Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
In the chaos at Taihang Pass, the Shangdang troops stationed near Baihang also began to take action.
“Bring out all the cannons!” Under the commanding banner, Sun Jiao loudly ordered.
Following the command, around a hundred horses formed a formation, each dragging a cannon behind them. These Thunderbolt Cannons were smaller than those used for besieging cities, but with wheels underneath and horses for traction, moving them was as easy as pie.
This activity naturally caused a stir in the enemy camp. Sun Jiao paid no mind and instead looked quite satisfied at the cavalry ahead. It seemed that having horses made things much easier. He wondered if he could acquire some horses from the cavalry unit. With sufficient livestock, his artillery formation would likely be unmatched.
Horsepower far surpasses manpower. In the blink of an eye, a dozen or so carts were pulled to a spot about three hundred paces from the enemy camp. Horses were unhitched, and the artillerymen quickly removed the shields, loading stone projectiles. By this time, the enemy camp was in chaos, attempting to organize soldiers to charge out and destroy the cannons.
However, before they could leave the camp, they found more enemies within the gaps between the cannons, armed with crossbows and forming a stern defense. Although this artillery formation primarily focused on long-range attacks, its close-range lethality was not to be underestimated.
Watching the bewildered enemies, Sun Jiao’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Divide and lure the enemy? What a joke. With ten thousand troops at his disposal, the Shangdang troops were more than capable of defeating enemies outnumbering them by two-fold or more! This division of forces wasn’t a feigned lure; it was a simultaneous attack on two fronts! General Yi was responsible for attracting the cavalry, while Sun Jiao led the Thunderbolt Battalion to annihilate the enemy camp near Baihang.
Now that the carts transported by the horse team were assembled, and the enemy cavalry had been drawn away, it was time for the Thunderbolt Battalion to unleash its might.
“Prepare, fire!” Sun Jiao shouted loudly.
With his command, drums began to beat, creating a powerful rhythm. However, soon another even more majestic and terrifying whistling sound overwhelmed the drumming. Dozens of stone projectiles whizzed through the air as they were hurled, the force comparable to the splitting of the earth and the crumbling of mountains!
In just one volley, the enemy camp collapsed. Such synchronized firing not only tore through the tents but would have breached even city walls. The rounded stone projectiles, upon impact, either rolled, tearing through a row of tents or shattered into countless flying stones and sharp debris, causing all nearby soldiers to fall.
Sun Jiao nodded approvingly, “Spread the order, advance the vanguard!”
With no defenses left and no organized formation, these enemies were nothing more than easy prey. They had to press forward to rescue Luoyang; these enemy soldiers must not be allowed to linger!
In just one day, the Han forces at Taihang Pass and Baihang had suffered a major defeat. Approximately 20,000 enemies were slain, and their commanders were beheaded. The surviving soldiers, who narrowly escaped death, fled in panic. The road to Luoyang was now completely open.
However, this good news did not bring a hint of joy to Liang Feng’s face. Sitting behind his desk, he looked at the freshly delivered reports, his face pale. The Xiongnu army had crossed the seven-li barrier, part of the outer city defenses, and captured Qingming Gate and Kaiyang Gate. The defending army kept retreating, and further inward was the Imperial Palace!
Is there still time to send reinforcements to save Luoyang? The exits of the two mountain passes are still surrounded by many enemy forces. Breaking through would cost countless lives and time. Even if they manage to break out, this small force is insufficient to defeat the looming Xiongnu cavalry and rescue the people.
What should be done?
Liang Feng stood up tall, “Issue orders to General Hu!”
※
Sima Tan trembled all over. The chill had permeated his limbs and bones, leaving his mind in a state of emptiness.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This place is too dangerous! Please, Your Majesty, relocate!”
Someone was shouting loudly, but Sima Tan felt like he couldn’t even lift his feet. Before him, chaos reigned, countless soldiers swarming towards the city walls. Each siege tower, and each cavalry charge, resembled giant waves crashing against the city walls. Luoyang had twelve city gates, each more than ten yards wide. It should have been the most impregnable fortress of its time, yet under the onslaught of the frenzied attack, it seemed on the verge of collapse, as if it could crumble at any moment.
