Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
“Ah, yes, if the Northern Province goes to war against the Xiongnu and misses this opportunity, our clan will face difficulties in the coming years!” Duan Jilu stepped forward anxiously, speaking urgently.
The news of the conflict between the Northern Province and the Xiongnu spread quickly throughout the Northern territories, naturally reaching the ears of Duan Jilu. The battle for Ping County has already reached a stalemate. With the assistance of the Duan clan, Murong Hui easily repelled the joint forces of Ping County and the Yuwen tribe. However, realizing the unfavorable situation, Cui Bi immediately retreated to defend the city. As the Governor of Ping County, it would be difficult for him to be easily defeated and for any faction, whether it be the Murong or the Duan clan, to seize the city. As a result, reaping the spoils of war from Ping County has become an extremely challenging task.
The locust plague in You County shows no sign of abating. If the grasslands are completely depleted, what will they use to graze horses and sheep? To survive this disastrous year, they must have more war gains. Relying solely on dividing the territory of the Yuwen tribe is far from sufficient. The neighboring Ji County is the best target.
The newly built port along the coast of Ji County has stockpiled countless amounts of food and forage. It is said that the number of grain ships and carts dispatched daily is beyond count. If not for the fear of the Northern Province, they would have sent troops to seize it long ago.
Now is the long-awaited opportunity. The Northern Province is about to face the Xiongnu army, with all its forces concentrated in Hedong. Because of this, Duan Jilu rushed back to You County overnight, hoping to persuade his father.
Duan Wu also knew that participating in the battle for Ping County would not be worth the loss, but behind the seaport stood the fierce tiger of the Northern Province. Could they really conquer it by hastily deploying troops? After much contemplation, he finally said, “Currently, our clan can only send fifteen thousand cavalry. Do you think you can capture the seaport?”
Not to mention that most of the Duan clan’s forces are still entangled in Ping County, and the remaining troops must also keep a portion to guard against the cunning and greedy neighboring Tuoba clan. There are not many cavalry that can be mobilized.
Duan Jilu’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, “It’s enough! Now, with refugees scattered all over Ji County, if we attack, there might be immediate internal turmoil. Why worry about not being able to take Haixing?!”
A mere seaport, how high could its city walls be, and how strong could its defenders be? Moreover, Haixing Port is extremely close to You County. If they swiftly ride there, the enemy might not even have time to defend. The importance of provisions is secondary; if they can capture the accumulated wealth within the city, the unimaginable profits would be countless. He must reclaim the grudge from that arrow shot years ago!
Seeing his son’s confident response, Duan Wu finally cast aside those worries, “Then lead the troops yourself and conquer Ji County!”
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“General, the Han forces have invaded Hedong on a large scale. Should we send troops to aid them?”
The news of the major battle had also reached Yu County. At this moment, Wang Dun was leading troops to eliminate bandits in Yu County with an army of twenty thousand. If they dispatched troops from Yu County and launched a surprise attack on the Han forces, they might catch them off guard.
However, in response to the suggestion from his subordinate, Wang Dun coldly stated, “Has the court issued any orders for me to provide assistance?”
This response was far from amicable, causing the subordinate to hastily shut his mouth.
Sending troops to aid Hedong? Only a fool would do such a thing, and Wang Dun was not about to act recklessly. The fierce tiger in Hedong had long become a force to be reckoned with. Whether it was Sima Rui or his brother who practically controlled the court, neither would allow him to easily send reinforcements.
Whether they could hold off the Xiongnu or if Hedong would fall had nothing to do with Yang County. Rather than repelling the Xiongnu, they hoped to see Hedong and the Han forces engage in a bitter struggle, causing mutual damage.
With a disdainful snort, Wang Dun said, “The troops in Hedong are strong and well-experienced in battles against the Xiongnu. There’s no need for outsiders to worry. Focus on attacking the city and don’t miss this excellent opportunity!”
Whether Liang Zixi lived or died had nothing to do with him. The more pressing matter was the present Yu County!
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Similarly, the army set out on a grand scale. The distance from Chang’an to Hedong was much shorter than from Jinyang to send reinforcements. However, Liu Yao did not rush forward; he proceeded with both infantry and cavalry, only dispatching light cavalry to scout once they entered Hedong, probing for the enemy’s strength and intentions.
