Chapter 1431: The War Has Changed!

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yuansui heard a very soft sigh, like the sound of raindrops piercing the air from a distant sky.

Was it himself, or—?

He remained silent for a while, but did not delve deeper into the matter. He merely glanced at the cold and quiet tent. In the wind and rain, the tent was damp and sagging, like a madman who had lost all strength and vitality under the beat of rain and wind.

Xiao Yuansui turned around and left without a word.

An autumn rain brings a chill; the surrounding temperature and the heat in the heart gradually dropped day by day with the continuous drizzle. However, a bit of uneasy anxiety slowly rose in the hearts of some people in the military camp.

These were the troops of the Shi Family.

Originally, these people had joined forces with Xiao Yuansui to set out to battle. Although they were under his banner, their loyalty was actually to the Shi Family. The life and honor of Shi Yutao and Shi Yuxin were closely related to them. To them, losing a commander from the Shi Family was like half the sky collapsing. But now, Shi Yutao had been captured by Shen Tu Tai for days, and Xiao Yuansui along with the other commanders showed no intention of rescue. The longer it dragged on, the slimmer the hope of Shi Yutao being saved became, and the more unsettled they grew.

Therefore, they went to Shi Yuxin to plead for battle, but were suppressed by Shi Yuxin.

The crowd couldn’t help but doubt whether General Shi was angry with Little Shi General for acting without authorization and no longer cared about his life and death?

Looking at the crowd’s anxious, yet bravely questioning demeanor, Shi Yuxin’s expression was instead very calm. After being silent for a long while, she said faintly, “Since the beginning of the battle, my brother’s life and death have always been tied to me. You are anxious, I can only be more anxious than you.”

“Then—”

“But now is indeed not the time for us to act rashly. To rashly go out to battle again is as foolish as his initial unauthorized attack. If defeated again, or even captured, it would be seeking death.”

Hearing this, several commanders fell silent.

Among them were those who, not knowing their limits, had followed Shi Yutao into battle for the sake of earning merits, only to return in disgrace. At this moment, facing Shi Yuxin’s calm and dark pupils, it was as if their flesh and bones were seen through. They could only tremble and retreat, while Shi Yuxin said calmly, “It’s not that I don’t care about his life and death, but right now, there is no better way than waiting for the enemy’s anxiety. After all—they have lost, a Princess.”

The crowd looked at each other, someone couldn’t help but say, “But, if the enemy remains inactive, will we just keep waiting?”

Shi Yuxin said, “Xiao Yuansui said there would be results in less than three days.”

“…”

“It’s only these two days left, just wait for the result.”

“…?”

The crowd became increasingly puzzled, whispering among themselves, “Just two or three days, we can wait, but can the people at Hulao Pass not?”

“Yes, Yu Wenye is not easy to deal with.”

“If they get the upper hand, we really will have no means…”

Amidst such anxiety and helpless emotions, the time arrived at the third day.

As everyone had speculated, yet unexpectedly, Yu Wenye at Hulao Pass still kept his troops idle, remaining unruffled and showing no flaw at all. However, urgent news came from Luoyang—

The Eastern Capital’s situation has changed!

Until that urgent report was urgently delivered into Xiao Yuansui’s tent across the camp, everyone suddenly realized that they had been so focused on Hulao Pass, on the captured Shang Ruyi, and Shi Yutao taken by Shen Tu Tai, that they all ignored the fact that the real battlefield had always been in Luoyang!

King Qi, Yu Wencheng, had already besieged Luoyang City for several days. Moreover, because Yu Wenye had blocked the ten thousand reinforcements led by Xiao Yuansui at Hulao Pass and occupied or intimidated the Eight Passes around Luoyang, so there were no more troops for support. Thus, the fall only seemed a matter of time.

And the challenge lay in the timing.

After all, Luoyang City, the Eastern Capital managed by Chu Yang for many years, was well-fortified and easy to defend, hard to attack. Even without any reinforcements, the garrison within the city under Liang Shide’s command had managed to hold back Yu Wencheng’s offense.

However, things were far from simple. The challenge also lay in the timing.

Though Luoyang City’s walls stopped Yu Wencheng’s attacks, they also blocked all external actions, including obtaining grain. Having taken Luoyang, Liang Shide also took over the Huilu Storehouse north of the city. But this time, before Yu Wencheng attacked, he had not had time to transport much grain back before being forced to close the city gates and defend. Grain was running out over time, and Luoyang City was nearly at the point of cannibalism. If no grain came in, they might fall into disorder even before Yu Wencheng’s breach.

And just last night, after a full day of siege, Yu Wencheng returned to his camp, feeling the Eastern Capital was in his grasp. So, in his pride, after a bout of heavy drinking, he fell asleep. However, under the cover of the silent night, Liang Shide suddenly dispatched a troop out of Luoyang City, breaking through layers of encirclement outside, heading north.

That place was the Huilu Storehouse.

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Yuansui let out a long breath without showing much surprise. Hua Ziyang and Shi Yuxin, who came upon hearing the news, exchanged a look. Shi Yuxin suddenly understood something and said, “Great General previously said there would be results in less than three days. So this was what you meant?”

Xiao Yuansui looked at her and said calmly, “The real battlefield has never been at Hulao Pass but at Luoyang.”

“…”

“Before I led my troops north, I had warned Liang Shide to transport more grain into the city, fearing that Yu Wenye’s future attack on Luoyang would cause a crisis, but he refused to believe it. He thought his defenses at the Eight Passes would be enough to fend off Yu Wenye, never realizing—”

At this point, he furrowed his brow.

Initially, he had confidence in the Eight Passes, doubting anyone could flatten them in such a short time.

Yu Wenye was more courageous than he thought, knew more, and was more terrifying…

Shi Yuxin seemed to think of something too, but she immediately took a deep breath and asked, “So what do you plan to do?”

Xiao Yuansui glanced at the battle report again and then said, “Our journey south this time is for the battle in Luoyang. If Liang Shide truly cannot hold Luoyang, then we are utterly defeated.”

Hua Ziyang said, “Great General, you intend to—”