Chapter 30: Overreaching and Boastful

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  Yu Wen-ch'ao returned to his tent with a few trusted followers, still feeling uneasy as he sat on the bearskin rug. He took a cup of grape wine from a serving girl and drank it all in one gulp, but it did not alleviate his fear in the slightest.

  Some impatient attendants drove away the two pretty maids, Yuwen Huaji seemed to have finally made up his mind, stood up straight, and due to standing up too quickly, even the small table beside him was knocked over.

  "Hurry up and pack, we're leaving immediately. I can't stay here for another minute. Now that we know the Goguryeo people only have a thousand cavalry hiding in the valley, who knows what they're planning? We'll leave first, if we wait any longer it might be too late. Since Chen Buqian doesn't want to go, then we'll go ourselves." said Yuwen Huaji.

  Yuwen Huaji and several people around him began to turn around and prepare to notify others, taking advantage of the fact that the Goguryeo people had not yet arrived to quickly leave this place. When everyone else had left, Yuwen Huaji discovered that one person was still standing in the tent and had not left, and that person was none other than Gao Huan, the Eagle General who led the thousand cavalrymen he had borrowed from his father's Left Wing Guard.

  "You're not going to get ready, are you? We need to leave immediately. Along the way, we'll have to rely on General Gao. You should hurry up and prepare too. This time, you've also obtained many good things in Xincheng, don't let them be left behind. Although Lang Jun didn't think much of Wu Culture at first, this time he had to secretly run back first, his own life was relying on him for protection, so his tone was much more gentle."

  He was a tall and sturdy man, with a height of at least 1.8 meters, and his build was even more impressive, weighing at least 200 kilograms. His face was covered in thick flesh, and his hands and feet were larger than those of ordinary people. If not for the suit of armor he wore, everyone would have thought he was a butcher who slaughtered pigs and sold meat.

  Gao Liang was also an old military officer, who had fought in the Left Wing Guard for over 20 years and finally reached his current position as a fifth-rank Eagle General. He had always been very proud of his official career, as it was rare to reach the rank of a regular fifth-rank general at the age of 40. However, Chen Kefu's rapid promotion, like a shooting star, made him feel depressed. In his opinion, he had fought hard on the battlefield with swords and guns to reach his current position. But that young man, who looked like a woman, was only in his early twenties and relied on luck to rise from a small soldier to the same position as him. After being transferred to Xincheng by Yuwen Huaji this time, his dissatisfaction grew even more. That young man had been promoted again and became a third-rank official of the current dynasty overnight. Especially when he met that guy today, he had to bow to him, which made him feel very resentful.

  On the way back from Chen Kefu, he had been resentful in his heart all along, so much so that he hadn't even noticed Yuwen Huaji's words just now. As soon as he heard Yuwen Huaji wanting to run away, a sudden flash of light suddenly flashed through his mind. This sudden idea made him feel somewhat excited. Wasn't Chen Kefu able to rise ten or more ranks to the third rank because of his military merit? In times of war, what's faster than military merit for promotion and wealth?

  Now, in his view, there is a very good opportunity in front of him. Originally, this opportunity was also in front of Chen Kefu's little white face, but he didn't cherish it. So he can't miss it again, missing such a good opportunity, he doesn't know when he will have such a good opportunity again.

  Three thousand Goguryeo soldiers were hiding in a nearby valley, and this intelligence they all knew, but the Goguryeo people did not know yet. If he led one thousand soldiers to attack now, there was a great chance of capturing these three thousand Goguryeo soldiers. In siege warfare, this cavalry commander had no opportunity to show off, but if it were a field battle, he believed that as a twenty-year-old veteran, he would be much stronger than Chen Kefu, who had just joined the army for less than a year. Chen Kefu was able to lead three thousand newly recruited cavalrymen from various camps to defeat more than ten thousand Goguryeo soldiers, and it was in a situation where they were facing each other head-on. Now, with one thousand men against three thousand men, and still in a situation where the enemy had no defense, he believed that his troops, whom he had led for many years, would definitely be able to complete this task. In this way, he could also establish a great merit, and the more he thought about it, the more excited Gao Liang became, with an excited look in his eyes.

  "Gentlemen, General has something to say that he doesn't know if it's right or not. Saying it out loud might be a bit presumptuous, but this matter is absolutely beneficial and harmless to you." Gao Liang understood that although he was the commander of the thousand troops now, if he really wanted to act according to his own ideas, he couldn't jump over Yuwen Huaji's head. If he were to launch a surprise attack on that high-ranking Goguryeo cavalry, he would have to get Yuwen Huaji's support.

  Yu Wen and others were in a hurry to leave, but everyone was still packing up their things and preparing, so they had no choice but to listen to him talk about what was going on.

