“General! The enemy has broken through our main camp. Wuxian and Zhongdu have fallen, and Jingyang City is breached. Over twenty thousand people have been slaughtered!”
Upon hearing this military report, Linghu Kuang’s body swayed for a moment, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Massacre of a city! The Xiongnu had actually massacred a city! Jingling was a small city located in Taiyuan State, close to the Xiongnu’s regional capital, Qixian. Previously, the Tuoba tribe had sent troops to aid, driving the enemy out of Taiyuan State and reclaiming six or seven cities, including Qixian. However, in just a few months, these barbarians had returned with their army and completely massacred Jingling. Was this retaliation or a warning to others?
However, with this development, Qixian was now in danger. With the threat of city massacres, the Xiongnu forces would likely retake this city that had been cultivated for generations. If they lost Qixian, the enemy would be less than a day’s journey from Jinyang. How could they defend against this?
“Immediately pack up the camp! The main force will support Qixian with me, while the others will go to Daling to set up a strong defense! Also, send an urgent message to Jinyang, asking Dong Yinggong to send reinforcements! There’s no time to hesitate,” declared Linghu Kuang loudly.
However, this command did not receive support from the officers and soldiers below. One of the subordinates stepped forward and said, “General Linghu, the Xiongnu have gathered an army of fifty thousand and breached our main camp. What can our few thousand troops achieve? Moreover, we are the rear guard, and most of our soldiers are newly recruited peasants who are not proficient with weapons. How can we withstand those barbarians? In my humble opinion, we should immediately return to Yangyi and join forces with the city’s defenders.”
Watching the earnest expression on the man’s face, Linghu Kuang was itching with frustration. “They’ve already massacred a city. If we allow the Xiongnu to continue attacking the city, there will be no safe place left around Jinyang! We cannot afford to lose Qixian!”
“To strike a rock with an egg is to waste our troops. General, please reconsider!” the subordinate shouted loudly. Beside him, many other officers began to stir, and quite a few shared the same sentiment – they didn’t want to stay and defend a besieged city, facing the Xiongnu army head-on.
Seeing this group of officers, some eloquent and some avoiding eye contact, Linghu Kuang felt his heart grow cold. Not rescuing Qixian might have some strategic considerations, but giving up Daling as well and retreating to Yangyi, where they had stockpiled troops and supplies, was nothing more than avoiding the battle. These sons of noble families had followed the Xianbei warriors into battle, proudly displaying their martial prowess. Yet, when it was his turn to face the enemy, they all seemed timid. A fierce general like Yiyan was truly a rare find…
However, his thoughts flashed briefly, and Linghu Kuang exclaimed bitterly, “I will take two thousand troops and head to Qixian. The rest of you return to Yangyi with the troops and await General Dongyin’s orders!”
He realized that these men under his command were of no use, but the city had to be defended. Since he couldn’t motivate them, he would take his trusted followers to Qixian. With that, he didn’t wait for the others to react, and he stormed out of the tent.
However, to Linghu Kuang’s surprise, before he could even reach Qixian, the banners on the city walls had changed. The county magistrate of Qixian, fearing the impending conflict, had fled during the night, and the garrison immediately opened the gates to surrender. Facing this small detouring force, the Xiongnu army naturally refused to let them escape and sent a thousand cavalry to besiege them.
The thundering sound of hooves filled the air, and Linghu Kuang dared not be careless. He quickly organized his troops and fought desperately against the enemy. However, these cavalry were not something a mere two thousand infantry could hold back. In less than a minute, their formation was broken, and the entire army was in disarray.
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“General, hurry! As long as we reach Yangyi, we can regroup!” shouted one of his loyal soldiers with all his might.
Linghu Kuang’s face was covered in blood, and he swung his sword tirelessly, his hands trembling from exhaustion. If he had just two thousand more men, even if he couldn’t save Qixian, he could have held off this enemy cavalry and escaped safely. But did he have them? Leading his troops to support had resulted in failure and heavy casualties. Dongyin Gong would not remember any of his efforts; he would only see him as inept, responsible for the defeat of the rear army.
Even if he managed to save his life because of the Linghu surname, this general was destined to fall from grace.
Clamping down on his teeth, he shouted, “Retreat! Rally the remaining troops and head back to Yangyi!”
With a little more than a hundred men, Linghu Kuang broke out of the encirclement and fled towards Yangyi.
※
“What? Liu Yuan has retaken Qixian, and his army is approaching Jinyang?” Sima Teng jumped up from his seat, feeling his anger rising.
