Chapter 685

Boerhu saw Bi Xuan's displeasure and the generals' puzzlement, and immediately wanted to explain.

But Bi Xuan raised a great hand, cutting off Boerhu's words,

"What trick or not, could the words of the Devil Chancellor be false?

Boerhu, the Great Khan sent you south, wanting you to seize Yanmen Pass.

Now Yanmen Pass is already in disarray without a fight — this is the best moment, yet you keep hesitating, missing the chance for battle.

If the Great Khan knew, he would surely rebuke you."

"Wu Zun, you truly misunderstand this general."

Though Bi Xuan's words were harsh, Boerhu still held his temper, preparing to explain.

"Enough! Whether it's a misunderstanding or not doesn't matter. I, Bi Xuan, am a mere man of arms — I only know to serve the Golden Family.

Since today is such a fine opportunity, I absolutely cannot miss it.

Under my command I still have three hundred disciples, and with me added in, catching them off guard, we can take the city gate.

I only hope that when the gate is taken, you Boerhu can send men to reinforce."

After speaking, he paid no heed to Boerhu's iron-blue face or the stunned generals, and swept straight out with a flick of his sleeve.

He is a Royal Warrant of the Great Yuan; though his status is lower than that of a National Warrant, he is ultimately in a transcendent position.

Though he was assigned to the Western Army and is theoretically under Boerhu's command,

he is only moving his own three hundred disciples.

He hasn't touched a single soldier under Boerhu, so strictly speaking this is defying Boerhu's military order.

But even if it were reported to Tie Muzhen, there likely wouldn't be any heavy punishment.

On the contrary, if he truly takes the Yanmen Pass gate tonight,

Boerhu would likely lose face badly instead.

Watching Bi Xuan throw his temper and sweep out, the great tent instantly fell terrifyingly silent.

Though the generals had words aplenty, seeing Boerhu's iron-blue face, none dared request to fight again.

Meng Chixing sighed — this Boerhu, though a general of talent, was ultimately too cautious.

But Bi Xuan acting this way tonight has also torn his face with Boerhu.

Originally, if Bi Xuan didn't go, Meng Chixing himself might have gone in place of the Devil Chancellor Palace disciples.

Now it was no longer proper to make Boerhu too embarrassed, so he could only smooth things over, saying,

"This Yanmen Pass looks weakly defended — it may well be Wang Xiaojie's trick.

Grand General, since Bi Xuan insists on going, why not send a general with a force to meet and support him.

If Bi Xuan is checked, it will be easier to cover his retreat."

Boerhu's pent-up breath churned in his chest for a long while, and at last Meng Chixing's words dispelled some of it.

He also knew Meng Chixing was giving him a way out.

It looked like he was urging him to send men to support Bi Xuan, but in truth he was confident Bi Xuan would succeed tonight.

If Bi Xuan truly took the Yanmen Pass gate while his own army sat idle,

then whether the gate was taken or not, he would inevitably bear the charge of missing the moment for battle.

These Warrants really are lords.

He glanced again at the generals in the tent, all looking eager for battle.

Boerhu knew that if he refused to send troops any longer, he would rouse the anger of all — and said helplessly,

"Fine! Wulisu, lead the Left Army of ten thousand men and go meet and support the Wu Zun."

Though Bi Xuan had embarrassed him before all, Boerhu still addressed him as Wu Zun.

"Yes! This general receives the order."

This Wulisu was overjoyed; amid the envious looks of his comrades, he accepted the order, then went down to muster his troops and march.

"The rest of the generals, continue to hold the main camp fast, and await further news from the front."

After dispatching Wulisu, Boerhu issued another military order, drawing looks of regret from the generals.

Boerhu remained worried that Wang Xiaojie had a trick in store.

Now that the bulk of the Great Tang has withdrawn south, for Wang Xiaojie to turn defeat into victory, his only option is to raid the main camp and burn the grain and supplies.

