Chương 351

Ye Yunfeng was confused: “Is there really another way? Where is it?”

Over the past half month, he had studied the sand table every day, and he knew the terrain around Tongtian Pass extremely well; even the smallest river or a patch of forest was clear in his mind.

After much thought, that was the only solution he could come up with. But now, his sister said there was another way?

Ye Yunfeng quickly reviewed the situation in his mind again and then hesitantly spoke, “Sister, forgive my ignorance, but I really can’t think of any other way at Tongtian Pass that would allow them to break through successfully.”

However, Ye Chutang just shook her head gently and pointed to her own heart.

“This other way is not on the sand table; it’s in the heart.”

“In the heart?” Ye Yunfeng was even more puzzled. “What do you mean by that, sister?”

Ye Chutang looked at him with calm eyes, her gaze as deep as the darkest obsidian, shining with tranquility yet also with a brilliant light.

She said,

“General Huo led an army of eighty thousand men, with a numerical advantage. Even if they were not as familiar with the terrain as the enemy and lost the initiative, they shouldn’t have been completely wiped out so quickly. Even if they had fought to the last, they could have held on for some time. But in reality, once they realized they were trapped, they quickly lost their composure and then collapsed, allowing the enemy to easily annihilate them.”

Ye Yunfeng pressed his lips tightly without saying a word.

Although he was not there and had not witnessed the battle firsthand, he knew that his sister was right.

When the news of their defeat spread, the whole country was shocked. No one could have imagined that Huo Yucheng, who had won countless battles, would suffer such a crushing defeat at Tongtian Pass.

As a result, the emperor was furious and exterminated his entire clan.

Ye Chutang continued, “General Huo’s military record is truly legendary; he truly deserves to be called a great general. But he has one fatal flaw: arrogance.”

Ye Yunfeng’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but look up at her.

By this time, it was already dark, and only two candles were lit in the room.

The dim yellow light fell on her delicate, porcelain-white face, and there seemed to be a flicker of fire in her deep, quiet eyes.

“Of course, he has the right to be proud, but for a general, that very trait is what one must avoid at all costs. You surely understand the principle that excessive pride leads to quick downfall. His first half of his life was too smooth; as a result, in the battle at Tongtian Pass, he failed to take advantage of any of the favorable conditions, and he was swiftly defeated.”

Ye Chutang’s tone remained calm, but Ye Yunfeng could already hear the underlying turmoil beneath that calmness!

“If only he could have maintained his composure at that time, strengthened the soldiers’ morale, and commanded them effectively, he might not have been utterly defeated.”

The air in the room seemed to freeze; only the candles flickered slightly, and with a “pop,” one candle flame burst.

Ye Yunfeng’s heart also skipped a beat.

Suddenly, Ye Chutang asked, “A Feng, do you know what the most formidable army looks like?”

Ye Yunfeng was stunned for a moment, then frowned in thought.

“…General Huo, Marquis Dingbei, or perhaps… the troops of King Yannan?”

Ye Chutang shook her head.

“Leading an army is like leading a single soldier; when everyone is of one heart, there is no battle that cannot be won!”

Ye Yunfeng finally understood. His expression was shaken, and he spoke in disbelief, “Does that mean… back then, during that battle, General Huo’s own camp also had problems?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Ye Chutang looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips,

“I’m just telling you, this is the first principle from that military book that I want to teach you.”

“Chaos arises from order, cowardice arises from bravery, and weakness arises from strength. Order and chaos are related by numbers; bravery and cowardice are related by momentum; strength and weakness are related by form.”

“If one day you become a general and are responsible for the lives of countless soldiers, you must be brave and resolute.”

Ye Yunfeng’s mind was in turmoil, as if something was raging inside his chest.

In the flickering light of the candle, her beautiful face was unmatched.

She said with a smile,

“I will also be proud of you.”

……

The people from Shuntian Prefecture left, taking away the body of Lady Gao and the maids who served her.

