Although dividing the troops into two is a common military strategy, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the open, and the enemy outnumbers us.
Song Yinghuai shouldn't have dispersed his troops at such a time, exposing himself, a relatively weak piece, under the enemy's nose.
Based on Caiyu's understanding of Song Yinghuai, he couldn't have failed to understand this principle.
Unless Song Yinghuai intended to leave her to fend for herself, he would never have proposed to go ahead alone.
Even if the imperial edict was hard to disobey, he could have taken her with him on a small path to hurry.
Caiyu tightened the piece of torn cloth in her bosom again, and suddenly her pupils constricted slightly.
Brother Ali...?
At this moment, in the forest outside Pengcheng, Sheng Jiangli and his men were resting against the trees, all dressed in black.
Suobude handed him a flask of water. Sheng Jiangli took it, tilted his head back and took a few gulps. It tugged at the wound on his chest, and he let out a fit of violent coughing.
Suobude frowned worriedly. "General, can we still do this? We lost quite a few brothers in the last ambush. The Prince of Yan and his personal guards are too good at fighting."
Sheng Jiangli gradually stopped coughing and gave a nonchalant smile. "We have to give it another try even if we can't! The last time was just to delay their journey to the capital. I haven't really gotten serious with him yet. What are you afraid of?"
"Speaking of this, I'm even more confused, sir." Suobude scratched his head and asked doubtfully. "Why didn't we really attempt the assassination? Instead, we were ordered to retreat urgently after attacking for a while. I think we could have continued fighting."
Sheng Jiangli sighed and looked at his simple - minded face. "Continue fighting for what? Do you want both sides to fight to the death until no one is left?"
"Suobude, I'm only twenty - five. I haven't married or had children yet. If I go to the underworld like this, my parents will throw me into the oil pan and fry me over and over again."
Suobude: ...
"Then, then what should we do? We'll delay him so that he can't reach the capital on time and let the emperor hold him accountable?"
"That's not a bad idea." Sheng Jiangli smiled. "But the Crown Prince wants me to act on the way."
"So." Sheng Jiangli stood up and stretched his body. His slightly upturned phoenix eyes were especially bright and clear. "We injured Caiyu, and he was delayed on the road for seven or eight days. Tomorrow, after he leaves Pengcheng, he will have to choose to ride alone on a small path to hurry. His men will surely stay to protect Caiyu."
"The Prince of Yan will soon be alone."
Sheng Jiangli looked at the gradually setting sun on the horizon with great interest, and a big smile spread across his face. "We'll set up an ambush on the small path outside Pengcheng tonight. Tomorrow will be the best time for the assassination!"
Pengcheng is located at the junction of Gusu and Jiaodong. Thousands of years ago, it was the capital of the emperor.
Once in Pengcheng, which is in the territory of Gusu, it gradually took on the features of the southern region.
Even the looks of people and things were different from those in the north. The young masters were dressed in gorgeous clothes, and there were many ladies from noble families.
But even in such a big city, it was rare to see a man with such charm as the one who entered the city today.
The man was wearing a moon - white riding suit embroidered with gold and tightened at the cuffs. The waistband was tightly wrapped around his slender waist. His long and powerful legs on the tall horse made him look upright and heroic. Every move of his carried an air of nobility and the aura of a king who commanded the world.
For a moment, the girls in the city were completely spellbound.
Although Song Yinghuai had a picture - perfect face, the killing intent in his eyes gave people second thoughts about approaching him. So they could only gather by the roadside and take a furtive look. Even so, Pengcheng was blocked up solid.
Since Song Yinghuai didn't inform the local government along the way, they didn't plan to stay in the official posthouse. Instead, he sent Han Fen ahead to find the largest inn in Pengcheng to rest.
But right now, because Song Yinghuai had attracted so much attention, their group was blocked on the main road in Pengcheng and couldn't move an inch.
Ji Qian got angry. He quickly drew his sword from his waist and shouted at the crowd. "The Embroidered Uniform Guards are on official business! Get out of the way quickly!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guards!
The crowd turned pale at the sound and immediately scattered in all directions. The bustling street suddenly became empty, leaving only a woman kneeling by the roadside.
