Chapter 648: Jade Disc

The next day.

At the Wei River dock in Guanzhong, flags fluttered, and Yuwen Ze, clad in dark military uniform, stood at the prow of the transport boat.

His black hair was bound tightly with a dark hairband; his posture was as upright as a pine, a Horizontal Blade hanging at his waist, and his face had shed the youthful vigor of the Training Ground's troop inspection, gaining a steadiness befitting a long march.

Yu Jian and Right Guard General Ke Chongdao stood on either side, both clad in dark military uniform, with five thousand Right Guard soldiers lined up neatly on dozens of transport boats behind them.

They stood solemnly, their dark uniforms merging into a single sheet under the scorching sun, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

At a single command, the transport boats set sail in order, following the Wei River downstream eastward; the waves slapped the hull, spraying fine spray, the prow cleaved the water, leaving streaks behind.

Along both banks of the Wei River, lush vegetation thrived; occasional garrison troops on the shore who saw the fleet stopped to salute. This swift force racing to aid Yubi exuded an impressive aura from the moment it set sail.

The soldiers on board sat on the deck, some polishing weapons, others closing their eyes to rest; no one made noise, only the faint rustle of uniforms mingling with the water.

Yuwen Ze leaned on the rail, gazing eastward, as if Yubi's beacon fire lay before his eyes; his own brother A Xiong's admonition, "Hold firm and avoid battle," echoed repeatedly in his mind.

The transport boats raced along the Wei River for two days, smoothly entering the Yellow River.

The Yellow River surged with rapid currents and towering waves; the boats advanced between crests and troughs, the rocking intensified, many soldiers' faces turned pale, yet their backs remained straight, and no one complained.

Ke Chongdao personally took his seat at the prow to command, while Yu Jian moved among the boats, inspecting and soothing the troops.

Yuwen Ze also frequently went down to the decks, chatting casually with the soldiers, boosting morale; although the five thousand troops endured the Yellow River's turmoil, their resolve grew ever tighter.

Upon reaching the mouth of the Fen River, the fleet turned to enter it; the current eased, and although the upstream speed slowed slightly, the passage felt steadier.

Along the banks, scouts from Great Zhou relay stations occasionally appeared, delivering scattered battle reports from Yubi's front line.

With such hurried pacing, when the fleet reached a dock near Jishan after four days, Yuwen Ze made an immediate decision to order a landing; the five thousand soldiers, bearing armor and provisions, disembarked swiftly, completing the assembly in less than Half Hour Rest, showing no signs of fatigue from the long water journey.

Ke Chongdao had already sent men ahead to arrange transport; the local relay had prepared carriages and horses, but Yuwen Ze waved them away, looking at the dusk deepening on the horizon, he said gravely, "Carriages are too slow; abandon them and march on foot, a rapid land march!"

Once the order was given, no one hesitated; the five thousand Right Guard soldiers instantly formed ranks and set out, their dark‑uniformed formation like a black dragon weaving between Jishan's mountain paths and plains.

Under the blazing sun, the soldiers sweated profusely, their armor soaked, yet their steps never ceased.

At night, guided by stars and moon, they hurried forward by the faint light, only the orderly footfalls and heavy breathing audible; they paused briefly at relay stations, drinking and eating swiftly.

Yu Jian and Ke Chongdao took turns guarding the rear, while Yuwen Ze constantly surged ahead of the formation, leading by example; the troops, seeing their commander thus, felt their morale surge, and no one complained.

The rapid land march lasted two days; six days passed in the blink of an eye, and when Yubi City's outline finally appeared on the horizon, it was already dusk.

The setting sun was like blood, painting the sky a deep crimson; its afterglow spilled over the vast land, and even the wind carried a hint of grim lethality.

From afar, Yubi City's silhouette grew clearer amid the scarlet glow; flags fluttered atop the walls, and faint outlines of the defending troops could be seen.

Yuwen Ze rode a wholly black warhorse, his dark uniform billowing in the evening breeze, his cloak fluttering; with reins tightened, he sat upright, his gaze sharp as a hawk, staring at the imposing city.

Behind him, the five thousand Right Guard soldiers lined up neatly, their dark uniforms gleaming coldly in the fading sun; despite six days of combined water and land travel, their formation remained immaculate, their momentum like a rainbow.

Only the dust on the soldiers' faces and the weariness in their eyes spoke of the hardship of this thousand‑mile relief.

