Chapter 35: Assassination of Emperor Liao (Part 2)

  After the last war, Han Fu captured 5,000 prisoners of war. Adding to this number were those who were exchanged for Han prisoners, purchased female slaves (who were released as wives of the department's people), and escaped slaves who were taken in. The total population of the Han village had already exceeded 10,000, with women making up about 30%. Under Yang Kaiyuan's command, 3,000 laborers were responsible for various construction projects in the Han village during peacetime, and became a logistics team during wartime. In his statistics, Yang Yingqi counted these 3,000 people as "civilian troops", while those who actually appeared on the records as "soldiers" were Zhao Yan's 800 elite cavalry, Xiao Tieniu's 500 foreign troops, and Cao Guangbi's newly trained 1,200 new army, totaling 2,500 people. Even with just these 2,500 people, they already possessed a fighting force that could rival the Jin State alone.

  The Han Department's weapons, clothing and armor were all self-made. After the first harvest, food also began to be self-sufficient. The glass products made by the Liu family's sales network were exchanged for tea leaves and books, and after keeping a part of them for their own consumption, there was still a large surplus, which was sold together with the self-made paper to the Jurchen people in exchange for cattle and horses. Yang Yingqi was good at managing finances and distributing them fairly, so the Han Department was considered one of the richest among all departments in the Jin Dynasty. Their leaders were far from being as luxurious as the Jurchen kings, generals and nobles, but the lives of their subjects made the lower-class people of the Jin Dynasty envy them greatly.

  The 2,500-strong Han army not only had excellent weapons and armor, but also sufficient food supplies. Moreover, they showed considerable loyalty to the Han dynasty. Loyalty is an invisible combat force!

  After Yang Yingkui left, Zhao Yanxun gathered the generals and said: "This time the Liao master personally led the expedition, it's not a trivial matter. Even if the king of the country doesn't have any fear in his heart, now that there is a change in the rear of the Liao people, the Liao master will return to the capital, and the morale of the Liao army will inevitably be shaken! If we can win this battle, from then on, the Great Jin will be vast and boundless, and it will definitely become one of the two strongest powers in the north along with the Great Liao!"

  Xiao Tienu sneered, "Wait for the country master to give the order, and we'll charge forward. See who can stop me! Last time, those Khitan people claimed to have 2.7 million troops, but weren't they still defeated by our few hundred men?"

  Cao Guangyi said: "Last time the Liao people came to garrison the border, although they claimed to have 270,000 men, but in reality there were probably less than half that number. Moreover, when the war began, even fewer than half of those who arrived at the front line had actual combat training, and most of them were temporary recruits, so they scattered as soon as we charged. But this time the Liao country has come out with all its might, excluding those transporting grain and supplies, handling logistics, and the weak soldiers and officers lacking armor, the elite troops such as the palace guards and tribal armies probably number at least 100,000 men. Our army is only 2,500 men strong, but if we recklessly advance, once we get surrounded, there's a risk of being overwhelmed by the Liao army's superior numbers."

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "Guang Bi's words are indeed correct, Old Sixth, don't underestimate the enemy!"

  After all the troops were arranged, the Jurchen army had more than 22,000 cavalry. Aguda said to his generals: "The Liao army is numerous, and their military formation has a certain method, which is very different from last time. Our army is strong, but not as good as one-third of theirs! Therefore, our forces cannot be divided, and the battle line cannot be extended too long. Each unit will test the strength of the Liao army in groups, if you encounter weak points, don't pay attention to them!"

  Zong Wangdao said: "Not considering soft-shelled shrimp, isn't it hard to find a strong team?"

  "Not bad! Since Yelü Yanxi has arrived, the troops around him must be the most elite! If we find the strongest team, we can find Yelü Yanxi! There are too many Liao people, and we can't eat them all on the battlefield! But as long as we defeat Yelü Yanxi's central guard, we can make the Liao people lose their will to fight, and other troops will not be able to win without a fight!"

  Everyone was convinced. Zong Han was on the left, and Zhe Yan-chong was on the right. Zong Xiong led 2,000 Wanyan troops as the vanguard. Zhe Yan-chong took 800 cavalry from his own unit, with Di Yu as deputy, and divided the new army of 1,200 people into two units, with Cao Guang-yu and Alu Man each leading 600 people. Xiao Tie-nu asked to be the vanguard of his own unit, but Zhe Yan-chong let Alu Man be the first unit, followed by Cao Guang-yu, with the 800 cavalry in the middle, and Xiao Tie-nu led 500 tribal soldiers at the rear.

  Xiao Tienu was furious: "What's going on here! Who doesn't know that I'm the Han army's blade! Why won't they let me be the vanguard!"

  Di Yu hummed and said: "Military orders are like mountains!"

