Who put the yellow robe on me?

Chapter 166 Internal and external troubles

Xianyu Linyuan's face was pale and his brows were furrowed. This battle should have been a war that he was familiar with, but now, a deep feeling of powerlessness rose in his chest.

"The main force of the Huben Army has 70,000 soldiers. How could they be stuck in a tough battle?" Xianyu Linyuan's voice was low and mixed with disbelief. His eyes were as sharp as a knife as he stared at the deputy general.

The deputy general looked up, his eyes flickering, his expression filled with anxiety and helplessness. "General, the army's morale is low. The soldiers are whispering that Gaochang has been captured, and that the Tiger Guards' flanks have suffered heavy losses on their retreat. The soldiers on the front lines are all worried..."

"What?" Xianyu Linyuan glared at him, his voice like thunder. "Gaochang is still holding on. Who spread these rumors?"

The deputy general lowered his head, his voice filled with deep helplessness. "I don't know either. Rumors are spreading that Lord Ji has taken 20,000 Tiger Guards back to Gaochang... The soldiers in the barracks say the front may have been lost."

Xianyu Linyuan's heart suddenly sank, as if a heavy burden had been placed on his back. His brow furrowed ever tighter, and his fists clenched until they turned white.

"Master Ji..." he whispered to himself, suspicion and anger intertwined in his heart, "Is this another enemy trick? Has Master Ji been instigated to mobilize the Tiger Guards without authorization?"

The deputy general didn't dare to say anything, but just stood aside silently, waiting for Xianyu Linyuan's instructions.

Xianyu Linyuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down. This situation had clearly fallen into the enemy's trap.

He quickly gathered his thoughts and flung his eyes open. "Oh no! We've fallen into the enemy's trap! All of this is designed to undermine the Tiger Guards' morale and defense!"

The deputy general's expression grew increasingly tense. He looked at Xianyu Linyuan's expression, feeling increasingly uneasy. "General, what should we do now? If the Tiger Guards continue like this, they'll probably collapse soon."

Xian Yu Linyuan knew that any further delay would only worsen the situation. He had to act immediately to regain control of the situation.

"Immediately gather all remaining troops and stabilize morale! The flanking forces must continue to withdraw and reunite with the main force of the Tiger Guards!" Xianyu Linyuan's voice was filled with determination. "Anyone spreading rumors will be severely punished! Tell the entire army that Gaochang is still defending, the front line has not been lost, and the Tiger Guards' mission remains to protect the last line of defense in the Western Regions!"

The deputy general immediately took the order and left, but Xianyu Linyuan knew that these means alone were far from enough.

The rumors had begun to shake the morale of the army, and Lord Ji's action of taking away 20,000 Tiger Guards might be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

……

At the same time, far away on the city wall of Liangzhou City, the wind and sand hit Jiang Chen's face, bringing a hint of coolness.

Dianzhang, exhausted and exhausted, had just returned from Gaochang. He stood behind Jiang Chen and reported with a bow, "Sixteenth Prince, I have successfully spread the rumors as you instructed. The enemy's General Ji has also taken away 20,000 Tiger Guards."

Jiang Chen did not answer immediately. He still stood on the city wall, looking down at the battlefield in the distance. His eyes were deep and calm, as if he was seeing through the changes in the entire chess game.

After a long moment, he turned around, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his eyes. "Very good, Dianzhang, everything is as we expected. Lord Ji really couldn't hold back anymore, and our plan worked."

Dianzhang's heart was filled with admiration. He witnessed with his own eyes how Jiang Chen carefully planned everything, from spreading rumors to shaking the morale of the Huben Army, and then to motivating Lord Ji to take action.

The enemy walked step by step into Jiang Chen's trap, and the entire situation was firmly controlled by the Sixteenth Prince.

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Dianzhang, you have been busy and tired these days, but now is not the time to rest.

Immediately convey my orders to Zhou Liangwei, instructing the general to continue guerrilla warfare against the main force in the Western Regions and prepare for a protracted war. Deng Yunde, focus all his efforts on pursuing the flanks. Also, inform Yelu Mengmeng that 20,000 enemy Tiger Guards are retreating. Lord Ji is to lead the army and completely annihilate them, but Lord Ji must be released back to Kucha."

"Yes! Your Highness!" Dianzhang took the order and left, with more and more admiration for Jiang Chen's strategy in his heart.

He knew that every move made by the Sixteenth Prince was aimed at weakening the enemy's combat effectiveness to the maximum extent, so that the Tiger Guards would be gradually eroded without their knowledge.

……

Xianyu Linyuan finally arrived at the Huben Army's central camp with 30,000 flank troops. The once mighty Huben Army now had only less than 10,000 remnants left.

Xianyu Linyuan stood in the center of the battlefield. The soldiers around him were exhausted, their armor stained red with blood, their horses fell to the ground, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and the salty smell of sweat.

He clenched his fists until they turned white, and he was furious: "Sixteenth Prince! I will make you pay for all this with blood!"

His voice was low and hoarse, as if he was suppressing countless anger and regrets. He knew that he had arrived too late, and Zhong Xiaodan and Deng Yunde's troops had almost destroyed the Tiger Guards in their pursuit.

Zhong Xiaodan's pursuit was like a sharp dagger, constantly cutting through the Huben Army's defense line.

Xianyu Linyuan felt a deep pain at the sight of the exhausted soldiers. He had once believed that the Tiger Guards could hold the last barrier to the Western Regions, but now, the scene before him told him that the once invincible Tiger Guards were being eaten away by the enemy bit by bit.

The deputy general rushed over, his face full of fatigue: "General, we have been retreating, but Zhong Xiaodan and his men have been chasing us... The soldiers can hardly hold on."

Xianyu Linyuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed his inner anger: "Zhong Xiaodan's pursuit can't last too long. They don't have many troops, and they are just taking advantage of our fatigue to attack us."

He opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them. "Pass on my orders, prepare to fight. The enemy's flanks are now at the end of their strength! Any soldier who retreats without permission will be severely punished!"

The deputy general received the order and quickly relayed it. Xianyu Linyuan knew that every decision at this moment was related to the survival of the Tiger Guards. He could not allow morale to collapse again and had to regain control of the battlefield.

"Send more people to investigate Gaochang's movements and see if it has truly fallen." Xianyu Linyuan instructed his deputy general, his eyes reflecting calm thought. "Daliang's pursuit of us for so long is definitely no accident. Judging from the Sixteenth Prince's relentless pursuit, something must have happened in Gaochang!"

The deputy general nodded and immediately sent out scouts to investigate Gaochang's movements. Xianyu Linyuan stood in the center of the battlefield, gazing at the setting sun in the distance, his heart still restless.

"Sixteenth Prince? Lord Ji?..." He whispered to himself, with a thousand thoughts in his mind.