novelSusiti Chapter 38 Reinforcements Break Through the Siege, But the Mysterious Shadow Remains
Chapter 38 Reinforcements Break Through the Siege, But the Mysterious Shadow Remains
The stirring bugle call pierced through the smoke of battle.
It drowned out the shouts of the Wei army and suppressed the residual explosions from the armory.
On the city wall of Yuexi, the soldiers looked out into the distance.
The despair in his eyes was instantly dispelled by ecstasy.
Amidst the billowing dust, the banners of the Shu Han state fluttered in the wind.
A troop of elite cavalry galloped in, their hooves thundering across the ground.
The glint of the blade in the sunlight was blindingly cold.
The leading general was clad in silver armor, wielding a long sword, and had a fierce expression.
It was Dong Jue, who had previously guarded the city gate and then broke through the siege to seek reinforcements.
"It's General Dong!"
"They really are reinforcements from Chengdu!"
Someone shouted.
The soldiers on the city wall erupted in a deafening cheer.
Exhaustion and pain seemed to be dispelled by this hope.
Li Hui leaned against Ma Zhong and Meng Huo.
As he watched the reinforcements rushing towards him, tears welled up in his eyes.
A relieved smile finally appeared on his lips.
[Li Hui was deeply moved]: His Majesty is indeed a prophet!
Reinforcements arrived just in time; Yuexi City is saved!
But this sense of relief didn't last long.
He frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the shadows at the corner of the city.
The spot where the masked man had just stood was now deserted.
[Li Hui thought to himself:] That masked man is cunning and treacherous.
They will not leave easily; they will surely remain hidden and watch from the shadows.
Waiting for the next opportunity.
Outside the city, Sima Yi saw the Shu Han reinforcements arrive suddenly.
His face instantly darkened, and he lashed the horse's back hard with his whip.
The general beside him hurriedly bowed: "My lord."
"The Shu army's reinforcements have arrived. Although our catapults have severely damaged the city walls, they have failed to breach the city."
"Continuing this stalemate may be detrimental to our army. Should we withdraw our troops for the time being?"
Sima Yi remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the reinforcements.
A hint of malice flashed in his eyes, along with an undisguised resentment.
[Sima Yi thought to himself]: That brat Liu Shan actually managed to send reinforcements in time!
It seems he was hiding it much better than I thought.
Sima Yi sneered inwardly: So be it.
The grain and fodder have been burned, and the armory has been destroyed.
Although the Shu army received reinforcements, they were already at their last gasp.
I will retreat for now and seek another opportune moment to take over Nanzhong.
"Pass on my order: the entire army shall retreat in an orderly manner!"
Sima Yi gave the order in a stern voice, his tone full of authoritative authority that left no room for argument.
"Retreat thirty li and set up camp, closely monitoring the movements of the Shu army!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing the sound, the Wei soldiers immediately ceased their attack.
They retreated in an orderly fashion, within moments.
The ferocity of the siege had faded, leaving only a scene of devastation and lingering embers.
Dong Jue led the reinforcements at breakneck speed to the city walls, reined in his horse, and dismounted.
He shouted loudly towards the city wall, "Soldiers inside the city, listen up!"
"I am Dong Jue, and I have been ordered by His Majesty to lead reinforcements to support Yuexi!"
Despite his injuries, Li Hui ordered his soldiers to open the city gates.
He personally went forward to welcome the reinforcements.
The city gate slowly opened, and Dong Jue strode forward.
He helped the staggering Li Hui up, his expression grave: "General Li, you've had a hard time."
"When His Majesty learned of the perilous situation in Yuexi, he ordered me to lead five thousand elite troops to come overnight."
Li Hui bowed respectfully, his voice hoarse: "Thank you for your trouble, General Dong."
"If reinforcements had not arrived in time, Yuexi City would likely not have been able to survive today."
Ma Zhong and Meng Huo also stepped forward to pay their respects.
Dong Jue's gaze swept over the two men, then turned to the mess and thick smoke inside the city.
His tone grew increasingly grave: "His Majesty had long anticipated that Sima Yi would personally invade the south."
"I was specifically ordered to bring two things."
After saying this, Dong Jue took out a secret letter and a brocade box from his bosom.
He gently handed it to Li Hui.
