Chapter 637: To Err in Haste
Chapter 637: Chapter 637: To Err in Haste
Ye Yunfeng nodded calmly. "That’s right."
King Yan Nan couldn’t hide his astonishment. "H-How is that possible? Didn’t they say the entire city is locked down? This carriage is so conspicuous. How can it possibly leave this place without a sound?"
"Why should we leave quietly?" The corners of Ye Yunfeng’s lips curled into a smile, a cunning glint in his eyes. "It’s precisely because the city is locked down that we must leave openly and brazenly!"
King Yan Nan was completely confused.
"You have a plan?"
Ye Yunfeng glanced around. "Get in the carriage first. I’ll explain everything to you in detail in a moment."
Seeing Ye Yunfeng’s calm and determined expression, the look of someone holding a winning hand, King Yan Nan couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of trust.
He didn’t ask any more questions and jumped straight into the carriage.
Ye Yunfeng followed right behind him.
"To the North City Gate!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the driver gave a slight nod and raised his whip.
"YAH!"
...
"Is he one of your men, too?"
King Yan Nan glanced at the driver’s back. Though it was only a glimpse, he immediately recognized that this man also came from a military background.
He was also in disguise, but it wasn’t as natural as Ye Yunfeng’s. Having served as the Southwest Guardian for many years and commanded countless soldiers, King Yan Nan could tell with just a single look.
Ye Yunfeng grinned. "Not mine. He’s one of Feng Zhang’s men."
King Yan Nan understood.
"This time, we were ordered to infiltrate Long City. For the sake of operational flexibility, we only dispatched a small portion of our men to enter. The rest are waiting outside the city walls."
Ye Yunfeng explained succinctly.
King Yan Nan nodded in agreement. "That’s how it should be. Those Southern Hu people are treacherous and cunning to the extreme. Their men are already scattered throughout the city, spying from the shadows. The slightest misstep, and they’ll notice something is amiss. If we tip them off, things will get difficult."
He looked at Ye Yunfeng again.
Having been imprisoned for so long, he was eager to know the situation outside.
"How many men did you bring this time? I roughly estimate that there are well over five thousand Southern Hu Soldiers lying in ambush within the city. On the day I arrived with my personal guard, we fell into their trap. My men were killed or wounded. To eliminate them completely will require a significant force."
Ye Yunfeng cleared his throat. "Fifty men."
"So I plan to—What!?"
Stunned, King Yan Nan’s voice shot up.
"You said—how many!?"
Ye Yunfeng sounded a little helpless. "The vanguard, which I’m leading, consists of fifty men in total. You must be aware of the situation in Xia City. It’s also a fortress, so the number of troops that could be spared was extremely limited..."
"B-But you can’t just come with fifty men!?" King Yan Nan was truly dumbfounded. "Don’t tell me you plan to take on the five thousand Southern Hu Soldiers in this city with just these fifty men!? Not to mention all the traitors—"
’That’s no small number when you add them all up!’
Ye Yunfeng reassured him, "It’s not that dire. This junior may not have much experience, but I understand the stakes. How could I dare take such a risk? Please rest assured, Your Highness. Our group is the vanguard, responsible for scouting the situation in the city. The main reinforcements are already on their way. By my calculations, they should be arriving any day now."
King Yan Nan breathed a sigh of relief.
"That’s good... Oh, right. You said you entered the city a few days ago. In that case... was that fire from before also your handiwork?"
Ye Yunfeng didn’t try to hide it. "Yes. Firstly, burning their provisions cuts off their supply route. Secondly, with such a major incident, the city’s populace is bound to grow restless, making it difficult for them to manage. On top of that, with officials arriving from the imperial court, they’re stretched thin trying to deal with everything—people make mistakes most easily when they’re busy. That’s our chance!"