The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Yan Yu led his men over the mountains and took a shortcut, arriving at the Partridge Gorge in Yitiantian before Ainuer Xiong'an's retreating army.

This narrow strip of sky is a natural barrier, and Partridge Gorge is the most dangerous of all. Not only can only one person pass through the exit at a time, but there is a Grand Canyon next to it. If someone falls in, there is no possibility of survival.

Ainuer Xiong'an chose to take this road because although it was dangerous, it could shorten the journey by one third and allow him to leave Yunli and return to Xirong faster.

There was nothing wrong with this plan, but the only thing Ainuer Xiong'an didn't expect was that Yan Yu had already calculated his retreat route and was waiting to give him another fatal blow.

Yan Yu and the people he brought with him were all hiding in ambush, waiting for Ainuer Xiong'an and his army to fall into the trap.

"Major General, I will take my men to bury some gunpowder. Once they all come in, we just need to light the gunpowder and blow up the exit, and I guarantee that no one can get out." When Zhou Wang came, he was not afraid of the hard work and carried a big box on his back. In addition to the various secret weapons he developed, the rest was gunpowder.

Yan Yu shook his head and said, "No, we can't blow up the exit. If the mountain collapses, our people will be in danger. And blocking the exit will cause trouble in the future. This road is not only for the Xirong people, but also for us."

Yan Yu knew very well in his heart that after this battle, Yunli, Xirong and even the surrounding countries would probably be at war from then on.

The war to annihilate the country in the previous life might have to be brought forward. Thinking of this, Yan Yu couldn't help but tremble in his heart. What he couldn't do in the previous life, if he did it again, could he turn the tide and change the defeat of the previous life?

Did God give him the chance to live again, really just to let him turn the tide and change the outcome of Yun Li's country being destroyed in his previous life?

"Young General, what's wrong with you?" Looking at Yan Yu who was lost in thought, Qin Gang reached out and gently pushed him.

"Ah, oh." Yan Yu, who had come back to his senses, still felt a little uneasy. The battle before his death in his previous life was the first time in his life that he lost a battle to his own enemy. The shadow left by this incident was so huge that he has not yet gotten over it.

"What are you thinking about? You're so lost in thought. I called you several times but you didn't respond. Is something wrong?" Qin Gang looked around nervously.

Being distracted before a battle is a big taboo. Yan Yu shook his head, driving out the thoughts that had just been in his mind. "It's okay, Zhou Wang, take a few people across Partridge Gorge and set up an ambush on the plains ahead."

"Although we have a geographical advantage, we can't withstand their sheer numbers. Some will inevitably slip through the net. You just wait there and give them another wave of kills."

"Our mission this time is to annihilate the entire army brought by Ainuer Xiong'an as much as possible. Even if we can't completely annihilate them, we must at least make them lose all their strength."

"Of course, it would be best if we could capture Ainuer Xiong'an alive. If he manages to escape, it would also be a great achievement if we can capture the people he brought with him."

"Yes, Major General, I will take people there right away." Zhou Wang is a man of action. He will act immediately after receiving the order without any delay.

Ainuer Xiong'an looked at the narrow gap in the sky in front of him and suddenly felt uneasy. It was not the first time he had been to this place, but this was the first time he felt so uneasy and scared.

"Your Highness, please give the order to march." Seeing that Ainuer Xiong'an was riding his horse and taking no time to move forward, and did not give the order for the army to march, the attendant reminded him cautiously.

Ainuer Xiong'an had a gloomy face. Behind him were hundreds of thousands of troops. Even if he had a bad premonition at this time, he had no way to retreat and could only choose to move forward at full speed.

If he ordered to retreat from the narrow passage and take another route at this moment, he and the army behind him would probably be left in Yunli and would never be able to return.

"Let's go." Ainuer Xiong'an waved his sword, and the army set off in an orderly manner.

The reason why it is called Yitiantian is not only because its road is narrow, but also because it is formed by the confluence of two canyons, leaving only a ten-foot-wide gap on top. People can see the light above when they look up, but they need to hold torches to illuminate the way when walking below.