How could things have come to this point?! When the Xianbei from Tuoba came to reinforce them earlier, they had clearly driven Liu Yuan out of Taiyuan Country, even recapturing most of the Western He Nation. But in just two short months, the flags on the city walls had changed completely. Now, the enemy had occupied Qixian. Could he still defend Jinyang, this city of his?
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“General, don’t worry! Jinyang is a large city, and the provisions inside are abundant. As long as we hold our ground and don’t sally forth, we should be able to withstand the Xiongnu’s siege! Moreover, Yangyi presents a pincer strategy. If we launch a surprise attack on the Xiongnu’s flank, we can catch them off guard!” General Linghu Sheng, his beard showing signs of gray, spoke loudly. He was an experienced general in Bing County and came from the Linghu clan. His military acumen was not to be underestimated.
However, Gao Zhubu, who was a high-ranking official on the side, said, “General Linghu’s words have their merits. If the Xiongnu besieges the city and we send reinforcements, won’t it deplete all our forces in Bing County? Yangyi is still in our hands now, but if we lose Yangyi, the road to Shangdang will be cut off. By then, we won’t be able to escape…”
“Why would we need to escape?!” General Linghu Sheng shouted angrily, “General, you are the provincial governor of Bing County, entrusted by the Emperor to guard this region! The Xiongnu are just a minor ailment. As long as the court regains its strength, they can send troops to Bing County and sweep away the chaos!”
“Now, Prince Donghai is leading an expedition against Prince Hejian. How can they spare the resources to deal with Bing County? If we drag this out, it will only deplete our forces and disperse our people’s loyalty!” Gao Zhubu spoke forcefully.
What he mentioned about the expedition was an event that happened simultaneously with Liu Yuan’s uprising. After half a year of waiting, Prince Donghai couldn’t hold back any longer and organized another coalition to attack Chang’an, aiming to reclaim the throne. However, as soon as they set out, discord erupted within the coalition, with some forces rebelling against Prince Hejian. In addition, Ji Province faced a rebellion led by followers of Prince Chengdu, and General Gongshi Fan rose in rebellion, capturing Yangping and Ji counties, killing the commandant, and attacking Ye City, leaving the governor of Ye City overwhelmed.
Now, two months had passed, and the coalition was on the brink of collapse, in no condition to send reinforcements to Bing County.
But Linghu Sheng didn’t see it that way, “If Prince Donghai withdraws his forces, he should be able to send help to Bing County, isn’t that perfect?”
Hearing this, Sima Teng couldn’t restrain himself any longer and slammed his hand on the table, “You are insolent! Prince Donghai is purging the rebels; how dare you meddle?! If it weren’t for your nephew’s incompetence in leading the army, why would the rear army have suffered defeat?”
He was, after all, the younger brother of Prince Donghai, Sima Yue, and he would not tolerate anyone maligning his brother. Linghu Sheng had hit a sore spot, and how could he not face the consequences?
Hearing this, the old general’s face turned red, but he couldn’t find the words to retort. Seeing the opportunity, Gao Zhubu immediately added, “General, your words are reasonable! This is a crucial moment to rescue the emperor. If you could lead a special force and enhance Prince Donghai’s prestige, you would certainly be able to turn the tide and achieve extraordinary merit!”
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Now, not only Linghu Sheng but also other generals stood up, saying, “We can’t!”
How could they not understand what Gao Zhubu meant? He was clearly suggesting that Sima Teng should abandon Bing County! Did they want to hand over such a vast province to the Xiongnu?
Seeing the generals react this way, Sima Teng hesitated, “If we send troops, Jinyang will be in danger…”
Gao Zhubu smiled, “That’s not the case. General, you can leave some troops behind to defend Jinyang. When the court’s major affairs are settled, you can lead troops into Bing County. As long as Shangdang is not lost, we can still turn the situation around. Just like during the great chaos in the past, when hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu and Qiang rebels swept through Bing County all the way to Yong County, weren’t they eventually annihilated by the court?”
The past was the past, and the present was the present. How could they compare the two? Several generals couldn’t help but want to speak up, but Gao Zhubu quickly added, “Jinyang is not like Ye city. If you really hold on, what if you encounter a situation like Prince Chengdu did? What then?”
