Chapter 66: The Liao Army Launches a Night Raid

  Inside Jin City, soldiers from various departments were resting. General Xie Ai was patrolling with Governor Zhang Junhua.

  "What I regret most in this life is that I listened to slander and didn't reuse the general. Now it's too late for regrets, tonight I still hope the general will rebuild his great achievements!"

  Zhang Chonghua grasped Xie Ai's hand, very sincere. He was seriously ill due to anger over Zhang Zuo's affair, and Xie Ai petitioned that Zhang Zuo would definitely rebel, advocating for the execution of Zhang Zuo and his party while Zhang Chonghua was still alive. However, Zhang Chonghua did not adopt this plan, resulting in two sons being killed one after another by Zhang Zuo and his brothers, causing the foundation of the Liang state to be severed.

  "If we don't defeat the Qin army tonight, I'll come to see you with my head in hand!" Xie Ai said no more, and Zhang Chonghua knew that Xie Ai had made up his mind to die. In his heart, he could only pray to heaven, hoping that this battle would greatly destroy the Qin army, giving his own Liang state a chance to breathe.

  "The general will fight first, regardless of victory or defeat, the lonely king will lead all the city's soldiers to follow up for the general! If the Qin army is not defeated, the lonely king will be ashamed of his ancestors and the gods of the land!" Zhang Chonghua was also a heroic figure, and he too had made preparations for a fight to the death.

  Xie Ai returned to the military camp, put on his armor and took a short nap. Before long, it was already half past three in the night, and his personal soldiers came to wake him up. As he emerged from his tent, he saw that all the soldiers were holding wooden branches in their mouths, looking at him with firm eyes mixed with reverence and strong confidence.

  "Has the Qin army outside the city been detected clearly?" Xie Ai put on his cloak and held a long sword in his hand.

  "Reporting to the general, there is still no major movement of the Qin army outside the city. Our troops are all prepared and waiting for your order!" Deputy General Zhang Dang of the Central Army replied.

  At this time, several night owls flew from the night sky and landed on the big account, making a 'European' cry, brief and urgent. In the quiet surroundings of the big account, it was so clear.

  "Haha, I didn't expect it, these little things have come to celebrate again!" Xie Ai's loud laughter scared away the night owl.

  Xie Ai, from Dunhuang, Gansu Province, was a famous general of the Former Liang during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He made great contributions to protecting the country but died unjustly.

  During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the world was in great chaos, but only the Han-established Zhang regime of Liang was safe and sound, with people living a stable life. In 346 AD, Emperor Shi Hu of Later Zhao had already pacified most of the north, at which time Zhang Jun of Liangzhou had just died, and 16-year-old Zhang Zonghua had just succeeded him.

  Shi Hu took this opportunity to appoint General Ma Qiu as the Governor of Liangzhou and led his troops into Liangzhou, capturing Wu Street and Jincheng. His army was now directly aimed at Guzang, but the commander-in-chief of Liangzhou's forces, Pei Heng, had arrayed his troops in Guangwu and delayed advancing, making the situation not look optimistic.

  At this critical moment, Liangzhou Sima Zhang Dan remonstrated with the newly enthroned Zhang Zhonghua, believing that the survival of the country depended on the military, and the key to victory or defeat in battle lay in the generals who commanded the troops. The current Liang State generals have complex relationships with each other, fearing that if they lose to Ma Qiu, they will be purged by Ma Qiu afterwards. Therefore, it is necessary to learn from Liu Bang's reuse of Han Xin, using extraordinary people to do extraordinary things.

  Zhang Chonghua thought Zhang Dan's words were very reasonable, and Zhang Dan immediately recommended the young Xie Ai. At that time, Xie Ai was only the chief clerk of Liangzhou, a position similar to that of a secretary-general. Zhang Dan told Zhang Chonghua that although Xie Ai was young, he was well-versed in both literature and martial arts and could resist Zhao Guo's attack by Ma Qiu.

  Then Zhang Zhonghua summoned Xie Ai and asked about his battle plan. Xie Ai's combat ideology was very much in line with Zhang Zhonghua, so Xie Ai requested 7,000 soldiers from Zhang Zhonghua, guaranteeing that he would be able to defeat the Zhao army. It was a victory, not just a defense!

