Chapter 65
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Noticing Chacha Qi’s scrutinizing gaze, the man in question lightly smiled and stepped forward to salute, “I am Song Lian. I greet General.”
That was right. This man was indeed Song Lian, and Chacha Qi’s speculations were almost entirely accurate.
Tuoba Ren, once the foremost warrior of Suixi Kingdom, possessed valour and intellect surpassing most. Moreover, his decisiveness and efficiency in action left no room for hesitation. Having made up his mind to explore the truth behind Liangcheng, he set his plan in motion.
Claiming illness and needing quiet recuperation as a pretense, he disguised himself and two attendants as traders to infiltrate the city. He had breached Shi Chongguan single-handedly in the past; if not for his encounter with Xie Yixiu, the outcome of that battle could have been different. Perhaps they could have broken through Liangcheng and even reached the heart of the Great Yan’s capital. But luck hadn’t favoured him. The arrow from Xie Yixiu had become his recurring nightmare.
He had posed as an ordinary merchant, blending into the crowd of Hu people, and entered the city without much trouble.
While gathering information within Liangcheng, he had encountered Song Lian.
After the fall of Song Qingfu’s forces, Song Lian had gone into hiding, eventually deciding that the most dangerous place could also be the safest. Changing his appearance, he infiltrated Liangcheng when the coast seemed somewhat clear. Unexpectedly, he had managed to hide right under Ming Yu’s nose.
When Song Lian encountered Tuoba Ren’s group inquiring about information, he had paid particular attention. After interacting for a few days, the perceptive Song Lian had managed to gather some information. He learned Tuoba Ren’s last name and formulated a plan.
Because of the wanted poster of himself distributed by Ming Yu, Song Lian had no choice but to hide and avoid attention. His options had become limited.
Leaving Liangzhou and the Great Yan seemed to be his only way out. Tuoba Ren, to Song Lian, presented an opportunity. He had subtly showcased his abilities to Tuoba Ren and even hinted at his identity.
Tuoba Ren was also surprised. Reports of Song Qingfu’s fall had reached him before. He had never imagined that the person before him was the strategist behind Song Qingfu.
Regarding Song Qingfu’s defeat, Tuoba Ren was somewhat regretful. The existence of bandits within Liangzhou was something he had no qualms with. The enemy of his enemy was his friend. He had been observing Song Qingfu’s faction, which had grown from hundreds to over two thousand in two years. Clearly, Song Qingfu himself lacked the capability. Tuoba Ren had been curious about the puppeteer behind him. He had intended to send scouts to establish contact and potentially collaborate with them. He hadn’t anticipated someone would preemptively eliminate them.
Upon hearing that the person before him was the mastermind behind Song Qingfu, Tuoba Ren’s plans shifted. This person must possess some ability if they had contributed to Song Qingfu’s faction’s growth and evaded capture. Moreover, this person had a comprehensive understanding of Liangzhou’s situation and insight into the mindset of the Han people. This was something they needed. If they could bring this person into their fold, they could gain a valuable ally.
As a result, their conversation flowed easily, and they reached an agreement. Tuoba Ren was delighted by Song Lian’s eloquence and unique perspectives. Their ideas aligned on many matters. For Song Lian, learning that Tuoba Ren was Hunle Wang of Suixi was astonishing, and it became clear that he couldn’t remain in the Great Yan. Seeking refuge with Suixi appeared to be a viable path, and Tuoba Ren’s demeanor and stature reassured him. Tuoba Ren was much different from the likes of Song Qingfu and others.
The two of them felt like they had met each other far too late and shared an unspoken sympathy.
And so, Song Lian followed Tuoba Ren discreetly as they left Liangcheng. When Chacha Qi arrived, they had returned to Shi Chongguan not long before.
“Are you one of Wang Ye’s physicians? Why haven’t I seen you before?” Chacha Qi couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m just an insignificant nobody. It’s normal for General to have not seen me,” Song Lian replied with composure.
