Demon Lord Tang Dynasty

"Who goes first? Wh...what does that mean?"

White Protector suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and stammered, "..."

Gao Yi looked at Protector Bai with a half-smile.

"Don't the Dharma protectors know very well where we are standing?"

"That's natural."

White Protector straightened his chest again.

The note reappeared in his palm, and he began to recite it with great enthusiasm.

"This Baiguan Pass is a strategic stronghold guarding the Yinshan Mountains. The World Honored One launched a surprise attack from hundreds of miles away and captured this pass, which can be said to have choked the Sui army. It was truly a divine move."

"Then the Dharma Protector should have a good idea of ​​what will happen next."

Upon hearing this, Protector Bai pounded his chest with an imposing air.

"I understand. The Sui army will certainly not give up and will definitely send troops to attack."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, they are merely defeated opponents. If they dare to come, Your Majesty need not lift a finger; I will lead the charge and eliminate them for you."

The White Protector spoke with unwavering confidence, exuding a mysterious aura that was both cowardly and reckless.

As for the formidable Yang Lin, Protector Bai naturally dared not provoke him.

But if it were Yang Lin's adopted son, it would be a different story.

In fact, Protector Bai was unaware of the strength of Yang Lin's adopted son, nor did he know the combat power of the opposing army.

In his view, he was a powerful protector and the former leader of the Maitreya Sect, a big shot in his own right. Luo Fang and the like were just his juniors, nothing to be afraid of.

"What a spirit!" Gao Yi praised. "When the enemy comes, we'll leave it to the Protector."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, your subordinate will defend Baiguan Pass to the death and keep the enemy out of the northern city."

Gao Yi shook his head: "North City? The enemy may not necessarily come from the north."

"Huh?" Protector Bai's eyes widened.

Following Gao Yi's gaze, they looked to the south.

"Does the World Honored One mean that the Sui Dynasty will send reinforcements?"

"Naturally, with Baiguan Pass captured and their retreat cut off, how could the Sui Dynasty possibly sit idly by?"

"Then...who will lead the troops?" Protector Bai already had a bad feeling.

"Yang Lin".

But things didn't go as he wished, and Gao Yi softly uttered the name that brought him the most despair.

"Yang... Yang... Yang Lin." Protector Bai was completely stunned, and his face began to slowly lose its color.

"Does the Buddha mean that...we are surrounded?"

White Protector didn't actually know much about the battlefield situation.

Only after listening to Gao Yi's words did I slowly begin to understand the general idea.

To the north was Luo Fang's troops, and to the south was Yang Lin's army.

Does that mean they've been wrapped up like dumplings?

"That's not entirely true."

Gao Yi smiled and shook his head.

"Luo Fang's escape route has been cut off. Logically speaking, they should be the most anxious and arrive the fastest."

Upon hearing this, Protector Bai breathed a sigh of relief. He was not afraid of Luo Fang.

"However, things are unpredictable. The fall of Baiguan could not have been kept secret. When our army broke through the city, someone must have already rushed south to report the news."

"Therefore, it is very likely that Yang Lin, or the generals from both the North and South, will be the first to besiege the city."

Protector Bai was completely terrified. He heard a buzzing sound in his ears and couldn't quite hear Gao Yi's words. He only knew one thing: Yang Lin was coming.

"World Honored One, how many of us are there?" the White Protector asked, his body trembling and his face filled with tears.

"Of the two thousand cavalry, after two battles, there are still fifteen thousand left. Some of them can be allocated to the Protector. Of course, there are also some prisoners and civilians in Baiguan City. If the Protector is interested, some of them can be recruited."

"World Honored One, what about you?" The White Protector had completely lost the ability to think, his whole being like a machine.

"I have important matters to attend to. Besides, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. This place is dangerous, but we must defend it. Only the Dharma Protector can shoulder this heavy responsibility."

The White Protector felt no joy at Gao Yi's praise; the word "dangerous" felt like a sharp blade piercing his heart.

"World Honored One, I wish to stay by your side forever. I cannot bear to part with you!" the White Protector cried out, tears streaming down his face.

Gao Yi nodded and smiled, "I understand the loyalty of the protector. If the protector survives this battle, I will grant the protector's wish."

"Thump~"

White Guardian collapsed limply to the ground.

……

Datong, Shanxi.

Inside the command tent, Yang Lin, with his gray hair, sat imposingly on the commander's throne.

The generals on the left and right stood upright, each with a solemn expression, casting a heavy shadow over the entire command tent.

"Bypassing the main force and heading straight for Baiguan, what a ruthless tactic."

Yang Lin tapped his fingers on the back of the chair and hummed softly.

"Your Highness, now that Baiguan has been captured, and the situation of Generals Luo and Xue's troops is unknown, the situation is unfavorable to us," someone below said.

"Could it be the main force of the start?" another person asked.

Yang Lin frowned in thought, then slowly spoke:

"Our Great Sui Dynasty has been pacifying the south for many years, and it has not been in vain. If Shi Bi really launched a large-scale southward campaign, there would be no way we would not have heard anything about it."

"But... such ruthless and vicious military tactics are quite unfamiliar to me. Could they be a rising star among the Turks?" A hint of doubt flashed in Yang Lin's eyes.

"Your Highness, how should we respond?"

"Hmph, since the enemy has made a move, we should naturally fight back." Yang Lin snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness, should we transfer some troops from the Central Plains or Guanzhong, in case..."

As the Grand General of Bingzhou, Yang Lin controlled the entire Bingzhou army, but in reality, Yang Lin held an even greater title: Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of the Central and Foreign Regions.

This is the origin of Yang Lin's title of Pillar of State and Prince of the Mountain. It can be said that as long as Yang Lin is willing, he can easily mobilize troops from all regions except Bingzhou.

"no."

Upon hearing this, Yang Lin decisively shook his head.

"His Majesty has already given the order that the court will immediately launch a northern expedition. Most of the troops in Guanzhong must go north, and the remaining troops must not move rashly, otherwise Guanzhong will be unstable."

"Even the troops in Bingzhou and Shanxi should not be mobilized too much."

"Your Highness, now that Baiguan Pass has fallen, if the Turks..."

Yang Lin waved his hand and shouted:

"No need to worry, I will leave 10,000 troops in Datong, so even if the Turks attack, we will be safe."

"Besides, after Datong, there is still Yanmen Pass. Even if the intelligence is wrong, and the Turks really have a large army pressing in, they can besiege Datong, but they can't enter Yanmen Pass."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Yang Lin did not respond, but simply lowered his head and pondered something.

"wrong……"

The next second, Yang Lin suddenly looked down at the detailed battle report in his hand.

"This unit's tactics and operational trajectory are incorrect."

Yang Lin's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Their target is not the Central Plains, nor Baiguan Pass, but..."

With a "whoosh" sound.

Yang Lin jumped up from his seat and roared:

"Quickly, convey my order: all units must assemble immediately."

"Thump, thump, thump."

Not long after he finished speaking, the thunderous war drums resounded throughout Datong.