upon hearing the words, he said, “It’s alright, the beacon tower is of great importance. Gu doesn’t want it to fall so soon.”
After speaking, Jiang Yun stopped and stood at the battlements, looking outside the pass.
Yun Huai stopped and stood by.
He has been stationed at Muyun Pass for many years and naturally understands that the beacon tower is not only a simple city defense but also a reassuring pill for the people of the entire Jiangnan region. It is a precious achievement of His Highness’s one and a half years of rest and recovery time exchanged for serious injuries.
With the beacon tower, hundreds of thousands of people in Jiangnan can feel at ease.
If the beacon tower is lost, it means that the Jiang Empire has lost its first line of defense.
Even without heavy casualties, it is detrimental to morale and hearts.
Jiang Yun stood in the wind, his eyelashes covered in snowflakes. He looked ten miles away, hidden in the wind and snow, like a long dragon with a thousand tent lights. He also didn’t know in what tragic way the battle would finally end, let alone how long the two city defenses he had planned and deployed could stop Sui Heng.
He doesn’t want to face him in battle, so he wants to do his best to defend this city.
As for the future, let’s do our best and listen to fate.
On the other hand, the Sui army has opened its gates to welcome the guests on a snowy night. The King of Qi changed his mind again and, without expecting anything in return, took the initiative to send elite armies to Sui Heng. As a sincere gesture of alliance between the two countries, it was led by Tian Ye and another Qi’s General.
In addition to 3000 elite soldiers, the Qi Kingdom was also equipped with 20 giant chariots specifically designed for siege. Xu Qiao personally led the inspection and found that the chariots manufactured by the Qi Kingdom were indeed well-equipped and much stronger than the chariots commonly used in the armies of other countries today. This was probably due to Marquis Duan’s contribution, who was skilled in forging weapons.
Xu Qiao has a craving for those chariots and asked Sui Heng how to deal with them.
Sui Heng narrowed his eyes and said, “Put away the things first, and keep an eye on them.”
Xu Qiao understood, took the orders, and left.
Tian Ye soon discovered that the Crown Prince of Sui appeared polite to him, but in reality, he was very perfunctory. He neither allowed him to participate in military discussions nor actual combat, he only allowed him to stay in the camp all day, drinking and eating meat. He wanted to gather some information, but all the members of the Qinglang Battalion followed the orders of Sui Heng, the Commander, and ignored him.
Another General, Tian Ying, said, “The Crown Prince of Sui is deliberately guarding against us. They say that he’s a devil with a heart of gold and a thundering hand. It’s better for us to avoid provoking him.”
Tian Ye remained silent. The next day, he took the opportunity to eat meat and drink alcohol to bribe the Sui soldiers, hoping to gather information from them. Xu Qiao was responsible for monitoring the actions of the two and informing Sui Heng of all of Tian Ye’s actions.
Sui Heng pondered for a moment and asked Shi Fang to invite Tian Ye to come to the tent and hold a banquet to entertain him.
Tian Ye was both surprised and delighted.
“Gu has admired the General for a long time. In Gu’s eyes, the General is the most powerful General in Qi. In here, the General does not need to be restrained.”
Sui Heng boasted about Tian Ye and kept asking people to pour him wine.
When Tian Ye drinks, he is prone to showing his arrogant side. He looked drunkenly at Sui Heng and said, “I have long admired Your Highness’s heroic spirit. Your Highness killed Tian Mang, which made my heart happy! I’ll toast to Your Highness!”
He shook his glass and came to Sui Heng, saying, “That guy Tian Meng, he’s always on top of me, even trying to steal a Kunnu1It said Kunnu in raw, I’m not sure if it’s a mistake or just another term. from me… I wish I could kill him with my own hands and shatter his body into pieces.”
Sui Heng originally intended to say something else, but upon hearing this, his hand, which was holding the wine cup, suddenly paused.
