Chapter 1468 - 1142: Charcoal Fire (2)

It’s Shen Wuzheng.

He asked, "What are you going to do?"

Xue Lin gritted his teeth, "Go out, and kick their damn asses!"

Shen Wuzheng looked up at the sky, then said, "Have you forgotten Prince Qin’s orders? Do you want to be court-martialed, or never come back if you go out?"

Xue Lin gritted his teeth again, angrily saying, "But they are hurling such nasty insults!"

Shen Wuzheng frowned, and just at that moment some of the shouting drifted into his ears. They had insulted Yu Wenye’s grandfather and then his father, to the point where His Majesty the Emperor of the esteemed Dasheng Dynasty was being cursed as less than an animal. Soldiers on the battlements were not satisfied and started trading insults with them.

Xue Lin said, "Shen Canjun, if we let them continue cursing like this, there’s no need to fight at all."

Shen Wuzheng didn’t speak. Though not born a military general, he had read military texts and fought in a few battles, understanding how crucial morale is in warfare. He understood Yu Wenye’s refusal to engage, yet he knew that the soldiers’ moods wouldn’t be fixed just by understanding. If their Emperor and Prince Qin were ridiculed without retaliation, they’d slowly view their leaders as incompetent and useless. Once that mindset sets in, how could they continue to fight?

Moreover, the opposing forces had over a hundred thousand troops!

With disadvantageous numbers and low morale, it would indeed be difficult.

While he remained silent, a tall figure swept past him with sudden wind, swiftly ascending the city wall and seizing a bow from a guard, saying, "Give me that!"

On closer look, it was Shen Tu Tai!

Shen Wuzheng immediately said, "General Shen Tu!"

Yet before he could finish, Shen Tu Tai had already skillfully drawn the bowstring, aiming at the cursing soldier below, and with a swoosh, the arrow shot through the air and pierced his ear.

A cry of agony was heard as the man clutched his blood-gushing ear and fell off his horse.

Seeing this, the soldiers on the city wall all burst into cheers.

Meanwhile, the fallen man was quickly helped up by his comrades, retreating in panic, but after a distance, they stopped again, hopping around and continuing to hurl insults at the battlements, "Cowardly turtles, traitors, too scared to come out, huh? Grandpa’s here, keep shooting!"

"If they dared, would they still cower inside with their necks stuck out?"

"Hahahaha, spineless bastards!"

Listening to the blatant taunting, Shen Tu Tai stood on the city wall, gripping the bow tightly, grinding his teeth audibly.

These men were clearly prepared, having moved just beyond bow range, making it hard to shoot them. Moreover, they were there to insult; even if hit by arrows, they wouldn’t retreat, turning it into a credential for their rewards. Now, as they loudly taunt, their voices rang sharply through Hulao Pass, infuriating the soldiers inside, who clenched their teeth but could do nothing.

"Damn it..."

Shen Tu Tai could only mutter curses under his breath.

At this moment, Shen Wuzheng walked up beside him, observing the taunting soldiers and then the hundred thousand strong army across the Sishui River. Since they had lined up in the morning, half an hour had passed; their ranks were still mostly orderly, but not as steady as before. Some subtle waverings became apparent.

Standing alone for half an hour is tiring; coordinating a hundred thousand people for half an hour, that’s beyond ordinary exhaustion.

However—

Shen Tu Tai said, "How much longer do we have to wait?"

Shen Wuzheng looked at the sky, the sun high in the sky. Although they wore only thin garments under their armor, the heat was evident, so he said, "We’re lucky with good weather today, the sun is vast; it won’t be long now."

As he spoke, he reached out to pat the muscular arm under Shen Tu Tai’s armor, saying, "Hold on."

His voice and the aura he exuded, even down to the hand lightly patting the shoulder, emitted a peculiar air of cool detachment. Sensing this aura, Shen Tu Tai finally calmed down. He glanced at Shen Wuzheng and suddenly found his own inability to control his temper, despite knowing what should be done, a little laughable. So he chuckled softly and said, "You’ve seen me make a fool of myself."

Shen Wuzheng replied, "There’s no need for such formal talk, General Shen Tu."

Shen Tu Tai glanced at him again, "I thought you’d be the one losing your cool because of Princess’s matters. Unexpectedly, we were the impatient ones."

Shen Wuzheng exhaled deeply—there was no denying that he had been furious in recent days due to Shang Ruyi’s capture. Not only had he lost his cool, but his behavior even towards Yu Wenye had been full of veiled hostility, as if he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d fought him again to dispel his anger.