Chapter 2: The Stormy Weather of Yan and Zhao Section 25

  Li Hong leapt up from the ground and rushed towards the scout who was galloping in, asking loudly: "Has the Xianbei state sent out its troops?"

  "Report to the lord, tens of thousands of troops have suddenly appeared at Bailin Ranch." The scout was breathing rapidly, his face filled with fear.

  Li Hongyi was stunned for a moment. He immediately asked: "Whose flag is this?"

  "The great lord of the eastern Xianbei, Mi Ga, Khan Ru Wang Wu Yan, the Huai head of the Xianbei Yunhai tribe, and more than a dozen small and medium-sized Xianbei tribes' flags. The tents are densely packed, stretching for several miles."

  "What time did you arrive? Why didn't I receive any message beforehand?"

  "Your Excellency, it appeared suddenly this morning without any warning. Yesterday when we passed by the Bailin Pasture, everything was calm and quiet. I really don't know how they hid their tracks, an army of 10,000 is just unbelievable." The scout sergeant said excitedly.

  Li Hong came out of his initial daze and looked up at the blue sky, gazing at the drifting white clouds, silent.

  How is it possible that General did not launch an attack on Guangping and Yuyang from Baideng, but instead launched another attack on Lulong Pass? It's hard to believe that the general would make such an abnormal move.

  Is the general up to something else? Has he not given up on his strategy of advancing on both wings and encircling from the center? Is he still planning to launch a pincer movement from the north of Youzhou, with one force coming from the Lulong Pass in the northeast and another from the Shanggu County in the northwest, in order to cover his main assault on Miyang County from the east, then surround it from three sides and capture its economic lifeline, Miyang City, occupying its iron and salt mines? It's unlikely. After the defeat at Lulong Pass, it's unrealistic for the general to carry out this plan again. In any case, no matter how capable he is, he won't be able to gather tens of thousands of troops in the east anymore.

  What about the troops in front of him then? Li Hong was at a loss for words.

  Hearing footsteps coming from behind him, Li Hong knew his subordinates had arrived upon hearing the news.

  "Let's retreat back to Lulong Pass first?" Zhao Wen said. He was covered in sweat, his face black with dust.

  "What do you think?" Li Hong said with a smile.

  "The enemy is cunning and unpredictable, suddenly appearing at the Hundred Spirits Ranch, indicating that they have been preparing for a long time, it's a well-planned scheme. The barbarians come with ill intentions, a bloody battle is now unavoidable." Hu Zi said loudly.

  Li Hong looked at the slightly tense expressions of everyone and suddenly felt that something was fishy. Tens of thousands of troops, quietly appeared under their noses, but none of his dozens of scouts who were outside every day knew about it, how could this be? He vaguely sensed something.

  Li Hong suddenly smiled and said to the scout sergeant standing beside him: "Has the enemy's scouting party moved?"

  "Yes. It's hard for us to get close to their main camp."

  "Are there many war horses?"

  "The entire pasture is surrounded by enemy tents and it's unclear what's happening in the horse arena."

  Li Hong slowly nodded his head, and gradually understood in his heart.

  Everyone's tense mood slowly dissipated with Li Hong's relaxed smile and calm tone.

  People are just different. We heard that there were tens of thousands of enemies, and we were so scared that we rushed over in a panic. But when the adults heard it, it was as if the enemy had only come with a few hundred people waiting to be slaughtered, and they were very happy about it. Skills. In the future, after fighting many battles and killing many people, I estimate that's what the adults will be like now. Yan Wuyi stood behind Li Hong, looking at him with admiring eyes, thinking secretly in his heart.

  "You think that the Mi Ga Da of the Eastern Xianbei and the Khan Ru Wang Wu Yan of the Wuhuan, after being defeated at the Lülong Pass less than half a year ago, will be able to gather tens of thousands of troops from where?" Li Hong asked with a smile.

  Zhaoren, Yushi, and Lisi were silent for a moment. Hu Zi immediately shouted loudly: "Your Excellency, the men of Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes, on horseback are soldiers, off horseback are herdsmen, by their population calculation, it should still be possible."

  "The barbarian wants revenge, regardless of the consequences, exhausting all the people and horses in the tribe, it's indeed possible." Yan Wuyi couldn't help but say, following behind Hu Zi.

  Li Hong seemed to have grasped the trick, he nodded his head in approval and said: "You're right. Let's go back."

  He turned around and shouted loudly to the orderly standing nearby: "Tell Old Master Chang Jing that he should have a supplementary meal for dinner today, with meat, big chunks of meat." The orderly let out an excited whoop and mounted his horse, galloping away in a cloud of dust.

  "Recall all scouts, everyone go back to Lulong Pass to eat meat."

  Li Hong stood happily on the grass, laughing loudly. The several soldiers around him looked at him with strange eyes, their faces showing surprise. Was eating meat really worth being so happy? Even the tens of thousands of fierce enemies surrounding them couldn't resist the temptation of eating meat?

  For three consecutive days, Ludong Township has been in a very calm atmosphere.

