It is snowing heavily, and it is very cold and difficult to travel.
It snowed for several days in a row. The room was warm with a charcoal fire burning and was filled with generals from Beicang Pass.
Cen Yi raised his hand and pointed at the sand table, saying, “After Shu Dan took over Yuping Pass, he kept his troops at bay. Yesterday, he suddenly sent out his troops and launched a surprise attack on Shangwei.”
These days, although Yan Le had attacked the city, but he did not put in all his efforts, as if he was only trying to hold Cen Yelan back. Now the Hu people have taken over Yuping, Longsha, and Huanzhou, forming a pincer force that can directly attack Hanzhou Prefecture. Unexpectedly, they abandoned Hanzhou and chose Shangwei.
Cen Yelan looked at the sand table in silence with a stern expression.
Yuan Zheng frowned and said, “Shangwei is one of the two major granaries in the north. Once Shangwei is lost, Hanzhou will become an isolated city. At that time, they can advance directly into the heart of Dayan or retreat and attack Hanzhou.”
Cen Yi said, “Your Highness is right. The Hu people’s actions are sinister.” He looked at Cen Yelan and said, “Ah Lan, what do you think?”
Yuan Zheng also looked up at Cen Yelan.
Cen Yelan asked, “Brother, who do you think Yan Le is?”
Cen Yi was stunned for a moment and said, “This man is cunning and treacherous, and has great ambitions. He should not be underestimated.”
Cen Yelan said calmly, “As far as I know, after Yan Le took Longsha Fort, he came straight to Beicang Pass, and by doing so, he is no less than expending his own troops to open the Yuping Gate only to give it to Shu Dan. Now Yan Le is holding us at Beicang Pass. Brother, you and I have dealt with Yan Le before. Is he the kind of person who is willing to make wedding clothes for others?”
Cen Yi said thoughtfully, “Ah Lan’s words make sense. Besides, Yan Le lost to you three years ago. He was idle in the royal court for three years and has been hindered by Shu Dan in every aspect. The two of them fought fiercely. How can he be willing to put him first in everything now?”
Cen Yelan said, “He must have other intentions.”
As soon as Cen Yelan finished speaking, Yuan Zheng subconsciously turned his gaze to the sand table. His uncle mentioned that apart from the Cen family, there was also the Hedong Army adjacent to the Cen family. The Hedong’s Commander, Si Beixing, was quite famous for his northern expedition. When people talked about the famous generals of Dayan at that time, Cen Xi and Si Beixing were the first ones recommended by the world.
Si Beixing is already over 50 years old. The eldest son of the Si family, Si Handou, was killed on the battlefield of Donghu five years ago. Only three members of the Si family are left. Each of them is mediocre in talent, and others even feel regretful when they mention them.
Cen Yi said, “I heard that General Si was seriously ill a month ago and could barely walk. Now Si Shaoying is in charge.”
Cen Yelan nodded and said, “Although Si Shaoying is not good at attacking, but he can defend the territory without any worries. Donghu cannot cross the Hedong River.”
Yuan Zheng listened quietly. Meng Tan had told him in detail about the situation on the northern border before he came. But at that time he was angry and dissatisfied with his emperor father for abandoning him to this desolate place. He was careless and only listened to most of what Meng Tan said.
Yuan Zheng also didn’t believe that he would stay in the Northern border for long; unexpectedly, he had already been here for several months already and witnessed bloody battles one after another. He was born a descendant of the emperor, a favored son of heaven, and had never tasted the suffering of the world.
It is said that a son of a wealthy family dares not sit right under the eaves1People with great wealth often cherish themselves and dare not sit under the eaves to avoid having their heads broken by falling roof tiles.. Now Yuan Zheng leaned down and looked at the generals in the hall. In a trance, he felt something he had never felt in the capital.
At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, smoke was lit in Hedong. The flames of war really spread to Hedong, and smoke rose in all directions along the northern border.
Shu Dan attacked Shangwei for a long time, but the situation was a stalemate. However, they looted Longsha Fort and Yuping Pass, had sufficient rations and forage, and were very powerful. There was also constant fighting at Beicang Pass. Cen Yelan only defended and did not attack and remained unmoved despite Yan Le’s provocations.
