Chapter 973 Steaming a Breath

The Yan army began to retreat.

Yes, retreat;

Mainly because the Yan army's defeat was too realistic, so realistic that it was hard to see any pretense.

One reason was that in the overall plan, even the frontline generals were just pawns and hadn't been able to grasp the true meaning, which directly led to them playing their roles perfectly; they were genuinely trying to protect the prince's face after his misjudgment of the situation, escorting him back to Zhennanguan (Suppressing South Pass) to plan for the future.

Another reason was that Zheng Fan had been negligent in infrastructure construction, which led to the Yan army's defense system seeming complete but actually lacking focus. Under the Chu army's large-scale multi-pronged offensive, it was impossible to hold... it really was impossible to hold.

Even when the Yan army retreated across the Wei River and the Chu army followed, breaking through the Yan army's previous camps,

Xie Yu'an felt a little dazed.

Everything was so coincidental and logical, so seamless that it was impossible to find fault with it.

Could this kind of coincidence really be designed?

Maybe,

Was he really overthinking things?

Had his father and they actually bet correctly?

"Report!!! Prince Ding has sent a messenger to ask the commander-in-chief whether to cross the river!"

The other three armies had already pushed to the Wei River, and the next step was to cross the river and advance into Shanggu Prefecture.

Of course, sending someone to ask him was just a formality.

The key to the Yan-Chu situation was Zhennanguan.

If Zhennanguan wasn't taken back, the Yan people could continue to descend from the north at their leisure, using their horse whips to lash the Chu kingdom's territory and people.

He really didn't have time to hesitate and think; once he was at the table, he would fight until death.

"Pass down the order, all units cross the river and advance into Shanggu Prefecture according to the established route!"

Xie Yu'an, as the commander-in-chief, finally issued this military order.

On the third day, the vanguard of the Chu army's central route had crossed the river and, with the cooperation of the other three armies, began to penetrate deep into Shanggu Prefecture. The main force in the middle section had also finished crossing the river.

Xie Yu'an was more cautious and steady, choosing to cross the river in the last batch.

According to the established strategy, the vanguards of all routes were uniformly commanded by Prince Ding, while the central route army and the subsequent troops would enter the ranks in turn;

Xie Yu'an, the commander-in-chief, would not continue to move forward, but instead would be responsible for setting up strongholds along the Wei River and transferring supplies from the rear to support the army.

When it came to real fighting, his role wasn't that great.

Another reason was that the regent of Yan and his palace, although famous for their good local governance, adopted a policy of relocating the entire population for Shanggu Prefecture, a large area, and didn't develop it at all;

Therefore, Shanggu Prefecture was almost a blank slate except for a few Wubao (walled villages). It was impossible for the Chu army at the front to obtain food locally.

Therefore, the supply line became the top priority. If the offensive at the front was temporarily frustrated and the army had no food to continue, then the previous advance and efforts would become a bubble.

Once the Yan people recovered and transferred their main force back, the Chu army would have to retreat back to the three prefectures, and once again hand over the Wei River defense line;

Currently, a large number of civilians were busy on both sides of the river. Fortunately, the Chu navy, after the Chu army controlled both sides of the Wei River, also came down from the Mi River, which greatly helped and greatly improved the efficiency of grain transportation.

Reports of victory kept coming from the front. Prince Ding was leading the army, advancing triumphantly and defeating the Yan people several times, relying on his superior forces.

Currently,

The Chu army had already touched Zhennanguan.

Prince Ding decided to first push all the remaining Yan troops over Zhennanguan. The most important thing was to force the Yan's royal flag to retreat back.

After that, while clearing the Yan forces around Zhennanguan, he would let the siege equipment in the rear either be transported up or prepared locally, and finally, concentrate his forces to take down Zhennanguan as quickly as possible, even if it meant filling it with human lives!

Naturally, Xie Yu'an, the commander-in-chief who was already sitting in the rear, had no objection to this;

Batches of siege equipment were already on the way, mainly including important parts;

In the war with the Yan people, the Chu people were also learning, such as the classified and refined war preparation work in Jindong, which the Chu people had already learned.

This was not difficult in itself, as long as the imperial court was willing to delegate power and not interfere.

Originally, it was generally recognized by the countries of Zhuxia that the Yan people were not good at sieges, and were not proficient in the use of equipment. Apart from armor and weapons, the Yan people were not good at other large equipment;

However, all of this became history because of Jindong;

During the last Yan-Chu war, the Yan people had already shown a trend of studying and learning siege warfare, and the regent, who was only the Earl of Pingye at that time, was pushed out as a benchmark demonstration.