  The scouts did not see the enemy coming out of Bailing Grassland, nor did they find any signs of preparation for attack. Li Hong seemed to be completely unconcerned about them, and instead focused on the movements of the enemy in the direction of Miyang. Zhao Wenli and Song Du told him that even if a major battle broke out in the direction of Miyang, unless Miyang sent out a letter requesting aid, the troops would not be able to cross the border to attack the enemy. Li Hong seemed not to have heard what they were saying, and instead leaned over the map of Youzhou made of silk, tracing lines on it nonstop.

  Li Hong led his troops back to the Lu Long Fortress and immediately revised the cavalry training content. He ordered everyone to sleep during the day and conduct actual combat drills at night, in units of tuan, in the mountains and forests of Xu Wushan. They practiced rapid marches, surprise attacks, encirclement, and annihilation. Sometimes they had several training sessions in one night, leaving the soldiers exhausted and complaining bitterly. Some soldiers even suspected that Military Commissioner Ma was not acting in good faith when he provided extra meat rations, as they were losing more flesh from their bodies than they were gaining from eating.

  On the seventh day, news from Youyang was shocking. The 5,000-strong army of Xiongnu's central tribe, led by Xiong Ba, took down Guangping City at lightning speed. At the same time, Murong Ji led the two tribes of Golden Eagle and Black Eagle, as well as the tribes of Tianlan, Tulan, and others, with a total of 8,000 troops from 17 large and small tribes, suddenly appeared under the city of Youyang and began to attack it. In Baitan City, the Xiongnu army gathered under the leadership of Lie Kuangfeng. It is estimated that more than 100 central Xiongnu tribes will participate in this invasion of the Great Han Dynasty, with a total number of around 20,000 people.

  The atmosphere in Ludongze suddenly became tense.

  On the ninth day, worse news arrived. The Tuan and Pohan tribes of Mount Han, along with dozens of other tribes, joined forces with the Wuhuan chieftain Ti Da, raising an army of 200,000 to launch a fierce attack on Juyong Castle, intending to join forces with Murong Feng's army at Yiyang Castle.

  On the tenth day, Liu Yu, Governor of Youzhou, led two thousand relief troops across the Gu River and entered Yuyang City.

  On the twelfth day, General Liu Zheng led a thousand reinforcements and arrived at Lulong Pass in a cloud of dust.

  "Has the enemy launched an attack?" Liu Zheng asked abruptly.

  Seeing Li Hong and several Lou Longze's military officers shaking their heads, Liu Zheng sat on his horse and let out a long sigh. He then got off the horse with everyone's support and sat down on the ground by the side of the road, stumbling and staggering.

  "All right, all right, let me rest for a while. I haven't gotten off my horse all day, just let me sit here for a bit." Seeing his attendants trying to help him up, Liu Zheng hurriedly and weakly waved them off.

  "Subordinate, have you learned about the military situation in Shanggu County and Yuyang County?" Liu Zheng beckoned to Li Hong, indicating for him to sit beside him.

  "Your Excellency, I have already learned of it. The Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes have joined forces again, their strength is not to be underestimated, and the cities of Juyong and Miyang are now in great danger."

  "I've already received three letters from Governor Shi asking for help, and I estimate the fourth one will arrive at Lulong Pass soon. I'm struggling to cope with my own situation, where can I find troops to help them? Alas, our Governor Shi is too kind-hearted and has always insisted on adopting a policy of appeasement towards the Hu people. Now look what's happened, releasing a tiger back to the mountain, and now it's coming out to devour humans again." Liu Zheng said indignantly.

  "This time if you catch Wu Yan again, behead him immediately, don't report to me, just behead him." Liu Zheng excitedly waved his hand in a chopping motion, as if that would kill Wu Yan.

  "Why didn't the enemy attack? Were they scared off last time?" Liu Zheng asked again, calming down his slightly agitated mood.

  "Sir, according to our continuous observation over the past few days, we have discovered that the large army on Baili Plains is actually a fabrication by Wuyan. There are no Xianbei troops at all, only his own thousand-man unit with more than a thousand tents and more than a thousand battle flags. In Baili Plains, apart from grass, there might be just dozens of war horses." Li Hong said lightly.

  Liu Zheng's eyes widened and he exclaimed in surprise: "Are you sure?"

  "I have personally scouted and even gone to the pasture, indeed there are no troops. This is the enemy's intention to deceive us, wanting to hoodwink us, holding back the troops in Youbei Ping Prefecture, not allowing us to withdraw forces to support other places." Li Hong hastily said in detail.

  Liu Zheng's spirit immediately lifted up.

  "Haha, can't see it coming, these barbarians are quite cunning and know this trick. Haha, not bad, next time I catch Wu Yan, I'll ask him if he came up with it himself."

  The officers surrounding him burst out laughing.

  The moon in the sky is big and round, quietly lying on the dark night. Countless stars are nestled around the beautiful moon, winking mischievously. The Lugou Bridge is bathed in the hazy moonlight, looking majestic and magnificent. The giant Chinese characters are dancing wildly in the night wind, making a huge noise.

