xymnovel Chapter 58: With the added advantage of being an expert in external warfare, Yang Guang felt he was
Chapter 58: With the added advantage of being an expert in external warfare, Yang Guang felt he was
"I don't need your extra care. Just focus on leading the troops and doing your job well."
Seeing that Lü Xiao had finally relented and stopped opposing, Yang Guang felt relieved and a smile appeared on his face.
He's not a three-year-old child; he understands priorities and would never cause trouble or hold Lü Xiao back on the battlefield.
Just as that old fox Yuwen Huaji said, Lü Xiao is the sharpest blade for charging into battle.
As for his own safety, he could completely entrust it to Yuwen Chengdu, his personal bodyguard.
He only needs to follow behind, get a feel for the battlefield atmosphere, and participate when appropriate.
"Let's do it!"
Having said all that, Lü Xiao had no reason to refuse.
Anyway, Yang Guang is an adult, not a child. He can't just go wherever there is danger, can he?
"Haha, great!"
Yang Guang's face was full of joy, whether it was the western tour or the eastern expedition.
Since becoming emperor, he has rarely gone to the front lines of the battlefield.
Now, one can once again experience the clash of swords on the battlefield of one's youth.
Li Jing was equally happy; as a middle-aged man in his forties, he had already lived more than half of his life.
Without relying on his background, but solely on his abilities, he remained a county magistrate for half his life.
Now that someone has suddenly appreciated him and he can participate in a major battle, how could he not be excited?
But when he went to meet up with Lü Xiao, he was completely dumbfounded.
Looking at the group of over eight hundred men in front of him, and then at the fifty thousand elite Sui soldiers at Yanmen.
For a moment, he wondered if Lü Xiao was joking with him.
"My lord, are we going hunting?"
Li Jing approached Lü Xiao in the crowd and asked him in a low voice.
"OK."
Lu Xiao held the precious carved bow in his hand and played with it.
This bow is something passed down from his ancestor Lü Bu, but he didn't really like using bows and arrows.
I'm bored right now, so I'm just playing around with this.
"I see."
Li Jing had thought it was an attack on the Eastern Turks by eight hundred men, but it seems he was overthinking it.
Although Lü Xiao was young and impetuous, he wasn't that reckless.
"Zilie, how are the preparations going? Can we set off now?"
Yang Guang's voice came through.
He rode up on a magnificent white horse, wearing a specially crafted, gleaming suit of armor.
A dark red cloak fluttered in the wind behind him, making him look majestic.
Yuwen Huaji and his son Yuwen Chengdu stood on his left and right, like two guardian generals, firmly protecting him.
"Everything is ready, Your Majesty." Lü Xiao hung the precious carved bow back beside the saddle of the Red Hare.
He gently tugged the reins, and the warhorse immediately reared up, letting out a loud neigh.
"Brothers! Let's go!"
"Aww!"
The tiger, which could no longer contain itself, let out a deep roar, and pushed off with all four hooves, closely following its master's horse.
"Set off!"
Eight hundred elite cavalrymen moved at the command, mounting their horses in unison with perfectly synchronized movements.
They didn't shout deafeningly, only gave silent and resolute glances, and the muffled thunderous sound of horses' hooves striking the ground.
Like a black dragon that had been gathering its strength for a long time, this team, with Lü Xiao as its spearhead, sped towards the vast northern grasslands!
Shortly after Lü Xiao and the others left, the gates of Yanmen Pass were opened again.
Fifty thousand elite Sui soldiers escorted Yang Guang's massive and luxurious Guanfeng Palace as they marched in a grand procession toward the northwest.
This was another arrangement agreed upon by Yang Guang and Lü Xiao, a grand and high-profile march towards the northwest.
They pretended to be the main force to attract and confuse the attention of the Eastern Turks.
The fatal dagger that truly pierced the heart of the Turks was Lü Xiao's light cavalry force of only eight hundred men.
Heading north without stopping.
Led by Lü Xiao, this small cavalry force moved across the grasslands like ghosts.
They avoided main roads and took only remote trails, traveling day and night, only resting briefly when necessary.
After a day and a night of rapid travel, the team stopped at a low-lying area with a water source.
Both the horse and the rider needed to replenish their water and catch their breath.
"Alas~"
Yuwen Chenglong rode on horseback, his whole being filled with excitement.
Not only him, but the other soldiers were also very excited, but none of them showed it like Yuwen Chenglong.
"Hmm?" Yang Guang, who was drinking water while leaning against the warm back of the tiger, suddenly put down his water bag and a look of doubt appeared on his face.
"Strange, why do I feel an inexplicable sense of confidence growing stronger the further north I go?"
He stretched his arms, as if he had inexhaustible strength.
"Your Majesty, I...I feel the same way!"
Yuwen Huaji, standing to the side, stared blankly at the northern horizon.
He had previously decided to take His Majesty to observe from a safe distance.
But now, he inexplicably felt a strong urge.
I wanted to pick up my sword and, like a young warrior, charge to the front to slay the Turks!
This feels really wrong!
He had lived a life of luxury for decades and had long since distanced himself from weapons. Why would he suddenly have such a dangerous thought?
"I feel as if I have truly returned to my youth."
Yang Guang stroked the ornately decorated sword at his waist, his eyes brimming with heroic spirit.
He even had the fleeting thought of personally beheading ten Turkic barbarians.
At this moment, Lü Xiao also clearly sensed the subtle change in the team's atmosphere.
Not only Yang Guang and Yuwen Huaji, but even he himself felt an unprecedented, almost blind confidence and fearlessness surging within him!
It was as if even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire, or thousands of troops ahead, he would dare to ride his horse and break through them without hesitation!
This is probably the special bonus effect brought about by choosing the "Expert in External Warfare" option earlier.
Isn't this effect a bit too intense?
It was as if the whole team had been given a powerful stimulant, turning a group of elite soldiers and a few old-timers into howling war maniacs.
"My lord, there's prey ahead!"
Pei Yuanqing returned with five people, speaking with great excitement.
"How many?"
Lu Xiao stood up and grabbed the Wufang Fangtian Halberd stuck in the ground.
"The scale is smaller than ours, all cavalry, and they seem to be heading north for a major meeting?"
Pei Yuanqing couldn't see it clearly either; he couldn't even be ambiguous.
"Brothers, are you afraid?"
Lu Xiao mounted his horse and turned to address the crowd.
"What's there to be afraid of? Let's fight them!"
"That's right, we've practiced for so long, now it's time to put it to the test!"
The eight hundred cavalrymen were all in high spirits.
As they were trained by Yu Juluo, they were proficient in both foot combat and mounted combat.
"Alright, take up your weapons and charge with me!"
As previously agreed, Lü Xiao was only responsible for leading eight hundred men in the charge and not for looking after Yang Guang.
With the prey right in front of him, he had no intention of informing Yang Guang.
Under his leadership, eight hundred soldiers dressed in light leather armor and armed with swords and spears followed closely behind.
This cavalry unit was all equipped with light leather armor, which provided some defense, but not much.
After all, Lü Xiao was traveling light and launched a direct surprise attack on Shibi Khan's stronghold.
If they were wearing heavy armor, could it still be called a surprise attack?
"Your Majesty, should we follow them?"
Yuwen Huaji drew the sword from his waist, his old bones eager to stretch.
"Of course!"
Yang Guang mounted his horse, determined to kill a few Turks this time.