Ke Chongdao spurred his horse forward, a speck of dust on his dark uniform, raised his hand and pointed toward the looming city, his tone respectful yet weighty as he reported to Yuwen Ze, "Chen Zhuguo, Yubi is just ahead!"

Yuwen Ze followed his pointing direction, gazing far ahead; Yubi City rose against the mountain, its walls built of massive stones, towering several zhang high.

The walls were scarred with old arrow and cannonball marks, yet they still stood majestically.

On the ramparts, the garrison stood in ranks, flags fluttering, fully displaying the stronghold's grandeur.

He couldn't help murmuring, "Is this Yubi?"

After the words fell, he couldn't restrain his awe, his tone full of admiration, "Truly spectacular!"

Such a mighty city, no wonder it caused He Liuhun to lose his spears in the sand; he then steadied himself, legs lightly bracing the horse's belly, and said gravely, "Enter the city!"

With those words, he led the main force, racing toward the city gate; the five thousand soldiers followed closely, hooves pounding the wilderness, kicking up clouds of dust, their momentum overwhelming.

At this moment, beneath Yubi City, Yang Langhui and Deputy General Xiong Zaiye had already been leading several hundred Yubi defenders, waiting here.

Both were clad in dark military uniform.

Yang Langhui's face was resolute, his gaze steady; Xiong Zaiye was also towering, exuding a fierce, brave aura.

The hundreds of defenders were equally equipped with armor, their faces showing fatigue yet their posture remained upright, clearly veteran elite of the battlefield.

From afar, Yang Langhui spotted the dark Iron Cavalry and, seeing the tall, valiant general at its head, hurried forward to greet him; behind him, Xiong Zaiye and the rest of the defenders followed closely.

When Yuwen Ze approached, Yang Langhui first performed the standard military salute, his voice booming, "Yubi's defending commander Yang Langhui, honored to meet you, Yuwen Ze, Minister!"

Xiong Zaiye and the hundreds of Yubi defenders also saluted in unison, their voices aligned: "Honored to meet you, Yuwen Ze, Minister!"

Yuwen Ze quickly tightened his warhorse's reins, leapt down, hurried forward, raised his hand in a mock bow, and shouted, "No need for formalities, everyone!"

The others rose at his words; Yuwen Ze stepped forward, firmly grasping Yang Langhui's hands, a familiar smile on his face, speaking warmly, "Old Yang, long time no see!"

"I never imagined we'd reunite here in Yubi today!"

Yang Langhui also beamed, gripping Yuwen Ze's hand firmly, his eyes full of joy, quickly replying, "Yuwen, Minister, since we last met in Chang'an, have you been well?"

"To see the Minister leading troops to aid Yubi now lifts the army's spirit!"

Having said that, he turned his gaze to Yu Jian beside Yuwen Ze, nodding in acknowledgment to his old comrade who once fought side by side.

Yu Jian also bowed his head in return; though they spoke little, an unspoken understanding lingered between them.

Yuwen Ze took Yang Langhui's hand, turned toward Ke Chongdao, and in a bold voice introduced, "General Ke, let me introduce you: this is the former Hezhou Governor, now Yubi's defending commander, General Yang Langhui!"

He paused briefly, then recounted Yang Langhui's battle merits to Ke Chongdao, his tone full of praise, his voice soaring, "Last year, together with Chen Zhuguo and myself, we pacified the Tongtian Society uprising in Hezhou, annihilated six thousand Tu Gu Hun cavalry, pursued them to the foot of Tu Gu Hun's royal palace, forcing the Great Khan of Tu Gu Hun to submit—truly a battlefield veteran!"

Ke Chongdao, already familiar with Yang Langhui's reputation, stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute to Yang Langhui, his expression respectful, "General Yang, I have long admired your great name!"

"The past Hezhou battle spread your fame far and wide; to see you today is a great honor!"

Yang Langhui quickly waved his hands repeatedly, his demeanor modest, his tone sincere, "I do not deserve such praise!"

"It is thanks to Chen Zhuguo and Yuwen, Minister's capable command; I, a Subordinate General, merely followed orders!"

He paused again, then clasped his fists toward Yuwen Ze, his expression even more solemn, "As a Subordinate General, I can turn merit into atonement, bear guilt to achieve merit; to have today, to guard Yubi, all depends on following Chen Zhuguo and you, Yuwen, Minister!"

Yuwen Ze, hearing this, raised his hand to pat Yang Langhui's shoulder, his tone earnest, "You are being far too modest!"

