Chapter 1466 - 1141: In a Single Thought

When the sunlight broke through the clouds and spread evenly over the earth, Xiao Yuansui’s army of a hundred thousand approached with great momentum, filling the entire expanse before Hulao Pass, to the east of the Sishui, so completely that the stirred dust almost obscured the sky.

Seeing this scene, several soldiers on the city tower all changed their expressions.

It wasn’t that they had just seen this sight; before Xiao Yuansui’s army advanced into view, scouts had already returned to report. Shortly after, those standing on the city tower felt the earth tremble—tens of thousands of troops moving simultaneously not only shook the ground and rolled the sands but even made the distant Yellow River surge vigorously.

Then, the army assumed formation.

This force of over ten thousand men arranged into eight large formations, paired in four rows. Each array had about ten thousand soldiers, separated by more than three zhang of space to allow cavalry to pass through and relay orders.

However, even the soldiers with the best eyesight could barely make out the two front formations, which held up heavy, black shields to defend against cavalry charges and flying arrows. The next two formations were predominately archers, ready to draw bows and shoot the moment Hulao Pass’s soldiers appeared and charged, repelling their assault.

As for those even further back, they were not visible, but from the sounds of war horses carried by the wind, it could be guessed that those were cavalry.

Seeing such an immense military formation, many soldiers showed timid expressions. Xue Lin clenched the rough battlement wall with one hand, his fingertips turning white, and even Shen Wuzheng furrowed his brow.

How should this battle be fought?

Shen Wuzheng turned to look at Yu Wenye, who was standing beside him, gazing into the distance. He saw that Yu Wenye’s eyebrows were also slowly furrowing and couldn’t help but ask in a deep voice, "Did you lead him here only to feel unsure now?"

Yu Wenye still looked forward, murmuring, "Something is not right."

Shen Tu Tai, Xue Lin, and others around them, hearing this, all looked at him with wide eyes in shock, and after Yu Wenye observed for a moment, he softly added, "Xiao Yuansui, something’s amiss."

The crowd was greatly astonished, realizing that what he meant by "not right" referred to Xiao Yuansui.

Shen Wuzheng asked, "What’s not right about him."

Yu Wenye replied, "He enjoys taking risks, or rather, he prefers advancing and only retreats when absolutely necessary, and he is not good at defense. So he can seize Wanggang Village, capture Xingluo Granary, and sweep Hebei, yet cannot prevent the division of Wanggang Village, nor can he hold Xingluo Granary..."

As he mentioned Wanggang Village and its division, Shen Tu Tai gently shook his head, and then heard someone sigh beside him. Looking down, he saw Shantong’er had somehow climbed onto the city tower and was leaning over the battlement, looking down. Clearly, he had never witnessed such a magnificent military formation and couldn’t help but draw in a breath of cold air.

Shen Tu Tai reached out and gently patted his shoulder.

Shen Wuzheng’s gaze also lingered on the child, while still staring at Yu Wenye: "So, do you think his formation is wrong?"

Yu Wenye shook his head: "It’s not the formation that’s wrong; he’s wrong."

Generally speaking, when a large army arrays, especially when the opposite side has cavalry, the front line will always be a Shield Formation to prevent cavalry and infantry from breaking through the rear formation. Next are the archers to repel enemy attacks, and only then comes the infantry. This is the most common formation style, but this formation style also means that their cavalry charges would be obstructed.

In other words, psychologically, they didn’t plan to take the initiative in charging.

However, this battle was initiated by Xiao Yuansui himself.

Hearing Yu Wenye’s explanation, Shen Tu Tai also nodded slightly. Having been through countless battles, he naturally saw the intention of this formation at a glance. However, he didn’t understand what Yu Wenye meant by "something’s amiss," while Shen Wuzheng, upon hearing this, began to ponder deeply and seemed to grasp the meaning.

He glanced at the sprawling military formation, then said, "Such a formation indicates that even he is conflicted."

Yu Wenye nodded: "What’s bizarre is that he’s typically determined, knows exactly what he wants to do, more than anyone else, yet this time he doesn’t seem so resolute."

This point even puzzled him.

He could see through the intent of the military formation but found it difficult to see through people’s hearts.

At this moment, the low mumbling of Shantong’er reached their ears: "Master once said, many things hinge upon a single thought."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to him. A flash of insight crossed Yu Wenye’s eyes: "A single thought..."

While everyone mulled over in silence what was amiss with Xiao Yuansui, Xue Lin, who had no interest in pondering such matters, was anxious and asked, "Your Highness, they have already arrived. Should we not also go out and confront them?"

Having said this, he immediately cupped his hands in a salute: "Your humble servant requests to battle!"

Upon his opening request, everyone’s breathing became subconsciously tense, but Yu Wenye merely glanced at him and said, "Who said I intend to go to battle?"

"Ah?"

Upon hearing those words, Xue Lin immediately froze, looking up at Yu Wenye in confusion - he was fully aware that after the night raid on Xiao Yuansui’s camp, during which he was injured and returned, Xiao Yuansui would surely retaliate; furthermore, it was he himself who had ordered Gao Feng and Jiang Kesong to take those few thousand horses across the river to graze as a deliberate show of weakness, luring the enemy into believing their cavalry was short on fodder, before realizing at dawn that Xiao Yuansui’s camp had indeed begun preparing for an attack. Thus, the entire Hulao Pass was put on alert. Now, with Xiao Yuansui’s army at their gates, why does he suddenly refuse to engage?

Shen Tu Tai also asked, "Your Highness, no battle?"

Yu Wenye turned to glance at the orderly, overwhelming army of over a hundred thousand before coolly smiling, "They stand very neatly. Let them keep standing."

Saying that, he turned and went down the city tower.

As he walked, he issued orders: "Pass down the order, close the city gates tightly, and anyone who dares to go out and engage in battle without permission will be dealt with according to military law."

All officers and soldiers responded affirmatively.

The few people on the city tower looked at each other in disbelief. Xue Lin immediately became a bit anxious and asked Shen Tu Tai, "General Shen Tu, what is going on?"

Shen Tu Tai did not answer him immediately, only furrowed his brow slightly, chewing over the words Yu Wenye had just left, as if realizing something. He glanced again at the vast, organized army ahead and said, "Indeed, too orderly."

Shen Wuzheng asked, "You mean—"

Their eyes met, and they suddenly understood something.

While they shared a tacit understanding, and Xue Lin was anxiously uneasy, Shantong’er, leaning on the battlement wall, slowly stepped back two steps, softly saying, "I wonder if Sister Ruyi is over there."