Thank you to Opalescent for the ko-fi~
Finally, victory! When the war report arrived at the mansion, Liang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected that Liu Yuan would send another light cavalry to raid Gaodu. Fortunately, Yiyan had promptly dispatched the four hundred Xiongnu cavalry that had been previously subdued, dressed in the enemy’s armor. They infiltrated the enemy camp, disrupting their formation, and giving their troops a chance to deploy and launch a pincer attack. Otherwise, the vicinity of Gaodu would have suffered great losses.
However, the number of defenders in the mansion was still insufficient, and most of them were auxiliary troops. Even if they caught the Xiongnu cavalry off guard and confused them, they had not managed to capture the enemy’s commander, allowing more than a thousand riders to escape the encirclement.
“Two hundred killed, nearly a thousand wounded, and three surrounding villages burned. This battle was truly perilous,” Liang Feng sighed as he set down the war report. “It seems that dealing with cavalry is not an easy task.”
“Not everyone possesses the valor of Colonel Yi; achieving such results is commendable. Deputy Commander Zhang made significant contributions in this battle,” Duan Qin remarked from the side.
He’s telling the truth. Although it may not be as glorious as a victory on the main battlefield, being able to employ six hundred Thunderbolt Camp archers and four hundred surrendered Xiongnu troops to set up such a baiting tactic, annihilating most of the enemy forces, is already quite remarkable. It seems that handing over the Liang Mansion to Zhang He was the right choice.
Liang Feng said, “Indeed. However, the villages outside the camp have suffered significant damage. It seems we cannot afford to be lax in defense just because they are close to the camp. We should construct a Wu Fortress. Using the Wu Fortress as an outer defense can complement the city and prevent any unexpected attacks.”
Duan Qin immediately responded, “Building a Wu Fortress that combines three villages will require a workforce of over a thousand. Colonel Yi has sent word that they have captured more than two thousand enemy soldiers, which should be of great help.”
The final battle on the main battlefield ended beautifully, but the ratio of enemy surrenders was not exceptionally high. The fleeing enemy scattered, making pursuit difficult, and there was a risk of falling into the enemy’s desperate resistance. In the end, only a little over two thousand were captured, while more than four thousand escaped to Shangdang. To prevent these scattered enemy soldiers from harassing other counties, Yiyan led his troops to pursue them and has not returned yet.
However, for Duan Qin, this was an unimaginable victory. Six thousand infantry and cavalry defeated twenty thousand enemy troops, with more than thirteen thousand killed or captured. Such a large-scale victory with fewer troops against a larger force was rare, not only in the Jin Dynasty but even in the preceding centuries during the Cao Dynasty.
Yiyan was truly a born military genius!
Liang Feng also understood what was exciting Duan Qin, nodding and saying, “What you said is true. We must make good use of these two thousand soldiers. We can’t afford to lose the winter harvest. However, after this major battle, many of our soldiers are wounded, and we must also remain vigilant against the Xiongnu launching another attack.”
Advertisement
As soon as these words were spoken, Duan Qin calmed down slightly, saying, “Returning defeat from such a big battle, especially during the cold winter, the Xiongnu shouldn’t be launching another attack so soon, right?”
“This battle is different from the one at Lu City. We can’t predict how Liu Yuan will respond,” Liang Feng replied. He was not carried away by the victory. On the contrary, this battle had fully showcased his strength and laid bare his situation. If Liu Yuan decided to go all out and attack with the full force of his nation, Liang Feng would have no choice but to defend the city; there was no other way.
It’s really difficult to predict how such a cunning hero who can establish a nation in turbulent times will make his decisions.
Seeing Duan Qin also furrowing his brow, Liang Feng sighed softly, “Let’s wait for Boyuan to return before making any decisions.”
※
In the grand hall, there was a deathly silence. Liu Cong and Liu Yao knelt in the hall, one with a long knife scar on his left cheek, disfiguring his face and also injuring his left eye; the other had his arm suspended over his shoulder, covered in numerous wounds.