Having said that, his smile faded, his expression turning solemn, his voice steady, "We'll discuss old matters later; the military situation is urgent. I have brought from Chang'an all the siege equipment—strong bows, crossbow bolts, rolling stones, Fuel—fully prepared. Order people to receive and install them; do not delay the city's defense!"

Yang Langhui felt joy, and immediately responded gravely, "Yes! The Minister's foresight is thorough!"

Then, turning his head toward Deputy General Xiong Zaiye, he barked, "Deputy Xiong, quickly lead men to inventory this batch of city‑defense equipment, move everything back into the city, place them at the key defensive points, and make no mistakes!"

"As you command!" Xiong Zaiye replied in a deep voice.

He immediately turned, leading several hundred Yubi guards in a brisk march toward the provisions and equipment convoy behind the Right Guard, moving decisively without a moment's delay.

When Xiong Zaiye departed, Yang Langhui smiled again, raised his hand and pointed at the Yubi City gate, his tone earnest: "Chen Zhuguo, the troops have marched a long way and endured hardship; Subordinate General has prepared some wine and food inside the city to welcome you and the five thousand soldiers, a modest show of hospitality!"

Having said that, he stepped aside, raised his hand in a courteous gesture, and said, "Chen Zhuguo, everyone, please!"

Yuwen Ze heard this, slowly shook his head, his expression still solemn, and said gravely, "Lao Yang, the food can be eaten to fill the soldiers' stomachs and restore strength, but the wine can be omitted!"

"In battle, the Qi army advances fiercely, its combat power is formidable; we must not underestimate them even a fraction. The soldiers must stay vigilant at all times and must not let drinking jeopardize the war!"

Yang Langhui heard this, immediately nodded in agreement, a hint of guilt on his face, and hurriedly said, "Chen Zhuguo is absolutely right!"

"It was Subordinate General who was negligent in consideration!"

Yuwen Ze, seeing this, waved his hand, his tone softened a bit, and said warmly, "No problem!"

"Lao Yang, your intentions are good…"

Dusk deepened, and the Yubi City gate slowly opened.

Yuwen Ze and Yang Langhui walked side by side at the forefront of the entry, the dark military robes fluttered lightly in the wind, their footsteps steady and strong, echoing distinctly in the silent gate passage.

When they reached the inner barbican, Yang Langhui's steps faltered slightly, he turned toward Yuwen Ze and bowed, his tone both respectful and earnest: "Chen Zhuguo, now that you have arrived, how shall we defend Yubi, how shall we fight this battle? Subordinate General will follow your orders; everything in the army is under your command!"

Lao Yang, though a warrior, still sees some matters clearly…

How could anyone possibly dispute command with this elder?

Obeying orders will make the future bright!

Yuwen Ze heard this, immediately raised his hand in a gentle press, his tone calm yet resolute: "Hey, Lao Yang, you are familiar with the city defenses and Qi army tactics; although I am the chief of the reinforcements, I cannot act arbitrarily on my own judgment…"

"We should discuss everything together; jointly defending Yubi is the proper course!"

Though Yuwen Ze is young and holds a high position, he bears no trace of arrogance.

Having trained by A Xiong's side for so long, he knows that in a siege, the local commander's experience outweighs that of a commander who comes from afar.

Such a modest demeanor made Yang Langhui respect him even more; he immediately bowed gravely and said, "Yes! Subordinate General will obey Chen Zhuguo's command!"

The two continued side by side, passing through the barbican; along the street stood the Yubi guards, and when they saw Yuwen Ze and Yang Langhui approach, the soldiers straightened their backs, saluted, eyes alight with vigor.

Halfway onward, Yuwen Ze seemed suddenly to recall A Xiong's parting advice; a faint smile lifted his mouth corner, his steps unpaused, and he said calmly, "By the way, before I left Chang'an, A Xiong specifically sought me out to leave us a tip for this battle!"

Hearing the words "A Xiong," Yang Langhui's body twitched slightly, then a hard‑to‑conceal reverence appeared on his face; he quickly composed himself, bowed his head, and said gravely, "What admonition does Chen Zhuguo have for us?"

"Subordinate General listens attentively!"

Yuwen Ze, seeing this, paused his steps briefly, lifted his gaze toward the last sliver of the setting sun, its afterglow stretching his silhouette tall.

He slowly raised four fingers, the tips starkly clear in the dusk: "A Xiong gave four words…"

Then, pausing after each character, he said gravely, "Hold firm and avoid battle!"

