Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 827 - 621: Wearing Monk Robes as Battle Armor (Part 2)
"It seems,"
Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered like the unfrozen surface of a winter lake, disturbed by something and struggling to ripple with thousands of waves, emitting a cold gleam. Faced with such a cold light, Yu Wenqian’s gaze also began to flicker.
Yu Wenye then spoke in a deep voice, "Just like how all these years, the Imperial Brother has mistakenly worn a monk’s robe as a battle robe."
"..."
Yu Wenqian’s expression tightened.
After a moment of silence, he smiled slightly and said, "Perhaps."
"..."
"But, regardless of whether it’s a monk’s robe or a battle robe, once the battle robe is donned and the soldiers are on the battlefield, I will give it my all."
"..."
"I hope the Second Brother will do the same. Because this battle also concerns the safety of the Third Brother, I implore you to bring him back safely."
Yu Wenye replied, "Of course."
As they spoke, two riders approached them, namely Shang Ruyi and Yu Mingyue. Although both were women, clad in sturdy outfits and riding forward, rather than showing a trace of feminine delicacy, the army behind them lent them a certain heroic air.
Behind them, two columns of soldiers stood neatly, mounted or in formation. Looking back, they seemed strong and resolute, weapons glinting, banners fluttering, exuding a fierce aura. The soldiers all had eyes red with suppressed energy, ready to charge into battle and gain glory.
Upon seeing them, Shang Ruyi’s eyes lit up, but then her mood grew heavy.
She vaguely remembered that just a year ago, when Chu Yang recruited troops for Liaodong, the soldiers scattered and fled. Some places even began conscripting women, because his campaigns were relentless, providing no respite for the people, and he was stingy with military honors. However, Yu Wenquan was different. Although he did not seize the realm on horseback, he fought for half his life and understood well the reasons and merits of campaigns, and the importance of soldiers.
This expedition to Taiyuan marked the Dasheng Dynasty’s first campaign since its establishment, aiming to reclaim the Dragon Raising Land, with two Princes personally leading the troops, signaling its importance, and the Crown Prince position as the final reward. Therefore, once these soldiers achieve victory, they will have contributed to the assistance, and how could they fear for their lives?
Thus, after forming ranks, some soldiers customarily struck their shields with swords, producing a thunderous sound, as they loudly shouted in unison, "Advance!"
"Advance!"
"Advance!"
Their cries soared to the sky, seemingly piercing through the dense clouds above, echoing across the heavens!
Yu Wenye and Yu Wenqian exchanged a glance and no longer hesitated. Both mounted their horses, rode along the front of the formation for a while, raised their weapons, drawing everyone’s attention, then shouted together, "Forward!"
Immediately, two columns advanced along the east and west lines, the army marching!
They exited Tongguan, the east line advancing along the mountain road, while the west line descended a dirt slope, proceeding along the Yellow River, where ice floats on the surface. As Yu Wenqian urged his horse forward, preparing to embark on the eastern road, he suddenly turned back, gazing at Yu Wenye and the slender figure at his side, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Second Brother, sister-in-law, take care."
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him.
However, it was naturally not the time for her to speak. Yu Wenye merely tightened his reins and calmly said, "Thank you, elder brother."
After speaking, he rode down the slope.
Shang Ruyi could only salute Yu Wenqian, then followed him on horseback.
Quickly, the two columns vanished into the drizzling rain.
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They traveled along the Yellow River for two days. On the third day at noon, the incessant drizzle that had plagued them for two days finally ceased, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
What was more exhilarating was the sight of a gray, earthen city on the horizon ahead.
Which was, on the map, the small dot called Yicheng.
According to the soldiers sent by Chu Zhengfei to aid Yu Wencheng but returned defeated, Yu Wencheng was besieged northwest of the city, approximately four or five miles away in a mountain valley.
Currently, they were still several miles from Yicheng, nearly ten miles from there.
Yu Wenye raised his hand, and the troops immediately halted behind him.
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him, wanting to inquire, but the unspoken atmosphere between them in the past two days hindered her from speaking, even for legitimate matters. However, Shen Tu Tai, who had been leading the troops behind, rode up to Yu Wenye and said, "Your Highness, why aren’t we proceeding?"
Yu Wenye did not reply at once, merely looking up at the sky and surveying the surroundings.
The rain had stopped, but the nearby vegetation, drenched in rain and snow for days, remained damp, exuding a piercing cold. Even the ground, flattened by hooves, held moisture, with water gushing out underfoot.
After considering for a moment, he said, "Pitch camp first."
"Pitch camp?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Tu Tai was momentarily taken aback.
Yet, a look into Yu Wenye’s deep eyes prevented him from speaking further, merely surveying the surroundings, then asking, "Where should we camp?"
Yu Wenye glanced ahead, then raised his hand to point at a mountainous area to the west of Yicheng, saying, "Let’s camp at the back of that mountain."
Everyone followed the direction of his finger.
Though the rain had stopped, the overhead clouds remained thick, dimming the light and allowing only a vague outline of the mountain, which emitted layers of white light as if capped with snow. A closer look revealed that it was covered in pine and cypress glistening in lingering rain.
That was the Cangbai Mountain west of Yicheng.
The Cangbai Mountain stretched for miles, with its back appearing as though cleaved by a knife, forming a thousand-zhang cliff—if the direction was correct, the cliff’s face would be opposite the valley where Yu Wencheng was besieged!
