Тhis bаttle had no wаr drums, nоt even bаttle criеs—оnlу thе сlаnging of iron аrmor and the clash of swоrds. Тhe sоldiers оf Wu Кingdоm сhargеd intо thе tеnts, rаising their blаdes, intending to slаughtеr the mеn of Wei Kingdоm in their sleеp.
This timе, Wu Кingdоm hаd а tоtаl of onе hundrеd and fiftу thоusаnd troоps, inсluding rеinforcеmеnts. Aftеr the battle, оne hundred thousаnd hаd аlreаdy withdrawn in sucсеssiоn. Wei Кingdоm, аftеr thе bаttle аnd with rеinforсemеnts, barelу had оnе hundrеd and twеntу thоusаnd left. Acсording to reports, оnly thirty thousаnd remainеd enсаmpеd on the spot. Attacking at night, with follow-up support, Ye Yuqing was very confident of winning this battle. He had already placated the Qi Kingdom side; with Wu and Wei fighting each other, Qi Kingdom certainly wouldn’t want to get involved.
Everything was going according to plan—if he weren’t facing Yin Gezhi and Guan Qingyue, this battle might truly have succeeded.
However, to his regret, when the Wu soldiers lifted the tents one by one and found no one inside, earth-shaking battle cries suddenly erupted from all around the camp.
“The Song army is attacking again! Everyone, kill them!” Luo Hao roared, and the reinforcements from Qi and Wei, who had feigned retreat and hidden in the surrounding mountains, poured down like a flood.
Ye Yuqing, in the rear, received the news when the front lines had already descended into chaos.
“What’s going on?” His usually gentle face suddenly turned fierce as he looked at Feng Chuang kneeling before him and asked in a low voice, “Can’t we hold them off?”
“Your Highness, both Qi and Wei forces are here, shouting to kill the Song army. They’ve wiped out our vanguard camp and are now heading this way,” Feng Chuang said, sweat covering his face, anxiously adding, “You should leave first!”
What a joke—the Song soldiers wore black battle uniforms, while their Wu troops wore red. How could they mistake them? Ye Yuqing gritted his teeth and slammed his palm hard on the nearby table. “Break camp!”
This was Yin Gezhi’s revenge—retaliation for his “accidental injury” of Wei’s troops. He had somehow allied with Qi Kingdom to deal with him.
How did he know he would make a move tonight? His intelligence shouldn’t have leaked. Moreover, how could Huo Nan of Qi Kingdom be so easily persuaded? Why would he suddenly help Wei Kingdom?
He couldn’t understand any of these questions, but there was no time to think. Leading four battalions, Ye Yuqing hurriedly retreated toward Wu Kingdom.
He had tried to steal a chicken only to lose his rice—this time, Wu Kingdom would have a hard time explaining. But it didn’t matter; for now, neither Qi nor Wei dared to actively provoke war. Even if his intention to attack Wei was exposed, Wei Kingdom wouldn’t dare do anything.
The night’s tranquility was shattered, and the sounds of slaughter lasted until dawn. At daybreak, Ye Yuqing arrived near Yushan Pass.
“Your Highness,” Feng Chuang looked at him with concern, “let’s rest for a while. You look exhausted.”
Gazing at the towering Yushan, Ye Yuqing closed his eyes, filled with unwillingness. “Am I not suited for warfare?”
Feng Chuang was taken aback, lowering his head in silence. The Crown Prince was a man of letters, naturally not very skilled in leading troops. His considerations weren’t comprehensive, and he didn’t fully understand the actual situation. But now, with this misstep, the situation was beyond recovery. Blaming His Highness would be pointless.
So, Feng Chuang said, “Your Highness has done very well. It’s just that the opponent is too cunning.”
Was Yin Gezhi merely cunning? He was practically inhuman! Ye Yuqing pursed his lips, lying on the grass and lifting his sleeve to cover his face. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have chosen to face him on the battlefield.”
“Your Highness,” a scout approached with a strange expression, handing him an invitation. “This was sent by someone from Wei Kingdom.”A slight chill ran through him as Ye Yuqing sat up and reached out to open it.
"To His Highness the Crown Prince of Wu Kingdom: A modest banquet has been prepared on the right side of Jade Mountain. We humbly request Your Highness's presence to share a drink."
His expression darkened as Ye Yuqing closed the letter and let out a low laugh. "Feng Chuang, look at this person—he's truly petty! Everything must be returned to me exactly as it was!"
He had sent him a "nighttime accidental injury," and the man returned a "nighttime accidental injury." He had sent him an invitation, and the man returned an invitation.
As he laughed, anger welled up in his heart. Crown Prince Ye stood up and looked at the scout, asking, "How did they get ahead of us and reach Jade Mountain?!"
The scout lowered his head. "I do not know, but the letter was delivered from the mountain."
Narrowing his eyes, Ye Yuqing remembered the six Wei Kingdom battalions that had lingered behind and flew into a rage. "He deceived me again!"
What was all that about taking ten battalions to support Yin Yanzhong, sneaking off in secret? Hiding his tracks? He never went to the front at all—he had been waiting for me in the rear all along!
The northwestern border of Wei Kingdom bordered Wu, but the area they were in also had a river—wide and expansive. Crossing with a large army would be too troublesome, so to return to Wu, he would have to pass through Jade Mountain. The Jade Mountain Pass was on the left side of the mountain, within Wei Kingdom's territory, so he could only take the right side. But that damned Yin Gezhi had actually brought six battalions to wait for him on the right side of Jade Mountain?!
What physician? What pregnancy medicine? He knew all along that there were spies around me and deliberately played along, putting on a show for me! He let me confidently move the camp to the front lines while he blocked my retreat!
