RR Chapter 346

Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡

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Upon hearing the news that “Lord Liang intends to personally lead troops to resist the Xiongnu,” even Tuoba Yilu was surprised.

Tuoba Yilu had some knowledge of the news that the Xiongnu and the Han forces were preparing to launch a major offensive to attack Hedong. However, he initially thought that Lord Liang would adopt a defensive strategy, abandoning Hedong and focusing on protecting Jinyang. Who would have thought that Lord Liang not only intended to face the enemy but also planned to lead the troops personally? This was going to be an all-out war.

Did he have confidence in ensuring victory?

“Is Lord Liang planning to call on us to jointly defend against the enemy?” Tuoba Yilu became interested and asked the envoy.

This Lord of the Shangdang Commandery had always been magnanimous. If he could send troops to help in times of crisis, there was a good chance for him to gain benefits. The locust disaster had ravaged You County, affecting the Tuoba clan as well. Initially, he had considered reluctantly selling some livestock, but who would have thought that an opportunity would come so soon!

“Our Lord stated that if the Duan clan attacks Ji County, he would like the Great Chanyu to send troops to assist, sweeping away the traitorous rebels,” the envoy replied without being humble. He handed over a letter.

The letter was personally written by Lord Liang, and after a brief thought, Tuoba Yilu understood the underlying message. While Lord Liang seemed confident in facing the Xiongnu, he had to guard against the possibility of a surprise attack by the Duan clan. Therefore, the role of the Tuoba clan was to cooperate in defending Ji County and defeating the forces of the Duan clan. Leaving aside the promised supplies, just the opportunity to “attack the Duan clan” was enticing enough.

Now that they’ve taken over Dai Commandery and seized nearly half of Guangning Commandery, could they use this opportunity to catch the Duan clan off guard, defeat the forces of the Duan clan, and potentially occupy half of You County completely?

Moreover, the outcome of the upcoming battle between Bing County and the Han forces could likely determine the future course of events. If Lord Liang emerged victorious, he would become the undisputed northern overlord. The Duan clan, bearing a grudge against him, would be like a thorn in their side. Seizing this opportunity, the Tuoba clan could replace them, an entirely feasible move.

How could they let such an opportunity slip away?

Wearing a smile on his face, Tuoba Yilu declared loudly, “With Lord Liang’s favor, we are duty-bound to serve as loyal subjects!”

The Jin Dynasty, which had relocated to the southern region, was no longer the target to be submissive to. Bing County was the new master worth aligning with!

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Before the troops moved, provisions and forage were prepared in advance. Even in Bing County, which had abundant granaries, preparing supplies for a large army was no easy task. Fortunately, having fought in Hedong just last year, the military stations were well-equipped. Like flowing water, food and forage were sent to various counties along the way. As the army set out and stationed troops were replaced, reservists and refugees took over the defense of the cities and engaged in agricultural activities. The entire Bing County resembled a colossal war machine, advancing steadily.

Half a month later, at the southern outskirts of Jinyang.

Clad in sturdy armor and armed with sharp weapons, tens of thousands of soldiers with fluttering banners and flags formed a neatly arranged military formation. In front of the organized army, there stood a platform over ten feet high, with black flags fluttering and drums and music resounding.

Amidst the ceremonial music, a chariot escorted by two horse-drawn carriages passed through the military formation. Adorned with antler decorations and bear-hide armrests, a man stood tall under a luxurious canopy.

On his chest, an intricately patterned mountain design adorned the robe, embellished with gold ornaments, creating a dazzling effect. At his waist, a ferocious beast with a coiled tail and hanging tassels clung to a narrow belt, highlighting the slim waist. On his head, a helmet with protruding corners, resembling a Buddha’s crown, was adorned with a fierce beast face, and the tassel was a vibrant red.

This exquisite armor seemed more like ceremonial attire than battlefield gear, resembling a golden Buddha statue in a temple. Yet, nothing could overshadow the person standing on the chariot!

Amidst the enthusiastic gazes of onlookers, Liang Feng stepped down and ascended the platform. In such a grand ceremony for war, how could it be compared to any other time? He had reviewed troops and led oath ceremonies countless times, but none could match today’s grandeur!

A glance revealed an endless array of troops, with long spears resembling a dense forest. The elite soldiers from Shangdang, the selected vanguard from Jinyang, and the stationed brave troops—every soldier who had passed through the battle formations stood before him. They were about to leave their homes, heading to Hedong to intercept the Han forces pouring into the country. Among these individuals, some might never return to their homeland, but as long as they were there, the group of wolf-like Xiongnu would be defeated, unable to advance further east!

Only this one battle!

Liang Feng extended his arm, halting the drums, and proclaimed loudly, “The treacherous pseudo-Han ministers, defying heaven and violating righteousness, invading our country and harming our people, are like wolves in the mountains and ravines. The world is outraged! Now, leading a mighty army to confront them, we protect our people and defend our states! With a swing of the frosty weapons, we vow to cut down the enemy chieftains! The gods of heaven and earth are our only reliance!”

The clear and passionate voice resonated far and wide, echoing in all directions. As the drumbeats resumed below the platform, they could not suppress the roaring shouts.

“Victory! Victory! Victory!”

Around them, Buddhist followers were accompanying them, and divine protection from above. Neither a severe drought nor a locust plague could crush them; how much less could the Xiongnu from the north!

The overwhelming cheers shook even the high platform. Liang Feng’s gaze turned to the side, where Yiyan, Zhang Bin, and other officers stood behind him, including Sun Jiao, Wang Long, Linghu Kuang, Li Jun, Tian Yun, and others. Duan Qin managed the rear supply lines, Chi Jian guarded the provinces with the assistance of Xie Kun and Wen Qiao, and the presence of Zu Ti was stationed in Luoyang…

With such a strong army and such popular support, how could they not win?!