And the Great Yuan's Western Army of fifty thousand could win with the greatest of ease.

Therefore, steadiness is preferred; one must not invite a great defeat through carelessness.

492 — These are a group of admirable young people!

Great Tang, Yanmen Pass.

With the appearance of the Kiang Dragon Mace, from Wang Xiaojie downward, the officers of the Great Tang garrison all bowed their heads and accepted the order.

In the afternoon, Wang Xiaojie pretended to fall out with his men and led them away from Yanmen Pass.

And it so happened that Yuan scouts spotted them, after which they vanished into the northwestern wilds.

After Wang Xiaojie departed, more garrison troops, led by some officers, slipped out of the city one after another.

By evening, the vast Yanmen Pass had only some five thousand defenders left.

For a time, the uninformed garrison soldiers were in a panic.

But these garrison soldiers had all been stationed at Yanmen Pass for at least two years or more.

They knew every blade of grass and every tree at Yanmen Pass like the back of their hands, and had developed deep feelings for it.

Since their own Vice-Generals and Captains had not withdrawn, though uneasy at heart, these soldiers were willing to stay.

On the pass walls, garrison soldiers patrolled conscientiously from time to time.

Yuchi Zhen also hid his form upon the border pass wall, the Kiang Dragon Mace on his back, gazing north.

Tonight, Yanmen Pass was truly quiet.

Out in the wilds, not even a single wolf's howl could be heard.

"Captain Chen, is what you said true? Someone will really come to seize the gate tonight?"

Behind the parapet of the city gate, a soldier crouched low and asked a captain.

That Captain Chen, just like the soldier, kept his body low, hiding behind the parapet. Hearing the soldier's question, he replied,

"That's right! It was that young Lord Sikong who said so."

"Lord Sikong? Why isn't General Wang leading us to defend the city? Why has it been changed to some Lord Sikong?"

"Right! Has General Wang really abandoned Yanmen Pass?"

"I heard my old uncle say that Yanmen Pass is the number-one Zhongzhen of the northwest. Lose Yanmen Pass, and not only will the northwest be lost for the Great Tang—even Chang'an will be in grave danger!"

The group of soldiers crouching nearby, at this, opened their You Huaxia and began chattering all at once.

They were all young men, who had come to garrison this northwestern Zhongzhen border pass full of hot blood in their veins, each carrying a heart devoted to protecting home and country.

But now, the court had actually issued an order to abandon the northwest.

As soldiers, they ought to obey.

But as subjects of the Great Tang, for the sake of the Wan Wan Wan Wan of their fellow countrymen behind them, they did not wish to give up this place.

Although Wang Xiaojie was the Grand General, ever since they had come under his command—

Every single soldier, he kept in his heart.

He could call out by name every one of the more than ten thousand soldiers under him.

And if anything happened, this Grand General would always step forward to settle it.

In the hearts of most soldiers, Wang Xiaojie was both the Grand General and the soul of the entire force, their leader.

Now, such a Grand General, who loved the northwest and loved the soldiers and people of the Great Tang, had so suddenly abandoned the city and left.

Replacing him with a Lord Sikong no one knew where he came from—how could the officers and men accept this?

"This is military intelligence, not to be discussed. If it happens again, military law will deal with it."

Captain Chen had taken part in the military council and had seen Wei Chi Zhen brandish that Kanggong Mace, but he too did not know what Wei Chi Zhen actually wanted to do.

But a soldier's sacred duty is to obey orders!

Since Wei Chi Zhen held the military command, even if it meant ordering Captain Chen to launch a suicidal charge, he would carry it out without the slightest hesitation.

Hearing the heavy tone in Captain Chen's voice—that he was not joking—the soldiers shut their mouths.

Although Grand General Wang Xiaojie had left, Captain Chen, who had always been like an elder brother to them—sleeping in the same tent, eating from the same pot—was still here.

Then this city, they had to hold!

Even if they themselves died, their comrades would pick up their blades and fight on in their stead.