These words jolted Sima Teng. Indeed, back then, when Wang Jun sent the Duan clan’s Xianbei forces to attack Ye city, it fell despite only facing 8,000 troops. Prince Chengdu hesitated for a moment and ended up fleeing alone, without even a bodyguard. Now, he was facing tens of thousands of Xiongnu! If he took the wrong path to Shangdang, he might not be able to escape.
However, if he avoided the chaos in Shangdang to support his elder brother and managed to defeat Prince Hejian, he might bring the emperor back. In doing so, he could achieve great merit without having to face the threat of the Xiongnu. When the situation stabilized and the court could spare manpower, he could return with his troops, ensuring both fame and fortune.
With these thoughts in mind, Sima Teng waved his hand and said, “Master Gao’s words are wise! The Emperor is currently held hostage by Prince Hejian. This is the time for us, his loyal subjects, to exert ourselves. We can’t shirk our responsibilities. Immediately select 20,000 soldiers to accompany me to the coalition camp and assist my elder brother! It’s a dangerous journey, so Bing County will be left to you to defend. As long as Jinyang remains intact and Yangyi is secure, those Xiongnu slaves won’t dare to act rashly!”
Upon hearing this, the light in Lenghu Sheng’s eyes dimmed suddenly. If even the provincial governor was planning to flee, could Jinyang and Bing County still be defended? Could Bing County still be held?
However, Gao Zhubu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Dongyin Gong agreed, they, his subordinates, could safely escape from Jinyang. Compared to holding their ground, this was a choice more in line with their interests.
Escape! As long as they could get out of the fire, they would have a chance to turn things around!
※
Since the Xiongnu began their campaign, Liang Feng had become busy. On one hand, he had to maintain stability in Shangdang, and on the other, he had to organize manpower to transport provisions. This was the military order issued by Dongyin Gong, and Liang Feng didn’t hesitate at all. After all, Jinyang was the heart of Bing County. Even if it meant tightening their belts, they had to make every effort to support it.
In addition, more and more refugees were heading south, especially the gentry from several commanderies who needed to pass through the Shangdang mountain passes to escape to Si County and Yan County. As a result, Liang Feng had to deal with even more challenges. He not only had to safely send these burdens away but also had to find ways to intercept and recruit some of the refugees who had the courage and will to resist, in order to bolster Shangdang’s strength as much as possible.
Due to the ongoing conflicts, even the garrison at Huguan led by Wu Ling had increased its recruitment efforts. The training of new recruits was fully managed by Yiyan. In just two months, the defending force of a thousand had grown to five thousand, providing some much-needed strength.
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However, when it was time for the autumn grain harvest, news of the Xiongnu’s city massacre reached them. Before anyone could react, the supply route to Jinyang was cut off. It seemed that the Xiongnu were intensifying their assault, attempting to directly challenge the fortifications of Jinyang.
“At present, with the autumn harvest in progress, Jinyang should have sufficient provisions. As long as Dongyin Gong holds the city firmly, there should be no problem!” analyzed Duan Qin.
“If Jinyang holds, the Xiongnu are likely to turn their attention to attacking Shangdang,” Yiyan said with a cold voice. Over these days, while the Xiongnu hadn’t launched an offensive against Shangdang, the location of Shangdang was a constant threat, and sooner or later, they would have to face the enemy’s forces.
“With Jinyang in the front, even if they attack Shangdang, their numbers shouldn’t be too great. With the current strength of the new army, we can barely manage it,” Liang Feng pondered, “But after suffering consecutive defeats and with the precedent of city massacres, I wonder if Yangyi can hold?”
With the strategic positions of Yangyi and Jinyang forming a pincer, if one fell, the other would be in trouble. No one could answer the question of what might happen if the troops defending Yangyi ran into trouble.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but sigh, “Let’s send out a few more scouting parties. We need to harvest the autumn grain as soon as possible, and every county should be in a state of readiness for battle.”
There seemed to be no better solution, and they could only hope that Jinyang could withstand the Xiongnu’s attack.
However, a few days later, an official report arrived in Lu City.
“What did you say?! Dongyin Gong is leading troops to suppress the rebels and is about to arrive in Shangdang?!”
Author’s Note:
According to official history, it is true that Sima Teng escaped from Bing County, but it happened a year later. However, due to the presence of Liang Feng, his early negligence led to significant losses in terms of personnel, and Liu Yuan abandoned the attack on Shangdang to focus on attacking Jinyang, resulting in this unexpected turn of events.
The prelude to the great turmoil is about to begin. The story that follows will deviate further and further from official history, becoming a new chapter in history.