The woman had a straw label on her head. A child in his early teens was lying motionless beside her, and an old man was kneeling and sitting nearby.
Hearing that it was the Embroidered Uniform Guards handling a case, the two of them hurriedly tried to move the lying child out of the way.
But in their panic, they couldn't move the child at all. Instead, they dropped the child to one side.
The child rolled all the way to Caiyu's carriage. His small body hit the carriage wheel, and he lay on his back with his eyes tightly closed.
Caiyu lifted the carriage curtain and took a look. The child's face was a pale blue, looking as if he was about to die. She quickly asked,
"What's going on?"
The father and daughter who rushed over quickly knelt down.
Seeing that this group of people were dressed in extraordinary clothes and the carriage was decorated with gold paint, the old man immediately kowtowed to them. "Miss! This is my only son! He's seriously ill. The doctor said it would cost at least three hundred taels of silver to cure him. I have no other choice but to come out to find a way to save my son..."
"Miss, you seem to be a kind - hearted person. Please save my son. I still have a daughter named Qingqing. As long as you can save her younger brother, Qingqing is willing to sell herself as a slave and serve the benefactor for a lifetime!"
Selling herself to save her younger brother?
Caiyu glanced at Song Yinghuai. The latter looked cold, neither opposing nor approving.
Well, Song Yinghuai practiced Buddhism. It would go against the Buddhist way to see someone dying and do nothing. But at this critical moment, he had to act with caution.
It seemed that she had to make the decision herself.
Caiyu bit her lip and looked at the child lying on the ground.
Her intuition told her not to cause trouble for Song Yinghuai, but that child... was so similar to her younger brother that Caiyu really couldn't abandon this life.
She hesitated for a moment but still bent down and got out of the carriage.
She reached out and felt under the child's nose. His breathing was weak, and his heartbeat was erratic.
Song Yinghuai glanced from his horseback and said, "This child is really about to die."
Since Song Yinghuai said so, the child must not be faking it.
Caiyu made a prompt decision. "My lord, this servant wants to save him."
Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes, his expression calm and undisturbed. No one could tell the scrutinizing look in his eyes.
Although the child was fine, it didn't mean that the father and daughter were innocent.
But his little servant had a kind heart and wanted to save someone, so he might as well let her.
Saving a life is better than building a seven - story pagoda.
Regardless of whether the father and daughter had ulterior motives or not, at least they should save the child first.
Song Yinghuai nodded. "I'll pay the silver, but I won't take the girl in."
Caiyu beamed. "This servant thought the same way."
Not to mention the matter of serving as a slave, she didn't want to bring any unnecessary trouble to herself for no reason.
Song Yinghuai asked someone to take out three hundred taels of silver and hand it to the old man, then led the group to Fengkelai Inn that Han Fen had booked.
Caiyu was exhausted from the journey. She ate a few mouthfuls casually and then went to rest.
But Song Yinghuai sat in another room with Ji Qian and the others to discuss matters.
Ji Qian said, "My lord, what are your plans for tomorrow?"
Song Yinghuai smiled gently. "It seems that Lord Ji has seen through my plan. I have other plans for tomorrow."
Ji Qian curled his lips. "I've been through a lot in my life, my lord. You've been protecting Miss Caiyu all the way. How could you suddenly leave her behind and go alone after entering Gusu? Even if you were in a hurry to get to the capital, you should at least wait until you reach Lingbi, the outer perimeter of the imperial city, before rushing into the capital alone."
"Now there are still more than a thousand li to the capital, and there are dangers all along the way. My lord would never leave Miss Caiyu behind."
"Lord Ji is smart." Song Yinghuai's smile deepened. He tapped his fingertips on the table. "We've encountered three assassinations on this journey. Although we don't know who sent the first two groups, the assassins were all dead - men and died under our swords. Only in the third assassination, the people who came didn't seem to be fighting to the death..."
Ji Qian nodded. "I had the same feeling. I think they were just trying to delay our journey to the capital last time. So they specifically attacked Miss Caiyu's carriage, which delayed us on the road for seven or eight days."
He paused. "I just don't know what the enemy is up to?"
A faint, almost imperceptible sneer appeared on Song Yinghuai's lips.
"The enemy just wants to force me to abandon Caiyu and take a small path to the capital alone!"