During all the years when the Hu people invaded, they never crossed the defense line, and Dayan had not lost an inch of territory. But now, not only did they lose three passes in a row, but they have also been in a passive situation on the battlefield too. However, Cen Yelan still kept his troops in place, and the Hu people’s arrogance was very high.
In comparison, the generals of Beicang Pass felt like they were holding their breath and repeatedly asked for battle but were all suppressed by Cen Yelan.
It was not until the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month that Cen Yelan personally led his troops out of the city and attacked Yan Le’s camp.
At four quarters in the morning, the sky was dark, and the Hu soldiers were tired and changing shifts when they were caught off guard by Cen Yelan.
Cen Yelan had selected elite troops, who quietly approached the Hu camp and shot arrows like clouds, wrapped in tung oil, into the tent and set a huge fire.
The huge camp was in chaos in an instant, and the fire was like a long dragon, illuminating the silent night.
They only came here to burn the rations and forage of the Hu people. After the task was completed, Cen Yelan did not linger in the battle and went back to Beicang Pass directly. Yuan Zheng was also among them. He was an excellent archer. After these days, even Cen Yelan had to admit that Yuan Zheng was not a useless waste.
Even though this guy is still terrible.
The fire was set successfully without losing a single soldier, and when they returned to the city, the soldiers at Beicang Pass all breathed a sigh of relief.
The next day, Cen Yi led his troops out of the city to fight against the Hu people and won a great victory. Yan Le led his troops to retreat thirty miles. In the following battles, Dayan had the upper hand, and the morale of the army was even stronger.
But for some reason, Cen Yelan did not look relaxed. Yuan Zheng looked at him and could not help but say, “General Cen, it’s understandable if you were unhappy because you lost the battle, but why are you still so sullen even after winning?”
Cen Yelan glanced at him, then lowered his eyes to look at the sand table. After a while, he said, “It went too smoothly.”
What he said was incoherent, but Yuan Zheng understood what he was talking about in an instant. He frowned and said, “The Hu people can only rely on looting along the way. Now we have burned their food and supplies. Yan Le has no supplies for the time being and can only dodge our attack. How can this not be right?”
Cen Yelan said, “If he were to fail so easily here, then he is not Yan Le.”
Yuan Zheng glanced at him and snorted, “He’s just a barbarian, General Cen, you think too highly of him.”
Cen Yelan didn’t say anything.
Yuan Zheng said, “Beicang Pass is adjacent to Hedong. If Yan Le needs food and supplies, he can only rely on the border town of Hedong or the supply from the rear. There are no siblings in the royal family. Shu Dan has been attacking Shangwei for a long time. He has Yuping and Longsha Fort to rely on, and there is a gap between him and Yan Le, so he may not spare any effort to help him.”
Cen Yelan heard some deep meaning in his words. He didn’t look like a dandy, but rather a prince who grew up in the palace and was well versed in the bloody affairs of the royal family. Cen Yelan glanced at Yuan Zheng. The young man had been through the flames of war, and his eyes had become more angular. However, his lazy posture revealed a kind of romantic and debauched spirit.
Cen Yelan said, “I know Yan Le. Even if Shu Dan really tries to trip him up, he won’t just sit there and wait for death either.”
Yuan Zheng sighed and said, “General Cen, are you that afraid of Yan Le?”
Cen Yelan calmly said, “I’m not afraid.”
“The battlefield is no ordinary place. If we’re not careful, our Dayan soldiers will die. Those are human lives.”
Yuan Zheng did not comment. He joked with Cen Yelan, “Why don’t I cut off his head and give it to General Cen?”
Cen Yelan was stunned for a moment and glanced at him, the meaning was self-evident.
Yuan Zheng laughed angrily and said, “General Cen, you are boosting others’ morale and destroying our own prestige.”
Cen Yelan said indifferently, “Who is one of your own?”
Yuan Zheng said without thinking, “One day of married life breeds days of enduring affections2It is a common saying that means once a husband and wife relationship is established, the deep feelings will last forever.. If we calculate it this way, we have been together for many years already. The best years of life will pass in an instant. Years and years go by, and a lifetime will also pass just like that.”
“Then you and I will grow old together.”
Cen Yelan looked at Yuan Zheng’s expression, speechless, and said, “…Get lost!”
Yuan Zheng burst into laughter.
Everytime he gets ashamed he says “get lost” hahah