Chapter 844

"General Chen really thinks too highly of me; I do intend to send troops to help, but having me single-handedly take on the Court's two armies—I'm afraid I can't do that!"

Yang Yu shook his head and sighed, "Even the resources of San Guan Jun and General Chen are clear to me; if we fight such a battle, we'll probably be completely wiped out."

Failing to fool Yang Yu, Chen Wuji instantly felt regret.

But he had no intention of giving up so easily, and picking up the thread he said, "Yang Gong, you don't need to be so modest—I heard everything you just said."

Some people go back on their words as soon as they speak them—how could there be any sense in that?

Even though he knew it wasn't wise to press the point, Chen Wuji still wanted to give him a reminder.

If you can't stop both armies, you at least have to block one of them, right?

Otherwise, where would you put your face?

"Just a slip of the tongue, mere boasting—made General Chen laugh." Yang Yu laughed embarrassedly, waving his hands repeatedly.

Whenever you meet someone who gives you a little face, even if you give a discount, you still have to acknowledge it to some extent.

But Yang Yu, on the other hand, was completely unabashed, spitting in his own face and letting it dry, as if he didn't even realize this was somewhat embarrassing.

No wonder he's a schemer—this mindset really has something to it.

He's just a bit shameless.

Seeing there was nothing he could do, Chen Wuji changed his approach and asked, "Yang Gong, how many troops can you muster? Even if we can't oppose the Court's two armies, helping me block just one should certainly be no problem, right?"

"If it's just one of them..." Yang Yu hesitated.

Chen Wuji's eye twitched—you thick‑eyed guy, you really have no shame at all.

We've already said all this, and yet you're still considering it.

"Yang Gong, do you know why I, while locked in a decisive battle with the Qiang people, hastily diverted troops to attack Shendu?" Chen Wuji suddenly shifted the conversation.

Since this old geezer couldn't care less about face, let's talk about something practical.

As for face, he could actually do without it too.

Yang Yu actually did want to ask that question, and hearing this he went along and asked, "Why?"

Chen Wuji's move in Shendu really left him a bit puzzled.

Dealing with a bunch of Shendu troops who crossed the border and actually invading Shendu are two different matters.

Although Chen Wuji's force advanced smoothly, capturing seven Shendu cities in just two months and occupying half of Shendu's territory, as the most powerful neighbor of Dayu South, he has always been a heartland threat to Zhongyuan.

Chen Wuji's victory was swift and smooth—that's Chen Wuji for you; you can't equate him with others.

In the past, such great victories have occurred, but never before has anyone achieved such results in so short a time!

After receiving this news, Yang Yu pondered it repeatedly for several days, but he never managed to figure out Chen Wuji's true purpose.

Given his understanding of Chen Wuji, this person is not only not arrogant, but actually somewhat cowardly.

Yet this time his sudden launch of war against Shendu really did show some arrogance.

Chen Wuji let out a light sigh, a hint of helplessness showing in his expression, "To avoid battle!"

"Avoid battle?!" Yang Yu asked doubtfully.

Chen Wuji nodded, "With Yang Gong present, I won't hide anything. My current situation is actually not good—Nan Jun has just been unified, the Qiang People have also been driven out, and the situation looks set to improve, but the Court Army suddenly marched south, and I hear the Uyghurs have also dispatched Bīngmǎ to join the fray."

"With such overwhelming might, plus the Qiang People, Yang Gong, I have no choice but to consider a retreat!"

Yang Yu's pupils constricted sharply—this kid wants to run?!

He eyed Chen Wuji suspiciously, his expression wavering.

Given his understanding of Chen Wuji, he didn't seem like someone capable of doing this.

But the pressure Chen Wuji faces now is indeed great.

The Court Army of 400,000, plus the Uyghurs taking advantage of the chaos, and the not-yet-fully-pacified Qiang Land...

This battle could easily muster over 500,000 troops.

Although the Qiang People remaining are only small tribes, the hatred Chen Wuji has stirred against them is immense, and given Yan Yan's relationship with the Qiang People, they will surely form an alliance to seize the opportunity and counterattack.

The Qiang Land is vast, with numerous settlements; pooling three thousand here, five thousand there can easily yield around 100,000 troops.

With such a massive scale, Chen Wuji wanting to run seems...

That is also understandable.

"The Court Army is merely a rabble; I can guarantee this for Commander Chen!" Yang Yu said while considering, "I've been bumping around in the court for so many years—I know exactly what Da Yu's army is like now."

He must persuade Chen Wuji.

If this kid really drops the burden, taking his Bīngmǎ to retreat to India, wouldn't he then be the first to bear the brunt?

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Yang Gong, I know you certainly won't deceive me, but I dare not gamble!"

He spoke very sincerely.

"All the forces under my command, when gathered, total just over 100,000." Chen Wuji said.

"As you just said, Yang Gong, the Court Army numbers 400,000, the Uyghurs could easily contribute several tens of thousands, and adding the Qiang People—attacked from both sides, the enemy is four times our strength; even if my ambitions were greater, I would not dare to be overconfident in such a lopsided battle."

"If we lose this battle, I'll have nothing left—I must arrange a retreat in advance!"

Yang Yu understood why Chen Wuji would suddenly abandon the near and attack far to India, but he still felt something was off.

"Thirty thousand!" Yang Yu suddenly held up three fingers and said firmly.

He knew Chen Wuji's goal was to have him dispatch more Bīngmǎ.

"Thirty thousand what?" Chen Wuji feigned ignorance.

Yang Yu explained, "I can allocate thirty thousand Bīngmǎ to assist Commander Chen; as for how to arrange them, Commander Chen decides. My earlier words were just joking—given such a massive force in battle, I will send the troops to Commander Chen but will not interfere in the Battle Formation command."

"One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers; if I intervene in command, it won't be good."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Yang Gong, being able to produce thirty thousand Bīngmǎ to assist me, I'm grateful, but I think we should forget it."

"Facing an enemy many times our size, a thirty-thousand-strong army amounts to nothing—it could be thrown onto the battlefield without even raising a splash."

Yang Yu's face looked somewhat grim.

It's not that he's angry that Chen Wuji looks down on his soldiers.

On the contrary, he felt that Chen Wuji's words had some truth.

Thirty thousand troops is not few, but it depends on who you're facing and who you're fighting.

Even if the Court Army that comes are all a bunch of useless people, just this number alone will still impose tremendous pressure on their commanders and soldiers. Adding the Uyghurs and Qiang People, this battle definitely won't be as easy as he said.

Talk is talk, but when it comes to actual fighting, you can't rely on mere eloquence.

「Fifty thousand! 」 he gritted his teeth and reported a number again.

「This is the maximum price I can currently offer; I really can't do any more. 」