Chapter 1166: Chapter 1160: The Expedition
Ye Shouguan suddenly looked up: âHow did the city guards find out?â
âAs soon as the young lady got off the carriage, she begged me to save His Majesty⊠and her parents, her younger brother.â Vice General Zhao said.
Ye Shouguanâs fist tightened: âWhy didnât you say so earlier?!â
Vice General Zhao looked at Ye Shouguan in astonishment: âThe young lady just told the General!â
Ye Shouguanâs face was tense; the whole army knew, and that was not a good thing: âYou go out first! Let me think of a way!â
Vice General Zhao still wanted to request to lead troops to Suining City, but seeing Ye Shouguan deep in thought, he responded and withdrew from Ye Shouguanâs study.
As Vice General Zhao was leaving, the long-term attendant by Ye Shouguanâs side had already returned. He roughly inquired whether Sima Ruodan was settled, and then left first.
The long-term attendant entered and saw Ye Shouguan still sitting in front of the brazier. He stepped forward and whispered, âGeneral, you should take a nap first; in case the Zhou army attacks tomorrow, youâll have the energy to resist the enemy!â
Ye Shouguan nodded: âIf anything happens, be sure to wake me!â
The long-term attendant nodded: âDonât worry, General!â
As he assisted Ye Shouguan to lie down, the long-term attendant glanced at the secret compartment on the bookshelf, pulled down the curtain for Ye Shouguan, and waited for a while. Listening to Ye Shouguanâs breathing becoming even, he carefully opened a gap in the curtain and called softly: âGeneralâŠâ
Seeing no response from Ye Shouguan, the long-term attendant controlled his pounding heart, walked to Ye Shouguanâs bookshelf, opened the secret compartment hidden behind the bamboo slip, took out the token, and gripped it tightly in his hand.
But holding the token made him very nervous. The young lady said the Emperor of Zhou wanted her to steal the token and open the city gate when the Zhou attacked, but she didnât say when the Zhou would attack. If too much time passes, the General might find out.
The long-term attendant thought for a moment and decided to find the young lady and find a way to send the news of obtaining the token to the Emperor of Zhou, hoping⊠to use the token to exchange for Ye Yingnanâs return.
Thinking of this, the long-term attendant no longer hesitated. He quietly left Ye Shouguanâs study, closed the door, and hurried to the guest room where Sima Ruodan was settled.
Sima Ruodan sat by the flickering candlelight, not asleep. She didnât know if the long-term attendant could steal the token before Chen Shi, and she reckoned she couldnât pin her hopes on one attendant; the success must be in her control.
She closed her eyes; if by Chen Shi⊠there was no news from the long-term attendant, she would pretend to be sorrowful and beg to see Ye Shouguan, telling him that she was actually coerced by Zhou and that she asked the long-term attendant to steal the token. She could say she was a Xiliang native, but ultimately couldnât resist her conscience, not wanting Zhou to take Yecheng Pass. However, the Emperor of Xiliang is in Zhouâs hands now, pleading for Ye Shouguan to rescue her parents and younger brother while saving His Majesty in exchange for her full confession!
Before leaving, His Majesty instructed that the situation must be made as big as possible, to let more Xiliang soldiers know that Li Tianfu was in the hands of Zhou, because only then⊠if Zhou uses âLi Tianfuâ as a shield, the Xiliang soldiers wouldnât dare to shoot arrows!
If any Xiliang soldier couldnât hold back, there would surely be someone rushing out of the city to engage in battle with Zhou and rescue Li Tianfu.
Just as Sima Ruodan was contemplating how to make her act more convincing, she heard the voice of the long-term attendant outside.
âIâve been ordered to ask Madam a few questions!â
The long-term attendant was a trusted confidant of Ye Shouguan, so the two soldiers guarding Sima Ruodan did not suspect and let the long-term attendant in.
The long-term attendant closed the door and only then took out the token from his chest, showing it to Sima Ruodan: âMadam, the token is secured, but I donât know when Zhou will attack? How do we send the message to Suining City? I think we should use this token to exchange for His Majesty⊠Madam, Master or Young Master!â
Sima Ruodan did not expect the token to be acquired so easily. She received the token, holding it tightly, her fingers caressing the token as if discerning its authenticity, and after a long time asked the long-term attendant: âHow did you get the token so quickly? Could it be a trick? This concerns my motherâs life; better be cautious!â
âNo, after I served the General to sleep, I took the token!â the long-term attendant said.
Seeing the certainty in the long-term attendantâs words, she finally relaxed: âThe Emperor of Zhouâs people sent me to Yecheng Pass, but none of them could come in; they would certainly return to report to the Emperor of Zhou. I think⊠they might soon attack!â
She looked down at the token and said: âWe should give this token to Vice General Zhao. Vice General Zhao once swore to the God under my grandfatherâs pressure to protect my mother. If he dared to swear to the God, he would certainly protect my mother! Letâs find him! Have Vice General Zhao send someone out of the city to inform those who brought me, then secretly hold the token and wait until Zhou attacks Yecheng Pass. He can open the city gate with the token, and my parents and younger brother will be saved, and His Majesty wonât have to suffer the insult of being hung before the enemy line. Can you take me out with you?â
The long-term attendant thought for a moment and nodded: âI will take you to find Vice General Zhao!â
The long-term attendant, under the pretext of Ye Shouguanâs orders, led Sima Ruodan out of the mansion, heading towards the city gate to find Vice General Zhao.
·
Before dawn, Suining City was bright as day, the black sails and silver python flags fluttered loudly in the wind.
On the city wall, in the high-raised braziers, the flames flickered, swaying with the wind, casting the ancient city wall in alternating light and shadow.
The soldiers were ready, the cavalry soldiers in black armor sat on tall horses, holding torches, the horses clad in chain mail snorted white mist, eager to advance, pawing the ground.
The soldiers of Zhou knew that it was crucial to capture Yecheng Pass in one battle for the significance it held for Zhou, and they understood the importance of Yecheng Pass.
The Emperor of Zhou, the God of War of Zhou⊠along with the generals of the Bai family, personally led the troops to battle, determined to break through in one assault.
Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingqi, Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, Bai Jinse, all donned silver armor, even Bai Qingyun, who sat in a wheelchair, was dressed in armor, ready to go to battle with her eldest sister.
Bai Qingyan did not stop Bai Qingyun, just like the Bai family did not stop Bai Qingyan; capturing Yecheng Pass⊠marching north, Xiliang would be open for the taking, and defeating Xiliang would truly avenge the Bai family soldiers and kin lost in the battle of the southern borders years ago, paving the way for unification on Xiliangâs land.
She was the first to mount her horse, the Bai family followed with a leap, Bai Qingyun, with the help of Xiao Ruohai, grabbed the saddle and leaped, tightly holding the reins.
She pulled on Taipingâs reins, turned her horse, looking at her brothers and sisters whose faces were lit by the flickering torches, then at the soldiers of Zhou.