  "General Gao, please speak."

  "Gentleman, the Yuwen family has produced four generations of three dukes, which is a rare feat in the world. However, your ancestors were all risen to prominence through military achievements. Although you are now enjoying wealth and honor thanks to your ancestor's imperial favor, it can't compare to the glory of those with military achievements like your father. Now, there is an excellent opportunity right in front of you. If you seize it and establish a great military achievement, then from that day on, whether it's the Emperor or your father, they will all look at you with new eyes. With military achievements, you can continue the Yuwen family's glory just like your father. Who knows, you might even obtain a dukedom without needing to inherit one." Gao Liang was also desperately instigating and flattering Yuwen Huaji for his own ambitions.

  Yu Wen and his four brothers, except for him, there were three younger brothers, especially the second brother who was also the emperor's son-in-law. Even in the Yuwen family, he wasn't the most favored one. In the past, he and the third brother almost got beheaded by the emperor for doing business with the Turks, although they were eventually spared due to the Yuwen family's reputation. However, they were demoted to slaves and given to their father as a gift. If it weren't for the close relationship between the Yuwen family and the emperor, he wouldn't have had another chance to become an official today. He knew that from the emperor to his own father, even the common people looked down on him as a spoiled young master. Although he wanted to do something serious, he was always overambitious but lacking in ability, never accomplishing anything worthwhile. In the end, he indulged himself, relying on the Yuwen family's power, and could enjoy wealth and glory for a lifetime even if he remained a wastrel.

  However, this does not mean that he is really indifferent to power and prestige. Being teased by Gaoyang, his heart, which had been dormant for a long time, also skipped a few beats. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Gaoyang, "General Gao, what do you mean by this? Can you tell me in detail? If it's really as you said, I won't forget General Gao's kindness either."

  Gao Liang heard this and was overjoyed in his heart, it seemed that things were going to work out.

  "Sir, you also heard it earlier at the Broken Army Camp, that 3,000 Goguryeo cavalry are hiding in a mountain valley just tens of miles away. Now Chen Kefu is guarding the main camp and doesn't dare to come out and fight, wasting such a good opportunity. If sir leads our 1,000 cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the Goguryeo people at night, this matter will be completely settled, and we will have achieved great merit! Chen Kefu only defeated 20,000 second-line troops of Goguryeo and was promoted three ranks, becoming a Silver Blue Light Lu Daifu, a fourth-rank officer. If we succeed, relying on the power and prestige of sir's family, how can our reward be less than what Chen Kefu received? Who will dare to look down on sir then?"

  Yu Wenhai's heart was also moved, but he was a noble and dissolute young master who had never been to the battlefield in his life. Although he followed Yang Guang on several expeditions, he was just a spectator among hundreds of thousands of troops. Now that he was about to put on his armor and go into battle, he couldn't help but worry. On the battlefield, swords and spears were blind, and if he wasn't careful, he would be done for.

  He shook his head, Yu Wenqiu and Dao, "Unfortunately, we only have a thousand people, and against those three thousand Goguryeo people, we don't have much of an advantage. This is indeed too reckless. I think it's better for us to return to the big camp under Liaodong City early, after all, one must have a life to enjoy wealth."

  How could Gao Liang give up such an opportunity, power is like a drug addiction, once you get hooked, it's hard to quit. Now that Gao Liang has opened Pandora's box, how can he stop now that he's seen the things inside that are hard for him to resist?

  "My lord, the thousand men under my command are three times braver than Chen Kefu's defeated army. Moreover, these are all seasoned soldiers I have led for a long time. This time we are launching a surprise attack, not a frontal assault. When we arrive, as long as we block the valley entrance and send a team of brave cavalry to charge in under the cover of night, there will be no danger at all. My lord, you just need to guard the outside of the valley, I'll lead the men inside. Before midnight, we can annihilate these three thousand Goguryeo people, and by dawn tomorrow, we can rush to Liaodong City and report our victory to His Majesty. Sir, this opportunity must not be missed! Heaven offers us a chance, if we don't take it, we will suffer the consequences!"

  The brilliant words were like the devil's temptation, and even Yuwen Huaji's fear of death was also covered up by that great military achievement.

  "General Gao, is this matter really as simple as you say? Won't there be any unexpected events? Can one thousand men really take down those three thousand Goguryeo cavalry?" Yuwen Huaji asked with his eyes fixed on Gao Xianzhi.

  "Master, I guarantee that this matter is absolutely no problem." In the camp, Gaoliang patted his chest and made a loud noise.

  These words were the last straw that crushed Yuwen Huaji's camel, and he finally couldn't resist this temptation. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll leave this to you. You go prepare immediately, we'll set out soon. No matter what, I must arrive at the foot of Liaodong City by tomorrow morning."

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