"Hold firm and avoid battle?" Yang Langhui murmured, his eyes flashing with resolve, then bowed firmly and said, "Since Chen Zhuguo has instructed so, we must see it through to the end!"

As an old subordinate who followed Chen Zhuguo, earned merit in Hezhou, and rode his horse into Tuyu Hun, how could he not understand Chen Zhuguo's strategic vision?

Any decision made by Chen Zhuguo must be firmly upheld.

All of Chen Zhuguo's orders are to be followed unwaveringly.

Yuwen Ze, seeing this, nodded with satisfaction, his tone affirming, "Exactly!"

"You think the same as I do!"

Yuwen Ze might not possess such sharp strategic insight, but he knows that A Xiong's instructions must have reason.

They should just follow them!

Yang Langhui nodded repeatedly, then suddenly recalled something and hurriedly said, "Chen Zhuguo, when Subordinate General left Chang'an to take up his post at Yubi, Chen Zhuguo personally summoned Subordinate General, not only instructed me to reinforce the city defenses but also specifically asked the veteran Wei Shaokuan for the city‑defense insights!"

Yuwen Ze's eyes brightened, his gaze full of joy.

He has always known that professional matters should be left to professionals; Yang Langhui has combat experience and has received the true teachings of the veteran Wei Shaokuan, so entrusting him with the fortifications could not be more fitting. He immediately turned to Yang Langhui, his tone earnest and fully trusting: "Oh? That's indeed the case! That's perfect!"

"As for how to arrange Yubi's city defenses and allocate the troops, I fully entrust it to you, Lao Yang!"

"Any required manpower or equipment, just ask; the five thousand soldiers of the Right Guard will obey your deployment!"

Such unconditional trust made Yang Langhui's blood boil with zeal; he straightened his back, performed a military salute to Yuwen Ze, his tone resolute and each word ringing: "Subordinate General will spare no effort, die defending Yubi's city defenses, and will not let the Qi army cross the defensive line even a step!"

"If the city falls, Subordinate General is willing to atone with his life!"

"Get up!" Yuwen Ze quickly reached out, helped him to his feet, patted his shoulder, and said solemnly, "I trust you; with you guarding Yubi's defenses, I am at ease!"

"Subordinate General accepts the command!" Yang Langhui rose, his eyes full of determination.

The two continued forward, the street lamps lighting up one after another, the dim yellow glow reflecting on the mottled city walls.

From the distant barracks came the low murmur of soldiers eating and the faint clink of weapons.

Yuwen Ze, one hand clasped behind his back, glanced at the last sliver of the setting sun in the sky, its crimson halo being slowly swallowed by night.

He curled the corner of his mouth into a half‑smile, his tone bearing a measured, strategic calm: "However, even though we have set the 'hold firm and avoid battle' strategy, we cannot just sit idly inside the city, doing nothing…"

Yang Langhui, startled by the words, immediately bowed and asked, "What does Chen Zhuguo mean?"

Yuwen Ze blinked, then spoke slowly: "Select a few old, weak, or infirm soldiers from the Yubi guards—not necessarily elite—just those who are quick‑tongued and agile in the legs, and combine them with the few embroidered‑clad envoys I brought from Chang'an…"

"Tomorrow, slip out of the city quietly, provoke and lure the Qi army near their camp, and also scout their intelligence!"

——

PS: Yubi city‑defense insights.

1. Use the terrain's danger to your advantage: cling to the sheer Yubi cliff and the Fen River's natural barrier, defend only the single gentle slope on the city's south, consolidating multiple lines into a single point to save troops.

2. Seize the high ground first: when the enemy builds earthen mounds, raise the city towers, maintaining visual dominance and preventing the enemy from gaining a height advantage.

3. Prioritize ground defense: anticipate tunnel raids, dig deep surrounding moats in advance to turn passive blocking into active encirclement, countering underground assaults.

4. Counter hard attacks with softness: use cloth curtains to cushion the impact of charging war wagons, deflecting their blades, then break their equipment with long‑handled weapons, avoiding direct clash with hard attacks.

5. Use fire against fire: when the enemy employs a scorched‑city tactic, seize a long hook to retrieve their fire implements and turn the fire attack back onto the enemy.

6. Rapidly seal breaches: when a wall foundation collapses, erect wooden palisades to block the opening, denying the enemy a breach point and preserving the integrity of the defenses.

7. Attack the heart to solidify the army: eliminate the surrender‑urging envoys, reject intimidation, and with the commander's resolve steady the troops' morale, resisting the enemy more than a fortified city.