The entire courtyard returned to silence, but that silence carried an eerie chill.

With someone dying suddenly in such a tragic manner—hanging oneself—no one could sleep peacefully that night.

Lady Gao’s room was sealed off, and no one dared to approach it again.

Shao Yao had just heated some water and was on her way to Lady Ye Shilian’s room when she overheard two servants whispering around a corner.

“…Our lives are so miserable! How could we end up in such a situation? Not only were we driven out, but just as we managed to settle down here, such a tragedy happened! Lady Gao was fine before; how could she suddenly take her own life?”

“Indeed! With her temper, she should be the one hanging others, how could she have the heart to hang herself?”

“I think she’s gone mad! First her family was raided, and now she lost her son; who could bear that?”

“Ah, did you see that? Her tongue is even sticking out! It looks so terrifying! I heard that such people turn into fierce ghosts after death… I wonder if she won’t come back to haunt us…”

“Nonsense!” The other servant was also clearly scared, “We haven’t done anything wrong; we’re not afraid of ghosts coming after us! If she’s looking for someone, it’s surely those who hold a grudge against her… Ah! Sister Shao Yao, why are you here?”

The servant was startled to see Shao Yao appear out of nowhere.

To have a figure appear silently in the middle of the night, especially when someone had just died here during the day, was truly frightening!

Shao Yao’s face turned pale: “I sent you all to work, and yet each of you is just lazily playing around!”

The two servants quickly apologized, “We know we were wrong! Please, Sister Shao Yao, don’t tell the young mistress!”

They had nowhere else to go. With Murong Yan around, they still had some food to eat. But if they were driven away, that would be…

Sao Yao vẫn cầm chậu nước trong tay, không thể trì hoãn thêm được nữa, nên chỉ trích họ vài câu: “Nếu còn lần sau nữa, tôi sẽ không tha thứ cho các người đâu!”

Nói xong, cô ấy quay người bỏ đi.

Hai tên gia nhân thở phào nhẹ nhõm, không dám nói bậy nữa, và nhanh chóng quay lại làm việc của mình.

Sao Yao bước về phía căn phòng đang sáng đèn, nhưng tâm trí cô ấy dường như không ở đó; những lời vừa rồi của hai người kia cứ liên tục vang vọng trong đầu cô.

Một cơn gió mát thổi qua, khiến cô lập tức rùng mình! Cô lập tức quay đầu lại!

“Ai vậy?!”

Phía sau không có ai cả.

Tuy nhiên, nỗi sợ hãi trong lòng Sao Yao càng tăng lên, cô vô thức bước nhanh hơn, cuối cùng gần như đã chạy.

“Cô gái!”

Cô vội vàng lao vào phòng, làm cho Ye Shiqiang giật mình.

Theo sau đó là sự tức giận của Ye Shiqiang:

“Sao lại hoảng loạn như vậy!”

Một chút nước trong chậu của Sao Yao bị đổ ra, hai bàn tay cô lập tức bị bỏng đỏ.

Nhưng cô cũng không dám nói gì, chỉ cắn môi và thừa nhận lỗi: “Cô gái, xin tha thứ cho tôi… Tôi đã bất cẩn.”

Hôm nay Ye Shiqiang đã khóc cả ngày; trên khuôn mặt cô vẫn còn vết nước mắt, đôi mắt đỏ hoe, ánh mắt lại hung dữ, trông có vẻ nghiêm khắc không rõ lý do.

“Thật là vô dụng!”

Cô tiến đến bên cạnh Sao Yao, ra lệnh cho cô đặt chậu xuống và nhúng khăn vào nước.

Vùa ——

Chiếc khăn trắng mềm mại được trải ra trong nước.

Đầu óc Ye Shiqiang đau nhói, rồi cô từ từ quay đầu lại, nhìn về phía Sao Yao.

“Sao Yao, em đã theo bên cạnh tôi bao lâu rồi?”