“General! The enemy has broken through our main camp. Wuxian and Zhongdu have fallen, and Jingyang City is breached. Over twenty thousand people have been slaughtered!”
Upon hearing this military report, Linghu Kuang’s body swayed for a moment, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Massacre of a city! The Xiongnu had actually massacred a city! Jingling was a small city located in Taiyuan State, close to the Xiongnu’s regional capital, Qixian. Previously, the Tuoba tribe had sent troops to aid, driving the enemy out of Taiyuan State and reclaiming six or seven cities, including Qixian. However, in just a few months, these barbarians had returned with their army and completely massacred Jingling. Was this retaliation or a warning to others?
However, with this development, Qixian was now in danger. With the threat of city massacres, the Xiongnu forces would likely retake this city that had been cultivated for generations. If they lost Qixian, the enemy would be less than a day’s journey from Jinyang. How could they defend against this?
“Immediately pack up the camp! The main force will support Qixian with me, while the others will go to Daling to set up a strong defense! Also, send an urgent message to Jinyang, asking Dong Yinggong to send reinforcements! There’s no time to hesitate,” declared Linghu Kuang loudly.
However, this command did not receive support from the officers and soldiers below. One of the subordinates stepped forward and said, “General Linghu, the Xiongnu have gathered an army of fifty thousand and breached our main camp. What can our few thousand troops achieve? Moreover, we are the rear guard, and most of our soldiers are newly recruited peasants who are not proficient with weapons. How can we withstand those barbarians? In my humble opinion, we should immediately return to Yangyi and join forces with the city’s defenders.”
Watching the earnest expression on the man’s face, Linghu Kuang was itching with frustration. “They’ve already massacred a city. If we allow the Xiongnu to continue attacking the city, there will be no safe place left around Jinyang! We cannot afford to lose Qixian!”
“To strike a rock with an egg is to waste our troops. General, please reconsider!” the subordinate shouted loudly. Beside him, many other officers began to stir, and quite a few shared the same sentiment – they didn’t want to stay and defend a besieged city, facing the Xiongnu army head-on.
Seeing this group of officers, some eloquent and some avoiding eye contact, Linghu Kuang felt his heart grow cold. Not rescuing Qixian might have some strategic considerations, but giving up Daling as well and retreating to Yangyi, where they had stockpiled troops and supplies, was nothing more than avoiding the battle. These sons of noble families had followed the Xianbei warriors into battle, proudly displaying their martial prowess. Yet, when it was his turn to face the enemy, they all seemed timid. A fierce general like Yiyan was truly a rare find…
However, his thoughts flashed briefly, and Linghu Kuang exclaimed bitterly, “I will take two thousand troops and head to Qixian. The rest of you return to Yangyi with the troops and await General Dongyin’s orders!”
He realized that these men under his command were of no use, but the city had to be defended. Since he couldn’t motivate them, he would take his trusted followers to Qixian. With that, he didn’t wait for the others to react, and he stormed out of the tent.
However, to Linghu Kuang’s surprise, before he could even reach Qixian, the banners on the city walls had changed. The county magistrate of Qixian, fearing the impending conflict, had fled during the night, and the garrison immediately opened the gates to surrender. Facing this small detouring force, the Xiongnu army naturally refused to let them escape and sent a thousand cavalry to besiege them.
The thundering sound of hooves filled the air, and Linghu Kuang dared not be careless. He quickly organized his troops and fought desperately against the enemy. However, these cavalry were not something a mere two thousand infantry could hold back. In less than a minute, their formation was broken, and the entire army was in disarray.
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“General, hurry! As long as we reach Yangyi, we can regroup!” shouted one of his loyal soldiers with all his might.
Linghu Kuang’s face was covered in blood, and he swung his sword tirelessly, his hands trembling from exhaustion. If he had just two thousand more men, even if he couldn’t save Qixian, he could have held off this enemy cavalry and escaped safely. But did he have them? Leading his troops to support had resulted in failure and heavy casualties. Dongyin Gong would not remember any of his efforts; he would only see him as inept, responsible for the defeat of the rear army.
Even if he managed to save his life because of the Linghu surname, this general was destined to fall from grace.
Clamping down on his teeth, he shouted, “Retreat! Rally the remaining troops and head back to Yangyi!”
With a little more than a hundred men, Linghu Kuang broke out of the encirclement and fled towards Yangyi.
※
“What? Liu Yuan has retaken Qixian, and his army is approaching Jinyang?” Sima Teng jumped up from his seat, feeling his anger rising.
