Chapter 7: Snowy Night Assault on Huayang

  In the Korean army's headquarters tent, Crown Prince Ryu looked calm and composed.

  The sky outside had already darkened. Just like yesterday, the biting cold wind drove back the scouts of the Zhao-Wei allied army to the warmth of their large camp. Not a single scout from the allied army liked camping in the icy snow. The weather was too cold; if they wanted to survive the chilly night, they would have to start a fire for warmth, but the fire would be the best target in the dark of night.

  After confirming that the enemy scouts had retreated, at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Crown Prince summoned all the generals in the name of General Pao You.

  For the past two days, under Taizi Ran's strict and almost inhumane military discipline, all actions of the Korean army have been well-organized. The emotions of Bao Yan and Taizi Ran seem to have infected everyone, and even the school lieutenants and military marquises have slightly reduced their tension, greatly weakening the pre-war oppression.

  The crown prince gazed at the spirited generals inside the tent, extremely satisfied in his heart.

  Tonight's battle depends on the command of these school lieutenants and military marquises. Although they have fought countless defeats before, and even been deserters. But tonight's battle is the whole Korea, including their rightful name war. The crown prince naturally would not allow a timid person to kill thousands of troops.

  "Wei and Zhao are inhumane, invading my Korea and killing my people. Although our military strength is weak, the great Korean men have iron bones and will not let those petty thieves run amok." Bao Ying began his final pre-battle mobilization.

  "Now they bully and humiliate us because we are weak, and they are arrogant and unguarded. Therefore, I have decided that tonight, under the cover of darkness, we will launch a surprise attack on Hua Yang City, and with their blood, we will raise the great name of Korea."

  "All generals, listen to the order: Tonight at 4 o'clock in the Hai hour, have dinner. At midnight, set out on the expedition. Men wear rings, horses wear branches. Those who disobey orders will be beheaded! Those who fear the enemy and do not advance will be beheaded!" Baoying said with a stern face.

  Gongsun Zhong, Zhang Meng, Tian Hu.

  "The end is near!"

  "Lead a thousand cavalry, separately from the east, west and south three directions to raid the enemy's large camp. Be sure to give me a thorough stab, wherever there is resistance, disperse them for me at the first time. Never allow them to gather!"

  "Understood!" Tian Hu and the others shouted in unison with serious faces.

  "Zhang Fang, Han Zhongming, Ma Jun and others led seven thousand cavalrymen to set fire to the enemy camp. The more chaotic the enemy camp is, the better! I hope this fire spreads to every corner of the enemy camp, do you understand?"

  "I understand!"

  Baoyu had just finished issuing the military order when a voice said, "General Bao, leave me with eight hundred light cavalry, I also want to join the battle." It was surprisingly Crown Prince Yan who made this request.

  "Master, absolutely not!" Bao Yan hastily intervened.

  On the battlefield, swords and guns have no eyes. If something happens to the Crown Prince, it would be an unbearable pain for Korea.

  "Your Highness, you can't take risks in person! We can handle the vanguard, Your Highness's precious life should be protected at the rear!" The other generals also voiced their opposition.

  It's not easy for Korea to have a great and inspiring Crown Prince, so there can't be any mistakes.

  There is one thing that everyone has not said, and that is that regardless of whether this war is won or lost, as long as the Crown Prince is still alive, Korea will have hope. If the Crown Prince dies in battle, even if they win, it would be a hollow victory.

  The crown prince waved his hand, laughing and scolding: "I know what's on your minds, but the country is in trouble, and I am tied to you all by fate. The rise and fall of the nation, every ordinary person has a responsibility. I'm not just the crown prince, I'm also a Korean. One day, I'll make it known to the world that those who offend Korea will be punished no matter how far away they are. Tonight's battle is just an example. Besides, before we set out, didn't I say that I would live and die with you hot-blooded men of Korea? You don't need to say more, being able to fight alongside you is my honor." After finishing speaking, the crown prince bowed deeply.

