Chapter 2: Night Raid on Dingzhou
"There are currently 30,000 Rouran soldiers in the city, all of whom are light cavalry. They are mainly concentrated in three locations: one is the City Guard Headquarters, with about 3,000 soldiers, although not many, but among them, there are 1,000 personal guards of Dingzhou City Guard Haburida, with extremely powerful combat effectiveness. Moreover, the terrain of the City Guard Headquarters is complex, so it's actually a trouble spot. The second is the prisoner-of-war camp, where there are about 5,000 soldiers, and at least 40,000 imperial soldiers are being held captive in the war camp. Although unarmed, if they can be successfully rescued, that force cannot be underestimated. The third is the Dingzhou barracks, these nomadic cavalrymen have occupied Dingzhou, but still live in their tents, so most of the remaining soldiers rest in the training ground." Lu Xiang explained in detail.
"Hmm, it seems like none of these three places are good bones to chew on." Feng Jing said with a furrowed brow.
"So we need the help of those prisoners even more." Luo Xiang nodded and said.
"The key to this battle is actually at the City Defense Command, the prisoner-of-war camp and the training ground. Although there are many enemy troops on that side, the terrain is open and our army is launching a surprise attack. As long as we command properly, it's not difficult to defeat the enemy. However, the City Defense Command has always had more people and stronger momentum, and if we can't make a decisive blow, the consequences will be unthinkable."
"This is nothing. Although the city gatehouse is strategically located, it's ultimately an isolated building. We just need to surround the city gatehouse and seal off the exits with strong crossbows. Even if there are many enemy soldiers, they will be helpless. The only thing is that we need the other two places to finish as soon as possible and then lead the army to come and support us. Otherwise, by dawn, when the enemy in the city gatehouse discovers our weakness, a forced breakout will occur, and I'm afraid our army won't be able to stop it." Tianyi interjected.
"Tianyi girl, this idea is not bad. As long as the other two places progress smoothly and can rescue those prisoners of war, the city defense department will not be worried." Lu Xiang said with relief, this girl indeed has great talent, with her planning and strategy, this battle has reduced many twists and turns.
"Well, since that's the case, then I'll take matters into my own hands." Haotian nodded at Luo Xiang and then looked around at Feng Jing and others, saying: "I'm preparing to divide our troops into three routes. Jing, I'll give you 300 cavalrymen. Are you daring enough to charge into the enemy's camp with an army of 22,000 soldiers?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Xīn Kè took a step forward, patted his chest and said: "Don't mention three hundred, even if I were alone, I'd still dare to go!"
Haotian smiled slightly, knowing the skills and temper of Xinkè. Although his brain wasn't very useful, when it came to martial arts, he was unmatched among his thousand cavalrymen. Moreover, he was a brave warrior, most suited for this kind of fierce battle. With him leading, there shouldn't be too many mistakes. However, looking at Xinkè's confident appearance, Haotian reminded him: "Xinkè, this is our army's first battle, you absolutely cannot underestimate the enemy. Remember, your mission is to launch a surprise attack and defeat the enemy in one blow. I don't want you to annihilate them completely; with your limited troops, it's impossible to achieve that. So, you must scatter their formation and make them flee in terror. Do you remember?"
"Yes! Young Master." Xinkè nodded vigorously, although his brain wasn't working well, he had never discounted Huáng Tiān's orders.
"Respect." Haotian turned his head towards another respect.
"I will be there!" he replied in a deep, respectful voice.
"I'll give you 400 cavalrymen. Your mission is to rescue the prisoners of war and then quickly incorporate them into your troops. After defeating the enemy, immediately go to the city defense headquarters to assist. Do you understand?" Haotian said in a deep voice.
"I will understand later." Feng Jing nodded solemnly with a serious face.
"Alright." Haotian shifted his gaze back to Luo Xiang.
"What instructions does Master have for me?" Lu Xiang asked with his hands clasped together.
"General Shi, after we enter the city, please inform General He that I need to command his troops. My men are all cavalry, and they can still launch surprise attacks, but if we want to blockade the city's garrison, we will need General He's help." Hao Tian said bluntly.
"This is no problem." Luo Xiang nodded, and even if Hao Tian didn't say anything, he would have brought it up himself. After their defeat in Dingzhou, they had been waiting for this day at all times, and now that revenge was in sight, they naturally wouldn't fall behind.
"It's too dangerous this time, in my opinion, you'd better stay here and we'll come back for you after our victory." After assigning the tasks, Haotian said to Tianyi.
"Tianyi smiled slightly: 'What do you mean, Master? Since this time is to avenge our parents and relatives, and to rescue those brave warriors who have shed blood for the future of Shen Zhou, how can Tianyi be content with being inferior? Besides, although Tianyi is a woman, she is not weak. Are you my opponent, Master?'"