In the years that the regent had ruled Jindong, the design and manufacturing level of the Yan people's war equipment had surpassed them. Although Jindong was still famous for its cavalry, none of its opponents would underestimate its current ability to storm cities.

The original leader, the Chu army, had now become the pursuer.

Fortunately,

The key to victory or defeat in war ultimately lies in people.

This time, the advantage of superior forces was reflected in the local battlefield, which was a rare and excellent opportunity, and something had to and must be done.

…

"Commander, the next batch of grain shipments may be delayed by three days. The reason is that after a batch of military equipment was transported up, it took up the space for grain transportation."

"Three days is fine. The previous military rations have already been sent up, which is enough for the army to use for ten days. You've worked hard too."

"It's not hard."

Xie Yu'an reached out and patted the back of the hand of the scholar next to him;

The Chu people hadn't been too influenced by the Jin style, but the Chu people's natural romantic atmosphere made their aristocratic class more accepting of intimate gestures between men.

"It's hard for you. As the direct grandson of Master Meng, you should have been studying history and scholarship in Yingdu like the Jing family, but now, you have to come here to share the worries of the army.

But I believe that Master Meng's spirit in heaven will be comforted."

Meng Shou had compiled the history books of the four countries, and was also the cultural and educational teacher of King Jingnan. After returning to Chu, he had witnessed the burning of Yingdu and died five years ago.

"Grandpa's spirit in heaven may not be happy," Meng Qiling said.

"Oh, why? Isn't Master Meng also a Chu person? Chu has won a great victory, how could Master Meng not be happy if he knew in the afterlife?"

"Commander, Grandpa once compiled the history books of the four countries. In fact, in Grandpa's heart, he thought he was more of a Xia person than a Chu person."

"Hehe."

Xie Yu'an wasn't angry because of this sentence, but instead laughed and said:

"I can understand the meaning of this sentence."

"In Grandpa's eyes, the Yan kingdom is the country of the Yan Marquis, the Jin kingdom is the country of the Jin Marquis, my great Chu is the country of the Chu Marquis, and the other small countries, including that Qian country;

Are also the countries of the various Xia lords.

Since the collapse of the Great Xia, the world has been in turmoil. The so-called war of countries is the war of the lords, which is an internal war within Zhuxia;

And Yan against the barbarians, Jin against the savages, my great Chu against the Shanyue, and even Qian against the southwestern aborigines, these are foreign wars.

Grandpa spent half his life compiling the history books of the four countries, which seems to be perfect, but is actually a pity.

The highest wish of a historian is not to compile the history books of the lords, but to compile the history of the world."

"Did Master Meng tell you these things?"

"No, I learned it from a book written by Grandpa after he returned to Chu."

"Where is the book?"

"After Grandpa passed away, this book was presented to His Majesty, and His Majesty issued an order prohibiting it from being printed and distributed."

Xie Yu'an nodded and said, "It's only natural. Master Meng's book shouldn't appear in the current Great Chu, but is more suitable to appear in the Yan kingdom on the opposite side.

If this war goes smoothly, if my Great Chu can break free from the pressure of the Yan people and stand up, and the national fortune can gain momentum, then this book can be taken out from the imperial storage and enshrined.

In Master Meng's eyes, perhaps he would rather this war be defeated by my Great Chu, and be defeated thoroughly.

Master Meng doesn't care who unifies Zhuxia, but cares about when Zhuxia can truly be unified again."

"It is precisely because I don't understand Grandpa's idea that I am here. I think I am a Chu person, and it is only natural to stand here and fight for Great Chu."

"We should do our duty."

Xie Yu'an slowly exhaled a breath,

Facing north,

He said with emotion:

"In the past, the Yan kingdom did not hesitate to use its exhausted national power, and even framed my Great Chu with the death of a prince, in order to launch a national war against my Great Chu. Its purpose was for this Zhennanguan.

This pass is too important and too painful for my Chu people.

Only by taking it back can my Great Chu be qualified to stand up again."

"Commander..."

"Say whatever you want, ask whatever you want. This is what Master Meng said when he taught me back then."

"Commander, what if this battle fails?"

"If it fails, then the better result is that our army withdraws back to the three prefectures again."

"What about the worse... worse result?"

Xie Yu'an closed his eyes,

And said:

"Does your family have a rubbings copy?"

"What?"

"Don't have it?"

"No, but... I've memorized it all."

"Copy it out."

"This..."

Xie Yu'an turned around, waved his hand,

And said;

"Present it to the Yan people."

…

"Your Highness, this servant has finished reading."

Eunuch Huang closed the scroll in his hand. What he had just read was the proclamation sent by Xiong Tingshan into Zhennanguan.