No one spoke in the claustrophobic and narrow space. Everyone was walking intently. Apart from the sound of footsteps and the occasional shriek of a bat flying by, no other sound could be heard.

Ainuer Xiong'an was a little irritated because of his uneasiness. "Why are you walking so slowly? When can you get out?"

"Your Highness, the roads here are narrow. In some places, it is difficult for even two people to walk side by side. There is no way to walk fast in here. We estimate that the earliest we can get out is tomorrow." The attendant had no idea what Ainuer Xiong'an was thinking. He said that Ainuer Xiong'an was too impatient today. This was not the first time they had walked this road. How long it would take, Ainuer Xiong'an should know better than anyone else.

The uneasiness in his heart has not shown any signs of subsiding, but has become more serious. Ainuer Xiong'an now only hopes to get out quickly, as staying here for a moment longer is torture and torment for him.

"Give the order, the entire army advances at full speed and must ensure that we are out of the valley before dawn tomorrow." Knowing that it was impossible, he still insisted on doing it. This exposed Ainuer Xiong'an's uneasy mentality at the moment.

"Yes." Although this task is impossible to complete, no one will disobey and anger Ainuer Xiong'an at this time.

The previous defeat had already undermined Ainuer Xiong'an's confidence. Although winning or losing on the battlefield was uncertain, it was not the first time he had suffered a defeat. But the last time it was Yan Mingde who made him lose miserably, and this time it was Yan Mingde's son Yan Yu who made him lose even more miserably. It was Yan Mingde's son Yan Yu who made him lose face and be nailed to the pillar of shame, and had to accept the ridicule of the world.

How could Ainuer Xiong'an, who had always been aloof and proud, swallow the setbacks and blows she suffered repeatedly at the hands of Yan's father and son?

Seventeen years ago, Yan Mingde was still an unknown general under the command of the Marquis of Zhenbei. When he followed the Marquis of Zhenbei to conquer the Western Rong, he fought the largest and most successful battle of his life so far.

It was in that battle that a prince and two princes of the Ainuer family were killed, and Ainuer Xiong'an's father, who led the army in person, was seriously injured and nearly died.

That was also the first time that Ainuer Xiong'an witnessed the cruelty of war. As the coach at the time, he was defeated miserably by Yan Mingde.

That battle severely damaged the Western Rong. Not only did they suffer a defeat, but they also had to pay a full three million taels of silver to the Yunli Kingdom.

At that time, everyone in Xirong was in danger and did not want to mention Zhenbei Hou or Yan Mingde. These two people became the nightmare of the entire Xirong.

It was from that time on that the entire Western Rong, from the royal family and nobles to the ordinary people, began to work hard to govern the country, just to avenge the previous humiliation and the hatred that almost destroyed their country.

For the past seventeen years, Ainuer Xiong'an has never dared to relax the tension in his heart, and finally came up with the plan to invade Yunli.

Originally, the plan was perfect, but Yan Yu became a variable halfway through.

It would be fine if this variable was Yan Mingde's son, but this son is even better than his father.

Ainuer Xiong'an sighed silently in his heart. The father and son of the Yan family were his fate. In the future, either they would die or he would die.

Outside Partridge Gorge, Yan Yu was also looking up at the night sky in a daze. He was now very confused, even more confused than when he first came through. He seemed to have suddenly lost his goal and direction.

Yan Yu, who had been unable to sleep for most of the night due to his wild thoughts, had just closed his eyes for a short while when he was woken up by Qin Gang, "Major General, someone is coming out."

Yan Yu immediately woke up and became alert, "How could it be so fast?"

Considering the time, it is impossible for Ainuer Xiong'an to reach the exit in such a short time with so many people. Could it be that these people have grown wings and flew out?

Yan Yu pondered for a moment and ordered, "Tell everyone not to act rashly until we have a clear understanding of the situation."

The ones who came out of the canyon were just a small group of scouts who came to explore the way. They set out earlier than the main army in order to find out whether there were any potential dangers.

After the scouts came out, they spread out and checked the surroundings. After confirming that there was no danger, someone said, "You two go back and report. The rest of you will form teams of two and continue searching forward."

