Chapter 563
Chapter 563 Helan Mountain Will Never Fall
The sky of the grasslands changed as easily as a child's face. When they set out, it was clearly the calm of sunset, but after riding for just a couple of hours, a drizzling rain started to fall. Rain on the grasslands differed from that on the plains; without mountains or valleys to obstruct it, rain fell like pillars, stinging the face as it struck. The winds on the grassland were erratic, howling with wild abandon, tossing the mist and rain this way and that, sometimes east, sometimes west. A heavy blanket seemed to cover the silent, darkening expanse, enshrouded in the green mist that hung between heaven and earth.
This was the first rain they had encountered since entering the grasslands. It fell neither too early nor too late, teaching Lin Wanrong the full extent of nature's whims.
The rain wet the hooves of the horses, making the lush grass slick with moisture and turning the soil to slippery mud. The pace of the warhorses had to slow. The soldiers marched in the rain, their clothes soaked through. From a distance, this cavalry appeared like clouds drifting through the heavy mist, moving rapidly yet in perfect formation.
"The horses are slipping, and our speed is seriously affected. At this rate, I fear we won't reach Ha'er Helin until the early morning," Hu Bugui said, wiping the rain and sweat from his face, a worried look in his eyes.
This was truly bad luck. Lin Wanrong had accounted for many things, but not the weather. He sighed, "Rain in the west while the sun rises in the east. What worries me is that while we are caught in this downpour, the allied forces of the Ha'er Helin and Ejina tribes may be marching under a clear, starry sky. Their speed would greatly outpace ours. If they reach Dalanzha and find no trace of us, they will surely rush back. The Turkic people would ride day and night to rescue Yujia, and likewise, they would ride back just as fast. If we're not careful, we may end up cornered."
Lin Wanrong's concerns were valid. After much effort to lure thousands of capable men from Ejina and Ha'er Helin, his aim was to exploit this time difference and launch a surprise attack. But this unexpected heavy rain threatened to ruin that advantage. If caught by the Turkic people, escaping would become a difficult task.
Hu Bugui nodded gravely, "General, you are absolutely right. While it rains here, the weather in Dalanzha could very well be clear. The unpredictable weather on the grasslands is like a child's face; no one knows when it will change. Our scouts up ahead have not returned yet, so we don't know the situation there."
"So what should we do now? Advance or halt?" Gao Qiu asked anxiously.