How could things have come to this point?! When the Xianbei from Tuoba came to reinforce them earlier, they had clearly driven Liu Yuan out of Taiyuan Country, even recapturing most of the Western He Nation. But in just two short months, the flags on the city walls had changed completely. Now, the enemy had occupied Qixian. Could he still defend Jinyang, this city of his?
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“General, don’t worry! Jinyang is a large city, and the provisions inside are abundant. As long as we hold our ground and don’t sally forth, we should be able to withstand the Xiongnu’s siege! Moreover, Yangyi presents a pincer strategy. If we launch a surprise attack on the Xiongnu’s flank, we can catch them off guard!” General Linghu Sheng, his beard showing signs of gray, spoke loudly. He was an experienced general in Bing County and came from the Linghu clan. His military acumen was not to be underestimated.
However, Gao Zhubu, who was a high-ranking official on the side, said, “General Linghu’s words have their merits. If the Xiongnu besieges the city and we send reinforcements, won’t it deplete all our forces in Bing County? Yangyi is still in our hands now, but if we lose Yangyi, the road to Shangdang will be cut off. By then, we won’t be able to escape…”
“Why would we need to escape?!” General Linghu Sheng shouted angrily, “General, you are the provincial governor of Bing County, entrusted by the Emperor to guard this region! The Xiongnu are just a minor ailment. As long as the court regains its strength, they can send troops to Bing County and sweep away the chaos!”
“Now, Prince Donghai is leading an expedition against Prince Hejian. How can they spare the resources to deal with Bing County? If we drag this out, it will only deplete our forces and disperse our people’s loyalty!” Gao Zhubu spoke forcefully.
What he mentioned about the expedition was an event that happened simultaneously with Liu Yuan’s uprising. After half a year of waiting, Prince Donghai couldn’t hold back any longer and organized another coalition to attack Chang’an, aiming to reclaim the throne. However, as soon as they set out, discord erupted within the coalition, with some forces rebelling against Prince Hejian. In addition, Ji Province faced a rebellion led by followers of Prince Chengdu, and General Gongshi Fan rose in rebellion, capturing Yangping and Ji counties, killing the commandant, and attacking Ye City, leaving the governor of Ye City overwhelmed.
Now, two months had passed, and the coalition was on the brink of collapse, in no condition to send reinforcements to Bing County.
But Linghu Sheng didn’t see it that way, “If Prince Donghai withdraws his forces, he should be able to send help to Bing County, isn’t that perfect?”
Hearing this, Sima Teng couldn’t restrain himself any longer and slammed his hand on the table, “You are insolent! Prince Donghai is purging the rebels; how dare you meddle?! If it weren’t for your nephew’s incompetence in leading the army, why would the rear army have suffered defeat?”
He was, after all, the younger brother of Prince Donghai, Sima Yue, and he would not tolerate anyone maligning his brother. Linghu Sheng had hit a sore spot, and how could he not face the consequences?
Hearing this, the old general’s face turned red, but he couldn’t find the words to retort. Seeing the opportunity, Gao Zhubu immediately added, “General, your words are reasonable! This is a crucial moment to rescue the emperor. If you could lead a special force and enhance Prince Donghai’s prestige, you would certainly be able to turn the tide and achieve extraordinary merit!”
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Now, not only Linghu Sheng but also other generals stood up, saying, “We can’t!”
How could they not understand what Gao Zhubu meant? He was clearly suggesting that Sima Teng should abandon Bing County! Did they want to hand over such a vast province to the Xiongnu?
Seeing the generals react this way, Sima Teng hesitated, “If we send troops, Jinyang will be in danger…”
Gao Zhubu smiled, “That’s not the case. General, you can leave some troops behind to defend Jinyang. When the court’s major affairs are settled, you can lead troops into Bing County. As long as Shangdang is not lost, we can still turn the situation around. Just like during the great chaos in the past, when hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu and Qiang rebels swept through Bing County all the way to Yong County, weren’t they eventually annihilated by the court?”
The past was the past, and the present was the present. How could they compare the two? Several generals couldn’t help but want to speak up, but Gao Zhubu quickly added, “Jinyang is not like Ye city. If you really hold on, what if you encounter a situation like Prince Chengdu did? What then?”