"This is His Majesty's secret order, another brocade box."
"It was bestowed upon Chief Meng by His Majesty as a token of his loyalty."
Upon hearing this, Meng Huo's eyes were filled with emotion.
He stepped forward and bowed deeply in the direction of Chengdu.
"Your subject Meng Huo thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
"I swear to serve Your Majesty to the death and protect the South!"
Meng Huo was certain in his heart: "Your Majesty does not hold grudges and uses both kindness and severity."
If I, Meng Huo, ever harbor any disloyal thoughts, then Heaven and Earth will not tolerate me!
Li Hui opened the secret letter and quickly skimmed through it.
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he then handed it to Ma Zhong and Dong Jue.
Above the secret letter was Liu Shan's own handwriting.
The emperor ordered Li Hui to oversee the aftermath of the disaster in Yuexi, with Dong Jue assisting in the defense.
Meng Huo pacified the tribes and implemented a new policy of "tribal autonomy and three years of tax exemption".
This was the prototype of the "New Policies of Southern China" outlined in the plan.
Ma Zhong thought to himself with admiration: "Your Majesty is still so young, yet you have such foresight."
He was able to strategize effectively and also appease the people.
The restoration of Shu Han is just around the corner!
"General Dong, this is a secret order from His Majesty."
Li Hui put away the secret letter and said firmly, "Order us to eliminate the remaining spies in the city as soon as possible."
"Repair the city walls and appease the soldiers and tribesmen."
"Chief Meng, please lead your tribe to take stock of the casualties and appease the people."
"General Ma, you will inspect the entire city together with General Dong."
"Be vigilant against any remaining hidden clues causing trouble."
"Yes, sir!"
The three of them agreed in unison and each went to carry out their orders.
Li Hui walked alone to the ruins of the armory.
Looking at the broken walls and ruins still emitting wisps of smoke, I was filled with lingering fear.
If it weren't for the timely arrival of reinforcements...
If Ma Zhong and Meng Huo hadn't stopped Gao Ding in time...
Yuexi City has long since been reduced to scorched earth.
[Li Hui thought to himself]: Gao Ding is dead, but the masked man is still missing.
He possessed the gold-patterned Wei Ling and the Sima bronze tally.
He was neither loyal to Sima Yi nor did he harbor any ulterior motives.
What exactly is his purpose?
What puzzled him even more was...
The masked man's last words were, "Liu Shan, you've finally come. This game has only just begun."
What secret is hidden within?
Meanwhile, thirty li outside Yuexi City.
Inside the Wei army's main camp, the lights were dim.
A dark figure quietly slipped into Sima Yi's tent.
He knelt on one knee, his voice low and deep: "My lord, the masked man requests an audience."
"He said he had something important to report."
Sima Yi raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He then said coldly, "Let him in."
A moment later, the masked man entered the tent in a ghostly manner.
She was still wearing that cold mask.
He tightly gripped the gold-patterned Wei Ling and the Sima bronze tally in his hands.
Do you know your crime?
Sima Yi's tone was icy, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing directly at the masked man.
"Gao Ding escaped, and although the armory was burned down, they failed to capture Yuexi."
"You've ruined my plans by allowing Liu Shan's reinforcements to arrive!"
The masked man, however, showed no fear.
Instead, he let out a hoarse sneer: "Lord Sima, what's the rush?"
"Although I failed to conquer Yuexi, I have learned the details of Liu Shan's abilities."
"He is by no means as incompetent as rumored; rather, he is extremely cunning."
"The fact that reinforcements have been sent is the best proof of this."
A hint of seriousness flashed in Sima Yi's eyes: "What are you trying to say?"
The masked man slowly stepped forward, lowering his voice.
His tone was strange: "What I want to say is that the chaos in the south is far from over."
"Liu Shan implemented the new policies in Nanzhong in an attempt to win over the Yi people and stabilize the southern border."
"We can take this opportunity to stir up conflict between the Han and the barbarians."
"Let the South and Central regions fall into chaos again."
Sima Yi's heart stirred: This makes sense.
If Liu Shan's new policies in the south could be instigated to turn the barbarians against the Han Chinese, his efforts would be in vain.
The South is still within the grasp of Cao Wei.
What are your plans?
Sima Yi's tone softened somewhat as he asked.