After a while, he lowered his head and shook the wine cup, covering his murderous aura in his eyes, seemingly casually asking, “What Kunnu?”
“A very beautiful little Kunnu, simply a rare treasure… It was already my turn, he used his power to snatch the person away.”
Sui Heng held the wine cup in his hand and asked, “How about after the snatch?”
“That’s a tough one, even tougher than a tough horse. I heard that in order to avoid serving in the King’s bedchamber, he swallowed the poison and burned his own stomach. In a fit of anger, the King threw the person into the people below’s hands to take turns training him and even strictly ordered them to only tame the person and not touch… Tian Meng is notorious for his tyrannical behavior. He likes to hang the person on flagpoles for several days, and dislocated wrists are mild…”
Sui Heng’s wine cup in his hand cracked, and his eyes were gloomy as if water were going to drip.
The fragments of the wine cup cut his finger, he was unaware.
Sui Heng ignored Tian Ye, got up, and walked out of the tent.
The wind and snow hit his face, and for a while, the memories buried deep in his heart, almost covered in thick dust, rolled out.
He remembered the sentence he said. “From childhood to adulthood, Your Highness has been the best person for me.”
He also remembered what he said: “It’s normal for Your Highness to think that I’m not clean. No one in the world would believe that I can come out clean too.”
He remembered that he had let him walk alone on the muddy mountain path in the rain, and he remembered that he had driven him to live in the cold room in the West Courtyard.
He even remembered the plum blossom lying quietly by his pillow in the morning with the morning dew.
He deliberately made himself forget many things, and at that moment, he suddenly realized that he had not forgotten anything but instead remembered every detail about him clearly.
He regretted not being able to take better care of him during his time in the Sui capital.
Even though he knew he had suffered a lot, he still treated him that way.
Now, to hell and back, he may never be able to find him, nor will he ever be able to make up for it.
Sui Heng took out the withered flower branch from his arms, and it was as if a huge bottomless pit had been dug out of his heart. He squatted in the snow, his shoulders trembling fiercely.
Shi Fang stood silently behind, afraid to disturb.
The next morning, Xu Qiao first saw Sui Heng, who was squatting in the snow and about to turn into a snowman.
Xu Qiao glanced at Shi Fang, and Shi Fang shook his head.
Xu Qiao was worried that something might happen to Sui Heng, so he stepped forward and lightly patted his shoulder.
“Your Highness?”
Xu Qiao tentatively called out.
Sui Heng turned his head and glanced at him before saying, “Help Gu up.”
“Your Highness, this?”
“Gu’s legs are numb.”
Sui Heng said expressionlessly.
Xu Qiao: “……”
Xu Qiao quickly helped him up with the help of Shi Fang and asked with concern, “Why is Your Highness here?”
Sui Heng didn’t answer, he patted the snow off his body, and his eyes had regained their calm and sharp color.
As he walked towards the tent, he asked Shi Fang, “Where’s that surname Tian?”
“He got drunk last night, so this subordinate directly asked someone to send him back.”
Xu Qiao heard about Sui Heng inviting Tian Ye to the tent and asked, “What has Your Highness found?”
Sui Heng didn’t answer, he only coldly curled his lips.
“Gu was thinking, since the King of Qi had this kind intention, Gu should not refuse but rather accept.”
Xu Qiao was taken aback.
In the bottom of Sui Heng’s eyes, what filled them was clearly a cold and heavy killing intent. The last time he saw this kind of look in Sui Heng’s eyes was when Sui Heng publicly shot Tian Meng at the Qi envoy’s banquet that day.
In the evening, Sui Heng once again had a meeting for discussion. For the first time, he called Tian Ye and Tian Ying. Sui Heng pretended to be melancholic and sighed, “The reason why we still can’t attack Muyun Pass is all because of Gu’s improper arrangement. After much thought, only the two Generals can solve Gu’s urgent situation.”
