Chapter 148
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Rainy day, rainy day.
As long as it can rain.
Yuan Li had never been so eager for rain before.
After discussing with Jia Qing, he sat in a concealed place, anxiously and quietly waiting for the night to come.
Jia Qing didn’t know what he was waiting for or thinking about. But he had made up his mind that if Yuan Li insisted on moving forward, he would even tie Yuan Li up and take him away. Even if he had to suffer imprisonment upon their return, Jia Qing was willing to do whatever it took.
As the sun gradually set, the closer it got to late at night, the more agitated Yuan Li became.
He kept looking up at the sky and began to harass the system. However, the system was too indifferent and ignored Yuan Li’s frantic behavior.
In fact, Yuan Li knew that the system was not a god and couldn’t determine the weather. The system only played a predictive role; only the heavens could decide the weather.
Yuan Li clenched his dry lips tightly, his brows furrowed tightly.
He understood that the right timing, location, and people were difficult to come by, but this opportunity was too rare. If they missed the chance to find the Xiongnu royal court, it would be a huge loss.
In order to facilitate the rule of the Chanyu, the concept of land and kingdom gradually emerged among the Xiongnu since their founding. Compared to other scattered tribes, the Xiongnu royal court was more stable. Moreover, Huyan Huntu had just ascended to the throne, and Yuan Li was certain that unless it was due to problems with water and grass, the Xiongnu royal court would not easily move in the next few years.
Huyan Huntu was clearly not a benevolent ruler, and the deterrence brought about by Chu Hechao’s killing of Huyan Wuzhu was gradually fading away. If they didn’t gain an advantage and grasp a handle on Huyan Huntu, there would be internal and external troubles in the years to come.
Now, Yuan Li had already incited conflicts between the various barbarian tribes and the Xiongnu. The grasslands would only become more chaotic in the future, and it would be even more dangerous to go deeper into the grasslands.
Yuan Li remembered the lessons from history, the tragedies and darkness brought about by the chaos of the Five Barbarians and the shame of the Jin-Song Dynastic Change. During the chaos of the Five Barbarians, these tribes nearly exterminated the people of the Central Plains. Women were violated during the day and killed as food at night, while men’s heads were hung all over the city walls. Yuan Li’s hostility towards the Xiongnu and the barbarians had never diminished. He understood clearly that once these tribes became powerful, it would be the people of the Central Plains who suffered.
They couldn’t let any opportunity slip, and they absolutely couldn’t show any mercy. Because the enemy wouldn’t be kind, they had to retaliate with even more ruthless methods.
If they could know the location of the Xiongnu royal court at this moment, they could catch Huyan Huntu off guard in the future.
As long as it could rain…
Yuan Li closed his eyes and endured the impatience.
The night gradually deepened.
Jia Qing had waited for a long time and hadn’t seen any indication from Yuan Li. He walked to Yuan Li’s side and urged, “Lord, we should leave.”
Yuan Li clenched his fists and stared at the weather forecast, saying, “Wait a little longer.”
Jia Qing frowned, “What are you waiting for?”
Yuan Li didn’t say anything. He just reached out and felt the air in the night. The breeze blew past, extremely dry, without any hint of moisture.
His heart sank, and he said, “Wait another fifteen minutes.”
Jia Qing sighed in his heart, thinking that Yuan Li was still unwilling to leave. He had already made up his mind to take action.
If, after fifteen minutes, Lord Yuan Li still refused to leave, then Jia Qing could only offend him.
In this moment, Yuan Li’s heartbeat accelerated. Destiny was a mysterious thing. Since ancient times, there has been the phrase “as if aided by a god.” He had a premonition that perhaps a miracle would happen.
When the fifteen minutes were up, nothing happened. Jia Qing immediately said, “Lord, let’s go.”
But he saw Yuan Li’s expression becoming blank.
Jia Qing was about to ask what was going on when he felt a drop of rain on his forehead.
He looked up at the sky in astonishment.
The night was dark, and nothing could be seen.
More and more raindrops fell on Jia Qing.
“It’s raining,” Jia Qing muttered in disbelief, “It’s raining?!”