Just a few days ago, these two were full of vigor, vowing to lead their troops to conquer Shangdang. However, now, not only had they suffered significant losses in soldiers and generals, but they were also heavily wounded. It was truly an unexpected turn of events.
Liu Yuan couldn’t have anticipated this either. His expression remained as calm as still water, but the anger in his voice was unmistakable. “Twenty-five thousand troops, and less than six thousand return. Is Liang Zixi truly this formidable?!”
Advertisement
Before Liu Cong could speak, Liu Yao rushed to respond, “If it weren’t for those surrendered soldiers wearing our armor, disguising themselves, and charging into the battle, our camp wouldn’t have been thrown into chaos. Your son fought desperately to break through, and I deeply regret failing the trust you placed in me.”
Although he openly acknowledged his fault, his mention of the surrendered soldiers wearing armor pointed directly at the catastrophic defeat of the vanguard. If it weren’t for Liu Cong’s quick and complete defeat, how could those surrendered soldiers that Liang Zixi had taken in have caught them off guard by donning their own army’s armor?
Liu Cong naturally understood the implications behind Liu Yao’s words, and his face contorted slightly in anger. The scar on his face, influenced by his emotions, appeared even more fierce and terrifying.
Liu Yuan’s fierce gaze turned towards them. “Why did the vanguard fail?! I heard they had only a few thousand troops.”
The soldiers sent to Liu Cong this time were the elite of the Han dynasty, and there was no way they would have been outnumbered by such a large margin. Clenching his teeth, Liu Cong replied, “The enemy used Thunderbolt Cannons on the battlefield. Our infantry and cavalry couldn’t get close. Your son believes that if we don’t find a way to counter this weapon, future attacks on Shangdang may prove unfavorable.”
Liu Yuan had also heard about the Thunderbolt Cannons, but being well-versed in military matters, how could he not know the purpose of such weaponry?
“The Thunderbolt Cannon is a siege weapon. How could it be used in open-field battles?” Liu Yuan coldly questioned.
For anyone else, this story might be hard to believe. But Liu Cong had suffered such a major defeat; how could he not have thoroughly investigated the matter?
“That group of Jin troops replaced the Thunderbolt Cannon’s stone projectiles with iron pellets the size of fingertips, extending its range by more than double and making it capable of piercing light armor. The cannons are no longer manually operated, and their firing speed is extremely rapid. Within three hundred and fifty paces, they were virtually unstoppable, and only heavy armor could withstand them. The soldiers I led were all wearing light armor, which is why we couldn’t stand up to their formidable weapon!”
This reason is quite plausible. On the battlefield, it’s indeed possible for one side to have significantly improved weaponry, granting them a substantial advantage. However, the advantage leading to the loss of over ten thousand soldiers is truly beyond Liu Yuan’s tolerance.
Advertisement
Seeing that those present were still inclined to anger, Liu Cong immediately spoke, “Your son believes that this Thunderbolt Cannon is likely a secret weapon devised by Liang Feng. Its sound is like thunder, and it has the power of projectile launch. If they were to hurl fireballs into our camp at night, it would create great confusion!”
This statement immediately silenced what Liu Yuan had in mind. Yes! He had been hesitant to move against Shangdang precisely because of that “Buddhist’s” claim. If the falling stars were nothing more than the commotion caused by the Thunderbolt Cannons, it would remove a significant psychological barrier.
However, the question of how such a massive thing as the Thunderbolt Cannon could be brought close to the main camp remained perplexing. But these were questions Liu Yuan obviously wouldn’t comprehend by asking.
He slammed the table and sternly declared, “You return in defeat, and you still seek excuses? Those were twenty thousand elite soldiers. How many soldiers and generals does the Han Dynasty even have?!”
This declaration made Liu Cong and Liu Yao bow their heads. “Your sons are willing to atone for their failure! We will reclaim Shangdang!”
