Would You Like to Have a Drink

Lord Wu An stood within the military camp.

 

The territory of the Yu Country was originally not large, and it was not considered significant among the other countries in the early days. What’s more fatal was that the Imperial City was not far from the border. If the Hanmen Pass were to fall today, it was feared that in at most three days, the Great Yuan Iron Cavalry could break through the Imperial City of the Yu Kingdom.

 

The envoy was anxiously pacing. “The Great Yuan is impervious to persuasion, and the Third Prince is so resolute, what can we do?”

 

The result of the negotiation had already been sent to the capital, but there was still no news. It was unknown whether the EmperorYu was willing to look up from his life of pleasure.

 

Even the content of the negotiations, the Emperor Yu only glanced at it, and mostly left it to his close officials to handle. For him, as long as he could continue to enjoy himself, as long as the Yu Country did not perish under his rule, even if he became a vassal country, it’s not a big deal.

 

Emperor Yu was a person who bullied the weak and feared the strong. In the early years when he promoted Lord Wu An, he had dreams of waging war against other countries. Now seeing the rapid advance of the Great Yuan cavalry, flattening the four countries, he quickly slipped and knelt down.

 

“The Emperor’s side still didn’t what’s going on yet. If this matter is not handled well this time, how can I explain when I go back!”

 

With such generous conditions, the Emperor Yu never thought that the Great Yuan would disagree.

 

If the envoy were to return to the Imperial City like this, without accomplishing a task, losing his head was a certainty.

 

Lord Wu An said in a deep voice. “If he wants to fight, then fight!”

 

“Fight? Lord, you speak lightly!”

 

The envoy had a bitter face. “How strong is the Great Yuan’s military force, and how strong is Yu Country’s military force? Not to mention a frontal battle, even in a defensive battle, I’m afraid we don’t have the slightest chance of winning!”

 

This was a fact that everyone knew.

 

Not to mention the Great Yuan’s own tiger and wolf division, just talk about its strong military means. After conquering other countries, it also incorporated the armies of those countries, continuously arming itself.

 

Even Qi, which was much stronger than Yu, fell under the iron cavalry, let alone Yu? In these years, the Yu army had rarely encountered wars, and a lot of military pay had been embezzled by corrupt officials. Sometimes the brothers in the army couldn’t even eat enough, and they would rather leave their hometown than come when recruiting soldiers.

 

Doesn’t Lord Wu An know this?

 

This is a battle that is bound to be lost. The moment you go to battle, there is only a dead end.

 

“Before I left the pass, I left a letter to my family. Having left the Imperial City, I was already prepared for death, without harboring any luck.”

 

This old general, who was over seventy years old, closed his eyes and said firmly, “Not only me. My Wu family is full of loyal and brave men. If we are to die, we can only die on the battlefield, and we must not be cowardly deserters!”

 

The envoy of the Yu Country was startled by him, cursed in his heart, and left in a huff.

 

Before life and death, some people cared about their country, and some just wanted to survive.

 

After the envoy left, Lord Wu An called his deputy, Qing Sheng, “Since we have decided to fight, then while we still have time, let’s re-set up the trenches and build watchtowers. If there are still civilians and merchant teams within the pass, evacuate them as soon as possible, leave no idle people.”

 

Qing Sheng said in a low voice, “Yes!”

 

Retreating ten miles without fighting, this was a decree specially issued by Emperor Yu in order to show his “friendly relations”. Even if Qing Sheng was aggrieved and unwilling in his heart, he could not openly resist the decree.

 

Moreover, when the lord was young, he had received the grace of Emperor Yu and swore allegiance to the Emperor. Even if he had been a soldier all his life, he was loyal to the Emperor Yu, and he would never resist the decree.

 

Only those who were also military generals knew what kind of humiliation it was to retreat ten miles without fighting.

 

Even at this time, Lord Wu An was unwilling to disobey the order and reset the checkpoint.

 

After a few more days, early in the morning, just after breakfast in the pass, the Yu Country guards on the watchtower hurriedly reported, “General, the Great Yuan army is coming!”

 

The weather on the snowfield today was very good.

 

Compared with the blizzard of the past two days, the violent wind, although the sky was still gloomy today, was much better. Looking towards the corner of the sky, one could even see a bit of approaching rosy clouds.

 

Since they have to fight in such a harsh environment, unless one side insists on launching a surprise attack, otherwise, they all default to holding their troops and wait until the weather clears before continuing.

 

War also had the basic law of war. In military history, there have also been battles under extreme conditions. As a result, both sides were injured and each went back to their homes after a busy day.

 

Upon hearing this, Lord Wu An immediately climbed up the city wall.

 

In the distance, a large army was pressing down.

 

The black military flag stood in the center of the army, fluttering in the wind, the complex and mysterious Kui patterns on the top were clearly visible, very oppressive.

 

In front was the Xuan Cavalry, and behind was the large army.

 

When they reached a certain distance from Hanmen Pass, the large army stopped.

 

Arranging troops in front of the formation could be regarded as the highest etiquette among military generals.

 

No matter how different the military strength of the two sides was, this kind of respect that was not arrogant or impatient, and regarded each other as equals, was really rare. It’s better to see once than hear a hundred times. The Third Prince of the Great Yuan was indeed a person like a bright moon and clear breeze.

 

“Gather the army, prepare for battle!”

 

The archers held the city defense crossbows and set them on the city wall. All Yu soldiers picked up their weapons and were ready to go.

 

The assembly, roll call, and formation were all orderly.

 

During this time, the army of the Great Yuan slowly advanced.

 

The generals of both sides stood, one on the city wall and the other below the city wall, looking at each other from a distance.

 

War was on the verge of breaking out.

 

Just at this critical moment, suddenly another messenger came to report. “Report——imperial decree from the capital!”

 

Qing Sheng couldn’t help but frown.

 

During their days stationed at Hanmen Pass, the only oral command issued by the Emperor Yu, apart from sending envoys for a peace talk, was to retreat ten miles.

 

It had been ten days since the envoy had returned, and the Emperor Yu must have already received the news that the Great Yuan was unwilling to withdraw peacefully. Logically, he should have issued new instructions these days, but there had been no news for so many days, and it was hard not to think too much when it was stuck in front of the enemy.

 

In the gap of his thinking, Lord Wu An had already turned around neatly, ready to receive the decree.

 

On the city wall, at the juncture of the confrontation between the two armies, the main general knelt down to receive the decree, which was indeed somewhat absurd.

 

The eunuch who delivered the decree slightly closed his eyes, his face sagged, and deliberately amplified his voice with internal force, so that the two armies confronting each other up and down Hanmen Pass could hear clearly.

 

“The urgent decree from the capital, the Great Emperor says, this battle will no longer send troops to support Hanmen Pass, Yu Country is willing to surrender.”

 

As soon as these words came out, many soldiers felt humiliated, but they were helpless.

 

Surrendering without fighting was the most unacceptable outcome for a general.

 

Qing Sheng’s chest rose and fell. “Lord.”

 

If there were still reinforcements, they could still fight stubbornly. But the Emperor Yu was no longer willing to send troops to support Hanmen Pass, which meant that tens of thousands of soldiers and horses would die here, without any hope.