Chacha Qi observed Song Lian for a moment, then looked at Tuoba Ren lying on the divan. He had something he wanted to say but decided against it. Instead, he turned to Tuoba Ren and said, “Is Wang Ye’s condition truly beyond the need for another physician’s examination?”
He had seen it too. Except for his slightly pale complexion, Tuoba Ren’s condition seemed normal. Chacha Qi’s worries finally eased a bit.
Tuoba Ren shook his head, not wanting to discuss the topic further. He changed the subject and asked, “In these past days, have you come up with any good strategies?” He was referring to practical ways to deal with Duan Wang of the Great Yan.
Chacha Qi fell silent. It seemed that the defense of Shi Chongguan had intensified as the Red-Robed Army was watching them vigilantly, ready to attack whenever they lowered their guard. They couldn’t afford to make any significant moves.
He glanced at Song Lian standing nearby and signalled to Tuoba Ren for privacy. Military matters should be discussed without the presence of outsiders, let alone someone of uncertain origin.
However, who would have thought that Tuoba Ren showed no concern whatsoever and waved his hand, saying, “General Chacha Qi, please continue.”
Chacha Qi furrowed his brows, but he couldn’t easily brush off Tuoba Ren’s attitude, so he went ahead and recounted the situation over the past month. Finally, he asked, “Duang Wang is in Liangcheng. If we don’t breach Shi Chongguan, how can we capture him? So how about we dispatch a large army to attack Shi Chongguan immediately? I refuse to believe that we can’t conquer a mere pass.”
Chacha Qi truly hoped to lead a large army to breach Shi Chongguan, just as Tuoba Ren had done in the past. If Tuoba Ren could achieve it, he believed he could too. Besides, Chacha Qi didn’t consider himself as incompetent as Tuoba Ren, who had captured Shi Chongguan but failed to seize Liangcheng entirely. If they had succeeded then, Liangcheng would have been a part of Suixi long ago, then they wouldn’t be blocked outside Shi Chongguan, enduring this frustration.
Tuoba Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, propping up his head with one hand and lightly tracing the carved patterns on the wooden chair’s edge with the other. A hint of disdain played on his lips and was unmistakably visible in his eyes. He wasn’t underestimating Chacha Qi; he just couldn’t entrust a large army to him without worries. What could he do? His strategy and martial prowess were lacking, he was just overconfident. He wouldn’t risk his soldiers’ lives like that.
He was able to capture Shi Chongguan back then due to a combination of favourable timing, geographical advantage, and the people’s support, rather than relying on impulsive recklessness.
The mocking expression from Tuoba Ren left Chacha Qi’s expression fluctuating between pale and green. He was growing increasingly dissatisfied with Tuoba Ren’s attitude. It seemed that Tuoba Ren indeed wanted to suppress him, fearing that his achievements might threaten Tuoba Ren’s position.
Chacha Qi was about to leave in anger, but he held himself back. He retorted with displeasure, “I wonder if Wang Ye has a better solution?”
Tuoba Ren remained silent, his gaze shifted to Song Lian standing beside them. With a slight smile, Song Lian bowed respectfully and confidently spoke, “To capture Duan Wang is a trivial matter, there’s no need to mobilize a large army.”
Chachaqi stared at Song Lian with a mix of anger and disbelief. Who was this person to dare interject during their important discussions? Just as he was about to explode, Tuoba Ren’s gentle voice sounded, “Please, Mr. Song, share your solution.”
Song Lian bowed to both of them and began to speak calmly, “As far as I know, Duan Wang doesn’t always remain within Liangcheng. Occasionally, he goes outside the city to the guard camp or to patrol the villages in his territory. Why not take advantage of that?”
Originally skeptical about Tuoba Ren’s approach, Chacha Qi’s gaze shifted to him upon hearing Song Lian’s words. It was evident that Tuoba Ren was in agreement. Coughing lightly, he chimed in, “Indeed, Duan Wang isn’t under constant protection. As long as he leaves the city, we can find a way to capture him and bring him back.”