Both of them were exceptional individuals; how could they not understand the implications of Liu Yuan’s furious outburst? Everyone faces defeat in battle, and redeeming oneself through accomplishments is the best course of action.
However, a minister stepped forward and advised, “Your Majesty, it is currently the winter season, and launching another campaign might not be in the best interest of the state. We also need to guard against a possible counterattack from Jinyang, and it’s likely we won’t be able to spare too many troops.”
The fact that a force of twenty-five thousand troops couldn’t secure victory implies that sending out another army may not yield better results. Moreover, the Han Dynasty’s military resources were already somewhat stretched, with the need to besiege cities, support reinforcements, and defend Jinyang. There simply weren’t enough troops to spare.
Liu Yuan furrowed his brow. He was well aware of the situation. However, not being able to reverse the decline after a major defeat was a severe blow to morale. It even hindered the recruitment of other noble clans and local forces that were opposed to Jin. If they couldn’t even defeat a commandery governor, who would come and join his cause? How could they hope to control the entire territory of Bing County?
Liu Yao took the opportunity to say, “Father, I am willing to lead infantry and cavalry to capture Nie County!”
This time, he had commanded cavalry and couldn’t effectively engage in a siege. If he had more infantry at his disposal, he wouldn’t have ventured into Shangdang so recklessly and suffered such a miserable defeat.
Liu Cong, unwilling to show weakness, also kneeled and declared, “I am also willing to lead troops and try again!”
The two of them were competing to lead the troops, while Liu He, who stood nearby, couldn’t help but smile coldly in his heart. He took a step forward and said, “Father, raising troops in winter is already taxing, and considering our unfavorable situation in battle, perhaps it would be better to wait until spring before launching an attack on Shangdang.”
Liu He was the son of Empress Huo Yan and Liu Yuan’s eldest son. He stood at an imposing eight feet tall, was well-educated, and had superior knowledge compared to his other siblings. Liu Yuan, unlike other leaders from nomadic tribes, had been influenced by Confucianism and had a soft spot for this intelligent eldest son. Due to his prestigious status, Liu He was not sent to lead troops in battle but remained in the capital city.
In this way, Liu He couldn’t rely on military achievements to establish his authority. Both Liu Cong and Liu Yao were skilled military commanders who had been sent on numerous campaigns. While Liu Yao was just an adopted son, Liu Cong was a major concern for Liu He, and he deeply mistrusted him. However, he couldn’t show his true feelings and had to maintain the appearance of brotherly camaraderie. Now, seeing both of them return in defeat, he had no intention of immediately granting them an opportunity to redeem themselves.
Advertisement
Hearing Liu He’s words, Liu Yuan furrowed his brow slightly. Those who had returned in defeat this time were his sons, and it wasn’t easy to punish them, nor was it wise to let the matter rest. Allowing them to redeem themselves through military achievements was an option, but sending recently defeated generals back into battle carried risks. Moreover, with Liu He’s comments, he couldn’t issue an immediate order.
After thinking it over, Liu Yuan sighed, “You two are seriously injured; it’s best to focus on recovery for now. When spring arrives, I will appoint Liu Qin as the commander and launch a determined assault on Shangdang.”
Liu Qin was a prominent general under Liu Yuan’s command and equally skilled in warfare. As for the deputy commander assisting Liu Qin, Liu Yuan didn’t specify at that moment. Whether it was Liu Cong or Liu Yao, either choice would suffice.
Hearing this command, everyone present understood the underlying meaning, and they all agreed. Dealing with the aftermath of this military defeat, rebuilding their reputation, and addressing various issues would require concerted efforts.
As he looked at the two dissatisfied individuals, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment. Liang Zixi had caused him to lose his cousin, Liu Xuan, in the past, and now he had inflicted a major defeat on his two most capable sons. Was he born to be his nemesis? Regardless, he couldn’t afford to lose again. Shangdang had to be conquered at all costs!
