Free Web NovelChapter 1286: Chapter 1275: Illegitimate Son
Ye Sihui knew that this battle would end tragically for their Daru Dynasty. In her past life, Old General Lin’s body was never recovered, countless soldiers were blamed, and soon Your Majesty’s health declined sharply.
She had thought of telling Ye Qiu the news, but recalling how he had once rejected her, she was afraid it would affect the progress and how Prince An would be crowned Crown Prince in the future, so she chose to do nothing.
At the border, Ye Qiu indeed faced unprecedented difficulties. The barbarians recklessly burned, plundered, and killed, and fought guerrilla warfare, disappearing after each raid, making prevention impossible. Yet, dispersing forces feared a large-scale attack from the barbarians.
"We can’t go on like this, we can’t let them continue fighting this way." Old General Lin said with a furrowed brow, then turned to ask Ye Qiu, "What do you think?"
Everyone in the tent turned to Ye Qiu upon hearing those words, their eyes filled with hope because the previous victories were due to his foresight.
"I have a hypothesis." Ye Qiu replied, equally worried. "I suspect they are deliberately diverting our attention. Once we’re pushed to the limit and deploy forces along various lines, they will launch a large-scale attack, and by then, our troops won’t be sufficient to resist them driving straight through."
"Then shouldn’t we avoid sending troops out?" a blunt general blurted out without thinking.
Old General Lin responded: "If we don’t act, they’ll keep up the guerrilla warfare. Should we let the people be slaughtered by them?"
"So, what should we do?"
Indeed, what should be done? Advancing is impossible, retreating is impractical; no matter what choice is made, it isn’t fitting.
"The only thing we can do now is take the initiative." Ye Qiu said sternly, "I suspect their troops have already gathered at a location we need to find."
"But the north is so vast, and it’s snowstorming every day, a white expanse easily causes losing direction; how can we find them?"
"I’ll go." Ye Qiu turned to Old General Lin, "Let me go, I’ll find them."
"No." Old General Lin refused without a second thought, "You can’t go."
"But only by going personally is there a chance to find them."
"Can’t you suggest a direction?"
"No, because I’m still not sure; only by going deep can I know."
"But..."
"General, please trust me, I’m not a helpless scholar; I know martial arts. Dare I say, few here can defeat me."
"Hey!" his arrogant words drew immediate discontent from the crowd, "Think Tank, want to spar?"
"Sure." he readily replied, "General Lin, if I win, will you let me go?"
"Okay." Old General Lin gritted his teeth and agreed, giving a look of encouragement to the brave warrior challenging him.
As expected, Ye Qiu once again enhanced his image among everyone. Although he had previously fought on the battlefield, after becoming the Think Tank, he used his brain more than his martial prowess, and his ideas were always surprising, making everyone gradually forget that the Think Tank was also skilled in martial arts!
"When are you planning to leave? How many people will you take?" Since he won so easily, Old General Lin could only concede.
"I’ll leave now, with one person enough. General Zhou, would you like to accompany me?" He asked General Zhou, the one who had just recently sparred with him.
"I am willing." General Zhou answered firmly, without a hint of hesitation.
"You’re leaving now? Just taking one person?" Old General Lin frowned again, "Are you sure two people are enough?"
"It’s enough; more people would draw attention. Please have Old General Lin prepare some provisions, and I need to disguise with General Zhou."
Old General Lin’s eyes flickered: "You’re going to dress like barbarians?"
"Yes."
"General Zhou fits the part, but you don’t have the right physique."
"That’s why we need a disguise, and it would be best to prepare some food, blankets, etc., claiming it’s loot when encountering barbarians."
"Alright, I’ll have everything prepared for you, but before leaving, don’t you need to report to Zhong Yi?"
Ye Qiu hesitated and shook his head: "Better not; she’d only worry."
"Don’t worry, I’ll tell someone to take good care of her."
Ye Qiu and General Zhou, equipped for the journey, stepped onto the vast snow plain, where everything was covered in white, easily causing a loss of direction. They usually rested during the day and traveled at night.
"Think Tank, how did you determine the direction?" General Zhou curiously asked.
"The barbarians have a State Preceptor, thanks to whom they have won these years. Based on their marching tactics I guessed these past two years, their State Preceptor understands some Five Elements and Eight Trigrams techniques, so they’re likely stationed at a geomantic treasure site."
"Since you know they’re stationed at a geomantic site, why didn’t you give us a direction to pursue?"
Ye Qiu looked at him speechless, feeling drained and said: "I’ve never been deep into the Beiyue Wilderness; how would I know where the geomantic site is? We can only walk and look around while searching."
Realizing his mistake in speaking without thought, General Zhou scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
After a while, unable to hold back, he asked again: "Then why did you choose me to accompany you?" Teasing himself, "Is it because I’m dumb?"
"Yes." Ye Qiu confirmed casually.
Hmm?
General Zhou’s eyes widened. Was it really because he was rather dumb?
"Just don’t slip up our identities when meeting others, otherwise do what you want; be as arrogant as you usually are on the battlefield."
"Don’t worry, I understand the gravity of this mission, I won’t reveal myself." He patted his chest to assure.
"No need to be too tense; perhaps we won’t encounter anyone at all."
The two traveled north, indeed meeting two teams of small units preparing to plunder at the border. They casually chatted and weren’t suspected, rather envied for carrying quite a few items.
"Damn, these barbarians, really want to kill them!" General Zhou spat in anger at their silhouettes.
"Calm down, the two of us may not be able to defeat them, and the closer to their base, the more likely we’ll meet barbarians. We can’t be discovered."
"Lucky for them!"
"It’s close; I have a hunch they’re just ahead."
They reached a mountainous area and saw numerous tents in the distance. Before sharing their thoughts, hundreds of men emerged from the tents, robust and armed with sharp weapons.
"These barbarians are surely off to raid our border again, damn!" General Zhou cursed while pounding the snow, then asked Ye Qiu, "Think Tank, what do we do now?"