  All the generals were embarrassed, but they were enthusiastic and deeply moved. Baoyu saw that he could not persuade the crown prince, so he had to agree.

  "Tian Hu, the safety of the young master is now in your hands. If anything happens to him, you don't need to come see me again." Baoyan gave a stern order.

  "Yes! General, rest assured. I will never let Young Master lose a single hair, if I fail, I am the son of a turtle!"

  Tian Hu's answer brought a burst of laughter from everyone in the big account, and the atmosphere suddenly relaxed a lot.

  The crown prince couldn't help but smile and said, "Tian Qianjiang, don't worry, I won't let you become a turtle grandson." With one sentence, the laughter in the big tent grew louder, dispelling the tension before the battle.

  "General Bao, tonight I and General Tian Qian will lead eight hundred light cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's main camp. If we succeed, victory will be easy as turning over one's hand. I suggest that this strike force be given a name - let's call it the Tiger Cavalry!"

  Tian Hu's heart was stirred by Taizi Ran's words. If the Tiger Cavalry number can be recognized, it will be Korea's first numbered army. If the night raid is successful, he himself as the first commander will also become famous throughout the land.

  "Alright, young master! As you said, the elite cavalry unit will be called Hu Qi. Tian Hu, as the first commander of Hu Qi, you must not tarnish its reputation!" Bao Yan looked at Tian Hu's excited face and was genuinely happy for his trusted general, instructing him thus.

  "Yes! General." Tian Hu replied crisply.

  Gongsun Zhong, Zhang Meng

  "The end is near!"

  "Now I'm changing your mission, you'll separately launch a surprise attack on the east and west, coordinating with the Tiger Riders to directly assault the enemy's central camp."

  "Yes! General."

  "All generals disperse and return to their camps to assemble their troops. Tell the soldiers that tonight we will not attack the Zhao and Wei camps, I swear not to retreat! The Han army must win!" Bao Zhan gave his final military order.

  "We must win!" The generals all shouted and then dispersed.

  It was just past midnight, and the Korean military officers who had finished their meal gathered together with great energy, especially the 800 cavalrymen now known as the Tiger Riders.

  Now the whole army knows that tonight is a night raid on Huayang, and Prince Ran will also go to war with the army, so morale is high. Although the journey is arduous, thinking about the rich rewards and Prince Ran who will fight alongside himself, there are no complaints in his heart.

  Looking at the generals below, Prince Han said: "Gentlemen, I have only two sentences to say. The first sentence is that it is an honor for me to fight with you all. The second sentence is that Korea will surely win, brothers, let's make those bastards from Wei and Zhao taste the ferocity of our long spears! Let's go!"

  The mighty Korean army poured out in a steady stream, with no one saying a word.

  The entire team trudged forward, one foot deep and the other shallow, towards Huayang City. The snow had accumulated to a depth that could reach above people's knees. The cold wind was biting, but everyone looking at the crown prince who was following at the front of the team felt a burning flame in their chest.

  They didn't know that this feeling was called faith. The crown prince clenched his teeth and persisted, because he knew that at this time he was the model for the entire army. Fortunately, before setting out, each person drank a full bowl of ginger soup, which supported everyone's efforts to move forward.

  Bao You gazed at the man beside her, who still had a hint of innocence but was full of determination, and thought to herself, Zhao Guo, Wei Guo, you will soon find out what kind of terrifying person you have provoked.

  In an instant, Pao Chi thought of Wu Chi, who led the Wei Wu troops to conquer the world without a single defeat. With a commander who shares life and death with his soldiers, what enemy can't such an army defeat?

  At this moment, the curved moon is hiding in the cloud layer, quietly watching the troops on the ground. No one knows that a great war is brewing.

  At the first watch, after a long and arduous journey, the Korean army finally arrived at a small hill five miles outside the Zhao-Wei camp. The Korean army created a moderate miracle, marching 35 miles in two watches in the dead of night.