Tian Ye Tian Ying had a vague premonition.
Sui Heng said, “Tonight is the first blizzard in ten years at Muyun Pass. Gu would like to ask the two Generals to lead your elite troops to launch a surprise attack at night and cooperate with Gu to break through the beacon tower.”
“If this battle is successful, Gu will send a letter to the King of Qi and offer a grand reward to the two Generals. The positions in Gu’s army will also be at the disposal of the two Generals.”
Sui Heng is actually trying to turn the tables directly.
Tian Ying stumbled.
To be honest, as foreign aid troops, they have no reason to charge at the forefront and die for the Sui army. The Sui army attacked the Beacon Tower for half a month but still did not capture it. Now let them be the scapegoats. Sui Heng’s behavior is simply shameless. Moreover, he comes from a noble background in the Qi Kingdom and has no intention of joining the Sui Empire for the time being. But the King of Qi sent them to support the Sui army in battle, so they also had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, the most important thing is that the King of Qi sent them here to reap benefits, not to let them charge into battle. If too many troops were lost, they would not be able to explain this to the king after returning to their country.
Tian Ying wanted to refuse, but in his spare time, he scanned the two powerful and vigorous columns on the left and right, each with a sword on their waists. The Generals of the Qinglang Battalion are filled with a murderous aura. He didn’t dare to speak out.
This Crown Prince of Sui is really too fierce and shameless!
Tian Ying couldn’t help but look at Tian Ye with resentment. He was not foolish and immediately guessed that it was Tian Ye’s recent dishonest behavior that offended Sui Heng, the other party came up with such a cunning move to punish them.
Tian Ying asked, “I don’t know what Your Highness refers to when he talks about internal cooperation and external cooperation.”
Sui Heng laughed uncontrollably and said, “Gu has his own ideas, so Gu won’t go into detail with the two Generals or the plan might leak. Gu thinks it’s getting late, so the two Generals should choose a time to leave.”
“Gu is waiting for the two Generals’ victory and return.”
Even though Tian Ye and Tian Ying were a hundred times unwilling, they could only accept the order and comply.
Sui Heng immediately summoned the brothers Lu Jishi and Lu Anmin to inquire about the training progress of the three hundred sailors.
Lu Jishi said, “They are all ready and can set off at any time, but in the past two days, there has been a blizzard and the weather has been too cold, so they may not be able to stay underwater for too long.”
Sui Heng folded his arms, with a sharp and murderous aura between his eyes, and they’re still fixed on the huge map of the Jiangnan water system, saying, “It’s not urgent.”
“When we take down the beacon tower, that’s when Gu will strike. If Gu wants to take, Gu will take the Muyun Pass.”
That night, the beacon tower was fiercely attacked by 3000 elite cavalry led by Tian Ye and Tian Ying.
Tian Ye and Tian Ying are skilled warriors who, under the cover of wind and snow, fiercely collide with the city walls and gates with transformed giant chariots. Due to the influence of wind and snow, the performance of the Lianyun Crossbows installed on the platform has been greatly affected.
Jiang Yun was changing the ointment on his right arm, and upon hearing that the ambush was from the Qi army, his movements were paused.
“You sure it’s the Qi army?”
“Yes, this deputy general has confirmed again and again that they were flying the Qi army flag, with the word ‘Tian’ written on the commander’s flag. It is said that it was an elite unit gifted by the King of Qi to the Sui army for free, led by the Qi general Tian Ye, Tian Ying, as a condition for forming an alliance with the Sui Empire.”
Jiang Yun calmly changed his ointment, put down his sleeve, and asked, “Tian Ye?”
“Yes, it was said that this person is from the same clan as the deceased Qi Kingdom’s top general, Tian Meng, who is very brave and skilled in battle.”
Jiang Yun stood up and said, “It’s alright. Gu will be with the soldiers tonight. Gu won’t let the Qi army set foot on the Beacon Tower.”
