Who put the yellow robe on me?

Chapter 159 Taking risks

Inside the big tent, a heavy atmosphere enveloped everyone. The sound of General Xianyu's footsteps echoed in the tent. His expression was solemn, and he held the imperial edict of the King of the Western Regions tightly in his hand.

The imperial edict clearly ordered him to return to defend Gaochang as soon as possible, but the current situation put him in a dilemma.

Outside the tent, the wind and sand were blowing constantly, and the faint sound of war drums in the distance reminded everyone of the urgency and cruelty of the battlefield.

General Xianyu's face was covered with wrinkles, which were the traces left by years of fighting. At this moment, every step he took seemed particularly heavy, and the balance in his heart was constantly swinging.

General Mammon stood nearby, frowning at the sight of General Xianyu's anxiety. His voice was low and questioning, "Brother Xianyu, what exactly happened? Is there something wrong with the imperial edict?"

General Xianyu did not answer immediately. He continued to pace back and forth in the central military tent, his brow furrowed, as if he was thinking about the possibilities of every step.

Everyone in the tent was watching his actions nervously. The air seemed to be filled with invisible pressure, and even breathing became heavy.

Xuanyuan Feiyan stood in the tent, bewildered. He had assumed General Xianyu would immediately accept the order and return to defend the city, but Xianyu's hesitation left him feeling uneasy. He had no idea what would happen next, so he could only wait quietly.

Suddenly, General Xianyu stopped in his tracks, his eyes gleaming as he calmly looked at Xuanyuan Feiyan. His voice was low, yet filled with undeniable determination: "General Xuanyuan, go back and tell His Majesty that a general is not subject to the emperor's orders while on the battlefield!"

"Ah?" Xuanyuan Feiyan's heart trembled, as if a bucket of cold water was instantly poured on his heart. He widened his eyes, unable to believe his ears.

General Mammon was also shocked by General Xianyu's sudden words. His eyes were filled with surprise and confusion. He quickly stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Brother Xianyu, this is the king's order! Why are you..."

General Xianyu interrupted him with a wave of his hand. His expression remained calm, but his brow furrowed ever deeper. He whispered, "I know this is the king's order, but the current situation is unusual. If I withdraw hastily, it will only put us in greater danger."

Xuanyuan Feiyan stood aside, still unable to believe what he had heard. His lips trembled slightly, and after a moment's hesitation, he finally couldn't help but ask, "General, Gaochang is in danger. If you don't come back to help, I'm afraid Gaochang City will be unable to hold on."

General Xianyu's expression remained stern, a deep glint in his eyes. He spoke slowly, "General Xuanyuan, Gaochang is certainly important, but have you ever considered that if we withdraw now, Daliang will surely seize the opportunity to launch a fierce attack?"

Although our Tiger Guards are powerful, if we retreat, they will become targets for the enemy. If that happens, not only will Gaochang fall, but our entire army will also be completely annihilated by Daliang."

Xuanyuan Feiyan was stunned, speechless at General Xianyu's words. He had witnessed Xianyu's strategy and decisiveness on the battlefield before, and his current analysis was indeed reasonable. If the Daliang army seized the opportunity to retreat, they would surely pursue them, and then the Tiger Guards might truly be annihilated.

General Mammon was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Brother Xianyu, what if the king doesn't understand your difficulties? The imperial decree has been issued. If you disobey it, the consequences will be disastrous."

General Xianyu took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with a hint of helplessness and determination. He slowly removed a personal dagger from his waist and handed it to Xuanyuan Feiyan. His voice was low but full of determination: "General Xuanyuan, take this dagger back and give it to His Majesty. Once His Majesty sees this dagger, he will understand my difficulties."

Xuanyuan Feiyan accepted the dagger, his heart heavy. He knew it wasn't just Xianyu's personal keepsake; it was also a silent plea. Returning with it would mean General Xianyu was willing to take full responsibility for this decision, even potentially losing his life.

Xuanyuan Feiyan looked up at General Xianyu, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. He wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He simply nodded silently, "I understand, General Xianyu! I'll do it right away!"

General Xianyu smiled slightly and patted his shoulder. "Go, General Xuanyuan. This matter is very important. You must report back to His Majesty as soon as possible about the current situation of the war between the Western Regions and Daliang."

Xuanyuan Feiyan nodded and turned to leave the tent. The moment she stepped out of the tent, a cold wind blew in her face, carrying with it the strong smell of dust. It was as if the entire world had become solemn and cold in that instant.

He galloped away from the Tiger Guards camp, his heart filled with heaviness and unease. The situation in Gaochang was critical, and it remained uncertain whether General Xianyu's decision would be understood by the King of the Western Regions. The imperial decree had been issued, and even Xuanyuan Feiyan himself didn't dare to contemplate the consequences if Xianyu refused to return to aid.

Xuanyuan Feiyan's back gradually faded away, but General Mammon's gaze remained fixed outside the tent. He turned back and looked at General Xianyu, his brow furrowed, his heart filled with confusion and worry.

"Brother Xianyu, is this really feasible?" General Mammon's voice was filled with uneasiness. "If His Majesty doesn't understand your difficulties, you might take on huge risks, and even..."

General Xianyu was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. He walked over to the map, resting his hands on the table, staring at it intently, as if trying to find a way out.

"Brother Mammon, you see the current situation. If we withdraw now, not only will we fail to save Gaochang, but we will also plunge ourselves into greater danger. The Daliang army will not miss this opportunity, and if our Tiger Guards are caught in a defensive situation, they will likely be completely wiped out."

His voice was low and firm, as if he had already made up his mind. "I can only hope that His Majesty can understand my difficulties. If he truly cannot understand, then I will have to bear the consequences."

General Mammon looked into General Xianyu's determined eyes and felt a chill in his heart. He knew Xianyu had never made a wrong decision, but the stakes were too high this time. If he failed, the consequences would be disastrous.

General Xianyu stood up, looked at Mammon with a determined gaze, and said in a deep voice, "Brother Mammon, no matter what the outcome, we must hold our current position. Gaochang is certainly important, but if we can't even win our own battle, how can we defend Gaochang?"

General Mammon nodded silently. Although he was still full of doubts, he knew that General Xianyu's judgments were often well thought out.

Although he had no choice but to take this risk, he could only pray that the King of the Western Regions would understand...