  After walking through twenty-five miles of snowy terrain, what was presented before the army of 20,000 was a flat and even postal road.

  Five miles outside the city of Huaying, Prince Ran immediately ordered his soldiers to hurry up and rest. At the same time, he sent scouts to approach and investigate the military situation. After finishing these things, Prince Ran sat down without any dignity and chatted with the soldiers beside him.

  "What's your name and where do you live?"

  "Reporting back... reporting to young master." The big Han was somewhat nervous, "My humble name is Zhang Er Gou, my family is from Xinzheng Fei County."

  "Zhang Dagei, how many people are in your family, how many mu of land do you have, and what's the harvest like this year?" Taizi Ran asked warmly.

  Perhaps it was the crown prince's kind face that infected Da Han, and Da Han spoke much more fluently. "There are six people in my family, with two boys, one is 12 years old and the other is 8 years old." When talking about his children, Da Han's face overflowed with a happy smile.

  "The land is less than twenty mu. This year's harvest was pretty good, but in previous years it was barely enough to get by. It's all thanks to my wife's skilled needlework and a few mulberry trees that we're able to raise some silkworms." The big man's eyes were slightly sour as he thought about the state of their livelihood.

  Children are in the prime of their growth, but often go hungry. A good harvest from a mu (about 1/6 of an acre) of fertile land is only three or four dan (a dan is about 100 jin), and the yield from infertile land is even lower, generally around one and a half dan. Only in a good year like this one can there be more than two dan.

  These grains have to pay taxes and rent, and only three or four tenths are left in their own hands. They fight wars to make a living and improve their family's life, but they also guard against various dangers, fearing that if they die in battle, their family will be even more difficult. Ten years of disaster, encountering a year of good weather is really too rare. Of course, these words are hidden in the heart of Dahhan and not spoken.

  "Twenty mu is a bit less!" The crown prince sighed, and the big Han's tears at the corner of his eyes naturally fell into the crown prince's eyes.

  In ancient times, the yield per mu was low and taxes were heavy, making life difficult for farmers. However, it was these simple folk who supported the backbone of the nation. Whenever the country or nation faced difficulties, they would be at the forefront.

  Their dreams are humble, to be full and warm. Yet such a simple idea has never been realized in any dynasty. It's hard not to say that this is a kind of sadness.

  "But, Brother Zhang, you don't have to worry, the days will get better and better. If you believe me, I can give you a guarantee that within ten years, no citizen of Korea will suffer from hunger. Believe in the imperial court, good times are near." The crown prince said with full confidence.

  Looking at the energetic Prince Yan, Da Han's heart was also excited. Everyone can eat and dress warmly, isn't this a heavenly life? Can ordinary people also enjoy this aristocratic life? For some reason, Da Han felt that Prince Yan exuded a convincing power. Maybe, no, it must be true!

  Encouraged by Da Han, the Crown Prince went to the cavalry camp again, chatting with the soldiers about their families while feeding the war horses.

  Every soldier in the cavalry camp was somewhat excited, and the high-ranking prince actually stayed with them, a group of soldiers. Although this behavior is unrefined in the eyes of the nobles, it warmed everyone's heart. Everyone vowed to bravely kill the enemy tonight, not disappointing Prince Ran's favor.

  When the scout returned and reported the results of the reconnaissance to the crown prince, all preparations for the surprise attack were ready. As expected, the Zhao-Wei coalition army was silent, with a thin fog that made it impossible to see anything more than a hundred paces away, and the soldiers on guard duty were drowsy, everything was favorable for the surprise attack.

  If we don't win tonight, it's as if heaven is destroying Korea. The crown prince sighed in his heart.

  At 4 o'clock, the whole army set out for the launch site of the surprise attack according to the previous deployment. At 5 o'clock, with the charge of the tiger riding, the Korean army launched a night surprise attack on the Zhao and Wei coalition forces!