"Alright then." Haotian furrowed his brow, and finally nodded. He knew that Tianyi was usually gentle on the outside but firm on the inside, and had a stubborn temperament. Moreover, in this chaotic situation, it was safer to stay by her side.
Under the cover of a dark night, Huāntiān led a thousand iron cavalry to quietly approach the east gate of Dìngzhōu. In the six states of Hé Táo, Dìngzhōu's status is second only to the capital city Yánzhōu. However, when it comes to cities, Dìngzhōu has no equal. Due to its location in the fertile land of the great river's meandering curve, and facing the treacherous Yīnfēng Mountains to the south, the convenient transportation environment and fertile land make Hé Táo six states exceptionally prosperous. Especially Dìngzhōu, located in the southwest of Hé Táo, can take the southwestern route to enter the famous Sword Gate Pass, the first pass under heaven, into Yìzhōulù, known as the Heavenly State, and head south through the Yīnfēng Mountains to reach the 800-mile Qínchuān, or west across the great river to take the Héxīlù road to Huángzhōu, a permanent trade route connecting east and west. Therefore, Dìngzhōu's commercial prosperity is not inferior even when compared to Jiāngnánlù, the commercial capital of the world.
However, with the defeat of the Northern Expeditionary Army, all six states in the Yellow River Basin fell, and this prosperous city became a place for the victorious Western nomadic people, the Rouran, to occupy. Since the imperial army had already retreated to the line of Jianmen Pass and Yinfeng Ancient Fort, there were no regular troops left in the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, with 30,000 elite cavalry from the Rouran in Dingzhou City, General Haburida was naturally extremely relieved. Especially when he saw the treasures and beautiful women brought back from the six routes of the Yellow River Basin, Haburida, who had become a general through connections, felt even more complacent. In the days after occupying Dingzhou, his only tasks were to stay in the city guard's mansion, counting the day's spoils, and then going to comfort the beautiful women's lonely hearts. The military discipline of the nomadic people has never been strict, and with their leaders being so lax, the soldiers below them followed suit, spending their days either attending roll calls or going out in groups of three or five to plunder and loot, releasing their excess energy. Due to the disastrous defeat of the Qingfeng Empire in September, all organized troops within the Yellow River Basin had been completely annihilated, and they were extremely optimistic about the war situation. However, they did not expect that their good days would come to an end in such a state of indulgence.
On this day, the Rouran soldiers who had been venting their energy outside all day finally returned to Dingzhou City one after another, and as usual, they began their routine gambling. This day seemed no different from any other in their eyes, but what nobody expected was that just as they were engrossed in their gambling, the east gate of Dingzhou quietly opened, and under the leadership of Commander He Fu, a thousand cavalrymen silently infiltrated into the city.
The sound of horseshoes echoed suddenly in the dark night sky over Dingzhou City, accompanied by the first shout from the Yuwen army camp. The entire city was plunged into a state of terror and chaos. After indulging for many days, the Yuwen soldiers were clearly stunned by this sudden surprise attack. They didn't know where these elite cavalry came from or how many there were. Facing the gleaming ice-cold blades of the Qingfeng army, the Yuwen soldiers' lack of organization and discipline was fully released in this moment. In the darkness, the terrified Yuwen soldiers tightly grasped their weapons, unconsciously swinging them to chop up any life in front of them. Many of their comrades died in the chaos before they could even react. The streets of Dingzhou City were once again soaked with hot blood amidst the cries of killing all day long. Only a few days ago, this blood belonged to the people of Dingzhou, but tonight it belonged to the Yuwen soldiers.
There was no one in the world who could withstand the impact of Xin Ke's charge head-on, not even Bian Zhong Xing, known as the invincible defender, or Dugu Yu Ming, who was best at fighting against cavalry with infantry. This was a common realization shared by almost all generals who had fought against Xin Ke in the past few years. Although there were nearly ten times more Rouran cavalrymen than him in the Dingzhou barracks, they were either smashed into meat paste or chopped to pieces under Xin Ke's double-bladed battle-axe. When Xin Ke's 300 cavalrymen charged into the barracks, the Rouran soldiers had not yet come back to their senses. Without warhorses and bows and arrows, the combat effectiveness of the Rouran cavalry was simply negligible, especially when they were being raided. Under Xin Ke's repeated charges, the Rouran barracks with over 20,000 soldiers instantly became a hell on earth. At this time, Xin Ke thoroughly carried out Huang Tian's intention, which was to absolutely not allow the enemy to form organized resistance. Every time the Rouran soldiers paid a huge price to gather together desperately, they would be dispersed by Xin Ke's fearless charge and then die miserably under his double-bladed battle-axe. The 300 iron cavalrymen behind Xin Ke were equally brave and unstoppable. As soldiers, their greatest wish should have been to die on the battlefield, but as sons of the people of Qingyun, what they wanted to do most now was to avenge the nearly 100,000 Qingyun civilians who had died miserably. Therefore, although facing strong enemies, they were fearless.