Jiang Yun still wore fox fur and pushed the door out. The wind and snow outside were raging, and Jiang Yun stood in the snow. He turned around and said to Yun Huai, who was still standing there, “Let’s go, don’t waste time.”
The Qi army came into force, and the Jiang Empire defenders had been preparing for a long time. The moment the Qi army approached, they immediately threw down wood, stones, fire, oil, and other objects to prevent the Qi army from climbing the wall. Jiang Yun personally sat in the gatehouse, and the morale of the defenders of the beacon tower was even higher than ever before.
Tian Ye and Tian Ying were forced to participate in the war and, naturally, did not want to lose too many of their own troops. After launching two rounds of attacks in a row, he saw that the Jiang Empire was fully prepared and immediately withdrew his troops.
However, when the two of them arrived at the gate, the general guarding the gate said, “His Highness is not in the camp. Before leaving, he specifically instructed that the beacon tower is of great importance, and if the two Generals cannot take it, you can’t return to the camp.”
“Moreover, the beacon tower is related to His Highness’s important plan, and we hope that both of you will not delay His Highness’s fighter jets.”
Tian Ying and Tian Ye were both furious.
However, as they looked at the tightly closed gate and the iron cavalry surrounded by dense forests, as if the tide were overwhelming, they felt a chill in their hearts.
They had just experienced a fierce battle and suffered losses to some soldiers, with less than 3000 soldiers. However, Sui Heng held 300,000 iron cavalry from the Qinglang Battalion and a group of subordinate national soldiers and horses.
If they violate military orders and engage in a fierce battle with the Sui army, they will definitely not be able to compete. Yet for Sui Heng to treat the allied reinforcements in such a manner was simply trampling the King’s face into the ground.
How dare this Crown Prince of Sui!
Tian Ying said, “It’s not that we didn’t do our best, but that the other party was well prepared. In our first round of attack, we alarmed the other party’s sentinels, and we couldn’t catch them off guard. Can the General report the truth to His Highness and ask him to accommodate us?”
The general remained expressionless and said, “We are only responsible for transmitting orders and not for anything else.”
Tian Ye and Tian Ying wanted to escape back to the Qi Kingdom at night, but they hadn’t gotten far before encountering a group of elite soldiers from the Qinglang Battalion. The leader smiled and asked, “Aren’t the two Generals were ordered to attack the beacon tower? Why did you come in this direction?”
Tian Ye and Tian Ying were already feeling guilty, and upon hearing this, they became even more guilty and murmured, “The wind and snow were too heavy, and we lost our direction for a moment.”
“No problem.”
The general waved his whip and said, “I have good eyes, I will show the two Generals the way.”
The two had no choice but to lead their troops back.
Tian Ying was a bit passive, but Tian Ye showed a lot of ambition. His eagle eyes flickered with a cold and sharp light in the dark night, and he said, “The Crown Prince of Sui was merely wanting the beacon, so rather than sitting around waiting to be killed, it would be better to shoot it down and give it to him.”
“Don’t forget, the Crown Prince of Sui even dared to shoot Tian Meng. If we repeatedly disobey his military orders, we may not have a good outcome.”
At midnight, the Qi army launched another fierce attack.
The wind and snow are dense, and the sound of killing at the beacon is deafening.
Jiang Yun remained stationed until dawn. The beacon tower’s Lianyun Crossbow was mostly damaged by the Qi soldiers climbing up the wall, and a large area of the city wall was also damaged. Fortunately, the Qi soldiers also suffered heavy losses. After dawn, it sounded once again.
However, there is currently no time to repair the city wall, and the dormant Sui soldiers will immediately launch a new round of attacks.
Jiang Yun made an instant decision, and all the defenders immediately withdrew to Muyun Pass.
Yun Huai commanded the withdrawal of troops and looked at the broken and incomplete beacon tower, feeling a bit reluctant to leave. If it weren’t for the powerful Qi Kingdom’s chariots, this high platform could have been sustained for a while longer.
