Chapter 1398: The Longer It Lasts, the More It Favors Us

Chapter 1398: Chapter 1074: The Longer It Lasts, the More It Favors Us

“Something’s not right?”

Shen Tu Tai looked at him with some confusion, “Where does His Highness think something is amiss?”

Yu Wenye said, “That person, Shi Yuxin, apparently isn’t on the other side.”

Upon hearing Shi Yuxin’s name, Shen Tu Tai’s gaze flickered slightly. In fact, he too harbored some expectations with the intention of witnessing the famed heroine who shook Hebei, to see if she was truly as valiant as the legends told. Yet, unexpectedly, it wasn’t her who came to aid Shi Yutao; instead, it was Hua Ziyang.

However, he only said, “Xiao Yuansui is here with just a vanguard of forty to fifty thousand men, so presumably, Shi Yuxin is in the rear.”

Yu Wenye shook his head, “If that were so, then they shouldn’t have dismantled the Yellow River Floating Bridge.”

Upon mentioning this, Shen Tu Tai remembered yesterday when they went to graze horses on the North Shore and saw that the floating bridge was dismantled. Back then, Yu Wenye was visibly surprised, and Shen Tu Tai also couldn’t help but feel some suspicion. After all, the Yellow River Floating Bridge isn’t easy to construct, and since the remaining troops had yet to arrive, Xiao Yuansui had no reason to dismantle it.

Unless—

Shen Tu Tai said, “Perhaps they fear we’ll quietly cross the river from the North Shore to launch a surprise attack on them?”

Yu Wenye gave him a glance, “That’s possible, but I still think dismantling the Yellow River Floating Bridge is rather strange.”

“…”

“Furthermore, they’ve been crossing the river for many days, yet we haven’t seen the subsequent troops?”

Hearing this, Shen Tu Tai also sensed a peculiarity. He thought for a moment and said, “His Highness suggests, that Shi Yuxin and the remaining tens of thousands of troops perhaps won’t come to Hulao Pass?”

Turning to face him, Yu Wenye said, “If she doesn’t come, where would she go?”

The question obviously stemmed from a suspicion that Shi Yuxin indeed wouldn’t cross the river. Shen Tu Tai followed this line of thought and speculated, “Could it be that she intends to lead her troops around to attack Hulao Pass from behind, thus joining forces with Xiao Yuansui to attack us from both sides?”

Yu Wenye’s brows slightly furrowed.

He said, “It’s not impossible, but Hulao Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack. We ourselves used strategy to first take down Shan Shiyu before successfully capturing Hulao Pass. If she forces an attack, it won’t be easy.”

Shen Tu Tai said, “If she won’t come to Hulao Pass, then where would she lead those tens of thousands of troops?”

Here, his voice abruptly stopped, as if realizing something. He looked up at Yu Wenye but saw a sudden glimmer in those cold and steady eyes. Both simultaneously said, “Luoyang!”

The moment those words were spoken, a sudden gust of wind blew, making one feel a chilling coldness to the bone.

Currently, Yu Wencheng is leading his troops, together with Mu Xian and Cheng Qiao, to attack Luoyang. If Shi Yuxin were to seize Cijian, which now has few stationed troops, and then lead tens of thousands to attack Luoyang, she could almost immediately relieve Liang Shide. Furthermore, if Liang Shide takes this opportunity to break out from Luoyang, he could then join forces with her to encircle Yu Wencheng.

Moreover, as King Qi’s elder brother, Yu Wenye cannot simply stand by and allow his brother to fall into peril without intervening; he must withdraw troops to aid him. Should he do so, Xiao Yuansui could seize the opportunity to capture Hulao Pass.

Their achievements on the Eastern Capital side would almost be halved.

Previously, they provoked Xiao Yuansui to dispatch troops using the method of besieging to relieve support, but in this scenario, Shi Yuxin employs the tactic of surrounding Wei to save Zhao, forcing them to choose between Luoyang and Hulao Pass.

Of course, this all assumes Shi Yuxin indeed goes to attack Yu Wencheng.

Thinking of this, Yu Wenye said, “Send troops to Luoyang immediately to observe the situation over there!”

“Yes!”

Shen Tu Tai dared not delay, promptly sending orders.

Soon, a squad of cavalry tasked with gathering intel left Hulao Pass, swiftly heading towards Luoyang.

As the sound of hooves faded into the fiery glow of the sunset, Shi Yutao had already returned to the camp. He did not meet Xiao Yuansui but returned angrily to his tent to have his injured hands treated. The military doctor cautiously applied medicine, wrapped them in bandages, and gingerly reminded him to avoid contact with water for a couple of days before leaving with the medicine chest.

Just as he walked to the tent entrance, Xiao Yuansui entered with Hua Ziyang.

The military doctor bowed before immediately retreating, while Xiao Yuansui slowly walked into the tent, observing Shi Yutao’s grim expression, speaking in a low voice, “It seems you haven’t had enough fights?”

Shi Yutao glanced at him and noticed Hua Ziyang behind him, realizing he had gone to “complain.” He said coldly, “I just realized there’s no need to determine a winner in battle.”

Xiao Yuansui slowly walked over to sit before him and said, “Under Shen Tu Tai, there are no victories, only life or death.”

“…”

These words, neither soft nor hard, hit him hard. Shi Yutao gritted his teeth, unable to speak a word for a while, just snorting coldly. Xiao Yuansui saw his defiance and, with days of familiarity, had recognized his wild and untamable nature, said, “Don’t forget what your sister said before she left.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Yutao’s brow furrowed into a knot.

Seeing no further response from him, Xiao Yuansui shook his head and said, “What we need to do now is stall the forces at Hulao Pass, ensuring they remain occupied and prevent any unforeseen developments.”

Seizing the opportunity, Hua Ziyang nodded and said, “Indeed, given their situation, they seem to be genuinely short of supplies. As long as we harass them regardless of the outcome for a few days, causing them great distress and distraction, their morale will falter, offering chances of victory.”

Shi Yutao asked, “How do you know they lack supplies?”

Xiao Yuansui and Hua Ziyang exchanged a glance, then the latter replied, “Yesterday, we saw the men at Hulao Pass driving their horses to graze on the North Shore, suspecting a shortage of forage. That’s why we called for a battle today. Also, during today’s battle, Yu Wenye never deployed cavalry to charge. If after today, they continue grazing on the North Shore, we can essentially confirm the shortage at Hulao Pass.”

“…”

“In such circumstances, stalling is ideal.”

“…”

“Moreover, you know, time works in our favor.”

Shi Yutao observed them for a while, then suddenly lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and said, “I need to rest.”

Xiao Yuansui gave him a look, said nothing more, and gestured to Hua Ziyang before both left the tent together.

Once they left, the tent grew silent. Yet the quieter it became, the more Shi Yutao’s frustration grew with the silence, nearly consuming him. Reflecting on the battle at Hulao Pass today, he increasingly felt unsatisfied—he was clearly exerting pressure on the nameless Xue Lin throughout while Shen Tu Tai broke the rules to aid in battle, and his own negligence nearly led to defeat.

Indeed, he hadn’t lost.

Reflecting, he suddenly sat up: “Yu Wenye went to the North Shore to graze horses…?”