Thank you to Opalescent for the ko-fi~
Finally, victory! When the war report arrived at the mansion, Liang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected that Liu Yuan would send another light cavalry to raid Gaodu. Fortunately, Yiyan had promptly dispatched the four hundred Xiongnu cavalry that had been previously subdued, dressed in the enemy’s armor. They infiltrated the enemy camp, disrupting their formation, and giving their troops a chance to deploy and launch a pincer attack. Otherwise, the vicinity of Gaodu would have suffered great losses.
However, the number of defenders in the mansion was still insufficient, and most of them were auxiliary troops. Even if they caught the Xiongnu cavalry off guard and confused them, they had not managed to capture the enemy’s commander, allowing more than a thousand riders to escape the encirclement.
“Two hundred killed, nearly a thousand wounded, and three surrounding villages burned. This battle was truly perilous,” Liang Feng sighed as he set down the war report. “It seems that dealing with cavalry is not an easy task.”
“Not everyone possesses the valor of Colonel Yi; achieving such results is commendable. Deputy Commander Zhang made significant contributions in this battle,” Duan Qin remarked from the side.
He’s telling the truth. Although it may not be as glorious as a victory on the main battlefield, being able to employ six hundred Thunderbolt Camp archers and four hundred surrendered Xiongnu troops to set up such a baiting tactic, annihilating most of the enemy forces, is already quite remarkable. It seems that handing over the Liang Mansion to Zhang He was the right choice.
Liang Feng said, “Indeed. However, the villages outside the camp have suffered significant damage. It seems we cannot afford to be lax in defense just because they are close to the camp. We should construct a Wu Fortress. Using the Wu Fortress as an outer defense can complement the city and prevent any unexpected attacks.”
Duan Qin immediately responded, “Building a Wu Fortress that combines three villages will require a workforce of over a thousand. Colonel Yi has sent word that they have captured more than two thousand enemy soldiers, which should be of great help.”
The final battle on the main battlefield ended beautifully, but the ratio of enemy surrenders was not exceptionally high. The fleeing enemy scattered, making pursuit difficult, and there was a risk of falling into the enemy’s desperate resistance. In the end, only a little over two thousand were captured, while more than four thousand escaped to Shangdang. To prevent these scattered enemy soldiers from harassing other counties, Yiyan led his troops to pursue them and has not returned yet.
However, for Duan Qin, this was an unimaginable victory. Six thousand infantry and cavalry defeated twenty thousand enemy troops, with more than thirteen thousand killed or captured. Such a large-scale victory with fewer troops against a larger force was rare, not only in the Jin Dynasty but even in the preceding centuries during the Cao Dynasty.
Yiyan was truly a born military genius!
Liang Feng also understood what was exciting Duan Qin, nodding and saying, “What you said is true. We must make good use of these two thousand soldiers. We can’t afford to lose the winter harvest. However, after this major battle, many of our soldiers are wounded, and we must also remain vigilant against the Xiongnu launching another attack.”
Advertisement
As soon as these words were spoken, Duan Qin calmed down slightly, saying, “Returning defeat from such a big battle, especially during the cold winter, the Xiongnu shouldn’t be launching another attack so soon, right?”
“This battle is different from the one at Lu City. We can’t predict how Liu Yuan will respond,” Liang Feng replied. He was not carried away by the victory. On the contrary, this battle had fully showcased his strength and laid bare his situation. If Liu Yuan decided to go all out and attack with the full force of his nation, Liang Feng would have no choice but to defend the city; there was no other way.
It’s really difficult to predict how such a cunning hero who can establish a nation in turbulent times will make his decisions.
Seeing Duan Qin also furrowing his brow, Liang Feng sighed softly, “Let’s wait for Boyuan to return before making any decisions.”
※
In the grand hall, there was a deathly silence. Liu Cong and Liu Yao knelt in the hall, one with a long knife scar on his left cheek, disfiguring his face and also injuring his left eye; the other had his arm suspended over his shoulder, covered in numerous wounds.