Jiang Yun did not stop and returned to Muyun Pass. He immediately went up to discuss the next battle plan. Once the beacon tower is lost, Muyun Pass will become the true main battlefield for the confrontation between the two armies.
As he was speaking, Gongsun Yang suddenly rushed in and kneeled down in the tent, saying, “Your Highness, Xiao Huangsun is missing!”
The generals’ expression changed greatly.
Fan Zhou urgently asked, “What does it mean to be missing? Xiao Huangsun’s residence is heavily guarded. How could he have suddenly disappeared?”
Gongsun Yang’s eyes turn red.
“It’s all my fault for negligence. As dawn approached this morning, Xiao Huangsun suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed his stomach, saying that he was hungry and wanted to drink elk antler soup. I believed him and ordered the palace attendants to go to the kitchen to retrieve it. After returning, Xiao Huangsun disappeared. A guard saw Xiao Huangsun sneaking into His Highness’s room again. When I rushed over, I realized that Xiao Huangsun was not inside. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find any trace of him.”
“This subordinate is worried, will Xiao Huangsun…”
Gongsun Yang wished he could slap himself twice.
Fan Zhou’s heart sank. Last night, His Highness was not in the pass, and his personal guards and attendants also left with His Highness. The defense outside the palace was not strict.
Fan Zhou looked at Jiang Yun with some concern.
“It’s fine, everyone, let’s discuss first. Gu will go see the situation.”
Jiang Yun walked out of the tent as usual, and when he arrived outside, he listened to Gongsun Yang’s detailed report and held onto the tent door, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Tian Ye and Tian Ying returned to the Sui army camp with only a few hundred remaining soldiers.
The Sui soldiers, who were lurking behind, occupied the beacon tower with lightning speed.
The main tower of the beacon tower was directly razed to the ground, and the Sui army’s camp was moved ten miles forward as a whole, and the camp was reestablished.
Tian Ye and Tian Ying were waiting for Sui Heng’s reward. In order to break through the beacon tower, they almost lost all their troops and horses. However, not only did Sui Heng not reward them as agreed, but he also punished them with the military baton.
“In Gu’s place, failure to take the main stage is a defeat.”
“It doesn’t matter if you lose the battle, but even though there is still a chance to advance, you abandon your armor and flee. According to the Qinglang Battalion’s rules, you will be punished severely.”
“Considering that the two Generals have worked hard and come all the way here to help, Gu will halve the penalty and punish each of you with a hundred batons.”
With a wave of his hand, Sui Heng gave an order to drag Tian Ying and Tian Ye down.
But Sui Heng took down the beacon tower without spending a single soldier, greatly boosting the morale of the Sui army. Sui Heng held a grand celebration banquet in the army to reward the entire army.
Although the Qi Kingdom was not a subordinate state of Sui, but what happened to the two Tian Ye and Tian Ying had been seen by all the Guozhu and ministers of the subordinate states.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu said, “Guaren has heard that it was because of that wild and arrogant Tian Ye who drank and spoke recklessly, offending His Highness, that led to His Highness’s rectification.”
The Wei Kingdom Guozhu’s hand holding the wine glass slightly froze.
The Wei Kingdom is weak. In this northward battle, he did not lead many troops and horses.
Seeing the Qi Kingdom’s fate, the Wei Kingdom’s Guozhu was very worried that Sui Heng would think he was passive and negligent in the war and would also target him like he did towards the Qi Kingdom.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu comforted him.
“No problem, Guaren has many dealings with His Highness and knows His Highness’s temperament the best. Although His Highness is a bit harsh and ruthless, but he is by no means someone who goes against the rules.”
“As long as Brother Wei honestly obeys His Highness’s command, don’t be arrogant, treat yourself too seriously, and try to challenge His Highness like those Tian Ye and Tian Ying, His Highness will not treat you unfairly.”
