Chapter 1390 - 1066: Sewing Wedding Clothes for Others

If he leads this hundred thousand army south, attacking them while they are besieging Luoyang, then the situation will be dire.

However, if they don’t attack Luoyang, that won’t work either, because their goal this time is the Eastern Capital Luoyang. They’ve already reached Hulao Pass and then don’t advance further, which is nearly a case of nine tenths of the mountain undone. How would they explain to the Emperor after returning?

Just thinking of this made Mu Xian’s scalp tingle.

While they were all feeling somewhat caught in a dilemma, Yu Wenye pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Where is Prince Qi now?"

Shen Tu Tai immediately replied, "Prince Qi is still at Cijian."

"Has he been inactive all this time?"

"He hasn’t moved these days, but when I sent word of our news from Hulao Pass to Cijian a few days ago, it seemed like Prince Qi was gathering quite a few of the remnants who had fled earlier, seemingly preparing to take action."

At this, Shen Tu Tai suddenly realized: "Your Highness, does he intend to—"

Yu Wenye said, "He made such a huge ’blunder’ before, and now that we’ve almost cleared the passes around Luoyang and removed the enemy, if he doesn’t act soon, he will truly return empty-handed."

At this moment, Mu Xian also understood: "Your Highness means that Prince Qi wants to attack Luoyang while we’re still at Hulao Pass?"

Yu Wenye nodded.

Mu Xian’s eyebrows immediately furrowed.

They had taken down nearly all the passes around Luoyang, and trimmed Liang Shide’s wings to the extreme. If Yu Wencheng took this opportunity to attack Luoyang, he would be seizing a ready advantage. If Luoyang truly fell to him, wouldn’t months of their hard work have been for someone else’s benefit?

Mu Xian looked seriously at Yu Wenye: "Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

He was already drafting his thoughts; if Yu Wenye had even the slightest tendency to let Yu Wencheng steal the credit, he would present the advice "now is not the time for brotherly affection."

However, Yu Wenye pondered for a while, then indeed slowly said, "Rarely does my brother still have the heart to achieve merit at this point; how could I not support him?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Xian immediately said, "Your Highness, you cannot—"

He was cut off mid-sentence; Shen Tu Tai pulled at his arm. Mu Xian turned to look at him, seeing a subtle smile hidden beneath Shen Tu Tai’s dense beard, said, "Brother Mu, haven’t you understood His Highness’s meaning?"

Mu Xian frowned: "What... meaning?"

Yu Wenye smiled faintly, turned his head to lean against the crenellation, and stared silently ahead. Shen Tu Tai lowered his head and whispered, "We were just concerned about Xiao Yuansui’s hundred thousand strong army. If he surrounds us while we attack Luoyang, we’d be besieged on all sides, leaving not only the capture of Luoyang but even our escape uncertain."

Mu Xian said, "But hasn’t he still been inactive?"

A cold gleam flashed in Shen Tu Tai’s tiger-like eyes; he replied sternly, "He hasn’t moved because he’s waiting for us to act."

This time, Mu Xian finally began to realize; he lowered his head in thought and said, "You mean, he’s waiting for us to attack Luoyang, then he will move south to besiege us, striking inside and out with Liang Shide. But if we don’t act, they won’t have the chance. He’s waiting for us to make a move before reacting."

Shen Tu Tai nodded and said, "Correct."

At this point, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath and said, "He’s still as calculating as ever."

Yu Wenye, although not participating in their conversation, unconsciously applied a bit more force to the hand leaning against the crenellation.

Xiao Yuansui, indeed too capable in calculations and battle. Initially pursued by the court, forced to flee miserably, ordinary people would have collapsed. Yet he managed to take refuge in Wanggang Village, rising again, taking the opportunity to oust Wang Quyi and others, seizing the roost, transforming Wanggang Village into his power base. Although later fragmented by Yu Wenye, he managed to merge with Liang Shide, dominating one area. During Luoyang’s crisis, he led only five thousand troops north, clearing Hebei, Shandong of rebel forces, doubling his army.

Such capabilities... it’s just a pity he wouldn’t serve the court, or them.

Or rather, possessing such abilities, he was born to be Yu Wenye’s adversary, destined to compete for supremacy.

Shen Tu Tai felt the same sentiment, sighed lightly, then continued talking to Mu Xian: "So, we need him to act first, or we’ll always be controlled by him."

"..."

"And how to make him act first—"

Mu Xian said: "If Prince Qi attacks Luoyang, he will have to act."

"..."

"Unless, he truly abandons Luoyang and his alliance with Liang Shide. If that’s the case, his hundred thousand army poses no threat to us."

Shen Tu Tai nodded: "Exactly."

Upon hearing this, Mu Xian couldn’t help but gasp, feeling a chill due to Xiao Yuansui’s cunning, and surprised by Shen Tu Tai, who seemed rugged, merely a warrior, yet over time revealed a mind of strategic finesse not inferior to others.

Having such a person beside Yu Wenye, what worries could there be for achieving great things?

Thinking this, a strange sense of joy arose within Mu Xian, he nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. But, if we truly let Prince Qi attack Luoyang, if he actually captures it, wouldn’t we still be—"

Still working for others’ benefit.

At this time, Yu Wenye slowly turned around, his gaze calm and heavy. It seemed he had thought or calculated something during their dialogue, he said: "Thus, we certainly can’t just let him go attack Luoyang alone, otherwise I’d be too ’stingy’ as a brother."

Mu Xian looked at him: "Your Highness means—"

Yu Wenye said: "Immediately count our troops, depart tomorrow, ensuring we arrive at Luoyang City as they reach it, and attack together."

Mu Xian nodded: "That’s indeed a solution."

In this way, attacking Luoyang would have their troops involved, at least preventing Yu Wencheng from monopolizing the victory; meanwhile, they could hold Hulao Pass, avoiding Xiao Yuansui truly moving south to besiege them.

Mu Xian said: "Then, Your Highness, how many troops will go to Luoyang, and how many will stay at Hulao Pass?"

Yu Wenye looked at him and said: "Here, I will leave—"

Upon hearing the number he spoke, Mu Xian’s eyes immediately reddened.