Yuan Li hadn’t expected it to really rain. He looked up at the sky in surprise. His mind relaxed, and he immediately grabbed Jia Qing and said sternly, “It’s raining now, Jia Qing. This is the perfect opportunity for us.”
Jia Qing instantly understood what he meant, “You want to use the rain to find the Xiongnu royal court?”
Rainy days could obscure people’s vision and hide their tracks. In this difficult-to-evade grassland, it would indeed be advantageous for them to move forward. However, at the same time, rainy days were not conducive to combat and escape. Once they were discovered by Xiongnu cavalry, they wouldn’t be able to escape quickly.
As an outstanding general, Jia Qing also understood what this opportunity represented. Although he was tempted, he still cautiously said, “The raindrops are too small right now; they are not enough to cover our tracks.”
“Then we’ll wait until dawn,” Yuan Li said confidently, “Tomorrow’s rain will definitely become heavy.”
Jia Qing remained silent for a moment, “If it really pours heavily tomorrow morning, please, Lord, listen to my advice.”
Yuan Li, “Speak?”
“I will take some of our men to scout the location of the Xiongnu royal court in the rain,” Jia Qing said, “Lord, you should lead the rest of the troops to quickly leave the grassland. Your identity is too important to take risks. Let me handle this matter.”
Yuan Li sighed, “I have a lifesaving method, Jia Qing. I can ensure my safe return better than you.”
He was not lying; Yuan Li still had 40 seconds of AR special effects. If used properly, the AR special effects could become a life-saving weapon.
He had a way to protect himself, while Jia Qing did not.
Still, Jia Qing persisted, “A lord does not stand under a dangerous wall. If something were to happen to you, it would be a disaster for us. None of us can bear such a situation. Please, don’t take risks, listen to my advice, and lead the troops back. If everything proceeds smoothly, I can follow you back to the border. If something really goes wrong, I can ensure your safe return. Then, I can die without regrets.”
Jia Qing’s expression was resolute; he had clearly made up his mind.
Yuan Li tried to persuade him, but it was of no use. In the end, he was left speechless and wiped his face before finally saying, “…Fine.”
Jia Qing’s expression relaxed, and he respectfully bowed to Yuan Li.
Throughout the night, they prepared for the next day’s operation. The following morning, the sky was covered in dark clouds, and the wind and rain were chaotic, enveloping everything in darkness.
The light rain gradually showed signs of intensifying.
The two groups of people in the valley were about to split up, but plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Before Jia Qing could take note of Yuan Li’s departure, he saw a group of Xiongnu cavalry patrolling the area.
This Xiongnu cavalry numbered over a thousand, and it seemed like they perceived the valley as a suspicious area, as they headed directly towards it.
Jia Qing felt a sense of breathlessness and gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger. “The Xiongnu patrols are becoming more frequent!”
They had been lucky to escape yesterday, but luck was not on their side today.
The Xiongnu cavalry was getting closer, and there was no time to vent anger. Yuan Li’s brow furrowed tightly, “They are heading straight for the valley, and we can no longer hide. For now, we can have one group of men charge out of the valley to draw away these Xiongnu, while the other group takes the opportunity to move further north and search for the Xiongnu royal court’s location.”
If it were yesterday, Jia Qing would never agree to let Yuan Li search for the Xiongnu royal court. But at this moment, the more dangerous option was to attract the attention of the current Xiongnu cavalry.
Jia Qing struggled with his emotions, but finally, he reluctantly lowered his head and said, “My lord, let me lead these Xiongnu away. Please be extremely careful, and if you can’t find it, immediately turn back and leave. I will leave my vice-general, Jiang Chai, to assist you. He is brave, resourceful, and loyal. He will protect you.”
Jiang Chai stepped forward, respectfully bowing to Yuan Li.
Yuan Li nodded solemnly, “Alright.”
Taking a deep breath, Jia Qing released the barbarian leading the way, threatening him, “I will wait at your tribe for my lord’s return. If you dare betray my lord and lead us the wrong way, I will kill everyone in your tribe within two days if my lord doesn’t return.”
The man from the tribe trembled in fear, “I will definitely, definitely lead him to the Xiongnu royal court!”
Time was of the essence. Jia Qing let go and respectfully said to Yuan Li, “Take care, my lord.” Then, he immediately mounted his horse and led a group of men without any hesitation to charge out of the valley.