  At that time, Xie Ai's tone was heroic and just to Zhang Chonghua's taste.

  At this time, Zhang Chonghua was only sixteen years old and could not be said to be wise or intelligent. He completely relied on his emotions to handle problems. Let's imagine how he felt: the great enemy is in front of him, the situation is critical, but his own army has not taken any positive action, which is enough to make him anxious.

  Zhang Heng's reasonable words of advice and Xie Ai's bold and heroic response were enough to make him make an exciting decision - "to appoint Ai as the central general, with 5,000 infantry and cavalry to attack in autumn."

  To anyone, this is a gamble, but Zhang Zhonghua's gamble also has a cautious point - Xie Ai wants 7,000 troops, he only gave 5,000 infantry and cavalry, probably Zhang Zhonghua himself doesn't have much confidence in Xie Ai either. Encountering such a lord is Xie Ai's good fortune, but also his misfortune. However, the scholar's appointment as general can also be passed down as a wonderful story.

  When Xie Ai led his troops out, two owls hooted in his large tent at night. The hooting of the owls was an omen that someone would die, and it happened in Xie Ai's large tent, so ordinary people thought this time they went to battle with more disasters than blessings, nothing could be more discouraging for the soldiers.

  Xie Ai said, "The owl is an auspicious bird. In the game of liubo, whoever gets the owl wins. Now that it has appeared in our camp, it is a sign that we will defeat the enemy." This explanation was quite far-fetched, but to some extent, it boosted morale. From this incident, one can also glimpse Xie Ai's composure as a great general.

  Xie Ai led 5,000 troops to attack, at that time the Later Zhao army and Pei Heng were facing each other in Guangwu, with neither side able to gain the upper hand. This scene was similar to the Qin and Zhao armies facing off at Changping during the Warring States period. As time passed, both sides became lax, and Xie Ai's 5,000 elite troops launched a surprise attack, achieving remarkable results.

  With the response of Pei Hengjun, they defeated the Zhao army and beheaded 5,000 people. This was Xie Ai's first battle, after which the Later Zhao army temporarily stopped its offensive.

  Afterwards, Zhao Jun Ma Qiu once again launched an attack, and Xie Ai with the same military strength defeated the Zhao army again, annihilating 30,000 Zhao soldiers, and Ma Qiu fled on horseback alone!

  It is worth mentioning that after Xie Ai was ostracized, he built a city in Jiuquan called Fulu City. Fulu was the title of nobility conferred on Xie Ai by Zhang Zhonghua. After Xie Ai built Fulu City, it was discovered that there was a golden spring under the city, with a taste like wine. So the city name was changed to Jiuquan. This is also the origin of the place name Jiuquan.

  There is also Ma Qiu, this guy was repeatedly defeated by the young Xie Ai. It's not that he wasn't strong, but rather Xie Ai was too strong. Ma Qiu claimed to be "using troops between the five capitals, attacking cities and taking land, never failing."

  He was originally a Taiyuan Hu, and he became one of the few non-surnamed generals under Shi Hu's Later Zhao. His ability can be seen as outstanding. Later, Shi Hu also gave him the task of conquering the northwest, which shows his strength. However, Xie Ai became a devil in Ma Qiu's heart, and even after Xie Ai died, Ma Qiu still lived in fear.

  Ma Qiu is a ruthless guy, and even now in the northwest region, when scaring kids at night, people still say: "Ma Hu has arrived!"

  Zhang Zhonghua died after eight years in power, and was succeeded by the cruel Zhang Zuo, who usurped the throne and declared himself king. Soon afterwards, Xie Ai was lured to his death by Zhang Zuo. A renowned general of his time, he found himself in a chaotic era, stationed in a remote region, facing a ruthless ruler; even with a belly full of strategies, he could only sigh in vain.

  It's a pity that Xie E's talent can be compared with Han Xin's.

  So the hooting of the owl just now was once again taken as a good omen by Xie Ai and his loyal soldiers, greatly boosting their morale. They were filled with confidence for tonight's battle plan.

