Chapter 1382 - 1058: My Elder Brother Is Sincere!

On mentioning this, Shantong’er’s originally red eyes immediately brightened, he looked up at Yu Wenye and said excitedly: "Your Highness, my elder brother, he is willing to join us!"

"Oh?"

Yu Wenye leaned slightly forward, placing one hand on the table, and stared at Shantong’er with burning eyes: "He, is willing to join?"

Shantong’er nodded vigorously: "Yes."

"..."

"Actually, when I went to find him last night, besides wanting to recognize him, I also wanted to tell him about this matter."

"..."

"Liang Shide is trapped in Luoyang, following him leads to no future. I don’t want my elder brother to follow him blindly, and besides, if we can take Hulao Pass without bloodshed, it’s good for all of us!"

Yu Wenye thought briefly and turned to look at Nie Chong who was at one side, only to see him also nodding lightly and said: "I have also entered Hulao Pass, Shan Shiyu treated us with courtesy. He said, he actually knows that Luoyang cannot be defended for long, especially after—receiving news from Xiazhou."

People around, after originally hearing the news of Shan Shiyu willing to join, were already excited and joyful, and hearing the last sentence was like eating a reassurance pill. After all, people’s hearts are unpredictable, true or false hard to determine, whether the other side is truly sincere in joining can be seen not only in what he says but also the situation he is in.

Mu Xian said: "The crisis in Xiazhou has been resolved, Ashina Zhuxie is uninterested in continuing the fight and has returned to the Turkic, Wang Shaoqiu also died in Sui State, Liang Shide no longer has any reinforcements. Moreover, Mengjin Pass and Xiaopingjin Pass have been taken by us successively, except for Hulao Pass, Luoyang is already an isolated city."

Speaking, he turned to look at Yu Wenye: "It seems, his people have also begun to have diverging hearts."

Yu Wenye heard the words but did not respond, instead he pondered for a while before saying to Shantong’er: "Is this surrendering matter brought up by you or by your elder brother?"

Shantong’er said: "It was me."

"..."

"After my elder brother recognized me, he asked if there were other matters in my visit, I raised this matter, at that time people around him wanted to kill us!"

"..."

"Fortunately my elder brother stopped them, then, we talked about this matter."

"..."

"He said, he has actually become disillusioned with Luoyang side too, Liang Shide wants to use him while guarding against him, giving him tens of thousands of soldiers to defend Hulao Pass but only less than a month’s worth of grain, his control over Huilu Storehouse himself."

"..."

"Your Highness, if my elder brother truly joins us, can you—"

Looking at his expectant eyes, Yu Wenye smiled faintly and said: "If he truly joins us, it would be a very good thing, why would I refuse?"

Upon hearing this, Shantong’er jumped up from the ground in delight, but the jump immediately tugged at the wound on his buttocks, causing him grimace in pain, biting his teeth to suppress the scream about to exit his mouth, he saluted deeply towards Yu Wenye: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Yu Wenye thought for a while and then asked Shantong’er: "You mentioned that when you suggested your elder brother to join us, people around him wanted to kill you, how did your elder brother deal with those people?"

Shantong’er replied: "Elder brother confined them."

At this point, he seemed to feel something, gently said: "Your Highness, are you suspecting my elder brother is feigning surrender to deal with us?"

Yu Wenye looked up at his clear eyes and said: "I just want to ask clearly."

"..."

"Surrendering with a crowd is no trivial matter, moreover Shan Shiyu commands over a hundred thousand soldiers, if done well, it’s a great achievement. If not—none of us here will survive."

Shantong’er hurriedly said: "Your Highness please rest assured, I can guarantee my elder brother is sincere!"

"..."

"Those few people around him who wanted to stop him from joining us were all captured; if it was feigned surrender, my elder brother would never have confined those people."

"..."

"Your Highness, I am not lying."

Seeing his anxious look, although people around were tense, they couldn’t help but show a slight smile.

Actually, after the initial shock and joy, doubts gradually rose in everyone’s hearts, whether Shan Shiyu is sincere in surrendering is indeed a matter of life and death, but seeing he has captured those unwilling underlings, it can at least prove he is not colluding with his subordinates to deceive Shantong’er’s trust.

For now, this matter seems to be seventy to eighty percent credible.

Yu Wenye said: "I do not doubt you."

After speaking, he thought again and then said: "Then, have you arranged a meeting with him?"

Shantong’er nodded urgently: "Yes, we agreed on tomorrow night, at the same place we fought yesterday, my elder brother will lead his trusted followers over, as long as Your Highness is willing to accept him, he can immediately lead us into Hulao Pass!"

"Tomorrow night."

Having heard, Yu Wenye thought again and nodded: "Good."

Shantong’er exclaimed with joy: "Your Highness agreed?"

Yu Wenye said: "I just said, Shan Shiyu commands over a hundred thousand soldiers, his willingness to surrender can spare the suffering of war, and we can reduce casualties, which is a great achievement and a good thing, why would I refuse?"

Shantong’er said happily: "That’s great, thank you Your Highness!"

Yu Wenye said with a faint smile: "I should be thanking you, who would’ve thought to acknowledge this elder brother, you endured twenty military lashes but managed to take Hulao Pass. Quickly go rest, someone will change your medicine later."

"Yes!"

Shantong’er stood up and turned to leave.

Just then, Yu Wenye suddenly thought of something and asked: "By the way, what about your parents..."

"..."

Hearing this question, Shantong’er’s eyes reddened, but his gaze brightened.

Unexpectedly, after reporting such a big matter as Shan Shiyu’s surrender, Yu Wenye still remembered to ask about his parents, which to him was just a trivial matter. So his throat choked up slightly, and softly said: "They, have both passed away."

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions darkened.

Yu Wenye’s eyes also showed a bit of sadness, yet Shantong’er forced a smile and said: "Actually, in such turmoil even if I couldn’t recognize brother, I knew in such chaotic times it’s hard for them to survive. Now, I just feel happy, they sold me not to abandon me, but to save me. Now, they must have gone to a better place."

"..."

"Even if not, I will pray and chant for them."

Yu Wenye gently nodded: "You will. Go down and rest."

Shantong’er bowed deeply to him: "Thank you, Your Highness."

After saying this, he limped out, Yu Wenye also nodded to Nie Chong signaling, he immediately followed out, supporting Shantong’er as they left together.

When they left, Mu Xian couldn’t hide his joy looking at Yu Wenye: "Your Highness—"