All around were screams, and everything seemed to plunge into a fiery hell, emitting a pungent, nauseating smell. Not far in front of him, a Xiongnu soldier suddenly rushed onto the wall, charging towards Sima Tan’s direction. Four or five long spears simultaneously thrust out, turning him into a blood-filled gourd. Yet, the expression on the man’s face remained grotesque, unable to be erased even by death.
Sima Tan took a step back, bumping into someone. Someone grabbed his arm, ignoring his struggles, and forcefully pulled him towards the city below.
“Your Majesty! The city gate cannot hold, staying here will only hasten its fall! Quick, go! Seek refuge in the palace…”
Forcibly shoved into a carriage, the horses galloped away. The slightly trembling carriage finally brought the young emperor to a harsh awakening. Cold sweat dripped down. He had truly misunderstood!
Sima Tan had experienced large-scale battles before. When Emperor Hui was not yet dead, he served as the Crown Prince. He had personally witnessed the wars sparked by the turmoil of the princes. He had even led the Imperial Guard to expel the remnants of Sima Yi, who had occupied Luoyang. He thought he knew what a large-scale battle was, and what it meant to use military force. Little did he know that being on the battlefield in person would be so terrifying!
Those soldiers were not the Crown Prince’s personal guards or the officials and soldiers of the provincial capitals he had seen before. They wouldn’t step back out of deference to the Emperor’s carriage; instead, they regarded the Emperor of Great Jin as the best prey and reward. No one would revere his status; all they harbored were greed and hatred!
And he had allowed these dangerous enemies to take hold right next to the Royal City! From Pingyang to Luoyang, how many days had it been? These Xiongnu were no longer the nomadic herders he had seen in the past. They had established a state, and conquered most of Si County and the fertile plains of Guanzhong! How many cities surrendered without a fight, and how many aristocratic families joined their ranks? Compared to the tens of thousands of elite soldiers in Liu Yuan’s hands, what did he have? He had this empty Luoyang city!
He shouldn’t have stayed in Luoyang… he must relocate the capital, move away from this perilous place! The farther, the better! While revitalizing the grand cause was important, he must first stay alive!
“To Jinling City!” The young emperor grabbed the reins and shouted loudly. The city gate could no longer hold! He must find a safer place! Concentrate all troops in Jinling City and hold on until reinforcements arrive!
The carriage changed direction, racing towards the small city of Jinling to the west of the city!
That night, the Xiongnu surged into the inner city, leaving a trail of destruction. The Imperial Academy and the Grand Academy were engulfed in flames!
※
“Ming Gong intends to attack Lishi!” Linghu Sheng received the message and immediately rushed to the Provincial Governor’s Mansion. As soon as he took his seat, he heard such an unexpected order, which truly surprised him.
Aren’t the Xiongnu currently attacking Luoyang? Why not send troops to aid Luoyang but instead attack Lishi? Isn’t this neglecting the Emperor?
Knowing what Linghu Sheng was thinking, Liang Feng handed the received dispatch to the veteran in front of him. “Luoyang City can’t hold on. Qingming Gate and Kaiyang Gate have been breached. Ximing Gate is also in imminent danger. If we rush there now, we fear that we won’t be able to save anyone. The current plan is to besiege Wei and rescue Zhao!”
Linghu Sheng took the dispatch and quickly scanned it. His face tensed. “Ming Gong intends to send troops to attack Pingyang?”
“Yes,” Liang Feng decisively said, “Pingyang is the capital of the Han state and also Liu Yuan’s hiding place. If we send troops to attack, the Xiongnu forces are bound to withdraw to defend. Only by doing so can we lift the siege on Luoyang!”
It’s a good idea, but extremely dangerous! The Xiongnu forces are accompanied by elite cavalry. Once they return to defend, their speed is astonishing. Can the soldiers deep inside Pingyang’s territory safely withdraw? More importantly, with the Emperor issuing feathers to rally support, Liang Feng, the Duke, is not assisting Luoyang but instead attacking Pingyang. If this falls into the ears of those with ill intentions, could it make the Emperor more wary?