Just a few days ago, these two were full of vigor, vowing to lead their troops to conquer Shangdang. However, now, not only had they suffered significant losses in soldiers and generals, but they were also heavily wounded. It was truly an unexpected turn of events.
Liu Yuan couldn’t have anticipated this either. His expression remained as calm as still water, but the anger in his voice was unmistakable. “Twenty-five thousand troops, and less than six thousand return. Is Liang Zixi truly this formidable?!”
Advertisement
Before Liu Cong could speak, Liu Yao rushed to respond, “If it weren’t for those surrendered soldiers wearing our armor, disguising themselves, and charging into the battle, our camp wouldn’t have been thrown into chaos. Your son fought desperately to break through, and I deeply regret failing the trust you placed in me.”
Although he openly acknowledged his fault, his mention of the surrendered soldiers wearing armor pointed directly at the catastrophic defeat of the vanguard. If it weren’t for Liu Cong’s quick and complete defeat, how could those surrendered soldiers that Liang Zixi had taken in have caught them off guard by donning their own army’s armor?
Liu Cong naturally understood the implications behind Liu Yao’s words, and his face contorted slightly in anger. The scar on his face, influenced by his emotions, appeared even more fierce and terrifying.
Liu Yuan’s fierce gaze turned towards them. “Why did the vanguard fail?! I heard they had only a few thousand troops.”
The soldiers sent to Liu Cong this time were the elite of the Han dynasty, and there was no way they would have been outnumbered by such a large margin. Clenching his teeth, Liu Cong replied, “The enemy used Thunderbolt Cannons on the battlefield. Our infantry and cavalry couldn’t get close. Your son believes that if we don’t find a way to counter this weapon, future attacks on Shangdang may prove unfavorable.”
Liu Yuan had also heard about the Thunderbolt Cannons, but being well-versed in military matters, how could he not know the purpose of such weaponry?
“The Thunderbolt Cannon is a siege weapon. How could it be used in open-field battles?” Liu Yuan coldly questioned.
For anyone else, this story might be hard to believe. But Liu Cong had suffered such a major defeat; how could he not have thoroughly investigated the matter?
“That group of Jin troops replaced the Thunderbolt Cannon’s stone projectiles with iron pellets the size of fingertips, extending its range by more than double and making it capable of piercing light armor. The cannons are no longer manually operated, and their firing speed is extremely rapid. Within three hundred and fifty paces, they were virtually unstoppable, and only heavy armor could withstand them. The soldiers I led were all wearing light armor, which is why we couldn’t stand up to their formidable weapon!”
This reason is quite plausible. On the battlefield, it’s indeed possible for one side to have significantly improved weaponry, granting them a substantial advantage. However, the advantage leading to the loss of over ten thousand soldiers is truly beyond Liu Yuan’s tolerance.
Advertisement
Seeing that those present were still inclined to anger, Liu Cong immediately spoke, “Your son believes that this Thunderbolt Cannon is likely a secret weapon devised by Liang Feng. Its sound is like thunder, and it has the power of projectile launch. If they were to hurl fireballs into our camp at night, it would create great confusion!”
This statement immediately silenced what Liu Yuan had in mind. Yes! He had been hesitant to move against Shangdang precisely because of that “Buddhist’s” claim. If the falling stars were nothing more than the commotion caused by the Thunderbolt Cannons, it would remove a significant psychological barrier.
However, the question of how such a massive thing as the Thunderbolt Cannon could be brought close to the main camp remained perplexing. But these were questions Liu Yuan obviously wouldn’t comprehend by asking.
He slammed the table and sternly declared, “You return in defeat, and you still seek excuses? Those were twenty thousand elite soldiers. How many soldiers and generals does the Han Dynasty even have?!”
This declaration made Liu Cong and Liu Yao bow their heads. “Your sons are willing to atone for their failure! We will reclaim Shangdang!”
