Chapter 1404: Rescue Wei to Save Zhao, Two Birds with One Stone

Chapter 1404: Chapter 1080: Rescue Wei to Save Zhao, Two Birds with One Stone

The people below took orders and immediately went down to assemble the troops.

However, several Deputy Generals were puzzled, and among them, Xue Lin stepped forward and asked, “Your Highness, are we dispatching troops to cross the river and attack Xiao Yuansui?”

Yu Wenye shook his head, “Deploy to Hu Yang Valley.”

“What?!”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, astonished and speechless. They were guarding Hulao Pass now to block the eastern gate of Luoyang and prevent Xiao Yuansui’s army from going to the Eastern Capital for reinforcement. Why suddenly deploy to Hu Yang Valley?

Yu Wenye did not explain much and merely waved a hand, “Prepare to depart in half an hour!”

After saying this, he turned around and returned to the main tent. Immediately after, Xue Lin also went into the main tent and saw Shen Tu Tai with a serious expression. He wanted to ask something but decided to speak directly to Yu Wenye, “Your Highness, shouldn’t we be guarding Hulao Pass now? Why go to Hu Yang Valley?”

Yu Wenye did not answer him but gasped heavily, as if he needed to do this, or otherwise he would be overwhelmed by a certain emotion.

Next to him, Shen Tu Tai said solemnly, “The Princess is in Hu Yang Valley.”

“What?”

Xue Lin immediately showed a surprised expression upon hearing this, “Why would the Princess be in that place?”

Shen Tu Tai said, “Remember I told you before, Shi Yutao’s sister, Shi Yuxin, disappeared, and Xiao Yuansui originally mobilized an army of over a hundred thousand from Hebei, yet at least eighty thousand of them have not crossed the river. Shi Yuxin took this force to Huai State. Now—”

As he spoke, he seemed to realize something and looked up at Yu Wenye.

At this moment, Yu Wenye seemed to finally release all the accumulated tension and negativity that had recently inflated in his chest, becoming calmer. He turned back to him and said, “You stay here and continue to guard Hulao Pass. I will resolve the matter over there and return quickly.”

Shen Tu Tai immediately said, “Your Highness, it is better for me to go!”

Yu Wenye shook his head.

Standing on one side, Xue Lin looked at him and then at Shen Tu Tai, seeming to understand a bit of why Yu Wenye gathered the army. He also knew that the ties between Prince Qin and Princess Qin were deep, and he certainly would not abandon the Princess for the situation at Hulao Pass. He thought for a while and said, “Your Highness, it is better to let me lead the troops. Hulao Pass is vital; it cannot be without you and General Shen Tu.”

Yu Wenye looked at him, his gaze lacking any emotion, but his tone was slightly complex, “Hu Yang Valley is what’s truly important.”

“…”

“More important than Hulao Pass.”

“…?”

Xue Lin opened his eyes wide in puzzlement.

Even though the Princess held a noble status and Prince Qin had deep ties with her, how could a mere Hu Yang Valley be more important than the current standoff between two armies involving the Hulao Pass and affecting the Eastern Capital’s battle?

Luckily, Shen Tu Tai spoke up, “What do you think Shi Yuxin brought eighty thousand troops to Hu Yang Valley for?”

Xue Lin shook his head somewhat confused.

Shen Tu Tai took him by the arm to Yu Wenye’s desk, and although they were looking at the map upside down, due to their familiarity with the terrain, he could instantly identify the mountains, rivers, cities, and towns on the map. Shen Tu Tai said, “Shi Yuxin’s eighty thousand troops intend to seize Huai State and Heyang.”

As he spoke, he glanced back at Yu Wenye, who, although silent, had veins throbbing on his forehead, indicating that this matter was weighing heavily on him.

Shen Tu Tai continued, “Then, they can pass through Fukou Pass into Shangdang, and head south to seize Pupan.”

If earlier hearing Huai State, Heyang, Shangdang, Xue Lin was somewhat clueless about Shi Yuxin’s intentions and what worries Yu Wenye and Shen Tu Tai, hearing Pupan suddenly made it clear; he looked at the map filled with ravines and suddenly took a sharp breath, “They intend to directly attack Chang An!?”

“Exactly!”

Upon saying this, even Shen Tu Tai shivered.

This strategy was completely unforeseen; Xiao Yuansui leads a seemingly moderate number of troops across the Yellow River to confront them at Hulao Pass. On the surface, Yu Wenye’s forces block the eastern gate of Luoyang, preventing Xiao Yuansui from reinforcing Luoyang, but actually, Xiao Yuansui drags them here while Shi Yuxin’s eighty thousand troops are the actual killer move!

She leads this force northward to seize Huai State and Heyang, then pass through Fukou Pass into Shangdang—though they heard Ashina Zhuxie was defeated in Xiazhou before, should he bypass to return to Shangdang and unite with Shi Yuxin, then head south to seize Pupan, Chang An would essentially be theirs!

Moreover, Yu Wenquan previously already gathered the entire army to the Eastern Capital, and now there are only a few guards remaining inside Chang An City. Under such circumstances, the troops sent to Luoyang must return quickly to provide aid, thereby resolving the siege of Luoyang.

This is the stratagem of encircling Wei to rescue Zhao, a plan that hits two targets with one blow!

Xue Lin felt goosebumps all over his body, his scalp tingling as his Adam’s apple rolled for half a day, finally squeezing out a somewhat raspy voice, “So close…so dangerous…”

Yu Wenye turned to look at him, then exchanged a glance with Shen Tu Tai. Although neither showed much panic, they clearly saw both had cold sweat across their foreheads.

This strategy was brilliant and lethal!

Yu Wenye said, “The matter of Hu Yang Valley should not be disclosed. Just keep guarding Hulao Pass well. Since Xiao Yuansui wants to stall, dispatch troops to cross Sishui every few days for skirmishes, but remember, do not dispatch large forces.”

Shen Tu Tai said, “I understand.”

Yu Wenye looked at Xue Lin, “Remember as well, do not act impulsively.”

If in the previous battle outside Hulao Pass, he realized there was a great disparity between his combat strength and the opponent; then hearing this strategy, Xue Lin clearly understood that some people’s wisdom verges on supernatural, something he simply cannot match.

In such circumstances, listening to the wise is the smartest choice.

He immediately took orders, turned, and walked out.

Leaving the two inside the main tent quiet for a long time, Yu Wenye strolled again to his desk, gazing at the map where Taihang Eight Passes run through, with Hu Yang Valley merely a small black dot but its current battle situation unknown and intense. He said in a profound tone, “Wa State produces Nu Ying…This Nu Ying truly is extraordinary.”