Chapter 498: Meeting on a Narrow Path
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhou Linghuai clenched his fists and smiled.
Xia Tao pursed her lips and smiled. “After Young Master went to Youzhou, Young Miss even improved in poetry. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a poem about the moon being round from a thousand miles away. ‘The moonlight shone brightly on my heart. I wanted to hold the moon and give it to you from afar. Meeting you was only in my dream.’ It received praise from Matriarch and Eldest Master.”
Yu Youyao was embarrassed and angry. She stomped her feet. “You talkative girl, you don’t want your monthly allowance anymore!”
Xia Tao quickly covered her mouth and stopped talking.
Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “The poem isn’t much, but the artistic conception is not bad. It seems that Cousin has some talent in poetry…”
She wasn’t just saying that she stared at the stars and moon casually.
“No, no, no.” Before she could finish speaking, Yu Youyao was shocked. She waved her hand repeatedly and interrupted him, afraid that he would suddenly say that it was good for her to learn poetry from him. “I’m just saying it casually. I don’t have any talent. It’s just that it’s not elegant…”
Zhou Linghuai’s smile deepened. “Cousin, you’re indeed amazing. It takes seven steps for Cao Zhi to compose a poem. You can immediately come up with poetry using your mouth.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes widened. “Cousin, let me make it clear in advance. I’m not good at poetry. I usually read it. It’s not good for me to recite poems myself.”
If he continued teasing her, she would run away uncontrollably. Zhou
Linghuai knew when to stop. “I’m just praising Cousin for being smart.”
Yu Youyao heaved a sigh of relief and quickly changed the topic. “By the way, I remember that Cousin said that he had brought some wine back.” She turned around and instructed Xia Tao, “Go to Chang An and get a few bottles. Have some grapes at night to liven things up.”
Shanxi was rich in all kinds of fine wine. This time, her cousin brought a lot back.
It was most famous for wine, but the production of wine was not high. Other than paying tribute to the Imperial Court every year, there was not much left, and it was rarely tasted.
Xia Tao received her orders and left.
Not long after midnight, Yu Zongshen left the government office and came to An Shou Hall.
When he found out that Zhou Linghuai had received a job regarding Law and Order, Yu Zongshen’s hand that was playing with walnuts paused slightly.
“Emperor Gaozu restored the old books and encouraged people to collect and donate books. He established the Teng library and invited all the nobles in the world to enter the Teng library to read all the ancient books of the old dynasty. The Teng literature library is also a place for scholars in the world to visit as part of their pilgrimage. It has always been known as a small cabinet. It’s as difficult to enter the Teng library as it is to enter Hanlin.”
The cabinet was a place of power, while the Teng library was a place of fame and fortune.
One was related to power, and the other was related to reputation.
Zhou Linghuai could enter the Teng Wen Pavilion not only because of the emperors grace, but also because of his talent. Most importantly, he had connections.
This was interesting!
Yu Zongshen smiled and said elegantly, “At the court meeting today, there’s news from the north. When the Great General of the Cavalry was patrolling the border with 10,000 troops, a spy reported that ever since autumn, Harmon has led his troops to wander around the narrow Yu Pass many times. His actions are very suspicious. In the past few months since autumn, there has been no movement from the Di army. It’s very abnormal. Since you returned to Youzhou this time, I think you want to know the situation in Youzhou better. Do you have any thoughts on this?”
Anything that happened in the north was definitely related to Yin Huaixi. It was definitely not wrong to ask Zhou Linghuai.
Indeed!
Zhou Linghuai did not let him down. “Four years ago, the Di people invaded the north wantonly. At that time, the north was in danger. The heir, Yin Huaixi, led the 3,000 elite cavalry of the residence to help, but on the way, he met the 8,000 elite cavalry led by Harmon.”
Yu Zongshen held his breath.
Back then, the report submitted by the Marquis of Weining and the Marquis of Changxing did not mention this battle. It seemed that this battle must have played a key role in the later battlefield in the north, so it was hidden by the Marquis of Weining’s faction.
3,000 against 8,000. That was almost three times the difference in military strength. Yin Huaixi had survived.
It was no longer obvious how this battle would end.
An Shou Hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Matriarch Yu stopped twirling her prayer beads. Madam Yao had just picked up the tea and placed it on the table again. Yu Shanyan and the others couldn’t help but gasp. Yu Youyao also rested her chin on her hand and looked at her cousin eagerly.
Even she had never heard her cousin mention this battle.
Under Yu Youyao’s resentful and longing gaze, Zhou Linghuai continued,
“When we meet on a narrow path, the brave will win. The Di tribe, led by Harmon, is feeling smug about their prey. Yin Huaixi did not stop at all. He directly led 3,000 elite guards and charged forward, cutting off the Di people’s warhorses.”
“Harmon was caught off guard. For a moment, he was in a mess. He couldn’t even take care of himself, so how could he have the chance to shoot? Yin Huaixi led his troops and charged forward, annihilating more than 6,000 enemies and killing several Di generals. Harmon fled in defeat. Yin Huaixi led his army until they were 500 kilometers away from the narrow Yu Pass.
Harmon only had a few hundred remaining soldiers.”
There was a series of sighs in An Shou Hall.
Yu Zongshen praised, “A newborn calf is really unafraid of a tiger. Cavalrymen are most afraid of lightning battles. Yin Huaixi grasped the lightning battle and swiftly intercepted, disrupting the formation of the Di army first. The morale of the army was as strong as a thousand-mile dike, and it collapsed in an instant. It’s obvious that Yin Huaixi is a god general of soldiers.”
Compared to this, Li Qiguang was not enough.
It was no wonder that Li Qiguang did not even have the chance to fight Yin
Huaixi head-on.
Zhou Linghuai smiled faintly. “There are more than ten leaders of the
Northern Barbarians, big and small. The leaders often fight with each other. In this battle, they killed a few very famous generals of the Northern Barbarians, causing the morale of the Di army to be unstable at that time. Harmon’s reputation in the Northern Barbarians was damaged, creating an opportunity for the battlefield in the north.”
This was why Harmon was forced to retreat step by step by the You army.
However, at that time, the situation of the battle was urgent, and the report had yet to reach the capital. Perhaps it had already reached the capital, but it had been deliberately stopped by some people. The reinforcements of the
Marquis of Ning had already arrived.
Yu Shanxin looked shocked. “As the leader of a division, he was beaten badly by a twelve-year-old youth. He was like a stray dog and fled. It’s simply a great humiliation.”
It seemed that the various deeds related to Yin Huaixi were not exaggerated.
Yin Huaixi was simply too strong.
Yu Youyao was also overwhelmed with emotions, and her tone subconsciously carried pride. “Yin Huaixi and King You fought the Di troops several times on the battlefield in the north, causing Harmon to retreat step by step and recover the lost land and cities in the north. Harmon has never been able to avenge his previous humiliation. He even broke down. I reckon that compared to King You, Harmon is more afraid of this twelve-year-old Prince Yin.”
Yu Zongshen agreed deeply. “Yin Huaixi narrowly survived, but he still had to return to the court and lead troops to Shandong to quell the rebellion. Harmon was afraid that Yin Huaixi was close by, so he personally went to the narrow Yuguan to gather information. He was anxious to know if Yin Huaixi would take over the throne of the north and guard Youzhou, so he didn’t dare to act rashly.”
From the looks of it, the north was still stable for the time being..
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