Chapter 5: The Enemy's Thousand Boats on the Yalu River (Part 2)

  Yizhi Wende sat in Xiao Shouren's arms, on his own good horse, but the horse was still his own, however, his mood was completely different. This time, he had an extra warm and soft hug on his back, and his identity was actually a prisoner of war. Although he had won the battle, he had become a prisoner of war, what an ironic thing! In the future, where can this old face be put? It's not even known if it can be returned or not.

  Xiao Shouren's reversal of yin and yang is extremely clever.

  Half a day's work, just as the sun was about to set, Xiao Shouren and his men finally saw the banks of the Yalu River, and at the same time they also saw the large camps of Goguryeo.

  Banners and flags fill the sky, waving in the wind, people's voices are deafening, fine horses neigh loudly, troops come and go, what a lively scene.

  Xiao Shouren's heart was suddenly boiling at the sight of this scene, this is the ancient battlefield, where the great men make their mark and establish their achievements. The eighteen brothers behind him were also very excited, as if in a dream, they had actually returned alive. Just as they were feeling nostalgic, a large army appeared in front of them, it seemed that the old horse they left behind was still useful.

  At the front of the team was a soft sedan chair, all in golden yellow, very eye-catching. Only after walking in did I discover that the people on the sedan chair were quite majestic, wearing purple gold crowns, dressed in yellow robes, with four-clawed giant pythons embroidered on them, looking very spirited.

  Xiao Shouren had already vaguely guessed this person's identity.

  This man is Goryeo King Go Won!

  "Halt! Leave behind the great Premier of Goguryeo, Yeon Gaesomun, and I will spare your lives! Refuse, and you will die!" A young general in white uniform emerged from beside the carriage and shouted loudly.

  Xiao Shouren took one look at the situation and knew that things couldn't be settled amicably today, after all, he hadn't kidnapped some ordinary chicken or duck, but rather their Prime Minister and Emperor's teacher.

  "Haha! You think we're three-year-old kids? We'll still have a way out if we let this old fellow go? Call Gao Yuan out!" Xiao Shouren laughed loudly.

  Xiao Shouren heard a mouthful of old matches, and he actually shouted the name of Gao Yuan, the King of Goguryeo. The soldiers on the side of Goguryeo drew their swords, ready to move forward, but Xiao Shouren waved his hand, indicating that it was not necessary.

  "Agree with him, no matter what he asks for, as long as we become prime ministers." Gao Yuan whispered.

  The young general in white rushed forward on horseback after hearing the order of the Goryeo king, preparing to negotiate with Xiao Shouren.

  "The defeated army ahead, listen! My king has agreed to spare your lives, but you must return Lord Bokuden in exchange."

  "Of course, considering your history of being unpredictable during battles, we need to ensure that the Great Sui army confirms our safety before we release you." Xiao Shouren knew he was safe now, and since this white-robed young general said so, it must be Gao Yuan's intention. They were concerned about Yizhi Wende's safety.

  The young general in white robes found it hard to make a decision, so he galloped back to ask for Gao Yuan's advice.

  "There's no other way now, just agree with him." Gao Yuan said calmly.

  The young general in white robes received a reply and raised the banner in his hand, made several gestures, and the troops dispersed from both sides, clearing a wide road.

  "I hope you can keep your word, now go!" The young general in white shouted.

  "Of course, we Central Plains people have always been as good as our word." Xiao Shouren responded.

  The two armies stood facing each other across the river, neither able to gain the upper hand. However, the Sui army had a significant advantage in terms of numbers, but was this advantage not also a disadvantage? Soldiers are human beings, not machines for fighting, and they too need to eat and drink, as do their horses. The cost for just one day was astronomical.

  Xiao Shouren and his men stood on the warships prepared by Goguryeo, but they were not alone. There were many people from Goguryeo on board, and there were also many other warships nearby, as if escorting them. Xiao Shouren and his men wouldn't dare to relax for a moment, especially in the final moments, they had to be even more cautious.

  About half a time, Xiao Shouren and his men could already see the flag of Daxu, and the army of Daxu also saw them. Yuwen Shu and others had long since escaped back to the big camp, because Xue Shi-xiong attracted most of the troops, creating an opportunity for them to escape. From a distance, they saw the evil warship of Goguryeo coming over, and at that time, inside the Daxu army camp, the drumbeats were thundering, and the army hastily assembled.

  Standing on the temporarily built city wall, Yuwen Shu and others were confused because they saw the flag language on the opposite Goguryeo warship, which was not a declaration of war. If it's not a declaration of war, what are they coming for?