  Li Hong stood on the city wall, silently watching and thinking. A wave of homesickness slowly rose to his heart. When could he see his parents again and remember his loved ones? Suddenly, a clear and elegant rain flashed in his mind, instantly turning into a magnificent snowstorm, followed by a massive flame that burst into the sky, engulfing him in an instant.

  Li Hong was suddenly startled, the firelight disappeared, and in front of him was still a bright moon hanging high in the sky, with dense stars twinkling.

  "Sir, Lord Liu has already arrived at Lulou Tower. The other lords have also arrived early."

  Li Hong slowly turned around and saw his guard, Lei Zi. He was Yan Wu Wei's brother, an orphan who had followed Yan Wu Wei to become a bandit at a young age. Lei Zi was younger than Xiao Lan, but he was skilled in martial arts, intelligent and resourceful, probably due to growing up on the grasslands, making him seem more mature than his peers. Li Hong liked him very much and often chatted with him idly, sometimes even practicing martial arts together.

  Li Hong unfolded a large silk map and pointed at Yuyang City saying:

  "What do the Xianbei want? The iron and salt of Yuyang. With them, the Xianbei's weapon supply will be more abundant and secure, the Xianbei can obtain rich tax revenue through them, strengthen the national strength of the Xianbei, and improve their own living standards."

  "On the contrary, once we lose Youzhou, it will be a devastating blow to Yanzhou, which is already struggling to survive. The taxes that barely support Yanzhou's daily survival will greatly decrease. As a result, the people's lives will become even more impoverished, and military expenditures will drastically shrink. If this continues, it won't take long for Yanzhou to collapse like a paper giant."

  "Losing Yuyang is far more severe than being raided by the Huns once within their borders. Murong Feng was extremely clear about this, so he devoted himself to occupying the northern border of Youzhou, laying a foundation for the further strengthening of the Xianbei state."

  "The Xianbei's initial plan was highly threatening. Before the arrival of winter, they would seize Lulong Pass with superior forces. Then, through the long winter, when the Han army could not counterattack, they would firmly hold and consolidate Lulong Pass, gaining an absolute advantage for the spring campaign to attack Youbeiping Commandery."

  "When spring arrives, the Xianbei people will unite with the Wuhuan people and launch a pincer attack from both the north and south of Youbeiping Prefecture. Firstly, this can cover the main force of the Xianbei in attacking Youbeiping and pin down the military strength of the other two prefectures; secondly, it can carry out military operations to attack and plunder the cities and lands of the two prefectures, and loot and pillage the people of the two prefectures on a large scale; thirdly, when the main attack is not advantageous, they can quickly provide support. However, due to the two gentlemen sending troops in advance to provide support, the Xianbei suffered a defeat in attacking Lulong Pass, resulting in heavy losses, forcing them to abandon this originally almost foolproof plan."

  "It can be seen from the current situation that the Xianbei people have made relatively large changes on the basis of their original plan. They still take occupying Yuyang City and threatening the capital of Youzhou, Jicheng, as their main attack target. However, in the direction of Lulong Pass, they had to resort to deception, pretending to gather a large number of troops to prepare for an attack on the pass, in order to attract the main force of the local army. They launched a strong attack in the direction of Juyong, Giantang County, firstly to tie down the forces of Giantang County and secondly, if they could capture Juyong, they could meet up with Yuyang."

  "As soon as the Youyu Fortress is breached, the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes will join forces in the Shanggu County and Yuyang County to form a massive stronghold. Their army will be invincible from the start. They will support each other like horns, advancing when possible and defending when necessary. By then, it would be much more difficult for us to retake Yuyang."

  "In the current situation, our troops in Lulong can be divided into a part to support Puyang. At present, Xiong Bao's troops are still in Guangping and have not yet joined forces with Murong Ji's large army in Puyang, so the opportunity is relatively good. With one part of our force launching a surprise attack on one wing of the enemy's 8,000-strong army, the chances of success are still very high."

  Once the enemy was defeated under Yuyang City, and the siege of Juyong City to the north had been going on for a long time without success, it would be possible that the Xianbei people's food and grass would not last. At this time, when our reinforcements were arriving at Yuyang City one after another, the enemy saw that their opportunity to capture the city was getting smaller and smaller, and they had no choice but to withdraw their troops.

  Inside the Lu Long Building, the sparrows and crows were silent, everyone was quietly thinking.

  Liu Zheng cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the room.

  "There are 8,000 troops under the city of Yuyang now, how many men will we need to break one of its wings?"

  Li Hong said without hesitation: "At least three thousand people, taking the method of night attack, can thoroughly annihilate the Xianbei people's flank. Once the Xianbei army is thrown into chaos, they will not be able to organize an effective counterattack in a short period of time. In this situation, they have no choice but to retreat first and plan a future attack."

  Liu Zheng smiled wryly at Li Hong, spread his hands and remained silent. Lu Long wanted to keep the troops for defense, but he had no way of sparing three thousand men.

  At this moment, a dense drumbeat suddenly cut through the quiet black night and thundered over Lulong Pass.

  Everyone in the house was shocked and changed color.