However, with a head lifted at that moment, all the pondering was suppressed. In Linghu Sheng’s handsome face, Liang Feng saw not deceit but tension, solemnity, and a resolute determination. He was genuine in wanting to save Luoyang, and he was willing to take a risk for it!
A surge of warmth rose in his chest as if it could ignite even this old bone. Linghu Sheng took a deep breath, “This subordinate will follow the orders!”
Seeing Linghu Sheng accept the command, Liang Feng felt an immediate sense of relief and continued, “General Linghu Sheng, you may lead Li Jun and Tian Yun to launch an attack on Lishi. General Yijun will advance from Shangdang to invade Pingyang Commandery, traversing from south to north, cutting through Pingyang, and returning from Lishi. Lishi is the only lifeline, so I implore General Linghu Sheng to firmly guard it!”
Similarly attacking Lishi, the man in front had a completely different goal from Pei Dun in the past. This was for the nation, to fight to the death, not for personal gain, causing others to lose their lives! Without hesitation, Linghu Sheng cupped his hands, “Rest assured, Lord, this subordinate will certainly take down Lishi for you!”
Having suffered two years of desolation, with the escape of many dissident factions, Lishi had become a half-ruined city. If Liang Feng hadn’t intended to use it as a buffer zone for war, it would have been consumed long ago. However, to guard against the troops of Bing County, a considerable number of soldiers and horses were stationed on the border between Lishi and Pingyang. Once General Linghu Sheng led the army to attack, it would immediately put the defending forces on high alert. Attacking Lishi would divert everyone’s attention to this former capital of the Xiongnu, allowing the surprise attack from Shangdang to Pingyang to have the greatest impact.
How many soldiers and horses did the Xiongnu have in total? With their elite forces fully deployed, the defending forces in Pingyang were probably less than twenty thousand. Though this plan was risky, it was worth a try!
For the sake of the nearby city of Luoyang, he had to make an attempt!
※
“Where are the reinforcements? Why haven’t the reinforcements arrived yet!” Sima Tan paced rapidly in the room, like a young tiger trapped in a cage.
Golden Yongcheng was not very large, but now it was filled with the nobles who had come to take refuge. Some were not so fortunate and were still engaged in street battles outside, fighting to protect this crumbling royal city.
Without the luxury of indulgence, Wang Yan’s expression had also deteriorated slightly, but he still forced himself to say, “Your Majesty, the Xiongnu have only been attacking the city for six days. It may take several more days for reinforcements to arrive…”
As if whipped, the young emperor halted his steps and fiercely declared, “Six days! How many days does it take for troops to march from Shangdang?! Does Liang Feng want to rebel?!”
Wang Yan remained silent. It wasn’t that the troops were moving too slowly; it was that Luoyang had fallen too quickly. If the young emperor hadn’t insisted on going to oversee the battle and then panicked on the battlefield, how could they have ended up in such a situation? Moreover, whether or not to save this emperor depended on the whim of each regional commander and governor.
However, Wang Yan did not want to go out of the city to meet the enemy, and naturally, he would not say words that might anger the emperor.
Seeing that all the courtiers below were silent, the young emperor could no longer erupt in anger and could only resume pacing. Indeed, only those still defending the city against the enemy were the pillars of his Great Jin. The others were just opportunistic scoundrels pursuing their own interests, petty people surviving by any means!
Once he left Luoyang, he would definitely hold them accountable… No, no, he had to leave them to fight the Xiongnu; he couldn’t force them like this. The two trains of thought were like entangled vines, impossible to untangle. Sima Tan clenched his fists again, taking a deep breath. He had survived through so many wars; this time, he must also have good fortune on his side…
However, regardless of what happened in Luoyang, a force of 30,000 troops rushed out of Jinyang, mighty and majestic, advancing towards Lishi. Startled by this movement, the garrison at Lishi immediately reported to Pingyang. The troops stationed in Pingyang began to move in the direction of Lishi. At the same time, another light cavalry force crossed the Huzi defensive line, heading straight for the capital of the Xiongnu Han State!