"Using the bloodline of the Xiong imperial family to warn me? Using the name of the Great Chu Fire Phoenix Spirit to inform me? Hehehe."

Zheng Fan stood there with his hands held out horizontally, while Si Niang was helping him put on his armor.

"Eunuch Huang, do you think this guy is using his background to suppress me?"

Everyone knew that the Regent of Great Yan came from the common people of Beifeng Prefecture and was a shining light that rose from the grassroots.

Eunuch Huang smiled and said, "Your Highness, he can only use this to be glib."

Zheng Fan nodded and said, "That's right, bloodline and stuff, in my opinion, is for animals."

Eunuch Huang's expression was a little awkward, not knowing how to respond, because these words actually involved the Ji family as well.

The prince could say whatever he wanted, because he had personally seen the prince and His Majesty scolding each other as animals;

But how dare he, as a servant, echo along with them?

However, in the courtyard outside,

The Pixiu (mythical wild animal) lying there heard these words, raised its head, looked into the house, and snorted to show its dissatisfaction.

Then, it lay down again, and incidentally weighed the set of scale armor that had just been replaced on its back half a year ago.

"Besides, if we really want to talk about bloodlines, what qualifications does he have to talk to me?

He is from a collateral branch, and is no longer considered the main family of the Chu royal family. The mother of my Da Niu (eldest daughter) is the biological younger sister of his Chu emperor;

As for the Fire Phoenix Spirit, hehehe,

That's even more ridiculous,

My Da Niu is a natural Fire Phoenix Spirit body, is he worthy of being compared to her?

Oh my,

If we really want to talk about bloodlines and Fire Phoenix,

It turns out that the orthodoxy of his Great Chu royal family is actually in my Great Yan Regent's Mansion?

Hahahaha."

"Hahahaha, Your Highness is right, Your Highness is right." Eunuch Huang immediately followed up in coordination.

"Write it like this, and send a reply to him."

"This servant obeys."

"Be quick, send it over before tonight. This slap has to be returned in advance, otherwise he won't be in the mood, and it doesn't matter if he's not in the mood, but I'll be very uncomfortable, and I'll always feel like he owes me a slap."

"This servant understands, this servant will write it now and have someone send it immediately." Eunuch Huang went to work immediately.

Si Niang said, "I never thought you would care about background before."

"I'm just purely being chased by that Prince Ding for so many days that I've gotten angry."

"Master, it's done."

"Okay, thank you."

"By the way, Master, take this with you, it's freshly steamed."

"Heh, I almost forgot, Da Hu will carry it."

Si Niang smiled without saying a word.

Zheng Fan, who was wearing his armor, walked out of the house, mounted the Pixiu, came to the south city wall, and climbed the city tower.

Standing here at this time, he could already see the dense camps of the Chu army in the distance. This was an offensive scale that was enough to make any defending side feel frightened.

"Da Hu, do you know, in the past, I didn't even dare to think about it. The Chu people actually dared to place their army right in front of you in a dignified manner, and it's still on a flat terrain."

"Your Highness, do you need to give an order?" Liu Da Hu asked.

Liu Da Hu would go through the memorials received by the marshal's tent every day. Since withdrawing into Zhennanguan, Liu Da Hu had seen a new batch of memorials that had been sent, and was so excited that he couldn't restrain himself.

As a result, when he was following the prince's side, looking at the Chu army camp in front of him, he had an excited smile on his face.

"Da Hu, what do you think the Chu army will do next?"

"Replying to Your Highness, this subordinate thinks that the Chu army will first expel our army outside the city, forming a complete encirclement of Zhennanguan."

"Yes, so there's no need to rush. The fish can't escape, so let it eat more bait and get caught deeper."

"Yes, Your Highness is wise."

"I'm hungry."

Liu Da Hu immediately opened the food box, took out a steamed bun from inside, and handed it to the prince.

"One more."

Liu Da Hu took out another one and handed it over. The steamed bun was still hot, with white steam rising from it.

The prince held one in his own hand, and also placed another one on the city parapet next to him.

The prince supported his elbow on the edge of the city wall, facing the Chu army camp in front of him, and ate the steamed bun bit by bit along with the cold wind blowing towards him.

Liu Da Hu, who had been with the prince for so many years, knew that the prince needed to be alone at this time, so he silently retreated with the food box.

When retreating,

He heard the prince's sigh, which he didn't know who it was for:

"Look,

This breath,

Is almost steamed."

————

The paving content is considered good, and what follows will be a wave of climaxes.

chun jie di xiao long is going to sleep now, and will continue writing when he wakes up.