Immediately afterwards, a chaotic sound of footsteps was heard. Yan Yu winked at Qin Gang, who immediately understood and left with a few people.

There was a burst of fighting, but it soon subsided.

Qin Gang returned to Yan Yu and whispered, "Ten people in total, all taken care of."

Yan Yu nodded and closed his eyes again. This time he didn't have any random thoughts and fell asleep quickly. When he woke up, it was already noon.

Yan Yu moved his stiff neck, stood up and stretched. He had a very deep sleep and felt much more energetic after waking up.

When Qin Gang saw Yan Yu woke up, he quickly handed him the water bag. Yan Yu had been having trouble eating and sleeping these days, and had also fallen seriously ill. He had become haggard and thinner at a visible speed.

Qin Gang saw it and was anxious but he could do nothing. He could only take care of Yan Yu as much as possible in life.

Yan Yu took the water bag and found that the water inside was hot. After rinsing his mouth, he held the water bag and gulped down several mouthfuls.

As soon as Yan Yu put down the water bag, Qin Gang handed him food again. Yan Yu looked at the rice cake in his hand and then at the dry biscuits in the soldiers' hands.

He looked at Qin Gang and said, "Don't ask for special treatment from now on. I'll eat whatever they eat. Got you?"

"I heard you, but I'll still make it special for you next time." Qin Gang said calmly and naturally, biting the dry biscuit in his hand.

"Why, you don't listen to me so soon?" Yan Yu deliberately frowned and scolded Qin Gang, but his actions had no deterrent effect on Qin Gang at all.

Yan Yu's current physical condition is extremely poor, and he gets minor illnesses easily.

Qin Gang discovered early on that Yan Yu had gastrointestinal problems. He would have stomachaches after eating hard food, and his stomach would also feel uncomfortable after drinking cold water, so Qin Gang would considerately prepare hot water and softer food for him.

"It's just some rice cakes. How can it be considered special?" Qin Gang continued to eat the dry biscuits in his hand. As he ate, he said, "You are the commander-in-chief of an army. You should be treated better than the soldiers. Let alone some rice cakes, even if you want to drink wine and eat meat, it is perfectly reasonable and no one will object."

"Your stomach is not healthy, and it hurts when you eat something hard. As the head coach, you are in charge of all of us. Whether it's big or small, how to fight the battle, how to plan the battle, all these things require you to make the decision."

"If you get sick at a critical moment, what will happen to the rest of us? Don't you have any idea? Your body is not yours, it belongs to everyone, all of us."

"From now on, you should eat whatever you are given to eat and drink whatever you are given to drink. Don't complain or get angry. You are already a very easy-to-serve master. There is no one else like you in the whole world."

Yan Yu ate the rice cake and listened to Qin Gang's nagging, and his heart suddenly calmed down.

The previous life is the previous life, and the present life is the present life. What he failed to do in the previous life may not be impossible to do in this life. Since it has come, he should accept it.

Even if the war that destroyed his nation in his previous life had come earlier, so what? Man proposes, God disposes. He has brothers around him who fight shoulder to shoulder with him. What is there for him to fear?

What he has to do now is to try his best and do his utmost to protect what he should protect. Why should he think so much about the rest?

Yan Yu suddenly figured it out, and his mood became brighter. Even the rice cake in his mouth became much more delicious.

Just after lunch, a scout came to report that Ainuer Xiong'an's army was about to arrive.

Yan Yu stood up and clapped his hands, then turned to his soldiers and said, "Brothers, now that we have eaten and drunk enough, it is time to get to work. Let us all cheer up and work hard to keep the Xirong army here, so that none of them can return and we can capture Ainuer Xiong'an alive."

"Don't let a single Xirong person go. Capture Ainuer Xiong'an alive." The soldiers were in high spirits. Following Yan Yu these days, everyone was like a chicken with its blood pumped up, looking forward to another great victory.

"Okay, since we have won this time, I will ask the general to recommend the credit for you, and everyone will have a share." Yan Yu was also inspired by the morale of the soldiers. In his eyes, these soldiers were the cutest and bravest people.

"Thank you, Major General." The soldiers expressed their gratitude to Yan Yu and their inner joy in unison.