Behind him, a crimson cape billowed like a banner. The wheels of the chariot and the hooves of the horses trampled upon the newly laid gravel road. The grand army set out!

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“Bing County is welcoming the battle? Led by the Lord of Shangdang?” When Liu Yao heard this news, he could hardly believe his ears!

Organizing a large army for battle was extremely difficult for the current Xiongnu. Apart from leading their own people, they had to call upon leaders of the Qiang and Di tribes, arrange military provisions, and temporarily plunge Yong County into brief chaos. Moreover, they had to consider leaving trusted individuals to guard Chang’an to prevent internal and external troubles. Every day, Liu Yao wracked his brain, pondering strategies to defeat the enemy. From where should they advance? Should they split their forces? How to mobilize the Qiang and Di tribes?

After the arduous mobilization of the grand army, news of this nature reached them even before they exited Tong Pass. How could it not instill astonishment?

However, after the initial shock came extreme jubilation! That guy who had been cowering in Jinyang unexpectedly decided to join the battle and was even prepared to face off with the Han country directly! Wasn’t this a heaven-sent opportunity?

In this battle, even if a great victory couldn’t be guaranteed, as long as they could achieve a partial triumph on the battlefield, it would tarnish the reputation of the Buddhist monk. And if they were lucky enough to let the opponent die in battle, it would lead to the immediate disintegration of Bing County!

A sickly person who couldn’t even lift a hand dared to go to war? Had he successfully avoided two years of great calamity, grown arrogant, or was it that the military strength of Bing County was insufficient, necessitating him to boost morale?

Regardless of the reason, this time they must mobilize all their forces and achieve victory in one battle!

“Spread the order, head towards Hedong!” Liu Yao immediately shouted.

The originally planned army division now formed into a colossal dragon, surging towards Hedong!

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“We will reach Anyi tomorrow.” Entering the tent, Liang Feng’s legs went weak; he could hardly stand and directly sat on the wooden stool. Despite ample provisions, a smooth supply route, and a newly constructed road, the journey from Jinyang to Hedong still took more than ten days.

This time, Bing County dispatched a total of 60,000 troops. Among them, 40,000 were Bing County soldiers and stationed troops, following him from Lishi into Pingyang. The other 20,000 from Shangdang were taking a route through Gaodu. The two armies progressed side by side, converging in Wenxi upon entering Hedong. After that, they halted in Anyi to prepare for the upcoming battle against the Xiongnu.

Talking about it might sound easy, but in reality, Liang Feng was immersed in the daily grind of the journey. This time, he spent half of the time traveling by carriage and the other half on horseback. To save time, he rarely entered cities. Such high-intensity traveling naturally consumes a lot of energy. Moreover, he had to wear a suit of golden armor, presenting a commanding presence. Even though a significant portion of it was made of cloth and paper armor to reduce weight, the entire set still weighed over ten kilograms. Riding a horse every day with the equivalent weight of a bag of rice on your back – what would that feel like? As for the other generals wearing Mingguang armor, their equipment was even heavier. No wonder ancient warriors who could wield heavy weapons like long spears and horse knives carried several tens of kilograms of armor every day; their physical endurance was beyond that of ordinary people.

“The Xiongnu have just entered the territory of Hedong. Based on the speed of both armies, they might encounter each other near Jie County or Yishi. The terrain here is open, suitable for a large-scale battle,” Zhang Bin had already arranged the sand table in the tent.

Hedong is located in the Yun City Basin and indeed has open plains suitable for large-scale military operations. Both sides in this conflict had substantial forces, including laborers and logistics units, resulting in a staggering number. The engagement wouldn’t be a casual encounter; instead, they needed to choose advantageous terrain beforehand, set up camps, and prepare for a prolonged confrontation. Such a massive battle wouldn’t conclude in a day; it could last for ten days or even half a month. Caution had to be the top priority.

This was the time to demonstrate the skill of encampment and formation. Fortunately, he had experienced hands under his command.

“Send more scouts to monitor the movements of the Huns. They have a considerable cavalry; we need to be cautious about early city assaults,” Liang Feng cautioned.

How could Zhang Bin neglect such matters? After reporting on each detail, he said, “After a day of travel, my lord should rest early.”

Liang Feng nodded slightly. Zhang Bin glanced at Yiyan, who still stood nearby with a worried expression, and discreetly withdrew.

“My lord, quickly remove your armor!” As the tent cleared of miscellaneous people, Yiyan stepped forward, ready to help him remove the armor.

Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile wryly. Over these days, Yiyan managed the army during the day and guarded his tent at night without any neglect.

Stretching his arm, Liang Feng allowed the swift removal of his armor. He then stretched his waist and back. “In a few days, the battle will commence. I have the central army guarding here; you don’t need to worry too much.”

One’s energy is limited. In the days ahead, there would be many war councils and times when he would personally lead in battle. Yiyan couldn’t continue to assist him in such a manner.

Yiyan paused but did not argue, “Tonight, I will keep watch for my lord.”

This was likely the last night he would guard his tent before entering Anyi. Liang Feng did not refuse and nodded.

After a simple dinner, the sky darkened. Liang Feng, lacking the strength to care about other matters, entered the tent early to rest. After completing the military affairs at hand, Yiyan entered the side tent without disturbing him, lying down on the small couch nearby with his armor on, sleeping.

Outside the tent, there were thousands of soldiers and horses, a camp that never fell silent even in the night. Inside the tent, there was a quiet and familiar figure with gentle breaths. He bore the heavy burden of protecting both. Exhaling deeply, Yiyan rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and closed his eyes.

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Translator’s corner: 

I really hope that this will be the final war… (╥﹏╥)