Both of them were exceptional individuals; how could they not understand the implications of Liu Yuan’s furious outburst? Everyone faces defeat in battle, and redeeming oneself through accomplishments is the best course of action.
However, a minister stepped forward and advised, “Your Majesty, it is currently the winter season, and launching another campaign might not be in the best interest of the state. We also need to guard against a possible counterattack from Jinyang, and it’s likely we won’t be able to spare too many troops.”
The fact that a force of twenty-five thousand troops couldn’t secure victory implies that sending out another army may not yield better results. Moreover, the Han Dynasty’s military resources were already somewhat stretched, with the need to besiege cities, support reinforcements, and defend Jinyang. There simply weren’t enough troops to spare.
Liu Yuan furrowed his brow. He was well aware of the situation. However, not being able to reverse the decline after a major defeat was a severe blow to morale. It even hindered the recruitment of other noble clans and local forces that were opposed to Jin. If they couldn’t even defeat a commandery governor, who would come and join his cause? How could they hope to control the entire territory of Bing County?
Liu Yao took the opportunity to say, “Father, I am willing to lead infantry and cavalry to capture Nie County!”
This time, he had commanded cavalry and couldn’t effectively engage in a siege. If he had more infantry at his disposal, he wouldn’t have ventured into Shangdang so recklessly and suffered such a miserable defeat.
Liu Cong, unwilling to show weakness, also kneeled and declared, “I am also willing to lead troops and try again!”
The two of them were competing to lead the troops, while Liu He, who stood nearby, couldn’t help but smile coldly in his heart. He took a step forward and said, “Father, raising troops in winter is already taxing, and considering our unfavorable situation in battle, perhaps it would be better to wait until spring before launching an attack on Shangdang.”
Liu He was the son of Empress Huo Yan and Liu Yuan’s eldest son. He stood at an imposing eight feet tall, was well-educated, and had superior knowledge compared to his other siblings. Liu Yuan, unlike other leaders from nomadic tribes, had been influenced by Confucianism and had a soft spot for this intelligent eldest son. Due to his prestigious status, Liu He was not sent to lead troops in battle but remained in the capital city.
In this way, Liu He couldn’t rely on military achievements to establish his authority. Both Liu Cong and Liu Yao were skilled military commanders who had been sent on numerous campaigns. While Liu Yao was just an adopted son, Liu Cong was a major concern for Liu He, and he deeply mistrusted him. However, he couldn’t show his true feelings and had to maintain the appearance of brotherly camaraderie. Now, seeing both of them return in defeat, he had no intention of immediately granting them an opportunity to redeem themselves.
Advertisement
Hearing Liu He’s words, Liu Yuan furrowed his brow slightly. Those who had returned in defeat this time were his sons, and it wasn’t easy to punish them, nor was it wise to let the matter rest. Allowing them to redeem themselves through military achievements was an option, but sending recently defeated generals back into battle carried risks. Moreover, with Liu He’s comments, he couldn’t issue an immediate order.
After thinking it over, Liu Yuan sighed, “You two are seriously injured; it’s best to focus on recovery for now. When spring arrives, I will appoint Liu Qin as the commander and launch a determined assault on Shangdang.”
Liu Qin was a prominent general under Liu Yuan’s command and equally skilled in warfare. As for the deputy commander assisting Liu Qin, Liu Yuan didn’t specify at that moment. Whether it was Liu Cong or Liu Yao, either choice would suffice.
Hearing this command, everyone present understood the underlying meaning, and they all agreed. Dealing with the aftermath of this military defeat, rebuilding their reputation, and addressing various issues would require concerted efforts.
As he looked at the two dissatisfied individuals, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment. Liang Zixi had caused him to lose his cousin, Liu Xuan, in the past, and now he had inflicted a major defeat on his two most capable sons. Was he born to be his nemesis? Regardless, he couldn’t afford to lose again. Shangdang had to be conquered at all costs!