These words jolted Sima Teng. Indeed, back then, when Wang Jun sent the Duan clan’s Xianbei forces to attack Ye city, it fell despite only facing 8,000 troops. Prince Chengdu hesitated for a moment and ended up fleeing alone, without even a bodyguard. Now, he was facing tens of thousands of Xiongnu! If he took the wrong path to Shangdang, he might not be able to escape.
However, if he avoided the chaos in Shangdang to support his elder brother and managed to defeat Prince Hejian, he might bring the emperor back. In doing so, he could achieve great merit without having to face the threat of the Xiongnu. When the situation stabilized and the court could spare manpower, he could return with his troops, ensuring both fame and fortune.
With these thoughts in mind, Sima Teng waved his hand and said, “Master Gao’s words are wise! The Emperor is currently held hostage by Prince Hejian. This is the time for us, his loyal subjects, to exert ourselves. We can’t shirk our responsibilities. Immediately select 20,000 soldiers to accompany me to the coalition camp and assist my elder brother! It’s a dangerous journey, so Bing County will be left to you to defend. As long as Jinyang remains intact and Yangyi is secure, those Xiongnu slaves won’t dare to act rashly!”
Upon hearing this, the light in Lenghu Sheng’s eyes dimmed suddenly. If even the provincial governor was planning to flee, could Jinyang and Bing County still be defended? Could Bing County still be held?
However, Gao Zhubu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Dongyin Gong agreed, they, his subordinates, could safely escape from Jinyang. Compared to holding their ground, this was a choice more in line with their interests.
Escape! As long as they could get out of the fire, they would have a chance to turn things around!
※
Since the Xiongnu began their campaign, Liang Feng had become busy. On one hand, he had to maintain stability in Shangdang, and on the other, he had to organize manpower to transport provisions. This was the military order issued by Dongyin Gong, and Liang Feng didn’t hesitate at all. After all, Jinyang was the heart of Bing County. Even if it meant tightening their belts, they had to make every effort to support it.
In addition, more and more refugees were heading south, especially the gentry from several commanderies who needed to pass through the Shangdang mountain passes to escape to Si County and Yan County. As a result, Liang Feng had to deal with even more challenges. He not only had to safely send these burdens away but also had to find ways to intercept and recruit some of the refugees who had the courage and will to resist, in order to bolster Shangdang’s strength as much as possible.
Due to the ongoing conflicts, even the garrison at Huguan led by Wu Ling had increased its recruitment efforts. The training of new recruits was fully managed by Yiyan. In just two months, the defending force of a thousand had grown to five thousand, providing some much-needed strength.
Advertisement
However, when it was time for the autumn grain harvest, news of the Xiongnu’s city massacre reached them. Before anyone could react, the supply route to Jinyang was cut off. It seemed that the Xiongnu were intensifying their assault, attempting to directly challenge the fortifications of Jinyang.
“At present, with the autumn harvest in progress, Jinyang should have sufficient provisions. As long as Dongyin Gong holds the city firmly, there should be no problem!” analyzed Duan Qin.
“If Jinyang holds, the Xiongnu are likely to turn their attention to attacking Shangdang,” Yiyan said with a cold voice. Over these days, while the Xiongnu hadn’t launched an offensive against Shangdang, the location of Shangdang was a constant threat, and sooner or later, they would have to face the enemy’s forces.
“With Jinyang in the front, even if they attack Shangdang, their numbers shouldn’t be too great. With the current strength of the new army, we can barely manage it,” Liang Feng pondered, “But after suffering consecutive defeats and with the precedent of city massacres, I wonder if Yangyi can hold?”
With the strategic positions of Yangyi and Jinyang forming a pincer, if one fell, the other would be in trouble. No one could answer the question of what might happen if the troops defending Yangyi ran into trouble.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but sigh, “Let’s send out a few more scouting parties. We need to harvest the autumn grain as soon as possible, and every county should be in a state of readiness for battle.”
There seemed to be no better solution, and they could only hope that Jinyang could withstand the Xiongnu’s attack.
However, a few days later, an official report arrived in Lu City.
“What did you say?! Dongyin Gong is leading troops to suppress the rebels and is about to arrive in Shangdang?!”
Author’s Note:
According to official history, it is true that Sima Teng escaped from Bing County, but it happened a year later. However, due to the presence of Liang Feng, his early negligence led to significant losses in terms of personnel, and Liu Yuan abandoned the attack on Shangdang to focus on attacking Jinyang, resulting in this unexpected turn of events.
The prelude to the great turmoil is about to begin. The story that follows will deviate further and further from official history, becoming a new chapter in history.