  "Pass the order to all departments, and leave the city in sequence according to plan!" As soon as Xie Ai gave the order, the central army led by him left the city first, followed by other departments. All of this was discovered by Li Jin, the ghost general.

  "The enemy army launched a surprise attack outside the city, why didn't you inform the two camps on the left and right?" Gong Sunying looked at the various generals leading their troops out of the camp to ambush, and asked with great suspicion.

  Gongsun Zan played with the tiger tally in his hand, his tone calm: "I've already figured out the enemy's battle plan. They'll attack the left and right camps first, trying to lure my central army out of camp. Then, taking advantage of the chaos in our military hearts, they'll try to take down my central camp in one fell swoop. So, in order not to disrupt their plans, it's better if the left and right camps don't have too many problems."

  "Use them as bait? The two camps to the left and right add up to 10,000 people, a little more than yours, are you going to use them as fish bait?" Gong Sunying found it hard to believe.

  Gongsun Ce simply nodded, gazing at the bright moon in the sky with a focused expression. This appearance made Gongsun Ying feel very unfamiliar, he completely didn't recognize his own younger brother.

  "You've changed," said Gong Sunying, and fell silent.

  "It has to change because the world has changed. Actually, it hasn't changed, it's just a complete exposure of one's true heart."

  4:00 AM, the time when humans are most drowsy. The military souls were no exception, as they revived for a longer period of time, their physical functions began to approach those of normal humans.

  The Liang army general Suo Xuan attacked the Qin army's right camp, where Ma Wan and Yang Qiu were. As the Liang soldiers slowly moved around the right camp with their swords, spears, and halberds lowered, a cloud floated in from the sky, covering up the bright moon. It was as if the moon itself did not want to witness the carnage on earth, blocking its own view.

  "Heaven helps me too!"

  The one who attacked the left camp of the Qin army was Auxiliary General Song Hun, the elder brother of Song Cheng, who was beheaded by Gongsun Zan under the city wall of Pingliang Commandery.

  He and Suo Xiang each led 3,000 troops to launch a surprise attack on the left and right camps of the Qin army. The tactical purpose was to launch a fierce attack on the two camps in order to force the main camp of the Qin army to send reinforcements. If they could be captured at once, it would be the best.

  The moon was shrouded in clouds, and Gong Sun Ce sniffed the night wind blowing outside the tent, saying softly: "It's time to begin."

  Houzai, Guo Liang's groom looked up at the moon covered by clouds and said: "It will rain heavily tomorrow, we should prepare for it."

  "Report back to the king, it can be attacked!" Xie Ai led his troops to ambush outside Gong Sun Ce's large camp. The night without moon was so dark that he couldn't see what was in the central camp.

  The order was transmitted to Jincheng, and Zhang Chonghua, who was dozing off with his eyes closed on the city tower, wearing a sheepskin cloak. He listened to the messenger's words and saw that the moonlight was blocked, and the sky and earth were pitch black. In the dark night, a cold wind with a chill swept across his face, and Zhang Chonghua narrowed his eyes again, simply waving his hand.

  Zhang Chonghua's trusted general Wei Jin ordered in a low voice to the archers on both sides: "Launch fire arrows!"

  Before long, a string of fireworks shot out from the city wall of Jin City towards the east. In the dark night, it was so eye-catching. However, the time when the firelight appeared was extremely short, and it went out before landing. It can be said that it flashed by, not much brighter than the twinkling stars in the sky.

  "Up!" General Zuo Xuan gave a low order, and a group of elite cool soldiers bowed forward, at the right camp ten meters away, they flung out the flying knives in their hands, one by one, the Qin army's night watchmen were killed.

  "Enemy!" A military soul was alert, dodged the flying knife, just opened his mouth to shout loudly, and was shot into his mouth by another flying knife that flew over, instantly killing him and turning into flying ash.

  "Kill!" Xu Xiake basically gave the order together with Song Hun, and the Liang army, which had been waiting for a long time, let out a deafening roar, like a huge wave that was constantly shrinking and thickening, rushing towards the two camps on both sides.