And this move indeed allowed him to seize the initiative.
“The enemy intends to head for Yanchi?” Hearing this news, Liu Yao was overjoyed.
Yanchi in Hedong was indeed a crucial target for both armies. However, to defend Yanchi and abandon a major city like Anyi was a bit too careless!
It should be noted that the troops of Bing County were most skilled at defending cities. If they held onto Anyi, no matter how many enemy troops, it would be impossible to easily breach the city. But in open-field warfare, it was a different story.
“We cannot let them occupy Yanchi; immediately dispatch troops to intercept!” Liu Yao made a swift decision and gave the order.
The terrain near Yanchi was mostly mountainous and not conducive for cavalry deployment. If they allowed the opponent to enter Yanchi and form a pincer with Anyi, it would be easy to restrain their cavalry. But with his own fifty thousand elite riders, was this just for show?
With Liu Yao’s command, the cavalry emerged. Although the speed of light cavalry could not be matched by infantry, the troops of Bing County were stopped before reaching Yanchi. However, the enemy’s reaction was indeed swift, setting up a wagon formation and establishing a camp on the spot.
Just keep them occupied!
Liu Yao never expected the cavalry to break through the enemy formation. Immediately, he ordered the construction of a camp near the enemy camp. The terrain he chose was much more advantageous than Bing County’s temporary large camp. There were hills as barriers to guard against surprise attacks, a clear view of the enemy situation, and a river for the army to drink from, eliminating the risk of water shortage. It could be described as foolproof.
Facing the pressure of a hundred thousand troops and with no chance to withdraw safely to Anyi, the troops of Bing County also began to reinforce. The camp was visibly fortified. However, even Liu Yao did not anticipate that he would see a commander’s flag within the enemy camp.
“That sickly brat is on the battlefield?” Liu Yao suddenly stood up, laughing heartily, “Perfect!”
Liagn Feng actually took to the battlefield. Was this because he realized he was at a disadvantage and wanted to boost morale? However, what Liu Yao hoped for the most was to lure out the leader of Bing County. With the two armies facing off and in a field battle, with his own forces superior, wouldn’t this be the best opportunity to defeat the enemy?
“Tomorrow, we march out and probe the enemy camp!” Liu Yao’s eyes flashed with sharpness. The Bing County forces hastily set up camp, and their defenses were bound to be incomplete. His own troops outnumbered the enemy, making this the best time to defeat them!
On the Bing County side, they were preparing for action, with well-trained soldiers and horses in their large camp.
“The Han forces are numerous but short on supplies; they won’t delay. I’m afraid the battle will start in the next two days,” Zhang Bin said, sitting by the sand table.
This time, he presented an attitude of reinforcing Yanchi, which was a trap he set. If the Xiongnu didn’t obstruct, they would split their forces into two and attack the enemy from both sides. If the Xiongnu did intervene, even better – both armies would naturally form a confrontational stance. The appearance of being “forcibly obstructed” would make the enemy drop their guard, facilitating their subsequent arrangements.
Now, the confrontation had taken shape, and their lord’s command flag was displayed. It wasn’t difficult to guess the enemy’s reaction.
“The enemy has a large number of cavalry. Once the battle begins, they will likely take the initiative. Careful arrangements are needed on the battlefield,” Yiyan remarked.
This was the most critical point after the start of the battle. Dealing with nearly evenly matched cavalry in open-field warfare was not easy. However, holding the enemy in a frontal confrontation was crucial for the subsequent tactics and should not be underestimated.
“While showing weakness to the enemy is a definite strategy, we don’t need to be overly restrictive. Killing some of their morale before the battle is advantageous for the overall situation,” Liang Feng said, without any sign of hesitation. He understood where the key to this battle lay, and there was no retreat in his expression.
Hearing the lord’s instructions, the generals in the tent were filled with enthusiasm, nodding in agreement.
Standing at the forefront of everyone, Yiyan’s eyes also gleamed with sharpness. This battle was their lord’s first direct participation. Winning alone was not enough; they needed a swift and decisive victory, making the enemy too afraid to challenge them further!
Let’s see if they can seize the opportunity and win the first battle tomorrow!