Jia Qing and his group moved swiftly, and the Xiongnu cavalry in the distance saw them escaping and immediately changed direction, turning their horses to pursue.
Once they were far away from the valley, Yuan Li also decisively led the other group of men to leave the area.
The raindrops grew heavier.
Thunder roared overhead, and the sky grew dark, not like early morning but more like dusk.
The heavy rain poured down like broken beads, making their heads and skin ache.
Visibility was increasingly impaired, and the rain-soaked grass was slippery. The horses slipped several times.
Yuan Li breathed heavily, feeling the air was not enough between his breaths. He had to put more effort into inhaling the air within the rain. As they continuously rode their horses, their clothes became soaked, becoming heavier with water. The horses’ fur also soaked up water, leaving both men and horses in a sorry state.
“Watch the road!” Jiang Chai shouted at the man from the tribe, “If you’re not sure, tell us. Don’t blindly lead the way!”
The man from the tribe nodded quickly.
As they ventured further, the scenery seemed to change, yet everything looked the same. Yuan Li wiped the water off his face, bent over to block the rain, and did his best to create a makeshift compass on the horse to glance at it. They were still heading north.
The fierce wind howled, and the rain became like a curtain, too big to keep their eyes open. The visibility continued to decrease.
The weather forecast said that this heavy rain would last until tonight, then turn into light rain for the rest of the night, and tomorrow at noon, it would become a torrential downpour.
Sufficient rainfall was the only premise that could make Yuan Li feel at ease. However, his mood was still heavy because the downsides brought by the heavy rain were affecting them too – weapons could be damaged, movement would be difficult, and the physical condition of the people and horses would be tested.
Fortunately, the elite cavalry around Yuan Li had been carefully trained, and they were all robust and strong. The horses were also strong and valiant, unlikely to fall sick or get a fever from getting wet in the rain.
Ever since experiencing smallpox, Yuan Li had also strengthened his physical fitness. He felt fine and his body could endure without showing signs of distress.
Perhaps because of the heavy rain, the number of Xiongnu patrols had decreased significantly, and they hadn’t encountered any during their journey.
Yuan Li didn’t know how long they had been traveling, but when he felt they were getting closer to the Xiongnu royal court, everyone suddenly stopped in their tracks.
In the not-so-distant rain curtain, a dark mass of Xiongnu cavalry stood there.
The heavy rain obscured their appearances, and they could only see vague human and horse shapes. Yuan Li’s heart pounded almost instantly, but he forcibly regained his composure.
However, his brain was screaming –
Danger.
This is bad.
Both sides confronted each other, and Jiang Chai and the guards around Yuan Li were all tense, their hands silently gripping the hilt of their swords.
The Xiongnu cavalry on the other side took a few steps forward, and their leader shouted something loudly in Xiongnu language.
Yuan Li immediately asked the guide, “What did he say?”
The trembling guide shivered and said, “He asked who we are and why we appeared here.”
Yuan Li tightened the reins, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to respond.
His breath felt scorching, much like the tense atmosphere around him, on the edge of a crisis.
Even the warhorses seemed to sense that something was amiss, restlessly kicking their hooves on the spot.
Jiang Chai wiped away the rainwater around his eyes and was prepared to fight to protect Yuan Li’s escape.
He now felt that compared to the danger they faced right now, their previous venture into Wu Shanshi’s prison to rescue Jia Qing was nothing. He couldn’t help but feel that this time he was almost certainly going to die here.
But even if he died, he had to give the Provincial Governor a chance to survive.
Their side remained silent, which brought about suspicion from the Xiongnu cavalry. The leader of the Xiongnu took a couple of steps forward on horseback and said something Yuan Li couldn’t understand. The tone of his voice conveyed doubt and hostility, which Yuan Li could discern.
The guide said, “He… he’s questioning why we are not speaking.”
Yuan Li’s voice sounded calmer than he imagined, “Do you speak fluent Xiongnu language?”
The guide swallowed nervously, “I’m somewhat fluent.”
“Then tell him in Xiongnu language,” Yuan Li stared at the opposite side, “tell him that we are people of Youxian Wang.”
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