“Wang Ye’s words are indeed correct. It only requires dispatching a small detachment of troops to infiltrate the territory of Liangzhou, thus avoiding the wastage of excessive forces,” said Song Lian respectfully. “Having spent many years in Liangzhou, I possess a certain understanding of its geography and terrain. By taking them by surprise and perhaps luring them with a diversion, we could utilize the landscape to set an ambush, thereby increasing the likelihood of success.”
Tuoba Ren was quite satisfied. Though Song Lian hadn’t explained the reasons behind his suggestion, he had revealed a deep-seated hatred for the Great Yan. Song Lian was intelligent, thoughtful, and dedicated to their plans. Such assistance was significant. It seemed that bringing Song Lian back was indeed a correct decision.
Chacha Qi was left bewildered. Could this… really work? Could it be so simple? If this plan was effective, why were they stationed at the border? What was the point of their efforts to breach Shi Chongguan then?
Of course, executing this plan would require thorough planning. Every aspect needed to be considered, and the determination to ensure success from the outset was essential. If their attempt failed and the enemy was alerted, the plan might never work again.
As the barbarian leaders discussed the specifics of their plan, within the Red-Robed Army’s main camp, Xie Yixiu was furrowing his brows while pondering over a piece of intelligence.
Sitting leisurely beside him, Wen Yuzhao sipped tea and noticed Xie Yixiu’s expression. He grew curious; what could make their General furrow his brows in such a manner?
“What’s happened?” Wen Yuzhao asked.
Xie Yixiu destroyed the piece of paper he had been reading and turned to say, “Tuoba Ren arrived near Shi Chongguan a few days ago.”
“What?” Wen Yuzhao was surprised and nearly knocked over his tea cup. He stood up abruptly. “Who did you say? Tuoba Ren? The Hunle Wang of Suixi Kingdom?”
Xie Yixiu nodded.
Wen Yuzhao couldn’t help but be astonished. It wasn’t surprising considering that Tuoba Ren’s name was as infamous as Xie Yixiu’s in the Central Plains. In his own way, they were both formidable figures that could evoke fear.
Back in the day, it was Tuoba Ren who led eight thousand soldiers to breach Shi Chongguan, pushing to the outskirts of Liangcheng. If not for Xie Yixiu’s intervention, Liangcheng might have fallen to him. That battle had made Xie Yixiu famous, and the citizens of the Great Yan remembered Tuoba Ren as a ruthless character.
“Why is he coming to Shi Chongguan? My goodness! Hasn’t he been missing for years? Why has he suddenly reappeared? Why didn’t that arrow finish him off?” Wen Yuzhao paced back and forth anxiously, with a feeling that something wasn’t right. “Have you found out why he’s here?”
Xie Yixiu shook his head. He had dealt a heavy blow with that arrow in the past, surviving it had likely been no small feat. After years of silence, Tuoba Ren suddenly resurfacing wasn’t likely to bring good news.
Tuoba Ren’s sudden appearance in the borderlands left everyone guessing about his intentions. However, it was certain that his motives were far from benevolent.
Wen Yuzhao thought for a moment and said, “The barbarian leaders have been restless lately. Could this be the reason?” He glanced at Xie Yixiu; his instincts were likely telling him something. Is this why Xie Yixiu had advised General Wei to strengthen the garrison at Shi Chongguan?
Back then, Tuoba Ren took advantage of the distractions and dispatched spies into the borderlands. Spreading rumours both inside and outside, he launched a surprise attack that breached the defenses of Shi Chongguan. The scenes from that time were horrifying to imagine – the lands trampled by his forces, with corpses scattered and villages along the way were left in ruins.
However, this time, the presence of the Red Robed Army and General Xie was different. With vigilant defense, it might not be so easy for Tuoba Ren to break through Shi Chongguan again.
With the combined efforts of the Red Robed Army and the borderland garrison, there was no need to fear a single Tuoba Ren. Hmph! So what if Tuoba Ren was formidable? Back then, General Xie Yixiu’s arrow almost took his life. In the end, he was chased away in a sorry state, like a dog running with its tail between its legs, retreating all the way to his royal court. Now he should keep quiet and behave, but if not, there was the possibility of him forever being trapped at Shi Chongguan.
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