  His voice was not loud, but Xiao Tiannu was somewhat intimidated by him and lowered his voice: "I understand the reason for obeying military orders. But this time is the biggest battle since the founding of the country, it's a great opportunity to make achievements! But I'm arranged at the back...not saying anything reasonable...I'll listen to orders, but I don't agree!"

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "My department is not the vanguard, what's the hurry!"

  Xiao Tienu said: "It's precisely because our unit isn't in the vanguard that we must go and fight for it!"

  "Stop arguing! This war can't be won in just one or two rounds! The longer the battle, even the best sword will become dull! So a good sword should be kept hidden until the Liao people reveal their weakness, then take it out and give them a fatal blow!"

  Xiao Tienu was overjoyed when he heard this and set off. After Aluwen and Cao Guangyi also departed, Di Yu said to Zhe Yancong: "Tienu is quite good at fighting and killing, but he's too wild! Apart from speaking Chinese, he doesn't have the slightest bit of a Chinese appearance, he's entirely like a Mongolian wolf!"

  Zhe Yan Chong said, "Although that's the case, as long as he still listens to discipline, he is the sharpest knife in my department! However, when it comes to stability, not only is he inferior to Guang Bi, but also to Alu Man. Lao Wu, although a Jurchen, has become more and more stable over the past two years. In this land of Jurchens, he has grown more and more like a Han general! How strange!"

  Di Yu said, "The Hushen Museum's Jurchen Hanization is quite deep. He has been with us for a long time and also gets along well with you, so it's not surprising that he has changed like this. In fact, the Khan valued him at first, perhaps with the intention of supporting him as the leader of the Han department. Alas! Unfortunately, Aru Ban was always upright and had no such wild ambition."

  Zhe Yan Chong smiled slightly and stopped discussing this topic.

  Zong Xiong was in the vanguard, fiercely pursuing and attacking, while Aru Ban closely followed on his side, relieving the pressure of the Liao people's flank on Zong Xiong. Finally, at Hupo Tu Gang, Zong Xiong's troops were surrounded by a group of imperial guards.

  Zhe Yan rushed to report: "Although the number of people in the Zhongyong tribe is small, it has always been a powerful force against the Khitan army. This group of troops is not simple. Could it be that the Liao master's chariot is nearby?"

  Di Yu said: "It's possible. Hmph, if our vanguard were Iron Slaves, I'm afraid they would have already charged in by now."

  He had barely finished speaking when a messenger arrived from Cao Guangyi to report: "General Alu Buluo led his troops in a charge into the Liao army's formation, saying he wanted to relieve General Zongyong of some pressure, but ended up getting trapped himself!"

  Zhe Yan was shocked, and Di Yu laughed: "A Lu Man is A Lu Man! Such righteousness and bravery! I'm afraid it's the words you said to Tie Nu before you left that stimulated him."

  Zhe Yan rushed forward and looked up, seeing Cao Guangyue's troops rushing up quickly. He hastily said: "We should also go to support them quickly!"

  He rushed near the Liao army a hundred steps away, and saw that in front of him, horse hooves were trampling wildly, a branch of Jurchen elite and a branch of Han troops had charged out, it was Zong Xiong and Alu Bulian. Cao Guangyi's silver spear led the way, opening up a formation to block the Liao people's pursuit, Alu Bulian retreated behind Cao Guangyi to tidy up his formation, and wanted to charge again, Zhou Yancong's troops had caught up at this time, he ran at the front of the team, shouting: "Old Five! Take a rest!"

  A'lu Man burst out laughing: "What's there to rest? I'm not a treasured sword, but a wolf-toothed club - I don't fear being ground dull!"

  Zhe Yan Chong heard this and smiled wryly, knowing that he was indeed unhappy! Suddenly, a personal soldier pointed beside him: "General! Look!"

  Zhe Yan Chong took a glance, and saw that apart from the Liao army advancing step by step in front of him, there were also rolling dust rising in the southwest and southeast. Zhe Yan Chong had been through many battles over the years, and he was quite experienced in estimating the enemy's situation based on the dust. Seeing this, he was shocked and thought to himself: "This army not only has a large number of soldiers, but its combat strength is also likely to be very strong. If we don't retreat quickly, I'm afraid we'll fall into a heavy siege."

  Suddenly, news came from the rear: The Emperor's central army is approaching quickly.

  "Commander Zhongjun asked: 'About how much more time will it take for the main army to catch up?'"

  "The soldier replied: 'One o'clock!'"

  "Even if we retreat, how can we face the lord of the country? Tie Nu and Alu Man won't agree either. For one hour, we should be able to hold on!" He said to Zong Xiong: "Big brother! Let's go all out!"

  "Alright! Let's go all out!"

  The vanguard and the right wing cooperated in one place, with more than 4,000 people. In a situation where they were at a numerical disadvantage, they did not defend but counterattacked, charging towards the Liao army.