  Yu Zhongwen recalled the poem sent by the Yi branch Wende faction: "Divine strategy explores the heavenly patterns, wonderful calculations exhaust the geography, the victory is high, and the wish to stop at contentment" He couldn't help but want to vomit blood for a moment.

  The movement was too big, and it startled Yang Guang. Not only Yang Guang, but also the envoys of various countries. Yang Guang wanted to show that he was a "Holy Khan", a son of heaven, and the overlord of all directions. To conquer a small clown like Gao Yuan was not a problem for him. He likened Gao Yuan to a clown. In order to display his military might and to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, Yang Guang even invited the envoys of various small countries to attend the ceremony before this expedition, and they followed the army on the campaign.

  The monarch and his ministers, civil and military generals, all gathered on the city wall, wondering what kind of play Goguryeo was performing.

  But things seem to have turned out unexpectedly, the Goguryeo warship fleet did not beat drums and shout, nor was it in a fighting posture. When they were still hundreds of meters away from the shore, the fleet stopped, and the leading warship slowly approached the Great Sui side, docked, and twenty people walked out of the ship.

  At this time, Xiao Shouren and his men had already taken off the armor of Goguryeo and were wearing hemp clothes. Only five people still wore the armor of Sui Dynasty.

  At the city gate, Xiao Shouren and his men loudly reported their own battalion and team numbers and threw up their waist cards.

  The gate was originally uncertain, but Yang Guang believed it and ordered the opening of the city gate.

  So, Mu Yi and Mu Yu have all entered the city, but Xiao Shouren is not yet, he still has Yi Zhong Wende in his hand. Xiao Shouren is still two arrows away from the city gate, and also two arrows away from the warship. Xiao Shouren plans to release Yi Zhong Wende here.

  Things should have ended at this moment, but human plans can't compare with heaven's plans.

  Just as Xiao Shouren was about to release Yizhi Wende, a sudden change occurred, and the autumn wind suddenly rose, with sand and dust obscuring his vision.

  Several sharp gusts of wind came howling, swift and rapid, whirling around.

  Xiao Shouren subconsciously tilted his head, and took advantage of the momentum to hug Yi Zhī Wén Dé, who quickly rolled on the ground several times. In the end, it was still too fast, and he didn't completely dodge, his cheek was scratched, and a trickle of blood flowed out. Yi Zhī Wén Dé was fine, with no injuries at all.

  Looking at the dozen or so flying feather arrows still trembling eight zhang away from himself, even a fool would know what was going on. Xiao Shouren suddenly understood that the Goguryeo bastards were not following the rules, they wanted to kill him.

  Xiao Shouren suddenly became furious, he himself had always adhered to the rules, disregarding everyone's opposition, wanting to release this Yizhi Wende. Although General Xue Shi-xiong was killed by this villain, a man should be able to spit out a nail with one mouthful of saliva, how can he go back on his word? How can he live in the world like this? How can he look up at the sky without shame and down at the earth without shame?

  He treated me with sincerity and kindness, I should treat him with sincerity and kindness in return. However, if he is calculating and deceitful everywhere, I will repay him tenfold or hundredfold, this has always been Xiao Shouren's principle for being a person and dealing with the world.

  Yang Guang, who was on the city wall, had excellent eyesight and could see that the people of Goguryeo were not following the rules. At this moment, he was also burning with anger, his hands grasping the armrests of the sandalwood dragon chair made a creaking sound, showing how intense his anger was.

  The city gate opened wide, and a large group of Sui soldiers rushed out, forming an orderly array to protect Xiao Shouren, as well as Yi Zhongwende.

  Then slowly retreated to the back, until Xiao Shouren and Yizhi Wende entered the city. The side of Goguryeo was also quiet, as if the previous losses were not shot out by them.

  The flags have been lowered and the drums have stopped beating, the Goguryeo warships have retreated, and there is nothing left on the banks of the Yalu River except for those dozen or so feathered arrows still stuck in the ground, proof of the tense standoff that just occurred.

  The Sui army's camp, Xiao Shouren's face had stopped bleeding at this moment, wrapped in white cloth with medicine residue, and bandaged around his head. Seeing that all eighteen of his brothers and the little one were fine, they were all surrounding him, and he felt a warmth in his heart for no reason, as if they were all his own family.

  "Little guy, what's your name? You haven't told us yet, are we going to keep calling you little guy?" Xiao Shouren teased.