"Where are the people from the other battalions?" Clinging to a sliver of hope, Ye Yuqing asked.
Feng Chuang cupped his hands and replied, "The camp was too close to Jade Mountain. After Your Highness ordered a partial retreat yesterday, they crossed the mountain overnight. If we wait for those behind..."
There were indeed people behind—tens of thousands of them—but the combined forces of Qi and Wei were even greater! If he were trapped and attacked at Jade Mountain, he would truly lose his life.
Yin Gezhi had left him no way out!
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yuqing calmed himself for a moment, his rationality returning as he brushed off his sleeves. "Forget it."
Having come this far, there was no other choice. He could only choose the method with the fewest casualties to return to his country.
"Head for Jade Mountain Pass," he said. "Let's go have a chat with the people of Wei Kingdom."
Yin Gezhi had won, but he didn’t want him to win so comfortably, so flawlessly! He was waiting on the left side, was he? Fine! He would go directly to the right side and negotiate face-to-face with the Wei army. Who would dare touch him? The alliance hadn’t broken yet, and Wei Kingdom wouldn’t dare do anything to Wu. Rather than delivering himself into Yin Gezhi’s hands, Ye Yuqing thought it better to negotiate with the reasonable people of Wei Kingdom.
Thus, the Wu army turned around and resolutely threw themselves into the embrace of Jade Mountain Pass.
Along the way, as he gazed at the surrounding mountains and rivers, Ye Yuqing had already calmed down. He truly wasn’t suited for scheming on the battlefield, so he accepted the loss with grace—it was no big deal. Once he returned to the capital, he could take his time.
However, when he stood beneath the gates of Jade Mountain Pass and saw Yin Gezhi standing tall and elegant on the city wall, Ye Yuqing nearly broke down.
"Can you fly or something?!" he roared angrily, his eyes red. "Weren’t you supposed to be on the left side of Jade Mountain?!""Why is Your Highness so angry?" Yin Gezhi said calmly, "I heard Your Highness had arrived and came out specifically to welcome you."
"You deceived me again—" A bitter, metallic taste rose in his throat, and Ye Yuqing was furious!
"Unfortunately," Yin Gezhi frowned, "I originally intended to welcome Your Highness on the left side of Jade Mountain, but my wife suddenly had a stomachache. I had no choice but to return to the pass first."
Feng Yue, who had been hiding nearby watching the commotion, immediately clutched her stomach, pretending to be in real pain, her eyes and brows scrunched together.
Tactical attacks were nothing, but this psychological attack, involving family members—no one could withstand it!
Turning aside, Ye Yuqing finally spat out blood.
"Your Highness, don’t get too worked up," Yin Gezhi said with concern. "Come inside first, let’s sit and talk. Our Wei Kingdom is a land of propriety. Everyone can put away their weapons; there’s no need to be tense."
A land of propriety? How could a land of propriety have such a shameless ruler? Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Ye Yuqing’s lips were strikingly red as he narrowed his eyes and said, "With you here, how dare I enter Jade Mountain Pass?!"
"If you don’t enter here, where do you plan to go, Your Highness?" Feng Yue poked her head out, smiling. "He Chou is still waiting for you."
He Chou?
At first hearing the name, Ye Yuqing didn’t quite react. When he finally did, his expression darkened. "Does your kingdom intend to threaten me with a mere palace maid?"
"How could we?" Feng Yue shook her head. "The only thing that can threaten you is the interests of the Wu Kingdom. What are women worth? You even made He Chou drink an abortion potion. I’d be a fool to think she could threaten you."
Abortion potion? Ye Yuqing frowned. He Chou’s child couldn’t have been saved back then, so why did it sound as if he didn’t want her child?
Could it be that she thought so too?
His heart sank. Ye Yuqing shook his head, pushing aside such sentimental matters, and frowned. "Since she cannot be used as a threat, there’s no need for Your Majesty to mention her."
Though he said this, his tone softened. He Chou was still here. If he left directly, she might never return. Only by personally demanding her back could he snatch her from the hands of this shameless emperor and empress.
"Your Highness likely still has matters to discuss with me," Yin Gezhi said, watching his expression from afar and offering a way out. "Rather than remaining deadlocked, it would be better to come in and talk."
After a moment of silence, Ye Yuqing snorted coldly and finally nodded, waving for the soldiers behind him to enter the city first.
Outside, the flames of war still raged. In a room at the inn, Yin Gezhi and Ye Yuqing sat facing each other.
Feng Yue and He Chou sat beside them. He Chou seemed uneasy; after pouring tea, she instinctively leaned closer to Feng Yue.
This small action ignited a fire in Ye Yuqing’s heart, though he showed no sign of it on his face, maintaining his usual gentle demeanor.
"I hope the Wei Kingdom will first return my personal palace maid as a gesture of sincerity. Otherwise, we cannot proceed with further discussions."
Yin Gezhi said calmly, "We are not holding her captive; she stayed voluntarily. If Your Highness wants her back, you may take her if you can. If you cannot, then you cannot blame others."
Ye Yuqing chuckled softly. "The ruler of Wei is truly different from before. With military power in hand, you speak with much more confidence.""Flattery." As if oblivious to his sarcasm, Yin Gezhi nodded. "Crown Prince Ye remains as adept as ever in the art of political maneuvering."
Just not in warfare.
Clenching his fist, Ye Yuqing asked, "Does Your Majesty not worry about the two nations going to war?"
"I do," Yin Gezhi nodded. "Among your country's reinforcements are two disciples I personally trained. How could I not be concerned?"
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