At the same time, a battle also broke out in the city garrison where Habrida was located. Although the military discipline of the Rouran soldiers was very poor, as Habrida's personal soldiers, the 1,000 soldiers stationed in the city garrison were truly capable warriors. When the killing shout went up, the leader of the personal soldiers, Wuhuadun, immediately sensed that something was wrong. Without any hesitation, he quickly assembled his troops and surrounded Habrida's bedroom. Although he didn't know what had happened, a veteran soldier's intuition told him unmistakably that tonight would be very difficult to get through. However, he wasn't too worried, as he had only 3,000 soldiers under his command, but as long as he could hold on for two quarters of an hour, he believed the remaining soldiers in Dingzhou City would quickly come to their aid. What puzzled him was that the enemy army did not charge into the city garrison. After carefully observing the enemy's deployment outside the city garrison, he suddenly realized what was happening and began to desperately organize his men to launch a counterattack.
However, Haotian never intended to engage in a fierce battle with the opponent from the start. He only had 800 soldiers in his hands and was at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. So he simply sealed the gate of the city guard mansion with strong crossbows. Facing the nomadic cavalry who lost their horses, the soldiers with strong crossbows naturally had the upper hand. Under Haotian's careful arrangement, no one could rush out of the gate of the city guard mansion. Wuhadun also seemed to realize that doing so was useless and firmly guarded inside the city guard mansion, confronting Haotian's troops who were not intent on attacking at all.
Haotian's mind was not on this at all. For him, being able to occupy the city and prefecture was a good thing, but if he couldn't conquer it, just trapping the enemy inside would be a victory. The key to whether this operation could succeed lay in Fengjing. As long as Fengjing could successfully rescue the 40,000 captured soldiers, the situation in Dingzhou would be irreversible. Haotian believed that with the help of those 40,000 soldiers, he wouldn't be afraid even if faced with an enemy army of the same size.
Feng Jing did not disappoint the hope of Huang Tian. After the battle on this side of the city defense command fell into a stalemate, the battle on that side had already ended. Under the leadership of several internal responders selected by Luo Xiang, Feng Jing's 400 cavalry quietly approached the prisoner-of-war camp. After indulging for many days, the vigilance of the nomadic cavalry, which originally lacked organizational discipline, had dropped to an all-time low. Anyway, the 40,000 prisoners in the prisoner-of-war camp were unarmed, and there were still two elite Wanqi teams stationed in the city barracks, so they naturally felt exceptionally at ease. Under the leadership of the officer on duty, the soldiers guarding the prisoners actually gathered together to gamble.
When Feng Jing rushed to the scene, the big camp was brightly lit and full of curses. Such a great opportunity, Feng Jing naturally would not miss it. On the one hand, he dispatched his elite soldiers to take out the enemy soldiers who were still patrolling around the prisoner-of-war camp. On the other hand, Feng Jing quietly led his troops into the vicinity of the big camp. He handed over most of his soldiers to his deputy Li Xiao. With a wave of his hand, Li Xiao led 100 cavalrymen and charged open the gate of the prisoner-of-war camp first.
"Brothers, the time has come to avenge our parents and relatives, kill!" At this moment, Feng Jing no longer hesitated, four hundred cavalrymen rushed into the camp like a pack of hungry wolves. Many nomadic soldiers had not yet reacted when they were already killed by Feng Jing's butcher knife.
"General, may I ask who you are?" A man in relatively good spirits asked first in the prisoner-of-war camp.
"In the name of my lord, I have come to rescue you all. Time is of the essence, please follow me and charge into battle." Feng Jing said with a bow, then gripped his spear tightly and charged back into the chaotic enemy army. The prisoners behind him also followed without hesitation, grabbing whatever they could find to fight with and joining the fray against the already disoriented Rouran soldiers. With the addition of these 40,000 prisoners, the Rouran soldiers who were already under immense pressure finally began to collapse and flee in all directions. Feng Jing also timely blocked the pursuing soldiers and quickly organized the prisoners into a formation, dividing them into two groups according to plan: one group followed him to assist Huang Tian at the City Guard Headquarters, while another group was led by Li Xiao to the barracks to help Xin Ke annihilate the remaining enemy forces.
When the mighty army appeared outside the city, the war finally came to an end. The stubbornly resisting Wuhadun had all 3,000 of his personal soldiers killed in battle, while General Habrida was captured alive and then beheaded in public. By the time the sky was lightening, Xingke, covered in blood, also appeared at the city gate. Thus, the war in Dingzhou finally came to a complete end.
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