Chapter 119 - 118: Envoys from Yunzhou
Gu Zhan was slightly taken aback and asked in surprise, "Our own people? What do you mean? Is there a traitor?"
After that squad of soldiers left, Yang Yuzhi finally let out a long sigh and said, "Those people just now were from Dragon Pass. The one leading them, the Ceremonial Officer, is a close friend of mine. He told me the truth.
Originally, everything was proceeding smoothly according to the secret mission plan. The Grand General of Dragon Pass lured hundreds of thousands of White Lotus Sect elite troops into Dragon Pass’ Daomakou. However, when they reached Daomakou, the Langya Army, who were supposed to appear, never showed up.
Not only did they not appear, but the White Lotus Sect seemed to have already known the top secret ambush at Daomakou in advance. They had even prepared beforehand and launched a counter-encirclement. The Grand General led three hundred thousand Dragon Pass soldiers in a bloody fight for three days and nights, but in the end, exhausted, they perished, and Dragon Pass fell.
The Langya Army only arrived, belatedly, on the third night. Their commander was Marquis Liu, known as the undefeated general. But by then, Dragon Pass was already lost. Even Marquis Liu could not turn back the tide. He could only swiftly devise a strategic withdrawal, abandoning Yunzhou’s northern frontier, leading the army to retreat to Celestial Decree Pass. Using Celestial Decree Pass as the main line of defense, supported by eighteen cities in central Yunzhou, they stretched out a long defensive line to resist the White Lotus Army."
After speaking,
Yang Yuzhi sighed, closed his eyes slightly, and said, "But, although Marquis Liu’s decisive action has temporarily held off the White Lotus Sect, Dragon Pass has been lost. Three hundred thousand soldiers— They did not lack the courage to fight. It was the failure of the secret mission that led to catastrophic defeat!"
Yang Yuzhi slowly opened his eyes and gazed at Gu Zhan, saying, "Lord Gu, do you know, Wu Yang, even on the verge of death, still said to me that Great Xia was rotten to the core and beyond saving. I didn’t agree at the time, at least thought that those in the military willing to cooperate with the secret mission were still good people—
Like the Grand General of Dragon Pass, like Marquis Liu, both men of iron will. They both acted without hesitation for the mission’s sake, paying dearly for its success. But I never expected that Great Xia was already decayed to this extent.
Even the military has rotted this far. The secret missives between Marquis Liu and the Grand General passed through the hands of only a handful of people, yet without exception, all of them were pillars of Great Xia, the very backbone of the nation.
But even so, the missive was still altered. Someone changed the Grand General’s letter to Marquis Liu, causing Marquis Liu’s arrival to be delayed by three days, resulting in the fall of Dragon Pass, the Grand General’s death, and three hundred thousand soldiers becoming nothing but bones. Three hundred thousand!"
Gu Zhan said gravely, "Has the traitor been identified?"
"It’s still under investigation," Yang Yuzhi replied. "Very few knew about the secret mission. My junior brother Wan and I are the lowest in rank; the others are all heavyweights, people of great importance. I never imagined a traitor could emerge among them. Has Great Xia rotted this much?"
Yang Yuzhi’s tone was very calm,
But precisely because of this, Gu Zhan felt all the more Yang Yuzhi’s despair,
He had sacrificed so much for the secret mission,
The failure of the mission—one could only imagine the blow it dealt him,
And now he seemed so subdued,
It could only be said, there is no sorrow greater than a dead heart.
...
After a long silence, Yang Yuzhi said slowly, "Lord Gu, there is one more matter for which you must make preparations. The defensive line anchored on Celestial Decree Pass and supported by eighteen cities has already been deployed. Among them is our Linjiang City."
"Hm?" Gu Zhan was somewhat surprised. "Linjiang City is being pushed to the front line?"
Yang Yuzhi nodded. "According to Marquis Liu’s plan for Yunzhou’s geography, the few cities before Linjiang have been directly abandoned. Before Linjiang, there is a military stronghold called Jiming Posthouse, always garrisoned by several thousand Garrison Army troops. So it’s well preserved and can serve as a strong shield, becoming one of the lines of defense."
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes and said, "Perhaps this is also why Wu Yang and the others were so eager to seize the city back then. They might not have foreseen what happened next, but they knew Jiming Posthouse is a military town."
Yang Yuzhi nodded in agreement.
Gu Zhan said in a deep voice, "But the Garrison Army is weak; they’re all soldiers eliminated from various army districts. To resist the White Lotus Army, I don’t think it’s possible. As for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, although numerous, they can’t take to the battlefield. Facing a massed army charge, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can’t do much."
Yang Yuzhi shook his head and said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard won’t be sent to the frontline unless the city falls. Otherwise, taking them to war would only disrupt military order and do more harm than good.
The Yunzhou side has already dispatched elite troops and strong officers from the army districts to each war zone. In three to five days at most, elite troops will arrive in Linjiang City. And the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s duty is logistics—Prefecture Government will collect military supplies, the Guard will transport them. Lord Gu, this is crucial. It will directly impact the Jiming Posthouse battlefield. You must take this seriously."
Gu Zhan nodded. "I understand."
Yang Yuzhi continued, "The troops coming to reinforce us are the elite of Langya Pass, commanded by General Lifen—Jing Zhan. This General Jing Zhan is a rising star in the Great Xia Military these past years. He’s fought many battles, is strong both as a commander and in individual combat. It’s said he’s a Dao Realm Great Cultivator. He’s brought ten thousand elite troops to hold Jiming Posthouse. There should be no issue there; we just need to do our part."
"A Dao Realm Great Cultivator!"
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes.
Yang Yuzhi nodded slightly, speaking softly, "Let’s end here for today, Lord Gu. You’re still young, your future is promising. Take each step carefully, don’t waste your years. If you don’t understand anything on ordinary days, come to me anytime. I shall answer everything without reserve."
Gu Zhan clasped his fists. "Thank you for your instruction."
Yang Yuzhi nodded lightly and turned to leave.
But in just a few days,
Yang Yuzhi’s figure seemed even more stooped, his hair much whiter. He walked with uneven steps, leaving one step at a time, each more wearied than the last.
...
Three days later, morning.
Gu Zhan had just finished breakfast and was preparing to head to his office when Rong Yichu entered carrying a box. He hurriedly placed the box on the table, bowed, and said, "My lord, Prefecture Government has sent word that the White Lotus Sect is marching with around fifty thousand troops. They are expected to reach Jiming Posthouse in about five days."
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes. "That’s fast."
Rong Yichu continued, "But the reinforcements from Yunzhou have also arrived. Prefecture Government is holding a banquet to welcome them. Magistrate Yang has sent someone to invite you over."
Gu Zhan nodded. "I’ll go now."
"By the way, my lord, your Willow Leaf Sabers are finished!"
Rong Yichu opened the box on the table, revealing several daggers about three inches long, shaped like willow leaves, fastened to a black belt.
Rong Yichu said, "My lord, these flying sabers are all crafted from the finest Profound Iron. Take a look, are you satisfied?"
Gu Zhan ran his fingers over the flying sabers, nodded, and immediately changed his belt and went out.
The flying sabers were hidden on the inside, leaving no trace.