The masked man's lips curled into a barely perceptible, cold smile.
His voice was lowered even further: "My lord, you only need to remain still and wait for the right opportunity."
"I have my own way of turning Li Hui and Meng Huo against each other."
"This has plunged Yuexi City into dire straits once again."
After saying this, he bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"etc!"
Sima Yi suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed on Sima Yi's back.
"Who exactly are you? Why are you helping me while holding back at every turn?"
The masked man paused, but did not turn around.
He left behind only one meaningful sentence: "You don't need to know who I am."
"Just know that our goals are aligned for now."
Before he finished speaking, the masked man disappeared into the shadows of the tent.
It was as if it had never existed.
Sima Yi stood in the main tent.
Gazing in the direction where the masked man disappeared, his eyes were filled with doubt and calculation.
[Sima Yi secretly thought: This person is cunning and treacherous.]
He is absolutely untrustworthy, but if we can use him to stir up trouble in the south.
That's not necessarily a bad thing; we can get rid of them after the deed is done.
As night fell, Yuexi City gradually returned to peace.
The remaining flames were extinguished, and the soldiers leaned wearily against the city wall to rest.
Tribal members were busy clearing the rubble and comforting the wounded.
Li Hui, Ma Zhong, Dong Jue, and Meng Huo gathered on the city tower.
They discussed the follow-up matters and the city's defense arrangements.
"General Dong, His Majesty has sent you here this time."
Li Hui asked, "Besides supporting Yuexi, are there any other orders?"
Dong Jue nodded, his expression grave: "Your Majesty also said..."
"The masked man's identity is mysterious, and he may be connected to the Sima clan."
"We are ordered to find out his identity as soon as possible and be careful to prevent him from causing trouble in secret."
"Disrupting the new policies in southern China."
Meng Huo gripped his scimitar tightly, his tone firm: "General Li, rest assured."
"I will have the tribesmen patrol around."
"Once the masked man is found, he must be captured and handed over to His Majesty for punishment!"
Just then, a soldier rushed over.
He knelt on one knee, his expression panicked: "General! Something terrible has happened!"
"We found the body of a dark figure outside the city gate."
"He held in his hand a gold-patterned Wei token similar to the one worn by the masked man."
"I still have a secret letter on me that I haven't sent yet!"
The expressions on the faces of the four people changed simultaneously.
Li Hui hurriedly ordered, "Quickly, bring me the secret letter!"
The soldier handed over the secret letter with both hands, and Li Hui opened it to read it.
His face turned deathly pale instantly.
The secret letter contained strange handwriting and only one sentence.
"If the barbarians and the Han turn against each other, chaos will surely ensue in the south, and Liu Shan's death is imminent."
A deathly silence fell over the city tower.
Ma Zhong gripped his spear tightly, his eyes blazing with fury: "What a masked man!"
"How dare they be so arrogant and openly provoke His Majesty!"
Meng Huo was also furious: "I must find this masked man."
"Tear him to pieces to vent my hatred!"
Dong Jue's expression was solemn as he slowly spoke: "This letter."
"It was probably left behind intentionally by the masked man."
"The aim is to disturb our minds and incite our panic."
Li Hui slowly raised his head and looked at the dark night sky outside the city.
His eyes were filled with determination and vigilance.
[Li Hui was certain]: It was no accident that the masked man deliberately left behind a secret letter.
His conspiracy is probably more terrifying than we can imagine.
[Li Hui secretly made up his mind]: No matter what his conspiracy is.
I will never let him succeed.
We must defend Yuexi and implement His Majesty's new policies in the south.
We have lived up to His Majesty's expectations!
As night deepened, the lights of Yuexi City became sparse.
Yet soldiers still patrolled the city walls.
They kept a vigilant eye on the movements outside the city.
Unbeknownst to anyone, in the shadows at the corner of the city.
A slender figure stood silently.
Looking at the four people on the city wall, a strange light flashed in his eyes.
In his hands, besides the gold-patterned Wei Token and the Sima bronze tally, there were other items.
There was also an extra jade pendant engraved with the character "Liu".
The jade pendant gleamed faintly in the night.
Meanwhile, outside the city was the Wei army's main camp.
Sima Yi also held an identical secret letter in his hand.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
A much larger conspiracy is brewing.
[End of Chapter]