lcionline Chapter 306 Heading to the Border of the Great Zhou Dynasty
Chapter 306 Heading to the Border of the Great Zhou Dynasty
Mei Ruhua waited and waited by the river, but finally couldn't stand it anymore and went to look for him. To her surprise, she found that bastard Sikong Jin sleeping soundly in the grass. Enraged, she kicked him and stormed off, ignoring the wailing and howling Sikong Jin made behind her.
When Tuoba Yu went over, Sikong Jin was sitting against a tree trunk. The ground in front of her was covered with a large area of messy circles and dots. When she saw Tuoba Yu coming over, she just looked up at him, then looked down again, glanced at the patterns in front of her, and then suddenly waved the branch in her hand to wipe away all the patterns.
"How did you come?"
Sikong Jin spoke calmly, leaning against the tree trunk behind her as she slowly stood up.
"I haven't seen you for several days. Knowing you were leaving soon, I came to check on you."
A faint smile appeared on Tuoba Yu's gentle and handsome face as he walked towards her, stopping beside her. He looked down at the patterns she had drawn on the ground before him, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke, "Xi Fenglie has retreated to Hanyang City. The border fortresses leading to Tiansheng and Dayong have been cut off by him. By sealing off the southern fortresses, he has effectively cut off your army's retreat route. Unless reinforcements come from within Dayong, Hangu Pass will now be an isolated city. Xi Fenglie's army is contracting from both flanks, joining forces with the main attacking army of Ge Su. Even if Xing Qitian's army is strong, it will probably be difficult to withstand the Liao army's attack."
Upon hearing this, Sikong Jin's eyes darkened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.
“Ajin, you can’t go back unless you break through the Liao army’s blockade at the border. But even that seems pointless. Xifeng Lie has set up three lines of defense at the border, and the Liao emperor is reinforcing his troops here. By the time you lead your army to break through, Hangu Pass may have already been breached. If you fight head-on, you’ll be the one who suffers! Weren’t you just worried about this?”
As Tuoba Yu spoke, he suddenly bent down to pick up the branch she had just thrown down, and said with a solemn expression.
"Even if we can't go back, we have to go back!"
Sikong Jin said this casually, but her face was full of ease. "Besides, my Great Yong Emperor has already issued several imperial edicts. No matter what, we cannot disobey the edict. I, Sikong Jin, only have one head. In order to survive, I am afraid I will have to brave mountains of knives and seas of fire."
"If you try to break through, you'll probably die anyway. As long as you come back to my Heavenly Saint Imperial City with me, I'll have my father plead for you. Out of respect for Heavenly Saint, even the Great Yong Emperor won't dare to do anything to you. Just come back to Heavenly Saint Imperial City with me, and I'll ask you if you're willing?"
Tuoba Yu turned his head and stared intently at her beautiful, fair face, and couldn't help but ask.
Sikong Jin fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, she didn't reply and suddenly turned to leave. Tuoba Yu, somewhat exasperated, reached out and grabbed her. His pale, gentle face was filled with deep worry and distress. He lowered his voice and said softly, "Give me a reason! Why won't you come back with me? If you just agree, you can have any wealth and honor you desire. If that's still not enough, I... I'm willing... willing to marry you as my imperial consort. Marry me, and all the problems will be solved. Even if the Emperor of Dayong wants to punish you, he will spare you any harm because of the alliance between our two dynasties. Sikong Jin, if you just agree, you won't have to bear all this pain alone."
Sikong Jin was stunned, looking at Tuoba Yu's earnest and sincere face, and did not miss the emotions that he was trying hard to suppress in his eyes—
Could it be that he...
How can it be!
How long have she known Tuoba Yu? How many times have they met in total?
"Answer me! Say you do!"
Tuoba Yu's hands involuntarily gripped Sikong Jin's shoulders. He looked down at her and urged her urgently.
Sikong Jin frowned, remained silent for a while, then suddenly raised her head, looked at him steadily, and asked calmly, "Do you really want me to go back to Tiansheng Imperial City with you?"
"Do you want to?"
Tuoba Yu's eyes were full of expectation, and the hands on her shoulders trembled slightly as he tightened his grip, his gaze fixed on her clear and beautiful face. "If you nod, they won't do anything to you, believe me!"
Sikong Jin's starry eyes changed several times in an instant, becoming incredibly deep. She gazed intently into Tuoba Yu's dark pupils, and suddenly spoke calmly, "I can agree to your request, but you must immediately order the Tiansheng Thirty Armies to attack Hanyang City, break through Xifeng Lie's three defensive lines, and do everything in your power to support Hangu Pass. Once the crisis at Hangu Pass is resolved, I will return to the Tiansheng Imperial City with you. Are you willing?"
Upon hearing Sikong Jin's words, Tuoba Yu was taken aback, and a hint of difficulty appeared on his gentle face. "Ajin, now is not the best time to launch a counterattack. Xifeng Lie's army is at its peak, and we should avoid their sharp edge rather than engage in direct conflict with them. Moreover, Father has already ordered the entire army to enter a state of alert and preparedness..."
"I understand, thank you."
A shadow of sadness flashed across Sikong Jin's eyes, and a self-deprecating sneer played on his lips. "If it were me, I probably wouldn't agree either. But trapped inside Hangu Pass are not only my brothers, whom I consider my own, but also my fiancée, my nominal father-in-law, and many comrades-in-arms. They are all my family. If I go back to Tiansheng Imperial City with you, I will be fine, but they will surely die! If I don't go to save them, who else can I rely on? This is all I've ever wanted!"
Her final, resolute words drifted in the desolate night wind, gradually dissipating with the cool breeze and vanishing without a trace in an instant.
When Tuoba Yu looked up in a daze, her slender figure had already disappeared into the pale twilight ahead...
The thunderous sound of hooves finally rang out, and tens of thousands of troops hurriedly departed under the vast darkness of the night. Watching the receding firelight and the banners swaying in the cold sky, Tuoba Yu remained stunned for a long time.
For the first time, he seemed to have a vague feeling that something was brushing past him and would never come back.
That feeling was somewhat heart-wrenching and disheartening. Thinking of how she walked past him so coldly and resolutely, his chest suddenly ached, his breath caught in his throat, and he felt a strange sense of discomfort and oppression!
On July 30th of the 468th year of the Red Moon Calendar, Sikong Jin's army, having left Yingzhou City, marched northeastward towards Tiansheng. Along the continuous Malan Mountains in the north, they bypassed Hanyang City, where Xifenglie's army was stationed, and headed straight for the border between Tiansheng and Dazhou.