The Wei Kingdom’s Guozhu is burdened with many worries.
He was very envious of Jiang Yuping, who was sitting next to him. The navy offered by Jiang Yuping was highly valued by Sui Heng. These days, he is proud of the spring breeze and turns around Sui Heng every day, which is not like him.
Chen Qi was also worried about something in his heart, and before the celebration banquet ended, he returned to his tent.
“My lord.”
The musician, dressed in a black robe and covered in black gauze, greets him.
Chen Qi asked, “How is it?”
The musician nodded and led Chen Qi inside, and by the marching bed, a sack was placed.
The musician untied the sack, and a beautiful snowball emerged.
It’s a baby under a year old, with skin that can be easily punctured and two small horn-shaped buns pricked on its head. At this moment, it seems like he’s gone to sleep.
Chen Qi asked, “Are you sure this is the Jiang Empire’s Xiao Huangsun? What’s wrong with him?”
The musician nodded and said, “To prevent any mishaps, the subordinate used hallucinogenic drugs.”
Chen Qi naturally wouldn’t ask about the details of the kidnapping.
The musician asked, “Why doesn’t Daren immediately hand him over to His Highness?”
Chen Qi shook his head, “It’s not the right time yet. You should take good care of this child and never let outsiders know of his existence.”
“Yes.”
The musician and Chen Qi walked out together, but they didn’t notice the small ball in the sack behind them to opened his bright black eyes and stared coldly at their backs.
This matter is confidential. Apart from his trusted subordinates, Chen Qi doesn’t let more people know. Most of the time, the musician stays in the tent to guard, and the food is also personally fetched by the musician himself.
However, in the afternoon, the musician returned with his meal and found that the sack was empty, and the little boy who had been staying obediently inside had disappeared.
“How come?”
Upon hearing the news, Chen Qi rushed back with a gloomy expression on his face.
The musician also found it unbelievable: “With so many soldiers guarding the tent, it was impossible for him, a toddler, to escape.”
“But he just escaped!”
Chen Qi was already a bit furious.
“By all means, you must find him at once!”
This time, he was acting behind Sui Heng’s back. If that baby died in his own hands, there would be endless troubles ahead.
However, after two full days, Chen Qi tried his best but still couldn’t find him or a body. Such a small baby seemed to disappear out of thin air.
After they take the beacon tower down, the next step is to directly attack the Muyun Pass.
Sui Heng convened a meeting of the generals to formulate the next battle plan. He returned late at night and had just sat down in the tent when Shi Fang came in and reported, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Wei is seeking an audience.”
Sui Heng asked, “What is he doing here?”
“It was said that he came to see His Highness under the command of the Wei Kingdom’s Guozhu.”
Sui Heng said, “Let him in.”
Wei Yun walked in.
Sui Heng was wiping his sword when he suddenly smelled something. He paused and looked up to see Wei Yun standing in the tent, wearing a green robe.
Wei Yun was once called the Prince of Appearance, known as the first beauty in Jiangnan. He had an outstanding appearance and always loved to wear white brocade robes. Now, wearing a simple and elegant green robe also gives him a unique taste.
Sui Heng lowered his head and said, “Take it off.”
Wei Yun froze.
Sui Heng continued, “You don’t have the right to wear this robe. Next time, Gu will really kill you directly.”
This is the second time Wei Yun has been humiliated in front of Sui Heng.
Wei Yun’s face was snow white, and he took off his green shirt in front of Sui Heng, trembling all over and retreating.
Sui Heng finished wiping his sword in silence and got up to sleep. During the marching battle, he never takes his armor off. However, as soon as he walked to the bedside tent, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
Staring under the bed, he said, “Come out.”
After a while, a snowball emerged from under the bed, pitifully looking at him with two big watery big eyes.
Sui Heng froze.
Where does this kid come from?
